The Last Gospel Message to an Ungodly — Carter Conlon

Prayer for Spiritual Hearing and Obedience

I have a message from Matthew chapter 24, if you'll go there please, in the New Testament. It's entitled, The Last Gospel Message to an Ungodly World. The Last Gospel Message to an Ungodly World. Father, I thank you for the anointing of your Holy Spirit.

I thank you, Lord, when you come, you bring everything into divine order. You break every bondage, you open every prison door. You give spiritual sight to the blind. You help us to hear. For you yourself said, he who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is speaking to the churches.

God, give us ears to hear and hearts to obey this day. I ask you, Lord, to touch me and give me strength. I thank you for this, Lord. I thank you for the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit. You come upon us, Lord, and you cover our frailty.

You cover our struggles, O God, and you let your glory be revealed through us. This is mercy, and I thank you for it today. I thank you for giving weight to your word so that we can't easily lay it down.

I pray, God, that it sits deep within our consciousness and become a very part of our being. Help us in these days to stand. Help us to finish the race in a manner that brings glory to your name. Help us to win the battle for our city.

Father, we thank you for this with everything in us today. We give you praise and we give you glory in the mighty, unmatchable name of Jesus. Amen. Matthew chapter 24, beginning at verse 3. The last gospel message to an ungodly world.

Jesus’ Prophecy of Destruction and the End of the Age

And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? Now, he had just finished telling them in the verse preceding it, that there will be not one stone left upon another that will not be thrown down.

He talked about a coming time of destruction in reference to the temple in Jerusalem. And they said, When shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you be not troubled. For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There shall be famines and pestilences, I mean diseases, and earthquakes in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. That means that's a season referred to in the scripture when the world itself goes into, in a sense, birth pangs.

Preparing for the coming of Christ. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you. You shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another.

And many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 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. You know, we ask ourselves the question this morning. What will be the final sermon that will be preached in this world? Because Jesus said this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations.

And then the end will come. Now I know and you know that the gospel has been preached throughout most of the world in our time. But I feel that this verse is telling us that in the last days there will be a gospel that will be preached.

It will be an irrefutable evidence of the reality of God in Christ Jesus. The truth of the cross, the truth of the resurrection, the truth of the indwelling and sustaining power of God. It will be preached as a witness to all nations before the end comes.

And so we ask ourselves the question, what will this final sermon, what will its message sound like? What will its message look like? Now Jesus tells us that in the last days there will be a deception will be abounding.

As the world begins to spin out of control and people try to find a safe refuge. There will be many who are looking for a refuge in God. Only to find that they have to get through this gauntlet of false prophets.

Who've been sent to confuse the way to eternal life. Actually it's a good military strategy of the enemy himself. To create chaos and then create confusion. So the people have a hard time to find their way through to safety.

False Christs and Deceptive Ministries

He says in verse 5, many will come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many. Now it's not too hard to spot a false messiah who says I am Christ. Now I think what he's really referring to, those will come without doubt.

But what he's referring to is that there will be ministers and ministries that are raised up. And they will be saying to the people this is what Christ looks like. Christ is alive in me, I am Christ. I am in Christ, Christ is in me.

I'm showing you what Christ looks like. And much of this, Jesus said, will be a deception. It will not be the way to everlasting life. There will be no power in it, there will be no keeping strength in it.

It will be a deceptive gospel that leaves people in the last moments of time. If you read the gospel of Matthew, without oil. They have no life, they have no power, they have no vision. They can't see Christ in the day of calamity.

When darkness comes, that midnight hour. That time that scripture speaks about when they cast anchors out of the ship in Acts chapter 27 and wished for the day. And folks, we are very, very close to that day right now.

There will be a people who have no oil, they've not cultivated a right relationship with God. They've never understood what is the life source. What is the power source of the gospel? How does the gospel manifest itself?

How do I have vision in these last days? How can I see God when nobody else seems to be able to see him around me? You'll hear of wars and rumors of wars. All these things must happen, but the end is not yet.

Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places. Wars and famines. And we're living at a time, folks, and you know it as well as I do.

This could happen today. We are living in a time of anarchy, in a sense, in the world. When madmen are looking for weaponry that we've never, ever seen unleashed at any time. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Persecution, Israel, and the Church

Verse 9 says, then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you and you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Now, most who study this believe it's a dual prophecy in a sense.

Number one, it's for the nation of Israel. The Bible says clearly that Israel will be left alone in the world in the last days. Armies will compass about Jerusalem. And it will be at that moment when it seems that the destruction of the nation of Israel is imminent, that the people will cry out to God.

