Living With a Sense of Urgency Before Christ's Return — Santosh Poonen

Turn with me to Genesis chapter 7. I had a dream last night and I Thought I should share on that not about the dream. The dream is not important, honestly but it prompted some thoughts in my mind, which Which caused me to know what feel like I should share on that.

The dream was very simple and again, I want you to to know that I don't put a lot of value on dreams like a lot of Christendom does. I would rather God speak to me when I'm awake. So I can obey him. Then speak to me when I'm asleep now not here to mock dreams.

God does speak in dreams and visions but there's a false fascination with dreams in Christendom where somebody says I had a dream and you try to read into it and Apply some spiritual meaning to it. It's just to show off and to impress people.

God does speak in dreams, but I would much rather hear his voice day every day every moment of the day throughout the day and unfortunately Dreams at night get exalted to a place that's greater than God speaking during the day.

Wouldn't you rather God speak to you in that moment where you're about to say a harsh word to your spouse and you obey him. That's much greater than some vision or dream you get at night a revelation of Jesus.

Unfortunately, most of Christendom is taken up with future events and and and earthly things even like healing or Some physical manifestation more than a revelation of Jesus. Oh that we would covet seeing Jesus and if it does take a Vision or a dream at night for me to see Jesus more clearly then I say yes Lord sure but I tell you honestly more of my revelation of Jesus comes during the day when my eyes are wide open and He shows me something very ordinary like we heard last week even in his word and says obey it now.

And as I obey it. That hidden life that we were just singing about becomes mine and I see Jesus more intimately and he's more precious to me. I was also listening to a story of Noah with the children and It was a retelling of the Bible story and in that story It's imagining it's kind of like you are there and you're imagining the story of Noah and One of the people is saying they're mocking Noah and saying oh, you know Noah, he's building this ark and they're making fun of him and one of them actually says well The moment I see the first drop of rain, I'll jump in the ark I'll believe Noah when it actually starts to rain the way we understand it.

It hadn't rained yet. There was a firmament and would drop dew but rain had not yet come. So here's a logical person says, okay, maybe Noah's right but I believe that if this if a few drops come I'll have enough time to run quickly into the ark and get in and I'm waiting for the last minute as it were to really go in and believe what God has said.

Noah’s Ark and the Urgency of Entering Before the Door Closes

How do we apply that today there's perhaps Christians that are thinking you know what I'm not quite ready to really forsake all and give all to God completely. I'm not really ready to go to that altar and lay it all and say Lord I don't I don't have a single request from you anymore.

My whole life is yours 100 on the altar, but they're holding back. They're saying well how about if I work if I if I invest in this thing and then I do that other thing and I Delay it. And there isn't a seeking for God that's desperate.

That's there's a set. There isn't a sense of urgency. That's the word that that's been ringing through my mind this morning. There's a sense of urgency as a result of that reminder. I got last night in my dream the dream really it's irrelevant to me I'll be honest with you, but there's a sense of urgency.

I woke up with this morning says Lord. You're coming as soon sooner than I even realize and I Hope I will be here on this earth to see you face to face when you come. But you know who'll get to go first the dead in Christ will rise first and then we who remain will follow them.

They'll get to go first. They'll see him first. I'll be with him first. So it doesn't matter whether I'm already dead physically or I'm still alive here on this earth. I'm looking to The group I'm looking to the heavens to see Jesus face to face.

But in in Genesis 7 we read that God told Noah in verse 7. Yeah verse 13 actually on the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth the sons of Noah and Noah's wife and the Three wives of his sons with them entered the ark.

Along with every beast of its kind. Genesis 7 verse 13. So they went into the ark to Noah by twos verse 16 those that entered male and female of all flesh entered as God had commanded him and The Lord closed the door behind him.

That's the picture. I got again this morning of those who are planning or waiting. Until I see some evidence that Jesus is actually going to come. For example, if you read in the in the scriptures, you'll see that there are certain things that are going to happen the The man of sin must be revealed.

The Antichrist must be revealed before Jesus comes and I remember as a young man thinking well, okay. Well, if Jesus said that then there are probably people who can sit there and think well I'll wait for the Antichrist to be revealed and then I'll commit my life to Christ and live for myself.

