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The Days of Noah and Lot - Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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Good morning, United Evangelical Church.
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And anybody else who might be joining us this morning?
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As you can see, we are in a different place.
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We're in a different location. Things have been changing since
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last week. We were in the sanctuary on
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Friday and now we're in a quickly setup Studio, but no
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matter what, what's more important is that the word of
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God will be shared and that we will be able to hear from the
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Lord together. And so if you have your Bibles,
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hold onto them tightly, because we're going to go through
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different scriptures. If you saw the title of what
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we're going to be discussing. It's going to be meditations on
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the return of Christ. And we use that word meditations
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carefully. Because when you speak on the
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subject like this, you can really get into details of
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events of when of how, what does this represent?
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And that's not the purpose. This morning.
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We don't want to present a timeline of what we see in the
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scriptures, concerning the return of Christ or the Rapture.
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The tribulation. We want to focus on a devotional
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meditation and that concept altogether.
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And so we're going to go through different verses and see how
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these can stir our hearts today, even though it isn't event to
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come. And so if you have your Bibles,
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go to Luke chapter 21 for now, we're going to touch on a couple
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verses. And as Believers, we believe in
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a literal bodily resurrection and we believe in a literal
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bodily Return of the person of Jesus Christ.
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The same historical Jesus that walked on this Earth and died on
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a cross and went into the grave. And Rose is the same Jesus
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that's going to return and he is going to come to render
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judgment. He's coming to redeem and full
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Redemption, those who put their trust in him, and he will
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establish his Earthly Reign for all eternity.
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And that's what we believe. And look at this.
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Familiar verse in, Luke 21 verse 25 says and there will be signs
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in sun and moon and stars and on the earth distress of nations in
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perplexity because of the Roaring of the Sea and the waves
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look at verse 26, people fainting with fear people,
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fainting with fear. And with foreboding of what is
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coming on the world for the powers of the heavens, will be
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shaken. Now.
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This is speaking about specifically the tribulation
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period but we can still apply it to our lives today, you know,
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very well that this past week concerning the world.
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There's been great fear in the air Panic hysteria.
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And Jesus says, this is only going to be Amplified in that
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intense tribulation period when the world will experience things
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that they've never seen before, but we can also Play that to
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today. That there is a fear of
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uncertainty and of the unknown. That is the posture of the world
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though. And keep looking and verse 27,
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28, see the contrast, and then they will see the son of man
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coming in a cloud with power and great Glory.
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Look at verse 28. Now, when these things begin to
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take place. He's talking to those who will
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be in that period but also to us today, straighten up and raise
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your heads because your Redemption is Drawing Near.
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Do you see the contrast the world fainting with fear
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panicking questioning wondering? Believers.
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Looking up there, their heads are straight up.
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Their eyes are towards heaven and they are expecting the
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return of the Savior. Now if this truth is something
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you believe in perhaps more than ever, it is something that is
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more real to you especially in this season.
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And that's why I believe it's appropriate to speak on these
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things. Ask yourself this question.
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How much of the return of Christ is mentioned in the New
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Testament? Think about the gospels, think
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about the letters, the Epistles, think about how much mentioned
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there is. Of the return of Christ.
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It's amazing how at least in my understanding of my perspective
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that so little is mentioned of the return of Christ and modern
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teaching. It seems to be a foreign
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subject. It seems to be something that is
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archaic. Something that is to end times
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Nation its to apocalyptic and people want to avoid that
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subject. But it is our hope, this is,
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this is what we are looking for. This is the next major event in
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Redemptive history that we are anticipating.
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And so, let's talk about such things and go.
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Acting now, Luke 17 the same book.
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Let's read some verses that would stir our hearts in this
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area. Look at Luke 17 verse 22.
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And he being Jesus said to the disciples.
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The days are coming, when you will desire to see, one of the
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days of the son of man, and you will not see it.
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And so, let's understand this and 22.
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Jesus is speaking to a specific audience.
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He just finished speaking, in the verses prior to the
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Pharisees who asked about the kingdom of God, and now he is
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speaking to his own followers. And he's saying you will desire
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to see one of the days of the son of man, but you will not see
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it. You saying there?
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Let's understand what he means by the days of the son of man.
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Jesus loved to refer himself as the son of man.
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It's a title that he gave himself often and that title
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speaks something about his Humanity.
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Sure that he is human fully human, but that title as you
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know would have been very familiar to the ears of the Jews
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and it would be familiar to you as well.
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If you know the Old Testament the title, son of man comes from
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a specific Vision that our Prophet had in the Book of
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Daniel chapter 7. 7. Now, turn there to see how Jesus
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used this and what he was referring to Daniel 7.
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Verse 13. Look what Daniel says.
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I saw in the night visions and behold with the Clouds Of
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Heaven. There came one like a son of
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man. And he came to the Ancient of
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Days and was presented before him.
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So what Daniel saw in this vision?
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Was an individual that carried a human-like form and he is
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presented before the Ancient of Days, which is a title that
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describes God and him being Eternal.
