1 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:12,900 If you have your Bibles this morning, please meet me in the 2 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,100 second letter to Timothy in chapter 3. 3 00:00:29,300 --> 00:00:35,500 Beginning in verse 1. Second Timothy chapter 3 4 00:00:35,500 --> 00:00:43,300 beginning in verse 1. We read here. 5 00:00:44,900 --> 00:00:49,400 But understand this, that in the last days, there will come times 6 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,000 of difficulty for people. Will be lovers of self. 7 00:00:53,700 --> 00:01:00,200 Lovers of money proud, arrogant, abusive disobedient to their 8 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:05,700 parents ungrateful, Unholy heartless, unappeasable 9 00:01:05,900 --> 00:01:10,000 slanderous without self-control brutal. 10 00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:12,800 Not loving good. Treacherous. 11 00:01:13,100 --> 00:01:18,600 Reckless Swollen with conceit lovers of pleasure rather than 12 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,500 lovers of God having the appearance of godliness. 13 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:30,200 But denying its power avoid such people, let's pray, Lord, we 14 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:31,700 thank you for this afternoon again. 15 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,000 And now Lord, as we open your word, your word, which stands 16 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,300 forever your word, though, the grass May wither. 17 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,200 And though, the flower May Fail, your word will endure. 18 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:47,000 Forever. And we come to receive what you 19 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,400 have to say. And we ask for the spirit of 20 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,200 wisdom and Revelation to assist the ministry of the word. 21 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,000 This afternoon, Lord, we ask that our hearts would be open 22 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,300 that our minds like the disciples would have the 23 00:01:59,300 --> 00:02:02,400 understanding to comprehend the mind of Christ. 24 00:02:02,700 --> 00:02:06,200 And so, Lord, in this moment, we pray, Let Your Presence be known 25 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,800 that your word be received and let it melt into our character 26 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,400 for your glory. In Jesus name, we pray. 27 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,900 Amen. I trust this afternoon that you 28 00:02:17,900 --> 00:02:22,000 are fully convinced about the character of God, and every way 29 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:25,300 that the scripture describes him and especially in his deep 30 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:30,000 compassion, The Compassion of God, who Longs for those who 31 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,200 have been separated from him because of sin to be reconciled 32 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:40,200 back to him, And so great, is this compassion that stirs in 33 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,200 the heart of God that it is not limited to those who are merely 34 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:48,200 in sin, it is even extended to those who deliberately teach 35 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,500 falsehood. That may sound shocking to us 36 00:02:52,500 --> 00:02:55,300 who believe that those who are deceivers, are not worthy of 37 00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:59,300 Grace, but last week's message was a testament to that truth. 38 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:05,000 That God, in fact Longs for those who are even in falsehood 39 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:09,000 and are propagating deception to come to the knowledge of Truth 40 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,200 and be liberated from the grip of Satan. 41 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:16,000 And this passion is so great in the heart of God, that he even 42 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,600 instructs us as the redeemed of how to be conned. 43 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,900 It's so that we can offer that opportunity to those who are in 44 00:03:24,100 --> 00:03:27,700 that deception to come to Salvation in Jesus Christ. 45 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:32,100 And that's what he taught Timothy about how to be a soul 46 00:03:32,100 --> 00:03:37,000 winner, and the versus last week, we're also means to 47 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,500 encourage the faithful Soul winner to stir your heart with 48 00:03:41,500 --> 00:03:45,300 with trust that it's possible for even the most unlikely and 49 00:03:45,300 --> 00:03:50,200 undeserving to actually be saved to actually come to Christ and 50 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,300 be transformed. Even those who are doing damage 51 00:03:53,300 --> 00:03:57,000 to the kingdom of God, who are trying to relinquish the 52 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,300 Christian message even there. Like Paul can come to saving 53 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:05,800 faith. And now we read after Paul aims 54 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:10,000 to awaken this righteous optimism in Timothy, he also 55 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,000 wants to bring a balance and he wants to bring another word. 56 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,399 Another word that would prepare him as a soul winner, as a 57 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:22,700 pastor of a church of the difficult times that lie ahead 58 00:04:22,700 --> 00:04:28,800 for the world. and for Christians, And the subject was 59 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:33,400 so important for Paul the subject of the end times was so 60 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,300 crucial for this apostle that he designates a portion of his 61 00:04:37,300 --> 00:04:43,200 final letter to expound on it. Why is it that Timothy needs to 62 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:46,800 know what he just said? Why is it that the believer must 63 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,400 know what times will be headed towards? 64 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,100 What kind of implications is that carry for us even now? 65 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,200 Well, there are many, but for the sake of the context, let us 66 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:02,400 consider a few number. 1, Timothy would have to understand 67 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,100 that, although, he would have a hope for people to come to 68 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:10,900 Christ this endeavor to preach. The gospel will not be void of 69 00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:15,100 great opposition. Will not be void of difficult 70 00:05:15,100 --> 00:05:18,700 times. Secondly, Timothy would also 71 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:24,300 need to regain a fresh passion for defending the truth, because 72 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:27,400 he would Now find out and learn the demoralizing effects of 73 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,700 false teaching and vein ideologies. 74 00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:33,100 And so as a pastor by hearing what, we just read this morning, 75 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:37,500 he would find this strength and this motivation to be even more 76 00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:42,300 serious about truth preaching. It proving it defending it. 77 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,700 And lastly, those three last words of our designated taxed, 78 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:54,000 Paul says, you need to avoid such people in other words, 79 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:57,600 after he describes, the people that the attitudes, the 80 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,200 characters that will characterize the final days 81 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:05,500 before the return of Christ. Timothy and Believers today, 82 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,300 would need to make an extra effort to make sure that they 83 00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:10,300 are not contaminated by this crowd. 