1 00:00:00,049 --> 00:00:02,719 Speaker 2: Alright, so I want you to imagine that you work all four 2 00:00:02,719 --> 00:00:05,180 years of your high school career. 3 00:00:05,389 --> 00:00:09,439 You put in three really amazing years in your junior high to get the best 4 00:00:09,439 --> 00:00:16,009 grades possible to go to your best and most favorite school, Texas a and m. 5 00:00:16,999 --> 00:00:17,389 No. 6 00:00:17,869 --> 00:00:18,199 No. 7 00:00:18,229 --> 00:00:18,290 Okay. 8 00:00:20,074 --> 00:00:22,235 Utah, Utah State? 9 00:00:22,805 --> 00:00:23,104 No. 10 00:00:24,005 --> 00:00:24,455 Okay. 11 00:00:24,544 --> 00:00:25,205 UCLA. 12 00:00:25,205 --> 00:00:25,624 I see it. 13 00:00:26,134 --> 00:00:28,624 Alright, so you wanted to go to UCLA with Sean. 14 00:00:29,285 --> 00:00:33,335 You put in all the, the effort, all the work you get, you get the best 15 00:00:33,335 --> 00:00:37,324 score and the SAT, you take the a CT, you do all the work, you get 16 00:00:37,324 --> 00:00:41,225 the extra credits so that you could have the best possible application 17 00:00:41,255 --> 00:00:42,904 to go to the school of your choice. 18 00:00:44,135 --> 00:00:45,844 The week of the deadline shows up. 19 00:00:46,430 --> 00:00:51,080 You think, you know what I'll, I will submit my application after work and then 20 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:52,730 I've got, I've got a baseball practice. 21 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:53,870 Oh, and then I've got cheer. 22 00:00:53,930 --> 00:00:55,400 'cause you're doing both baseball and cheer. 23 00:00:55,460 --> 00:00:58,070 And then I've gotta do a couple chores around the house. 24 00:00:58,070 --> 00:01:01,700 My parents told me I have to clean up the floor and I have to do some babysitting, 25 00:01:01,700 --> 00:01:03,410 but then I'm gonna get the application in. 26 00:01:03,740 --> 00:01:04,940 I know I'm gonna do it. 27 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:10,520 The deadline approaches, it comes and you miss it. 28 00:01:11,870 --> 00:01:14,390 You've totally missed the opportunity. 29 00:01:15,289 --> 00:01:20,750 All three years of middle school, all four years of high school only to miss 30 00:01:20,750 --> 00:01:24,740 the opportunity to attend your school of choice for the next four years. 31 00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:28,550 Imagine what you might feel with a situation like that. 32 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,789 Imagine what, what you would be doing to yourself or saying to 33 00:01:31,789 --> 00:01:35,120 yourself if that were you, how would you talk to yourself after that? 34 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,640 If you're like me, you might say, man, you are such a dummy. 35 00:01:37,700 --> 00:01:39,140 Like, what is wrong with you? 36 00:01:39,710 --> 00:01:40,880 You could not get this right. 37 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:42,500 You worked your whole life for this basically. 38 00:01:42,530 --> 00:01:44,930 'cause if you're working junior high and high school, or middle school 39 00:01:44,930 --> 00:01:48,380 and high school, that's basically most of your life at this point. 40 00:01:49,370 --> 00:01:51,740 You might feel like all that work and all that effort was 41 00:01:51,740 --> 00:01:53,870 wasted because it basically was. 42 00:01:55,820 --> 00:01:59,960 One of the things that I'm concerned about for you is that you guys realize 43 00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:04,970 tonight that there is, there is a deadline fixed, a deadline that God has written. 44 00:02:05,210 --> 00:02:10,880 It's a date and a time, a specific date and time whereby Jesus will come 45 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:12,680 back and take his people home with him. 46 00:02:13,790 --> 00:02:16,400 This is often called the Rapture, and here's the thing. 47 00:02:16,865 --> 00:02:19,775 We have no clue when that deadline is. 48 00:02:20,375 --> 00:02:23,165 In the illustration I just gave you, if you know the date and time that 49 00:02:23,165 --> 00:02:26,375 your application is due for your school, you know when to turn it in. 50 00:02:26,525 --> 00:02:28,895 But in this particular case tonight we're gonna look at what the 51 00:02:28,895 --> 00:02:32,015 Bible says about the future, and here's what Jesus is gonna say. 52 00:02:32,255 --> 00:02:33,965 You have no idea when the deadline is. 53 00:02:34,565 --> 00:02:36,575 Therefore, you really have to be ready. 54 00:02:36,935 --> 00:02:40,835 In fact, the whole point for tonight is that Jesus is gonna warn us about the 55 00:02:40,835 --> 00:02:43,385 answer, that we can be ready for the end. 56 00:02:43,835 --> 00:02:45,695 He's gonna tell you, you gotta be ready. 57 00:02:45,725 --> 00:02:46,655 You can't wait. 58 00:02:46,865 --> 00:02:49,535 You can't assume that you have all the time in the world 59 00:02:49,535 --> 00:02:50,645 because you really don't. 60 00:02:50,915 --> 00:02:55,535 You have no idea when Jesus is coming back, and the challenge for you is, 61 00:02:55,565 --> 00:02:56,285 oops, lemme get outta the way here. 62 00:02:56,285 --> 00:02:59,045 The challenge for you is to believe that. 63 00:02:59,795 --> 00:03:02,585 I remember a long time ago, I've told you guys this before, but 64 00:03:02,585 --> 00:03:03,455 I just gotta tell you again. 65 00:03:03,980 --> 00:03:05,210 I Okay, so twice. 66 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:06,680 Twice I talked to a psychic. 67 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:07,070 Okay? 68 00:03:07,070 --> 00:03:08,450 You, you guys know what a psychic is. 69 00:03:08,780 --> 00:03:11,870 Psychic is someone who supposedly has access to the future. 70 00:03:11,870 --> 00:03:14,390 They could tell you about the things that are gonna happen. 71 00:03:14,540 --> 00:03:17,779 So one time I called a, a, a phone number. 72 00:03:17,779 --> 00:03:19,940 Back in the old days, there was phone numbers that you 73 00:03:19,940 --> 00:03:21,110 could call to talk to people. 74 00:03:21,620 --> 00:03:25,040 Uh, one of those phone numbers would lead you to talk to psychic mediums, 75 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:26,240 people that would tell your features. 76 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:30,200 I called the number, it was a, it was like a one, 900 something, something or other. 77 00:03:30,620 --> 00:03:33,170 A lot of bad one 900 numbers at that time in my life. 78 00:03:33,530 --> 00:03:36,680 I called, uh, I don't think my parents appreciated that, but 79 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:37,790 they never found out it was me. 80 00:03:38,150 --> 00:03:41,900 So I called and I spoke to a psychic about my life, and I said, here, I 81 00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:43,160 want to know what's happening next. 82 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:44,570 And I, it was only about your age? 83 00:03:44,570 --> 00:03:45,710 Honestly, I wasn't very old. 84 00:03:46,190 --> 00:03:47,690 I don't even remember what she said. 85 00:03:47,835 --> 00:03:50,960 I, I do not recall this, but the second time I talked to a 86 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:52,970 psychic, I was on the radio. 87 00:03:53,555 --> 00:03:57,005 I was listening to my local radio station and they're like, so and so this amazing 88 00:03:57,005 --> 00:04:00,185 psychic's gonna be on the radio, call in now if you want to talk to them. 89 00:04:00,245 --> 00:04:01,925 And I'm like, I'm gonna talk to a psychic. 90 00:04:01,925 --> 00:04:05,015 And so I called the radio station and I said, yeah, I'm I, I changed 91 00:04:05,015 --> 00:04:07,025 my name 'cause I don't want my parents to find out and kill me. 92 00:04:07,415 --> 00:04:08,735 And said I want to talk to the psychic. 93 00:04:08,735 --> 00:04:10,625 And I talked to the psychic on the radio. 94 00:04:11,135 --> 00:04:15,485 And so I asked, I wanna know what my future love life looks like. 95 00:04:16,055 --> 00:04:18,154 I wanna know who I'm gonna marry. 96 00:04:18,154 --> 00:04:21,875 I was in middle school at this time and she said. 97 00:04:22,595 --> 00:04:24,215 Uh, I'm not seeing it. 98 00:04:24,635 --> 00:04:28,055 I, I guess she saw, thought I was gonna be single for the rest of my life, she said. 99 00:04:28,295 --> 00:04:31,175 But I feel like I'm hearing something from someone close to you. 100 00:04:31,175 --> 00:04:33,095 A relative perhaps that recently died. 101 00:04:33,935 --> 00:04:34,805 Now, here's the funny thing. 102 00:04:35,255 --> 00:04:37,775 I did not have any relatives that died at that point. 103 00:04:38,225 --> 00:04:38,915 I had nobody. 104 00:04:39,425 --> 00:04:40,775 So what was I to do? 105 00:04:41,435 --> 00:04:42,485 I didn't wanna embarrass her. 106 00:04:42,485 --> 00:04:46,145 And so I said, oh yeah, my uncle Tom recently died. 107 00:04:46,625 --> 00:04:50,165 I guess I lied on the radio 'cause I don't wanna embarrass the poor lady. 108 00:04:50,495 --> 00:04:52,955 But she made her whole life, her work, her effort. 