The Last Days 1 - Luke 21 Vs 5-19

Faith Bible Church

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:03

Good morning everyone, if you guys are doing well, this beautiful Sunday, a little cooler, thank goodness.

00:23

We're going to open up in announcements first of all. So this week for prayer meeting, or today actually, if you guys are available, join us 6pm in the

00:35

Fellowship Hall for a word of prayer. We also have, later this week, a

00:41

Praying with Paul Bible Series that the pastor actually leads on a bi -weekly basis.

00:47

Has it on Wednesdays at 5 .30pm, and you can either join via YouTube link or actually here in church in the

00:54

Fellowship Hall. And then lastly we have the Missionary of the Month, which is

00:59

Ellie Drisinga. She was actually I think a native of California at one point, before actually starting her ministry in Brazil, where she now serves in a town called

01:11

Sapringa, I think? But she has a very heavy role and impact there in church planning, in discipleship, in fellowship, and bringing up those around the local community up to where they can properly understand scripture as well in their native tongue.

01:32

So just pray for her and that her efforts there are going to be fruitful and biblical at best.

01:39

And that does it for announcements. I guess we'll just go right into worship, but let's open in a word of prayer before we do that.

01:48

Dear Lord, thank you for this day you've given us today. Thank you for allowing us to be here and fellowship as a body with you today,

01:56

Christ. As we head into worship and to sermon, to hear the word, prepare our hearts here,

02:04

Lord, today so that we can better receive and understand what is your character,

02:09

Lord, so that we can align ourselves better with it and be acclimated to how scripture tells us to be as opposed to ourselves and the world around us.

02:19

So in your name we pray, in Jesus' name, amen. Our theme today is talking about the

02:24

Lord's coming and heaven. And you'll note that some of the notes, I believe, are trying to reach heaven.

02:30

So you'll understand that. So you that have good high voices, you support me very good there, okay?

02:38

And stand together with me as we praise our Lord and look forward to him coming. Today's scripture reading is taken from the book of 2

07:37

Thessalonians, chapter 2, verses from 5 to 12.

07:47

2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verses from 5 to 12.

07:56

Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?

08:03

And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.

08:10

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he's out of the way.

08:20

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

08:31

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.

08:48

Therefore, God sends them a strong delusion so that they may believe what is false in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

09:04

May the Lord add his blessings to these words. Do you look forward to the day that you see the

09:10

Lord? Whether it's sooner or later, we all will stand before him and we pray that it is a blessed time when we stand before him.

09:19

So stand together with me as we sing together. The sky shall unfold,

09:45

Risen in dread, The stars shall applaud,

09:59

The sweet light of his eye shall enhance those awaiting.

10:09

And face to face,

10:21

And we shall behold our

10:56

Savior. Oftentimes the day seems long,

11:26

Our trials hard to bear, We're tempted to complain,

11:35

To despair, But Christ will soon appear

11:45

To catch all tears forever,

11:56

In God's eternal end we'll be.

12:05

When we see Jesus, he will seem so small,

12:18

When we see Christ, One glimpse of his dear face,

12:28

All sorrow will erase, So bravely run,

12:37

Till we see Christ. Please turn with me to Luke chapter 21.

12:46

Luke chapter 21 verses 5 to 19.

12:58

Verses 5 to 19. Then as some spoke to the temple, of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, he said,

13:12

These things which you see, the days will come in which, not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

13:20

So they asked him, saying, Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?

13:29

And he said, Take heed that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying,

13:36

I am he, and the time has drawn near, therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified, for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.

13:51

Then he said to them, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

14:05

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.

14:15

You will be brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake, but it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.

14:23

Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

14:36

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake, but not a hair of your head shall be lost.

14:52

By your patience, possess your souls. This is the word of the Lord. Let us pray.

15:01

Father, we do not know when your son will come back for the church. We don't know when that will be, but may we look forward to that day in our hearts.

15:16

May we not be distracted, whether good or bad things, but may our prayers and our thoughts long for the coming of the king.

15:32

Help us to endure these persecutions and trials until that day, knowing that you will save us from the great judgment.

15:47

May we trust in him even this morning. Help us to experience your presence.

15:54

In Jesus' name, amen. For the next couple of weeks, we will be talking about eschatology.