84 00:06:11,900 --> 00:06:17,500 And so he says understand this, you need to understand this and 85 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:21,600 here's the question. What was it that led Paul to 86 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:25,100 transition in this thought, how did he go from what we've been 87 00:06:25,100 --> 00:06:28,200 covering the past few weeks, to now offer a sudden introducing a 88 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:30,300 subject concerning the latter times? 89 00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:33,100 What's not? Because he just merely bringing 90 00:06:33,100 --> 00:06:36,700 up something fresh in his letter, it's because there is a 91 00:06:36,707 --> 00:06:40,600 connection to what Paul has been teaching and to what he is 92 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:42,900 warning about here, remember you? 93 00:06:42,900 --> 00:06:45,900 And I over the past few weeks I've been hearing about things 94 00:06:45,900 --> 00:06:50,500 such as the dangers of false teaching the necessity to 95 00:06:50,500 --> 00:06:52,300 rightly handle the word of Truth. 96 00:06:52,500 --> 00:06:56,000 The corruption that can come from irreverent Babble. 97 00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:59,500 And even last week, the Rope of hope that we should extend to 98 00:06:59,500 --> 00:07:03,300 those who are in the pit of And the overarching theme is the 99 00:07:03,300 --> 00:07:07,500 necessity to be in truth. The necessity to avoid falsehood 100 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:10,000 and all for sudden. Now he comes in, he speaks about 101 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,400 the end times, he speaks about not just the end times but he 102 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:17,200 speaks about the people that will pollute the generations 103 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,900 before the return of Christ. And the reason why this is a 104 00:07:21,900 --> 00:07:26,200 connection is because the times of difficulties will stem from 105 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:31,000 what he has been saying over the past few weeks accelerating. 106 00:07:31,100 --> 00:07:33,900 Abandonment and rejection of the truth. 107 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:40,300 The reason why X will be Wicked and pervert and difficult is 108 00:07:40,300 --> 00:07:45,200 because there will be a rejection of the gospel and an 109 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:49,100 alarming rate and the scriptures testify this elsewhere. 110 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:54,600 If you turn to First Timothy 4:1, your read that Paul appeals 111 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:59,100 to the spirit and he says that the spirit testifies of the 112 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:02,000 later times and it says here in verse One of chapter 4. 113 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:06,200 Now the spirit expressly says that in later times some will 114 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:10,000 depart from the Faith by devoting themselves to deceitful 115 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:16,300 spirits and teachings of demons. So he's saying, even hear what 116 00:08:16,300 --> 00:08:19,800 the scripture says from cover to cover that there is a strong 117 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,400 relationship. There is a marriage between 118 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:27,600 false teaching and ungodliness Jesus himself in his own 119 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:32,000 discourse about the end time says that there will be many 120 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:34,400 false prophets will arise and Lead. 121 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:39,600 Many astray only to follow that statement by saying and because 122 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:45,000 lawlessness will increase False prophets will arise. 123 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,600 And because false prophets will arise. 124 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,600 So, we'll lawlessness. And this helps us understand 125 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:55,700 this list of Unholy characteristics in our text this 126 00:08:55,700 --> 00:08:59,300 morning that will Define the last days. 127 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:03,900 It is because it will stem from a growing desertion from True 128 00:09:03,900 --> 00:09:09,100 Doctrine and a growing appetite. For vein ideologies, that will 129 00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:12,300 be found within and outside of the church. 130 00:09:13,100 --> 00:09:18,200 If the pure truth sanctifies man then it is a distortion of 131 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,400 truth, that warps him. That is what we are going to 132 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,900 see. But I can imagine after reading 133 00:09:23,900 --> 00:09:25,900 this that there might be some skepticism. 134 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,200 There might be some honest doubt because we look at this and we 135 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:34,400 read understand this that in the last days there will come times 136 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,800 of difficulty. But you're fully aware that the 137 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,000 Earth is not unfamiliar with grief and toil. 138 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:42,800 So, what's so prophetic about this? 139 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:46,500 What's so profound about? The thought that in the last 140 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:48,000 days, there will come times of difficulty. 141 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,600 We've seen times with our history, books testified that 142 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:55,300 ever since the Rebellion at the Garden, we have seen craziness 143 00:09:55,300 --> 00:09:59,500 and Rebellion. It's later on in this chapter 144 00:09:59,500 --> 00:10:01,500 that we see the uniqueness of this Revelation. 145 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:04,300 So you're there in Chapter 3 of second Timothy, scroll down to 146 00:10:04,300 --> 00:10:07,800 verse 13 and then we will understand what Paul is saying 147 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:12,600 verse 13 says, while evil people, and Impostors Will Go On 148 00:10:12,700 --> 00:10:20,100 from bad to worse. Deceiving and being deceived 149 00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:25,200 there. It is from bad to worse. 150 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:29,500 Meaning, as we approach the culmination of the age, there 151 00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:34,100 will be an escalation and amplification of ungodliness. 152 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,900 It's not that Paul is saying these things have never been, so 153 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,900 he's not saying that the world hasn't seen these things that he 154 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:44,800 just described what he's saying is is that it will intensify. 155 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:50,200 It will come to a point where it will drown a generation and what 156 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,800 is good will be evil and what is evil be known as good. 157 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,400 In fact, I was reading Romans this week and I saw an 158 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:59,600 interesting phrase of Paul separate list of ungodly 159 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:03,700 characteristics and he says something about the people who 160 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:08,000 have abandoned God and what society looks like, because of 161 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,200 that abandonment and he says people will be and he lists 162 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,600 different things and there is something that stood out to me 163 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,300 and it was this, they will be Enters of evil. 164 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:23,600 They will be creative and finding new ways. of 165 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,100 entertaining their sin, there will be greater thoughts about 166 00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:33,200 Unholy unspeakable, unfathomable filth, That will dominate our 167 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:37,400 world and so keep this in mind as you read these list. 168 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,700 Paul is speaking about a strengthening and a spreading of 169 00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:44,100 a level of degradation that we've never seen before. 