Stand Firm and You Will Win Life, Pt. 2 - Luke 21:5-38

Luke 21 beginning and verse 5. Some of his disciples were marking about how the temple was, adorned with beautiful stones, with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, that's what you see here. The time will come, when not one stone will be left on another. Every one of them will be thrown down teacher, they asked when will these things happen and what will be the sign that they're about to take place? You reply? Watch out that you were not deceived for many will come in my name. Claiming I am. He in the time is near, do not follow them. When you hear your voice and uprisings do not be frightened, these things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. And he said that the nation will rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom. They will be great, earthquakes famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events in great sign from heaven. But before all this, it will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison. And you will be brought before Kings and governors and all them. Counted my name and so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind now. Not to worry beforehand about how you will defend yourselves for. I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You'll be betrayed even my parents brothers and sisters relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but not a hair of your head will perish stand firm, and you will win life and you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that it's tessellation is near, but let those here in Judea flee to the mountains like those in the city, get out and let those in the country not into the city. For this is the time of punishment, fulfillment of all this has been written, how Dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women, in nursing mothers, there will be great distress in the land and wrath against these people. They will fall By The Sword. And I'll be taken as prisoners to all the nations Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles into the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Don't be signs in the sun, moon, and stars on the earth Nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the Roaring and tossing of the sea. People faint from Terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world. For the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time, they will see the son of man coming in a cloud with power and great Glory. These things begin to take place stand up and lift up your heads because your Redemption is Drawing Near. He told him this parable of the Fig Tree and all the trees, when they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and this number is near even. So, when you see these things happening, you know, that the kingdom of God is near truly, I tell you. This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened, Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing drunkenness and needs ideas of life and that they will close on you suddenly like a trap for Real. Come on. All those who live on the face of the whole earth, be always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all this about to happen that you may be able to stand before the son of man. Which day Jesus was teaching at the temple. In each evening, he went out to spend the night on the hill, call the Mount of Olives and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. The word of God for the people of God. Thanks, be unto God. You may be seated.

Several years ago, I'm talking 10 plus years ago, I was visiting a family of mine and I'm not going to specify the location of it because they might be tuned again. And I don't give them away, but we're visiting them. And my sister know, probably knows what this account. But as we were there, they have a pool at their house, in-ground pool. And I also had a trampoline at their house. So we went outside and tensioning intending to go to the trampoline, but it was cold because it was late winter, early, spring time and the pool. The pool was uncovered still and remember, it's cold and whatnot. So, my cousin whom I thought, we get along quite well, we were walking along and just out of out of the blue. He just push me in the, in the pool and this is freezing, cold water, and it was green and I'm not looking for pity party, right? It's not a Perfect moment in my life but it wasn't a pleasurable occasion either. If we'll just know, if I were to rewind, time Back to the Future type of scenario, I could tell myself. Someone will try to push you in at 2:52 p.m. be on the lookout. I will prepare accordingly. I would have known at that time. I don't know who it is. We're going to come from, but I need to take out my phone, my wallet, my knife. I don't know where is going to come from Charlotte. Going to have my back turned towards anybody, but always look at everyone near the pool and I was going to keep a good eight feet from the edge of the pool. So I have time to stop myself and then the more proactive manner, I might try to work out a little more so that nobody could push me and I'd be strong enough to resist them know. When it comes to the end times, as we see in the text and read about 1st, Thessalonians 4, we sing about it. The first song today, it comes to the end times. Jesus doesn't give us specificity in terms of win. These things will happen in contrast to my ideal scenario when I could go back to the precise minute and I warned myself precisely at the moment it's going to happen. Jesus doesn't give us that precise timetable We don't know that in 2032. He's going to come back. We don't know the precise timetable of it all. But as one Pastor points out in this text, Jesus is not aiming for specificity regarding a timetable. Jesus is aiming for certainty. In other words we don't know exactly. When these signs will take place and when the end will precisely come but we know for certain that these signs will infect happen and that therefore no matter how old you are, what millennium you find yourself in. What year do you find yourself? And we can