What in the World is Going On? Part 3 (2)

Matthew 24:3–11 NKJV

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Luke 21:25–28 (NKJV)

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;

26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume φοβέω, φοβέομαι, φοβέω, φόβος, δέος

phobéō [to fear, reverence], phobéomai [to be afraid], phóbos [fear], déos [fear, awe]

Dealing with Fear

1) Recognize the Attack

2 Corinthians 2:5–11 NKJV

5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians at a vulnerable time in his life. He had learned that the church at Corinth was struggling, and he sought to take action to preserve the unity of that local body of believers. The letter is riddled with personal comments as Paul revealed details about the persecution he had suffered for the sake of Christ as well as about a mysterious thorn in the flesh that kept him reliant on God.

Where are we?

After sending Timothy off from Ephesus to deliver the letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul, in his concern for the church, made a quick visit of his own to Corinth. Afterward, Paul returned to his work in Ephesus, where he wrote a sorrowful letter to the Corinthians that has not been preserved (see 2 Corinthians 2:1–11; 7:8). Paul then departed for Macedonia. Once there, he received a good report from Titus regarding the Corinthians (7:13), which led Paul to write a fourth letter to them, titled “2 Corinthians” in the Bible. (See 1 Corinthians page to read about Paul’s first two letters to the Corinthians.) The apostle composed this letter near the end of AD 56, possibly in the city of Philippi.

Paul is addressing unity, division and unforgiveness in the body of Christ - the church at Corinth.

The church at Corinth had recently been struggling with divisions and quarrels. But for a majority of the believers, the problem had been solved by the time Paul wrote 2 Corinthians. Many had repented of their sinful ways and had come back into unity with one another and with the leadership of Paul.

However, Paul still felt the need to articulate a defense of his apostleship and his message

The two biggest enemies in your life will often be unforgiveness and fear. Both are sin and we tend to hold onto them with a tight grip. Unfortunately, when we do that. we block the blessings that we need in our lives.

Unforgiveness comes to affect your judgment and perspective because you view the world and yourself through the lens of hurt. You perceive every wrong you encounter as a personal offense against you. A sensitivity towards rejection starts to develop and you expect not only the offender, but also others, to dismiss you. Pain becomes the identity of the unforgiving person.

Unforgiveness affects our character and integrity as grudges do not bring out the best in us. You might complain and gossip to your friends about the person who offended you. You may start to exaggerate the details of the story, or even tell lies to gain sympathy and supporters. You might mock, accuse, or be quick to start a fight. Perhaps you give the offender the silent treatment, refusing to talk to them or holding them emotionally hostage with a cold attitude and harsh words. You might notice that you continually have thoughts of revenge, lack compassion, and enjoy the offender’s misfortunes.

Unforgiveness Spreads like Cancer

Unforgiveness cannot be contained but spreads like a cancer, affecting other relationships and situations. It strains all relationships. For example, your spouse or coworkers may be tired of hearing the same story over and over again, leading to an experience of loss in your close relationships. Your friends may avoid you because your bitter attitude is starting to repel them. Unforgiveness may have made you irritable, causing you to treat others poorly. It is hard to love others when we have hate in our hearts. Your feelings of distrust may make it difficult for you to connect with friends or family. You may start to withdraw from people in order to protect yourself from being hurt again.

Unforgiveness also compromises our physical health. Research has shown that unforgiveness is connected to high blood pressure, weakened immune systems, reduced sleep, chronic pain, and cardiovascular problems. Because unforgiveness hinders the body’s ability to heal, forgiveness exercises are now being included in cancer treatment plans for patients.

Unforgiveness Comes between You and God

Unforgiveness affects your spirit and your soul, hindering your spiritual growth and fruitfulness. You may feel spiritually dry, stuck, or stalled in your spiritual life. Unforgiveness builds a wall between you and God. Fear replaces peace and imprisonment replaces freedom. You may feel tormented by the injustice, but God feels far away. You may feel less sensitive to the Holy Spirit. You might even feel angry with God, which may cause you to avoid or run away from Him.

“Hating someone is drinking poison and expecting the other person to die from it.” – Nelson Mandela

Unforgiveness creates a paranoia that cause us to be suspicious and fearful of rejection. If rejection takes hold, we have a hard time receiving the acceptance of God.

We are addressing fear, but unforgiveness creates a barrier between us and God that keeps us from receiving His love and His help when we are attacked by fear.

We cannot overcome fear when we are bound in forgiveness, bitterness, hatred, and rejection.

