The Bible teaches that the Last Days will be accompanied by many signs pointing ultimately to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  These signs will include extraordinary astronomical occurrences.  God Himself said, “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth…the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD” (Joel 2:30-31).

Much attention in the church-world has been given lately to the current phenomenon of the “Blood Moons.”  The phrase speaks of the red appearance of the moon during a total eclipse (the same phenomenon that makes sunsets appear red).  Four consecutive total eclipses in a series is known as a “tetrad.”

The interesting thing is that the current Blood Moon tetrad falls on Jewish holidays.  According to multiple sources, this phenomenon has occurred just ten times since AD 1 and only three times since AD 1492.   These same sources note that major events affecting the Jewish people have occurred in close proximity with the last three tetrads:

1. The Spanish Inquisition (1492) just before the tetrad of 1493-1494
2. The Rebirth of the Nation of Israel (1948) just before the tetrad of 1949-1950
3. The City of Jerusalem Reunited during the tetrad of 1967-1968

The dates of the current Blood Moon tetrad and corresponding Jewish holidays are:

• April 15, 2014 – Passover
• October 8, 2014 – Feast of Tabernacles
• April 4, 2015 – Passover
• September 28, 2015 – Feast of Tabernacles

The teaching of the Blood Moons states that when four consecutive blood moons fall on Jewish feast days, a major event affecting the Jewish people will occur in close proximity to that time.  If history repeats itself, something big is coming!

So what should be our response as Christians to the Blood Moons?  Here are four directives that are based on the Bible:

First, maintain personal readiness for the Rapture of the Church (Matthew 24:44).  Knowing what is coming should motivate us to godly living (2 Peter 3:11).

Second, commit to greater involvement in evangelism and missions (Matthew 24:14).  Signs of the times are given not to cater to our curiosity but to motivate us to reach others for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Third, pray harder than ever for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-7).  Extremely difficult times are coming for the nation of Israel.  Thankfully, that story will have a happy ending (Romans 11:26).  More about this in the upcoming message on Daniel’s 70 Weeks on Wednesday night, July 1st, at RLA.

Fourth, resist the temptation to become enamored with the signs.  End times signs are just that - signs!  They are visible indicators of greater things coming.  Learn from them, but don’t become captivated by them.  When you see these last days signs do what Jesus said to do in Luke 21:28, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Pastor Todd Weston

It can be done in a matter of seconds and its impact can last a lifetime!  I’m talking about encouraging words.  Everyone likes hearing them.  Everyone needs them.

Few people if any are motivated by harsh, discouraging words.  “What’s wrong with you?”  “Can’t you do anything right?”  “Get your act together!”  Not much edification there.

Encouraging words inspire.  “You can do it!”  “Way to go!  I’m really proud of you.”  “Great job!  You’ll do even better next time.”   Just hearing those words brings a smile to your face.

Of course, there are times when words of correction are needed.  We don’t always get it right.  But even then, correction can be done in a life-giving way.  Paul said we are to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).  He also talked about bringing correction with meekness and humility (Gal. 6:1).  Speaking words of correction is like painting a house.  The paint goes on better with a brush than a hammer.

As Christians we need to be really good at speaking encouraging words because the world can be a very discouraging place.  There are times when you want to change the words of the old song to say, “Where seldom is heard an encouraging word!”  The world can beat you down…fast!

So Paul gave this timeless word of instruction to Christians everywhere, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph. 4:29).

While I don’t know what your week holds, I can guarantee that you will cross paths with people who are in need of encouragement.  Some, desperately in need.  Don’t be like the priest and levite who saw the need and chose to do nothing.  Be a Good Samaritan and speak a word of encouragement.  It will only take a few seconds, but what a difference it will make!

Pastor Todd Weston

That’s the line I heard from a friend the other day.  It goes back to a story recorded in the 28th chapter of Acts. 

