“What to Do in Troublesome Times”
2-9-14
Matthew 24:1-14
“Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
The world seems to be a very gloomy and dangerous place. In my email and facebook this week I got warnings of 2014 being the end of our world as we know it; the economy is going to collapse; martial law is to be declared; and we are going to be killed off one by one. They have the plastic caskets all ready. They are spraying poisons in our atmosphere. A lot of people are terrified.
More disturbing to me is how what has been right since America’s inception is now wrong and what was wrong is now being portrayed as right. If the Christian stands up for what the Bible says is right – he will get shot down in our society today. People call him a ‘hater’ – and hate him for it. If you stand up for what is right and call evil – ‘evil’, you may be judged as being judgmental. Don’t you think it is kind of ironic that people who vehemently claim you are judging others – are judging YOU?
Jesus’ warning that we will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death is happening in many places around the world today. Christians are hated and are being killed in many nations as we speak. False prophets are deceiving many and who could deny that wickedness is increasing and the love of many is growing cold. The terrible crimes we see daily testifies to that fact. People are so cold blooded they do horrible things even to the very young and innocent.
All this is too much for some who have claimed to be Christian for years. They have fallen away. They have left the faith. The trials and tribulation and negativity we are getting are just too much for some. But the Scriptures warn:
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
1 Peter 4:12-14
“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
In the midst of this gloom and doom there are a few faithful followers who have not given up. They have not fallen away. They are determined to endure to the end. YOU are one of those. You won’t quit. The world can’t stop you. You can not be defeated. I want to share a few words of encouragement with you this morning. I want to give you a few suggestions that may help you in your struggles against the powers of this dark world.
The bible says that Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus will help us finish strong. He told us that if we “endure to the end” or “stands firm to the end” we will be saved. So -
First of all, 1. Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is our salvation. He provided salvation for us and He will help us to the end. The Bible says,
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen...”
2 Corinthians 4:18
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2
Every day for years I have begun each day with a prayer that God would help my heart and mind to be on heavenly things; on things above. To me it is kind of like setting the rudder down on a boat. In a boat you plot your course and set the rudder to keep you on track. When I was a teenager in Northern Minnesota my brother and I would often ‘rice’ together. In the lakes and rivers wild rice grows in abundance and each fall wild rice season opens and gives the locals an opportunity to make some quick money- not EASY money – but quick.
My brother would be the ‘picker’ and I would be the ‘poler’. My job was to keep us in the rice at a speed that my brother could most effectively harvest the wild rice. I had to fix my eyes on a spot across the lake, often a tree or a house and use that to keep me on course. As long as I fixed my eyes on that spot I could keep us straight and true.
We need to do the same spiritually. We need to fix our eyes on heavenly things. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus. Peter was able to walk on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and fixed them on the world – he fell. We will do the same. Fix your eyes on Jesus – the Author and Finisher of your faith.
Secondly, we need to think of the goal. We need to be reminded frequently of the rewards of following Jesus. I have a number of Scriptures that I bring out often to encourage me to stay on course. Here are a couple of my favorites.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:4
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
We need to be reminded often that it will be worth it to serve the Lord. We all need a lot of encouragement. What troubles we go through now are not worth comparing with what God has prepared for us. Our troubles are light and momentary. Every thing is perspective, isn’t it? And we need to remember that they are achieving for us an ETERNAL glory that FAR outweighs them all.
Sometimes we get so bogged down in our trials and tribulations and woes. They can overwhelm us. Depression can fall on us like a cloud and suck all the joy and hope out of life. Don’t let it do that to you. You have the power; you have the ability to control things. God has given you that ability – and responsibility. You have to use it. You have to avail yourself of this power.
If you ask my kids and grandkids what the “Reticular Activating System” is -they can tell you. It’s an important thing to know. Dennis Waitley, in “Seeds of Greatness” says,
“You are more than a creature; you are a creator. You choose what your reticular activating system in your brain gives credit to. And you choose what you are looking for in the future through the repeated use of your creative imagination. The way you perceive your world defines the world in which you live.”
“During every moment of our lives, we program our self-image to work for us or against us. It strives to meet the objectives we set for it, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, true or false or safe or dangerous. Like a videotape recorder playing its cassette, its sole function is to follow instructions implicitly, based upon previous inputs.”
Basically how it works is you program yourself with self talk and your reticular activating system works to produce the chemicals in your body and mind to help you ‘become’ what you have projected. If you think it’s going to be a lousy day – your RAS will work to make it so. If you claim that it’s going to be an awesome day – your RAS will work to make it so.
Do you see how important it is to get this device God put in each one of our brains working FOR us and not AGAINST us? 1. Fix your eyes on Jesus, 2. Think of the rewards, and 3. Think positive.
I know there are a lot of false teacher out there that use that principle apart from Christ – and it will work to a certain extent – but it is a God given; God created principle. That’s why it works. Some Bible teachers throw it out because it is misused by the world. It’s kind of like the rainbow. Some people use the rainbow for ungodly purposes. The devil loves that! But the rainbow means something special as defined by God. He created it as a promise that He will not destroy the world by water ever again. It is a sign of His love for us. We need to take the rainbow back and teach its REAL meaning. The same with positive thinking. It works. The Bible says,
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
Notice that this is a choice. It is a command. It is something we can do!
Here is another command.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Some people find it hard to believe that I am not a naturally happy person. I’m not! I am naturally depressed and critical and negative. I have to ‘choose’ to be the way God tells me to be. I have to make it happen. And so do you. Life is so much better when you get you RAS working FOR you and not against you. Life is so much better (more positive) when you are a positive thinker.
Let me conclude with some words from Jesus. Jesus was only hours away from being arrested, hauled off to a kangaroo court, beaten, mocked and then crucified. He would be resurrected after three days and a month or so later – ascend into heaven. He knew all that was coming so He left His disciples with a wonderful positive picture of the future. He told the parable of three men who were given responsibilities. Two met them and maybe even exceeded the expectations of them. And as a result they heard these words:
“...‘well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matthew 25:21
The servants or managers were given different abilities or resources but the reward was the same for both – a share in the Master’s joy; a share in the Master’s happiness. It doesn’t matter if you are a one talent person or a ten talent person – if you fulfill your calling you will be rewarded the same.
I want you to be encouraged in knowing YOU have a share in the Master’s joy. We have the promise of eternal life. Not only that – but Jesus, Himself, is preparing a place for us (John 14:3). Don’t give up. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t quit trying. It will be worth it all.
SONG
