Living Out These End Times

by Pastor Mark Barclay

This is an awesome day to live! The Bible predicts that darkness will cover the earth and gross darkness, the people (Isa. 60). Jesus predicted that there would be tribulations, trials, troubles, famines, earthquakes, and all kinds of natural disasters. The Apostle Paul declared in 2 Timothy 3 that perilous times would come because humans would misbehave. At the same time this terrible decay and deterioration of human morals and godly standards fall, in the midst of the heart of the Church, we see the glory of the Lord being manifested. We also know, as Jesus foretold, that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church and that He will never leave us or forsake us. We know from the Book of Ephesians that the Lord is coming for a Church that is without spot, wrinkle, blemish, or any such thing. Obviously, as we live out these end times, day after day, we are going to see both of these things manifest at the same time.

What do you do, as a born-again, Spirit-filled, Bible-believing Christian, and how do you live in such an environment? What do we do about things like the threat of anthrax, chemical warfare, or biological warfare? What do we do about terrorist attacks, such as those sustained by the World Trade Center, the free-world embassies, battleships, restaurants, and hotels? These are big questions that every human is asking today. The Bible is clear about the provision and protection of the Lord that is upon our lives.

One of the most famous verses on protection (and one that I have used very, very often) is Psalm 91. It’s a covenant set of verses, coming out of the heart of the psalmist as he praises his God for the divine, angelic presence that is encamped ’round about him to keep him in all of his ways. I have stood on Psalm 91 the entirety of my ministry life. Since I’ve been a Christian leader, I have always imparted these wonderful verses to everyone around me. I believe them with all of my heart, and I believe they are to be prayed over, confessed, and stood upon.

Every service, as I dismiss our local church family, I speak Psalm 91 over their lives, and I ask them to “amen” it when I’m done. You could say it’s our benediction. I want the believers to leave our facilities knowing that both the angels of the Lord and the Lord Himself go with them and that they have Godspeed. That confession, word for word, is as follows:

I confess Psalm 91 over you right now, in Jesus’ name.I say that no evil shall befall you, and no plague shall come nigh your dwelling, for He has given His angels charge over you to keep you in all of your ways.I say that no drugged or drunk driver, no rapist, no burglar, no suicide, no murderer, no evil spirit, no evil person, no sickness, no disease, no fire, no flood, no crash—in fact, no evil of any kind is going to come near you or your immediate loved ones.You are going to live in safety, prosperity, great peace, great joy, and be a powerful witness for Him until I see you again . . . in Jesus’ name.

I would like to sow this to your family and suggest that you speak it over your children as you send them to school, your spouse as you send them to work or leave them at home, and yourself every time you journey and travel—again, not because of any paranoia but simply by way of standing in faith and speaking the Word of God against the enemy of your soul.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
Psalm 23:4–6 

“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”
Psalm 37:24 

I want to encourage you today to be strong, build your relationship with the voice of the Lord, and confess the Word of God over your life. Find yourself at least 10 very strong verses, just keep reading them and praying over them, and they will bring peace to your heart.I call you blessed, and I say you are going to keep serving the Lord Jesus Christ all the way until the trumpet blows, regardless of what happens on this planet.

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
Luke 21:36

 
To contact the ministry of Mark T. Barclay visit his website at www.marktbarclay.com or write
Mark Barclay Ministries
P.O. Box 588
Midland, MI 48640
or Call 989.832.7547