And there will be a revelation given to the nation of Israel about Jesus Christ and who he is. Thanks be to God. I dread the day when in this nation we abandon Israel. Because I often feel in my heart it's the one thread that's keeping us in a semblance of stability and order.

God help us the day we abandon the nation of Israel. But it also has a dual application because I feel in verse 9 it talks about something that will happen to the church of Jesus Christ. There will be a hatred in this world for what God loves and says is good.

And there will begin to be an affliction given the people who walk in agreement with God. In other words, we're going to be living at a time when there is an absolute lawlessness will break out in the world.

Paul said conclusively to the Corinthian church that it's virtually an unspeakable lawlessness that's going to break out. Something such as we've never seen through all time in all history. A rebellion against God that's going to reach astronomical proportions.

Men will be selfish and covetous and lovers of themselves. We'll see an absolute breakdown of family love. It will shock people who are not ready for it. This culmination of what began in the garden of Eden when Satan sowed that seed of rebellion in humankind that man in himself can be his own God.

And this iniquity, this mystery of lawlessness is at work. And one day Thessalonians tells us the restraining hand of God will be taken away. And it will just pour forth like a baptism of evil over the whole earth.

And it will culminate with a Satan indwelt man who will be raised up and he will go to the temple in Jerusalem. And he will sit down in the temple and he will declare himself to be God. A man declaring himself to be God.

It will be the epitome, it will be the climax of human rebellion. And the tragedy is most of the world will probably agree with him. Jesus said I've come in my name but you reject me. If another comes in his own name you'll receive him.

It's hard to believe that humanity left to itself will get to the point. Of looking at just a demonically inspired flesh and blood man and actually believe. You see because in the heart of humanity that seed is shown that in ourselves we can be as God.

And what a wonderful world we have created. Marvelous isn't it? With all of our attempts at peace and reconciliation and justice and goodness. Human depravity just goes on unchecked and unchallenged. Because the only one who can stop it is the spirit of God.

There's nobody else who can stop this depravity. Paul said to the Thessalonians church don't let any man deceive you by any means. That day will not come except there come a falling away first. That the man of sin be revealed.

The son of perdition. Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped. So that he as God sits in the temple of God and showing himself that he is God. The final act of rebellion in this world.

The Love of Truth as the Antidote to Deception

Verse 11 tells us again that there's a myriad of confusing voices. That will be pointing to where they say both spiritual and physical safety can be found. Many false prophets will rise and shall deceive many.

And so it's imperative my friends that we look into this verses of scripture. And say what is the antidote? What are the boundaries? What has to be inside of me that I'll not be deceived in these last days?

I don't want to be among the many who go into deception. Jesus starts by saying take heed that no man deceive you. He warns about those who are coming in the name of Christ. And taking many off the path that leads to true life and safety.

And then again in verse 11 he talks about many false prophets rising and deceiving many. It's a sad thing actually when you think of it that their followers will be many. Let me tell you why this happens.

I'm just going to read it to you from 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 7 to 12. For the mystery of iniquity already is at work. Only he who now lets will let until he be taken out of the way. There's something holding back this lawlessness until he be taken out of the way.

Now many believe this is an event called the taking away of the church of Jesus Christ. When Christ comes to take his church out of this world. And then shall that wicked be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth.

And shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Even him who's coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness and them that perish.

Here's why they perished. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie. That they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Here's the issue. It doesn't say in the scripture they didn't know truth. It doesn't say they didn't study truth. Remember Paul said in 2nd Timothy. The last days will be characterized by a people in the house of God who are always learning.

But not coming to the place where that truth is supposed to bring them. It doesn't say they didn't receive the truth. It doesn't say they didn't say it was the truth. It doesn't say they didn't acknowledge that it was the truth.

It just simply says they didn't receive the love of the truth. It's not that they didn't know it. But there's a certain love contained within the truth that they refuse to embrace. It's the love of the truth.

May I say it this way? Knowing the truth brings you and I to a certain place of love. We love the truth but then the truth produces some kind of a supernatural love within our hearts. And they neglected to embrace that.

The Coldness of Love in a Lawless Society

And that is the very root of the last days deception. Verse 12 tells us. Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold. Now there'll be an obvious loss of love in society. We're living there now.

I mean people don't love truth. I'm only 58 years old but I remember the day when a man's word was his bond. I remember a day when my father would shake hands with somebody who said he was going to paint the front porch.

And that man's word was his bond. And if that man broke his word there's nobody in the whole town would do business with him. I remember that day. I remember the day the first time a man in my town left his wife and kids with no reason.

I remember people talking about it. I remember they wouldn't do business with him. This is a town of 40 ,000 people. I remember my mother saying the way things are going. She said Carter one day believe it or not we'll have to lock our doors.

