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October 18, 2009 5:45 am
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Harvest podcasts between Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive Pastor Greg free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org for free together now Lord we ever sung your praises. We've given you glory and now we give you our attention as we open your word because we know we live in the crazy dangerous world and there are things happening around us. Now that remind us of things you said in Scripture, so give us an open heart and an open mind to hear what the word of God says, let us respond appropriately.
We commit this time a Bible study to you now in Jesus name we pray. Met okay you can be seated in the third in a Bible to Mark chapter 13 and the title of my message is signs of the times and it's part of a new series that were doing call are we living in the last days. I don't know about you but when I get up in the morning. I always want to know what the weather is going to be, you know, because I want to know how to dress is going to be warm is going to be cool is it going to be rainy because it was gonna rain. I want to get up my hello Kitty umbrella and Betsy rain boots and I'm actually dead serious about that which is in the said but now you know because I come to realize that my guess is as good as a so-called expert. The weatherman you know because so often though safe going to be clear and then it rained so they'll say it's gonna rain and it's clear I mean I can guarantee a way that it will rain here is my answer. Wash your car every time and words and I've already told you that I'm a pretty good indicator of rain coming because I'm ball and bald men always know when it's raining first. More than one occasion my wife and when walking down the street and also a it's raining Josie know it isn't nothing know it is.
She says it isn't her here so think she would know for a week if it was raining but I know the moment the first drop it and of course those are just those little reminders that rain is coming. You know the same way that we can read the weather. Jesus told us that there are signs of the times that we need to look for that. Tell us he is coming back again. Jesus said in Matthew 16. Three.
Your good at reading. The weather signs in the sky, but you can't read the obvious signs of the times you know some signs are easier to read than other summer very clear. Some I don't completely understand. This is especially true when you get overseas because there there's a language barrier. Things are often lost in translation. I remember years ago I was in England and that we were walking around and I noticed the signs and all the windows that said Bill stickers will be prosecuted and I began to wonder who is this Bill stickers and what exactly has he done Bill stickers will be prosecuted. I finally have someone and they said obits in the video onto that you know is is. He told me that Bill stickers is referring to people that put posters up on walls and windows and such without permission. Bill stickers will be prosecuted. Oh, and I get it now little bit lost in translation, when we are in Australia you go to a restaurant. It's interesting how the different names for different foods. For instance, salad is called rocket. I don't know why and if it had shrimp in it.
They call it box so you read in the menu rocket with. I said to the server.
I would is this exactly in the explained that his laxity lost my appetite with the bugs you know and then I ask about a certain kind of fish that they were serving in and the person said that fish have sort of a great flesh.
It's very good. I think you kinda lost me with great/you know something about the way people see things in the way the language changes a little bit, I came upon a collection of actual signs from around the world. Things that are translated into English. That didn't mean exactly what they hope they would mean printed in a Bucharest hotel lobby in front of the elevator which they call a live. It was a sign that said this� Been fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable. And, you know, instead of it being unbearable.
You will be unbearable in a Paris hotel elevator that says please leave your values at the front desk, not your valuables your values at the front desk in a Belgrade hotel elevator is a sign that says this to move the cabin pushbutton for wishing floor of the cabin should enter more persons.
Each one should present a number of wishing floor driving is then going alphabetically by national order. Okay, in a Hong Kong supermarket is assigned for your convenience, we recommend courageous, efficient, self-serve highlight that courageous sufficient self-service in a hotel in Athens is a sign that says visitors are expected to complain in the office between the hours of nine and 11 daily on the menu of a Polish hotel is this bizarre description of a certain this salad of firms owned make lipid red eat soup with cheesy dumplings in the form of a finger toasted.let lose be rather beaten up in the country people's fashion that is traumatized me. I can order that that's worse than the great life I mentioned, this one in an advertisement by a Hong Kong Dennis teeth extracted by the latest Methodist the latest methods it's the Methodists that are doing it now. This was Canada's area in the window of a Swedish furrier first coats made for ladies from their own skin. I don't want one of the I like this detour sign in Japan.
It says stop drive sideways okay. And then this one of the Copenhagen airline ticket office we take your bags and send them in all directions. Yes, you do.
So do many other lines as well. Sometimes signs are very clear.
Sometimes they're harder to read will in the Bible, God has given us signs of the times, if you will to look for in these signs are telling us that Jesus Christ is coming again.
