Are You Ready?

As we roll through 2011, 63 years after the founding of the nation of Israel (think of those 70 "weeks" of Daniel), with the world being prepared to accept a global economy (and thus a world government) ... the three key nations of the final battle of Armaggedon forming a union in front of our very eyes (Russia, China, Iran) ... all the nations of the world pressuring for Jerusalem to be divided ... a proposed UN vote coming up on Palestinian statehood in late September ... three comets coming through our solar system and near to earth now (Honda) and over the next few months (Elenin and Levy) ... a series of unusual lunar and solar eclipses occurring, significantly enough, over the coming seven years ... It makes me wonder:

Am I  ready to go when Jesus makes the call? Am I really ready to be "raptured"?

I think just about anyone who calls Jesus "Lord" will say confidently, "Sure, I'm ready now!"

But are we really ready?

I ask because Jesus warns us several times throughout the gospels that we need to "be ready" for when He calls us. He even says that some will not be ready. For example:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day that your Lord will come . . . So you must be ready, because the Son of man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matt. 24:42, 44 NIV emphasis mine).

And in Matthew 25, we see the foolish virgins who were not ready (with oil for their lamps) when the Lord arrived, and they were left out of the feast.

And in Mark 13:25 He says: "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn."

So, we need to be ready, mentally, spiritually, and most importantly, in our relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't believe it will be like in the "Left Behind" series, that suddenly people go "poof" and they just unexpectedly disappear "in the twinkling of an eye".  If that's the case, where does readiness fit in, and how will we know we are ready?

Selling the Sin

Sin is constantly knocking at my door. It never seems to stop.

The problem is that I befriended Sin for most of my life, and it was my constant companion. Well, in reality, I was Sin's slave. That is until the Holy Spirit arrived and equipped me to deal with Sin, through HIS power and not my own.

But Sin does not give up. It wants me back. It still shows up on my doorstep, and knocks.

Sin is like a master sales person who knows all your secret likes, wishes, fears, and dreams. Sin has a very pleasant voice, even kind of soothing. And Sin can be sexy! It's attractive, has a friendly, familiar smile, and knows how to be oh so enchanting.

Sin is not deterred in the least by hearing a "no" or "go away" from me, because Sin -- like any good sales person -- knows that it may have to get through many, many "no's" before it finally gets a "yes".  Getting to "yes" is all that matters.  Sin constantly beckons: "Hey Paul, check this out. Think about this. Click that link. Just give me a minute and you'll see what I mean. It will just be a second, in fact. Remember this?"

But once you let Sin enter, it's VERY difficult to get it to leave. It charms you, entices you, as only it knows how! "Oh, come on," it might say, "we both know that a little of this will not be a problem for you. It's fun. It's just fantasy. You deserve it. You can always shut it down when you want to. After all, you're stronger
now than you've ever been."

Oh yeah: Sin is a convincing liar, too.

The only action you should take is to ask the Holy Spirit to remove the Sin that is assaulting you. Jesus died for us (the only perfect sacrifice possible) so that we would not be controlled by Sin.  But we can't battle it ourselves. Sin is too powerful for us (all though it lies all that the time about that, too, and makes you believe you actually control it). The Holy Spirit -- God Himself -- is the only One who can send Sin on its way.

Finally, remember that Sin is also a master of disguise. You often don't realize you are entertaining Sin. Sometimes it's just a thought. A fantasy. A longing. A regret. A fear ... it's never obviously Sin.

But the Holy Spirit shines a spotlight on Sin, and the more we are filled with the Word and the Holy Spirit, the more we see Sin for what it really is:  A killer and a destroyer.

Train yourself in the Spirit -- through prayer and studying God's Word -- so that you will NEVER be tempted beyond your means to open the door to Sin, or even entertain the idea of opening it.   And even if you do open the door, whether by mistake or in a moment of weakness or curiosity, close it right away, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Do not let sin get a second and third step into your life, no matter how innocuous and harmless it seems.

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. - Mt 26:41

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. - 1 Cor 10:13

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. - Eph 6:10-11

The Word Exploding in Your Mind

The Word of God reminds me of a pop corn kernel. When it is put to the heat supplied by the Holy Spirit, it expands -- even "explodes" -- in your mind and spirit, bringing on deeper understanding and wisdom.  It is indeed the Living Word from the Living God.

Staying in Tune, Fully Charged, and Saturated by The Holy Spirit

Here are three things I've come to understand about the Holy Spirit in my life:

1) STAY IN TUNE: Like a guitar badly out of tune, which grieves our ears and is unpleasant, our spirits "out of tune" with the Lord can actually grieve the Holy Spirit, and hinder our communication with Him. Yes, we can grieve the Spirit, through bitterness, rage, anger, slander, quarrelling, and "every form of malice", as noted in Ephesians 4:30.

The more I allow the things of the world and the flesh to control me, the more out of tune my spirit becomes, and the more difficult it becomes to turn control of my life over to the Holy Spirit. How do I stay in tune with the Holy Spirit? By prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving at all times and in all circumstances, along with daily feedings on God's Word.

2) BE FULLY CHARGED: Our spirits are like positive (+) and negative (-) charges. When we are "fully charged" in the Lord, HIS wisdom, love, and guidance -- which He pours out on us at all times -- sticks to us, like metal to a magnet. Or we might think of it as when we are "positively" charged, WE are attracted to God and his Word.

When my charge diminishes, I am less attracted to the Word, and that allows more "negative" things (sin, worldly concerns) to grow around me and in me. These things clutter my spirit. Feeding on the Word, praying