Worship Gathering 10/11/20

Should have said that earlier if you have your copy of God's word, I'd love for you to turn to the New Testament Book of Luke. Luke chapter 21

this November will be 2 years in the Book of Luke and the plan is that's probably be out of Luke by the first of the year and then into an Old Testament book for a season and then back into one of Paul's writings. So here we are in Luke chapter 21. We're going to start in verse 5. And if you would add a respect and reverence, would you please stand for the reading of God's word? As summer talking about the temple. How is adorned with beautiful stones and Gifts dedicated to God he said? these things that you see

the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. That will not be thrown down teacher. They asked him so so when will these things happen and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place? Then he said watch out that you are not deceived for many will come in my name saying I am he in the time is near don't follow them. When you hear of wars and rebellions, don't be alarmed. Indeed it's necessary that these things take place first, but the end won't come right away. Then he told them Nation will be raised up against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom.

They'll be violent earthquakes and famines and plagues and various places and they will be terrifying socks and great signs from heaven. But before all these things they will lay their hands on you and persecute you they will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons and you'll be brought before the Kings and governors because of my name this will give you an opportunity to Bear witness. Therefore make up your mind not to prepare prepare your defense ahead of time for I will give you such words in a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will even be betrayed by parents Brothers relatives and friends. They will kill some of you You'll be hated by everyone because of my name but not a hair of your head will be lost. By your endurance gain your lives when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that is Desolation is come near. Then those into DMS flee to the mountains those inside the city must leave it and those who are in the country must not enter it because these are days of Vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written woda pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days for there will be great distress in the land and Raph against this this people they will be killed by The Sword and the LED captive into all the nations and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

This is the word of the Lord.

Let's pray brother Randall. Would you ask the blessing over the reading and preaching of God's word?

devastated

On a late October morning, it was late October, but it was early in the morning actually is about 4 a.m. Country music singer Alan Jackson. Got up out of bed from a dead sleep. He jumped out of bed actually and he raced over and grabbed a digital recorder. And he whispered into the recorder a few lines of a song that came to his mind while he was sleeping. Later that morning Jackson would finish the song while his family went off to Sunday school. I don't I don't advise you to do that. 4 weeks he had wrestled with his thoughts and his emotions, but couldn't put down on paper what he felt in his heart. What he wanted to say escaped him until that Sunday morning. Reflecting on the song Jackson said that he wrote the song because he didn't want to forget how one day made him feel and he didn't want people to forget how one day made them feel the year was 2001 and of course that he breathed into that recorder while the world's slip silently goes something like this.

I'm just a singer of simple song.

Not a real political man. I watch CNN, but I'm not sure I can tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran. I know Jesus and I talk to God, but and I remember this from when I was young. Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us but the greatest is love.

And Jackson posed the question. Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September Day? The song was ranked number 7 on the list of the greatest singles of the decade. I've done a little research. They couldn't make CDs fast enough to get it out. One Rider said its full impact will remain locked in the memories of those who lived through September 11th 2001 and we will never experience. So deeply this ever again and when you hear the song where Were You When the world stopped turning Jackson takes you back to the day and ask you that question. And if we had time we could stop and I could ask you where were you when the world stopped turning and you could tell me Chris. I was in elementary school for some of you I was in high school. I was on my job. I was overseas. I was here. I was there or text today is very similar to that now, it's very similar, but it's very different. Why well because he is just a man Alan Jackson. And this is God's word. UCR Texas similar and very different and here's why Luke pushed Theophilus. This is the guy that he's riding to remember from chapter 1 Luke pushed the awfullest to see through the smoke of a burned down Jerusalem.

to the certainty of the returning Christ

Luke just doesn't take his readers back to the tragedy like Alan Jackson does he doesn't take them back to the destruction, but he takes them back 30 years before it ever happens. When Jesus predicted in Warren of the tragedy and he reminds them of it, he sets the offices heart not in the memory, but in the expectation that something great is yet to come. Listen close to what I'm telling you this text today. Will whip you if you don't watch. You have to remember Luke is on this side on the on the backside of Jerusalem being levelled by the Romans. But Jesus is speaking here 30 years before it ever happened. And what Luke does he takes you back in time since you beside Jesus as he predicts the future.

No doubt Theophilus in all of the known world was still rocked. Destruction of Jerusalem and here's the rub for us today Divine perspective will give the Believers. Hope regardless of your circumstances.

