WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.359 You help me give a warm welcome to Pastor Drop. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:05.280 Thank you so much. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:06.799 Happy Sunday, everyone. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:10.240 Hey, let's keep those hands going for our Zahn online family. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:13.119 We have people that are streaming in on online right now. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:15.039 We love you guys so much. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:18.559 I thought I heard some cheers for Connor too. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:18.960 Yeah. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:20.640 Connor's not too bad either. 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:21.839 Bringing this on up. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:22.559 Let's go. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:24.000 Connor, we love you. 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:26.000 And uh man, I just wanted to pause. 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:27.839 Uh Church, I love you so much. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:31.120 Zahn, haven't I told you lately how much I love you? 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:33.759 Like honestly, I feel it so much. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:43.039 And and um I don't I don't say it enough, but I wanna I I want to ensure that you know that um man, I don't just love pastoring this church. 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:44.719 I love being a part of it. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:55.119 Um to sit back there and to hear that 35 people have said yes to God's heart for foster care and vulnerable children. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:59.119 I mean, my heart just bursts that I get to be a part of this thing. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:02.240 And so uh, man, my heart is just filled with gratitude and love. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:05.599 I hope you guys um are having a great start to the Labor Day weekend. 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:06.400 Who likes the rain? 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:08.159 We got a little bit of rain outside. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:10.319 I I know it's kind of a change of pace. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:11.760 I know it's like, what is this stuff? 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:13.200 We haven't had it in a while. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:14.959 Um, but it's but it's good. 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:16.000 It's good for us. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:20.560 And yes, we're gonna be um capping off our This We Believe series. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:30.000 And uh I'm excited to have a conversation today around a topic that oftentimes can be confusing for so many people. 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:40.079 Um it's a it's a subject that's that's fascinated uh people for for years, oftentimes, though, it's created fear or confusion. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:44.480 Some people feel encouraged, but but many people feel overwhelmed by it. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:49.680 So the topic today that we're gonna be leaning into is the topic of the end times. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:58.159 And um, depending on your church background, there's perhaps different images or or you know, kind of caricatures that you have about this topic. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:27.680 Even when you hear the word end times, you think about perhaps charts or timelines or conversations as people are talking about the Antichrist or the Mark of the Beast or 666 and decoding Daniel and Revelation and what do these numbers mean, and uh, you know, wars and famines and stuff happening with technology and AI and stuff, stuff going on in the Middle East, and then then someone posting a YouTube video that says seven signs that Christ will return by next Thursday. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:31.439 And then Thursday comes, and apparently Jesus didn't get the memo. 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:34.879 And you're like, what's going on with this end times stuff? 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:37.840 Anyone feel confused? 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:41.520 Anyone feel like I would love to learn more or dig in? 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:46.560 There's so many emotions around the end times, but sometimes the primary emotion is fear. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:58.159 And I can relate to this because I remember when I was growing up, I came home from school one day, and I came home and my parents' cars were not in the driveway. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:03:03.919 And that was like the day and age of the Tim LaHaye like left behind series, you know. 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:14.719 So my palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms were heavy, and and uh I'm like, I think I got left behind. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:15.759 Like it happened. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:16.560 No, no, no, no. 00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:19.039 And so, like, I was seriously, like very scared. 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:24.800 And so I I ran up to my room to see if my sister was home, and I looked, and my sister wasn't there. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:27.680 I'm like, this can't be, she's more sinful than I am. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:30.400 And I fall to my knees. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:34.240 I kid you not, I fall to my knees and I'm like, God, I'm so sorry. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:39.680 Forgive me, give me a second chance, I'll do anything. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:41.680 Give me a second chance. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:59.360 And as I was praying that prayer, I heard my my parents' car uh come into the driveway, and I was filled with so much relief because it was at that moment I was like, Jesus gave me enough mercy to give me a little bit more time to get my first kiss in life. 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:08.479 Because I was in middle school and I hadn't kissed a girl yet, and that was like that was the biggest fear like Jesus coming back before that first smooch. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:26.560 And maybe you can relate that this topic for you, it doesn't feel super exciting, maybe it feels encouraging, but maybe it feels overwhelming, fearful, confusing. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:32.240 Um, that this is the conversation that we're stepping into today. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:43.600 Because in the midst of this, scripture calls the end times and what's about to happen, and the return of Christ, our blessed hope. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:57.199 So today I want to replace panic with biblical confidence, speculation with spiritual readiness, and fear about the future with faithfulness in the present. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:01.920 Throughout this series, we've said that what we believe we become. 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:07.279 And what you believe about the future will shape how you live in the present. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:12.240 Because if history is spinning out of control, you're gonna live with anxiety, worry, and fear. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:19.839 If this is all there is and we just don't even think about the end times, then we're gonna just live for today. 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:32.480 Um, but if Jesus is returning and evil will be defeated and his kingdom will reign forever, we can live with courage, purity, hope, and purpose. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:38.399 See, people can fall into one of two ditches when it comes to the end times. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:42.399 One is obsession, and the other one is avoidance. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:54.160 Some people get obsessed with every news headline that comes out, every everything about the future, and and and think that they have to calculate the times. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:06:00.800 But then other people, they think about it with this sense of, man, it's just so overwhelming, it's so confusing. 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:02.079 I'm not even gonna think about it. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:05.519 I'm just gonna love Jesus and just allow him to work things out. 00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:19.839 I want to give us handles today to not fall into either of those ditches, but to walk in truth and to walk in clarity, and to most of all walk with readiness. 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:27.920 Because the most important truth about the end times is not when Jesus returns, it's that Jesus returns. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.720 Jesus is coming again. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:32.079 Amen. 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:33.519 That's good news today. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:42.160 In Acts chapter 1, it records uh Jesus' final conversation with his disciples before he ascended to heaven. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:55.279 And after promising them the power of the Holy Spirit, in Acts chapter 1, verse 9, it says that he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:57.199 Picture this for a moment. 00:06:57.360 --> 00:07:02.399 The one that they watched die on a cross, then he was raised back to life. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:08.399 They literally watched him ascend into heaven until they could no longer see them, see him. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:18.560 And at that moment, angels came in verse 11 and they said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand here today looking into the sky? 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:30.079 And here is the thesis for our eschatological position as Christians, end times belief as Christians. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:31.680 This is the passage right here. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:41.600 This same Jesus, they said, who has been taken from you in heaven, will come back in the same way that you've seen him go into heaven. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:48.000 That one sentence gives us the foundation of Christian eschatology. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:51.120 This same Jesus will come back. 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:58.399 And three things that we get in that passage that are very important is that his return, number one, is personal. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:07:59.839 It's the same Jesus. 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:08.319 It's personal, it's not a metaphorical, he's coming back in a symbolic way, re-establishing his kingdom. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:21.519 The same Jesus who healed, the same Jesus who gave compassion, the same Jesus who died on the cross, the same Jesus who forgave our sins, the same Jesus who raised back to life is coming back. 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:25.759 The second thing that we see in this passage is that his return is certain. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:27.040 Why? 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:32.879 Because we see the word will, not this same Jesus might come back if he feels like it. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:41.120 No, this same Jesus will come back, his return is certain. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:45.200 And then the third thing is that his return is visible and bodily. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:56.720 He's gonna come back, the heavens will be opened, and he will return visibly to us. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:58.320 I want you to imagine this. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:02.720 The first time he came in humility, but he will return in glory. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:08.159 He came the first time as a suffering servant, he will return as a conquering king. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:14.320 He came the first time wearing a crown of thorns, and he will return wearing many crowns. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:28.960 The powers of darkness will fall, every false kingdom will crumble, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that he is Lord. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:31.360 The king is coming. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:36.080 It's a fact, it's truth. 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:43.440 History isn't circling around a drain, history is moving toward a throne. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:54.799 It's important because uh as our days go on, we don't live with pessimism and we don't live with some sort of subjective optimism. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:59.200 We're actually moving towards a throne. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:04.559 We're moving towards the king is coming back and making all things right. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:24.399 I want to unpack our our belief here at Zion Church when it comes to the second coming of Christ, when it comes to end times, because the truth is that faithful Bible-believing Christians agree that Jesus is returning, though we don't always agree about the precise sequence of events. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:36.399 And at Zion, we believe in the pre-tribulational, pre-millennial view, and we believe that that best harmonizes the prophetic passages of scripture. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:40.799 And I do want to say, we're gonna just touch on this and unpack it. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:45.679 We hold this belief with conviction, but also with humility. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:57.360 Because there are faithful Bible-believing Christians that have differing views on the sequence of events, how it will all look, when it will all happen. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:05.200 The big idea is that we agree and unify that Jesus is coming back, and we need to ready ourselves for the king. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:10.960 But um, in simple terms, we believe that Christ's return is gonna unfold in two phases. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:16.159 First, Jesus comes for his church, and we call this the rapture. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:22.639 And in the rapture, Paul writes about this in Thessalonians. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:31.200 He says, For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a loud command and with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:37.360 And if we were growing up in my dad's church, my dad's a pastor, and my dad would preach on the end times a lot. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:47.919 Um I would do something fun in this moment to ensure that we're ready for the rapture because um he would preach this and he would read this verse, the trumpet, and he's gonna come back with a trumpet call of God. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:54.080 And my church growing up had a balcony, and there was someone in the back of the balcony who played a trumpet at that moment. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:57.840 And my dad would be like, Are you ready? 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:06.080 I was thinking about asking Joey to have a trumpet back behind this curtain, and kind of I was like, Man, yeah, a little shofar action, but I was like, I don't know. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:08.320 Zion people could handle that. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:23.200 And the dead in Christ will rise first, and after that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up, ever say, caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:28.799 The word rapture doesn't appear in scripture, but the meaning is there. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:34.080 The meaning of the word rapture is to be caught up to meet the Lord. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:40.639 And we believe that this could happen at any moment before the seven-year period or the great tribulation. 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:55.360 At the end of this seven-year period, the great tribulation, Jesus returns with his saints, with believers in the visible and victorious second coming that's described in Revelation chapter 19. 00:12:56.480 --> 00:13:18.080 At this stage, he defeats evil, establishes his thousand-year reign, which is the millennial reign of Christ, and after that comes the final judgment and the eternal restoration that's pictured in Revelation chapter 21 and 22, where God dwells with his people forever. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:19.600 This is what we believe. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:29.759 This is the position that we hold, and we hold it again with conviction and humility because the return of Jesus is a close-handed truth. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:37.759 But the timeline or the sequence of events is an open-handed discussion. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:56.720 This is where conviction and humility need to be held together because faithful, Jesus-loving Christians at times will believe in a pre-tribulation rapture or a mid-tribulation rapture, even a post-tribulation rapture, and we're not gonna get caught up in all of that and allow that to divide us. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:14:03.440 We're gonna unify over the fact that the king is coming, and that is the most important truth. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:12.879 And we as a bride, as the church, are to ready ourselves and to share this good news with as many people as possible before he comes. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:22.799 Biblical prophecy wasn't given merely to satisfy our curiosity about tomorrow, it was given to shape our conduct today. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:26.960 The question isn't what do we believe will happen? 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:32.240 The more personal and important question for us today is how should we live until he comes? 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:38.080 Until Jesus comes, he says, number one, I want you to watch. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:49.519 Jesus says in Matthew chapter 24, therefore, keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:59.360 See, watchfulness is more than staring at the sky and waiting for him to come back. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:09.759 Watchfulness doesn't mean that you are refreshing your news cycle every 10 seconds to see if there's another sign of the time. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:16.559 Watchfulness is actually something that begins in the heart before it ever reaches the sky. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:24.159 Here's another way to say it keeping watch isn't staring at the sky, it's guarding the state of my soul. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:32.000 Matthew chapter 24 and 25, Jesus he tells stories about servants waiting for their master. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:39.279 He talks about bridesmaids waiting for the bridegroom, people that were entrusted with talents waiting while their master is away. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:45.840 And each story presses the same question: Will you be ready when he arrives? 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:50.480 Jesus never asks his followers to guess the date. 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:56.320 He asks his followers to live ready for his return every single day. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:00.320 This is what it means to keep watch. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:22.960 Jesus said through through John, the Spirit of Jesus through John in 1 John chapter 3, he says it this way we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, and all who have this hope in him purify themselves just as he is pure. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.399 I want you to notice this. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:40.159 Watchfulness means guarding the state of my soul, which means am I watching what I'm watching on Netflix? 00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:43.120 Am I watching what I'm listening to? 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:46.879 Am I watching what I'm feeding on, what my soul is feeding on? 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.720 Am I paying attention to? 00:16:48.960 --> 00:17:01.519 Am I being careful about, intentional about what I am allowing to infiltrate my life, my mind, my heart, my emotions, my actions, my decisions? 