109 00:04:52,955 --> 00:04:57,034 She wrote books and she made lots of money telling people, here's the future that 110 00:04:57,034 --> 00:04:58,145 you're gonna, that you're gonna have. 111 00:04:58,145 --> 00:04:59,015 Here's what you need to know. 112 00:04:59,615 --> 00:05:01,235 So funny and so strange. 113 00:05:01,235 --> 00:05:05,165 And honestly, if anyone has that power in real life, it's because they're 114 00:05:05,165 --> 00:05:06,485 working through the power of the enemy. 115 00:05:07,235 --> 00:05:09,725 What you need to know is that God does wanna tell you the future. 116 00:05:10,775 --> 00:05:14,795 God genuinely wants to tell you what the future is for you, but you have 117 00:05:14,795 --> 00:05:17,795 to have the wisdom to say, okay, am I gonna submit to what he says? 118 00:05:18,935 --> 00:05:20,195 And here's again the punchline. 119 00:05:20,195 --> 00:05:23,615 I'm telling you, the end of my sermon right now, Jesus is gonna tell you a 120 00:05:23,615 --> 00:05:26,255 lot of things about what you can expect for the future, but the punchline is 121 00:05:26,255 --> 00:05:27,604 that you just gotta be ready for it. 122 00:05:28,115 --> 00:05:31,474 Your job right now is to be sure that you're ready for Jesus' return 123 00:05:31,655 --> 00:05:33,335 because it can be at any moment. 124 00:05:33,844 --> 00:05:36,635 Jesus could legitimately, if we're understanding our Bible 125 00:05:36,635 --> 00:05:40,115 rightly, he could return right now before this sermon is over. 126 00:05:40,115 --> 00:05:40,685 God bless you. 127 00:05:41,284 --> 00:05:43,715 He could return before small groups are finished. 128 00:05:44,585 --> 00:05:46,655 At any moment Jesus could return. 129 00:05:47,810 --> 00:05:50,780 Let me show you though what Jesus has to say about the end times. 130 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:52,670 Turn to Matthew chapter 24. 131 00:05:52,940 --> 00:05:55,370 I want you to see the things that Jesus is gonna warn you about, 132 00:05:55,370 --> 00:05:56,810 and honestly, it's frightening. 133 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:57,560 It's terrifying. 134 00:05:58,190 --> 00:06:01,760 Not being ready for this is not just gonna be like, oh, bummer, I missed the 135 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:03,380 deadline to go to my favorite school. 136 00:06:03,830 --> 00:06:07,550 Not being ready for this means, oh no, I'm not right with Jesus. 137 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,140 So being right with Jesus is gonna mean being ready for Jesus return. 138 00:06:13,310 --> 00:06:14,599 Look at Matthew Chapter 24. 139 00:06:14,599 --> 00:06:16,909 We're not gonna be able to read a lot of these things, but we're gonna 140 00:06:16,909 --> 00:06:21,530 read a few portions together and we're gonna start with Matthew 24. 141 00:06:21,530 --> 00:06:24,349 We're gonna start at verse three, starting at verse three, 142 00:06:26,930 --> 00:06:28,670 as he sat on the Mount of Olives. 143 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:31,670 This is Jesus talking to his disciples, and this is one of the 144 00:06:31,670 --> 00:06:35,000 longest teaching sections that Jesus has with his disciples. 145 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,130 Second only to the Sermon on the Mount, which is Matthew 146 00:06:37,130 --> 00:06:38,150 chapter five through seven. 147 00:06:38,270 --> 00:06:39,770 He sat on the Mount of Olives. 148 00:06:40,909 --> 00:06:45,950 Disciples came to him privately saying, tell us Jesus, when will these things be? 149 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:49,880 And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? 150 00:06:50,270 --> 00:06:53,720 They wanna know, when are you coming back to establish your kingdom? 151 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:54,770 And how do we know? 152 00:06:54,770 --> 00:06:57,530 What do we look for to find out that it's the last days? 153 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,350 Pay Close attention to what Jesus says about the last days. 154 00:07:00,980 --> 00:07:01,790 He says this. 155 00:07:02,450 --> 00:07:03,230 Jesus answered. 156 00:07:03,230 --> 00:07:05,360 See that no one leads you astray. 157 00:07:05,510 --> 00:07:09,110 The first thing out of Jesus' mouth about the last days is be 158 00:07:09,110 --> 00:07:12,620 careful because there's gonna be a lot of liars, people that want 159 00:07:12,620 --> 00:07:14,570 to trick you about what's to come. 160 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,840 You need to be aware that there are a lot of voices out in the 161 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,500 world that want you to believe the wrong thing about the future. 162 00:07:21,500 --> 00:07:24,350 So Jesus says, first of all, he puts a finger in your chest. 163 00:07:24,350 --> 00:07:27,620 Imagine Jesus putting his finger in your chest right now like this. 164 00:07:27,770 --> 00:07:30,500 See that no one leads you astray. 165 00:07:31,085 --> 00:07:32,614 Do you feel Jesus finger in your chest? 166 00:07:32,614 --> 00:07:33,425 He's talking to you. 167 00:07:34,114 --> 00:07:37,774 See that no one deceives you listen. 168 00:07:38,284 --> 00:07:41,675 For many will come in my name saying I am the Christ. 169 00:07:42,425 --> 00:07:47,854 And they will lead many astray, lots of people who are claiming to be 170 00:07:47,854 --> 00:07:49,955 Jesus and saying, Hey, follow me. 171 00:07:49,955 --> 00:07:51,544 I'm actually Jesus in the flesh. 172 00:07:51,544 --> 00:07:55,955 And in in the past, I mean there's been literally thousands of people 173 00:07:55,955 --> 00:07:57,904 that have claimed to be Jesus. 174 00:07:58,415 --> 00:08:00,695 Or some form of the Messiah. 175 00:08:00,755 --> 00:08:02,734 And so Jesus says, you need to be prepared. 176 00:08:02,734 --> 00:08:05,315 People are coming and they're going to be successful. 177 00:08:05,734 --> 00:08:06,665 They're gonna be successful. 178 00:08:06,665 --> 00:08:07,984 They're gonna create cults. 179 00:08:08,315 --> 00:08:12,005 And cults are really good at causing you to believe something that is a lion. 180 00:08:12,005 --> 00:08:13,415 So Jesus says, be aware of this. 181 00:08:13,415 --> 00:08:15,575 You need to be aware that they're coming. 182 00:08:15,815 --> 00:08:18,575 Many will come in my name saying I'm the Christ, and they will lead many astray. 183 00:08:18,575 --> 00:08:22,715 Verse six, and you'll hear, listen to this, you're, you're gonna 184 00:08:22,715 --> 00:08:25,715 hear of wars and rumors of wars. 185 00:08:26,539 --> 00:08:31,430 See that you were not alarmed for this must take place, but the end is 186 00:08:31,430 --> 00:08:36,859 not yet For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against Kingdom 187 00:08:37,068 --> 00:08:38,808 and, and there will be famines. 188 00:08:38,808 --> 00:08:40,879 That is, there's gonna be a lack of food supply. 189 00:08:41,299 --> 00:08:45,349 There's gonna be earthquakes in various places and all these are, 190 00:08:45,349 --> 00:08:47,779 but the beginning of the birth pains. 191 00:08:47,869 --> 00:08:50,899 And so Jesus is talking about a period of human history. 192 00:08:50,899 --> 00:08:55,009 This is the future where things are gonna get progressively worse. 193 00:08:55,865 --> 00:08:58,954 False teachers are gonna come after you and he's saying there's gonna 194 00:08:58,954 --> 00:09:00,365 be, you hear about wars right now. 195 00:09:00,365 --> 00:09:03,334 You got Ukraine, you got China, and you got Russia. 196 00:09:03,334 --> 00:09:06,485 You've got different nations right Now that America is saying, these are 197 00:09:06,485 --> 00:09:08,465 our threats to our national security. 198 00:09:08,495 --> 00:09:10,475 And so Jesus is saying this is to be expected. 199 00:09:10,475 --> 00:09:13,385 In fact, there's gonna be a period of human history where this is gonna 200 00:09:13,385 --> 00:09:17,555 be become so intense and so high in its importance that Jesus is saying 201 00:09:17,584 --> 00:09:21,005 this is gonna characterize the end of times he says in verse eight, 202 00:09:21,005 --> 00:09:22,025 but these are just the beginning. 203 00:09:22,265 --> 00:09:23,465 This is just the start. 204 00:09:23,765 --> 00:09:26,495 In fact, before we even go any further, let me just say this. 205 00:09:27,095 --> 00:09:29,495 When I put Jesus' finger in your chest to say you need to 206 00:09:29,495 --> 00:09:30,905 be, be ready and be careful. 207 00:09:31,355 --> 00:09:33,425 My whole point in that is actually the first point. 208 00:09:33,725 --> 00:09:34,954 You need to make sure, in fact, here we go. 209 00:09:35,045 --> 00:09:36,694 You need to make sure to study. 210 00:09:37,564 --> 00:09:41,765 Study what Jesus says about the end because Jesus is holding you accountable 211 00:09:41,765 --> 00:09:43,685 to make sure that you are not deceived. 212 00:09:44,045 --> 00:09:48,395 So everything that we're just about to read, this might, this might apply to you. 213 00:09:49,235 --> 00:09:51,845 This might be your marching orders. 214 00:09:52,970 --> 00:09:55,640 Jesus is coming back to take the church away at some point. 