The Seduction of the Ordinary
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Introduction
Introduction
When was the last time you significantly altered your everyday life intentionally?
New Years resolutions typically fall by the wayside within the first 30 days
New Years resolutions
Remember a time you sat under conviction during a sermon and you promised to God you would change the way you lived from that point on? Did you?
Remember a time you sat under conviction during a sermon and you promised to God you would change the way you lived from that point on? Did you?
Recall a time when your prayers were answered in a truly remarkable (if not miraculous) way? Did that change the way you live life in any specific way? Why?
Or perhaps you went through a gut-wrenching tragedy… a loved-one was killed in a car accident… or a family member dies… or a close friend is severely injured? Perhaps you or a loved one went through a natural disaster - earthquake, fire, hurricane, tornado, flood - and narrowly escaped serious injury or death? How do events such as these impact our day-to-day routines — and for how long?
The title of the message this morning is “The Seduction of the Ordinary”
This past Monday was the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon
For those of us at Clyde Bender’s funeral that morning of the attack, the memory of learning what happened is clear. Yet, in what meaningful way has that event impacted my personal life?
I vividly remember a widely popular slogan in the days and weeks that followed the horrific September 11 attacks… “We will never forget”
This week, I saw a few statements such as that - but very few.
It would seem that within one-half generation, many people have already forgotten
Today’s college students protesting whatever they disagree with were toddlers to first-graders sixteen years ago when the terrorist attacks happened. They probably barely remember.
We Tend to Forget!
We Tend to Forget!
When reading through the Old Testament, I am amazed how short people’s memories are… they quickly forget what God has done on their behalf!
God miraculously leads the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt after devastating the Egyptians with ten plagues. While Scripture does not explicitly state, I believe the Israelites were spared the effects of most, if not all, of these plagues.
Within a week or so, they were complaining and saying they wish Moses would have allowed them to stay and die in Egypt… when confronted with the Red Sea in front of them and an approaching Egyptian army behind them.
God miraculously parted the waters of the Red Sea and leads the children of Israel through on dry ground before destroying the entire Egyptian army as they followed
Within a week or so, they were again complaining about the lack of food in the wilderness… God miraculously provides manna on a daily basis… then they complained about the lack of meat, and God provided quail. Water was scarce at times, but God provides again and again.
Yet it seems the complaining doesn’t stop…
This doesn’t stop when they get to the promised land forty years later.... another generation of people but many of the same attitudes and challenges. Throughout the book of Judges, God raises men to remind and draw the Israelites back to the True God and remind them of what God has done and continues to do… delivering them from
It is easy to criticize the Israelites for their lousy attitudes and constant complaining… but what about ourselves?
We believers have been miraculously delivered from the bondage of sin and Satan, yet how frequently do we find ourselves less than grateful for what God has done in our lives?
Do we fail to see the miracle of our deliverance and instead exclusively focus on the challenges we currently face?
Do we assume that life in Egypt may have been better?
Do we forget (or overlook) the miracles God has done before our very eyes?
Throughout Scripture, again and again God reminds His people to REMEMBER what He has done
This should be a clear reminder that we don’t remember as well as we think we do… and we forget more easily than we remember!
There have been numerous events in my life God has used to get my attention over the years… and sadly, I admit to forgetting these far more than I remember them. At the time they happened, I would have wondered how I could ever forget!
