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Called to a Fight of Faith
Episode #733
12/20/2020
With Martha Kilpatrick and hosted by John Enslow
This the continuation of a series of podcasts started in Episode #732
For many our faith is being tested in this season of our country and our life. We are in a fight of faith.
Martha:
And I, I would refer it to the rapture.
Truly I tell you, this generation (those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place. The sky and the earth (the universe, the world) will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
So those words stay. And I felt that the generation it was talking about was everyone who’s been born since 1948 until the present hour. So, everyone who’s 80 years and less could be in this category.
John:
Wow!
Martha:
That…I was born in 1940 so I’m in that category. And I might see, I might be one then who sees the kingdom of God come. But I’m not, I’m not saying, I’m not dogmatic about any of it. But it says that you will meet Him in the clouds and that is the sign of the rapture. So, He could be returning. I’m not saying that this is the last days because that was declared in Jesus’ time. But I’m not…I’m really about something beyond that here.
So, there’s a, some scriptures I’ve been on. So, I want to repeat again by your endurance you will gain your lives. So, I want to say watch your life where you have to endure because there is your test.
John:
I’ve been writing on the, on the blogs about Do We Have What It Takes. I had a conversation with a man and he said he doesn’t know if this generation if we have what it takes to fight. And I’ve, I’ve gone, gone around and around and talked about the battle and about when we don’t have a battle we don’t do well. And I, I just make some, some points about it. But I really feel like each of us “Christians,” it’s everybody but in particular there’s a focus on we the Believers that we would fight, that we would stand and that we would have faith. And if our faith is not being tested in this season of our, of our country and our life.
Personally, I was born in ’68. There’s been wars, there’s been tragedy’s, there’s been, you know, things that have happened but there has not been in, in those that I have grown up with and beyond that they’ve really had to…The testing hasn’t been there like, like it was before.
WWII was a test. We just did the anniversary of, of Pearl Harbor. And you think about those guys and you think about everybody that fought they had a battle and they fought. And they had to fight of faith. And they had to fight the, the propaganda. And they had to fight the, the, you know…And, and we’re in the position right now that we’re and this is not though it’s coming up politically, though you can see it politically, it’s, it’s not as much political as it is spiritual.
Martha:
Yes.
John:
This is…We…It may be manifesting in a political fight but that’s not the real fight. And, and the, the surface fight that we’re witnessing, ballots and fraud and all this other stuff, that is so, so surface to what actually is going on. And we’re being bombarded on a regular basis and I have, I have a real hard time keeping my head above water and in, in faith for what, what God’s doing. And it’s been real easy to get into fear when there’s persecution. And the scripture that you were reading talks about being depressed, being weighed down with the trials in the world, of the world and basically…Can you read that scripture real quick?
Martha:
Yeah. It’s Like 21:34-36. And I chose the AMPC because it, it contains…I’ll tell you what it, what it in particular contains.
It says,
But take heed to yourselves
That in itself…Those five words “take heed to yourself”. Look at yourself, see where you are, be aware.
And then it says,
heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down).
And so this is a how-to. This is the crucial how to be in this era, this day that we’re living in.
John:
Um hmm.
Martha:
Take heed to yourself. Stop and take time to find out what you’re thinking, what God’s saying to you. That’s huge. This is how you get through things. It’s very practical.
Number 2:
Be on your guard lest your hearts be overburdened
and depressed and weighed down.
With, this is what we, we can, we face.
Weighed down with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day (Of His return. MK) come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; for it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth.
Ok.
Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.
What a scripture! I really want us to memorize it. You get things from memorization that you can’t get by just reading.
John:
Um hmm, um hmm.
Martha:
Now there are words here in verse 36.
[be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may
have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy.
All the transcriptions of this verse, I’ve read some, I guess, as many as there are. One uses the word “that you may have strength”. Another will say “that you are able”. And another will say “worthy”.
So the AMPC carries these three tests: strength, ability, and worthy to escape all these things taken together that will take place and to stand in the presence of the Son of man because He, I believe this has a reference to His first return to the earth which I believe is the rapture. I believe the scripture is crystal clear if you gather them all together. And this one including the one I used two months ago promise you that you can escape the sufferings that are coming; the intense…
John:
Um hmm.