Divine perspective I hear a lot of people talk about well, we describe something from my point of view and something from God's point of view. But listen to me God's perspective Divine perspective will give the believer no matter what the circumstance

Will give the believer. Hope. What are you saying Chris? You look at things from God's perspective, and you'll never be without hope. No matter what the what the world has going on no matter what life has for you right now. No matter how you feel no matter how you blew it. No matter what your past is no matter what's going on right now. You have hope if you look from God's perspective.

I have two simple points.

And I wish I had more.

The first one is this. the destruction of the Temple and the Divine perspective look with me in our text today. I want you to see this text that I just read from the perspective of God and not from men look with me about the temple verse 5 how old is adorned with beautiful stones and gift dedicated to God. This Temple. Josephus says that the gate opening into the temple was completely overlaid with with gold as was the whole wall around it historians say that if you looked at the it was like looking at the Noonday sun to look at the temple. That's how much gold was on it. It had above it gold Vines for which home grape clusters solid gold as tall as I am. It had golden doors 80 ft High 25 ft wide. The Southeastern corner of the retaining wall. The retaining wall was 15 stories high.

And it was the whitest marble they say that's ever been seen if you looked at the temple from a distance and look like a snow capped mountain. And you have to remember most people in this day lived in a house made of mud with dirt floors. How Magnificent the side of the temple that every years the people would return something new was there something I knew grape cluster a new something covered in Gold every year some the new what's happening at the Devil and this construction has been going on for 50 years at the time of Jesus.

Every year they go back they make their Trek to the temple every year they go and see This Magnificent sight. And do you know what it gave them? It gave them a sense of security. but no matter what the Romans did no matter what life was like there was the temple and there was where God was

all but that's not what Stephen said was it.

You see from their perspective it it looks like this is where we meet God at. What's on God's perspective? We'll just listen to what God says.

looking for 6 these things that you see those 40 foot long Rock

as the foundation of it all the gold you see all the pillars in The Colony all the white marble that you see

the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down. And now we see God's perspective on the temple the God God our God the god of his people the god of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. He didn't care about that Temple. He was not defined by that Temple. And there's no security in a building. But there is Security in a safe.

We see God's perspective on the temple Jesus 30 years before it happens in the temple. He's teaching them look around. Everything that you're bragging about everything that you were just and all of their won't be one piece of this left. and they say that win the Romans come in and level the place. There was not one stone that was sit on top of another one.

They say that it got so bad during those four or five years. There was a stand-off you see what happened was his Izzy's Jewish people they revolted against Rome and then they were surrounded by Rome Rome fought them in and killed them from the outside-in wouldn't let anybody out and and bad things were happening. It said that a mother took her nursing child and roasted it and ate it starving to death.

The thing they put their hope in a building they put their hope. in the temple We see God's perspective on the temple. God says no.

It won't be here, but we see something else. We seek God's perspective on chaos. Look what he says teacher. They asked him. They ask him these questions. When will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place today asking two questions. The first one is is when will this happened? They want to know that into they want to know what are we supposed to be looking for to know that it's coming down at us then he said watch out that you are not deceived. Jesus really doesn't answer the question, but he tells his disciples to watch out and not be deceived for many will come in my name saying I am he I am who I am God on the Savior on the Messiah. This is what got the whole deal started. And the time is near. Don't follow them when you hear of wars and Rebellion, don't be alarm. Indeed. It is necessary that these things take place first, but the end won't come right away. Oh, wow, we get God's perspective on chaos. Chaos is not a sign of the end times every time somebody does something walking in the Middle East doesn't mean that we need to get out of decoder rings. And we need to get our papers out and we got to get our Blackboard and all this stuff and we got to add this number to this number and put it in and do this. We don't have to do that. Listen to me chaos is not the sign of the end times but a sign of human falling this throughout the ages beloved ever since Genesis when man fell there has been absolute utter chaos, but I have a hope today that there is a God in heaven who is making all things new.

We see a perspective on the temple. We God's perspective on the table as perspective on chaos, when you hear the wars and rebellions don't be alarmed and 8 if necessary. Please take place first, but the end won't come right away. Did you know that there's a website that you can go on that tells you how close we are to the end times based upon like oil prices and what's going on in the Middle East?

Jesus tells these people Jesus tells his disciples and I listen you're going to hear stuff you're going to hear of wars and rebellions and what they say. They're Circle that your Bible don't be alarmed. Indeed it's necessary that these things take place first, but the end won't come right away God's perspective on the temple God's perspective on chaos, but look God's perspective on persecution Nation. We raised up against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom. And that's exactly what happened. The Jewish people revolted against the Romans. That is singular Nation against Nation Kingdom against Kingdom. And you have to remember something Jesus right now is speaking about the destruction of the temple now and I hear me out and just like every other prophet in the Bible. These are these things are near but also as you look at things that are near far away, they'll happen as well.

