Worship Gathering 10/18/20

I was listening to someone speak this week.

and he made a comment about people coming together and listening to a monologue and how that was. Something that's not done anymore.

and I'm it kind of got me thinking, you know.

There is something different about the church, isn't it? At the church comes it opens up a book.

And one man stands and says thus says the Lord.

And the reason you pack a Bible to church is to make sure that's exactly what he's saying. And your life is changed by that.

I don't don't get it twisted. It's the preaching of the Gospel that God uses to change the hearts of people.

And then our lives are changed and we go out and we tell others of the change that he has made and the Wonders that he's done. And then we bring them here.

and repeat

the preaching of the Bible I wouldn't let me be very clear. Your friend your neighbor your son your daughter your mother everyone, you know. The greatest need that they have where there in the nursery or under Hospice Care. The greatest need they have is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it's not just for lost people. The gospel is for all people. Well, that's for another sermon another day. If you would take your Bibles turn to Luke chapter 21, and let's see if we can get through last week sermon, please say When you get to Luke chapter 21. If you would I would ask you to stand for the reading of God's word.

Luke chapter 21 what starting verse 25

then there be signs in the sun moon and stars and they'll be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by The Roaring of the sea in the waves people will faint from fear and expectation to the things that are coming on the world because the powers of the heavens will be shaken then they'll see the son of man coming in a cloud with power and great Glory, but when these things begin to take place Stand up and lift your heads. because your Redemption is near father what we have not we beg you to give us and what we are not we ask you to make us father. We don't understand how you do it, but we know that we are changed by your spirit with this book. These are your words may we listened intently?

And may we never be the same? Your son's name we pray. Amen, you may be seated you remember last week? I told you that Divine perspective will give Believers. Hope regardless of their circumstances. We looked last week is this the people were in the temple and they're Around Jesus and Jesus says the days are going to come when not one stone will be left on top of another one and then they want to know when's it going to happen? And what are we going to be looking for in Jesus gives us Divine perspective on a few things. Do you remember this? No, okay. If you said no we can start over. We have this Divine perspective from Men's perspective. This Great temple was was where they went to meet God this was this was everything they put their hope in but Divine perspectives has no no no, no. No, you don't put your hope in a building because this is all going to be gone. Jesus gives the crowd their Divine perspective on the temple and then he goes on to tell them about what would happen around Jerusalem have the armies with surround them and absolutely tear them apart and just a few short years. He gave the Divine perspective on the temple. He gave a Divine perspective on chaos, and then he goes on to give the Divine perspective of persecution. I hope you remember that this week. This is a bond for spective of persecution. You are put in that situation for God's glory and it gives an opportunity to give a witness of what Christ has done and who he is.

And he gave us a perspective on Judgement.

Why was this going to happen? Why was judgement coming to Israel into Jerusalem to the temple because they rejected Jesus is son and beloved. I'm here to tell you today that everyone who rejects Christ's Christ will be judged.

I don't know what this text is done for you this week. I can tell you from my own experience. It has been in my mind all week long.

I preached to funerals this week.

Fairly certain that the majority of people in both Services were lost.

And as I prepared the messages to be preached I preach this text both times.

What beloved everyone puts their hope in something? These people here just put their hope in a temple. I've got friends who put their hope and how much money they give to charity. I have other friends who put their hope and how good they are. But just like that Tampa little all fade away. Christ is only thing that matters right? He's the only thing that lasts. And so we seen last week. He says don't be alarmed and don't be scared. These are opportunities that I'm giving you and he tells him to not quit he gives Divine perspective and we need to find perspective regardless of what we're going through in life you and I have been through some different things this week, haven't we? This week not only have I been at the graveside of a 40 year old who who died of a sudden stroke, but I also stood at the graveside of a 57 year old woman who died of a long battle with cancer. I watch these children wet. I watch these husbands say goodbye to their wives.

probably thinking

How am I going to get ready in the morning?

I watch last night is a group of men picked on other people that were different than they were.

How much a man get targeted because of the color of his skin?

I wish the man that was a little overweight and didn't look like the rest got another man. Put his hands on him because of that.

