MidTree Church
The sermon audio of MidTree Church in Harris County, Ga. BEHOLD // BELIEVE // BECOME
MidTree Church
Taking aim at difficulty and God's promises | Pastor Will Hawk | February 16th, 2025
Jesus teaches that all earthly things are temporary, and true faith lies in trusting Him. As we reflect on the message of Luke 21, we explore themes of suffering, opportunity, and enduring faith in the face of life's uncertainties.
• Disciple's admiration for the Temple and Jesus' counterpoint
• The widow’s offering as a lesson in true devotion
• Urgency of discerning truth amidst distractions
• Viewing suffering as opportunities for witness
• Hope in eternal promises amid life’s challenges
• Importance of faith over material stability
If you want to learn more about the MidTree story or connect with us, go to our website HERE or text us at 812-MID-TREE.
Good morning. Please turn in your Bibles to Luke, chapter 21, verses 5 through 13, which you can find on page 880 in your pew Bibles, and follow along as I read God's Word. And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, as for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. And they asked him, teacher, when will these things be and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place? And he said See that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name, saying I am he and the time is at hand.
Speaker 1:Do not go after them, and when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once. Then he said to them nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and, in various places, famines and pestilences, and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven, but before all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the. This is the word of the Lord, thank you so much, carmen.
Speaker 2:Appreciate you. It is a funny thing. I've been saying this for years. I've been saying it before. Midtree was a thought in my mind. I think midtree was only a thought in God's mind when I would say these things and that was all we need is a Bible. That's all we need. We don't need air conditioning, we don't need blankets, we don't need projectors, we don't need amplified sound, we don't even need talent. All we really need is Bibles. And I really felt like that was the day that we were going to have, and I was so trying to believe my own words. I was like, really, will you do believe this? I was like I absolutely do believe this, but I spent 90 minutes writing slides, lord, and you know that and would hate for that. And so what I'm convinced of is this I'm convinced that Stokes decided to make life hard on Bennett when he left to go on vacation last week. That's what I'm convinced of. I'm convinced of Look, guys, I cannot tell you how pumped I am to be with you.
Speaker 2:I think this is sort of a miraculous text for Americans to read, and let me tell you why. If life is going well for you today, this is going to be a tuck it in your back pocket type of a thing. And this is going to be a love people who love Jesus the way you love Jesus, but may have a very different life than you have because of the blessings that we have as Americans. But if you have difficulty, if you have suffering, if there is some level of persecution and maybe for most of us, persecution is best to find a social awkwardness when it comes to talking about our faith, sharing our faith, evangelism, anything along those lines I think this is a Sunday to really dig in. I think this is a Sunday to take notes and to sort of pull out your phone or whatever else. It is because there are going to be days and I know you, I pray for you guys often. I know that many of you are walking through difficulty and I couldn't be more excited for those of you who are and for those of you who can look back at the difficulties that you have walked through.
Speaker 2:One of the things I think would be wise for us to begin with and to start wrestling with is this what's one thing in your life you will assume will always be there? Now, look, I know that we're at church. I know it's a Sunday morning. I know some of you have overcome storms and difficulties and weaving past down trees and shaving by candlelight. It sounds like it is okay. If you want to look at this and go real deep with it, I'm okay with that, but I want you to also understand you don't have to go deep to answer this question what's one thing in your life you assume will always be there? Your answer could be air conditioning. Your answer could be slides that come up on a Sunday morning that make it easy to worship. That's probably one of Bennett's. But as you look at this, I'd love for you to answer the question just to yourself. Come up with one or two things, maybe one simple one and then one heavy one. What's one thing in your life you assume will always be there? I think this is an important place for us to start, and the reason this is important for us to start is because this is where the disciples are as we turn in Luke, chapter 21.