170 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,300 And so, then people will not just be lovers of money. 171 00:11:49,300 --> 00:11:52,400 They're going to be more in love with money than ever before. 172 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,000 People will not just be arrogant, they're going to be 173 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,600 more arrogant than ever before. People will not just be 174 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,500 disobedient to their parents. They will be more disobedient 175 00:12:00,900 --> 00:12:05,000 than you can even imagine. The way we're going to handle 176 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:10,000 this subject today is to lightly touch on each of these signs and 177 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:12,200 perhaps we won't even get past the first one. 178 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:14,900 Just Like A Flat Rock. Skipping over a flatbed of 179 00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:18,500 water, we're just going to kiss each of these things if time 180 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:24,300 permits and see how these things that will dominate our world are 181 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:28,400 in direct opposition to the world that God Longs for and the 182 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,000 world that Christ will bring in an usher. 183 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,700 And when he establishes his kingdom at his second 184 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:36,200 retirement, Turn and here's the application. 185 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:40,400 If you need one in light of this text, that if it is told to us 186 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:44,100 that there will be an increase among the unregenerate in their 187 00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:48,100 darkness and under despicable practices, then by the grace of 188 00:12:48,100 --> 00:12:52,300 God, may we match that Darkness with a greater light. it may be 189 00:12:52,300 --> 00:12:56,000 by the power of the Holy Spirit overwhelm, whatever part that 190 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,500 God has given us in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces 191 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:04,800 and our families to outshine the darkness And so we read here, 192 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:08,300 understand this that in the last days there will come times of 193 00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:12,900 difficulty and inverse to the first thing that Paul lists is 194 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:15,900 that they will be lovers of self. 195 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:21,700 Lovers of self. This is by Divine Design for 196 00:13:21,700 --> 00:13:23,400 Paul by the spirit to include this. 197 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,800 As the first thing on the list implies something very, very 198 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,800 crucial. Concerning what it means to be a 199 00:13:28,808 --> 00:13:32,200 lover of self. He places this first because 200 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:39,700 South love is the swamp that every other feature of sin swims 201 00:13:39,700 --> 00:13:44,600 in it is the foundation that many iniquities are built on. 202 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:49,300 In fact, Christ himself knew this And because she knew this, 203 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:53,700 he attacked this human disposition as the basic 204 00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:59,600 condition for discipleship when he said, deny yourself deny 205 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:04,000 yourself. Because he knew that everything 206 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:09,100 flows from the sewage of loving self. 207 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:14,200 Self-love is not equal to self-respect is self-love is not 208 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,300 equal to self-care self-love is about the elevation of one's 209 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:22,000 own, desires, and wants as a supreme motivation in one's 210 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,300 life. Self-love is the frame of mind. 211 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:29,700 That places me at the center me is the main concern in my 212 00:14:29,700 --> 00:14:33,900 decisions and in my desires, even to the point of dismissing, 213 00:14:34,300 --> 00:14:38,500 the rights of my fellow, man and diminishing the rightful place 214 00:14:38,500 --> 00:14:42,400 of God as a Supreme object of my affection and devotion. 215 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:49,100 If self-denial is the basis. For righteousness, and Holiness 216 00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:51,700 to flourish in a way that would bless others. 217 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:57,000 Then surely self-love breeds a series of corrupting sins. 218 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,100 That brings so much pain in so many ways. 219 00:15:00,300 --> 00:15:03,000 I want you to see an example of that from the Old Testament, 220 00:15:03,100 --> 00:15:08,700 meet me in the book of second. Samuel chapter, 16, scuse me, 221 00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:16,200 23:16 second Samuel, 23:16. Here is a interesting snippet in 222 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:20,300 David's life, David is here in a cave. 223 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:25,800 He's hiding and he has a band of Mighty Men by his side. 224 00:15:25,900 --> 00:15:28,900 And in this chapter, we get a description of not just those 30 225 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:32,500 Mighty Men, but even among the 30, there was three special 226 00:15:32,500 --> 00:15:37,400 Elite officers and the Holy Spirit makes a distinction about 227 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:41,500 why these three men were the three Mighty Men, among the 330, 228 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,400 Mighty Men and David at one point. 229 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:50,600 He expresses a desire. He begins to feel homesick. 230 00:15:51,300 --> 00:15:54,800 He gets nostalgic. He says, oh that I would have a 231 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,100 drink from the well that is at Bethlehem. 232 00:15:58,500 --> 00:16:02,500 He didn't make it a command, he didn't ask the Mighty Men to go. 233 00:16:03,100 --> 00:16:05,800 Bethlehem was under siege Bethlehem, there was a Garrison 234 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:07,600 of the Philistines. There are troops of the enemy 235 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,900 that were there, but David offers sudden, just peeped out 236 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:13,900 this longing to have a cold glass of water. 237 00:16:14,500 --> 00:16:17,600 Perhaps remembering when he was a Shepherd boy, he would scoop 238 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,100 he would scoop from that. Well when he was thirsty, as he 239 00:16:20,100 --> 00:16:24,400 served his father's Farm, The three hear it. 240 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,900 They don't even ask. They go undercover. 241 00:16:28,100 --> 00:16:30,300 They go in stealth mode and they begin to. 242 00:16:30,300 --> 00:16:33,300 Now, travel to Bethlehem and who knows how they did it, but they 243 00:16:33,300 --> 00:16:37,600 grabbed water in a jar and they come back to David. 244 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,800 And there's David probably sitting there reminiscing about 245 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:41,900 all the memories of those innocent days. 246 00:16:41,900 --> 00:16:44,600 As a Shepherd boy and the three Mighty Men approached him and 247 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:48,800 they say, here's your water. And he shocked. 