“ARE YOU READY?”PCA 48 hours of Sebring – February 2009

I have been praying about what to speak on this weekend, and the Lord has really been impressing upon me the need for His body of believers to get to work.  Not only get to work, but get to work with a sense of urgency.

Today we are really short on time, which is kind of fitting because I want to talk a little bit about how we could really be short on time….. the title of today’s message is “Are You Ready?”

The Bible is very clear that there will be an “end times”, a “last days” so the title should really be expanded to say…are you ready for the second coming of Christ. 

Some people don’t care much for this portion of the Bible.  They love the saved by grace, the love and mercy of our savior Jesus Christ, the blessings that he bestows amongst his believers….however when it comes to the Bible, the infallible word of God, you must read the entire book and take it as a whole.   You can’t take just some of the book and leave out the parts you don’t like…you have to look at the entire book……and when you do that it becomes even more amazing that how so many writers over so many years could generate such a document that ties together so well.  66 books written by 40 different authors over 1400 years…. 

Lets take for example our subject for today, the end times, the last days…..if we wanted to dismiss that biblical principlal, we wouldn’t just toss out the book of Revelations, we would have to also toss out the books of Daniel, Matthew, Mark, and Luke….Thessalonians, Colossians, Peter, Hebrews…and many others …both Old Testament and New Testament books…..all of these make references to the triumphant return of Jesus, coming back to call His people.   They are all tied in together, most were written by different authors during different times, yet they all tie in so well to give us a clear picture of what is to come. 

Personally I find this prophecy of revelation, a look into the future…very fascinating and could talk about it for hours, but we are most definitely under a time crunch today, so in the interest of time, I want to quickly address the 4 top questions that came to my mind as I studied the end times prophecies…..

1) Are we in the Last days?..or when will it happen?

2) What are the signs of the Last days?

3) What are we as Christians, supposed to be doing?

4) Am I ready?

Because time is short, I’ll cover the material quickly but I encourage you to read the Olivet Discourse (sermon on the Mt. of Olives found in Matthew Chapter 24).   Also, if you have a chance to go on www.serrmon.com, I post my notes for each message I preach for those that didn’t make it, or for those who did that want to go back and get a refresher.   There is also a lot of great information about the ministry, the KRFL program, our schedule, our needs, etc….so if you get a chance go to www.serrmon.com.  

Are we in the Last Days?  When will it Happen?

THE BIBLE CLEARLY REVEALS WITHIN THE BIBLICAL END TIMES PROPHECIES THAT NOBODY KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR THAT THE END TIMES PROPHECIES WILL OCCUR:

THE BIBLE ALSO REVEALS THAT DAY WILL COME AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT FOR THE UNPREPARED

Matthew 24:42  Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come

A CHILD OF THE LIGHT IS ONE THAT IS ENLIGHTENED. ONE THAT KNOWS WHAT IS COMING AND IS PREPARED

 Luke Chapter 17The time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not. 23When people say to you, "Look there," or "Look here," don't go looking for him. 24The day of the Son of Man will be like lightning flashing across the sky. 25But first he must suffer terribly and be rejected by the people of today. 26When the Son of Man comes, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. 27People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day when Noah went into the big boat. Then the flood came and drowned everyone on earth.

    28When Lot ^[e] lived, people were also eating and drinking. They were buying, selling, planting, and building. 29But on the very day Lot left Sodom, fiery flames poured down from the sky and killed everyone. 30The same will happen on the day when the Son of Man appears. 31At that time no one on a rooftop ^[f] should go down into the house to get anything. No one in a field should go back to the house for anything. 32Remember what happened to Lot's wife. ^[g]33People who try to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives will save them. 34On that night two people will be sleeping in the same bed, but only one will be taken. The other will be left. 35-36Two women will be together grinding wheat, but only one will be taken. The other will be left. ^[h]37Then Jesus' disciples spoke up, "But where will this happen, Lord?"

