The Last Days, How To Survive

The Last Days, How To Survive
By: Bobby Sullivan

Quote of the Week “We are not a gathering of attenders we are gathering of believers who are Impacting their world!” Karl

“The WORD without revelation is just words. It’s my resolution to revel in the revelation of the divine revolution that’s being revealed to rectify a reluctant reality. (unwilling and hesitant generation) Cody Sullivan

^{PHILIPPIANS 1: 3-8} I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, ⁵ in view of your ^[a]participation in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work ^[among you will complete it ^[by the day of Christ Jesus. ⁷ For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are ^[partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the ^[affection of Christ Jesus. 

2 Peter 4:7-11 “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. …

…God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.  Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. … 

“…Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” 

HOW TO SURVIVE THE LAST DAYS

The Bible has been instructing people even back then how to prepare for the last days  that have been going on now for over 2000 years. Every moment that goes by puts us in a place of transition where the last days can be defined as ”a period of time that has not yet manifested itself”

With that said, I want to talk about how a believer can prepare themselves for a period of time that has not yet come.

It’s interesting how people prepare for the end of the world.
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www.jimbakkershow.com    PICTURE   Survival food for the end days.

People are preparing more for the end days more than they are the present days.

2 Timothy 1:8-9 “…suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.”

Paul talking to Timothy about how he was suffering in Jail for the good news. Gods plan was to set us apart, sanctify us and call us himself to himself.

I am struck by 3 words, “HE DID THIS”  He already called us to live a holy life. Why am I anything less than what I was called to be?  He gave me righteousness.

He prepares us for the last days by giving us the choice to accept his grace. Why? Then you have nothing to worry about. His plan is not to condemn the world but to save it!

Read your Bible! John 3:17 “God didn’t send his son to the world to condemn it but that the world through Him  might be saved”   “world” in the Greek is Kosmos.  In context it means, ‘all people’

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, ‘Everything is peaceful and secure,’ then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.”

Judgement is on the unbeliever. Doom for those who don’t believe.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”    

 MARANATHA

Lifestyle Of Last Day Believers:   Not a prescription but a description.  

  “Pan-millenial” It will all pan out in the end. There are lots of thoughts on end time theology. Pre Mid Post .  Live your life today as if it’s the last. Be prepared and don’t argue over the time. Live in the moment. 

Fact! There is a second return of Christ. And we should live with that expectation!  

1. 
   Committed To Community
   I Thessalonians 5:12-13“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.”
   God places us in community for our good and safety.  Honour has great rewards!

God is relational on purpose.

Paul is saying we should be committed to community. We are all living in some form of “the last days”, if that’s the case, what should be manifesting in our lives?

Romans 12:9-10 (ESV) “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour.” 

It is part of my DNA from within not from without

1 Peter 2:17 “Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”     (MESSAGE) One translation says, Honor everyone

What are the Perks of Honoring those in authority over you?

The Blessings of Obedience

rewards for those who submit to authority

God promises rewards to those who submit to authority. 

Things will be well with you and live a long life.
² Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.(Ephesians 6:1–3).

You will please the Lord.
²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. COL 3:20

You will avoid fear of condemnation.
³ For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; ⁴ for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

You will maintain a good conscience.
“⁵ Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. ”(Romans 13:5).

You will bring joy to your authorities.
¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them—for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you. (Hebrews 13:17).

You will receive God’s reward.
¹⁸ Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing ^[a]to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged…….. ²³ Whatever you do, do your work ^[heartily, as for the Lord and not for people,²⁴ knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward ^[of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Colossians 3:18–24).

You will be given clear direction.
My son, comply with the commandment of your father, And do not ignore the ^[teaching of your mother; ²¹ Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.
²² When you walk, ^[they will guide you; When you sleep,^]they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you. (Proverbs 6:20–22).

You will be protected from evil people.
For the commandment is a lamp and the ^[a]teaching is light; And rebukes for discipline are the way of life ²⁴ To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the foreign woman (Proverbs 6:23–24).

You will gain discernment.
A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who complies with rebuke is sensible. (Proverbs 15:5).

