Signs of the times

Dear Brothers and Sisters I believe without a doubt that we are living in the last days. I recently read this in II Tim. 3:1-5, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” So we can really feel that the last days are upon us, just look at Israel and mankind. They both point to the end of this world as we know it.

I believe that what we are seeing today is a defection from the truth of God's word. The churches and pastors are no longer contending for the faith but are pretending to have faith. They are no longer standing on the promises of the God. Becoming lukewarm is a slow step by step process; there is no doubt a pattern.First of all it begins with a departure from standards. The word standards means, “that which is established by sovereign power as a rule or measure by which others are to be adjusted.” The root word stand means, “to remain upright, in a moral sense; not to fall.” Remember the word falling in our text speaks of a defection from the truth, and with that in mind look at Eph. 6:13-14, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;” When you have an unspiritual congregation with an unspiritual book you end up with an unconverted church and a complete departure from the faith.

To the Churches that are at the brink of apostasy found in Rev. 2:5, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

To my Brothers and Sisters that are still in the battle keep on standing as recorded in II Tim. 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine,” and Jude 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”

Bishop David Gardner