Speaker 2:Now, if you weren't here last week, we worked through books of the Bible and so where we were was the disciples were hanging out with Jesus, and Jesus sort of grabs the religious elites of the day and he points at their lavish clothing. He points at their opulent living and he says this isn't what faith in God is about. It is not about full bank accounts, it is not about the nicest clothes, it is not about comfort in this life. And then the doors open in the sanctuary and in comes what the Bible refers to as a poor widow. We know she doesn't have a husband. Maybe she has children. What we do know is her needs far exceed her haves. She doesn't have enough to make it by and she walks in with two small copper coins in her hand, drops it in Somehow. Jesus knows that's everything that she has to live off of. And Jesus points and he says that's the hero of the story. That is who we are called to be. Now it is okay for you to laugh at the disciples in this very next moment, because what I'm about to read to you does not come the next day, it doesn't come the next hour, it comes the next moment. And here is what we see Luke 21.
Speaker 2:And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, jesus said he, here is Jesus. Now, who are these some? Who are these people? When Matthew explains this text to us. He says Jesus left the temple. The widow is probably still there. She's still worshiping. They're going away and his disciples walk up to him. So you got to understand this. The widow is still inside Her copper coin's still in the offering plate. They've made it to the parking lot, okay, and as they walk from this room through the foyer after Jesus has just taught this lesson on, it's not about stuff, it's not about being lavish, it's about your heart.
Speaker 2:The disciples came to point out to him Jesus, look at this incredible building. And you just want to thump them in the head Like that's what you wanna do when you read these guys. Jesus gives them this incredible teaching on what is true riches found in Christ, and they're like yeah, jesus, yeah, the widow. And then they're like my coffee's out, I'm gonna walk through. But Jesus, look at these beams. They're insane. Look at this place. It's gorgeous, and so it's important for you to know this, because that's what causes Jesus to then begin the teaching that we are going to look at. The lesson from Jesus that you'll look at today began because the disciples thought they were looking at something that would never change. I want you guys to know.
Speaker 2:When we built this building, there were a couple of things that we wanted to do. One we wanted it to feel like the farm days, when we didn't have projectors that worked, when our sound amplification often went out, when we did not have climate control, when animals would occasionally walk in and out of our service and would make a lot of noise during that time. If you didn't get a chance to live through when we did not have climate control, when animals would occasionally walk in and out of our service and would make a lot of noise during that time, if you didn't get a chance to live through that, I would highly recommend that you become a part of a church plant. We're gonna do everything that we can to help you with that. But that was what life was like, and when we designed this building, we weren't just like hey, we've been in the barn, let's make it beautiful. That wasn't the plan.
Speaker 2:The plan was we had a lot of people start coming to the church and what we heard was this I'd sort of given up on coming to church. It had become very difficult for me to make it to church. But this place doesn't seem like church. It seems like normal people who aren't taking themselves too seriously, but they take God's word very, very seriously. And we grabbed that. And we said but they take God's word very, very seriously. And we grabbed that. And we said how can we build a place where we can share the gospel with more people? Remove as many distractions as we can without losing that? And so, no, we love leaning into mornings. Bennett and I were talking about it when he was plugging something into the back of his keyboard. I love mornings where things break. I love mornings where things fall apart, because what sense does it make for church to always be so prim and pretty and proper and orderly? And then you walk out into your lives and it never looks that way. And so we wanted this place not to be just opulent and beautiful. Yes, we want to remove as many distractions as possible, but we wanted you to walk into a place where you could glorify God, learn his word, but be a part of the real world, as you did. So that's why we have so many windows in this building.
Speaker 2:What they would have seen looked a little different. Let me just tell you, when Jesus was leaving the temple, this is a depiction of Solomon's temple. This would have been the temple that David wanted to build, and God's spirit said well, david, you're not going to be the guy You've murdered too many people. Your son Solomon's going to be the one You've shed blood. You have turned your back on me. And so this is what they thought was the gold standard and the high watermark of worshiping Jesus.
