Before we really dive into this morning's study, and we're going to be in Luke chapter 21.
! If you're using the pew Bible, I would encourage you to get there.
! It's on page 881.
So, Luke chapter 21, we're going to pick it up towards the end in verse 28.
But before we do that, I want to call attention to the fact that starting Wednesday is going to be like the 40 days before Easter.
And it's traditionally known as Lent.
And I would just encourage you to pick up in the lobby one of two devotionals.
This one is called Risen, and it's by Lifeway.
It's for those of us who have kind of teens and maybe children.
That's simpler, and it's something that you could do very easily around the dinner table.
Just reading through it, calling attention, remembering who Christ is, what he did,
and preparing our hearts for Easter.
I love this one because there are 30 lessons, and so you can do it Monday through Friday in the weeks leading up to Easter.
And you can finish this without too much pressure.
Seven dollars for this out in the lobby.
Those of you who don't have children, or maybe even you do have children, but you want to do something for yourself,
this is called Rich Wounds by David Mathis.
A little bit more content here.
You can see it's actually a book.
I think you would get this for yourself for $14, but this is $7 back there.
David does a great job, again, just leading us through who Christ is in preparation for Easter.
It might be a great way to get yourself, your own heart, and your own family ready for that important climactic event we celebrate once a year, Easter time.
This final song that we sang is to set your hope on Jesus.
That was essentially the theme of last week's message and last week's passage.
Set your hope on Jesus.
And of course, as you would expect, those of you who have actually set your hope on something,
there's going to be changes in the way that you live.
If you're expecting something to happen, then you know that there's going to be some preparation
to ensure that what you're expecting to happen, that you are ready for it to actually take place.
So, for example, you know you're going to have some company.
And it's a special company that's coming.
They're going to come for dinner.
They're going to spend the night.
And these are people that you haven't seen for a while.
They're really dear friends.
And so there's going to be some things that you do as you are anticipating and hoping for their coming.
That there are things that are going to happen, of course, in your home that are going to prepare for that coming.
Right?
I would anticipate, as I look around the room, that that would be true.
You know, you're going to be cooking a meal.
You're going to maybe be cleaning the house.
You're not necessarily going to want them to come into your home and see how things are.
You're kind of kicking things out of the way and clearing a space, a trail for them to finally get to the table.
You're going to do certain things in preparation for their coming so they feel comfortable.
You're probably going to put on some of your better clothes.
Not the grungy kind of clothes you wear on a Saturday.
Maybe brush your teeth and comb your hair.
You know, those kinds of generally accommodating kinds of things.
You know, you'll make the bed.
Maybe wash the sheets.
You'll put a towel and a rag on the end of their bed.
And you'll maybe even put a little basket with some toiletries.
Whatever it is to make them feel welcome, to show them that you've prepared for their coming.
Well, Jesus now, after helping his disciples recognize the fact that he is coming.
Remember, he said at the very end in 27 and 28 of chapter 21, he says,
The Son of Man is coming on the clouds with power and glory.
He's coming.
So don't set your hope on the things that are temporary and superficial.
Set your hope on the Son.
And as we sang, set your hope on Jesus.
What does that look like?
How does that play out?
What do we do to set our hope on Jesus?
What do we do to anticipate this coming of the Son of Man?
And that's where we turn our sights this morning.
Jesus is providing some instruction.
He wants his disciples to recognize the significance of his coming.
And there will be some things that will be true about their life.
And so in our passage this morning, he issues three commands.
Three instructions.
They're imperatives in the Greek text.
They're essentially, Jesus tells them three things to do.
And we're going to look at those this morning.
They're going to kind of be the headings of our outline.
And then kind of concluding our passage, we're going to see this example of Jesus.
Our Savior.
The Son of Man.
And where is he?
He's in the temple.
He's with the people.
He's there day by day.
He's teaching them the very word of God.
The very word of God that can shape and change their life.
And Jesus is there.
Even though crucifixion is right around the corner.
Jesus cares about the life-giving message.
And he's there to share that message with those who are hearing.
And there's a lesson in that too.
And we're going to discover that in our time this morning.
So if you're there with me in Luke chapter 21, beginning in verse 29,
we're going to see this first instruction.
See if you can pick it out as I read along.
He said,
And he told them a parable.
Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
As soon as they come out in leaf,
you see for yourself and know that summer is already near.
So also when you see these things taking place,
you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Truly I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all has taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
What is that first command?
Did you see it?
What is it?
Look.
Right.