Not only do we have to lock our doors we have to have guns inside the house today. There'll be a loss of love in society. Love. Natural love actually is what it means. It will break down. There'll be an increase in lawlessness and selfishness.

But this verse applies also to you and I. Because it will become increasingly difficult to love people. As God does. As the days grow darker and human rebellion against truth moves towards its finish.

Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall grow cold. Iniquity. It will become difficult to love people. As God does. Become difficult not to join the critics and the finger pointers. And the angry in our midst.

It will be difficult to represent the Christ who went to a cross. Enduring the scorn of a generation. That spit in his face and pulled out his beard and whipped his back. Simply because he came to redeem them from their own rebellion.

Towards a holy God. It will become difficult. As a matter of fact it will be impossible without the love of God. Within us. Remember they received not the love of the truth. Oh yes they received the truth but not the love of it.

They would not embrace it. In verse 13 says but he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved. Now folks we know we're not saved through endurance. I mean if you just read that straight out you think.

Well I'm just going to be doggedly determined I'm going to make it to the. We're not finished we're not saved through endurance. Thank God we're saved by faith in a finished work on Calvary. And we're kept by the promises of God in Christ.

I know that it's I know that it's not endurance that saves me. So then what is Jesus talking about in this verse. Well here's how I read this verse. It's in this context. The saved the truly saved. Will be given the power to endure till the end.

We will be given the power to endure. Like Daniel in the lion's den. Like the three Hebrew boys in the furnace. No matter what society throws our way. No matter what kind of scorn or derision is laid at your doorstep.

Because you choose to love and you choose to be a follower of Jesus Christ. You choose to be honest. You choose to tell the truth. You choose to stay with your family when nobody else around is doing it.

You make the right choices. Given the power to endure. By Almighty God. You might say that they have received the love of the truth. In other words their hearts have been open to receiving the love that God has for all people.

And they are allowing that love to flow through them unconditionally. Until the day of Christ's coming for them. I can't love this generation folks. I need the power of God to do it. I need oil in this vessel and so do you.

I can't love. I can't love those who are cursing the name of Christ. I can't love those who are going to riot in our streets. I can't love those who are not honest and don't speak the truth. And will stab you in the back at the very first opportunity.

I can't and neither can you. I can't do it in the house of God and I can't do it in the workplace and neither can you. Unless I allow the love of the truth. Which is Jesus. He is the love. He is the one the truth leads to.

He who says he knows God and doesn't love doesn't know God. That's conclusively written in the New Testament. For God is love. But I've opened my heart to the love of the truth. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.

It wasn't an obligation. It wasn't a legal thing. It wasn't something he had to prove even to the devil. He did it because he loved you. And he did it because he loved me. What will keep me in the last days is allowing that love of God to flow through my heart.

Christ’s Love at the Cross

To all people around me. To opening the doors of my heart. And saying it's obvious Lord that all the truth in this book is leading me into your work. And your work was the redemption of fallen humanity.

Oh yes but my own heart will say but oh God have you seen the people the way they are? I would rather you judge them Lord than love them through me. Have you seen what they're doing? Have you seen how they're breaking down everything I hold dear?

Have you seen how they're destroying the very fabric of our society? Have you heard their rants and their ravings? And the Lord will say to you and to me oh yes I have. Oh yes I have. You forget that one day I was on a cross.

One day they were walking by me wagging their heads saying he says he's the son of God. Let his father have him if he will save him if he will have him. Oh he saved him. Others himself he cannot save.

Come down from the cross and we will believe you. And think about it for a moment. When he spoke these incredible words and said father forgive them they don't know what they're doing. What were they doing at the moment?

Look down at the foot of the cross and the scripture tells us they were gambling for his clothing at the foot of the cross. It's an incredible example of divine love and human depravity. The son of God is on that cross.

He is offering covering. He is offering redemption. He's offering forgiveness. He's offering restoration. He's offering futures. He's offering an eternity with God. And here they are at the foot where the blood is dripping down into the soil.

And they are literally gambling for his clothing. Like scavengers at a cross. Gambling for what they can get out of this sacred moment. And not what they can give. They're blinded to the whole situation.

God is giving his life. He's giving his all. He's giving the very blood in his body. He's willing to endure the separation from his father which to our minds is not understandable. When he said father I don't want to go through this.

Take this cup. He wasn't necessarily talking just about the cross. It was the separation from his father. That had never been known ever at any time. Almost unthinkable. One day you and I are going to get to heaven.

And we're going to see what that cost the son of God. And at the foot of the cross with all this being offered. What are they doing? They're picking apart his earthly goods. Talk about spiritual blindness.