all prepare accordingly for the end that momentous occasion when all these things will come about. In other words, Jesus speaks about the end so that you and I can stand firm in the present, be prepared in the present. As we read through the texts, I hope you had an analytical observational. I because there were three occasions in which Jesus mentioned the words, stand up, or stand firm, For example, verse 19. Beautiful. Verse in the scripture. I just I've read the gospels numerous times, but I never remember this one. But where's 19th stand firm and you will win life in the face of persecution opposition, resistance, stand firm and you will win life We're 28, we fast-forward a little bit when these things were going to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your Redemption is Drawing Near another words when the heavenly bodies are going to be shaking and it's going to be the signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And these things begin to take place, stand up, lift up your heads because your Redemption is Drawing Near. And then verse 36 last, a definition, or command of Jesus. Here in this, passage be always on the watch and pray may be able to escape all this is about to happen and that you may be able to stand before the son of man pray that you might have the strength to stand before Christ himself. So I think if you would have summarized all of this cuz last week if you were with us, we did a little introduction and terms of how do we approach the text out of the interpret it. But if you have some up, this passage in one sentence, I believe you could make it this when the world is falling apart, stand firm in Christ and you will win life. When the world is falling apart. Stand firm in Christ. You will win life. That's a promise. So walk through the text, we're going to do. Number one, I run through of the signs of the end. Number to go, look at the reassuring, hope of Christ, and then finally will look at our response to the chaos. Firstly, a run-through of the signs before we jump into that. I need to restate. I said last week, just to help you all understand how to interpret and look at this passage, which some commentators have said, this is the hardest chapter in the gospels to unpacking to figure out. Jesus is first Lee speaking to who is the first lie speaking to Brenda Martin. No, the first lie, speaking to Andrew, Showalter know, he's personally speaking to the disciples in the first century people who asked him literal questions about their own context to Jesus, then responds answering real people in the first century were guarding the temple primarily because they're wondering when is the temple going to be destroyed and you just as you are the signs that the temple is going to be destroyed yet. At the same time, it is valid to read this passage in to see these signs as a type of foreshadowing, or type of rehearsal of what is going to happen for you. And I, there are certain patterns that are similar of what happened in the first century that you and I can prepare for and expect at the end of time when Jesus comes back. This is just the plain reality of the text. For example, look at verse 32. Arguably, one of the most. Divisive versus in this chapter. I'm not going to parse it apart in Greek and all that and get into the weeds here. But the verse says, truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. So Was just talking about his Jesus does. In fact, mention seems to mention his coming, his return and verse 27, the second coming of Christ. So then Jesus says here, all these things are going to happen before this generation dies or passes away. But does Jesus talk about the first century? Is he talking about the disciples and therefore the Jesus come back in the first century or is he talkin about this generation? In terms of the world as a whole like the wicked generation? I think there's elements of both here because it's clear that some of these signs did happen. But it's also clear. Not all of these signs have fully happened. Okay, so just keep that in mind. As we walk through the signs are going to do quick. Run-through of them, I'm not going to unpack all of them in depth, but what are the times that the temple is going to be destroyed /? What are the signs that the end is coming right? Number one, lies and deception, will abound Some versus action vs 8. Jesus says, watch out that you're not deceived. Many will come in. My name, claiming IV. The time is near. Do not follow them. The Jesus right there, say that right off the bat many people will come in the Name of Christ. Claiming to be the Christ and will lead, many people astray. And we know this didn't happen in the first century. For example, and acts 5:30 6:00 We're here about a man named say you just say uterus, this guy and Xbox 36. He is a guy who claimed this is from scripture. He claimed to be somebody. In about four hundred men rally to him, he was killed all his followers were dispersed and it all came to nothing. We don't know that he was necessarily claiming to be Christ to be, Jesus would come back but several commentators believe that's what that phrase means. This man claimed to be somebody Master following follow him and then but it all came to nothing. It was all a lie I hopes. But in the modern day, I found an article from the New Zealand Herald. It was published in 2017? It was about seven different guys in the 2010s who claimed to be the reincarnated Jesus. And these guys, they range from Brazil to England, South Africa, to Australia. And I thought it would be interesting though you to have those seven guys, all in a room together and just let them hash it out and just see what comes about from that conversation. You might sound like please, I've never felt. I was looking up one YouTube documentary saying, on one of the guys is based in Australia, it is quite frightening. Frankly, I thought there was a joke, like, who on Earth would be that gullible 24-hour. Eufaula stray. Be very, very careful in these scenarios because all of these different men, they did have many followers who bought into that lie that