Look at the fig tree.
Okay, well,
so what does looking at the fig tree tell us?
What do we learn from this?
Well, essentially what Jesus is helping his disciples to understand
is as they look at the fig tree,
there's something to learn.
There's some discerning that needs to happen.
Be discerning.
That's essentially kind of the underlying tone of this instruction.
Look at the fig tree.
Learn the lesson of the fig tree.
Learn from its example.
Jesus has inherently throughout his ministry drawn from the landscape.
He knows the significance of these pictures
that he's pulling out of the landscape.
The birds of the air.
The farmer who's spreading seed on his crops.
The weather changes.
And the weather that comes from the south.
And you know it's going to be blistering heat.
Those kinds of things that Jesus draws from culture
to help inform his teaching.
But also serve as not just an object lesson,
but to help press it in.
To help with memory.
Jesus, of course, was the master of illustration.
And these fig trees were loved because of their sweet fruit.
And they were common in Palestine,
especially in this area around the Mount of Olives.
Earlier in the week,
it's just a couple of days from this day of Jesus' teaching,
Jesus is walking from Bethany into Jerusalem.
And on that day,
he will cleanse the temple.
But on his way into Jerusalem,
he's going to pass a fig tree with leaves,
but it doesn't have fruit.
And because it doesn't have fruit,
he will curse that tree and say,
may no one ever eat from you again.
And by the next day,
that tree is withered all the way to its root.
With that image in mind,
just in the immediate background of this,
Jesus is using a fig tree again
to serve an object lesson.
You see,
just like other trees that have leaves,
this fig tree would lose its leaves in the wintertime.
And then when those leaves began to sprout,
and a fig tree was one of the earliest of these trees
that would sprout leaves,
you would know that summer was near.
The appearance of life was particularly dramatic
in this fig tree,
as it was one of the first to sprout leaves
with the other trees around it.
This picture, of course, is clear.
The picture that Jesus is drawing from,
this discernment that he's encouraging the disciples to have,
is read the signs around you.
Be discerning.
From the fig tree,
we know that summer is coming.
So Jesus,
he's often drawing from nature
to help his audience be discerning.
In Luke chapter 12,
verses 54 and 56,
he says,
you see the cloud in the west,
and you know rain is coming.
In Luke chapter 12,
verses 54 and 56,
he says,
you feel the south wind,
and you know there's going to be scorching heat.
The coming of the Son of Man
is going to be in the same way.
Just like the weather that you feel from the south,
just like the leaves that you see on the fig tree,
the coming of the Son of Man
is going to be observable.
It's going to be unmistakable.
It's going to be verifiable.
So when you see these things happening,
he says in verse 29,
you know that the kingdom of God is near.
And for those of you who weren't here last week,
what are the things that Jesus is referring to?
What are those things that they're going to see,
like the leaves on a fig tree?
What are those things that they will see
that will help to indicate
the nearness of the kingdom
and the coming of the Son of Man?
Just for review,
follow with me in chapter 21,
beginning in verse 6.
First, the destruction of the temple,
where Jesus says that one stone
will not be left upon the other.
This destruction.
In verse 8,
we find the presence of false prophets.
Those false prophets that say,
hey, I'm the Messiah.
The end is here.
Don't believe them.
Verse 10,
we find this international conflict.
Nation against nation
and kingdom against kingdom.
In verse 11,
we find earthquakes and famines
and pestilence,
terrors,
great signs from heaven.
In verses 12,
and then in verse 16,
we find persecution.
Persecution of those
who are following after Christ,
which may involve death.
It will involve those
being hated by all
for his namesake.
In verse 20,
we find that Jerusalem
is surrounded by armies
and it's devastated.
In verse 25,
we find signs in the sun
and the moon and the stars
and the roaring of the waves.
In verse 26,
we see people
who are fainting with fear.
The powers of heaven
that are shaken.
On one hand,
all of these signs are helpful.
They're observable.
They're verifiable.
They're unmistakable.
We see them happening
when the word is fulfilled
and we see these things happening,
then we know
that the word that has been given to us
is a word that is true.
It's reliable.
But on the other hand,
it's not so helpful
because from the very beginning,
from the inception of the church,
of course,
we've seen varying degrees
of these kinds of things
taking place.
We've seen conflicts and wars.
We've seen and experienced earthquakes,
perhaps.
The massive earthquake
that took place at Jesus' death
would have been the first example of this,
this fulfillment.
And it tore the temple into,
you remember.