248 00:16:50,100 --> 00:16:53,500 And he's there in verse 16, then the three Mighty Men broke 249 00:16:53,500 --> 00:16:55,500 through the camp of the Philistines and Drew water out 250 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:58,300 of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried it 251 00:16:58,300 --> 00:17:01,900 and brought it to David, but he would not drink of it. 252 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,300 Perhaps they're ready to put it at his mouth, he stops himself, 253 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,700 but he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord. 254 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:12,900 And said, in verse 17, far be it from me. 255 00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:14,800 Oh, Lord. That I should do this. 256 00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:19,599 Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at risk of their 257 00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:22,099 lives. Therefore, he would not drink 258 00:17:22,099 --> 00:17:24,500 it. These things, the three Mighty 259 00:17:24,500 --> 00:17:27,900 Men did. It's an example of David who's a 260 00:17:27,908 --> 00:17:30,900 picture of Christ and what makes a Mighty, Man, a mighty man of 261 00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:32,700 God, is that he's willing to do the little things. 262 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,900 Christ, he's willing to serve not just like the 30 mighty man 263 00:17:36,900 --> 00:17:40,800 might have done defeating great armies and Giants know even when 264 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:43,200 the King asks for a glass of water you're willing to risk 265 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,000 your life to give him a glass of water. 266 00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:50,500 But notice what David does here, what a picture of selflessness, 267 00:17:50,500 --> 00:17:55,200 what a picture of consideration, what a picture of self-denial. 268 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,900 This man here could have simply drank the water. 269 00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:01,900 Gulped it down and extended his gratitude to these others who 270 00:18:01,900 --> 00:18:04,800 have risked their lives for him to be satisfied in this way. 271 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:08,800 But right here, we read that after he had realized how they 272 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:12,300 have jeopardized their lives for the sake of him, fulfilling the 273 00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:15,800 small desire, he would not dare quench his nostalgia. 274 00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:21,800 Jake Hart at their expense. David at this moment was more 275 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:25,800 concerned about their well-being than about his wish being 276 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,900 satisfied and he refused to drink it. 277 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,400 That's a picture of what self-denial looks like. 278 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:38,800 It does not put others at risk of harm of danger of pain to 279 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:43,200 gratify yourself self-denial. Looks like when you have desires 280 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:48,700 and plans and even when you were experiencing, these wishes, you 281 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:52,800 are able to manage all things because you are mindful of all 282 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:55,700 people. You're not thinking about me, 283 00:18:55,700 --> 00:18:57,900 you're thinking about those are who are affected by your 284 00:18:57,900 --> 00:19:02,300 decisions, those who might be robbed of their rights. 285 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:06,900 Do you want to satisfy your own? And somebody made a brilliant 286 00:19:06,900 --> 00:19:08,900 observation in light of this text. 287 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:13,400 And here it is. If only David had applied the 288 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:16,700 same principle that we just read here when he was consumed with 289 00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:24,400 longing for Bathsheba. if only he had applied the same 290 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:29,400 conviction years before when he was on that rooftop, And his 291 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,500 heart began to thirst for a woman that did not belong to 292 00:19:32,500 --> 00:19:36,800 him. and it was in that time, if this is a picture of 293 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,200 self-denial, David on that rooftop is a picture of 294 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,300 self-love, because in that moment, he did not think about 295 00:19:43,300 --> 00:19:49,100 Uriah He did not say to himself, Uriah will be hurt by this. 296 00:19:50,300 --> 00:19:53,300 My reputation as a king, as a righteous man, as a psalmist, 297 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:57,200 will be affected by this. All he wanted in that moment was 298 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,200 to quench that list. And so great. 299 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:06,800 Was that self-love that he was willing to even step on Uriah To 300 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,600 cover his sin because that's what self-love looks like. 301 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:15,300 I have to kill this man, because my reputation is more important 302 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:22,500 than his life. all David, if only you had applied that same 303 00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:26,900 principle with that glass of water, when you were faced with 304 00:20:26,900 --> 00:20:29,100 that, lust that try to consume you. 305 00:20:30,100 --> 00:20:33,500 That is just one illustration of what it's going to look like. 306 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:36,300 In the last days when Paul says that they will be lovers of 307 00:20:36,300 --> 00:20:38,500 self. That is just the foundation and 308 00:20:38,500 --> 00:20:40,400 you can imagine what will Spring forth. 309 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,400 Let me say it this way. You're going to see much more 310 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:46,400 adultery than we've ever seen. You're going to see much more 311 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:51,900 murder lying cheating corruption hypocrisy. 312 00:20:53,100 --> 00:20:56,700 Because self-love is the mother that births and nurtures. 313 00:20:56,700 --> 00:21:02,000 All these other vices and there is no doubt that the prediction 314 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,800 of people being lovers of self is not far-fetched from our 315 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:10,700 experience today in society, Self-love is on the rise. 316 00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:13,500 It's on the rise and it's everywhere. 317 00:21:13,500 --> 00:21:16,700 You look everything from the seemingly. 318 00:21:16,700 --> 00:21:22,100 Innocent selfie culture that has given every human being an 319 00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:25,500 invitation to have a platform for everybody to praise you and 320 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:30,700 adore you To the humanistic ideologies that are being taught 321 00:21:30,700 --> 00:21:33,700 in our schools that life revolves around you that there 322 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:36,700 isn't a creator that you're held accountable to but your cousin 323 00:21:36,700 --> 00:21:42,600 is a monkey and you're just the outcome of some explosion and 324 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:48,100 some happenstance and so survival of the fittest go out 325 00:21:48,100 --> 00:21:51,000 there and do what you desire and live according to your impulses. 326 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:56,800 Unfortunately, this idea of self love is not only practice and 327 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:58,800 praise. It is considered as a virtue. 328 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,700 It's about you. It's about you. 329 00:22:05,300 --> 00:22:08,400 In fact, even in modern psychology and counseling, when 330 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:11,100 people come to receive some kind of clarity about their 331 00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:15,400 behavioral patterns and their habits, most psychologists will 332 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,900 blame everything around you and not you. 333 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,800 It's about the way you grew up. It's about the trauma. 