Awakening Faith in Uncertain End Times
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the topic of the end times and how Christians should live in these uncertain times. We began by acknowledging the signs of the end times as described in Matthew 24:4-14, emphasizing that while wars, famines, and earthquakes are inevitable, they are merely the beginning of birth pains. Jesus instructs us not to let our hearts be troubled and to avoid panic. Instead, we should focus on living out our faith with love and spreading the good news of the Kingdom.
We also examined the letters to the churches in Sardis and Laodicea from Revelation 3. The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive but was spiritually dead. Jesus called them to wake up, strengthen what remains, and repent. Similarly, the church in Laodicea was neither hot nor cold, making Jesus want to vomit them out. They were rich in material wealth but spiritually poor, blind, and naked. Jesus urged them to buy spiritual gold refined in the fire, to be clothed in righteousness, and to anoint their eyes so they could see.
The core message is that Jesus desires a vibrant, intimate relationship with His church. He calls us to repent, wake up, and be zealous in our faith. We must evaluate our spiritual condition, ensure we are not merely Christians in name, and strive to be spiritually alive and active. Jesus' correction is an expression of His love, and embracing it leads to peace, joy, and empowerment.
### Key Takeaways
1. Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled: In times of uncertainty and chaos, Jesus instructs us not to let our hearts be troubled. This requires active effort on our part to focus on His promises and avoid being misled by false prophets or overwhelmed by the world's troubles. Trust in God's sovereignty and His ultimate plan for humanity. [54:43]
2. Wake Up and Strengthen What Remains: The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive but was spiritually dead. Jesus calls us to wake up and strengthen the remnants of our faith. This involves self-examination, repentance, and a renewed commitment to spiritual growth and active faith. [56:27]
3. Avoid Lukewarmness: The church in Laodicea was neither hot nor cold, making Jesus want to vomit them out. Lukewarmness is distasteful to God. We must strive to be either hot (zealous and passionate) or cold (refreshing and invigorating) in our faith. This requires a deep, personal relationship with Jesus and a commitment to living out our faith actively. [01:19:19]
4. Embrace Correction as Love: Jesus' correction is an expression of His love for us. When He brings correction, it is for our benefit, leading to peace, joy, and spiritual growth. Embrace His correction with humility and a willingness to change, knowing that it is a sign of His deep love and care for us. [01:26:00]
5. Pursue Spiritual Gold: Jesus counsels us to buy from Him gold refined in the fire, which symbolizes spiritual wealth and purity. This involves spending time in His presence, studying His Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and refine us. Pursuing spiritual gold leads to a life that is rich in faith, righteousness, and spiritual vitality. [01:31:19]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[52:43] - Introduction and Humor
[54:43] - Signs of the End Times
[56:27] - The Church in Sardis
[58:32] - Personal Story of Conviction
[01:00:33] - Church Culture vs. World Culture
[01:01:28] - Role of Pastors
[01:03:12] - Spiritual Deadness
[01:04:19] - Forgiveness and Reconciliation
[01:07:11] - Personal Testimony of Forgiveness
[01:09:04] - Moral Decay in Sardis
[01:10:13] - Call to Wake Up
[01:13:07] - Remember and Repent
[01:16:44] - Jesus' Stealth Operation
[01:18:03] - The Remnant in Sardis
[01:19:19] - The Church in Laodicea
[01:22:14] - Historical Context of Laodicea
[01:25:22] - Embrace Correction as Love
[01:28:12] - Signs of the Last Days
[01:31:19] - Pursue Spiritual Gold
[01:35:23] - Jesus Knocking at the Door
[01:36:54] - Call to Repentance
[01:39:14] - Personal Story of Repentance
[01:42:16] - Invitation to Receive Jesus
[01:43:31] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 24:4-14
2. Revelation 3:1-6
3. Revelation 3:14-22
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the signs of the end times mentioned in Matthew 24:4-14? How does Jesus instruct us to respond to these signs? [54:43]
2. What was the spiritual condition of the church in Sardis according to Revelation 3:1-6? What did Jesus call them to do? [01:03:12]
3. How did Jesus describe the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22? What was His reaction to their lukewarmness? [01:19:19]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize not letting our hearts be troubled in times of uncertainty? How does this relate to trusting in God's sovereignty? [54:43]