What are some of the signs of the time. One that I would bring to your attention right up the bad is the regathering together of the nation Israel into their homeland that is a big one. Another sign, the Bible told us that we are to be aware of is any threats after the Jewish people have regathered in the homeland to destroy them. I think of the threats of Iran today to wipe Israel off the face of the earth that we look around the world today and we see global turmoil. An increase in earthquakes synonymy the cracks of the stop stock market. The rapid changes in the global economy. The fading of the United States of America is the economic soup superpower and the emergence of new nations in our place in the move toward a one world currency.
There's much more that I could say but let me just state. These are indeed signs of the time Jesus told us that we are to be aware of the signs of the times and the times and the seasons and so as we come to this topic of Bible prophecy. As we look at the end times events.
I think we need to combat it.
Not only with our minds, but also with our heart. And by that I mean we don't want to merely discuss these things in an academic way, but rather we want to see what this is saying because it should move us as individuals, as God revealed to the prophet Daniel was about to unfold in the future.
He dropped to his knees. He was done he was unable to say a word is understanding of end times events if you will move him deeply in the same should happen to us. In fact it we really understand what the Bible is saying about the imminent return of Jesus.
It should cause us to want to live a more godly line. We read of first John 3213 yes dear friends were already God's children. We can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we know that when he comes, will see him as he really is and all who believe this will keep themselves pure is Christ himself is pure so you really understand these things that the Bible is saying about the soon return of Jesus.
It should cause you to want to live a godly life you should want to be on your toes spiritually. Some might say all you and I can understand all that Bible prophecy stuff antichrist this millennium that rapture over here. I don't know what it means I can sort it out all at someone else figure those things out with the second you don't want to ignore these things because the Bible has a lot to say about it.
In fact, there is a special blessing promised in the book of Revelation to those that hear and keep the words of this prophecy.
I was out with my friend James McDonald a while back and we were having lunch brother dinner with a very well-known pastor and we got on the subject of end times events and James pointed out that he was going to be teaching to the book of Revelation. This other pastor was flabbergasted. He said you're good at teaching the book of Revelation and James said yes and then the pastor turned to me and said, have you ever thought of the book of Revelation is all yes many things he said oh I couldn't never do that that that's too bad for his people because you know there's so much to learn and as I said there was a blessing attached to it. Listen, God must've wanted us to learn Bible prophecy because 30% of the Scriptures is dedicated to this topic and God wants us to know that he keeps his word, just as surely as he kept his word with prophecies that foretold the arrival of the Messiah. He wants us to know he will keep his word about the prophecies pertaining to the return of the Messiah, Tim LaHaye, who is written extensively on the topic of Bible prophecy makes a statement and I quote, no scholar of academic substance denies that Jesus live almost 2000 years ago and yet we find three times as many prophecies in the Bible relating to a second coming as to his first.
Thus, the second advent of our Lord is three times as certain as his first coming, which can be verified as historical back." I mean the Bible is accurate in foretelling his first coming and it speaks three times more often about his return again when Jesus described the world prior to his second coming. He paints a picture of a world torn by strife and war famine in the midst of plenty rocked by great earthquakes and ravaged by pestilence.
Luke 21 tells us that there will be signs in the sun of the moon and the stars of the earth dismay among nations, with perplexity among them, and no way out. Men feeding from fear. At the expectation of the things that are coming upon the world with the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Another translation puts it this way it will seem like all hell has broken loose sun, moon and stars courtesy in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic. The wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom.
The powers that be quaking the Bible tells us that prior to the return of Christ to be your there will be an increase in earthquakes Luke 211 says will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and great signs from heaven that we've always had earthquakes we've always said synonymy we've always had hurricanes but yet there is no doubt that there is been an increase among them for the past five decades every decade has increase the number of earthquakes, not minor ones, but according to the US geological Society. They are killer quakes coming at a level like we have never seen before. Of course, quite recently there was a quake in China that took the lives of 69,000 people in 2005, there was the earthquake in Pakistan that took the lives of 80,000 people, but many of us remember the catastrophic synonymy of December 26, 2004 that was caused by the fourth most powerful undersea earthquake on record was an earthquake that was so powerful and move the entire island of Sumatra hundred feet to the south and west from its pre-quake condition and in that particular earthquake, 290,000 people lost their lives. Jesus said you're going to see an increase in earthquakes and as you see these things happen. The Bible describes them as birth pains or labor pains. He says these are merely the beginning of birth pains in the same way Jesus indicates that national disasters will begin to increase in frequency and intensity in concert shortly before his return.