Speaker 2:Well, about 20 years before the story that we are reading about now, this temple began. It was built in 20 to 19 BC, which means Jesus was probably in his teens or 20s when this was built, and you can see how much bigger it was than the temple in the early days. This gives you a little depiction. Compared to a football field, you're talking about something that, even though we're 2,000 years ago, is three times the size of a football field. But that isn't even what they saw, because Herod the Great, as he was known, began building something else. He began building this. So let me just show you. So this building is this building. So now you can kind of get an idea for the size and the scope. This is what the disciples saw, to help you understand just how big this was.
Speaker 2:Of the seven ancient wonders of the world, this is bigger than all but two of them. It was one of the top three buildings on the planet earth, and the disciples have just watched a poor widow with two small copper coins and by the time they refill their coffee. This is what they would have been looking at, jesus, this place is amazing and what they're saying is things are going to remain like this for quite some time. You can actually go back nowadays and one of the stones of this temple still exists. It is 45 feet tall, 12 feet wide, 12 feet deep, and that is one stone in this building. So when they walk through and they begin having this conversation, going back to what we read in Luke, they say look at how big this place is. It is noble. Consider all the offerings that were poured in to make this.
Speaker 2:And then Jesus begins his teaching and he says, as for these things, that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. Oh, disciples, you feel like you are looking at things that will last forever. If you could just see the story that God is writing and how certain the eternal things are and how uncertain the temporal things are. And they asked him teacher, two questions for you. When is this going to happen and what is it going to look like? When is this going to happen and what is it going to look like? When will these things be and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?
Speaker 2:Jesus begins by saying I need you to be warned this way. By the way, this is going to be the first thing for us today. See that you are not led astray. If I'm a note taker, this is the first thing that I write down. The first thing that I write down is this when I bank on something other than Jesus as lasting forever, or even lasting for my lifetime or lasting for a season, I might be putting my faith in something other than Jesus, and a faith in anything other than Jesus will fail. It will Put your faith in me. I'm going to let you down. Put your faith in this church we're going to let you down. Put your faith in your husband he's going to let you down. Put your faith in your wife. Put your faith in your kids. Put your faith in your job. Put your faith in your O2 Chevy. It's going to let you down 100% of the time in this life. Why? Because everything in this world is marred by this reality of sin. None of us have escaped it, no thing has escaped it.
Speaker 2:And in this one moment, jesus is saying brothers, guys, I understand, I understand the temptation that you would look at something. You'd look at your bank account, you would look at your future, you would look at your job, you would look at this thing that we're building and you would say always, always, always. We're just gonna hang out with Jesus all of our days. He says, guys, I need you to know that before I tell you when this is going to happen and before I tell you what it's going to look like, guys, you need to watch out that you're not led astray. Many are going to come in my name. They're going to say I am he, I'm the one to follow and the time is at hand. But do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.
Speaker 2:And then Jesus does something that he has yet to do in his teaching. This is too small for you to see, but this is the lion's share of the chapter that you're looking at in your Bible right now. If you look a few chapters before at some of the subheadings, you'll see Zacchaeus. You'll see Jesus winning battles with the religious elite. You'll see him talking about money and what actually matters in life. But when we get to this section, watch what happens. Jesus foretells, jesus foretells. Jesus foretells.
Speaker 2:Before Jesus begins telling them what's going to happen and, by the way, he's also telling us what's going to happen Before he tells them when this is going to take place. The first thing that he says is don't be led astray. If you really want to be led by this teaching, if you really want God's word to have fertile soil in your soul, you need to kind of shake off anything that you're banking on in this world. You need to cling to the cross, you need to cling to Christ and you need to say this and nothing else is all sufficient for me. Whether I have eight years or 80, whether I have five minutes or 50, jesus, you are the only thing that I know, that I know that I know will not let me down. Disciples, don't be led astray. When I tell you what this is going to look like, you're already being tempted. We've gone from the neediest little old woman to one of the greatest buildings on the planet and Christians.
