‘sign Of The Times’ Part 1 Series

‘Signs of the times’

Part 1

Matthew 24:1-14

September 9, 2018-am

1. Decide now to be a more devoted disciple of Christ. V.3-4

2. There will be deception. V.4-5

3. There will be division.v. 6-7

4. There will be disasters.v.7-8

Open:

Signs of the times:

There has been famine in our world. A few examples,

#1 - The Great Chinese Famine from 1959-61, where 43 million people died.

#2 - The Russian famine of 1921, 5 million Russians starved to death.

#3 - During WW II, a million died of starvation,

#4 -In Ethiopia, in 1984-85, 400,000 men, women, and children died and the entire world saw as TV cameras captured the famine’s effect.

#5 - In 1996, North Korea experienced a famine with 3.5 million dying from starvation.

Matthew 24:7, ‘…And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.’

Bread for the World reports that ‘Right now’ there are 17 famines occurring around the world, in places like

Malawi, North Korea, East Africa, Kenya and Somalia.

Every day, 16,000 children die from hunger related causes. That means that in the last minute, 12 children died of starvation.

There are 925 million people, globally that are hungry every day.

How about more signs of the times?

Earthquakes? -

The December 26, 2004, the Tsunami of SE Asia that wiped out villages and caused the death of 230,000 people from 14 countries. This is the deadliest tsunami in history.

Hurricanes?

1992, Hurricane Andrew pummeled Miami, causing damage of $25 Billion dollars, at the time the most expensive natural disaster in US history.

2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans with a deadly aftermath and caused a new record of $108 billion dollars’ worth of damages.

Are these signs of the end times? Yes. Famine. Natural disasters and false teachers are plentiful.

How are we to react? Panic? Be scared? More to a famine-proof country?

1. Face reality and listen to God’s word. v.6 ‘…for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’

2. Don’t worry. God is Still on His throne.

3. Make certain you’re right with God.

I. Decide now to be a more devoted disciple of Christ. v.3-4

The end times are coming. These famines, wars, natural disasters and the like are just the beginning.

Jesus tells us v.4 ‘Take heed that no one deceives you.’

You’ve got to decide to get serious about your walk.

Jesus didn’t go to the Cross for you to be ‘casual about your commitment’ to Him. Jesus demands your all;

Sell out to him; He gave his all for you.

Let’s think about what Christ has done for you.

First, he left heaven and all its glory to come to earth as a common carpenter and live as a simple man.

Then, he lived a sinless life.

He led 12 apostles and taught them the kingdom of heaven.

He taught with authority, lived sacrificing himself and died for all of us!

He rose from the Grave.

He reigns at the right hand of God, the Father.

He offers salvation, from sin. He forgives. He gives us New Life.

He does all this and ask for nothing, in return.

Does Christ’s life, sacrifice, death and resurrection make you want to follow Him?

It’s decision time. Do you want Jesus or the world? The world is crumbling and failing and Jesus is ruling & reigning.

Jesus is looking for some Full-time followers…Not, part-time people-pleasers.

How about you? In these difficult times, you got to decide. More devoted to Jesus than your team?

Will you be more devoted to Christ, than you are now? The difficulty of this world won’t lessen.

Jesus calls everyone to a full-time faith. Not a part-time priority.

This morning, you must decide. Can you give yourself fully to God? What prevents you?

The world will squeeze you. They will tempt you. The pressures of daily life will draw you away from God.

But God will keep you, shape you, provide for you and guide you. He’ll give peace in turmoil. Clarity in calamity

And salvation to any seeker!

2.There will be deception. v.4-5

Illus. 5 Legs

Once, when a stubborn disputer seemed unconvinced, Lincoln, said, ‘Well, let’s see how many legs has a cow?’

‘Four, of course,’ came the reply disgustedly. ‘That’s right,” agreed Lincoln. “Now suppose you call the cow’s tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?’ ‘Why, five, of course,’ was the confident reply. ‘Now, that’s where you’re wrong,’ said Lincoln. ‘Calling a cow’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.’

Just as 1 Tim. 4:1-3, says, ‘Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron….’