But hear Jesus is talking about. the destruction of the Temple and the horrible things that's going to happen.

National Rise Against Nation Kingdom against Kingdom there be violent earthquakes and famines and plagues and various places and they'll be terrifying sight than great. Stop signs from Heaven Josephus record a comment that lasted for a whole year. It was too great earthquakes within 2 year. They're all kinds of things are going on Signs & Signs and signs right before this all goes down. But before all these things, let's see what happens. They will lay their hands on you and persecute you and that's why I read what I read for our reading today. What happened in between their Steven got killed? The early church started rising up and they were persecuted and they were killed and Jesus tells them Jesus tells his disciples. This is what's going to happen. They're going to put their hands on you and they're going to persecute you.

Beloved the call to be a disciple of Jesus is never without persecution and hardship. It wasn't for him as we'll see in the next couple chapters and it's not for you and me either like if you if we're living our Christian Life and there's no persecution. There's no connection to a problem. There's there's no tension we have an issue.

Going to lay their hands on you into going to persecute the hand you over to the synagogues and prisons and you'll be brought before Kings and governors. Look what it says because of my name. That's why they killed Stephen wasn't looking verse 13. This will give you an opportunity to Bear witness. And now we see God's perspective on persecution one man said the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

Happy from from our perspective. We don't want to face persecution to be I can hear you. Tell if you do obviously. Do you want to face persecution? Yes or no? No. And from our perspective the think about those men who laid down their life the men women boys and girls Tyndale burned at the stake as he's being choked by Chain because he put the word of God into the English language. Stephen it just just read through them preach to them. What was actually happening in their own history? But you picked up rocks and threw them at his head till he didn't breathe anymore.

From our perspective that looks like a horrible way to die. Doesn't it? all the time from God's perspective princess this will give you an opportunity to Bear Witness.

This is God's perspective of persecution that this light momentary Affliction is not worth comparing to what he is laid up for me and you and how does the church grow it always grows in the incubator of persecution. Let me give you that quote again because obviously you didn't give the first time the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. And there it look when he says there. Therefore because this persecution give you an opportunity to Bear witness there for make up your mind not to prepare your defense ahead of time for I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. So why are we having a preacher conference? Why do we meet if preachers on Wednesdays? Why do we spend hours in the study right there? And then in the end that what that says? Don't prepare defense.

Has nothing to do with preaching and it has everything to do with this. You don't need he's telling his disciples. You don't need to come up with a big Spiel. Here's what you need to do. Believe the gospel. Trust me and I will give you what you need to say. Not only does he give the opportunity to Bear witness, but he gives the information needed to pass along to others. Notice when he says they're Jesus says I will give you such works. Wow, this Jesus. Jesus is already looking ahead to the past the resurrection and he says when they kill you when they put you on trial when they lay their hands on you when your mom and dad want you dead. I will give you the words to say.

This Jesus who will be nailed to a cross in less than 48 hours this Jesus. Tell them it's not over.

I will give you the words to say.

Look what it says in verse 16 you'll be betrayed by your parents Brothers relatives and friends and it was that say they will kill some of you will be hated by everyone because of my name. Jesus is letting them know before the destruction of the temple. This is what's going down. And it's exactly what happened. And now look what he says right there. And this really really caught me off-guard but not a hair of your head will be lost.

Go back at the verse 16 they will kill some of you. But not a hair of your head will be lost. He says.

I wrote down in my Bible. I'd like for you to ride it in yours. the loss of life Is nothing worse than the loss of little hair?

for the believer to lose your life for the gospel sake.

Is nothing worse than losing a hair now I can tell by looking at this crowd and you can tell by looking at me. We've lost a few hairs Heavenly. I'm not looking anybody in the eye.

Did it bother you to lose your hair? I'm not like being vain I'm talking about did it hurt when hair fell out of your head last night when you lay down your pillow and a hair come out of your head. Did it hurt you? all beloved you can go to the end of the world and preach the gospel no matter where he calls you. And even if they take your life. Nothing more than losing a hair on the pillow at night. Auburn's great hoping that How do you say well we're just here in Fort Gay.

Hey go take our lives in Fort Gay.

Do you know what one of my prayers is?

The God would just send you out.

And that you just give your life for the sake of the Gospel?

