Awakening to Truth: Living in Anticipation of Christ
Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the profound truths of Scripture, focusing on the signs of the times and the call for the church to awaken to the reality of the days we are living in. We are surrounded by a society that is increasingly self-absorbed, materialistic, and debt-ridden. Social media has amplified this self-love, as we see individuals constantly showcasing themselves, often neglecting the depth and breadth of life beyond appearances. This shallow living is not what we are called to embrace.
We examined the dangers of covetousness and the trap of debt, which is a clear sign of an unwillingness to wait for God's provision and a preoccupation with acquiring possessions over pursuing Jesus. As believers, we must resist this societal pull and instead find our satisfaction in Christ alone. The older we get, the less we should desire worldly things and the more we should yearn for spiritual richness.
Our sermon also highlighted the importance of parental guidance and the biblical prophecy that in the last days, children will become disobedient to parents, signifying a moral decline. We are witnessing an attack on parental rights and a generation that is increasingly difficult to teach and guide. This is a fulfillment of Scripture, and as the church, we must lead by example, loving and disciplining our children as God has instructed us.
We are living in times where the world is spiraling away from truth, calling evil good and good evil. The Bible warns us that in the last days, people will be boastful, arrogant, and blasphemous, with speech that is crude and vulgar. As the church, we must stand firm against this tide, maintaining purity in our speech and actions.
Finally, we were reminded that we are not looking for the Antichrist but for Jesus Christ. He is our blessed hope, and we are to encourage one another with the promise of His return. As we await His coming, we must be vigilant, prayerful, and ready to escape the snares set by the enemy.
Key Takeaways:
1. The church must recognize the signs of the times, understanding that the self-absorption and materialism prevalent in society are not to be mirrored within the body of Christ. Instead, we are called to a life of self-denial, where we find true freedom and liberty in following Jesus. [01:37:07]
2. Parental guidance is crucial in these last days. As the world seeks to undermine the role of parents, the church must uphold the biblical mandate to love and discipline our children, ensuring that they grow up with a foundation of truth and righteousness. [01:50:20]
3. The church must be a beacon of purity in a world that is increasingly crude and vulgar. Our speech and conduct should reflect the holiness of God, countering the corrupt communication that is becoming normalized in society. [01:47:37]
4. As believers, we must guard against the lure of debt and materialism. Our satisfaction should not be found in possessions but in our relationship with Christ. The pursuit of stuff can never replace the pursuit of Jesus, and we must be vigilant to keep our priorities aligned with God's kingdom. [01:39:18]
5. The return of Jesus Christ is our blessed hope, and we must live in anticipation of His coming. This hope should not lead to fear but to a fervent commitment to the work of the gospel, knowing that our time is short and our mission is urgent. [01:32:42]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)
> "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."
2. Luke 21:34-36 (ESV)
> "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
3. Isaiah 5:20 (ESV)
> "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"
### Observation Questions
1. According to 2 Timothy 3:1-5, what are some characteristics of people in the last days?
2. In Luke 21:34-36, what does Jesus warn us to be cautious about, and what should we do to prepare?
3. How does Isaiah 5:20 describe the moral state of people who are confused about good and evil?
4. What societal trends mentioned in the sermon reflect the characteristics described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5? [01:37:07]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Paul emphasizes the importance of recognizing the characteristics of people in the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-5?
2. How can the warnings in Luke 21:34-36 help believers stay vigilant in their faith?
3. What are the implications of Isaiah 5:20 for today's society, especially in the context of the sermon’s message about calling evil good and good evil? [01:20:00]
4. How does the sermon’s discussion on self-absorption and materialism relate to the biblical warnings about the last days? [01:37:07]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you see self-absorption or materialism creeping in? How can you shift your focus back to Christ? [01:37:07]
2. How can you actively resist societal pressures that promote debt and materialism, and instead find satisfaction in your relationship with Christ? [01:39:18]
3. In what ways can you support and uphold parental guidance and biblical discipline in your family or community, especially in light of the moral decline discussed in the sermon? [01:50:20]
4. How can you maintain purity in your speech and actions in a world that is increasingly crude and vulgar? What practical steps can you take this week to reflect the holiness of God? [01:47:37]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of living in anticipation of Jesus' return. How can you cultivate a lifestyle of vigilance and prayerfulness as you await His coming? [01:32:42]
6. Think of a specific way you can encourage someone in your church or community with the promise of Jesus' return. How can you share this hope in a meaningful way?