You will receive praise from your authorities.
¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right  I Peter 2:13,14

You will honor those whom God has placed in authority over you.
¹² But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and ^[are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, ¹³ and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.(I Thessalonians 5:12–13).

You will receive the grace God gives to the humble.
⁵ You ^[younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. (I Peter 5:5–7).

2. Committed To Service

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak.”

If you are struggling , go and help the struggling.

Studies have shown that when you take the focus off yourself and help others, it is the greatest therapy

Amplified Bible John 7:38
He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’”

Let’s crack the dam that has been holding us back. 

3. Committed To Grace: What is it that God is doing to those preparing for the last days?
   1 Thessalonians 5:15“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”

Give others what they need not what they deserve.  Serve the source of pain.

Grace moves in to work along side someone.

4. Committed To Joy
   1 Thessalonians 5:15“Always be joyful.” FULL OF JOY. Its an expression of gratitude

Philippians 4:4 “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

If you feel your living in the last days. Be full of joy not fear.  Re-invest joy

Choose to embrace Divine joy. His joy is your strength! 

It’s not The joy of the Lord gives you strength, The Joy of the Lord is your strength. 

5. Committed To Prayer
   1 Thessalonians 5:17“Never stop praying.” Or Have regular conversations with God

Prayer moves you from what you can do to what God can do through you.

Not getting God to focus on you, but getting your focus on God. 

6. Committed To Thanksgiving
   1 Thessalonians 5:18“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Cicero who lived in Rome between 106 – 43 BC said that, “gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all others”.  

Gratitude is the seedbed for all other virtues. It is the breeding ground for the fruits of the Spirit to grow.

Don’t be a grumbler: a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining. Synonyms: bellyacher, complainer, crybaby, moaner, a constant complainer. Type of: disagreeable person, unpleasant person. a person who is not pleasant or agreeable.

What you appreciate, appreciates!    What you don’t appreciate … depreciates!
Appreciate:— to be grateful or thankful for. OR to raise or increase in value.

God’s goodness is manifest in an attitude of gratitude.

Psalm 50:23 (AMP) “He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; … prepares the way that I may show him … the salvation of God.”

Thanks (eucharistia):–gratitude; expressions of grateful language to God as an act of worship, thankfulness, giving of thanks, thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving:– (towdah) to express visible thanks or adoration to God by extending the hands to God in reverence, coupled with offering a sacrifice of praise to God through audible confessions of thanks. 

5 Gratitude Observations

1. Gratitude Is Never Invisible No expression is a heart problem.

Luke 6:45“For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

2. Gratitude Sustains Joy And Blessings

Sustain pedal on piano. Unforgiveness repeats the offence. Thanksgiving in everything repeats and accelerates joy.

3. Gratitude Begins Where the Sense of Entitlement Ends

Direct Deposit Instead of Cash. Failure to be grateful is at the root of the fall of man. Is that all there is?

4. Grateful People Can Always Find or Enlarge Blessing

Some spin gold out of every situation …

My situation doesn’t have to improve for my gratitude to increase.

5. Gratitude Increases Favour and Creates Opportunities

Joseph never complained about the negative things he went through. Prison to Palace!!!

7. Committed To Revelation
   1 Thessalonians 5:19-20“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies.”

The Holy Spirit keeps me fixed on what is really going on.

Blue sky above the storm. Peace below the waves. 

3x more prophesies about the 2^nd coming than the incarnation.

There is a blue sky above every cloud

There is calm water under the storm. Better to be on top of the circumstances.

8. Committed To Wisdom
   1 Thessalonians 5:21-22“Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”

“Knowledge is horizontal, but wisdom is vertical—it comes down from above.” Billy Graham

9. Committed To Purpose
   1 Thessalonians 5:23-24“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”

I have been set apart for a great purpose!  Sanctified

When adversity comes, I lean into the fact that God called me.

God will be faithful to finish what He started concerning me.

It’s GRACE from the  beginning to the end! 

Jeremiah 12:5  “…if you’re worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can’t keep your wits during times of calm, what’s going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?”