The Last Generation

Title: The Last Generation

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Let me start by introducing myself if you are visiting today. My name is Adam. It’s so good to have you worshiping with us!

We are continuing our series “Told You So”. We have another two weeks left. Then we have Mother’s Day and we will start our next Series we are calling “catch it”. Which is a series on the Holy Spirit.

During this series we are looking at prophetic scripturein the bible that has come to pass and scripture yet to come to pass.

Today we are going to be looking at a Prophecy from Joel that has been fulfilled and is still being fulfilled.

So if you have your bibles go ahead and turn to Joel 2 and then you can put a maker in Acts 2 as well.

Heart for this series is for you to see the confidence we have in this book. What was written in the word will come to pass

Let’s read our passage for today.

Joel 2 28 “And afterward, (In context to all of Joel 2, this is referring to the Last Days) I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (referring to the return of Christ. So this is clearly an end time, Last Generation prophecy) 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;

I’ve entitled my message “the Last Generation”

If you’d like the notes text “notes” to the number on the screen.

PRAY

There are many things that are Good but in the Worst Way…

· Moving out of Parents House (First time you are on your own – Bills)

· Buying a Car / But taking out a Car Loan (I hate car payments)

· Deep Tissue Message (Feels so good, yet hurts so bad)

· Mcdonalds (Taste so good, yet makes you feel so bad)

· For the Women (Childbirth – Such a blessing, but man I’m glad I don’t have to do that)

The Last Generation will experience the

Best of Times and the Worst of Times.

The end times or last generation is going to be dramatically glorious and dramatically terrible.

Some people emphasize one or the other, and either one is an unhealthy and inaccurate imbalance.

TS: Before we get into the best of times and the worst of times, as it relates to Joel’s prophecy we just read, let me give you some context for this statement.

ACTS 2 SUMMARY VS 1-13

In Acts 2 we see Peter quote this passage.

And Right before this we see the Outpouring of the

Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

It starts with the disciples gathered, and suddenly the Holy Spirit shows up and manifest himself by a rushing wind and tongues of fire. Everyone begins speaking in various languages they had not previously known.

This wild move of the spirit attracts a crowdof people from different nations who were in Jerusalem at the time. They are astonished to hear the disciples speaking in their native languages, despite being Galileans.

This crowd marvels at hearing the disciples speak of God's wonders in their own tongues. Some people, however, dismiss the disciples' behavior as drunkenness.

Peter had to defend accusations of drunkenness.

He said this is fulfillment of Joel 2.

Let’s look at it…..

Acts 2

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Up until this point the outpouring of the Spirit in the OT

had been mostly reserved for only a select few.

But, Under the New Covenant, the power of the Spirit is for “all people,” all who come under the New Covenant and are saved.

LAST DAYS-LAST GENERATION

What does this mean for us?

Are we living in the Last generation?

Or as the Bible puts it the “last days”.

Well in short, we are certainly living in the Last Days.

The “last days” have been nearly 2,000 years now, beginning with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

But how about the Last Generation?

Before I answer this, Let’s go back to how in the

last generation it will be the best of times and worst times.

So Number One the first one we are going to look at.

1. THE LAST GENERATION WILL EXPERIENCE THE WORST OF TIMES.

Before we dive into this point we do not need to be fearful at all.

The bible is clear that these things will take place.

But, that God will protect His church and His people who

rest under the Shadow of the Almighty.

So 3 ways it will be the worst of times….

1. It will be the worst of times because the Church will be Persecuted.

Revelation 12:12-13 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a shorttime.”

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.

Satan will be on full blast against the church and Israel.

He hates what God loves, and knowing that time is running out, he will attack God’s people with all the energy of an animal that has rabbis that is backed into a corner.

He is going to come full force in the last generation.

The enemy will throw everything at us he has.

2nd thing….

2. It will be the worst of times because of Deception.

1 Thessalonians 5:3

3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will

not escape.

This is referring to the Anti-Christ who will bring Peace. He will set up a one world Government that will seduce the world with false peace.

Then the antichrist will demand worship as God, He will even back up his claim with dramatic signs and wonders to deceive the nations.

Jesus’ warned the last generation to not be deceived. Jesus says this….

Matthew 24:4

4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.

Church! Keep your eyes on Jesus! Don’t be deceived.

TS: Next thing….

3. It will be the worst of times because of Wickedness.

Listen Wickedness and Righteousness will reach its

full maturity in the Last Generation.