they were in fact, Jesus. So are you? And I when there are lies and deception that abound in this world, stand firm in Christ and you will win life. Stand firm in Christ, The Living Word, the written word, that you might not be led astray. Second sign verses 9 to 10 the world will be at War when you hear of wars. And uprisings, do not be frightened, these things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. They said, they've been Nation will rise against Nation Kingdom against Kingdom. As one historian noted war is, in fact, one of the constants of History. And it has not diminished with civilization and democracy. Cuz sometimes in our modern-day world, we think our people just adopt democracy to get a little bit more moral and, and decent, and in terms of the government and the people little bit of morality and we'll get rid of all the is a noted. They publish a book in the 60s, 1960s. The said, in the last three thousand Four Hundred Years of recorded history. Only about 268 have seen no war in mind you. This is only recorded history. We're not talking about local conflicts and local feuding and in different things happening. The scripture is clear Psalm chapter 2. The nation's rage, the nation's rage constantly warned constantly Feud and constantly in conflict with one another And Jesus says, Don't Be Afraid. Don't be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away because the reality is, every single government. Will it be the good ole USA, or whatever country is every government is run by Broken, sinful people. And the sins that you and I experience on a local macrocosmic level and our own family and our own marriages. When you multiply that influence, that scale to the size of Nations, the destruction of the chaos is much greater in a more tangible way to church when the world is at war with itself. Stand firm in Christ and you will win life. Number 3, the third sign physical deterioration.

What's 11, there will be great earthquakes famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven. I keep in mind, remember Jesus is speaking, primarily to the disciples in the first century context it is fascinating to note several big things that did happen in the first century Mount Vesuvius erupted. And it that's when it covered the city of Pompeii in ashes that have in the first century, the city of Rome in the region, right? Around Rome arguably the Hub of the modern world at that time, and experience a massive famine in the first century also. But remember the biblical city of loud asiya, Orleans to see how how you pronounce it. Big massive earthquake hit that City that region in a completely destroyed. It took out all the buildings is all happen in the first century. Of course you and I know that earthquakes famines pestilences storms so on and so forth. They do happen a lot in today's world. Romans 8, 22 describes and tells us the whole creation. The whole creation has been groaning, as in the Pains of childbirth, right up to the present time. At Mother's, you know, this right at, you know, firsthand what this versus alluding to in labor, you have extreme pain extreme pain, but you are longing for looking forward to in a sense that Joy that's right around the corner. Lord willing. Are you looking forward to that? Deliverance? That new birth. It's about to happen. And similarly, this whole world is crying out in agony and pain. It's not just you personally, it's not just you, and you have a bad day. And, and you personally want to go to heaven. This whole world is crying out for that. It's an agonizing pain cuz it's looking forward to the day and which the entire world will experience that new birth that renewal that Deliverance, that Jesus is going to bring about when he comes back. So, the whole world is cracking under the weight of the curse. When that happens when the world physical creation is falling apart, stand firm in Christ and you will win life. Number for persecution. Looking for 12 to 19. This one is Big here. Before all of this Jesus says before all of the earthquakes before, all of the deception, before all of the wars, before all of it, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and put you in prison, you'll be brought before Kings and governors and all on account of my name. Can you read the book of Acts which is Luke part 2 the sequel received? This was lived out in reality. This was fulfilled as Peter and Paul and Steven and many others were imprisoned. They were beaten, they were put to death and Paul in particular, was brought before Kings, he was brought before Governors given the opportunity that speak of Christ before them. If anyone who tells you first Peter 1st, Peter is about top your head if you don't 1st. Peter is all about persecution Peters riding it to Christian who are suffering under the weight of government oppression for believing in Jesus. The first. Holbrook dedicated, this topic, I can't only scratched the surface now, but I simply want to say, if anybody ever tells you that the Christian Life is supposed to be easy and carefree, they are straight-up lying to you and it probably want something from you, okay? This life Jesus says, in this world you will have tribulation in the book of 2nd, Timothy everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ, Jesus will be persecuted. That's some people, everybody will. Tell persecution is a reality that you and I may not have experienced in depth in America, but I'm not going to do the whole fear fear factor right, but just be prepared, because what you? And I've experienced is an abnormality in the life of a normal Christian Christians throughout the centuries have experienced persecution. So it's important for you to know to be prepared so when persecution in betrayal and public pressure to Bow the knee rages on What should you do church? Say with me stand firm in Christ and he will win life. What must you do? When persecution comes stand firm in Christ and you will win life. Okay. Number five letter sign of the end / the temple being destroyed. Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. Look at versus 2024.

