Tag: jesusiscoming

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Like a Thief in the Night

The Kedge Anchor
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“… the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

“Like a thief in the night,” unseen, quiet, unsuspecting. There are people who do steal in broad daylight but they are most likely to get caught. During the night the thief is quiet, it’s dark, less likely to be seen and most likely the victim is unsuspecting. Well maybe not so much these days.

How will Jesus return, in the night like a thief? Is that how we will meet Him in the clouds? The Bible say we don’t know the hour or the day – Matthew 24:36-44. No one knows but the Father. Jesus, His Son doesn’t know, not even the angels. Here in the book of Matthew it describes daytime activity. Like with Noah in verse 37, “They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away.” (CSB) Verse 40, “two men will be in the field” and verse 41, two women will be grinding grain.” Verse 42, “Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.” (emphasis mine)

Even at night we can prepare for a possible threat to our homes. We have alarms to wake us, we have a plan of attack should someone enter home, maybe a weapon, security cameras and alarms that are connected to the police department. We are prepared.

So how do we prepare for Christ’s return? By staying alert. By staying anchored in His word daily, reading His word daily. The book of Revelation is packed full of signs of the days proceeding Jesus’ return. We see some of those signs today; what’s right is wrong, what’s wrong is right. You may be saying to yourself,” that’s been happening since the beginning of time. Well yes, it has. And when Jesus said He’d be returning soon (Revelation 22-12), according to His timeline it could be any day. “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” 2 Peter 3:8.

But if Jesus were to return during the day, imagine the chaos. God is not the author of chaos; 1 Corinthians 14:33. So would He allow chaos to ensue? But what a testimony for all to see. Of course the media and the experts will try and say it was aliens. Or will Jesus come in the quiet of the night? I don’t know. I know this it will be like a blink of your eye, 1 Corinthians 15:52, “It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”

I know this too, Jesus is coming back! We all need to be ready. Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you looking for signs?

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Hope in the Battle

The Kedge Anchor
Are the waves of life crashing in around you? If you’re looking for hope, read on.

This blog is all about Hope. God, the giver of Hope. When we find ourselves in troubled waters we need assurance there is Hope. God is in the troubled waters. The troubled waters can last for days to years. I know that doesn’t sound very hopeful. Take heart, things do change, some things take time to change and God is in control of that change. It’s in the movement, the uncomfortable places of transformation that we can find hope.

We all want to be in places of peace and calm, where there are no worries and things are going swimmingly. Our plans are unfolding nicely and we think we have it all figured out. Then, the tide changes. A storm suddenly wells up and churns our calm sea. Stop and pause for a moment. Where is the battle raging? The sea (your situation) or your mind? If you’re fighting the rough waters, trying to navigate, losing your way, trying to find some light, a way out and you’re starting lose hope, becoming weary and tired, depleted and discouraged, if that’s where you are, you’re fighting the wrong battle. You’re fighting something you have no control over. Stop.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

If God is in control, then you are wrestling God. Stop. Stop fighting God. Not that, that’s wrong. Now you’re probably about to say, “And just let the waters take me and toss me around?” Well, no. There are some things you can do. First recognize where the battle is really taking place. Be it a health issue, the loss of a loved one, a financial issue, an issue with a child, relationship, job related; those all represent the churning sea. God is using those situations to transform us. So what we need to do next, is fix our eyes, (verse) minds on Jesus, by the renewing of our minds (renewing of the mind verse) There is going to be little we can do to change our situation and wrestling God or the lies of Satan, that will just wear us out. Know that Satan is at work trying to keep you one degree off your navigation, but God says He will never leave us or forsake us. (verse) Sometimes the battle is harder to fight when the lines blur and we are trying to justify our situation so that we don’t have to change, because it’s just easier not to change. And really, who wants to change an already comfortable situation, perhaps? But, look at how hard you’re working NOT to change. Transformation can be painful. but, it’s worth it and once the transformation happens, life becomes easier. But, KNOW that God is working to use whatever situation you are in to transform you into more like Him. That’s His ultimate goal, but He is also working in other areas of our lives to grow us. – Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” NIV

Next, it’s the movement, even if you need to wrestle with God, and sometimes that’s ok, you’re not gonna win but what will come out of it is newness. Sitting in those calm still waters we can become stagnant, no change, no growth, really going nowhere. But it’s in the movement of those churning waters we learn to navigate uncharted waters or a new way to navigate in the same churning waters.

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There Will Be Terrible Times.

The Kedge Anchor

It’s crazy. Isn’t it? The way things are going? What once was good is now considered bad. What once was bad is now good. And the Bible teaches us through prophesy in the Old Testament and in the book of Revelation about the end times. But yet, sometimes I gotta shake my head and say to myself, “Really?” Yah, really.

Often times, I am at a loss how to deal with things. It’s really confusing. And praying. Well, I really am not sure how to pray in these times. How does one pray for the days that are to come, if we are, and I believe we are embarking on the outskirts of the last days.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure …”

Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

2 Timothy 3: 1-5 (NIV) “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

The KJV uses the word perilous for terrible. The greek word for perilous, *chalepos – hard to do or bear, 5467 xalepós (an adjective, derived from xaleptō, “to oppress, annoy,” J. Thayer) – properly, irksomely hard to bear (LS); fiercely difficult to cope with because so harsh (even injurious). Kinda what we are seeing and experiencing today, isn’t it?

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) – “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Well, the Bible does teach us how we should live and be. Self-controlled, upright and live godly lives. But we need each other, we need encouragement from each other as Paul encouraged the people of Corinth and as he received letters of encouragement from the people whilst in prison.

The book of Titus goes on to say in verse 13, “… while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, there is Hope. Hope for the soul, Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure …”

It’s hard not to be discouraged and just sad at the events that take place, the headlines, the social media posts, the injustice. And the Bible does tell us to not be discouraged. Joshua 1:19 reminds of that as well as Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” There’s that word again, hope. We have HOPE! And that HOPE will be with us wherever we go! The future I believe is our home in Heaven and for the present day, God has plans for us today, to live self controlled and upright godly lives. If we just love the Lord our God and our neighbor, the rest falls into place.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.“

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

It sounds simple, huh? It is and it isn’t. Seek God and His Word for answers and comfort. And I encourage to seek counseling. There are many Christian counselors out there and meetings can be done remotely. If we try to do it in our own strength we won’t make it. There will be days we want to lash out, scream, shout, ggggrrrrrr! It’s not easy some days. We need encouragement in these terrible, perilous times. We don’t have to like it or agree with it. We need to resolve with ourselves to lead godly and upright lives. And we can only do that by walking with God and by encouraging each other.

#hope #hopeanchor #thekedgeanchor #endtimes #jesusiscoming #hopeanchorforthesoul #hebrewssixnineteen #encouragement #wordsofencouragement #hardtimes #scripture #scriptureverse #wordsofencouragementforall #foreveryone #liveagodlylife #lovegod #loveyourneighbor

Please click the button in the top right corner or click the following links to learn more About Contact Knowing Jesus

#hope #hopeanchor #thekedgeanchor #endtimes #jesusiscoming #hopeanchorforthesoul #hebrewssixnineteen #encouragement #wordsofencouragement #hardtimes #scripture #scriptureverse #wordsofencouragementforall #foreveryone #liveagodlylife #lovegod #loveyourneighbor

Resources

*https://biblehub.com/greek/5467.htm

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