Yes, these things are reminders that Christ is coming back again now we hear certain terms thrown around a lot and we wonder what they all mean terms like the rapture, the second coming, the tribulation. The Antichrist, the beast, the false prophet. The two witnesses, the millennium may God and so forth. What do all of these things mean and how do they all fit together so Karen Mark chapter 13.
We have sort of a big picture look at the end times scenario in Mark 13. By the way is his version of what we call the Olivet discourse also recorded in Matthew 24 and it's the overview of the end times of been in Mark 13, we have it in three sections. We have the beginning in verses 5 to 13. We have the middle versus 14 to 18.
And then we have the events that lead to the end. Verses 19 to 27 now as we prepared it to again let me just give you what I believe is the chronology of end times events is just a quick flyover.
I will come back later and fill in some of these In my opinion, the next event on the prophetic calendar is what the Bible describes is the rapture of the church. This is spoken of in first Thessalonians 4, when the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the dead in Christ shall rise first and we which are alive and remaining will be caught up that from the Latin word wrap tourists taken by force caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
So shall we ever be with the Lord Jesus talking about the same event, said to will be in the field. One will be taken and the other left to will be in a bad one will be taken and the other left. Paul says this event, the rapture will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. I believe that either right before or right after the rapture. A large force from the north of Israel will attacker notice.
May God somewhere shortly after the rapture. A man's skin will emerge on the scene that the Bible describes as the beast and the Antichrist will be charismatic will be a great orator a great communicator will come with economic solutions will come with a peace treaty that the Arab nations and the Jews will sign and he'll come with promises of great keys effectively heralded by some as the very Messiah but is very title gives you an indication as to who he really is for the prefix anti-not only means against it can also be translated to mean instead of many will hail him as a very Messiah because one of the things that Antichrist will do as he will rebuild the Jewish temple right there in Jerusalem, and many religious Jews today believe that when their Messiah comes, so they don't believe is Jesus. They believe that their Messiah will rebuild the temple for them.
So the Antichrist comes as a man of peace. Some people believe he is the Messiah himself. He does away with the monetary system as we know today.
No one can buy or sell without his Mark and at the halfway point of the tribulation. That last for seven years. He shows his true colors and something called the abomination of desolation takes place. This is after the temple is been rebuilt, and the antichrist erects an image of himself and commands worship. This is a significant point of the tribulation.
We read about the judgment of God coming we read about the persecution of the Antichrist against Christians and Jews in the various events that unfold, ultimately culminating in the final battle known as the battle of Armageddon its spot in the Valley of Megiddo in Israel during the battle of Armageddon. Jesus Christ returns back to the earth what we know as a second coming in the rapture comes for his church and were caught up to meet the Lord in the air in the second coming becomes what this church as he returns back to earth and then the millennium began millennium means a thousand, and there is a 1000 year reign of Christ and Satan is chained up during that time. At the end of the millennium, Satan is released briefly in a final rebellion is cast into the lake of fire and then the new Jerusalem comes down from heaven to work and effectively heaven and earth become one.
This will be a fulfillment of what our Lord taught us in the Lord's prayer when he said, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Sometimes they say well I'm just gonna die and go to heaven I'll be there forever with the Lord. That's not totally true. Will forever be with the Lord one day, listen heaven and earth will become one third will be in a glorified state. So this is sort of an overview of things to come. You can be certain, these things will transpire exactly as the Bible has said now let's go from the future back to the past so we can see the accuracy of Scripture. When God speaks of something that is yet to be go to Mark chapter 13 verse 28. Then as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, teacher see what manner of stones and what buildings are here, and Jesus answered and said do you see these great buildings, not one stone will be left upon another that will not be thrown down as he sat down on the Mount of olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately tell us what shall these things be. What will be the assignment.
All these things will be fulfilled. Jesus answering them began to say, take heed that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name seen IMP and he will deceive many bony real wars and rumors of wars, don't be troubled for such things must happen, but the end is not yet nation will rise against nation kingdom against kingdom. The be earthquakes in various places and there will be famines and troubles.