Hear people arguing a lot this week about politics.

There's wars and rumors of wars aren't they? I mean the everywhere you look it's just just really just not good, right? My question today to you is this is is this our hope? I mean are we living Our Lives as this is all there is.

You think Devon perspective will give Believers. Hope regardless of circumstances regardless of Injustice regardless of poverty regardless of death regardless of sickness regardless of red County or not red County.

If Divine perspective is what we need. It gives us hope regardless of circumstances. Will last week I really had two points, but I only gave you one of them the destruction of the temple and divine perspective in this week. I'll finish the sermon if it be the Lord's will. And here's what I want to give you one simple point. I want you to see The Return of Jesus and that this is the Believers hope.

one day all things will be made new.

And beloved that's apart of the Gospel. At the cross who came and died. And now lives is coming back and he is setting up everything exactly the way it's supposed to be.

And this is the source of Our Hope seeing things from God's perspective. Look with me now in verse 25 this return of Jesus is the Believers hope but I want you to see something. I want you to see the posture of the believer. As we know that Jesus is coming back. What should the posture of a Believer be a man that is hopeful a man or a boy or a girl or woman who is hopeful in Christ and Christ return. What should I posture be? Will it tells us right here in our text exactly what it's supposed to be 25 things are going to happen. This world is going to start coming unglued and look what verse 26 is people will fight if my people will think does he he doesn't say God's people he doesn't say the church will think he said people will fight why because of these Destruction and all of things is going on because of sickness. Is that what it is? No, no, no don't think from Fear what's the difference in a Christian and the non-believer the non-believer has nothing to put hope in so they're scared all the time. But not for the Christian. Can I get a amen?

People with faint from fear and expectation of things that are coming on the world because the powers of the heavens Will Be Shaken Listen to Me. These things are going to happen in verse 25 the Sun the moon the stars things are going to go absolutely crazy to see is going to absolutely go nuts. And people are girls are losing their mind. There's going to be a pandemic.

The people were going to lose their mind. no faint from Fear

and look what it says in verse 27, then they'll see the son of man coming in a cloud. Toll Brother basil last week. I really wanted to get to that that verse last week, but I couldn't get there. But that verse is very special because we learn in the Bible that Jesus is coming on a cloud, right but our text tells us he's coming in a cloud we can say he's coming like a cloud. Oh here comes. Like a cloud in the sky. Here I come blood and I'm here to tell you today. He's coming back. Just as you see the cloud coming in the sky just at the children of Israel to Cloud LED them by day. Our God our Jesus Is Our Savior. He's coming back like the Clown. And look what it says with power and great glory and it teaches us something right here. He's coming back like only God can he came before how born of a virgin

Mary

in a Shepherd stall I love it when he comes back. Praise My Soul the king of Heaven You coming back at the king beloved? Like a cloud in the sky here comes God.

And here is the posture of the believer that people lose their mind over End Time stuff say men. Oh, you can say the letter that can't you?

I'm crazy over the end times people fall out over the end times and then here's what happens. It's a pendulum swing. It's either this way over here. You have a whole group of people that are absolutely obsessed with the end times and they're making charts and and and rumors of charts and doing all kinds of crazy over here. They don't want to be those people so they ignore the end times eschatology talk about Jesus coming back and then you have what this neglect on this side of this overemphasis on the other and what happens the church suffers. Glad you can read revelation.

Because you're a believer. In the Book of Revelation gives the believer great. Hope you can read the book of Daniel. And it gives a Believer great. Hope And you say what? I don't know all about that.

anyway What if we got figured out cuz what we walked through live together and every week, it seems like God teaches us something different doesn't he? Same God same gospel new light.

Don't run away from End Time stuff.

Look what it says. But when these things begin take place. My people will be over in the corner trying to figure out some kind of math equations. No. Or or when these things take place, my people will be off by themselves somewhere and scared to talk about it. No blood. 42081 nice things take place stand up.

And lift your heads.

Because your Redemption is near in times should not scare you it should give you hope that your savior is coming back for you.

