Dire Warnings for Carnal “Christians”
![Dire Warnings for Carnal “Christians”
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© February 8, 2015
www.pastorkennedy.com
The Final Play
Anyone in the Northwest, who enjoys football and counts the Seahawks as their team of choice, was hugely disappointed at the outcome of the 2015 Super Bowl. Dispirited and caustic headlines appeared across media, following the game, often focusing on the last questionable play of the Seahawks’ Super Loss:
“Deflated”
“What were the Seahawks thinking?”
“The worst play call in Super Bowl history!”
Etc., etc.
As the last play unfolded and the interception burst on to the screen, 114.4 million people (the largest TV viewing audience to date – ever) gasp and couldn’t believe what happened, no matter their favorite team, before they either cried or cheered.
It all took place in the last seconds of the most important football game of the year.
Life’s Final Play
I couldn’t help but contemplate the Super Bowl “play call” that turned out terribly wrong in a super important game for Seattle fans, while comparing it to the super important “play calls” in spiritual life.
We might have made a lot of good plays in our every-day life:
• helping the needy,
• caring for the sick,
• trying to raise a healthy family,
• being a positive spouse,
• keeping ourselves as far away as possible from lying, cheating, stealing or killing, etc.;
But, if we don’t establish the most important “play call” in life that makes us right with God, which totally affects life’s final outcome, all the other plays won’t matter – this is an eternal reality.
Can you imagine gasping desperately for your final breath
– when moments before thinking you were OK,
and then in terror you suddenly realize
that you are facing the ultimate disaster in ETERNITY –
That hell was opening up before you?
In the final play of your life, something was going terribly,
terribly wrong!
It’s Not Who You Say You Are, but it’s who you actually are.
Matthew 7:21–23
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
God is concerned about our relationship with Him, not a good “performance”.
How can we find out if our faith is real?
Three Attributes which may Reveal the Reality of our Faith in Christ
Today I would like to look at three attributes that Jesus and His disciples seem to be pointing out to us in the Scripture that are consistent and pertinent in the life of a Christian seeking to be honorable to God in this wicked and sinful world.
God seems to use these attributes to search out and reveal the reality of our faith in our everyday lives.
Expectant Waiting
Persistent Investing
Purposeful Overcoming
Remember Christ’s parable of the five wise virgins who prepared with sufficient oil to wait for the Bridegroom’s coming and five foolish virgins who acted like they would welcome the Bridegroom, but had not prepared themselves to wait for His return? There are no second chances, or future “seasons” in the realities of life. Life is not a temporary game.
Jesus told the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins to His disciples after they had been admiring the beautiful architecture of the Temple and discussing the last days and His Second Coming. Let’s look at the context of this parable along with other lessons of life that Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 24 and 25.
Jesus told His disciples of the events leading up to His Coming Again:
• The great and beautiful Hebrew Temple would be destroyed – not one stone would be left upon another (Matthew 24:1-2)
o This happened about 38 years later, in 70 A.D.
• False prophets and false christ’s would come seeking to deceive (vs. 4-5)
• Wars and rumors of war, famines and earthquakes (vs. 7-8)
• Persecution and hatred of Christians (v. 9)
• Falling away from faith in God and Christ, betrayal and hatred (v. 10)
• More false prophets and deception (v. 11)
• An increase in lawlessness – with the love for God growing cold (v. 12)
Matthew 24:13
13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• The proclamation of the Gospel of Christ into the whole world (v. 14)
“And then the end will come.” (v. 14b)
The “End Comes” as the seven years of the Great Tribulation reveals the imminence of Christ’s Coming in Power and Glory
Matthew 24:21
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
• The revelation of “the Abomination of Desolation” spoken of by Daniel the Prophet comes midway in the Tribulation (Rev. 24:15-28; Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11)
The Sign and the Coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:29-31)
• “Immediately after the tribulation of those days
o The sun darkened,
o The moon will not give its light,
o The stars will fall from heaven,
o And the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
• The sign of the Son of Man will be seen in heaven, and
o All the tribes of the earth will mourn,
• They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
• He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and
o They will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Then… Jesus gave His disciples several follow-up instructions regarding His Coming in the Last Days.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-35)
When we see an unfolding of prophecy, we know Christ’s Coming is NEAR.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson:
• As soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves,
o you know that summer is near.