I wanted to read those scriptures to you, to say that really, no one can predict if we are in the last days or not.  As we move forward with our discussion here today, you can make your own determinations, I am not up here to preach doom and gloom, to say the sky is falling, to tell you to pack up all your things and head off to the hills because the end is imminent.

I am however wanting to show you Biblically what some of the signs are and what the Bible instructs us to be doing.

God gave us that gift of Free Will, it is up to us to decide WHETHER WE WILL WATCH FOR THE SIGNS OF THE END TIMES AND PREPARE ... OR NOT. IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO, WE WILL NOT HAVE THAT DAY COME UPON US AS A THIEF. WE WILL BE PREPARED FOR THE END TIMES should they happen within our lifetime here on this earth.

What are the signs that the Last Days are approaching?

Some of you may remember the message I preached here last year,  P-Soup, the recipe for success….

Prayer, Patience, Perseverance, God reveals his purpose or his plan for your life, and when you are living in accordance with his plan, you can’t help but be successful.

Sticking with the P-theme…..The signs of the last days can be linked to the following:

THE LAST DAYS:  DISCERNING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

1.PERILS
2.PEOPLE
3.PERSECUTION
4.PROBLEMS
5.POWER
6.PROCLAMATION

 
THE LAST DAYS:DISCERNING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

1.PERILS
Luke 21:9-11,25-26

2 Timothy  3:1

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall comeLuke Chapter 21

 10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:  11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Wars – happening all over the world, so many in fact that we tend to blurr them out when listening on TVGreat Earthquakes in Diverse Places – all over the world, creating Tsunamis, devastation at all places throughout the worldFamines – starvation is rampant, even in the US with homeless, and as the economy worsens, those on the lower end of the scale will fall further behind.  Food Kitchens are running low, need help.Pestilences - Diseases. Well, now let's see ... We have everything from mad cow disease to S.A.R.S. to A.I.D.S.. We even have a new one called the H591 bird flu. Millions of people are infected with the deadly A.I.D.S. virus and as popular as sex is, we ought to have that number multiplied many fold as the years pass. Not to mention the thousands of other diseases killing off our society every day. With the new threat of terrorist's using chemical weapons to fight ... It is very conceivable that pestilence could be a major factor in the "END TIMES" ...Fearful sights – events of 9/11, threat of terrorism, thoughts of China becoming the worlds largest super power in the next 20 years, increase in violent crimes.  Society is changing.  So Perils are a definite sign of the Last days.

2.PEOPLE

II Timothy 3:1-5, I Timothy 4:1-3 , II Peter 3:3

2 Timothy says it far better than I ever could……

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

I don’t think there is much I could add to that….well said.

Another thing that could be included in people are False Christs.FALSE CHRISTS

This means that many will show up and claim to be Christ. We have seen many false christs and false prophets as of late. Many had their followers die for them and their cause, only to find out that they were not Christ. This left many families and loved ones broken hearted. It also left many afraid to hear the Word of God from those who are truly sent to share it.

So, how do we know if someone who claims to be Christ, is the REAL Christ?

Jesus, Himself told us the answer.

Jesus will not come back and be in a secret place with some sect or group of people. He will come from the Heavens, and ALL eyes shall see Him.

3.PERSECUTION

Another sign of the last days is the persecution that will befall all of us believers.  Iwhen I think of persecution, I normally think of large numbers of people, public executions – kind of like the holocaust, but in reality persecution can and does happen at the personal and individual level.

As we observe the persecution of God’s children surely we can discern that we are living in the last days.

Luke 21:12

But before all of these (these referring to the earthquakes, famines, pestilences)…they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you.

Luke 21:16 

And ye shall be betrayed  both by parents and brethren and kinsfolks, and friends, and some of you shall they cause to be put to death

Luke 21:17 

And ye shall be hated of all me for my name’s sake.

 4.PROBLEMS
Luke 21:34 Luke 17:26-30
We can discern that we are living in the last days by the problems facing todays society such as surfeiting, drunkeness and cares and fears and worries .Jesus revealed such a condition will prevail during the last days and warned His children not to allow themselves to be drowned in the cares of this life lest the day of His coming come upon them unawares. As we see the problems facing today’s society surely we can discern that we are living in the last days.