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And this man, the son of man comes in the Clouds Of Heaven,
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so he's not an ordinary man. He's not, he's not just one who
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has a human appearance. He is coming in Majesty.
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He's coming with boldness and courage before the Ancient of
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Days himself to do, what? Because the Ancient of Days is
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going to give him an inheritance.
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He's going to give him honor that is unparalleled to anyone
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else. What kind of Honor, look at
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verse 14 and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom
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that all peoples Nations and languages should serve him.
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His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion, which shall not pass
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away and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
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So when Jesus refers to himself as the son of man, you have to
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understand that the Learned you would have went to Daniel
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chapter 7 and it would have been an astounding statement that
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Jesus was making that the person that Daniel saw that one like a
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son of man. Was the pre-incarnate Christ and
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Jesus was making the connection. I am the one that Daniel saw and
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why is that important? Because of the person that we
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see in Daniels vision and what he had received from the Ancient
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of Days and eternal Kingdom that would demand the service of
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people from different nations and tongues.
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And so when Jesus calls himself that this was a great statement
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being made. In fact, if there's any doubt
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behind that interpretation, You can go to the Book of Matthew
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and Jesus trial. And if anybody ever asks you,
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where Jesus outright says that he is the Son of God, or he is
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the Messiah, or he is the one that was prophesied about just
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turn to Matthew chapter 26. And look at verse 63 and 64 and
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see that, this is as clear as it gets.
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But Jesus remains silent. In Matthew chapter 26, 63 and
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the high priest said to him. I adjure you by the Living God.
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Tell us if you are the Christ the son of God, so he's asking
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me trial tell us plainly. Are you the one that was
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prophesied about? Are you claiming to have this?
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Heavenly Authority? Are you claiming to be the one
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that the prophet spoke of liquid?
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Jesus is in 64. Jesus said to him, you have said
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so Can you get any more clear than that?
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I agree with you. Jesus saying you're right.
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And then he goes on to say. But I tell you from now on, you
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will see the son of man seated at the right hand of power and
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coming on the Clouds Of Heaven. There It Is.
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He is claiming to be the one that Daniel prophesied about
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now. What's the point?
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When Jesus says to his disciples in verse 22 of Luke 17.
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He says the days are coming. When you will desire to see one
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of the days of the son of man. So we've made clear that he is
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referring to himself as the one Daniel portrayed.
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But he's speaking about the disciples Desiring to see one of
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those days. Meaning the era of the son of
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man and exaltation, the era of the son of man ruling and
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reigning on the earth and establishing his eternal
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Dominion. He told his disciples, you will
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long to see that you will yearn to see that.
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And I think this is an important question to ask at least two
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questions as you are sitting and watching this morning.
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Number one. Do you claim to be a disciple of
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Jesus? Are you a follower of Jesus
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Christ? Have you put your faith and
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trust in him? Have you made him Lord?
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Then you are a disciple. If so, ask yourself this
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question. Now do I desire to see?
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The days of the son of man. Ruling and reigning.
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Once and for all were righteousness and Justice will
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cover this earth and the knowledge of the glory of God
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will cover the Earth as the waters.
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Cover the Seas, that your desire.
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This week, I've had different conversations with people, and I
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can tell you that one of the prominent discussion themes has
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been the return of Christ. I'm not here to set dates.
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I'm not here to say that these events are going to lead to that
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specifically, but what did Jesus say look to the Fig Tree and
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learn that lesson of the Fig Tree, when you see the budding
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of the leaves, you know, that something is coming.
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Summer is near. So he says, when you see these
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signs realize that something is coming.
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We have every right to look at world events and for it to stir
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our hearts to say, Lord. He's a time.
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Are you actually coming now? Is this?
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It? Are you going to take us home?
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And I wonder if that's what you thought.
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I wonder if that's even a desire.
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You know, unfortunately, many disciples of Jesus Christ.
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Don't have that desire, the to Earthbound.
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They don't think about the glories.
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They don't think about the Majesty.
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They don't think about the join the Bliss that will come when
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Christ returns, but Jesus looked at his disciples, his you will
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desire this, you will desire, but you will not see it.
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Not that they will not ever see it, but that the time will not
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happen just yet. I think that's something we have
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to ask ourselves as a disciple, looking at these world events.
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Is there any type of stirring in me to say all Lord, let it
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happen now? Let me ask you another question
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this morning. What does the word?
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Hallelujah mean? Think about it.
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What does the word? Hallelujah?
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We've sang it in songs. You've probably said it in
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response to some testimony that you've heard.
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But this morning, ask yourself. What does the word?
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Hallelujah mean? Well, very simply means praise
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be to the Lord or may the Lord be praised.
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Hallelujah. Now that's the definition but
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let me ask this question. I'm going to give you a few
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seconds to think about it. When is the word, hallelujah,
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first mentioned in the New Testament?
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We see it plenty of times in the Old Testament, especially in the
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Book of Psalms, but, ask yourself this morning.
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When is the first time the word? Hallelujah, mentioned in the New
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Testament? And as we think about, I'm going
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to turn to that place and I want to read to you because it's in a
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specific location that says a lot about Hallelujah.
