Hindering Jesus’ Coming

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.  —I Timothy 2:1-3 

Prayer is the key to the coming of the Lord, the End-Time Harvest, and you being counted worthy to escape all the things that will come upon the earth.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.  —Luke 21:36 

One condition I can find in Scripture that is delaying the appearing of the Lord is the manifestation of the Glorious Church.  We are the ministers of reconciliation on the earth; we are given the assignment of reconciling people to God, which is simply presenting the Gospel so people may be born again (II Cor. 5:18-19).  In being entrusted with such an assignment, we are instructed to pray for the laborers because they are few. Laborers are people who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and pick up their part in the ministry of reconciliation.  We have many in the Body of Christ today that have yet to pick up their assignments.  Are you praying for souls?  Are you testifying of Jesus?  Are you supporting a ministry that testifies of His goodness?

Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.  —Matthew 9:37-38 

In these Scriptures, we are instructed to watch what’s happening to the world and understand the times in which we live.  Also, we are to pray for souls to come into the Kingdom of God and for those in authority.  We pray for those in authority, so we may have a peaceful environment to preach the Gospel.  Freedom to preach the Gospel is something we have enjoyed in our country since its conception; however, now this freedom is being threatened by a communist movement—PRAYER in this area is needed more than ever!

We do have an adversary.  He wants you to murmur, complain, and bad-mouth those set over you instead of heeding the Father’s command to pray for them. This opening gives Satan more avenues and a better environment to create hate and destruction in the world and your life.

Prayer is to be part of our behavior.  In Second Peter chapter 3, we hear of those who ridicule and mock (some scornfully) the coming of Jesus.  This is not to be us because the Lord is not slack concerning His promise.  However, mercifully, He is waiting for us to pray and testify so people may come to repentance before He comes.  Jesus doesn’t want any to perish.  So, because of the tribulation to come, He says we should live this way:

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  —II Peter 3:11-13,

We are to behave ourselves as ones set apart for the Master’s use, described above as “holy conduct.”  In doing so, we hasten the coming of the day of the Lord, which allows us to become the Glorious Church.  We will receive great help from the Holy Spirit, but we must be in relationship with Him.  This relationship hinges on prayer, study and meditating on His Word, and fellowshiping with His people.  The Holy Spirit is involved in all of this.

People would ask my father in the faith, Dr. Hilton Sutton, “How much longer do we have before the Lord comes?” to which he would reply, “Long enough to get our job done!”  The time to get our job done is coming to a close as other prophecies are rapidly being fulfilled. I want you to be an active member of the Body of Christ, so you may be counted worthy to escape all these things soon to come on the earth.

The unworthy will be left behind, not sent to hell necessarily, but left on earth for a time that will be like a precursor for an existence there.  Being left behind will cause you to experience a part in that Tribulation, putting you behind the proverbial eight ball during Satan’s last shot.  At that time, he will continue his quest, with renewed intensity, to take you with him through the gates of destruction.

Join me in praying for people to know Jesus and live our lives by faith to please God.  In our prayers, we should plead for those in authority to be moved by God and His Word, so that all may come to know Jesus as Lord.  With all these actions and dedications to God’s Word, we will finally see the day of His appearing.

Thank you for joining us in Jesus’ ministry.  As someone who has put his future in God’s hands and faces much opposition, your prayers are needed and appreciated!  It’s your prayers and financial partnership that help us stand on God’s promises and introduce more people to Jesus and His love.  We continue to pray for you as we enter the fullness of time.