Since March of 2020 the world has dramatically changed and those who would claim to be Christians are being tested like never before. The level of persecution is increasing from typical casual conversations that we have had with friends or family to social media comments on our posts. The enemy knows his time is getting shorter and Christ is coming back for His pure and spotless bride. Going forward through the rest of 2020 is going to get even tougher for those who stand up for Christ then it is right now as we will be tested, persecuted and hated like never before.
There is a distinct difference between those who claim to be followers of Christ and those who are actually living every day producing the fruit of the Spirit in their lives and having boldness in their walks. The Lord looks upon our hearts and minds and knows if we have any good fruit or not. Those who have truly forgiven all who have hurt them and walk in humility, holiness and righteousness are the true bride of Christ. They have the fruit of the Spirit evident in their lives every day. Galatians 5:16-26 talks about people who have not gotten their soul wounds healed and delivered yet and how they operate in the fruit of the flesh and then talks about those who do get healed and delivered and how they walk in the fruit of the spirit (and would be a part of the true bride of Christ):
Galatians 5:16-26 New King James Version (NKJV)
Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
The times are changing and the world as we knew it will never be the same again. The demons in people know that the Lord wants His church to become much more pure than many actually are currently living and are causing people to resist getting their soul wounds healed and demons expelled. The enemy of this world hates true godly Christians. Sadly most of those who attend church today are lukewarm Christians at best and would have a hard time standing up for Christ when they receive just a little persecution on social media. The Lord wants us to become a pure bride and pursue His righteousness.
Revelation 3:14-22 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
What does a pure and spotless bride look like? How should a husband love his wife? How should a wife love her husband? When people are not delivered from tormenting demons due to their wounds in their souls from their past then they can never love or respect each other because their thoughts are filled with thousands of words from the enemy each day and causes them to treat their spouses ungodly.
Ephesians 5:22-33 New King James Version (NKJV)
Marriage—Christ and the Church
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
It’s time we get our past soul wounds healed by Jesus and then command the demons to be gone from us so that we can truly be the bride that Christ is coming back for. To truly walk in the fullness of Christ we must be freed from the demons that torment our thoughts daily. Then we can function in purity and righteousness instead of sinning against people and the Lord. Many will come before the Lord and be denied entrance into heaven because they did not have the heart or mind of the Lord and continued to live a life that was not consecrated to Christ.
Matthew 7:15-23 New King James Version (NKJV)
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
We must pursue living a holy lifestyle and for many Christians it will be a drastic change as we have allowed ourselves to live more like the world than like Christ. The coming months are going to get tougher than ever for those in the church to truly stand against the enemy that will come against them. But if you want to see the Lord you are going to have to pursue a lifestyle of holiness, forgiveness and humility:
Hebrews 12:14-15 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