It seems kind of obvious. What's a sign of temples can be destroyed while they're going to be Army surrounding preparing them obvious. So that respond accordingly because when the armies surround Jerusalem, what are you to do? You're not supposed to hunker down and be safe in the the walls and the Fortress of the city. Now they're called the flea get out of there, hightail it out of there is a similar to what God Said to the Israelites when they were captive in Babylon because as God is going to destroy that City that region, he told his people leave get out of here because my wrath and similar think about it in Nineveh as well. God is going to come down on the city, wipe it out. Let's get out of here. Let's see, let's get same thing with Sodom and Gomorrah a lot. Hey I'm going to destroy the city, get out of here while there's time. Similar type of vibe going on here. God's Wrath, God's judgment is going to come upon Jerusalem because why, why? Why upon the city as a whole? Because of the rejection that he will soon experience. At the hands of the Jews as a Hole by the hands of the majority of the Jews, as a whole, he will soon be rejected. He will soon be crucified. As we see chapter 22 and following, but when the passion narrative begins, Do Jesus say listen to me, listen to my words because if you listen to me, you will find Deliverance, you will find life. So, it's imperative for you and I today. When enemies surround us, you can kind of fill in the blank with whatever you might think of might be your enemy for the be Satan Temptation or different other things death, when enemies surround you. When it seems overwhelming. When it seems uncertain that there's any way of Deliverance, listen to his word. When you listen to Christ, you will find Deliverance every single time. Stand firm in Christ, you win life. Last time. Number 6, verses 25 to 28. The Heavenly lights will not function. They'll be signs in the sun, moon and stars on the earth Nations will be an English and perplexity The Roaring and tossing of the sea. People faint from Terror, apprehensive of what is coming in the world. For the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

In scripture, the wrath of God. When it's poured out, when it's Unleashed Vegas, currently for you. And I today, God is restraining all of his wrath because now you and I, as Christians, we are protected, right? The blood of Christ is covered over us. We are protected, but for the world, as a whole God is with holding his rat, his restraining, it is holding on to it. Because if he gave us what our sins deserve, we will all be wiped out instantly, so it is an act of Mercy that you. And I truly are here today and ended non-christians are alive today. God, is being extremely merciful? when God, when the time comes for him, to unleash the full amount of his wrath, upon those who have not trusted in him, it's so massive. It's so cataclysmic. The even the heavenly bodies will be affected by it, right? The Sun, the moon, and the stars in the first century, some contacts today. Do you think about the sun moon and stars? Particularly the Sun, a lot of cultures deify these objects, but there's just a lot of strength, a lot of permanent to them. You think about in Egypt in the book of Exodus raw the sun. God, they worship are these are just such permanent powerful things in the world. And Jesus is saying here, even what you think is most powerful and most permanent, even those things will tremble, under the weight of my return, everything, all the creation, the Sun, the moon, the stars, every human being is going to Bow the knee before me when I come back. So you better be prepared. Listen to how Isaiah chapter 13 verses 9 through 11 intertwines God's Wrath being revealed but also the Heavenly lights malfunctioning. Does Steve the day of the Lord is coming. Accrual, day with RAF and fierce anger to make the lamb desolate and destroy the Sinners within it. The stars of Heaven, and the constellations will not show their light, the rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the hottie and will humble the pride of every place. The church for you. And I when the stars do not shine stand firm in Christ and you will win life. That's a lot, isn't it? That's a lot that's going to happen. A lot of moving Parts, a lot of different pain and pressure points that are going to come upon us as people from all different angles, right? It's not just persecution. Is also a physical deterioration is not just both of those that's going to be Wars and raging all around us. So once it right there's just a lot of chaos that's happening here. But in the midst of all of that, I hope I didn't highlight here. That's what we're doing here number to looking at the reassuring. Hope of Jesus, Jesus speaks words of promise words. Of Hope words of Joy here, even in the midst of all the craziness, it's going on. Look at the text with me, if you will verse 15, When the disciples were they are brought before adversaries when they are brought before the Kings the governor's. What is the text say?