215 00:09:56,150 --> 00:09:59,720 And again, we believe if we're understanding the Bible correctly, that 216 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:05,360 that could be any actual moment right now, which means then that if we're not gonna 217 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,480 be deceived by false teachers and false Christ, I need to know what Jesus says. 218 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:09,980 I need to know what the master is saying. 219 00:10:10,189 --> 00:10:12,020 What is Jesus who actually knows the future? 220 00:10:12,020 --> 00:10:13,069 Say the future is gonna be like. 221 00:10:13,069 --> 00:10:14,960 And that's what we're talking, that's what we're talking about tonight. 222 00:10:16,250 --> 00:10:16,760 In fact. 223 00:10:17,584 --> 00:10:18,844 What we're looking at right here. 224 00:10:19,745 --> 00:10:22,505 Some people think about Jesus like this. 225 00:10:22,564 --> 00:10:23,854 Have you ever played the Shell game? 226 00:10:24,755 --> 00:10:27,275 Uh, the shell game is where someone takes three shells, right? 227 00:10:27,275 --> 00:10:30,755 And they'll hide a ball or, or something small and circular like that. 228 00:10:30,755 --> 00:10:33,665 Or, or cylindrical, not a cylinder cir circular. 229 00:10:34,069 --> 00:10:34,400 Ball. 230 00:10:34,430 --> 00:10:34,880 It's a ball. 231 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:35,569 Let's just call it a ball. 232 00:10:35,989 --> 00:10:37,579 They're hiding a ball in these shells, right? 233 00:10:37,579 --> 00:10:38,239 You ever play this game? 234 00:10:38,239 --> 00:10:40,670 You go to the carnival, you'll see vendors that do something like this. 235 00:10:40,849 --> 00:10:43,040 If you're a tourist in a different country, you'll see people that 236 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:44,839 are doing this say, Hey, win $20. 237 00:10:44,930 --> 00:10:47,030 And so you'll go and you say, I'll play that game. 238 00:10:47,030 --> 00:10:47,780 I'm really good at this. 239 00:10:47,780 --> 00:10:51,050 And so you put $20 on the table and they say, thank you very much, sir. 240 00:10:51,050 --> 00:10:51,410 Ma'am. 241 00:10:51,620 --> 00:10:52,910 Now keep your eye on the ball. 242 00:10:52,910 --> 00:10:54,800 They put the cover, they put the shell over the ball, and 243 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:55,819 they start doing this right? 244 00:10:56,300 --> 00:10:56,599 And then. 245 00:10:57,410 --> 00:10:58,969 They say, okay, pick which one is underneath. 246 00:10:59,030 --> 00:11:00,979 Uh, pick which one you think the ball is underneath. 247 00:11:00,979 --> 00:11:02,540 And you say, oh, it's clearly that one. 248 00:11:02,540 --> 00:11:03,680 You didn't go that fast. 249 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:05,000 I saw exactly what you did. 250 00:11:05,030 --> 00:11:06,680 And then what happens when they pick up the shell 251 00:11:08,694 --> 00:11:08,915 con? 252 00:11:09,229 --> 00:11:10,189 It's not there. 253 00:11:10,250 --> 00:11:13,250 It's gone because the shell game is actually a con. 254 00:11:14,030 --> 00:11:18,739 This is a very common con because being quicker with your hands then you are with 255 00:11:18,739 --> 00:11:20,540 your eyes is actually part of this skill. 256 00:11:20,599 --> 00:11:23,630 I can trick you into thinking that the ball is under this shell when in 257 00:11:23,630 --> 00:11:25,339 actuality it's under the shell over here. 258 00:11:26,375 --> 00:11:29,765 Actually, if they're really good, the ball is under none of them. 259 00:11:30,844 --> 00:11:31,864 You could pick any of the shells. 260 00:11:32,074 --> 00:11:34,745 They're all empty because they're hiding it under their hands somewhere. 261 00:11:34,745 --> 00:11:37,145 And then when you say, oh, I missed, how did I miss that? 262 00:11:37,145 --> 00:11:39,364 Then they secretly sneak it under the shell that they pick up and say, 263 00:11:39,364 --> 00:11:40,564 oh look, here it was the whole time. 264 00:11:41,045 --> 00:11:43,775 So the game, the game of the shell is a con game. 265 00:11:44,675 --> 00:11:46,685 Some people think this is what Jesus is doing right here. 266 00:11:47,225 --> 00:11:48,155 They're confusing them. 267 00:11:48,155 --> 00:11:51,395 'cause I see wars and rumors of wars right now and, and Jesus is saying, 268 00:11:51,395 --> 00:11:52,475 no, I'm not trying to trick you here. 269 00:11:52,475 --> 00:11:54,035 I'm trying to help you understand what's to come. 270 00:11:54,365 --> 00:11:56,975 The problem is that Jesus knows that there's lots of competing voices. 271 00:11:57,305 --> 00:12:00,005 There's lots of people that are trying to tell you how to live your life 272 00:12:00,005 --> 00:12:01,235 and how to understand the future. 273 00:12:01,235 --> 00:12:04,205 There's lots of people that want to make you think, oh, this is 274 00:12:04,205 --> 00:12:05,045 how I should live your life. 275 00:12:05,075 --> 00:12:08,105 Oh, the future not a big deal, or the future is a big deal. 276 00:12:08,105 --> 00:12:10,535 You should be terrified and afraid and Jesus is warning you 277 00:12:10,535 --> 00:12:14,015 against following other voices that are gonna really confuse you. 278 00:12:14,704 --> 00:12:17,224 And so I, I'm afraid, I'm sorry that I have to do this, but I 279 00:12:17,224 --> 00:12:18,515 need to show you a chart, okay? 280 00:12:18,515 --> 00:12:21,545 Because what Jesus is talking about here is super important 281 00:12:21,545 --> 00:12:22,954 to how everything unfolds. 282 00:12:23,194 --> 00:12:24,694 Jesus wants you to know the future. 283 00:12:24,935 --> 00:12:26,495 Here's what it looks like, okay? 284 00:12:26,645 --> 00:12:27,844 Now, let me also say this. 285 00:12:27,995 --> 00:12:30,245 Some Christians disagree about some of these things. 286 00:12:30,635 --> 00:12:33,995 I'm just gonna say that if your friends go to a different church and they say, 287 00:12:33,995 --> 00:12:37,055 well, my pastor taught me something different, uh, we're not mad at them. 288 00:12:37,055 --> 00:12:38,375 We're not, we're not enemies. 289 00:12:38,464 --> 00:12:40,025 We, we just understand this differently. 290 00:12:40,865 --> 00:12:41,795 We teach the right way. 291 00:12:41,824 --> 00:12:46,055 I'm just gonna say that we obviously, we teach the right way. 292 00:12:46,655 --> 00:12:51,574 Jesus in Matthew 24 and 25 is talking about this section right here. 293 00:12:52,084 --> 00:12:52,324 Okay? 294 00:12:52,685 --> 00:12:56,465 We are presently right here in the church age, so this is us in 2025. 295 00:12:56,765 --> 00:13:00,875 We are in what is called the church age at some point. 296 00:13:01,685 --> 00:13:03,364 Jesus is going to come down. 297 00:13:03,574 --> 00:13:06,394 This is called the rapture and take believers up with him. 298 00:13:06,844 --> 00:13:12,124 The rapture is his, is his idea that Jesus is going to secretly, sometimes 299 00:13:12,124 --> 00:13:15,124 people use that word, they to come take Christians away with him. 300 00:13:15,545 --> 00:13:17,254 This could happen at any moment. 301 00:13:17,614 --> 00:13:18,964 Jesus could return right now. 302 00:13:18,964 --> 00:13:19,564 Take people away. 303 00:13:19,564 --> 00:13:21,604 There's movies written about this, but that's the idea. 304 00:13:21,604 --> 00:13:22,714 This could happen at any time. 305 00:13:22,864 --> 00:13:25,504 He's gonna take believers when that happens. 306 00:13:26,134 --> 00:13:29,944 That begins a seven year period of time called the tribulation. 307 00:13:30,574 --> 00:13:31,805 Say tribulation. 308 00:13:32,459 --> 00:13:34,234 Tribulation means fantastic. 309 00:13:34,234 --> 00:13:35,165 You're doing a great job. 310 00:13:35,765 --> 00:13:37,744 This begins a seven year period of the tribulation. 311 00:13:38,525 --> 00:13:43,444 After this seven years, Christ is gonna come back with Christians and he's 312 00:13:43,444 --> 00:13:45,545 going to establish his millennial reign. 313 00:13:45,545 --> 00:13:48,305 Does anyone know what millennial stands for or means? 314 00:13:49,534 --> 00:13:50,644 Thousand means thousand. 315 00:13:50,854 --> 00:13:53,379 His millennial reign is his thousand year reign. 316 00:13:53,464 --> 00:13:58,295 Jesus will live on the earth in his resurrected body and govern 317 00:13:58,295 --> 00:14:00,904 for 1000 years with Christians. 318 00:14:01,504 --> 00:14:02,704 It'll be a thousand year reign. 319 00:14:03,244 --> 00:14:06,274 At the end of that thousand year reign, there's going to be a 320 00:14:06,274 --> 00:14:08,884 rebellion in uprising against Jesus. 321 00:14:09,004 --> 00:14:09,665 Crazy, right? 322 00:14:09,665 --> 00:14:10,354 Who would do that? 323 00:14:10,354 --> 00:14:13,234 But it's gonna happen at the end of that thousand year rain, 324 00:14:13,234 --> 00:14:14,824 Jesus will squash his enemies. 325 00:14:14,824 --> 00:14:15,665 He'll vanquish the foe. 326 00:14:16,324 --> 00:14:20,525 He will judge unbelievers and we will then enter into the eternal 327 00:14:20,525 --> 00:14:24,785 state, which is the forever and ever, all things happily ever after. 