334 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:25,600 And though, that might play a part in it. 335 00:22:25,600 --> 00:22:28,100 It's amazing. How we don't even want to, pin 336 00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:30,400 any responsibility on the individual anymore. 337 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:32,700 Why? Because we want to make sure 338 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:37,800 that people have self esteem. And self-worth. 339 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,700 And self-love. This is in direct opposition to 340 00:22:43,700 --> 00:22:50,500 the message of the cross. Die to yourself, crucify. 341 00:22:50,500 --> 00:22:53,500 Your flesh. Take responsibility for your 342 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:56,600 actions. Because if you blame everybody 343 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:58,700 else for your sins, God can't forgive you. 344 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:01,000 He'll forgive them if they repent. 345 00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:04,100 But he'll forgive you, once you acknowledge that, you played a 346 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:07,900 part in whatever sin you think is caused by something or 347 00:23:07,900 --> 00:23:10,800 someone else. Here's the problem. 348 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:15,100 This perverted view of self-love is having its way and christened 349 00:23:15,100 --> 00:23:17,700 them. I challenge you to just make a 350 00:23:17,708 --> 00:23:21,900 simple search of the most popular sermons today and read 351 00:23:21,900 --> 00:23:25,900 the titles alone and you will get an idea of what I am 352 00:23:25,900 --> 00:23:31,300 speaking about. It's a majority about winning 353 00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:35,900 the most views and attendances because they are all self-help. 354 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,600 Concepts that provide motivation for the moment, but no 355 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:44,200 transforming power from Christ. If the CERN correctly, if you 356 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:48,700 really listen carefully, these talks are nothing more than 357 00:23:48,700 --> 00:23:53,200 skewed insights about how God is on your side to fulfill your 358 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,000 dreams and your desires doesn't matter if they have to do with 359 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,300 his kingdom. As long as it's yours, he will 360 00:24:00,300 --> 00:24:06,000 help you while totally neglecting the Declarations of 361 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,900 the glories of Christ that compel us to submit to his 362 00:24:09,900 --> 00:24:13,300 lordship and live according to his His rule. 363 00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:17,500 Christ is a mentioned. If he's mentioned it's a 364 00:24:17,500 --> 00:24:20,500 footnote. And if he's mentioned there, 365 00:24:20,500 --> 00:24:24,400 it's for him to help you make more money, be more beautiful, 366 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,500 be more successful. And just because people here 367 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:30,800 versus or because there's a cross in the background, that's 368 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,800 enough for them to eat it all up, not knowing that they are 369 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:37,300 actually strengthening the self. Love that Christ wants to kill. 370 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:45,800 In fact, you read this list here and it's amazing that Paul 371 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,400 brings another listen, Romans 1, and I want you to turn there 372 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:51,500 because I want you to see this afternoon. 373 00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:55,800 How morally shattering it is when Society whether it is 374 00:24:55,800 --> 00:25:00,700 secular or whether it is religious, how shattering it is 375 00:25:00,900 --> 00:25:05,400 when we place man in the place of God, When we make man, the 376 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:10,800 center and said of God being the center and in Romans 1 29 to 31, 377 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,100 we read in another list. That's very similar to what we 378 00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:18,800 have this morning in second. Timothy 3, Romans 129, they were 379 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:22,100 filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil 380 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:27,500 covetousness, malice, they are full of Envy murder Strife, 381 00:25:27,900 --> 00:25:33,200 deceit, maliciousness they are gossips slanderers haters of 382 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:36,700 God. Insolent haughty, boastful, 383 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:42,800 inventors of evil disobedient to parents, foolish faithless, 384 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:48,500 heartless ruthless. It's very similar to what we 385 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:50,400 read this morning and inverted verse 32. 386 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:54,700 He adds although they knew God's righteous decrees. 387 00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:58,400 That those who do such things deserve to die. 388 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:01,700 They not only practice some, but give approval to those who do 389 00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:06,100 him. It's another disturbing 390 00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:10,000 commentary about the corruption of mankind, but there's a flow 391 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:11,900 of thought that led Paul to this text. 392 00:26:12,100 --> 00:26:15,100 There's a flow of thought that led him to list these things. 393 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:20,100 And the idea is well, how is it that that man has steep to such 394 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:24,600 Shameless sin? How is that man can come solo to 395 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:27,700 accepting and praising things? That just 50 years ago, would be 396 00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:31,600 labeled as insanity. Do you know where it begins? 397 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:35,000 Do you know where it all started? 398 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,800 According to Romans 14, the to be unnatural relations between, 399 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:41,600 man, and man, woman and woman for there to be debased Minds 400 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,400 for there to be all these ugly things that we just read to be 401 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:49,100 common and known and praised. Go back to verse 21 of the same 402 00:26:49,100 --> 00:26:53,500 chapter in Romans 1. This is where it all starts. 403 00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:55,700 This is where all starts for the individual. 404 00:26:55,700 --> 00:26:58,600 This is where all starts for a city is where all starts for a 405 00:26:58,608 --> 00:27:02,000 nation. This is where all starts for, 406 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:07,300 although they knew God, They did not honor him as God. 407 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,300 Or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking 408 00:27:12,300 --> 00:27:14,300 and their foolish Hearts were darkened. 409 00:27:15,700 --> 00:27:19,700 You understand what Paul is saying here, the two means the 410 00:27:19,700 --> 00:27:24,300 very two stumbling blocks that were the cause to all the things 411 00:27:24,300 --> 00:27:31,100 that you just heard plaguing. The general population is number 412 00:27:31,100 --> 00:27:35,800 one that there was a refusal to honor God as god notice. 413 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:40,900 It says though they knew God. Though they knew God, there was 414 00:27:40,900 --> 00:27:44,700 an absence of belief in God. In fact, the verses before says 415 00:27:44,900 --> 00:27:48,200 that the glory of God, the Eternal power of God is made 416 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:53,200 known through his creation. So God is there people. 