Speaker 2:It is so very easy to spend time listening to Jesus and listening to his word, only to walk out and be distracted in a matter of moments. One of the maybe best things that you could do for your soul today is set a timer when you leave church. Okay, I want you to pick one script. It doesn't have to be a point that Will makes Just something that stands out, that resounds with you. Okay, maybe it's a passage, maybe it's a Spurgeon quote from Greg, maybe it's what William read. I just want you to pick one moment and I want you to write it in your phone. I want you to write it down and then, when we say amen, go beholding, believing and becoming, and out you go.
Speaker 2:I want everybody to pull out their phone. I just want you to start a timer and I want you to see how far you go before you realize I have completely detached myself from all worship related elements this morning. I just want you to see. I hope you make it an hour. I hope you make it all the way through lunch. I hope you make it into dinner. I hope it invades your conversations.
Speaker 2:What if you made it to Monday, but how easy it is for us to spend time in the word of God and then be distracted in a matter of moments. And that is precisely what's happened with the disciples. They're caught up in the grandeur of the temple and Jesus immediately redirects their focus to something that they can't see and that they cannot imagine. I tried to make this as easy as I can, because this may be one of the hardest parts of the entire book of Luke to teach. I'm gonna need you to look at me and I'm gonna need at least two people to respond. Fair warning, because I can tell y'all are introspective and quiet this morning, and I'm fine with that. That's cool. I'm going to play charades with you and I want you to tell me what I am doing. All right, I'll even give you a hint. It's probably gonna be easier for the guys in the room. All right, everybody ready.
Speaker 2:I'm not trying to offend, okay. I'm not trying to offend. I'm just leaning into stereotypes, okay. What am I doing right now? What am I doing? I'm shooting. Give me another word. I'm aiming.
Speaker 2:Okay, perfect, ladies, I will just say I didn't hear a lot of female voices in that moment. So all of your chagrin. You can stuff for a moment. All right, if you've ever heard a guy tell a story about going bow hunting, he will start telling his story. He'll tell you about the tree and then, in every story a bow hunter has ever told, it goes to and then I drew back. Okay, that's, that's how it works. If you've never known a bow hunter, if you hang out with somebody who shoots long range, dwight, I'm guessing this is how you point. Is that fair or am I wrong? Am I right or am I right? Okay, fix me, elbow up. What do you want? What do you want from me? All right, sniper teacher over here mocking me. All right, here's what I want you to realize, guys. If you can understand this concept, you can understand the master class of Jesus' teaching.
Speaker 2:In moments like this that have typically been very confusing, even for believers who have gone to church for three decades, when they read a text like this, here's what's happening. If you ever took a BB gun out at grandpa's house and you aimed, and he didn't have a scope on it, he has a rear sight and he has a front sight. This is what they're doing. The bow hunter is looking through a loop at his target. When somebody points like this, if you've ever seen anybody pull up a rifle and they've never shot one with a scope before, this is what you watch them do, because they're trying to get the light to come through straight. What am I trying to tell you? Think about a rifle with iron sights. Think about that BB gun. It's got a little sight in the back and it's got a little sight in the front.
Speaker 2:Here is what Jesus is doing. He's saying let me tell you what is about to happen. You wanna know about the times. You wanna know when this is gonna happen and what this is gonna look like. Let me point to my death and my resurrection. Let me point, 40 years later, to the fall of Rome, and let me point to the return of Christ. And as I do, this eyes on me for a minute. I am talking to my capital D disciples. I'm talking to the 12. I'm talking to those 90 plus percent of which are going to be martyred and give their lives. But I'm also talking to Midtree Church members in 2025. I'm also talking to the church in China and North Korea.
Speaker 2:Right now, jesus is looking and he's saying at the same time, I'm going to tell my disciples, these folks who are with me, and all disciples all time, exactly what to expect. And if you can start to see it this way, all of a sudden a fairly complicated passage will begin to make sense. And here is what we see. Then he said to them nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and, in various places, famines and pestilence, and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. Don't miss this, notice this.