328 00:14:24,994 --> 00:14:27,064 This is a snapshot of what's to come. 329 00:14:27,214 --> 00:14:28,474 Again, this is us. 330 00:14:28,505 --> 00:14:31,895 The next thing in line is called the rapture, and the rapture can 331 00:14:31,895 --> 00:14:35,375 happen at any moment even now. 332 00:14:37,099 --> 00:14:38,045 Who gets raptured? 333 00:14:38,135 --> 00:14:39,935 Who gets taken up to be with Jesus? 334 00:14:40,505 --> 00:14:46,175 The answer is believers Christians, people that have trusted in Jesus Christ are 335 00:14:46,175 --> 00:14:48,604 raptured and taken to heaven with Jesus. 336 00:14:48,875 --> 00:14:49,084 Okay? 337 00:14:49,474 --> 00:14:53,165 This is a very simplified overview of what's to come in. 338 00:14:53,165 --> 00:14:57,064 Matthew 24, we're talking about this period of time right here, 339 00:14:57,094 --> 00:14:58,864 the seven year tribulation. 340 00:14:59,314 --> 00:14:59,944 This is. 341 00:15:00,305 --> 00:15:03,154 After Christians are taken away to go with Christ. 342 00:15:03,454 --> 00:15:06,034 This time now is what we're looking at right here. 343 00:15:06,214 --> 00:15:09,305 We're looking at what people are doing during the tribulation, and 344 00:15:09,305 --> 00:15:12,004 if Jesus is telling us what to expect, go back to Matthew 24. 345 00:15:12,754 --> 00:15:16,954 Matthew 24, let's pick it up back at verse nine. 346 00:15:17,014 --> 00:15:20,555 Lemme show you more what's to happen in the tribulation that Jesus describes. 347 00:15:20,764 --> 00:15:21,305 Verse nine. 348 00:15:21,545 --> 00:15:24,784 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation. 349 00:15:24,844 --> 00:15:27,425 There's that word, and put you to death. 350 00:15:28,489 --> 00:15:31,129 You will be hated by all nations, for my name's sake. 351 00:15:31,129 --> 00:15:34,759 So Jesus is saying, the future for people on the earth at this time who become 352 00:15:34,759 --> 00:15:38,359 Christians is that they're going to be hated because they are Christians. 353 00:15:38,359 --> 00:15:41,269 Now, if you're a Christian, now there's some of this that we can expect. 354 00:15:41,300 --> 00:15:44,449 Even today, you should be experiencing at least some, some, some level 355 00:15:44,449 --> 00:15:45,859 of persecution as a Christian. 356 00:15:46,129 --> 00:15:49,369 Verse 10, he says, and then many will fall away and betray one 357 00:15:49,369 --> 00:15:50,660 another and hate one another. 358 00:15:50,959 --> 00:15:53,359 There's gonna be increased hostility against Christians. 359 00:15:55,339 --> 00:15:55,939 Verse 12. 360 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:00,529 Verse 11, and many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 361 00:16:00,529 --> 00:16:03,620 Again, you have influences that are trying to steal your attention away 362 00:16:03,620 --> 00:16:05,660 from Jesus and put it on themselves. 363 00:16:06,259 --> 00:16:06,860 Verse 12. 364 00:16:06,860 --> 00:16:11,689 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will go, will grow cold, 365 00:16:12,499 --> 00:16:17,989 but the one who endures to the end will be saved, and this gospel of the kingdom 366 00:16:17,989 --> 00:16:22,489 will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations. 367 00:16:22,550 --> 00:16:24,680 And then the end will come. 368 00:16:25,745 --> 00:16:29,615 So everything Jesus just talked about, this is the tribulation period. 369 00:16:30,425 --> 00:16:33,545 Now in verses 15 and onward, we're not gonna be able to cover these verses, 370 00:16:33,545 --> 00:16:39,695 but 15 through 20 through 28, 15 through 28, this is Jesus talking about 371 00:16:39,695 --> 00:16:41,465 the second half of the tribulation. 372 00:16:41,465 --> 00:16:43,145 It's called the great tribulation. 373 00:16:43,505 --> 00:16:48,844 This is where the rise of the antichrist comes and he's going to say, I am God. 374 00:16:48,905 --> 00:16:49,985 You should worship me. 375 00:16:50,675 --> 00:16:54,035 This guy is powerful and he's effective in his work. 376 00:16:54,799 --> 00:16:57,169 You don't wanna be here during the tribulation. 377 00:16:57,559 --> 00:16:59,569 There's a lot of bad things that are gonna happen. 378 00:16:59,569 --> 00:17:02,719 It's gonna be really hard to be on the earth at this time because 379 00:17:02,719 --> 00:17:06,618 the tribulation effectively is God's judgment upon the earth. 380 00:17:06,980 --> 00:17:08,990 He's judging all the unbelievers. 381 00:17:09,050 --> 00:17:11,960 He's judging everyone who ever stood against him. 382 00:17:12,020 --> 00:17:15,138 And even though judgment is coming, there are gonna be Christians here, 383 00:17:15,290 --> 00:17:16,280 there are gonna be Christians. 384 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:19,010 That's why there's, there's gonna be people that are gonna be saved. 385 00:17:19,010 --> 00:17:23,240 They're gonna put them to death, but you don't want to be here during this time. 386 00:17:23,974 --> 00:17:27,275 This is all the more reason why you need to make sure that you're ready for this 387 00:17:27,694 --> 00:17:31,685 to study the end times to study what Jesus says is to be ready for what's to come 388 00:17:32,165 --> 00:17:35,135 because Jesus is saying here, you don't want to be here for this period of time. 389 00:17:35,435 --> 00:17:38,465 Heavy stuff I know to start with, but you gotta know that's what we're, 390 00:17:38,495 --> 00:17:39,515 that's what we're working with here. 391 00:17:39,785 --> 00:17:41,585 So this is what Jesus is talking about. 392 00:17:41,585 --> 00:17:44,435 Matthew 24, rapture is next on the on the time clock. 393 00:17:44,465 --> 00:17:50,195 And that could happen when, anytime, once the rapture happens, that initiates 394 00:17:50,405 --> 00:17:53,075 a seven year period of time called the. 395 00:17:54,830 --> 00:17:55,370 Very good. 396 00:17:55,580 --> 00:17:58,130 Okay, so that's the starting place of this. 397 00:17:58,130 --> 00:17:59,660 You gotta make sure that you're ready for it. 398 00:17:59,750 --> 00:18:01,460 In fact, you're on summer break right now, right? 399 00:18:01,460 --> 00:18:01,520 Yeah. 400 00:18:02,060 --> 00:18:04,610 I was just talking with one of you just a few minutes ago saying, what 401 00:18:04,610 --> 00:18:05,480 are you doing for your summer break? 402 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,660 And he's like, well, really nothing, nothing preach in a sermon next week. 403 00:18:08,660 --> 00:18:09,800 But besides that, nothing. 404 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,910 If you got some, if you got nothing to do this week, let me encourage you. 405 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,660 There are cool, easy books to, or even sermons to go through that 406 00:18:17,660 --> 00:18:19,250 talk about this period of time. 407 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:20,690 Why not pick up. 408 00:18:21,185 --> 00:18:23,255 YouTube and, and do something productive with it. 409 00:18:23,555 --> 00:18:25,775 Watch a sermon or two about the end times. 410 00:18:26,195 --> 00:18:28,385 Lewis has plenty of recommendations for you that he 411 00:18:28,385 --> 00:18:29,555 will give you if you want them. 412 00:18:31,295 --> 00:18:31,655 Okay. 413 00:18:31,955 --> 00:18:33,935 I, I need to keep going 'cause there's so much more. 414 00:18:34,085 --> 00:18:34,325 Okay. 415 00:18:34,325 --> 00:18:35,375 Here's what school does. 416 00:18:35,435 --> 00:18:36,605 I, I'm glad we're in a classroom. 417 00:18:36,755 --> 00:18:39,125 School teaches you this awful learning habit. 418 00:18:39,425 --> 00:18:42,755 You learn something so that you can regurgitate it on a 419 00:18:42,755 --> 00:18:43,805 test, and then what happens? 420 00:18:43,805 --> 00:18:44,375 What do you do with it? 421 00:18:45,350 --> 00:18:46,130 Forget it. 422 00:18:46,610 --> 00:18:48,080 Jesus doesn't want you to do that. 423 00:18:48,110 --> 00:18:49,550 He doesn't want you to play the school game. 424 00:18:49,550 --> 00:18:52,280 Jesus wants you to remember it so that you could do something with it. 425 00:18:52,490 --> 00:18:55,910 In Matthew chapter 25, he's gonna tell two parables. 426 00:18:56,300 --> 00:18:58,640 Parables are like stories that have a punchline. 427 00:18:59,000 --> 00:18:59,720 The two parables. 428 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,420 The first one is the parable of the 10 Virgins. 429 00:19:02,780 --> 00:19:03,525 That's what it says in your Bible. 430 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,340 Now, you might not understand what he's mean, what he means by that, 431 00:19:07,550 --> 00:19:09,290 but a, a virgin is like a bridesmaid. 432 00:19:09,710 --> 00:19:12,320 Uh, when you get married, ladies, you're gonna pick several gals 433 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,080 that stand next to you, and those women are called bridesmaids. 434 00:19:15,350 --> 00:19:17,990 They're ladies that stand next to you and give, uh, the, the, 435 00:19:17,990 --> 00:19:19,340 the witnesses to your wedding. 436 00:19:19,340 --> 00:19:21,860 They stand with you to affirm your vows and all those things. 437 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:25,040 Uh, fellas, you'll stand up there and you'll have what? 438 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:26,750 Not bridesmaids, but groomsman. 