417 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,200 It's very difficult for you to deny that there is a God based 418 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:58,200 on creational. Nevermind, special Revelation 419 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:02,300 from his word creation itself, testifies of the glories of God. 420 00:28:02,900 --> 00:28:05,000 And though they knew God, though, their minds their 421 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:08,900 conscious, their Inner, Man, They realize that there is a 422 00:28:08,900 --> 00:28:14,300 moral compass in my heart that there is intelligent design, 423 00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:17,100 though they knew God. It's not that the lack of the 424 00:28:17,100 --> 00:28:20,400 knowledge of God, cause these things, they knew him but they 425 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:26,900 refused to honor him as God. They refused to play some where 426 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:30,400 he belongs, where he is glorified, a magnified, and 427 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,200 extolled, and adored and praised and given credit. 428 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:38,200 For all these things that we enjoy and see on a daily basis. 429 00:28:38,300 --> 00:28:41,300 They refused to honor him as God. 430 00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:44,000 So, guess what? This morning? 431 00:28:44,100 --> 00:28:48,800 If you know that, there's a God, you can still be a vile sinner. 432 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,500 You can have a knowledge that there is a God and you can even 433 00:28:53,500 --> 00:28:57,300 have verses that you would agree with my Bible tells me although 434 00:28:57,300 --> 00:29:01,500 they knew God. It's not the knowledge of God 435 00:29:01,500 --> 00:29:02,800 necessary that's where it begins. 436 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:04,500 Its what you do with that knowledge. 437 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:09,100 So eat up all the sermons you want, you can still live in 438 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:14,100 adultery, you can still be an unrepentant homosexual, you can 439 00:29:14,100 --> 00:29:17,500 still be a thief, you can still be given over to murderous anger 440 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:19,300 though. You know, that there is a God, 441 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,400 the differentiating factor is that they did not honor him as 442 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:25,700 God and not just honor him as God. 443 00:29:25,700 --> 00:29:29,000 Secondly, they reserve the recognition of him being the 444 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,900 provider of all good. Things they did not give, thanks 445 00:29:31,900 --> 00:29:37,800 to God. Would it stir you for me to tell 446 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:42,300 you that all those things that you read that we often go to 447 00:29:42,500 --> 00:29:46,300 when we tried to describe God's passive wrath with all the 448 00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:50,200 debauchery and the filth and the sexual looseness. 449 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:53,900 Would you believe this morning that it all stems from a lack of 450 00:29:53,900 --> 00:29:59,700 Thanksgiving? Of course, it does because 451 00:29:59,700 --> 00:30:04,100 there's a refusal acknowledging him and just because there is a 452 00:30:04,100 --> 00:30:07,600 people who refuse to worship God and place him at his rightful 453 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:10,900 place does not mean that they're not worshipping something else 454 00:30:11,500 --> 00:30:14,900 because they are you read in the same chapter that we read that 455 00:30:14,900 --> 00:30:20,500 they exchanged, the glory of God for the glory of creation and 456 00:30:20,500 --> 00:30:24,600 they worshiped images of beasts. And man just because you're not 457 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:25,900 worshipping. God doesn't mean you're not a 458 00:30:25,908 --> 00:30:27,100 worshiper. My friend. 459 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:30,000 You might be worshipping yourself this morning. 460 00:30:34,500 --> 00:30:36,800 When the heart does not have God, as the center of its 461 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:40,800 worship, when the heart does not have God as the object of its 462 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:44,100 deepest, gratitude, then that heart as we just read in verse 463 00:30:44,100 --> 00:30:48,200 21 will be darkened by futility and foolishness. 464 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:54,900 That's the law. People are not out there because 465 00:30:54,900 --> 00:30:57,500 they have reached some intellectual Peak and they think 466 00:30:57,500 --> 00:31:01,500 that believing in God is just barbaric and ancient. 467 00:31:01,500 --> 00:31:03,300 No. It's because they did not honor 468 00:31:03,300 --> 00:31:05,800 God as God. They refused to honor him and 469 00:31:05,800 --> 00:31:07,100 they refused to give thanks them. 470 00:31:07,100 --> 00:31:10,300 And that's why they are swimming in their own sin and are 471 00:31:10,300 --> 00:31:14,600 drowning in it. I've talked to many atheist. 472 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,600 I've lost count, and I've said this before, maybe somebody 473 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:21,900 needs to hear this morning and I can tell you this, that 99% of 474 00:31:21,900 --> 00:31:24,700 the time, after all the debates about dinosaurs and the Bible 475 00:31:24,700 --> 00:31:26,500 written by man. Where did it all start from? 476 00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:29,300 Why is that all these things? I just said look, why don't we 477 00:31:29,300 --> 00:31:32,600 just save ourselves two hours. And let's get just straight to 478 00:31:32,608 --> 00:31:34,100 the heart of the matter. What do you need to see to 479 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:36,000 believe? Come on. 480 00:31:36,100 --> 00:31:37,500 What do you need to see to believe? 481 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:42,600 You know what I found in my years of speaking with atheist, 482 00:31:43,700 --> 00:31:46,200 I found that as much as they think that they are smart and 483 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:50,200 Superior intellectually. When I asked him that question, 484 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:51,900 they seemed to stumble over the words. 485 00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:56,200 Well, I don't need to see anything and they scratch their 486 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:59,000 heads and sometimes they're paralyzed with their thoughts, 487 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,300 and I look at them, and I said, let me finish your sentence for 488 00:32:02,300 --> 00:32:04,000 you. You don't want there to be a 489 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,700 god. Because, you know, the moment 490 00:32:06,700 --> 00:32:09,100 that you acknowledge that there is a God that you will be held 491 00:32:09,100 --> 00:32:13,300 morally accountable. So believe all the foolishness 492 00:32:13,300 --> 00:32:16,300 that you want and try to convince yourself and others. 493 00:32:16,300 --> 00:32:19,700 It's because you've reached and you believe in science and you 494 00:32:19,700 --> 00:32:23,800 reach some kind of understanding that we don't have you love your 495 00:32:23,800 --> 00:32:26,900 sin. Only a few times I've met 496 00:32:26,900 --> 00:32:29,000 somebody says, well I just need to see this and I knew they were 497 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:33,100 genuine. They refused to honor him as 498 00:32:33,100 --> 00:32:35,100 God. They refused to give, thanks to 499 00:32:35,108 --> 00:32:37,300 him. And then from that funnel, all 500 00:32:37,300 --> 00:32:40,600 of those things that we just read our reality in an outcome 501 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,700 of that heart posture. And we know this to be true for 502 00:32:43,700 --> 00:32:46,100 an unbelieving world. But let me shocked you even more 503 00:32:46,100 --> 00:32:50,600 today that is not just reserved for an unbelieving population 504 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:55,400 that when a church a Ministry fails to keep honoring Christ. 505 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:59,400 And Placing him at the center and when that church does not 506 00:32:59,700 --> 00:33:02,800 continue to recognize him as the main mission and purpose. 507 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:06,400 It will invite unholiness in the midst of no time. 508 00:33:08,900 --> 00:33:13,700 Keep Christ in the center and you will draw in a holy people 509 00:33:14,300 --> 00:33:18,700 move Christ from the center. And that list that I just read, 510 00:33:19,500 --> 00:33:21,100 never mind the world, it will be here. 511 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:27,500 In the last days, there will be times of difficulty because 512 00:33:27,500 --> 00:33:29,600 people will be lovers of self. That's going to be the 513 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:31,900 atmosphere and we're already seeing it. 514 00:33:31,900 --> 00:33:35,100 We're already feeling it. But have you ever wondered this 515 00:33:35,100 --> 00:33:38,200 morning Have you ever wondered today? 