16:06

Eschatology means things that relate to the last days, right? That's what eschatos means.

16:13

That's what eschaton really means. I don't know why they named it eschaton, but it's kind of bleak, isn't it?

16:21

It's the last things. This is only a topical series because Luke sets apart a large section of this chapter to depict

16:34

Jesus' Mount Olivet discussion, right? It's only topical because Luke made it topical, right?

16:41

I didn't wake up one day and thought, let's talk about the last things, right?

16:48

Luke depicts Jesus' discussion on what will happen on the last days.

16:55

I originally planned to preach from verses 5 through 24, but the structure fit better to preach until verse 19.

17:05

And today we will be discussing the non -immediate events that must occur before the coming of Christ.

17:13

And these are events that have been really happening since the 1st century.

17:19

That's why there was this prevalent thought even in the New Testament that Jesus is coming back soon, right?

17:28

Wars, famines, pestilence, persecution from the religious leaders and political leaders that have been continuing since the 1st century.

17:40

And they really thought the church would be raptured up anytime soon because the non -immediate signs are pretty general, right?

17:53

I think just because of the historical proximity, right?

18:00

We only go back to like World War II. Like imagine what would have been like for German Christians or what would have been like for really any

18:09

Christian because of Hitler's menace being so global, right?

18:14

They probably thought Jesus was coming back soon. And that's really because the signs are so general.

18:23

But Jesus tells us in the end we have to just trust Him because He will provide every word that we need to speak.

18:34

And He will provide our faith, provide for our faith until the end.

18:43

And unlike the rise of the Antichrist, which is very, very specific, right? These events are very general and continuous.

18:52

They've been going on for millennia. Now, we do need to note that compared to Matthew and Mark's depiction of this discussion,

19:02

Luke does not delve too deeply into the Great Tribulation.

19:08

The Great Tribulation partly was read by Carl X today when the

19:14

Antichrist rises that the Great Tribulation will follow after, right? Luke doesn't focus on this, right?

19:23

Matthew and Mark actually state that the Tribulation period would be so unbearable unless God steps in and end it short, even the elect, even the

19:35

Christians would fall away, right? I mean believers, right? Even the believers will fall away, right?

19:41

And that's striking. But Luke does not emphasize the

19:49

Great Tribulation. While Matthew and Mark discuss the rise of the

19:55

Antichrist, Luke does not mention that either, right? Specifically, the man of lawlessness is not mentioned in Luke 21.

20:03

And this is not because Luke's missing a few piece, but rather Luke's focus is more on the fall of Jerusalem, right?

20:14

His focus is more on the fall of Jerusalem and how devastating the end must be if the nearer judgment of the fall of the temple is so disastrous.

20:25

It's kind of like looking at the closer historical event, which

20:30

I'm thinking of AD 70, right? When the temple was just destroyed by the

20:36

Roman army. How devastating would the last day judgment be if the

20:44

Jerusalem's fall was so devastating in AD 70? Or in Luke's case, will be, because Luke's writing it before it actually fell.

20:55

And this is important for us this morning because our current generation rarely thinks about the last days.

21:04

I think it's, it was very, very popular during the last century, right?

21:14

The 60s, 70s, 80s. But nowadays we don't talk about eschatology, right?

21:22

And sometimes that's because we are too easily content with what's happening in our lives.

21:29

That we forget to remember that this world is not eternal. We get just so comfortable with the status quo.

21:37

Ah, yes, I'll be going to work and I'll have my vacation days and then I'll go back to work again and I'll buy this so -and -so at Costco, right?

21:45

It just, the status quo becomes so comfortable. Although we may not say it, we start to believe that this is how it's going to be.

22:00

Yet there is no guarantee that our lives will be comfortable until we retire and die. That's actually very rare in human history.

22:09

Even without the second coming of Christ in picture. There is no guarantee of the perpetual

22:17

Pax Americana, peace all over the world under the auspice of the U .S. military.

22:27

Primarily knowing what must occur before the second coming of Christ encourages and assures us that no matter how horrible the world becomes,

22:38

Christ warned us of this and He is fully in control.

22:45

No matter how devastating the world becomes, Christ is seated on the throne and His redemptive plan is unfolding.

22:55

And that's important because if you don't have the end picture in your heart, then the life you live becomes too depressing when things that you don't expect come about.

