DON'T MISS IT!

By David J. Stewart | July 2019

Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

       I've been taking some photos during my morning walks this week to share with my web visitors (you dear reader). Despite my constant neck pain, I feel good when I start the day with a sunrise walk, spending time with the Lord while beholding His admirable creation, sincerely praying for my web visitors. But to capture these brilliant shots, I had to be ready! I had to make sure to get up early enough to beat the sun to the horizon. I had to make sure I brought my pocket camera, and that it was charged up, and I had it ready to go. I had to be there at the right place, at the right time, ready, watching and waiting for that brief spectacular moment when the sun breaks across the horizon. There is a very small window of opportunity to capture such great shots!

Likewise, I can think of three such brief opportunities in life, that you won't want to miss!

Daniel 12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

Don't Miss the Opportunity to Turn Many to Righteousness

I am talking about SOULWINNING! The apostle Paul recognized the incredible door of opportunity set before him, purposing in his heart to seize the moment for the Kingdom of God! 1st Corinthians 16:9, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” Christians living in America today have an incredible open door set before them to preach the Gospel. During the New Testament, the early Christians in the book of Acts were aggressively persecuted and prosecuted.

They were publicly shamed, beaten, imprisoned, and martyred. Although we see some of this type of abuse today in the United States, we have it easy compared to the early saints! An angry mob of Jews murdered the apostle Stephen in Acts chapter 7. Herod beheaded the apostle James in Acts chapter 12. Paul was savagely attacked and stoned, left for dead in Acts chapter 14. When Herod saw that it pleased the Jews to execute James, he intended to kill Peter as well, but in response to prayers of the church, an angel of the Lord delivered Peter from certain death in prison. PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!!!

Psalms 29:4, “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.”

The church has such a grand opportunity in America today to preach the Gospel, because of our God-given right to freedom of speech, as outlined in the First Amendment in our Bill of Rights. Do you know what the Bill of Rights is my friend? You should, so I will tell you. When the U.S. Constitution was finished and presented to the American people, the early settlers didn't like what they read. It gave the government too much power! So the people made some changes, known as “amendments” to the U.S. Constitution, before they would sign off on it! The first 10 amendments (changes) because commonly known as every American citizen's Bill of Rights.

The very first amendment that they wanted, understandably, was the freedom of religion, speech and press, and the right to peacefully assemble and protest against the government if they had a complaint. Those FIVE critically important inclusions comprise the First Amendment! Those rules still apply today. Tragically, our First Amendment rights are often trampled upon by the government, which is a crime! Please understand that the U.S. Constitution and our Bill of Right doesn't grant anyone rights, it merely outlines our God-given rights!

Psalms 104:1, “Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God,
thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.”

It is sad and unfortunate that most churches today are dropping the ball for God, letting the world go to Hell. I see multitudes of false prophets (e.g., Joel Osteen, Steven Furtick, Rick Warren, Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson) greedily exploiting Christianity to get wealthy, but I see so few Bible-believing Christians going soulwinning. When is the last time you heard any of the big name Tv preachers warn their viewers about a literal burning Hell, where all Christ-rejecters will suffer in torment from fire and brimstone for all eternity without hope? They just want your money!

The apostle Paul said that his own unsaved countrymen (Jews) had hindered him from preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, lest they be saved. 1st Thessalonians 2:14b-16b, “even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved.” Oftentimes it will be ungodly people who hinder us from preaching the Gospel to those who want to hear it! Woe unto such ungodly people, who have the blood of all those hellbound lost people on their hands! Like never before in human civilization, the earth's population has increased exponentially over the past 150 years! The world's population will soon reach 10,000,000,000 by 2040! Today, just as in Jesus' time, the fields are ripe unto harvest, and our sickle is the Gospel...

John 4:35, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

Notice that Jesus said to: LIFT YOUR EYES AND LOOK! Don't miss it!

“SOULWARNING”
(an awesome MP3 sermon by Pastor Bob Gray Sr.)

We have a grand opportunity today to preach the Gospel, blessed to live in a free country as the United States where freedom of speech is a protected right! The early Christians would have absolutely loved that privilege! Jesus said in His time that the fields were ripe for harvesting. In other words, people are always receptive to the Gospel in certain places. When the Lord went to Capernaum, they were stiffnecked and rejected Him (Matthew 11:23), but the Samaritans openly received Him (John 4:42). It is the exact same way today 2,000 years later. Some places, like South Africa, are just like Capernaum, full of pride, but they shall be brought down to Hell.

Luke 10:15, “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.” Yet other places, usually where the people are poorer, are receptive to the Gospel. Since they have nothing here on earth, the promise of a better life through faith in Jesus Christ is eagerly welcomed. James 2:5, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” It is wealthy people (who think they already have heaven on earth) who reject Christ in their pride and selfishness, as did the foolish rich man in Luke 16:19-32.

