Love Waxing Cold

[Catsmeow]

Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

Is it just my imagination or has ANYONE witnessed this occurring? Sometimes I wonder if I'm hypersensitive or do others see it happening.

[Bread_of_Life]

I think that watching news networks or reading papers will increase your sensitivity and sense of fear at the scale of problems. Newspapers and TV channels revel in the sensational - and their increasing sensationalism and distribution mean that we are apt to get the impression that things are getting worse.

However, this only represents increasing competition between news outlets - not the real state of the world - or crime statistics etc.

[JLW001]

I think that watching news networks or reading papers will increase your sensitivity and sense of fear at the scale of problems. Newspapers and TV channels revel in the sensational - and their increasing sensationalism and distribution mean that we are apt to get the impression that things are getting worse.

However, this only represents increasing competition between news outlets - not the real state of the world - or crime statistics etc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

.....

Now, in some, these things may generate fear. But that is not the case here. My trust is in the Lord and I have no reason to fear anything that happens in this world. If trials or tribulation may come my way, I know the outcome.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Amen. I couldn't have said it better. When your hope is not in this world, but in Christ, your able to be at peace. Physical circumstance no longer weigh upon you.

[Catsmeow]

There were several terrible hurricanes in Florida in the past year.  There are wars and rumors of wars the world over.  Floods, mudslides and other natural disasters are taking place at an unprecedented rate. 

An earthquake that caused a massive Tsunami has claimed thousands of life.

All these things are fuel for competiion and sensationalism,  yet they DID happen.

Now,  in some,  these things may generate fear.  But that is not the case here.  My trust is in the Lord and I have no reason to fear anything that happens in this world. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's exactly why Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; these things must happen".

They happen.

Just remember, unless you're actually sitting in the heart of a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, tsunami, or plague of locusts...it sounds "easy 'nuff" to get through.

We're ALL real brave! We're super brave. Look how brave Peter was at the Passover.

There's just ONE problem: we're brave until the test COMES!

We're all tough and strong and certain, "Why Lord, I'd NEVER betray You! NEVER!"

Peter thought that till put to the test. If you rely on your flesh; you'll never make it. In the end, Peter DID prove tough but ONLY when it was the Spirit of Christ within Him building his new character.

I've faced life and death situations in a Muslim country and I was "tough" only when I had to be and ONLY (repeat ONLY) when the Holy Spirit did a supernatural and divine work in my OWN spirit that empowered me.

I have learned the SECRET to enduring pain & suffering:

The SECRET TO ENDURING PAIN, SUFFERING, AND PERSECUTION IS...(simple).

You're ONLY brave when you HAVE to be brave. It'll happen when you least expect it. It will manifest itself on it's own by a power that is NOT your own. An unseen "force" will move you to act and to do whatever must be done; the "fear" you'd normally experience will simply crumble into sand.

You will be on "autopilot" and be doing whatever the Father tells you and somehow, you just "know" what that is....He's taken over and you're simply carrying out the commands of the One in charge.

If people laugh at you, mock or threaten you....it bounces off. You feel nothing.

If people DO try to interfere with your work, you rebuke with authority, which they clearly perceive.

People around seem perplexed.

Your size or appearance has no bearing on your effectiveness in the work you're doing.

There "seems" to be a protective shield around you.

You sense a very distinct calm in your midst.

You're not given to fear at all; it rolls of your back.

********************************************************************

This has been mine and other missionaries experiences when facing direct persecution.

Persecution is alive and well and I feel I am being slowly prepared once again to re enter the mission field at some point but I'm not certain when.

I DO feel God is very slowly preparing me to accept the consequences of such a mission, regardless of the outcome.

[JLW001]

There were several terrible hurricanes in Florida in the past year.

[Botz]

Cats...

QUOTE

Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

Is it just my imagination or has ANYONE witnessed this occurring? Sometimes I wonder if I'm hypersensitive or do others see it happening

.

I was having a discussion last night with some friends about some of the difficulties arising from within the Church...namely false brethren who are determined to pursue their agenda above the L-rds..and trying to define what the spirit of anti-Messiah is really like and what are the pitfalls for modern Believers.

It is a very difficult time within Church History...never have so many people been exposed to the Gospel...never have so many people come to know Messiah...never have so many back-slidden and fallen away...never have there been so many winds of doctrine to toss you back and forth..etc..etc..