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If you guess the Book of Revelation, you're right.
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Think about it. The first time the word,
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hallelujah is mentioned, is in the last book of the Bible.
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And not only that the word hallelujah.
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Occurs only four times in the entire New Testament and all
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four times the word. Hallelujah, is found in one
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chapter in the book of Revelation.
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And that's a Revelation chapter 19.
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So turn your Bibles to Revelation chapter 19.
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And let's see, where the first explosive phrase of May, the
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Lord be praised or praise. The Lord is associated with
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Revelation 19 verse 1. John remember this is a
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revelation that John receives after this.
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I heard what seemed to be a, to be the loud voice of a great
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multitude in heaven crying out. Hallelujah.
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There. It is.
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The first time the word is mentioned in the New Testament,
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Hallelujah, Salvation, and Glory and power Belongs To Our God for
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his judgments are true. And just for, he has judged the
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great prostitute who corrupted the Earth with her immorality.
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And as Avenged on her blood of this of his servants, that is
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when Hallelujah is mentioned, when the Great, prostitute was
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finally judged. Now, without getting into too
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much detail about this because we can spend the next session
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discussing what this means or who the great prostitute.
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Is you look at Revelations chapter 17 and chapter 18.
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You realize that there is a description of Babylon.
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Babylon was a system in the Book of Revelation that was corrupt.
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And I'm not here again to speak of what this represents in terms
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of location or who it is, what it is.
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But what we do know and what all interpretations can can agree
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on, is that Babylon even in the Bible, the entire scriptures,
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testifies of a proud and perverse Society.
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It speaks about a God oppressing and god-rejecting system.
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So we look at Revelation that speaks about the end times.
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You see that Babylon, this ancient city is referred to
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again, but in a modern sense, therefore Babylon has a
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connotation of a modern spiritual system, but in
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Revelation, it's more complicated than that Babylon.
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Seems to be a false religious system, a political system, and
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a commercial commercial system and it's intertwined.
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It's it's all connected somehow. But what's more important to
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understand that Babylon in the end times, has this powerful
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influence over the inhabitants of the Earth with false religion
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with sexual morality, with the love of money and with
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drunkenness. It's it's demonic in the
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scriptures testify of that. But here's the main point in
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Revelation, 19. We see Heaven rejoicing.
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When God brings a final end to the Babylonian system.
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The Babylonian spirit. All of God's people looked at it
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and said, hallelujah, praise be to the Lord.
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Why is that important? Because you look in your Bibles
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and Revelation, 19. And this destruction of the
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Babylonian system is needed to usher.
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In what we see in verse 11. What do you see in verse 11 of
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Revelation? 19?
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Then I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse.
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The one sitting on it is called faithful and true.
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And in righteousness. He judges and makes Six War, all
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that makes sense. So the Hallelujah was in
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connection to the fact that God is sweeping over the world in
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order to establish the platform for Christ to come and bring his
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Earthly and eternal rain. Hallelujah.
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Let me ask you this this morning.
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Can you say, hallelujah to that now?
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Is that something that makes you want to rejoice and praise God.
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Do you look at this world? And you see the corruption and
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the filth and the depravity and the influence of Satan is
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demonic forces. And is there anything in you?
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Yes, longing for people to be saved, but also longing to say
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Lord. I can't wait for this whole
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world to be ruled by you. Unfortunately, I think a lot of
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professing Christians can't say, hallelujah is because there they
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are a little bit attracted to this world.
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There's a little bit of a desire there.
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The things that pleases the world, the Babylonian mindset
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has infiltrated. Even Believers.
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You think. How can you say that?
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Look at Revelation, 18 verse 4, then I heard another voice from
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Heaven saying, come out of her, my people.
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Carter? Where come out of Babylon, come
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out of her. My people lest you take part in
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her sins. Think about that for a second.
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Perhaps, the reason why many professing Believers can't say,
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hallelujah to this truth. That God would bring Holiness
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and Purity in totality is because they are involved with
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Babylon. They have some kind of
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Attraction. They are entertained by the same
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things that the world is entertained by whatever.
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Babylon presents, they eat it up and they're in confliction
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between serving the kingdom of God and serving Babylon.
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But listen, if you are totally sold out for the Lord, you can
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Echo this statement. Hallelujah, in the revelation of
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Jesus coming and ruling and establishing his kingdom, his
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Reign, his rule. So, we go back to Luke 17 and
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this reflect a little bit more. And we're not going to cover
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every verse, but let's look at another portion of scripture
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found here. And let's see if we can
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understand a deeper understanding to what Jesus is
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teaching. So we go to Luke 17. and Jesus
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says, In verse 24 for as the lightning, flashes and lights up
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the sky from one side to the other.
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So will the son of man be in his day is not going to be a secret
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when he comes back. It's not going to be hidden.
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It's not going to be something that we cannot perceive
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Revelation tells us in chapter 1 verse 7, that every eye will
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Behold Him. That's not the point.