And also,
the earthquake that took place
at Jesus' resurrection,
which, by the way,
that earthquake
was described as a great earthquake,
the kind of earthquake
that shook the ground.
And it was the kind of earthquake
that opened the rocks,
that split the rocks,
and people,
graves were opened.
Of course,
there's been persecution.
Persecution that took place
as early as the beginning of Acts.
Acts chapter 4
and Acts chapter 5.
And then the crescendo of that,
which split people out of Jerusalem
happening in Acts chapter 8.
The persecution that's come on the church.
And of course,
the history of famines and pestilence.
So in many ways,
Christ's words
that were given to us
are words that are true.
They're words that we have seen.
They're words that are reliable.
We have heard the words,
and we've seen them carried out.
So there must be other clues.
Are there other clues
that we can look at
from Jesus' descriptions here
that will help us know
when this is all going to happen?
And that leads us to verses 32 to 33.
Not just be discerning,
but be ready.
Be ready.
Jesus says,
Truly I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all has taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
I want to key in on this phrase.
This generation will not pass away.
And what you cannot really see
in your English translation
is the emphatic nature
of the will not that is here
that's contained in this verse.
Meaning,
this is something that you can bank on.
There are two negatives
that are put side by side
that leave without exception
that this is, of course,
going to happen.
You can bank on it.
This generation, then,
we need to understand
what does it mean?
What is this generation?
This word generation
has been problematic for scholars.
And there are a number
of different ways
that we can see it
in the Gospel of Luke
and a number of ways
that scholars have tried
to describe it.
First would be
that Jesus is referring
to the current generation.
The generation of those
who are listening to his words
and that he's speaking with
in that moment.
That generation
that's listening to his teaching
will be the same generation
that will see and experience
the testimony
or fulfillment
of his prophecy.
Another option
is to see generation
as Jewish people
as a whole.
This whole nation
of individuals.
This Jewish nation.
Another way,
to see it as humans
in general.
And another way,
and there's several,
but the final way
I'll describe this morning
is the generation
that hears or sees
with their eyes
the evidence
of what Jesus is talking about
will be the generation
that will then experience
the devastating consequences
and then thus also see
the arrival of the Son of Man.
So, what do we do?
Well, throughout the gospel
of Luke,
the phrase
this generation
is consistently applied
to the audience,
the target audience,
the people
who are actually
listening to what Jesus
is saying.
For an example,
Luke chapter 11
verses 29 and 30
we find,
when the crowds
were increasing,
he began to say,
this generation
is an evil generation.
It seeks for a sign,
but no sign
will be given to it
except the sign of Jonah.
For as Jonah
became a sign
to the people of Nineveh,
so will the Son of Man
be to this generation.
The Queen of the South
will rise up
at the judgment
with the men
of this generation
and condemn them.
The men of Nineveh
will rise up
at the judgment
with this generation
and condemn it.
For they repented
at the preaching of Jonah
and behold,
something greater
than Jonah is here.
So, Jesus is speaking
to this audience,
these people
who are listening
to what he's saying.
He's applying
this phrase,
this generation,
to that group.
And by the way,
they're the ones
who are going to see
Jesus die
and rise again.
This sign of Jonah
being in the grave,
Jesus being in the grave
for three days,
just like Jonah was.
But there are
some places
throughout the Gospel
of Luke
where the generation
seems to correlate
with the Jewish nation
as a whole
in general.
For example,
in Luke chapter 11,
verse 50 and 51.
So that the blood
of all the prophets
shed from the foundation
of the world
may be charged
against this generation.
From the blood
of Abel
to the blood
of Zechariah
who perished
between the altar
and the sanctuary.
Yes, I tell you,
it will be required
of this generation.
Now, the struggle
with this is
these individuals
who Jesus
is speaking to
weren't actually
a part
of that process
of those prophets
that were put to death.
And yet,
the responsibility
is applied to them
and applied to them
as a nation
as a whole
because the testimony
of that people
is that they rejected
the things of God.
And here Jesus was again
the ultimate prophet,
the greater prophet
as Moses would indicate,
this greater prophet
that's coming.
And here Jesus was,
another prophet
and they're rejecting
him as well.
Of course,
the final possibility
is that generation
could refer to
that generation
that sees the signs
that Jesus is referring to
and then
they will experience
the repercussions
and the testimony
of the rest
of those things.
So how do we decide?
How do we decide
which generation
we're talking about?
Well,
Jesus himself
informs our hermeneutic.
Okay?