23:12

We look to what Jesus said about the last days knowing that it could come any time and it has been unfolding ever since.

23:26

Because in the end, as we've been singing, you'll get to see

23:32

Christ face to face. That's the end goal here. Anything less than that will let you down when things get heated up a little bit more.

23:48

It's the very promise of the presence of Christ for the church in the last days that helps us to get through whatever the world may throw at us knowing that He's still in control.

24:03

The main question today is, what non -immediate events must occur before the second coming of Christ?

24:11

What non -immediate events must occur before the second coming of Christ? Now, first, we trust

24:20

God's redemptive plan despite the world's increasing chaos knowing that it will all eventually culminate to His second coming.

24:29

We trust God's redemptive plan despite the world's increasing chaos knowing that it will eventually culminate to His second coming.

24:39

After Jesus defeated the religious establishment and their challenges, another discussion occurs in the temple.

24:48

It starts with the disciples' admiration of the temple.

24:54

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations.

25:02

Here, Jesus' disciples admire the temple. Remember, many of them are not native

25:09

Jerusalemites. They didn't grow up in Jerusalem. They are Galileans.

25:14

They're from the northern region of the land of Israel. So, what we would call them are their country bumpkins.

25:23

We, Sacramentans, we're city folks. We're used to the tall buildings.

25:28

We're used to the highway, right? We're used to the convenience of Costco 10 to 15 minutes away, right?

25:38

Well, these Galileans were not used to the tall, beautiful temple, right?

25:46

At the side of the temple, their jaws drop. And a brief history of the temple is necessary here.

25:54

The temple for the Jews was the dwelling place of God. That's why it was important.

26:00

It wasn't just for the beauty of it, although it is beautiful. What made it special was that God dwelt there, and that's how

26:06

God's people would experience His presence. The temple of the first century is actually the refurbished second temple.

26:18

So, what do I mean by the second temple? Remember, Babylon destroyed Solomon's temple in 586

26:25

BC. Babylonians, the Chaldeans, they go by the same thing.

26:31

They were a brutal force, and they just razed the temple to the ground, right?

26:39

And, in fact, the temple didn't exist until 516 BC, in which it was built back up by Ezra's leadership.

26:47

That's what the book of Ezra is about, if you haven't read it yet. And compared to the grandeur of the

26:53

Solomonic temple, the second temple was subpar. In fact, it made the older folks who have seen the first temple weep loudly because the second temple was less glorious than the first.

27:09

Ezra 3 .12. Now, around 18 BC, so fast forward even a couple of centuries,

27:17

Herod the Great, that's the genocidal narcissist who killed the babies of Bethlehem, he decides to refurbish the temple.

27:26

He actually does it really well, in terms of, it was a very popular choice.

27:36

The people loved this idea. It became much larger, and it became more beautiful.

27:42

The second temple became, I mean, awe -inspiring.

27:51

In fact, in total, it took 80 years to finish. Ironically, a couple of years after that, after the 80 -year completion, it got destroyed again.

28:07

And we're not used to this 80 -year work project. But if you're a European, you know some of those cathedrals that are huge, gorgeous,

28:18

Notre Dame, the Duomo of Milan, all the spiky buildings, the

28:25

Gothic architecture. Those took centuries, right? Those took centuries.

28:34

Now, the disciples admire Herod's refurbished temple and the beautiful stones and the ornaments.

28:40

When it says the donations here, those are the offerings given to the temple. And unlike the fiat currency that we use, their donations were gold and silver, right?

28:51

They were actually valuable, usable things. What that means is the silver and the gold decorated the temple.

29:01

The donations literally themselves were used to redecorate the temple.

29:07

The gates were gold and silver -plated while the doors were gold -plated.

29:13

And if you're curious how, what kind of grandeur that would look like,

29:20

I know we don't have the temple anymore. If you search up the palace, the

29:27

Versailles Palace, that's in France, that was used by the French monarchy.

29:34

Around 2000s, they actually rebuilt the gate and they made it golden gates.

29:40

The gates look beautiful if you look it up. But imagine that but so much more because it's the temple, right?

29:49

The first century Jewish historian Josephus described the doors as flashing in the sun like a snow -clad mountain.

