It Has Begun...
(A Message to the Multitude)
(Preached Sunday Morning, August 16, 2020)
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”
(Luke 21:28)
We have nothing better to say than what Jesus has to say. We are his people. He is our Lord. Our Lord’s name is Jesus. He is Lord! He has always been and shall always be. As it is written…
“But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” (Numbers 14:21)
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)
Hah! Hallelujah! He is coming again. Jesus is coming again!
We bring you this message today from him: from the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Savior of the World.
This time, this age, this epoch, this period in history is almost over. Ah, hallelujah, he is almost here.
Signs of His coming multiply,
Morning light breaks in eastern sky;
Watch, for the time is drawing nigh–
What if it were today?
We have a message for you… for you! A message that comes directly from him to you. Yes, you! We will let him speak. The Word of God will transport you back through time to hear the words he spoke, the words that the Holy Spirit of God then had recorded upon the pages of Scripture, the words that we have been praying all week would penetrate you, bring up your sins, and cause you to look up upon the Savior from sin. Jesus, the Savior of the World… your only hope.
Hear then this introduction that he himself gives to what he would say to you today – if you can hear. Can you? Has the Lord heard our prayers? Is he answering even now? Are you listening? Then hear the precious Lord Jesus as he tells you this.
“And they asked him, saying, ‘Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?’
“And he said,
“Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
“Then said he unto them,
“Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls.
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
“And he spake to them a parable;
“Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:8-36)
- “Watch”, he said!
- “Pray always”, he said!
- “Be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass.”
- “Be accounted worthy … to stand before the Son of man.”
Jesus is coming again! Why are true Christians, submitted surrendered Christians, so happy, so excited in the face of what no one wants to admit but everyone knows is the end of the world?
It cannot survive. None of this can endure. It’s over… and yet… it… is… about to begin.
“And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” (Mark 13:20)
Do you not see? Did you not know? As is written,
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
God… is… not… mocked! And you… you have sown. You have lived… a life… without God! You face the end… without God! The end is coming… and you are without God!
Oh, must I say this to you? Must I utter these words? The truth! The truth! I must tell you the truth.
The truth: it is written…
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 53:1)
The fool! The fool! In his heart hath said, “There is no God.” But if there is no God, there is no hope. There is no other side of the mountain.
Your scientists have told you: nature and the sensitive ecological system of the world is destroyed – and without God the world… will now end. Your financial wizards have made it clear: the next economic collapse (loss of jobs, loss of income, loss of your way of life) will be global and not regional – and without God your world… will come to an end. Your agriculturalists have told you that there will be no food, no water. Your socialists have told you that there will be no order; anarchy will rule and pull you out of your homes and into the streets.
But they say that they will solve it. “They say!” Like a bad childhood “friend” leading you deeper and deeper into trouble, into a problem, into a pit made too slippery with your own sins to climb out.
Jesus saves! Of him, it was foretold of him,
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Jesus can save you right now! He said of himself,
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:14)
He is lifted up! He took all of your sins upon himself. He outstretched his arms, his legs, his feet, his hands upon that cross. He gave himself a willing sacrifice… for you! For you! He bore it all for you.
He paid for your sins, up there upon that cross. He allowed your sins to be buried with his body, and then, without your sins, he rose from the grave.
He is alive! He is waiting. He waits for you… Look up! Look up! To believe on him to save you from sin – is to have him gladly save you. Look up!
This last verse of Scripture, that you hear in this message, this… we long to preach to you next week. But… you cannot wait. As he said, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” This is the moment. Your evil, your sin has been brought before your face. Look up! Look up! Look… to Jesus… and be saved!
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28)
OUTLINE:
It Has Begun…
“And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” (Mark 13:20)
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:14)
WORSHIP:
Opening:
Message:
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Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending (211)