How to live as faithful Exiles to the end

Strength to Endure

In the darkest moment of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Sam, the Hobbit, looks up into the poisonous skies of Mordor, and receives an unexpected comfort: There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach.

For the first time in days, Sam curled up into a deep untroubled sleep. He once again had the strength to endure. This story of little Sam being heartened by the star is so poignant because it resonates with the Christian experience. Every Christian knows what it is like to want to give up and just surrender if that will quiet the world’s constant battering. The early Christians who read the book of Hebrews knew that feeling well. However, the author of Hebrews told them, “So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward” (Heb. 10:35).

Daniel 12:1–4 ESV

1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

John makes a great declaration in

1 John 3:2 ESV

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

What I will be one day greatly impacts my present discipleship.

What I will be someday will mold and shape how I live for today.

Daniel 12 teaches us how to live as faithful exiles in a world that is not our home.

We are constantly made painfully aware that this is not our home. This constant reminder should compel us towards what we are presently doing for the kingdom of God. This helps us answer the following pressing question.

How can we live as kingdom citizens, dedicated disciples, in a land that is strange and even hostile towards us?

1 Peter 2:11 ESV

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 21: Daniel The Hope of Glory

Scripture promises us that the last days (that is, the period between Pentecost and the return of Christ [Acts 2:16–17]) will be punctuated by times of special stress and danger (2 Tim. 3:1). This will reach a climax at “the time of the end”: “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time” (v. 1). Daniel, however, must not allow himself to be overwhelmed with despair because God will provide His people with protection, specifically in the work of Michael

A GREAT PRINCE WILL STAND WATCH OVER YOUR PEOPLE

Michael (meaning who is like God) He is one of the chief princes mentioned in scripture, he is an archangel. Michael is seen throughout the battle as one who battles on behalf of God’s causes.

Since Michael was instrumental in the dragon (Satan) being cast out of heaven in Revelation 12 some have speculated that he is the same one who binds the dragon for 1,000 years in Revelation 20.

We do know that Michael not only leads a victorious war against Satan. He is also a ministering spirit “sent out to serve those who are going to inherit Salvation.”

Big Idea: God’s people must pursue Faithfulness and Fruitfulness to the end.

How do we remain faithful and fruitful till the end?

1.Make it your goal to win others to Christ.

Evangelistic Sermon Outlines The Wisdom of Soul Winning

For our own sake: “Self-preservation is the first law of nature.”

The Bible is a book about winning people to the Lord.

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Daniel writes how some who sleep will awake to everlasting lives in Heaven while others will awake to eternal shame and contempt.

We live in a Christian culture today where it has become increasingly frowned upon to ask people the most important question you could ever ask.

Do you know Jesus? Do you know my Savior?

Its nothing flashy or hard to remember, its really very simple. We have become more concerned with peoples reaction and our own comfort that we refuse to let the questions cross our lips.

In essence what we are saying is that we have got our golden ticket to the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, however, who cares about those who will wake to eternal damnation.

Why is this such a hard question to ask? Perhaps its because we have lost the faith that Jesus can really save that person or that he will save that person.

Winning People back from Satan’s grasp began in the Garden.

Remember that God called out to Adam in the garden and asked “where are you.”

Why should we make it our mission to win others to Christ?

Imagine that we are correspondents sent out to a dangerous battle zone. We expect to see battle-weary soldiers in combat fatigues, dirt on their faces, living in the most difficult conditions, carrying their weapons at the ready at all times.

But, instead, at the battlefront we’re surprised to find the soldiers dressed in civilian clothes, playing volleyball, ping, pong, lying around the swimming poos, If such an army was defending our country from a hostile enemy, we’d have good reason to be alarmed!

The problem is that the army has forgotten its mission. It things that its mission centers around its own comfort and having a good time. Having forgotten its mission, it would easily fall to a hostile enemy. If that enemy attacked, the members of the army might try to desert, claiming, “I didn’t sign up for this! I signed up for all the benefits, but I had not idea I might get shot at!”

The American Church is allot like the army I have just described. We have promoted the Christian life for all its benefits: “Come to Christ and He will give you peace and happiness. He will help you overcome your problems.

The scriptures are clear that the Christian life is not a playground but a battlefield.

1)We own Jesus mission as our mission.

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Paul says that he does all things for the sake of the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:23 ESV

23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

I want you to fully understand and take in what this text this morning is talking about. There will be those on the day of judgment who will awake to be forever excluded from the kingdom of God and doomed to live forever in their shame and guilt.

Now on the other hand, it talks about the saints of God who will shine like the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Nothing will be able to undo the final transformation, it will last forever.

The great commission given to us is not about cultural transformation, you may see churches today that are trying to be culturally relevant.

What is given to the bumbling band of Jesus disciples was not cultural transformation though that would actually come as a result of their message but a mission of gospel proclamation.

God’s cosmic plan is so much greater than the great commission, but what it is telling the Church to participate with God in his restoration and renewal of all things which would include not only re-creation but His fiery judgment.