Live for pleasure love myself love pleasure love money and then I'll be like, oh the Antichrist is here. So now I'm gonna give my life to Christ. It's this mindset that somehow I'm waiting for some physical evidence of Christ coming so that I can.

Because I really love myself. I can wait until the end and then give my life to Christ or then obey him. The Lord shut the door and Then verse 17 the flood came. God shut the door. And what do you think the people this person?

Let's say I imagine that that's what somebody really thought. I'll wait for the rain to come and then I'll get in and he saw the door closed. And he thought why Noah's a real fool. He even shut the door.

How are they gonna breathe in there? They shut the door and there's still no sign of rain. Sometime after the door was closed the rain came. Jesus warned us that His coming would be like a thief in the night for the world for those who aren't really ready.

And Paul tells the church in Thessalonians in Thessalonica that we are not as those who for whom it will be as a thief in The night. God has given us enough warning and he's calling us now. He's the Holy Spirit is speaking.

He who has ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church and the Holy Spirit is calling come. Come come give up give up your self-loving ways. Give up your love of money. Give up your love of pleasure.

Give up your hesitation. Give yourself fully to me. He says come come come come. He's calling. He's calling. He's calling. And then the time will come when there will be no more opportunity for repentance.

Imitating God and Walking in Love

And so that's there there must be a sense of urgency. I'd like you to see this verse in the book of Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 5. I'm just gonna read a number of verses here. So please follow along with me.

Ephesians 5 verse 1 he says first of all be imitators of God as beloved children. Or if I could paraphrase it your life on this earth must look like Jesus. If people at work know you they must know there's something different about you from them the imitators of God as beloved children.

Children whom he loves may let your life look like him Around this time. It's you know, it could be sports. It could be entertainment. It could be Business, it could be success. It could be religion. It could be the events of the world, but you must stand out as Godly be imitators of God.

This is the Holy Spirit calling. This is what? The Noah's of today are preaching or should be preaching. While the door is still open saying be an imitator of God. Let your life look like God the way you speak to the to your wife the way you speak to your husband.

The way you speak to the church the way the things of the kingdom of heaven captivate your mind. Must be as an imitator of God and walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave himself up for you an Offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant of aroma.

What does that mean? That means that When you say you love God you say I'm a Christian. I love God. It must be with the same love that Jesus loved you. He gave himself up fully as a fragrant aroma. There wasn't oh.

What's the minimum I can give to Santosh so that he can be my disciple? He could never have won salvation for me if he gave a little bit or even anything less than a hundred percent. He gave it all. Walk in love as Christ loved you love for God first of all, but also for others here on this earth.

Verse three immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you. It must not even be they're not must not be even a shred of evidence of immorality or impurity or greed. How does greed manifest is looking at somebody else and saying?

Oh, I wish I had their life or God, why don't you give me what they have? Jealousy because you're greedy. It should not even be mentioned. This is noah calling before the the door is closed. As is proper among the saints.

There must not be filthiness and silly talk or coarse jesting. Which are not fitting. No, silly jokes. Don't share those memes that are edgy. You know, that's common even christians. Sometimes they forward them to me.

A little bit raunchy, you know, you can't quite say it's bad. But it's got an edge to it. And if you're old enough and you're familiar enough with the things of the world, you know what the insinuation is there.

A child looking at it will say what does that mean? But you know what it means. There must not be any filthiness or silly talk or coarse jesting. Which are not fitting. It's not right. Do you think jesus would sit there and laugh at that joke or share that joke?

But rather give thanks. I Try to put that in practice when somebody and I hear somebody trying to say something filthy. Close your ears. Give thanks. We heard olu reminded us at the prayer meeting yesterday morning.

Give thanks. Thankfulness is a wonderful wonderful way to drown out. Bad talk and evil talk give thanks. For this, you know with certainty that oh look at how the holy spirit has to underline it, you know with certainty.

Be absolutely certain. No immoral or impure person or covetous man. Who is an idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom of christ and god, but you'll say oh, but I said the prayer. I sat in church. I went to rlcf.