The story I get from many people who have had problems in Churches is that they don't know who to trust anymore because of some strange teachings...or the pastor has had an affair or turned out to be a homo-sexual...or the TV channels that are supposed to extol the G-d of the Christians are more into preaching another Gospel than seeing the L-rd truely lifted up.

These things are reaching a peak...they need to be addressed and Pastors and Teachers cannot ignore them or pretend that they do not exist anymore because access through computer and TV to their teachings is causing many Believers to stumble and get confused and disheartened...It seems as if an invisible line is being drawn in the sand and whereas in the old days G-ds judgements might have been specifically implemented to His people through Wars and Famines and the voice of the prophets...in these days it sometimes seems as if the enemies of G-d from within the borders of the Kingdom of G-d are being used as the refiners fire or a winnowing fork.

I like Gills commentary of these verses which I have included at the end of this comment and which seem so pertinent for todays dilemma.

Mat 24:12 - And because iniquity shall abound,.... Meaning, either the malice and wickedness of outrageous persecutors, which should greatly increase; or the treachery and hatred of the apostates; or the errors and heresies of false teachers; or the wickedness that prevailed in the lives and conversations of some, that were called Christians: for each of these seem to be hinted at in the context, and may be all included, as making up the abounding iniquity here spoken of; the consequence of which would be,

the love of many shall wax cold. This would be the case of many, but not of all; for in the midst of this abounding iniquity, there were some, the ardour of whose love to Christ, to his Gospel, and to the saints, did not abate: but then there were many, whose zeal for Christ, through the violence of persecution, was greatly damped; and through the treachery of false brethren, were shy of the saints themselves, not knowing who to trust; and through the principles of the false teachers, the power of godliness, and the vital heat of religion, were almost lost; and through a love of the world, and of carnal ease and pleasure, love to the saints was grown very chill, and greatly left; as the instances of Demas, and those that forsook the Apostle Paul, at his first answer before Nero, show. This might be true of such, who were real believers in Christ; who might fall under great decays, through the prevalence of iniquity; since it does not say their love shall be lost, but wax cold.

[Guest truebeliever7]

If I were god I wouldn't allow these charlatans to continue. Why does god allow them to lead the unwitting away from him?

Of course your first response is probably "free will" but hasn't god intervened to lead men toward the truth and hasn't god intervened to lead attacks on his enemys?

If these false preachers are damaging the church wouldn't god want to take immediate action to stop it?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

fl,

remember not everyone is going to make it to heaven so of course some will be deceived. God isn't going to stop them how would we ever learn to know them and not be deceived by them if He took them all away.

Matt 22:14

14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

(NKJ)

Jesus Christ is that narrow gate.

Matt 7:13-16

13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

16 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

(NKJ)

To know them by their fruits;

Gal 5:22-26

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

(NKJ)

2 Cor 11:14-15

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

(NKJ)

And yes these are the end of times things are falling into place quicker than we think.The bible says no man knows the day of Christs return not even Jesus. But it does give hints such as these verses;

Matt 24:37-42

37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

38 "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

39 "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

40 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.

42 "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

(NKJ)

Luke 17:28-29

28 "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

29 "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

(NKJ)

Evil was running wild in Noah's and Lot's days and it is getting that bad now.

God bless read and believe

Edited February 6, 2005 by truebeliever7

[Botz]

FogLight...

If I were god I wouldn't allow these charlatans to continue. Why does god allow them to lead the unwitting away from him?

Of course your first response is probably "free will" but hasn't god intervened to lead men toward the truth and hasn't god intervened to lead attacks on his enemys?

If these false preachers are damaging the church wouldn't god want to take immediate action to stop it?

Hi Fog.

Sorry missed your response and question from a week ago.

I think all of us in our imagined capacity as G-d would do things differently...or even now would seek to advise G-d on how to get better results.

I'm not going to comment on that...just reflect on it for a few minutes.

Historically the mystery of iniquity began in the garden of Eden where G-d in His infinite wisdom allowed man to be tempted by Satan....and throughout the Bible we can see that this theme continues...even in the early Church many things went wrong and all sorts of havoc was let loose and many people who loved G-d were imprisoned,tortured and murdered...and yes sometimes there was a direct intervention in some capacity by G-d.

But just in case anyone thinks that people who escape judgement in this life will also escape it in the next and that somehow G-d lets them off the hook... the Bible says...

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

In our life times we may see the ungodly prosper and the innocent and righteous abused and downtridden...but Jesus the Messiah is also Judge of all the Earth...and whereas people may escape justice on this earth...they will surely pay in the next life...none will be condemned unjustly.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.