29:58

If you've driven up to Tahoe and you can see the mountains with the snow on top still even on a summer day.

30:05

And it just, that lavishing bright glare, right?

30:11

That pure white shine is what

30:18

Josephus thought of when he saw the temple doors. In fact, not only was the temple a national pride thing for Israel, it was internationally renowned.

30:33

The first century Roman historian Tacitus described it as immensely opulent.

30:39

This is a Roman citizen. Rome was a great city in itself.

30:45

It was basically the capital of the world back then. Yet, that Roman citizen thought that Jerusalem's temple was immensely opulent.

30:57

So you can see how jaw -dropping awesome this temple was.

31:05

Now we get how Jesus viewed the temple. These things which you see, the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.

31:17

Jesus does not admire the temple at all because he knows its destiny.

31:27

A day is coming in which this monumental work will be dust.

31:36

Don't admire something that will not last. I mean, that's even a lesson for us today.

31:44

Don't admire something that won't last. Now, curious as to what

31:50

Jesus means, the disciples asked Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?

32:02

Their question is more than just about the temple. Notice the phrase, these things.

32:08

It's plural. The disciples knew that the destruction of the temple would be a part of a series of eschatological events.

32:18

Hence, if the temple is destroyed, the world will be dramatically impacted.

32:24

So they asked for a sign that will precede the end of the world. How will we know when the apocalypse starts?

32:33

In the Jewish mindset, they've read Daniel, the book of Daniel.

32:40

They knew when the man of lawlessness comes into the temple to defile it, then they knew the

32:50

Messiah would come. They knew the world will change when

32:57

God comes back to judge the world. So they're asking for a sign because they know, or they think, rather, that this temple will last until the end of the world.

33:11

So when will the sign be? Instead of directly answering their question,

33:17

Jesus lays out what will happen, which are not immediate signs, from verses 8 to 11.

33:23

So these signs actually are not the immediate signs. Immediate means after something happens, directly

33:30

Jesus comes back, right? In fact, in the Bible, we don't get an immediate sign before the rapture, right?

33:40

It could be any day. That's kind of the point. That kind of keeps us on our toes.

33:50

Some of you might hope for the rapture before a final exam or a stressful thing at work, but I can't tell you when that is.

34:00

No one knows. Now, there's an increase in intensity as we go from verse 8 to 11.

34:08

First, Jesus warns us there will be false messiahs. Take heed that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name saying,

34:18

I am he, and the time has drawn near. Therefore, do not go after them. The common message of the fake

34:26

Christ is that they are their Christ, that they claim to be Christ. They claim to be the chosen one of God who came to rule the world, make the world right, bring peace, right?

34:38

In fact, that's what the antichrist will do, too. He will try to unite the world under him, not

34:44

God, to bring peace. Peace, quote -unquote, right? Fake peace.

34:55

What this means is Jesus warns his followers to be discerning, and it means that there will be a gap between his first coming and the second coming, and many imposters will attempt to trick his people into following them instead.

35:12

Second, this means when Christ does come back, it will be qualitatively different from all the false

35:17

Christs who came before, all the little antichrists, right?

35:23

All those who try to be Christ. And if anyone claims that the world is ending at a certain time, they are also imposters, too.

35:34

It is one thing to say Jesus is coming back soon, but the moment you place a date on it, you become a deceiver, because only

35:42

God knows when Jesus comes back. Modern examples are the

35:49

Moonies. I don't know if you know about the Moonies. Some of you older generation might know because the founder was alive until 2012, and his goal was very similar to what all these antichrists and the capital -A antichrists will do, to bring peace to the world.

36:08

He was this Korean gentleman who claimed to be Jesus Christ, and his teaching was that he will bring the global peace, something that only

36:19

Christ can do. It was a Korean cult. He died in 2012, and you know why he hasn't returned since.

36:30

No resurrection for him. He's a false Christ, right?

36:35

He's an imposter. Another example which all of you probably would know are the

36:42

Jehovah's Witnesses. They actually predicted in the late 1800s that Jesus would be back in 1914, like physically back.

36:52

Obviously, that hasn't occurred, so they had to refurbish that story a bit, but in the historical documents, they really believe that Jesus would reign physically on Earth in 1914.