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We want to focus on verse 25 down, but first, he must suffer
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many, good things and be rejected by this generation that
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happened on the cross, just as it was in the days of Noah.
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Jesus said, so will it be in the days of the son of man?
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They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in
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marriage until the day. When Noah entered the Ark and
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the flood came and destroyed them.
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Likewise verse 28, just as it was in the days of lot.
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They were eating and drinking buying, and selling planting and
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building. But on the day, when lot went
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out from Sodom fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed
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them all. Jesus defines and describes what
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the days of, the son of man in his return, will be like and he
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points to two societies that are familiar in the Old Testament.
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He says that they will be like the days of Noah and they will
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be like the days of lot. He picks out these two specific
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scenarios in our scriptures. Now, let me ask you this.
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What defined? What was dominant in the Nate
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days of Noah. What was something that
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characterized it in a unique way?
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I think the answer is in Genesis 6 and we have to go there to
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understand what Jesus perhaps meant here when he's talking
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about how they will be, like the days of Noah.
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So Genesis 6. We see a description of Noah his
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generations and what his environment was like verse 11 of
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Genesis 6. Now the Earth was corrupt in
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God's sight and the Earth was filled with what violence.
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Violence. You go to verse 13 and God said
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to Noah, I have determined to make an End of All Flesh for the
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Earth is filled with violence. Through them.
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So what defined the days of Noah was Humanity?
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Having a disregard of the sanctity of life?
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There was a waxing of the heart becoming cold and there's a lack
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of Love. There was a disregard of the
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image of God being displayed on man.
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There was murder. There was Bloodshed, there was
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no concern about the gift of Life.
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There was no sense of accountability to how God will
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judge for bloodshed. Now that's what describe the
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days of Noah. Can I ask you this?
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Is that describe our day today? Absolutely, look at all the
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deaths apart from war, look at the genocide.
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The silent Holocaust of abortion, the millions of babies
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that are being slaughtered day in and day out.
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That alone tells us something about the violence that alone
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tells us about the viciousness and the carelessness.
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Towards human life. Look at our city, Chicago.
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Some of you have had the chance to minister to those who are
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involved in different gangs and hearing their stories, about how
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they've killed people in their teenage years.
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I mean, before they learn how to drive a car before they learn
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how to, to get a job. They know, already how to shoot
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a gun in sell drugs, and this is happening in our streets day in
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and day out. So Jesus says, you will see
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heightened level of violence in the days before the son of man
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returns, but then he says, the days of lot.
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They will be like the days of lot.
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Now, what defined the days of lot?
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I'm sure you're familiar that Sodom has a reputation in the
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Bible of describing a certain lifestyle.
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And without going to Genesis. You can read in Jude the book
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before the Book of Revelation. And look at Jude 7 and see the
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commentary that this man gives by the Holy Spirit concerning,
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Sodom and Gomorrah. And Jude 7.
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It says, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding
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cities, which likewise listen to this indulged in sexual
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immorality, and pursued unnatural desire.
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The days of lot. Would Define by an obsession
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with sexual sin. Including homosexuality.
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There was an unnatural desire for one, another men with man
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woman with woman and it was a, it was not only a behavior.
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It was a behavior that was common.
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It was something that was acknowledged.
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It was something that was practiced.
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And you read in Genesis 19 of how the men of Sodom carried
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themselves and you see an animalistic kind of appetite for
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sex. Let me ask you this question.
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Is that describe our day? Do we see a parading of sin and
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our streets? Do we see a worldwide
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acknowledgement almost of homosexuality and not just an
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acknowledgement, but appraised of it.
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Look at the effects of pornography.
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Look at the obsession. Look at the bondage that people
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are in. By the millions around this
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world, even within the church that can't seem to shake off the
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desires of the flesh. And so, what Jesus does in Luke
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17? Something very, very important.
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He looks at the days of Noah, and he says the end times, the
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days before my return will be like that.
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And he looks at the days of Loft, and he says the end times,
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the times before my return will be like that.
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And what does he do? He combines the days of Noah,
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with the days of lot, meaning that these two things will merge
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and they will be highly dominant in society.
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I read something like that, and I'm sure you do and you, you
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think, well, that's the day I'm living in and that's how we are
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supposed to think. But there's another thing,
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there's another reason there's a main purpose behind why Jesus
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spoke of the days of Noah, and then these have lat and it's
26:07
what we read there, that despite the fact that there was violence
26:10
and rampant sexual sin, including homosexuality.
26:14
Both of these are has had one thing in common.
26:19
There was a lack of concern. There was a lack of stirring
26:25
relating to coming judgment. Isn't that what Jesus says?
26:30
He says, they were eating drinking marrying building,
26:32
selling not that those things are evil in itself.
26:36
But what he's trying to say is that life was just moving
26:39
forward, and people were consumed by their day-to-day
26:41
Affairs. While at the same time.
26:45
There was a pending judgment looming over them.
26:48
And there was literally, no concern relating to that truth.
26:54
in fact, when you read the days of lots in Sodom, Realize that
26:59
one point, lot had some courage even though he was
27:03
overwhelmingly week to his convictions.