Speaker 2:But before all this, what Jesus has just done is he has looked down the long sight and he said do you want to know what's going to come? For the rest of time, from my death through the fall of Rome, until the return of Christ, I'm telling you you're going to see war, you're going to see famine, you're going to see pestilence, you're going to see the world in earthquake and storm and tornado. You are going to see the reality that for all time, until my return, this world is going to be writhing because the creator has not fixed it yet. But, disciples, before all this, on the near sight, see this. But before all this, let me tell you what is going to happen. And then here's what Jesus does he tells them the difficulty that's coming, and then he sprinkles in a couple of encouraging promises. He tells them the difficulty that is coming and then he's going to sprinkle in a couple of promises. We are going, verse by verse, okay, verse by verse.
Speaker 2:Before all this, hey disciples, peter James, john, hey guys, before all of that happens, they're going to lay their hands on you. They are going to persecute you. They're going to deliver you up to the synagogues and to prisons. Hey guys, I know that we've been walking together for a number of years and we've seen some miraculous things. You've seen the lame walk and the mute speak. You've seen the deaf hear. You've seen food fall from heaven. I've walked across water to meet you in the midst of storms. You have seen amazing things. I need you to know. The amazing things are not ending, but they are going to look amazing in a different way. I'm going to do what I was sent to do and when I do all hell is going to break loose on earth.
Speaker 2:Hell is going to do everything that it can to destroy this thing. It's going to do everything that it can to mute this thing. It's going to do everything that it can to push away from. It's going to do everything that it can to push away from important the greatest, most important thing that has ever happened. And, guys, brothers, friends, I'm telling you, you're going to be brought before kings, you're going to be brought before governors, and not in a way that you are going to enjoy. This is what's going to happen, disciples, but when Jesus tells this to Peter, when he tells it to James, when he tells it to John, he's telling it to you too. And then these promises sweep in as though this, what and when would be more than their hearts would be able to bear. Be able to bear. Hey, guys, this is going to be your opportunity. Only in the word of God is a word like this used to describe a situation like that. Second thing that I would write down would be this second thing that I would write down would be this how would I define the word opportunity?
Speaker 2:I think for most of us, an opportunity is a good option that we didn't expect. It's finding out that you're going to get a raise at work and you didn't expect it and all you have to do is take on this small responsibility. Do you want it? This is your opportunity. It's finding out that someone you know, has the inner ear on crypto, and this is your opportunity to jump in at just the right time. It's you in high school, walking from your locker to your room and being passed a note that that girl or that guy likes you. I didn't see that coming. This is an opportunity.
Speaker 2:We define the word opportunity differently than God's Word does. It's good, it's unexpected, but God's Word would say opportunity is difficult and it ought to be expected. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Hey, guys, when your hands are pulled behind you and you cannot go where you want to go. Opportunity when you were taken from your family, when you were taken from your family. Opportunity when you lose the future you thought was yours. Opportunity when health threatens and your future diminishes. Hey, christian, opportunity when that thing that you banked on never changing all of a sudden crumbles at your feet.
Speaker 2:Opportunity this is one of the most unique realities for the Christian and it's one that we should not allow ourselves to miss. It is not a fun one and it is not one that we raise our hand for, but it is the Holy Spirit saying son, daughter, come behind the curtain of what everyone sees and watch what I am doing, what actually causes people to believe that you believe in me? Is it when everything in your life goes well, or is it when you cling to me when nothing else is? Is it when you cry out to me when there is nowhere else to turn? This will be your opportunity to bear witness, and this would be an instruction for us. Settle it, therefore. This means decide beforehand in your minds. Settle it now.
Speaker 2:When difficulty arises, I'm calling it an opportunity. When suffering threatens, I'm calling it an opportunity. Suffering threatens, I'm calling it an opportunity. And in their case, in the front sight, they were told not to meditate beforehand on how they're going to answer these governors and these kings when they're brought in chains. I don't want you building back pocket sermons. What I want you doing is saying holy spirit, what do you have? What is it that you want me to share? We see Stephen do this beautifully in the book of Acts, because God says I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to contradict.
