STRENGTH TO STAND
~ Part Two ~
Enduring To The End
Usually no one likes to consider themselves as weak, but we all need to find more strength in Christ so that we can together (as a church family) defeat a very real enemy – the devil.
As we continue out series entitled, Strength To Stand – I want to bring to you a few passages of scripture that will help us all to (as Ephesians 6:10 states) “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
The days of our being passive with our Christian faith have come to an end. The church can no longer be seen as just
• a social gathering
• a good place to meet friends
• sing some songs
• raise and clap our hands
• and return to our homes.
There are some who would just have it this way, but to make God’s House anything other than what God wants will be exactly what the devil wants.
I am convinced that Satan has a strategy (in these last days) to slowly pick off the weaker sheep who may be satisfied only to wander from one green pasture to the next.
But the Bible clearly tells us that we are to hold fast to our faith, and that is what I want to speak to you about today. The title of today’s message is
ENDURING TO THE END.
As we draw closer to the end of this age, it is easy to see that we are faced with days of uncertainty. I have heard several TV commentators and politicians (this past week) express their concern that what we are seeing in the news reports are the early days of WWW III.
Regardless of their opinions – we must make ourselves ready for the soon coming of the Lord to this planet. We will patiently for the Lord’s return, but we must remember that it is Christ alone Whom will give us STRENGTH TO STAND and the where withal to “Endure To The End”.
Text: Matthew 24:10 – 13
What Jesus has to say in the 24th chapter of Matthew has everything to do with what is happening today. The “love of many will grow cold.”
For a moment – Please pay careful attention to the word “love”…
The Greek word is “Agape”. Perhaps you’ve heard that word mentioned in church before. It is defined as the love that God has given to Christians, and is only used with God’s people. “Agape” is the love that Christ gave to us by willingly going to the cross for our salvation.
So in other words, what this verse says to us is that (in the last days) the
“love of many Christians will grow cold.”
How often do we think of these last days only in terms of people who are not Christians? Or, those who do not go to church?
What Jesus is referring to in this verse is specifically speaking to people like you and me…that is, the Christians. Jesus knew all too well about the Christians whose hearts would grow cold and weak in the last days. This problem actually took place in the small church that He was in (while here on earth). You remember who went to that church, don’t you?
Peter, James, John, Andrew, Matthew, etc…
No doubt but what that Jesus was very offended by those who were closest to Him. Perhaps this is just like how you have been offended by those closest to you (in church).
I would suggest that this is the reason why many believers find themselves discouraged, defeated and weak here in the last days.
Being a weak Christian is not God’s plan for anyone or any church!
Can we (for just a moment) look past our own individual problems and disappointments and give thought to how Jesus must have felt during the last (few) days before He gave His life on Calvary?
Listen to what might have been the thoughts of Jesus during those last days He was on this earth…
“In My greatest hour of need, My closest friends deserted Me. Judas betrayed me, Peter denied Me, and the rest fled for their lives. I had cared for each of them for over three years, feeding them and teaching them. Yet as I die for the sins of the world, I forgive them. I told them to ‘love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the sons and the daughters of the kingdom.’
My friend – Jesus had STRENGTH TO STAND in spite of how His closest friends had failed Him. Jesus was able to ENDURE TO THE END all because He knew how to love unconditionally. Saint or sinner…it did not matter.
I would suggest that one of the greatest reasons why we are weak is because we are so disappointed and upset with our fellow Christians.
Question:
Do you want a greater STRENGTH TO STAND? Do you want to be able to ENDURE TO THE END? Then you must do as Jesus did. You must
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the sons and the daughters of the kingdom.’
Many or most of the people who have brought pain to your life may be Christians. I can tell you that if a person who is not Christian were to say something negative about me I would not have much (if any) trouble. But let someone who I know, or love, and know is a Christian, then we all can be easily offended.
This is also a problem for other Christians who only have said or did something that you disagreed with. Oftentimes we find our selves expecting more out of other Christians than we should.
