Dave Williams's Blog

When I first began studying Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians, I was struck by just how timely and relevant they are—even though they were written nearly 2,000 years ago. These weren’t just theological treatises or doctrinal documents. They were real letters to real people facing real confusion, persecution, and uncertainty about the days ahead.

And friend, that sounds an awful lot like our world today.

Why I Wrote Any Day Now

Let’s be honest—most Bible commentaries are written by scholars for scholars. They’re heavy, academic, and filled with Greek and Hebrew footnotes that most believers skip over.

I wrote this commentary for the everyday believer—those who love God’s Word, want to understand it more deeply, and are asking:

“What’s really going on in the world—and what does the Bible say about it?”

This book walks you step-by-step through Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians in a clear, practical, and Spirit-filled way. It’s not watered down—but it’s also not buried in theological jargon. You’ll find simple lessons, fresh insight, and powerful truth that you can apply to your life right now.

What You’ll Learn Inside

Paul wrote these letters to correct confusion in the early Church about the return of Christ. The Thessalonian believers were wondering why Jesus hadn’t returned yet. Some were quitting their jobs. Others were falling for false teachings. Still others were just discouraged. Sound familiar?

Inside this book, you’ll learn:

How to live in a way that pleases God—even in a broken worldHow to be equipped and unshaken by false teachingsWhat the Bible really says about the rapture, the Antichrist, and the Second ComingHow to walk in hope, holiness, and clarity in uncertain timesWhat Paul meant when he talked about “comforting one another with these words”

You’ll also discover timeless principles like:

How to lack nothing in lifeHow to make a lasting impression on othersHow to live pure in an X-rated worldHow to handle troublemakers in a God-honoring wayWhy It Matters Right Now

We are watching prophecy unfold before our eyes. From global instability to the rise of deception and digital control, people are asking, “What’s going on?” and “Is Jesus coming soon?”

According to the Bible—the answer is yes.

Jesus said, “When you see these things begin to come to pass, look up, for your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)

The goal of this book isn’t to stir up fear, but to anchor you in faith. God’s Word is the most reliable news source we have. And when you understand what it says, you’ll be positioned to stand strong, encourage others, and live with unshakable peace—no matter what comes.

My Inspiration

I’d like to thank a few of the men who helped shape my passion for simple, Spirit-filled Bible teaching:

Dr. E. Glenn Snook, who taught me how to make complex truths simplePastor Chuck Smith, who modeled verse-by-verse teachingDr. J. Vernon McGee, whose Through the Bible broadcast kept it real and relatable

Their influence lives on in this commentary series, and I pray it blesses you the way their teaching blessed me.

If you’re hungry to understand what’s happening in our world from a biblical, not a political, lens—this book is for you. Grab your copy of Any Day Now (available in print, ebook, and audio) and start your journey through 1 & 2 Thessalonians with me. You don’t need a seminary degree. Just an open heart and a love for the truth.

The post What the Bible Really Says About the Return of Christ appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

This could literally save your life. Life can be stressful for a leader because everyone wants a piece of you. It’s easy to feel like you’re always failing to meet expectations, falling behind, and pulled in multiple directions. Your calendar gets full, challenges get big, and you find yourself stuck in the trenches day after day, not rising high enough to see the big picture. Laughter goes away because the pressures and demands seem so great. If you are a leader in any capacity, you have faced this kind of distress already.

SOME STRESS IS IMPORTANT

Some stress is good. It stimulates you and keeps you interested in what you are doing. If you play guitar, you know those strings have to be tightened to a certain level to be in tune. The same with a piano or a violin. The strings have to be stressed to just the perfect level to make beautiful music. You need stress, but there is a perfect tension of stress. Too little and you are bored. Too much and you are distressed. When you are bored, you are under-stressed, and when you are overstressed, you are distressed. Neither condition is good.