• So also, when you see all these things,
o you know that He is near, at the very gates.
• This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
o Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Has Our Generation seen Critical Biblical Prophecies Fulfilled?
1. Israel’s rebirth
– After being scattered to the four corners of the earth following the Jewish-Roman war in A.D. 70 (Luke 21:24), Israel was miraculously reborn on May 14, 1948. (A “budding of the fig tree,” Matt. 24:32?)
2. Plummeting morality
– Considerable continuing breakdown (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
3. Famines, violence and wars
– Intensifying “birth pains” (Matt. 24:6-8), dramatic increasing of disturbances, wars, terrorism and graphic violence in the earth…
4. Earthquakes
From 2002-2012, there were 290,898 worldwide earthquakes located and recorded by the US Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center, causing an estimated 792,268 deaths during that 10-year period.
See: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/eqstats.php
5. Explosion of travel and education
– Daniel 12:4. The continuing explosion of ground, air and space travel with exponential advancements in science, medical, and digital technology, etc., etc.
6. Explosion of cults, and the occult
– Cults and false “christs” (Matt. 24:24), psychic phenomena, spiritism, Satan worship, witchcraft, (2 Timothy 4:1).
7. The New World Order continues to evolve
– Increasing centralization of world financial, political, and religious unification and power, under distinct regions, with unprecedented surveillance in every area of our lives. These are setting the stage for truly a New and unprecedented World Order and authoritative dominance…(Daniel 7-12; Matt. 24:15; Rev. 13).
8. Increase in both apostasy and faith
- Apostasy, agnosticism and atheism are rampant.
- The Gospel is also being spread to the whole world through social media, smart phones, TV, movies and satellites – digital media, in ways inconceivable to any previous generation in the history of the world, as well as supernatural dreams and visions in countries supposedly closed to even having a Bible in one’s possession.
“And then the end will come!” (Matt. 24:14)
Has Our Generation seen Critical Biblical Prophecies Fulfilled?
Is the “Fig Tree” budding?
I believe it is.
The Time of Christ’s Coming is Known Only by The Father (Matthew 24:36)
• “No one knows the day and hour of Christ’s Coming,
o Not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
This brings us to lessons and parables that Jesus taught, on how we should:
Expectantly Wait
Persistently Invest
Purposefully Overcome
Expectant Waiting: During Everyday Lifestyle Conditions – The Parallel of World Conditions in Noah’s Day (Matthew 24:37-42)
• “As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
• In those days before the flood
o They were eating and drinking,
o Marrying and giving in marriage,
o Until the day when Noah entered the ark,
• They were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away,
o So will be the coming of the Son of Man.
w Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
w Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”
Expectant Waiting: The Parable of the Thief (Matthew 24:43-44)
Don’t be caught by surprise…like a thief would catch the unsuspecting homeowner.
• If the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
• Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Expectant Waiting: The Parable of the Faithful Servant (Matthew 24:45-51)
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
• Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
o He will set him over all his possessions.
• If that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’
o and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,
• The master of that servant will come
o on a day when he does not expect him
o at an hour he does not know
• And will cut the wicked servant in pieces and put him with the hypocrites.
o In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Persistent Investing: The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
[Note: There are various interpretations of this parable, but we will not discuss their merits at this time.]
The interpretation of this parable, which follows, speaks of life’s “investment” in the Bridegroom and His Marriage (which is symbolic of Christ, the Bridegroom, and His Coming union with His Bride, the Church).
The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins:
• They all took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
o Five of them were foolish, and
o Five were wise.
• The foolish took their lamps,
o But they took no additional flasks of oil with them.
The Five Foolish Virgins had not been expectantly waiting or persistently investing in the Bridegroom and His coming.
