God commands us to be thankful. “in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

It is healthy to give thanks. Scientific studies prove the health benefits of thankfulness, showing that thankfulness can fight depression and heal us physically. Thanksgiving will heal our souls and strengthen our spirits.

Thankfulness is connected to humility. When we are thankful, we acknowledge that we did not do it, but someone else did. This cuts down our pride. God is doing wonderful things in our lives and blessing us. We aren’t doing these things, but God is. Let’s humble ourselves before him and thank him.

Thankfulness shows we have a testimony. Whenever we thank God, we acknowledge that God did something powerful for us. We need to remember what God has done for us and thank him for it. Through our testimonies we overcome Satan.

Thankfulness boosts our faith in God. When we thank God for what he has done in the past, our faith is built up to believe he will do similar things in the future. God is not dead, but he is alive, and he is actively working in our lives. As we thank him we boost our faith.

The opposite of thankfulness is complaining. Just as thankfulness creates a positive environment and shows a healthy attitude, so complaining creates a negative environment and shows an evil heart. Complaining erodes our spiritual life and damages our bodies. 

The children of Israel often murmured and complained when they wandered in the wilderness after they left Egypt.

They murmured about the dangers. When they were stuck between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, they thought they would die. They thought God brought them out of Egypt in order to kill them and bury them (Ex 14:11).

Even after God split the Red Sea, they still didn’t believe him. The journey was not what they expected. Instead of going into the Promised Land full of milk and honey, they were wandering around a desert. With their expectations unmet, they found plenty of things to complain about.

They complained about the food. They remembered the huge pots of meat that they used to eat in Egypt. They pined after the garlic, leeks, and cucumbers. They were slaves in Egypt, but at least they had plenty to eat (Ex. 16:1-2; Num. 11:1-10). Like Esau, they valued a bowl of soup over their spiritual birthright. They longed to go backwards rather than forwards. They were living tied to the past instead of moving forward into their future.

They murmured about God’s provision. Manna was small, like coriander seeds sitting on the ground. Each person had to go out and gather it every day. God’s provision required a little work, and they didn’t want to do any spiritual work. It was easier to eat what their slavemasters provided back in Egypt. Besides, the manna was so small. It was not as big as the Egyptian pots of meat. The manna was so monotonous – the same thing, day after day. They were tired of all of this. They wanted something new and exciting.

They complained about their leaders, Moses and Aaron (Num. 16:1-3). They didn’t like where Moses was leading them. Where was this Promised Land? Would they ever get there? They were sick of trudging around on hot sand. They wanted some better leaders who would take them back to Egypt. Even though they would be slaves again, at least they wouldn’t have so many problems.

They murmured about their enemies. Those giants looked impossible to defeat. They were bigger and stronger than they were. They thought there was no way they could defeat them. If inheriting the Promised Land meant fighting such strong enemies, they would rather not be a part of it. 

Why did the Israelites complain so much? There were several reasons.

They didn’t believe God. They didn’t think he would keep his promises. They didn’t believe he would keep his word, bless them, protect them, and give them victory. Complaining is a symptom of unbelief. Whenever there is murmuring, you can be sure there is unbelief.

They were ignorant. They didn’t understand the situation. If they had known the future, they would have been happy. They would have known that God was carrying them into a glorious land flowing with milk and honey. But they were stuck in the wilderness because they didn’t believe the prophetic word of God. Their unbelief blocked them from knowing God’s victory and inheriting God’s promises.

They were impatient. They didn’t want to wait for God’s timing. They had their own schedule, and if God didn’t do things when they wanted him to do things, then they were going to get upset, give up, and run back to bondage.

They were fearful. They were afraid of the Red Sea, the Egyptian army, lack of food, lack of water, and huge giants. Any one of these things might kill them. They magnified their circumstances rather than magnifying God (making him big). This fear of death brought them into bondage (Heb. 2:15).

What was the result of their murmuring?

God was angry with them. Their unbelief opened them up to sin and disobedience. All their murmuring and complaining cut them off from God’s blessing and blocked them from the Promised Land. They brought destruction on themselves. They had to wander in the wilderness until they all died.

These things are warnings for us. All these things that happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness are written in the Bible to warn us (1 Cor. 10:6-11).

“Do all things without murmuring or complaining” (Phil. 2:14).

Murmuring and complaining will block us from fulfilling our calling. It will create an unhealthy and negative environment that is devoid of the Holy Spirit. Miracles will cease. People will not hear from God. Murmuring will harm us, both physically and spiritually. 

We need to get all complaining out of our lives.

One of the best ways to get rid of murmuring and complaining is to thank God. Be thankful for all he has done in the past. Be thankful for what he’s doing now. And be thankful for what he’s going to do in the future. God has done awesome things. He’s going to do many more amazing things. Let’s recognize this fact and praise our mighty God.

The Bible is like a mirror that shows us who we are in the light of God’s holiness (James 1:22-25). This spiritual mirror can help us grow into the image of Jesus Christ.

When we look in a mirror, we see our actual appearance. Mirrors don’t lie. We may imagine certain things about our appearance, but a mirror will tell us the truth. We see the condition of our hair, our face, and our clothes. In response to looking in the mirror, we change things. If our hair is out of place, we comb it. If our face is dirty, we wash it. 

Jesus said unless we become like little children, we can’t enter the kingdom of God (Matt. 18:4-5). Children know that they need help, and they accept help. Their parents help them tie their shoes and comb their hair. We need God’s help in order to grow spiritually. This means we need to approach the word of God like little children. Spiritual growth happens when we are honest with the word of God. Humility before the word of God enables us to repent and change.

It’s often easier to look at others to criticize them. We can see blemishes more easily in others than we can in ourselves. But God gave us the mirror of his word primarily so we can see ourselves, not others.

God is greater than we are. He knows more than we do. The Bible is supposed to be over us, not the other way around. Sometimes we may not like something in the Bible. We may say, “I don’t really like that part of the Bible.” This is a wrong attitude. The Bible is the  word of God. It is perfect. It is a perfect reflection of God himself. If we don’t like part of the Bible, then we don’t like part of God. We need to change ourselves, not criticize the Bible.

When a mirror tells us our hair is messy, there is no point in hating the mirror. 
Throughout history, God raised up prophets to reveal his word to his people. He told his prophets to be bold, because people would hate them (Jer. 1:17-19; Ezek. 2:3-7). The people of God often stoned the prophets. They persecuted them. They dumped Jeremiah down a muddy well and left him to die. The reason they hated the prophets is because they hated God’s word. They didn’t want to repent.