439 00:19:26,750 --> 00:19:27,140 Groomsmen. 440 00:19:27,140 --> 00:19:27,680 Very good. 441 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:30,380 Okay, so these are the 10 bridesmaids. 442 00:19:31,235 --> 00:19:36,754 They're here waiting for the arrival of the groom in ancient times. 443 00:19:36,754 --> 00:19:38,495 This is how they did it, so let's just keep it at that. 444 00:19:38,794 --> 00:19:41,075 Five of them are well prepared. 445 00:19:41,225 --> 00:19:44,945 They're waiting for the nighttime wedding to happen, and so they have lots of 446 00:19:44,945 --> 00:19:48,695 oil in their lamps so that their lambs are able to burn all through the night. 447 00:19:49,264 --> 00:19:51,485 Five of them are ready, five of them are not. 448 00:19:52,460 --> 00:19:53,210 Jesus. 449 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:57,920 The, the groom comes at, at, at, at a time that they're not expecting and 450 00:19:57,980 --> 00:20:00,680 they're unprepared and they're like, oh, no, we don't have enough oil. 451 00:20:00,830 --> 00:20:02,660 Ladies who brought more, can you give us some? 452 00:20:02,660 --> 00:20:04,010 And they're like, sorry, we don't have enough. 453 00:20:04,010 --> 00:20:05,810 You have to go to the market and buy your own. 454 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:07,639 And so they go off to do that. 455 00:20:07,940 --> 00:20:11,570 They go buy some more oil for their lamps to help light the ceremony. 456 00:20:11,915 --> 00:20:16,265 They depart and after they depart, the groom comes and they go into the wedding. 457 00:20:16,445 --> 00:20:20,495 Here's the punchline, verses 10 through 13, while they're going to buy more 458 00:20:20,495 --> 00:20:24,395 oil, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went in with him to the 459 00:20:24,395 --> 00:20:26,615 marriage feast and the door was shut. 460 00:20:26,820 --> 00:20:26,940 I. 461 00:20:27,110 --> 00:20:31,610 No opportunity to come in afterward, the other bridesmaids came 462 00:20:31,610 --> 00:20:33,890 also saying, Lord, open to us. 463 00:20:33,890 --> 00:20:38,360 But he answered Truly I say to you, I do not know you watch, 464 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:40,070 therefore for you neither. 465 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,440 You know, neither the day or the hour. 466 00:20:42,740 --> 00:20:46,610 The whole point of that parable is that Jesus is coming at an hour. 467 00:20:46,610 --> 00:20:47,780 You don't expect. 468 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:50,390 You gotta be ready for it. 469 00:20:50,990 --> 00:20:52,610 The second, the second story. 470 00:20:53,255 --> 00:20:55,685 The second story is the parable of the talents. 471 00:20:55,685 --> 00:20:57,485 You know this one, you've heard of this one before, right? 472 00:20:57,665 --> 00:21:01,445 The master goes away for a long time, but before he does, he entrusts an 473 00:21:01,445 --> 00:21:03,155 amount of money to three servants. 474 00:21:03,845 --> 00:21:05,435 Two of those servants were faithful. 475 00:21:05,615 --> 00:21:08,735 One of those servants buried his treasure, and when the master came 476 00:21:08,735 --> 00:21:12,125 back, that servant said, oh, you were kind of a, you're kind of a stingy 477 00:21:12,125 --> 00:21:14,225 hard guy, so I hid your money here. 478 00:21:14,225 --> 00:21:15,545 You got back what you gave me. 479 00:21:15,995 --> 00:21:18,695 What did Jesus say, or what did the master say to that servant? 480 00:21:18,755 --> 00:21:19,745 Here's the punchline. 481 00:21:19,745 --> 00:21:20,375 Pay attention. 482 00:21:20,764 --> 00:21:23,825 Take the talent from the one who hid it and give it to him. 483 00:21:23,825 --> 00:21:29,675 Who has the 10 talents for everyone who has will more be given and he will 484 00:21:29,675 --> 00:21:33,455 have an abundance, but from the one who has not, the one who is taken from 485 00:21:33,965 --> 00:21:35,435 even what he has will be taken away. 486 00:21:36,335 --> 00:21:37,175 Look at verse 30. 487 00:21:37,175 --> 00:21:38,585 This is the important punchline. 488 00:21:39,005 --> 00:21:42,335 Cast the worthless servant into outer darkness. 489 00:21:42,335 --> 00:21:44,435 That's a way to talk about eternal judgment. 490 00:21:44,945 --> 00:21:47,225 This is the concept of hell in the Bible. 491 00:21:47,465 --> 00:21:51,215 The Bible, Jesus talks a lot about hell, far more than he does about heaven. 492 00:21:51,305 --> 00:21:55,565 And in this instance he's saying, look for someone who hears what I say and 493 00:21:55,565 --> 00:21:59,495 doesn't respond the right way, they don't do the thing that they should do. 494 00:21:59,825 --> 00:22:02,135 They're gonna cast a servant into outer darkness. 495 00:22:02,135 --> 00:22:04,655 He calls him a worthless servant because he didn't do his job. 496 00:22:05,330 --> 00:22:08,450 In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 497 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:12,680 Think about someone crying, great tears, and not only crying great 498 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:15,080 tears, but what do you think about when you think about gnashing? 499 00:22:15,350 --> 00:22:19,130 Does gnashing bring to mind this idea of like, oh, that's, those are happy tears. 500 00:22:19,700 --> 00:22:25,340 Gnashing is someone grinding their teeth, and oh, it either means anger 501 00:22:25,430 --> 00:22:27,740 or agony, and maybe it's a bit of both. 502 00:22:28,370 --> 00:22:33,320 The servant who is sent to the outer darkness, hell is angry. 503 00:22:33,875 --> 00:22:35,585 In agony that he's there. 504 00:22:35,585 --> 00:22:36,905 He's not happy about this. 505 00:22:36,905 --> 00:22:39,305 This is a place where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth, 506 00:22:39,365 --> 00:22:41,045 and so this is what Jesus says. 507 00:22:41,405 --> 00:22:45,395 Again, the punchline here is that Jesus says this is the end. 508 00:22:45,515 --> 00:22:46,685 This is what you can expect. 509 00:22:46,685 --> 00:22:47,525 This isn't school. 510 00:22:47,525 --> 00:22:48,905 Don't learn it and forget it. 511 00:22:49,145 --> 00:22:50,735 Learn it and do something about it. 512 00:22:51,185 --> 00:22:54,695 Point number two, you gotta always be prepared for Jesus' return. 513 00:22:55,595 --> 00:22:57,155 You gotta always be prepared. 514 00:22:57,185 --> 00:22:59,525 And when I say prepared, I mean action. 515 00:22:59,555 --> 00:23:03,275 There's gotta be something that you do in response to Jesus' return. 516 00:23:03,455 --> 00:23:07,715 If Jesus is saying, look, I'm coming back and I want you to be ready, the most 517 00:23:07,715 --> 00:23:10,445 foolish thing you could do is nothing. 518 00:23:11,825 --> 00:23:14,435 I mean, imagine what your parents will say, okay, your parents. 519 00:23:15,545 --> 00:23:19,385 I imagine mom and dad go to the grocery store and they say, when we come back, 520 00:23:19,655 --> 00:23:22,535 we want these five chores finished. 521 00:23:22,745 --> 00:23:23,885 I want you to make your bed. 522 00:23:23,945 --> 00:23:25,325 I want you to wipe off the counter. 523 00:23:25,505 --> 00:23:26,945 I want you to empty the trashes. 524 00:23:27,035 --> 00:23:28,565 I want you to sweep up the floors. 525 00:23:28,565 --> 00:23:30,455 I want you to clean up the table. 526 00:23:30,455 --> 00:23:32,975 Whatever it is that they say, they give you five chores to do, and they say, 527 00:23:32,975 --> 00:23:34,355 we're gonna be back in a little bit. 528 00:23:34,625 --> 00:23:38,165 These things better be done when we get back, or there's gonna be consequences. 529 00:23:38,615 --> 00:23:39,665 You're one of two kids. 530 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,620 You're either the kid that says, I'm on it. 531 00:23:42,620 --> 00:23:45,830 As soon as they said it, even before they leave, I'm already doing the thing 532 00:23:45,830 --> 00:23:46,850 'cause I don't wanna get in trouble. 533 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,510 Or you're the kid who says, how long does it take you to get to the 534 00:23:50,510 --> 00:23:53,900 store again about how long you think it's gonna be before you get back. 535 00:23:54,500 --> 00:23:54,920 Okay. 536 00:23:54,950 --> 00:23:56,660 Can you text me before you leave the store? 537 00:23:56,660 --> 00:23:58,790 Maybe, or, or, or maybe may. 538 00:23:58,850 --> 00:24:00,260 How long do you think this will take me? 539 00:24:00,500 --> 00:24:03,680 You're the kid who delays and just drags your feet for the whole time. 540 00:24:04,730 --> 00:24:08,150 Jesus doesn't want you to do this because the problem is. 541 00:24:08,510 --> 00:24:10,970 You have no idea when Jesus is coming back. 542 00:24:10,970 --> 00:24:12,740 Your parents maybe you'd be able to guess, okay? 543 00:24:12,740 --> 00:24:15,620 I know that the Kroger is about 10 minutes away. 544 00:24:15,860 --> 00:24:18,170 Uh, if dad is with mom, I know mom loves a shop. 545 00:24:18,170 --> 00:24:19,400 It's gonna be two hours. 546 00:24:19,580 --> 00:24:22,730 I've got a solid two and a half hours before they get back, and 547 00:24:22,730 --> 00:24:25,250 so I can hang out for 45 minutes before I even do anything. 