27:07
Lot had some courage to go to relatives and to tell them of
27:10
this judgment to come and you see the posture and the attitude
27:14
of his sons-in-law. What does he say in Genesis 19,
27:18
you read in verse 14. So lot went out and said to his
27:22
sons-in-law who were to marry his daughters up.
27:26
Trying to get their attention up, get out of this place for
27:29
the Lord is about to destroy the city, and look at the response,
27:32
but he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
27:36
And this is what Jesus is alluding to.
27:38
Just this is what Jesus wants to bring to the surface.
27:42
They heard lot and they thought you're joking judgment.
27:46
You're going to talk that kind of a talk.
27:48
You're going to, you're going to try to scare us.
27:51
And they were marrying. They're about to get married.
27:53
They were engaged to be married. They probably had businesses of
27:55
their own. They looked around Society.
27:57
Saw things, smooth things moving on forward, just fine.
28:00
And here's this man Tommy, you know, are you right?
28:03
With God, we have to get out of here because judgments about the
28:05
coming, they laughed it off, and that's the same attitude that
28:08
people have today. In the midst of a society of
28:11
violence and sexual sin. The message of judgment is
28:15
scorned at and scoff that And Jesus says, that's what it's
28:20
going to be. Like, that's what it's going to
28:22
be. Like.
28:24
Now, reading these verses. We understand that description
28:28
is clear. But I want us to notice
28:31
something else as we, meditate. Jesus says, As in the days of
28:35
Noah, and he describes it as in the days of Law, and he
28:39
describes it. But I want you to consider this
28:43
truth. Let's look at it from a
28:44
different angle. Sure.
28:46
The days of Noah were violent. Sure, the days of lot were
28:50
perverse. But in the days of Noah, there
28:54
was a Noah. And in the days of lot, there
28:59
was a lot, you know what that means that even in the midst of
29:03
all the corruption and darkness. There is a righteous remnant.
29:09
There was a Noah there. There was a lot there.
29:12
You thinking lot. Hold on.
29:13
We'll get there in a moment. And I think where we can apply
29:18
ourselves to, this is to look at Noah and to look at lot and to
29:24
see how as the people of God, we should act and represent Christ
29:32
in the midst of all of this chaos.
29:35
So, interestingly enough, Jesus mentions Noah, and lot here in
29:39
the same context, and there's another portion of scripture
29:42
that mentions Noah and lot in the same context as well.
29:45
So if you have your Bibles go to Second Peter, second Peter.
29:52
And look at these verses. That Peter highlights.
30:05
Second Peter. Look at verse 5 of chapter 2.
30:12
If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserve Noah.
30:18
A Herald of righteousness with seven others when he brought a
30:23
flood upon the world of the ungodly.
30:27
If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he
30:29
condemned them to Extinction. Making them an example of what
30:32
is going to happen to the ungodly verse 7.
30:35
And if he rescued righteous lat, Greatly distressed by the
30:39
sensual conduct of the wicked. So let's just pause your here.
30:43
We see Peter by the Holy Spirit, putting Noah and lot again in
30:47
the same context. And I want to look at the
30:50
descriptions of Noah and lot and derive some truths for us today
30:54
as believers. Noah Peter describes in the
30:59
midst of the days of much violence and other sins was a
31:02
Herald of righteousness. Meaning he was a preacher of
31:09
righteousness. We have this idea that Noah was
31:12
just building this Ark and he was keeping to himself and he
31:15
just kind of whispered to his family so that he wouldn't
31:17
disturb Society. That's the wrong picture of
31:20
Noah. Yes.
31:21
He was building. Yes.
31:22
He did. Take time to obey God in that
31:26
construction project. But in the midst of all of that
31:29
over the years, no was preaching righteousness.
31:33
No, was acting like a prophet Noah was not intimidated.
31:37
Nor. Is he a shame to hide the truths
31:39
concerning who God is in his character and nature and what he
31:42
demanded from people know, Noah preached righteousness.
31:47
And that is the posture. You and I must have in the
31:50
state. This is the voice of the church
31:51
in the last days. If Jesus says that like the days
31:54
of Noah, so will it be in the days of the son of man?
31:56
Then, let's look to know. As an example.
31:58
Noah was a Herald of Truth. Noah did not hide truth.
32:02
Noah did not change truth. He didn't shift truth.
32:05
Noah did not try to conform to the shifting culture.
32:08
Noah preached, what the word of God was plain and simple unfazed
32:15
unmoved. This is the posture of the This
32:17
is not time for the church to try to keep things on a low
32:25
concerning the character. And the nature of God.
32:27
This is time to amplify it. This is time to get excited and
32:31
passionate and moving forward in our Evangelistic efforts and no
32:35
way gives us that example. What I love about, Noah.
32:40
Is how the Bible describes his faithfulness?
32:44
And his success. Now to unfortunate
32:49
understandings of what successes and Ministry too many.
32:52
When you read about Noah's Ministry.
32:57
To others. He would look like a failure.
32:58
Why look at how many converts he got?