Jesus Christ is the word of God made flesh. He was hated too. Rather than repent when God’s mirror showed them their need, the Pharisees tried to smash the mirror. They didn’t expect Jesus to resurrect.

The Christian life is a big calling. Jesus commanded us to be as perfect as God (Matt. 5:48). Peter said we should be as holy as God (1 Pet. 1:15-16). James told us to be perfect (James 1:4). Paul told us to be perfect (Col. 4:12, 2 Cor. 7:1, Col. 1:28). The word perfect is the Greek word ‘teleios’ which means to become mature or full-grown. It means to fulfill one’s purpose. This basically means becoming like Jesus (Luke 6:40).

Growing into the image of Jesus is a process. We are not yet perfect. We are not yet like Jesus. No one throughout history has reached this point. Paul was probably the greatest Christian in the New Testament, but he had not yet reached the great goal of the Christian life which is to be conformed into the image of Jesus. He was pressing on to get there, through the power of the Holy Spirit (Phil. 3:12-15).

We grow into the image of Jesus as we look into the mirror of the Bible and apply it to our lives. We need to not just hear the word, but do what it says. As we obey the Bible, we are changed into the image of Jesus. Obedience causes us to go from one degree of glory to a higher degree of glory (2 Cor. 3:18). 

Obeying the word of God means to take up our cross. As we do this, our flesh is crucified. The crucifixion of our flesh enables us to walk more strongly in the Spirit. 

God has given his word to us so we can grow into spiritual maturity. Look into this mirror daily. Read it. Listen to it. Be in fellowship with other believers. And do what the Bible says. This is the secret to a successful Christian life and to growing into spiritual maturity.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:2-3).

To find peace in this time, we need to focus on God. The world is full of noise about bad things, but God is full of life and goodness.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Ps. 46:1-2).

A refuge is a place of safety where we go in times of trouble. A strength is what we rely on when we are weak and facing challenges. God is both our refuge and our strength.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; his truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday” (Ps. 91:1-6).

Psalm 91 is full of promises that God has made to his people. We unlock the power of these promises when we believe them. God’s word carries infinite power, and this power is unleashed in our lives when we believe what God said. This is the power of faith.

Our place of safety is in God. It is nowhere else. If we have God, we have all that we need. According to Psalm 91, we don’t need to fear disease, war, darkness, destruction, or demonic powers.

Part of dwelling in the secret place of the Most High means focusing on God, not on the world. We are able to focus on God and not on the world because we have died to the world.

“God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14).

Through the cross of Christ, the world does not have any hold over us anymore. We are dead to the world, and the world is dead to us. It does not control us. We are controlled by the Spirit of God, not the spirit that is in the world. We are controlled by the word of God, not by information from the world. 

When Jesus died on the cross, he took away all our sins. This is not a cliche, this is a powerful spiritual fact. Every single one of our sins is gone. Jesus died, and that’s why our sins are gone. All guilt and shame are gone.

With our sins gone, the world’s grip over us is broken. Now we have peace with God.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

The world gives peace that is based on circumstances. When life is good, people have peace. When life is hard, people lose their peace. Peace from the world is unreliable.

Jesus gives peace differently than the world. His peace doesn’t depend on circumstances, it depends on the eternal God and our relationship with him. His peace remains with us regardless of circumstances. This is why Christ is a sure foundation for our lives – a solid rock that will keep us safe.

In the midst of difficult times, let’s remember that our only hope is found in God. It is not found in the world or the things in the world. All these things in the world are going to pass away, but God and his word will endure forever. Let’s focus on God, not on the world, and let’s live as children of God, shining as lights in the darkness.

According to the Bible, there will be two main signs that will happen before the Day of the Lord (2 Thess. 2:1-3). The first sign is apostasy. Many Christians will fall away from the truth and go into error. The second sign is the Antichrist. 

We see apostasy today. False teachings and false prophecies are widespread within the church. However, we don’t yet see the Antichrist. This means that the Day of the Lord has not yet come.

There is no virtue in believing that the Day of the Lord is here if it’s not. Throughout history Christians have been deceived about when the Lord would return, and they became foolish in the process. In the 1800s, William Miller led a large group of sincere believers onto the top of a hill because he said the Day of the Lord had come. After waiting a while, it became obvious they were wrong. They went down from the hill, depressed. Ellen G. White came along and created the Seventh Day Adventist church out of the broken pieces of this group.

We need to be aware of what the Bible says about the end times so that we are not deceived.

Before the Day of the Lord comes, the Antichrist will appear. It’s important to recognize what the Bible says about the Antichrist so we don’t think the Antichrist is someone he isn’t. Some Christians believed Ronald Wilson Reagan was the Antichrist because he has 6 letters in his first, middle, and last names – 666. Others believed that Barack Obama was the Antichrist, while others believed that Juan Carlos King of Spain was the Antichrist. There is no virtue in believing such things.

The Bible shows us what the Antichrist will be like.

In 2 Thessalonians 2, the Antichrist is called “the man of sin” – he will be characterized by sinfulness and the promotion of sin. He is called the “son of perdition” which means he is totally lost. He will oppose the worship of anyone or anything except himself. He will claim to be God. He will be inside “the temple of God.” The temple of God is the church (Eph. 2:19-21). The Antichrist will be a false Christian.

The Antichrist is called the “lawless one.” According to Jesus, “lawlessness” is the condition of those who hear God’s words but don’t obey them (Matt. 7:21-23, 26-27). Lawless Christians call Jesus “Lord, Lord” and may even work miracles, but they don’t do what Jesus says. The Antichrist will be a false Christian who will not obey the word of God.

The Antichrist will work miracles. He will be very deceptive, claiming to be someone he isn’t.

John warned that many antichrists had already come (1 John 2:18-19). These little antichrists were false teachers and false prophets who opposed God’s work. They began in the true apostolic church, but went out from there, forming their own denominations. At the end of time, the big Antichrist will come, and he will be worse than all the little antichrists who came before him.

John gives us a test to discern the spirit of the Antichrist. “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist” (1 John 4:2-3).