I prayed before every meal. I taught my children the word of god. They said their memory verses. But god will say I saw in secret what you were like. So Let no one deceive you with empty words patting you on the back saying it's okay.

You can live that self-loving coarse jesting life. Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things the wrath of god, which is what the flood is a picture of you read the beginning of genesis.

God was angry. The wrath of god is what caused him to send the flood. He was angry at the callous attitude Of the his creation that was created in his image had towards his law. I believe god is angry even today at the callous attitude that many christians have towards his word towards sin.

Because of these things the wrath of god comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. Who do you think he's talking to? Santosh, why are you preaching about immorality and impurity?

It's because paul wrote to a church. That was a very very godly church. Look at what you know, you go back sometime and read what did he write in the first three chapters to the book in? The church in ephesus.

About how they are seated with christ. Are you seated with christ? You say? Yes. I am santos. Yes, brother. I am standing with him. Seated there in the heavenly places ephesians one two, and three to such a church.

He says listen, make sure there's no immorality. Do not be partakers with them you church that is seated with christ in the heavenly places. For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the lord.

Walk as children of the light you call yourself Off light let it be seen in your walk. For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth. Trying to learn what is pleasing to the lord, is that your ambition?

Throughout the day saying lord. What what what can I do right now, which will be pleasing to you? I'll tell you honestly my dear brothers and sisters and children. That is my constant prayer lord. What would you have me do?

What what will what would please you most right now? Is it to kneel down and pray right now? Okay, i'll do that. Is it to play a board game with my children? Yes, i'll do that. Is it to watch this movie that is clean and have some an entertaining time with my children?

Sure, is it to go out in the yard and play something with the children sure lord. What will be pleasing to you trying to learn what is pleasing to the lord? Oh, can you hear? The simple call of noah today before the door is closed.

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness now. He's it's not just it's not just Uh, you know bad movies and coarse jokes. It could be anything that's off this world. Don't be a partaker in anything that's off this world in any movement that's off this world.

Don't be a partaker in it. It's off this world. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness but instead expose them. For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light for everything that becomes visible is light. And for this reason he says to a church that's seated in the heavenlies awake if you've been sleeping wake up.

Redeeming Time and Seeking God’s Will

There's a sense of urgency that must be there if you've been sleeping wake up arise from the dead and christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk not as unwise men, but as wise making the most of your time.

I think the king james says redeeming the time. There's a mindset That I used to have that money is valuable. Time is Expendable. In other words if something costs a lot of money, but it'll take you a lot of time.

It's worth it time. Money is more valuable than time. I believe that's a lie of the devil. You may be able to get some money back, but time you won't be able to get back. And there's a sense in which you can waste an hour.

On watching, you know on the internet, let's say on youtube or some on social media and waste an hour on it whereas if you spent 60 times sixty three thousand six hundred dollars on something. And it just went down the drain.

Let's say let's say one of your children came to you and says mom or dad I found this packet. And I thought it would be fun to flush it down the toilet and you're like no that was thirty six hundred dollars.

You just flushed down the toilet. What would you do? Compared to if you spent an hour and you watched the last time you looked at your clock. It was 10 o 'clock now. It's 11 o 'clock and that whole hour.

You spent in doing something that was unfruitful. He talks about unfruitful works not necessarily evil works. You may say well nothing wrong in that but it's unfruitful what came out of it. Awake you who sleep be careful how you walk.

So redeem the time. Redeem the time you and I have a short amount of time left on this earth. He's coming soon. Jesus is coming soon and even if. You know, even if you say well, I don't know i'm not trying to predict that he'll come this week or next month or anything like that.

The world is passing away very quickly. So redeem the time. Verse seven because the days are evil so then. Do not be foolish verse 17, but understand what the will of the lord is, you know, God wants you to know what his will is.

Every moment of every day. If you seek him, he will allow himself to be found by you. We just memorized that this last week. That means he wants you to be wants to be found by you. And for him to show you his will.

Lord, should I take this job? Lord? Should I do that? Lord? Should I spend my time in this? He says he's saying don't be foolish, but try to understand what the will of the lord is in every situation.