In the early 1980s when I was a teenager, Lyle, a young man in volunteer service at Hillcrest in Harrison, AR drowned on a day off at a nearby lake
In 1987, my cousin Janelle was tragically killed when a tractor-trailer ran into the back of her car while she was stopped in a turning lane at a traffic light. She was six months older than I the oldest of seven of us cousins born within twelve months
In the fall of 1991, about five months after we were married my Dad was having a week of meetings here at FCF, when Dan & Emma Beachy (Nate’s parents) were t-boned by a drunk driver on their way home from church. Emma as severely injured and there was uncertainty whether she would survive. I had lived with their family for about two years up until our wedding
About 4 months later in February 1992, Nate was seriously injured in a car accident in Maryland and his life hung in a balance at the Johns Hopkins Shock Trauma Unit in Baltimore
In September 2001, as Simon and I were officiating the funeral service of Clyde Bender, terrorists hijacked four airliners before flying into the two World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and the fourth crashing in PA
In the first part of 2010, Simon was diagnosed with cancer and started treatments… and by the end of the year, Naomi had also been diagnosed with cancer
In January 2011, Simon was hospitalized 11 days, my 40-year-old cousin Debra died unexpectedly, and Darrell & Naomi had a stillborn son, Addison
On June 23 of this year, my Dad took his final breath on this earth and slipped into eternity
I can’t tell you exactly what was going on in my life (and particularly my spiritual life) at most of these points in time, but I can tell you each of these events had a profound affect on me personally
God used each of these events to draw me closer to Him and to trust Him more fully… to see my own frailty and innate weakness… and my helplessness apart from God
What is alarming is how distant these memories have become!
Other than my mom, I do not regularly think about any of these other events in my life
How can we forget things so easily that have made significant impact on our lives?
How can something so life-changing fade into the past and eventually be nearly forgotten?
In C. S. Lewis’s imaginary The Screwtape Letters, Uncle Screwtape, the master devil, counsels his nephew and junior apprentice, Wormwood, to use tried and true techniques lead believers astray.
C. S. Lewis in his imaginary The Screwtape Letters, Uncle Screwtape, the master devil, counsels his nephew and junior apprentice, Wormwood, to use tried and true techniques lead believers astray.
In C. S. Lewis’s imaginary The Screwtape Letters, Uncle Screwtape, the master devil, counsels his nephew and junior apprentice, Wormwood, to use tried and true techniques lead believers astray.
“Remember, he is not, like you, a pure spirit. Never having been a human (oh, that abominable advantage of the Enemy’s!) you don’t realise how enslaved they are to the pressure of the ordinary.” — The Screwtape Letters
What does it mean to be enslaved to the pressure of the ordinary?
I believe the ordinariness Screwtape is talking about is our everyday lives. It is all too easy to get caught up in the normal, day-to-day activities and routines instead of focusing on those things that are eternal.
As I reflect on how I could forget some of these significant events in my life, it seems we adapt and life goes on… and a new ordinary develops.
As we realize and recognize our inclination to forget - even significant life events - we can better understand the call to remember throughout Scripture
(ESV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
(ESV) ... the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
One way to help us remember… rather than forgetting… is to meet together as a local body of believers…
One way to help us remember… rather than forgetting… is to meet together as a local body of believers…
One way to help us remember… rather than forgetting… is to regularly meet together with a local body of believers…
25 Grace be with all of you.
(ESV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
(ESV) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
This past Monday was the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
This past Monday was the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
(ESV) ... the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 yBless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 yBless the LORD, O my soul,
and zforget not all his benefits,
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 103:1–2). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
This past Monday was the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon
For those of us at Clyde Bender’s funeral that morning of the attack, the memory of learning what happened is clear. Yet, in what meaningful way has that event impacted my personal life?
I vividly remember a widely popular slogan in the days and weeks that followed the horrific September 11 attacks… “We will never forget”
This week, I saw a few statements such as that - but very few.
It would seem that within one-half generation, many people have already forgotten
Today’s college students protesting whatever they disagree with were toddlers to first-graders sixteen years ago when the terrorist attacks happened. They probably barely remember.
It would seem believers would never forget what Jesus did for them on the cross… yet, Jesus instructs us to observe communion as a way of intentionally remembering… and reminding us!
(ESV) ... the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Let’s Remember...
Let’s Remember...
Watchful; on alert; fully awake
Watchful; on alert; fully awake
(ESV) “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Think back over the 30 days...