This test can mean two things. 1. The Antichrist won’t admit that Jesus Christ came in human flesh. 2. The Antichrist will not confess (say the same things as – in Greek) the true Jesus Christ who came in the flesh 2000 years ago. He won’t have the same doctrine. We can test the Antichrist through the teachings of the Bible, because the Antichrist won’t follow the Bible.

Daniel describes the global government that will dominate the world at the end of the age (Dan. 7:23-27). This government will be different from any government before it, and it will be very destructive. It will rule the whole world. The Antichrist will arise and take over leadership of this government. He will speak against God. He will drastically change times and laws. He will persecute Christians.

Daniel gives more details about the Antichrist (Dan. 8:23-25). The Antichrist will rise in a time of great sin. He will have fierce features, understand dark plans, and through promises of peace he will destroy many people. He will be empowered by Satan, be proud, and be deceptive. Further details about him are given in Daniel 11:36-45.

It’s important for us to be aware of these characteristics so we can identify the Antichrist when he appears.

The book of Revelation says the Antichrist will speak great things and blaspheme God. He will dominate the world for 3.5 years. He will war against the saints. He will rule every nation and demand worship from everyone. Everyone in the world who is not a true Christian will worship him (Rev. 13:5-8).

The Antichrist will do great miracles, deceive people, and control everyone in the world so they receive a false spirit. He will force people to receive a mark in their right hands or foreheads so that no one can buy or sell unless they have this mark (Rev. 13:11-18). He will try to kill anyone who refuses to get this mark.

Revelation says that anyone who receives the mark of the beast will go into hell (Rev. 14:9-11). People go into hell when they don’t believe in Jesus. The mark of the beast may somehow block people from believing in Jesus; it will be a means of control.

Finally, when Jesus returns, the Antichrist will be thrown “alive into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone” (Rev. 19:20). He will be “tormented day and night forever” along with Satan (Rev. 20:10).

It is important for us to understand what the Bible says about the Antichrist so that we can recognize him when he appears and not be deceived by him. Furthermore, we don’t want to believe that someone is the Antichrist who isn’t. And we know that until the Antichrist is revealed, the Day of the Lord has not yet come.

The Bible tells us all we need to know in order to be safe, regardless of what what we will face in the future. And as we follow Jesus, he will protect us from evil. Let’s remember his promise, “Greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). When we are hidden in Christ, we have nothing to fear.

As Christians, we have some basic responsibilities towards the government. First of all, we should pray for our leaders.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

God wants us to pray for our political leaders so that we can lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and reverence. We want to live free from violence, and we want to openly practice our Christian faith. 

Today, in many countries around the world, governments persecute Christians. In China, Christianity is illegal unless it is practiced in government-recognized churches. These churches are under the control of the Communist Party. Many Chinese Christians reject the false gospel taught in these churches, and they risk their lives to meet in house churches, illegally.

In Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim countries, it’s even worse. There the government prohibits people from owning Bibles, meeting as a church, or sharing the gospel. If someone converts to Christianity, the government says he must die.

In some Western countries, a few politicians are pushing to classify some Christian teachings as hate speech – like speaking against sin, talking about hell, or saying that Jesus is the only way to God. If such basic Christian teachings ever become criminalized, persecution will follow.

In the USA, we are blessed with freedom as Christians. We should not take this freedom for granted. We must pray for our political leaders so that this freedom continues and we can continue to live in peace. 

Origins of Government
In the beginning Adam ruled the world on behalf of God. When Adam sinned, he handed the political power of the world over to Satan. This is why Satan is called “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30), and the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2). The Bible says, “the whole world lies in the evil one” (1 John 5:19). 

When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, he showed Jesus all the governments of the world and said, “all this authority I will give you, and their glory, for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish” (Luke 4:6). Satan told Jesus that all the political power of the world had been give to him, and he gives it to whomever he desires.

Satan rules the world through fallen angels – the “world-rulers of this present darkness, wicked spiritual beings in heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).

Once Daniel was praying, and a good angel was sent from God to answer his prayer. On the way, this angel was confronted by an evil angel called the “prince of Persia” (Dan. 10:13). When the good angel finally fought through the evil angel to reach Daniel, the good angel said he would have to again fight with the “prince of Persia” and then with the “prince of Greece” (Dan. 10:20). Today, we wrestle in prayer against these fallen angels (Eph. 6:12).

Fallen angels still dominate many aspects of the world today, including political systems. This is why Christians must use spiritual weapons like prayer to bring change to the world, and not  use guns and bombs (2 Cor. 10:4). As we wield spiritual weapons, we manifest the victory that Jesus already won on the cross.

At the end of the age, when it is time for the kingdom of God to come in fullness, the church will reveal the victory of Christ against the fallen angels, and they will fall from their places of authority (Eph. 3:10). Then the kingdom of God will take over the earth, and the glory of the Lord will be everywhere (Hab. 2:14).

Submit to the Government
In the meantime, Christians are instructed to submit to earthly governments.

Paul commanded the Roman Christians to submit to the government in Rome (Rom. 13:1-7). At that time, Nero was the Roman Emperor, and he was probably one of the most anti-Christian rulers who ever lived. Nero burned Rome, and then he blamed Christians. He tortured them mercilessly by setting them on fire.

Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, saying that earthly governments are “ordered by God.” Evil rulers like Nero, Hitler, Stalin, and Mao were mass-murderers who ruthlessly slaughtered tens of millions of people. Were they put in charge by God?

When the Bible says that rulers like Nero are “ordered by God,” it means that God is the ultimate authority in the universe and that he even allows mass-murderers to rule, and that without his permission they could not rule.

Why does God allow Satanic mass-murderers to dominate nations? Why does he allow fallen angels like Satan to have so much power?

God gave people free will, and they chose to allow Satan to dominate the world. God could have stopped Adam from sinning, but he did not. People today choose to give Satan power whenever they sin. God can stop them from sinning, but he does not. God respects human free will; we are not robots. We are called to love God, and we cannot love him if we are forced. Because God values love, he values free will, and free will has sometimes disastrous consequences. God’s respect of free will allows sin to multiply and enables sinful leaders like Nero and Hitler to dominate nations. 

More Responsibilities
Some further responsibilities that Christians have to the government are given in Romans 13:6-7.
1. Pay taxes.
2. Pay customs duties.
3. Give respect to political leaders.
4. Give honor to political leaders.

We need to pay taxes. Jesus told us to “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” We need to honor to political leaders just because of the office they hold, even if those leaders are not nice people.

