“The Beginning of sorrows…”

“The beginning of sorrows” means…
There’s more to come… and it will be worse!
You have no choice in the matter… it’s begun!
The refusal to love as Jesus… has brought us to this point!
Jesus warned us… He is in it… are we?
It is time to realize the heart of God in the midst of temptation and deceivers!
If this is too difficult for you… will you endure to the end?

“The beginning of sorrows” begins with the sorrow of Jesus… as He proclaimed this season that has come upon those that are in His sorrow…

Is it terrorism that has struck fear in the hearts of people throughout the world or is it the face of evil rearing its proud head as a distraction to God?
The cold hard rule forgotten by most of us is the evil cry; fear me! I shall kill you!
Hate people as a result of evil… the hate of men and not loving them brings us into that very camp of evil. Jesus died for those that killed Him… ”Forgive them..”
Are we giving men the credit for cunning, planning and the strategies that are the work of demons… and just what does that say about them and us in our relationship to Jesus?
This is not the first time evil men have killed in the name of God.
Have we learned from that? The Church was established and built in the midst of persecution. Where is your heart?
What rises up in us when evil strikes?
Is it the feelings of frustration, anger, hate, revenge and do we take it personal; do we react; do we speak out against people; do we feel we should act against them and encourage and applaud others to act in anger and hate filling our flesh and voiding the Spirit of peace and love?
“We do not fight against flesh and blood…”
Do we just ignore or cancel out Jesus… and what of “…turning our cheek…”
Where is “…Love your enemies…

 Even to have an enemy is not of our choosing but the choice of their hatred for us and our response is to pray for them and to do good unto them...

For those that follow Jesus evil is a direct appeal to our flesh to act in anyway but love.
Is the threats that face us affecting us politically or socially or is it much deeper yet… testing our faith? And who do we believe in and trust with our lives our government, our military, our friends and neighbors or our God?

“The beginning of sorrows” strikes us at the root of our relationship in Jesus.
Will we love in the face of adversity?
Will we love or hate our enemies?
Will we yield to anger and revenge?
Will we be looking over our shoulder and second guessing, reacting or shall we lovingly serve with boldness looking ever to Jesus our only provision?

“The beginning of sorrows” comes with travail for others in the body, family and friends as they experience suffering and death of loved ones. As they weaken in the faith or give up altogether. As they are over come by grief, despairing; as they are gripped by fear; yielding to it and turning in on themselves. As their prayer transcends and declines without hope. As worry overshadows their joy and they enter darkness. As bitterness fills the void of faith. As their life breath yields to affliction as deception now is laced with seducing spirits. As they wax cold to the love of God they walk in the wickedness of self-love twice dead. Sorrows are here what shall we do? Do these troubles and sorrows of others on every side, discourage us; neutralize us; cause us to question our own faith? Do they bring us down in the bowels of our flesh causing us to be ineffective?
Surrounded by sorrow… are we sorrowful?
Are we sorrowful for mankind or the body or family and friends or for ourselves?
Is not the joy of the Lord our strength?  Where is your joy in this season of sorrows? Jesus looked to the resurrection... are you? What has gained your attention fear of death? And so where is your faith?

“The beginning of sorrows” comes as we question striking out in revenge and we weaken to the pressure of the flesh.
When we start to listen to political solutions and make them equal to or more important than the example of Jesus. When the voice of reason not only challenges faith it seeks by our consideration to take and replace our faith. Shall we trust our own wisdom? Shall we place our faith in our reason or in Jesus?
What is reasonable in this time of sorrows?
When fear is the reason for our choices and because of it we question not what we believe but that we believe? Where is your faith?
Lack of faith finds us seeking answers and our lack dulls our hearing God so we seek our reason and the opinions of man. Who do you trust and why? What answers shall those who espouse God give you, reasonableness or faith?
You can try to piece the information of men and their advice but it will just build you a web of discontent. Fear resolves nothing… it just leads into the pit of despair. Fear is the rule of our flesh and the further sealing of our ears and eyes. Can you hear?

“The beginning of sorrows” is the beginning of our exposure to failure… as the darkness is pervasive. Hope eludes us for our immediate want of a quick fix to distract our squirming flesh. Shall we yield? Shall we prevail? Shall we seek another’s lack or shall we wait on God… having failed to love shall we now seek to be filled and share?

 “The beginning of sorrows” is something most don’t see, feel or deal with for they have immersed themselves in their wanton flesh; selfishness has all but consumed them and will be ignored by most that even read this message for they are waxing cold so that denial, excuse and justification are the order of the day. Can you prevail and can you endure without humility? What boast can you have in this season of sorrows but your vocal admission of your need of Jesus? Is He your moment to moment breath or do you trust yourself, only seeking Him as you choose?

“The beginning of sorrows” is time for further repentance, continued self-examination, questioning of our faithfulness, discovering our real need of God in every phase of our lives in light of the loving Holy Spirit of God.  Perfect love casts out all fear!
If we are not for Him in most times of our lives as we involve ourselves with the value of our flesh… we are against Him! The flesh is the enemy of Jesus!

“The beginning of sorrows” should have found us praying. It is not too late! Pray without ceasing… for even greater calamity comes. Pray to hear His voice and know His will.

“The beginning of sorrows”
Who shall be sorrowful?
Who shall be prepared?
Who shall fall on their face before God?
Who shall change today knowing tomorrow may be too late?
Who shall come quickly into the love of Jesus and love as commanded?

Those that endure these sorrows know that this is just the beginning and there are more and more coming and see it as preparation for the tribulation.

Where are you?
Can you see the darkness yet?
Can you sense the drawn breath of death… will you die to self or to the spirit?

The darkness ensues… the hate reveals the words of Jesus “They shall hate you!”
Now shall you cast off the flesh dying to selfishness and burn for Jesus?
Now shall you love… having had the opportunity to, in better days; will you love in the heat of the day, in the face of adversity and trial?
Darkness; hate; the falling away of brethren; can you face the tribulation?
Will you live for Jesus?
The question now is... will you die for Jesus?
Prayer; love; trust; relationship… are you there yet?
The hour is late!

“The beginning of sorrows” Has been given to us by God… shall we continue to fail or shall we humbly come to Him and receive this love that is so needed in this time of trouble. You cannot give what you don’t have. The abundance that is needed is not mammon it is love. Living water flows continually… immerse yourself… join with others in loving relationship and share with a world that thirsts…

“The beginning of sorrows”
Has found you where and why?
Where are the prophets… who cannot see… who collect mammon… why have they not shown you these things… who has prepared you… who has instructed you?
Still following the blind guides?
Could one of those guides be you?

“The beginning of sorrows”
Reveals the agenda of the heart… it is not about anything but faith!
Faith which works by the eternal love of Jesus…

Will your resolve be, to try to find a way of comfort, a way of distraction, a way of escape or will you finally live in faith! And because of it love as He commanded us to?

Think on these things… and pray…
The answers are in Jesus… but will you be?

Jesus Christ’s Community at Hebron

 www.jesuschrists.com