37:06

Second, when there are social unrest, they're not the immediate signs of the end, but when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified, for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.

37:25

These are the rumors of wars and rising social unrest. Most would be distressed by the increase in chaos, increased crime, a complete disdain for authority and rule of law, and for many of us, we've been kind of seeing that, first due to California's legislature, and then second, nationally too, right?

37:58

Rise in open rebellion against and hatred toward God and his people, and we see that today, and increasingly so.

38:08

College campuses, anything to do with God and his redemptive plan, they will protest.

38:15

Yet, Jesus commands his believers not to fear, because you know what? They are scary when it's your backyard, right?

38:24

It's another thing when it's Minneapolis, but when it's downtown Sacramento, it is scary.

38:32

Not to fear, because they are all a part of God's plan, yet they do not signal the immediate end.

38:41

Jesus' disciples ultimately need to trust God's sovereign plan, despite the circumstances, and that's really what trust is.

38:50

Can you trust God and his character when things are going wrong?

38:59

It's easy to say you trust him when things are going right, but when things are falling apart, can you trust that God did not make a mistake when there's chaos on the street, when buildings are burning down?

39:16

Can you trust that God did not err when there are multiple potential wars starting in different continents?

39:26

And to the ancient believers, they would have had to remember when the temple collapsed, can you believe that God did not snooze?

39:36

Can you believe that God did not abandon his people when the social structures that we depend on for security and safety crumble down?

39:47

When the call to 911 stopped working, can you trust that God still is in control? All things are going according to his plan of redemption, and nothing has changed.

40:02

And sometimes we need to hear Diane say, just trust God. And you might have heard her say that when you share something that's bleak.

40:14

Just trust God. Third, we move from social unrest to actual global wars.

40:23

Nation will rise against nation, the kingdom against kingdom. Now, it is more than just civil chaos, but a global showdown.

40:32

You're not just hearing about it, but you're seeing the world go down in flames.

40:39

Yet this does not signal the immediate return of Christ. In fact, historically, it's very, very rare for a nation to not witness a war in their generation.

40:56

It's just, wars are always happening. And that's the result of human sin, right?

41:04

You want to rule over another nation or people group. That's what it is.

41:10

I want to be God, and you better worship me. That's really the main cause of wars.

41:17

And the other party says, no way I'm doing that. Fourth, we move from the human -caused disasters to now natural disasters, disasters that we don't really, we can't control.

41:32

And there will be great earthquakes at various places and famines and pestilences. And there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

41:41

The whole created order is breaking apart. Yet this does not signal the immediate return.

41:50

But they do signal signs that must occur before Jesus comes back.

41:58

So it may not be soon after, but they have to happen. And they have been happening.

42:09

During the Age of Enlightenment, when people were all fascinated with nature, and it's like, ah, nature's so beautiful, right?

42:16

This Mother Nature idea, right? The social structures, laws, no, religions, those are gross, but nature's so beautiful.

42:23

And that was the thought in Europe, right? It started in Europe. What happens soon after?

42:30

Portugal experiences a great earthquake, devastates the whole country, really thousands of people dead, unannounced.

42:41

I mean, in one sense, God was showing that, stop. Stop worshiping nature.

42:48

Is nature so beautiful now? But these things have been happening for thousands of years.

43:02

Yet those do not signal the immediate return. When the world is going crazy,

43:10

Jesus tells us God did not abandon you. When there are mobs rioting,

43:16

God did not take a vacation. When the leaders of the world enter into another global war,

43:23

God was not caught off guard. When the whole state of California is quaking,

43:30

God is still on His throne. And these things must occur before the second coming of Christ.

43:37

And for Christians, we trust the one who is in charge. Despite the instability, we confidently depend on the unchangeable sovereign

43:51

God. That's how we not fear.

43:58

I mean, Jesus tells us, do not be terrified. But Jesus, there are riots outside my door.

44:04

Do not be terrified. Jesus, there's a war happening. Do not be terrified.

44:12

Jesus, the ground is shaking. Do not be terrified. What's the reason?

44:17

Because Christians aren't just naturally bold people? No, it's because you trust the one who is actually in charge.

44:27

And He hasn't changed a bit. And His plan is still ongoing.

44:38

His plan not only was aware of all of this chaos, but included it.

