When I Return, Will I Find Faith on Earth?
Feb 2, 2010
Priscilla Van Sutphin
Today I was asked, “When are all these things spoken going to happen ?” and the implication was, for years people have been prophesying, when is GOD finally going to do something ? All of us have doubted at times, but there is a warning of the times we are in, because Satan is loosing demons from the pit to destroy FAITH on earth.
The Lord said to me on Jan 20th, 2010
“UNBELIEF as a spirit has grown and grown, and is a terror and intimidator in these times.”
The other night, a young friend came who is not consistent or really grounded in her walk as she doesn’t come regularly, and doesn’t read the Word like she needs to. She has had ADD. And she is sometimes easily influenced by those around her, and what they think. She said to me, that she doesn’t know whether she believes in Jesus anymore but still believes in God. Of course I was upset because this girl has had some powerful impartation from the Lord, seen the glory cloud which I’ve never seen…and gotten a lot of deliverance when she comes, but she is inconsistent. I read from the Bible a few passages and spoke with her.
We talked and she finally asked me to pray with her, hands on, to help her repent, then afterwards left. My mind then went back to a time when I watched the Zeitgeist movie that was going around the Internet a long while ago. I remembered that the first part at that time was about 9-11 and the lies told us, then it went on to have a communist sort of agenda undermining ANY belief system and especially in Jesus.
I remember the evil spirit of unbelief that came in the room at that time. The Lord allowed me to feel what we would be up against and it was very strong but it finally left. When it was there, I had strong feelings of unbelief and questions of doubt come up in my mind, strong FEELINGS that tried to make me doubt what I believe is true. The argument made by the movie is very convincing but twists the truth, like the serpent of old who is the father of lies, trying to say that all religion is bogus, and making one thing proceed from another as to produce doubt, when actually the facts were reversed and twisted to make a convincing argument, like a lot of men's philosophies.
The thing is that religious spirits ARE terrible and vicious for sure. They are the ones who killed our LORD Jesus. But this is meant to wipe out any belief in any kind of faith in GOD. If people are not fully grounded in understanding the truth, and carnal in their actions, they will be toast in these days. God is shaking all that can be shaken.
DOUBT, SKEPTICISM & UNBELIEF
Luke 18:6-8 NKJV Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
The Word says about Unbelief:
Heb 3:12-19 KJV Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [ so it is sin and compromise that hardens our hearts toward believing as well as an unhealed soul that still shelters hidden pockets of unbelief in our hearts and minds ]
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
The Word says FAITH comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD OF GOD.
Thus getting the Word in our heart, not just our head, is vital to preserving faith. WE MUST EAT THE SCROLL. We MUST eat the word daily, communing with GOD in this hour to strengthen our faith. The WORD builds truth, and faith, and hope and is our “compass” for righteous living. In Joshua 1 it says…
Josh 1:7-9 NKJV Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
The priests used to bind to their foreheads a sampling of the word in a little box-like object called teffilin to symbolize the WORD of GOD on their minds. You see an example in the movie “ The Gospel of John” in the clothing worn by the character of Nathaniel the disciple Philip brought to Jesus.
"The leather boxes of the tefillin contain scrolls of Torah passages, specifically Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:13-21. These passages command Jews to bind the word of God on their bodies.
"And you shall bind them as a sign on your arm, and they shall be as frontlets on your head between your eyes." (Deuteronomy 6:8)
Certain Jewish groups, including probably the Sadducees, and definitely the medieval Karaites, understood the command to be figurative: that one should always be preoccupied with words of Torah, as if they were in front of one's eyes. The Pharisees, however, took the text literally: the words of the Torah are to be inscribed on a scroll and placed directly between one's eyes and on one's arm. Today, observant Jews wear tefillin both in literal obedience to these Torah verses and to remind the wearer of God's commandments. "
Skepticism from Websters:
1 : an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object
2 a : the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain b : the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics
3 : doubt concerning basic religious principles (as immortality, providence, and revelation) synonyms see uncertainty
Doubt v. doubt·ed, doubt·ing, doubts
v.tr.
1. To be undecided or skeptical about: began to doubt some accepted doctrines.
2. To tend to disbelieve; distrust: doubts politicians when they make sweeping statements.
3. To regard as unlikely: I doubt that we'll arrive on time.
4. Archaic To suspect; fear.
v.intr. To be undecided or skeptical.
n. 1. A lack of certainty that often leads to irresolution. See Synonyms at uncertainty.
2. A lack of trust.
Unbelief - Lack of belief or faith, especially in religious matters.