516 00:33:38,900 --> 00:33:42,200 What is it going to be? Like when Christ comes to rule 517 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,900 and Reign? What will be the atmosphere? 518 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:48,100 What will be in the air? What will we see in every 519 00:33:48,100 --> 00:33:50,800 direction? Oh and the Bible invites, you to 520 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:53,600 study the word of God because it's sprinkled and different 521 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:57,500 portions of our text and you see in one place where it says that 522 00:33:57,500 --> 00:34:00,800 Jerusalem, where Christ will come physically to rule and 523 00:34:00,800 --> 00:34:04,700 Reign Jerusalem will be a joy and the people will be a 524 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:09,400 gladness and then we read them. Famous text in Isaiah that he 525 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:11,500 will come with his government and to that government, there 526 00:34:11,500 --> 00:34:15,100 will be no end and no end of Peace either. 527 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:19,600 And another place we read that during that rain when Jesus 528 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,500 comes and he plants those pierced feet on the Mount of 529 00:34:22,500 --> 00:34:28,199 Olives and he comes to have the pierced hand with a rule of an 530 00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:33,199 iron scepter. There will be what no sound of 531 00:34:33,199 --> 00:34:37,800 weeping or cry of distress and that, that should cause us to 532 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:41,500 say, Maranatha, come Lord, Jesus, and have your way. 533 00:34:42,300 --> 00:34:45,900 And I'm telling you this that as we approach the end of times as 534 00:34:45,900 --> 00:34:49,600 we see these things amplify and magnify, so will that cry in our 535 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:53,400 souls, be more desperate than ever? 536 00:34:54,699 --> 00:34:56,900 Has that been your crying? The past year and a half? 537 00:34:57,300 --> 00:34:59,500 As I've been your crying the past two years with all the 538 00:34:59,500 --> 00:35:03,900 craziness, one little invisible virus, cause the world to shut 539 00:35:03,900 --> 00:35:05,400 down and we think we're sovereign. 540 00:35:07,100 --> 00:35:10,800 Maranatha. Come what will make it so 541 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:15,000 contrasting to this that in the last days there will be times of 542 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:16,100 difficulty. Why? 543 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:17,500 Why the difference? And I'm sure, you know, the 544 00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:21,000 answer because Jesus Christ himself will come and Usher in 545 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:23,900 his government. Free from corruption, free from 546 00:35:23,900 --> 00:35:28,300 pollution free from hypocrisy and we say, Amen to that, but 547 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,400 There will also be something else that will contribute to it. 548 00:35:33,500 --> 00:35:37,700 There will be a collective effort by those who will be 549 00:35:37,700 --> 00:35:40,900 living during that time when Jesus Will Rule and Reign for a 550 00:35:40,900 --> 00:35:47,000 thousand years that will cause them to do something will cause 551 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:52,200 them as they're compelled by his wisdom and his unfiltered power, 552 00:35:52,300 --> 00:35:57,200 and his might and his Justice. To make him be absolute focus of 553 00:35:57,200 --> 00:36:01,100 absolutely everything. And I want you to see that to be 554 00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:04,700 true, as a prophecy is given by the prophet Zechariah, and the 555 00:36:04,700 --> 00:36:06,900 last chapter, you have to see this for yourself. 556 00:36:08,100 --> 00:36:11,700 Zechariah 14, verse 20. After describing the second 557 00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:14,700 coming of Jesus Christ in such a way that you would think that. 558 00:36:14,700 --> 00:36:17,500 It's it's in the Book of Revelation, the harmony of 559 00:36:17,500 --> 00:36:22,900 scripture is Supernatural. We come to an interesting couple 560 00:36:22,900 --> 00:36:28,000 of verses that will give us a snapshot of what life will look 561 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:32,800 like. When the last days come to an 562 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:36,700 end and Jesus comes to put it to an end by ruling and reigning 563 00:36:36,700 --> 00:36:40,500 for a thousand years before the Eternal age comes. 564 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:44,800 And look at the description, you thought you were just going to 565 00:36:44,808 --> 00:36:47,000 float in a cloud for all eternity, right? 566 00:36:47,500 --> 00:36:49,500 And it's going to be foggy and you're gonna hear some music? 567 00:36:49,500 --> 00:36:53,800 No, no, no. Zechariah 14, verse 20, we read. 568 00:36:54,500 --> 00:36:56,500 Now, remember, this is not speaking about heaven. 569 00:36:56,600 --> 00:36:58,400 Let me just pause here. This is not speaking about 570 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:03,100 heaven, okay, we're right now in the church age, we are still as 571 00:37:03,100 --> 00:37:06,000 a church winning and bringing in a harvest by the power of the 572 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:09,200 spirit through the gospel, then the tribulation period is going 573 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,700 to kick off for seven years. And at the end of Seven years 574 00:37:12,700 --> 00:37:15,000 Christ, will return. And that's not When Heaven 575 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:17,700 comes. That's when he rules and Reigns 576 00:37:17,700 --> 00:37:20,300 physically on the earth to fulfill his promises to David 577 00:37:20,300 --> 00:37:23,600 and Israel. Not because she favors a man or 578 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,300 a nation from all other nations because he's a promise, keeping 579 00:37:26,300 --> 00:37:30,300 God and he made certain promises and they have yet to come to 580 00:37:30,300 --> 00:37:33,100 pass and because he wants to declare his faithfulness to a 581 00:37:33,100 --> 00:37:35,700 generation, he will make them come to pass. 582 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,100 If that offends, you deal with it with him when he comes 583 00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:44,900 Zechariah 14, 20 we read. What the world will look like 584 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,300 when Jesus Christ establishes his government on the earth and 585 00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:51,800 on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the 586 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:55,800 horses. Holy to the Lord, pause there. 587 00:37:56,300 --> 00:38:00,900 Scripture uses horses as a clear illustration and image of War. 588 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:05,900 You use horses to go to war when a king would ride into a place 589 00:38:05,900 --> 00:38:07,600 on a horse. And wore when he came on a 590 00:38:07,600 --> 00:38:12,200 donkey meant peace, but here on the millennial Reign, the horses 591 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:14,100 will but will not be used for war. 592 00:38:14,100 --> 00:38:16,000 They will actually be instruments of worship. 593 00:38:17,700 --> 00:38:20,300 So these vehicles that were used to be lined up, to have Nation 594 00:38:20,300 --> 00:38:23,000 against Nation, will actually have bells on them. 595 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:25,200 So every time you hear the horses galloping, and you're 596 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:28,100 going to look out, and you see that on those bells, those those 597 00:38:28,300 --> 00:38:30,200 horses are actually part of the worship team. 598 00:38:31,700 --> 00:38:34,200 And they themselves are singing unto God with those bells as 599 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:37,000 they Gallop along and the atmosphere of the glory of 600 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:41,300 Christ on Earth. And the pots in the house of the 601 00:38:41,300 --> 00:38:43,700 Lord shall be as the Bulls before the altar. 