That feeling one can't shake

Or maybe just I can't shake. I guess feeling is a good way to describe it. But when I see all of the analysis on television about the way the national debt is a threat and see all that is going on and see the mood of the country and world events and the Mideast in turmoil, it seems there is just a feeling or premonition of some kind on the inside that good things are not ahead for this country. I may just be an American reacting from an American point of view and I'm not trying to be an alarmist. We haven't been given the spirit of fear but still, we may be tried in the days and years ahead. Whatever is ahead for the church we will have to go through "together" and that will be a source of our endurance.

I have had the same sense for quite some time now. When you share it with people, they look at you like you have 2 heads. I think these things are spiritually discerned. God has been LONGsuffering and then some....but the eyes of the unbelieving are blinded. When the president of a nation steps out and says we will no longer defend GOD'S INSTITUTION of marriage....add that to the decades of abortions, and add that to the filth in the media, and add that to defense of homosexuality......well - it is rather obvious that God can't tolerate this much longer.....When the trouble and persecution comes, the true believers will be known....everyone who has been "playing at religion" will fall by the wayside.

So after reading this post I went out and built a bunker, loaded up on water and canned goods, and increased the amunitions in my arsenal.

That obviously was a poor attempt at a joke. I agree there does seem to be a sense of ominence in the air. Moral decay via God removing His hand is a recension of grace and protection. To be left to ones escalating depravity and moral declination is in itself a form of judgement as evil begets evil.

While we listen to the Spirit's movement in foreign lands that were for the most part pagan, we languish here with an abundance of churches and a majority population claiming Christ. All the while, with a majority population of Christians, we can boast of the greatest atrocities known to mankind. Don't get me wrong. In the gloom of what abounds there is great opportunity for evangelism but we must not look beyond our own backyards. There is no more opportune place to evangelize, but we must understand where and amongst whom the battle should enjoin. Yes, it is difficult here because it requires heightened discernment that can only come by the Spirit. Even the majority of the churches must somehow reconcile the evils harbored by this nation consists of a majority Christian population. In great frustration we see the problem and so our course should be set.

Where there is great deception, there is also incredible opportunity. We must enter the battle in our own homes. We must fight the battle on our own streets, within our own families, amongst our friends, workmates, and acquaintances. We must expose the lie that has a semblance of truth and ask God to lead us where we do not want to go. It is truly a land of opportunity for the Christian but it can only be advantaged with the Spirits leading. We must be equiped to offer truth where the lie has been propogated. We have a special battle and regardless of how difficult the morality and economy, we must be willing to extend ourselves never giving thought about what we may lose that was never ours to begin with. We know the call and we should be able to discern the age in which God has placed us. We must respond not being discouraged by conditions or climate.

Hey CyAn

I would not mind being taken out of this life early

I am not jumping on your case, please hang on.

2 Tim 3:8-9 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all, as theirs was also.

This portion is dealing ,of course, with the increase of wickedness in the last days.

Just today, I was telling some others I hope I live to be 90! because I am so excited about what God is doing in my life and on the earth! We have all eternity to be with the Lord! No need to hurry off. This life is all we have to lay up treasure and live His Kingdom on earth.

Jannes and Jambres worked great darkness. They withstood Moses. Their rods (that's 2) turned to snakes. Moses's SWALLOWED! theirs. Anything the enemy is cooking up will be swallowed by what God is pouring out through us His body, the Church, in these last days!

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done Lord! Be encouraged my friend. Take the kingdom of freedom which we have in Jesus and set the captives free. God's Spirit will swallow, and put to flight all that is in your path. Arise Oh Lord and let the enemy be scattered!

Ruf

Forgive me, but I am stirred up about this. I have to add a bit.

Terror and fear are swallowed by overcoming peace.
Disease and sickness are swallowed by healing strength.
Lies and false wonders are swallowed by truth and miracles.
Famine is swallowed by supernatural provision.
Persecution and uncertainty is swallowed by steadfast faith.
Abounding sin and iniquity is swallowed by more grace.
etc...

Jesus said in this world we will have trouble and tribulation, but to be of good cheer (have courage) because He has overcome. Bless the Lord we are overcomers in Him.

Lift your vision higher! The enemy is surrounded! These last days will be like nothing seen on earth before.

There's a bride getting ready and Jesus ain't to keen on somebody messin with her!

Russell

8 - then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

9 - And He said, "Go and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.'

10 - 'Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, lest they see with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed."

11 - Then I said, Lord, how long?" And He answered, "Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, houses are without people, and the land is utterly desolate, (Living Bible - "Lord, how long will it be before they are ready to listen?)

12 - "The Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.

13 - "Yet there will be a tenth portion in it, and it will again be subject to burning, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains when it is failed. The holy seed is its stump.' (Isiah 6:8-13)

How long were they to be blind and dim and unable to hear with their hearts? Until a measure of divine discipline fell on the nation (verses 11-12). The holy right of God to discipline not just an individual but an entire nation in this manner is not something smiled upon or even taken into consideration by many today in my opinion. Even in the church, it's like it's a thing of the Old Testament past. Surely He did then but not today. Besides, that was Israel. I wonder if the, "Besides, that was Israel," has been taken too far and helps explain why God acting in this manner today is considered out of vogue. If those enduring this chastisement began to mend their ways and repent and God opened their eyes and hearts again then the chastisement would have served a very costly but productive purpose. In God's sovereignty, it would mean that some of them at least had never been destined for lasting perdition even though He hardened then further at one point through Isaiah's' preaching. Even in them being hardened God was still being moved by His desire to eventually open their hearts and show mercy to them. The faith of the prophets that God controlled the history and destiny of Israel and the other nations is undeniable. Even though this country and the other nations are not Israel, has God's methods changed so much? He doesn't change. If the U.S. goes through some of the most trying times in its history in the probably not so far distant future, will these times be looked on a just things that are happening or will the hand of the Lord be seen as controlling and allowing these things for a purpose. "How long O Lord?' If it is divine chastisement will we be able to accept it as from His hand? In spite of the high cost (from a natural viewpoint) of being reduced to a stump that acted as a holy seed for growth, if it opened many hearts would it be worth it?

Also, I'm not sitting here having experienced a sudden spurt in holiness or anything like that. My need to get more serious about things is a sore point in my own walk. Especially after today's events in the world. Let's pray for one another.