He'll guide you. He will allow himself to be found by you not just in the big things I used to think well, okay. That's should I marry this woman and thank god. I married megan. He led me in his will in that um, but even in the little things the other day we.

We borrowed a dvd of a movie from the library, you know, usually you think the library's got some safe options. And immediately my prayers it seems okay. It's rated for children. And I said lord, what is it will seek?

To know what is the will of the lord in a little thing like that. Do you think it will matter in heaven whether I watch that movie with my children or not? Oh it will. I might think well, okay, I can.

I can warn my children about it after the fact because there was that that little thing at the end megan and I were talking about another. A little little story that's there and at the last minute they throw a little twist.

Something of this world a little twist. Everything was good up to that little twist at the end. Which is the spirit of this world? Be watchful and god guided us in that situation like no, it's not something even though it's from the library.

And even though we don't go by the world's rating. Seek to know what is the will of the lord? That's the cry of your heart. He will lead you. And so for that reason look at the context your brothers and says he says do not be drunk with wine.

Dissipation, Alcohol, and Being Filled With the Holy Spirit

Does that seem a little bit like out of place? Like what does wine have to do with this? I'll tell you why here's a reason that I abstain from alcohol completely. Not at all. Not even a little bit. It's because I know, you know.

Yeah, you might say well, you know the lord does does it forbid it? It says don't be drunk. I'll tell you this that the danger with alcohol is this. And i've never forgotten. I heard a read a sermon by david wilkerson the sermon called sipping saints.

And he warned the church in the 80s. And here we are 30 years later. You think it's worse? Of course it is. And there he was preaching to the church in times square in new york warning them about what he was seeing.

Among christendom a casual attitude towards partaking in alcohol. I've gotten trouble for preaching about this. I don't mind. If it gets me in trouble again people call me a legalist and all kinds of things and i've left this church over that.

But that's okay. I'll tell you this I fear god and i'm not telling you what you should or shouldn't do. But I encourage you dear brothers and sisters in light of what the verses that I just read in ephesians 5.

That you consider everything that you do In the mind in the light of eternity and he says that the This dissipation. That's the danger of alcohol. And the danger of a lot of these other things that will waste your time.

It could be social media. It could be movies. It could be sports. It could be Whatever. Dissipation is that gradual seeping away? Draining of the power of the holy spirit in your life. Casual conversation.

I tell you be wary of. Of the kind of conversations the politically motivated motivated conversations that are popular in today's day and age. Whether you're on the left wing or the right wing. Be wary of that because of the dissipation that will happen.

Where the the fire of the holy spirit will go out. I talked about how when you speak too much. It's like the door is open and the fire is the heat is going because you're talking too much. Here's another way of dissipation where you're taken up your mind is taken up with the things of this earth.

Whether you think they're right things or wrong things. There's still things of this earth dissipation and alcohol has a way of Causing you to sort of I wonder why do people drink alcohol. It's because it does something to you chemically.

And mentally puts you in a state where you're sort of calm. People talk about even certain drugs that do that milder drugs. Let's say you know somebody was telling me once that man, I i'm a better husband when I When I can have a glass of wine or a beer or something like that.

I love my wife. That's not loving your wife. That's a deception. Deception. You're in a state where you're everything's chill and things don't offend you as much. It's not the life of christ. And eventually that dependence on that chemical thing to to be a fix for you will get greater and greater and greater.

And it's destroyed christians. So-called christians. It's destroyed marriages. It's destroyed homes. And be be vigilant dear brothers and sisters me I don't know if you are partaking and I'm it's not my business to ask you.

But take it before the lord let the holy spirit convict you about it. And there is I believe a direct correlation between whether you allow this thing. It could be drunkenness with wine, but don't be drunk with anything of this world.

Don't be drunk with the spirit of this world. Because the opposite of that is to be filled with the holy spirit. Verse 18. Be being filled with the holy spirit and here you could be saying lord I don't know why you haven't filled me with the holy spirit.

I'm crying out for the baptism. I'm crying out, but I have this other thing that I like to spend my time on during the week. Be filled with the holy spirit and god may fill you because he loves you. But within a few hours you've lost it by sunday evening.

