Saturday, April 18, 2015

SERMON - IS CHRIST'S RETURN IMMINENT? part 1


Is Christ’s Return
Imminent?
Part 1
 
 
Although there are men and women who are so audacious as to make known (their guess) the exact date of the end of the world we must not be taken in by these types. The ones voicing such predictions have many reasons for their actions. Either their greed for wealth, power over the minds of men and women, fulfillment of sexual desires sets forth but a few of their misguided reasons.
 
Matthew 24: 36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  
 
Although no one knows the actual time of the end of the world is to come we are instructed to be ready all the time.
 
Matthew 24: 32"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
 
The question is, are we “right at the door?”
 
Only God knows the answer but we may be closer than you realize.
 
As Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives His disciples came to Him asking for the time upon which the end would come.
 
Matthew 26: 3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"
 
The answer given is difficult to understand.
 
You may ask, ‘Why.’
 
This is addressed in Romans.
 
Romans 8: 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 
 
It is man’s human nature to sin and not want to submit to the type of laws that God has delivered to him. Unless men change their rebellious ways the end, although imminent, will be in God’s time, not man’s.
 
When Christ does return he will change the human nature of men and women and stop the deception wrought upon man at the time of this sermon. Currently the whole world is deceived and this includes many of the religious leaders. There are but a few that have their human natures changed by their denying sin to rule their lives.
 
Revelation 12: 9The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 
 
Satan roams this world seeking to devour many souls. This devouring can be seen as deceiving through the many man made doctrines imposed on worshippers by the many religions claiming to be Christian yet are not! It is only when men are prepared to submit to God by surrendering to His will that He will return.
 
If Christ does return before too long it will be that He has determined that man just cannot rule in accordance to His will. It will be His imposition of His will upon mankind that will radically allow a change to men’s thinking that will allow proper rule by Jesus Himself as set forth in God’s Word.
 
Hebrews 2: 7You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
 
  This means that Christ will save atheists, Hindus, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and all of humanity as He sits in judgment of all.
 
Most of the religious men that preach what they pass off as ‘Christianity’ are themselves, confused. They preach their own thoughts instead of God’s Word. In doing so the message God has set forth is rejected and many people, thinking they are being taught truth are deceived!
 
Matthew 24: 4Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many.
 
The failure of men that claim to teach true Christianity lies in their failure to understand that Matthew 24 is one of the most prophetic messages Christ gave while here on earth.  Although they continually preach of the Person of Christ they fail in preaching Christ’s message set forth in Matthew.
 
Christ taught of the wars, famines, pestilence and natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, etc) that lead up to the sign of His second coming.
 
Matthew 24: 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.
 
Many claim that the current wars and calamities are those spoken of but fail to see that there are far worse terrors ahead. I fear the wars to come will be ever increasing in violence and destruction thereby hastening Christ’s return.
 
Brothers and sisters this will be but the beginning of the sorrows we must face. There will be thousands of so-called Christians (lukewarm) killed or hated. We must prepare ourselves physically and most of all, spiritually as we are truly the hatednChristians.
 
Matthew 24: 9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,  
 
Believe you when I say, earthly death, however set upon you, will be far less severe than spiritual death. Pain and anguish of our earthly bodies can last only a short while. Paradise is forever!
 
Many false prophets, both religious as well as secular will deceive and be the persecutors as they are led by Satan!
 
Matthew 24: 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
 
You and I are among those that are hated and this is sad. However those that are among the lukewarm and weak of faith will be subjected to persecution as well. They will fall from grace.
 
Matthew 24: 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
 
When love grows cold it doesn’t do that instantly. It starts out hot, gets warm then lukewarm. This is the stage where so many begin to turn on the righteous and wickedly attack them. I am very aware of the ‘lukewarm’ stage as I have had ‘friends’ that had been ordained but began to preach ‘Christianity’ in such a manner so as to entertain their congregations instead of teaching them truth. When I continued to preach God’s Good News and the need of repentance these same ‘friends’ became cold to me and even began to speak out against the Christianity I preach.
 
The ‘saved’ spoken of is not the ‘saved’ so many claim to be possessed of. The truly saved are those that have truly repented to God and from the wickedness of men.
 
I ask each of you to remain strong in your faith, do not fall prey to any that would teach you anything not in God’s Word. Have any that seek to teach you prove every lesson taught with Bible proof!
 
In ensuing sermons I will continue to give you my interpretation of the question raised in this sermons title. That title being, “Is Christ’s Return Imminent?”
 
(Closing prayer)
 
Heavenly Father, Lord of all, please hear our prayer. Father, we praise You and lift out hearts to You. You are the focus of our worship and our devotion. We are Your children and pray that You will keep us strong and not allow any of us to falter in our belief of You. We also ask that the many true believers in the world be strengthened by You as the El Gibbor.
 
You have given us Your Word, which is our Bible and we thank You for doing so. It is with faith that we stand firm on Your Word against those that speak out against us or even seek to cause us harm. Be with us O Lord and protect us with Your Mighty Power.
 
Lord, we ask that we be kept hot in our faith and love for You and never fail You in the slightest way. You are our God and there is no other.
 
These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit who are One with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever,
 
Amen, amen and amen.

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