Love Covers » The Prophet’s Chamber http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us I Peter 4:8-11 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:31:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Blow and Go! http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2009/08/22/blow-and-go/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2009/08/22/blow-and-go/#comments Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:06:57 +0000 tzapata http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2009/8?p=9    When you walk in the prophetic people are always asking you, "What's the Lord telling you?" Most of the time I just smile and shake my head like I've got a surprise pot of Gumbo on the stove and its not quite ready to serve. It's always better the longer it sits! Yep, there are [...]]]>    When you walk in the prophetic people are always asking you, "What's the Lord telling you?" Most of the time I just smile and shake my head like I've got a surprise pot of Gumbo on the stove and its not quite ready to serve. It's always better the longer it sits! Yep, there are seasons when we wait before the Lord and hold a word until God releases it. Now that's good eating! But lately there is an urgency in the spirit to get the word out. Now, I didn't say panic, that's how the enemy works. Panic is fear based. Urgency is from necessity or importunity. God is saying, "Blow the trumpet!Sound the alarm!" There is a necessity to awaken the sleeper and warn the wicked! The day of the Lord is coming! The book of Joel gives us a fantastic picture of what this day will be like. Get your "waders" on it's the former rain and the latter rain together!

  Another reference the Lord gave me is in Nehemiah. Great was the opposition and the fear of the people in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. So Nehemiah armed the workers,and kept a trumpeter by his side. "And I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."(Nehemiah 4:19-20) As we are working in the kingdom together are we aware of one another that we are not in this alone? I need to know that when the enemy attacks on my portion of the wall that the workers from the other parts are there to war for me and support me. Are you on alert? Are you listening for the trumpet call to rally around your brother or sister on the wall?

  An interesting note, this is the Hebraic month Elul. It is the month of repentance, preparing our hearts for the High Holy Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is a time of cleansing the season of teshuvah, the 40 days of repentance leading to the Day of Atonement. The shofar is blown every week day after morning services as a custom to "wake up the sleepers, to rouse us from complacency".

  Paul's urgent message was this,"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." (Icor.15:51-52)

  I don't know about you, but I'm getting the message; Blow and Go!

tzapata

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2009/08/22/blow-and-go/feed/ 1 Grace! Grace! http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2007/05/18/grace-grace/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2007/05/18/grace-grace/#comments Fri, 18 May 2007 22:30:49 +0000 tzapata http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2007/5?p=17 Grace is the favor of a surperior to an inferior. It is the spiritual manifested in the realm of the natural. It is supernatural! It is our union with God by the Holy Ghost.

John the Baptist put it this way; "This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before [...]]]> Grace is the favor of a surperior to an inferior. It is the spiritual manifested in the realm of the natural. It is supernatural! It is our union with God by the Holy Ghost.

John the Baptist put it this way; "This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me. And of His fullness we have all recieved, and grace for grace." (John 1:15-16)[@more@]

Grace- favour, acceptance, precious; all this is undeserved and comes from God.

Ephesians 2:8 says "For by Grace are you saved, through faith not of works lest any man should boast."

As Christians, we are quite familiar with this Grace. But, what is Grace times two; or Grace added to Grace; or Grace to the second power, or grace for grace?

It's life more abundantly! This is the season of multiplication. We need to know that God is not limited to our earthly systems of mathimatics, measurements or time. He is eternal, without beginning or end.

Jesus Christ is God's manifested grace to us and in us. In the last portion of 1 John 3:8, it says " For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." He has destroyed the enemy of poverty, sickness and sin!

The book of Ezra records the return of the exiles to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple of God. Ezra 3:10-13 tells us when the foundation of the new temple was laid, all of the people shouted with a great shout.

But there was in actuality two distinct sounds. There was loud weeping from those who remembered Solomon's temple in all of its glory and there were shouts of joy from those who had yet to see the temple of God. Tears for what had been, and joy for what was begun, culminated into one sound that shook the stronghold of the enemy.

In Zechariah, at the completion of the temple, God gives Zerubbabel a word. "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of Grace, Grace to it!" (Zechariah 4:7)  It was the sound that would bring down the stronghold of the enemy!

God's grace or favor is shown through out the Bible as He anointed different individuals and brought about the nation of Israel. It became manifested grace as He watched over the children of Abraham; and for all of us, in the person of Jesus Christ.