Jesus tells a Parable in Matthew 13

It’s about weeds that grow up alongside the wheat, the weeds are the wickedness on the earth and the wheat which is sowed by Jesus is the righteous. Both will reach its full maturity before Christ Return.

As the dark gets darker the Light gets Lighter.

In Luke 17 it says this.

Luke 17:26

26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

Before the Flood, mankind was corrupt and thought only of evil continually according to Genesis 6:5 and Jesus promised that the time of His coming would be much like the time of Noah.

CHRIST RETURN

You may be asking will we be here for the worst of times. I don’t know if we will be here for all of this. Depends on if you’re pre - post or mid.

I do know this. I want to be near to Jesus because he will hide me under His wings, shelter me, protect me, and defend me. We’ve got to be ready.

TS: Who’s ready for some good news now?

2. THE LAST GENERATION WILL BE THE BEST OF TIMES.

Acts 2:17

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

There’s a principle called “dual fulfillment.” Many prophecies in Scripture have dual fulfillment: a first, smaller fulfillment, and a later, fuller fulfillment.

The first fulfillment of Joel 2 was when Peter stands up and says “they are not drunk. This is the fulfillment of the prophet Joel.”

This pouring out was reserved to just a few in the book of Acts.

But this prophecy says, ALL

It doesn’t mean all individual people but every tribe, nation and people group.

the Second fulfillment will be the culmination of this, pouring out of His spirit.

It will be a fuller fulfillment.

It started on the day of Pentecost, and it continues to increase as the returning of the Lord comes nearer and nearer.

OUTPOURING

So what does this pouring out or outpouring mean?

Pouring Out (Outpouring) - a passionate or exaggerated outburst; a rainfall in rich abundance

In the “last generation” there will be an increased operation of the gifts of the spirit which started in the Book of Acts and continues today.

Which means it refers to the end times or Last Generation.

TS: So with this Outpouring and an increased measure in spiritual gifts.

Let me give you 3 things we will see that should encourage you.

GREAT REVIVAL

1. It will be the best of times because of an End time Harvest of Souls.

Matthew 24:14

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world a a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

In conjunction with this outpouring,

we will see a massive end-time harvest of souls!

The gospel will be proclaimed with power to every people group, every nation, tribe, and tongue on earth.

This hasn’t happened yet, but top missions’ organizations like Joshua Project say we’re very close!

I don’t know how this is going to happen but I believe God has given us a strategy for reaching the nation of Guyana and an unreached people group there. That we are a part of sharing the gospel to a group of people that has never heard.

SUPERNATURAL PROVISION AND PROTECTION FOR THE CHURCH

2. It will be the best of times because God’s People will Be Protected..

Despite all the EVIL that the world will experience in the Last Generation, the people of God will be protected and strengthenedby the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 27:5

5 For he will hide me in his shelter

in the day of trouble;

he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;

he will lift me high upon a rock.

Psalms 91:1-2

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

There is plenty of precedent in Scripture for God protecting His people in the middle of crisis,

· like Noah on the ark during the flood

· Israel during the plagues in Egypt.

· Israel’s birth as a nation in 1948 was marked by this kind of dramatic protection and provision, and we will see these miracles again in the Last Generation.

We can have a great confidence that God will protectand defend His people.

It may not be easy but we will have Jesus

UNWAVERING FAITH

Listen, You’ve got to have an unwavering faith in the last days.

The enemy will try to discourage you, bring doubt in, and bring you down.

You’ll have to be so confident in your relationship and faith in God. And when you do. He will set your feet upon a rock and the winds may blow, and the shakingmay take place. But those who rest under the shadow of the Almighty will not be shaken!

TS: But how will the people of God withstand and build their faith!

Prayer and Worship!

GLOBAL PRAYER MOVEMENT 3. It will be the best of times because a Global Prayer Movement.

Malachi 1:11

11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense (the burning of incense in the Old Testament represented prayer) will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. (Lord Give Us clean hands and a pure heart) For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.

In the last days, as the drama increases, there will be a steady soundtrack of prayer and worship arising like incensefrom every corner of the planet.

God is raising up those INTERCESSORS who will cry out for justice and for His purposes for Israel until He return. This is what we’re seeing around the world even now.

This is what intercession is. It’s when we are standing in the gap and praying for the Justice of God to sweep across this planet.

