Sermon Tone Analysis

As we begin out time this morning I want us to look at Luke 2.

The scene was set.

Jesus, Our King, was to be born to Mary and Joseph, in a stable for animals.

He was placed in a feeding trough as a bed.

This is not the triumphant entry into the world, befitting a king, especially one that would be the Savior of all mankind.

But, it was an entry that showed from the very onset what He truly wanted to show us......it was was of complete humility.

Right…God didn’t care about status or power.....One, he already had that.

But as a human, it was humility that was needed.

And then Luke changes the scene for us...

The first people to bow before this King of the World was not some foreign dignitary, not nobles but lowly shepherds, who would then go on to be the first evangelists to share what they had just seen of the Messiah.

Jesus came to this world in humble means, took on the form of a servant, taught the world what is needed to follow God and died for all humanity.

But, that’s not where this ends and as we will see this morning.

He is coming again.

Are you ready for it?

Pray

We are to be prepared for those that would draw our focus away from Christ!

Before we get into chapter 24, I think it’s important to take a step back and look at chapter 23.

In chapter 23, Jesus had just been teaching in the temple and his message was aimed towards the religious leaders and their lack of care for the truth of what God requires of us.

Jesus goes as far as to call them out-Hypocrites 6 times, Fools, Blind Men-

Up to this point Jesus had shown his authority as King.

Faced rejection and still walked a difficult path preaching the truth while being faced with constant opposition.

All while equipping the disciples .

So, here Jesus leads with the seven woes against the hypocrisy that was taking place.

The travesty of hypocrisy is disastrous:

Hypocrisy affects the well being of others.

Hypocrisy leads to trying to justify sin.

Hypocrisy encourages us to play a part outwardly.

Hypocrisy lashes out at the truth.

Hypocrisy leads to destruction.

This is the sum of what Jesus had just dealt with in chapter 23.

People were more wrapped up in themselves and what they wanted and were forsaking true teaching and the truth of Gods Word.

So, we catch up in chapter 24...

As we begin this final discourse of Jesus, he continues to equip and edify the disciples in the truth.

Jesus wanted us to know what was to come and not to worry about it.

Read 24

-Just came out from 23...

-Jesus has just left the temple for the last time where he had just finished some pretty intense teaching.

-Temple is a big, beautiful building...

-Disciples are most likely incredibly enamored by it and probably expected Jesus to show some of that same expression.....

-Because Jesus is not concerned with a man made structure.

-Jesus is more concerned with what is happening on the inside of the His people.

Godly living is what Christians should be focused on.

-They were not and when we aren’t living Godly lives disaster is something we that will happen.

And this instance meant the destruction of their beautiful place of worship.

Are you focused on Christ?

Is your day to day just that or are you living day to day for Him?

God’s plan will be fulfilled regardless of the opposition in this world.

We get to this point now where Jesus is making very bold statements....King like statements...

The disciples want to know when this is going to happen.

Jesus goes on to describe these events that will take place......

Verses 5-14

Going back to the first point I made...... of all the terrible events he describes, he gives warning.

Here is the first-

Jesus is coming out swinging here to make a point.

Of all the things that will come, here is by far the worst one.

Do not let anyone decieve you so that you abandon the truth that I and only I bring.

Wars, Nation against Nation, Kingdom against Kingdom, Famine, earthquakes

Quick Warning Alert-

But he also wanted us to remain calm.

He tells the disciples here, do not be alarmed.

Not every little thing that happen is the end times and guess what, this all HAS to happen....

And these are just the beginning......

Birth pain- Jesus uses this analogy.

It is an incredibly painful experience for a woman but it starts off slow and builds and builds and increases.

The same will be with the return of Christ.

These things will take place and build in frequency and intensity until Jesus returns in power and glory.

He goes on...

Persecution, murder, hate, betrayal

He brings it around again…False Prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Hated for his name sake...........

This section makes me incredibly sad.......

our love, the love that He has shown us will grow cold.

Here is the HOPE though.....

.........

Regardless of what this life throws at us, Gods plan will be fulfilled.

Do you believe that?

Does that belief dictate how you live?

Cause it should.

King Jesus wants us to be prepared for what is to come.

And as we see in verse 15-28, destruction will come quick, without much warning and there will be a need to heed the prophecy of Christ.

The ultimate fulfillment of this will be when the Antichrist takes control of the most holy place as we see in:

This evil individual in the midst of their “reign” will set up an abomination that will cause great desolation.

And church, i wish we had time to explore the full extent of this moment but we don’t.

Maybe at another time.

But here is some take away, Jesus tells the disciples so they understand the great horror of this- This will be the worst suffering the world has ever seen, ever.

........

Jesus, Our King, is coming again and that is our motivation to be faithful.

Matthew 24:29-51

Jesus has mentioned of all this distress that will begin to take place and he continues to mention some more....the sun will be darkened, the moon will be not shed light, the stars will fall from the sky and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

But…then a sign will take place.

And Jesus will return… a return that is met with the majesty of a King, not that of his first coming....which was that of a lowly servant.

He will literally appear in the sky, coming in on the clouds of heaven with power and glory.

His angels will sound the trumpet and those that believe will join Him.

Jesus then turns his attention from Him coming again to how, we-His servants, should behave while we await that moment.

We are to be ready for that moment, we are to be faithful to what we have been told by Him.

Read Romans-

He is coming again and he wants us to know it, to remember it, to share it!

Are you remaining faithful, particularly when times get tough?

Are you living as living sacrifices for Him?

He is coming again....be prepared for it.

That all the things of this world will pass away but His words, His truth will never pass away.

And we must be ready for it.