Speaker 2:Suffering is not an accident. It is God's missional strategy. So where in life is God calling you to see opportunity in difficulty? This is one of the great things about being a Christian, the world will never let you down in giving you difficulty. It will give you so much it will never run out. It has an endless supply of difficulty. But what does the individual who can take not only good things and say, praise God, I'll take that. Who can take the most difficult, weighty, annoying, frustrating things and say, all right, let's see what the Holy Spirit is going to do with this, do you see what begins to happen to that person? Resilience happens to that person, faith happens to that person. This concept of bring it on, world. I'm only here for a minute, anyway. Give it your best shot, world. I'm only here for a minute, anyway. Give it your best shot. I'll take the blows and I will show you how great the one is who took every blow that could ever be given. You hit me. I'm just going to point harder. This is what happens when we see suffering not as an accident but as God's missional strategy. And then Jesus takes the sight and he moves it and and he slides it down and he says let's look at another difficulty. You will be delivered up, even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends. And okay, if you've phased out for a moment, you got to click in here. Notice this. This is huge.
Speaker 2:Some of you, all of a sudden, this little phrase is telling us that Jesus has changed his point. All right, some of you, all of a sudden, this little phrase is telling us that Jesus has changed his point. All right, some of you, they will put to death. Well, do you know who? He can't be talking about. He can't just be talking about the 12. Because 11 of the 12, 12 minus 11, die. That says RIP.
Speaker 2:If you can't make it out, that's a grave, here's a flower, all right, 11 of them die, horrible martyr deaths, crucified, crucified, upside down, beheaded. This is what they raised their hand. They're like bring it on. All you're doing is sending me to Jesus, and all I'm doing is saying suffering is an opportunity. Kill me and watch how many believers come up from the ground. When you do, bring it on. This is the thought of the 11. And you're like well, will, what about the one that got away? He didn't get away. It was John. He got sent on an island to basically die and while he's there, god's like suffering. Let's use this. Why don't we write the book of Revelation while we're hanging out together? And that's exactly what happens.
Speaker 2:So in this text, when Jesus is saying some of you they will put to death all of a sudden, guess who he's mostly talking about? He's talking about you, if you're a Christian. It means in your family. Even your parents will be against you. Christians, some of them, your brothers, your relatives, people who you would have called your friends, and in some cases, people will be put to death. You will be, generally speaking, hated, and that has been the case for Christians across the globe since Jesus died, was resurrected, the fall of Jerusalem, and until Christ returns, but a little promise Not a hair of your head will perish. Well, I've got a question. Seemed like a lot of hairs perished on the heads of God's people.
Speaker 2:What is he saying here? By your endurance, you will gain your lives. If I'm already alive, how do I gain something I already have? What Jesus is pointing to here is eternal life. He's saying that there is an enemy who wants to come and destroy you, and he just might, but only here. And if he does, fear not, there is a new body waiting for you in a new place where all of those things roll away.
Speaker 2:The last little passage that we will see is this this is the last pointing and you'll see difficulty. And then a promise. Let me just tell you this this one's not easy. Okay, if you felt like it hadn't been easy yet. The foot doesn't come off the gas here. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies he's pointing to AD 70, which for us is past, for them is future when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. The Romans are building siege works against it. This is Jesus telling the future. This is Jesus telling the future. This is Jesus saying I'm sovereign over all things. I know your tomorrow. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are inside the city depart. Let not those who are out in the country enter it. Nobody wants to be in the city when the Romans come against Jerusalem.
