“The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17).
I believe we’ve come to the time the Apostle Peter was referring to when he wrote these words. We haven’t heard a lot about that judgment in recent years. But that’s not because the New Testament doesn’t teach about it. It does!
In fact, Jesus Himself talked about that judgment in Matthew 13. In years past, I didn’t understand that chapter because I kept thinking He was referring to the rapture of the Church in the last days. But I knew that couldn’t be right because He refers to the wicked being removed—not the righteous.
Recently, I’ve come to believe that He is talking about the separation of the holy from the unholy that will take place in the final days of this age.
According to Jesus, there is coming a time at the end of the world, at the harvest time, when the tares are going to be taken out. It’s the time when the righteous will shine with the Glory of God.
It’s the time when Jesus will sanctify His Church and cleanse it so that He “might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (see Eph. 5:26-27).
If you’re an unholy tare, that’s a frightening thought. But if you’ve set your heart on being holy, it’s exciting. It means that you are going to be a part of that glorious Church.
“But I don’t know if I can be holy, without spot or blemish!”
Yes, you can. And so can I. By the grace of God we’ll be that Church. We have to be. If this is the end, then there’s nobody else to do it. We’re it! We’re all God has. And because He is God, He can bring it forth in us!
God is able! So let’s believe that. Let’s act on it. Let’s pray for ourselves and each other the inspired words of the Apostle Paul:
“And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through—that is, separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God—and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it” (1 Thess. 5:23-24 AMP).
Speak the Word: The God of peace sanctifies me through and through. My whole spirit and soul and body are preserved blameless unto the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
For Further Study: Matthew 13:24-30
Daily Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3-4; Psalm 17
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God's WORD to their lives.
They have seven ministry offices around the world: United States, Canada, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Ukraine and Latin America. Their God-given directive is to preach and teach the uncompromised WORD of God on every available voice, which is being accomplished through a variety of channels, including our Believer's Voice of Victory TV and radio broadcasts, podcast and magazine; Believers' Conventions, Victory Campaigns and Living Victory meetings; published books, website, and social media channels, to name a few.
With the expansion of technology, they have more work to do now than ever. They are determined to let the world know Jesus is LORD, and they are not slowing down anytime soon!
Website: https://www.kcm.org