AubreyFaithAssembly

We know that Christians all over the world face persecution. We here in America have been protected from persecution--until now. The last days are upon us and we may not be psychologically prepared for war on our soil. Indeed we are in last days. And are we ready for the last of the last days? Are we ready for a physical war to come to our country? It’s going to happen and it’s going to happen soon. Are we ready? What is our response? Do we hide in our homes? Stock up on food and wait for Jesus to come and get us out of here? What is our role as Christians? The answer lies in the book of Acts. The early church was persecuted and they prevailed because of their absolute confidence in God.

Ministry by Guest Speaker, Rev. Erik Bickelmeyer. The oil of the Holy Spirit is needed in our lives.

When a storm is brewing it can be spotted by people. Severe weather alerts are issued by the weather bureau. Tracking the storm is done by trained meteorologists so that people will not be taken by surprise. It is not the fault of the meteorologist if people are harmed, and don’t get out of the way of the path of the storm. A. God always promises and provides protection for His Sheep. 1. God promised through Zechariah that in the last days, he would be a protector of His people. For I, says the LORD, “will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.” Zechariah 2:5 2. Likewise Isaiah testifies about Jehovah God: For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Isaiah 25:4 B. These promises are meant to comfort us beforehand. C. All the prophets warn of a great storm coming in the final days, which will beat against God’s wall of protection with all of its fury! D. Indeed, Jesus says this coming storm will be so frightful and overwhelming, people's hearts will fail them as they see it developing. And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:26

We need the wisdom of God until we leave this planet. Daniel realized four things which helped him to be an overcomer in captivity. We can learn from his example while we face these evil days. 1. He knew the inevitable reward of separating himself unto God 2. He knew that hearing from God took time and concentration 3. He was bold and was able to negotiate what he wanted 4. He maintained a prayer routine

There is no going back to normal--pre 2020. Our backs are against a digital monster and we cannot deny its existence. We can be ensnared and be totally caught unaware if we are not in constant study of the Bible. We are warned not to have false hope (God is going to rapture us before anything bad happens), ignorance (hiding our heads in the sand and hoping it will al go away), or unbelief (thinking it won’t happen). We must be on the offense! God is on our side and we can have total victory in these end of days.

The greatest enemy we have on this planet is ourselves! It is not the devil! He is a defeated enemy. Jesus was victorious and now we must learn how to have victory in every area of our lives. Through hardship and struggle, we can triumph! We prove God is who He says he is when we renew our minds and act like Jesus would--even in difficult situations. The Bible has all our answers! Romans 12:2 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Let’s break it down: 1. First is the admonition: And be not conformed to this world. The word admonition means advice or warning. Reproof or instruction. Because we were born with a sin nature, it is our natural inclination to be conformed to the customs and ideas of the world system. 2. But be ye transformed. Transformation is the process of sanctification—dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more. It is a process which we are all going to have to do until we leave this planet. 3. By the renewing of your mind. Transformation is something we cannot do ourselves. We must lay our souls on the altar under the transforming influence of the blessed spirit. Our job is to be open to lay the foundation for the Holy Spirit to build upon in our life. 4. That you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

I remember early one Sunday morning about 5 AM my wife and I heard our daughter Stacey in her bedroom crying. We rushed to her room where she was sitting up in her bed with a book of Bible stories that her grandmother had given her as a gift. When she saw us, she began to tell us why she was crying. She raised up the book and pointed to a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross between two thieves. With her little index finger on the middle cross where Jesus was hanging on His cross, she looked at us through her tears and said, "Jesus died for me on that cross." That morning we led her in prayer to accept Jesus as her Lord. That was in 1975 and she was five years old. She still loves the man that was on that cross and is now raising her three children in the ways of God. Many preachers are trying to be successful preachers. They have changed everything they considered traditional to attract people to their churches. Thousands have found themselves in these places but not much change has come in their lives. There is only one message to change people and that is the message of the Cross. Songs have been composed with no mention of the Cross or the Blood of Christ. Sermons are preached without the mention of the Name of Jesus and what He really did for us. Let's come back to the reality and purpose of what we are called unto, and that is pointing souls to Calvary. Let's point to the middleman on the cross and say. "He died for me so I could live."

Brother Craig Benner of Heal Ministries ministered a wonderful message on comparing the characteristics of a sheep and a Christian. Very insightful.