These are the beginning of sorrows� Verse 19 for in those days will be tribulation, such as there is never been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time forever, so be unless the Lord shorten those days know what would be saved but for the elect's sake, whom he chose shorten the day that if anyone says to look. The Chrysler look he's there. Don't believe it. For false Christ's and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders to deceive for possible, even the elect. But take heed and see. I have told you all things beforehand. Now what Christ is just describe is the tribulation. When he talked about many will come in my name seen.
I am Christ, and deceive many. He's talking about the antichrist. The events of the tribulation. I like a group of dominoes that will sleep together and when the first one falls, the rest will fall after you have the antichrist you wore your earthquakes and so forth. So what we're seeing now are just glimpses of things to come but yet Jesus is still be an increase in frequency of those things so wisely see these things begin to happen.
We know were getting close to the tribulation. But it hasn't begun yet the events we just read have not yet begun to officially unfold, but were seen glimpses of them a foretaste of them if you will, but really the conversation that was the backdrop for all of this was the disciples pointing to the magnificent Jewish temple and everything will will look at this temple, Lord, look how magnificent it is and you know what you think about that and now Jesus effectively responds to that remarketing points out to them that this temple that there is so impressed by is not going to stand and he makes a very specific prediction about it. He tells them that that temple is going to fall now the Jewish Temple, the second Temple and being built by Herod at this point. By the way, that temple was in construction for 46 years.
You thought your building project took a long time 46 years and fact when it was completed it was only seven years before it was destroyed, which is pretty sad, but it was a magnificent structure. If you look at the skyline of Jerusalem today. You'll notice that building with a large gold dome on the top that's known as the dome of the rock that is not what they were looking back 2000 years ago at that day it was the second Temple with its massive walls of huge stones.
I am on the top of it was gold all around it that would reflect the sun as it would set on Jerusalem and it was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world, so it's no wonder that the disciples were so impressed by looking this temple. Jesus makes a radical and very specific prediction. Jesus, I say unto you, not one stone will be left upon another. So he was telling them that something very specifically very specific was going to happen and it was going to be the dismantling of the temple. Now we can look back historically and ask ourselves the question. Did this prediction of Jesus come true when the answer is absolutely, it came true exactly as he had stated because in A.D. 70. Titus the Roman general Bill large wooden scaffold around the walls of the temple in the buildings all them high with what inflammable items and set them on fire in the heat from the fire was so intense that the gold in on the temple melted in between the crevices and thus they dismantled it stone by stone to retrieve the goal. So was fulfilled exactly as Jesus said, and that is one of the reasons only one way you can believe the Bible because the Bible is the one book that dares to predict the future again and again and again with perfect accuracy.
Now that's one of the big things we need to understand as we look at Bible prophecy together is the significance of the nation Israel.
Jesus compares her to a fig tree in verse 28.
He says learn this parable from the fig tree when its branches already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know summer is there. So when you see these things happening, notice thereof.
The doors I say this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place more than one occasion, the nation Israel is like in to a fig tree.
Hosea 910 says I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness.
I saw your fathers of the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season. Also in Judges 9 and Joel one. Israel again is compared to a fig tree. So here's what Jesus is saying the rebirth of the nation Israel is not just a sign of the last days. It is a super sign of the last day. The Bible is specifically saying the Jews will be regathered together in Israel. Once again, let's consider a brief history of the Jewish people. The roots go back to Abraham when God established a covenant with him and with his descendents in Genesis 17 we read that God appeared to Abraham and said I am the Lord God Almighty I establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendents after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendents after you the whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien.
I will give to you as an everlasting possession into your descendents after you and I will be there God. So the Lord is very specific in saving Abraham the land of Canaan, later to be conquered by Israel would be there land forever. The land of Canaan being modern-day Israel today though they don't occupy all of that land they occupied some of it given to them by the Lord. Not only did God promised this land to his people, but he also made this profound statement before that.
In Genesis 12 three. The Lord said to Abraham I'll bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you, and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you. God has blessed the world.
The Jewish people. It is through the Jews that are Bible came.
It is through the Jews at our Messiah King and God has promised that those that would bless Israel and bless the Jewish people would be blessed by God and those that cursed Israel and curse the Jewish people would be cursed by God. We don't believe that promises to just pull out your history books look at every nation that is try to destroy the Jews in Germany comes to mind right off the bat. There many other nations that have done things similar to that. But God has dealt with them and then I want you to consider how God has blessed our country and one of the reasons the Lord is bless the United States of Israel is because of our support for the nation Israel is blessed us because these bless them and if we withdraw our support.
