The Increase of Light
Filed under The Kingdom of God on March 15th, 2009 by Bryan Purtle
“The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore, let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” -Rom. 13.12
The nature of God’s Kingdom, the way of His government, the glory of His leadership has everything to do with increase. When it comes to the vision of His coming Kingdom, the day when He returns to set the world aright, we see pictures of upheaval, shaking, and trial, followed by everlasting peace, abiding joy, and the entire universe permanently being marked by the righteousness of God. The visions and words of the Biblical Prophets are sure words, completely worthy of our examination, reflection, and obedience. The neglect of the Biblical Prophets has done great damage to the Church in our generation.
Yet and still, it is quite possible in thinking about future tribulation and glory to be distracted from the glory of the Kingdom which the Lord intends to break into the earth through the fallen “earthen vessels” that we are. Paul’s perception of the end of the age is not pessimistic or depressive. He was fully aware of the shakings to come, the future toppling of governments, the cataclysm and trials that lie ahead. Indeed, he was a preacher of the judgment to come. (Acts 24.25)
Though he was aware of the difficulties to come, Paul’s vision was that the night was almost gone, the darkness was dissipating, and that because Christ has been exalted, the day of God is on the positive rise in the lives of the saints. He saw the nature of the Kingdom in the lives of those who believe to be one of increase: the increase of light, the increase of love, the increase of righteousness, the increase of Christ Himself. It was a vital reality to him, and it is available to all in our day and age who would “lay aside the deeds of darkness,” and receive the Holy Spirit.
“The night is almost gone, and the day is near…” Are you turning from “carousing and drunkenness, sexual promiscuity and sensuality, strife and jealousy?” Or are you still walking blindly beneath the veil of darkness? Turn from the night, for the day is dawning friends. It is time to receive the Holy Spirit, and if you ask the Father for bread He will not give you a stone.
When the Holy Spirit comes, He will show you the Christ in the beauty of His holiness, and the glorious light of His nature will increase in your life.
Tags: darkness, holiness, Holy Spirit, light, prophecy, prophets, purity, sin
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Thanks for sharing the unadulterated word on this matter.
It is my joy, Jabez. Bless you.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uMpUlVGE_mI/Sxlo3rdor4I/AAAAAAAAArg/8fF-RCw60NE/s400/sunrise-1.jpg
[b]"A noite está quase no fim, e o dia está próximo. Portanto, deixemos de lado as obras das trevas e nos revistamos das armadura da luz ".-Rom. 13.12 13,12
DEUS SEJA LOUVADO!!!
We now live under “global dimming,” with 10% less sunlight penetrating the atmosphere than in the 1960s. The irony of advancing technology, is that its dimming pollution traps more heat in the atmosphere here, yet limits sunlight getting through to the land. At the same time, the light of heaven is becoming lighter, that influenced of this earth’s preoccupations, darker.
Coming with His appearing for the sum of all ages in the atmosphere, after the Millenium, is the Day of Splendor and Wrath (Revl. 20 has the sequence). In the meantime we occupy, and advance the Kingdom in the Age of the Gentiles, through the way and word of Grace and Truth, waiting for and pondering the works of the Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. Who else has the words of life???
The “night” which is “almost over”, with the “Day” coming, as by scripture cited in this article, speaks of the Kingdom and its word working to bring forth his people and coming glory for his purposes on this earth, and with a related expectancy for the Return. What will help bring the Lord’s own into the full stature of the Messiah? The needy of this planet [all of us] need this pursuit in order for the contrast of the Kingdom with the ways of this world becomes more apparent prior to the Return. The practices of Mt. 18, viewed as a continous revealed instruction of the Way of the Kingdom working within those joined in our fellowships, show how to get to the full measure of the Messiah here and now, until he Returns!!!!!!!!