Is Time Running Out? Part 1 Series

Is Time Running Out (Part 1)?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Introduction

- This morning, we’ll begin a 2-part message simply called … "Is Time Running Out?

-- When we consider all that is going on today, we must be cognizant of time

-- Time is one of our most precious commodities – really is a gift from God

-- It can be something wasted or treasured; depends on our choices really

- Given the absolute ramping up of sin/rebellion in our nation in which …

-- Everyone wants “their way” - the church must be prepared to show “The Way”

-- I’m not sure how much time we have left (talked before about expecting Jesus)

- I pray these two messages are an encouragement to us

-- An encouragement to get busy, to seek God, and to want to see lives changed

- Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 / PRAY

- Paul is doing some honest talking with the Church … we must see this

-- He knows a time is coming where Jesus will return, and we should as well

- So, we are going to look at who we are fighting against (hint: not one another)

-- Paul’s writing deals specifically with our enemy, his motives, and his desire

-- If you need – consider this a prelude to our Revelation study next year

-- But its more than that: It is to help us understand how we’re in this together

- FACT: Sin is the world’s greatest enemy – and we ought to be bothered by it

-- Sin: GR: hamartia; archery term means to miss the mark or to err

-- But, in order to overcome – we must know … Who is our enemy?

Point 1 – Our enemy is the “Man of Lawlessness”

- Probably the most important thing is to identify who Paul is writing about here

-- He is writing about the power of wickedness, and what it’ll be capable of

-- What’s praise-worthy though, is that Paul also tells us how to overcome it

- He begins by encouraging the church regarding the return of Jesus (v1)

-- RE: He was convinced this would happen imminently (due to sin he saw)

-- BIG: If Paul can be anxiously awaiting Jesus, we ought to as well!

- To the church, he has one message: “Don’t just accept everything you hear” (v2)

-- APP: We must not spend our time listening to teachings that are not true

-- Test the Word you are hearing (APP: look it up); don’t just accept it as fact

-- 1 John 4:1, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many (emphasis) false prophets in the world.” (saw this in 1 and 2 Peter)

- Paul’s encouragement simply: DON’T be fooled by what you hear!

-- In researching the Bible that we gain strength; it is how we grow stronger

-- APP: Many say they want to know more about God; ref instructional manual

- Deception is one of the very best tools the enemy uses (v3)

-- Paul speaks often about ungodly deception and continues to stress it here

-- It is a lifelong application that we can see; must KNOW what you KNOW!

- Now, why is it important to know who we are fighting against?

-- To know how to win, you must know your enemy (ref. coaching defense)

- The man of lawlessness, also called the Anti-Christ, will have 1 purpose (v4)

-- APP: To exalt himself above everything; b/c he is empowered by Satan

- FACT: There is nothing more Satan wants to do; this has always been his desire

-- Isaiah 14:12-14, “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.”

- Let’s talk about his deeds so that we can have the same frame of reference:

- Satan’s motive stems from his jealousy of who God is … and who he isn’t

-- God’s temple is the temple in Jerusalem (which Solomon built), the holiest place

-- KEY REM: The temple was destroyed in 587 BC and hasn’t been rebuilt

- FREE: those around: rebuild will be a sign that anti-Christ is coming to power

-- Prophecy: Daniel 9:27, “The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.”