44:45

Through the coming of Christ, He will fully restore what sinners and sin have destroyed.

44:51

And that's what we trust. We trust a King who will make it all right.

45:00

Now, what will happen to Christians before all this increased chaos? We can confidently persevere any persecution for Christ because God will guide us until the end.

45:12

We can confidently persevere any persecution for Christ because God will guide us until the end.

45:20

Now, after sharing what must take place in the world, Jesus goes over what His followers must face before that.

45:27

He narrows down from the world to His followers. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.

45:41

This is what Christians must face before the global catastrophe. The first guarantee is political and religious persecution.

45:53

Here, the synagogues and prisons show that Christians will face opposition from both the religious and civil leaders.

46:01

Opposition both from Jews and Gentiles. Now, what's the reason for the persecution?

46:08

You will be brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. We haven't really experienced being brought before rulers or kings because we don't have kings, first of all, and our central government normally doesn't bring unknown individuals before them.

46:33

But if you imagine, if you're summoned for a congressional hearing, that's got to be scary because you say the one wrong word and you're held in contempt of the

46:42

Congress. More to our level, because what are the odds that we are ever brought before that body?

46:54

If you get an IRS letter and it's an audit, that's scary.

47:06

Now, when Christ says they're brought before the kings, not because they've broken the law, but they've stood firmly in Christ.

47:17

They took Christ's side. And that's when he says, for my name's sake.

47:24

My name's sake means their identity in Christ. They're brought before the kings, not because they're heinous criminals, but because they're faithful Christians.

47:35

They stand under Christ's banner rather than the realms. Their worth is found in Christ alone, and their life is aligned to Christ's will alone.

47:46

And in act, that's what the early disciples suffered. They suffered shame precisely because, and they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

48:03

Anything and everything that is under Christ, if you stand for that, the authorities will not be pleased.

48:14

They were brought to the leaders for Christ's name's sake. And even though the rulers may have meant for evil,

48:22

God had a different purpose for the persecution. Verse 13, but it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony, witnessing, sharing the gospel, sharing

48:33

Christ. Testimony is a huge, important thread in the

48:40

Christian church. In fact, during the tribulation, how will they, how will Christians, how will followers of Christ really, how will they overcome the devil?

48:53

By the testimony of the lamb. When Christians are brought before the leaders,

49:07

God will use them to testify of Christ's death and resurrection. In fact,

49:12

God will prepare them to speak clearly and boldly. And remember that next time you're summoned to the

49:20

HR for your Christian view and identity. Consider an opportunity to share the gospel with the

49:28

HR manager. Not something you have to dread. Pray that God may use you to clearly share

49:37

Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sin and his resurrection.

49:44

That's what the apostles did. When they say, why are you here?

49:50

Let me tell you about the resurrection. Why are you here? Let me tell you about Christ.

49:58

And what must our posture be when we're persecuted? Therefore settle it in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer.

50:08

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

50:16

Oppose. Counter -argue. This is not saying don't read your

50:22

Bible anymore, right? That's not what it's saying. This is an encouragement that you don't need to be anxiously staying up the night before to rehearse every word that you're going to say before the authorities.

50:39

When you are God's witness, God himself will prepare you to say the right things at the right time.

50:48

With his guidance, no one can disprove your testimony. Just as Jesus silenced his opponents, just in the last chapter.

51:00

With his superior wisdom, he will silence your persecutors through you.

51:07

That's the hope. That's the promise. You don't have anything to fear.

51:13

You don't have to fear anyone. You don't have to fear a single argument that they may throw at you. You don't have to fear a curve ball.

51:20

You don't have to fear that you may not know enough. Right? Omniscience is not a requirement for Christianity.

51:29

You don't have to fear because God himself, Jesus himself will speak through you.

51:34

He will give you the words. He will give you the wisdom. Do you trust that?

51:43

From the impersonal political and religious persecution, next

51:48

Christians will face personal betrayals. Verse 16, you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

51:59

And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. While the previous persecution was done by powerful strangers, this persecution is done by people you love the most and people who were supposed to love you the most.

52:15

Parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. The list of the personal persecutors descend from the most intimate to the least.

52:26

Parents who are given to you by God to take care of you.

52:33

Or if you're a Christian and they're not, they're going to personally betray you.

52:42

And brothers, relatives and friends.

