I'll Be Back - 2 - November 2007

I’LL BE BACKJohn 14: 2-3 November 2007 This morning I want TO REMInD US OF A Biblical fact that Satan wants us all to forget… that Jesus Christ, the virgin born, only begotten Son of God, who died on the Cross, was resurrected on the 3rd day and sitteth at the right hand of THe father is coming again!! i heard a story about a young preacher who was preaching a sermon and was attempting to quote JOHN 5:7. BUT, HE COULD NOT REMEMBER PAST THE STATEMENT “I AM COMING,” HE TRIED THE SECOND TIME AND COULD NOT REMEMBER AND ON THE 3RD TRY HE REALLY EMPHASIZED HIS STATEMENT AND FELL OFF THE PULPIT INTO A LADY’S LAP WHO WAS SITTING in the FRONT ROW. HE BEGAN TO APOLOGIZE BUT SHE SAID “IT’S OK. I SHOULD HAVE MOVED. YOU TOLD ME 3 TIMES YOU WERE COMING.” THE RETURN OF JESUS IS MENTIONED OVER 300 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTEMENT. 23 OF THE 27 NEW TESTEMENT WRITINGS TELL US ………JESUS IS COMING again!!!SLIDE #1:THE ANGELS DECLARE HIS RETURNACTS 1: 9-11--------------------------------------SLIDE #2:THE ANGELS KNOW HE IS COMING AGAIN, BUT DO THEY KNOW WHEN HE WILL COME? MATTHEW 24: 36-42 WHEN JESUS COMES IT WILL BE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DAY. PEOPLE GOING TO WORK, GOING TO SCHOOL, PLAYING GOLF, FISHING---- BUT, SUDDENLY JESUS WILL APPEAR. NO ONE EXCEPT THE FATHER IN HEAVEN KNOWS WHEN JESUS WILL APPEAR. BUT WE KNOW HE WILL BECAUSE HE KEEPS ALL OF HIS PROMISES. aND WE KNOW HE CAN DO AS HE PROMISED BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION. A MININSTER WAITED IN LINE TO HAVE HIS CAR FILLED WITH GAS JUST BEFORE GOING ON A LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THE ATTENDANT WORKED QUICKLY BUT THERE WERE MANY CARS AHEAD OF HIM. FINALLY, THE YOUNG ATTENDANT MOVED HIM TO A VACANT PUMP. “reverend,” SAID THE YOUNG MAN, i’m SORRY FOR THE DELAY. IT SEEMS AS IF EVERYONE WAITS UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO GET READY FOR A LONG TRIP. THE MINISTER CHUCKLED, “I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN; IT’S THE SAME IN MY BUSINESS.” SLIDE #3HE IS COMING SUDDENLYMATTHEW 24:27 THERE WILL BE NO TIME TO PREPARE. THERE WILL BE NO bARGAINING WITH GOD. TIME FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT READY WILL BE OVER. WHEN GOD SHUT THE DOOR OF THE ARK IT WAS OVER. I AM SURE MANY PEOPLE POUNDED on the DOOR AS THE RAIN FELL, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE BECAUSE GOD HAD SHUT THE DOOR. SLIDE #4WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF HIS RETURN? PROFESSED CHRISTIANS WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE TRUTH AND ABANDON the WORD OF GOD.2 TIMOTHY 4:3-53For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.In a recent article in The Charlotte Observer, Stephen Prothero, Chairman of the Religious Dept. at Boston University, wrote the following statement, “U.S. Citizens know almost nothing about the Bible. Although most regard it as the Word of God, few read it anymore. Even Evangelicals from the Bible belt seem more focused on loving Jesus than learning what He had to say. As a result, an entire generation of Americans is growing up almost entirely ignorant of the most influential book in world history.” He suggested that the Bible should be taught in schools, not necessarily as a religious course, but as a guide to everyday life. It is a mystery to me why a government would want to ban a book that would make their job easier.Jay Leno, host of the Tonight Show, recently did a “man on the street” interview. He asked a group of college-age people questions about the Bible. He asked one of the students if they could name one of the Ten Commandments and she replied, “Freedom of speech”. Leno asked the next one to complete this sentence --- ”Let him who is without sin” …..and she answered --- “have fun”. He then asked a young man to identify the person who was swallowed by a whale and he confidently answered -- “Pinocchio”.Why do people give such non-Biblical answers? Could the answer partially be in the pulpit?In a recent survey of Protestant pastors, conducted by the Borna research group, only 51% of the pastors passed the test on whether or not they possessed a Biblical world view. What constitutes a world view? According to Borna: SLIDE 1Biblical worldview:1) A belief in absolute moral truth as defined in scripture.2) The accuracy of Biblical teaching3) The sinless nature of Christ4) The literal existence of Satan5) The omnipotence and omniscience of God.6) Salvation by grace alone7) The personal responsibility to evangelizeInterestingly enough, the pastors most likely to not have a Biblical world view were seminary graduates. There are still some good seminaries. If you are planning to attend seminary, be sure to check it out and select a good one. But what is more startling is that only 7% of Protestants possess a Biblical world view.The low percentage of people who have a Biblical world view is a direct reflection of the fact that half of our primary religious leaders and religious teachers do not have one. “You can’t give people what you don’t have.”A Biblical worldview is important because it determines people’s attitude, their beliefs, their values, and ultimately their choices ----choices that can often destroy their life and the lives of others. Why would a government want to ban a lifestyle that would make their job easier.I know from personal experience that the various problems of the human race can be very grievous in nature and affect. I know that emotional pain is real and the decision made when we are in that condition may be done by flawed thinking. WHEN PEOPLE ABANDON THE WORD OF GOD THINGS MAY SOUND BLEAK BUT WE HAVE GOOD NEWS…(MARK 14:15)WE EXPERIENCE LAWLESSNESS AND MORAL DECAY. WHEN THE BIBLE AND PRAYER ARE REMOVED FORM THE SCHOOLS CHILDREN HAVE NO MORAL STANDARDs by which TO JUDGE THEIR ACTIONS. WE WENT FROM SUCH PROBLEMS AS CHEWING GUM AND TALKING IN CLASS TO STUDENTS CONCEALING WEAPONS, mURDERING, USING DRUGS, having SEX, ETC. MEN AND WOMAN NO LONGER CONSIDER OTHERS IN THEIR DECISION MAKING AND EVERYTHING BECOMES GEARED TOWARD THEIR OWN PERSONAL DESIRES. THE LOVE of THE WORLD TAKES OVER. (2 TIMOTHY 3: 1-5)1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. THINGS MAY SOULD BLEAK BUT WE HAVE GOOD NEWS …..Mark 16:15 15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.