Mark 13:32-37, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

In the preceding passage of Scripture from Mark 13:32-37, the Lord makes it abundantly clear that NO ONE KNOWS WHEN HE WILL RETURN! That can only mean Christ could return right now! I am saddened when I hear Baptist preachers say that Jesus couldn't possible return at any time. Dear reader, this is not a matter of opinion; but rather—What saith the Scripture? Mark 13:32 and 37, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. ...And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” This can only mean a pretribulation Rapture of the saints (the Church).
 

Don't Miss the 'Crown of Righteousness' for Those Who Love the Lord's Appearing

2nd Timothy 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

In the preceding passage of Scripture from Mark 13:32-37, the Lord makes it abundantly clear that NO ONE KNOW WHEN HE WILL RETURN! That can only mean Christ could return right now! I am saddened when I hear Baptist preachers saying that Jesus couldn't possible return at any time. Dear reader, this is not a matter of opinion; but rather—What saith the Scripture? Mark 13:32 and 37, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. ...And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” This can only mean a pretribulation Rapture of the saints (the Church).

1st John 3:1-3, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

What a precious promise from God in 1st John 3:2—WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; FOR WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS! What a glorious day that will be! The Bible teaches us to LOOK for the glorious APPEARING of our great God and Savior, JESUS CHRIST!

What does the Bible mean by “we shall be like him”? Philippians 3:20-21, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Boy that's great stuff! We are commanded to LOOK for Christ's APPEARING from HEAVEN! And when we do see that glorious appearing of the blessed Savior at the RAPTURE, He is going to CHANGE OUR MORTAL BODY INTO AN IMMORTAL BODY! (See also: 1st Corinthians 15:52-57). Praise God!

1st Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Don't miss it! Will you be caught off guard when Christ returns dear child of God, not doing anything for Christ? Will you be caught living in open sin, disgracing the Savior's name? Where will you be when the angel's trumpet sounds, and in the twinkling of an eye our vile bodies are transformed into immortal bodies, and we rise to meet Jesus Christ in the clouds in the air? The Bible teaches that THE HOPE (and what a grand hope it is!) of Christ's appearing at the Rapture compels a man to purify himself, even as our Savior is pure. 1st John 3:2b-3, “but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ...And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” The Bible promises a “CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” to those who love His appearing, who are not ashamed at His coming because they are living in unrighteousness. Are you LOOKING FOR THE SAVIOR'S APPEARING FROM HEAVEN? Be ready Oh Christian, staying busy for the Master, winning souls with the Gospel. DON'T MISS IT!

Throughout the Psalms David continually brags on God, speaking of His majesty and power. Psalms 145:9-12, “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.” God needs praise from His children! Every believer is an adopted child of God (Romans 8:15).
 

Don't Miss the Appearing of Christ if You Are Not Born Again!

Dear friend, are you prepared for the Savior's appearing? Have you been born-again? If you don't get saved, then you WILL BE left behind at the Rapture. It is guaranteed! You won't receive a new body fashioned like unto the Lord's resurrected body. You won't be made into the image of Jesus, because you won't see Him at His coming, because you are not a redeemed child of God.

Now if you are saved, hallelujah, then you are all set to go as far as salvation is concerned; but let me ask you dear reader, are you prepared to meet your Savior? Are you living for Him? Have you submitted to Christ's Lordship as a believer? That is not the heresy of “Lordship Salvation.” You don't make Jesus Lord—HE IS LORD! And you don't have to receive Him as your Lord (Master) to be saved. The moment you receive Jesus as your Savior (John 1:12), he automatically becomes your Master (whether you acknowledge His Lordship or not). That is why the apostle Paul is pleading with the saints at Rome to “present your bodies a living sacrifice” in Romans 12:1b. They were already saved certain, but they hadn't submitted to follow Christ yet, and forsake all.

Eternal life is a free gift from God to us; but discipleship is a sacrifice from us to God, which the Bible calls our “reasonable service.” Jesus paid it all, and we owe Him NOTHING; however, it is only reasonable that since he gave His life to redeem ours, we ought to give ours to live for Him, but it is not mandatory. It is a matter of rewards when we get to Heaven. Do you have to serve God to be saved? No, of course not, but don't expect any rewards from God either! 1st Corinthians 3:8b teaches—“and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” And so again I ask you dear child of God, are you PREPARING for the glorious APPEARING of your dear SAVIOR from HEAVEN? Are you fulfilling God's will for your life here on earth? Why are you here? What is your function in the Body of Christ? What spiritual gifts has the Holy Spirit bestowed to you to help get souls saved? DON'T MISS IT!

Acts 26:13, “At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the
brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.”

Salvation is so easy—simply (by faith) receive the truth as recorded in God's Word: that Jesus is the Christ Who died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and three days later He miraculously resurrected from the dead for your justification. 1st Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” DON'T MISS IT!

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