Limits to Obedience to Government
There are limits to our submission to earthly governments. If a government commands us to do something that is contrary to the Bible, we must disobey that government. If a government commands to not do something that is an essential part of the faith, we must disobey that government and do what God commands us to do anyway.

There are several examples in the New Testament of Christians disobeying the government.

In Acts 4:19-20, Peter and John were arrested by the government. The government told them to stop teaching in Jesus’ name. Peter and John said they had to listen to God rather than to the government, and they kept preaching. They didn’t allow the government to stop them from doing what God commanded them to do.

In Acts 5, after getting out of prison, Peter again disobeyed the government. He was arrested again. Peter then said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

The government’s authority over a Christian is ultimately defined by the Bible. The word of God is the highest law for a Christian. We must obey the Bible, even if it brings us into conflict with an earthly government.

After WWII, the Nazis were put on trial in Nuremberg. They defended themselves by saying that they were just following orders – Hitler’s government told them to kill people, so they did. This argument was rejected by the court at Nuremberg. The court said that there was a higher law that the Nazis were accountable to – the law of God. Even though the Nazis were obeying the German government, they broke God’s law and therefore had to be punished. 

Antichrist
At the end of the age, the Antichrist will rise. He will dominate the world and demand allegiance from every person. He will command everyone to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead (Rev. 13:16-17) in order to buy or sell. He will command people to worship contrary to the Bible. The Bible says that all those who accept the mark of the beast will go into hell (Rev. 14:9-12).

At some point in the future, Christians all over the world will have to disobey the government because they will have to reject the Antichrist. Their path of resistance will follow the footsteps of countless Christians before them who disobeyed the government in order to obey God. As we obey God, he will be our light and shield, and his kingdom will come. The kingdom of God is greater and more powerful than any other government. It is destined to dominate the world. This is the kingdom we seek.

Whenever there have been great breakthroughs among God’s people, there were also great challenges. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the government ordered the murder of the male babies. When Moses was born in Egypt, Pharaoh issued the same order. Before Jesus began his public ministry, he went into the desert where he was tested for 40 days by Satan. When Nehemiah rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, the builders had to hold a weapon in their hands to defend themselves against their enemies. If they wanted to build, they would have to fight.

We live in a time of challenge. Governments are changing, societies are changing, and we are facing many pressures that have never been faced before because of the rise of technology, information exchange, and global government. 

While these challenges seem daunting, the Bible gives us the hope that Christ and his people will ultimately triumph. In addition, considering what has happened in the past, the rise of these challenges probably means that we are living in a time of spiritual breakthrough.

Do our current challenges indicate that Jesus may return soon?

The Bible wants us to be aware of the season that we are living in. When Jesus came into the world the first time as a baby, the religious leaders of Israel were unaware of the season they were living in. They didn’t understand the prophecies in the Old Testament, and therefore they didn’t recognize Christ when he was standing among them. They were blind, and therefore they murdered God’s Son.

We don’t want to be blind, especially as we get closer to the end times. Jesus wants us to be alert and aware. Although we cannot know the exact day Jesus will return, we can know the season.

In Matthew 24 Jesus gave us 8 different signs to help us recognize what the world will be like when he returns to the earth. 

1. Deception and False Prophets. Jesus warned that before he returned there would be great deception, both in the world and in the church. This deception will be so great that Christians would be in danger of being snared. As we look out into the world and in the church, it appears that we live in a time of deception. There are many false teachings and false prophecies today.

2. Wars and Rumors of Wars. Jesus said that another sign of the end would be hearing about wars and rumors of wars. Today, we often hear about wars and rumors of wars. The news of a war halfway around the world speeds all across the globe in seconds. Centuries ago, such information would not have reached most people, whereas today it is very common. In addition, the war with the most deaths the world has ever seen – WWII – happened only a generation ago.

3. Famines. We don’t see a lot of famines today, but throughout history, there have been famines that killed millions of people. Famine might increase in the future, but it is less today.

4. Pestilences. We see the increase of some diseases today, and a disease (Covid-19) is currently dominating many aspects of our nation.

5. Earthquakes. It appears that earthquakes are increasing. This is partially because there is more seismic measuring equipment all over the world, and more earthquakes are being recorded. Even so, scientists tell us that within the last 10 years there have been more earthquakes than normal.

6. Persecution. Today Christians face much persecution, especially in China, the Muslim world, and India. Christianity is illegal in many countries like Saudi Arabia, and if anyone converts to Christ in countries like this he will be killed. According to some sources, more Christians have been killed for their faith in the last century than all preceding centuries combined. This is partially because there are more Christians in the world today, but it is also because there is widespread hostility to the gospel. This persecution will increase as we get closer to the end of the age.

7. Love of Many Grows Cold. Today we see the love of many growing cold, both inside the church and outside. There is rudeness, coarseness, and harshness. Jesus says the reason for this loss of love is because lawlessness will increase, with people disregarding the commands of God. To counteract this trend, we should keep our love strong. Love, love, love! Keep loving and being kind, even when others aren’t.

8. Abomination of Desolation. The abomination of desolation is probably connected to the rise of the Antichrist. We do not yet see the Antichrist, and therefore we don’t see the abomination of desolation. When the Antichrist appears and the abomination of desolation is revealed, there will be great tribulation.

To summarize, we see many of these signs of the end times coming to pass before our eyes, like deception, earthquakes, wars, persecution, love growing cold, and pestilence. Some of these signs we have seen throughout history, but they seem to be increasing now. Other signs (like famine) we actually see lessening. One of the major signs, the abomination of desolation, we do not yet see.

In conclusion, we must stay alert and spiritually strong. Many signs of the end are being fulfilled in our time. This means there are many challenges. But as challenges increase, so do opportunities. Let’s focus on Jesus, and make the most of these opportunities, for we will see spiritual breakthrough.

“So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21:31).

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).

Meekness is an important quality for Christians. Meekness is similar to humility and gentleness in the Bible.

Meekness is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). Biblical meekness is not a natural personality trait, but it is a supernatural quality that is produced in us by the Holy Spirit.

Christians are commanded to pursue meekness (1 Tim. 6:11). We are commanded to show all meekness to all men (Tit. 3:2). We are instructed to behave with meekness (Eph. 4:2). We are told that meekness is very valuable to God (1 Pet. 3:4). 

