Hard Times Await US
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Series:Gospel of Mark
Message: Hard Times Await Us
Opening / Focus Passage: Mark 13:1-13
Introduction:
Jesus’ disciples, like many in the church, are more concerned with the signs than they are the Word. They ask about the end times and wonder when and how, but they forget about the words of Jesus. We are called to be alert. We are called to be watchful. We are called to be busy.
We live in hard times. But the times we live in are only the beginning. Persecution is coming and its rapidly approaching the shores of the Church of God in America today. We are told that the time season is coming. We are also told not to worry about this season. We are told to be about our Father’s business, sharing the Gospel. May we understand the “Church” grows under persecution. Persecution truly purifies the church. Many in the end will leave the church do to persecution. Will you be one that stays or leaves? I assure you, Hard times await us. However, let us not lose hope and continue to be about our the sharing of the Gospel.
Outline:
Always looking for a sign (vv. 1-4)
As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look! What wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things come about, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”
A false hope - ‘...what wonderful buildings...’
As Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem, they look back toward the Temple, and one of the disciples says, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings. Truly the temple was a great sight to see and would bring anyone to awe. The Temple was considered one of the great wonders of the world.
The Temple walls were covered by plates of gold so that when the sun shined on it, you had to cover your eyes to see while glaring in the direction of the Temple and the sections of the walls that were not covered with gold plates were as white as ivory. The Temple’s foundations stones were huge (40’ long x 12’ high x 8’ wide) and the square of the temple was 400 yards x 500 yards and it covered. The Temple grounds covered approximately 1/6 of the city of Jerusalem. The Temple was breath taking, awe inspiring.
The disciples took great pride in physical, what they could see and touch, like many today. Our confidence should not be in that which we can see and touch…Our confidence should be God not the things of man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in people.
A reality check – ‘…Do you see these great buildings...’
Jesus begins by repeating the disciples question…to draw attention to what he was saying and the condition of his mind and heart (…examine his mindset…). There was nothing wrong in seeing the Temple and recognizing its beauty, its mass, but let that not be our confidence. As the age old saying goes, “Do not judge a book by its cover”. Let us not gain confidence by looks alone, for looks can be deceptive.
If you do not believe that…just check out a few social media apps and look at a few profiles pictures and then see that person in real life, not the fake world of the internet, and you will understand just how deceptive looks can be.
Jesus brings them (the disciples) to the reality of how fragile their confidence is, Not one stone will be left upon another.
We have a beautiful building and a beautiful sanctuary, but all that we see could be gone in a matter of seconds…Our pride and confidence should not be in the building, but the God that is worshiped within this building. Just as the Temple was gutted by fire due to the Romans in A.D. 70, Central Baptist Church can be up in flames or gone with the wind in a matter of seconds. Let our confidence be in God, not man.
A question asked – ‘...Tell us, when will these things come about...’
Two question were given that day that have continued through the past two millennia since they were asked…
When? – When shall these things be
What? – What shall be the sign
Believers of Christ have tried to answer these two questions over and over and have all felt that they would see Jesus in their time…because they see all the signs. Many, including myself, have lost the focus of Jesus’ teaching this day on the Mt. Olives. We must recognize His purpose.
Jesus’ purpose within His teaching
His purpose was not about the when or even the what…It was more than that
His purpose was about action/awareness
His purpose was about His people being about His business until His return
Get ready…He’s coming
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
1) Jesus wanted His disciples to be preparedand alert – ‘Take heed lest any man deceive you’
a) He was preparing His disciples against the deception of the enemy – ‘lest any man deceive you’
b) He was preparing His disciples against false messiahs – ‘For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many…’
i) Many of have seen these deceptive and demonic people in our own life whether it be the false messiah of South America, Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, or Jim Jones, or David Koresh, or even those that followed and were deceived to join the cult of Heaven’s Gate
(1) Jesus then, and the church now, should warn people and be alert against false messiahs and witnesses…we have been warned of those to come
(a) 1 John 4:1 (Wordstudy KJV) 1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many [false prophets] are [gone out] into the world.
2) Be not deceived…birth pains are taking place – ‘these are the beginnings of sorrows’
a) Many historical events have deceived the church into thinking the end was here, but events taking place were not a sign of the end being here, but were signs of the beginning of the end
b) Jesus told his disciples not to be deceived by signs, but be prepared – ‘be ye not troubled…the end shall not be yet’
i) So what were and in many ways are the signs that confuse many Christians today…
(1) Wars will take place until the end and they will become increasingly worse – ‘when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled’
(2) Turmoil will take place between nations – ‘nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom’
(3) Natural disasters will become increasingly worse – ‘earthquakes in divers places…famines and troubles…’
3) Jesus had a word about these signs
a) Do not let these signs deceiveyou – ‘lest any man deceive you’
b) Do not let these signs concernyou – ‘be ye not troubled’
c) These signs are only the beginning– ‘these are the beginnings of sorrows’
d) God’s sovereignty reigns over it all – ‘for such things must needs be’
Go…Work…Do not lose hope
Mark 13:9–13(Wordstudy KJV) 9 But [take heed] to yourselves: for they shall [deliver you up] to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings [for my sake,] for a testimony against them. 10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 11 But when they shall lead you, and [deliver you up,] [take no thought beforehand] what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye [that speak,] but the Holy Ghost. 12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall [rise up] against theirparents, and shall [cause them to be put to death.] 13 And ye shall be hated of all men [for my name’s sake:] but [he that shall endure] unto the end, [the same] shall be saved.
1) Persecution is coming for the saint – ‘But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up’
a) This persecution will be within the religiouscommunity – ‘to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten’
b) This persecution will be within the family– ‘Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall [rise up] against theirparents, and shall [cause them to be put to death.’
c) This persecution will be will escalate to the government– ‘and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings…’
d) This persecution will be to further the Gospel– ‘for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must be published among all nations’
i) We are not saved by the blood of Christ to rest in pews
ii) We are saved by the blood of Christ to go and share…This should be our focus, not signs and wonders
(1) Jesus was telling his disciples then and the church today… “GO!”
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(i) We’ve been empowered to share – ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth’
(ii) We’ve been commanded to share – ‘Go ye therefore’
2) Be comforted…The Comforter will give you the words to speak – ‘but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost’
3) Persecution reveals genuine Christianity vs. a feel-good Christianity
Conclusion:
Of the signs and times we are not to worry about…We are to be alert, watchful, and on guard. We are called to be about our Father’s business. The only way to be alert, sober, and about the business of our Father, is first knowing God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Have you ever given your life to Jesus? Where do you stand? Without Christ, without a surrendering to the salvation that He and He alone affords, you have no hope.
We look around and we see the birth pains. The truth and reality of birth pains is that they increase in severity over time. We are only at the beginning. How much worse does it have to get before you realize your need to get either accept Jesus or get busy about sharing the Gospel?