What's is Going to Take

Introduction:

“What will it take?”

That’s the question today...

We’ve seen war, disease, disaster, deception, addiction, perversion, and destruction… and still, many hearts remain unmoved. People often cling to the very things that are destroying them.

Revelation 9 pulls back the curtain on a coming judgment so intense, so undeniable, so terrifying—that surely anyone who witnesses it would repent and turn to God… right? But shockingly, they don’t.

As we think about “What Will it Take” lets also add a little more to this question, and ask three more...

What will it take for me to share the truth?

What will it take for me to embrace the cross?

What will it take for me to surrender everything to the One who gave everything for me?

Let’s walk through the Fifth and Sixth Trumpets with open Bibles and open hearts—and listen for the voice of the Spirit.

The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets (Rev. 9:1–19)

The Fifth Trumpet

The fifth trumpet will find God’s judgment and wrath being experienced by those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads (v. 4). Some believe this “star” falling from heaven to earth represents Satan’s fall as a fallen angel and he unleashes these demonic forces from this bottomless pit that have the power to torment. The name of this “king” (v. 11) Abaddon or Apollyon means “destroyer.” This torment will last for five months (v. 5) and it will be so great that people will seek death, but will be unable to find it (v. 6).

That’s just like the Devil. He sells people a bill of goods, promises them the world, only to deceive them from missing out on God’s best, and then gleefully sits by and laughs while these same people that he’s deceived are used as his “play thing” to torture and torment.

He promises to be a “savior” but in reality he’s just a “destroyer”

The Sixth Trumpet

When the sixth trumpet sounds, four fallen angels, who have been bound near/at the Euphrates River will be released to wreak havoc and destroy another 1/3 of humanity. These angels are leading a 200 million soldiers (some believe this may be China, although we cannot be certain).

2/3 of humanity will watch this and see this and be given ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BOW IN SUBMISSION AND SURRENDER TO CHRIST AS LORD AND SOME OF THE SADDDEST VERSES IN THE BIBLE TO ME ARE FOUND IN

Revelation 9:20–21 NKJV

But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

II. The Refusal to Repent (Rev. 9:20–21)

Please don’t miss this. THEY CONTINUE TO WORSHIP THE VERY THING THAT IS DESTROYING THEM...

If that isn’t a picture of sin, and addiction, and fornication...I don’t know what is.

Notice what they choose to hold to instead of TURNING to CHRIST...

Embrace the Worship of Demons

The word used for “worship” is also translated “to kneel before.” What are they kneeling before? A demon...an evil spirit. 1 Timothy 4:1 talks about “SEDUCING SPIRITS” that will be at work during the last days.

What are these bound angels near the Euphrates river...they are demons.

Again, I can’t say it enough, SIN IS SO DECEPTIVE, SO DESTRUCTIVE, SO ADDICTIVE, SO ENTICING, that it convinces people to bow down and worship and surrender to the very thing, the very entity that is seeking their misery, destruction, and annihilation.

The ONLY ONE who can deliver them from God’s wrath and the judgment to come is despised, rejected, and ignored, while they blindly embrace the very things that will lead to their downfall.

Instead of TURNING to Christ they

Embrace their Idols

Throughout Scripture idolatry and demon worship go hand in hand, but idolatry is more SUBTLE. Most lost people I know would not admit to following after demons. Most people I know don’t believe they have sold their soul to demonic worship.

So the enemy of one’s soul will use other tactics to DISTRACT them from surrendering to and worshipping the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Notice something interesting about idols from our text...they were “idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood.”

THE IDOLS HAVE BEEN SHAPED BY THOSE THAT WORSHIP THEM. Don’t miss this...God calls us to worship Him, our CREATOR and DESIGNER, whereas idolatry is all about us worshipping WHAT WE HAVE DESIGNED.

Not only that but the idols are COMPLETELY POWERLESS! THEY CAN NEITHER SEE NOR WALK. Dead sinners choose to worship “dead gods.”

Psalm 135:15–18 NKJV

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.

Instead of embracing the LIVING SAVIOR who can deliver them and give them meaning, they embrace DEAD IDOLS that they think they can manipulate and control. But the problem is they don’t realize that the demonic forces behind the idols are actually manipulating and controlling them.

They Embrace the Depravity of Devaluing Human Life

You can be sure that demonic influence and idolatry will always lead to a devaluing of human life by other humans. Satan absolutely DESPISES and HATES those created in God’s image...that means YOU! But he is so manipulative, and deceitful, that he convinces some parts of humanity to turn on humanity.

Throughout history think about what he’s accomplished:

He’s convinced the Nazis to devalue the Jews

He’s convinced many in the Middle East to devalue the Jews

He’s convinced many moms and dads and grandparents to devalue life in the womb

He’s convinced many child predators to devalue children

He’s convinced many men to devalue women...calling them “female dogs”, making them nothing more than objects of lust in pornographic music and movies

He’s convinced serial killers and rapists that it’s ok to take what they want from others

And the list goes on and on...

They Embrace Sorcery

It’s interesting that the Greek word translated in the NKJV is “sorcery.” It comes from the Greek word “pharmakos”...it’s where we get our word “pharmacy.”