Constant stress becomes distress and is harmful to your leadership, your mind, and your body. Prolonged distress can cause hyper-coagulation of the blood, creating heart attacks or strokes. Too much stress can lead to high blood pressure, irritability, depression, and feelings of failure. There are a hundred ways that distress harms us physically and mentally.

Distress reminds me of an incident that happened some years ago when an airplane nearly crashed. An island-hopper flight in Hawaii was cruising along when the crew began hearing strange noises. Suddenly the top of the airplane blew away and a flight attendant was sucked from the plane to her death. Everyone wearing a seat belt was okay, and the pilot was able to land the plane despite the big hole in its top. The authorities determined the cause of failure was “metal stress.” When airplanes take off and land they pressurize and depressurize. There is a constant expansion and contraction of the metal that compromises the strength of the metal over time, especially in “puddle-jumper” flights that frequently take off and land.

ALL LEADERS FACE STRESS

In leadership you find the same kinds of stress acting on your mind and body. It has been said that all of us are in one of three stages: going into a trial, in a trial, or just coming out of a trial. My personal experience has proven this is true!

How do you handle stress in leadership? First, it’s helpful to remember that all leaders face stress. At some point almost every leader tries to do too much for too long with too little. Moses tried to manage every detail of leading the Israelites. He became so stressed he actually wanted to die, until God gave him the solution to his distress. If you’re loving Jesus and growing as a leader, you can be sure there will be pressures.

King David faced high stress that turned into distress. Listen to his mood in this Psalm.

Psalm 25:15 KJV
Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; 
For he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

When facing distress you feel trapped in a net. You want to escape, but you can’t. You need some time for yourself but can’t take a vacation. You feel trapped.

Once I was facing a number of stressful situations, and I remember saying, “It feels like I have a pegboard with twelve holes and thirty pegs all wanting in. The pegs I don’t have room for are screaming for me to make room, so I take one out and put a different one in, and then the first one starts screaming.” It was an incredibly stressful time for me. David was incredibly stressed and cried out to God.

Psalm 25:16–20 KJV
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

I am sure you have offered up a similar cry at some point in life, “God, bring me out of my distresses!” The apostle Paul faced severe stress and described it this way.

2 Corinthians 1:8 NKJV
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

Paul’s pressures were so great that he thought he was going to die. Have you faced anything like that before?

You can’t always tell by looking at someone if he or she has moved beyond stress into distress. People tend to hide their strong emotions and may seem happy-go-lucky even though they are in turmoil. The same may be true of you.

Leaders, by nature, want to keep going and not acknowledge their systems are failing. For that reason it isn’t always obvious, even to yourself, that you have moved into distress. Here are some warning signs of distress to carefully watch for in your life.

Forgetfulness
“Where did I put my keys?” “Where are my glasses?” “Oh, I forgot about that appointment!” When you start forgetting basic things, or even people’s names that you’ve known for twenty years, your mind may be distressedTrouble seeing alternative solutions
When you are distressed you think there is only one way of dealing with a challenge. You get frustrated when something blocks that path.Temper flare-ups
Sometimes you just “blow your top.” You don’t mean to, but you’re under a lot of pressure. Sometimes you may even surprise yourself by your lack of self control.Inability to change harmful patterns
Instead of controlling your thoughts and behaviors, your thoughts and behaviors begin to control you. You may sleep too little or too much and not be able to control it. You may find it difficult to push away negative, condemning thoughts. You might think God is upset with you. You might dwell on everything you’ve ever done wrong. You might think repeatedly, “I am a total failure.” Instead of acknowledging a little failure here or there, you magnify every flaw, fault, or failure to an extreme. Every little thing that happens appears to reinforce your negative ideas.You lose sight of any reward
It seems like no matter what you do or how well you do it, the reward won’t be worth it anyway.Feelings of helplessness
You are caught in a net and feel absolutely helpless to do anything. You call on God, but it seems like he doesn’t answer.Finally you become cynical and negative
After too long a period of unrelieved stress you become mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. You say, “Nothing good happens to me. Good things happen to others—they deserve them. But good things never happen to me—I don’t deserve a break.”