Praying for a movement of the spirit of God to bring the winds of Revival.

That’s why we have Pre-Service Prayer and Saturday Prayer and Wednesday Night Prayer.

As we Intercede, we are doing the work necessary in the spirit to see the will of God come to pass.

We are in a Battle that’s not going to be won with a closed fist but with knees on the floor contending for a move of God.

TS: Now let’s answer this question…. The one you’ve been waiting for.

3. ARE WE THAT LAST GENERATION?

I can’t say emphatically Yes! I can say dang we are likely close.

Jesus spoke of many things to expect near the end that affect the social fabric, destructive natural events, signs in the sun and moon and stars – things happening all together in a historically short period.

TS: I don’t have time to go into all of it. Let me just give you two things though.

Again I’m not saying Jesus’ return is certainly happening in our lifetime. I’m saying to me it’s likely. Scripture would indicate, if OUR interpretation is accurate that it would be a high possibility.

I only want to give two signs that would lead me to believe Christ Return is in our generation. There is more - you could teach an entire message on this. Here is only two. Which are pretty significant.

1. Israel becoming a Nation is a sign we are in the Last Generation.

Matthew 24:34

32 “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. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Now if you go back and study this.

Throughout scripture a “Fig Tree” refersto the nation of Isreal.

This is likely referring to Israel becoming a nationagain, which happened in 1948.

So, the generation that sees Israel become a nation again, will not pass away before the coming of Christ.

So this begs the question. What is a generation?

Is it 70-80 years? Maybe

Psalm 90:10

The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty;

Is it 120 years? Maybe

Gen. 6:3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

So that would put this prophecy if ourinterpretation is accurate.

To put Christ return AROUND the 2028 timeframe. If a generation is 80 years.

Give or take a decade because our calendar and timeline could be off along the way.

Or AROUND 2068 if 120 years is a generation.

We can’t know for sure. Nor am I saying these are exact years.

The point is man it’s got to be soon!

TS: The Next Sign that pointsto this being the last generation

is the 7000 year timeline.

2. The 7000 year timeline is a sign we are in the Last Generation.

When you study scripture you’ll see a timeline of 7 consistently.

The number 7 represents completion or perfection

The number 6 represents imperfection and man.

The timeline since creation to Christ return

I would submit to you, mirrors the creation story.

The Creation story happened in 7 days.

After the 6th day and on the seventh day God rested.

Now a thousand years is like a day and a day is like a thousand years.

Which is found twice in scripture.

Look at….

Psalm 90:4

4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8

that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

It’s not approximate.

So take what I’m about to say with a grain of salt.

· From Adam to Abraham is estimated to be 2000 years

· From Abraham to Jesus time is estimated to be another 2000 years

· From Jesus time to His return will be another 2000 years

Therefore, from the creation of Adam to Jesus’ last return

to the earth is 6000 years

After 6000 years, Jesus Christ will return and rule for 1000 years, which is the Millennium Reign.

What’s the point of ALL of this?

EYES ON JESUS

FIRST… We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.

Matter of a fact. It says this in Luke 21 referring to events that will take place before Jesus second coming.

Luke 21:25-28

25 “There will 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. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

NEED FOR HOLY SPIRIT

SECONDLY we need the Holy Spirit to navigate these times.

Which goes back to this prophecy in the book of Joel.

Acts 2:28-30

28 I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. 30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth,

Church, we need to always be watchful, waiting and

expectant for the Lords return.

It will be suddenly. Like a thief in the night scripture says.

This is why it’s so important to be in tune with the Holy Spirit to help us navigate this Last Generation that I believe we are truly in.

We’ve got to renew our mind daily as Paul talks about in Romans. To be in the word, a person of intercession and prayer.

We will need the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be operation and according to Joel 2 and Acts 2 the Lord will pour them out on His people liberally. There will be dreams, visions, prophetic to help us navigate.

Here is the thing though…

We shouldn’t concentrate on these manifestations of the spirit,

We should only concentrate on our availability to God to be filled continually by His spirit.

PRAYER - FRESH INFILLING

Ephesians 5:18

be filled continually with the Holy Spirit.

If you want a fresh infilling of the spirit.

Raise your hand now and let me pray for you.

PRAYER - SALVATION

In our passage of scripture it says…

Acts 2:32 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;

Let me ask you a question.

If you’re here today and want to give your life to the Lord. Lift your hand real high.