I will give you words and wisdom. Nobody will be able to contradict or possessed. In the midst in Jesus's really echoing Luke chapter 12. Luke 12 is Jesus was getting ready to send out his disciples. He tells them when you were brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend ourselves or what you will say, the holy spirit will teach you at that time, what you should say. No I can't say every single one of us or any of us really will be brought before a king or Governor or president to give testimony to confessing Jesus is Lord. Right. So there's some contacts where it's not one-to-one correlation for United day, but the point is when you were when you die or in public pressure, The balcony to relinquish Jesus to forsake Him. Wait, when you and I are question, man to be in that kind of dramatic way. When you were at Starbucks, you're getting coffee with a friend or somebody, and they are questioning you and antagonizing you. Why do you believe in God? Why do you believe in the Jesus or the Bible or Christianity? Why do you follow all of that? It's all foolish, it's nonsense. You can't trust that. In those moments of greatest pressure Jesus says I will give you both the words to say but also the wisdom and how to say it An in Loop 12, Jesus talks about how it's the Holy Spirit, he's going to give us the words to say the wisdom to say it. I'm about you. Some of you might not be public speakers, that's okay. If one gets but isn't that a wonderful hope a wonderful promise that in that pickle that you were God. Will come through, if he will give you what you need, when you truly need it. That's one promise we see in the text for 16 and 17. Right? After that, another interesting thing. Jesus says, you will be betrayed. Even my parents brothers and sisters relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. 417 everyone hates you because of me that doesn't literally mean every single human being in the world. That means all kinds of people raps. Even a lot of people will hate you because of me. It's interesting looking for a team but not a hair of your head will perish. What on Earth because Jesus just said, we're 16, your parents brothers and sisters, relatives and Friends. Some of them will betray you and some of them will put you to death, but not ahead of your hair or not a hair of your head will perish. That is good news. Specially for mr. Chris Erwin. Right by the hair of your head will perish. Now, you might be wondering what? What is that mean? I don't get that. In the Old Testament, if you have some kind of time or a means, by which you do it to look up in the Old Testament that phrase comes up quite often a hair of your head and it itches me every kind of fiber of who you are writing. That nothing has Jesus talked about the previous place in the gospel. He knows every single hair of your head, right? He cares about every single part of you not just your soul, not just your eyes, he cares about every part of you to the point of every single hair of your head. He cares about and they're not a hair of your head will perish. This is a promise because Jesus said before and Luke chapter 12 as well. People human beings can kill and murder your physical body. They can dispose of your physical body, but that's the reality but nobody can touch her. Nobody can touch your soul. And if you are Christian today, if you trust Christ, if you've been born again, the reality is not a single thing in the world can touch. You can truly touch you As I've heard once the illusion, describe it death for you. And I, which is daunting. It's big, it's, it is bad, right? Result of the fall, but death for Christian is merely a door or window, by which we go into eternity, by which we meet Jesus face-to-face. So for you, and I, when it really comes down to it, when you really soak in this truth, we have nothing to be afraid of because nothing can touch us. Nothing can touch us. Not a hair of your head will perish. Where's my team? Set up a few times. But it's also promised right there. Stand, firm in Christ and firm and you will win life, eternal, abundant fulfilled, meaningful, joyful, loving life. You will receive that life as you stand for me Christ, if you stand firm in Christ, and I mentioned this earlier. But when it comes to obeying God, have you ever wrestled through that? Why should you obey? Why should you obey the scriptures? Can I take a stab at that? I'm just curious. Why should you obey the Bible?

Open ended. Somebody who loves the Lord.

