Be Prepared: Heeding Christ's Warnings for the Future

Devotional

Day 1: Urgency of Spiritual Readiness

Jesus' warning to flee Jerusalem when they see the "abomination of desolation" underscores the urgency of being spiritually prepared. Just as the early Christians had to act swiftly to avoid destruction, we too must be ready for Christ's return at any moment. Procrastination in spiritual matters can have eternal consequences. Jesus emphasized the need for immediate action and vigilance, highlighting that the stakes are incredibly high. The destruction of Jerusalem serves as a historical example of the dire consequences of ignoring divine warnings.

In our daily lives, this means we must not delay in addressing our spiritual state. We should continually examine our hearts, repent of our sins, and live in a manner that reflects our readiness for Christ's return. The urgency of readiness is not just about avoiding negative consequences but about living a life that is pleasing to God and aligned with His will. [40:36]

Matthew 24:42-44 (ESV): "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to ensure you are spiritually ready for Christ's return? Is there a specific area in your life where you have been procrastinating spiritually?

Day 2: Deception of False Prophets

Jesus cautioned against false prophets and false Christs who would arise, performing signs and wonders to deceive even the elect. This serves as a reminder to stay grounded in the truth of the Gospel and to discern carefully the voices we follow. Knowing the voice of the Good Shepherd is crucial to avoid being led astray. In a world filled with conflicting messages and spiritual misinformation, it is vital to have a firm foundation in Scripture and a close relationship with God.

False prophets can be incredibly convincing, using signs and wonders to validate their claims. However, Jesus warned that these deceptions are designed to mislead even the most faithful believers. Therefore, it is essential to test every teaching against the Word of God and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in discerning truth from falsehood. [36:34]

2 Peter 2:1-2 (ESV): "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed."

Reflection: Are there any voices or teachings in your life that you need to evaluate more critically? How can you ensure that you are not being led astray by false prophets?

Day 3: Historical Judgment as a Spiritual Lesson

The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. is a historical event that serves as a spiritual lesson for us today. It illustrates the severe consequences of rejecting God's warnings and the importance of heeding His call to repentance and readiness. This event is a foreshadowing of the final judgment to come. The historical judgment on Jerusalem was not just a physical catastrophe but a spiritual wake-up call for all who witnessed it and for future generations.

This lesson reminds us that God's warnings are not to be taken lightly. They are acts of grace meant to guide us back to Him and protect us from spiritual ruin. The destruction of Jerusalem serves as a powerful example of what happens when people ignore divine warnings and continue in their disobedience. It calls us to reflect on our own lives and consider how we are responding to God's call. [58:37]

Luke 19:41-44 (ESV): "And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, 'Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.'"

Reflection: How do you respond to God's warnings in your life? Are there areas where you need to heed His call to repentance and readiness more seriously?

Day 4: God's Gracious Warnings

Warning signs, whether they are about physical dangers like falling rocks or spiritual dangers like impending judgment, are acts of grace. God's warnings are meant to protect and save us. Ignoring these warnings is perilous, but heeding them leads to safety and life. The graciousness of God's warnings is evident in His desire to see us turn from our ways and seek His protection and guidance.

God's warnings are not meant to instill fear but to offer a path to safety and redemption. They are expressions of His love and concern for our well-being. By paying attention to these warnings, we can avoid spiritual pitfalls and align ourselves more closely with God's will. This requires humility and a willingness to listen and respond to God's voice. [41:38]

Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV): "Say to them, 'As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?'"

Reflection: Are there any warnings from God that you have been ignoring? How can you respond to His gracious warnings today to ensure your spiritual safety and growth?

Day 5: Living in Expectation

Jesus' teaching about the suddenness of His return calls us to live in constant expectation and readiness. Unlike the destruction of Jerusalem, which had specific signs, the final judgment will come without warning. Therefore, we must live each day as if it could be our last, staying faithful and vigilant. This mindset encourages us to prioritize our spiritual lives and maintain a close relationship with God.

Living in expectation means being proactive in our faith, continually seeking to grow and serve. It involves daily practices of prayer, reading Scripture, and engaging in acts of love and service. By living in this way, we demonstrate our readiness for Christ's return and our commitment to His kingdom. [01:12:15]

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (ESV): "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a lifestyle of constant readiness and expectation for Christ's return? What daily habits can you implement to stay spiritually vigilant and faithful?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Emmaus. Today, we delved into Matthew 24:15-28, a passage where Jesus warns His followers about the impending destruction of Jerusalem. This passage is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, where He speaks of the "abomination of desolation" and instructs those in Judea to flee to the mountains when they see it. Jesus emphasizes the urgency and severity of the coming tribulation, urging His followers not to be deceived by false prophets and false Christs who will arise, performing signs and wonders to mislead even the elect.