In today’s world it is hard to find good examples of meekness. There is a lot of roughness and coarseness in the world’s conversation. For many ancient philosophers and cultures, meekness was not a virtue, just like today. For Aristotle, meekness was almost a vice. Beethoven ridiculed meekness when he said that “power is the moral principle of those who excel others.” Meekness is often not valued by the world.
Jesus said, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all” (Mark 10:42-45).

The leaders of God’s kingdom are called to be meek. This is opposite the way the world works. The people of the world lead by asserting human power and force of personality. God’s leaders are to lead in a different way. The best leaders are meek.

When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, he was a very good leader. At the same time, he was the meekest man on the earth (Num. 12:1-3). Moses was meek because he trusted in God’s power, not his own power.

There was a time in Moses’ life when he was not meek. When he was the prince of Egypt, he tried to do things through the power of his flesh, and he became a murderer. This did not work, and he fled from Egypt. Then after 40 years in the wilderness, he became a meek man. He trusted in God, not in himself. He became a successful leader who overthrew Egypt, the mightiest nation on earth.

Some people misunderstand meekness and think that meekness equals weakness. This is not true. Meekness means trusting in the strength and power of God, and resting in him and waiting for his mighty hand to work. It means not taking things into one’s own hands, but waiting for God to do awesome things. Meekness is relying on God, not on oneself. 

Jesus Christ was meek (Matt. 11:29, Matt, 21:5). He trusted totally in his Father and operated in the Spirit. There are many examples in the Bible of Jesus showing strength when he spoke to others and interacted with them. He was not weak, nor was he rude. He did not lash out at others in his flesh. John 18:23 is one example.

Paul was another meek man (2 Cor. 10:1). Although Paul spoke up for himself, for truth, and for God, he didn’t fight for his rights or struggle in his flesh against his persecutors. He certainly did not cower in defeat. He was strong in faith, trusting in God. One example of this is found in Acts 16:37. Paul accomplished many amazing things in the earth because of his meekness.

Meekness is not weakness. On the other hand meekness is not quarrelsome or argumentative. It does not get angry suddenly. It does not harbor malice or bitterness in the heart. Meekness enables the heart to be full of the infinite power of God and rest in him.

The wicked are not meek. When they are persecuted or offended, they release many bad things out of themselves. This is illustrated in Isa. 57:20 which says the wicked are like “the troubled sea that throws up mire and dirt.” When the wicked are disturbed, they respond by throwing up mire and dirt – harmful words or actions. When this happens, they and the people around them have no peace.

Meekness turns the other cheek (Matt. 5:39). This takes strength. It takes strength to turn the other cheek after one cheek has already been hit; it is easier to cower on the ground in fear or run away. To stand tall and turn the other cheek takes supernatural strength. This shows thatit is not easy to be meek. Meekness does not come naturally; it comes from the Holy Spirit.

Meekness is willing to endure hostility from sinners (Heb. 12:3).

Meekness is willing to allow itself to be defrauded and not fight back (1 Cor 6:7).

Meekness does not avenge itself. When mistreated, meekness trusts in God to make things right. In doing so, meekness leaves place for God’s wrath to come and rectify injustice. When we avenge ourselves we take away the opportunity for God to act on our behalf and bring justice (Rom. 12:19). God does not want his children to be mistreated or abused. He is a just God. When we don’t fight for ourselves, God will take just vengeance for us. God will defend us.

Meekness does not shout back when it is shouted at. Meekness does not threaten others when it is threatened (1 Peter 2:19-22).

Meekness is necessary when teaching Christian truth to others – whether to believers or unbelievers (2 Tim 2:25).
Finally, Jesus promises that the meek will inherit the earth. An inheritance is not gained because of a person’s energy, skill, or power. An inheritance is gained simply because the owner of a possession died. By virtue of a close relationship with that owner, a person became that owner’s heir and was included in his will or testament. Death causes the inheritance to pass on to the heir.

The earth belonged to Jesus from the beginning of the world. He died on the cross. Now all his possessions, including the earth, become our possessions because we are his heirs. The reality of our ownership of the earth will become clear in eternity, after Jesus comes back.

Let us pursue meekness. It is the pathway to peace in this life, and to glory in the next.

Over the past few weeks we have been looking at the 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3. We have learned a lot from these churches. Church is the most important organization we are a part of on the earth.

One lesson we learn from these 7 churches is that churches can be deceived. 

A recent poll taken of evangelical Christians in the United States reveals some shocking things:

30% of evangelicals don’t believe that Jesus is God. 

65% of evangelicals believe that Jesus was first and greatest being created by God.

According to the Bible, both of these statements are false.

The first way to avoid deception in the church is to avoid deception about Jesus. Jesus is the head of the church, he is the church’s cornerstone, and he is the church’s husband. We need to understand who Jesus is in order to understand church.

As we believe in Jesus as he is, we will experience him as he is. We don’t want to limit our experience of God through unbelief or through distorted perceptions of Jesus.

Here are some verses that show that Jesus is God.

• John 1:1
• Colossians 2:9-10
• 1 John 5:7
• Acts 20:28
• 2 Peter 1:1
• 1 Timothy 3:16

Because Jesus is God, he is eternal. He existed before the foundation of the world. He was not created. He has no beginning and no end.

What did Jesus do in the past?

In the beginning, Jesus created the world. Everything in the universe was created by Jesus. Jesus wrote all laws that govern physical and chemical interactions.

• John 1:3
• Col 1:16

Jesus is part of the Trinity. There are three persons in the Trinity, but there is only One God. These three Persons are One. 

Jesus was involved in discussions with the Father and the Holy Spirit about Creation (Genesis 1,2) and about the scattering of languages at Babel (Genesis 11). The Bible uses plural “us” to describe these discussions within the Trinity.

John 8:56-58: Jesus said, “Before Abraham was I am.” Jesus is the eternal God, who is “I Am That I Am.”

Jesus appeared on the earth in the Old Testament.

Throughout the Old Testament, Jesus often appeared as the Angel of the Lord. The “angel of the Lord” refers to himself as God.

• Gen 17:1
• Gen 22:11-18
• Ex 3:2-6
• Judges 6:11,14

1 Corinthians 10:4 reveals that Jesus accompanied the Israelites through the wilderness.

Melchizedek is a mysterious person in the Old Testament who was probably Jesus, because the Bible says Melchizedek had no beginning or end.