33:00
Look how many people he influence with his preaching of
33:02
righteousness. What does it say?
33:04
But preserve Noah. Herald of righteousness with
33:06
seven others. That's how many over the years
33:12
of his preaching, his own family.
33:14
The only one that took him seriously.
33:17
How many were living in Noah's in Noah's day?
33:19
Some say Millions not one to keyed.
33:23
Not one took what he had to say. Seriously.
33:28
But there were seven. Now, to the eyes of, man.
33:32
To the eyes of how some people view Ministry to be like a
33:35
business. Noah would have been an absolute
33:38
failure, but to God, he was faithful.
33:44
In fact, you go to Hebrews 11:7, you see description of Noah as
33:48
an example of faith, and you read there that Noah in
33:51
reverential fear. Obeyed God and built the ark.
33:57
So if we are living in the last days, which has been true from
34:03
the book of Acts and it's more true today than it is ever.
34:07
Then we must look to know as an example and realize that he was
34:10
one who is not ashamed to testify of who God was.
34:16
He knew the nature of God. He knew the truth of who he was,
34:19
he knew who God was in light of sin and how he would deal with
34:22
sin, and he proclaimed truth with the hopes of what The
34:24
Condemned the world. With the hopes of what to shun
34:28
the world know, he was building an ark.
34:31
And I'm sure Noah and his preaching had an unction.
34:36
He had a cry in his voice. He had a desire for those to
34:39
enter into the ark with him and the Arc of course is a picture
34:43
of Salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, is that Ark.
34:50
He is the only way that we can escape the flood of God's Wrath.
34:54
He's the only means by which you and I can be sheltered from the
34:59
holy justice of God, and you can imagine knowing his day, crying
35:04
out day in and day out while he was building the having his
35:06
family. Do what they need to do.
35:08
Taking a pause from his building projects think, come pleading
35:11
with people and you can imagine people walking by him laughing
35:14
and scoffing. But they weren't laughing and
35:17
scoffing when judgment came swiftly.
35:20
So what must we do? As the church, we must look to
35:22
know as a Herald of righteousness.
35:24
If you're a minister, if you have any influence in teaching
35:27
and preaching, preach the truth, preach the gospel.
35:33
This is not time for feel-good. Messages is not time for
35:37
psychological pop talk. This is time for heralding.
35:41
Truth. With the hopes that people will
35:43
enter the Ark in the person of Jesus Christ and no safety from
35:48
the judgment to come. The days of Noah, we look to
35:53
Noah but interestingly enough now Peter mentions lat.
35:56
Now. Look at the description of lat
35:59
that Peter gives him verse 7 verse 8 and if you rescued
36:02
righteous lat Greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the
36:07
wicked. Look at verse 8 for as that
36:11
righteous, man. Lived among them day.
36:14
After day. He was tormenting his righteous
36:17
Soul over their Lawless Deeds that he saw and heard three
36:22
times in two verses, we are told that lot was righteous.
36:27
Now. If you're familiar with light,
36:31
Lots life in Genesis anything, but righteous.
36:36
You see how he was living in? Sodom how he desired to live in
36:40
Sodom? You see the fact that he was
36:44
willing to give up his virgin daughters to be raped.
36:45
You see that he was one amongst those at the Gate of the city
36:49
which which says he's had some kind of influence in Sodom.
36:52
You see that later on, he gets drunk.
36:55
You see this wave ring even to escape Sodom himself.
37:02
You see men who's weak? See men who is compromising and
37:04
then you come to the book of second Peter and you go
37:06
righteous. Righteous.
37:10
And some say this is a contradiction, but that can't be
37:14
how do we make sense of this? So how do we look at lot and see
37:17
righteousness? I think the best way to explain
37:21
it is to understand that the Holy Spirit clearly has an
37:24
Insight concerning Lots life, that goes beyond the snapshots
37:29
that we get in the Book of Genesis.
37:33
We can see this in the fact that we only get a glimpse of lots
37:38
life in Genesis. But God knew something of the
37:42
man that was beyond the failures and the Grievances that he shows
37:46
in Genesis. In other words.
37:49
La was a righteous man, but lot showed great failure.
37:56
He showed great weakness. And he bended to easily
38:01
especially in the environment that he was surrounded by.
38:06
And when I think this is also saying, is that for right lot to
38:11
be righteous says something of the corruption of the
38:14
inhabitants of Sodom. I mean, you look at lot on the
38:18
face value, you say that's righteousness.
38:20
While the Holy Spirit saying lot was righteous in comparison also
38:25
to the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah which tells us
38:28
something, how gross and how vile and Despicable were the
38:33
sodomites and those who lived in cities.
38:36
I mean Gomorrah for lot to be known as a righteous man.
38:41
Do you see what's being said here?
38:44
And I think another point to make is that lat.
38:48
To be known as righteous, according to the Holy Spirit.
38:51
Says something on the fact that though, he was though.
38:54
He was a man who displayed unfortunate.
38:58
Unfaithfulness, at one point. He was not totally consumed.
39:05
He was not totally swallowed up by the sinfulness of Sodom.