Some research is showing that people have only so much stress in a lifetime. Think of a big water container. A little water at the bottom is distress a little more water means a little more distress. If it reaches a certain point, it’s over. If we have this canister of distress we should put a faucet on the side if it and when we realize we are becoming distressed open the faucet and let some of the water out before it reaches that point. Your body and mind can only take so much stress before failing. Like the airplane that flew too long without proper maintenance of its metal frame and failed, you must find relief from stress, or you will fail.

DEVOTIONAL REFLECTIONS

Are you in distress right now? Which of the above signs tell you so?Have you felt trapped or overly frustrated lately? Why?Who knows you well enough to tell you that you seem to be distressed?

 

The Art of Pacesetting Leadership
The above exerpt is taken from chapter 21, “Distress Signals in Leadership” from The Art of Pacesetting Leadership by Dave Williams. for more details and ordering information visit www.davewilliams.com/pl.

The post Leading on Empty? Signs You’re in Distress and How to Recover appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Mary Jo and I enjoyed watching the Super Bowl last month. How can you not love Patrick Mahomes? After last year’s Super Bowl win, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback gave glory to God publicly. 

This year the Philadelphia Eagles won the coveted prize and Coach, Nick Sirianni, lifted his hand and said, “Thank God!  Thank you, Jesus!” 

Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts publicly praised God after the Super Bowl win.  God got a lot of positive advertising from both teams.

LOSS HURTS

After two winning years, the Chiefs lost.  Loss hurts.

Our Friend and fellow missionary, Pat Cochenour went to heaven recently.  He and his wife, Linda were big promoters of my books in the Philippines.  We loved and supported them for years at Mount Hope and now pray for Linda’s comfort and peace from the Holy Spirit.

We’ve all encountered loss.  It’s no fun.

Whenever a person encounters a loss of any kind, he or she will either rebel and go backward, or rebound and go toward a beautiful future, walking with God. We all need to mourn properly when a loved one leaves this life, but over-grief or worldly sorrow can lead to a spirit of grief that can only multiply over time, robbing you of the bright future God has planned.

I have noticed some symptoms which seem to appear in those who have chosen to rebel rather than rebound from grief. Remember that rebelling comes as a result of allowing grief to retain a strong place in the heart.

1. Strange patterns begin to develop, like setting an extra place at the table for the loved one who has gone to Heaven.

2. A general overall sense of gloom, sadness, and hopelessness is on the countenance of the person who has chosen to give in to the spirit of grief.

3. Dwindling interest in other people.

I know a pastor who today is in a major state of rebellion and darkness. He is on the scrap heap of life. As a pastor, he had become very politically active and seemed continuously depressed at the way our nation was going politically and morally. It seemed that all he could focus on was the negative and corrupt.

It’s all he could talk about.

When one of his pet “issues” lost a vote at a city council meeting, this brother went into grief. He lost his interest in preaching and soul-winning. He began to develop a careless attitude toward people.

Soon, he was drinking alcohol, left the ministry, and his spiritual life was destroyed.

You see, it was his perceived loss that opened the door to the spirit of grief. The fact is, his loss was only a minor issue in the bigger picture, but he saw it as a total defeat.  More symptoms that attract the wrong things to our lives after a loss:

4. The age-old trick of casting blame.

5. Incessantly talking about the past rather than the present and the future.

6. Irritations become increasingly frequent.

7. Bitterness of spirit develops and gains a foothold. In Psalm 73:21(in the Amplified Bible), grieving and bitterness are linked together.

In Hebrews, we are told to “look diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled,” (Hebrews 12:15).

The spirit of grief will drive you to bitterness of heart, stop the grace of God from working in your life, and end up defiling you.   That’s pretty strong.