• Hebrews 7:3
• Genesis 14:17-19

Although Jesus appeared throughout the Old Testament, he had not yet taken on human flesh and bones. Only when he was born of the virgin Mary did he take on flesh and bones and become a man. He did this so he could go to the cross and die in our place, for our sins. During his earthly ministry as a man he worked miracles and gave the teachings of the Kingdom of God. Then after his resurrection, he poured out the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is alive now.

Where is Jesus now?

Jesus is at the right hand of God.

• Mark 16:19
• Hebrews 1:3

The right hand is a place of authority and power. It is the place where someone represents someone else, and where someone acts for another. Jesus represents the Father to us, and Jesus acts in the world for the Father.

Jesus is among his people when they gather together in his name.

Jesus is inside us through his Holy Spirit.

Jesus can be in multiple places at once because he is God.

What is Jesus doing now?

• Heb 10:12-13 Waiting for enemies to be made his footstool
• Heb 1:3 Upholding the universe through the word of his power
• Matt 16:18 Building his church

What does Jesus do now for us?

Jesus intercedes for us.

• Heb 7:25
• Rom 8:34

Jesus is praying for us. When we go through challenges and need prayer, we know that the first person praying for us is Jesus. His prayers are very effective.

Jesus mediates for us.

• 1 Tim 2:5

A mediator resolves conflict between two parties. Sometimes we sin and do things that are contrary to God. This creates tension in our relationship with the Father. This conflict is resolved by Jesus. His mediation is perfect. We can come boldly to the Father because of Jesus, and the Father accepts us completely.

Jesus advocates for us.

• 1 John 2:1

An advocate represents us before a judge. The Father is the judge, and Jesus advocates for us before the Father. Jesus is a perfect advocate. This means we are perfectly accepted by the Father.

Jesus is with us all the time.

• Matt 28:20 Jesus is with us to the end of the age.
• Heb 13:5 Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.

Sometimes we feel that Jesus is not with us. This is a lie from Satan. Jesus is always with us. Sometimes we feel something is a little ‘off’ in our relationship with him. Jesus hasn’t left us during this time. Instead, this may be a sign that we need to change something in our lives (repent) so that we can be restored to intimate fellowship with him.

Jesus is our shepherd.

• John 10:11

Jesus leads us to abundant life, provides all that we need, and protects us from enemies. He leads us to green pastures and still waters. Sometimes a shepherd must lead the sheep through a challenging place in order to get to a green valley. As we keep following Jesus, he will lead us through the challenges to get to a place of blessing.

Jesus is our light.

• John 8:12

Light shows the way. When we don’t know where to go or what to do, we need Jesus to guide us. Light overcomes darkness. A cubic centimeter of light can overcome many cubic feet of darkness. Light causes growth and life.

Jesus is the Perfector of our Faith.

• Heb 12:2

Jesus began working in us, an will continue working in us. He causes us to grow spiritually. Like a sculptor works on a slab of marble to bring forth a statue, so the Lord works on us to bring us forth into his image. Sometimes this work feels painful, but it will ultimately cause us to be blessed.

Jesus works with us, confirming our ministry (sharing the gospel) with miracles.

– Mark 16:20

When we share the gospel or the word of God with someone, Jesus will work with us and confirm what we share to people by working in their hearts or in their circumstances. We step out in faith to speak the word of God, then Jesus works with us to establish his word in hearts and minds.

Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven.

• John 14:1-3

We are saved by grace through faith. This is a free gift. Then, according to our faithfulness to the Lord on the earth, Jesus is preparing our eternal home. Our rewards in heaven will be based on our level of faithfulness to the Lord in this life.

What will Jesus do in the future?

Jesus will judge the world.

• Matt 25:31-32
• 2 Cor 5:10

At the end of the age, all people will be gathered before Jesus’ throne and he will judge everyone.

Conclusion

Jesus is God.

Jesus is eternal.

Jesus is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega.

Believing and experiencing all these wonderful blessings from Jesus today depends on us believing that Jesus is God. Only if he is God will he be able to do all of these wonderful things in our lives.

When we believe fundamental facts about Jesus, we will be free from many forms of deception. We will experience Jesus more and more in our lives. We need to read the Bible to understand more and more of what Jesus is doing in our lives. As we believe in what the Bible says about Jesus, we will experience more of his love and presence.

Judge not that you be not judged.

Matt. 7:1

To judge means to decide whether something is right or wrong, good or bad. Jesus told us not to judge.

James also told us not to judge.

He who speaks evil of his brother and judges him, speaks evil of the law and judges the law

James 2:8

Paul told us not to judge.

Judge nothing before the time

1 Cor. 4:5

We should not judge because we cannot do so properly. We are imperfect and make mistakes. We have faulty perceptions and deductions, and our knowledge is incomplete, which is why our judgements are often wrong. 

God is the judge, not us.

Even Jesus didn’t judge others.

And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.  He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

John 12:47-48

Jesus said that doesn’t judge, but his word will judge. The word of God is the eternal standard of judgement that will judge everyone.

As I hear I judge

John 5:30

Jesus heard from his Father, and on that basis he judged.

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus that he would judge not according to the ability he had as a man, but according to revelation from his Father.

He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
But with righteousness He shall judge

Isa 11:3-4

Jesus didn’t look at things from the outward appearance, but he based everything on the revelation or word of God.

All judgments must be based on the word of God. God’s word must be the standard, not our own thoughts.

God is the judge. His word is the judge.

With this background in mind, we can look at some verses which actually command us to judge.

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 

1 Cor. 5:11-12

Here it says that we are to judge our fellow believers. We must recognize if they are in bondage to sin, and then separate them from the fellowship of believers so they do not corrupt the church.

Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

1 Cor. 6:3

We are going to judge angels. This means that we are much more able to judge the things pertaining to this life.

We must not judge based on our own fleshly abilities or thoughts, but we must judge based on the word of God. We are able to judge correctly when we are guided by the word and Spirit of God, not by our own minds.

Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

John 7:24

We are commanded to not judge according to how things seem to be to us, but according to the eternal word of God.

So yes, we do need to judge, but we must do so according to the word of God.

In ancient Israel there was a small bush that grew in Gilead. This bush occupied about 25 acres of land. This bush didn’t look like much. It was scraggly and small. But when its wood was sliced with a knife, sap oozed out. This sap would dry and become a medicine. This medicine was famous throughout the ancient world. People would come from all over and pay a lot of money to obtain it. To some, this sap seemed supernatural. They thought it could heal anything. It was called the balm of Gilead.