The concept of this word in its context literally means “a drug, a poisoner, sorcerer.”

It is connected to the use of magic (black magic), witchcraft, charms, and drugs.

IF YOU DO NOT THINK THE ENEMY IS POISONING PEOPLE’S MINDS AND HEARTS TODAY WITH DRUGS THEN PLEASE WAKE UP!

They Embrace Sexual Immorality

The word here means “fornication” and it comes from the Greek word “porneia.”

It refers to EXTRAMARITAL, UNLAWFUL, or UNNANTURAL sexual intercourse. In other words it covers everything outside of God’s plan for the expression of sexual love within Biblical marriage.

They Embrace Their Thefts

This is simply the act of taking something from someone unlawfully

Over and over again these individuals have watched their friends and family members self-destruct, they’ve watched the wrath of God fall on their companions throughout these plagues and judgments, and you would think that they would not want to have anything more to do with these things that have continually destroyed those around them, but SIN HAS SO BLINDED THEM THAT INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM THESE DESTRUCTIVE THINGS, THEY CONTINUALLY RUN TO THEM!

Just like many that are deceived by all these things, you may think THIS COULD NEVER, WOULD NEVER happen to me...yet DAY AFTER DAY we will these very things lived out IN FRONT OF US and one day it will get even worse. Don’t forget what the Apostle Paul said in

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 NKJV

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

What’s it going to take? We must remember

III. The Word of God Brings Faith (Romans 10:14–17)

Romans 10:14–17 NKJV

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

There is POWER in the Word of God!

There are people in this ROOM TODAY that have been delivered from the power of:

LUST

DRUGS

ALCOHOL

IDOLATRY

SEXUAL IMMORALITY

LUST

PORNOGRAPHY

By the power of the Word of God!

I know people PERSONALLY who used to identify as LESBIANS, ADULTERERS, PORNOGRAPHERS, DRUG ADDICTS, ALCOHOLICS, who have been set free by the POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD!

I have heard testimonies of people who once were PROSTITUTES, STRIPPERS, DRUG DEALERS, THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN ABORTIONS, and the list goes on who have been set FREE BY THE WORD OF GOD!

The Apostle Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NKJV

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH, THAT HAD BEEN SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD WHOSE LIFESTYLES WERE CHARACTERIZED BY:

Fornication

Idolatry

Adultery

Homosexuality

Theft

Greed

Drunkenness

Deceit

But now listen to how Paul describes them:

1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

WASHED, SANCTIFIED, and JUSTFIED BY THE LORD JESUS AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD!

Maybe some of you are thinking...I’d get right with God if He would just show me something big, if He would just answer this prayer, if He would just roll back the clouds and show me a miracle, but the truth is...

IV. The Testimony of Scripture Is Greater Than Miracles (Luke 16:19–31)

Do you remember the story of the Rich Man who went to Hell and he asked that someone would go and tell his brothers about the Gospel so they would not have to come there...notice

Luke 16:27–31 NKJV

“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

If people don’t believe the SUPERNATURAL WORD OF THE LIVING GOD do you really think they are going to believe other supernatural events? They will just explain it away, like they do the Word...

People in Revelation 9 see horrors—and still reject God.

So if the Word of God has the power to change lives I have THREE QUESTIONS to ask in closing:

1. What Will it Take for Believers to Share the Word Boldly?

Don’t you know someone who is tied up in drugs, in alcohol, in sexual immorality, in idolatry?

Sometimes we make EXCUSES about why we will not share the truth. We say we don’t want to “push” people...where are you going to push them to? Look at where they are already headed!

No, we do not need to be “jerks for Jesus” but we need to “SHARE THE TRUTH IN LOVE!” God has left you and I here to be His mouthpieces to SPEAK HIS WORD and LIVE HIS WORD! What’s it going to take for us to love our friends and family enough to do this!?

We are reminded that

Romans 1:16 – The gospel is the power of God.

Isaiah 55:11 – God’s Word will not return void.

2. What Will it Take for YOU to Embrace the Ultimate Sacrifice of Jesus?

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Isaiah 53 – He bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, was pierced for our transgressions.

John 3:16 – He loved… He gave… so we could believe and live.

Hebrews 10:26–29 – If we reject this sacrifice, there remains no other hope. What more could He do?

If the cross doesn’t melt your heart… what will?

3. What Will it Take for YOU to Fully Surrender to the One Who Gave it All for YOU!

What more could He do?

God has sent judgment… God has given warnings… God has preserved and proclaimed His Word… And God has offered His Son—the ultimate sacrifice.

He’s done it all in love. And still, some walk away. Still, some cling to sin. Still, some chase the idols of this world.

You don’t need to see another miracle—you’ve heard the Word of God. You don’t need a sign from heaven—you’ve been shown the cross. You don’t need another chance—you have one right now.

So I ask you:

What will it take for YOU to surrender to Jesus?

What will it take for YOU to live with boldness and compassion for others?

What will it take before you finally say: “Enough is enough—Jesus, You can have it all.”

You’ve heard the truth. Now respond to it.

Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to stop embracing destruction and start embracing the Deliverer. What will it take?

Salvation

Rededication

Baptism

Church Membership