8. An erosion of spiritual passion sets in. The things that once excited you have now grown stale and moldy.

9. A desire to run away from all responsibility.

10. A general loss of self-worth.

THE SPIRIT OF GRIEF IS DESTRUCTIVE

We all have suffered pain and loss. But the Bible tells us to “sorrow not as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Hope is simply a bright picture or vision of your future.

Constant sorrow and grief rob you of a bright future.

YOU CAN TURN IT ALL AROUND TODAY

Turn it all around today.  Jesus bore not only your sins but your griefs too (Isaiah 53). Turn it all over to Him. 

GOD SPECIALIZES IN TAKING MESSES AND TURNING THEM INTO MIRACLES. So, let Him start your miracle today as you rebound and go higher with Jesus than you’ve ever been before

The post SYMPTOMS OF THE SPIRIT OF GRIEF appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

“The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them.” – John Maxwell

Everything Has Changed

All the leadership principles you learned before this decade…well…most of them don’t work anymore. Everything has changed, and change is coming at supersonic speed. To become a genuine multiplier in your calling, you must know and practice 21st-century Biblical leadership skills.

Addition or Multiplication?

If you gain a few members (or clients) each month, you can, at best, add to your church or business. However, if you build leaders, you will multiply your church or business!

“Authentic, pacesetting leaders are in the minority. They know something others don’t.” – Dave Williams

Puppets vs. Pacesetters

Puppets are obsolete and out-of-date. They are more synthetic (man-made) then authentic (God-made). “Puppet” leaders don’t know they are puppets, being controlled by worldly philosophies, erroneous beliefs, and failing systems. They do not believe they are puppets.

Pacesetters honor other leaders, make plans and take actions that end in their work bearing much fruit, proving that—with God—you really can achieve what others say is impossible.

Just as there is only one way to heaven…There is only one way to move into acceleration and multiplication: Build leaders who know and practice the pacesetting principles as taught by Jesus, the Master.

Avoid the growth-stifling beliefs of “Puppet Leaders”

The Pacesetting Leadership Course teaches each participant in your church or enterprise to think, talk, and act like a genuine pacesetter…and to avoid the growth-stifling attitude and beliefs of puppets.

Will your team be Puppets or Pacesetters?

Pacesetting Leaders will consistently be in the upper two percent in their churches, businesses, enterprises, and life. If you are developing master-level, pacesetting leaders, you will advance into the upper 2% with massive rewards following. So…

Propel your entire team into The Art of Pacesetting Leadership for the 21st Century! Develop authentic leaders for the third millennium and enjoy the growth and rewards that follow.

The post Puppet or Pacesetter appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

If we could hear the cry at the core of every person’s heart, we would hear it crying out to be loved and embraced by LOVE!

At the age of 21, my upside-down life got turned right side up!

I found God. Or should I say, He found me? Things shifted dramatically for me. God began to put things in order. My whole life changed.

I remember after church being alone in my vehicle crying and crying, feeling like I had now found real LOVE, God’s pure, real, never failing, all-consuming, amazing (I could go on and on with these beautiful adjectives) describing HIS LOVE but you get the picture! It now began to heal and fill in those dark and broken places in my soul.

1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

My prayer for you today is that you will allow God’s love to penetrate your soul, and let it fill you and heal you. I pray that you will be convinced that our loving God is for you, not against you.  I pray you will encounter a deep “knowing” that He wants to walk beside you and to help you to become a genuine conqueror in life, and in the mission to which He has called you. My friend, he has well equipped you for every good work!

Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

And now, one of the most fascinating and exhilarating experiences possible is when you become a conduit to release God’s love to others. One of the deepest joys, you’ll ever know is the joy of loving someone so much that you’ll share the love of Jesus with him or her.  Allow yourself to become God’s love distributor to people who are just like I was in my upside-down condition.  Someone was a love distributor for me, just like someone distributed God’s love to you.  Will you be a love distributor with God this week?

