Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Prepare for an emergency

Luke 21:5-19; 34-36 

Intro:
It sounds impossible to prepare for an emergency.
No one knows when an emergency will strike on them, so how can anyone be prepared for it?
An emergency = an unexpected/sudden traumatic event/situation eg 
an accident tornado –as experienced in Joburg on Wednesday
a sudden  illness  that results in death eg SA racer who died whilst climbing Kilimandjaro.
An emergency is something that happens beyond our control or fore-knowledge.
We can only prepare ourselves in part in life through the following:
Medical Aid plans/schemes
Life Policies & Wills
Insurance covers
CPR, life-saving rescue equipment
Self-defense classes etc.
However, there still is an element of surprise to it in spite of all our “so-called preparedness”.
Jesus warned us-humanity- to prepare for an emergency that will have a great impact on our eternal destination: His Second Coming / Return.

1.   One way of preparing ourselves is to take note of the events that will introduce this event:
Spiritually
Anti-Christ (people confessing to be Christ)-will cause spiritual deception
Cold/distant faith –those who confess Christ to be their Lord will become indifferent and intolerant toward others
The church/Body of Christ can be likened to a measuring-line/stick. The love of many believers will disappear or grow cold.
Faith of believers will be greatly tested.

Relations between people
Wars & Revolutions-nations against nations
Family conflicts & betrayals
Senseless killings 
Immorality & Corruption

Nature 
Great earthquakes,
Famines
Tossing of the sea (Tsunami’s ???)
Signs in the sun, moon & stars

2. Second way to prepare yourself 
Protect your heart against the anxieties of life. This is a distracting tactic to take your eyes off Christ.
Do not let your heart be troubled; give it to Jesus. Problems weigh the heart down.
It is a barrier between you and the Holy Spirit 

3. Thirdly-
be always on the lookout for His return.
watch & pray.

Conclusion
Luke 18 :8
When the Son of man comes will He find faith on the earth?
Jesus warned us of His coming, but will there be people who are waiting for Him with excitement-in a way that we look forward to seeing a loved one again after a long separation?
Will the deception be so great that even those who were waiting for Him, would have given up by then?  
Prepare yourself for His return.
It will be un-expectantly, therefore always ensure that you are in His will.
Make sure that your actions, attitude or thoughts bring Him glory.

Jesus will keep you from stumbling

Jude 1:24

Intro
In May 1954, Roger Bannister, a British athlete became the first person to run the mile in less than 4 minutes.
However, John Landy of Australia broke his record a month later by 1.4 seconds.
The two athletes met for a historic race on the 7th of August that same year.
All eyes were on the two runners to the dismay of the others.
John was ahead as they neared the finish line.
He looked over his shoulder to see where Roger was and stumbled….
Unfortunately, he missed the first prize.

All of us are in a race. Jesus will be waiting for each and every person at the finish line with a Reward in His hands.
However there is a huge possibility that we can miss the prize, just like John Landy did.
A fall/stumble cost him a gold medal. It can cost us eternity.
Don’t look around you or behind you. Look straight ahead of you, then you will live in eternity.
So what must you do when or if you do stumble? The reality is that you will stumble/ fall at times, but don’t remain in that position. Get up again and try again. Ask the Lord to strengthen you and to keep you from falling. Men of faith stumbled too, but in the end they were victorious.

Peter (See Matthew 14: 22-33)
He began to drown when he took his eye off Jesus and looked at the waves around him
Jesus was displeased with him, because he doubted.
“A negative focus can result in our entirely missing the possibilities placed in our path”
(Anne Wilson Schaef)

David ( see 2 Samuel  Chapter 11;)
He stumbled when he became idle. He sent the men to the battle ground whilst he was lazing around. 
God was displeased with David because he committed adultery and murder.
“Idleness is to the human mind like rust to iron” Ezra Cornell

Samson ( See Judges Chapter 13-16)
He stumbled because of his moral weakness/lust of the flesh.
All the women he got involved with, brought him into trouble.
The last one, Delilah cost him his eyesight and life eventually.
Samson started relying in his own powers instead of God
“Anything cracked, will shatter at a touch”(Ovid)

