As we witness prophetic events unfolding daily, we can attest without question, that the Church is in the last of the last days, the final hours before Christ returns for His spotless Bride. If there was ever a time when we, as Christians, need to safeguard our victory in Christ, it is today. The apostle Paul gives us the secret of securing our salvation in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
The signs of the times are everywhere throughout the world—floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, wars, economic collapse, false prophets, terrorism—these global indicators are clear harbingers, signalling the end of the age. The spiritual battle is raging around us with greater intensity than ever. There is a great falling away, a spreading apostasy that is looming in the Church like dark clouds of deception as multitudes of careless, undiscerning christians succumb to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils that have infiltrated the House of God, openly defiling the Lord’s holy name and corrupting His Word. 1Timothy 4:1-2 heralds this sobering trumpet call- “Now the Spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron”
This is not a warning for the next generation—no, we are the final generation that is witnessing these exact Bible prophecies coming to pass before our very eyes! God, in His mercy, continues to send us “wake up call” after “wake up call” to shock us out of our slumber. All of these “breaking news” stories are occurring at an alarming and unprecedented acceleration. This should drive us to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling and for that reason, I have compiled this list of ten basic rules to safeguard your victory over the devil, who still walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Don’t get hung up over the word “rule” which simply means “explicit principles that govern conduct”. What I’m endeavouring to do as God’s watchman is assist you according to His Word as to how we are to conduct ourselves as overcomers in these last days of time. Some would call this list of ten rules legalism, but Jesus calls it freedom. “If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32) Here they are:
1. SPEND TIME IN THE WORD DAILY- “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2)
2. STAY ACTIVE IN PRAYER- “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” (Psalm 55:16-17)
3. STAY IN COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT- “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
4. KEEP A GUARD OVER YOUR HEART- “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
5. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES- “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Mathew 5:44)
6. FORGIVE OTHERS FOR ANY OFFENSE- “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25)
7. STAY IN FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS- “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhort one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25)
8. TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINS- “He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13)
9. GIVE THANKS IN ALL THINGS- “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20)
10. PROTECT YOUR FIRST LOVE- “I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:4-5)
Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you daily to conduct your manner of living around these scriptural principles and then walk in your victorious freedom every day until Christ comes back for His overcoming Church! Sin shall not have dominion over you! God bless you!