We can easily become disturbed or discouraged with how other people live instead of having our hearts and our faith focused on Christ.
As time goes by - The result is we become very weak in our walk with Christ. I can assure you that many of us have found ourselves frustrated many times over the years. And each time we do, we become weaker.
Listen – the more we expect from people:
1. the less we expect from God
2. the more likely we will become disappointed, discouraged and grow weak and weary.
Text: Galatians 6:8 – 9 (two slides)
Our STRENGTH TO STAND is in the Lord…not in people. These are difficult days we live in and if we intend to ENDURE TO THE END, it will only be because of the Lord – not because of the people we know.
We need one another for the fellowship, exhortation, edification, encouragement, etc…but when it comes to having or not having strength, it will be God and God alone.
Text: II Timothy 3:1 – 5 (paraphrased) (two slides)
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be…unforgiving…having a form of godliness, but denying it’s power. And from such people turn away.
They will look godly, but will be weak. They will not have the STRENGTH TO STAND. They will not be strong enough to ENDURE TO THE END.
And all because they were offended…they got their feelings hurt and never forgave those who wronged them.
In many cases – they never even forgave themselves…
Transition
Unforgiveness in the church will cause the strongest of churches to become weak. The longer unforgiveness is allowed to exist, the weaker a church will become.
I desire for Lighthouse Assembly of God to be the church that has:
1. the STRENGTH TO STAND
2. what it takes to ENDURE TO THE END.
If that is to ever be the case, this church will have to be a church that truly knows how to forgive. No matter how badly you were once offended.
Illustration:
Long ago - I counseled a person that was having a terrible time in their life with anxiety, depression, bitterness and regrets. They were at one time –
• Very active in their church and was in an important position of leadership.
• Very happy with what God was doing in their lives to help change the lives of other new and young Christians.
Over a period of time they became very miserable in their walk with God. I counseled them on numerous occasions trying to understand what their problem was. They hid this problem very well in their public life, and in their private live.
Finally one day – they told me that the Lord woke them up one morning early and spoke to them about what their problem really was.
They admitted to me they were upset with a former pastor, and that they felt the convicting power of the Holy Spirit on the way the felt.
My advice to them was obvious. I told them to contact their former pastor and to make this right. They agreed that day, but as far as I know they never did make contact with the pastor.
To the best of my knowledge (to this day) – that person attends church only occasionally and is still miserable and confused with their Christian walk. You see unforgiveness has taken it’s toll in many other lives just like this one…
Close
Without forgiveness –
• We do not have our Christian faith
• We do not have a healthy Christian church
Typically what will happen with a person how has unforgiveness in their life is that they will become more and more to themselves. That is –
• Self centered
• Self seeking
• Self contained
They begin to think that they do not need anyone else to share their life with. They will withdraw from other people and become isolated.
What is interesting is that these are the very same traits for a church who suffers from unforgiveness. That is –
• Self centered
• Self seeking
• Self contained
When unforgiveness takes it’s toll in an individual, they will no longer share their lives with anyone else. And the same goes for a church.
A church that has a problem with forgiveness will become satisfied with people who have always attended there. They will find it difficult or awkward to share their faith with other people.
As a result they will not grow stronger, but weaker.
That brings me back to our opening text in Matthew 24:11. you see it states that out of the church will rise up “false prophets” who will “deceive many”. Again where did they come from? Unfortunately – the church.
The greatest threat that Satan has against any church in these last days most certainly has to be the “false prophet”.
What I mean by this is that there many who say they believe in what the Bible has to say, but they do not have God’s Word in their hearts.
Their lives are so full of unforgiveness, bitterness, regrets that they no longer have room enough to plant God’s Word in their hearts.
The “false prophet” in today’s church has the “form of godliness…but deny it’s power.” They are weak and do not have the STRENGTH TO STAND.
My desire for each of us is to begin a new season of healing in this church.
The Word of God and Prayer will make the difference for us.
So then - Finally, as we prepare to come to the altar this morning, let me give to you this last scripture that will give you the start on how you may pray.
Phil. 2:3
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