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:07.039 Keeping watch means I'm I'm paying attention to my decisions. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:10.240 I'm purifying myself before the Lord. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.839 I'm repenting of sin. 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:23.359 I'm not allowing compromise to creep in, to distort my identity or distract me from the fact that I live for eternity and not just for today. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:29.440 I want to ask us, I mean, this is something that as a pastor, I have to always put before the Lord. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:33.680 Am I am I becoming busy in my heart doing things for God? 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:42.240 And is any of that replacing my intimacy with God, preparing myself to see Him face to face? 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.759 Personal question, I think, for all of us. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:53.440 If Jesus returned today, is there anything in your life that you wish you had surrendered yesterday? 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:56.640 Is there a compromise that you keep excusing? 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:04.160 Are you spiritually awake or have comfort, success, or disappointment or distraction? 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:07.200 Slowly put your soul to sleep. 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:13.599 Keep watch, keep watch, keep watch, keep watch. 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:16.240 We don't know when our time is running out. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:23.359 Keep of what is coming into our hearts, our minds, and our lives. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:30.960 As we keep watch of our soul, it leads us towards surrender, humility, a desire to be right with God and people. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:41.920 It loosens our grip on temporary things and focusing on the eternal because here it is our private decisions have eternal consequences. 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:50.079 And the clearest evidence of watchfulness is a life that's increasingly becoming more like Jesus each and every day. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:53.119 So Jesus says, keep watch. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:19:00.559 Then the second thing that we we see in scripture is that until Jesus comes back, work. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:03.039 We watch and then we work. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:11.599 Prophecy in Scripture was never supposed to produce passivity in the lives of believers. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:14.160 Like we weren't supposed to just go, oh, he's coming back. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:21.200 So we're gonna sit back and chill and take it easy and just be curious about when he's coming back and speculate and talk about it. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:25.039 We're supposed to be eternally productive. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:33.359 In fact, Paul had to correct this in the church in Thessalonica, the Thessalonians. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:41.599 They were obsessed with the end times, and they were talking about and speculating if Jesus had already come back or if we're still waiting. 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.880 And Paul had to correct him. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:47.839 And he actually told the Thessalonians, this church, he said, get a job. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:54.400 Like, like he said, he said, like, like your hand, he literally said, work with your hands. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.359 Like he had to get so specific. 00:19:57.440 --> 00:20:05.359 He's like, those hands that you've been using just to like worship God with on Sundays, like put them to work on Mondays and Tuesdays. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.920 Like, like better the world. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:12.960 Build things that have lasting impact. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:24.079 Jesus tells a story in Luke chapter 19 about a master that's going away, and then he tells his servants, put my money to work until I return. 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:27.680 The major theme here is stewardship. 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:31.359 Jesus is looking for faithfulness. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:34.400 Jesus is looking for stewardship. 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:40.400 The coming kingdom gives eternal significance to our present faithfulness. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.519 What does this mean? 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:44.640 It means don't sit back, don't become casual. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.559 If you're married, keep building into your marriage. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:52.480 If you're a parent, keep raising your children in the ways of Jesus. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:21:02.880 Keep showing up with integrity at work, keep serving people, keep giving generously, keep building the church, keep doing the last thing that Jesus told you to do. 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.000 Why? 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:10.240 Because Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, he says, Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:12.240 Therefore, what's he talking about? 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:19.759 In the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians chapter 15, the theme is resurrection and the end things. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:27.920 So he says, Therefore, in light of the end, stand firm. 00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:34.079 Let nothing move you, and always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:41.039 And here it is, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.559 Someone needs to hear this. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:51.920 Marriage is work, parenting is work, ministry is work, but it is never wasted work. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:54.480 It's never wasted work. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:22:02.079 When you feel like nothing is working, when you feel like you don't see any improvement, when you feel Like you don't see any change. 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:16.559 Know that you are planting seeds, and God says in the scripture, keep planting the seeds, do not give up, because there is a harvest of blessing on the other side of it for those who do not give up. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.960 Your labor is not in vain. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:22.000 It's never wasted work. 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:44.559 Every moment of love that you give to a child, every act of service that you give in your marriage, every moment of integrity and character that you choose in the marketplace at your workplace when it could have been easier to take a shortcut, it is not in vain. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:50.799 I want to tell you this because Jesus, he's and I've said this before. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:56.799 Jesus, when we see him face to face when the king comes, he's not going to say, Well done, thou good and famous Christian. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:23:00.319 He's going to say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.240 But then there's something he says after that. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:15.039 We don't quite know what all of the reward looks like in eternity, but we do know that he rewards faithfulness. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.920 He rewards faithfulness. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:22.400 He rewards those that keep on keeping on. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:26.160 He rewards those that do not give up when it gets hard. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:30.880 Your faithfulness, in other words, has a future. 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:35.759 Don't just build stuff that lasts here on earth. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:39.119 Build in what lasts for all of eternity. 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:44.720 Every moment that you invest in someone else's life is investing into eternity. 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:52.160 The promise of tomorrow gives purpose to the work in your hands today. 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:54.319 Someone say, work it. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.640 We work. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:02.799 And then until Jesus comes back, we witness. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:05.119 Let's return to Acts chapter 1. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:14.000 Jesus, before he ascended, his disciples ask him, Lord, are are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:16.720 Like, like, give us the timeline. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:30.480 And Jesus answered, Hey, it's not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses. 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:34.880 They asked Jesus when, and Jesus told them what. 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:38.079 The timeline is up to God. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:40.400 The mission belongs to the church. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:43.200 What is our mission? 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:57.920 Our mission is the Great Commission to go into all the world and to share the good news of Jesus Christ, to make disciples, to reach people for Jesus, and to keep on reaching until every single person finds their home. 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:05.839 Receive power, become my witnesses, and take the gospels to the ends of the earth. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:10.480 And this mission must be urgent. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:20.480 Because nobody knows the day, the hour, the minute, the moment that the king returns. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:24.960 And this life is amazing, but it's not a game. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.960 Heaven and hell are real. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:33.519 And there are so many people that still have yet to find Jesus Christ. 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:46.880 You know, in every like disaster movie, it seems like there's one person that finds out that that earthquake is coming first, that tsunami is coming first, or the the ship might be sinking first. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:52.079 That this this this moment is happening where lives, so many lives will be lost. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:57.279 And that person has a has a mission, has a responsibility now, right? 00:25:57.839 --> 00:26:07.759 Like, like if you knew what was coming, and you just went back on your couch and ate some popcorn and said, Well, I'm good, I know, I'm safe. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:12.799 Man, that's not what Jesus has called us to be as Christians. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:22.160 We're called to be little Christs, and he gave up his life for us for the sake of others, so that in his death we could have life. 00:26:23.839 --> 00:26:26.240 And we're called to do the same. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:44.240 You know, next Sunday is gonna be our fall kickoff where we're gonna have a real special Sunday and we're gonna um we're gonna tear the roof off, not literally, but metaphorically, to get people not just to church, but in an in like a real encounter with the living God. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:47.920 We're gonna have things for families, and it's gonna be awesome and beautiful and fun. 00:26:48.079 --> 00:27:02.799 But but man, what I would love us to embrace here at Zion Church is not that just to comfort ourselves, but to ask the Lord, who's one person in my life that needs forgiveness of sins? 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:05.200 Who's one lost person in my life? 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.079 Who's my one? 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:14.400 I know we all have many, but sometimes we over overwhelm ourselves and we think, man, I gotta do everything to warn everyone. 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:16.559 And sometimes we do nothing. 00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:21.119 Who's one person that I can invite? 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:28.960 It's called our fall kickoff publicly, but internally, I want this to be our invite Sunday. 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:40.240 Because I got people on my heart, I have people in my life that need saving, they need Jesus, they're on a sinking ship, and who knows? 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:43.759 Perhaps I'm the only Bible that they're ever gonna read. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:54.480 Perhaps God has put me in their life for a very powerful purpose, and I have a responsibility. 00:27:56.079 --> 00:28:25.839 What would it look like if this week we asked the Lord, give us a name, give us a face, put someone on our heart, and and Lord, put it on their heart that you would draw them not just to church, but draw them into the life-saving grace, the good news of Jesus Christ, because time is short, the message is urgent. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:29.599 This whole thing isn't a game. 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:37.599 God loves our world too much to not shout the alarm and say the king is coming. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:48.960 See, we're not called to just have this count down this this this date, this this deadline figured out. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:52.720 We're called to prepare people for the day of his return. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:29:08.240 And I just want us to think about a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, a family member, someone who's drifted from God, someone perhaps who's skeptical of church, someone that is carrying pain, that that they don't even know how to name. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.559 Who is your one? 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:13.039 Pray for them this week. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:15.119 Send them a text or a voice memo. 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:19.200 Grab coffee with them, encourage them to come with you. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:21.519 Man, what would it look like? 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:32.400 What would it look like to be the kind of church that didn't just sit with this truth but lived it by sharing it? 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:36.160 By caring enough. 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:42.960 By loving others with passion and with urgency. 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:46.160 We don't control the results, only God does. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:51.680 But the return of Jesus has to put urgency in the Great Commission. 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:54.480 We as a church, what why do we exist? 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:59.759 We exist to see the lost saved, the saved ignited, and the world changed. 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:04.640 And that mission remains the same until it's accomplished. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:13.200 There are so many people in our city and in our county that still need Jesus Christ. 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:22.559 90% of Orange County is still disconnected from a real relationship with God and frankly on their way to hell. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:30.319 If they do not make a real decision to say, Jesus, because you gave your life to me, I'm giving my life to you. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:33.440 This is why we exist as a church. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:38.160 This is the urgency we live with. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:41.599 Well, John, what if Jesus doesn't come back soon soon? 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:44.240 Or what if he doesn't come back in our lifetime? 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:45.519 Well, guess what, man? 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:49.200 The worst case scenario is that we live with urgency. 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:56.640 And we live with passion and conviction, and we shared the gospel with other people, and we made disciples. 00:30:56.799 --> 00:31:05.119 Worst case scenario is that we transitioned from this life to our eternal life and we made heaven a little bit more crowded. 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:07.359 That's the worst case scenario. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:11.759 How powerful is that? 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:15.920 The king is coming. 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:19.680 It's called our blessed hope. 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:23.200 Because it's good news. 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:27.680 Evil will be defeated. 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:31.920 Our future is blessed because Jesus wins. 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:35.920 No matter what you're going through today, Jesus is victorious over it. 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:46.079 Jesus wins, evil ends, death dies, justice comes, creation is restored, every wound will be healed. 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:51.920 God dwells with his people, and we will be with him forever. 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:56.160 This is why it's the blessed hope. 00:31:56.559 --> 00:32:07.440 You can walk out these doors today with peace, with confidence, no longer with fear about the end times, but with great expectation. 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:12.160 And so I just want to invite everyone right now. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:14.400 Would you close your eyes and pray with me? 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:18.880 And as you do, I actually want to invite us to do something special today. 00:32:19.039 --> 00:32:21.920 I want you to just grab the hand of the person next to you. 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:25.519 We're gonna be family for the next moment here. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:30.799 Just grab the per the hand of the person next to you because I want I want to ask you a question. 00:32:34.559 --> 00:32:38.240 You've heard the truth today that the king is coming. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.759 The king is coming. 00:32:42.160 --> 00:32:51.279 Actually, the the prayer at the end of Revelation at the end of the book, Jesus says, I'm coming soon. 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:55.519 And John replies, Yes, Lord, amen. 00:32:56.480 --> 00:33:00.160 Come on, come, Lord. 00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.200 Come, Lord. 00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:11.680 Holy Spirit asks right now that you would that you would just invade this room. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:16.079 Grab a hold of every heart. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:36.319 We don't know the day, we don't know the hour, but we know the name, and his name is Jesus Christ, and in him is salvation, in him is forgiveness of sins, in him is confidence that you are saved, and that you will be ready to meet your king. 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:41.759 That's my question for you right now as you're holding the hand of someone next to you and you're just focusing on the Lord right now. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.839 Are you ready to meet your king? 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:51.599 He loves you so much that he came for you the first time and he suffered and he died on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:56.000 He who knew no sin became sin so that you could become the righteousness of God. 00:33:56.160 --> 00:34:06.319 And he bled and he suffocated to death to give you what you did not deserve, which is grace, mercy, forgiveness, eternal life. 00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:13.199 And he rose again so that you can have his very same victory over sin, guilt, and shame. 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:19.280 And he wants you to live with him forever and be ready for his return. 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:29.760 I don't want anyone in this room to have to walk out of this door confused about their salvation. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:35.360 You can know that you know that you know that you know that you know that you are saved. 00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:40.800 And so I'm gonna do something as you have that hand held next to you. 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:41.920 I'm just gonna count to three. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:35:03.280 And when I say three, I'm gonna ask you to squeeze that hand if today you want to make that faith-filled step to give your life to Jesus Christ, to go all in, to turn from your sins, to turn from your past, to turn from anything that's holding you back, and to turn towards Christ. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:04.800 It's called repentance. 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:06.320 He loves you so much. 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:10.159 He wants to welcome you with a warm, loving arm of embrace. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:13.360 He wants to say, I've been waiting for you, waiting for this moment. 00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:17.119 Come and do life with me, walk with me and talk with me. 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:25.440 I love you too much to allow you to drift your way into eternal separation for me. 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:27.440 Today is the day of salvation. 00:35:29.199 --> 00:35:33.440 So, one, I want you to know that no one will ever love you like Jesus loves you too. 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:40.639 I want you to know that no one else is coming for you, only Jesus, and that is the blessed hope. 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:46.480 And one, two, three, squeeze the hand of someone next to you. 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:48.639 Jesus, I give you my life. 00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:49.519 That's what you're doing. 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:51.679 You're saying, Jesus, I give you my life. 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:53.519 Jesus, I give you my life. 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:55.280 Jesus, I'm all yours. 00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:58.960 Jesus, because you gave your life for me, I give my life to you. 00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.320 I give you one more moment. 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:03.360 Squeeze the hand of the person next to you. 00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:05.679 Jesus, I give you my life. 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:10.480 Thank you, Lord, for every person that made that decision. 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:12.559 And I just want to pray for you right now. 00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:24.559 If you made that decision that was real, Jesus, I thank you for every single person that squeezed the hand of the person next to them because that is their faithful decision. 00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:32.960 Saying that I'm turning from my past and I'm running towards you. 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:37.840 I'm no longer a slave to sin, fear, or worry. 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:44.480 I am a son and a daughter of the risen king, and I am readying myself for his return. 00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:50.320 You are forgiven, you are saved, you belong to Jesus. 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:52.639 I want to do something. 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:56.880 All eyes open, you can let go of the hand. 00:36:58.000 --> 00:37:00.719 That was real and that was personal and that was powerful. 00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:02.800 But just stay with me for one moment. 00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:27.440 There's something about not just a personal decision when all eyes are closed, but there is just something about when all eyes are open, you making a courageous, faith-filled public demonstration, a public decision that you want to say, Jesus isn't just savior of my sins, he's Lord and leader of my life, and I stand with him. 00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:30.880 In this hour, I stand with him. 00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:34.559 In these last days, I stand with Jesus. 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:36.000 I stand firm. 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:41.679 I'm just telling you, your courage will not be put to shame. 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:44.400 And so I just want to like level this up for a moment. 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:46.320 There is something so powerful when this happens. 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:50.239 Your face sticks, and you get a community that wants to celebrate with you. 00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:51.760 We we don't want to shame you. 00:37:51.920 --> 00:38:02.320 But in a moment, I'm gonna ask people to stand that squeeze someone's hand because I just believe that that when you stand for Jesus publicly, you live for him with courage and boldness. 00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:04.719 And we want to party with you, okay? 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:14.320 So if you squeeze someone's hand and gave your life to Jesus, I want you right now to stand with someone that you squeeze the hand of. 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:19.519 Would you stand to your feet right now because we want to celebrate you, we want to party with you. 00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:20.880 Welcome home. 00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:23.679 Come on, church, put your hands together. 00:38:24.320 --> 00:38:25.679 Thank you, Lord. 00:38:26.239 --> 00:38:27.599 Thank you, Lord. 00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:29.679 Thank you, Jesus. 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.880 Let's go. 00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:33.360 This is your new beginning. 00:38:33.679 --> 00:38:35.519 This is the new life. 00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:38.639 This is the blessed home. 00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:44.559 Yes, the best decision that you can ever make. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:48.960 In a moment, we're gonna have Anthony come up and give us next steps. 00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:50.079 Let's all stand. 00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.679 But I wanna encourage you. 00:38:51.840 --> 00:39:01.360 I wanna encourage you before you leave, if you stood to your feet, I wanna invite you to walk down to the front and to connect with one of our prayer team members because we wanna pray with you. 00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:03.199 We wanna celebrate your decision. 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:08.320 We wanna just help seal what God is doing in your heart and in the room today, okay? 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:10.079 So before you leave, I want to invite you. 00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:14.639 If you stood to come down to the front, we wanna celebrate with you and pray with you, okay? 00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:18.159 Let's put our hands together one more time for those that gave their life to Christ.