We must understand that our witnessing and our proclaiming the gospel is the means by which God has chosen to bring people to Christ.

2) We own the goal to save some.

2 Corinthians 2:15–16 (ESV)

15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

This is a sobering though for all of us, and it helps us understand the enormous task in front of us. Maybe I can be Gods’ instrument He uses to save some.

It is a realistic goal to pray that God will use you to save some.

Nothing is more worth our time then to help others to get in a right relationship with God. Nothing will help the world more than leading people to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing will help families more than leading family members to Christ.

We cannot save anyone, but the gospel has the power of God for Salvation.

Romans 1:16 (ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

3) We own the attitude of a servant.

1 Corinthians 9:19 (ESV)

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

Some translations use the word slave here. Notice that Paul never thinks of himself first, but of those he serves and is compelled that God use him to draw them to himself.

Do you view the lost as an enemy to be fought or as those whom you are called to serve? Do you look for opportunities to serve your neighbors or your lost family members? If an unbeliever is rude to you do you act in anger towards them or look for an opportunity to show humility and grace.

Daniel 12:5–10 (ESV)

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

2. Make it your Goal to Pursue Holiness.

“Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.”

The Danger of "Hydraulic Fluid" Holiness

There was quite a mix-up at the Duke University Hospitals in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina. Sometime in November 2004, maintenance workers had drained hydraulic fluid from the hospital elevators into empty detergent drums and then didn't get rid of the drums.

Through a strange series of events, the drums were mistakenly redistributed to the people who clean surgical instruments. It took two months and 3,800 surgeries before anyone figured out something was wrong.

Washing the instruments in hydraulic fluid was not an effective means of sterilization. The biggest question is, what kind of damage has been done to the patients? No one was sure what the petroleum residue might do to people.

The hospital's head honcho assured the public, "We want to give people the message that we care about our patients," and no doubt they do. But if their instruments weren't safe, they were a threat to their patients no matter how much they cared.

A church careless about holiness is like that! We may care about our people, but we're a danger to them nonetheless. It isn't enough to share the gospel with the lost; we must also be sure we act in holy ways and teach holiness as a way of life, lest we harm the people of God.

Is Holiness even a possibility since only God is holy? Not only is holiness possible but it is necessary for the Believer.

1 Peter 1:14–15 ESV

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

Out of all the characteristics of God none is more significance than His Holiness. His Holiness is listed 900 times in scripture.

You are not only saved from sin, you are saved to Holiness.

Holiness is not only a separation from sin it is being set apart to be usable for God’s purposes.

Sanctification is a lifelong process that we pursue with every fiber of our being.

How do we pursue HOLINESS with every fiber of our being.

Holiness must become your purpose

When you wake up in the morning you think about being holy, and when you go to bed at night you think about being holy. (repeat Deuteronomy 6:4-6 ever day to yourself)

Oswald Chambers

“God has only one intended destiny for mankind - Holiness. His only goal is to produce saints. God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use, and he did not come to save us out of pity-he came to save us because he created us to be holy.”

If we truly love God then we will commit to making holiness the primary purpose of our life.

HOW DO WE BECOME HOLY AS HE IS HOLY?

1)We Submit to obedience

There is no holiness without obedience. God’s sanctifying work is being done in your life so that you might be obedient.

The Heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 obeyed by faith … obedience is the pathway to obedience.

The Word of God - Being exposed to the scripture exposes us to the character and nature of God. When we spend time in the word and in prayer we are permeated with the nature of God.

The Work of the Spirit - Christian character is described as the fruit of the spirit. “If by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Martin Luther

After conversion in Christ: A person is rapidly declining in health because of a disease, and the doctors do not know its cause. Then the doctors correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe the appropriate medicine. he is not completely healed immediately upon starting the medicine. But from that point forward he improves until he is completely well.

In the same way, after we experience conversion there is a decisive turn in our lives, after which the movement is in the direction of holiness rather than sin and death.

The Fellowship of Believers- Fleeing from evil and the pursuit of Holiness only works when we are in fellowship with other believers. It is in the context of community that the greatest marked change takes place.

2)We Pursue Jesus not Moralism

As we become more holy we will naturally become more of a moral person. However, that is not the goal of growing in Holiness. Our pursuit is of Jesus not Holiness.

It is all about living in Christ, and living in a real vital relationship with Christ.

3)We Expect Improvement not Perfection

To often Christians do not strive to be Holy because they see it as an impossible task.

God is not leading you to an unattainable level of perfection. God knows that you are a work in progress. God does not call imperfect people to perfection. He calls broken people to Holiness. Our lack of perfection should motivate us to work harder to meet God’s goal.

Remember that we are not seeking Holiness so that God will somehow love your more. His love never changes for you. The best way that we can show God how much we love Him is by seeking to become Holy as He is Holy.

Note: We are daily growing in His Holiness. Don’t fight against the process, enjoy the ride.