602 00:38:43,700 --> 00:38:48,300 Now, look at this in verse 21 and every pot in Jerusalem and 603 00:38:48,300 --> 00:38:51,700 Judah shall be holy to the Lord of hosts. 604 00:38:52,100 --> 00:38:55,400 So that all who sacrifice may come and take of them and boil, 605 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:57,100 the meat of the sacrifice in them. 606 00:38:57,400 --> 00:38:59,900 And there shall no longer be a traitor or Canaanite in the 607 00:38:59,900 --> 00:39:02,000 house of the Lord of hosts on that day. 608 00:39:03,900 --> 00:39:06,800 There's a phrase that when I read this, it's so ministered to 609 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:10,800 my heart because in verse 20, we read that as we read in the Old 610 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:14,400 Testament, there are vessels and instruments used for the worship 611 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:18,700 in the house of God, but when Christ comes to rule and Reign, 612 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:22,600 he's not only going to sanctify specific vessels, in the house 613 00:39:22,600 --> 00:39:25,700 of worship. We read in verse 21 and every 614 00:39:25,700 --> 00:39:30,000 pot. In Jerusalem and Judah shall be 615 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:36,000 holy to the Lord of hosts. What does that mean that when 616 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:39,300 Jesus comes to rule and Reign, there will be no separation 617 00:39:39,300 --> 00:39:44,200 between secular and sacred. When Jesus Christ comes to rule 618 00:39:44,200 --> 00:39:48,700 and Reign, even the most common thing will be Sanctified for 619 00:39:48,700 --> 00:39:52,500 worship. Even something as insignificant 620 00:39:52,500 --> 00:39:58,100 as your pot, as your glasses of water as your forks, and your 621 00:39:58,100 --> 00:40:04,200 knives will be dedicated unto God and will be set apart for 622 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:08,100 his glory. In other words, if the last days 623 00:40:08,100 --> 00:40:12,500 according to S to me, three will be smeared with self-love 624 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:15,300 self-focused self attention self-praise. 625 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,700 When Jesus Christ comes to rule and Reign everywhere you look, 626 00:40:18,700 --> 00:40:20,100 you're going to see Jesus Christ. 627 00:40:21,600 --> 00:40:23,400 When you go do the dishes, Jesus Christ. 628 00:40:24,300 --> 00:40:25,500 When you go fill up your car with gas. 629 00:40:25,500 --> 00:40:28,500 Jesus Christ. When you get dressed, everything 630 00:40:29,100 --> 00:40:31,200 will have the imprint of God on it. 631 00:40:31,900 --> 00:40:34,800 So that wherever you look, you will see his Beauty. 632 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:38,200 And you will see that he is Sovereign over everything. 633 00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:42,300 When he comes to rule and Reign, he will claim everything. 634 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:47,600 Even your pots. Because all things have been 635 00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:50,900 created through him and for him. And although this world is 636 00:40:50,900 --> 00:40:55,700 trying to clutch onto land and buildings and names, and bank 637 00:40:55,700 --> 00:41:00,800 accounts and weapons. When Christ comes, he will strip 638 00:41:00,800 --> 00:41:03,800 them out of their hands like taking a toy out of a baby's 639 00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:06,800 grip. And he will say it, belongs to 640 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:09,200 me. I noticed this. 641 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:13,300 What's the connection? Make it a study of yours to see 642 00:41:13,700 --> 00:41:17,100 what your home is going to look like, what the world is going to 643 00:41:17,100 --> 00:41:20,700 look like when Jesus Christ returns, Joy righteousness, 644 00:41:20,900 --> 00:41:23,700 peace so much, peace, that the world isn't going to know what 645 00:41:23,700 --> 00:41:26,300 to do with their weapons. You say, we got to turn this to 646 00:41:26,300 --> 00:41:29,400 farming equipment, we're not using our tanks, we're not using 647 00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:32,100 our AR-15s, we don't need this anymore. 648 00:41:32,500 --> 00:41:36,800 And the question is, how, how is the world going to be like that 649 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:38,600 one? Yes, Jesus Christ is going to 650 00:41:38,607 --> 00:41:42,500 rule and Reign, but two, because everybody will Jesus, the focus. 651 00:41:45,600 --> 00:41:49,500 And we think this is a future reality and it is, but I've been 652 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:51,300 taught and you've been taught to pray. 653 00:41:51,700 --> 00:41:55,300 Let Your Kingdom. Come On Earth, as it is in 654 00:41:55,300 --> 00:41:59,600 heaven. In other words, you and I should 655 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,400 ask God to make what that Kingdom will look like a 656 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:04,500 present-day reality as much as possible. 657 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:07,200 Do you want to know how you can have joy? 658 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:10,200 Peace, no Wars and your family. You want to know how you can 659 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:13,500 have Harmony order Purity in our church. 660 00:42:14,500 --> 00:42:18,300 Do what Zechariah says will be done, make everything about 661 00:42:18,300 --> 00:42:23,000 Christ sanctify, everything unto Christ realize that your body 662 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:25,500 doesn't belong to you, realize that your money doesn't belong 663 00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:28,400 to you. Realize that He is the center. 664 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:31,200 He is the one that we worship and adore and serve. 665 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:33,700 And when you do that, it's very difficult to have War. 666 00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:37,600 It's very difficult to see self-love. 667 00:42:40,100 --> 00:42:43,200 So you and I have to understand that, although the kingdom of 668 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,600 God, is a future reality, there is a present application, 669 00:42:46,900 --> 00:42:50,200 because we have the kingdom of God raining in our hearts Christ 670 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:53,600 is King today. Not just when he returns, So, 671 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:56,200 what does that mean for you and me as the world increases in 672 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,700 self love you. And I must say, Lord, I sanctify 673 00:42:59,700 --> 00:43:03,600 all things unto you, and I say it's wholly for you, it's 674 00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:07,400 separated unto you my tongue, my thoughts, my hands, my feet, my 675 00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:09,900 clothes, my resources, all yours. 676 00:43:10,300 --> 00:43:13,000 And as the world is being eaten up by corruption because of 677 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:18,100 that, self-love, the church will grow, and greater power, and joy 678 00:43:18,100 --> 00:43:21,300 in the Holy Spirit, and Harmony and unity, because we are 679 00:43:21,300 --> 00:43:26,600 walking in the opposite spirit. That's the invitation today and 680 00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:29,900 what a beautiful way to transition as we come to break 681 00:43:29,900 --> 00:43:33,300 bread together. Declaring that Jesus Christ is 682 00:43:33,300 --> 00:43:37,000 King declaring that with this one loaf, we are indeed one 683 00:43:37,900 --> 00:43:38,900 declaring that. Yes. 684 00:43:38,900 --> 00:43:43,700 His body has come and that there was a prepared frame for him so 685 00:43:43,700 --> 00:43:47,600 that God would find the suitable sacrifice for our substitution. 686 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:49,400 But at the same time, we are one body. 687 00:43:50,800 --> 00:43:53,000 We do not live according to self-love. 688 00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:56,900 We let the love of Christ, compels us. 689 00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:02,700 And when it compels us, each of us, then we will see the fruit 690 00:44:02,700 --> 00:44:05,700 of the kingdom of God in our midst, even now, can we prepare 691 00:44:05,700 --> 00:44:00,600 our hearts to Feast together? And when it compels us, each of 692 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:03,800 us, then we will see the fruit of the kingdom of God in our 693 00:44:03,800 --> 00:44:07,000 midst, even now, can we prepare our hearts to Feast together?