This past week the Country and most everyone in this room celebrated Independence Day. You may recall several years back when I spoke concerning July 4th that the significance of the day is the declaration made. It was not the day that the Colonist were actually free from the rule of the Crown, the wicked King George. Freedom was won by brave men and women who did that hard work of fighting for what they believed to be their God given right to; LIFE, LIBERTY, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
This past Thursday, July the 4th we celebrate the day when a group of leaders came together in unity and made the declaration that they were separating from all the political, religious, economic cords that bound them to the United Kingdom. They did not just speak meaningless words without allocation of resources. Listen to how they closed: with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence we mutually pledge our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
As believers in Christ, as Christians we also have made a commitment in unity with our fellow believers and Jesus Christ that we are going to follow him.
Romans 10:9-10 tells us how important the Declaration of Faith is to be made:
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
You see the declaration is made and celebrated as when you pass from death to life. I was humbled to be able to stand with many of you as you made that declaration of faith in Christ in Baptism. As you publicly proclaimed your faith in Christ in unity with you brothers and sisters in Christ. Laying down the old man in symbolic death, burial and resurrection of the new man in life in Christ Jesus.
You may not recognize it but each week as we come together in Holy Communion at the beginning of each service you are once again publicly affirming your declaration of faith. Paul recounts the words of our savior in:
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
***Do you see the power of your Declaration? Do you see the power of your words, written and spoken?
Any of you who has ever been to a funeral service that I have officiated has heard me quote this passage of scripture from Job. It is a powerful declaration made by Job in a hour of great physical and emotional distress. My friends you have heard the saying, try and see the bigger picture. Don’t miss the forest for the trees. In many ways that is where some of our greatest declarations of faith come. They come in a time of distress, a time of trouble, a time of grieving. Job makes a statement of faith in God that demonstrated Job’s ability to comprehend and hold on the promise of eternal life and the bodily resurrection that God has promised to each human. Listen to the words of Job again:
Job 19:23-27
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
**** I want to be clear that the resurrection from the Dead is not just for believers. All are going to be raised, the question is what is going to happen to you after you are raised from the dead:
Daniel 12
12 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Revelation Chapter 20 shines some additional light on the what is to come:
20
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
***The 1st Point of the Message today: Your eternal future destination is dependent on your declaration of faith today.
It was Friday morning a week ago when the Holy Spirit brought this scripture back to my mind. I had read this scripture in preparation for the message Sunday before last Sunday.
The Scripture is found in 1 John Chapter 2:18-19
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
**The Lord told me there have been people who were in fellowship with his church. They were attending services, serving in ministry, even called by God and anointed but they were not of us. How do we know they were not of us? John tells us we know they were not of us because they went out from us. Look at verse 19 again:
1 John Chapter 2
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Matthew 7:15
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
***As a pastor I am very sensitive to the Holy Spirit when someone comes to fellowship with us here at Joy…… and when they decide to stop fellowshipping with us. I want to be clear that Paul is not telling us that anyone who leaves our church was a wolf. Paul is speaking about those who turn away from following Christ Jesus and walking in The Way.
Just as when Jesus walked on this earth in ministry, he had many fans as he was performing miracles, feeding the multitudes, casting out devils. But Jesus only had a few followers when he began to preach about taking up our cross and following him. His fans turned there back in Jesus in John 6:66 when Jesus said I am the bread of Life and inless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no part in my kingdom.
In this passage of scripture from 1 John Chapter 2:18-19 John is telling us that the spirit of antichrist is in the world even now. And will continue more and more until Christ returns.
John is telling us that the way of the cross is not easy. John is telling us living our life for Christ day by day will weed out those who are just fans and not followers. But worse than only being fans, they actually have the spirit of antichrist.
***The 1st Point of the Message today: Your eternal future destination is dependent on your declaration of faith today.
2nd point of the Message today: You cannot be neutral on Christ. Either you are for him or you are against him. Either you are a disciple or you are antichrist.***
Matthew 12:30
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
1 John Chapter 2
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
***The Lord told me very clearly that this is the falling away described by Paul when he wrote to the Church at Thessalonica:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Apostasia a falling away, defection, apostasy
***The 1st Point of the Message today: Your eternal future destination is dependent on your declaration of faith today.
2nd point of the Message today: You cannot be neutral on Christ. Either you are for him or you are against him. Either you are a disciple or you are antichrist.***
3rd point of the Message today: Christ return will come following a notable reduction in people following Christ.
(Pause here- In this passage of 2nd Thessalonians 2:1 Paul is speaking about the Rapture of the Church. The Coming of Jesus and the gathering together of the believers.)
Lets turn to Matthew 13 and read how Jesus describes this gathering together in parable of the wheat and the tares.
Matthew 13:24-43
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
***My Friends Jesus is returning for his Church. We will be gathered together.
Look at how Paul described in in his first letter to the Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
***The 1st Point of the Message today: Your eternal future destination is dependent on your declaration of faith today.
2nd point of the Message today: You cannot be neutral on Christ. Either you are for him or you are against him. Either you are a disciple or you are antichrist.***
3rd point of the Message today: Christ return will come following a notable reduction in people following Christ.
4th point of the Message today: Both the dead in Christ and Living believers will be gathered together at Christ Return.
5th point of the Message today: Christ is coming for those who are looking for him and Love his appearing.
Hebrews 9:24-28
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
**Christ is coming for those who are looking for him***
***Christ is coming for those who Love his appearing***
***Listen to Paul the Apostle write to Timothy at the end of his life and ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-8
4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
***The 1st Point of the Message today: Your eternal future destination is dependent on your declaration of faith today.
2nd point of the Message today: You cannot be neutral on Christ. Either you are for him or you are against him. Either you are a disciple or you are antichrist.***
3rd point of the Message today: Christ return will come following a notable reduction in people following Christ.
4th point of the Message today: Both the dead in Christ and Living believers will be gathered together at Christ Return.
5th point of the Message today: Christ is coming for those who are looking for him and Love his appearing.
6th and closing point of the Message today: Christ return brings Joy and Christ return brings Judgement
***Christ Coming Brings Joy and Judgement***
Revelation 20:10-15
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
I want to end where we began in 1 John 2:18
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.