The last of the works of the flesh that Paul lists in Galatians 5 is “carousing.” This is more than just joking around. The Greek word that is translated implies being loud and foolish. The carnal nature is prone to being self-centered and likes to be the center of attention. The more we let the carnal nature exert itself, the louder and more boisterous it often becomes.

From the prophecies concerning the last days in Scripture, we know that discerning truth will be one of the most crucial issues of the times. This of course has always been important, but the end of the age will bring the ultimate conflict between light and darkness, truth and deception.

Over the previous two weeks, we addressed some of the ways we are going to begin seeing Luke 17:20-21 fulfilled in our time: "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst."

I was carried into another realm where I found myself standing at a crossroads. Close to me, I saw the form of a person holding a dim light. As I approached, I recognized Lady Liberty, the Statue of Liberty, which was alive. She was confused and disoriented. With her feet barely moving forward, she was hesitant. Her light was dim, and her arms drooped so that she was about to drop the tablet she was holding loosely.

Our text for this week is Ephesians 2:21-22:

We see in Revelation 2:20 that Jezebel “calls herself a prophetess.” We must beware of those who are so small spiritually that they have to promote themselves or seek to use high titles for recognition. I have been privileged to know a few who walk in true prophetic ministries of biblical stature, and not one of them was concerned about being known as a prophet. As Leonard Ravenhill once told me, “You don’t have to advertise a fire.” If you have the goods, you do not have to promote yourself. Jesus said in John 7:18:

“Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy ... and be turned into another man.” (I Samuel 10:6)

We continue this week with the theme of how an economy is the foundation for any government and how love is the foundation for the economy of the government of God. Before continuing with our study of how this applies, taken from I Corinthians 13, I want to share a word that I was given nearly twenty years ago.

         We have spent a year on this study and are barely through the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation—and we have covered these in a very cursory way. There is much more that we did not have time to delve into, but in the rest of Revelation, these periods are repeated with increasing insight into them. Having established principles and factors, we will be able to go back and fill in many of the details.