The Last Days

Every time something bad happens, or there is a political downturn you will begin to hear ministers say "We ll we are living in the las days". Well I could not agree more, we are living in the last days and we have been for over 2000 years. Very often we mistake what is going on as proof that we are living in the last days, and more often than not this leads to what I like to call "Last days hysteria" which produces more fear than faith, it seems that every president that we conservative Christians do not agree with is a sign that we are in the last days. In my life time alone I have heard the following; "Henry Kissenger is the antichrist". "Joseph Liberman could be the antichrist". "Bill Clinton will usher in the one world government" and now "Barack Obama will usher in the tribulation"

Now I am not making fun of anyone or their views, but I think we should go to the Word and see what the Word says would be the most important sign of the last days.

Joel 2:28-29

"And it shall come to pass afterward
that I will pour out of My spirit upon all flesh
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, your young shall see
visions.
And also on my menservants and on my maid servants
I will pour out my spirit in those days.


Acts 2:17

"And it shall come to pass in the last days says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.

It is clear from the Word of God that the most important sign of the last days is the out pouring of the Spirit of God on the earth. I am not one of these pastors who is constantly talking about how weak and impotent the church is, the church has never been weak and impotent and powerless, yes there is a religous element of Christianity that has no power and is basically a meeting place for people who want no move of God in their lives, but the REAL church has never been powerless. Right now all over the world there is an unparalleled move of God, estimates are that in China 20,000 people a month are coming to God. God is moving as never before in Central and South America, God is making Himself known in the Islamic nations the world over, even here in America there is a constant state of revival for those who want it.

Very often we look to CNN and other news organizations to tell us what is happening in the world. Well I suggest the following . Turn off the worlds viewpoint and look to Gods viewpoint, we are in the last days there is no doubt, but wickedness is not the most prominent sign that we are in the last days, the world is no more wicked now that it has been in the past (I know gasp you cannot believe I am saying this) the pagan Roman and Greek cultures in the past were just ass wicked if not more than the society we live in, yes we have legalized abortion that is horrific and ungodly, yes homosexuality is running rampant and being shoved in our faces, but any student of history will tell you that these things have always been in society from it's earliest days, they are sinful and disgusting and the people that do such things and ok them will be judged, but the point is this, these things do not mean we are in the last days. The outpouring of Gods Spirit is the ultimate sign that we are living at the end of time. Dont be a destruction monger, hoping for bad things so that you can prove to someone that we are in the last days. Remember Jesus said in Matthew 24 "When they say peace and safety, then sudden destruction".

Lets look for victory, not defeat.

Building faith,

Pastor Steele