Cuz God knows what's best. Yep, multiple ways to answer that because I love the Lord. I want to demonstrate my love for the Lord that God knows best. A lot of different reasons. I think sometimes in Christian circles when it comes to obedience or standing firm in Christ, a living, according to his word, when it comes to all that, we typically find the motivation to do that. I look back. Okay. You look back at what God has done for you. In Jesus, you look back at all the different things that he's done for others in the past. That is all true when you look back in gratitude, but we also look ahead to the reward. Sounds selfish sinful thing to do to work to obey for the reward. You find that several times throughout scripture about Old Testament Saints and even in the New Testament, you see that Christians are God's people followed him obeyed him because they looked ahead look forward to the reward that was awaiting them. So part of the motivation to shrink to a BAE stand firm. Be obedient love the Lord love people serve people stand firm in Christ because you will win life. One day, look ahead to the reward and let that motivate you and move you to a meetings. And then lastly Latin last promise, I'll highlight. 433. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Heaven and Earth will pass away. Of course, that literally means sky that the heavens, the Earth, the physical world, we live in it will pass away, you can read all. We just ran into that verse in terms of the nation's War, they rise, they fall the creation, physical creation, breaks apart, it's crumbling apart and our physical bodies. Just bring all of us or physical bodies, are aging, and they will perish one day unless Jesus comes back. First, the heavens and earth will pass away. But in the midst of all this change, all this rotting away, that we are experiencing because of the curse. One Thing Remains. God's word, God's word stands firm. It stands true throughout all the time. The grass withers, the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord in 2 hours for ever-popular, refrain in the Psalms in the New Testament. Well, the grass withers, the flowers fall, but the word of God into words forever. That's really sad God's word, it's good. He knows what's best for us. It's good. It's beautiful in the key for you and I to listen to him. Listen to him, he's a strong point. How then do we respond to all this chaos or get a little practical right? Jimmy D. I know you've been saying stand firm in Christ. Yeah, I got that. I got the world as you know in Flames. I got. It's breaking apart. I know we're called to stand firm in Christ. What does that mean? What does that mean? What does that look like? Is three things a highlight from the texts, hopefully practical things that you can chew on and practice. But number one, how do you stand firm and price? Number one, be on guard. Be on guard. By that, I mean, watch out be on guard against Be watchful against for teaching and temptation. Because there is an abundance of that. Today, the false teaching right there are kind of obvious ways like I think of Colts Mormonism so on and so forth. Christian Scientology, that kind of thing. There are overt. Chang's but the reality is there so much false teaching in the culture, just false Doctrine, false truths or if you follow this. If you believe this, this is the way to life. This is the way to Joy. Weatherby, drugs, alcohol, or pornography. You fill in the blank, right? Follow this, follow me, you'll find True Life. Also Temptation be on guard against it because in context when you read the text here, Jesus says, this isn't from birth date. Watch out that you are not deceived, right? So it's the command to them. Watch out be on guard that you are not deceived and then we're safe right after. I says, don't follow them and he specifically talking about individuals who are going to come around and claim to be Jesus. As I mentioned earlier, you might say I would never be that gullible and I would never fall for one of those hacks that claim to be Jesus. I would hope that's the case. I hope none of you would ever fall for something like that. but you and I faced so many things in life, that clamor for our Allegiance, in our affection, but it'd be work. But it'd be career, whether it be kids, are there be grandkids, are there be your spouse or they'll be trying to find a spouse, Weatherby, Hobbies or vacationing? Any of these types of things. The Temptation is the Balvenie in the fall of these things. I hope you heard me right now, those things I mentioned are inherently sinful, things are good gifts from God, what is Tim? Keller says a good thing. Becomes a bad thing when it becomes an ultimate thing. And that is what God or that. That is what Satan wants to do all the time. I'm said, good thing becomes a bad thing when it becomes an ultimate thing that is Satan's goal, everything good that you enjoy, he wants to pervert it, he wants to twist it. He wants to corrupt it in corrode, it so that you end up slandering God in the process and hurting others. So it's so important to be on guard against these temptations. That Vie for our hearts and to keep our eyes fixed Upon Jesus. Be on guard, and the way as James look at James talks about the way you say no to Temptation the way you resist. All of these sinful influences is by staying in God's word. Be washed in it, being refreshed in it, and end with a practically. Keep your nose in this book and keep your feet with God's people. They, that is how you fight. That is how you are on guard, because if you were a Lone Ranger, I don't need the church. I don't need to be in the church. I can figure this Christian Life out on my own. That is particularly Hussein, goes after, because very rarely, very rarely, will you ever find somebody who is actively growing in Christ, was not involved in a local church? Is it possible to know if we need to be in community with one another? We need to be in the word together, so be on guard, be on the lookout. But it's number to stand up. Look up to Christ, stand up. Look up to Christ. The Christian Life. It is described as War. Describe this war. I did it. The sword of the spirit, the helmet of salvation breastplate of righteousness at the armor of God might have learned it in VVS. The Christian Life Is War and when you think of War, do you think of people sleeping? What do you think of an active or do you think of people sleeping know, do you think of people even sitting know when you at least, when I think of what, I think of people standing on the move, the Go Active and alert and that is the same for you. And I when it comes to the Christian Life, we are called to stand up. Behler-young guard, be active, the proactive What is Colossians 3 12 to tells us keep your eyes on Christ? To set your mind on things above, not on Earthly things.

