Faithful Endurance: The Call to Remain Steadfast
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to partake in the Lord's communion, a sacred act instituted by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper. This practice allows us to pause and reflect on Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection. As we held the bread and the cup, we remembered His sacrifice and the promise of eternal life through faith in Him. We prayed for strength to submit our lives to God's will, just as Jesus did.
We then delved into the book of Revelation, specifically chapters 13 and 14. This part of Revelation describes the rise of the Antichrist and the false prophet, who will deceive many through miraculous signs and wonders. The Antichrist, symbolized by a seven-headed beast, represents oppressive political systems, while the false prophet, symbolized by another beast, represents deceptive religious systems. These figures will force people to receive the mark of the beast, without which they cannot buy or sell, leading to a time of great tribulation.
However, those who remain faithful to Jesus and refuse the mark will be part of the 144,000, a symbolic number representing God's faithful people. These individuals will be redeemed and will sing a new song before God's throne. The message is clear: we must remain steadfast in our faith, even in the face of persecution and deception.
The sermon concluded with a call to ensure our names are written in the Book of Life through faith in Jesus Christ. This decision is crucial as it determines our eternal destiny—either eternal rest and peace with God or eternal torment. We were reminded that we cannot serve both Jesus and the world; our allegiance must be undivided.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Communion: Communion is a time to remember Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. It is a moment to reflect on His teachings, miracles, and the ultimate act of love—laying down His life for us. This practice strengthens our faith and reminds us of the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. [28:04]
2. The Deception of the Antichrist and False Prophet: The Antichrist and the false prophet will use miraculous signs to deceive many. These figures represent oppressive political and deceptive religious systems. As believers, we must be vigilant and discerning, focusing on the truth of God's Word rather than being swayed by miraculous signs alone. [49:33]
3. The Mark of the Beast: In the end times, the mark of the beast will be required for buying and selling, leading to a great tribulation. This mark is a counterfeit of God's seal on His people. We must be prepared to endure hardships and remain faithful to Jesus, even if it means facing persecution or death. [57:00]
4. The 144,000 and the Call to Holiness: The 144,000 symbolize God's faithful people who have not defiled themselves with the world. This calls us to live lives of holiness, righteousness, and purity. Our allegiance to Jesus must be undivided, and we must not compromise our faith for worldly pleasures or conveniences. [01:06:01]
5. Eternal Consequences: The decision to follow Jesus is the most important one we will ever make. It determines our eternal destiny—either eternal rest and peace with God or eternal torment. We must ensure our names are written in the Book of Life through faith in Jesus Christ, as this is the only way to secure our future. [01:19:47]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[28:04] - Communion: Remembering Jesus' Sacrifice
[29:10] - Prayer for the Bread
[29:53] - Prayer for the Cup
[30:26] - Reflecting on Jesus' Sacrifice
[36:21] - Yielding Our Lives to Jesus
[38:00] - Tithes and Offerings
[39:28] - Celebrating Grandpa's 100th Birthday
[43:48] - Introduction to Revelation 13 and 14
[44:19] - The Seven-Headed Beast and the Antichrist
[47:48] - The False Prophet and Deception
[49:33] - Miraculous Signs and Deception
[57:00] - The Mark of the Beast
[01:06:01] - The 144,000 and Holiness
[01:19:47] - Eternal Consequences and the Book of Life
[01:21:19] - Closing Prayer and Invitation to Believe
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 13:11-18 - The rise of the false prophet and the mark of the beast.