The balm of Gilead is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 37:25. Midianite traders, carrying the balm of Gilead, bought Joseph from his treacherous brothers. These Midianite merchants took Joseph to Egypt along with the balm of Gilead. The balm of Gilead would heal bodies; Joseph was destined to heal nations.

When Jacob went into Egypt to meet his son Joseph, he carried the best things from Canaan (Gen. 43:11). The first thing on his list was the balm of Gilead.

The balm of Gilead was such a famous medicine, that it became symbolic of the healing power of God.

A Sick Nation

Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet” was almost overwhelmed by the sick condition of Israel.

When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country. Is not the Lord in Zion? is not her king in her? “Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?” The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

Jer. 8:18-21

God’s people had turned away from God. They had made up an empty religion that was devoid of God’s presence and power. They had grown spiritually cold. They didn’t pray like they used to. Idolatry had crept in.

As a result of their apostasy, they faced many problems. Their minds were tormented. Their hearts were sick. They no longer enjoyed the blessing of God.

After expressing his sorrow at the condition of Israel, Jeremiah asked a question. 

“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?”

Jer. 8:22a

This question was rhetorical. Of course everyone knew there was balm in Gilead. 

Then Jeremiah asked, 

Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Jer. 8:22b

If there is balm in Gilead, why not be healed?

Spiritual Surgery

Healing sometimes hurts. A knife is often needed to cut away a disease, and as it does, it slices through nerves and causes pain.

The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). We need the word of God to excise evil and sin from our lives. When we apply the word of God to ourselves, we repent and submit to God. We turn away from our sins. Repentance is the first step toward healing.

Repentance sometimes hurts, for it crucifies our flesh.

Elijah was a spiritual physician who came from the mountains of Gilead (1 Kings 17:1). He was armed with the word of God. He was unafraid to speak to kings and rulers, calling them to repent. He boldly spoke the word of God to an apostate nation and called them to turn away from their sins.

Sometimes we need to hear a prophetic word that will take us out of our comfort zones. Such words can be uncomfortable.

Elijah was a rough man. (See 2 Kings 1:7-8). He was hairy. He had a leather belt around his waist. He kind of looked like those scraggly bushes from his home country.

Like a careful surgeon, Elijah took the sharp knife of the word of God and excised the corruption that was eating away at Israel.

Centuries later, John the Baptist came. 

He came from the wilderness, where he ate locusts and wild honey (Matt. 3:4). He wore camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. 

He came into the desert outside Jerusalem, preaching repentance to Israel. He applied the sharp knife of the word of God, calling people to return to God’s word. His cleansing baptism of repentance prepared the way for Jesus to come.

Jesus Christ

Jesus was like a root out of dry ground.

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” 

Isa. 53:2

Like the bushes of Gilead, Jesus wasn’t very attractive to human flesh. But he was the Great Physician, the Savior of the world. 

When Jesus walked the earth, he released the healing power of God. 

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Acts 10:38

Wherever Jesus went, life from God flowed out from him into the earth.

At the end of his earthly life, when Jesus was falsely accused and brutally tortured, he didn’t become hard or bitter. Instead, like the bushes of Gilead he gave forth life. When Jesus was killed, it was for our sins. As he hung on the cross, he cried out “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”

Blood ran down from Jesus’ lacerated body into the earth. From his wounded head, blood flowed. Out from his pierced hands and feet, life flowed. When Jesus was on the cross, a soldier ran a spear through his side, and blood and water gushed out (John 19:34). 

Jesus was executed for crimes he didn’t commit. But he didn’t cry out for vengeance. He wasn’t full of bitterness and rage. Instead, forgiveness and mercy flowed out from him. Because Jesus was killed, his blood and the Holy Spirit were poured into the earth.

This healing flow from Christ brings healing and salvation to the world. 

It’s the true balm of Gilead.

Jesus is alive today. His anointing is freely available to all who come to him. If we ask him, he will apply this balm to our lives.

Jesus can heal inflamed minds. He can soothe hurting souls. He can heal hearts that have been burned by evil.

Jesus is like the Good Samaritan, who saw us bleeding and dying on the roadside. Other people may have ignored us, but Jesus didn’t. He came to us in our brokenness and poured in the healing oil and the wine. He bound up our wounds and put us in a safe place. Then he said, I’ll keep taking care of you until you’re 100% well.

By his stripes we are healed.

Jeremiah’s Frustration

When Jeremiah spoke of the balm of Gilead, he was upset. He was upset not only because of the apostasy of God’s people, but because there was a solution to their problems and they were not healed.

If there is balm in Gilead, then why not use it? Why not apply the healing power of God to your life?

The medicine is stronger than the disease.

The solution is greater than the problem.

In those days, sick people might have had a reason not to apply the balm of Gilead to their lives. It was expensive and hard to obtain. Maybe they couldn’t afford to buy the balm of Gilead.

But today, we are without excuse.

The balm of Gilead is freely available to anyone who wants it. There is no limit to the salvation that is available in Jesus Christ. He can do anything. He has infinite resources. He is a well that will never run dry. And his salvation is available for free without money and price.

We have all that we need for complete spiritual healing and victory in Jesus. He has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We can receive this salvation in faith, forsake our sins, and receive healing from Christ. I’m not primarily talking about physical healing (although Jesus can heal our bodies). I’m talking about the sicknesses of sin that separate us from God.

Obtaining a Testimony

Gilead means the hill of the testimony. 

In ancient Israel, testimonies rang from the hills of Gilead. “I had a terrible disease, but I went to Gilead, got some balm, applied it, and now I’m healed!”

There was joy in Gilead, as people spread the good news of its powerful balm all over Israel.

We overcome Satan by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11).

If we’ve been set free by Jesus, we have a testimony.

Today the world should be full of the testimonies of God’s people, telling others about how they were lost, and then Jesus found them. We were broken, and Jesus healed us. We were falling apart, and God put us together. The blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit are most potent healing resources in the world, and the results of their application are always miraculous.

The spiritual balm of Jesus is freely available to everyone. We apply it to our lives through faith.

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Rev. 22:17

There is a balm in Gilead. It’s the healing and salvation of Jesus Christ. Let’s apply this healing balm to our lives, and tell others of Jesus’ grace, love, and power to save.

In the Bible, symbols are often used to represent spiritual truth. For example, the lamb is Jesus, the bread is God’s word, the water is the Holy Spirit. 