Dave and I would love to hear from you. Send us a note and tell us how you were a distributor of love this week at Dave@DaveWilliams.com.

The post Crying out for Love appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

AN ILLUSTRATION FROM JESUS IS COMING BACK … ANY DAY NOW.

A minister told me this story.  He took his children to a restaurant and his six-year-old son asked if he could pray over the food.  The boy prayed, “God is good, God is great, thank you for the food.  I would thank you even more if Mom got us ice cream for dessert.  Amen.”

There was laughter from nearby customers, but some woman was overheard saying, “That is what is wrong with the country.  Kids today don’t even know how to pray.  Asking God for ice cream, why I never.”

The little boy burst into tears, looked up, and said, “Daddy, did I do it wrong?”

His dad assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him.  An elderly gentleman approached the table, winked at the boy, and said, “I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.”

“Really?” the boy asked. 

The elderly man said, “Cross my heart,” then added in a theatrical whisper, pointing to the woman who had commented, “Too bad she never asked God for ice cream.  Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.” 

Naturally, at the end of the meal, the dad bought his kids ice cream.  His son stared at his for a moment, then picked up his sundae, and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman.  With a big smile, he told her, “This is for you.  Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already.”

You can pray something like this:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned and fallen short of Your standards. I ask You to forgive me, Lord. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I’m now willing to turn from my sins. I invite You, Jesus, to come into my life and save me. Make me fit for heaven. I trust you, Jesus, as my only hope of ever having a home in heaven and fellowship with You now. I declare You now as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus. I’m forgiven now, I have a home in heaven, and a brand-new start in life beginning right now. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Now, if you prayed to receive Jesus, find someone to tell about it.

Romans 10:10
For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

Get your free download of my best-selling book, The New Life–Start of Something Wonderful at
DaveWilliams.com/NL

The post Thank You for the Food, God appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

It’s a new year and a great time to reboot your life. Can you think of any area of your life you’d like to see “rebooted?”  Maybe your health?  Maybe your relationships?  Maybe your faith or prayer times?

I’ve taken this month’s article from my newest book: Jesus is Coming Back … Any Day Now!  This new book is a verse-by-verse commentary on First and Second Thessalonians. It’s highly eschatological, but not exclusively. It’s full of homey illustrations and stories that will bless you and your family.

This year you can reboot your joy, reboot your prayers, reboot your vision, reboot your goals, and start achieving and enjoying the things God has promised.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Paul gives us practical and pithy instructions in “rebooting.”

16 Rejoice evermore.

You know what it means to reboot your computer.  It means to restart it.  Sometimes that’s all you need to do to fix an annoying computer problem.  In the same way, “rejoice” means to start your joy up again. 

If the devil has come against your life in some way and tried to steal your joy, you’ll want to restart that joy because the joy of the Lord is your strength.

… Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10 NLT)

Truth Illustrated – Jump Start the Joy

I remember having all kinds of difficulties one time.  I was scheduled to do a radio interview that I did not want to do because of the many other pressing tasks I had.  I was driving along, griping all the way down the road.  All of a sudden, I remembered this verse in Nehemiah.  So, I decided to start praising the Lord.  I did not feel joyful when I started.  I had to reboot my joy.  I began thanking Him in advance for the joy, thanking Him for love, thanking Him for peace, thanking Him for everything I could think of.  Soon, I did feel joy and peace come over my soul.  I finished the radio interview, got back to the office and all the other things that had bothered me were taken care of.  Pouting my way down the highway had done me no good.  But rejoicing changed my whole day.

There is an old pop song called, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”  That’s solid biblical advice! 

Mark Twain once said, “Don’t talk about your troubles, because eighty percent of the people do not care.  The other twenty percent think you deserve them.”

Instead, rejoice evermore. Jesus said to rejoice (reboot your joy) that your name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20). What are you facing that God cannot handle?  When have you stumbled, that God cannot pick you up? God is omnipotent — that is, all-powerful.  He is omnipresent — everywhere you will ever go.  He knows your situation from beginning to end. 