The question to the church is “shall He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 The message to the church today is to “walk in faith.” If we are to experience the supernatural power of God and the manifestation of His promises to us, we need to learn faith and learn to walk in faith. Faith toward God is what sustains the believer during his walk with God. A majority of people attempt to receive the manifest blessings by doing a formula. We have been convicted by the Holy Spirit and respond by trying to believe and respond to the Word thru physical actions and saying what someone tells us to speak. It is more than belonging to a certain denomination and repeating a prayer or confession. There will not be a divide between the different denominations, but all of the Redeemed Born-Again Believers will be one and in unity. Shouldn’t it be that way today as we await the Return of the Lord!! There are those who truly want to receive all that God has provided but the carnal mind keeps them from seeing with spiritual insight that brings the true revelation of Jesus Christ. It takes a person who sees by the spirit and is not persuaded by flesh but allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth.

God searches and seeks after those who have a heart for God. B. The remainder of Luke 18:8 is a bit sad. It ends with “Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?” C. God is seeking those who have “real faith” in Him. 1. “Faith” in the Greek means: persuasion, credence, moral conviction (of the truthfulness of God), reliance upon Christ for salvation, fidelity. 2. God the Father is faithful to vindicate us as we request, but what about Him? Will He find faithfulness among us when He comes. 3. He desires all of us to come to repentance, so that none of us will perish. There is anguish in His heart because there are many who refuse Him, reject Him or disregard Him. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

When I was born into this world, I did not get to pick my parents, or the town that I lived in or the color of my skin. The circumstances of my physical birth was in the hands of God and my parents. I just happened to be the beneficiary of their decisions and I am glad I was born. I am glad I am who I am and grateful to God for leading me along the way. I was born as a natural person. I was born of a corrupted nature handed down from me by my very great grandparents Adam and Eve. My second birth was by choice--when I understood why Jesus died for me and why I needed to be born again.

Every detail in the Bible is so precise. We can see it when we study how Jesus spent his last week here on earth. He put the earthly kingdom in order before He was crucified. He spoke directly to the religious leaders who sought to kill him and he spoke to the common man on how to please God. He warned the church of coming events and he taught on the purpose of the church. Read the chapters of Matthew 21-26 completely and carefully to understand the ways of the Lord. We must be careful not to become disappointed if the end time events do not fit the way we think they should unfold. We must guard against waving a palm branch one moment shouting hosanna and then the next minute yelling crucify him!

Presumption assumes that God thinks like we think, talks like we talk and acts like we act even when we think, speak and act contrary to His written will—the Bible. We often lack discernment and can be seduced into thinking that because someone says they are Christians and they appear to be favored because they are wealthy, handsome, intelligent, spiritual or successful that God is pleased with them. We must learn to recognize and avoid the pitfalls of presumption.

Too many people exhaust themselves in "serving" God because they want everything to be perfect. Excellence and perfection are two different things. God has called us to be perfect--Complete in him. Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. God was telling Abram to be complete in your faith toward me. Don't wear yourself out trying to do everything without flaws. Perfectionism is the outgrowth of legalism and failure to recognize the grace of God. We can do little in our own strength, but with God’s grace—his empowerment—we can accomplish much. We all will make mistakes from time to time. Math errors, saying the wrong thing, etc. are mistakes we all make. This is different than repeated, willful disobedience. GRACE: Christian Perfection, Completeness.-- Maturing, growing in Christ, living our lives sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Relaxed and content. Trusts God and has true faith. Relies on His grace and mercy when necessary. WORKS: Perfectionism--A rigid system of do’s and don’ts by which an individual lives by to feel like they are accepted and WORTHY to be blessed because they obey the rules. Because everything is very black and white, perfectionists do not look at degrees of improvement in themselves or others. Because of their attitude of having to be right and perfect all the time, they set themselves up to constantly fall short in performance because they can always spot flaws. Learn the difference in this teaching and begin to enjoy your Christian life again!

Minister Jason Young encourages Christians to have hope in God and not lose focus during hard times. God is with us no matter what we are facing.

