The Problem with Focusing on the Wrong Things
Many are lost –focus on wrong things. Events of world shake them up, such as Sept.11. Christians, if the Bible is right, ought not be shaken up.
Bible tells us to zero in… it ‘s the last hour…
18Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
Illustration: “Back to school” urgency – get school supplies ready, last weeks of summer holidays – long line-ups at the BC ferries terminals and at the US border, urgency to squeeze in last few days of holidays – summer’s coming to a close.
“Last hour” – communicate a sense of urgency (v.18)
A. Review of what Jesus taught about the last hour - Matt.24:4-51
First concern: “watch out that no one deceives you.” (v.4)
“keep watch” (24:42, 25:13) It shows Jesus wants us be prepared and not get caught napping.
As a man who knows his house is gonna be broken into (24:42-43)
Idea of readiness like earthquake drills, kits, emergency supplies here in Vancouver.
What’s Jesus teaching about the last days or last hour?
1. The rise of many false messiahs:
Many false claims of people being the Messiah Christ. (v.5, 11, 23-26) A recent report of someone claimed to be Jesus in Pakistan. Who else has claimed that? Waco? Millennium Bug? False prophets abounds here!
2. It will be visible and swift (v.26-28, 37-40).
Key verse in Matt.24:37 “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” End of history as we know it will be swift as in days of Noah (v.37-40) not in stages as some has theorized. It will obvious and no one be kept guessing if Jesus came back or not. No need to check charts then. No second chances as in the days of Noah. Judgment comes when Christ comes again.
3. It will be filled with lots of deception and international upheaval.
a. Wars and rumors of wars: “but see to it you are not alarmed” (v.6) US- Iraq war talk, Israeli – Palestinian struggle, on-going labor war –baseball strike, war within the Liberal Party re: Chretien’s leadership, war here there, everywhere! Going to war over fishing of Salmon here in BC.
b. International intrigue/problems (v.7): people groups against people groups in Africa, US, India, Sri Lanka, India-Pakistan. Corporate world unrest, distrust, corruption resulting in collapse of many financial kingdoms, unstable markets- chilled investors. French ice-skating judge that got sucked into international intrigue with the controversial decision to award the gold medal to Russian pair instead of the Canadian pair. Drought affecting the beef industry now in Alberta, famine in Africa, earthquakes in various places
c. But Jesus’ view “see to it that you are not alarmed…the end is still to come, … All these are the beginning of birth pains” (v.6,8) Women who exp. Birthing knows what this means, i.e. the worst is yet to come, the end is not in sight yet, and the pain gets worst!
4. It will be a time of persecution and apostasy
a. Persecution (v.9) many Christians are jailed, persecuted, denied basic human rights, in many Muslim countries. Pain gets worst!
b. Apostasy (v.10) - blatant rejection of Christian doctrines with the increase of clergy who don’t follow the Bible, going with what’s politically correct, what’s in vogue saying Bible is out of touch with today’s world. PAIN gets worst!
c. Increase of wickedness – chilling statement “love of most will grow cold” pain gets worst!
d. Call to “remain” true to Gospel (v.13)
e. What will bring in release of this world from these problems – is not social reformation, is not ecumenism, is not government programs, is not money, is not meditation, but the gospel (good news of Jesus) preached to all nations (v.14) then “the end will come”
5. The date-setters are wrong (v.36)
“No one knows… but only the Father” says it all
The Key thought: God wants the Good News to be given to all. His heart is for the peoples of the world. Not wishing any to perish (v.14). God want us to zero into his heart for a lost world in last days… His love forgiveness, mercy must be spread around the world! The love of God for the world has to reach every nation!
Problem with world - focusing on wrong things to better themselves – false teaching, false hope, wars to take out terrorists as if that will bring world peace, international problems – so many will be deceived, claims of false Messiahs will sound so good, so true.
B. The enemy comes in as we focus in wrong things and sow confusion. “even now many antichrists have come” (v.18) LOSE FOCUS WHEN we are led astray by false teaching. But you can Spot the false teachers by their:
a. LOVELESSNESS: They don’t remain. They do not love the church. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them… Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt.7:15-23)
In issues we don’t agree on we should display liberty of the Spirit…
“Welcome all the Lord’s followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don’t criticize them for having beliefs that are different than yours… After all, God welcomes everyone…And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do… Whatever you believe about these things should be kept between you and God.” Beliefs that are not acted upon are worth nothing, love by God’s definition is action…
Romans 14:1, 3, 12, 22. (CEV)
In all things we must show love…
What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I have faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. 1 Cor.13:1,2 (CEV)
b. DENIAL OF JESUS’ HUMANITY AND DIVINITY: They lie about Jesus. They do not see Jesus as both human and divine at the same time. Recognize error when Jesus is one or the other. The Son became man, Jesus Christ. He revealed God through his sinless life, miracles and teaching. Being fully God and fully man, he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross, rose from the dead to demonstrate power over sin and death and ascended to the Father in heaven and will return one day to reign forever. He now intercedes for all believers and dwells in them as their ever present Lord (John 14:9; Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 1:18, 1 Cor.15:3,4; Rom. 1:3,4 Acts 1:9-11; Titus 2:13; Rom.8:34, John 14:23)
c. BIBLE TWISTING: They do not stick to original message. They twist the message of God’s grace and add to it. Illus. Many now seek to reinvent the original message. Say apostles were backward and old fashioned and not up with the more enlightened times. Such as today - apostles said homosexual behavior is sin, many could not accept it.
d. FAITHLESSNESS: Some how what Jesus gave is not enuff. They seek another anointing. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is present in every believer from the moment they trusted Christ as Savior. He provides power for living and understanding spiritual truth and guides in doing what is right. He gives every believer spiritual gifts for serving the body of Christ. (2 Cor.3:17; 1 Cor.12:13; Rom.8; Rom.12:5-8, Eph.1:13; Gal.5:25, John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Eph.5:18) Error is found when we do not trust the anointing that every Christian received. 2 Cor.1;21-22 says:
21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you.” (V.27) Faith in Jesus is more than enuff!
C. Zero in on our practices …
We won’t lose focus if we…
1. Capture a sense of missional urgency: It is the last hour. Be less comfortable in world (v.15-17). World shows us urgency to capture a market – see how they offer 200 brands of one product eg soap. Now 24 hour internet banking, or bank at the branch, mall, grocery store, 7 –11 or drive thru or telephone. But the church in its mission lacks imagination – one church worship time Sunday one time. If you can’t make it too bad. Many other cults are offering a steady diet while the church is napping. Let’s get back urgency. Let’s work at it… Let’s plan for the love of God to spread!
2. Hold to the WORD: Our sole a__________ is the Bible - a manual and the basis for living, so we read, study and memorize it. So that we don’t get deceived.
“For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal” 1 Peter 1:23 (TEV)
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
First question we ask in every point of our lives and decisions we make is:
What does the Bible say? Let’s not be tossed around and be swayed by false teachers, false teachings, “miracles/signs”- as Jesus told us “keep watch” - prepared in last hour
“See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you… remain in him” (v.24, 27)
WE have the original anointing, no need for another!
3. Love the church with SERVICE (2:4-6): The priesthood of every believer. Regardless of what we do to earn a living, we are called to full-time Christian work. Each believer is to find a place of service and minister in His name with direct access to Him. We are called to an active faith.
“Christ loves us, and by his death he has freed us from our sins and made
us a kingdom of priests to serve God…” Revelation 1:6 (GN)