You'll go to where no one else wants to go to and you'll preach the good news of the gospel and you'll die and you'll be forgotten.

That's my prayer for you. And you can do it.

If they take your life.

That God's perspective on persecution.

Look what it says verse 19 by your endurance Circle that work their endurance. gain, your life

because of something else

he gives us not only Divine perspective on the temple and divine perspective on chaos Divine perspective on persecution Divine perspective on judgment. Now we see Divine perspective on Judgement. When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, that's exactly what happened at the military term, then recognize that it's the Desolation is coming to your windows and Judy and must flee to the mountains those inside the city must leave it and those who are in the country must not enter it. Jesus is giving directions to these people to those who follow him. He's giving directions. Did you know that the Christians right before it happened they fled and they did exactly what Jesus said and they were saved went to a certain city in a certain town.

Because these days are days of Vengeance to fulfill all things that are written and you can write in your Bible there beside Vengeance. This is the punishment. This is the Judgment for what for rejecting the son of God.

And we see the Divine perspective on judgment you cannot.

reject Christ and not face judgement if you're here today, and maybe you've you're you're you're kind of stuck between am I Christian? Am I not am I if I put my trust fully in Jesus? Am I am I am I depending upon myself a good worker? I'm not depending upon what he has done for me in his life. And on the cross I ask you this question today. What's your only hope in life and death?

If if if there's any other answer, but besides the only hope I got is Christ. Beloved you have judgment waiting for you.

Look what it says woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days. They said for judgment to will be great distress in the land and wrath against these people. They will be noticed this number one. They will be killed by the store number to W LED captive into all the nations and Jerusalem number three will be trampled by the Gentiles 3 negatives and it's complete and utter destruction. Said that 95000 Jews were led to Egypt to work as slaves in the mines. 1.1 million Jews. Josephus said were killed during this time 1.1 million people by the hands of the Romans and starvation and cannibalism.

He gives us three things there three- doesn't he kill By The Sword and led captive into all the nations and Troost will be trampled by the Gentiles these three negatives. But listen, there's something good that's going to come out of this. How can that be? Look up there at the end until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Well, that's the positive. What's that mean? That means the gospels going out to all the world.

Would you?

I want to read something but it's an extended reading and I don't want to lose you it would would you really do the hard work a listing? Philip Graham Rockin in the reformed expository commentary says this The words of Jesus from his Farewell prophecy make a dramatic difference in Desperate Times of danger a powerful example comes from the preaching Ministry of Donald grey barnhouse. I listened. It was a summer 39 while barnhouse have been preaching in Scotland. His family is on vacation on the coast of France. He was scheduled to be in Belfast Northern Ireland by Saturday night, but first he decided to make a quick trip to France so that he can see his family on his way to Britain. Dr. Barnhouse was warned that he might not make it back in time to preach on Sunday Europe was in turmoil. There were rumors of War as Hitler threatened to march on Danzig barnhouse decided to take his chances with the official who stamped his passport said don't forget this that I warned you.

This proved to be a good warning just a few days later Hitler invaded Poland in all flights to Egypt were cancelled. Dr. Barnhouse had to make a long slow Journey Overland to Paris and then back to the French Coast in order to catch a ferry across to England everywhere. He went there were signs of the coming battle church bells were ringing across the country war war war and was soldiers mobilizing for war and some of the towns they passed would be completely destroyed by Bonnie barnhouse made his passage to England late at night and while he was visiting with the ship's Captain the radio reported that the Prime Minister had issued Germany an ultimatum unless the Nazis withdrew from Poland Britain would go to war it would be the last civilian steamship to cross the English Channel until the war was over London was a chaotic as chaotic as Paris has been the railway platforms were lined with children being evacuated to the countryside. without their parents many of them were crying. Some of the first victims of the war barnhouse across the Countryside by train and then took another night passage this time to Northern Ireland by the time he reached Belfast. It was 3 in the morning and he had only a few hours to get some rest before the morning worship service. The church was packed with everyone expecting the declaration of war to be announced at any time. The church is Pastor was only too happy for barnhouse to preach and kept saying thank God you're here. I thank God you're here. I pray that God will give you something to say to these Lads imagine it imagine us on the brink of war and this place is packed out with soldiers getting ready to leave young men that most of them will never come back. This might be the last sermon that some of these men ever here then just as barn house is getting ready to step into the pulpit. One of the elders slipped a note to the pastor who passed it along the barnhouse and here's what the note said no reply from Hitler. The Prime Minister has declared war.

