How to Live in Light of Christ's Return part 2
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How to Live in Light of Christ's Return part 2
As worship ends and I come up front
SLIDE 1 “WELCOME GLAD YOU ARE HERE”
Encouraging words from worship
God’s word brought us so many revelations in the Book of Revelation
The main point coming up over and over is we need to be ready for Christ return
SLIDE 2 “FIRM IN FAITH- Living in Light of the Lord’s Return”
Words about Israel War
How does this line up in Revelation.....where are we at in all this?
What we are seeing is a true shift according to Isaiah 5
As we see more and more the turning against Israel
More and more of the common media outlets are driving this
Being taught in some of the colleges now....certain politicians are now driving this
SLIDE 3
18 Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood,
And sin as if with cart ropes;
19 Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it;
And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near
And come to pass, that we may know it!”
Now look and we see it right here in Isaiah 5 starting with verse 18
SLIDE 4
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!
SLIDE 5
22 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine
And valiant men in mixing strong drink,
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!
Now as the shift goes against Israel (the Jew) who will get included with them?
Which puts us exactly in place with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24 or Luke 21 or Mark 13 .....
SLIDE 6
7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.
8 “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
do not be frightened …these things must take place…NOT YET THE END
merely the birth pangs
Interesting in Revelation there are no wars mentioned till chapter 16 the false prophet, the beast perform signs and wonders to the kings of the whole world and they come and gather at Megiddo (Armageddon)
Look back up at the passage on the screens
Now look at something very important as to what Jesus says in the next verse
SLIDE 7
Mark 13:9 (NASB95)
9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
What do we see here in Jesus’ own words?......the shift of Isaiah 5 we just read through earlier
So where are we at in our biblical timeline?.......be on our guard.....in Matthew Jesus says we will be delivered into tribulation
Jesus tells us the gospel will still be preached to all the nations
Brother will rise up against brother, children against their parents, lawlessness will increase, love will wax cold
We will be hated by all because of His name....then we see he who endures to the end will be saved, then the abomination of desolation in the Holy Place
Tony Evans said it best.....God purpose of prophecy is to draw us closer to Him and to more worship of Him
SLIDE 8 “FIRM IN FAITH- Living in Light of the Lord’s Return”
Last week we learned our first key point for How to Live in the Light for the Lord’s Return........Know the Lord
We have 3 total points for How to grow and be ready
SLIDE 9
HOW TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT - key points
*Know The Lord
*Be and Over-comer
*Endure To The End
Today we will see in God’s word about being an overcomer
We see that as importance from being repeated to the 7 churches of Revelation
As we saw the 1st point repeated by Jesus in the gospels to know Him.....not know Him like in his parable stories but to know Him
Next week we will finish with endure to the end
We see our first step in being an overcomer was by the shed blood of Jesus that covers our lives from eternal death of the soul
While we are still here on earth we will encounter tribulation......why because Jesus says so and gives us an important assurance here in John chapter 16
SLIDE 10
33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Two wonderful promise here....we have peace....where? and He has already overcame the world
What is our part? Take courage .... it means be of good cheer or be comforted....Not always the case when going up against the wars of the evil one ......amen
We see though importance to us as we are the church and the Spirit of the churches says this
SLIDE 11
7 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’
SLIDE 12
“BEING AN OVERCOMER”
1)Pause to Identify / Pause to Pray
2)Respond Appropriately (God’s way)
3)Run to Source of Refuge and Strength
Pastor Jeff Wickwire used to say a two step process was first “pause to pray” then “will to worship” as being very powerful in being an overcomer
Too many times today emotions and reactions from emotions are too quick to get us into trouble and ruin our witness and weaken us in our ability to be true overcomers.
SLIDE 13
“BEING AN OVERCOMER”
1)Pause to Identify / Pause to Pray
This goes the same in temptations as well
Our first point today
David found this in his walk as he wrote in Psalms 55
SLIDE 14
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
2 Give heed to me and answer me;
I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the pressure of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me
And in anger they bear a grudge against me.
We see here in this passage David describing his situation......he is restless, distracted, the voice of the enemy, pressure and so on
But David has paused first.....look and we see no reaction or response of emotion yet do we....he hasn’t ruined his witness
He is in prayer or meditation mode, identified his situation......waiting on a response from God first
Why can we do that also
SLIDE 15
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Now remember James and John.....John who pinned that verse were known as what? “the sons of thunder”.....why…they wanted to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans for not receiving Jesus into their area
So John also had to learn that he needed to pause and pray and know greater is He that in me than he that is in the world and I can be an overcomer
2ND point how to be an overcomer
SLIDE 16
“BEING AN OVERCOMER”
1)Pause to Identify / Pause to Pray
2)Respond Appropriately (God’s way)
As we just discussed about the sons of thunder.....many times it seems that’s how we choose to respond.
And the world / the lost seems to notice that first about us
Kinda like in our wood working business people remember our mistakes, excuses or attitude more than our good work and good attitudes
Here is why and Paul describes it perfectly in Galatians and memorizing this verse will help us to hit the “pause and pray or pause and identify” button
SLIDE 17
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Example of Darin and Caitlyn and Eric baptism last Sunday
Take up your cross and follow me....die to self daily
Here is what comes out of bad responses to emotions or bad responses to temptations
SLIDE 18
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
verse 18 here very good very important.......by pausing to pray, meditate or identify the situation or issue, the Spirit (He who is in you is greater) will restrain us or convict against this deeds of the flesh listed here.
Another words by pausing, praying and meditating you can feel it in your soul and won’t need to read or someone tell you not to respond inappropriately or do these things
SLIDE 19
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Now this is what God wants to be the response if handles through pause, pray or mediation.
Important the more you take this time the shorter the time becomes and the more you find responding God’s way
Oh remember earlier we talked about James and John asking Jesus about calling down fire from heaven on the Samaritans for not wanting Jesus to pass through their area?........check this out and see His response
SLIDE 20
51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;
52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.
53 But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem.
So look at this perfect example of not pausing or mediating in the Lord or Spirit
SLIDE 21
Luke 9:54–56 (NASB95)
54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;
56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And they went on to another village.
How about battling or overcoming insecurities....battle in the mind ..... the consensus.....bad thoughts.....bad intentions
Put this one on your steering wheel or refrigerator door....better than that on your phone screensaver
SLIDE 22
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
Probably the most powerful set of verses for spiritual warfare in the world
If satan can win the war in the mind then we let ourselves be put in a great disadvantage to be an overcomer
Last point to being an overcomer
SLIDE 23
“BEING AN OVERCOMER”
1)Pause to Identify / Pause to Pray
2)Respond Appropriately (God’s way)
3)Run to Source of Refuge and Strength
SLIDE 24
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.
Selah.
SLIDE 25
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah.
WORSHIP TEAM COME
SLIDE 26 “FIRM IN FAITH- Living in Light of the Lord’s Return”
There are many references in the Psalms about running to the Lord and in His strength
Spend time in them to find those special verses you can cling to
Let me pray for us
PRAYER / WORSHIP / CLOSE