2. Revelation 14:1-5 - The 144,000 and their song of redemption.
3. Matthew 24:24 - Jesus' warning about false Christs and false prophets.
### Observation Questions
1. What does the false prophet do to deceive the inhabitants of the earth according to Revelation 13:13-14? ([51:27])
2. How is the mark of the beast described in Revelation 13:16-17, and what is its significance? ([57:00])
3. Who are the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 14:1-5, and what distinguishes them from others? ([01:06:01])
4. According to Matthew 24:24, what will false Christs and false prophets do to deceive people, and who might they deceive? ([53:21])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the false prophet is able to deceive so many people with miraculous signs? What does this tell us about the nature of deception? ([51:27])
2. How does the mark of the beast serve as a counterfeit to God's seal on His people? What might this imply about the nature of spiritual warfare? ([57:00])
3. The 144,000 are described as those who have not defiled themselves and are blameless. What does this symbolism teach us about the call to holiness and purity for believers? ([01:06:01])
4. Jesus warned about false Christs and false prophets in Matthew 24:24. How can believers discern between true and false teachings and miracles? ([53:21])
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Communion: How does participating in communion help you remember and reflect on Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection? How can this practice strengthen your faith? ([28:04])
2. Vigilance Against Deception: In what ways can you stay vigilant and discerning against spiritual deception in your daily life? Are there specific practices or habits that can help you focus on the truth of God's Word? ([49:33])
3. Enduring Hardships: The sermon mentioned that believers might face persecution or death for refusing the mark of the beast. How can you prepare yourself spiritually and mentally to endure hardships for your faith? ([57:00])
4. Living a Holy Life: The 144,000 are a symbol of God's faithful people who live holy and pure lives. What steps can you take to ensure your allegiance to Jesus is undivided and that you are not compromising your faith for worldly pleasures? ([01:06:01])
5. Eternal Consequences: The decision to follow Jesus determines our eternal destiny. How does this truth impact your daily decisions and priorities? Are there areas in your life where you need to realign your focus to ensure your name is written in the Book of Life? ([01:19:47])
6. Discerning True Teachings: How can you practically apply Jesus' teaching in Matthew 24:24 to discern between true and false teachings and miracles in today's world? ([53:21])
7. Encouraging Others: How can you encourage and support fellow believers to remain steadfast in their faith, especially in times of persecution or deception? What role can your small group play in this? ([01:18:23])
Devotional
Day 1: Remembering Jesus' Sacrifice Through Communion
Communion is a sacred practice that allows believers to remember and reflect on Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection. By partaking in the bread and the cup, we are reminded of His ultimate sacrifice and the promise of eternal life through faith in Him. This act of remembrance strengthens our faith and encourages us to submit our lives to God's will, just as Jesus did. It is a moment to pause and reflect on the depth of His love and the significance of His sacrifice. [28:04]
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (ESV): "And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'"
Reflection: As you partake in communion, what specific aspects of Jesus' life and sacrifice come to mind? How can you let these reflections shape your actions and decisions today?
Day 2: Vigilance Against Deception
The Antichrist and the false prophet will use miraculous signs to deceive many, representing oppressive political and deceptive religious systems. As believers, it is crucial to remain vigilant and discerning, focusing on the truth of God's Word rather than being swayed by miraculous signs alone. This vigilance helps us stay grounded in our faith and avoid falling into deception. [49:33]
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (ESV): "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved."
Reflection: In what ways can you strengthen your understanding of God's Word to better discern truth from deception? How can you apply this discernment in your daily life?
Day 3: Enduring Hardships for Faith
In the end times, the mark of the beast will be required for buying and selling, leading to a great tribulation. This mark is a counterfeit of God's seal on His people. Believers must be prepared to endure hardships and remain faithful to Jesus, even if it means facing persecution or death. This endurance is a testament to our unwavering faith and commitment to Christ. [57:00]
Revelation 14:9-10 (ESV): "And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.'"
Reflection: What are some challenges or hardships you are currently facing that test your faith? How can you rely on God's strength to remain faithful through these trials?
Day 4: Living a Life of Holiness
The 144,000 symbolize God's faithful people who have not defiled themselves with the world. This calls believers to live lives of holiness, righteousness, and purity. Our allegiance to Jesus must be undivided, and we must not compromise our faith for worldly pleasures or conveniences. This commitment to holiness sets us apart as God's people. [01:06:01]
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you have compromised your faith for worldly pleasures? What steps can you take today to pursue a life of holiness and undivided allegiance to Jesus?
Day 5: Securing Our Eternal Destiny
The decision to follow Jesus is the most important one we will ever make, determining our eternal destiny—either eternal rest and peace with God or eternal torment. Ensuring our names are written in the Book of Life through faith in Jesus Christ is crucial for securing our future. This decision requires a wholehearted commitment to serving Jesus and not the world. [01:19:47]
Revelation 20:12 (ESV): "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done."
Reflection: Have you made a wholehearted commitment to follow Jesus? If not, what is holding you back? If you have, how can you deepen your relationship with Him and ensure your name is written in the Book of Life?
Quotes
1. "Today, Lord, we haven't come simply to exalt the name of Jesus, but we've come to yield our lives to you. To declare that, Jesus, you're not just our Savior, but you're our Lord. That the moment we put our faith and our trust in you, we are surrendering our lives, we are abandoning our lives, we are giving up our lives to you. We are saying that you are the Lord of our lives. We give you lordship over our lives." [36:21] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We do view giving as an extension of our worship. We believe that every good and perfect gift comes from God. And that we're simply stewards. That he has entrusted us with resources. And we're to acknowledge him first and to bring our firstfruits first to him. And so, Jesus, we lift up these tithes and offerings to you. God, thank you for supplying for every of our needs. God, we give you the glory. We give you the honor. We consider it a joy that we can give now cheerfully and generously, Lord God, faithfully to the work that you're doing here." [38:00] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "As believers, it's so important to understand what's ahead of us in our future. And so we're tackling that here at Hope City. And so today, we are in chapter 13, the second half. Last week, we ended on a cliffhanger where we got through the first half of chapter 13. Today, we're going to finish chapter 13 and start the beginning of chapter 14." [44:02] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The reason why Jesus used plurals many theologians believe is because scripture says that no one knows the day and the time of Jesus' second coming not even Satan himself knows the day and time of Jesus' second coming therefore in every generation the enemy has to have a false Christ in waiting in every generation Satan has to have a false prophet in the waiting how do we know when it's going to be the antichrist here's how we know Jesus will come again when Jesus comes again he's gonna wipe out the antichrist." [56:14] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You cannot be a follower of Jesus and have the world as a side piece you hear me that's what the mess this is what this is what the message is if you're a follower of Jesus man you're faithful to Jesus you're committed to Jesus and you can't keep the world and its temptations as a side chick or ladies as a sancho all right Jesus is your first love we're not cheating on Jesus we're not unfaithful to Jesus but he is our groom we are his bride and so holiness righteousness purity matters so much so that in our mouths they can't even find a lie because we're blameless because of our pursuit of Jesus." [01:11:38] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "What the message of Revelation is is that when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ, you cannot have a divided allegiance. You cannot serve Jesus and the world. You're either going to worship the Lamb of God or the dragon. You're either going to receive the seal of the living God or the mark of the beast. Your name is either going to be written in the book of life or it's not going to be written in the book of life. You're either going to spend eternity peace and rest or you will spend eternity in torment where there is no rest." [01:19:47] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I know it sounds like I'm trying to scare you to heaven, but I'd rather scare you to heaven than to send you to hell. That was good. Somebody tweet that out because you're witnessing to your family and friends. They're like, oh, you always talk about church to me. Stop talking about church to me. You just sound like, look, I love you so much. I'd rather scare you to heaven than send you to hell." [01:21:59] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The good news is the only criteria. It's not that you have to behave. The criteria, the criteria is not you have to clean up your life first. The criteria is not you have to break that addiction first. No, the criteria is what John said in John 3, 16. For God so loved the world that he gave us his one and only begotten son that whoever believes, that's the only criteria. Whoever believes will not perish, but will have eternal life." [01:22:37] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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