Speaker 2:For these are the days of vengeance to fulfill all that is written. Now, see if you can find one piece of hope in the promise that Jesus gives Alas for women who are pregnant, for those who are nursing infants. In those days, in that day and age, that would have been the greatest gift and the thing to most be celebrated. And now, as there is siege against Jerusalem and about 40 years from the time Jesus says these words. The thing that would bring the most joy all of a sudden brings the most suffering. How do I care for this child? I can't feed myself. There will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword, they'll be led captive among all nations and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles. Until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Speaker 2:I want you to understand that what this is pointing to and, by the way, your big promise here is God saying there is great distress coming on those who are literally going to put the Son of God on this cross. There is difficulty coming for those who forged the nails, for those who swung the hammer, for those who pressed down the crown of thorns. That the Jewish people will receive the wrath of God for their participation in turning their back on their deliverer Christ and instead offering him up, but that their very doing that opens up the floodgates for the whole world to see what they missed. This is the time of the Gentiles. This is where we are currently in history. But Jesus also points and he says until there is a day coming when all nations this includes the Jewish nation, not by ethnicity, but by those who place their trust in him will believe.
Speaker 2:Romans 11 dives into this. I can't go real long on this, but what I want you to know is this Paul is looking at the Jewish people and he's saying did they stumble so that they would completely fall? By no means stumble so that they would completely fall by no means. Rather, through their sin. Salvation has come to us Because the Jewish people missed the Messiah. They crucified him Because he died. Salvation was open for all people and the Bible even goes so far as to say this has come to the Gentiles and it will make Israel jealous. My Jewish people are going to miss their relationship with me. There will be a day when some of them will turn and they will realize who Jesus always was and that they missed this.
Speaker 2:But we need to be careful. We need to be careful not to become proud, because it is the age in which we are being brought in to the church. Instead, we need to note two things how kind God is and how severe God is. He's kind towards those. He is severe towards those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you is there, provided you continue in his kindness. I'm not trying to be mean, but this needs to be said to American Christians, otherwise you too will be cut off.
Speaker 2:What do you believe will never change If the doors of this building are met by guards 20 years from now? If your faith is told to be quiet, if your Bible is outlawed, if your perspectives on life and culture are considered illegal, will you see it as an opportunity to suffer or will you shrink back? This is God's word talking to us today. What is one thing in your life you assume will always be there? And if the answer is anything other than this, guard your heart. Do not be easily deceived. Let it crumble, for the sake of Christ, and if it does, do not mourn and weep as those who have no hope. Weep for a world that is writhing and longing for the creator to make it all right, and this is what we ultimately have in Christ. It may feel like, for your sake, we are being killed all the day long and are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
Speaker 2:That's Psalm 44 being quoted, as somebody is sort of questioning God are you there? Have you completely given up on me? No, in all these things, think of your suffering, think of your difficulty, think of your persecution. In all these things we are more than conquerors. Through him who loved us, I'm sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, things present, things to come, nor powers, height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. This is true faith, and so as we prepare to stand and worship a God who will hold all things together when all things fall apart, believers don't be led astray, but understand persecution and difficulty are an expected reality when following Jesus.
Speaker 2:Trials are either going to be seen as a mistake or God is betraying me, or as an opportunity. If I can see that this is a true thing, that persecution and reality are expected, then my difficulties are not wasted. I can see opportunities where others cannot. That the enemy may be a roaring lion, but I am trusting in the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and if Jesus isn't promising escape, he's promising victory. But I am trusting in the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, and if Jesus isn't promising escape, he's promising victory.
Speaker 2:If I don't believe this, I'm gonna be prone to throw in the towel and quit God. If there's no escape, I just can't do this. Well, escape wasn't what he promised victory was. If I don't believe this, I'll be easily deceived. I'll try to find life and comfort in this world, but if I can believe this opportunity and endurance live side by side. There's a bring it on mentality when you think through what all you can wade through. Life is short and eternity is long, and I want to live in light of that. Our God can deliver us. But, to quote Shadrach, meshach and Abednego as they get ready to go into the fiery furnace, our God can deliver us. But even if not, I will not bow my knee to this world. And when they are thrown into the fire, behold, not one hair is singed. And who is this fourth man standing with them? May our sufferings draw us nearer to God, not cause us to question him.