CHANGE Magazine, a Creflo Dollar Publication

Being able to discern the spiritual seasons we are in is vital for every Believer. If you take a look around, it becomes increasingly evident that we are in the season of Jesus’ return. Natural disasters and other global events are taking place with great frequency and intensity, similar to a woman who is going into labor. As we draw nearer to the return of the Lord, it is imperative that we position ourselves to be “rapture ready.” This means walking in perfect obedience to the Word of God and committing to a lifestyle of holiness, without which no man will see the Lord.

Being able to discern the spiritual seasons we are in is vital for every Believer. If you take a look around, it becomes increasingly evident that we are in the season of Jesus’ return. Natural disasters and other global events are taking place with great frequency and intensity, similar to a woman who is going into labor. As we draw nearer to the return of the Lord, it is imperative that we position ourselves to be “rapture ready.” This means walking in perfect obedience to the Word of God and committing to a lifestyle of holiness, without which no man will see the Lord.

The Lord has been dealing with me, now more than ever, about the issue of holiness. The closer we get to the return of Jesus Christ, the more we must take inventory of our lives, examining every area as if with a fine-toothed comb. Has compromise made inroads into our hearts and minds? Are we engaging in sin, knowing we need to repent and return to the Lord? Is there something we need to let go of that is holding us back from the fullness of God’s blessing in our lives? In order to see the Lord, we must live a life of holiness. It is the order of the day and must be the standard by which we conduct ourselves

If you never opened a Bible and preached a sermon, would people know you are a Christian? How would they be able to tell? Would your conversation, attitude, and the way you carry yourself give it away? What about your love walk and how you deal with people who hurt you? Many times, we try to prove our Christianity by spouting off scriptures, but the things people are really looking at involve our character. There are many people who wear the title of “Christian,” but they are not really living for Christ. Now, more than ever, we must allow the true character of God to shine through so others may be drawn into His Kingdom.

Jesus is coming back soon. This is not a Christian cliché, but a Biblical truth. Jesus told his disciples, “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). And in Matthew 25:13 He said, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Although we do not know the day or the hour when the Lord will make his triumphant return, we can tell from the signs of the times that it will be in the very near future.

The Christmas season is a time of celebration—a gathering of family, friends, and loved ones for fellowship, food, and fun. However, many times, as we prepare for the holidays, we can become so wrapped up in buying gifts, catching the best sales at the department stores, and accommodating family and friends, who have traveled from out of town, that we lose sight of the real centerpiece of Christmas—Jesus. Moreover, His entrance onto the world stage would prove to be the greatest move of God in the history of mankind. Jesus’ birth ushered in a new covenant, one that would be ratified in His shed blood 33 years later. We must never forget what Jesus has accomplished for us, and Christmas is the perfect time for us to focus on what an awesome gift He is to us.

The more I study God’s Word, the more I begin to realize what the whole objective of Christianity is about: love. In fact, the love of God is synonymous with His power. A man or woman who is developing and practicing love on a consistent basis cannot be contained. It is the love of God which enables us to do great exploits and to be walking representations of Jesus Christ. The more we practice walking in the character of God, the more progress we will see in our lives.

There is no denying the seriousness of the times in which we are living. Second Timothy 3:1-5 describes all the things that characterize these last days, with selfishness being the order of the day. Additionally, with seduction and deception running rampant, now more than ever, it is going to be critical to our survival—both spiritually and from a natural perspective—to be able to hear from God. Having your spiritual ears tuned to the voice of the Lord is your most valuable asset as a Believer.

We are at the halfway point of this year, and I am sure you can agree with me that God has already done some amazing things! He is on the move, and is continuing to bless and advance His people. As we continue to make the Word the final authority in our lives, we will never lose, no matter what we may be going through at the time.

CHANGE E-zine is published by Creflo Dollar Ministries, a nonprofit corporation. Address: 2500 Burdett Road, College Park, Georgia 30349. Phone: (770) 210-5700. Fax: (770) 210-5701. E-mail: change@worldchangers.org. Web site: creflodollarministries.org. ©2009 Creflo Dollar Ministries. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission is prohibited. All donations to the ministry are tax deductible. CHANGE E-zine does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or articles.

CHANGE E-zine is published by Creflo Dollar Ministries, a nonprofit corporation. Address: 2500 Burdett Road, College Park, Georgia 30349. Phone: (770) 210-5700. Fax: (770) 210-5701. E-mail: change@worldchangers.org. Web site: creflodollarministries.org. ©2009 Creflo Dollar Ministries. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission is prohibited. All donations to the ministry are tax deductible. CHANGE E-zine does not accept unsolicited manuscripts or articles.

Most people are familiar with the phrase, “It’s the small foxes that spoil the vine.” It is actually a paraphrase of Song of Solomon 2:15, which says, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” This scripture refers to a time when foxes in search of food would enter a farmer’s grape orchard, devour the grapes, and spoil his crop. And because the smaller foxes were unable to reach the grape bunches, they would chew on the vines to make the bunches drop, ultimately destroying the vines. As a result, the farmer lost more than just his crop; he also lost his vines-the source of future crops.

Taffi and I are so excited to introduce to you the brand new CHANGE E-zine! We’ve taken into consideration the many requests and questions about CHANGE Magazine, which is why we have decided to bring CHANGE to you once again, only this time it is available exclusively as an online publication.