Fear is another favorite weapon of the enemy. For some reason, we don’t tend to think of fear as a problem for us. We think it’s acceptable to worry about things. God doesn’t agree.

Tim Keller - “Worry is not believing God will get it right, and bitterness is believing God got it wrong.”

2) Rejoice in the Love of God

1 John 4:18 NKJV

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

If you live with fear and worry, then you haven’t had a true revelation of God and how much He loves you. If you really understood that He will take care of everything, if you let Him, you could live in peace.

Psalm 27:1–13 NKJV

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. 4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” 9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me. 11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

3) Have Fear Talk to Your Lawyer

1 John 2:1–2 NKJV

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Handout

5 Biblical Reasons to Not Be Afraid if We're in the End Times

1. Your Redemption Is Drawing Closer

Luke 21:28 NKJV

28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

In this chapter in Luke, Jesus is describing the destruction of the temple and what will happen during the end times. After describing these things, he then proceeds to remind you of what your response should be. Not heads down, but heads up.

In other words, Jesus is saying when these things begin to happen look for me...because I am coming soon. Your fear should be replaced by anticipation because your salvation is drawing closer. Isn’t that reason to rejoice?

Jesus is encouraging you not to be afraid. Remember, you are on his side. And sneak peek to the end of the story, Jesus wins. Because he wins, you win—so don’t be afraid. When you see the signs, that means his coming is getting closer so lift up your head and rejoice.

Romans 13:11 NKJV

11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

2. You Should Be Encouraging Yourself and Others

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 NKJV

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

In this passage, Paul is describing what is commonly known as the rapture of the church. The verse I want you to pay close attention to is verse 18. What does Paul instruct the church to do? Encourage each other with these words.

It feels like there was a time in the church when we lived with the expectation and hope of Jesus’ return. I don’t know if that still exists today, but regardless, we need to look at the end times and the expectation of Christ’s return as a means of encouraging each other. When Jesus comes back, every wrong thing will be made right and every broken thing will be made well. That's something we can all look forward to.

The world might be crazy right now, but I know it won’t always be that way...because Jesus is coming. This is not something to be afraid of, but something that can encourage you and someone else.

3. You Have Work to Do

Matthew 24:14 NKJV

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Knowing that we are living in the end times, this is not the time to shrink back. There is still something called the Great Commission—our responsibility to preach the gospel and make disciples. If you want to be afraid of something, be afraid for those who don’t know Jesus, because their end is different than yours. This should compel us to want to share the love and hope of Jesus to those who don’t know him.

This will not be easy work, especially as the love of many grow cold in our society, but this is necessary work. How else will they know unless we tell them? Let’s be committed to the cause of Christ and even more so as we see the day approaching. I challenge you (and myself) to be true salt and light to a world that needs it. Let’s be godly examples in our homes, communities, and places of work. The very fact we know the signs should motivate us to action.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58 TPT

58 So now, beloved ones, stand firm and secure. Live your lives with an unshakable confidence. We know that we prosper and excel in every season by serving the Lord, because we are assured that our union with the Lord makes our labor productive with fruit that endures.

4. You Are Closer to Seeing Jesus

1 John 3:2–3 NKJV

2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

One of the awesome things about when Jesus returns is that we will see him. Isn’t that what Christianity is all about? Seeing our wonderful savior! The one who loved us so much that he suffered, died, and rose again for our redemption. In that moment, your faith and all that you have believed will become sight. One of the great beauties of it all is that we get to see him just as he is. That means in all of his glory and splendor. I know you may have experienced the presence of God before, but never like this.

This alone, my friend, is reason for hope and reason for excitement. Don’t fear his coming, long for it. What an awesome day that will be. In fact, there is this old song we used to sing which sums it up best:

What a day that will be When my Jesus I shall see

When I look upon His face The One who saved me by His grace

When He takes me by the hand And leads me to the Promised Land

What a day, glorious day that will be

5. You Are Closer to Your Eternal Home

Revelation 22:1–5 NKJV

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:14 NKJV

14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

There is so much I could say, but I just want to say one thing to you…wow! On that day you and I will no longer be victims to the curse of sin which will be gone forever. We get to enjoy God’s presence forever and ever. This is the ultimate hope and destination of your faith in Christ. I implore you to cling to this hope. And as you see the signs of the end times rejoice—because your salvation is truly at hand.

I hope you are finishing this article more encouraged than when you started. The end times and the second coming of Christ are awesome events. My prayer for you is that they would motivate you to be everything that God wants you to be until he comes. Let Paul’s words be yours:

2 Timothy 4:7–8 NKJV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1 John 4:17–19 (NKJV)

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.