“Us Too?”
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 7 viewsNotes
Transcript
Dr. Ian Paisley, the fiery Irish preacher was said to have been preaching one Sunday on the End Times - and in particular on the Day of Judgement. As he reached the climax of his address he said that on the Day of Judgement “there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth”. At which point an old woman put up her hand and said “Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth” Paisley replied “Madam, teeth will be provided.”
At many times and in many ways we sometimes come up with reasons why we are somehow exempt from things. And many times we have good reason to think that. Sometimes being special has its privileges, but sometimes they do not. I remember one day in my high school basketball years… I was working hard and doing well, but the rest of the team was not having a very good day maybe some of them were slacking. Practice was not going to well and finally my coach stopped it all. Started yelling at everyone about their lack of focus and effort and singled me out as the only one working hard. You guys don’t wanna work then lets just work on conditioning. We will spend the rest of practice running suicides and doing bur-pies and pushups. And my coach singled me out again and said Shane was working hard and thinking, I think he should be exempted from the running. You should go sit down and rest. Nice!!!
As I am walking to the chair, he stopped me and said on this team my friend, when one part rejoices we all rejoice and when one part suffers… we all suffer. Get on that line.
We are all part of the creation. We are all part of the human race and when God comes to judge the human race. It will include us. But we are the church. The scriptures give us something even more stark. No only are we gonna be judged, but he is gonna start with us. The tension is there, but the real question is… can we be saved from it. The answer is yes. Let’s look at it.
“I will crush Judah and Jerusalem with my fist
and destroy every last trace of their Baal worship.
I will put an end to all the idolatrous priests,
so that even the memory of them will disappear.
For they go up to their roofs
and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars.
They claim to follow the Lord,
but then they worship Molech, too.
And I will destroy those who used to worship me
but now no longer do.
They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance
or seek my blessings.”
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.
Us Too?
Repentance Unto Life
The first thing we will look at is the truly universal nature of the judgement of God that will include even His covenant people. Finally, we will see the wonderful gift the Lord gives to us called repentance.
Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world causes us to deceive ourselves in thinking there is peace from judgement when there is none, it is the truths of the scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit that will awaken our hearts and minds to the beauty of repentance and how we will find life in Christ and in Christ alone.
I. Us Too?
- Judgement begins with the house of God.
A. Last week we saw the sweeping judgement that was coming upon the earth for the transgressions of the people. The threat of uncreation. It will be violent and it will be comprehensive. But if some hearing the oracles of Zephaniah, would say yeah… thank the Lord we are Gods people. We are ok. Well, the Lord has some news for you… it means Us too.
B. Striking and attention grabbing it would be for the Israelites when it begins with Natiti yadi… stretch out His hands. This is the image used of God to bring salvation to the Israelites out of Egypt. The judgement that came upon Egypt was pictured as God’s hand or strong arm coming against them. And now this is the picture given on how the hand of God is now coming against Judah. The Lord is not just gonna judge you, but gonna judge you the same way He judged Egypt. You are not exempt from this judgement, you will be judged too.
C. This is unthinkable. People could not fathom this dynamic. God fights for us not against us. This is just not in God’s character. God would not do this to his people. But not only this thought process, but false prophets added to this problem and false thinking.
But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, “The Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here!”
They offer superficial treatments
for my people’s mortal wound.
They give assurances of peace
when there is no peace.
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people:
“Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you,
filling you with futile hopes.
They are making up everything they say.
They do not speak for the Lord!
They keep saying to those who despise my word,
‘Don’t worry! The Lord says you will have peace!’
And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires,
they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’
“I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in my name.
“Therefore,” says the Lord, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me. I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’
I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the Lord have spoken!
the prophets give false prophecies,
and the priests rule with an iron hand.
Worse yet, my people like it that way!
But what will you do when the end comes?
D. The people and the prophets were wrong. The Judgement of God did come and he warned them that they would. Zephaniah a prophet of God in the royal line of the king is telling you that God is bringing his hand against you right here. He declared that judgement is coming and it includes you.
E. And this is not unlike today. There are countless people today saying that there will not be a judgement of God on us. There will be no destruction. There is no hell and no eternal condemnation. God is love. God is compassionate. There is no way a loving God will send people to hell. Don’t you worry, in the end love wins. He loves his creation. We are his creation. He will not hurt that which he loves.
F. To top it all off, there are false prophets today speaking about dreams and visions. Hearing God in the shower, while their putting on makeup, driving in their car… telling people that they are gonna be ok in the end. God knows your heart. God only wants to bring you comfort and pleasure. No defeat for you only victory. All is will. In the end kumbiya.
“Let these false prophets tell their dreams,
but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word.
There is a difference between straw and grain!
G. Let these prophets and false teachers tell their stories and lies, but the Word of the living God makes it very very clear. Judgement is coming and the judgement of the Lord will begin with the house of God. It will begin with his people.
For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?
H. Judgement will be there for the unfaithful church. There will judgement for the unfaithful people in his churches. Do not be deceived. All throughout the book of revelation the message from Christ to the churches in Asia minor was repent. Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Laodicea you all need to repent!!! This not a message for the unbelievers!!! The house of God… Repent!!! Repent!!!! Repent!!!! These were not simple, empty, casual, dispassionate warnings. Each house call to repentance was accompanied by the devastating consequences that awaited if a church failed to repent.
Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
I. John MacArthur writes, “Most people who go to a church believe it is a safe place—perhaps the safest place—when it comes to threats of judgment from the Lord. It’s almost like climbing aboard the ark; once you’re safely inside, you’re untouchable. But that’s not true. Frankly, it’s a foolish and dangerous notion. Just because you are in a church—or something you call a church, where Jesus’ name is invoked and songs are sung about Him—does not mean you’re safe against threats from God. Here in the opening chapters of Revelation, the Lord makes some very strong, direct threats against churches. A church is no safer than the world in that regard, and its transgressions often demand a swifter judgment.”
J. Let’s take a look at something here. In light of Revelation chapter 1. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Church absolutely exploded. The power of the Holy Spirit authenticated the ministry of the apostles with the miraculous and it was a time of great fruit, growth and community in the church. What a time it was and with all of that momentum it might have been obvious to everyone that at the peak of this sweeping movement that Christ would come back to bring it all too fruition.
K. But instead, almost immediately the church was inundated with false teachers, the apostles were being martyred by the Jews and Rome, many believers of Christ were being persecuted and being scattered all over. And the church is beginning to fall into serious spiritual decline. Many would be feeling disillusioned and depressed maybe John would be feeling this banished on Patmos wondering what is going on. Did the plan that Christ had for the church failed?
L. John cries out to the Lord for something a sign a vision for some solace and comfort. Maybe some insight as to what is going on and some hope he could have in regard to the local church. Some message as to how Christ was gonna fix the situation. And John did get a vision and a message.
M. He did see Christ, but it was a sight that was awesome and terrifying. John saw the risen and glorified Christ appearing as the ruler, the judge, and the executioner of all things. John saw the Lord in all His glory as the rightful and powerful Head of the church, ready to start handing out righteous judgment—not on the world, but on His church! Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Smyrna, Sardis, Laodicea you all need to repent!!! This not a message for the unbelievers!!!
N. And today its the same. Things are bad in the world. It does not seem like God’s plan is happening. It does not seem like he is doing anything for us. The world is winning. Christians trying hard to be obedient are hated and persecuted. We are being robbed, beaten, put in jail. They are stealing from us. Everything in my life is upside down. Im not even sure about tomorrow. Everything is day to day. There is so much hate and disgust all around the world. So mean. So nasty. So heartless and unloving. So confusing. So violent. So perilous.
O. And family today I know that this is a difficult time in the church. Many of the things we see Christ condemning in the 7 churches are very pervasive in the modern church today. False teaching, compromise, moral relativism, materialism, pragmatism, the philosophies and values of the world has caused many in the local church to become unfaithful. We have become more concerned about offending people in the world than offending God. We have put more faith and trust in politics and political ideologies. We are more concerned with what the mob can do more than what the Lord will do. In the church we are consumed and obsessed with personal fulfillment, growth, success, prosperity, to do all to live to the fullest.
P. The Bible calls us not to fulfill self, but to deny self. It is not calling us to live, but to die. Being true to yourself and being yourself is not the message from scripture… it is from the world and its getting in. We are not call to be ourself, we are called to be like Christ. In the church we are guilty of self-centeredness, greed, mockery, laziness, apathy, lies, deception, we are mean to people, we are cruel, we gossip, we condemn, we are jealous, we envy, we rebel against those in authority, we exhibit hatred against others, we steal from others, we support false teachers, church leaders are guilty of greed, sexual abuse, illicit sexual behavior, misappropriating funds, spiritual abuse, false doctrine, we are unforgiving, we are idolatrous, we love pleasure of the flesh more than obedience to God, we complain, we deny truth, we love the world, we are friends with the world.
Q. The message is still the same. Repent. Repent. Repent. God will judge the unfaithful church. God will judge the unfaithful. When judgement comes He will begin with His house. We will not escape it. We cannot hide from it, unless the Lord hides you.
II. Repentance Unto Life
- The gift of tears.
A. The key here is repentance. These are warnings that are given. The key is repentance. But judgement is coming and he is gonna start with his house. Yes. But he has warned us. And what does he want us to do? Repent. And if we really are Christians with new hearts and a new spirit repentance is what we will do. We are warned to repent and that is what we will do. Be afraid if you decide that you will not repent. If you choose not to repent and you call yourself a Christian, the Lord be with you.
B. As Christians we still sin. We still transgress the laws of God. We still fall short. All the time. I have always said that Christians are not those who don’t always sin. We are those who always repents. A Christian will always repent.
Spurgeon says that repentance is foundational to the life of a Christian. And because we have the flesh and sin nature we sin, therefore our lives should be filled with times of confession and repentance. A daily occurance for me.
Turning away from our sins. Today everyone. Christians included. We must repent of our sins, our unfaithfulness, our idolatry, our transgressions. Judgement is coming and the Lord is calling for us to repent.
C. Warnings are given throughout all of the scriptures and it is the Christian that will heed the warning. The Christian has the new yet broken and contrite heart and he or she will come before the Lord humbly in worship and adoration. Forgiveness for our sins is there. There is mercy for us. There is grace. There is forgiveness. There is divine love. But it is found in Christ and in Christ alone.
D. If you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And this is possible because… Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried and he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. He became sin who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
E. We can be saved today. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Salvation is here. And salvation belongs to the Lord.
F. Repentance is foundational and fundamental to what it means to be a Christian. It is important for us to know that repentance is vital to a believer. This is why Puritans always prayed for the gift of tears. The gift of repentance. Something we pray that God will grant us all today.
When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
G. In the face of judgement, it is the call for repentance that one hears. So today we pray for gift of tears.