Absolute love is the type of love that God requires us to have for one another. He demonstrated His unconditional love for us. But God also has boundaries that He will not allow us to cross without penalty. These boundaries are defined in the Bible—most famously in Exodus 20:1-17. He uses the commandments to help us to see where we fail to achieve His standard. I’ve heard people accuse God of being unloving. “Well, if there is a God why is there starvation and child abuse and all these natural disasters?” If God is love, why do bad things happen to people? God has been wrongly judged by human standards. He gave mankind dominion over the earth. Men have a free will and they often use their free will to inflict pain on others. Be assured God sees it all, and though things may not seem fair now, it will all be fair when judgement comes. God is love, and yet people do go to hell. People choose hell by refusing to choose God. Their choices do not reflect on God’s character. Their choices reflect flaws in themselves. God has done everything He can to warn people that their rebellion will result in an eternity of torment. There are warnings throughout the Bible of the consequences of disobedience to God’s Word. Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. The warnings are there to help us to see. An unloving God would not warn and say, well they made their bed, let them lie in it. An unloving God would love his people conditionally and not have mercy and grace available!

It helps to know the difference between trials (afflictions) and dealing with the consequences of sin. God will help you with both, but He will help in two distinctly different ways.

When a storm is brewing it can be spotted by people. Severe weather alerts are issued by the weather bureau. Tracking the storm is done by trained meteorologists so that people will not be taken by surprise. It is not the fault of the meteorologist if people are harmed, and don’t get out of the way of the path of the storm. A. God always promises and provides protection for His Sheep. 1. God promised through Zechariah that in the last days, he would be a protector of His people. For I, says the LORD, “will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.” Zechariah 2:5 2. Likewise Isaiah testifies about Jehovah God: For You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Isaiah 25:4 B. These promises are meant to comfort us beforehand. C. All the prophets warn of a great storm coming in the final days, which will beat against God’s wall of protection with all of its fury! D. Indeed, Jesus says this coming storm will be so frightful and overwhelming, people's hearts will fail them as they see it developing. And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:26 https://www.aubreyfaith.org/need-salvation.html

There is a way out of rejection, but first it must be identified. Rejected people seek approval for everything they do and cannot handle even mild constructive criticism. They see any form of correction as rejection. Without help, they may follow the path that is comfortable for them and do not want to take a risk that may fail. That is particularly difficult for other family members. People who are in relationship with rejected people often end up frustrated because the rejected person is difficult to live with. The rejected person may expect their spouse, children or those close to them to agree with them all the time. There often is no healthy discussion or difference of opinion expressed because the rejected person sees dissent as rejection of their entire person, rather than their idea. It’s healthy to be able to be free to disagree. In order to feel good about themselves, rejected people may try to control others around them in a dysfunctional way to gain acceptance.

Today we are going to look at the Church of Thessalonica and learn of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church of Thessalonica concerning the end time and the Second Return of The Lord. ********************************************************************************* I. The Church of Thessalonica -A Mirror of the End Time Church Today A. It was a church that believed and received the Word of God. 1. The church was a benevolent church in their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. 2. Most of the believers in Thessalonica had turned from idols to serve the living and true God and waiting for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10. 3. Paul’s teachings in the First Epistle to the Thessalonians are primarily focused on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

There are many confusing and frightening events occurring in the world right now. Do not get carried away with what is happening in this world and become bitter or immobilized. God has everything under control and He will not leave us nor forsake us. We can only see part of what is happening in the world. God sees all and He is ready to help us if we are patient, establish our hearts, and stay in a loving attitude towards others. We don't have to panic or worry. Trust in God and He will keep us to the end.

It is very evident that this generation is witnessing the End Time. Many of our people have gone home to be with the Lord with the Hope of the Return of Jesus Christ. They lived and looked for the Imminent return of the Lord. They had every right to believe and look for that Great Day. The signs they saw during that era were very important and pointed to the Soon Return of Jesus Christ. They left this world with that great revelation and hope of the soon return of Christ. All of us who are privileged to be alive today have that same hope as our forefathers had and even more so as we see the signs of the end happening before our eyes. Today the great question is this the very end signs before the Return of Jesus Christ? Many are wondering if Russia will have any part to play in the last days. The answer is a resounding “yes.” We find the answer in Ezekiel 38-39.And that is where I begin today’s teaching. I am going to begin with the re-birth of Israel in Ezekiel 37

Old dogs can learn new tricks if they are willing to accept new information and make changes. People of any age can also learn new ways if they are willing to let go of control and take the time to learn. It may take longer as we age, but we all can make changes. If you refuse to change, you won’t grow. Learn how to recognize stubbornness in yourself and get it out of your life!

The Lord's second coming is a prominent theme throughout the New Testament. It was and should still be the hope that all Christians looked to for strength and encouragement. What does the Word of God actually say about the second coming of Christ? Ever since He ascended to the Father almost two thousand years ago, people have awaited His return.