What do YOU believe?
Introduction (Ron)
Society tells us to believe one thing
Religion tells us to believe another
And God’s Word, NOT religion, tells us to believe something else
What do you believe in?
Where is your faith anchored?
How solid is your faith?
Tonight, we will look at some examples of this world’s latest fanatical “religious” thinking – and why it does NOT match what God’s Word tells us. We will also seek to explore where we can get wise to the world, and have understanding and wisdom. God’s Word is the key here, and we need to be students of it.
Pen and paper ready – bibles ready – we have LOTS of ground to cover …
Pray
Point 1 - What does the world say? (TJ)
The latest fanatical in this world of “religious zealots” that is corrupting minds
Jose Luis De Jesus
He claims to be Jesus Christ – the risen Messiah who has come to Earth to establish his kingdom right now.
His claims that his followers do not want to see the illogical in:
- In 1998 he said he was the Apostle, Paul
- In 1999 he said he was "the other"
- In 2004 he said he was Jesus of Nazareth
- Requires that each of his members receive a tattoo of 666 on his members
- His organization lashes out at other Christian organizations
- Demands obedience and money from his followers
- Millions of dollars are lavished upon him by “members”
Let’s take a look at why he is NOT the Messiah
Talk about an identity crisis! This man has NO idea who he is!!
This man also has a prison record for fraud! Confused yet?
The Spirit of God brings peace, not confusion – 1 Corinthians 14:33 says “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
Jesus said He was the “I am” – John 8:58 “even before Abraham was, I am”.
Present tense of authority! Not coming to, not has been, but the verb “IS”!
When Jesus speaks, all of creation listens!
When this man speaks – a true believer ought to immediately begin to show his followers where they are wrong. In my view, his 15 minutes of fame are over.
Point 2 – What does the Word say? (Ron)
Jesus was poor and lowly and came to be with them – to serve, not to be served
Money was NOT important to Jesus – he did not pass the offering plate
Believers are confused and do not know the Word!
After Revelation Chapter 3 – the church (the word church – thus the literal body of believers) is no longer mentioned.
Before the appearance of Jesus again on the Earth, the church will be removed!
Rev 19 is when Jesus comes to Earth to set up His Kingdom and declare His Kingdom has authority over all that has been created!
Jesus warned specifically of false Christs so we would have … WISDOM:
Matt 24:23: “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.”
Mark 13:6 “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
Mark 13:22 “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”
Even Satan will be sending false Christs and appearing as angels of light:
2 Corinthians 11:12-14 “But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
False Christs will be coming to imprison the believers:
Galatians 2:4-5 “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”
The mark his members take – Rev 13:18 clearly says when the mark of 666 will come into play. It says, “Here is wisdom …”
Stop there – look at the word choice: Wisdom – this means you HAVE to STUDY and pay attention and seek God’s face on what is really true! You do not get God’s wisdom by osmosis; you have to actually READ the Word! (Show thyself approved – rightly dividing the Word of Truth – 2 Timothy 2:15)
Continuing: “Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
It is clear what this number means – why would anyone want to take it? Do they not know the truth of the Word? No, they DO NOT!!
Point 3 – Who else has led others astray (TJ)
Let’s just look at three who have claimed to be Jesus Christ in recent times
Jim Jones - led followers with his claims of peace and authority ... convinced over 914 people to commit mass suicide with him. He convinced others that their act of defiance would begin a revolution in this world.
Today, he is dead and in his grave – and even in death, He was a coward. He shot himself rather than following his own example of drinking the cyanide.
He claimed he was Jesus – today, he is dead and in his grave – and without Jesus is most assuredly in hell.
David Koresh – Originally born Vernon Howell but changed his name to David (as he believed he was part of the lineage of King David).
He enslaved approx 80 people and convinced them He was Jesus.
Let’s just disprove him immediately without giving fanfare to him: He had documented, improper sexual relations with all the women in the compound – yet Jesus Christ knew no sin, to include sex. There – done.
Most comical in my opinion – Marshall Applewhite … Believed and convinced others that with the arrival of the comet Hale-Bopp, a spaceship would arrive to take his followers to a higher plane of existence. He convinced them all to commit suicide and they would receive their glorified bodies … 39 people died – most likely without Jesus as their Savior and today, they are in torment.
Men who claimed to be God, but had no power except to confuse those who DID NOT KNOW what they believed in. They were confused, and led astray. Sheep are sheep, and will listen to anything if it sounds convincing!
Where are you in this scale? Would you know the truth? Can I change your mind with my persuasion? (Use example of altering the truth slightly …)
Note how REAL Godly authority is displayed: Peter preached, and thousands were saved. Acts 2:40-41 “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
Point 4 – What does the Word say (Ron)
Many will follow Jesus … but look at God’s Word on this:
1 Tim 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils”
II Thessalonians 2:9-12 “ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; 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 believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Even in the terrible times of The Tribulation (which is yet to come), people will believe anything that is handed to them. Look at the prophecy of end times:
Daniel – covenant with many – peace in Israel – rebuilding the temple – setting the stage of destruction (post rapture) …
Daniel 9:27 “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
See here that through his ability to confuse and deceive, this false leader will convince people to believe anything – including building a temple on one of the most holiest Muslim sites (instant declaration of war on Muslims should this happen) – and then demanding that others worship him (the false leader).
Could those who have been on the scene up until now been tests from Satan in an attempt to seek to find man’s weakness?
Even in the end, Kings of the Earth – Rulers of the lands will lie down and make covenant with those who seek to destroy God’s people
Daniel is confirmed with Revelation 17:2 “With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”
What one generation embraces – the next will take to excess!
Point 5 – A final look at this world (TJ)
Let’s get honest with each other about where we are today by looking at the most common form of entertainment that we have: television. If you want to know where we get the ideas of believing what we see and hear without applying wisdom, take a look at your television.
Television confuses us on a daily basis – look at the ads and timing of the ads:
Buy this program, believe in it, and you shall have instant money (run late night when most people are seeking something better for their lives).
Buy this contraption, believe in it, and you shall lose weight and become desirable (run during daytime television).
Buy this alcoholic beverage, believe in it, and the opposite sex will flock to you (run during sports programs).
Even our kids are under attack. Act like this to your parents; believe in it, and your folks have to listen (teenagers today who are seeking to fit in with enough issues already to deal with).
What ever happened to those after school specials?
Where is this world headed? Why are we so easily convinced?
Conclusion (Ron)
(Or however the Lord leads …)
Tonight – what do you believe in?
Are you mystified by these who claim to be Jesus?
Are you perhaps led to think for one minute that maybe they could be who they say they are? It is ok to be honest in church.
Where is your faith? How strong is your faith?
Do you have wisdom to know the difference between God’s Word and what the world says to believe?
Invitations are time to do business – no one has it all together
There is strength in prayer, and no shame in admitting that you do not have it all together.
We (your Pastor’s) do not have it all figured out – but between us there is accountability to one another (James Chapter 5) and wisdom in learning and studying and being honest to hold each other up – won’t you get right tonight and sleep that much better?
There are two people you cannot fool – you and God … isn’t it time to STOP fooling yourself? God is NOT fooled, so why not be honest with yourself?
Turn to the Lord for answers, and lean not on your own understanding …