The anointing's gone because you're more interested in that football game. That's waiting for you or that movie or that activity you have planned or the monday morning ritual that you have. Don't be so excited for the things that the world presents in front of you that you lose the anointing that god has just given You this is dissipation.

Do not be drunk with wine for that that is dissipation, but be filled with the holy spirit. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody with your heart to the lord.

Always giving thanks for look at thanksgiving. There it is again. You can't get away from it. For all things in the name of our lord. Jesus christ to god. Even the father and be subject to one another in the fear of christ.

Commitment to the Local Body and Mutual Submission

Submit yourself to one another. There's that's why we believe in being a local expression of the body of christ. I want to pause there and maybe Speak on this for a second or a minute or so. Why do we believe in a commitment to a local expression of the body of christ?

A lot of people say well, you're kind of elitist. You believe you're the only church. No, we don't. I'm quite willing to allow that there may be another gathering of believers in this area. That's more pleasing to christ than us.

I don't know god is the judge of that. But i'll tell you this this is the place where I know god has called me and planted me. And the place where since i've moved here i've seen god. Allow me to grow.

Uh, and I I left California and you know, I have family there. I have friends there and I You know Job there. That I was prepared to give up to move here to be planted because I knew god was calling me to be a part Of this local expression of his body.

But there's a reason that we believe in that and practice and one of those is here that. It's popular in christendom today to just kind of be a christian and just flit around from church to church bible study to bible study.

I go to do this and I do that other thing and i'm never really committed anywhere. And so I don't have to be subject to anyone. Because yeah, if I like your bible study i'll come to that and if I like your prayer meeting i'll come to that and if I like that other thing that you do i'll go to that if you have some barbecue i'll go to that and We live in a world especially in the western world.

And i've seen this across this country and travel in different places. I see this mentality of well I don't really want to commit to a local church. Because I don't have to be subject to one another in the fear of christ.

I'm here for a number of reasons. One of them is I want to be subject to you to obey ephesians 521. I don't want to get to the end of my life and god says did you obey ephesians 521? Who are the believers that you subjected yourself to in the fear of christ?

None lord says okay. There's a command you missed. And then he says in that context wives submit to your husbands. As to the lord because the husband is the head of the wife as christ also is the head of the church.

He himself being the savior of the body, but as the church is subject to christ. So also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. And you may say santosh that's old-fashioned. We were talking yesterday with some brothers about how things changed after world war ii and in the feminist movement uh women's rights and i'm all for.

Men and women are created equal. Believe that you must know that men and women are created equal in god's eyes. They're equal. But there is an order that he talks about in first corinthians 10 here in ephesians 5 first corinthians 11 here in ephesians 5.

That I don't I don't mind being called old-fashioned. It's just biblical truth. Husbands he goes on to say in verse 25 love your wives. But you see again, you can keep reading and go on. And then he talks about fighting against satan.

Wholehearted Parenting and the Example of Parents

But he sets it up by saying listen, you must wake up. You must determine to have nothing to do with the things of this world. You must wake up out of the sleep. I picture it like the devil singing a lullaby.

As time flits by says it's okay go back to sleep. You're you're okay. You're you're eternally secure. It doesn't matter that you spend your time and spend your affections on all these other things. Go back to sleep child.

Go back to sleep. There isn't a passion for the word of god um. That's why we we want our children to read, you know, is it I I hope that it's not. Just to occupy space that we put the bible reading passages.

On the bulletin it's there for a reason family. It's there so that we'll read it now if you don't follow it, that's fine. But There it's an aid. If you don't know what to tell your children to read just say, okay get the bulletin.

It's also posted on viber if you need it and say go read that. And follow along and if you follow that plan systematically, you'll you'll know god's word. Would it be a shock? I want even all of my children to know god's word.

And Think about it parents. What are our children going to be like in 10 years or 20 years? I'll tell you this is a something the lord spoke to me very clearly this morning. My children are going to be if I want to know what my children are going to be like.

I just have to take a good look at my life right now. And you might say well i'm waiting for this or i'm not quite there yet and all that. The longer you put off that 100 Surrender to god. The longer the devil would say hey put it off a little bit longer.

