Many Christians write to us and tell us… that with the craziness in the world, they wish God would just take them home. It’s normal for these types of thoughts to enter the mind of a Christian who believes in Heaven. We absolutely do have much to look forward to. However, that brings us to the importance of this message today. Right now, in this crazy time in which we are living, remember… you ARE already in eternity. Yes, you are currently living on earth, but you will always continue living. I believe Jesus would address our desire to “get out of here,” in the following way.

When the time comes that God has set for one of His children to finish their race, and He releases them from their earthly assignment, then leaving this earth is a wonderful and precious thing from Heaven’s perspective. For when we die as a follower of Jesus, we enter into Christ’s presence and eternal life in Heaven with all its glories. But in the meantime, until it is God’s time… Jesus gave clear instructions. We are in a battle zone and Jesus taught us to use His authority to expand His kingdom and produce kingdom fruit—either until He comes to take us home or until we die in the Lord.

In the meantime, we are commanded to be salt and light to those in the world. Every person will live for eternity—either in heaven or hell. It is our assignment to pray, to fight our enemy with the power of God and to win. Every day people are still finding Jesus as Savior and Lord. Every eternal soul is of great value to the Lord and He is counting on us to do our part. The Bible clearly states, “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” Romans 11:25. There is a moment in our future when the “fullness of the gentiles will come in” and God will say… “NOW it’s time!”

Here we are again, needing to be reminded that we have been bought with a price—the blood and death of Jesus. We are not our own but His, to lead and direct for eternity. He desires to live His life through us. And He always desires “that none should perish” (2 Peter 3:9).

It is true that Heaven is an awesome place. And this world is getting spiritually darker and more depressing for many. For the believer, Heaven is our home. The song says it well. “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through…” But it goes on to state another truth. “…my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.” It is while we are on earth that we store up treasures in Heaven. In fact, it is only on earth that we can store up eternal treasures. We must not diminish our God-given opportunity during our life now!

It is also important to consider all that Jesus taught His followers. In Luke 19:13 He said, “And He called His ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, ‘Occupy till I come.'” Those that follow Jesus are instructed to occupy until He returns. The word occupy in this context is really a military term. It means to hold possession of, or take control. When military men conquer troops or territory, it is called occupation. If we pull out early, evil takes over, as it will after the rapture.

In order for the current day Church to effectively “occupy” until Jesus comes, most of us will need to change our attitude. It’s not about just impatiently waiting for Jesus to return or waiting until we die. We must not see ourselves as people who struggle in a world that’s gone berserk, but as victors who possess the keys of God’s Kingdom. We are His—we are taking our sacred place in the remnant Church to continue God’s assignment until He determines it is complete.

Remember Jesus said, “…whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18. Whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” We are not to simply endure. We are to establish God’s kingdom wherever we go and act on God’s behalf in every situation.

Ephesians 6:13-17 tells us, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…”

Jesus has already won the victory. He took authority over sin and death when He rose from the grave. Satan was defeated at Calvary. Friends, we need to change our perspective. We are not on the defensive. Instead we are aggressors on the offense—fighting with weapons that are not natural to this world, but superior. In other words, our weapons are things like: righteousness, love, patience, prayer and faith. We should stay on the offense knowing that we’re not fighting a battle of flesh and blood. Our battle is a spiritual one—fought with superior spiritual weapons.

If anyone ought to be on the defensive, it should be Satan and his cohorts. I am fully aware that we, as believers, are the remnant. Our group is smaller in number. But let’s not forget about Gideon’s army. Gideon had a fraction of the size of the army he opposed, but with God they won an incredible victory for future generations to learn from. With God—you and I are winning the war.

You may at times feel like a weakling in your own strength. But if you put on God’s armor properly, Satan may not even know that it is you inside. All he will see and hear is the authority of Jesus. With skill and practice you can look and act much like Jesus did when He walked this earth. The enemy will look at you (wrapped inside God’s armor)—and you will appear to have the power and strength of the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus said, “These things you will do and greater things because I go to My Father” John 14:12.

Brothers and sisters, we are in the last days, no doubt. The days are growing more evil every year as the enemy prepares the way for the Antichrist to appear. Do not neglect putting on His armor each day. And don’t just put it on. Keep it on. Wear all of it. Keep in mind that it is His armor. Use that armor to keep evil away from you and your family and your business through your prayers of faith.

Go on the offense. Act like Jesus did when He was in the boat and the disciples were worried about the wind and the waves (natural circumstances). Jesus did not plead for God to save Him… He spoke directly to the storm when He said, “Be still.” Why not use that same confidence when you pray for your personal protection? Use that same prayer of faith to keep evil away from your finances, your health, your loved ones and your personal affairs. Use that same prayer of faith for the salvation of your neighbors, your relatives, those who God puts on your heart. Go on the offense.

If you’ve given your heart and life to Jesus, as I and millions of others have, then we are the Body of Christ in the earth. We are called to be light and salt in this world for as long as possible. Dear brothers and sisters, I strongly encourage you to occupy faithfully until Jesus returns or until He calls you Home.

Remember, with God nothing is impossible.

Dale and Paula

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What Others Are Saying:
  “The world has lost it’s mind. Good is bad, bad is good. On top of that we’re witnessing the rapid decline of our country. Please Jesus come soon.” S.T.
  “Dale what an awesome message. You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Thank you for this strong exhortation for the body of Christ.” Judith
   “Being a Christian is SO MUCH MORE than getting dressed up and going to a building on Sunday, … and sitting down and then standing up and singing and sitting down and then listening to a sermon and standing up and singing…(etc.). That ain’t it AT ALL…..” Q76
  “Thank you both so much for this glorious teaching from God’s Word.” Marilyn
   “Thank you for sharing your story and your experience you went through, just love it and I’m going to listen to it again. Bless you Dale.”💙 Marion

 

Not sure you’re going to HEAVEN? Then click on the following video link: “Jesus said, You Must Be Born Again.”

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