I think it's a huge mistake. Israel is the only true democracy in the part of the world, but even more than that Israel God established that nation.
The Jewish people there still his people and he has a plan for them in the future.
This is not a political issue. This is a scriptural issue that were dealing with here and so this is what the Bible says about it and I think we need to pay careful attention to it. Well, so where's Abraham, God is given him this covenant, Abraham is a son name Isaac. Isaac has a son named Jacob. Jacob is a son named Joseph and you remember how Joseph's brothers sold him and the slavery Joseph ends up in Egypt in charge of the food supply.
When a family gets a land Joseph's brothers along with Her Father Make Their Way, Jacob make their way over to eject and then we fast-forward 400 years in the Jews of non-multiplied in the eject and the Pharaoh is using them for slave labor Becker so many Jews there that he wants to have them kill them put to death and he gives a decree that the little Jewish baby boys would be killed and through God's providence.
One of the little baby boys was put in a tiny little kind of almost like a little miniature boat of sorts in and put down the Nile River and discovered by the Pharaoh's daughter and ultimately taken into his home in this boy course was Moses.
According to Josephus, he was being groomed to become the next Pharaoh of Egypt, but Moses being that you saw the plight of his fellow Jews, God directed Kim to bring about their deliverance in the great exit. This took place in all the Jews left Egypt and made their way across the promised land. Took him 40 years to get their course. That's because men were in charge, Helen would stop and ask for directions. No, that's not really true. The real reason is because of their disobedience of the Lord. They went in circles, but they got there. Eventually they came to the promised land. Moses died. Joshua led the men and they conquered Disneyland and there they were in the slant so they finally made it in the promise of Abraham was fulfilled.
But the problem was the Jewish people were turning the idolatry. God worn them deceased from that to stop it. They turn to idols again and again and again in the Lord told him another nation would overtake them as slaves. They didn't listen. So finally, along comes Nebuchadnezzar and the Israelites are taken into captivity to Babylon for 70 years. At the end of the 70 years, the Jews begin to return back to Israel and Jerusalem. Again, and now we fast-forward to the times. Overall, no other occupied by the Romans and the long-awaited Messiah of Israel comes he is largely rejected by his people as the Scripture says he came into his own and his own received him not.
A Jesus is betrayed. He's crucified, he rises again on the third day, and he ascends to heaven and then the Jewish people have Titus, long burned down the second Temple in their effectively scattered to the four corners of the earth. But God makes a prediction that Israel will come to the land shall be disbursed to the land to the four corners of the earth. And then she will return to the land, but for years, Israel was not in the land and the Scripture said when that happens you know that is a super sign of the last days not only did Jesus predicted but also Ezekiel. In chapter 37. He said he would take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they are gonna gather them from every side and bring them to their own land and make them one nation in the land and then of course as we fast-forward through Jewish history. We look at the horrific events of the Holocaust and after World War II ended, the Jews began to return to their homeland again and were seeing the prophecy of Ezekiel and others fulfilled before our very eyes.
God promised in the last days, he would gather the Jewish people from all over the world back to the land from where they had been scattered has that happened yes God promised that he would gather them to a specific place the land of Israel is that happened yes God promised that they would not only be taking the Israel with. They would become a nation again after the arrival of the land is that happened yes God promised that not only would there be a nation again, but he would bring them back to the city of Jerusalem as it happened, yes, May 14, 1947. Prophecy was fulfilled in Israel became a nation. 1948.
Excuse me. So the point is is that now the prophetic clock is ticking.
Jesus said, this generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled. So nose would look at this fulfilled prophecy, we wonder what are we to do was a lot more menacing about this in the next few weeks will talk about that large course from her North Magog attacking her and the allies of Magog will talk about the antichrist tribulation. All that much is sort of shift gears for a moment take in light of what we have just seen how should this affects I told you earlier when we study Bible prophecy that should move as it's not just an academic exercise which would result in a movement of our hearts.
So what should we do in light of what we've just seen three things we should wake up we should sober up and we should sue them. Let's turn for a moment the first Thessalonians chapter 5 turn there with me if you would first Thessalonians chapter 5. These are very specific instructions in light of what we have just seen things that people who are living in the last days ought to be doing so Paul writes in first Thessalonians 5 verse six let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, those who are drunk are drunk at night, and those were of the day are sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation wasn't the teaching of Christ's return as a litmus test of where you are at spiritually for the person was right with God. When you hear that Jesus could come back at any time and motivates you and purifies you it causes you want to want to be right with God. And so it should for the person who is not right with God.