There was a solar eclipse visible from coast to coast here in the US
Hurricane Harvey poured over 50 inches of rain in the Houston, TX area
Kim Jung Un of North Korea is testing nuclear bombs and threatening to use them
There was an 8.1 earthquake off the coast of Mexico
Hurricane Irma came up the Florida peninsula causing widespread damage
Now when these things begin to take place, straighten [look] up and raise [lift] your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
The return of Christ is nearing… we don’t know how close, but getting closer and closer!
This is a call to be intentional about remembering - and focus on the eternal rather than continuing to be seduced by the ordinary
Remembering what Christ did for us
Remembering to live faithfully
Remembering that the things of this earth are temporary and ultimately worthless
Remembering that our short life on earth will determine how we spend eternity
The Price of Forgetting
The Price of Forgetting
(ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
I don’t need anything!
Self-sufficient
The Call to Remember
The Call to Remember
The Call to Remember
The Call to Remember
(ESV) “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
English Standard Version Chapter 3
And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him iwho has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation jof being alive, kbut you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works lcomplete in the sight of my God. 3 mRemember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, nI will come olike a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not psoiled their garments, and they will walk with me qin white, for they are rworthy. 5 sThe one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never tblot his name out of uthe book of life. vI will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 pHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
REMEMBER what you have received
Keep it!
Repent! - sin requires repentance
(ESV) “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
REMEMBER where you once were
REPENT
Do the things you used to do!
Commands to help us remember
Commands to help us remember
(ESV) Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 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. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
As we consider the approaching return of Christ, Paul gives some specific direction
REMEMBER… we are children of the light (v. 6)
REMEMBER… stay awake and alert - aroused by the light of God’s Word (v. 6)
REMEMBER … be sober - the opposite of drunken drowsiness where the senses are dulled (v. 6, 8)
REMEMBER… to encourage each other (v. 11)
REMEMBER… to build up (edify) each other (v. 11)
In a more broad sense, Paul gives further instructions to the believers in Thessalonica. These are the responsibility of every believer… reminding us that life is more about God and others than it is about ourselves. Without intentional focus and ongoing reminders, we will revert to the seduction of the ordinary and become focused on ourselves and our interests.
REMEMBER… to respect those in leadership (v. 12-13)
REMEMBER… to be at peace with others (v. 13)
Four ongoing and continuous responsibilities toward each other
REMEMBER… to admonish or warn those who are involved in unacceptable lifestyles or neglecting their spiritual responsibilities (v. 14)
REMEMBER.... to comfort/console the fainthearted or the discouraged (v. 14)
REMEMBER… to support the weak - uphold the spiritually and morally weak (learning to lean on God) (v. 14)
REMEMBER… to be patient with everyone (v. 14)
Each one of us has a responsibility to care this out with our fellow believers (and even unbelievers), but we are are also at the receiving end - we all fall into at least one of the categories of people
REMEMBER… to pursue good toward others - rather then repaying with evil they may deserve (v. 15)
REMEMBER… to rejoice always (v.16) -
REMEMBER… to pray constantly (v. 17)
REMEMBER… to give thanks in all circumstances (v. 18)
REMEMBER… to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit… don’t ignore or disregard as that will quench the Spirit in our lives (v. 19)
REMEMBER… to pay attention to prophecies… in today’s language a rough paraphrase: don’t be dismissive of sermons (v. 20)
REMEMBER… to test everything or examine everything carefully - deception is rampant. Be alert, be wise, be discerning! (v.21)
REMEMBER… to embrace and hang on to the good - surround yourself with good! (v. 21)
REMEMBER… to stay away from every kind of evil - keep your distance; don’t even dabble in sin (v. 22)
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Prayer
Prayer
Avoid evil
Avoid evil
Build each other up
Build each other up
Test everything
Test everything
1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 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. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
English Standard Version Chapter 21
25 “And tthere will be signs in sun and moon uand stars, and on the earth vdistress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For wthe powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see xthe Son of Man coming in a cloud ywith power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and zraise your heads, because ayour redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see bfor yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 cTruly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 dHeaven and earth will pass away, but emy words will not pass away.