so, Hear me out here. It's possible to read the Bible, but missed the point. I've never met somebody like that. I've talked to several people but they say all read the Bible 56 times. And they're just not there either not a Christian or they still slander it, right? You can read the book and still not be transformed by it. So what's the key to all that then? Keep your eyes on Jesus. It's so many people read this book and missed the central character who is Jesus Christ. In one of our kids books that we have at home. It's called the ABC storybook Bible. And every now, and again, when there's a gradual there, I cling on to it because when I take a kids books, I usually don't think of good theology. It's kind of just all up here. So, like for example, the Noah's Ark when you think Noah's Ark, when it comes to kids book, you see a little boat. That's about that big that can fit in the bathtub like what on Earth that was not at all with the boat was like it was a huge massive ship. But regardless, when I come across something good, I cling onto itself, the ABC Store book Bible, Talk to it, some ABCs, right? So, for example, for Adam in the beginning, God created a beautiful cuz everything was beautiful and God first, mate, at sea, for the curse because Adam and Eve said there's a curse that can put a whole world. These four deliver because God promised to send to deliver guys. Heard it goes through the history of the Bible when it comes to x out of a going to pull this one off for the X in the Bible but they said lowercase e capitalize x-rite example. Right. So Jesus is our example, in life of people view him, that way I can get a good moral guy, we need to live and follow him, follow his teaching his principles, I got that. But the, why is where it was gold? Cuz yes, Jesus is our example of moral example. But yeah, why's for yes, because God because Jesus is the yes and amen. To all of God's promises. Jesus is the yes and amen to all of God's promises, as we'll see. In Luke 24, everything in the Bible speaks about him and points to him reorient, our minds to look to him. So when you stand firm to stand firm you must look up to Jesus constantly. That is why we gather here. Week after week, we do it to look up to Christ to know his word to show. His love grows Kingdom. All for the glory of Christ. Don't ever lose sight of Jesus. The central focus of scripture and of Christianity. Everlasting and I'm done, how do you stand firm? The midst of all the chaos verse 36? He always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape. All this is about to happen that you may be able to stand before the son of man. 436. How do you stand firm? Practically pray. Pray. One more time. Pray. Pray. Pray for strength to live through the hardship. Pray for the love and the joy that you need to serve those who are unlovable. Pray for the hope of God, the promises of God to sustain you, whether you were persecuted, what do you face sickness? What do you face, rejection? Whether you whatever you might be facing in life. Pray for the promises of God to strengthen you. And I move you forward to carry you on one day. At a time. All of this comes by being on our knees in prayer. Pray for the strength to stand firm. Is on your own, you're going to fail. It's Jesus said, depart from me, you can do what nothing but in Christ through Christ, I can do all things through Christ. Who strengthens me? I can live a Godly life because of Christ lives in me. But we must pray. We must pray. To church. When the world is falling apart. Stand firm in Christ and you will win life. Let's pray and then we'll close with the doxology.

Our Father. May your kingdom come. Jesus, may we rejoice in your love.

Holy Spirit. Are we stand upon the truth of your word?

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.