House of Hope Online

March 9, 2025

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Last time we focused on Paul’s word from 1^st Corinthians 13:9-13 where he asserted that today we know in part, we prophesy in part, and we see in a mirror dimly.  That passage goes on to say when the perfect comes, referring to Jesus, then the partial will be done away, and we see and know fully, just as we are now fully known by Jesus.  So, there is coming a day when we will know fully and see clearly.

In last week’s word, I emphasized that the Perfect Jesus comes in our prayer time, in our praise time and in our worship time, and when He does, we can know fully what He is saying to us in that moment.

As I sought the Lord for a word this week, I felt a distraction in my spirit.  I believe the devil is busy getting us sidetracked and bothered by the worries of life and the issues of the day, such that we are not focusing on what our Lord is saying to us.  Jesus warned that is a sign that His coming is near.

Be On Guard

The word of the Lord for us today is to be on guard and not weighed down by self-indulgence and the worries of life.

Luke 21:

 34 “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap;

 35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth.

 36 “But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The word “dissipation” in verse 34 means self-indulgence, living in wasteful excess, and even drunkenness.  Are we self-indulged, which could also mean caring only about our thoughts, needs, and feelings instead of focusing on what the Lord is saying?  Are you stressing over vacation plans, or other forms of self-indulgence?  If we live distracted, Jesus is warning us the day of His coming will come on us suddenly like a trap.  He urges us in verse 36 to keep alert, praying for strength to escape the wrath that is coming, and for strength to stand before the Son of Man (Jesus).

Jesus’ warning applies to more than self-indulgence.  Are we also weighed down by the worries of life?  Do you fear a lack of provision?  Are you fearful of changes in our world?  Are you angry about those changes?  Do you worry about wars and rumors of war?  These are the worries of life that can distract us from a focus on what the Holy Spirit is trying to speak into us.

The devil has good reason to distract us.  There are many signs that the Rapture is near, so the intensity of demonic activity is rising.  One such sign is given by the Apostle Paul in 1^st Thessalonians 5.

1^st Thessalonians 5:

 1 ¶ Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

 3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief;

 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

 6 ¶ so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

Understand the significance here in terms of current events.  Jesus said there would wars and rumors of wars.  We have been trying to achieve peace and security for Israel for many years, and today Ukraine is demanding a cease fire be accompanied by security guarantees, which is understandable.  That sounds a lot like the calls for “peace and safety” referred to in verse 3.  I am certainly in favor of peace and safety, but Paul is warning that such calls mean the day of the Lord could be very soon and we should be on the alert and sober for the word of the Lord.

What Shall We do?

Paul has great advice for us in Romans 13 on how to avoid distractions.

Romans 13:

 11 ¶ And this [do,] knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to [its] lusts. (NASB)

Paul is saying to us: lay aside the deeds of darkness and be all about the armor of light.  Recognize the devil is out to distract us and to get us worked up over strife and jealousies, so that we miss the call of the trumpet and the day of the Rapture, which is our only hope of avoiding the wrath to come.  Don’t be fooled by the devil again.

Instead, Paul is saying behave properly, avoiding carousing, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, sensuality, strife, and jealousy.  You can avoid most of those, but if you get caught up in strife and jealousy, it has the same devastating effect. 

I like his expression in verse 14: we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and ignore the lustful tendencies of the flesh.  There is no defeating the flesh in our own strength.  We do that only by putting on Jesus by seeking the Holy Spirit.

Closing

In closing, let us look at 1^st Corinthians 6:9-11 in which Paul re-emphasizes the need to behave properly by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ to avoid sins of the flesh.

1^st Corinthians 6:

 9 ¶ Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,

 10 nor thieves, nor [the] covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

 11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

As we view our world, and the shortsightedness of those who are unbelievers, we must remember that such were some of us, but we were washed, we were sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus and in the Spirit of our God.

Let us pray for unbelievers.

Father God, thank You for washing me, and sanctifying me, and saving me from the lustful desires of the flesh.  Enable us to be on guard and not weighed down with dissipation and the worries of life.  Help us to behave properly according to your word as the day of our redemption draws near.  Lord, we pray a special prayer today for the unbeliever, that you would draw them by your Holy Spirit as you did us, and they would come into the knowledge of Your truth.  And finally, Lord, quicken our spirits to be prayerful regarding the events of our day and help us to turn any fear into hope of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.  Amen.