Sermon Central
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Understanding The Times
Contributed by Nate Herbst on Dec 12, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Overemphasis and ignorance of the end times will both lead to disaster; Christians must be wise about what is going on in this world, where things are going and what God has called us to now.
Understanding the Times
1 Chr.12:32 - Tells us the men of Issachar, “understood the times and knew what Israel should do.”
Incorrect expectations result in dismay, failure, frustration, loss, fruitlesslness, etc.
Not about doom and gloom but about correct Biblical perspective.
Mt.25:1-13 - Parable of the 10 virgins, interestingly precedes the parable of the talents.
Mt.24:32-33 - “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.”
Know the season, but remember, Mt.24:36-44 - No one knows the day or the hour...
Many have thought they were in the last days, we may or may not be.
Always be ready but don’t be consumed with it’s imminence.
Overemphasis and overeagerness both setting yourself up to be deceived.
Mt.24:14 - Not until every nation has heard...2025-2033 but who knows???
The World, where it is at and where it is going...
2012 is nonsense...But those who are worried are kind of on the right track.
Mt.24:3, the disciples ask Jesus what the signs of the end times will be, He answers them and then promises, in Mt.24:25 - “See, I have told you ahead of time.”
Daniel 9-12, Isaiah 13 and 34, Mt.24, Mr.13, Lk.21, Revelation all tell us what to expect.
7 Big areas:
This generation.
Where we’re at - what’s in the news:
Revolution stuff
Previously we hated change, this new generation embraces it.
Postmodernism - tolerance and focus on relationship over productivity.
The means justify the ends.
Political correctness is killing us.
In the past excellence mattered, now relevance is most important.
Authenticity over performance.
Technology.
Information
Communication
Community.
Casual observance of events vs. participation in reality.
This Generation will be unlike any in history.
The 1st raised in the info age.
Capabilities unparalleled in human history for good or bad.
Believers are no different than non-believers.
Barna (in Revolution) - over 90% of families rely solely on the church for their childrens’ spiritual growth.
Unparalleled moral depravity evidence that they are searching and empty.
Where things are going - What God’s Word tells us (in Mt.24, Mk.13, Lk.21, and 2 Tim.3:1-7):
People will be happily ignorant, lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, they will have a form of godliness but deny its power; they are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.
What we should do about it:
Mt.24:42-44 - keep watch, understand, be ready.
Know that the hotter the dessert the thirstier people become.
Mt.9:37 - the harvest is ripe.
Pr.3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Nationality and politics.
Where we’re at - what’s in the news:
Globalization.
Political climate - PC nation, Resurgence of socialism and communism, dictatorships prevalent, UN pushing a global secular worldview.
Worldwide shifts.
Where things are going - What God’s Word tells us (in Mt.24, Mk.13, Lk.21, and Rev.13 and 17):
Nations will rise against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms, and eventually, the Antichrist will establish a one world government, a new world order.
Remember...USA not really in Revelation. Don’t put your hope in this country.
Quoting End Time Ministries - “In 1993, 6000 religious leaders, representing 125 relgious groups from around the world, gathered in Chicago for the Parliament of World Religions, an event promoted by the United Nations. The stated purpose of this parliament was to formulate a "global ethic" that would provide the basis for a non-biased, non-exclusive, religious world order.”
What we should do about it:
Exercise your freedoms, pray for your leaders, take a stand for the right issues, vote your faith but recognize your only lasting hope is in Jesus.
The Jews sought a political savior in the Messiah and didn’t recognize Jesus.
Jn.6:15 - They wanted to make Him king, by force.
Pr.3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Peace and security.
Where we’re at - what’s in the news:
More troops to Afghanistan.
Iran acquiring nukes, Israel’s only option, oil doubles, the economy collapses.
Pakistan’s arsenal???
China’s increase, America’s softening.
Rise of S.American Socialism/Communism.
Other conflicts - India/Pakistan, Venezuela/Colombia, Russia/Georgia, the Ukraine and E. Europe, etc.
Where things are going - What God’s Word tells us (in Mt.24, Mk.13, Lk.21, and Rev.6, 9, 14 and 16):
Wars, rumors of wars, great warfare becoming so fierce that at one point there will be a lake of blood several feet deep and 200 miles long and finally, Armageddon.