548 00:24:25,250 --> 00:24:25,850 It'll be fine. 549 00:24:26,450 --> 00:24:27,920 That might work with your parents. 550 00:24:28,250 --> 00:24:32,750 It will not work with Jesus because you have no clue when Jesus is coming back. 551 00:24:33,410 --> 00:24:34,790 So you gotta always be prepared. 552 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:35,990 You gotta always be prepared. 553 00:24:35,990 --> 00:24:37,940 Remember the chart, we are presently here. 554 00:24:38,210 --> 00:24:42,650 The next thing on the end Times calendar is surprise everyone. 555 00:24:42,650 --> 00:24:43,730 We're going to heaven now. 556 00:24:44,750 --> 00:24:46,940 And that moment is any moment. 557 00:24:47,030 --> 00:24:51,260 Therefore, the only way to be ready for something that you can't be ready 558 00:24:51,260 --> 00:24:52,880 for is to be ready all the time. 559 00:24:53,750 --> 00:24:54,980 You gotta be ready all the time. 560 00:24:55,490 --> 00:24:56,510 You gotta be prepared. 561 00:24:56,540 --> 00:24:59,480 Here's the, here's the lessons from the parable of the virgins 562 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:00,500 and the parable of the talents. 563 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:01,670 Here's how you're ready. 564 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:02,030 Okay? 565 00:25:02,030 --> 00:25:03,680 Jesus wants you to be ready in three areas. 566 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:05,510 Number one, you gotta be ready in your time. 567 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:07,490 You gotta be ready in your time. 568 00:25:08,270 --> 00:25:11,030 How you spend your time reveals what matters most to you. 569 00:25:11,060 --> 00:25:13,640 Remember the virgins who are there, the bridesmaids. 570 00:25:14,090 --> 00:25:15,050 We're wasting time. 571 00:25:15,425 --> 00:25:18,785 They could have gotten oil earlier, but instead they just laid there. 572 00:25:18,845 --> 00:25:20,435 They were drowsy, they got sleepy. 573 00:25:20,435 --> 00:25:20,795 Who knows? 574 00:25:20,975 --> 00:25:23,615 There's lots of reasons that they could have offered lots of excuses. 575 00:25:23,915 --> 00:25:25,295 Jesus doesn't want you to do that. 576 00:25:26,075 --> 00:25:27,845 Here's the beautiful thing about your life right now. 577 00:25:28,535 --> 00:25:29,195 You're young. 578 00:25:29,885 --> 00:25:32,525 You've got all your life ahead of you, right? 579 00:25:32,525 --> 00:25:35,705 And you're gonna live until you're 85, 95, maybe 115 years old. 580 00:25:36,215 --> 00:25:37,475 You got so many years ahead of you. 581 00:25:38,105 --> 00:25:38,705 Is that right? 582 00:25:40,025 --> 00:25:41,015 Healthy life ahead of you. 583 00:25:41,405 --> 00:25:41,945 Is that right? 584 00:25:43,235 --> 00:25:44,945 You've got 95 a hundred years ahead of you. 585 00:25:44,945 --> 00:25:45,515 Is that right? 586 00:25:45,695 --> 00:25:46,205 Yes. 587 00:25:46,745 --> 00:25:49,265 No, you have no idea, right? 588 00:25:49,805 --> 00:25:50,555 You don't know. 589 00:25:51,395 --> 00:25:53,555 You just don't know that man. 590 00:25:53,590 --> 00:25:56,285 I, I, I just reached over 40 years old. 591 00:25:56,315 --> 00:25:59,075 I think that's a pretty amazing thing because I've had friends 592 00:25:59,195 --> 00:26:00,215 that didn't reach that far. 593 00:26:02,015 --> 00:26:05,765 I had a friend that I was in the same room with praying to 594 00:26:05,765 --> 00:26:09,755 Jesus with who died in that room. 595 00:26:11,315 --> 00:26:13,235 I'm older than he is right now. 596 00:26:13,295 --> 00:26:14,795 At least physically. 597 00:26:15,725 --> 00:26:16,505 Isn't that crazy? 598 00:26:17,075 --> 00:26:20,735 We were, we were just around a table praying and then he went 599 00:26:20,735 --> 00:26:21,875 to the bathroom and he died. 600 00:26:22,715 --> 00:26:23,615 Isn't that crazy? 601 00:26:24,725 --> 00:26:28,325 You and I think and, and I understand why. 602 00:26:28,325 --> 00:26:30,095 We think like we just have the rest of our lives. 603 00:26:30,095 --> 00:26:31,385 We've got a hundred years maybe. 604 00:26:31,850 --> 00:26:33,470 You know, I'm gonna get married, I'm gonna have kids. 605 00:26:33,470 --> 00:26:35,660 I'm gonna go to this college, I'm gonna do this thing. 606 00:26:35,660 --> 00:26:37,220 I'm gonna accomplish these things. 607 00:26:37,220 --> 00:26:39,170 That's great to have dreams and and desires. 608 00:26:39,170 --> 00:26:39,920 That's a good thing. 609 00:26:40,490 --> 00:26:43,730 But when you assume and prism upon God that I've got this much 610 00:26:43,730 --> 00:26:47,240 time, you're making assumptions that you just can't assume. 611 00:26:47,300 --> 00:26:48,380 You just don't know. 612 00:26:48,575 --> 00:26:54,350 You don't know how long you got, and one of two urgent realities, you've 613 00:26:54,350 --> 00:26:59,810 got to feel A, you're either gonna die or B Jesus is gonna come back. 614 00:27:00,545 --> 00:27:03,485 Both of those things you don't know when they're gonna be. 615 00:27:04,325 --> 00:27:07,415 Secondly, then, you've been given talents. 616 00:27:07,415 --> 00:27:10,025 This is where the idea of stewarding your talents comes from. 617 00:27:10,355 --> 00:27:11,525 The parable of the talents. 618 00:27:12,155 --> 00:27:13,505 Talents is actually a form of money. 619 00:27:14,225 --> 00:27:16,415 And so you've got resources that God has given you. 620 00:27:16,955 --> 00:27:21,425 Some of you guys have gifts that you need to use to further Christ's 621 00:27:21,425 --> 00:27:24,005 kingdom, and that's exactly what God wants you to do with them. 622 00:27:24,335 --> 00:27:25,775 If God has given you gifts. 623 00:27:26,255 --> 00:27:28,745 Skills to use talents that you have. 624 00:27:28,805 --> 00:27:32,135 He wants you to use those things to bring honor to his name. 625 00:27:32,525 --> 00:27:34,415 This is why he was so mad at that servant. 626 00:27:35,015 --> 00:27:39,095 That servant was given something by God, and God said, go do something with that. 627 00:27:39,095 --> 00:27:40,205 And he's like, great, thank you. 628 00:27:40,205 --> 00:27:41,345 Let me just hide this right here. 629 00:27:41,525 --> 00:27:42,905 You know, don't look at that. 630 00:27:44,375 --> 00:27:45,905 I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna pretend I don't have it. 631 00:27:46,655 --> 00:27:47,435 Not even gonna think about it. 632 00:27:47,765 --> 00:27:48,785 You've been given a gift. 633 00:27:48,815 --> 00:27:51,575 Every single person in this room, you have something to offer the world. 634 00:27:52,415 --> 00:27:59,075 God wants to use you for that purpose and to not use it is unfaithfulness your time, 635 00:27:59,075 --> 00:28:00,755 your talent, and lastly, your treasures. 636 00:28:01,835 --> 00:28:03,365 Some of you guys don't have very much money. 637 00:28:03,365 --> 00:28:05,795 Some of you guys have more because your family gives you 638 00:28:05,915 --> 00:28:07,145 cash to work with or whatever. 639 00:28:07,745 --> 00:28:09,455 Really, the amount of money you have doesn't matter. 640 00:28:10,595 --> 00:28:13,685 What does matter is that you use it to further Christ's 641 00:28:13,685 --> 00:28:14,795 kingdom, whatever that is. 642 00:28:15,305 --> 00:28:18,365 You've been given time, you've been given talent, you've been 643 00:28:18,365 --> 00:28:19,325 given some form of treasure. 644 00:28:19,325 --> 00:28:20,885 The question is whether or not you're using it. 645 00:28:22,355 --> 00:28:25,655 To further and build God's Kingdom or just to build your gaming setup. 646 00:28:30,815 --> 00:28:32,254 Being prepared is super important 647 00:28:34,355 --> 00:28:36,395 because the consequences are so important here. 648 00:28:37,235 --> 00:28:39,034 In fact, that's where we're gonna land this plane here. 649 00:28:39,754 --> 00:28:42,605 Jesus doesn't want you to play the school game, learning about the fact 650 00:28:42,605 --> 00:28:45,365 that there's an end time coming, that he's coming back at some point. 651 00:28:45,710 --> 00:28:47,930 Just so you can forget about it and go about your day. 652 00:28:48,140 --> 00:28:49,970 He tells you so that you can be prepared. 653 00:28:50,210 --> 00:28:53,930 And being prepared looks at least like these three things, stewarding your time, 654 00:28:53,930 --> 00:28:57,260 your talents, and your treasures to say, I wanna be ready for when Jesus returns. 655 00:28:57,950 --> 00:29:01,880 And if you don't do it, you have to feel the weight of the fact that if, if I'm not 656 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,850 being faithful in these areas, it means that I'm probably not right with God. 657 00:29:05,150 --> 00:29:07,040 I don't have a faithful relationship with him. 658 00:29:07,550 --> 00:29:09,620 Now all of us sin in a variety of ways. 659 00:29:09,650 --> 00:29:13,460 And so you should not expect perfection, but you should expect, I see direction 660 00:29:13,490 --> 00:29:14,750 that's I'm going the right way. 661 00:29:16,100 --> 00:29:20,960 In this last section that we're gonna look at, Matthew 25, uh, verses 31 662 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:22,670 through 46, take a look at it with me. 663 00:29:22,670 --> 00:29:26,000 I'm not gonna read the whole thing, but I'm gonna summarize for you a few 664 00:29:26,180 --> 00:29:30,050 important passages in the final judgment. 