RISE UP or be SWALLOWED UP!

One does not have to be a brilliant scholar to understand that something very evil is happening in the world in which we live. The spirit of antichrist has intensified its assault on the true believers of Jesus Christ; the warfare of this ugly spirit has been taken to another level and there is an atmosphere of division, hatred and fanaticism? Just as Jesus warned in Matthew 24, deception is prevalent everywhere, and it’s not all outside the church walls. We are deceived if we think that Bible knowledge alone is enough! That sermons that “tickle our ears” are enough! That church programmes are enough!

• Nothing is enough except the Presence of Jesus.

• Nothing is enough except the Anointing of the Holy Spirit having free access in our lives.

In this urgent hour when gross darkness covers the earth (Isaiah 60:2), we, the people of God, must ARISE in order for the glory of the Lord to be revealed. This is the church’s most glorious hour. This is the predestined day when our light will shine its brightest.

This heinous spirit of antichrist will not bow the knee to religious Christians who have a form of godliness but ostracize the outworking of the very Holy Spirit Who came to make us overcomers (2 Timothy 3:5); the very One who came to put power in our believing. Do not be deceived!

“Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, they're all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. That's how we know that we're close to the end . . .  So who is lying here? It's the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that's who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son” (1 John 2: 18 & 22).

“And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner than we thought!” (1 John 4:3).

“There are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans (people who pretend to have skills and knowledge) loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!” (2 John verse 7 – above verses from The Message Bible). 

• If we do not treasure the presence of Jesus and His power above all else, we will be deceived, and our love for Him will grow cold (Matthew 24:12) as we attempt to fight off this ungodly spirit in our own strength.

• If we do not treasure His presence and His power above all else, we will more than likely be swallowed up by this ungodly spirit sweeping the world.

God said He would POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT upon all flesh in the last days (Joel 2:28-29 & Acts 2:16-21).

Are we ready to be containers of His Presence amidst great trouble and despair on the earth? Are we willing to let His power flow through us in whatever way He chooses - apostolically, prophetically, healing the sick and broken-hearted, delivering the demon-possessed, preaching the Word of God, bringing revelation to lift up and encourage, etc? The day is coming when “every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Come on now – there’s only one way we can win this war. We’re IN IT TO WIN IT, and it’s not by our own efforts and contributions . . . “This is the word of the Lord . . . Not by might (strength or force), nor by power (ability, strength), but by My Spirit, saith the Lord” Zechariah 4:6).

Do I hear the sound of God’s end-time army discarding their dead traditions, man-made rules, rituals and ceremonies in order to RISE UP and be people of power in this most urgent hour!

- Joan Emery