39:10
There was something in him. According to Peter, that was
39:13
tormented day by day. He saw the evil around him.
39:16
He heard the things that the people were speaking of, and it
39:18
actually grieved his Spirit. It grieved his righteousness
39:21
inwardly though, outwardly. It did not display with the same
39:25
strength. So when we look at this, we have
39:28
to trust that the holy spirit is giving us an insight about this
39:30
man, Even though again. He's not the best example of
39:35
righteousness. So what do we do?
39:36
As Believers? We don't look to lot and see his
39:40
failure and say that's the standard of righteousness.
39:42
Ultimately. It's the person of Jesus Christ,
39:45
but we take a principal from this and apply it to what we're
39:47
speaking of today. Listen, very carefully.
39:50
Notice what Peter said, He said that Noah was a Herald of
39:55
righteousness. Meaning he declared truth in his
39:59
day. That's what you.
40:00
And I have to do. You don't have to be a preacher
40:02
to do that. You don't have to have a
40:04
Ministry or podcast to do that you.
40:06
And I do that day in day out, we converse with people.
40:08
We witnessed the people, we pray for Lee seek opportunities.
40:11
Just like Noah did in his day, but look at the contrast with
40:14
lat. It doesn't tell us that lot was
40:16
a Herald of righteousness, says that lot was righteous.
40:22
See, Noah, preached truth, Noah declared righteousness, lot
40:30
embodied. It lat live, the truth.
40:34
They'll not the best example of it saying.
40:37
What are you trying to say? I'm trying to say this that in
40:39
the last days. We are to Proclaim truth, but we
40:42
are also to live that truth. Lot lived righteousness, Noah,
40:48
preached righteousness and we need those those twin realities
40:52
to be a part of our existence. We declare truth, but we also
40:57
should live out the truth that we are declaring.
41:01
Lot was a righteous man. Again, not the best example, but
41:04
lot was a righteous man in the context of his days and Jesus
41:07
said like the days of Lies, so shall it?
41:10
Be when the son of man returns? And Peter gives us commentary.
41:13
Lot was righteous. This is the time to be
41:16
righteous. This is the time to live out,
41:20
free from compromise, free from contradiction to what we claim
41:26
to be in claim to Proclaim. When we take these two truths
41:33
will be effective to the best of our abilities, by the grace of
41:36
God to make the most out of these times.
41:40
And you go back to Luke 17. You realize another person that
41:45
Jesus highlights as a warning. In three simple words, Jesus
41:54
Takes the time out of his teaching of his return to
41:56
describe what the end times will be like to say a simple thing in
42:00
verse 32, 3 words. Remember, Lot's wife.
42:07
Remember Lot's, wife. You know what that tells me.
42:16
That Jesus, understood that Sodom and Gomorrah was a
42:20
historical fact. That lot Lot's.
42:24
Wife. What happened to Sodom actually
42:26
happened. Jesus is not saying this is
42:29
allegorical. He's not saying it's a metaphor
42:31
start know. He's like, remember Lot's wife.
42:33
He really believed that Lot's wife was a person that lot was a
42:36
person that would happen in Sodom and Gomorrah literally
42:39
happen. Something did come from heaven
42:41
and destroyed the city and he says in this preaching segment.
42:46
Remember, Lot's, wife. Now.
42:49
Why would he say that? Because lot and his wife with
42:54
his daughters escaped, Sodom and Gomorrah.
42:58
The Lot's wife is a tragic example.
43:03
What can potentially happen to people?
43:07
In light of the coming judgment when Jesus returns.
43:12
Do you know what happened to Lot's?
43:13
Wife? He sang.
43:15
Remember means, you should know. We should recall it.
43:19
If you don't. Let's go to Genesis 19.
43:21
And see. Genesis 19.
43:31
It says here in verse 25 and he overthrew those cities God did.
43:36
And all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities and
43:41
what grew on the ground verse 26.
43:43
Jesus Remember! Lot's, wife, a Lot's wife behind
43:47
him. That's an important thing.
43:50
They were escaping. Sodom.
43:52
Where was Lot's wife. Not beside her husband behind
43:56
her husband. Behind him.
44:00
Now. Here's the second thing, looked
44:02
back and she became a pillar of salt.
44:07
So that the scriptures are very specific.
44:11
And how she was escaping, she was behind lat.
44:16
You know, that means she was lingering.
44:18
She was hesitant to escape Sodom and as much as she might have
44:22
physically been removed from Sodom.
44:25
Sodom was still in her heart. And the tragedy of Lot's wife.
44:34
Is that she almost was saved? The she almost escaped wrath
44:45
that she was so close of knowing Deliverance, but it says she was
44:52
behind lat and only was she behind him but she looked back.
44:57
Now that is incomplete defines to the command.
45:01
That was given by the angel, don't look back when you run
45:05
away from this place. She did.
45:08
But that glance says, something of the heart.
45:13
When she looked back. She looked back to something
45:17
that she really wanted and desired when she looked back.