It's almost a type of what goes on even in the name of God. We have this incredible sacrifice of love that is given for all of humanity. And we have many who claim to belong to Christ at the foot of the cross.

Literally gambling for earthly things. No wonder they have no vision. No wonder there's no sight. No wonder they will be deluded and deceived. When some voice rises up and says this is Christ. This is what he looks like.

Because they've rejected the real Christ. Rejected the love of God. Rejected that which God calls them into and calls them to follow him. No the fuel source of life is love. Divine love. Supernatural love.

There's nothing in you and nothing in me that can produce this. It has to be supernatural. It has to be given to me. I've not had anybody slap my face yet. I've not had anybody pull my hair out. I've not had anybody beat my back.

Paul’s Love for Those Under Judgment

Now Paul did. And Paul had that love in him. He said even among those that were causing him pain. He said I wished that I myself could be accursed for my brethren's sake. That's the love of God. That's what Jesus was made to curse.

That we might be set free from the curse of sin. And Paul had that in his heart. He said I wish that I could become a curse. That they might be set free from the curse of sin that is heading them to an eternal hell.

That's the love of God. That's what propelled this man. That's why he didn't give up. That's why he never became jaded. That's why he never lost heart. That's why I believe the Roman soldiers chained to him in that last prison cell loved him.

They saw something that this world can't produce. And by God's grace I've got to get there. And you've got to get there because it's our strength for the last days. This gospel Jesus said of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world.

For a witness to all nations then shall the end come. In a season where the whole world is turning against the things of God. Where everything is going into lawlessness and rebellion. Here's the last message.

The Church as the Last Gospel Message

There will be a people filled with the love of God. There will be a people who stand before their generation. Whether it's in your workplace, your apartment, in your own home, among your own family. Wherever it is that God would have you.

There's going to be a people who stand and their hearts are filled with the love of God. They will not be deceived, they will not be led to another Christ. They will not be looking for safety for themselves anywhere else but in the love of God.

Hallelujah. Jesus Christ had every opportunity to be bitter. Can you imagine he created humanity. And here they are mocking him, spitting on him, gambling for his clothing. And all he is doing is speaking life.

He's giving his mother into the care of his beloved friend John. He's just simply, all his words are just life. And even asking for forgiveness. And he's even forgiving and taking a thief with him into paradise.

He had every opportunity to become bitter. But by the strength of the Holy Spirit within him he endured. That's what I believe that this verse in Matthew speaks about. He that shall endure unto the end shall be saved.

Or he that has the power to endure to the end is saved. Is a better way to say that. The power to endure in love. The power to be given for people. This is the work of God, my friends. You and I will be the last gospel preached to an ungodly world.

We will be. We are. The last gospel message. This gospel of the kingdom. This gospel of endurance. This gospel that doesn't quit. This gospel that is given to people even when they are absolutely steeped in rebellion to a holy God.

This gospel will be preached in all the world. That means it will be preached through you and through me. In the streets, in the subways, in the office, in the apartment, wherever it is that you are. This gospel will be preached in all the world.

Loving the Unlovely Through Christ’s Strength

Which brings me to my last point. And that is that you and I must find the strength in Christ to love the unlovely. And we must find it now. There's a day coming when it's going to be very difficult. There's a day coming of crisis when things begin to spin completely out of control.

When it's going to be very hard. And that's where we will see the next chapter in Matthew fulfilled. When there's a cry in those who know Christ saying he's coming. Can't you see? Don't you understand?

Don't you know? And there will be others who have sat in the presence of God but they have rejected this love of the truth. The truth has not brought their hearts into unison with God. It's never produced, oh they've loved life, they've loved garments, they've loved church.

They've loved their own families and they've loved those who love them. But it's never brought them into a crucified love. Into that kind of love that only God can give. Now I'm in the same boat that you're in right now.

I've just preached myself under tremendous conviction. Because I can't do this. And neither can you. I'm kind of thankful I can't do it. And I'm thankful that you can't do it. It puts us all on level footing.

We all stand before the throne of God and say Lord Jesus you've got to come now. And you've got to fill me up. And you've got to help me to love the unlovely. I can't do it in my own strength. And Lord you have to do it now.

Now. Now is when you and I have to get the oil. Now is when we need the strength. I find the Lord doing that in my heart more and more all the time. Taking me out of where I shouldn't be and bringing me into where I should be.

But it's a fight folks. Everything in the human heart doesn't want to go there. We want everything of God. We want the history. We want the garments. We want the moment. We want to sing the songs. We want everything but the work of God.