2. What does it mean to "wake up and strengthen what remains" in the context of the church in Sardis? How can this be applied to our personal spiritual lives? [01:03:12]
3. Why is lukewarmness distasteful to Jesus, and what does it mean to be either hot or cold in our faith? How can we avoid being lukewarm? [01:19:19]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt troubled by world events. How did you manage your anxiety, and what steps can you take to trust more in God's plan during such times? [54:43]
2. In what areas of your spiritual life do you need to "wake up and strengthen what remains"? What practical steps can you take to revive these areas? [01:03:12]
3. Have you ever experienced a period of spiritual lukewarmness? What caused it, and what actions did you take (or can you take) to reignite your passion for Jesus? [01:19:19]
4. How do you typically respond to correction, whether from Jesus or others? What can you do to embrace correction as an expression of love and grow from it? [01:26:00]
5. What does pursuing "spiritual gold" look like in your daily life? Identify one specific practice you can adopt to deepen your relationship with Jesus and grow in spiritual wealth. [01:31:19]
6. Think of a person in your life who may be spiritually dead or lukewarm. How can you lovingly encourage them to wake up and strengthen their faith? [01:03:12]
7. Jesus desires a vibrant, intimate relationship with His church. What steps can you take this week to deepen your personal relationship with Him and ensure you are spiritually alive and active? [01:35:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust in God's Sovereignty
In times of uncertainty and chaos, Jesus instructs us not to let our hearts be troubled. This requires active effort on our part to focus on His promises and avoid being misled by false prophets or overwhelmed by the world's troubles. Trust in God's sovereignty and His ultimate plan for humanity. Jesus' words in Matthew 24:4-14 remind us that while wars, famines, and earthquakes are inevitable, they are merely the beginning of birth pains. Instead of panicking, we should focus on living out our faith with love and spreading the good news of the Kingdom. By doing so, we can find peace and assurance in God's overarching plan.
Matthew 24:4-14 (ESV): "And Jesus answered them, 'See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.'"
Reflection: What specific promises of God can you focus on today to help you trust in His sovereignty amidst the chaos around you? [54:43]
Day 2: Revive Your Spiritual Life
The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive but was spiritually dead. Jesus calls us to wake up and strengthen the remnants of our faith. This involves self-examination, repentance, and a renewed commitment to spiritual growth and active faith. We must evaluate our spiritual condition, ensure we are not merely Christians in name, and strive to be spiritually alive and active. Jesus' correction is an expression of His love, and embracing it leads to peace, joy, and empowerment. By waking up and strengthening what remains, we can experience a vibrant, intimate relationship with Jesus.
Revelation 3:1-2 (ESV): "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.'"
Reflection: What areas of your spiritual life need revival and strengthening today? How can you take practical steps to address them? [56:27]
Day 3: Be Zealous in Your Faith
The church in Laodicea was neither hot nor cold, making Jesus want to vomit them out. Lukewarmness is distasteful to God. We must strive to be either hot (zealous and passionate) or cold (refreshing and invigorating) in our faith. This requires a deep, personal relationship with Jesus and a commitment to living out our faith actively. Jesus desires a vibrant, intimate relationship with His church, and He calls us to repent, wake up, and be zealous in our faith. By avoiding lukewarmness, we can experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers.
Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV): "‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you become more zealous and passionate in your faith today? What specific actions can you take to avoid spiritual lukewarmness? [01:19:19]
Day 4: Embrace Correction with Humility
Jesus' correction is an expression of His love for us. When He brings correction, it is for our benefit, leading to peace, joy, and spiritual growth. Embrace His correction with humility and a willingness to change, knowing that it is a sign of His deep love and care for us. By accepting His correction, we can grow in our faith and become more like Him. Jesus' words to the churches in Sardis and Laodicea remind us that His correction is meant to bring us back to a place of spiritual vitality and intimacy with Him.
Hebrews 12:5-6 (ESV): "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.'"
Reflection: How can you embrace Jesus' correction in your life today? What specific areas do you need to address with humility and a willingness to change? [01:26:00]
Day 5: Pursue Spiritual Wealth
Jesus counsels us to buy from Him gold refined in the fire, which symbolizes spiritual wealth and purity. This involves spending time in His presence, studying His Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and refine us. Pursuing spiritual gold leads to a life that is rich in faith, righteousness, and spiritual vitality. By seeking spiritual wealth, we can experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers and become more like Him. Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea remind us of the importance of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material wealth.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to pursue spiritual wealth and purity? How can you prioritize your relationship with Jesus over material possessions? [01:31:19]
Quotes
1. "It hit me that Jesus doesn't know when he's coming. So I'm not going to worry about it. I'm not going to get in some debate, out something that Jesus didn't even know. Amen. There's other things that we can do with our life. And John 14 says, don't let your heart be troubled. And that's one of the things that it's up to us not to let our heart be troubled. And it can easily get that way if you don't do what the scripture says." [54:43] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So God has a plan and he is sovereign and he answers to no one. The times are in his hands. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. arrested and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. Many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere. And the love of many will grow cold. That love there is agape love." [57:17] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The culture of the world is not to invade the church. Our church culture is to invade the world through us. And we come to revelation. Jesus comes to seven churches and he comes to inspect the church. He's still doing that today. He still walks in his church. He still walks in his church and inspects it. It's like the church was getting a report card." [01:00:33] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You can have a reputation for being a Christian, but do others know it? The people around, you know, you're a Christian. I submit to you. It could be deadness in you. If nobody knows that you're carrying light and life and good news. What happened to me at work? I had a, I had a, a forgiveness. I forgave my ex-wife and the Lord spoke to me. It was a process of time. The Lord's time. You got to forgive, God, forgive, God, forgive." [01:04:19] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Repent. Change. I'm quick to repent now because I've repented until my repenter fell off. I don't know about y'all. I've been a mess. I repent. I would repent. I thought at times, boy, I have arrived. Then I find out, oh, we're working on something else. And then I finally figured out, I'm never going to arrive, am I, Lord? No. Not until you see me face to face. Thank you." [01:14:16] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When we repent, we're running to God. Jesus said you don't really see yourself. He said you're wretched. That means calloused. And lost sensitivity. Miserable. In need of pity. Poor. In poverty. Blind means blind as if you had no eyes. And naked. No clothes. They didn't even know they were spiritually streaking. They didn't have a lick of clothes on. They were rich in the natural but spiritually broke. Poverty." [01:30:41] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire that you may be rich. And God's not against you prospering in the natural. You can be rich in the natural and rich spiritually. Amen. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire that you may be rich. And white garments that you may be clothed that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed. Anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see." [01:31:19] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Jesus is longing for a renewed intimate relationship with his church. Or with you. Because he's talking to all of us. The church. To stop valuing their relationship. God. Verse 21. To him who overcomes. I will grant to sit with me on my throne. As I also overcome and sit down with my father on his throne. He who is ear to ear lay mirror. Spirit says to churches. He's saying no one's beyond a turnaround. All things are possible with him." [01:36:21] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "If he could raise the dead church of Sardis. Raise him up from the dead. If he could raise up. A lukewarm church. He can raise our lives up. And I thank you for honest. All of us have had times that we swam in lukewarm waters. And we need to repent. And do the things. That are necessary. For us to stay. In the healing waters. And the restorative waters. The refreshing waters. To stay at his feet." [01:36:54] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Sometimes you repent and you have to break away from something. You might have to break away from Facebook for a while. Or wherever it is. It's taking your time. Because you have to spend some time with Jesus. To buy the gold. Is anybody willing to buy the gold? It's his house. And his church. And we belong. So let's stand up for Jesus." [01:39:59] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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