Sunday Re Cap (3rd August 2008)

What will be the signs?

Text: Matt 24:1-14

Intro: Why Evangelism? Jesus gives us one of the greatest motivation for evangelism.

1. Deception/False Prophets. V4, 11.

   1. Satan is known as the Father of lies. John 8:44

      1. Deception is the only thing he still has 1 Pet 5:8. He has no power. Col 2:14-15; Eph 2:13-16; Gal3:13; 14; 2 Cor 5:14-17; Rom 5:6-15; Rev 12:10-11

      2. Then why are people still sick? Why are there still wars? Why are there financial problems? Misunderstandings? Divorces? Etc.?

      3. What is the core of all deception? It is to take our eyes from the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. The further away we look the stronger the deception that we fall into.

   2. Satan will do everything in His power to blind us, distract us (sickness, financial lack, misunderstandings, etc) from the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. THATS ALL HE NEEDS TO DO.

      1. Moses and the bronze serpent. Ex 21:4-9

         1. People became discouraged; complained.

         2. They put circumstances above the promises of God.

         3. Our circumstances can be bad and we may become discouraged but God's promises still stand. We need to get that into our spirit or we will fall into deception.

   3. Satan can no longer kill us. Rom 8:1-2; 1 Cor 15:54-58

      1. Because we are dead already! Gal 2:20

      2. The only power he has is the power that anyone gives to him. Just like Eve who was the first of mankind to fall into deception I.e. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

   4. Notice how deception leads to all the other things in Matt 24:5-14

      1. Wars and rumors of war. V6.

      2. Natural disasters & famines (Global food shortage). V7.

      3. Persecution & offenses. V9 & 10.

      4. Lawlessness, love of many will grow cold. V12.

   5. One of the most powerful way of remembering is Holy Communion, coming to church, tithing, worship. All these things are there to help us from ONE AND ONLY one thing. To not fall into DECEPTION.

   6. When Jesus said “it is finished”, Satan said “I am finished!”.

   7. What are we to do in the midst of all this? The Gospel will be preached. V14. Why? Because the gospel, the good news of the atoning work of Christ is the ONE AND ONLY antidote to DECEPTION! Setting the captives free. From what? DECEPTION. Before we can set others free, we need to be set free! How? By looking at the BRONZE SERPENT, the Atoning Work of Jesus on the cross.

READ: Luke 4:18-19