The Tribulations of Today

Announcement

Tax statement available if you require them.

Game night 6 Pm

Darrel’s work day next Saturday

Nancy anncoument

Background

When you see this text JEsus is beginning to predict the future.

This section in particular is true of the church experince in every age. So the Christians of then will experince this, the Christians of yesterday, and tomorrow until thew Lord returns will experince these things.

That doesn’t mean we can’t try to mitigate these things, but Sin will continually rear it’s ugly head. And people will always do these sinful actions to the church of Christ

The Text

Mark 13:5–13 ESV

5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

II. THE SAVIOUR—vv. 5–13

Here our Saviour tells of some of the things which would take place before He returns to the earth.

Jesus is explaining the future, both immediate to the disciples and also experiences that the church will have in her faithfulness to Christ.

A. Deception—vv. 5–6. False religions which deceive many people.

What is The Anti-Christ

Who is the Anti-Christ? I took a look at the protestant reformers and they a few agreed on this: John Huss from the bohemian or the Czech Republic thought it was the Pope, as did John Calvin and Wycliffe. Martin Luther thought the spirit of the Anti-Christ was the pope and the flesh the ottoman Turks, specifically Islam peoples. People would latter attribute the anti-Christ to Hitler, Mussolini Nero Stalin and many others while they were right that these people were small a antichrist they were not that big a antichrist.

What I am calling the "big A" anti-christ has some of those habits but scripture goes further. This is a man empowered by Satan and his demons to do Greta and evil things that will be revealed in the last days. The man of sin, satan's counterfeit Jesus see second Thessalonians chapter 2 verses three and four and also he’s called the man lawlessness

2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 ESV

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

You can see from this text that Jesus will destroy him, that the Big A anti-christ is very short lived. Seeing as this is tied to the last days I don't believe that we will see this person.

That brings us to John's next point which is what are the little anti-Christs? Well early church father Polycarp who was trained by John who wrote this book said the following about Antichrist....

Polycarp - "For everyone who shall not confess that Jesus Christ is coming the flesh is an Antichrist." "And whoever shall not confess the testimony of the cross is of the devil; and whosoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his own lusts and say that there is neither resurrection nor judgment, that man is the firstborn of Satan,"

Well every false pulpit across the world is filled with them. Every religious leader who preaches anything other then Jesus. They're found in every land and culture including ours. These people though not the final antichrist are in some ways under demon sway.

Let's look at the text here for their…

Spirit/qualities of anti-christ (Give commentary on each)

They are not of us and when they are among us they will go out from us (v 18-19)

Not anointed by God (20) - this anointing is by the Holy Spirit, though some commentators say its other members of the trinity, (GET INTO THE GREEK) trinity annoints you.

They have no knowledge (20) - not being awakened by the HS they know nothing

They do not know the truth (21) - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

They lie (21) - Breaking the 9th commandment as Satan would

They are liars that deny Jesus and the father so they have neither (22) We covered this a couple weeks ago but John has a huge emphasis on abiding in Jesus as Jesus abides in the father. (READ 2:7)

Does not confess the father or the son (23)

Truth does not abide in them (24)

They do not have eternal life (25) - See John 3:16-17 they literally are cut off from eternal life so what they teach leads to death in eternity but also makes you feel dead today, it's going to be spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically killing you

They do not have a promise from God for themselves (25) - God's promises are not for them

They are trying to deceive you (26) - The Holy Spirit will remind you of the teachings of Jesus

John 14:26–27 ESV

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

They are trying to teach you false things (27) - these people are going to try to insert things that aren't in the text, magic from the white space.

They distrust the teachings of the bible (27) See 2 Peter 2 (1- 3, 12-22) (4-11 is about what these will receive and God saving people from destruction)

You can see the actions of the anti-christs

To defend your family from the small anti-Christs

Men they want you to check out so they can be the husband to your wives, be the father to your children, be the leader in your house. So many men are not present in many forms. You are called to lead your home. The Devil tempted Adam and he abdicated his role, you must see that these decivers are doing the same

Women you must see that many people have very enticing things to say you must know your word.