Which is the winning of the lost. And if we do go to the lost we want the lost to like us. We want the lost to say you know I've noticed that you're such a lovely person. And I just am absolutely taken up with admiration of you.

You say well yes of course. You know it's the Lord in my life. And that's nice. That happens once in a while. But most often it's somebody that's stabbing you in the back in the workplace. Cursing your God.

Calling you an idiot. A fool. Because of what you believe. Most often that's the case. And that's the love. That the truth will bring us into. And again I want to state this point. They did not receive the love of the truth.

The love that truth brings into the heart. They didn't receive it. That's why they were given to delusion. I want with all my heart to be given for people. And I know you do as well. We must find the strength now.

I want you to think of the most unlovely person you know. Didn't take long did it? You didn't even have to think about it. It was right there wasn't it? Good old cousin Frank was right there. I want you to pray with me today.

For the grace to love. That person. Because the obvious question at the end of this kind of a message is where do we start? Start at the beginning. Start at the place where God says start here. Now some of these people will never respond.

To your gestures of kindness. Some of them did not respond to Christ. They heard all his words and they're in hell today. They were there at the cross. But they rejected it. But that doesn't mean we stop because it's not received.

We let God manifest this love through us. Now Father I thank you Lord. I know that I have delivered your heart. And I know Lord this is going to keep us. In the coming days. You have to help us in this because none of us can do this.

Prayer for a Church Built by Divine Love

Without your spirit upon us it just becomes a pie in the sky. Principle that we can't attain to. You have to come and do it within us. You have to come and give us the love. And I thank you Lord that you've been giving me victory.

I praise you God for with all my heart. I thank you Lord that your word says that those who labor must be the first partaker of the fruits. And you led me through some very deep water. Where I had to learn to love something that I hate.

And God I thank you for giving me the victory. I thank you with all my heart. I praise you that I feel in my heart that I'm clear and clean of offense to God and man. Oh Jesus I pray for this church. Lord we're going to have to be baptized.

It says on our marquee the church that love is building. I didn't put that there. That was there when I got here. But you must have declared that over this church. You must have spoken prophetically over Times Square Church.

Because it is the church that love is building and has to build. And Father I pray that what's written on our sign not be a fraud in this generation. It be really true that we be a people who do know the love of God.

Who are ambassadors of the love of God. Who are supernaturally enabled by the love of God. And the truth has brought us to this love of God. That we're able to go to all people everywhere. No matter what happens to us.

And be absent of all fear because love casts out fear. Jesus help us to love this generation. God help us to love those who are blaspheming your name. Help us Lord to be your body. To be this last gospel message to an ungodly world.

Father I thank you for this Lord. Only you Holy Spirit can make this a reality. I can't do it and my best efforts can't do it. Only you can do it. But you said in your word that if a son asks for bread you'll not give him a stone.

And you said how much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. And so today Lord we're asking you Jesus to fill us. God fill us with your love. Beginning where we need it the most.

And Jesus we know that this will keep us from deception. It will keep us from fear. It will keep us Lord in the coming days. And it will keep us a living testimony of Christ. Father I thank you for this in your precious name.

Altar Call and the Call to Receive Christ’s Love

I'm going to give an altar call this morning. In Roxbury and Summit. Here at Times Square Church. For those who have heard this word today. And you say pastor I hear it. I hear it deep in my heart. I want this love of Christ to be in my life.

And I want it to start right where it needs to start. Wherever that might be for you. I'm going to ask you to get out of your seat today. As we stand and make your way in the sanctuary. To the front of the sanctuary in the annex between the screens.

And in the other locations just go forward. We'll be praying together in just a moment. Let's stand and as the Holy Spirit draws you please just come. We're going to pray and we're going to believe God.

That he's going to answer us. In the balcony go to either exit please. Move in close. Let those that are coming get to the salt.

This had to be what it was like in the upper room in the book of Acts.

They were being asked of God to go into a society. That had just killed their savior. That were against the things of God. And yet they asked to be filled with something of God. That could make a difference.

And as I see it in the scriptures when they came out of that upper room. It had to be the love. Above and beyond everything else. There had to be this radiance of God's love in them. That so. Smoked the hearts of a society that were filled with a rage.

That made the difference. And I've always believed that the church will finish no less than the way she started. We will finish as we began. Representing the one who went to a cross. When they came out of that upper room.

I fully believe that all the people expected to die. When they stepped into that marketplace. Because the crowd had just killed their savior. It was I think a foregone conclusion. In many of their hearts but they were willing.

They were willing at the cost. Because their hearts were filled with the love of God. They had embraced what the cross was all about. They didn't come out with tracts in their hands as wonderful as those may be.