Luke Chapter 21 – (NIV version???)

 34Don't spend all of your time thinking about eating or drinking or worrying about life. If you do, the final day will suddenly catch you 35like a trap. That day will surprise everyone on earth. 36Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you.

Luke Chapter 17

26When the Son of Man comes, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. 27People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day when Noah went into the big boat. Then the flood came and drowned everyone on earth.

    28When Lot ^[e] lived, people were also eating and drinking. They were buying, selling, planting, and building. 29But on the very day Lot left Sodom, fiery flames poured down from the sky and killed everyone. 30The same will happen on the day when the Son of Man appears

Don’t get caught up in the day to day routine…..the issues and problems of life…..maintain a focus on the Lord.  Don’t put Him last in your life….don’t put Him at the end of your day when there is little or nothing left….put Him first in your life.  You have done that today by choosing to come to this service rather than work on your race car or socialize with friends.

5. POWER

Acts 2:17-18 Hebrews 12:26-27

We can discern that we are living in the last days by the power of God being manifested all over the world. God is pouring out his spirit upon all flesh. The Holy spirit is moving mightily all over the world and the church is being revived and empowered where even laymen are rising and shining.  God is calling people to preach the gospel from all walks of life.

I came to know the Lord later in life, I am an ordained minister, but I am also a VP of an aircraft company, an engineer, a foster parent, married with 3 kids….so my entire life has not been spent in a religious role…many would call me a layman.

ACTS Chapter 217And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:6. PROCLAMATION

Matthew 24:14 Mark 13:10

We can discern that we are living in the last days by the rapid proclamation of the gospel all over the world. Modern media has made it possible for the gospel to be preached to millions through television , radio, print media etc. Satellites, Internet, etc…. As we observe the rapid spread of the gospel surely we can discern that we are living in the last days.

Matthew Chapter 24

14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Mark Chapter 13

10And the gospel must first be published among all nations.P-Soup the recipe for the second coming:PerilsPeoplePersecutionProblemsPowerProclamation

What are we supposed to do?  What does the Bible instruct us to do?WE ARE TO WATCH AND TO BE PREPARED, SO THAT DAY DOES NOT COME UPON US AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT 

BY WATCHING FOR THE SIGNS OF THE END TIMES. EVEN THOUGH THAT DAY WILL COME AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT TO MANY, THE CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT WILL NOT HAVE THAT DAY OVERTAKE THEM AS A THIEF

A CHILD OF THE LIGHT IS ONE THAT IS ENLIGHTENED. ONE THAT KNOWS WHAT IS COMING AND IS PREPARED

IT IS OBVIOUS FROM THESE SCRIPTURES, THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE CHOICE OF WHETHER WE WILL WATCH FOR THE SIGNS OF THE END TIMES AND PREPARE ... OR NOT. IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO, WE WILL NOT HAVE THAT DAY COME UPON US AS A THIEF. WE WILL BE PREPARED FOR THE END TIMES. IF NOT ... WE WILL NOT BE PREPARED AND WILL BE OVERWHELMED AND OVERTAKEN BY THE HORRIFYING EVENTS TO COME.

In addition to watching, the Bible instructs us in 1 Peter Chapter 4, really clarifies and shows us exactly what we need to be doing….

King James Version – 1 Peter Chapter 4

7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.  8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.  9Use hospitality one to another without grudging.  10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. New Living Translation – 1 Peter Chapter 4