45:22
She looked at things that she wished she could have held on
45:24
to. There was a sadness in her heart
45:28
again. She could not say Hallelujah to
45:31
the destruction of the Babylonian system and spirit.
45:36
She had a longing for it. She had an appetite in the
45:39
desire for it. And when God saw Lot's wife
45:44
looking back. It's as though he says you
45:49
really want Sodom. And he crystallized her in that
45:53
posture. And she turned into a pillar of
45:57
salt with her gaze towards Sodom.
46:01
If you really want it, you can have it.
46:06
In fact. Jesus uses this in Luke 17 when
46:13
we go back there as what an Evangelistic text.
46:18
Does. He not?
46:19
She go back to Luke 17 and he says remember, Lot's, wife and
46:22
verse 32, but what does he say? After that?
46:26
Luke 17 32 33 says remember Lot's wife.
46:30
And then he says whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose
46:34
it but whoever loses his life will keep it.
46:38
That's what he's trying to say. He says if you really want to
46:41
hold on to this world and the things of this world and the
46:43
sins of this world, you can have it but like Lot's wife, you'll
46:48
be judged with it. But then he wants to encourage
46:54
that true life is when we look away and run away from the days
47:00
that are defining the end times and to pursue him.
47:06
If you're watching this morning, I want to ask you, do you look
47:10
at sin? Do you look at the way the world
47:14
celebrates in and enjoys the pleasures of the Flesh?
47:17
And do you do you long for that? Or are you completely fixed away
47:24
from it? Your back, turn away from it,
47:26
and you are pursuing him pursuing the Lord.
47:29
And the crosses, before you all the world is behind you.
47:32
Is that you What's scary about Jesus teaching of the days of
47:37
Noah, in the days of lot, was the sudden judgment that would
47:40
come. It was, it was quick.
47:43
It was fast. I mean, you think about how fast
47:46
things change between last Sunday in this Sunday?
47:48
Think about how things shifted the leadership of this church
47:52
can testify we were trying to catch up out, hour-by-hour
47:55
things were alternating. How fast will it be when he
48:00
comes? How fast will it be when he puts
48:03
an end to everything at once? That's what we have to
48:06
understand. That's what Jesus is trying to
48:08
teach and between. Now, and that time though.
48:12
We are living in a daze, like, Noah and living in the days,
48:14
like, lat. Let's look to the examples that
48:17
Peter said, Noah, heralded righteousness, lat, embodied
48:23
righteousness, you and I must Proclaim truth, but not live in
48:27
contradiction to that truth. Remember Lot's, wife.
48:32
The world is fearing panicking. Why?
48:36
Because the security in the foundation, of who they are, is
48:39
being shaken, but remember, Luke 21.
48:42
Lift up your head, lift up your eyes and realize that your
48:45
Redemption is Drawing Near. I hope this morning in these
48:48
meditations. You can simply say as a result
48:51
of this time together. What Revelation, 19 describes.
48:55
Hallelujah. It's coming close.
49:00
It can happen anytime and we rejoice in that truth and
49:04
between now and then let's speak.
49:06
Truth and love, let's live Truth by the power of the Holy Spirit.
49:10
And trust that many will come by God's grace into the ark and no
49:15
Salvation. Let's pray together.
49:25
Father, we meditate on your truth.
49:28
Concerning the return. Of your son Jesus Christ.
49:38
And when we think about how we are in the days of Noah, and we
49:42
are in the days of lot. But help us live to the best of
49:48
our ability. To be Heralds of truth of the
49:52
Gospel. It's not be swallowed up.
50:00
By the corruption around us. Lord help us.
50:05
Not Feel comfortable with the wickedness that we see but like
50:11
lot be tormented not in the place of pain.
50:14
We're crippled or paralyzed or fearful, but Lord in a way in
50:17
which we begin to intercede and pray.
50:20
For those who are in bondage. Lord, we ask that you help us
50:26
maximize this time in quarantine that we would dig into truth.
50:34
And would seek the power of the Holy Spirit to be refined by
50:38
that truth. And Lord, we ask that you would
50:43
be able to look at us and say, confidently.
50:45
Like you said to your disciples, that there will be a day that
50:48
you desire for one of the days of the sons of men, son of, man.
50:52
This is what we long for Lord. We want that desire in us.
50:56
We want to be able to look around us and see how temporary
50:58
things are and to be able to one day Marvel at you for all
51:02
eternity with your unveiled power.
51:05
And righteousness. So Lord, as we close May the day
51:10
of the Lord that we are experiencing today in a
51:12
different way. Apart from each other.
51:15
The day of worship a day of meditation, a day preparing
51:19
ourselves for you to one day. Maybe in our day, come back
51:24
again soon. We pray these things.
51:27
Lord. In Jesus name.
51:29
Amen. Amen.
51:31
I can't wait for the day where I don't have to look at a camera
51:34
and look at your faces and open up God's word.
51:37
But until then, we're going to maximize our resources and
51:40
continue to present God's truth. The best way we can.
51:44
Until we see each other face to face.
51:46
We'll keep in touch and we'll see you soon this week in Jesus
51:49
name. God bless you guys.