When you hear things like this. It frightens you an alarm issue for a person who was watching and waiting. The return of Jesus is welcome for the person was not worthy to be spiritually the return of Jesus is something they are not looking forward to at all to how should we be living in the light of the fact that Christ could come at any moment number one. We are to wake up.
He says in verse eight. Let us not sleep as others do their people today who are asleep in the church is one story in the book of acts that can interesting story while the apostle was preaching he was preaching for our words so be glad when I finish on time. I always keep an eye on the clock.
Sometimes ago a little over Paul went on for hours and hours and this is one felony in Utica who is listing up there in the top balcony and he would buy a window and he dozed off and by the way what were preaching. We know when you're sleeping. You're not fooling us.
We know all the moves we know the fake prayer move because you do this you know I think it comes as a revelation, the people that you cannot only see me here, but I can I see you when you yawn. I see you when you're texting I see you drooling sir right now on the right object, but to this poor guy.
Utica falls asleep but he doesn't just fall asleep defaults on the top window to his death. Someone interrupts falls in the middle of the sermon. This guy was busy doing just died.
The service he goes over appraiser Utica raises them from the dead. A miracle would've Paul do like any good preacher. He finishes the sermon 11 is another day in the book of acts that you know people fall asleep in the church all the time. Not just physically but spiritually you hear the word of God get taken in any become spiritually lethargic. You become spiritual connoisseurs. All that sermon wasn't as good as the other sermon the other day but I like this of the preacher little bit more what you think you know that some of this is about. This is not the battle of the preachers. These two should be moving you spiritually and you should be wanting to live a godly life.
Wake up the signs of the times are around you. Jesus Christ is coming back again. Pay attention. That's what the Bible is saying is something we should be looking forward to as well, sort of like for those of us that believed in Santa Claus. I never did really, I think maybe for a while while I get probably into my 40s but still it was kind of a sad thing that I looked in the mirror, realize I was Santa Claus I told you the four stages of life first to believe in Santa Claus then you don't believe in Santa Claus then you become Santa Claus right for you kids. Then lastly, you look like Santa Claus.
Not so I am now, and there's one other man in the congregation that looks more like him than I do, but I'm not missing you.
I just looked at him, looking this way now but still you know who you are or don't you.
But here's the thing we look forward to seeing Santa Claus.
All the guys in red suits are really self-conscious right know what is it my way. But you know what we look forward to send his arrival was always with joyful expectation. Now with Fred because what we presume Santa would come with toys not cold for our sake, we put the cookies out the mom and dad usually with each but there was an excitement and that's how we should look at the arrival of the Lord to be with joyful anticipation, not with the miserable repressive thought, but rather an excitement that he can come in any type CH Spurgeon put it this way, quote it's a very blessed thing to be on the watch for Christ. It is a blessing to us now. It detaches you from the world. You can be poor without murmuring.
You can be rich without worldliness you can be sick without sorrowing you can be healthy without presumption. If you are always waiting for Christ coming on so blessings are wrapped up in that glorious all."
So we need to way number two. We need to sober up.
We need to sober up. Verse eight let those of us were of the day be sober. You know, I spent a lot of time around drunk people missing were you hang out Craig first 17 years of my life I was in an alcoholic home. And that's pretty much all I saw from morning to night with people getting drunk so I observed all kinds of drunks in the way that the reactor alcohol one thing with people when they come under the influence as they try to act as though they are not under the influence, but they do stupid things you see one of the ways of the cops nail. People were driving under the influence is not because they drive too fast, but often because they drive to slow another in the fast lane going 20 there's a DUI pullover you know and so in the same way their people if they don't realize that with the under the influence of something that could be alcohol of course we could even broaden.
There's a lot of things that can and intoxicate you in line.
Jesus said in Luke 21 to keep years of the be in your guard let your heart be bless your heart be overburdened, the present way down with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries, and that day, the day of the Lord come upon you, suddenly, like a trap or a news to be sober means that you are to be clear headed your to be alert to have your eyes open to be sane and steady. Don't be drunken and sleeping but be awake and alert and finally we artists Sudha we are to wake up. We are to sober up.
We artists Sudha verse eight.