There was Grace in the old covenant. There is Grace in the new. In Hebrews, Paul tells us "And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." (Heb. 11:39-40)

Jesus is the Word made flesh. He was with the children of Israel in the wilderness. He was their spiritual meat and drink. He is our salvation. That great cloud of witnesses in Hebrews added to those of us in the new covenant. A better covenant, a better view, a greater Grace!

Grace! Grace! Grace complete in Him.

Written by Rev T Zapata

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2007/05/18/grace-grace/feed/ 0 Recognize and Evangelize http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2007/01/07/recognize-and-evangelize/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2007/01/07/recognize-and-evangelize/#comments Mon, 08 Jan 2007 06:31:50 +0000 vjbear http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2007/1?p=44 There are two things that we need to recognize and know. First, we need to recognize and be sure in the knowledge of Christ and who He is. Second, we need to be aware of and know the times and the seasons.[@more@]John the Baptist recognized the Messiah at the “Kairos” moment (the moment of “set [...]]]> There are two things that we need to recognize and know. First, we need to recognize and be sure in the knowledge of Christ and who He is. Second, we need to be aware of and know the times and the seasons.
[@more@]
John the Baptist recognized the Messiah at the “Kairos” moment (the moment of “set time” or “appointed time”). He may have known Cousin Jesus and his spirit may have born witness of Jesus’ anointing, but when John saw Jesus coming toward him at the river that one day, he cried out “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

He went on to say “This is He of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me. I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water” And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” and I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29-34

In that instance of “set time” or “appointed time” not only did John recognize Jesus as the Son of God, but he recognized the “season” or time of God. In this moment of revelation, Christ's destiny was also spoken forth; “to take away the sin of the world.”

Some of you are thinking “Wow, all that and a bag of chips!” Your heart's cry is to know or recognize the “kairos” time and to fulfill the plan of God for your life.

The first step is to recognize Christ. In the Old Testament, when Moses said who do I tell them sent me, God said “Tell them, I Am That I Am sent me.” All through the Gospels, Jesus expressed the same name. I Am the Bread of Life, I Am the Living Water, I Am the Truth, the Life and the Way, I Am the Door…….and more.

It was about the sixth hour the Bible says (John 4:1-42), that Jesus was weary and sat down by a well in Samaria. It was the “kairos time” for the woman who came to draw water. Her first perception of Jesus was that He was a prophet. Then, when He affirmed that He was the Messiah that would tell them all things, she recognized who He truly was. Her destiny was then settled. No longer would she worship without true knowledge, but she would worship in spirit and in truth. She ran to tell others. What is your perception of Jesus? Who is He? Is He the one who will tell you all things? Are you telling others?

The disciples returned from their trip into town and Jesus answered their queries about the situation with an unforgettable statement. “Do you not say, There are still four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.” The disciples still did not know who Jesus truly was. The fullness of their understanding had yet to come. They could not recognize the time of the harvest. Do you? Your destiny is found in the knowledge of who Christ truly is. He is the expressed image of the Father and the fullness of the God-head bodily. He is the Son of God and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Now is your “kairos moment”. Recognize and Evangelize!

Rev. Tura Zapata, Texas, USA

Also read "Walking Into Destiny" by V Hieb.  Both articles were wrote at the same time and we each did not know the other was writing.  God is so good!

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2007/01/07/recognize-and-evangelize/feed/ 0 The End Is Near! Part VII http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/06/22/the-end-is-near-part-vii/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/06/22/the-end-is-near-part-vii/#comments Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:34:17 +0000 vjbear http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/6?p=58 Burn out? A thing of the past.[@more@] Instruction # 5 – I Peter 4:11 “if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth.”

Some of us are able to do more. Some of us aren’t able to do much. Some of [...]]]> Burn out? A thing of the past.[@more@] Instruction # 5 – I Peter 4:11 “if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth.”

Some of us are able to do more. Some of us aren’t able to do much. Some of us…Stop! What we do of ourselves is dead works and will end up killing us. It is in His strength, it’s the ability He gives. Some of us are very busy in the ministry, but also very deceived to the danger we are in. Daniel 7: 25 gives us a picture of last days events and states that the beast will “wear out” the saints of the Most High. Whatever it takes, Satan is going to try and use it against us. Persecution will come in every form. It will come against our bodies, our mind and emotions to crush any ability we have to serve the Lord. The sooner we recognize it’s not our strength or our abilities, the sooner we walk in freedom and victory.

David knew in whom his abilities lay. In Psalms 18, he begins “I will love Thee, O Lord my strength.” What a beautiful song of worship as he recounts the movement of Almighty God in response to his need. In verse 29, the warrior king sang, “For by thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” Verse 32 “It is God that girdeth me with strength and maketh my way perfect.” On he sang about God who trained his hands for battle. He also knew where his abilities were found. “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.”

 

By Isaiah’s time, the children of Israel had forgotten the source of their life and strength. They had looked to Egypt for help against their enemies. God exhorted them through the prophet Isaiah to repent of their sins saying, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. The source of our strength is found in our constant communion with Christ. It’s our “staying in the sanctuary”; our habitation in Him and He in us. Paul writes to the Hebrews, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” Let us repent for striving in ourselves to do the work of the kingdom, put our trust in the Holy One of Israel. And get some rest!

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10

Rev. Tura Zapata, Texas, USA

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/06/22/the-end-is-near-part-vii/feed/ 0 The End Is Near! Part VI http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/05/15/the-end-is-near-part-vi/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/05/15/the-end-is-near-part-vi/#comments Tue, 16 May 2006 01:04:00 +0000 vjbear http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/5?p=57 So, let’s talk – -   “Uh, let’s see…we could talk about the weather or about the family.  How about the rising cost of just about everything?  Politics?  Did you hear about…?”[@more@]

This conversation is headed for trouble!

God has given us something to talk about.  In these last days as the Bride of Christ is being [...]]]> So, let’s talk – -   “Uh, let’s see…we could talk about the weather or about the family.  How about the rising cost of just about everything?  Politics?  Did you hear about…?”[@more@]

This conversation is headed for trouble!

God has given us something to talk about.  In these last days as the Bride of Christ is being perfected, so her speech should be that of “perfection” or maturity in godliness.  It’s time we sounded like our Heavenly Father!

Instruction number 4 – - I Peter 4:11, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.”

The word “speaks” here means that anytime you open your mouth to breathe out sounds or intelligent utterances they should be as the oracles of God.  No, that doesn’t mean that everything is a prophecy.  The oracles of God are all that He has declared, established and manifested in His word.

In Psalms 96, David lifts his voice and declares, “ Oh sing to the Lord a new song!  Sing to the Lord all the earth.  Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.  Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”  Deuteronomy 6:6 says, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

It’s not just what we say but how we say it.  Look at Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

Paul exhorted the Ephesians in this way, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31)

What’s left?  He continues in another passage, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

Now that should make for interesting conversation!

Rev. Tura Zapata, Texas USA 

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/05/15/the-end-is-near-part-vi/feed/ 0 The Time is Now! http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/04/29/the-time-is-now/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/04/29/the-time-is-now/#comments Sun, 30 Apr 2006 01:00:47 +0000 vjbear http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/4?p=62 One morning as I was praying, a burden for Israel rose up in me. I looked into the Spirit and saw Jesus upon a white horse ready to ride. He is awaiting the command of the Father to go forth. His desire is to come and show Himself mighty for Israel. [...]]]> One morning as I was praying, a burden for Israel rose up in me. I looked into the Spirit and saw Jesus upon a white horse ready to ride. He is awaiting the command of the Father to go forth. His desire is to come and show Himself mighty for Israel. Jehovah Nissi – God, our Banner.[@more@]

We realize that there are yet other prophetic events that must take place before He comes in the clouds of glory and sets up a Holy government in the earth. But for those of us who have been enlightened to Jesus, who has been seated at the right hand of the Father in heavenly places (Eph. 1:17-23), He is by the power of the Holy Spirit beckoning us as His church to “come up hither” (Rev.4:1). The times and seasons of God clearly point toward the catching away of the bride as soon approaching. We will be glorified and robed in white linen to take our place in the ranks of the armies of heaven. Are you ready? Do you hear Him calling out to you?

Many of us can’t grasp the concept of being part of these activities. We haven’t learned to walk in the Spirit down here. We can’t see past this carnal world we live in.

John the Revelator said (Rev. 1:10), “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”. God is speaking by His spirit and it is by the Spirit we must respond. Exercise your birthright as a child of God to walk in the Spirit. This flesh should be crucified with Christ and a life of fellowship with Him should be what we are accustomed to. He wants to show us things. He wants us ready to ride with Him!

I Was In The Spirit…

I was in the Spirit a few mornings later and knew that heaven was in motion. It wasn’t just a stirring but a great preparation. –Things moving quickly!– I knew that I must allow the Holy Spirit to prepare my heart. “A deeper cleansing,” I cried out to the Lord.

I could see Him again on His white horse. He is ready. I cried out again, “I want to ride with you!”

“And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”

He is the Word. We must line up every part of our lives with His word. Heaven is moving. Are you behind the Word? His spirit is calling out to ours.

We are at the time of decision. Heaven is opening up — and we must choose now to step into our eternal destiny!

Revelation 19:11-21
Rev. Tura Zapata, Texas, USA
April 2006

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/04/29/the-time-is-now/feed/ 0 The End Is Near! Part V http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/04/01/the-end-is-near-part-v/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/04/01/the-end-is-near-part-v/#comments Sun, 02 Apr 2006 01:54:44 +0000 vjbear http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/4?p=56 How is your ministry coming along?

“What ministry?” some of you are asking.

Instruction 3: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

If you haven’t started, then today’s the day. In these last days we are to be [...]]]> How is your ministry coming along?

“What ministry?” some of you are asking.

Instruction 3: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I Peter 4:10

If you haven’t started, then today’s the day. In these last days we are to be able ministers. You don’t even need a pulpit! [@more@]

To minister is to serve, to attend to the work, to be of direct help to someone.

What do I minister?
Well – what has God given you?
Do you have any ability that might be of help to someone?
What about talents or gifts?
Can you clean house?
Paint a house or paint a picture?
Do you know how to share joy or love?
How about just sharing a little elbow grease to get the job done.

We can’t say that we have no gifts to minister with. Ephesians 4:7-8, leaves us without any excuse. “But unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, ‘When he ascended upon high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.”

He has captured those powers that kept us unproductive, uncreative, and intimidated. We have been set free to share what the One who created us put within. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” James 1:17-18

As good stewards or managers of our newfound life in Christ, we have that nature to give of ourselves what we’ve been given. The greatest thing we have is the gift of God’s Grace — The sacrifice of Christ. What an awesome thing to be able to share. Christ Himself, the hope of Glory.

We are instructed to minister grace. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ. That in everything you are enriched by Him, in all utterance and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that you come behind in no gift: waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We should be lacking in no gift. Where we fall short in natural abilities, God has given us supernaturally of Himself. He has given us, by the Holy Ghost, gifts for the edifying of the body. All we have to do is earnestly desire them.

As God questioned a reluctant Moses when he was making excuses, “What is that in thine hand?”

Filled with Christ? Filled with the Holy Ghost?
Your end-time ministry awaits you!

Rev. Tura Zapata, Texas, USA 

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/04/01/the-end-is-near-part-v/feed/ 0 The End Is Near! Part IV http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/03/15/the-end-is-near-part-iv/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/03/15/the-end-is-near-part-iv/#comments Thu, 16 Mar 2006 01:47:01 +0000 vjbear http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/3?p=55 Has a similar scene as this one played out at your house?

“Honey, I invited the Stranger family over for supper this week.” “You invited who? The Strangers! Why’d you do that? We don’t know anything about them. They look weird and I don’t even think they go to church. They could be a family [...]]]> Has a similar scene as this one played out at your house?

“Honey, I invited the Stranger family over for supper this week.”
“You invited who? The Strangers! Why’d you do that? We don’t know anything about them. They look weird and I don’t even think they go to church. They could be a family of serial killers! Have you seen that oldest kid of theirs?” [@more@]

Maybe you chuckled as you read this. I did as I wrote it. But, God forgive us, we have become a fearful, self-centered, inhospitable society. I’m not saying, “throw caution to the wind” and not practice good safety habits, or exercise a discerning spirit. I’m talking about expressing real Christian love to those around us.

Instruction 2: I Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.”

Some of us find it hard to tolerate family much less accept a stranger into our home. So what’s the big deal about hospitality? We work hard. There are our jobs, school functions, sport functions and religious functions. When do we have time to be hospitable.

The word hospitable means “kindness to strangers”. Our heart and our home must be filled with kindness. We must show forth the loving-kindness of the Lord to others. It is the result of being filled with the Spirit and walking in His character. So, what’s so special about sharing a little kindness? I can be nice to animals and old people.

First of all, kindness meets a human need. The first part of Proverbs 19: 22 says, “What is desired in a man is kindness.” What a blessing to know that when we are kind to someone, we are meeting a need. Not just a physical or emotional need, but we are presenting to them the answer to a spiritual need.

Paul tells Titus to remind the people “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

Our kindness is a presentation of the Gospel to those around us. We are warned in Romans 2:4 to recognize that it is the goodness (kindness) of God that leads us to repentance.

King David dedicated a whole Psalm to the kindness of God. “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord endures forever.” Psalms 117

This last-days church should be a people of kindness. The world is becoming more fearful and distrusting of one another. We are of a different kingdom. A heavenly kingdom, a kingdom not of this world, where a little bit of kindness can bring spiritual results. It can usher in the supernatural. Hebrews 13:12 says, “ Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

Is the attitude of my heart such as would attract a heavenly visitation? Would God feel welcome in my home? Abraham was a man that God could visit with and confide in. Genesis 18 tells us the story of how Abraham looked up from his tent door and there were three men standing by him. He immediately made preparations to serve them a meal and see to their needs. It was during this visit the Lord promised the birth of Isaac and shared with Abraham the planned destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” Great things can happen!

Rev. Tura Zapata, Texas, USA 

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/03/15/the-end-is-near-part-iv/feed/ 0 The End Is Near! Part II http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/02/15/the-end-is-near-part-ii/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/02/15/the-end-is-near-part-ii/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2006 01:35:23 +0000 vjbear http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/2?p=54 The church was birthed in great joy and resurrection power of the Holy Ghost; a new kingdom was established upon the earth. But as Jesus had told the disciples in Matthew 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” [@more@] [...]]]> The church was birthed in great joy and resurrection power of the Holy Ghost; a new kingdom was established upon the earth. But as Jesus had told the disciples in Matthew 11:12 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” [@more@] Years later, after Jesus’ ascension, the Apostle Peter penned these words to the church. “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” 1Peter 4:7 Sounds pretty somber and final.

But cheer up! It ain’t over till the “calorie sufficient female homosapien sings!”
Sing on church! Lift your voice without fear of finality! It is not the “end”. It’s not termination or death, but a goal reached or the consummation of a thing; a completion or fulfilling; a new beginning. 1Peter 1:3-5 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Our inheritance is not perishable. It won’t pass away. This earth may pass away, but the Word of God will stand. Yes, judgment is coming. Peter said that it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God. Chapter 4 verses 12 and 13 of 1 Peter tell us, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you my also be glad with exceeding joy.”

As a Christian, I allow Christ to be formed in me and grow in His grace and knowledge. I am to grow up into Him. It is the walk of an over-comer. From glory to glory, we are being changed into His likeness. “Being filled up to all the fullness of God.”  There is a shaking in the earth so that those things that are not of God will not remain. Paul wrote to the Romans these words, Romans 8:18-22, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

Jesus referred to signs of the last days as birth pangs. He told the disciples to “lift your heads for redemption draweth nigh.” Rejoice! He is coming to bring us unto Himself.
But what do I do in the meantime? How am I to conduct my daily life with such seemingly ominous happenings swiftly approaching?
This message isn’t over…

Rev. Tura Zapata, Texas, USA

]]> http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/02/15/the-end-is-near-part-ii/feed/ 0 The End is Near! Part I http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/02/01/the-end-is-near-part-i/ http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/02/01/the-end-is-near-part-i/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2006 01:18:51 +0000 vjbear http://lovecovers.bluecastle.us/2006/2?p=53 The End is Near!

 

What a headline! What a title for a sermon! Doom and gloom? No way. Not in Christ. [@more@]Eph.1:3 says “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly [...]]]> The End is Near!

 

What a headline! What a title for a sermon! Doom and gloom? No way. Not in Christ. [@more@]Eph.1:3 says “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.”  Doesn’t sound like death and devastation for those who are in Christ. 

 

Paul said it this way in Romans 2: 9-11, “There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also to the Greek, but glory and honor, and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Knowing that we are saved by grace through faith and not of our own works; that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. The paycheck for sin is death but God gives the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  Our life in Christ goes on. 

 

In 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, Paul begins to prophecy most beautifully, “Behold I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment , in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound , and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable and mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying, that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.  Oh death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?”

 

The devil thought it was the end when Jesus took His last breath on the cross. The disciples had fled and those at the foot of the cross, heard Jesus say “It is finished.” The sky turned black as midnight and the earth shook. But we know it wasn’t over. It was only the beginning of a new life in Christ Jesus. The Bible tells us that we are new creatures in Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new!

 

……to be continued.

 

Rev. Tura Zapata, Texas, USA 

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