Matt 21:21-22 NKJV So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
How will be able to do any miracles without faith and expectation in our hearts ? Hopelessness and unbelief kill miracles. Note that when Jesus wanted to raise the dead girl, He only brought Peter James and John into the room with Him, along with the mom & dad who had invited Him to come. The thing is the mother and father were surrounded by mockers. They mocked and laughed when Jesus said she was only sleeping.
Luke 8:51-52 NKJV When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.
The story of the woman healed of the issue of blood also shows us the necessary faith it takes for some healings. Now in the story of Lazarus, Lazarus had NO FAITH. He was dead, and Mary and Martha were doubting, Yet GOD still raised him from the dead and once again amazed everyone instilling more faith in His disciples and Lazarus’ family that He truly was who He said He was.
But back to the dear woman who was weak from bleeding and had been to many doctors, not only did she not get healed, but she spent all her money/livelihood on the doctors, yet remained unhealed. This again shows us not all things can be healed by doctors. And what she had to do required GREAT faith, because NO WOMAN was to touch a rabbi. ESPECIALLY someone bleeding as she was considered UNCLEAN. So here she was thinking, if only I can touch the hem of his garment…just the ends of the tzitzit [hem of His garmet] then I could be healed…so she went for it as we Americans would say. And the Lord JESUS said, Matt 9:22 KJV But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
The word for HEM there in the greek is
NT:2899 kra/spedon kraspedon (kras'-ped-on); of uncertain derivation; a margin, i.e. (specifically) a fringe or tassel: KJV - border, hem.
Fringe or tassel means it was the tzitzit she touched…the hem of his tallit. Why is this significant you may say…
The Torah states in Numbers 15:38: "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, that they shall make themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they shall put on the corner fringe a blue (tekhelet) thread." Wearing the tzitzit (plural: tzitzyot) is also commanded in Deuteronomy 22:12, which says: "You shall make yourself twisted threads, on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself
Kraspedon is the Greek word that was used to translate the Hebrew word tzitzit in the Septuagint Version of the Hebrew Scriptures.
In John D. Garr’s book, The Hem of His Garment, he says,
“ The fringes that God that God required His people to attach to their garments reminded them not only of His commandments but also that they were NOT to live their lives after their own ways. Theirs were to be lives not only of obedience but also of TRUST, not only of submission but also of LIVING FAITH.
In the wrappings, twistings and knottings of the tzitzit is found the mystery of this principle. In Psalm 25:1-3, King David declared, ‘O my God, I trust in thee…let none that wait on thee be ashamed…’ In Isaiah 40:31, the prophet declares that those who ‘wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..’ The word translated “WAIT” in these passages is qavah, which literally means “ to twist, to bind as rope.” It is also the normal verb “to hope”, the root of which is seen in the Israeli National Anthem, HaTikvah [ The Hope].
Those who want to be successful in their relationship with GOD, mounting up with wings as eagles, will find themselves making a spiritual tzitzit daily by twisting, tying, and binding their LIVES together with the life of the Lord, thereby gaining strength that is needed for victorious living. The Holy Spirit, indeed, is the shamash, the longest, helper strand of the tzitzit that binds the believers’ lives together with the life of God. And those who have wisdom will see that they are tightly wrapped in relationship with the GOD of the universe.” [ p. 38 – The Hem of His Garment] end quote.
Is that not beautiful?
Dr. Garr goes on to say on p. 39:
“ Some have suggested that the knots were originally designed to indicate the binding of evil spirits as the leitmotif of tying and loosing knots was seen to parallel binding and loosing of demons.”
That to me is interesting because Jesus used the WORD to fend of Satan in the wilderness. The WORD IS LIFE TO US.
Ps 119:50 NKJV This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
As the Word of God is life to us, the words of doubt are death to our faith. If we entertain doubt, skepticism and unbelief which are fruits of witchcraft/rebellion, we can succomb to this spirit now invading our lands.
Ps 46:1-7 NKJV 6 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Remember the words of Habakkuk:
Hab 3:2-18 NKJV
2 O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, The Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of His praise.
4 His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden. 5 Before Him went pestilence, And fever followed at His feet. 6 He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting.
7 I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian trembled. 8 O Lord, were You displeased with the rivers, was Your anger against the rivers, was Your wrath against the sea, that You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? 9 Your bow was made quite ready; Oaths were sworn over Your arrows. Selah You divided the earth with rivers.