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.  10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.1. keep sane and sober {1 Pet 4:7b RSV}Do not go running off after some wild-haired movement that wants to run up in the hills and defend themselves against whatever is coming. "Keep sane and sober," Peter says.Sober does not necessarily mean remain free from alcohol in this instance.  What it means is to keep a clear head, stay focused on the Lord, keep a firm watch."Watch out," is the idea, because these will be days of delusion, days of confusion, days when people will be emphasizing the wrong things, when false escapes will be offered and false ways of living will be set forth and delusive ideas will be abroad. Peter says, "Watch. Take heed. Establish yourself in your faith again. Go back to the Scripture and find out where you are. Be careful. Keep sane and sober," he says, so that you will not be swept away by all the excited reactions that you will hear about in these last days, in these times of stress.2. Keep praying. {cf, 1 Pet 4:7c}Prayer is a way of calling all the artillery of heaven and bringing it to bear against some weak point in the devil's armor and breaking through at that point so that God reaps a great harvest, despite the terrible conditions that are around. Paul tells us in the letter to the Ephesians that evil days create great possibilities, therefore, "redeem the time," he says, buy it up. One way is to be alert, to be praying about the possibilities that open for us day after day, possibilities with individuals, with circumstances and with groups so that you might enter and break through some of the barriers that have shut us out from these groups in the past. Thus, keep praying, Peter says. Watch and be sober and sane and keep praying. And,3. Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. {1 Pet 4:8-9 RSV}There is the manifestation of the "Body Life" of the church -- being open to help people who are in need. Be deliberately responsive to appeals that are made for help; practice hospitality widely and generously. 4. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another. {1 Pet 4:10a RSV}In other words, get busy, use your gift. God has given each one of us gifts. For heaven's sake, use them; that is what he is saying. When times of stress come again and people are frightened and who knows what is going to happen, when the future looks uncertain, that is a good time for you to take knowledge of what gifts God has given you. Can you teach? Well then, start teaching. You do not have to wait for a Sunday School class. You can have one in your home. You can get a friend and meet in a car at lunch time and study the Bible together. But use your gifts. If you have the gift of encouragement, look around for people who are discouraged and start helping them and encouraging them and strengthening them. If you have the gift of administrating, offer yourself to these struggling Christian groups who have a tremendous vision to help people but are falling all over each other trying to get it done because nobody is administrating it. Offer yourself. If you have a gift of wisdom, or knowledge, use it. If you have a gift of helps, put it to work. This is the way Peter says we are to act.Whatever you do, Do it all to the best of your God given ability.In summaryAre these the last days?   Who knows?But whatever they are, these are days of opportunity, days of possibility, days when God can be glorified.If they culminate at last with the trumpet blast and the return of the Lord, what an awesome thing it will be for us to be ready, to be watchful, to be called up into the air to meet Him.Signs of the End of Times

1.PERILS
2.PEOPLE
3.PERSECUTION
4.PROBLEMS
5.POWER
6.PROCLAMATION

People living as if God doesn’t exist                                          Gen 6:5, Luke 17:26-27

Explosion of knowledge and freedom of travel               Daniel 12:4

Wars and rumors of wars                                                          Mark 13:7

Widespread acceptance of immoral behavior                             Luke 17:26-30, 2 Peter 2:5-8

Vacuum in world leadership                                                      Psalm 2:1-3, Rev 13:4-9

Increased demonic activity                                                        1 Timothy 4:1-3

Widespread abandonment of the Christian faith             1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Evidence of breakdown in Christian Families                 2 Timothy 3:1-3

Spirit of selfishness and materialism                                           2 Timothy 3:1-2

General disrespect for others                                                     2 Timothy 3:2-4

Human leader declares himself to be god                                   2 Thesselonians 2:3-4

People ridiculing God’s word                                                    2 Peter 3:2-4, Jude 17-18

Significant shifts in political power and influence             Rev 13:3-7

What are we supposed to do?

Communicate God’s Word as if we are running out of time        (2 Timothy 4:1-2)

Control tendency to judge others by reflecting on final judgement (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Develop patience as eagerly await the Lord’s return (James 5:8)

Gather faithfully and regularly with other believers (Hebrews 10:25)

Maintain a pure life (1 John 3:2-3)

Remember Jesus’s death, resurrection, and return when taking communion (1 Corinthians 11:26)

Lead others to Christs mercy (Jude 1:21-23)

Take and give comfort based on Christs imminent return (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

Think about heaven (Colossians 3:1-4)

Love others (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.