The Old Testament has many symbols that represent the spiritual truth that was revealed through Jesus Christ.

The law, [has] a shadow of the good things to come.

Heb. 10:1a

The Old Testament, particularly the law of Moses, contains symbols, shadows, types, or examples of New Testament truth.

One such symbol is incense. Incense symbolizes prayer.

Let my prayer be set before You as incense.

Ps. 141:1

The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Rev. 5:8

As a symbol, incense helps us understand prayer. 

God told his people to make incense in a very precise way.

And the Lord said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each. You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy. And you shall beat some of it very fine, and put some of it before the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.

Ex. 30:34-36

Four ingredients went into incense: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense.

These four ingredients reveal four aspects of effective prayer.

Ingredient #1: Stacte

The first ingredient of incense was stacte. Most ancient sources say that stacte was myrrh.

The word stacte is natap in Hebrew, which comes from the Hebrew word nataph. This word means to speak, especially to prophesy (Ezek. 21:2, Amos 7:16, Mic. 2:6). 

We are called to pray according to the word of God, by the Holy Spirit. As we do, we pray according to God’s will. We are not just praying for whatever we want according to our own mind. We are praying for what God wants by the leading of his Spirit.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

Rom. 8:26

Real prayer is authored by God. God himself is praying through us for God’s will to be done. We are praying according to God’s word – which was revealed to God’s servants as they prophesied. 

When someone prophesies, he speaks the word of God by the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

As we pray by the Holy Spirit, we become more and more sensitive to God. If we learn to be truly led by the Holy Spirit in prayer, we will pray according to God’s mind. His heart will become our own. His burdens will be ours. God will pray through us. Our prayers will be prophetic. 

There is often only a small step between praying and prophesying. As we learn to pray by the leading of the Holy Spirit, we might begin to prophesy.

True prayer is to be prophetic, authored by the Spirit of God. It must be according to God’s word.

Ingredient #2 Onycha

Onycha is the Hebrew word shecheleth. This word comes from the Hebrew word shachal which means lion.

Lions are bold. They are unafraid.

A lion, which is mighty among beasts and does not turn away from any

Prov. 30:30

When lions roar, fear strikes their enemies. When we pray by the Holy Spirit, demons tremble.

We need boldness in prayer.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 4:16

in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Eph. 3:12

As we become bold in prayer, we will gain victories. We need to pray for big things, lay hold of them in faith, and keep persevering in prayer until they become earthly realities. Through prayer we will defeat spiritual enemies.

Look, a people rises like a lioness,
And lifts itself up like a lion;
It shall not lie down until it devours the prey,
And drinks the blood of the slain.

Num. 23:24

And the remnant of Jacob
Shall be among the Gentiles,
In the midst of many peoples,
Like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
Like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
Who, if he passes through,
Both treads down and tears in pieces,
And none can deliver.

Mic. 5:8

Prayer is of infinite power because it is based on God. It demolishes the devil’s strongholds.

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24

We need to bold in prayer, claiming the promises of God and believing for his will to be done.

Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah. Prayer is a declaration that Jesus is King. Prayer in the name of Jesus is stamped with the power and authority of Almighty God. And when God speaks, other voices are silenced.

Ingredient #3 Galbanum

Galbanum is the Hebrew word chelbeneh. It comes from the word cheleb which means fat or finest.

When we pray to God, we should give him our best. Prayer is not an afterthought, something we do when we are exhausted at the end of the day. It’s not the last thing we do after everything else has failed. Prayer is the first and most important thing we should do.

Prayer was one of the three fundamentals of the early church.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42

The early church prayed, and they saw God move.

God’s people are commanded to pray all the time. Their spirits are to be in continual communion with God.

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thess. 5:17

God’s house is his people. God’s people and their gatherings are to be characterized by prayer.

My house shall be called a house of prayer.

Matt. 21:13

When prayer is our priority, we give God the best part of our time and energy. When God is the main one we look to, we will see powerful results.

Ingredient #4 Frankincense

Frankincense is the Hebrew word lebonah which comes from the word laben. This word means white or pure.

When we pray, we need holiness and purity. God will hear our prayers when we have clean hands and a pure heart.

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 
He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart

Ps. 15:1-2

If we want to come into God’s presence, we need to confess our sins and repent (1 John 1:9). Then God will cleanse us from evil, and his ears will be open to our prayers. 

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Ps. 34:15-16

Our righteousness comes from Christ. Through faith we are clothed with his righteousness (Rev. 19:8). Because of that, we are able to come boldly into his presence.

When these four ingredients are combined together – prophecy, boldness, our best, and purity, our prayers will become powerful.

Fire: The Catalyst

Incense by itself will not produce anything. It will just sit there, dead. Fire must touch the incense in order for it to fulfill its purpose.

Fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. When the first disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit, he appeared to them like fire and sat on each of them. They were transformed into powerful witnesses of God.

Our prayers must be ignited by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the flame that kindles our prayers makes them spiritually alive.

When incense is touched by fire, the incense is transformed into fragrance and smoke.

Result of Burning Incense #1: Fragrance

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ

2 Cor. 2:15

Incense gives off a smell. In the Old Testament, God was pleased with the smell of the properly compounded incense that was offered to him in the right way. In the New Testament, Jesus is the fragrance that pleases God. Whatever we do in Christ pleases God because it is touched by the fragrance of Jesus. When we pray in Jesus’ name, according to his will and by his inspiration, then God is pleased.

God delights in the prayers of his people. When we pray we commune with God, and he loves to have fellowship with us.

Result of Burning Incense #2: Smoke

Smoke is often a sign of God’s presence. When God led the Israelites through the wilderness, he did so by a pillar of cloud. When he came down on Sinai, the mountain smoked.

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace.

Ex. 19:18a

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

Isa. 6:4

When God’s presence comes, a cloud or smoke is often revealed.

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power

Rev. 15:8

Prayer brings the presence of God. When two people gather together in his name, he is there. When they agree together for something to be done on the earth, his presence and power is released. Prayer opens the door for God to work, and it causes the earth to be impacted with heaven.

We can learn many truths from the symbolism of incense in the Old Testament. We need prophetic, bold, pure prayers that are offered to God as our best. With all these ingredients in our prayers, our spiritual life will rise to a higher level. Our prayers will please God, and his presence will be revealed on the earth.