Don’t you think He is willing and able to make the outcome just perfect on your behalf? So, rejoice evermore!  You can reboot and make it a fresh start this year.

I pray that this will be the day when you receive from God everything you need to reboot your life and allow Jesus Christ to create a new vision (or refresh his old vision) for your life; the one that hasn’t been yet fulfilled. It’s going to be a great year!

I’d love to hear from you. Send me a note and let me know how you plan to reboot your life this year, write me at Dave@DaveWilliams.com.

The post Reboot Your Life This Year appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see? (Do you see what I see?)
Way up in the sky, little lamb
Do you see what I see? (Do you see what I see?)
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear? (Do you hear what I hear?)
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear? (Do you hear what I hear?)

Bing Crosby, one of the most popular and influential worldwide entertainers of the 20th Century recorded a beautiful Christmas song in 1963 (when I was 13 years old).  In that song, he asks, “Do you Hear what I Hear?” and “Do you see what I See?”

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Let me ask you a couple of questions.  What do you see this Christmas? What do you hear this Christmas?

In Luke 2:9, the Shepherds suddenly saw and heard an angel of the Lord and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.  The angel told the shepherds how to find the newborn baby who would be the Messiah. They followed the angel’s instructions and were given the privilege of seeing God Himself, incarnate in that baby boy.  Others probably shrugged it off, seeing only another ordinary baby.  Simeon and Anna “heard” the Holy Spirit tell them Who this baby really was.

I LEARNED A SECRET ONLY A HANDFUL EVER DISCOVER

I learned to hear more clearly into the heavenly realm after I and a worship leader were sent by my pastor (Glen Snook) to Buffalo, New York in 1980 to attend a special conference.  There I met Dr. Yonggi Cho from South Korea who had 50,000 church members. His goal was to eventually have a million members.  He made it to over 800,000 when he left the earth for his home in heaven. He dared to see what others were afraid to see.

Dr. Cho taught us to see what others do not.  He taught us to “pray and obey.”  In other words, to SEE and HEAR in a supernatural way – a way that most don’t see and hear.

ANGEL ENCOUNTERS

Shortly before our trip to New York, a friend of my pastor started encountering angelic visitations.  At first, I was skeptical, but Pastor Snook vouched for the credibility of Pastor Roland Buck, who was hearing prophetic words – accurate words — from an angel who was visiting him.  I later met Ted Buck, Roland’s son, and Charmian, his wife.  They were precious, humble people.    (By the way, you’ll find angel visitations recorded all throughout the Bible.  We have an annual seminar called the Angels Seminar, where we teach what the Bible says about Angels).  Pastor Buck’s book was called Angels on Assignment.

While I was attending this conference in New York, I picked up a study course from the church bookstore, entitled, COMMUNICATING WITH GOD. I studied that course book, almost wearing out the pages.  It taught me about listening for the Holy Spirit’s voice and that prayer was more than just talking to God; prayer is communicating with God.  Prayer, I learned was supposed to be two-way: me to God and God to me.  I ask the questions, then listen for His answers. What I learned in that course was life-changing.

I could never have pastored Mount Hope Church for over 30 years without seeing and hearing from God.  Last month, thanks to Pastor Kevin and his team, we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Gilead Healing Center.  I saw it for years before it was built.

In our Prophet/Seers School, at The Center for Pacesetting Leadership, we teach our students many ways God speaks and how we can exercise clear discernment.

As I write this article for the Christmas edition, I am getting the impression that God wants YOU to see and hear from the heavenly realm in a deeper way this coming year. I believe you are created for communication and intimacy with your Creator and Lord.  Words of Knowledge, prophetic words, and divine encounters are aimed at you.  It doesn’t matter if you are ten years old or a hundred, God still wants to communicate with you.

