Sermon Notes

Intro

1. Jesus, John, Paul, Peter – all emphasize being ready for the ET.
2. The greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the greatest pressure in history will occur in the generation that Jesus returns.
3. The Wise & Foolish Bridesmaids of Matt.25
   1. Be prepared
   2. What you did during the delay will be revealed in the night season
4. 6 Things you can do to get prepared for the ET
   1. I believe these have to be deeply held convictions…things that you will not budge on.

A Personal Revelation of the Goodness and Love of God – Rom.8.31-39; Ps.103; John 15.9; John 17.20-26

An Absolute Conviction in the Authority of Scripture – Luke 21.33, 2 Tim.3.16

Strong Relationships with Other Believers – Acts 2.42-47; Heb.10.25

A Vibrant Faith – Matt.22.34-39

1. What does it look like?
   1. Passion for God, the Kingdom of God, a hunger for the Holy Spirit
   2. You want more of God in your life and more of His kingdom in the world. You are content but dissatisfied; you are grateful for what you have but you’re longing for more. I’m glad for the small work but I’m looking for the mountain shaking works of God. It’s a joy-filled Tension.
   3. It’s a growing, expectant, fruitful, positive, persevering, all encompassing (body, soul & spirit) faith.
   4. It’s the opposite of the Luke 21.34 believer. You are fully awake and prepared
   5. Visiting the Base Fire Station
      1. The guys are physically, mentally and positionally ready for any event. They prepare, train, stay fit so that at a moment’s notice they can respond. While on shift they exercise, go through scenarios, make sure equipment is ready, keep their training current, stay on site, etc. They do not sit around on pins and needles, but they are prepared.
2. Why is this critical during the ET?
   1. There is a major distinction between the children of the Light and the children of darkness…the wheat and tares. It will be amplified in the ET. Right now, there is a growing distinction, but there is coming a stark distinction. COVID-19 is a winnowing experience.
   2. There is no middle ground. You will either have a fervent faith or faltering faith; it’s hot or cold. You will be standing your ground and advancing or in full retreat.
3. How do you get there?
   1. Lordship issue and willingness to take a risk.
   2. Long term, consistent, adventurer. Anyone who is bored in their faith journey has simply limited their travel to the same familiar paths.
      1. Illust of growing in my understanding of prayer.

Happy Holiness – Matt.5.48; Rev.19.7-8

1. What does it look like?
   1. Holiness – different, unique, separate, unlike anything in this world
      1. It involves moral purity and doing the right thing. But the biggest idea of holiness is having The opposite spirit of this world – Matt.5.38-47
      2. Richie R forgiving the drunk driver who killed his wife
   2. I want to embrace and live out the better virtues of life. 1 John 4.16b-17
2. Why is this important in the ET?
   1. 2 Tim.3.1-4 – the characteristics of people living in ET – uncaring, self-centered, greedy, immoral, unloving towards others.
      1. Jesus likens the ET environment with Lot’s  and Sodom and Gomorrah.
         1. Ezek.16.49-50: Behold, this was the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters (outlying cities) had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.
            ⁵⁰ They were haughty and committed repulsive acts before Me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.
      2. Luke 21.34-37: Licentiousness – breaking internal and cultural restraints. The character of any society is how it takes care of its most vulnerable.
   2. Believers will have the opposite spirit – Matt.25.31-46
      1. Compassion, tenderness, forgiveness, caring, service…loving your neighbors.
      2. Moral purity, innocence towards evil, repulsed by immorality
      3. Eph 5.27 – He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
3. How do you get there?
   1. Rom.12.1-2 – yielded life and renewal of your mind.
   2. Positive actions towards the needy and broken.

A Billion Year Mindset – Matt.25.14-30; 2 Cor.4.16-18

1. Why is this important in the ET?
   1. Things are so challenging or we get so distracted that we lose perspective and the Big Picture. We are so caught up in the moment that we forget the Long Term view.
      1. We are so caught up looking at our phones that we don’t see the scenery.
      2. Experience at Yosemite and so many on their phones.
      3. 2 Cor.4 – everything is light and momentary when we compare it to the length and experience of what lies ahead for the believer. It’s real and painful but it’s only for a few short years.
   2. Our experience of the Fullness of Life is determined by what we do in this life. WE are to take the raw materials we have – brain, body, relationships, time, culture, opportunities, giftings, experiencing, etc – and grow and develop.
      1. THE #1 Sign of a Believer is Fruitfulness – bearing good fruit. It’s not what comes out of your mouth, but what is produced with your life.
      2. Your fruitfulness in this life will translate into great rewards in the next!
   3. Though it’s all momentary, but it’s all important!
2. How do you get there?
   1. Reflect upon it.
      1. I’m standing in front of Jesus one day to give an account for my life…to receive the rewards for all the things that I did with my life –
      2. A world of no brokenness or limitations b/c of sin or evil b/c of satan
      3. Everything in harmony
   2. Considering the vastness of the universe and God’s focus is on us. This little grain of sand and He loves us.