For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four readings before the Sermon. Today's Readings are: Malachi 3:13 - 4:6 ; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 and Luke 21:5-19
Let Us Pray…... O’ Heavenly Father ... we thank you for this glorious day … and for the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit … in our lives. Let your grace … your peace that passes all understanding … be with those gathered here together this day. Guide us, … that we may be … all that you have called us to be. We ask this O’ Father … in the precious and strong name of Jesus our Savior and our Lord. Amen.
Dr. Ian Paisley, … the fiery Irish pastor and politician …was reputed … to have been preaching one Sunday … on the End Times … and in particular …on what will happen on the Day of Judgement.
As he reached the climax of his address, … he said that on the Day of Judgement … "there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth". (Matthew 13:42)
At which point … an elderly woman put up her hand and said … "Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth"
Paisley replied (Loud) Madam, teeth will be provided
Beloved … I am not sure if teeth will be provided … but this I am sure of … that as each day passes … we are 24 hours … closer our Lord’s … return. (Pause)
In our Gospel Text: Jesus along with his disciples ... had left the temple ……and were in the process of walking away from this magnificent complex ...
When these remarks are made.
Hear God’s Word … BIBLE 5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, Jesus said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another; that will not be thrown down.” END (Luke 21:5-6)
They admired the temple for its architectural grandeur, …. and it’s expansive decorations.
The temple was impressive indeed … not only for its beauty …… but for its size.
Each foundation stone … was almost the size of a box car (67 ft. long, 18 ft. wide, 12 ft. high).
The temple was indeed impressive, ……. covering about one-sixth … of the ancient city of Jerusalem.
The building complex … was nearly five hundred yards long … and four hundred yards wide. (Pause)
Jesus’ remarks are especially devastating, ... for the temple … was the heart and soul …of Jewish worship and sacrifice.
Remember that today’s Gospel passage immediately follows the story of …… the widow’s mite. (Luke 21:1-4)
Where Jesus is comparing the widow’s giving ……All that she had …… with the ostentatious giving … of the rich man.
A rich man … Who the listener’s clearly understood ... gained his wealth … by devouring widows’ houses …… which had made the widows destitute... in the first place.
The temple might look pretty … on the outside, …… but it became rotten …… on the inside.
The temple system … was falling apart; …… yet most … could not see it.
All this grandeur … and all this beauty might impress you... Jesus in essence tells them:
But it all ...will be …. thrown down.
And The fact is, … in 40 years ... 70AD… most of Jerusalem is destroyed.
Tradition is … The temple was burned, … and the gold inlay melted … and seeped between the large stones.
And in turn … The stones were removed by the Romans … in order to retrieve the melted gold that had seeped between the stones.
Heed the Lord’s prophetic words: there will not be left here one stone upon another; that will not be thrown down. (Luke 21:6)
The disciple’s questions to Jesus’ statement … were no different than ours would be.
When will this all happen?
How will we know … when these things … will take place?
What sign … should we look for?
These are questions … people still ask … today.
Yet … Jesus does not directly answer ... their question.
Instead …… Jesus paints them a picture ... with all of the usual elements:
Warring nations, insurrections, earthquakes, famines, plagues, and ...dreadful por-tents.
Many hear this text and are either overwhelmed by all of the a-po-ca-lyp-tic imagery … Or ... they ignore it altogether.
Apocalyptic imagery and ... dreadful portents aside,
I imagine, … that many of us have wondered … If our world too … is not falling apart ... before our very eyes.
The United States … and most of the western nations have accumulated debt … that is unimaginable … and unpayable.
Our country still has troops stationed around the world.
Terrorist attacks have not abated.
Wars… Hurricanes… Tsunamis and earthquakes … we have had those … too.
And it is not only the world that seems to be falling apart, ……. but the worldwide Christian church seems to be in chaos.
Some who call themselves Christians ...Followers of the Christ … are denying The Authority of Scripture.
Some are denying the Deity … and Saving power of Jesus.
Beloved …. When Christian doctrine and Christian truth are abandoned.
You do not get liberal form of Christianity.
Not at all … you have formed a whole new humanistic religion… based on Satanic doctrine. (Pause)
So … in these …… trying times … how are we to act as true followers of the Christ.
The truth is …… the real focus of Jesus’ words … is not on the end of the world itself... or even on the signs … that accompany it.
The focus is on ... what those times will mean …for those who call themselves … followers of the Christ.
The disciples want to know ...When these things will occur.
They want to be ... (Slow) in the know
Instead, …… Jesus tells them what Not to do … when the world seems to be … falling apart
What not to do … when they find themselves on trial, ... what not to do … when they are persecuted.
The persecution part of this …… probably feels the most distant to us, …… at least those of us …… who were born and raised … in these United States.
Most of us … have not had the experience of being extensively hated and persecuted for our Faith ……. which is not the case ...in many parts of the world.
Yet … I am convinced … that extreme persecution will come … to those that remain true to the Scriptures … even here … in our country.
And we All are aware … that in small, …… and in sometimes big ways, ……. following Jesus will often put us at odds …. with the values … of this world,
And at times, ……. With the values of our friends …and even our own families.
Beloved …. our faith ...is on trial, …… every single day.
And we are most susceptible to fail … when tragedy and stress ... come to call.
So……. What do you do … when your world is falling apart?
In our Gospel Lesson… Jesus offers these directives to his disciples … and to us:
(1 Finger) Do not … be led astray by false promises,
(2 Fingers) Do not … be terrified, ……
(3 Fingers) and Do not … prepare your defense in advance.
In other words:
(1 Finger) Do not be anxious,
(2 Fingers) do not look for quick fixes, ……
(3 Fingers) and do not become ... defensive.
Yet… Sadly... when their world is falling apart, … most people ... Christian or not ... end up doing the exact things …… Jesus commands us … not to do.
We become anxious…. We excessively worry … and seek a quick fix … to lift our burden….
And often … we seek in our mind … a defense … or retribution ……. against those … who have caused the hurt … we are experiencing.
An we find ourselves having an argument … in our minds … defending ourselves … defending our position … an argument that often … normally never even occurs.
Satan is a deceiver … Satan is a liar … and continually attempts … to get our eyes off the Lord … and in doing His will. (Pause)
Beloved … the question that Jesus poses to his disciples…. and to all … who call themselves true followers of the Christ ... is not, ……
“How you will react to … and survive these times?”
His question is: What is … your witness?
When times are trying ... and they will be….
His question is …. What is your witness?
Did you hear the line in our Gospel text, …… when Jesus uses the word …… opportunity?
(Pick up Bible)
Jesus is clear … crystal clear … All of this ……the crumbling of our world ... and the trials that come with it……
BIBLE (Slow) will... give you …… an opportunity ... o bear witness … to testify. END (Luke 21:13)
These trying times … Will give you … and me … All that call themselves Believers: an opportunity to what … testify.
Usually … when we think of an opportunity, …… we think of something new ... of something good.
We say things like, ... That’s a good opportunity for her...
That’s a wonderful opportunity … for him.
We usually … do not think of earthquakes, wars, and trials as …… opportunities.
Yet our Lord does. …… He calls us ... to testify. …to …… share our story.
To share how Jesus impacted … our lives.
How he transformed us …… and continually transforms us … that we are a … new creation. (Pause)
The word …. testify... is the same Greek word that is translated … Witness.
In the Greek translated Testify or Witness is Pronounced martyrion (Mar-tar-ee-in)
From which we received the English word “Martyr.”
Now … Some people seem to be disturbed … by the term Witness.
Yet I am convinced … Christ used this word for a very special reason.
Beloved … What makes … a good Witness?
Let us turn … to a courtroom setting.
First … a witness is required to what?
To only answer questions … that are presented to them.
If a witness speaks out of turn … or rambles on, …. the Judge … will call them … (Slow) out of order.
This is no different … than our Christian walk.
We answer questions … of those around us …. who are seeking the Truth.
Second: You must be believable.
Are you … a believable witness?
Does your life portray … what you are saying?
Beloved … Is your witness as a Christian believable?
There is a way to know:
If our country began to persecute Christians … … throw them in jail, …. or have them killed for their beliefs:
Would your actions alone, … prove you guilty … beyond a reasonable doubt?
Is your life … is your testimony …believable.
Beloved … Are you, a believable Christian?
Thirdly, … tell only what you have heard … what you have seen.
The Judge and the Jury are seeking direct testimony from the witness why … because it is the most credible.
Do not give someone else's witness… remember to testify … to the truth … that you know.
Testify to your transforming life.
Tell only what you have seen, … what you have experienced.
Maybe your witness is not Earth shattering, as some, … but your life … will affect others.
Tell only what you have experienced, … what you have witnessed.
Answer Questions "Truthfully” … Be Believable
and Share … Testify … only to what you have experienced.
These are the attributes … of a Believable Witness … a Christian Witness.
Jesus calls on us to be ready to Testify …. To witness... to martyrion (Mar-tar-e-in) ... to who God is ... and to what God has done.
That means to portray with your words …. Your actions ... your life ... to Where the foundation of your faith … truly lies.
Do you believe Jesus is … who he says he is?
Do your words … do your actions portray … that Jesus is Lord of your life …. Lord … Of every aspect of your life.
Jesus goes on to state … do not ... prepare your defense in advance.
Do not prepare a defense … to combat those … who have injured you.
Why does he say … not to prepare your words?
Why… because it will be just that …. Because uou will be preparing a defense …or worse, … a self-defense, … and not a real, …. living testimony.
We are told to not prepare a defense ... a self-defense … of what … of the pain you are experiencing.
Do not prepare … a defense against those who have hurt you.
Jesus is saying…… be on guard …. Be prepared…. be ready to Testify …. To witness... to martyrion (Mar-tar-eee-in)
Which is a defense ... not of our pain …. But a defense ... of the Gospel.
A defense of a … changed life.
A defense of what Jesus has done … and is doing in your life.
And God promises that He will give you words of wisdom, ... words so powerful … words so full of grace…… that your opponents will be ……. unable …. to withstand them.
Beloved … a Christian testimony … brings forth words ...that flow…. Not out of pain and anger …. but out of love….
They are words from one transformed … and being transformed.
From … one saved …by the Grace of Jesus Christ the Righteous
And Beloved…. (Slow) that is Good News…. That is glorious news.
It is time … to Yield to the Holy Spirit (Touch Chest) … that lives … that abides … within your very being.
It is time … to See this world … and the people that are placed in your life through … God’s eyes.
Beloved … take heart … Jesus’ gives assurance to the disciples … and to us this day: …… That no matter how bad the world around us seems to be,
Jesus to whom you witness ……. To whom you testify … to whom you martyrion (Mar-tar-eee-in) ...
will see that you do not perish eternally ... but Gain eternity … with him.
Beloved what a blessed promise that should fill us with a peace that passes understanding.
A peace that the world cannot comprehend.
Amen!
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