665 00:29:30,050 --> 00:29:33,620 When Jesus comes back in his glory, he's gonna, he's gonna judge the 666 00:29:33,620 --> 00:29:35,060 nations, he's gonna judge people. 667 00:29:35,540 --> 00:29:38,270 And here's what's interesting is for the people on his right, 668 00:29:38,330 --> 00:29:43,550 Christians, believers, he's gonna say, look, uh, go on my right side. 669 00:29:44,330 --> 00:29:48,320 And enter into the joy of your master and says, he says here in verse 34, the 670 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:51,860 king will say to those on his right, come, you who are blessed by my father, 671 00:29:51,860 --> 00:29:55,490 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 672 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:59,000 And then he is gonna say, look, you saw me and you fed me. 673 00:29:59,000 --> 00:29:59,960 You saw that I was thirsty. 674 00:29:59,960 --> 00:30:00,980 You gave me something to drink. 675 00:30:00,980 --> 00:30:02,720 You saw that I was naked, you gave me clothing. 676 00:30:02,780 --> 00:30:05,210 And those people are gonna say, Jesus, when do we ever see that? 677 00:30:05,210 --> 00:30:08,510 And he's gonna say, well, as whenever you, he's gonna say this. 678 00:30:09,425 --> 00:30:11,555 Um, verse 39. 679 00:30:11,825 --> 00:30:12,575 When did we see it this way? 680 00:30:12,575 --> 00:30:12,995 Verse 40. 681 00:30:12,995 --> 00:30:13,655 The king will answer. 682 00:30:13,655 --> 00:30:17,495 Truly I say to you, uh, you, as you did it to one of the least of 683 00:30:17,495 --> 00:30:19,085 these my brothers, you did it to me. 684 00:30:19,715 --> 00:30:23,555 So he's looking at their works and he's saying, oh, because of the way 685 00:30:23,555 --> 00:30:27,695 that you treated other believers, the way that you treated them 686 00:30:27,695 --> 00:30:29,345 showed me that you cared about me. 687 00:30:30,485 --> 00:30:34,865 Conversely, he's gonna look at the goats, the people on his left hand side, and, 688 00:30:34,865 --> 00:30:36,485 and he is gonna say, depart from me. 689 00:30:37,235 --> 00:30:39,035 Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. 690 00:30:39,035 --> 00:30:39,755 He says, depart from me. 691 00:30:39,755 --> 00:30:45,305 You curse it into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 692 00:30:45,785 --> 00:30:49,895 Jesus is talking about serious judgment and he's saying, when I was hungry, 693 00:30:49,895 --> 00:30:52,625 you didn't feed me when I was thirsty, you didn't gimme anything to drink. 694 00:30:52,625 --> 00:30:54,545 When I was a stranger, you didn't welcome me. 695 00:30:54,695 --> 00:30:55,355 I was naked. 696 00:30:55,355 --> 00:30:56,135 You didn't clothe me. 697 00:30:56,165 --> 00:30:57,935 And then they're gonna say, well, Jesus, when did we even 698 00:30:57,935 --> 00:30:59,405 have the opportunity to do that? 699 00:30:59,495 --> 00:31:01,235 Well, when did you, when did that ever happen? 700 00:31:03,095 --> 00:31:04,625 Then he will answer them. 701 00:31:04,715 --> 00:31:08,135 Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of 702 00:31:08,135 --> 00:31:10,295 these, you did not do it to me. 703 00:31:10,775 --> 00:31:16,715 Here's the punchline, verse 46, and these will go away into eternal punishment, 704 00:31:17,615 --> 00:31:19,625 but the righteous and into eternal life. 705 00:31:20,975 --> 00:31:24,965 When Jesus is judging people, at least in this occasion, 706 00:31:25,325 --> 00:31:26,825 he's looking at their works. 707 00:31:27,485 --> 00:31:29,495 He's not saying that their works save them. 708 00:31:30,155 --> 00:31:33,755 No one can do enough Good works to be right with God, but he is 709 00:31:33,755 --> 00:31:37,895 saying their works demonstrate whether or not their faith is real. 710 00:31:39,425 --> 00:31:45,845 The consequences of your faith will be shown by your works. 711 00:31:46,595 --> 00:31:49,775 If you love somebody, you can say, I love you. 712 00:31:49,775 --> 00:31:50,705 I love you, I love you. 713 00:31:51,455 --> 00:31:55,325 You could say that all you want, but if you love somebody, how do 714 00:31:55,325 --> 00:31:56,825 you actually know if you love them? 715 00:31:58,475 --> 00:31:59,225 Answering your brain. 716 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:01,340 How do you know that you love somebody? 717 00:32:02,690 --> 00:32:06,830 Well, by the way that I treat them, the words that I say to them, the the 718 00:32:06,830 --> 00:32:11,690 things that I do for them, I, I show my love in tangible expressions of love. 719 00:32:12,710 --> 00:32:14,300 Jesus is saying something very simple. 720 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:18,170 If you love him, there will be tangible expressions of that 721 00:32:18,170 --> 00:32:22,790 love for him, tangible, real expressions that you love Jesus. 722 00:32:22,970 --> 00:32:26,360 And so he's saying it is not that your works save you, but that your works 723 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:28,280 reveal whether or not you are saved. 724 00:32:28,880 --> 00:32:32,090 For those on his right, he says, come into the joy of the master. 725 00:32:33,470 --> 00:32:34,580 Again, notice the stakes though. 726 00:32:35,450 --> 00:32:36,260 Verse 46. 727 00:32:36,830 --> 00:32:40,790 Pay close attention to what he says is the duration of life 728 00:32:41,090 --> 00:32:42,320 and the duration of punishment. 729 00:32:43,130 --> 00:32:45,740 I know this is heavy, guys, and I'm so sorry, but I'm grateful that 730 00:32:45,740 --> 00:32:46,910 I get to talk to you about this. 731 00:32:47,420 --> 00:32:48,560 It's such a heavy subject. 732 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:52,700 I I, I'm grateful I get to say it, but it's heavy and I, I, I know it is. 733 00:32:52,700 --> 00:32:53,300 It's awful. 734 00:32:53,300 --> 00:32:55,070 It's painful, but we need to know what it is. 735 00:32:55,550 --> 00:32:56,660 Notice a duration. 736 00:32:57,274 --> 00:32:58,955 I wish the Bible didn't say this. 737 00:32:59,254 --> 00:33:00,274 Let's just be real about that. 738 00:33:00,274 --> 00:33:02,675 I wish the Bible didn't say what it says, but here's what it says. 739 00:33:03,725 --> 00:33:07,115 For those who are not right with him, how long is the punishment? 740 00:33:09,455 --> 00:33:10,445 It says eternal, right? 741 00:33:12,455 --> 00:33:14,705 And that's, it's not a translation issue. 742 00:33:15,215 --> 00:33:16,985 It's not like, oh, there's a Greek word that means it's 743 00:33:16,985 --> 00:33:18,455 actually only a couple weeks. 744 00:33:20,345 --> 00:33:22,354 We have good reason to believe that that's what it means. 745 00:33:22,354 --> 00:33:23,104 It's eternal. 746 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:28,340 And it makes sense because the righteous, those who are saved by grace through 747 00:33:28,340 --> 00:33:31,370 faith, enter into eternal life. 748 00:33:32,450 --> 00:33:36,500 There's eternal life and there's eternal punishment the way 749 00:33:36,500 --> 00:33:37,970 that you respond to Jesus'. 750 00:33:37,970 --> 00:33:42,050 Sobering words will either show that you are being prepared for eternal 751 00:33:42,050 --> 00:33:43,730 punishment or prepared for eternal life. 752 00:33:44,870 --> 00:33:48,260 I need you to know how difficult this is, but I also want you to 753 00:33:48,380 --> 00:33:50,360 feel how high the stakes are. 754 00:33:52,220 --> 00:33:54,800 Everything that we're talking about through all the gospel of Matthew 755 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:57,050 really is culminating to this point. 756 00:33:57,620 --> 00:34:00,920 Jesus, after, after this section of teaching, Jesus is gonna go to the cross. 757 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:01,820 You're gonna see his betrayal. 758 00:34:01,820 --> 00:34:03,800 You're gonna see his resurrection and everything else after that. 759 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:07,640 This is the stakes that are at, uh, these are the stakes, the, the 760 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:09,770 consequences that are on the line for us. 761 00:34:09,770 --> 00:34:10,070 All 762 00:34:13,250 --> 00:34:14,780 the stakes are very, very high. 763 00:34:22,699 --> 00:34:26,120 A couple years ago, 2012, actually, a guy by the name of Felix 764 00:34:26,330 --> 00:34:28,969 Baumgartner did something incredible. 765 00:34:30,379 --> 00:34:32,958 He went up in this balloon right here. 766 00:34:33,409 --> 00:34:33,949 Lemme see if I, do. 767 00:34:33,949 --> 00:34:34,339 I have it. 768 00:34:34,998 --> 00:34:35,478 I do. 769 00:34:35,629 --> 00:34:38,748 He went up in this balloon right here, up to space. 770 00:34:40,009 --> 00:34:46,100 Um, and from this balloon, he jumped out from space to the ground. 771 00:34:46,835 --> 00:34:47,614 Pretty impressive. 