And that's just
a fancy way to say
that Jesus is the one
that gives us
a template
for interpretation.
Jesus gives us
the answer key
as it were.
Jesus gives us
the cipher code.
Jesus helps us know
how we're supposed
to interpret
the words that he says.
He says this,
you will see this.
You're going to
experience this.
Look at the fig tree.
Everything that's
going to happen
is observable.
It's going to be verifiable.
It's going to affect
nations
on a global scale.
It's going to impact
the earth itself.
It's going to impact
the heavens as well.
So it can't be
replicated
and it can't be
manufactured.
You know this is
coming from God
himself.
And those things
that Jesus is
sharing with him
will happen
just the way
that Jesus
has said
that will happen.
That's the answer key
as it were.
That's the cipher code.
That's the template
for interpretation.
What I say
will happen.
It's predictable,
observable,
verifiable.
It will be global.
And arguably
within a generation
of these words
in 40 years
from when Jesus
spoke these words
the city of Jerusalem
would fall.
It would be decimated
in AD 70.
So armies
would surround
Jerusalem
as Jesus predicted
in verse 20
when you see
Jerusalem surrounded
by armies.
And 1 million people
would fall by the sword
as Jesus had said
in verse 24.
They will fall
by the edge
of the sword.
And 97,000
of people
were led captive
just like Jesus
said in verse 24.
They will be
led captive.
And Jerusalem
was trampled
underfoot
as we find
in verse 24.
And the temple
was destroyed
just like Jesus
had predicted
in verse 6.
All of this
seems to be
an apparent
fulfillment
of Jesus' prophecy.
It was observable.
It was unmistakable.
It was verifiable.
It was physical.
And it was preceded
by several
of the signs
that Jesus gives
within
these verses.
The template
for interpretation
was confirmed.
And Jesus
was validated
as a
true prophet.
But there's one
more interpretive
clue
that Jesus
leaves with
his disciples
that requires
more consideration.
He says
in verse 33.
Heaven
and earth
will pass away
but my words
will not
pass away.
Meaning
the event
of AD 70
was missing
one
climactic
one
ultimate
one supreme
final
peace.
And that was
the coming
of the son of man
in clouds
in great glory.
He was going
to bring redemption.
And so we realize
that while
the destruction
of Jerusalem
was significant
it lacked
one of the elements
that Christ predicted
which clarified
for us
throughout the prophets
and the book
of Revelation.
And there are things
in the book
of Revelation
that helps us
understand
that however
traumatic
and great
and severe
those things
were leading
up to AD 70
they were nothing
on the scale
of what we find
in the book
of Revelation.
For example
we find
that this
is not
going to be
a localized
conflict
not just
centered
in Jerusalem
but it is
going to be
an international
global
conflict
nations
warring
against nations
and we find
that the
earthquakes
however
great
they might
have been
leading up
to AD 70
are nothing
on the scale
of what we find
in Revelation
chapter 6
where every
mountain
and every
island
on the earth
is going
to be moved
and the
earthquake
we find
in Revelation
chapter 16
where every
island flees
away
it crumbles
into the sea
and every
mountain
collapses
into the
landscape
or the
terrors
that we find
in Revelation
chapter 8
verse 7
8
the terrors
that are
so severe
that one
third
of the
earth
is burned
and a
third
of the
trees
and all
of the
green
grass
or the
stars
falling
from the
sky
falling
onto
rivers
and falling
onto
oceans
that we
find
in Revelation
chapter 8
verses 8
to 11
where a
third
of the
fresh water
becomes
bitter
a third
of the
living
creatures
of the
sea
will die
and a
third
of the
ships
will be
destroyed
or the
sun
and moon
and stars
that are
struck
a third
of the
stars
so that
a third
of the
light
is darkened
in Revelation
chapter 8
verse 12
or the
scale
of the
death
that takes
place
that we
find in
Revelation
chapter 9
verses 13
to 19
so that
a third
of mankind
is killed
at the
sounding
of the
sixth
trumpet
and you
just
do the
math
if there
is 8
billion
people
in the
world
today
that
one
third
would be
about
2.6
billion
people
that would
almost
be
the
population
of
China
and
India
combined
that's
the
kind
of
scale
and
severity
of
the
signs
that
we
need
to
look
for
that
will
be
the
final
evidence
of
the
coming
of
the
Son
of
Man
it
needs
to be
fulfilled
in the
exact
same
way
as
what
Jesus
had
predicted
so
to
which
generation
was
Jesus
referring
I
wonder
if
it's
possible
that
instead
of it
being
an
either
or
it can
be a
both
and
meaning
that
Jesus
is speaking
to his
audience
those who
are
listening
to
Jesus
in that
moment
and
Jesus
is
speaking
these
words
as
prophets
always
did
to the
audience
that were
there
present
with
them
and
that
in
the
foreground
in
the
proximity
of
their
lifespan
they
would
actually
see
these
things
unfold
in
front
of
them
which
would
include
the
destruction
of
Jerusalem
and
the
destruction
of
the
temple
but
it
was
only
a
preview
of
that
final
cataclysmic
event
when
the
son
of
man
would
actually
follow
up
in
the
clouds
with
power
in
great
glory
so
we'll
find
in
verse
31
when
you
see
these
things
taking
place
you
know
that
the
kingdom
of
God
is
near
and
because
it's
near
we
be
ready
so
how
do
I
ready
myself
well
that's
a good
question
I'm
glad
you
asked
that's
where
Jesus
turns
in
verses
34
and
35
he
now
provides
some
instruction
on
how
these
disciples
with
all
of
this
information
are
to
respond
how
are
they
ready
themselves
well
verse
34
says
this
watch
yourselves
lest
your
hearts
be
weighed
down
with
dissipation
and
drunkenness
and
the
cares
of
this
life
and
that
day
comes
upon
you
suddenly
like
a
trap
for
it
will
come
upon
all
who
dwell
on
the
face
of
the
whole
earth
watch
yourselves
that's
the
command
watch
yourselves
specifically
Jesus is
referring to
the kind
of watching
that is
internal
if
looking
is
external
you're
looking
at the
signs
you're
looking
at the
fig
tree
you're
looking
at the
things
that are
happening
around
you
and
you're
being
able
to
gauge
the
nearness
of
the
kingdom
as a
result
of
that
now
there
is
an
introspective
look
a
watching
of
yourselves
in
preparation
of
your
heart
for
that
future
day
specifically
that your
hearts
be not
weighed
down
this
word
to
weigh
down
is
to
be
burdened
to
be
troubled
to
be
overcome!
It's
the
same
word
that
Paul
will
use
of
the
afflictions
that
he's
experiencing
in 2nd
Corinthians
hearts
that are
weighed
down
often
also
in the
scripture
refers to
insensitivity
or this
careless
attitude
a heart
that is
burdened
and
kind of
overcome
it's
desensitized
you know
Jesus is
referring to
some hard
times that
are coming
times of
persecution
being delivered
over to
court and
prison and
kings of
being betrayed
by
friends and
family
those that
are
closest
to
them
of
being
killed
for
the
sake
of
Christ
of
being
hated
by
all
so
he
says
in
verse
19
that
endurance
is
required
he's
already
covered
this
subject
your
endurance
will
gain
your
lives
he says
and
now
coming
back
to
it
this
watching
of
yourself
so
that
your
heart
is
not
weighed
!
down
this
is
what
endurance
looks
like
!
this
awareness
this
alertness
this
readiness
that
will
help
you
to
endure
the
significant
difficulties
that are
coming
your way
Jesus
then
refers
to
three
different
ways
in which
a heart
can be
weighed
down
first
by
dissipation
and then
drunkenness
in the
cares of
this
life
dissipation
is that
unrestrained
behavior
when
drunk
it's
kind
of
the
after
effect
of
drunkenness
whether
it's
a
hangover
or
headache
or
throwing
up
whatever
it is
it's
the
consequence
of
that
reckless
abandon
and then
drunkenness
are those
who
participate
in
excess
of
drinking
it's
often
connected
in the
scripture
with
a
lack
of
moral
restraint
that
drunkenness
kind
of
gives
way
to
all
manner
of
carnal
things
and
appetites
in one's
life
and
then
the
worries
of
this
life
refer
to
the
issues
or
struggles
or
temptations
or
cares
that
bombard
individuals
this
side
of
glory
what
Jesus
is
referring
to
or
what
Jesus
is
trying
to
address
is
this
question
of
what
do
you
do
when
hard
things
happen
what
is
the
general
way
that
you
respond
when
life
is
difficult
now
I'm
turning
that
question
on
you
because
Jesus
turned
that
question
on
his
disciples
and
I
think
there's
one of
several ways
that we
can
respond
but
one of
them
is to
want to
retreat
is to
want an
escape
is to
try to
deaden
your
senses
as it
were
it's
to
cover up
the pain
it's
to find
ways
to
come
out
of
and
pull
out
of
reality
in some
way
whatever
that means
for you
whether
it's
watching
movies
or
playing
games
or
engaging
yourself
in
that
hobby
or
working
extra
hard
so you
can
kind
of
forget
the
pain
whatever
you
need
to do
to help
deaden
your
senses
and
overcome
the
difficulties
the
other
way
that we
often
deal
with
this
kind
of
pain
is
we
run
headlong
into
sin
the
cares
of
this
life
and
so
our
thought
process
is
maybe
along
the
lines
of
this
well
it's
not
worth
it
anymore
I
deserve
to
have
some
fun
and
whatever
that
fun
is
God
will
just
forgive
me
and
so
I'll
just
run
headlong
into
sin
I'll
do
what
I
need
to
do
to
undo
this
suffering
and
pain
that
I'm
feeling
and
so
they
chase
this
temporary
pleasure
and
Jesus
is
warning
his
disciples
to
watch
themselves
because
God's
word
is
true
the
coming
of
the
son
of
man
is
imminent
it's
that
day
of
judgment
that
will
come
suddenly
that
Jesus
describes
here
that
day
will
come
suddenly
like
a
trap
in other
places
it's
described
as a
thief
in
the
night
it's
not
going
to
be
expected
it's
going
to
take
you
by
surprise
and
not
only
does
Jesus
care
about
this
but
the
apostle
Paul
kind
of
plugs
in
and
develops
this
a
little
bit
more
in
1st
Thessalonians
chapter 5
verses 2
and 3
he says
this
for you
yourselves
are fully
aware
that the
day of
the Lord
will come
like a
thief
in the
night
when
people
are
saying
there
is
peace
and
security
then
sudden
destruction
will
come
upon
them
as
labor
pains
come
upon
a
pregnant
woman
and
they
will
not
escape
where
are you
this
morning
is there
a readiness
in your
heart
are you
aware
of the
fact
that
the
son
of
man
is
coming
and
that
his
coming
could
be
any
second
in
the
first
way
that
we
prepare
our
heart
especially
if
we're
not
disciples
is
that
we
need
to
be
those
who
have
dealt
with
our
sin
we've
come
to
a
place
of
recognizing
that
we
stand
before
a
holy
God
and
that
all
have
sinned
and
come
short
of
the
glory
of
God
and
so
because
none
of
us
measure
up
to
his
perfection
and
I'm
pretty
confident
that
no one
in
this
room
would
raise
their
hand
and
say
well
I'm
perfect
because
no one
in
this
room
is
perfect
then
everyone
needs
a
perfect
sacrifice
you
need
Jesus
paid
the
consequence
for
your
sin
and
for
my
sin
having
lived
that
perfect
life
Jesus
went
to
the
cross
and
he
took
your
sin
and
my
sin
on
himself
and
he
died
the
death
that
we
deserved
it
says
for
the
wages
of
sin
is
death
that's
what
you
deserve
but
it
continues
the
gift
of
God
is
eternal
life
through
Jesus
Christ
our
Lord
so
how
do I
get
the
gift
how
do I
enjoy
the
benefits
of
that
forgiveness
that
is
given
to
me
because
of
Christ
sacrifice
well
if
you
confess
with
your
mouth
that
Jesus
is
Lord
and
believe
in
your
heart
that
God
raised
Jesus
from
the
grave
you'll
be
saved
have
you
done
that
because
if
you
haven't
done
that
then
this
trap
is
going
to
land
on
you
and
you're
not
going
to
be
!
to
escape
Jesus
is
warning
here
is
this
isn't
just
a
localized
trap
notice
in
verse
35
he
says
for
it
will
come
to
pass
oh
excuse
me
for
it
will
come
upon
all
who
dwell
on
the
face
of
the
whole
earth
so
do
you
dwell
on
the
face
of
the
earth
well
if
you
apply
then
you're
mentioned
and the
trap
is going
to land
on
you
unless
you
know
Jesus
Christ
and for
those
of us
who
know
Jesus
and have
enjoyed
the
forgiveness
of
sins
may
we
not
succumb
to
the
trap
as
well
may
we
watch
ourselves
and be
ready
verse
36
now
provides
some
more
kind
of
builds
this
out
for
us
what
else
are
we
to
do
what
is
this
being
awake
and
watching
ourselves
look
like
well
verse
26
says
but
stay
awake
at
all
times
praying
that
you
may
have
strength
to
escape
all
these
things
that
are
going
to
take
place
and
to
stand
before
the
son
of
man
the
command
here
stay
awake
and
pray
stay
awake
and
pray
be
alert
be
watchful
be
sober
as we
find
throughout
the
scriptures
don't
allow
yourself
to
settle
in
don't
allow
yourself
to
become
complacent
don't
allow
yourself
to
be
lethargic
to
be
asleep
to
deaden
your
senses
and
to
check
out
of
life
don't
allow
yourselves
to be
that
kind
of
person
but
rather
be a
person
of
urgency
be a
person
of
action
be a
person
of
purpose
and
mission
be a
person
who's
fulfilling
the
calling
that
God
has
given
to
you
as
a
believer
Peter
will
say
to
the
church
in
1st
Peter
chapter
5
verses
8
9
be
sober
minded
be
watchful
your
adversary
the devil
prowls
around
like a
roaring
lion
seeking
someone
to
devour
resist
him
firm
in
your
faith
knowing
that
the
same
kinds
of
suffering
are
being
experienced
by
your
brotherhood
throughout
the
world
don't
let
your
guard
down
be
aware
of
your
weaknesses
and
I'm
guessing
that
even
as I
say
weaknesses
and
maybe
pet
sins
or
tendencies
We like
to
massage
that
out
it's
not
so
bad
it's
just
a
tendency
whatever
those
sinful
tendencies
might
be
for
you
be
on
guard
be
watchful
arm
yourself
with
the
word
of
God
and
the
armor
that
God
has
given
to
every
believer
to
be
strong
in
the
Lord
and
the
strength
of
his
might
well
how
do
we
do
that
well
we
do
that
by
praying
but
we
also
do
that
by
being
in
the
word
of
God
by
allowing
the
breastplate
of
righteousness
knowing
what
God
says
and
doing
them
we
let
the
shield
of
faith
quench
the
fiery
darts
of
the
wicked
we
know
what
he
says
we
believe
them
and
we
want
to
destroy
us
we
have
that
belt
that
is
girded
we're
girding
our
loins
with
truth
the
truth
of
the
scripture
sincerity
is
really
what
that's
about
that
you
are
the
person
that
you
say
you
are
consistently
and
of
course
don't
succumb
to
temptation
to
fear
to
discouragement
to
complaint
to
bitterness
to
complacency
rather
be a
person
on
mission
fulfilling
the
objectives
that
God
has
called
you
to
fulfill
we're
connected
to
God
we
obviously
can't
do
this
alone
and
by
God's
grace
he
doesn't
expect
us
to
he
strengthens
us
he
gives
us
help
but
we
have
to
ask
I
love
how
Peter
puts
this
in
1 Peter
chapter 4
verse 7
he says
this
he says
the end
of all
things
is at
hand
therefore
be
self-controlled
and sober
minded
for the
sake
of your
prayers
did you
catch
that
be
sober
minded
yes
that's
important
be
self-controlled
yeah
that's
important
but
it's
important
to
serve
one
purpose
prayer
be
a
self-controlled
person
and
I
would
say
self-control
in
the way
of
setting
aside
the
very
best
time
for
God
maybe
even
starting
your
day
in
such
a
way
that
you
are
demonstrating
in
your
heart
in
your
life
that
there
is
such
dependency
and
such
a
need
for
God's
help
and support
in the
day
that
you're
carving
out
that
time
you're
setting
apart
free
of
distraction
and
making
sure
that
you
entrust
your
life
your
day
to
him
praying
with all
self-control
discipline
finally
we find
in verses
37 and
38
be
obedient
now
this
imperative
is not
in
the passage
okay
so
forgive me
for that
but
I
think
it's
here
just
it's
not
here
explicitly
it's
here
implicitly
notice
and
every
day
he
was
teaching
in
the
temple
but
at
night
he
went
out
and
lodged
on
the
mount
called
Olivet
and
early
in
the
morning
all
the
people
came
to
him
in
the
temple
to
hear
him
first
we
see
the
testimony
of
Jesus
Christ
here
he
is
the
perfect
example
of
obedience
obedient
to
the
father
he
he's
here
when
none
of
us
would
be
here
knowing
what's
coming
in
just
a
couple
of
days
but
Jesus
is
here
he's
rubbing
shoulders
with
the
very
people
who
are
going
to
put
him
on
the
cross
and
he's
doing
it
in
obedience
to
the
father
but
he's
doing
it
because
he
knows
the
power
of
that
word
and
what
it
can
produce
in
the
heart
that
life
changing
message
of
the
word
of
God
and
then
notice
what's
happening
here
in
verse
38
early
in
the
morning
all
the
people
came
to
him
in
the
temple
to
hear
him
this
is
the
ongoing
testimony
of
what
happens
during
this
week
hanging
on
his
every
word
they're
showing
up
early
in
the
morning
they're
staying
till
late
when
Jesus
finally
goes
home
and
guess
what
it
says
but
that's
where
it
ends
they're
hearing
but
they're
not
doing
nothing
has
changed
about
their
life
nothing
has
changed
about
their
response
to
Christ
nothing
has
changed
about
their
posture
they're
gonna
put
Jesus
on
the
cross
nothing
has
changed
about
that
life
giving
message
that
they're
hearing
and
they're
loving
they're
marveling
at
his
words
but
nothing
has
fundamentally
changed
about
them
because
they're
hearing
but
they're
not
doing
now
that
should
sound
familiar
James
chapter 1
gives us
this instruction
be doers
of the
word
and not
hearers
only
deceiving
yourselves
for
if
anyone
is a
hearer
of the
word
and not
a
doer
he
is
like
a
man
who
looks
intently
at
his
natural
face
in
a
mirror
for
he
looks
at
himself
and
he
goes
away
and
at
once
forgets
what
he
was
like
but
the
one
who
looks
into
the
perfect
law
the
law
of
liberty
and
perseveres
being
no
hearer
who
forgets
but
a
doer
who
acts
he
will
be
blessed
in
his
doing
are
you
a
doer
of
the
word
or
are
you
just
a
hearer
this
morning
because
Christ
has
issued
some
very
pointed
very
direct
and
quite
simple
to
understand
commands
the
question
for
us
is
will
we
be
those
who
hear
what
Christ
says
and
will
it
change
the
way
we
leave
this
place
will
it
change
the
way
we
respond
to
the
people
in
our
space
during
this
week
will
we
be
people
who
are
amplified
by
the
mission
that
God
has
set
us
on
are
we
going
to
be
people
who
are
drawn
by
the
urgency
of
the
coming
of
the
Son
of
Man
in
power
in
great
glory
what
kind
of
message
who
has
a
message
like
that
but
you
and
me
because
of
what
Christ
has
accomplished
for us
on the
cross
and so
if
you're
not
walking
out
today
with
this
amplified
urgency
and wonder
about
who
God
is
then
you're
just
a
hearer
of
the
message
!
may we
never be
those
people
who
know
what
Jesus
says
and even
believe it
intellectually
oh yes
he's
coming
oh yes
there's a
trap
that's going to
land on
those who
are involved
in sin
but nothing
actually
changes
about the
way you
live
there's no
more urgency
tomorrow
than there
was today
there's no
more interest
in sharing
the gospel
with others
and in
helping to
sanctify
your life
and helping
to rid
yourself
of those
sinful
tendencies
there's
nothing
really
that changes
about you
and so
you're
hearing
but you're
not doing
may that
not be
true of
us
may God
help us
to be
hearers
not just
hanging on
the words
of Christ
but doers
what is it
today
and it's
going to be
different for
every one
of you
what is it
today
that needs
to fundamentally
change
about your
life
so that
tomorrow
your life
is more
consistent
and more
in line
with the
testimony
of Jesus
Christ
with the
mission
that he
has set
you on
with the
goal of
seeking
first the
kingdom
of God
and his
righteousness
and then
trusting
that then
all these
things will
be added
to you
what is
different
about our
life
as it
relates
to
the
prayer
that
Jesus
modeled
let your
kingdom
come
and your
will be
done
on earth
as it
is in
heaven
what is
it
about
your
life
right
now
that is
out of
step
with
God's
will
and needs
to be
aligned
what is
it
just
the one
thing
pick
one
thing
this
week
one
way
for you
to be
a doer
of the
word
and not
just
a hearer
and may
God
use
his
instructions
his
word
to help
us
to grow
more
into the
image
of Christ
so the
world
can not
only
know
what the
gospel
is
but they
can see
it
played
out
in our
day
to day
oh
God
I
pray
help
us
not
just
to be
fascinated
with the
truth
of the
scripture
but Lord
I pray
that you
help us
to be
eager
to play
it out
day by
day
thank you
for this
instruction
from your
word
this morning
may you
be pleased
with the
way that
we respond
to it
in Jesus
name
amen
God
bless
you
have a
great
week