DISCIPLES DON’T ONLY LOOK AT THE SIGNS – THEY LOOK IN THE MIRROR
by
Pastor George Lehman
YOU CANNOT REFLECT ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT YOU BELIEVE
Matthew 24:6-13 (NIV) – 6You will hear of wars and rumours 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. 9Then 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, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
If your message of Jesus is watered down to be liked, to be nice and friendly; it’s not the True Gospel your sharing! 2 Timothy 3:12
Note: – Verse 12 – The Love of “Most”, NIV/Greek (Great body of people)
Get a few people to stand up
(Elders/Deacons/Cell Leaders)
Church to see what MOST sitting look like.
15 standing 235 people sitting
Look around and see what “most” look like – those sitting –
Most: – Greek = Pleistos, means –
The largest number
More in quantity
Jesus said as the end times approach –
There is going to evident obvious signs – taking place
Jesus said that firstly signs – all around us in the world will begin to point at His return – but – (Joy Magazine – Dr. Samuel Doctorian)
The clearer signs which many miss is their personal relationship Sign. These are clearer but more subtle indicators: we don’t see them:
my relationship with God – verse 12 – Love of most will grow cold
and turn from faith.
my relationship with others – verse 10 – Betray and hate each other
Jesus is saying: – “Don’t look at the signs out there – but look at the mirror” :- See the signs in yourself
Many of God’s people are going to grow cold – Think about this :-
To grow cold you must pass from Hot, thru Lukewarm to Cold
Revelation 3:16 – Jesus said lukewarm people He spits out of His mouth
The very clear but interesting truth is: –
Out of the 7 Churches in Revelation chapters 2 & 3
All were told: – “I am coming soon”
Only the last church of Laodicia – Revelation 3:20 – “Here I am, I stand at the door and knock”.
In each generation of the Church – there has been a measure of compromise, a lowering of standard – this Jesus says is a clear sign of His return
None of us ever want to or plan to be one of the most who’s love will grow cold = If we don’t watch our lives it will happen.
This is a Mirror looking verse:
The challenging question is: – To avoid becoming part of the “most”
2 Corinthians 13:5 (Amp) – Test and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as [committed] believers. Examine yourselves [not me]! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves [by an ongoing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you-unless indeed you fail the test and are rejected as counterfeit?
Are there signs in your life of a gradual cooling off taking place?
Your first love for Jesus is it busy subtly fading?
You know without a doubt you are not at the place you know you should be.
Example: – sitting in the sun – all of a sudden, a shadow covers you and you feel the coolness, you never noticed the sun fading.
You’re not seeking Jesus Christ the way you once did.
You’re no longer hungry and thirsty for God – like you were at the beginning of the year.
You’re not enjoying the company of believers as you once did.
Your prayer life is inconsistent.
Your WORD reading is non-existent.
My question to you: –
What do you have in place to ensure you will be one of the few – not one of the most?
We deceive ourselves to think our heavenly Father stands back idlelly and watches – NO –
1 Peter 4:17-18
Verse 17: For the time (has arrived) for judgement to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will (be) the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God?
Verse 18: and if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked.
Separate the sheep and goats – Matthew 25:32 there are many sheep with goat natures
1 Corinthians 16:13-14(Amp) – 13Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong. 14Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].
Spiritual decay happens one compromise at a time!
It’s when we stop doing the little things it begins to damage our relationship with God and others.
Our level of relationships will never rise above our level of prayer.
Colossians 3:16 – Let the Word (spoken by) Christ (the Messiah) have its home (in your hearts and minds) and dwell in you in (all its) richness, as you teach and admonish (Urge / Remind) and train one another in all insights and intelligence and wisdom (in spiritual things).
Notice: Let the Word make its home in you – dwell in you.
TRUTH IS: – What you put in your mind will determine what comes out of you.
What got you this far – is not good enough to keep you here.
We need to (grow) and become better, more like Jesus.
“God never puts anyone in a place too small to grow!!”
Do you Know and Realize God is interested in your end destination?
“If you don’t make your mind, then your unmade mind will unmake you” – E. Stanby Jones
Always remember that when you refuse to make a decision, that in itself is a decision.
The greatest power you have is the power to choose.
You certainly don’t have to do anything in life, but you are accountable for whatever you don’t do.
So you failed.
You are sure you make up one of the most today.
You know you need to change.
There is no pit so deep that Jesus is not deeper still.
If your fire has died – Fan it into flame
Get fuel (oil) for your lamp – Matthew 25: – Remember the 10 virgins – 5 wise, 5 foolish
Matthew 24:44 – You also must be ready, therefore, for Jesus is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.
AMEN