Turn over to Luke Chapter 13 with me real quick if you don't care. Luke chapter 13

starting verse 10 We see a great illustration of this lift up your head stand up and lift your head. We have a great illustration here in Luke chapter 13 verse 10 as he was teaching in one of the synagogue on the Sabbath a woman was there who'd been disabled by a spirit for over 18 years. She was bent over and another translation tell you she was bent over double.

And could not straighten up at all.

when Jesus saw her

he called out to her. woman

you're free of your disability.

A wonderful savior is Jesus my Lord a wonderful savior C.

They laid his hands on her. And instantly she was restored. and began to glorify God Do you know what that means? Set up a touch of Jesus the woman who was bent over double. Raised up straight. She lifted her head.

all it took

what's the temperature of Jesus? Don't you see? But no matter what you're going through today. No matter how hard it is.

You don't have to be of help. Cuz when he comes back, you'll stand up straight and lift your head. Why? because your Redemption is near listen to what one writer says at the return of Christ Believers are to behave as the woman healed by Christ. They are to heave off oppression. Stand erect and receive Christ as their Heavenly Liberator lift up your heads. Is the Hebrew phrase that in Joins Believers to optimism and hope they are to stand erect and lift up their heads because the second coming is not an hour of judgment. but the dawn of Final Redemption if you have put your trust in Jesus, if you are following Jesus, you do not have to dread his return. Judgment has been served.

Are you hearing me? People say all the time people walk around Christian people walk around all the time. I'll answer for that. And then I'll do something else stupid. I'll answer for that. And they live their life with this great burden on them that when Jesus comes back. They're going to have to get underneath something because he's really really going to reprimand them all Beloved the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is that upon the cross of Calvary. The wrath of God was poured out on one who did not deserve it. So one day I will stand in his presence with my head held high. Because my Redemption has came to me. What would you say just like the woman who was bent over double you and I you and I have the burden of sin that is put up on us and we still have it. Don't we we still have the regret we still have the shame even though it's been done away with we were say worth being saved and we will be safe. One day we all of us who went around for years and years and years all bent over one day when he comes back. We'll have it no more time. We won't have the dead man. No more dragging around at the return of Christ just like that woman. We will stand. Stand up. He says lift up your heads because your Redemption is near.

This is what Zachariah and Anna in the first couple chapters. Look forward to was it.

It reminds me of that song.

no guilt in life No fear in death. This is the power of Christ in me. Beloved I'll call you by 11 cuz I love you.

This time next week one of us might not be here.

And this time next week, he might have already come back for assault and either way for those who put their trust in Jesus. There is nothing to look ahead of and worry about I guess we have to go back to that that verse don't we There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. What's the posture of the Christian? At the return of Jesus Italy a head held high a head lifted up. That's good news isn't I'll have any total Parable. It says verse 29 look at the Fig Tree and all the trees as soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourself and recognize that summer is already near. It's a good time to think about leaves, isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Beautiful right now leaves are falling everywhere. Things are changing when you see the leaves falling what we always say weather be here a little while. It be snowing for you know it. Well, how do you know that? Cuz this is sign that's the sign of it in the same way. When you see these things happening recognize that the kingdom of God is near. What are these things? Well, the first thing is to the destruction of the Temple. All the things that were talking about from 5 to 27 culminates right here. When you see all these signs. The kingdom of God is near truly. I tell you this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place.

Say Chris, I don't I don't understand how that works. I mean those people right there. They lay. Out didn't they? Yeah, they did.

And I saw the destruction of the Temple.

But generation that he was speaking to they saw those things.

But I think there's another meeting there too as well.

God's people will not pass away until all things take place.

And look what it says Heaven and Earth will pass away. Did you hear that heaven and earth will pass away everything that you hold tight to right now will pass away everything that you work hard for everything that you have a payment book on will be gone one day everything will pass away. This building will pass away our vehicles will pass away. Everything will pass away.

Our phones will pass away.

Sports will pass away

but my words will never pass away.

What's the posture of the believer if the head lifted High? And its arms holding to the word of God.

UC you can absolutely base your life on the word of God because it will never pass away.