The apostle Paul was among a group of 276 people shipwrecked on the island of Malta.  Wet and cold from their ordeal, they decided to build a fire.  Knowing the fire would need more fuel, Paul took the place of a servant and went out to gather wood.  Paul, the great spiritual leader that he was, never asked others to do what he was not willing to do himself.  He was a man of ability and humility.  What a lesson in spiritual leadership!

It was while working hard for the good of others that Paul accidentally picked up a snake that was hiding among the sticks.  It was no ordinary snake.  The Bible says it was a viper - a deadly, poisonous snake.  Before Paul could pull away the viper bit him and fastened onto his hand.  

Paul did not get excited or worried.  He didn’t even cry out, though he must have felt pain.  He merely shook the snake off his hand into the fire.  God overruled the venomous bite that was no doubt sent from Satan himself.  Paul was on his way to Rome and Satan was out to stop him at all costs!  In Rome Paul would preach the gospel to world leaders.  Members of Caesar’s household would come to faith in Jesus Christ.  Four New Testament books would be written during Paul’s imprisonment.  So Satan was on a mission to stop Paul.

The conspiracy to kill Paul in Jerusalem failed.  That was plan A.  Paul somehow survived the shipwreck in route to Rome.  That was plan B.  So Satan planted the deadly viper in the bundle of sticks.  That was plan C.  Imagine Satan’s frustration when Paul simply shook the snake off into the fire!  Not giving the matter another thought, Paul went on doing God’s work.

Snakes still bite and seek to attach themselves to us.  It might be venomous words that are intended to hurt.  False accusations.  Ugly insinuations.  Poisonous lies.  It might be the snake bite of a major setback in your life.  The unexpected happens.  You didn’t see it coming.  The enemy strikes like a viper hiding in the sticks in an attempt to stop God’s work in and through your life.  

It isn’t just the initial bite that hurts.  It’s the insidious nature of the viper that wants to fasten itself permanently.  It wants to bite and hold on in order to inflict maximum damage.  Many people continue to struggle over painful events or toxic words that go back decades.  The snake bites and hangs on!

What do you do when you feel the painful bite of a deadly snake?  Shake off the snake and keep on serving Jesus.  Dismiss it outright just as Nehemiah dismissed the slanderous charges made against him by Sanballat (Nehemiah 6:3).  God will cancel the deadly poison and you will suffer no harm (Acts 28:5).

Pastor Todd Weston

That’s what the apostle Paul said about you and me!  Read it for yourself in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship.”  The Greek word Paul used is poiema from which we get our word poem.  So the phrase “God’s work of art” is very appropriate.  That ought to lift your self-esteem up several notches!

Let’s keep reading.  Paul said, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”  The phrase “created in Christ Jesus” speaks of our spiritual rebirth.  As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”  As a new creation you are a product of God’s grace.  You are living proof of the good work God’s grace can perform in a person’s life.

Now, keep reading because it gets even better.  Paul said, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Along with doing a good work in us, God has a good work for each of us to do.  As a matter of fact, that is one of the reasons why He saved us! 

Ephesians 2:10 is not a postscript or after-thought to Paul’s great text on salvation.  Actually, it’s the outcome.  It gets down to the purpose for which God saved us.  It speaks about the plan God has for our individual lives.  It reminds us that we are here to do more than mark time while waiting for eternity.  God has something very special for each of us to do in this life.

It’s a staggering thought when you realize God planned out your life in advance - way in advance!  God wrote out the plan for your life in the long-ago of eternity past.  That elevates life to a whole new level.  Before you ever drew your first breath, God ordained great things for you.  He dreamed big dreams for you.  So He planted you in His family and put you where you are for a purpose.  

Don’t fall short of the plan of God for your life.  Don’t be like Esau who traded the truly significant for that which mattered not.  And may God keep us from going through life never really understanding (or caring to understand) what God has called us to do.  

You are God’s work of art, and He has a plan for your life.  Discern it.  Discover it.  Do it.

Pastor Todd Weston