[ Rev 6:2 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. NKJV]
Hab 3: 10 The mountains saw You and trembled; the overflowing of the water passed by. The deep uttered its voice, and lifted its hands on high. 11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation; At the light of Your arrows they went, at the shining of Your glittering spear. 12 You marched through the land in indignation; You trampled the nations in anger. 13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people, For salvation with Your anointed. You struck the head from the house of the wicked, by laying bare from foundation to neck. Selah
Hab 3:13-16 NKJV You thrust through with his own arrows the head of his villages. They came out like a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was like feasting on the poor in secret. 15 You walked through the sea with Your horses, through the heap of great waters. 16 When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones;
And I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops.
A Hymn of Faith
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls — 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. [ WORSHIP IS KEY ]
Hab 3:19 AMPLIFIED [ I put this in amplified as it’s so awesome]
19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!
Now I want to go to Revelation to look at the evidence of great unbelief in end times…
Rev 9:20-21 NKJV But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Rev 16:8-11 NKJV Fourth Bowl: Men Are Scorched
8 Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
Fifth Bowl: Darkness and Pain
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
Now even with the judgments, there is great unbelief, and stubbornness in hearts that makes people shake their fist at God still unbelieving, still unrepentant. How sad this state of man. How horrible their punishment. Thus our hearts should weep at the condition of those around us.
Now let’s look at the POWER OF WORSHIP
In Revelation are many instances of worship going on in heaven. Now if they are doing 24 hour worship there, and responding all the time to events on earth in worship, should we not also ? A LONG time ago the Lord showed me through a book written by a YWAM teacher on spiritual warfare, that worship is the key to breaking the power of idolatry and witchcraft over lands, nations, people.
Rev 7:9-12 NKJV After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Yeah and AMEN ! This also is our strength in maintaining intimacy with the Lord. There is no way getting around daily disciplines. I don’t care if you don’t FEEL like worshipping. The WORD says, to offer a SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. So no matter our condition, if healthy or if sick on our back in pain, if rich or if poor, if alone or having family to do it with us, or not, WORSHIP is a great key to intimacy and entering His presence and when Holy Spirit is around, the devil can’t mess with you much, unless it’s an affliction ordered of the Lord, for your intecession or growth in humility.
Rev 11:15-19 Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
What if the ark can’t really be found here, what if it’s translated to the heavenlies because He who is responsible for rending the veil of the temple has already died and made the way into that temple through His blood ? I’m not saying it is - just a thought. Why should animals be killed anymore when He Who was so humiliated, and murdered for our sakes has already paid the price. To offer that sacrifice is like spitting in the face of God is it not ? What if THAT is why the antichrist stops the sacrifices ? What if Satan does that in response to God’s orders because HE allowed the temple to be torn down because WE have become His temple ? We know nothing is done here that is not allowed or ordered by God. - even the rise of the antichrist. Just somethings to think about. It says in Revelation that the BEAST hates the harlot, and that it is to FULFILL GOD’s purposes !
Rev 14:1-5 NKJV Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. 3 They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God.
You realize it is the BLOOD alone that has made us without fault before His throne? Does it not say that we can come before His throne with boldness now ? Heb 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Rev 15:2-4 NKJV And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested."
If you are tempted to feel doubtful in these times, come to these scriptures and speak them aloud, and remind the enemy of HIS END !
THE KING TRIUMPHANT
Rev 19:11-21 NKJV Christ on a White Horse
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17-20:3 NKJV The Beast and His Armies Defeated
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great."
19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Satan Bound 1000 Years
20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
Remember whose you are when fear tries to grip you. Remember the promises He has given about His glory. Many, Many have seen it come, long before this generation. WAIT on the LORD. He is arising…
Isa 33:9-16 NKJV
9 The earth mourns and languishes, Lebanon is shamed and shriveled; Sharon is like a wilderness, and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
Impending Judgment on Zion
10 "Now I will rise," says the Lord; "Now I will be exalted, Now I will lift Myself up.
11 You shall conceive chaff, You shall bring forth stubble; Your breath, as fire, shall devour you. 12 And the people shall be like the burnings of lime; Like thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire. 13 Hear, you who are afar off, what I have done; And you who are near, acknowledge My might."
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: "Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil: 16 He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
Father, grant to us Your supernatural FAITH. Faith that is a gift from You, that we may endure the coming days and walk in the light as You are in the light. Increase our faith that we may do all YOU want us to do, as You promised that we will do great exploits in this hour. In the name and blood of JESUS we ask Abba !
AMEN !
Go to www.upstreamca.org/freebooks.html to download "THE COMING GLORY" a book that is a collection of prophecies related to the approaching end times outpouring & battle.