Put on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation. This is specific instruction from the apostle that we are to put our armor on. Folks listen to me. We are in a spiritual battle and we don't realize that working to become a castle, you know, in one of the signs of the end times is people will fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and the doctrines of demons teach there's never been a time.)
More important for us to know our Bible and the walk closely with God. There's false teaching. There's various devices out there that are designed to entrap you and pull you away from God and we need to be sane and clearheaded and alert and awake to the fact that Christ could come back at any time. Wake up sober up and Sudha let me close with one last passage. There really is a parallel to what we have already read Romans 13. This is from the Phillips translation just listen to it.
This listen while the stress and behavior because I think as you realize the present time is of the highest important, it's time to wake up to reality every day brings God salvation.
There the night is nearly over. The day is almost on.
Let us therefore fling away the things that men do in the dark and let us arm ourselves with the light of the day. Let's live cleanly is in the daylight started getting drunk or playing with sex nor in quarreling, or jealousies, let us be Christ men from head to foot and give no chances for the flash to have its fling powerful words but is the Christ men and women from head to foot and give no chance for the flash to have its fling wake up sober up. Look up, get arm for the battle is at hand as we share these thoughts today. Maybe as you listen to this. You wonder how my ready for the Lord's return. Listen will do with this later, but will preview Christ could come back at any moment for us, not the second coming where he comes back to the earth establishes his kingdom at the end of the tribulation. I'm talking about the rapture the Lord calls us to heaven in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye that could happen right now.
Right now I ask you this question. If Jesus were to come back at this moment, would you be ready because some will be taken and some will be left is about how do you know if you're ready, you have a relationship with Christ you're walking with him for those that are watching and waiting.
He will comment you're looking for his return. Then there are some people that are doing the things that were told not to do their playing with sex quarreling jealousies drunkenness their living in two worlds.
The Bible seem to live that way anymore. The understanding of Christ's imminent return to because you want to live a godly life to be as ready as you can be. You don't have to be perfect. No one is but you need to be prepared and ready are you if you're not sure Jesus Christ is living inside of you right now, to give you an opportunity to get right with God. And if you are living a compromise life were trying to live in two worlds that are doing some of the things I've already mentioned this to be a really good time to recommit your life to the Lord. Let's pray and respond if you need to father I pray not for any personal listening to this message that they do not yet know you if they have not yet asked Jesus to come another life.
Help them Lord to wake up and come to their senses and come to you by faith one has about your eyes are closed and were praying. Maybe some of you today would say, you know, I'm not sure if I'm ready for the return of Jesus. I'm not certain that if Christ were to come back today. I would be one of the ones caught up to meet him in the air, but I wanted I want to be right with God. I want to go to heaven. I want to know Jesus. Pray for me. I'm ready to say yes to Jesus and believe in him right now that your desire.
Wherever you're sitting if you want Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to be ready for his return. Would you just lift your hand up right now were of your sitting there like the preview, just lift your hand I can see it please God bless you lifted up or I can see it accomplish.
You want Christ to come in your life you want to be ready for his return lift her hand up a pray for you. God bless you and you God bless each one of you many of you are raising your hand. I hope you're one of them. If you're outside in our amphitheater. I want you to raise your hand.
I can see you. Of course, but it's a little step of faith that you're taking your of Europe and or overflow building the court to raise her hand to I can't see you that screen. Of course, but the Lord sees little step of faith.
Maybe there's some of you here right now that have fallen away from the Lord you been compromising you been trying to live in two worlds, but you're ready to get right with God you want to recommit your life to him. Raise your hand up, let me pray for you.
Lift your hand you fallen away your backslidden compromising you want to come back to Christ lift her hand. Come bless each one of you know I want all of you that it lifted her hand to stand your feet nominally join a prayer I want you all to stand up if you lifted her hand stand up and Emily generally don't be embarrassed. Your mom family and friends here today.
You and the overflow I want you to stand as well you out of the amphitheater youth are up in the court.
You stand your feet right now nominally join this prayer of commitment or recommitment anybody else stand up now and stay standing if you would anybody else stand up now this final moment. Stand your feet. Anybody else stand up now around and lead you in this prayer and I want you to print out loud after me. This is where you are committing your life to Jesus Christ children. As I pray you pray this out loud right rheostat pray this now, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but you died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I sure now from that sin. And I put my faith in you be my Savior be my Lord be my God, be my friends.
I want to follow you, Jesus, from this day forward I want to be ready for your return. I want to wake up and sober up and suit up.
Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen