Welcome to Christ the King Church again.
My name is Billy Nye. I'm one of the pastors here.
It's my privilege to bring God's Word to you.
Children, you may be dismissed.
One of these days I'll get that.
Mike has the advantage of having a little bit more of the rhythm.
I like to learn the rhythm better.
If you'd open your Bibles with me to Matthew 24.
Matthew 24.
Anybody like war movies?
I like war movies.
Not shoot them up in blood and guts as much,
but one of my favorites is a movie called Master and Commander.
Anybody seen it?
It's a great, great movie.
It's a classic tale of the HMS Surprise,
a British man of war,
and its mission is during the Napoleonic Wars, 1812,
and its mission is to pursue an elusive French warship.
We got it, we got it.
Building suspense.
Its mission is to pursue an elusive French warship
around the Southern Hemisphere,
and it's a wonderful tale.
And one of the most memorable of the weather-beaten
and war-hardened crew of this fine vessel
is Abel Seaman Joe Place.
And probably one of the most memorable things
about Abel Seaman Joe Place
is what's tattooed on his fingers.
Right across his leathery phalanges
are the letters H-O-L-D-F-A-S-T.
Hold fast.
It's a command.
It's an appropriate command for a seaman.
Hold that rope fast, sailor,
or your sail is compromised.
Hold fast at your station,
or you betray your comrades.
Hold fast until you reach your desired haven.
Brothers and sisters,
in the passage we're going to look at this morning
in Matthew 24,
our Lord Jesus,
our Master and Commander,
is telling us, His people,
to hold fast.
Hold fast.
Endure.
Be faithful.
Until He comes.
In fact, the next several Sundays
before the Advent season,
as a church,
in this month to come,
we're going to be seeing
what Matthew 24 and 25
tell us about that day.
On that day.
That's where our eyes should be fixed.
And this is Jesus telling His people
how to live until that day.
So we're kicking off
this little mini-series today.
Today.
These two chapters
are often referred to
as the Olivet Discourse,
named after the place
where Jesus gave this teaching,
which is the Mount of Olives,
a little hill
just to the east
of the city of Jerusalem.
It is the fifth
and final
large block
of teaching
in the book of Matthew,
and that's not on accident.
Matthew designed
his gospel
to be a
miniature
of the five books
of the Torah
representing Jesus
as the new Moses.
And this is his fifth
and final address
to his disciples
before his crucifixion.
There's a lot going on
in these chapters,
but the emphasis
is unmistakable.
Hold fast.
Live faithfully
until the end,
until He comes.
Live faithfully
in the last days.
days.
Now maybe you might
hear that phrase,
the last days,
and you might get
a little bit of a
queasy feeling
in your tummy.
I remember being
about eight years old,
and a prophecy specialist
came to my church
and gave some pretty fiery
and scary sermons
about how all these
recent headlines
were fulfilling prophecies
that were pointing
to the fact that
the rapture was happening
very soon.
I was nervous.
I don't know,
like, living in the last days,
that's kind of freaky.
But if that's you,
Jesus doesn't want you
to be nervous.
Maybe you hear that phrase,
the last days,
and you get excited.
You love studying eschatology.
Eschatology is a fancy word
for the study of the end times
or the last days.
This topic is fascinating.
The Bible has a lot
to say about it,
but it can also be
a lightning rod
for Christian disagreement
and division.
Opinions can be held
very strongly
on the specifics
of what this interpretation
of this passage might mean.
But Jesus,
just as he doesn't want us
to be nervous,
he doesn't want us
to be divided either.
He wants us
to eagerly anticipate
his return
and be faithful
in the meantime.
And that's what
we're going to hear today.
This passage is in the Bible
to tell us
that Jesus wants us
to hold fast.
Jesus is our risen
and returning king
and he is expecting us,
his people,
to hold fast
through the prolonged
and painful
last days
until he comes.
He is calling us,
his church,
to live faithfully for him
in a prolonged season
of waiting for him
to return.
And the Bible calls
that period
the last days.
So let's walk
through this passage together.
Let's unpack
what Jesus was saying
then to his disciples
and what he is saying
now to us today.
And as we go,
I want us to be thinking
in terms of
four don't be's
and one be.
Four don't be's
and one be.
Jesus is going to give us
four calls.
Don't be
and be.
So here we go.
The first don't be
is found in the first two verses.
Sorry, first three verses.
Let me read them
aloud.
This is God's word.
Jesus left the temple
and was going away
when his disciples
came to point out to him
the buildings of the temple.
But he said to them,
you see all these,
do you not?
Truly I say to you,
there will not be left here
one stone upon another
that will not be
thrown down.
And 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 the end
of the age?
Jesus is giving us
the first don't be.
It's this.
Don't be distracted.
distracted.
Don't be distracted.
The first thing you notice
in these verses
is that Jesus
left the temple.
This is significant.
If we look back
to the last few verses
of chapter 23,
we're going to see
Jesus promising
judgment on Jerusalem
because they rejected
him as Messiah.
But he's pronouncing
judgment through tears.
He's weeping
in the last few verses
of chapter 23.
He's weeping
for the rejection
of his people,
of him.
And as he begins
to walk away,
his symbolic leaving
of the temple
is pointing
to his rejection
of what the temple
stood for.
An empty shell
of religion
that is preoccupied
with itself
and not
with what God
has sent them
as the true
and living presence
of God among them.
No longer in a place,
no longer in a building,
but in a person.
The new temple
of God
is walking away
from the old temple
of God.
Jesus is now
the full presence
of God
with his people,
which the old temple
used to symbolize.
But now,
he is with his people.
He is God
with us.
And now,
he is walking away
from that empty shell
that, as one author
put it,
has no future
except destruction.
So as Jesus
turns his back
on the temple,
his disciples
keep looking at it.
They draw his attention
to its significance,
to its magnificence.
And no wonder,
it was the pride
and joy
of every Jew
of the day.
It was a massive structure.
Where it wasn't
overlaid with gold,
it was coated
with white marble.
You couldn't look
at this building.
It was glorious,
especially when
the sun hit it.
Notice what Jesus
says in verse 2.
Basically,
he's saying,
you see these buildings?
Yes,
they're beautiful,
but don't let
this impressive
flashiness
distract you.
The current age
is fundamentally
opposed to me
and to my kingdom.
Now you see it,
but soon and very soon
you won't.
Adjust your vision
to God's
eternal perspective.
Physically,
this edifice
is beautiful,
but it is destined
for judgment
and destruction.
All these magnificent
stones will be
toppled.
Not one will be
left on top
of another.
And by the way,
Jesus was spot on here.
About 40 years later,
the Jews rebelled
against Rome
and the Emperor
Titus personally
came over
with a massive army
and leveled the city,
including the temple,
in 70 AD.
A day of reckoning
was drawing near.
It's on the horizon.
And Jesus is asking
his disciples,
do you see it?
And it was.
It was on the horizon
for the Jews
40 years later,
as it is also
for us.
As we'll see more clearly
in the next few weeks,
the destruction of Jerusalem
in AD 70
serves as a forerunner,
a taste,
a sample
of the ultimate
eternal judgment
that is to come
upon the whole world.
In verse 3,
his disciples
come to him
and ask him
a question.
And they ask it
from their particular
perspective.
We have to keep that
in mind as we look
at this.
They come to him
and they ask him,
when will these things,
that is the destruction
of Jerusalem,
be?
And then,
what will be the sign
of your coming
and the end of the age?
Three things,
the destruction
of Jerusalem,
Jesus' coming,
and the end of the age.
The disciples see those
as a whole end times package.
They're looking
at the horizon
Jesus has pointed them to,
telling them not to be
distracted with the current age.
And they're like,
okay,
when is that going
to happen?
They see those things
tied together.
They can't separate out
the destruction
of Jerusalem
from the end of the world
from Jesus'
triumphant return.
If you've ever driven west
to the Rocky Mountains,
as you're driving,
you start to see mountains.
They're on the horizon.
But it's hard to distinguish
the nearer foothills
from the further out
mountain snow-capped peaks.
But as you get closer,
you begin to draw near
and you see distance
between the smaller
and nearer foothills.
There are mountains,
but they're foothills
compared to the massive
peaks beyond.
For the disciples,
as Jesus is pointing them
along the same line of sight
on the horizon,
it's hard for them
to distinguish
the near event,
the destruction of Jerusalem,
judgment,
from the far event,
the end of the age.
They perceive them
as the same event.
But as Jesus is going
to make pretty clear
in the rest of the package,
he's going to start
to separate those two out.
They're a lot alike
and they're along
the same line of sight.
They're both judgment,
but one is temporary
and close
and the other is eternal
and further away.
But both are judgment.
And Jesus wants
his disciples
now
to take this coming day
of reckoning
very seriously.
For at that time,
it was the destruction
of Jerusalem
that was on its way
very quickly.
For us,
it is the end of the age
that is on its way
just as quickly.
For the original readers
of Matthew,
the historical events
of the destruction
of Jerusalem
were very close
within a decade or so
and they desperately
needed to listen
to what Jesus had to say
so that they could avoid
the coming judgment.
And for us,
the events of the coming
eternal judgment
that is on the horizon
is also close.
Jesus wants our attention
on that day.
He doesn't want us
to be distracted.
The reformer,
Martin Luther,
is often credited
with saying,
there are only two days
on my calendar.
Today
and that day.
Jesus wants
to put his hands
on our shoulders
and turn us
to face the light
of that day.
So let's allow
Jesus' words
to kind of shock
our system
into the right frame
of mind
and live in light
of eternity.
Don't be distracted
with the here and now.
Focus on that day.
He is coming.
Soon.
The second don't be
is found
in the beginning
of Jesus' response
in verses 4 and 5.
Let's look at them together.
Jesus answers
their question.
He says,
See that no one
leads you astray.
For many will come
in my name
saying,
I am the Christ
and they will lead
many astray.
You can probably guess
what the first,
the second,
first,
sorry,
second,
don't be is,
don't be led astray.
Don't be led astray.
Don't you just love it
when you ask somebody
a question
and they totally
don't give you
the answer
they're looking for?
That's what Jesus
just did for his disciples.
They are looking
for a very specific answer.
When and what sign?
When is this happening
and how are we going
to know when it's
about to happen?
But Jesus does not
answer that question.
He says,
Don't be led astray.
Don't let anyone
deceive you.
Now Jesus is not
trying to annoy them
by giving them
the answer
they're not looking for.
He's trying to set
their priorities straight.
They don't need
to be concerned
about timing.
That is the father's business.
They need to be focused
on how to live
while he's away.
And Jesus'
utmost concern
is for their
unswerving devotion
to him
and him
only.
There are many
imposters
and deceivers
that are coming,
he says.
They're going to claim
an intimate connection
with me.
They're going to claim
that I am him
or that they are
associated with me
closely.
They'll say,
I am the Christ.
If you jump down
to verse 11,
Jesus circles back
to this theme
and says,
Many false prophets
will rise
and lead many
astray.
So we've got
Christ imposters,
people coming
in Christ's name
and we also have
false teachers,
false prophets.
And notice the
repetition of the
word many.
Many will come
and lead many
astray.
This is not
a minor caution.
This is not
fine print
in his instruction
to his disciples.
He's saying,
Watch out.
Watch out
for these guys.
You need to be
on your guard.
Hordes of people
are going to be
deceived
and led astray
into eternal
destruction
because of
the influence
of these guys.
If you take
National Geographic,
you would have read
back in the month
of August
that there are,
they ran an article
on five men
who are alive
today who claim
to be Jesus.
Sounds silly.
It's real.
They have followers
too,
from a few dozen
to five thousand.
These guys can be
found in Japan,
Siberia,
Brazil,
Zambia,
and South Africa.
And this isn't new.
People have been
posing as Jesus
for centuries.
And Jesus is saying,
Don't be led astray.
Don't follow
a charismatic personality
because he or she
is convincing
and making good promises.
You follow me.
And even if there
aren't folks
that are coming
right out
and saying
that they are
the Christ,
there are some
slick teachers
and preachers
whose poisonous message
goes down
sweet and smooth
and they are
leading many,
millions,
astray.
These teachers
promise relief
from suffering.
They promise
power from on high
to make quick fixes.
They are quick
to capitalize
on people's
basic fears
and needs
and desires
to gain following
and to pad
their pockets.
And they are
much like the hypocrites
that Jesus denounced
last week
in Matthew 23
for slamming
the door
of the kingdom
in people's faces.
they love
to point
to themselves
not to God.
So,
brothers and sisters,
be careful
what you listen to.
Compare what you
hear to the word
of God.
Test the spirits
as 1 John 4 says.
If the message
you're listening to
is more therapeutic
than it is
convicting of sin,
watch out.
If it seems
like sugar water
goes down sweet
but it doesn't
feel like meat,
watch out.
Don't be deceived.
If it's more
about you
triumphing
over your
present circumstances
more than
you delighting
in God
when your
present circumstances
are hard,
watch out.
Test the spirits.
Be a discerning
Christian.
Drink down
the word of God.
Open up your Bible
and read it.
Consume it
so that the truth
of God gets lodged
at the core
of who you are
and you are not
deceived.
Don't be led astray.
He is coming soon.
His third
don't be
is found
in verses 6
through 8.
Let's read them
together.
And you will hear
of wars
and rumors
of wars.
See that you
are not alarmed
for this must
take place
but the end
is not yet.
Nation will
rise against
nation
and kingdom
against kingdom
and there will
be famines
and earthquakes
in various places.
All these
are but the
beginning
of the birth
pains.
Jesus' third
don't be
is
don't be
alarmed.
Don't be
alarmed.
I have to confess
I'm a bit of a
news junkie.
This is a weakness
of mine.
I like to check
the news.
If you look
at the news
at all
it's hard
not to be
alarmed
at stuff
that you
hear.
North Korea,
Las Vegas,
ISIS,
Russia,
earthquakes in
Mexico,
hurricanes down
south,
etc.
But what
Jesus tells us
here is an
antidote
to the
end times
frenzy that
Christians can
get in
if we start
to see
political turmoil
or natural
disasters or
other troubling
things in the
headlines and
wonder if
it's now the
time.
He tells us
very clearly
in verse 6
see to it
that you
are not
alarmed.
Don't be
moved.
Don't be
disturbed.
Why not?
When the rest
of society is
distressed by
nuclear weapons
that are in
North Korea,
political issues
at home and
abroad,
earthquakes,
hurricanes,
why shouldn't
Christians be
freaking out
about these
things,
wondering if
the end is
near?
Look at
verse 6.
This is such
a comforting
verse.
This must
take place,
but the end
is not yet.
Man, this
fantastic sentence
tells us a lot.
First, it tells
us God is in
control.
These things
are necessary.
They must take
place because
they are a part
of God's
sovereign plan.
No tectonic
plates shift
apart from
his sovereign
hand.
The wind and
the waves are
under his
sovereign sway.
Trump,
Putin,
Kim Jong-un,
Theresa May,
and every other
influential political
ruler on the
planet can't get
out of bed in
the morning aside
from God's
sovereign command.
The living God
is taking history
to his
desired end.
in his way
and his
timing.
God is in
control.
These things
must take
place.
But not only
does it tell us
that these things
are under God's
sovereign control,
it also tells us
that these
political and
natural disturbances
are evidence
elements of the
spiritual conflict
that is raging
between the
kingdom of God
and the domain
of darkness
at this very
moment.
When Jesus
died and
rose and
ascended on
high to
reign at God's
right hand,
his undefeatable
kingdom was
inaugurated.
need.
But though he
will be
triumphant,
his enemies
are not yet
under his
feet.
Hence,
there is
political and
natural turmoil.
The kingdom
is now,
brothers and
sisters.
It is here,
but it is also
not fully here.
The good news
of the kingdom
is still advancing
through the
proclamation of
the good news
of a crucified
and risen
king.
And when the
end finally
comes,
when the
triumphant
king returns,
the enemy
and all of
his friends
will be put
under his
feet.
We, as his
people, we
know this.
We know that
we are locked
in an epic
conflict in
which the war
is won,
but the battle
is still raging.
When the
allies invaded
Europe on D-Day
on June 6,
1944, the
war was over.
Hitler knew
that he was
done for,
or at least
his generals
did.
It was only
a matter of
time.
But the end
of the war
was still
11 bloody
months away.
Millions more
would die
because Hitler
was a madman
and he would
sell every
German life
for his
insane cause
and he fought
fiercely.
Our enemy
is fighting
a desperate
war that
he has
already
lost.
And yet the
conflict will
only get
fiercer as
the end
draws nearer.
Because in
the words of
a great hymn,
he knows his
end is
sure.
And then,
one day,
our captain
will come.
in the
meantime,
we don't
need to
be alarmed.
We stay
engaged in
the conflict,
faithful,
unmoved,
discerning,
unflinching.
We know that
these are just
the beginning
of the labor
pains.
They start
slow,
they get more
and more
painful,
more and more
intense,
and we're not
sure when the
end's going
to come.
So we know
these are just
the beginning
of the labor
pains.
So like
the weather
GIs,
we press
forward.
We are
unalarmed.
God is in
control.
Our enemy's
end is
sure.
Our king
has conquered
and he's
coming soon.
The last
don't be is
found in
verses 9
through 12.
Verses 9
through 12,
and I'll
warn you,
these are
probably the
most depressing.
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.
And then
many will
fall away
and betray
one another
and hate
one another.
And many
false prophets
will arise
and lead
many astray.
And because
lawlessness
will be
increased,
the love
of many
will grow
cold.
The last
don't be
is don't
be surprised.
Don't be
surprised.
Jesus
doesn't want
his disciples
to be
surprised
by two
things.
Opposition
from without
and treachery
from within.
His disciples
will face
opposition
from without
and treachery
from within.
And he
does not
want us
to be
surprised.
Look at
verse 9.
They,
quote unquote,
notice it's
rather a vague
they are
going to
deliver you
up the
tribulation
and put
you to
death.
You will
be hated
by all
nations.
Man,
that's some
stiff opposition.
Why all
this persecution
and hate
from all
nations?
for my
namesake.
If they
hated
Jesus,
which they
did,
they will
hate his
people.
If they
mocked
Jesus,
which they
did,
they will
mock his
people.
If they
killed
Jesus,
which they
did,
they will
kill his
people.
Jesus
tells us
no less.
Don't be
surprised.
Listen to
Peter,
in 1 Peter,
right about
this,
years after
he heard
Jesus speak
these words,
and not too
long before
he himself
met his
bloody end.
Beloved,
do not be
surprised at
the fiery
trial when
it comes
upon you
to test
you,
as if
something
strange
were happening
to you,
but rejoice
insofar as
you share
Christ's
sufferings,
that you
may also
rejoice and
be glad
when his
glory is
revealed.
He's
saying,
if you
face
opposition
for
being,
belonging
to Jesus
now,
you will
receive
glory
because
you
will
belong
to
Jesus
then.
Let
your
hardship
now
cause
you
to
endure
for
the
hope
of
the
glory
that
you
will
experience
then.
We're
in a
little
privileged
bubble
of
security
right
now.
Our
time
here
in
America
for
the
past
couple
hundred
years
has
been
nice.
But our
brothers and
sisters
in Nigeria,
Turkey,
North Korea,
South Sudan,
Iran,
Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan,
and so many
other places
suffer in a
variety of
ways for
his name's
sake.
Jesus does
not want us
to be
surprised.
We'll face
opposition and
it will be
fierce.
so let's
pray for
our
brothers and
sisters
around the
world
who face
that.
I'm sure
there are
many
brothers and
sisters in
Nepal that
are facing
things
similar.
And let's
pray that
God would
cause us
to persevere
no matter
what comes.
But to be
honest,
that's not the
hardest part
about this
passage,
is it?
It's not
the opposition
from the
outside,
it's treachery
from within.
Jesus is
telling us
in verse
10 that
many will
fall away,
betray one
another,
and hate
one another.
There will
be treachery
among the
family.
And Jesus
doesn't want
us to be
surprised.
And notice
what the
triggers are
for this
treachery.
In verse
10, it's
a response
to the
heat of
opposition.
Persecution
is a good
way to
sift out
believers
who aren't
genuine.
When you
catch flack
for being
a Christian,
all of a
sudden your
commitment is
tested.
Fear is a
powerful
motivator.
It's easy
to criticize,
but if
we were
about to
lose our
job,
or our
social standing,
or our
family,
or our
possessions,
or home,
or our
life,
because of
our association
with Jesus,
what would
we do?
It helps
us test
our resolve
to follow
him.
So it's
the heat
of opposition
causes
betrayal,
but also
verse 11,
false teaching
does too.
There's our
false teaching
again.
Many will
betray the
faith because
they are led
astray,
rejecting Jesus
as Lord,
and the
community of
believers as
family.
Don't be led
astray,
and don't be
surprised when
many are.
Look at
verse 12.
Here's another
trigger.
This might have
more to do with
our current
situation right
now than
anything else.
Another
treachery
trigger is
the moral
decay of
society.
The increase
of lawlessness
will cause
the love of
many to
grow cold.
Brothers and
sisters, we
don't follow
Jesus in a
vacuum.
We are
surrounded by
our culture,
and our
culture values
more than
anything else
right now in
the 21st
century in
the United
States, the
autonomy of
the individual
self.
Having cut
ourselves loose
from God's
glory and
his good
law, we
must worship
something else,
and self is a
wonderful substitute,
or so it
seems.
So isn't it
wonderful to be
able to do
what's right
in my own
eyes without
anyone saying
otherwise?
And the
pressures of
living in a
society that
worships self
can force us
who follow
Jesus to
make a choice.
Will my
love for the
crucified,
risen, and
returning king
burn fervently
in the midst of
such pressure of
loving self?
Or will it
sputter,
fizzle,
grow cold
because it
has found
self to be
an acceptable
substitute for
the living
God?
Brothers and
sisters, this
is a crucial
question that
we must ask
ourselves,
especially in
2017.
Is a love
for this world
causing my
love for my
returning king
and my love
for my brothers
and sisters in
Christ to
grow cold?
Jesus doesn't
want us to be
surprised.
He doesn't
want us among
the many who
will fall
away, be
led astray,
or whose love
will grow cold.
He is coming
soon.
And that leads
us to our
final command
from Jesus,
which is his
one and only
be.
We've heard
four don't
be's.
Here is his
be.
Be faithful.
Look at
verses 13 and
14.
But the one
who endures to
the end will
be saved.
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.
The first thing
that should pop
for us as we
look at these
verses is the
shift from plural
to singular.
Did you check
that out?
All through this
passage there have
been so many
plurals.
Many will come.
Many will be
led astray.
Many will fall
away.
Many false
prophets.
The love of
many will grow
cold.
But the one,
but the one
who endures to
the end will be
saved.
He's not saying
there's only going
to be one who
endures.
He's saying you,
individual, personal
disciple of mine,
endure.
Hold fast.
He wants to grab
each disciple's face
in his hands and
say, hold fast.
Endure.
Endure through
deception.
Endure through
temptation.
Endure through
persecution.
Endure through the
treachery.
Endure through the
lawlessness.
Endure, and you
will be saved.
Be faithful.
When he says,
will be saved,
by the way, he's
not saying that
endurance earns
salvation.
Salvation from
sin, being made
righteous by God's
grace in Jesus,
is faith.
Faith is the way
in which we are
saved by latching
on to God's grace
through faith.
We know that.
That's one of the
things that we
celebrate.
However, those who
are truly saved,
will endure.
in the words of
one writer, true
Christians stick.
They endure.
They persevere.
One of the signs of
you truly being a
disciple of Jesus,
being truly saved,
is that you're
enduring.
And one sense that
to be very
encouraging for us.
And they will be
saved from the
judgment that is
coming.
And when the
end comes, when
Christ returns, the
work of salvation
will be full circle.
As Peter says,
set your hope
fully on the
grace that will be
brought to you at
the revelation of
Jesus Christ.
Did you catch
that?
There will be
grace brought to
you when he
returns.
On that day, we
will see him face
to face, and the
last grace will be
given.
Resurrection life,
fullness of joy in
his presence.
That's what we're
enduring for.
That's what we're
aiming at.
Seeing him, standing
in his presence, in
his unshielded glory
without fear or shame
and delighting in
his goodness
forever.
That's what we
want to endure to
the end for.
It's not a stiff
upper lip kind of
endurance.
It's a I can't
wait for that
endurance.
So be faithful.
Remain true and
devoted to your
Lord Jesus no
matter what it
costs you.
Set your hope
fully on the joy
of beholding him
on that day.
But not only does
our Lord call us to
be faithful and
endure, he also
calls us to be
faithful to the
mission.
He's given us as
a church.
Look at verse 14.
He's calling us to
advance under fire.
The gospel of the
kingdom will be
proclaimed throughout
the whole world as a
testimony to all
nations and then the
end will come.
The good news of
Jesus who vanquished
our enemies of sin,
death, and Satan is
going forth and will
continue to go forth
throughout the whole
world just as it did in
the first century and
has for the last
20.
When his disciples
heard that phrase,
the whole world,
they probably thought
the inhabited Roman
world, which were the
limits of the known
civilization.
And when they were
empowered by the Holy
Spirit at the day of
Pentecost, they went.
They advanced under
fire.
Some of them made it to
India.
Thomas was martyred in
India according to
tradition.
That's beyond the scope
of the Roman Empire.
According to tradition,
Simon the Zealot made
it to the coast of
West Africa and Britain
before they crucified
him.
Throughout the pages of
church history, you will
read story after story of
the church advancing the
gospel of the kingdom
under fire.
1,400 years ago after,
sorry, 1,400 years after
these guys lived, another
man of God was used to
dust off the true gospel
of grace after false
teaching had corrupted it
for a prolonged season.
500 years ago this
Tuesday, a man nailed
95 theses to the door
of the Wittenberg
Church in Germany and
ignited the Protestant
Reformation, which was a
tidal wave of truth that
we're still writing today.
The gospel of the kingdom
continues to be preached,
continues to advance under
fire.
And that's what Jesus is
calling us to do today.
One day the witness to the
nations will be complete,
and then the end will
come.
That may be this
generation, it may be many
generations off.
But whether the end comes
soon or far away, he is
calling us to be faithful to
the end, to endure, and to
advance under fire.
We're not to be distracted
with this current age, not
led astray, not alarmed when
the world goes topsy-turvy, not
surprised when we face
opposition or treachery, but
faithful to the end.
Before we respond to God's
word in prayer and song, I
want us to consider three
questions.
This will help us to adjust
our lives in light of this
word.
First is this, am I living my
life in the light of that day?
Am I living my life in the
light of that day?
If you're a believer, then in
one sense, yes, you are,
because you've placed your
ultimate hope and trust in
Jesus.
But we also get distracted.
We get overwhelmed, we get
fearful, and our life can be
functionally ruled by earthly
and temporary concerns of
today, not that day.
When you might be stuck in the
mire of sin, you need to do
what Hebrews 12 calls you to
do, which is to cast off the
sin that easily entangles and
run the race ahead of you, set
before you with perseverance,
fixing your eyes on Jesus.
If you have not put your full
trust in this living God for
the forgiveness of your sins,
then consider this day in light
of that day.
Respond to the living words of
Jesus.
I'd love to pray with you
afterwards, talk to somebody
next to you, ask them how you
can respond to that today.
The second question is this.
Am I discouraged, fearful,
confused, or surprised by the
difficulty of living in these
last days?
Am I confused, fearful,
discouraged, surprised in the
difficulty of these last days?
That's easy for us to be in that
place.
Let's let Jesus' realism give us a
wartime mentality of how we need
to live in these last days.
Our King is calling us to advance
when the bullets are flying.
We should not be surprised,
alarmed, fearful, confused, or
discouraged.
Doesn't mean it won't be hard.
Doesn't mean there won't be tears
and disappointments.
Doesn't mean it will not be
painful, but Jesus wants to call
his words to mind to give us
hope.
The one who endures to the end
will be saved.
Lastly, do I feel the urgency of
this mission?
Do I feel the urgency of the
mission?
Jesus is calling us as a church to
advance under fire.
So what is our response to his
command?
Do we feel the urgency of the
moment that he is coming soon?
That many are without the witness
of the gospel?
Are we giving considerably of our
time, of our energy, of our prayer
to the mission of the witness of the
good news to all people?
He isn't laying a guilt trip on us.
He's giving us our marching orders.
So let's respond with faith and
boldness to the urgency of the call.
He is coming soon.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Let's pray.
Father, help us to respond to this
truth with right wartime mentality,
that you are coming soon, that we
should not be alarmed.
Lord, help us, Father, not to be
surprised.
Help us to be faithful.
God, give endurance where endurance
is needed.
Give courage where courage is needed.
Give faith where faith is needed.
Attend to your people now.
In Christ's name, amen.
Sharpe
God, tell him
aötitude
of the truth.
Am king of
kingdom,
Lord,
Jesus,
when he comes to
the truth along with
is this
the truth
is this
the truth
that you
hope
is
the fact