Obvious causes that will cause you to stumble in your spiritual walk:
Taking your eyes off Jesus/the Word
Idleness
Weaknesses

Causes that are difficult to recognise
Doubt
Sin committed in secret (envy, unforgiveness, strife, critical spirits, resentment)
Self-reliance

Conclusion
Galatian 5 :16-17
How can you be kept from stumbling?
Keep your eyes on Jesus through His Word NOT people
Fellowship with believers
Prayer
Commitment/Surrender to Jesus
Look ahead (forget the past)

Look & Live Hymn 372



Attitude of the Heart

Mark 15 :24-39 - Text v 39

The difference between the people who accepts Christ and those who reject Him is the attitude of
their hearts.
Some saw the miracles Christ performed, but remained bystanders
While others saw it too and they became His disciples.
Some heard His words of wisdom and enlightenment, but they refused to accept it as truth
While others heard it too and they were transformed by every Word as they accepted it as life.
Some experienced the touch of Jesus, but they showed no gratitude
While others experienced it too and they were devoted to Him unto death as a sign of their
gratitude.

The Centurion at the foot of the cross was someone whose attitude of the heart was pure and incorruptible.
He was touched and transformed by what he saw, heard and experienced during the crucifixion.
While many turned back in the same state of mind of sinfulness.
He became a disciple, while others remained bystanders.
Reason for the difference????

He heard…
Jesus’ cry when He asked the Father why He had forsaken Him
Jesus’ prayer when He asked the Father to forgive the people
Jesus’ reassurance to the criminal that he will be with Him in paradise
Jesus instructed John to care for Mary, who was a widow at the time
Jesus’ committed His spirit to the Father before he breathed out His last breath
Jesus said it is finished
The deep brokenness within His soul!!

He saw…
How Jesus died without anger and bitterness
How Jesus did not retaliate against those who mocked and insulted Him.
How Jesus still had love and mercy in His heart toward those who betrayed Him.
When one of the soldiers pierced His side a spear and there was a sudden flow of water and blood.
The expression of love, peace and achievement on Jesus face

He experienced….
The 3hr darkness when the sun stopped shining
The earthquake, the tombs that broke open
A life-changing encounter/moment with Jesus

Why did the other people who surrounded Jesus not realize who He was too???

Conclusion
Hebrews 4 :12
Jesus has the power to search every heart and to renew it through His Holy Spirit.
He has the power to reveal the hidden secrets and to lay it bare-ie to expose sinfulness.
However, He it is not in His nature to name and shame or condemn any person. He wants every
person to confess their sins .This reveals that we take responsibility our actions.
If you are willing to see, you will see His miracles all around you…..
If you are willing to hear, you will hear when He speaks to you….
If you are willing to experience His greatness, you will experience it.
The centurion was not influenced by Theology since he was a Gentile, but he nailed Jesus’ identity spot-on!!  

The days of the blameless are known to the Lord

Psalm 37 
Text verse 34

Who are the blameless?
Those who trust in God
Who do good
Who find pleasure in God
Who commit their plans/future/lives to Him
Who do not become anxious in time of trouble
Who do not sin when they become angry
Who are generous givers


What is their reward?
Will enjoy great peace
Their inheritance will endure forever
Will be strong in the time of disaster
Will enjoy plenty in the time of famine
Will not fall even though they may stumble
Their children are blessed
Will NEVER be forsaken by God
Will be protected forever
Will not be left in the power of the wicked
Will be exalted/lifted up
Will inherit the land
Which “land”? Does it refer to a geographical one?

What does “days” refer to?
Past
Present
Future

God blesses and gives honor to all who trust in Him
Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and vice versa.
In leadership-blameless-ness/ righteousness leads to the exaltation of  a nation.
Jesus was exalted to the right hand of the Father through His death & resurrection.

Kings who tried to exalt themselves were humbled:
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon
Sennacherib of Assyria

God’s exaltation in regard to a nation was demonstrated by:
Mighty acts on behalf of the Hebrew people (Ex 15 : 1,6)
Prosperity, spiritual and material blessing (Genesis 24; 35)
The legacy left by those whom God uplifted 

Psalm 39 :4
Show me, oh Lord, my life’s end and
The number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life