We hold tight to a lot of things don't we? We hold tight to political parties. We hold tight to family names. We hold tight to all kinds of things but beloved. It says right here. Jesus says all those things will pass away pass away. But my words will never pass away in the Christian has has their head lifted high, but they don't lift their head high because they never lift your head high until you first hold tight to the Bible. This Bible tells you to lift your head high. You need something to stand on you need the word of God telling you can get up here and talk to you or or some guy can talk to you about how you should believe in yourself and you should pull yourself up by the bootstraps and you should feel better about yourself. But those are empty words. What do we need? We need to hold tight to the Bible and the Bible tells us a grand story of redemption the story of a king who sent his son.

The Ransom is people So you see the posture of the believer at the return of Jesus head lifted arms holding tight to the word of God and look what it says be on your guard verse 34 so that your minds are not dog from carousing drunkenness and worries of life, or the or that day will come on you unexpectedly. like a trap

for it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. Jesus is coming back and when he comes back the whole earth will know it.

Now listen, there's there's all kinds of things that we should be talking about just in these two verses. If Jesus is coming back and all the world, no one will escape it. Why in the world aren't we going and telling the two thousand people that they do not have one piece of scripture in their language.

Why is it someone in this church coming and saying pastor Chris? I've got to go.

Why are we giving our lives to go and tell the people? There is a savior. And he's coming back.

I'll tell you why.

Look at verse 34 because our minds are dulled.

Well, they don't from carousing. drunkenness

Are you say Chris? I don't even drink beer.

But you don't have to be. Drink beer to be drunk.

You can be. so intoxicated with your phone plans the return of Christ means nothing

you be so intoxicated with

do you just put it in?

activities status

look what it says. They're doing this and worries of life.

Or that day will come on you. unexpected like a trap

Last night we were sitting in the stands at the races and we don't sit in the stands usually wear in the pits where the cars are totally different group of people. We were sitting with last night than what I normally sit with him and my friend of us. They didn't know me. I didn't know them.

Anyway that there were sitting there and and and just a it's just a really ugly mess. And these people kept coming up over here and standing up by the fence and and they didn't want those people saying about the fence cuz they mock interview these people were intoxicated and it was just it was just an ugly thing. You said pastor Chris why I like that.

sometimes I wonder

so

I told Dad that these people would come up and then this old man would get up and just start hollering like a crazy person and then the people be like and then they walk off right and I told Dad it's like watching someone get caught in a trap. I mean, we just sit there every time somebody walk up the old guy with screen.

And then they go off what I tell you that.

How much is my own life and I watch it in yours too is your pastor? Just the fangs of your life in the worries of your life.

Just got you. so distracted that I'm afraid one day that that day's going to come like a trap.

I don't know how else to say it, but we cannot live our lives so.

Preoccupied with what's going on here that we forget that our hope is coming back.

But he's coming he's coming back. And it's hope for us but beloved us judgment for others.

Well, here's the postural. Let's move through first 36 but be alert at all times. Praying that you may have strength to escape all these things. Better going to take twice but here's the third thing first was a posture of a head lifted second is a holding to the word and third is bound and prayer. This is the posture of the Christian. The posture of the Christian is to be prayerfully strong. How do you do it? You pray and you pray often? You pray all the time. Pray that you have strength. You don't have enough strength to get through this on your own. You don't have no strength to get through but the the mental

Bombardment right now of those around you when I talk about the coronavirus you don't have the strength to get through all the things that's going to be coming our way. You do not have the strength to deal with CNN and Fox News. You do not have the strength. You may act like you have the strength, but you don't what should the Christian be doing praying that we have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place.

This is the posture of the Christian head lifted High.

Holding tight to the word but on our knees praying. That will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.

But notice there's one other posture that should be. mentioned

And to stand before the son of man. All this is the posture of the Christian. Yes. Yes. I had lifted standing up lifting our heads Hazard Redemption is near holding tight to the word until he comes about and prayer Faithfully praying not only for ourselves, but for those around the world that are taking the gospel to the Nations praying for our church praying for our pastor praying for our families praying that we all have strength to escape these things that are going to take place and what else ready to stand before the son of man, and I did not have an illustration for this point until today. On our way to church this morning for the first time in ever we were going to be on time. And it was going to be awesome.

and then blue lights turned on behind my vehicle.