52:49

From your most intimate relationship to the least, they will all betray you. If your allegiance is to Christ, they will turn you over.

52:59

In fact, the promises, some will even face death. And we're not familiar with this type of persecution in the

53:08

West. Mainly because we've been culturally Christian.

53:15

And second, even if people are not culturally Christian, they value the freedom of religion, right?

53:25

They still value that here. To a certain extent.

53:30

However, in the Middle East, Renouncing Islam and converting to Christianity can often lead to execution, if not by the authority, but by the family.

53:43

A family can turn over the new Christian convert, and whether through mob violence or ruling authorities, he or she can be killed.

53:52

That's a reality that they face every morning. And verse 17 makes it clear that the hatred towards Christians will be, again, for Christ's sake.

54:03

It's not because Christians are just so stubborn, and so hard to get along with, right?

54:09

That's not the reason for the persecution. It's because they trust in Christ.

54:17

They're not hated because they're mean, but they're hated because they identify with Christ. They belong to Christ.

54:23

They live for Christ, and they're willing to die for Christ. Now, how is the persecution worth suffering?

54:33

This notion that suffering is good in itself is just masochistic, right?

54:39

Nowhere in the Bible are we told to seek suffering. They come to you, really, but you don't need to seek them.

54:49

But what's the reason for enduring, right? Why not just renounce Christ? Verse 18,

54:55

But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. Jesus here is not saying you will never go bald if you're

55:04

Christian. Or rather, if we interpret it figuratively, it's also not saying you will never be hurt if you're

55:15

Christian. In fact, the promise of not one hair being lost is the promise of eternal security.

55:26

Not a hair of your head shall not be lost means no matter what the rulers, no matter what the unjust ruling may be,

55:36

Christians will be eternally secure in Christ. No matter what they try to do to you, no matter what torture you may experience, your eternal destiny, your eternal state is secure.

55:53

You may suffer temporarily, but your eternal destiny is sealed in Christ. And no one can rob

56:00

Christ. And there is nothing in all of creation that can separate you from Christ.

56:07

And verse 19 shows us our responsibility. By your patience possess your souls.

56:14

Some translation has, by your endurance you will gain your lives. This is not work -based salvation here, but rather it's the idea, it's the doctrine, the perseverance of the saints.

56:28

The true saints will persevere until the end. Your endurance is the sign that you are truly believing.

56:40

Right? First John is a place you go to know that.

56:47

How do you know that the true believers are true believers? Well, they last.

56:53

They keep on believing. And that's why the Apostle John says, well, these folks, they left us.

57:01

But they were not really of us. They didn't really belong. They weren't really Christians in the first place, because they left

57:08

Christ. Now, in the end, when you believe that Jesus died for your sin on the cross, and he rose from the dead, he doesn't guarantee you life absent of persecution.

57:24

That's not what he guarantees. People may promise that. If you give this much to the church, you'll be blessed.

57:31

That's what they do, right? That's not the guarantee. What he guarantees is not the absence of persecution, but life full of his presence and guidance.

57:43

That's what he guarantees. It is through the persecution that he will deliver you.

57:52

And again, this is not about the tribulation here. It's not the great tribulation. The text is general, the non -immediate things.

58:00

Here, Jesus guarantees persecution for his followers before his second coming.

58:07

Before the global catastrophes, the church will be persecuted. And in fact, persecution and suffering are the

58:15

DNA of the church. Persecution and martyrdom started as soon as the church started.

58:27

Any pastor or teacher who promises you a life without persecution or life of full comfort because of your faith is a heretic.

58:37

He is going against what Jesus specifically taught. All but one apostle were executed for their loyalty to Christ.

58:53

Many who stood up for the biblical truth have been beheaded, burned, or shot. Many brothers and sisters in Africa and the

59:03

Middle East will risk their lives this morning to gather to worship. If there is no explosion, praise be to God.

59:13

And even if there is an explosion, praise be to God. For they are with Christ.

59:24

They consider losing their lives for Christ's worth more than keeping theirs because they gain

59:31

Christ for all eternity. Now, how can we

59:37

Christians face persecution so confidently? We need to actually tell ourselves this over and over again because we hear the lies in the media, entertainment, schools, celebrities, politicians, that life is meant to be enjoyed to the fullest.