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to be more vigilant against the snares set by the enemy. What steps will you take this week to guard against these traps? [01:20:00]
Devotional
Day 1: Rejecting Societal Materialism
In a world where self-absorption and materialism are rampant, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters. The culture around us encourages a relentless pursuit of possessions, often at the cost of spiritual growth and contentment in Christ. As followers of Jesus, the call is to resist the pull towards this shallow existence and instead, embrace a life marked by self-denial and spiritual depth. This is not a journey of deprivation but one of liberation, where true freedom is found not in the accumulation of goods but in the richness of a life devoted to following Jesus. The challenge is to live counter-culturally, finding satisfaction and joy in the eternal rather than the temporal. [01:37:07]
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16 ESV)
Reflection: How can you practice contentment today in a way that actively rejects the materialism of the world around you?
Day 2: Upholding Biblical Parenting
In these challenging times, the role of parents in guiding their children has never been more critical. As society increasingly questions and even opposes the authority of parents, it is imperative that the church stands firm on the biblical mandate to raise children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This involves not only loving and nurturing them but also teaching them the truths of Scripture and the importance of obedience and respect. The erosion of parental guidance is a sign of the times, but it is one that can be countered by families committed to God's design for raising the next generation. [01:50:20]
"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4 ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can strengthen your role as a parent or mentor to the younger generation this week?
Day 3: Purity in a Vulgar World
The world's standards of communication and behavior are shifting, with crudeness and vulgarity becoming increasingly normalized. However, as members of the body of Christ, there is a higher standard to uphold. Speech and actions should reflect the holiness of God, serving as a beacon of purity in a world that often celebrates the opposite. This is not about self-righteousness but about being a living testimony to the transformative power of the gospel. By maintaining purity in speech and conduct, believers can shine as lights in the darkness, offering an alternative to the corrupt communication that pervades society. [01:47:37]
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29 ESV)
Reflection: How can you ensure that your words this week build up others and reflect the purity of Christ?
Day 4: The Snare of Debt and Desire
The lure of debt and the desire for material possessions can be a powerful force, leading many away from a focus on Christ. The Scriptures warn against covetousness and the dangers of being ensnared by the desire to acquire more. Believers are called to live differently, placing their trust in God's provision rather than succumbing to the pressure to obtain instant gratification through debt. This requires vigilance and a reorientation of priorities, ensuring that the pursuit of Jesus takes precedence over the pursuit of stuff. In doing so, followers of Christ can experience the true freedom that comes from living within God's will. [01:39:18]
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." (1 Timothy 6:10 ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take to avoid the trap of debt and keep your desires aligned with God's kingdom values?
Day 5: Anticipating Christ's Return
The hope of Jesus Christ's return is a central tenet of the Christian faith, offering comfort and motivation to believers. This anticipation should not lead to fear but to a fervent commitment to living out the gospel. Knowing that time is short, Christians are called to be vigilant, prayerful, and ready, not distracted by the snares of the enemy. The promise of Christ's return should galvanize the church into action, encouraging one another and engaging in the urgent mission of sharing the good news with a world in need. [01:32:42]
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13 ESV)
Reflection: In what practical ways can you live this week in anticipation of Christ's return, encouraging others with this hope?
Quotes
- "When I see Jesus, I lose myself. When I let go of myself, I find Him. Jesus said, lose your life for my name's sake, and you will." [01:37:07] (Download | )
- "Debt is not your friend. But it is a sign that we are not willing to wait for the things that we really want. Instead, we'll be chasing stuff instead of Jesus." [01:38:31] (Download | )
- "That's called being salt and light in the last days. And I'm not talking about we got to get on everybody's case. I'm just saying there's a time to open your mouth and say, sir, ma'am, could you respect that my kids are here?" [01:46:53] (Download | )
- "We are to be firm. We are to be a witness. We are not to give up. We are not to give in. We are not to shut up until you come for us, Lord." [01:53:34] (Download | )
- "Parental rights to train and prepare our children are under attack and they have been for the past few decades. This perversion of parental rights and the subsequent unteachable spirit of our youth is a direct fulfillment of the words of this scripture." [01:50:20] (Download | )
- "The world is going to be in love and self-absorbed, me, myself, he and I, with itself... The greatest and the highest priority in the last day's generation is going to be themselves." [01:35:48] (Download | )
- "The Bible says in the last days, difficult times will come... exceedingly fierce times where many perils will be present to destroy the body and mostly to corrupt the soul." [01:28:17] (Download | )
- "We're not looking for the Antichrist. We're looking for Jesus Christ, friends. He is the one that's going to split the sky and take his church home, and the Bible says to encourage one another with this." [01:19:52] (Download | )
- "The Bible is not silent on what the world will look like just before Jesus comes for his church, and the tribulation hour begins. This message series is designed to expose the trap that is being set by your adversary for an unsuspecting world." [01:20:28] (Download | )
- "The Bible says that in the last days, the speech of people will become slanderous, abusive, and it will become vulgar. It will become crude. It will become rude." [01:45:12] (Download | )
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