Make no mistake, we have an “urgency emergency”!
I wish I could stand here this morning and say, “Everything is alright”. You can just coast through this life and enjoy it as you live to a ripe old age and be gently laid to rest among family and friends as angels carry you off to be with Jesus!
I wish I could say to our young people to enjoy life, science and human nature will figure all of the world’s problems out and you will see world peace in your lifetime!
Unfortunately that is not reality
The time has come for us open our eyes and see the urgency around us
Romans 13:11-12 (TNIV)
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
1) Urgency of the Time!
Paul declared centuries ago, "Time is running out." Looking back over history, there are some startling signs that point to the acceleration towards the end of this age. Here are some things to think about!
• From the sailboat to the steamboat-5,000 years
• From the steamboat to the airplane-100 years
• From the airplane to the satellite-52 years
• From the satellite to missile defense and guided bombs-25 years
• Today Science Fiction is becoming reality with lasers and rail guns on ships
• Who knows what classified abilities we have?
• Also for the first time in history every eye will actually be able to see Jesus return as scripture declares! (just from our technology)
Could this thing called time be on the verge of the end times? I say the evidence says YES!
I believe the time is fast approaching! We had better sound the warning and heed it ourselves!
There are some things that are happening now that give us urgency that time is running out
• There is a divide between good and evil like never before. Evil has become good and good evil!
• Things are paraded out in the open and applauded that would make the people of Israel that sit on that side of time and we judged because of their rejection of God, point back at us in horror of the things we now allow to be openly displayed!
• Look at how our nation is now treating Israel? Would we come to their defense? For the first time in my life I doubt it!
• All of this while those that have only one goal to destroy Israel and Christians are very carefully treated and not called what they are!
• The stage is set for the rapture! "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout" (1 Thessalonians 4:16), (That bus is warming up)
• God’s wrath being poured out during the tribulation seems more justified than ever
• Armageddon doesn't seem so far off (Revelation 16:16)
• Jesus setting foot once again on the mount of Olives, coming to the rescue at that final moment and the mount of Olives splitting in two (Zechariah 14:4).
So what do you think God would say to us today? For this time?
“And do this, understanding the present time.”
What is “this” that Paul refers to? “Love for the day is near”
What does this love look like?
• Patting people on the back and being so afraid of their feelings that you say or do nothing alerting them to their true situation!
• Or sounding the alarm of their pending doom not out of hate but love
It is time to take a closer look at the end times…
Revelation 1:3 (TNIV)
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
• Make no mistake, that is a message to us!
• Those judgments are coming and many people we know and love will face them if we do not get a sense of the urgency of the time!
• We can’t afford any longer to be sleepy Christians. It’s time to wake up to the urgency!
2) Wake up to the Urgency!
“The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber”
Don’t confuse the urgent with the important!
• For too long we have put off the urgent to take care of the important! (examples)
• Important things, you set your alarm clock for and schedule a time to get it done
• Urgent things, you wake up and deal with no matter the hour, whether you think you have time or not!
So what is so urgent?
• Hell is real and people really will go there!
• We are not guaranteed to have time to put reaching them off!
• Eternal Tragedy would be to put it off until it is too late!
Jeremiah 8:20-22(NIV)
“The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?
(Set context for verse) The siege of Jerusalem lasted two years; Nebuchadnezzar came against them in the ninth year of Zedekiah, and the city was taken in the eleventh; see 2 Kings 25:1-3. (2 year siege)
• This seems to have been based on a Hebrew proverb: “We expected deliverance the first year—none came. We hoped for it the second year—we are disappointed; we are not saved”
• When you read the prophetic books of the Bible you have to keep one eye on history and the other on a later prophetic fulfillment!
• In historical context this passage is about the judgment of God that would result in no harvest for the Jews.
• But the prophetic purpose of this verse is a cry for lost souls with hell their destination.
Hell is a literal place that is not talked about enough anymore.
• There will be a real judgment
• Yes a loving God will condemn people to the ultimate fulfillment of their life choices.
• You reject His gift of salvation, you get your wish. He will leave you alone…
• Scripture makes it clear that one day it will be too late!
“The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.”
The season of choice (harvest of souls) will one day be gone!
Complete separation with, No Hope Ever!
Jesus desires us to wake up to an urgency for the lost!
“Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me.”
We know Jesus mourns for the lost!
• What’s the hold up?
• Our Will doesn't line up with His
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?
What is He saying…
• Have I not made a way? (The cure)
• Did I not provide people that know how to apply it?
• Why isn't it getting done?
• We keep looking for revival to save the day but what are you doing to usher it in?
If our friends don’t know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior think 1,000 years into the future…
• Hell is going to be full of children cussing their parents, and brothers crying to their brothers, and cousins crying to their cousins, and classmates crying to their classmates for their lack of urgency in sharing the truth we have.
• I’m afraid that whole generations are being lost because people haven’t made a priority of being in God’s house!
• Our kids don’t believe just because we do
• A parents job is to control the influences in their life (church is huge)
I don’t think anybody has to go to hell alone, I think our power of influence is much stronger than we think.
2 Peter 3:9(NIV)
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
While Jesus isn't willing for anyone to perish, I think we have become far too comfortable with the idea of those around us in Hell!
• There is a thundering sound off in the distance, Niagara Falls is ahead and people we know are headed downstream in a straw basket.
• While we are too sleepy to sound the alarm!
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?
3) Urgent Business!
“our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed”
This idea should give us a sense of urgency as well
How many times have we seen the scenario played out in life and in movies where there is a successful family business but as years go by the business is left to the heirs?
• One has a sense of urgency to continue the legacy and advance the business
• Another just wants to live a spoiled life that they did nothing to earn, but they certainly want to cash in on all of the benefits!
Well we too have a family business!
Matthew 28:19-20 (TNIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The problem is we have too many that want to be spoiled by the benefits but not work the family business!
There is the judgment seat of Christ Coming. This judgment is for believers only.
• It is not a judgment on sin, as believers by accepting Christ as Savior our sins were judged at the Cross already.
• This judgment is a matter of appropriate rewards for our stewardship of the opportunities and gifts God set before us during our life on earth.
• A system of rewards is a huge part of Christ’s teaching, especially in the parables.
• The same principle is clearly stated by Paul in much of his writings (Romans 14:10 and 2 Corinthians 5:10).
• In 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 Paul points out that all believers are building an edifice, some of permanent material: gold, silver, and precious stones; some of impermanent material: wood, hay, and stubble. Our deeds will be examined by the fire of God’s judgment. Motives especially will be judged (1 Cor 13:3).
Titus 2:14 (TNIV)
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Hadn’t we better get a little more urgent about the family business?
4) Urgently Equipped
The time for excuses has passed. He has given us the equipment to succeed.
• We just refuse to get dressed for battle
• We have forgotten that real ministry is spelled W-O-R-K
Hebrews 10:23-25 (TNIV)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
What does it mean to “spur one another on?”
• Living in Texas, we of all people should have a really good idea
• Spurring is a jab in the ribs
• It’s a sharp kick in our complacency
• It’s making sitting still more uncomfortable than moving
• It is highly encouraging a sense of “Urgency”
Can you feel what the Spirit is saying this morning, or have you gotten cold and indifferent to the coming of the Lord?
• We should have an Urgency for those around us
• Or are you able to go through your day and sit through a service like this with indifference?
• If so that in its self should set off warning alarms!
Romans 10:14-15 (TNIV)
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
We all have a role and it’s time we get a sense of urgency about it!
Heaven is closer than it has ever been!
What is better than heaven? Taking someone with you!
