Now that the elections are over, the real work begins. The greatest event in human history after Jesus walked the earth is about to begin—the harvest that is the end of this age. Fulfilling the Great Commission will again become the focus of the body of Christ. The world will soon hear the gospel of the kingdom to prepare the way for the King.
We also will see troubles in this world increase. This should encourage us, not discourage us. Paul quoted in Acts 14:22 that he went about “strengthening and encouraging the churches, telling them that through many tribulations they must enter the kingdom.” The wise and mature do not get discouraged when they hear of coming troubles in the world, knowing in every one there is a door to the kingdom. The same is true of every trial in our personal lives. This is why James wrote that we should “consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2).
The increasing troubles on the earth are so everything that can be shaken will be shaken and what cannot be shaken will be revealed. We have a kingdom that we are called to live in now that cannot be shaken. If we have built our lives on that kingdom, then we cannot be shaken regardless of what happens in the world. If we are being shaken and troubled by the things that are happening in this world, let us use this as a wake-up call to give ourselves more fully to living in the kingdom of God.
As we have discussed often, one of the major signs that we are indeed in the last days is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, as we see in Acts 2:17-21:
“And it shall be in the last days,” God says, “That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
“Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy.
“And I will grant wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.
“And it shall be, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
When the Lord pours out His Spirit, there will be prophetic revelation—dreams, visions, and prophecy. This happens especially “in the last days” because in these times we will need this kind of guidance like never before.
As the Lord said in John 10, His sheep know His voice. Every Christian should know His voice, and every mature Christian should know His voice to the degree that they can instantly discern His voice from all of the other voices in the world. The truth is that very few Christians can do this because they have not matured in this way. They may have matured in knowledge, and even experience, but not in knowing His voice.
I have read many books on prophecy, and knowing the voice of the Lord, I have even written some, but that is not the main way we will get to know His voice. These can be helpful, but there is no substitute for spending time with Him, which is the only way we can truly come to know His voice.
Consider this. I could take pages to describe my wife’s voice to you. You could learn everything there is to know about her voice technically, but in a room with many ladies speaking, you would have a very difficult time picking out her voice unless you have heard her speak before. I could pick her voice out instantly, even if I did not know any of the technical details because I have been with her so much. That is the main way we must come to know the Lord’s voice too—there is no substitute for being with Him.
To make it through what is coming, we will need to know Him much better than we do now and know His voice better. The great thing is that we get to do this. If we will draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. If we seek Him, we will find Him. This is the promise of God who cannot lie. Resolve this week that you will get to know Him better.