Love And The Last Days

LOVE AND THE LAST DAYS

MATT 24:11-12

Sunam 4/7/02

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Intro: Certainly the things taking place in Israel are a clearer indication that the Lord’s return is going to happen soon! Yet another clear indication of the Lord’s return is simply – as the scripture said – “The love of many will become cold because the days of iniquity are building up.

Why are the days of evil building up? It is because the Devil knows his time is short and He is doing everything in his power (though limited) to cause God’s people to become unfeeling to the point where they begin only to think of themselves!

Look with me at another verse of Scripture –

Luke 6:17-38 - He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. 27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners’ do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Theme: Clearly, Jesus is teaching on the attitude of God’s people (particularly His own disciples) toward those who have need of a clear expression of His love extended.

I. SERMON ON THE MOUNT –

A. Came as a reaction to the Pharisaical fury and anger over healing a man with Palsy on the Sabbath day!

1. The sermon on the mount is a reaction to the jealousy, the combativeness and the bitterness of the Jewish rulers of the day who loved to be rich, make a show of their religious popularity in the marketplaces and to content in knowing that their history could save them.

a. Jesus responds by teaching the beatitudes which are the exact opposite of what the disciples had seen all their lives among the Jewish leaders of their day.

b. It cannot be overstated how much Jesus disliked such bigotry, pride and arrogance!