Watch Yourselves
34 “But watch yourselves flest gyour hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and hcares of this life, and ithat day come upon you suddenly jlike a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But kstay awake at all times, lpraying that you may mhave strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and nto stand before the Son of Man.”
Matt 25
Warnings...Natural spiritual habits
Warnings...Natural spiritual habits
Lukewarm
Lukewarm
Forget
Forget
A Maskil of Asaph.
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9 The Ephraimites, armed with the bow,
turned back on the day of battle.
10 They did not keep God’s covenant,
but refused to walk according to his law.
11 They forgot his works
and the wonders that he had shown them.
12 In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders
in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters stand like a heap.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all the night with a fiery light.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
17 Yet they sinned still more against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 They tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?”
21 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath;
a fire was kindled against Jacob;
his anger rose against Israel,
22 because they did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
24 and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Man ate of the bread of the angels;
he sent them food in abundance.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
27 he rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.
29 And they ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they craved.
30 But before they had satisfied their craving,
while the food was still in their mouths,
31 the anger of God rose against them,
and he killed the strongest of them
and laid low the young men of Israel.
32 In spite of all this, they still sinned;
despite his wonders, they did not believe.
33 So he made their days vanish like a breath,
and their years in terror.
34 When he killed them, they sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.
35 They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God their redeemer.
36 But they flattered him with their mouths;
they lied to him with their tongues.
37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes and comes not again.
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
and grieved him in the desert!
41 They tested God again and again
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember his power
or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,
43 when he performed his signs in Egypt
and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.
44 He turned their rivers to blood,
so that they could not drink of their streams.
45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them,
and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He gave their crops to the destroying locust
and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail
and their sycamores with frost.
48 He gave over their cattle to the hail
and their flocks to thunderbolts.
49 He let loose on them his burning anger,
wrath, indignation, and distress,
a company of destroying angels.
50 He made a path for his anger;
he did not spare them from death,
but gave their lives over to the plague.
51 He struck down every firstborn in Egypt,
the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Then he led out his people like sheep
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid,
but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 And he brought them to his holy land,
to the mountain which his right hand had won.
55 He drove out nations before them;
he apportioned them for a possession
and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
56 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God
and did not keep his testimonies,
57 but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers;
they twisted like a deceitful bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places;
they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
59 When God heard, he was full of wrath,
and he utterly rejected Israel.
60 He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh,
the tent where he dwelt among mankind,
61 and delivered his power to captivity,
his glory to the hand of the foe.
62 He gave his people over to the sword
and vented his wrath on his heritage.
63 Fire devoured their young men,
and their young women had no marriage song.
64 Their priests fell by the sword,
and their widows made no lamentation.
65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.
66 And he put his adversaries to rout;
he put them to everlasting shame.
67 He rejected the tent of Joseph;
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 but he chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 He built his sanctuary like the high heavens,
like the earth, which he has founded forever.
70 He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheepfolds;
71 from following the nursing ewes he brought him
to shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel his inheritance.
72 With upright heart he shepherded them
and guided them with his skillful hand.
psalm 78
God wants to sanctify you completely… remembering these instructions will facilitate that happening…
Let’s not allow Satan to seduce us into the ordinary routines of life in such a way that we forget those things God is teaching us and reminding us of
He wants us completely sanctified SO THAT we will be kept BLAMELESS when Jesus Christ returns for us!
Imagine that… redeemed sinners BLAMELESS in the sight of almighty and holy God!!
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(ESV) Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
God will equip us with everything we need to do His will… (if we permit Him to do so)
God will equip us with everything we need to do His will… (if we permit Him to do so)
He will transform our lives into the kind of life that is PLEASING TO HIM
Prayer for myself and each one of you...
(ESV) …[praying and] asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.