And they're me and my beautiful bride and my four children sit in the middle of downtown Louisa with a policeman officer Newsom behind us.

Because the pastor of the church was speeding to get to the church.

As he comes up to the door, I'm rehearsing. What am I going to say?

I listen. I'm a minister of the Gospel, but I thought it just like you all do too. Either you going to church I said, yes, sir. I am I pastor church, you know me, you know the funeral home and I used to be on the coroner's office and just like the people in Egypt. They had no idea just like Joseph they forgot who Joseph was they forgot who I was too. He didn't care who I was where I was going what I had to do. How many bibles I had in the truck. I mean kids I had in there didn't matter to him. I was going to the high rate of speed and he was the officer on duty.

And I sit there.

I looked up in the rearview mirror and I saw my children in the backseat.

I had a good reason to be speeding dinner.

But I was guilty.

Just guilty.

How can a man stay in before the son of God?

I mean you're guilty, aren't you? How many fat guy writes me a ticket back there behind me I deserve it. I told my kids you do the crime you do the time.

I was praying Lord, don't let me get a ticket.

I've loved it. Listen I was guilty.

And you said well, that's the same thing that Jesus says right the police officer comes up. He doesn't give you a ticket. He just he just says you go on and it's slow it down next time. It'll be better.

Don't know why I was guilty of the ticket.

And then his son pay the fine.

Listen close to me. This is the Divine perspective.

That you and I can stand before God one day.

Because justice has been served.

I'm guilty.

No, I'm talking about like I'm a sinner. Not just a Breaking the Law thing. I'm a mess. I'm a sinner.

But I've been declared rot.

The one day I stand.

And what is my what is my plea?

I have no other promise. I need no other plea. It's enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. This is the good news of the Gospel blood. Stand up and lift your hands Redemption is drawing night. Until that time comes though. You better be a man a woman a boy and a girl who has your grip on God's word.

But it's not enough.

It's not enough to go and fill your head with knowledge of Doctrine.

If you get on your knees and be changed by it. This is the posture of the Christian not a big old fat head. But wore out knees. You know, that's what they called James wasn't it camel knees. Have you prayed so much?

the posture of the Christian beloved one day

we standing before God.

Roshes

Christian eschatology, when router says should bring sanity and centrepiece to counter the false prophets of every age you stir up fear and Hysteria.

No matter how Bleak things appear God's future Asher's the end of evil and the rescue of the righteous.

Sean he's coming back.

And you see what he does here. He's fixing to die. Right here.

Look what it says during the day he was teaching in the temple. But in the evening, he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives. He would go out and place it that most people didn't know about that. All the people will come early in the morning to hear him in the temple had not he would go cuz he knew what was coming didn't he?

Who was with him during that time when he would go to that place of seclusion?

The Festival of unleavened bread which is called Passover was approaching. The city's buzzing millions of people are there by this time? The chief priests in the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death because they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot who is number among the 12?

He went away in disgust with the chief priests and Temple Police how he could hand him over to them. They were glad and agreed to give him some silver.

So accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present. Where would that be at?

at night

What is Jesus a? lift up your head I will talk to my words pray.

Cuz I want to make you ready to stand.

Whether we've got just a few short chapters left, don't we?

What he's going to do and two chapters?

unthinkable Whispering father we love you and thank you for the good news of the Gospel. Whether we are guilty.

And that we had this huge burden on our back of our failures and our sins against you.

But you're coming back.

our Redemption is near

until you do may we hold tight to your word? Maybe Rebound in prayer.

And may we be thankful. But you have made us ready to stand.

washing us by your blood Send your name Jesus we pray. amen

I think it's very fitting today that we have the Lord's Supper.

I think it's very fitting. And I'll tell you why I let me read you scripture. 1st Corinthians chapter 11 says for I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you on the night when he was betrayed the Lord Jesus Took bread. I want to hear giving thanks broke it and said this is my body which is for you do this in remembrance of me in the same way. He also took the cup after suffering said this cup is the New Covenant in my blood do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup mallison you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.