Bible Text: Matthew 24 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: New Beginnings
The Mayan Calendar predicts the end of the world on:
December 21, 2012
It is the start of the winter solstice
It is 4 days before Christmas
So, how will the world end?
Armageddon
Mount Megiddo, Har in Hebrew mountain and Mageddon is the place-name of Megiddo: to assemble or rendezvous
Myths can be dangerous and some can be harmless
Our beliefs have fundamental, profound impact on our lives
You can be sincere, but you can be sincerely wrong.
The fact is, it takes more than sincerity to make it in life.
It requires truth!
Beliefs
Nobody can force us to believe
And we cannot blame others for our beliefs
Romans 1:25 Instead of believing what they knew as the truth about God they deliberately chose to believe lies.
Proverbs 4:23 Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts.
False beliefs are often damaging.
National Enquirer headlines New Discovery!
Fat-burning prayers; Pray these prayers,
and the pounds will melt away!
Top Ten TV or Media Myths:
All your problems are somebody else’s fault.
The world owes you happiness.
Happiness is getting what you want.
There is never any reason to feel guilty.
Man is basically good and unselfish.
All beliefs are equally valid and valuable.
Pornography and perversion are innocent.
You can have it all; you should have it all.
You shouldn’t have to wait for anything.
Because you’re God, the answer lies within you.
1 John 4:1 Don’t always believe everything you hear, for there are many false teachers around.
John 8:32 When you know the truth, the truth will set you free.
Truth is the key to overcoming the myths that make us miserable.
Romans 3:4 God will continue to be true even when every person is false.
We either have the world or the Word of God.
Which do you think is more reliable?
God’s Word never changes because the Lord is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, and it’s always true!
Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas.
Luke 21:33 Though all heaven and earth shall pass away, yet my Word shall remain forever.
Ephesians 4:15 Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Matthew 24:3 Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and asked, When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to signal your return and the end of the world? Jesus told them, Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Messiah.
They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.
Philippians 3:10 …that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…
What are the basic Biblical viewpoints for the origin of a disaster(s)?
These events are the result of God’s sovereignty or by the direction of God.
These events are the result of a natural progression of creation and the result of living in a “fallen” world.
These events are the result of spiritual consequences of our own or others.
God’s Word: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
Worship and Prayer: 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Care and Support: Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Live with the Expectancy of the Lord
Luke 21:25-28 And there will be strange events in the skies — signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, because the stability of the very heavens will be broken up. Then everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.