Martha:
…fire and, and terrible times; the tribulation.
And we’re given here the warning and the way. Everything’s provided.
John:
You know, the one thing about that is is that, you know, there’s a, there’s a whole section of, of Christianity that believes that there’s, there is no rapture and that’s fine. And they think the cowardice way out! But the, the thing that this scripture is showing is it’s not about cowardice.
Martha:
No. It’s about wisdom.
John:
It’s not only wisdom, it’s about those who have prepared.
Martha:
Yes.
John:
It’s those who have done the work. It’s not like you just get an escape hatch and you just drop through the floor. This is something that happens for those who have prepared their heart, who have been faithful. If you look at Luke 18:8 it’s says,
I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?
It’s a work.
Martha:
Yes.
John:
It is a, it is, that, that faith is pushing back against the, the, the fear, the doubt, the unbelief and it’s a work. It’s almost like, is it not, a reward for those who have done the work.
Martha:
Yes. Who has listened, paid attention.
John:
And it’s a death.
Martha:
Well, in, in Luke 20, still in Luke 21,
And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars. Men fainting from fear for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of man coming in the cloud with power and glory.
Thessalonians has a reference and to meet Him in the cloud means you go up there.
John:
Um hmm.
Martha:
And that’s the first part of His return to earth to rule and reign. And so, the…I believe that the escape from the tribulation is the rapture. And I know many people don’t believe in the rapture. But to me…I’ve, I’ve gone through the scriptures and I just read it to you. There is a place, there’s the condition you can be in where you escape these things taken together that will take place and to stand in the presence…
John:
Hm, hm,
Martha:
…of the Son of man.
John:
I, I really don’t care if I, I get airlifted out or if I…I…My whole entire purpose is to be as close to Him…
Martha:
To Him.
John:
as I can be.
Martha:
Yes.
John:
And I don’t care if that’s an airlifting out or if that’s an enduring through or if that…I don’t care what it is.
Martha:
Right.
John:
I really don’t.
Martha:
It’s irrelevant. To focus on that is, is….
John:
To miss the point.
Martha:
…to miss the point. Absolutely.
John:
Because He’s the point.
Martha:
Um hmm. And seeing Him and seeing Him is the point.
John:
Absolutely.
Martha:
And people…Someone said the other day that people wish for the rapture so they can escape. I don’t see it that way either. I don’t, I’m not looking at the rapture as I want an escape out of here. I’ve got to live here and I may as well be attentive to this life.
John:
Right.
Martha:
I’ll only have one chance for this day and tomorrow and the next day to, to live in His will and be in the great, the great adventure…
John:
Um hmm, um hmm.
Martha:
…whenever that’s going to be. So, it’s…But He’s so faithful to us that He gives us all the warning, the dire warning. Then He gives us all the way He plans to rescue us and I just want to be…The verse you just read about will, will the Son of man find faith on the earth. That’s the question. That’s what I want and I, I’m going to talk about faith, too, of we have time. If not we’ll do it later.
John:
We have time for anything you want.
Called to a Fight of Faith – Episode #733 – Shulamite Podcast
Scripture says we are to take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down). This is the crucial how to be in this era, this day that we’re living in. We are being called to the fight of Faith.
Thank you for this word! It goes along with what a sister said to me yesterday, “be of good cheer”. The question for me is am I going to mourn for what I don’t have right now, or see right now, or am I going to rejoice because I have Him? This choosing is hard for me, but will pray for Him to come do that work in me. He IS everything!
That is a great scripture with this. Being thankful is gratitude for Who Jesus is and what He is doing not what is happening, isn’t it? Bless you and Love you Celia!
Indeed! He is the point!!!❤
And, perhaps, as the world looses its colour and He shines ever brighter, it might not be that hard to put our faith in Him…
Sending you my love today and thanking God for keeping you both…
Please receive our love as well. You are such a treasure! This reminds me of what a friend said to me the other day. “The Chinese Christian church has multiplied under a communist totalitarian regime. The Church flourishes under trials and persecution. Jesus is our Life and He cannot be diminished.