Daniel 12:11–13 (ESV)

11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

3. Make it your Goal to Endure to the End.

"Remember the Titans": Willingness to Endure Hardship

Remember the Titans, a movie based on the true story of a 1971 Alexandria, Virginia, football team, offers a message of racial reconciliation. Early in the movie, Coach Herman Boone (played by Denzel Washington) takes his race-divided high school team to a two-week football camp. He works the boys hard, both emotionally and physically, trying desperately to build a sense of team. By the last practice, the boys begin to come together.

During this practice, the football team, rigged in full pads and white practice uniforms, line up row by row. They vigorously run in place, focused on their conditioning.

Coach Boone yells, "What are you?" The team shouts back, "Mobile! Agile! Hostile!" Boone shouts, "And what is pain?" "French bread!" the young men reply. Boone hollers, "What is fatigue?" They bellow, "Army clothes!" With all his might, Coach Boone yells, "Will…you…ever…quit?" The Titans roar, "No, we want some mo’! We want some mo’! We want some mo’!"

*Do Your Job till the End

Note: The Biblical response to the promises that are yet to come is to Live for His kingdom now.

Matthew 25:21 ESV

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

How are you being faithful with what God has given you now?

The messenger now turns back to the question of verse 6, how much longer will it be until the end. How many of you have ever asked the same question?

The 1,290 days deals with the time of the desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes and the 1,335 days is some time they have gone on enduring to the end.

Look at Jesus illustration of the faithful servant who patiently waits and perseveres even when his master is delayed in coming.

Matthew 24:45–51 (ESV)

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The whole reason for Daniel receiving these visions was to lead him into a new spiritual understanding and encourage him as a man of prayer.

It is not necessary for him to know more of for us for that matter. Our primary task is to live now for the glory of God.

Jesus said in

Matthew 24:9-14

Matthew 24:9–14 (ESV)

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

From God’s viewpoint outside our time frame, the “end times” began with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:16–21, Peter describes this event as “the last days.”

From that perspective, it makes sense that Jesus combined events in AD 70 with those yet to come. They are all “the last days.” He then warns that, as persecution increases, many who considered themselves His followers will reveal their true spiritual condition when they turn away from the faith. This had already happened during His ministry (John 6:66) and would escalate until the end.

Those who endure to the end are the opposite of those in the previous verse whose love grows cold. Jesus’ statement that he who endures to the end will be saved cannot be taken to mean that our salvation is somehow dependent on our personal ability to remain saved. Rather, it is a promise of perseverance.

1)Those who endure to the end are truly saved by grace.

Remember the marker of a true follower of Christ is the fruit that their life gives off.

Matthew 7:18–20 (ESV)

18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

2)Those who endure to the end will stand firm through ridicule and hatred.

Matthew 10:22 (ESV)

22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

3) Those who endure to the end will stand firm through false teachers.

Those who are truly followers of Christ and have the spirit in them will be able to recognize false teachers, and false doctrines.

1 Timothy 6:3–5 (ESV)

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

False teachers may do this in many ways: Some will teach that the Bible is full of errors and can’t be trusted. Others pick and choose what doctrines can be trusted. They say, “You can trust the Bible when it comes to salvation, but you can’t believe every word. You can’t believe the miracles and many of the stories. They are just meant to teach ethics.” Their belief about the Bible demonstrates the negative fruit that will come from their teaching. Christ said, “Man does not live by bread alone but EVERY word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). Paul taught in 2 Timothy 3:16 that “EVERY” Scripture is inspired by God. Not some.

4) Those who endure to the end will stand firm in the middle of a sinful culture.

We live in what has been called a post-Christians culture.

Postchristianity is the situation in which Christianity is no longer the dominant civil religion of a society but has gradually assumed values, culture, and worldviews that are not necessarily Christian. Post-Christian tends to refer to the loss of Christianity's monopoly in historically Christian societies.

POST CHRISTIANITY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL CHRISTIANITY

We are called to be salt and light in the world today. Jesus makes two declarative statements in Matthew 5: 13-16 “you are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world.” If salt has lost its taste how will it be restored, it is basically good for nothing. You do not light a lamp and place it in the window of a house and then cover it with a basket.

It is time Church to do your job..... Do what God has called you to do ...... we live in a Christian culture of options and choices, we like our Church ala-cart, you can take it or leave it, I would say if there is no salt or light in your life you are not truly following Christ.

CONCLUSION

Christ Demands Our All

Christ says, "Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there. I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out.

Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think are innocent as well as the ones you think are wicked—the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you myself: my own will shall become yours."

—C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Jesus say’s give me all of you and it will blow your mind what I will do with your life.

Write this Down: What is my Life?

If I were to ask your friends, family, co-workers, those who know you best. What would they say defines you and your life. If the answer isn’t Christ above and beyond anything and everything then you are not pursuing faithfulness and fruitfulness for Christ in your life. When you lay down your whole self on the alter of God see if He will not blow your mind what He can and will do.