The Bridegroom’s coming was most likely not even on their minds until their five wise friends rushed in and reminded them that this event was happening soon! Evidently, to these unprepared ladies, the coming of the bridegroom was an exciting – “must go to” event, but they had not invested in the Bridegroom to be ready for the issues confronting them when the Bridegroom’s coming was delayed! They foolishly were unprepared for the long wait.
Their lack of commitment and invested preparation to Him was far more revealing to the Bridegroom. It told Him where there hearts were.
If one lives his or her life haphazardly, incoherently, blatantly defiant, or nonchalantly in one’s relationship to God – how quickly can one “put their house in order” to see God Face to face?
• The wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.
The five wise ladies had been investing in that which made them ready for the Bridegrooms coming – no matter how delayed.
They were sure He was coming and they wanted to be ready.
[How much do you believe Jesus Christ is coming back? What investments of your life authenticate that belief? At what cost?
It is a no-brainer to want eternal life! Any fool would want to run in, at the last minute, after serving their own interests all their lives, and take part of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. But it doesn’t work that way.]
Together the five wise women planned for the Bridegroom’s coming. They talked about and dreamed out loud about this occasion and what they would need. They invested in what they needed to bring with them so they would be ready. They might have pooled their money so all of them would have enough oil. They told others about it to have them come with them, and they went to the event in plenty of time so they wouldn’t be left out.
It was a long wait, and they even fell asleep, but they were prepared for even this. When the Bridegroom came, they were not ashamed. They had plenty of oil. Their lamp stayed lit from the additional flasks of oil they had brought with them. They were led joyfully into the Marriage feast.
• As the bridegroom was delayed,
o They all became drowsy and slept.
• But at midnight there was a cry,
o ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
• Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
o The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
o But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’
• While they were going to buy,
o the bridegroom came, and
o Those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast,
• The door was shut.
o Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’
o But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
As the 10 virgins found out, waiting on God and persistent life investment in His Kingdom is an evidence of the reality of our faith, which reveals more than can be seen with the visible eye.
w Waiting on God takes faith.
Look at the intent of these verses. Can we find hope, courage and strength when we put our faith in the Living God? Doesn’t our faith in God give us solace which cannot be found anywhere else?
Psalm 27:14
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 33:20
20 Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Isaiah 40:31
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Lamentations 3:25–26
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
26 It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 1:10
10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Hebrews 9:28
28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
w An atheist or an agnostic will not “wait” on God or look forward to Christ’s Return, neither would they invest their lives in Christ’s Kingdom!
w What separated the five foolish virgins from the five wise virgins?
w What allowed the five wise virgins in to the Marriage feast while the five foolish were shut out as those who were unknown?
w Waiting and preparedness requires internal belief that is firmly established in our heart, which evidences itself in an honest investment of our time, energy, mind and resources, because of our obedience, trust, faith, and love for God and His Word.
w Waiting demands that we carry with us what we know we will need and the determination to be ready with what the Bridegroom expects of us.
w Belief is more than coming empty handed to the greatest wedding feast of history and asking others who are ready to help us make it through the gates on time. That won’t work.
This is a Dire Warning for Carnal “Christians”.
Matthew 7:13–14
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Some of these verses can be painful verses. The topic chosen today can be a painful topic to some. But to God it is a very real and honest topic. It is not a painful topic to those who are seeking God…only to those who are not sure – or who know for sure that he or she is not honoring God with their life.
Three Attributes which Search and Reveal the Reality of our Faith in Christ
Expectant Waiting
Persistent Investing
Purposeful Overcoming
Purposeful Overcoming
The third aspect revealing those who are followers of Christ is “Overcoming”. Overcoming that which wants to conquer us. Overcoming that which will destroy us, if it is not overcome. God allows adversaries in our life for the purpose of the exercise of faith, so there can be victory and everlasting blessing.
Romans 12:21
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 John 5:4–5
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 4:4
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Revelation 12:11 (NIV84)
11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
A good prayer for all of us to pray when searching out the reality of our faith was written by King David in Psalm 139:
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23–24](Dire_Warnings_for_Carnal_Christians_files/shapeimage_1.png)