I believe God wants to give you a fresh, new gift this Christmas.  What will you hear from God?  What will you see that others do not? How will you be guided this next year? Will you encounter the supernatural in 2025? Will you give God some time in prayer and digging into His Word this coming year?

If you are born-again, you already have the Holy Spirit as your Guide.  He will speak to you if you will listen.

Bing Crosby asked the question, “Do you hear what I hear? And also “Do you see what I see?”

Unfortunately, Bing died after playing a round of golf.  As he walked toward the Clubhouse, he fell to the ground suffering a sudden massive heart attack.  Instantly, Bing was thrust into eternity.  If he knew Jesus Christ, which I hope he did, he found himself in Heaven. His days on earth had ended. He was 74.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  He lived and died for you and me.  He rose from the dead.  He ascended into heaven and He’s coming back, probably real soon. Talk with Jesus today and ask him to forgive you of every sin you ever committed in thought, word, or deed.  He’ll speak to you.  He really will. He’s crazy in love with you.

I want to pray this prayer with you right now.  Pray it from your heart:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned and fallen short of Your standards. I ask You to forgive me, Lord. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I’m now willing to turn from my sins. I invite You, Jesus, to come into my life and save me. Make me fit for heaven. I trust you, Jesus, as my only hope of ever having a home in heaven and fellowship with You now. I declare You now as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus. I’m forgiven now, I have a home in heaven, and a brand-new start in life beginning right now. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Get your free download of my best-selling book, The New Life–Start of Something Wonderful at DaveWilliams.com/NL

“The Child, the Child sleeping in the night, He will bring us goodness and light. He will bring us goodness and light.

The post Do You Hear What I Hear? appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

This article is based on my Newest Book, Any Day Now (a verse-by-verse commentary on 1 & 2 Thessalonians). Learn more at DaveWilliams.com/AnyDay.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

An Amazing Event Lies Just Ahead

A couple of years ago, I spent July 4th in Florida on the beautiful Boca Ciega Bay and saw the most breathtaking fireworks display ever. From where I was sitting I could see the sky lit up with continual explosions of color and lights. In the perfect location, I was viewing the night celebrations from several cities including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Gulfport, St. Pete Beach, and Tampa, all at the same time. What a show!

But nothing compares to the amazing spectacle that will take place when the trumpet of God sounds and the dead in Christ rise. Paul was anticipating that day.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, Paul introduces the subject of a great catching away. The Greek word for this event is, “Harpazo.” In the Latin Vulgate, the word is “Rapiemur,” whereas we get the English word, “Rapture.” The Greek Text and the Latin Vulgate, describe this event as the sudden, startling, irreversible “catching away” of God’s people, being transported to heaven without ever tasting death. In a picture, it’s similar to a steel ball abruptly being snatched upward when an overhead electromagnet is activated.

For nearly 400 years the Early Church fathers taught that the imminent coming of Christ would be a separate event from the Second Coming of Christ. Some, in recent years, have falsely taught that this doctrine of the Rapture is “too new to be true.” Yet, imminency is considered to be a crucial New Testament doctrine. Without the Rapture, there can be no imminency.

Paul taught about the Rapture in I Corinthians 15:51-55 and in I Thessalonians 4:13-18. Jesus promised to come again and receive us unto Himself (John 14:1-6). And after describing the horrors of the coming Tribulation, Jesus taught us to, “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).

Ominous storm clouds are now gathering over the nations of the world. Frightful times are looming. Soon we will begin hearing news reports of terrifying events. A time of major chaos will come upon the inhabitants of the earth. We are now moving swiftly toward the climax of the ages. A devastating judgment will pour on this earth with horror, terror, destruction, and devastation. Yet, Jesus promised to keep some from this final tribulation (Revelation 3:10).

What is imminent NOW on God’s prophetic calendar?

Check each one as you see the sign or marker becoming a reality.

Destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17:1)Israel defeating Terrorist groups around their country (Psalm 83)Anti-Semitism on overdrive (Zechariah 13:8-9;
Jeremiah 30:7)Quickly approaching mandatory digital currency (Revelation 13:16-18)Destruction of Elam (Southwestern Iran) (Jeremiah 49:34-39)7-year peace Treaty confirmed between Israel and others (Daniel 9:26-27)Deception on Overdrive: Religious deception, political deception, medical deception, etc. (Matthew 24:4-5; 2 Timothy 3:13, 2 John 1:7; Revelation 13:14)Russia, Iran, and Turkey (along with several Muslim nations) begin an invasion of Israel that does not end well for the aggressors (Ezekiel 38-39)Wars and Rumors of Wars (Mark 13:7)Apostacy; departure from true faith (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). I hope you have my book, Yoga Craze in the Last Days. Professing Christians are departing from the true faith, to practice something that will destroy their own destiny.The “Catching Away” of the Bride of Christ; the Church (Could happen any moment now, even before all the other prophetic events. (1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

The Bible speaks of a coming seven-year period of great trouble and anguish, “such as the world has never seen before.” This will happen sometime after the Rapture.

Before long, there will exist a globalist governing body led by the “son of Satan” – the Antichrist. The new global system will demand the use of government-programmed digital currency exclusively. You wouldn’t want to be here for even five minutes after Jesus comes for His bride (the Church).

I believe that very shortly the world could reel into its deepest hour of torment and terror. Our world at this very moment is in a death dive, plunging rapidly toward this prophesied time of intense trouble. We are en route now to a mad, fatal plunge into that horrible period spoken of by the ancient prophets. Concerning one of the very recent executive directives, an economic watch group said, “America’s Death Warrant was Just Signed.”

Matthew 24:21

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Our hope is in God. Through our sincere and persistent prayers of repentance, He may see fit to give us a short reprieve … if we promise not to squander it.

You are today in one of two categories:Those who WILL escape (Luke 21:36) Those who WILL NOT escape (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

If you have made your peace with God by your willingness to turn from sin and receive Jesus Christ as your only hope; your Savior and Lord, then lift your head, for your redemption draws near.

Luke 21:28

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. — Jesus

The post Ominous Storm Clouds are Gathering Now appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

“Ought Oh!”  That’s what you say when you realize you’ve made a huge mistake.  Many folks get to the Golden Age of their life and end up saying, “Ought, Oh, I miscalculated.  I thought God would automatically drop a million dollars into my savings account at the bank, and I’d be okay. Now I realize that all I have to live on is $1,800 a month from Social Security.”

Now that’s a tough future.  Worse yet, is a future that has reaped the results of pretending there is no God to whom you will be accountable one day.  To some, that day may be today.  To others, it’s maybe later, but it will come.  St. Paul wanted his readers to never have to say “Ought oh” when it comes to their future, so he gave them a tripartite solution for taking the brakes off their future.

Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Three things that work together synergistically can actually miracle-ize your future.

No. 1 – Refuse to live in the past.  It will freeze you there.No. 2 – Reach forward and get God’s
vision for your life and future.No. 3 – Press toward the mark (the goal) of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The third part of this tripartite plan is all about faith goals.  Once God has given you a dream or a vision of what your future could be, you then will set markers along the way, regardless of how much time you think you have left. Faith Goals are micro steps that go into a macro picture.  Your vision is the macro (BIG) picture.  Faith goals are checkpoints along the way that ensure you are progressing closer to God’s high vision for your life.

Your life, and mine, are meant to be God’s masterpieces, not God’s catastrophes; not something that was meant to be tossed on a junk pile.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Faith Goals are like brush strokes that are carefully applied to a masterpiece in the making.  Brushstroke by brushstroke, color by color you are becoming more of God’s true masterpiece, and the beauty is being revealed step by step as we set and reach faith goals that will paint the vision of God’s high calling on the canvas of our lives.

With these three keys, you’ll never have to say “Ought oh” about your future.   

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