772 00:34:47,675 --> 00:34:51,425 He did this with Red Bull and he jumped in 2012, so this is him preparing for it. 773 00:34:51,425 --> 00:34:53,405 The video's only like a minute and some, some change. 774 00:34:53,405 --> 00:34:53,585 Long. 775 00:34:53,735 --> 00:34:54,965 He jumps out of this thing. 776 00:34:55,145 --> 00:34:55,895 It's incredible. 777 00:34:56,284 --> 00:34:57,275 Now, here's what's more incredible. 778 00:34:57,275 --> 00:34:59,195 The jump itself really didn't last very long. 779 00:34:59,675 --> 00:35:00,275 There's the launch. 780 00:35:00,275 --> 00:35:01,055 They're stoked about it. 781 00:35:01,505 --> 00:35:03,425 Here's what's most incredible about this launch. 782 00:35:04,895 --> 00:35:08,075 They planned it for seven years. 783 00:35:08,915 --> 00:35:10,955 His jump lasted a minute. 784 00:35:11,704 --> 00:35:13,865 The planning of it lasted seven years. 785 00:35:13,865 --> 00:35:15,515 And here's what's super interesting. 786 00:35:16,174 --> 00:35:20,345 During this whole ordeal, the most important part of the 787 00:35:20,345 --> 00:35:22,474 jump was the first 10 seconds. 788 00:35:23,164 --> 00:35:27,604 If he got the first 10 seconds wrong, the whole thing ends up 789 00:35:27,694 --> 00:35:29,194 in destruction, he would've died. 790 00:35:29,464 --> 00:35:32,044 This really is a jump of life or death. 791 00:35:32,075 --> 00:35:35,944 And so for the fir, for seven years leading up into this, he spent 792 00:35:36,484 --> 00:35:38,884 practicing that jump over and over again. 793 00:35:39,410 --> 00:35:42,799 Ensuring that he was stable and that he was jumping exactly as he 794 00:35:42,799 --> 00:35:45,890 needed to because entering in the Earth's atmosphere, if he came 795 00:35:45,890 --> 00:35:47,359 in the wrong way, he burns up. 796 00:35:47,359 --> 00:35:47,959 He dies. 797 00:35:48,559 --> 00:35:49,519 Gnarly, right? 798 00:35:49,519 --> 00:35:51,019 Just incredibly crazy. 799 00:35:51,529 --> 00:35:53,959 But you see the chute successfully opens. 800 00:35:54,079 --> 00:35:56,029 This guy makes it all the way down. 801 00:35:56,089 --> 00:35:58,129 Did I just mention from space? 802 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:01,819 Like this guy was just, he's super high in the, and he makes it all the way down. 803 00:36:01,819 --> 00:36:02,870 It's a moment where it's celebrating. 804 00:36:02,870 --> 00:36:05,599 He doesn't last very long, but he spent seven years planning. 805 00:36:06,499 --> 00:36:07,189 Planning this jump. 806 00:36:07,970 --> 00:36:08,960 Crazy, crazy. 807 00:36:10,340 --> 00:36:12,470 Someday you and I are gonna jump. 808 00:36:13,370 --> 00:36:15,350 We're not jumping from space to the earth. 809 00:36:15,710 --> 00:36:21,170 We're jumping from life to death, and that jump is the most important 810 00:36:21,170 --> 00:36:22,910 jump of your life for Felix. 811 00:36:23,630 --> 00:36:24,440 The result for him. 812 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:26,210 If he gets it wrong, maybe he dies. 813 00:36:27,410 --> 00:36:30,920 Kinda a bummer for you and for I, the jump is not just a matter of 814 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:35,360 life and death, it's a matter of eternal life and eternal death. 815 00:36:35,734 --> 00:36:37,984 And so it really matters that you get it right. 816 00:36:39,455 --> 00:36:43,174 The stakes are high because when that moment comes, your parachute isn't 817 00:36:43,174 --> 00:36:46,595 just this, this, this piece of this, this piece of fabric on his back. 818 00:36:46,865 --> 00:36:49,384 Your parachute has got to be Jesus Christ. 819 00:36:49,384 --> 00:36:52,144 And here's the thing, your parachute isn't church attendance. 820 00:36:52,475 --> 00:36:54,484 It isn't coming to student ministry on Wednesday nights. 821 00:36:54,665 --> 00:36:58,084 It's not good in good grades or giving out good vibes to people and 822 00:36:58,084 --> 00:36:59,495 being kind, even though that is good. 823 00:36:59,915 --> 00:37:01,234 It's not your family's faith. 824 00:37:01,234 --> 00:37:04,415 It's not, oh, my dad's a pastor, or My sister has a dog. 825 00:37:05,135 --> 00:37:06,395 My family owns a cat. 826 00:37:06,605 --> 00:37:07,445 Isn't that worth something? 827 00:37:07,445 --> 00:37:07,805 Jesus. 828 00:37:07,805 --> 00:37:08,315 It's not. 829 00:37:10,415 --> 00:37:15,425 What really matters is that your parachute is Jesus Christ because he's 830 00:37:15,425 --> 00:37:18,875 the only one that can successfully get you from this life to the next. 831 00:37:19,265 --> 00:37:20,585 Free from his judgment. 832 00:37:20,975 --> 00:37:25,025 One, because he himself takes on the judgment, everything 833 00:37:25,025 --> 00:37:25,565 that we're talking about. 834 00:37:25,565 --> 00:37:26,195 Super scary. 835 00:37:26,705 --> 00:37:31,115 Super scary because I realize if what we're saying is true, that 836 00:37:31,115 --> 00:37:33,905 means, again, tonight could be our last night before Jesus comes back. 837 00:37:35,390 --> 00:37:38,779 Or something else happens and we, something, some part of our body fails. 838 00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:44,420 You need to ensure that you're ready for his return. 839 00:37:44,810 --> 00:37:47,569 And of course, what that really means for us is that you're right with him. 840 00:37:48,350 --> 00:37:51,740 That you've turned from your sins and put your faith, your 841 00:37:51,740 --> 00:37:53,509 full weight into Jesus Christ. 842 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:58,069 And if that's true, if that, if that is you, if you've turned to him in 843 00:37:58,069 --> 00:38:00,290 faith, man, now's the time to get busy. 844 00:38:00,650 --> 00:38:03,440 Now's the time to get to work and say, what do I do in the meantime? 845 00:38:03,650 --> 00:38:05,570 How do I prepare for Jesus' return? 846 00:38:05,570 --> 00:38:06,650 'cause it could be at any moment. 847 00:38:08,870 --> 00:38:10,009 Hebrews chapter three. 848 00:38:10,790 --> 00:38:13,520 The preacher says this today. 849 00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:16,490 If you hear his voice, don't harden your heart. 850 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:21,140 It's possible that God's been working on you for a long time now. 851 00:38:21,740 --> 00:38:24,920 And scripture says, if you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts. 852 00:38:25,805 --> 00:38:28,144 It's possible to hear God's voice and say, no thank you. 853 00:38:28,174 --> 00:38:28,924 I don't want that. 854 00:38:29,194 --> 00:38:32,495 It's possible to feel conviction and say, oh no, I won't do that. 855 00:38:32,555 --> 00:38:33,214 I don't wanna do that. 856 00:38:33,964 --> 00:38:37,084 And either the conviction for you tonight is, oh man, I should get saved. 857 00:38:37,084 --> 00:38:37,924 I need to be right with God. 858 00:38:37,955 --> 00:38:39,035 Or the conviction is I need to do. 859 00:38:39,035 --> 00:38:39,995 I need to do something about it. 860 00:38:40,384 --> 00:38:42,154 I need my faith to show that it's real. 861 00:38:43,865 --> 00:38:44,644 That's a good thing. 862 00:38:44,915 --> 00:38:47,705 Conviction doesn't feel good, but it produces good. 863 00:38:48,544 --> 00:38:51,935 And so I'm gonna ask you tonight not to try to put that away. 864 00:38:52,549 --> 00:38:55,160 One of the things that we do after a sermon like this is like we go and 865 00:38:55,160 --> 00:38:57,859 we start making jokes and talking about the video that I saw and, oh, 866 00:38:57,859 --> 00:39:00,259 this really cool thing that I saw I was watching and it was funny. 867 00:39:00,410 --> 00:39:02,390 We try to laugh things off and get rid of the discomfort. 868 00:39:02,390 --> 00:39:04,910 I get that nobody likes feeling conviction 869 00:39:07,129 --> 00:39:11,720 unless, unless we know that we want to be right with God, in which 870 00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:13,730 case we welcome the conviction. 871 00:39:14,149 --> 00:39:16,669 'cause it means, man, uh uh, God, thank you that you're opening 872 00:39:16,669 --> 00:39:20,509 my eyes to the truth, and the truth is Jesus is coming back. 873 00:39:21,545 --> 00:39:24,815 We don't know when and because he's coming back, we need to be ready. 874 00:39:25,174 --> 00:39:27,634 He tells us to warn us, to prepare us. 875 00:39:28,805 --> 00:39:31,505 So I wanna know, are you ready to meet Jesus? 876 00:39:32,435 --> 00:39:34,714 If tonight he called your ticket, called your number and said, 877 00:39:34,714 --> 00:39:36,095 Hey, it's time to come on up. 878 00:39:36,185 --> 00:39:36,815 Come see me. 879 00:39:37,714 --> 00:39:38,375 Are you ready? 880 00:39:39,335 --> 00:39:41,615 And if not, let's fix that tonight. 881 00:39:42,575 --> 00:39:42,725 Okay? 882 00:39:42,725 --> 00:39:43,055 Let's pray. 883 00:39:43,055 --> 00:39:46,984 God, thank you for the night to go through Matthew 24 and 25, or at least part of it. 884 00:39:47,225 --> 00:39:48,484 Please help us now to spend. 885 00:39:49,115 --> 00:39:51,845 Helpful, productive, useful time in our small groups. 886 00:39:52,025 --> 00:39:53,495 Help us to be focused and attentive. 887 00:39:53,615 --> 00:39:55,085 We ask all this in Jesus name. 888 00:39:55,295 --> 00:39:55,835 Amen.