B. Destruction—vv. 7–8. War—nations against each other. Famines, etc. These are only the beginning of sorrow.

Don’t be troubled- To my more emotive friends you need this.

Proverbs 25:28 ESV

28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

B. Illustrations of what it means

1. Couple who want to walk with the Lord but always allow the old ways to draw them back

2. Woman who wants to be what she should be but always allows moods to dominate

3. Man who wants to serve the Lord but has no usefulness because of doubts based on feelings

4. Young man doomed to a life of defeat and limitations because of inability to control temper (he is always ready prey, easily defeated, limited even when successful)

The Outcome of worry over tge troubles is

The result: we do not know the meaning of victory; we suffer the loss of spiritual joy; we have broken relationships; we are a profound negative influence on the lives of others

How to deal with the troubles

Proverbs 16:32 ESV

32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

A. It clearly calls for a decision on your part

1. Nothing will happen until the decision has been made

2. You must take the first step—then God will act to assist

B. It demands effort backed by the Spirit

1. Cultivate self-control in matters of small moment in preparation for those greater

2. Allow the facts of the Word to dominate your life

3. Seek the Spirit’s power to obey

C. Yield to Christ—some will not get saved because of feelings

1. They are waiting for a special feeling

2. They will not give up what feels good

3. They feel they can not hold out. All you need do is what He has said to do

C. Danger—v. 9. Christians will be persecuted and killed for the sake of the gospel.

This was seen the first generation, with the stoning of Stephen.

Not to far from here in Cuba Voice of the Martyrs has shared this.

Robert is a Christian and independent news reporter who has spoken out against the Communist government’s treatment of Christians in Cuba. Because of his bold witness, government officials beat him and imprisoned him for a year. They also confiscated his phone, computer and other possessions related to his livelihood. Robert has been released from jail but is currently under house arrest and expects further hostile treatment from the government. Pray that Robert’s witness for Christ will draw others into closer fellowship with Him, and pray his tools are returned to him.

We remeber them going after churches during the pandemic in our country. You may see the suffering for his sake.

D. Deliverance—v. 10. The message of deliverance would be preached to all nations, then Christ would return. Parts of the Bible have now been printed in over 1,300 languages.

This is just happenng now in our world.

The Knowlege of the Lord will...

You can be part of this by giving to our church, you can give to ministries we support like one more child.

Look at the word “Must” This will happen over time. Your evnaglism and all engalism will have sucess. The church and her gospel of Christ will not be defeated.

Application:

Share boldly, support those who share boldly.

E. Defense—v. 11. Don’t worry about defending yourself. The Holy Spirit will help you, giving you the answers for your defense.

F. Denouncement—v. 12. Family members against each other.

I believe that this was directed more towards new faith in families. You can still see this happen today.

When I became a Christian I had family saying “It’s just a phase, it’ll pass” I have some very loving, but condisending liberal familiy. “Jesus. medication,” whatever to get you through your day just dont do crazy

The gospel is something that will cause discord.

I was reading a story of a missionairy in Japan and he said this:

Japanese culture is also decidedly unchristian. The cultural values of honor and shame make it difficult for people to come to Christ. Anything that puts someone outside the accepted social structure should be avoided. To be honorable is to be socially Buddhist and Shinto; many family gatherings and civic events are rooted in those false religions. For a Japanese person to follow Christ they must find a new place in Japanese society. Conversion leads to family problems; it can even lead to problems at work or among friends.

I’ve known people who were raised RC and it created family problems when they became a protestant.

Answers, - honor you father and mother, but honor God when they conflict

G. Dedication—v. 13. Those who endure to the end will be saved.

You will recive you just reward one day.

Benediction:

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26.)