We explored the context of this passage by looking at Jesus' interactions with the religious leaders in the preceding chapters. Jesus had been warning about the judgment coming upon Jerusalem and its leaders for their rejection of Him. He used parables, such as the parable of the vine growers and the wedding feast, to illustrate how the kingdom of God would be taken away from them and given to others who would produce its fruit.

Jesus' warnings were not just about the physical destruction of Jerusalem but also about the spiritual implications. He highlighted the importance of being ready for His return, as it will come suddenly and without warning. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. serves as a historical example of the consequences of ignoring God's warnings. Jesus' followers heeded His advice and fled the city, escaping the horrific tribulation that ensued.

In conclusion, Jesus' message is clear: be prepared, stay vigilant, and do not be deceived. The final judgment is coming, and we must be ready to meet Him at any moment. This is not just a historical lesson but a spiritual call to live in readiness and faithfulness, knowing that our time is limited and the stakes are eternal.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Urgency of Readiness: Jesus' warning to flee Jerusalem when they see the "abomination of desolation" underscores the urgency of being spiritually prepared. Just as the early Christians had to act swiftly to avoid destruction, we too must be ready for Christ's return at any moment. Procrastination in spiritual matters can have eternal consequences. [40:36]
2. Deception of False Prophets: Jesus cautioned against false prophets and false Christs who would arise, performing signs and wonders to deceive even the elect. This serves as a reminder to stay grounded in the truth of the Gospel and to discern carefully the voices we follow. Knowing the voice of the Good Shepherd is crucial to avoid being led astray. [36:34]
3. Historical Judgment as a Spiritual Lesson: The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. is a historical event that serves as a spiritual lesson for us today. It illustrates the severe consequences of rejecting God's warnings and the importance of heeding His call to repentance and readiness. This event is a foreshadowing of the final judgment to come. [58:37]
4. God's Gracious Warnings: Warning signs, whether they are about physical dangers like falling rocks or spiritual dangers like impending judgment, are acts of grace. God's warnings are meant to protect and save us. Ignoring these warnings is perilous, but heeding them leads to safety and life. [41:38]
5. Living in Expectation: Jesus' teaching about the suddenness of His return calls us to live in constant expectation and readiness. Unlike the destruction of Jerusalem, which had specific signs, the final judgment will come without warning. Therefore, we must live each day as if it could be our last, staying faithful and vigilant. [01:12:15]
### [72:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[35:12] - Reading of Matthew 24:15-28
[37:03] - Opening Prayer
[37:31] - Personal Anecdote: Oakland Park
[38:31] - Warning Signs in Life
[40:36] - Urgency of Readiness
[41:38] - Graciousness of Warnings
[42:12] - Impending Danger and Judgment
[43:10] - Christians Flee the Judgment
[44:28] - Context of Jesus' Warnings
[46:19] - Parable of the Vine Growers
[47:36] - Parable of the Wedding Feast
[49:02] - Judgment on Jerusalem
[51:14] - Destruction of the Temple
[53:08] - Signs of the Times
[54:15] - Abomination of Desolation
[56:02] - Fleeing Jerusalem
[58:37] - Historical Judgment
[59:03] - Romans Bring the Judgment
[62:57] - Great Tribulation
[65:33] - Elect Escape the Judgment
[69:01] - False Christs and Prophets
[72:15] - Final Judgment
[74:28] - Be a Witness
[76:32] - Closing Prayer
[83:14] - Announcements and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 24:15-28 —
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Observation Questions

What specific event does Jesus refer to when He mentions the "abomination of desolation" in Matthew 24:15? How does He instruct His followers to respond when they see it? [35:12]
According to the sermon, what were some of the warning signs Jesus gave about the impending destruction of Jerusalem? [42:12]
How did Jesus describe the false prophets and false Christs that would arise, and what would they do to deceive people? [36:34]
What historical event does the sermon highlight as a fulfillment of Jesus' warnings in Matthew 24? [58:37]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize the urgency of fleeing to the mountains when the "abomination of desolation" is seen? What does this urgency teach us about spiritual readiness? [40:36]
How can the historical destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. serve as a spiritual lesson for us today? What are the parallels between this event and the final judgment? [58:37]
In what ways do false prophets and false Christs attempt to deceive believers today? How can we discern and stay grounded in the truth of the Gospel? [36:34]
What does the sermon suggest about the nature of God's warnings? How are they acts of grace, and what are the consequences of ignoring them? [41:38]

Application Questions

Jesus warned His followers to be ready and not to procrastinate in spiritual matters. Are there areas in your spiritual life where you have been procrastinating? What steps can you take this week to address them? [41:19]
The sermon mentioned the importance of discerning the voices we follow. How can you ensure that you are following the voice of the Good Shepherd and not being misled by false teachings? [36:34]
Reflect on the historical judgment of Jerusalem as a lesson for today. How does this event challenge you to take God's warnings seriously in your own life? [58:37]
God's warnings are described as acts of grace meant to protect and save us. Can you recall a time when you heeded a warning and it led to a positive outcome? How can you apply this understanding to your spiritual journey? [41:38]
Jesus' teaching about the suddenness of His return calls us to live in constant expectation. What practical steps can you take to live each day as if it could be your last, staying faithful and vigilant? [01:12:15]
The sermon highlighted the severe consequences of rejecting God's warnings. How can you share the urgency of this message with others in a loving and gracious way? [42:12]
Think about the false prophets and false Christs mentioned in the sermon. How can you equip yourself and others to recognize and resist deceptive teachings in today's world? [36:34]

Sermon Clips

1. "Most of us think we have time. We have time to get our lives right with Jesus before we die, before a boulder hits us or something else happens. But, you know, you never know. You might not even live through today. You know, some of you know Donna Corvino. Her mom fell on Monday, and now they've called Hospice in. She's going home to be with the Lord. Some of you were at the funeral yesterday here for Vicki Hardy's brother. Vicki Vance's husband went to sleep and didn't wake up. Sad, you know, you just, you don't know." [40:36] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Don't ever, there are things in life you can procrastinate about and put off, but that's not one of them. You know, our neighborhoods or our local governments, you know, put up warning signs for us to protect us. And it's very thoughtful of them to look out for us, to look out for their fellow man. It's probably very lucrative to the amount of signs they put up. But it's gracious to warn people about impending death. Impending danger. It's gracious to do that." [41:19] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "It's gracious to warn people about impending danger. And this is what the Lord does in this, our Lord does in this passage. He warns his people of impending danger. The impending danger of the brutal, ruthless, Roman army. He warns his people about the coming judgment upon Jerusalem. And he tells them how to be safe. How to escape the coming judgment. And they listen to him. His followers listen to him. If you notice in the passage, he says, Behold, I've told you in advance. I've told you in advance. Be ready." [42:12] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus graciously warns his people to flee Jerusalem. And the city was completely destroyed in 70 AD. It's so well documented. Within a generation, just as Jesus had said. Right? 37 years later. A generation is 40 years. Very few Christians were slaughtered in the siege because they headed out. They heeded the warning of Jesus to flee. They listened to him. Behold I have told you in advance. And he's told us in advance too about a coming judgment. Hasn't he?" [58:14] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "It's gracious to be warned about impending danger. Be it snakes or alligators or falling rocks. But the most gracious warning we can receive is about the coming judgment of God. Jesus does warn us that a final judgment is coming. Behold I have told you in advance. People don't heed this warning. And people think there will be all these signs that are going to come. That's another thing. People think they're going to have time because they'll see all the signs. Oh what's going on in Jerusalem. Oh what's going on in Russia. Yeah there'll be all these signs. No I don't think the Bible teaches that." [01:10:41] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The main thing the Lord tells us is to be ready because it will come suddenly. You notice that? Suddenly. There will be no warning signs. He's telling us now. Listen to him. You'll know when Jerusalem is going to be destroyed because they're all wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes in various places. And when you see the city surrounded by armies, get out, you're going to know. But eight verses later, as he's talking about the destruction of Jerusalem, he switches and starts talking about the final judgment." [01:11:14] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "So many people get caught up in the signs of the times. When is Jesus coming back? Watch every news story. Listen, you can waste your life doing that. You can fret all the time. All day long, every day. Until you die. For nothing. I'm just telling you. Relax. He's gonna come. Well, he's gonna come back any second. All of that stuff's a big waste of time." [01:13:24] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Your business is to tell people. Your business is to be a witness. Tell people about Jesus. And always be ready to meet him in a moment's notice. There's a parable, and we're gonna get to it, because Jesus shifts gears and starts talking about the end of the world. The parable of the ten virgins. I don't know if you are familiar with this. Five are wise and five are foolish. The five aren't ready for the bridegroom to return." [01:14:28] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. This is so important, you guys. This is so important. Just be ready at any moment for the falling rock, okay? Let me close with this. This is John 10, 27 and 28. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish. And no one will snatch them out of my hand. Come to him now. If you hear his voice, listen to him. And come to him now to escape the judgment that is coming swiftly and receive eternal life." [01:15:19] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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