And you set we set our children up to live the same way. Half-hearted parents breed half-hearted children now. Thankfully god offers the children a way of salvation says I know your your dad and mom were half-hearted.

But you don't have to be and many of us are not me. But many of you are living testimonies to that perhaps where you had parents that didn't even know god god Saved you miraculously and plucks you out of the fire and he's lit a fire inside of you and you're wholehearted.

That's wonderful. But be wholehearted now and let your children see that 20 years from now if you if your children will be who you are today. There's at least there's a greater chance that they'll be that.

So set a good example for that. If you teach your children to memorize scripture and thankfully so many of them whether they get up here or not. Hopefully they're all at least making some effort to memorize it.

But are you memorizing it adults? Or is it not just for the children? If the children see that you're not really serious about reading god's word or praying. Or even taking an effort to try to memorize it.

If the children see that you have a lackadaisical attitude towards the things of god. You're more taken up in what's going on in the world around you. If the children see that you don't take sin seriously.

If the children see that you can speak harshly to your husband or your wife. And there isn't immediately a grieving and a public apology for that public anger that was manifest. That's what they're going to be 20 years from now.

Sitting in rlcf or wherever else god takes them. Wake up if we're sleeping. Let's wake up. Let's have a radical attitude towards sin. Let's have a radical attitude towards Forgiveness. Let's talk about forgiveness.

If the children see that that if the children know if our children know that you still have an unforgiving attitude towards people. Maybe somebody's done some harm towards you. Done some wrong towards you and they see that you have an unforgiving attitude towards them.

And that you whenever you speak about them you speak evil about them. That's who they'll be. They'll grow up being unforgiving. Unforgiveness breeds unforgiveness. Make sure that there's no unforgiveness in your heart towards anybody.

And i'll clarify that doesn't mean that therefore. You should be friends with everybody who says that they want to be friends with you anything like that. Unforgiveness is an attitude in the heart. And be absolutely certain check your heart that there's no unforgiveness or bitterness towards anybody.

Anybody no matter how evil they there might have been no unforgiveness. Yeah I thought I would leave Um us before I end in in with a few things that we can Prepare ourselves with for the time when god is going to shut the door.

Readiness in Luke 12: Hypocrisy and the Love of Money

Let's turn to luke chapter 12. I had thought I would speak a little bit about the rapture. Because there's a false understanding in In christendom today that the church will be raptured before uh before the tribulation, it's a lie.

You read it carefully. Read first corinthians 5 15. Read first thessalonians 4. It says the church Will be here during the tribulation. So but I I think the lord took me to ephesians 5 which is much better anyway.

So we won't talk about the rapture, but let's talk about this and that is. How shall we we be ready? How shall we be ready dear brothers and sisters? How shall we make sure that we're in the ark that before the door is shut?

We're there? It's not just simply saying well lord. I I prayed this prayer. My sins are forgiven. No, it's because something completely different first of all in luke chapter 12. Jesus talks about the end times.

He says you'll read be in readiness verse 35 onwards but the very first thing he says. The very first thing he says if you want to be ready to make sure that you're in the ark before the door shuts. Which is long before the rain will come verse One the latter part of verse one.

And listen, jesus said this under these circumstances. Verse one after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another. This is a mega church a mega church. Is they're so crowded they're stepping on one another.

And and I imagine jesus saying father. What shall I speak on? And he says warn them about hypocrisy. He began saying to his disciples first of all when when uh. When the mega church gathered in and the disciples were sitting in the front row or maybe they were sitting in the back row.

I don't know. He says listen peter andrew james philip Bartholomew, I have a message for you all. Because i'm sure they thought well lord. Great. We've got the crowd. Let's preach the sermon of all sermons and we'll have a big church now.

And jesus says no, I got to preach to your disciples. First of all He began speaking to his disciples. First of all, he says i'm never going to build a church. Unless we first of all make sure there's no hypocrisy.

And perhaps the reason god can't do a greater work in some churches is because there's hypocrisy in the church. We say lord, where are the where are the multitudes? Why is the bible study so few? Why are the prayer meetings?

Just a handful god says I got a message for the disciples first of all He began speaking to his disciples in the presence of the multitude. Beware of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy because there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed.