"[Text 1]
Speaker 1: In this video, I want to share with you the most important warnings that Jesus gives us concerning the end times. Pay attention to this, because you don't want to be caught unprepared. Perhaps you remember being left at home as a child or teenager. Your parents likely left you with instructions about what to do and what not to do. They might have said something like, make sure the house is clean when we get back, or make sure you do your homework while we're gone. They may have left other instructions such as, don't have any parties, or you can only have a few friends over. And if your parents were anything like mine, they would brief you with all the information that you needed about how they could be reached, where they were going, how long they'd be gone, and when they're coming back. 

If you're like most children, you likely spend a lot of time watching TV or playing outside or playing video games, doing everything but chores, cleaning, and homework. And suddenly, before you realized it, several hours have passed and you get the call or the text that your parents are on their way. And now you're in panic mode. You've wasted all your time. You haven't cleaned. You haven't done any homework. You haven't done one chore. And now you only have 20 minutes to get it all done. You waited until the last minute to get ready. 

And now you'll be caught short. Now, the unfortunate reality is that this is how many of us will respond to the coming of Christ. We'll go about our day-to-day business. We'll go about our day-to-day activities. 

We'll go about enjoying our day-to-day entertainment. And then suddenly, we'll be caught off guard when the Master returns. And it's not like we haven't been given ample warnings. Does Revelation 22 verse 12 not say, Behold, I am coming quickly? Does 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 2 not say for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night? There should be an urgency in our lives. There should be an urgency in terms of how we live because there's certainly an urgency in the Word of God about how soon Christ is to return. It will be sudden. 

It will be unexpected. So rather than waiting until the last minute, wouldn't it be better to be prepared now? Wouldn't it be better to be ready all the time? 

Wouldn't it be better to live in a constant state of preparation so we'll never be caught off guard? This is what the Scripture asks of us and what Jesus commands us to do. Matthew chapter 24 verse 42 to 44 says, Therefore stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming, but know this, that 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 must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. The Apostle Paul reiterates these commands by telling us what it will be like when Jesus returns. He tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 16 to 17, What we learn from this passage is that when Jesus returns, those who have died in Christ will be raised from the dead, and those that are still alive will be caught up to meet them in the clouds. This passage of Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us by what method we should expect to see Christ coming. However, the questions we need to be asking today are how do we know that Christ's coming is near? What are the signs we should be looking for? 

How do we know when it is time to prepare and what does it mean to prepare? 1 Paul tells us to look out for a figure that will appear in the end times called the Antichrist. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 3 and 4 says, Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the Son of Destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seed in the temple of God proclaiming himself to be God. Paul tells us that the day of the Lord would not come until this Antichrist figure appears. This figure will claim to be God. This figure will stand for the devil, and he will lead the world in deception. 

The Antichrist will work signs and wonders so that he can woo people and entice them. However, the Lord told us that if we see such a person claiming to be the Messiah or Christ, we should not believe them. Jesus also gives us several other signs to watch for in Matthew 24. Some of the signs Jesus gives us includes an increase of war, famine, and natural disasters. 

There will be a time of great tribulation and false Christ and prophets will arise. Jesus also gives celestial signs such as the sun turning dark and the moon turning to blood. Jesus' point in these signs is not for us to get hung up on waiting for them. 

Jesus tells us his point here in Matthew chapter 24, verse 42 and 44. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

The point that the Lord is making here is that we should not wait on the signs to get ready. His point is we should be ready all the time. We should be prepared all the time. We are to be ready to live ready because we just don't know the time of his return. 

Therefore, the best way to prepare is to simply ready all the time. In short, we must live as if Jesus is coming today. And that means we should rethink how we spend our time. Are we using our time reading and spreading the word of God? Or are we drowning our time in entertainment? Are we using our time serving others and fulfilling Christ's commands? Or are we using our time tearing other people down and dividing others? Are we using the time we have now to seek and chase after the Lord's presence? Are we hungry to get closer to God and spend more time with him? 

Or are we spending our time getting closer to everyone but God? Let us not wait for signs and wonders to prepare for the coming of the Lord, because if we are to wait until the last minute, many of us will be caught off guard, will be caught unprepared. And I'm sure that no believer wants to be left behind when Christ comes for his church. 

Now, I don't know about you, but I don't want to be left behind. I would rather be caught up with Christ in the clouds than to be caught up in the world. I want to be caught up in the heavens rather than being caught up in frivolous entertainment. I would much rather be caught up in the Word of God rather than being caught up in things that do not matter. I want to be caught up in the Kingdom of God and I encourage you to shift your perspective. 

Chase what's eternal, chase what's godly. The signs are good to know what's coming, but let's not wait on those to prepare for Christ's coming. If you knew a thief was coming to your home tonight, wouldn't you prepare? Wouldn't you make the necessary changes and adjustments to remain safe? Well, the Lord's coming and it'll be like a thief. 

And if it's just like a thief, shouldn't you make necessary changes and adjustments? The Lord's coming soon. It's time for us to act like it. When it comes to your prayer life, act like you know the Lord is coming soon. When it comes to tolerating sin, act like you know Jesus is coming back soon. This is how we ought to live our lives. Let us not be left behind. Be ready. 

Speaker 2: In December 1972, the United States suffered one of the worst disasters in its aviation history when the Eastern Airlines flight 401 crashed. The tragedy in this story can be found in not only what happened, but how it happened. 

One article reads as follows. According to a National Transportation Safety Board report, the pilots placed a landing gear handled down, but noticed the green light that indicates that the nose landing gear is fully extended and locked failed to illuminate. The pilot told the control tower of their problem and explained that they would have to circle the runway until they could find a green light. 

The control tower accepted and told them to maintain an altitude of 2,000 feet. The pilots put the plane on autopilot as they investigated the problem. Now, reports go on to suggest that for 7 to 8 minutes, the flight crew worked together to try and figure out what was wrong with this light. An article by NBC Miami reported on the incident saying, the pilots engaged the autopilot so they could inspect the light and the landing gear, but the darkness apparently made it hard to see. A short time later, the plane was cleared to turn back to Miami, and that's when a crew member noticed something was amiss. We did something to the altitude, the first officer remarked, and the captain's reply was, what? 

We're still at 2,000, right? The first officer asked, and the captain immediately exclaimed, hey, what's happening here? Seconds later, the plane crashed into the ground at 227 miles per hour and at a distance of 19 miles away from the airport. Investigators concluded that the probable cause for the crash was that the entire flight crew failed to keep an eye on the flight instruments. 

They were too distracted trying to fix the landing gear light that no one checked on the actual plane itself. Distractions in life can be devastating. Think about the damage that a distracted driver can cause. Think about the potential danger of being distracted while walking down a large flight of stairs. 

A surgeon has to tune out all distractions so that they can perform surgery. But for the believer in Christ, we should fight to maintain our focus on Christ. There has never been a time in history like we are facing today, where we are consistently bombarded with distractions. We are being distracted at every point, from technology to world events, not to mention the people in our lives. At any given time, there is always something or someone to distract us. But hear me, saints of God. 

If we allow them, if we give them access, distractions will cause us to lose focus on what matters most. What matters most is your walk with the most high God. What matters most is your relationship with Jesus Christ. What matters most is whether you are obedient to God's Word or not. 

What matters most is that you love your neighbor as you love yourself, and live a life that is wholly and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. You see, the thing about distractions is that the enemy designs them in such a way that they take your time, they take your energy, they take and take from you, and eventually, distractions will derail you from your purpose. The enemy wants to distract you because he doesn't want you committed to Christ. He doesn't want you to serve him faithfully, so he sends distractions that are meant to take your focus away from Jesus. Distractions are also there to starve your prayer life and to starve you of your time of worship. The devil is the author of confusion, and he knows exactly how to disturb, divert, and distract your attention so that in the end, your focus isn't on the Lord. The enemy desperately wants you to invest your time in meaningless things. 

He knows how to get you to spend time doing numerous things that are worthless so you lose time. Distractions come in many forms. Distractions can come in the form of people and enemies who want to destroy you. Distractions can come in the form of entertainment. 

If you're not careful, you'll spend hours and hours watching TV shows and movies day after day. The enemy loves when we spend our energy on things that offer zero value to us spiritually. The enemy loves it when we focus on things that will never edify or build you up in your faith. We, as people of God, must guard our hearts and our time. We must stay focused and continue in God's word. 

It doesn't matter how tempting it may look or how much better we think our lives will be with it. If it zaps your spiritual strength, we must turn from it and leave it alone. Children of God, it is so easy nowadays to be caught off guard and be led astray. 

There are all sorts of things that can hold our attention. It is so easy to slip away and not even realize that we have been caught up in the snare of the devil. Now, one of the ways that we can ensure that we are victorious is by keeping our mind on Christ. This may mean putting the phone down and spending more time with Jesus. 

It may mean turning off the TV or foregoing that trip out with friends. We are in the last days and time is short. Tomorrow is not promised. 

Have you noticed how the days are moving faster and faster? Nations are rising up against nations. There are earthquakes, famines, and wars everywhere. It is not even a shock nowadays to hear that some people are falling away from the faith. 

Time is truly winding up people of God and the King of Kings is soon to return. Will you be ready or will you be distracted? So let me encourage you and tell you. Don't allow the devil to distract you. Don't allow the world to distract you. Don't allow sin to distract you. Jesus Christ is worth so much more, much more. And He is the one who truly deserves our attention. 

Speaker 3: Seeking God every day should be the way of life for a Christian. God commands us to seek Him daily and not even to worry about tomorrow. As Jesus preaches the sermon on the Mount, He says in Matthew 6, verse 34, Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own. Since tomorrow is not promised, God wants us to focus on trusting Him today in the moment. We do this by running to God daily. 

We may worry about a health crisis or a financial situation, but God wants us to trust Him in those daily moments instead of worrying about what could or will happen. Lamentations 3, verse 22 to 23 says, 

Speaker 2: One of my favorite movies is Shawshank Redemption. And one of the main characters in the movie is Ellis Boyd Reading. He's known in the movie as Red. Red is one of the best smugglers in the prison and can get anyone just about anything they need inside the prison walls. One of the reasons Red is so good at smuggling is that he has been inside the prison for a very long time. When we first meet Red, he's up for parole after about 30 years of being in prison. He tells the parole board that he has been rehabilitated and wants to be set free from prison. Unfortunately, the board denies his parole. 

He would have done anything at the moment to get out of prison. Five years later, he goes in front of the parole board and they give him the same answer. Finally, after 40 years of being in the prison, they let Red out on parole. 

He received the freedom that he always wanted. However, after being out for a few weeks, he hates it. He is so familiar with living in the cell that he starts thinking about trying to find a way to return. He even thought about buying a gun to break his parole so he'd be sent back. 

He desired to go back to the very prison he hated. We often do the same thing as Christians. We are imprisoned to some sort of sin. God breaks those chains free. 

However, we eventually feel the desire of the prison calling for us and we run back. First Peter 2, verse 20 to 21, speaks to this. It says, Peter is talking about false teachers. Specifically, those who teach that you can live a life however you want after coming to Jesus. Those who teach that there is no need for repentance. It is better for that person to never claim that they knew the Lord than to turn to God and then turn away. To be clear, this is not saying that any Christian who has been drawn back into sin, they have already overcome by the power of the Spirit, will not receive forgiveness. However, if you claim to know the Lord, then completely forsake him and turn back to your old, worldly sin, you are outside of the Lord's grace and mercy. You are a dog that has returned to his own vomit to eat. We need not only think of this on the level of sin such as drug addiction or reentering a forbidden relationship. This happens on much smaller levels as well. Maybe God has broken you free from a food addiction or gossip. While you may say to yourself, it's not a big deal if I gossip about my friend's bad habits one more time. 

It is actually a big deal. In that moment, you are forsaking the work that the Spirit has done in your heart. This could be a slippery slope that leads you to forsaking the Lord in other areas of your life. If not careful, you may end up forsaking the Lord altogether. We have a wonderful opportunity to live a life of freedom through Jesus Christ. While the temptation we face can give us a thrill and falsely make us feel alive, sin will put us in the very cell we already escaped from. 

But let me tell you this. The blood of Jesus has set you free from that sin. You are forgiven. You are set free. Do not return to the very sin that has destroyed your life in the past. Don't go back to anything you had to pray your way out of. 

Speaker 4: A theologian by the name of Martin Luther once said something remarkable. He said, I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God's hands that I still possess. 

Think about what we are being told here. Everything that this man has held on to and put his hands on, everything that he has tried to fix and change, he has lost it all. He has been unsuccessful with. But he says, whatever I have placed in God's hands that I still possess. 

In other words, he is saying, I have had better success in life when I have left things in God's hands. And dear friends, that is what I want to encourage you to do today. Leave it in God's hands. That means pray about it. Stand on God's word concerning that issue or problem. Fast and believe God for it. But more importantly, leave it in the hands of the master. 

And let me tell you this. When you take things into your hands, you are being disobedient to God. Because the Bible says, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. The Amplified translation for 1 Peter chapter five verse seven says, Casting all your cares, all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns once and for all on him. 

For he cares about you with deepest affection and watches over you very carefully. Furthermore, Philippians four verse six to seven says, Be anxious for nothing. But in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. This is telling you that if you have something you're worried about, pray about it. Make your requests known to God and leave it in his hands. 

If there is something that's making you anxious, the Bible tells you to cast all all your cares on Jesus Christ. Is there an issue with your children? Is there a private sin you're wrestling with? Whatever it is, remember that we are not to worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Only then can you and I experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. I want to tell you something. 

Speaker 2: If you've ever prayed for God to take you out of a certain situation, don't go back to it. If you've prayed for God to remove you from a toxic situation or an unstable environment, don't go back to it. If there is anything you've asked God to save you from and he does, don't go back to that very thing that once held you in bondage. Don't go back to anything you had to pray your way out of. 

And for those who've prayed for deliverance or freedom, once you have been delivered, once you've been set free, draw a line there and refuse to go backwards, refuse to look back. Let's say you were in a sinful relationship. You then prayed and prayed for the strength to make it out of that relationship. It was hard because you truly loved the person, but you knew it was not a relationship the Lord would want you to be in. Eventually, by the power of the Spirit, you have enough strength to leave the relationship. You are free from that relationship for a few months and life is going great. However, you start to feel the desire to re-enter a relationship with that person. God is calling you to flee. 

Why return to the same thing you prayed for God to deliver you from? While that desire may feel good for a little while, in the end, it will lead to destruction. You are flirting with bondage. By giving in to that evil desire, it makes it easier for you to give in to more evil desires in the future. Eventually, in the end, you may completely decide to walk away from the Lord. And according to Peter, it would have been better for you never to have known the Lord than to know him and then choose to turn away from God after following him. When you reject God after trying a relationship with him, in a sense, you are saying you have tasted and seen he is not good. 

Speaker 4: Philippians 1 verse 6 says, Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. The amplified version says, I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will continue to perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus the time of his return. Take a moment and consider what does the Bible mean when it says this very thing? 

What is this very thing? Why should we be confident of it? Why is this very thing so important that it is associated with the beginning of a good work that will be completed until the day of Jesus? Saints, I believe that when the Bible talks about this very thing, it is talking about your salvation. And the reason I believe this is because when you are saved and when you accept Jesus Christ into your heart, you don't automatically become detached from your flesh. You don't automatically become this perfect person who never gets angry or upset. That's not the case. You need to work on your salvation by seeking more of Jesus Christ, by meditating on his word, by pursuing a closer relationship with him, by yielding to the Holy Spirit. 

Speaker 2: Let me put it this way. Faith says, I don't have to physically see the blood of Jesus for me to believe that I am protected. Faith says, I don't have to physically see angels for me to believe the Word of God that tells me that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him. 

Faith says, I don't even have to see the Holy Spirit for me to believe that he has power and he is a comforter and a teacher. You see, faith is a requirement for every believer. It is the core of our Christian living. It's by faith that we come to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is also by faith that we live our lives with joy and gladness, knowing that there is eternity to be spent with the Father above. And perhaps one of the most prominent verses in the Bible about faith is Hebrews 11.6. 

But without faith, it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Are you standing in faith? Are you living by faith? 

Are you walking by faith? Faith is a life of action based on what you believe to be true. For example, the action of not worrying that is a result of you having the faith that God is in control. 

The action of not trying to fix everything. That too is a result of you having the faith that God is in control. Jesus Christ said, let not your hearts be troubled. Why did he say this? Because he wants you to have faith that he will take care of all your needs. Another way to understand or define faith can be summed up in the following way. Faith is doing your part, which is trusting God to do his part. Your part is to believe. 

That's all you need to do. And then you leave God to do his part. Your part is to stand on God's word. 

His word that says nothing is impossible with God. So let me ask you, are you doing your part? Are you believing? Are you believing and standing on God's word? Are you walking by faith and not by sight? Strong faith comes from knowing and believing that Jesus Christ not only rose from the dead, but he defeated the devil. 

He defeated death, hell, and the grave. Strong faith comes from meditating on God's word. Strong faith is cultivated and developed when you not only read the word of God, but you internalize it. 

You ponder on it and dwell on it. I would even go so far as saying, strong faith comes as a product of great trials. Circumstances change, people change, social norms and public perceptions change, but the word of God remains true forever. 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus says, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. That's why we can stand confidently in him. That's why we can cling to him. 

When we feel like we're slipping away into the chaos of life, he will rescue us and place our feet back on solid ground. What does it mean to be unshakable in your faith? It doesn't mean never having doubts. It doesn't mean never being afraid. It simply means that when trouble comes our way, we don't panic. We don't lose hope. 

We don't turn to the world or to ourselves for answers. Instead, we are able to rest in the promises of God. The thing about Daniel and Paul and Moses was that they understood the stakes. 

They understood that even if nothing went their way, even if they ended up suffering deeply, it would be worth it because knowing Jesus was so valuable, so precious to them. Can the same be said for you? Do you treasure Jesus above your own life? He is worthy and he wants you to experience abundant life by trusting him and obeying his word. So when trouble comes your way, stand firm, be unsuable, be immovable, be unshakable. "
"[Text 2]
Speaker 1: People ask me all the time, you know, why is it, why is it that these heretics and false teachers have such vast ministries and such far reaches because the Bible is true? 

Speaker 2: Why are there so many preachers in this day and age who preach only about Jesus Christ as the good shepherd, as a merciful Lord, full of grace, but they do not preach Jesus Christ as a righteous judge? When talking about the passage in 2 Timothy 3 that warns us about the last days, just listen to this. 

Speaker 1: Timothy, there's going to come a time when people are going to run to heretics and run to false teachers, who are going to scratch their itching ears and in that time you must have a commitment to the gospel because if you don't, you'll start shaving off the edges. 

Speaker 2: According to the Bible, there's going to come a time when people will gather at the feet of false teachers. There is coming a day when people will sit in churches with itching ears. That means their only desire will be to hear the things they like, a watered down version 

Speaker 3: of the us in the Bible and allow them to guide our path. The Bible tells us in Psalm 119, verse 105, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. For the next few moments, let us consider five signs as indicators that we may be in spiritual trouble or that danger is headed our way. I encourage you to deeply consider if you may be in danger of harming your walk with God or your life and that you allow God to lovingly correct you while there is still time. One, you are in spiritual danger when you become rebellious. God warns us constantly throughout his word to avoid becoming rebellious. In the Old Testament, the children of Israel are very frequently called out for being stiff-necked and rebellious. Just to put into perspective how bad rebellion is, let us take a look at an important scripture on the matter. In 1 Samuel chapter 15, King Saul of Israel is commanded by God to completely wipe out the Amalekites. 

Every living creature is to be destroyed. Saul does not do this. According to 1 Samuel, verse 8 to 9, Saul keeps the king alive and some of the quality animals. Saul is confronted for doing this. He tries to cover it all up by insisting that his rebellion toward what God had instructed him to do was actually for spiritual reasons. Saul has the nerve to act like he makes better decisions than God. Saul claims that the reason he did this was so that he could offer sacrifices to God. What Saul does not seem to realize is that God does not make mistakes. 

If God wanted sacrifices to be performed to him with the spoils obtained through the battle, he would have certainly asked for them. The fact of the matter is that Saul willingly disobeyed God. Because of this, Samuel is sent from God and delivers some devastating words to King Saul. We see this in verse 22 to 23 which say, Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king. We see here that God is much more interested in our obedience than he is in a sacrifice. King Saul would learn that God is serious when he commands something. 

Saul is told that the Lord is no longer willing for him to be king, and the cause is the rebellious heart of King Saul. I have noticed in my life that when I want to do something contrary to what I know God wants, I will try and package it up to be as palatable and acceptable as possible. However, if I am honest with myself, I will see that I often am openly rebelling against God and just need to get my heart right. We might try to justify our rebellion, but we have just seen that God equates it to divination or witchcraft. 

Let us use this story to avoid the dangers that rebellion will certainly bring us. Two, you are in spiritual danger when you become prideful. Pride is a common theme in the Bible. 

The danger signs are listed from cover to cover, and it would be in our best interest to pay attention to the warning. The Bible says, Proverbs 16, verse 18, pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. And then we are warned again in Proverbs 29, verse 23, that one's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. You can be sure that when you catch yourself being prideful, if you do not repent of that quickly, you will find yourself in spiritual danger. A prideful place is a dangerous place to be. Being filled with pride is practically an open invitation for God to bring you down to size, not because he is mean, but because he alone deserves our worship. Throughout society today, we see people who think much too highly of themselves. The Bible warns us that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. We all are in desperate need of God's grace, and he is less willing to provide us with that grace when we are arrogant and full of ourselves. This lesson was learned the hard way by a famous king named Nebuchadnezzar. 

In Daniel 4, verse 28-33, Nebuchadnezzar learns that being prideful puts a person in grave danger. He says, In his mind, he is the best thing to have ever happened to the world. In his mind, he alone built Babylon. He has no concept of the fact that God puts rulers where they are, even in ungodly nations. 

Any rank a person has achieved is because God allowed it to happen. As these prideful words leave his mouth, God steps in to intervene. He strips the king of all his lavish lifestyle right at that very moment. The king loses his mind and goes and lives in the fields like a wild beast until he comes to his senses. Amazingly, at the end of this, he comes to worship the one true God. He just had to lose everything, including his sanity, to be in a humble enough place to look to God. When a person becomes prideful, they are at risk of losing everything. Friend, let's ensure we keep our pride in check before an event like this occurs in our lives. 

3. You are in spiritual danger when you lose your care for the things of God. Another sign we can use to determine if we are heading for spiritual danger is if we seem to have lost interest in the things of God. We see here how God responds to the church at Ephesus about their loss of zeal for the things of God. 

Revelation 2, verse 2 to 5 says, I know your works, your toil, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent and do the works you did at first. 

If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. Notice that this church is still mentioned as currently having good attributes and good works that are indeed worthy of respect. Their problem is, however, that they are beginning to trend downward as far as their passion for the things of God goes. God notices this downward trend and tells them that they need to change. God is informing them that they need to rekindle that love that they had for the things of God like at the start and climb back to that mountain top of faith. 

Let's do a heart check. Have we lost any of our love for the things of God? Does reading His word, praying, or spending time with the people of God just not excite us anymore? 

Let's work on correcting this while we can. God wants us to return to days when we were burning bright with a desire to know God and make Him known to others. Four, you are in spiritual danger when you become distracted. People are well aware that driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a potentially deadly choice for the driver and others. There are signs everywhere that are pleading with people to not drive under the influence. From texting to applying makeup, it seems more and more people are out driving our roadways distracted. 

This is dangerous. Spiritually speaking, I fear we have many Christians who are completely distracted. Does the Bible speak on distraction? 

Yes, it most certainly does. 1 Peter 5 verse 8 Be sober-minded. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. If a lion was prowling around your backyard, what would you do? Even worse, what if that lion had access to your house, your bedroom, the bedrooms of your family? 

I am sure you would want to prepare yourself for such a battle. And you should, because this lion certainly exists and his name is Satan. We as Christians need to be vigilant and anticipate attacks from the devil. We need to be busy arming ourselves for spiritual warfare. The worst thing a Christian could do is lie there asleep or drunk while a lion is roaming about looking for an easy meal. 

Fighting a lion is hard enough when you are prepared for it, even more so when you are caught off guard. Thankfully for us, there are some things to do that will keep us alert and help protect us from spiritual danger. Reading our Bibles and studying them diligently, praying, and going to church are all ways to stay diligent. Let us heed the clear warning in Scripture of staying alert and avoid becoming distracted. 

5. You are in spiritual danger when you are too comfortable. Is there anything inherently wrong with being comfortable? 

Extra leg room on a flight, freshly washed sheets in bed, a nice hot shower? There is nothing wrong with any of these things. There is nothing wrong with comfort. However, like many things in life, sometimes too much of a good thing can quickly turn into a bad thing. We tend to become somewhat spoiled when we become too comfortable. The Bible warns us Proverbs 27 verse 7, 1 who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry, everything bitter is sweet. 

Honey is great. When we have luxuries like this or any other comforts God allows us to have, we should enjoy them. But there is a difference between enjoying and overindulging. The Bible tells us that we can get to such a place of comfort that the luxuries we should enjoy become disgusting to us and dangerous to our spiritual lives. We need to avoid being in a place of abundant comfort. 

When we become intoxicated by all the comforts we enjoy, this has the potential to cause us to take it all for granted and to become so comfortable that we do not lean on God like we should. When my family and I are out preaching the gospel, time and time again, we see more people come to Christ in economically challenged neighborhoods than others. The reasoning for this is the fact that these people typically do not enjoy an over abundance of comfort. Going without luxuries or even essentials in some cases, causes people to be more humble and to see their need for God. 

This of course is just a generalization. The truth remains, regardless, we as Christians need to avoid becoming too comfortable. We have seen just how important it is to take the warning signs we find in Scripture and apply them to our own lives to protect ourselves spiritually. 

Speaker 2: Dear friends, the focus of today's prayer is all to do with our habits. Habits can reveal important things about our lives. Our habits reflect our thoughts. Our habits reflect our priorities. But our habits also reflect where our hearts are. And your heart is only ever in one of two places. 

With God in His will and in obedience to His word. Or it's in the world and in darkness. And people always think when we say darkness, we mean witchcraft or evil rituals. Darkness is absence from God. You don't have to be a bad person to be in darkness. You don't have to be an evil person to be in darkness. 

It's a state of being away from God. That's darkness. God is light. God is life. Jesus said in John 8, verse 12, I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. That's why the Bible says, do not conform to this world. Because the moment you conform, you're in darkness. You're in darkness because you have conformed to an authority that is not godly. The Bible says repeatedly, do not fear. 

Why? Because there is no fear in Jesus. And if you walk in Him, you walk in light. You walk with a sound mind, in a spirit of power and love. But if you walk in fear, you walk in darkness. Because fear is not nor can it be found in the Lord. You find fear when you move out of the light and walk in darkness. One of the most popular phrases is, walk by faith, not by sight. 

But think about it. When you walk by faith, you see Jesus. When you walk by faith, God's word is a lamp onto your feet. But when you walk by sight, you see this world. 

You see darkness. That's what walk by faith, not by sight, really means. Walk in the light of God, not in the darkness of this world. 

So once again, where are your habits leading you? To walk by faith? To walk in light? 

In Jesus? Or to walk in the world? To walk in darkness? People today are unaware that your habits, the things that you do day in and day out, the things that control you can lead you to dark places. Darkness is not just some evil corner in hell where all demons and bad spirits meet up. You can be going to church, but if God isn't the number one priority in your life, then you're in darkness. If God's not first, if there isn't a burning desire to know Him, to obey Him, then you're in darkness. 

And here's what happens when people don't have God first in their hearts. Some will be controlled by their work, their business, or money. For them, it's all about working. 

It's all about their career, when really, it should be all about the Lord. Some people become slaves to jealousy and envy. If it looks good, makes them feel good, they want it. 

And if you have something they don't, then jealousy kicks in. Be careful about your habits. Be careful concerning where your habits will take you. And so I want us for the next few moments to go before the Lord and pray that He will give us godly habits. May He help us to cultivate habits that will bring us closer to Him. 

Speaker 4: The Bible in Galatians 6 verse 9 says, Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Don't get tired of doing good, on a daily basis that is. People of God, we need to develop strong routines that are firmly centered around Jesus Christ. And one of the main habits that we need to develop is daily communion with the Holy Spirit. 

The amplified translation for Ephesians 5 verse 18 says, Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness, corruption, stupidity, but be filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly guided by Him. When we're filled with the Holy Spirit, then that means we're always led by the Spirit. It means we're constantly being guided by the Spirit. 

It's a state of dependency. You're no longer dependent on yourself, or on your resources, or your circle of influence, but you're dependent on the Holy Ghost day in and day out. That's why it's so important to be filled with the Holy Spirit. You find that when you're filled with the Holy Spirit, you're more sensitive to the voice of God. 

Your heart becomes more responsive to the things of God, to the instructions of God. With the Holy Spirit, you can read, enjoy, and understand the Word of God in a way that's different than if you tried it on your own. So strive to make it a habit that each day you spend time with the Holy Spirit. 

Spend that time developing and building a relationship with the Lord through the help, the guidance, and the leadership of the Holy Ghost. Now let's go to God in prayer. Dear Father, God I thank you. 

I honor you and I praise you. Lord, I thank you for being more than enough, and all that I need. God, I thank you for giving me life, giving me health, and giving me another chance. And Lord, as I come before you today, I ask that you would help me to be a believer who fully depends on you. Lord, I pray that I would be someone who's completely devoted to you. May the Holy Spirit influence me on a daily basis. Ephesians 5, verses 1 and 2 say, Therefore be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. 

Lord Jesus, my desire is to imitate you. When you walked on this earth, the Bible tells us that you often withdrew from the disciples. You often withdrew from other people so that you could pray to God the Father. And Lord, I pray that you would give me that same grace to model my life around the example that you sent. Help me to withdraw from the world and from all the busyness of life so that I can spend time alone with you in prayer. 

Lord, let that be my habit. When you walked on this earth, Lord, you showed people from all types of backgrounds, compassion and love and mercy. You would eat with sinners. You would love on those who were shunned by society. Help me to love others, Lord. 

Those who don't look like me, who don't sound like me, who don't have the same background as me. Help me to love my neighbor with a Godly love. Help me to love others regardless of their sin. Lord, help me not to judge others because of their sin. For I too am a sinner saved by grace, one who is in need of your mercy and your compassion, King Jesus. When you walk this earth, Lord, you are about your Father's business. 

You put your will aside so that the will of God the Father would be done. Lord, I pray for that kind of heart. A heart that puts your will before mine. 

A heart that puts you first. Let it be my delight to obey your word and fulfill the purpose and the plans that you have over my life. The Bible says in Ephesians 5, verses 15 through 17, therefore see that you walk carefully, living life with honor, purpose and courage, shunning those who tolerate and enable evil, not as the unwise, but as wise, sensible, intelligent, discerning people, making the very most of your time on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence, because the days are filled with evil. 

Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. Father, please help me to walk up rightly. Help us as your children to walk with wisdom and honor before you. Raise us up to be a faithful people, a people who are not foolish and thoughtless, but raise us up to be a people who understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is. 

Raise us up to be a people who are obedient to your will, Lord Jesus. Lord, I ask that you would renew my strength daily. I know your grace is sufficient for me, each and every day. You extend the grace so that I may walk in obedience to your commands. 

Lord, I pray that my daily habits would be beneficial to my soul and to my spirit. Let me not sow into the flesh, because the flesh is corrupt and I don't want to reap a corrupt harvest. But instead, Lord, I pray that you would revive my spirit. Quicken my spirit, Lord, so that I may sow into that which gives me eternal life. 

And Lord, I know that that is you. You, King Jesus, give me eternal life. God, I thank you for hearing my prayer. I glorify you for being a loving and a caring God. It's in the mighty name of Jesus that we pray this prayer. Amen. "
"[Text 3]
Speaker 1: There was a man who absolutely despised his neighbor. For the most part, his neighbor was a nice person. His neighbor was someone who caused no drama. He made friendly small talk when the opportunity arose, and he even offered his help to others in the community. Now, the reason that this man despised his neighbor had nothing to do with the man's character or what this man had done. The reason he despised his neighbor was because of jealousy and envy. The neighbor always looked like he had it all together. The grass always looked greener next door. The neighbor's lawn was always in perfect condition. 

He always drove bigger and nicer cars, and he had a much more lucrative job. All of this produced fertile ground for jealousy to develop, and this is what I call the evil eye. An eye filled with jealousy, an eye that envies others. And the most dangerous thing about having an evil eye is that jealousy and envy prevent us from seeing the work of God in our lives. The book of James talks about jealousy. It says in James 3, verse 16, for where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. When we're jealous, we actually cause disorder. 

This in turn causes disorder for us and the people around us. In the next chapter of James, we learn a little more about jealousy. James 4, verse 2 to 3 says, you desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain. 

So you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passion. Now, what James is trying to show us is that when we covet and have envy, our hearts are off. When we're often wanting the wrong things, we ask for things to fulfill our own passions and desires instead of fulfilling the kingdom of God. 

Many people will take the words of Jesus out of context. For example, he says, ask anything in my name and you will receive it. Jesus is not telling us if we simply add in the name of Jesus to the end of a prayer, then we will receive what we ask for. The Lord is not an ATM machine that spits out what we want if we just hit the right buttons. He's telling us when we pray in the name of Jesus and when our hearts and desires match with his heart and desires, we will receive whatever we ask for in prayer. 

James is getting at the same point here. When we ask God for things to fulfill our evil desires built from jealousy and envy, we're asking wrongly and will not receive what we pray for. Reflect on some of your recent prayers. Are you praying that God will accomplish certain things in your life in order to fulfill your evil desires? 

Or are you asking in order for God to move his kingdom forward? That will show you if you have an evil eye of jealousy and envy. What can make jealousy and envy even worse is that it leads to other negative emotions. Jealousy and envy are the fertile ground with which bitterness and pride can grow. If you're jealous of somebody else's possession, you may start to become bitter that they have it and not you. 

Even worse, you may be bitter at God for not giving you what you desire. Jealousy can also lead to you living beyond your means. You see your neighbor driving around with a new car and you think you should also have a new car. However, you do not make enough money to afford that car. But then because of envy and jealousy, even after you crunch the numbers, you get the car anyway. Envy and jealousy can drive people to become financially irresponsible and some end up having to live off credit cards. One credit card turns into five credit cards. 

It becomes a giant game of keeping up with the Joneses. Your evil eye puts you in a position that is not good for you. Instead of our eyes being filled with evil, such as jealousy and envy, our eyes should be filled with the light and love of God. Our hearts should be so fixated on the kingdom of God, so much so that the things that cause us envy and jealousy do not bother us. As in the words of Jesus, we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. We should not build our life on receiving things or reaching a certain status. 

Everything we own will one day end up in a trash dump or in somebody's attic. The only thing that truly matters is where you stand with King Jesus. The kingdom of God will last forever. Let's be kingdom people that turn our eyes to God instead of worldly statuses and possessions. 

Worldly desires often push people to become envious and jealous. Don't let an evil eye get in the way of what the Lord is trying to do in your life. Take time to pray and examine your own heart to see if your evil eye is getting in the way of what the Lord is trying to do. And the Bible calls for each of us to examine ourselves. Plemination 3 verse 40 says, Let us test and examine our ways and return to the Lord. 

This tells me that every believer needs to test and examine themselves to determine their true spiritual standing. Are you all in for Jesus Christ? Or is there compromise in your life? Is there some acceptance of sin? 1 Corinthians 11 verse 28 says, Let a person examine himself, then and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. Examine what you tolerate in your life. What do you give room to? Is there any pride, any envy, or jealousy in your life? Have you truly examined yourself and assessed where you stand with Jesus? 

I believe it's important for each of us to test and see if the attitudes of our heart, soul, and mind are in perfect alignment with those of Jesus Christ. How do you know that you're in the presence of evil? It's not like a dark cloud appears and the room suddenly feels icy and cold. It's not like some eerie music begins to play out of nowhere and serves as a warning. So how does a child of God know when they are in the presence of evil? 

Well, there can be an uneasiness within you. You'll feel strongly compelled by the Holy Spirit, and you will know that you're in the wrong place. But how about when the evil is more subtle? Say, it's not so much the atmosphere or the place, but rather how do you pick up on evil if it's within a person? How can we as Christians pick up on some of the signs that tell us whether or not another person we associate with is being influenced by a demonic or unclean spirit? 

And you really have to be in the Lord in order to pick this up, because it's not obvious to the naked eye. Everyone looks normal and presentable on the outside. Everyone cleans up, dresses up so well on the outside, but internally they could be in a sorry, wretched, evil state. Whether we realize it or not, the people we surround ourselves with greatly impact our happiness, success, and our faith. 

I'd like to give you some quick illustrations just to highlight the dangers of having certain types of people around you. Some arctic animals have evolved unique camouflage to blend in with their surroundings. The most obvious example is the polar bear. These large predators have white fur that makes them nearly invisible as they hunt on the white sea ice. But also the arctic fox is another clever predator. Apparently, as winter mirrors, arctic foxes shed their dark fur and begin growing all white fur to blend in with the snow and ice. And so just as a conning fox disguises itself to prey on unsuspecting animals, people sent by the devil may appear harmless, but can cause significant harm to our spiritual well-being. 

Another illustration takes us into the world of biology. There are many different ways that a virus can spread rapidly through a community or a group of people. And just like a virus, the devil can send people who can infect our relationships with toxicity, causing strife and division wherever they go. 

So with that being said, how can you and I identify the kinds of people we should associate with and develop relationships with? The first group of people that you should avoid and beware of are those who embrace their sin. These are the people who still enjoy and indulge in sinful activity. And we should avoid such people because the Bible warns us against this. The Amplified Translation of 1 Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 11 says, But actually, I have written to you not to associate with any so-called Christian brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy, or as an idolater, devoted to anything that takes the place of God, or as a reviler, who insults or slanders or otherwise verbally abuses others, or as a drunkard or a swindler. 

You must not so much as eat with such a person. The Bible here is clearly telling us not to keep company with those who indulge in sin. There is a clear difference between someone who is struggling with sin and someone who indulges in sin. For those who indulge in sin, the Bible instructs us to avoid such a person, and not to so much as eat with such a person. I believe the Bible so explicitly warns us about sinful people like this because they could very well offer us some of what they are indulging in. Another type of person that we should avoid is the one described in Proverbs, chapter 24, verse 1 and 2. The Bible reads, Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble. 

I like that the Bible uses the word desire, because we can and probably have at some point desired to be with a certain group of people or to fit into a certain circle. But the Bible is saying, if those people are evil, have no desire to be with them. And you may be asking, what exactly am I classing as evil? 

Sin is evil in God's eyes. This is why we are told clearly that we should not envy the wealth of the wicked or crave their company. We should have no desire to be in the company of self-righteous people, or selfish people, or prideful people. This isn't to say walk around with a judgmental attitude trying to find out people's weaknesses or sins. 

No. It simply means be attentive, be careful around such people. As a child of God, you should know that bad company ruins good morals. So you should take every measure to not expose yourself to people who can potentially disturb your walk with God. Another group of people you should avoid at all costs are those with a religious spirit. A religious spirit is a demonic spirit that influences a person to replace a genuine relationship with the Lord, with their works. We should never turn a blind eye to this type of person, because they are a danger to our faith. Someone with a religious spirit is so focused and preoccupied with the rules, the systems and how things ought to be done that they forget about the main thing. And that is the Lord himself. A religious spirit hardens the heart of people against God, and we need to be aware of its subtle influences. 

In 2 Timothy 3, verse 4-5, the Bible tells us that in the last days, men will be treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. Anyone with the appearance of godliness, you should avoid. Now in saying all of this, I am by no means telling you to completely shun them away, rebuke them and condemn them. 

This is not the case. We are to love our neighbor, but some neighbors can be loved from a distance, meaning that you pray for them. You intercede on their behalf and go before the Lord so that they would be set free. 

A true Christian will not condemn anyone because they realize that they themselves have been given mercy, and so we are to extend that to others. The next time you encounter someone who you should be avoiding for the sake of your faith, this is what you should do. The first thing you should do is spend as little time as possible with them. The second thing to do is that you should always try and shift the conversation topic to be about the Lord, about the word of God, and about repentance. 

Now the third thing is the key thing you ought to do. You should pray for them. Pray for the Lord to have mercy on them so that they would see the error of their ways. Even if we should avoid these people, we can still love them with the love of God. 

Speaker 2: A man went on a trip with a group of friends, and during the course of that trip they met a local man who gave each of them souvenirs. Now this particular guy took these souvenirs without knowing that those items were part of ceremonial practice that was evil and occultic in nature. 

When he got back from his travels, he placed these ornaments in his home. That very night, things started to change and things started to happen. He had opened a spiritual wide open for the devil to walk straight into his home. He started to experience unusual things. There was unrest in his heart. 

He felt weighed down, oppressed even, like there was a massive weight on his shoulders. The sleepless nights and nightmares started. He became a man filled with fear. He became fearful of everything and anything. He started to experience all sorts of things that were not from the Lord simply because of a lack of knowledge and a lack of vigilance, a combination that left him spiritually open. So he confided in his father who brought the pain. The pastor now took the items and said, we need to burn these things. This is the cause for all the unrest you have been experiencing. 

You, my son, have been under spiritual attack. So they started a fire and threw the items in. Ten minutes passed, twenty minutes passed, and these items were not burning. They added a bit more fuel and gave it another ten minutes. Nothing. 

No sign of those things burning. So both the pastor and father began to pray and praise the name of the Lord. They started to call on the name of Jesus. They started to speak the blood. They started to speak the word of God. And those things began to melt and burn. The lesson here is that you should be careful regarding any items or things you accept as gifts. Now, there's an interesting biblical story that teaches us about the potential spiritual consequences of taking in objects and things. In Joshua chapter seven, the story of a man named Achan. Here's how it unfolded. Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai. When they returned, they told Joshua, there's no need for all of us to go up there. It won't take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. 

Since there are so few of them, don't make all our people struggle to go up there. So approximately three thousand warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away. Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening. Then Joshua cried out, Oh sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? Joshua knew that something had gone badly wrong. They had just brought down the walls of Jericho, and besides that, God had promised to be with them wherever they went. But somehow, they had seemingly lost their way. At this point in the story, only God knows the true explanation. Now after Joshua prayed, here's what God answered, saying, Get up! 

Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant. They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me, and they have not only stolen them, but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction. 

Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says. Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. 

You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you. In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the Lord will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and the Lord will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and the Lord will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come forward one by one. 

The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the Lord and has done a horrible thing in Israel. Now when morning came, it was revealed that Akan had stolen a beautiful robe and 200 silver coins and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. Akan was one of the soldiers from the tribe of Judah who took part in the Battle of Jericho. 

Akan took a few things for himself, even though Joshua had commanded everyone to stay away from anything belonging to Jericho. All of it was accursed. Akan's greed led to Israel's defeat at eye. The story of Akan then ends tragically because Joshua and all the Israelites took Akan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Acre and stoned them. The Bible tells us that they piled a great heap of stones over Akan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the valley of trouble ever since, so the Lord was no longer angry. From this story, we must be aware that Akan took items that were cursed, and this resulted in devastating consequences. God's judgment fell on the nation because of Akan's sin. Verses 2 to 5 describe the battle and Israel's defeat. 

Nearly 36 Israelite soldiers lost their lives needlessly in what should have been an easy battle, but became a bitter defeat. The Bible says, Do not be in the category of people who perish because of a lack of knowledge. A lack of knowledge that if you give the devil an inch, he will take a mile. 

A lack of knowledge that the devil will dress himself up as something harmless. There couldn't possibly be anything wrong with a souvenir. There's nothing wrong with me accepting a gift from someone while I'm traveling the world. That souvenir has really come from? Do you know what spirit, what atmosphere, or what you're inviting into your home when you're watching that film? Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 6 to 9 says, And on your gates. In this passage, God instructs the children of Israel to keep the word of God in a prominent role in the household. Now, the home plays an integral part in the life of the believer. As Christians, our homes should be. They need to be homes where the name of God, the presence of God, is always resident. The home should be a sanctuary, a holy place. It should be a place of peace, serenity, and joy. 

It should be a place where God's word is elevated and lived out. Now, that's all good and well for me to say, but in a practical sense, if the home is indeed a sanctuary, if our home is a place where God's presence should abide, then we should just not allow certain activities, practices, and forms of entertainment in the home. I submit to you that we should be more vigilant about the things we allow in our homes. We need to be aware that just as we close and lock the physical doors in our homes, we need to do the same spiritually. 

Speaker 3: There's an old saying, when it rains, it pours. Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like there's something going on in your life and it's deeper than what your eyes can see? 

Have you ever felt like there's something going on in your family or in your household that doesn't seem natural? Like there's some other force at work because it's one thing after another. It's attack after attack. 

It's battle after battle. From another perspective, have you ever felt like when things are going wrong at home, they tend to carry over in other areas of life? It's like when something is going on with your kids at home and it affects your work. Or when something is going on in your marriage and it affects your interaction with your kids. 

Or if something is going on at work and it affects all of the above. It quickly becomes apparent that all of these things are interconnected. And it also reminds us that if the devil can get a foothold in one area, then he has gained a foothold in all of these areas. The devil is trying in an unprecedented way to destroy families today. He wants to disrupt the family system and order. Satan knows that if the Christian family is intact, if the Christian family is working in one accord, then it's one of the strongest weapons against his deceptions. From the day that Satan spewed his lies to Eve, he was in the process of disruption. In order to maximize his deception, he approached Eve when she was alone. 

He approached her when she was separated from the family unit. And he did this because a divided family is easier to conquer. The devil is in the business of sowing discord and division in our homes. 

He's in the business of causing senseless fights and conflicts. The devil is in the business of causing husbands' hearts to stray away from their wives. And vice versa, he wants the hearts of wives to stray from their husbands. The enemy is in the business of causing children to be rebellious and to have a complaining spirit. 

Satan wants to destroy our households because he knows that a spiritually weak home is the easiest way to take us away from God. He's not new at this. He's been at it for a long, long time. The strategy of Satan is to attempt to divide and conquer the family. Immediately after that, he instigates destruction between the same family members. And the Bible is full of stories of dysfunctional families that fell to the disruption of the enemy. If Satan was able to disrupt the families of giants of faith such as Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon, then we should be aware of the enemy's schemes and prepare to defend our homes. Now, when it comes to guarding ourselves and our families against the deceptions and invasions of the enemy, the first question is, how does the devil gain access to our homes and minds? 

How does he try to gain access to disrupt our families and our lives? One of the biggest ways that the devil gains a foothold in our families today is through media. Music, movies and social media are huge access points to our families. Music accesses our brains and bodies in a way that few other mediums do. The messages in music today are ripe with sinful themes like lust, sex, violence, rebellion, among other sinful things. 

This is one of the easiest ways for Satan to gain access to our minds and souls. We listen to lyrics with this content and become desensitized to it. Before we know it, we begin to think that these sinful themes are not so bad and lust, fornication, violence and rebellion have taken root in our hearts and in our homes. Along these same lines, movies and television are perfect pathways for the enemy to take root in our homes. We constantly watch things full of violence, sex, cursing and all kinds of other images that lodge themselves in our brains and hearts. 

Studies have shown that by fifth grade the average child has seen 8,000 murders on television. Think about that. Think about how Satan might be using that to gain a foothold in our households, not to mention all of the blatantly demonic content in TV and movies. There are full movies and shows directly about demons, spirits and evil spiritual forces that we readily let into our homes. We are literally opening the door for Satan to come and dwell in our homes. 

The same goes for social media which has all of these same elements but also has the added seduction of obsession with self, image and other people's opinions. The question for us now is how do we resist the wiles of the devil in our families? How can we close the doors through which the enemy can enter? First, we can be much more vigilant about the entertainment choices we allow in our households. We need to monitor all the content in our homes in one way or another. An additional strategy when it comes to safeguarding our homes and families is that we should cultivate regular family worship and devotional time together. If a family is starting or ending their days in prayer, worship and Bible study, that makes it much more difficult for the devil to get a foothold in that family. That family has girded themselves with the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. Taking up this armor of God in our families is what will guard them against the deceptions and temptations of the enemy. Let us put on the armor like spiritual warriors. Let us guard our homes from the enemy. Let us resist the devil and he will flee from us. Amen. "
"[Text 4]
Speaker 1: I would like to offer you a biblical perspective on a recent article published by the World Economic Forum. This article addresses four global risks to look out for in the post-pandemic era. 

These four areas are as follows. Number one. Power disperses in a post-superpower era. Number two. 

A big election year won't stop our recurrent crisis of political legitimacy. Number three. A more complex global mental health crisis. 

Number four. An era of shock events. Now before we dive in and look at what is potentially coming, I want to clearly state this. The Bible tells us repeatedly, do not fear. Do not be afraid. Fear not. 

Be anxious for nothing. It's the same message spoken in different ways. And I want you to remember that. As you listen, you should not be fearful, but rather prayerful. 

Fear is not in the DNA of a child of God. Let's dive in. In an article titled, Four Global Risks to Look Out For in the Post-Pandemic Era, the WEF states the following. Look for global risks to be further exacerbated by unexpected, destabilizing shock events. What does this mean? 

To someone in their home listening, they may hear the words, global risk, destabilizing shock events, and they'll be in panic mode. But here's the amazing thing. Even in news such as this, the Bible has already told us this. 

Just look at this. Second Timothy chapter 3, verse 1 says, But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days. And then Luke chapter 21, verse 25 to 26 says, There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. So you see, there is nothing new that can happen on this earth that we haven't been warned about. The Bible is clear as it warns us of what will come. So if some organization announces to the world that there are shock events to come, events that will destabilize the world, believers in Christ should just say, Yes, we know. And then they should say, We're not worried. 

We have God on our side. Another portion of the article reads, So expect more extreme climate events that further exacerbate our mental health, especially for growing numbers of climate refugees. Second, AI is being imposed on us, whether we like it or not. 

Many will feel they do not fit into this new AI driven economy, or are not even being offered a chance, creating a greater precarious class who feel left behind. The world is being awakened. If you are to listen carefully, if you are to look carefully, you will notice that things are changing. The tide is shifting and there is a spiritual awakening happening. Some are drawing closer and closer to the darkness of this world, as there is a moral collapse in society today. Life is no longer valued. 

People's hearts are growing colder by the day. People are being consumed by the lusts of this world. There is a seduction of sin. 

There is popularity and prosperity for those who teach demonic doctrines. And the Bible warns us. It warns us and says, Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you. He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short. The devil is certainly aggressive in these last days. 

But let me tell you this. As aggressive as the enemy is, as sinful as the world is becoming, many are turning to Christ because they are in need of hope. Many are turning to Christ because no one else can carry their burdens. In these last days, many are turning to God because they need divine love, divine protection, and true peace. 

Speaker 2: So how do you know, how do you test your own motivation to determine whether what you're doing is truthful or just another snare of deception? 

Speaker 3: See, I think one place with respect that I think you are wrong on this subject and that you miss it is that you think human beings have the capability to divine between, decide between left, right, truth, lie, all these things that are going on. And we're just not capable of it. 

Speaker 1: We need more Christians like this. Christians who know their Bible and, more importantly, are not afraid to speak accordingly in line with the Scripture. 

Speaker 3: I am not looking at the real Jordan Peterson. I'm looking at what Jordan Peterson lives in for a while. You're not looking at John Rich. I just live in this thing for a while. The real Jordan Peterson lives forever. He's an eternal being. He was created by the Creator and he was put in that body that you're in right now to last as long as it's going to last. And then that body is going to die and then the real Jordan is released from that body. 

Same way it goes for me. So the only way a human being can discern what is true and what is a lie is you better have Jesus inside of you because he's the ultimate truth. Let's unpack this for a moment. 

Speaker 1: Now, a human being is made up of three parts, the spirit, the soul, and the body. How do we know this? Well, the Bible in 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 23 says, Now, the heart is found in the soul, which is the seat of emotions and affections. It's the center of human personality, the will, the reasoning, the intellect, memory, and conscience. In the heart, the heart is the center of human personality, the will, the reasoning, the intellect, In fact, I would like to describe it this way. 

The heart is an arena. It's the center of everything that a believer needs to guard concerning their lives. It's a battleground where all the fights in your life take place. The fight between good and evil takes place in your heart. The fight between God and earthly idols. 

That takes place in your heart. The fight to wake up early and pray. Stay up late to pray. 

Spend time in the word. All of these are issues dealt with in the heart. And so, when you think of your heart as an arena, you appreciate that not everything must be allowed to land in that space. And so, here's why I believe we're told to guard our hearts. It's because God wants to land in the arena of our heart. 

He wants to sit on the throne of our heart. But so does the devil. And so do you, with your own will and selfish desires. So, without Jesus Christ in your heart, you are lost and incapable of being loving, forgiving, or defeating sin. 

Speaker 3: So, if you've got the real truth living in you, which is not something you have on your own, we're inherently evil, doctor. We are born into sin. Sin is anything that is less than perfection. You don't have to be a murderer to be a sinner. You don't have to be something terrible to be a sinner. Anything less than absolute perfection in the eyes of the Lord is sin. So, we are sin. We are in a continual state of it. And you can't escape it. But the only way you're able to navigate through that and go to heaven when you die is that you brought the Son of God, you've asked Him to come in and turned over your will to Him. 

Speaker 1: No one is without sin. We have to know that. The Bible says in Romans 3, verse 10, As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. If you put your hope in people, in a pastor, you will be disappointed. Only Jesus Christ is perfect. 

It's only Jesus Christ who can never disappoint you. Now, my second point is that we all, to some degree, have to fight against living a double life. There is a battle between who you are in public and who you are in private. God sees the heart. God sees what's done in private. 

God sees what's done in the darkness. If we claim to be followers of Christ, we cannot be split down the middle. When it comes to faith in Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as a neutral stance. You cannot have one foot in and one foot out when it comes to the things of God. 

Speaker 4: Every now and again, we need a reality check. The pain in your body reminds you that you're not invincible. It reminds you that you're not Superman. You're not superwoman. A disease can come out of nowhere and remind you about your mortality. You see, every now and again, we need to have a reality check. 

And I don't know about you. But have you ever had the sense that God is giving you a reality check? Perhaps everything in your life has been good. And all of a sudden, a storm comes out of nowhere. But it's God's way of reminding you that you still need Him, regardless of how well you're doing. 

You still need Jesus. 1 Peter 4.17-19 says, For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God. And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 

Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. Don't you find this to be thought-provoking? Don't you find this to be a reality check for every Christian man or woman? We all know that there will be a day of judgment with the Lord. We all know that there is a book of life. 

We know that. There is a day where all of our works will be tried by fire. But what challenges me about this passage of Scripture? In 1 Peter 4 is the location of where God's judgments begin. Verse 17 says, For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God. For judgment to begin. You mean to tell me that we, the church, are judged first? God's judgment begins with us. This to me shows that God is just. His judgment isn't simply reserved for those who reject Christ, but even those who are in the church. 

It's a reality check. Judgment begins with those who confess to be Christians. Now, how many of us are ready to be judged? You would think that since we are active Christians in the church, we would always be ready for God's judgment. But I am of the opinion that if God were to cast judgment on us in this very moment, many of us would simply not be ready. 

We wouldn't be prepared. The Bible points us to the danger of being scarcely saved yet in the church, meaning that too many people are professing Christ, but they are barely saved. Matthew 7 verse 21 to 23 says, 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. 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? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you. 

Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. The people who say Lord, Lord are people in the church. But Jesus is saying, although you're in the church, although you know the lingo and the mannerisms, when judgment day comes, do you have me in your heart? 

There is no room for hypocrisy in our lives as believers. We have to be completely loving and living for God in order for us to spend eternity with Him. So the question is, how many of you in the church have a genuine love for Jesus Christ? How many of us are genuinely saved? 

And on the other hand, how many are fake but claim to be genuine? God is aware that there are some among us who are imposters and hypocrites. So judgment has to begin in the church. 

And I wonder, what will be the fate of hypocrites in the church? The people who put on a mask and pretend to be something they are not. The people who claim to know and follow Jesus. But they behave in a way that counteracts the Lord. The Bible says in Matthew 6 verse 1, beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them. For then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Verse 5, and when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. 

Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. Now by no means should you be under the impression that we are the ones who can judge and determine a hypocrite. Because ultimately, it's an issue of the heart and only God knows the heart. But we must examine and judge ourselves in a way to make sure that we are not the hypocrites spoken of in the Bible. 

So the message here is to check your heart. We're given clear commands to follow all throughout the Bible. And if we are in Christ, we should be fully committed to being obedient. The Bible says that all who love God must also love their brothers and sisters. How many of us would be found wanting regarding this? How many of us love our fellow brothers and sisters? 

How many of us love our neighbor? Judgment begins in the house of God. The amplified translation for 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 17 and 18 says, For it is the time destined for judgment to begin with the house of God. And if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not respect, or believe, or obey the gospel of God? And if it is difficult for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the godless and the sinner? When I read this, I am reminded that I'm never as saved as I think I am. 

Because I can so easily fall if not be for the grace of God. So take this message and be warned. Judgment begins in the house of God. Simply saying, Lord, Lord, it's not enough. But doing the will of the Father, the righteous and holy will of God, that's what counts. So I encourage you, make sure you're fully given to Jesus Christ and do away with any hypocrisy. Be someone who has the genuine love of God. Be sincere in seeking the Lord. Judgment begins in the house of God, saints. And if it is starting with us, what will happen to those who have rejected God? 

Speaker 1: Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. This call to vigilance and watchfulness is as relevant for us today as it was for the disciples when Jesus spoke these words. 

Just as a vigilant watchman remains attentive to potential threats, we must stay alert and watchful for the signs of Christ's imminent return. The fascinating thing about a watchman is that a watchman has many different roles which are all just as vitally important. In the olden days, a watchman was responsible for protecting towns and army camps from surprise enemy attacks as well as any other potential dangers. Watchmen on the walls would look out for approaching messengers, danger, armies or envoys. 

In 2 Samuel 18, we are told that David was sitting between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked. And there was a man running alone. Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, if he is alone, there is news in his mouth. 

And he, the messenger, came rapidly and drew near. It's a watchman's job to always be on the lookout, to peer into the distance, to observe, to await, and certainly to be alert. The watchman stands as a sentinel guarding against any dangers. And in our own spiritual lives, every Christian has this role of acting as a watchman. We are to observe, evaluate, and examine our lives against the word of God. We are to guard the gates of our eyes, ears, and heart from the threat of sin, the threat of evil, and the threat of the devil. 

We are to be watchmen over our hearts' desires and affections. Now, as children of God who live in a period of time where there is great uncertainty, one thing we have to guard against is the spirit of fear. People out there are fearful of so many things, the threat of emerging pandemics. For some, there is uncertainty when it comes to the current state of international affairs. The Bible warns us of wars and rumors of wars. And when we finally see Bible prophecy unfolding right before our eyes, it can leave us seeking clarity. And you can end up asking questions like, How will this affect the country I live in? 

How will this affect the world? And so, there is uncertainty there. For someone else, the fight they face is economic uncertainty, either personal finances or the wider economy of their country. For other people in certain parts of the world, Christians who face persecution for their faith in Christ, there may be some uncertainty as they think, How long can I endure this? Or how much more should I endure, Lord? And I personally believe that in these last days, in these days where we see Bible prophecy unfolding before our eyes, I believe the Bible gives us five commands that will help us all in these times. The first of these five commands is to keep watch because Christ is coming soon. Matthew 24, verse 42, the Bible says, Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. When you are living in uncertain times, when you are living in fearful times, in times where biblical prophecy is happening, and we are seeing an increase in the number of conflicts all around the world, we are seeing pestilences, we're seeing the love of many growing cold. When you are living in such times, it's important to keep watch, for you don't know what day your Lord is coming. 

We may not have the answers to everything. There may not be a detailed roadmap telling you what to do and how to do it whenever you see troubling things happening, but all in all, we must remember that ultimately, our focus should be in one place, and that is on Jesus Christ. If you focus on the world, you will be worried. You will be burdened and anxious. But when you focus on Jesus, you will see the trouble in the world, but you will not be troubled in your heart. The second command is to watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. Matthew 26, verse 41 says, Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. 

The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. We are encouraged to watch and pray so that we won't give into temptation. And a lot of times, people associate temptation to only be of a sexual nature. However, people can be tempted by sin in various ways. Some are tempted to lie and steal, all for their personal and selfish gain. 

Some are tempted to get drunk. Others are tempted to gossip. But most of all, watch out against being tempted to follow a gospel that tickles your ears. In the last days, there will be deception. And this deception will be tempting to many, because you will be told a gospel that simply makes you feel good instead of leading you to repentance. 

Be careful not to be tempted. The third command is to watch and pray so that you can escape. Luke 21, verse 36 says, Watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape. All these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. When Jesus said this to his disciples, he was talking about the future, and he was warning them of the terrible things to come on the earth as we edge closer to the end of the age. 

Those who will be counted worthy to escape God's wrath on this earth are those who have put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ. But you can only do this if you watch and pray always. In other words, Jesus is telling us to be focused on him. The fourth command to believers in this day and age is to be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. The Bible in 1 Peter 4, verse 7 says, The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 

In this context, sober means serious. In other words, as believers, we should be careful about how we live. Our choices impact our ability to think clearly. 

It is better to be self-controlled so that we can pray earnestly. I believe here that Peter is also speaking to those who suffer for Jesus' sake, the believers who are persecuted. And Peter gives us a word of warning that is also encouraging, as he says, It's almost over. 

The end of all things is near. And don't we see that today more so than ever? The fifth and final command to believers is to Be clear in your mission. 2 Timothy 4, verse 5 gives us great advice when it comes to dealing with all that we hear and see in the world today. The Bible says, But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. 

Work at telling others the good news and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. The world has many different voices, some godly, some ungodly. And these voices will tell you so many different things. Things that will confuse you. Things that will leave you perplexed. 

Things that will pollute your mind and all of this leads you to live in a fearful state. But God's word is calling us to have a clear mind in every situation. And I believe that you can achieve this by doing one thing. 

Focusing on Christ and doing everything for His glory. As more and more people ask questions like, Are we living in the last days? Is this the end? I want to encourage you to do something. Rather than look at each and every event that is currently happening in the world. My message to you is that you should make sure that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Yes, it's good for us to take note of the events happening in this world. But the focus for our lives should be to make sure that our individual relationships with God are in good standing. Whether these are the last days or not, whether this is the 11th hour or not, you and I as believers need to make sure that our focus is only on Jesus Christ. We should focus on the one who is the way, the truth, and the life. And that is Jesus Christ who explicitly said, No one comes to the Father except through me. "
"[Text 5]
Speaker 1: Paganism is rising in America. One thing is clear, and that is that a lot of Christians can recognize that America is in rebellion against God. In 2022, an article appeared on NBC News titled, Why Paganism and Witchcraft Are Making a Comeback. The author of this article went on to state, and I quote, I am one of a million plus Americans who, whether proudly, secretly, or dabbling through the power of consumerism, practice some form of witchcraft. Witchcraft, which includes wicca, paganism, folk magic, and other New Age traditions, is one of the fastest growing spiritual paths in America. 

End quote. If you go over to Salem, a city on the north coast of Massachusetts above Boston, you will find that they host an event every October, and here is the description of the event. The witches of Salem honor this time with Festival of the Dead, an annual event series that explores Death's macabre customs, heretical histories, and strange rituals. Presented by Salem Warlock's Christian Day and Brian Cain, posted by the foremost authorities on the spirit world, Festival of the Dead beckons guests to step through the veil into a realm where spirits await. 

End quote. The festival is said to be attracting nearly one million visitors every Halloween season. Streets are packed with tourists from all over the country, hoping to take part in these celebrations of Halloween. Paganism is evil in the sight of the Lord. It is idolatry. It is a rejection of God's law. Just listen to this passage in the Bible that warns us about God's judgment on those who reject Him. Hosea chapter 4 verse 12 to 14 says, They ask a piece of wood for advice. 

They think a stick can tell them the future. Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have played the prostitute, serving other gods, and deserting their God. They offer sacrifices to idols on the mountaintops. 

They go up into the hills to burn incense in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars, and terribent trees. That is why your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters in law commit adultery. But why should I punish them for their prostitution and adultery? 

For your men are doing the same thing, sinning with whores and shrine prostitutes. Oh foolish people, you refuse to understand so you will be destroyed. In the book of Revelation chapter 2, Jesus is addressing one particular church and he says something interesting. Revelation 2 verse 13 reads, I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. 

You refuse to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan's city. Jesus said that where they live, Satan has a throne. That is, Pergamum was somehow a place where Satan had established a stronghold via idolatry and heathenistic religious practices. Satanic worship was prevalent in Pergamum. The phrase where Satan has his throne, which is used twice in this passage, has been debated by scholars through the ages. 

But we can reasonably come to the conclusion that Pergamum was a kind of hub or focal point for evil. That is what is meant by the phrases, Satan lives there or Satan has his throne there. Satan has tremendous power but he is not omnipresent. In fact, as you look at the whole of Scripture, you see that within the demon world, there are territories or places that certain demons control or oversee. Daniel 10 references a demon who had oversight of Persia. So Satan cannot be everywhere at once, as God can, but he can establish footholds in certain areas. 

These are usually not permanent. You can see that over the centuries, Satan established hubs of evil, footholds in Babylon, Egypt and Rome, and in more recent times in Hitler's Berlin, Stalin's Russia. But here in Revelation chapter 2, over 2,000 years ago, one of Satan's hubs of evil was Pergamum. There was a powerful demonic presence in Pergamum. Revelation 2 verse 13 indicates that Satan had a throne there. Some suggest there was some kind of conduit or channel to convey evil. What all of that means may not be crystal clear, but what is clear is that we do see that Satan is able to establish footholds in different places. 

Many have reported feeling a dread or heaviness in certain places where voodoo, Satanism, witchcraft and other occult practices flourish. Pergamum was one such place when John penned the book of Revelation. The Lord's messages to the seven churches in the book of Revelation carry particular meanings for different phases or ages in church history. The church at Pergamum received a word of commendation, but also a strong word of rebuke because they compromised. They mixed their holy calling with the ways of the world. 

This mixing with the world meant that they were becoming weaker because of it. Jesus commended them for remaining strong when the faithful antipas was martyred. Tradition holds that he was arrested while preaching on the street. He was put into a large brass bowl, which was a kind of idol and torture device. They lit a fire under the brass bowl and martyred him. The onlookers hoped to hear screams of agony, but instead they heard singing and prayers. His faith and courage sparked a revival in the town. 

Jesus Christ commended antipas, noting that he did not compromise, but was faithful unto the end. Now, let me just point out something. Here's how Satan works. If he can't destroy us, then he will discourage us. He wants to divide us. He will attempt to have us compromise on what we know in our heart to be right. God has expectations for his people. He writes his word in our hearts. It is confirmed by the prompting of the Spirit. When you look closely, you will find that the church in America today is marked by compromise. 

Far too many people view Christianity as just one of many acceptable philosophies or worldviews. We must beware, and we must remember the Lord's promise. To those who remain faithful, to those who are victorious and overcome, to those who endure, to those who will not compromise, I will give hidden manna. 

What hidden manna is, is a bit of a mystery, but it does point to how God provided for his people during the Exodus in the days of Moses, and that was a great thing. Today, Jesus presents himself as the bread of life, a type of manna, something that's good, something that sustains. Jesus will help us to be strong in these times we live in. 

He will provide for and spiritually sustain those who remain faithful. Over the years, many stories and interviews have been widely circulated concerning Jesus being the only way to heaven. You've had figures like Oprah denying that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. There's clips of figures like Steve Harvey saying, There's no one way to heaven, no one way to paradise. And there's also that infamous Larry King and Joel Osteen clip where Osteen does not clearly state or declare that Jesus Christ is Lord. Now, in this present day, can you just imagine someone standing there on an international stage and declaring that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, and that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven? Can you imagine someone of influence, a wealthy businessman, a prominent politician, or perhaps even a president or prime minister saying that? 

Imagine the headlines and the media fallout. In the Bible, just before Jesus was taken to heaven, he said to us, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

But since this instruction, what has happened? Have Christians embraced the Great Commission? Here's what Pew Research says, and I quote, The religious profile of the world is rapidly changing, driven primarily by differences in fertility rates and the size of youth populations among the world's major religions, as well as by people switching faiths. Over the next four decades, Christians will remain the largest religious group, but Islam will grow faster than any other major religion if current trends continue by 2050. End quote. This is alarming to the Christian community. 

This should make you weep. Have you been preaching the gospel? If you look at America, the percentage of American adults who identify as Christian has been declining each year, while the percentage of those who do not identify with any religion has been rising rapidly. Right around 2010, the share of Americans who were Christians dropped below 75%. By 2021, the General Social Survey reported that the share of Christians had declined to 62%. In just the last five years, the share of Americans who are Christians dipped below 50%. At the same time, it's said that around 28% of Americans identify with no religion as of this year. This shows a deep decline and a serious cause of concern for us as Christians. 

It only points to one fact. We've not been performing our Christian duties. The big question we need to ask ourselves is why this is happening. Are Christians not preaching the gospel? Is the spirit of Antichrist getting stronger by the day? Well, I believe there are four reasons for this. 

The first reason is a lack of knowledge. How often have you heard the gospel in a sermon, book, or conversation? If you've been a Christian, even for a short time, you have likely heard the gospel hundreds of times. Yet many of us still struggle to articulate the truths of the gospel in a simple, coherent, and intelligible way. Could you share the essential message of the gospel in 60 seconds right now? Many Christians can't do this, and that's tied to one reason. We have not truly studied and taken the time to learn the gospel in preparation for when we come across unbelievers. The second reason is that some of us don't care much about lost people. We would never say it, but our priorities and lives reveal it. We make no time in our busy schedules to interact and engage with those who don't know Christ. 

We have long stopped praying for lost people in our neighborhoods and workplaces. We do not have the courage to share the gospel with non-Christian friends or acquaintances. When was the last time you invited someone into your home who did not know Christ and shared the gospel with them? When was the last time you consciously prayed for lost souls? This is a significant assignment that Christ gave to us. If we will truly show His light, we must be ready to make soul-winning our priority. 

The third reason is fear. Many Christians ask questions like, What will others think of me? What if they don't like me or my family? Some are paralyzed by the thought of being disliked, marginalized, laughed at, or openly mocked. We're afraid we'll lose business or get passed up for that promotion. What if they stop inviting my kids to birthday parties? What if talking about Christ makes seeing my neighbors awkward? 

These so many what ifs are leading men to hell. Luke 9 verse 26 says, Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, The Son of man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. These are words straight from Jesus' mouth. Will you smile if Jesus denies you on the last day? How will you feel if he tells you that he doesn't know you after all your tithes and offerings on earth? You need to know today that God's heartbeat is soul-winning. 

While your tithes and offerings are crucial, they do not equal your evangelical service. Silence the fear. Share the gospel. The fourth and final reason is that too many of us have a lack of compassion for the lost soul. We have long forgotten what it was like to live without hope, to be lost and far from Christ. We rarely consider what the Bible says about those who do not obey Christ. 

2 Thessalonians 1 verse 9 says, They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might. However, do we care that much? We might say we care, but we rarely cry out to God for the salvation of our lost neighbors, coworkers and classmates. God is reminding us of what to do again. We need to have compassion for lost souls. You need to remember that the only way to God is through Christ. 

That means anyone outside Him does not even know the Father. By now, we need to know how we can fulfill this Christian duty. First, we need to remind ourselves of what the Gospel says. In 2 Timothy 2, Paul reminds Timothy of the Gospel's truth in order to encourage him to press on and be faithful to the message entrusted to him. If Timothy, a student of Paul, a faithful servant, a pastor, preacher and teacher, needed to be reminded of the truth of the Gospel to keep going, how much more do you and I need to be reminded of the eternal truths of the Gospel? Much of this reminder happens when gathering together with fellow believers. As God's people recall His truths, week to week in homes and gathered together in worship, we combat the forces that are set to silence the Gospel in our nation by reminding one another that God's mission is to save sinners through the work of His Son, Jesus. As we preach and continue to preach the Gospel to ourselves and to one another, we will be more prepared to speak it afresh to those without Christ. 

Speaker 2: A Christian man was on his deathbed. As he lay there, his family by his side, the room was silent. The only sound was the heart rate monitor machine beeping slowly in the background. He summoned the strength to give his loved ones some parting words. He said, The Bible warned me that time is short. 

And I didn't listen. The Bible warned me that it profits nothing for a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul. For over half my life, I worked and worked. I accumulated possessions. 

But no amount of money I've made could buy me another 24 hours on this earth. The Bible warned me to forgive, but I carried so much anger against so many people who had done me wrong. It is only in my final days that I have been able to forgive. Don't be like me. Listen to God's warnings early enough to take action. Don't wait until it's too late. It was almost too late for me. 

Now, when I heard this story, it made me think. How many of us underestimate biblical warnings? How many of us take biblical warnings seriously? Now, the Apostle Paul is a fascinating character in the Bible. Before he was Paul the Apostle, he was known as Saul from Tarsus. He was originally a Pharisee and a persecutor of early Christians. Saul was a zealous Pharisee who was determined to stamp out what he saw as a dangerous heresy that was spreading in the Jewish community. This Saul would go door to door and beat Christians. 

And it's believed that he also killed them. In the book of Acts, the first person to die for following Jesus was a man named Stephen. Stephen gave a speech about Jesus and called everyone to repent and trust in Jesus. 

At the end of the speech, Stephen is stoned to death. It says of Saul in Acts 8, verse 1, and Saul approved of his execution. At the least, Saul approved and was happy with the execution. 

At the most, he set up the execution. Saul killed followers of Jesus. But despite all of this, Saul had a dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus where he saw a vision of Jesus. And after this experience, the one persecutor of Christians became a Christian himself. Now, let me ask you, was Paul so bad that God couldn't use him? 

Of course not. Paul was transformed when he encountered Christ. And when Paul did encounter Christ, he wrote many books in the New Testament. And there's one passage of Scripture where he gives us six cautionary warnings regarding how we live our lives. These six warnings are, Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties. Don't be involved in drunkenness. 

Have nothing to do with sexual promiscuity. Do not live immorally. Do not be found quarreling. And the last point is not to be jealous. Now, these six points can be found in Romans 13 verse 13 where the Bible says, Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. When Paul says, Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, the imagery here is powerful. 

Imagine a person stumbling around in the dark, unable to see clearly. In the same way, engaging in wild parties and drunkenness clouds our judgment and leads us into spiritual darkness. Just as a lighthouse warns ships of dangerous rocks, the Bible cautions us about the perils of indulging in activities that dull our spiritual senses. The next couple of points are to do with guarding against sexual promiscuity and immoral living. Continuing in Romans 13 verse 13b, Paul urges us not to participate in sexual promiscuity and immoral living. The combination of sexual promiscuity and immoral living are like a thick fog that obscures our vision of God's plan for our lives. 

Such behaviors breed an ungodly attitude, ungodly habits, and eventually, it becomes a lifestyle. This is why it is incredibly important to be rooted in God's Word. Much like a compass points true north, the Bible provides a moral compass that, when followed, guides us away from the fog of immorality. In Romans 13 verse 14, Paul provides us with a solution as he writes, Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Clothing ourselves with Christ is like putting on a suit of armor. It protects us from the arrows of temptation and shields us from the allure of worldly desires. Just as a soldier prepares for battle by putting on armor, we prepare for the spiritual battles of life by clothing ourselves with the character and teachings of Christ. As we navigate the challenges of our time, let us heed these warnings. 

Guarding against the pitfalls that lead to spiritual darkness. Now, I would like for us to further explore warnings from Paul the Apostle, and one of his most serious warnings to Christians is related to unbelief. 

Speaker 3: Hebrews 3 verse 12 says, See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. This is a serious warning because Paul is telling us that we need to see to it that none of us have a wicked and unbelieving heart. A heart which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord. A heart that turns away from the living God. And let me show you just why unbelief is so crippling to a Christian. In Matthew 13, when Jesus was coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in the synagogue and verse 58 says, Now he did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 

Think about that. Jesus didn't do any miracles because of unbelief. Jesus didn't perform any mighty works because of unbelief. And so my friends, you see why Paul warns us against having an unbelieving heart. When you have a heart filled with unbelief, you deny God's power. You deny God's glory. You deny the Lord of all that he is. So be warned, people of God. See to it that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 

Now for this next warning. I have to give you a little bit of context before I go on any further. The children of Israel were led out of captivity and slavery. They saw incredible miracles from God. 

They saw the Red Sea was parting. The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way. And by night in a pillar of fire to give them light. 

They were fed by manna from heaven. But despite seeing God's strong hand, the children of Israel rebelled, murmured, and complained against God. And so Paul in the New Testament warns us in Hebrews 3 verse 15 to 17. As has just been said, today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion. Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for 40 years? 

Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? The warning here is that we should not harden our hearts. Don't be cold and insensitive to the voice of God. In the midst of all the chaos and confusion of this world, the voice of God is still calling out to us. 

The Spirit of the Lord is knocking on our hearts. A hardened heart means that someone is blind. It means insensitivity towards God's beauty and glory. It means chasing after our own desires instead of the things of God. But thankfully, in his mercy, God is offered to change our hearts. 

God can change our hearts. The third warning I believe we should be aware of can be found in Hebrews 2 verse 1. Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest we drift away. Now, I believe that the amplified translation explains this verse further as it says, For this reason, that is, because of God's final revelation in his Son Jesus and because of Jesus' superiority to the angels, we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard so that we do not, in a way, drift away from truth. In essence, what the Bible is telling us here is that we should be careful not to drift away from the truth that is Jesus Christ. We should be careful not to slip away from the truth of the Gospel because in this world, you will encounter people who give you their own watered down version of the Gospel. People who will preach a Gospel that will require no repentance, no commitment, no denying of self, but instead a Gospel that tickles the ears. 

It sounds good, makes you feel good, but has no power to transform you or challenge you. This is what we should be careful about. Let's not drift away from the truth of the Gospel. The real Gospel of Jesus Christ will challenge and convict you. It will lead to a change in your sinful habits and cause you to repent. And we should do just that, saints. We should repent and turn away from sin. "