Great Tribulation, But Great Victory Too!

2 Tim 3:1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.

2 Tim 3:12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

2 Tim 3:13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

2 Tim 3:14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

2 Timothy 3:1 13

  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days… [13, NASB] evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

INTRODUCTION

The apostle Paul clearly warns us that those living in the “last days” will experience terrible times. He could have been foreseeing our day!

Picture of abortion clinic

Blood is running in the streets from terrorist attacks. Violence and hate, the spirit of lawlessness will move across the land, Innocent babies in the womb are being mercilessly executed and sometimes dismembered.

Homosexual conduct, which is so clearly condemned in Scripture, is increasingly celebrated in today’s Western world, and gay marriage has received widespread approval.

A casual “love-‘em-and-leave-‘em” approach has led to an epidemic of casual sex and babies born outside of marriage.

Jesus warned believers!

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Christians should expect to encounter tribulation in the world. And the apostle Paul warned that in the last days terrible times will occur and will go "from bad to worse."

We can safely say that in the end of the days of the Church Age, the tribulations encountered by believers will increase.

And lest we think this is just a phase that will pass, the Scripture is warning us that things in the last days will go “from bad to worse”! To borrow the old phrase, sad to say, “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!”

Matt 24:3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to Him privately and said, "Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal Your return and the end of the world? "

Matt 24:10 And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other.

Matt 24:11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

Matt 24:12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.

Jesus plainly told His disciples that at the end of the age — at the end of the world as we know it leading up to Christ's return — the love of most would grow cold.

show the pictures (if Jesus come back let’s kill Him again)

I take that as a strong warning to all believers living in the latter times of the Church Age that we need to take heed to our walk with the Lord and keep it fresh and vibrant.

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

Just above we read Jesus’ warning about love growing cold. Here we read Paul’s warning about apostasy from the faith in later times.

One cause Paul lists is people falling prey to the “teachings of demons.”

We certainly see a very fast growth of demonic teachings and they are gaining traction in our day.

Put a picture of gay marriage

Now gay marriage is not just grudgingly tolerated, but is gaining widespread acceptance.

A false doctrine of loose, easy “grace” has permeated much of American Christianity and is being used to justify sinful lifestyles.

Secular re-definitions of “family” have done great harm to the traditional family’s biblically central role.

The list of additional demonic teachings is long and disturbing.

To sum it all up, in these latter days we face terrible times … evil going from bad to worse … the increase of wickedness that Jesus prophesied will come … large numbers of believers letting their love for the Lord grow cold … a widespread departure from the faith … and more. Is there any hope? YES

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.

You see, God’s Law exposed man’s sinfulness, it bring a greater focus on our inward depravity without the Lord. I thank God that

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

Yes, Moses’ Law exposed and magnified our sinful natures. But Jesus came and brought grace that more than compensated for our sinfulness.

God in His wisdom has decreed a divine principle — that where sin increases, grace will increase all the more.

And this is cause for immense hope in these terrible, perilous latter days. • Reflecting upon his own sinfulness, the apostle cried out,

Rom 7:23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

Rom 7:24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

Rom 7:25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Jesus is fully capable and willing to deliver millions of His believers (and of course unbelievers too) both from the sin in our own lives and from the terrible increase of wickedness in these latter days.

I urge you to memorize and frequently remind yourself of this divine principle, this great hope: Where sin increases, grace increases all the more.

As the world around you declines into the terrible times of the last days, you can be assured that God’s grace in your life is available in quantities more than enough to give you victory.

Let’s look at how this increasing grace of God works in two facets of your life — (1) more grace for your own victory over sin, trials, testing, and temptation; and (2) more grace for powerful, life-changing ministry.

2 Cor 12:7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

2 Cor 12:8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

2 Cor 12:9 Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

God gives you His grace and power in your weakness. Whether you are facing sinful temptations or devilish testings and trials, call on the Lord for help, and you will find that His “grace is sufficient for you.”

His power will be made effective within you in your weakness. What a deal!

Trade your weakness under temptations and testings for God’s strength!

1 Cor 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

When we are undergoing trials, it’s easy to think, “This is a tough one, tougher than what I see others going through.”

But this is wrong. God says that our temptations — the Greek word can also mean ‘testings’ or ‘trials’ — are no different from what other experience.

The important point the apostle is making is that God will not let us be tempted, tested, or tried beyond our abilities.

Remember, we just read that God’s grace is sufficient for us in any testings. His power will give victory over our weaknesses.

No matter what “the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape.”

So (1) God’s increasing grace is more than sufficient to give us personal victory, no matter how horrible the trials, perils, and testings of the end times become.

Now let’s look at (2) God’s increasing grace in our last-days ministries.

Act 6:8 Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.

Stephen was full of grace (divine blessing, favor) and power, was doing great wonders and signs (attesting miracles) among the people.

By ourselves, without the Lord, we can do nothing!

John 15:5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

But filled with His “grace and power,” like Stephen and other believers in the early Church, we can “perform great wonders and signs among the people”.

To reach a wicked, apostatizing, loveless end-time generation, we will need more than just words.

The preaching of the Gospel from the beginning was meant to be done with accompanying supernatural signs.

Paul wrote,

1 Thess 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

“Our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit…”

Jesus linked the Great Commission preaching to His confirmation of it with power:

Mark 16:20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

The apostle Paul modeled how God’s grace enables us to share God’s word with power:

1 Cor 2:4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

I am not depending on clever words and persuasive speeches to make a different in this world but I am totally relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to make a different in this crazy mad max world that we are live in.

Rom 12:6 In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

Rom 12:7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.

Rom 12:8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

There is an additional list of supernatural spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, KJV: “the word of wisdom … the word of knowledge … faith … gifts of healing … working of miracles … prophecy … discerning of spirits … divers kinds of tongues … interpretation of tongues.”

These gifts of the Spirit confirm our ministries with convincing power.

And Paul reminds us

Rom 12:6 In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

In His grace, God has given us!!

I hope you are getting this because to could change your life forever.

1 Cor 3:10 Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.

1 Cor 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

The great apostle attributed his remarkable ministry to “the grace God has given him.” He founded churches, won multitudes to the Lord, performed signs and wonders, and more. How?

By God’s grace, the same grace freely available to us!

In these evil last days, walk close to the Lord. Seek His grace daily to enable you to overcome testings, trials, and temptations, as well as to minister for Him with power and anointing.

Look to Jesus for the promised baptism with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

This mighty Holy Spirit baptism is the source of the ministry power that Jesus promised His followers:

Act 1:4 Once when He was eating with them, He commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before.

Act 1:5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Act 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

We are not going to fight and win battles in the flesh but it will be only in the Spirit.

Eph 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Eph 6:13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Now listen to me:

The temple built in King Solomon’s time had been destroyed by the Babylonian armies. In the prophet Haggai’s day a new temple was being rebuilt.

He prophesied that the glory of this “latter house” would be even greater than that of the former one.

Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts. KJV

Many Christian scholars and commentators who see in this a prophetic promise to the Lord’s church — “the house of God, which is the church of the living God”

As glorious as was the ministry of the early Church, the “latter” church of our day, the “spiritual house”can see even greater demonstrations of the Lord’s glory.

All this can happen by an outpouring of God’s grace. As we walk through the wicked, “terrible” times of the Church’s latter days, receive an abundant daily measure of the Lord’s grace — grace for victory in your personal life and grace for powerful, world-impacting ministry.

Remember, where iniquity abounds, grace will much more abound! • Fear not!

Let our cry to God and our expectation of Him for these days be:

Eph 3:21 Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.