Barnhouse began telling the congregation that he had the perfect text for them that morning.

A text first spoken by the Lord Jesus as a command to his people. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. But see to it that you are not alarmed. Deven recount the alarm experiences he had on his way to Belfast as he described each Terror. He stopped and repeated his texts. Do not be alarmed. He said the siren will sound and soldiers were mobilized do not be alarmed. He said millions of homes will be broken up do not be alarmed children to be torn from their mothers and their cries will represent the walls the whales that are going up all over the world. But Jesus said do not be alarmed as barnhouse went through the Litany of Lamentations piling monsters grief an agonizing horror the tension in the church was mounting finally barnhouse stopping said these words or either the words of a Madman or the words of God. Then he shook his fist towards heaven and cried out to God and Let Jesus Christ is God these words of the most horrible that could be spoken to man who have hearts who can wheat and Bowser could be gripped by human suffering men are dying do not be alarmed children are crying and their misery with no face inside. No one they know is even close to them. Do not be alarmed. How can Jesus say here? Do not be alarmed?

Then barnhouse gave the answer.

Jesus Christ is God.

He's the Lord of History. He's the god of detail circumstances. Nothing has ever happened without God knowing it. The saint of man has reduced the world to passion and fury men. Each other's throats yet in the midst of the history. And which Jesus is Lord. Everyone who believes in him will know the power of his resurrection and will learn that no event. However, terrible can ever separate us from the love of God. This is Our Hope and all the difficulties of life

Everything that they knew was fixing to be done away with everyone. They knew would be slaughtered and killed. And Jesus looks at the disciples says do not be alarmed.

What is he telling?

Don't follow them you follow me.

Don't be scared.

Don't waste the opportunities you have to witness. And don't quit.

Why I think this time we for us, don't you?

What will you what do you mean Chris?

You ever wonder why nobody stayed the way they were after that 911 deal.

Did you turn off that voluntold movie you were watching and turn on I Love Lucy reruns. He said. to hold hands with a stranger stand in line and give your own blood.

Stay home with your family. Thank God you had somebody to love. It's not that way now is it? Now we're not teen years removed from that. I can tell you why.

That's from a man's perspective.

There's no hope if you look at things from a man's perspective friend. The coronavirus will drive you up the wall. If you look at it from man's perspective.

The Wars rumors of wars will drive you up the wall.

If you don't look at it from God's perspective. What do you mean Chris?

Let me remind you of the Gospel.

This man that was speaking that day.

The world had sinned against him.

Not only did they send against him, but they rejected him when he came to save them. But to all who did believe. He gave the right to become children of God. I listen. This man will be nailed to a cross and up on him the sense of his people would be late.

From a man's perspective. It looks like just a man upon that cross.

Oh beloved. But from God's perspective.

That's very good news, isn't it?

The man's perspective. They took him off of cross and they put him in a tomb and a rolling stone over it done deal. a worried though So they put some feelers out there beside it to make sure that doesn't nobody mess with it from a man's perspective. That's as good as over right over from God's perspective.

Up from the grave wheel Heroes.

A man's perspective it. It looks like a body has been stolen but from God's perspective.

The Lord says to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies a footstool. He goes back to heaven and from a man's perspective. It looks like all hope is lost today. Doesn't it? I mean you you're struggling to pay your bills. Just like I am.

You got things in your life and you take why in the world are we going through this?

You're scared to touch the door handle. You scared to get close to people. The world is going crazy. And you have a a looming election ahead of you.

A man's perspective. It looks like a mess.

All but Jesus said I'm making all things new.

11 he's coming back. I wish I had more time to tell you that.

Cuz you see the rest of that chapter.

That's what he says.

I'm coming back. There's great. Hope in the he's coming back is it?

Love and here's the source of Our Hope looking at things from God's perspective. Would you do a favor with me for me this week? When you feel your mind and your heart being moved over another way.

Would you just stop for a minute? And just very simply say your word told me you told me. to not worry to not be afraid I hear rumors. I hear rumors of wars and wars and rumors of wars. I hear of all the things I'm scared.

But I'm trusting you.

Standing on the Promises of Christ my king

Through Turtle ages. Let his Praises Ring.

Glory in the highest I will shout in C.

Standing on the Promises of God glove and he tells you today. You don't work.

You don't work. He's with you.

osprey Our Father

How we been reminded again today?

that by looking at things from your perspective

We have hope.

In the strong name of Jesus we pray and for his sake and the church said amen.

Do is just to buy your heads?