{"id":2021,"date":"2020-11-03T02:44:43","date_gmt":"2020-11-03T08:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/?p=2021"},"modified":"2020-11-06T04:27:51","modified_gmt":"2020-11-06T10:27:51","slug":"our-need-for-vigilance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/our-need-for-vigilance\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Need for Vigilance…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Yeshua forewarned of the moral depravity that would pervade mankind just before the time of his return: “Because lawlessness<\/em> (i.e., \u1f00\u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u1f77\u03b1, from -\u03b1 (‘not’) + \u03bd\u03bf\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2, ‘torah’) will be increased,” he said, “the love of many will grow cold (i.e., \u03c8\u1f7b\u03c7\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9, ‘be extinguished’)” (Matt. 24:12). Note the link between Torah and love: true love requires respect for God’s authority, for without that the divine image is disfigured and desecrated. Likewise the Apostle Paul said the “End of Days” (\u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd) would be marked by “times of peril” (\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03c1\u03bf\u1f76 \u03c7\u03b1\u03bb\u03b5\u03c0\u03bf\u1f77) because people would become increasingly narcissistic, self-absorbed, infatuated with their own self-importance, abusive toward others, disrespectful to elders, ungrateful, heartless, unforgiving, without self-control, brutal, treacherous, and so on (2 Tim. 3:1-4). When Paul said “times of peril,” he used the same word (\u03c7\u03b1\u03bb\u03b5\u03c0\u03bf\u1f77) that described the character of the demonaics<\/em> mentioned in Matthew 8:28. Therefore, in light of the spiritual war that rages all around us, it is vital that we remain firmly rooted in what is real by taking hold of our identity and provision as children of God.<\/p>\n

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“God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power (\u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \/ \u03b4\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03b9\u03c2) and of love (\u1f00\u03b3\u1f71\u03c0\u03b7), and of a “sound mind” (\u03c3\u03c9\u03c6\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u1f79\u03c2), i.e., a “delivered” mind, “healed” from carnal fears (2 Tim. 1:7). We are not to be troubled like the world that lives in terror of man, nor are we to crave \u201csecurity\u201d from the vain devices of mere men (Jer. 17:5). No – we must look to God Almighty, the Master of the Universe. He alone is our Refuge and Defense, the One who gives us steadfast love in the midst of these storms.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor you yourselves are fully aware (i.e., \u1f00\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03b2\u1ff6\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f34\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5, \u201cyou carefully know\u201d) that the Day of the LORD (\u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd\u05be\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4) will come like a thief in the night\u201d (see Matt. 24:42; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15). While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman (i.e., the birthpangs of Mashiach: \u05d7\u05b6\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d7), and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief\u201d (1 Thess. 5:2-4). Note that a characteristic of this season will be a emphasis on peace and \u201csecurity,\u201d that is, setting up a ubiquitous security grid that will monitor people… In light of this, \u201clet us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.. having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation (\u1f10\u03bb\u03c0\u1f77\u03b4\u03b1 \u03c3\u03c9\u03c4\u03b7\u03c1\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2). For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain deliverance through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah\u201d (1 Thess. 5:6-9).<\/p>\n

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…<\/p>\n