4 things that matter

There is so much going on in the world today. Technology has advanced more than ever in the past 10 to 20 years. Social media and the internet has given us access to so much, worldwide, instantly. 2 Timothy 3 tells us of the current perilous and dark times in which we live. People are lovers of themselves and money. People love pleasure rather than God. The days are that of Noah and Sodom & Gomorrah. People are unbelieving, immoral, ungrateful, slanderous, envious, rebellious, full of malice and constantly profane God's great Name. Many people are perishing before their time because of a lack knowledge of God. But even with all the wickedness and corruption in these last days, we know that God has the final say. God is in control and will never abdicate His throne. God also always has a true remnant doing His will, globally. God's true Church is still always at work and will continue to be until the end. My team and I just returned from a ministry trip in Las Vegas (Sin City) and met several other saints preaching the Gospel and doing God's will. And God's will is the only thing that really matters, not our will or opinions. Only what's done for Christ will last:

‭"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever."

1 John 2:15-17 

With that being said, beloved, let's take a look at 4 things that really matter to God in these end times. 

1. Becoming a New Creation in Christ

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:15‭-‬16‬ ‭

"It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God."

Christ was crucified to create a new, reconciled and consecrated people for Himself. We should no longer evaluate/regard people according to the flesh but by the Spirit. The New Covenant of Jesus Christ is spiritual. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, who was a circumcised Jewish leader, "You cannot enter My kingdom unless you are born-again, fam." His circumcision or Jewish lineage didn't matter. What matters is wholeheartedly believing in Jesus, then being sealed & filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Additional verse:

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‭-‬18‬ ‭

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God."

2. Oneness with God

‭‭John‬ ‭10:30‬ ‭

"The Father and I are one.”

Once we are sealed with the Spirit we must truly surrender to the Spirit to become One with Jesus. Jesus said, "The Father and I are One." One in diety. One in heart. One in mission & mindset. God also wants us to have Oneness and fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14). 

What's also interesting is that all true believers are complete and United in the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:17; Col 2:10) . I like to say, Jesus has caused us all to enter into the "Everlasting Community of Love." The Bible says that, "God is Love (1 John 4:16) and He Himself has no beginning or end. In the beginning was Pure Love, called AGAPE. Out of this Pure Love, human beings were made (imagine, let your mind think). And human beings are called to to love purely also (seek to, try to) by the Power of the Holy Spirit. So let's stop all the foolish fighting and dissensions and discuss what true revival looks like.

(Unity, Maturity, Love = Power of God flowing)

This leads us to our 3rd point.

Additional verses: 

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭

[17] But the one who is united and joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:9‭-‬10‬ ‭

[9] For he is the complete fullness of deity living in human form. [10] And our own completeness is now found in him. We are completely filled with God as Christ’s fullness overflows within us. He is the Head of every kingdom and authority in the universe!

John 17:21-23

I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are One—as You are in Me, Father, and I Am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as We are One. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent Me and that You love them as much as you love Me."

3. Walking in Love & Obedience 

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1‭-‬2‬

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

John‬ ‭15:9‭-‬10‬ ‭

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

As a basketball player, I used to often Imitate my favorite players, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Lol, from their walk to their talk and jump shot! I wanted to be just like them. 

How much more should we align our lives with the Lord Jesus? We are the children of God! The world is waiting for us to walk has He walked: In power, love/compassion, and with a sound mind. Beloved we have the mind of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God. May His grace empower us to walk righteously and boldly. Each day, present your body as a living Sacrifice that wants to please the Heavenly Father. Say Lord, help me to do Your will. Help me to forgive. Help me to fulfill my calling and potential in Christ. I am Yours, forever....

4. The Great Co-Mission  (Local/Global Evangelism)

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18‭-‬20‬ ‭

[18] Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”

Lastly, the Great Co-Mission. The first thing to recognize about the text is that our Lord Jesus Christ has all power, authority and absolute rule in the universe. Acknowledge His power and authority in your life. Give all of yourself to God. That's the best way. Surrender your will and ways to Yahweh. As you do that, God will quicken you. He will lead and guide you into all truth. Gifts and talents will begin to be revealed in and through you. The power and grace of God will manifest in your life. Your very presence will make people want to know God and be saved. And that is the ultimate goal. To share the Good News about Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us. ‭‭God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. We are Ambassadors for Christ in this fallen world. We are the Salt and Light of the Earth. We are on this Great Co-Mission to help bring people to God. That's what really matters. 

Prayer: Father in the Mighty Name of Jesus, I thank you for every person reading this now. Bless them and their families and churches and fill them with Your Spirit. Give them a fresh anointing and a passion to win souls. Draw them closer to You today and onward. Show them Your glory as You did with Moses. Heal them. Guide them. Dwell with them. Empower them. Encourage them. Express Your love to them. Magnify Yourself through them. And strengthen what remains. I pray this in Jesus Name. Amen

Grace & Peace

Andrew Dikas