01:00:07

Life is meant to be comfortable. That's the goal. That's what they tell you.

01:00:15

And why are so many of the younger generation so anxious?

01:00:21

Because they were brainwashed to believe that that's what they're entitled to. They're entitled to comfort and the world is all but that.

01:00:34

That's why they demonstrate. That's why they protest in the streets. How come we can't have this?

01:00:42

Well, God didn't promise you that. So, how do we combat that? We have to tell ourselves the truth from the

01:00:49

Bible to counteract the lies. Last Wednesday, during the leadership meeting, we talked about different catechisms because we were talking about the

01:01:03

Catholics, right? And, you know, there are multiple catechisms. It's not just the Catholics who have it.

01:01:09

And it's not like we're against all of them, right?

01:01:16

We don't have one specifically here, but if you do decide to read one, we judge all the catechism based upon Scripture.

01:01:28

Does Scripture actually say that? And I think the benefit of a good catechism is that kids grow up and they are told this over and over again.

01:01:46

And basically, they have it memorized. And it's like some of them go to like over 120 questions and answers.

01:01:54

So, it's like they have like a whole script memorized. The benefit is, as long as it doesn't become just a ritual, right, is that when things become hard, when they are cornered, the truth from Scripture that's written in the catechism, summarized in the catechism, will come to their head.

01:02:17

That's the benefit. But, of course, you can do that with Scripture, too. But sometimes it helps to have someone interpret that.

01:02:24

That's the catechism. It's an interpretation. So, I started reading the

01:02:29

Heidelberg Catechism. It's a long one. I only got to the first question and answer.

01:02:37

Because it's deep. I just wanted to just encamp there. And do you know what the first question is?

01:02:47

What is thy only comfort in life and death? Right? What is your only comfort in life and death?

01:02:53

That's how it starts. And that's important. Because the first question is arguably the most important.

01:03:02

And in fact, that's what we need to ask when we are being persecuted now, when you're being ridiculed at school, when you're being ridiculed by your boss, when your job's on the line, right?

01:03:14

When you might lose your business because you're getting sued. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

01:03:24

I will read a part of it. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who with his precious blood hath fully satisfied for all my sins and delivered me from all the power of the devil, and so preserves me that without the will of my

01:03:48

Heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head. Yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation.

01:03:58

It goes on. But imagine that. Yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation.

01:04:04

Yea, that all things must be below in importance, less in importance, less in significance to my salvation.

01:04:17

That's my comfort in life. What if I lose my job because of my faith?

01:04:26

My only comfort in life and death is that I with body and soul, both in life and death, and not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

01:04:35

Yes, yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation. What if my family disowns me because of my faith?

01:04:44

My only comfort in life and death is that I with body and soul, both in life and death, and are not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

01:04:56

Yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation. What if I'm charged with hate crime because of my faith, which is a reality in England right now.

01:05:10

My only comfort in life and death is that I with body and soul, both in life and death, and not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

01:05:21

Yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation. What if I will be executed for my faith?

01:05:30

My only comfort in life and death is that I with body and soul, both in life and death, and not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

01:05:47

Yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation. For Christians, we readily face persecution even till death.

01:06:00

Knowing who went before us to suffer a greater death, to make eternal life a reality for us.

01:06:11

Everything you hold dear to today, I'm not saying they're not important.

01:06:19

Freedom is important. Your job is important. Your family is important.

01:06:25

Your business is important. Your reputation is important.

01:06:30

Your grades are important. But they're subservient to my salvation.

01:06:39

To your salvation. As long as you have Christ, the net equation is a gain.

01:06:51

That's how you face any form of persecution. Let us pray.

01:07:01

Father, we are grateful that although the persecution, all sorts of persecution are promised, we have a greater promise of your presence through Jesus Christ.

01:07:16

Help us to look to Jesus Christ during the hard times, but also during the easy times.

01:07:23

Knowing that our true treasure, our only comfort in life and death, is that I belong to Christ.

01:07:32

And everything else is far below in significance to my relationship to Christ.

01:07:43

Help us to remember that. Help us to internalize that.

01:07:49

And help us to live that. Help us all to suffer faithfully when the time comes.

01:07:56

In Jesus' name. Amen. ©