Here is what is on tap for this Sunday at First Love Church of Costa Mesa. Services start at 10:00 AM and there is child care. We are at 1945 Placentia Ave. Costa Mesa 92627 in the Hurley Compound. You can also visit our website at firstlovechurch.net for audio sermon archives, daily devotionals and prayer requests. ENDURING TO THE END, MATTHEW 10:16-23 PASTOR PETE CROPSEY FIRST LOVE CHURCH 7/28/13 Last week the focus of our talk was really about the desperate need we have as Christians to be well versed in the scriptures. Unfortunately there is a wide spread deficiency in this throughout the church. Many people have become accustomed to having their pastor serve up a couple of messages a week and rather than that stir them to search out truths on their own they have become satisfied with just hearing some preaching and mistakenly think that this will suffice in watering the garden of righteousness that God has planted in their hearts. But I promise you that without individual time in the Word that garden will not bear much fruit. Concerning these portions of scripture we have been exploring we need to remember that it was a preparatory message that Jesus was giving the disciples as He prepared them for their mission of evangelizing the land. Chapter 10 verse 5 says, “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them saying”, and then for the next 34 verses He instructs them. The thing that is interesting is the fact that He doesn’t deal only with that present time the disciples were in but the entire church age as well as what the climate will be for tribulation saints in the time following the rapture. I have no doubt that while the true meaning of what Jesus was telling them may have eluded them at the time that as the conditions the church would be facing during the end times began to emerge from the Old Testament prophecies as well as Jesus own words in passages like we find in Mathew 24, known as the Olivet discourse that the disciples developed accurate end times doctrines. Let’s look at just a piece of the words of Jesus in Matthew 24. Matthew 24:4-14 Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. As they became the authors of the New Testament their own studies of the prophetic scriptures combined with the things Jesus told them gave them a very accurate picture of what the future would hold for the church. I shared this passage with you last week but here it is again. Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power. In the gospels we have recorded for us many of the things that Jesus said and did but by no means do we have all the things Jesus said and did. John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. These are the very last words John records in his gospel and so for me at least it is easy to imagine many hours of intense revelation by Jesus relating to the scriptures and to events coming to pass in the course of fulfilling God’s plan for man. So for us because we have the entire canon of scripture we can fairly easily determine the time frames that Jesus speaks about here. So let’s break on in to our reading for this morning. At the same time we will review last weeks passage as there is a point I want to make there. So beginning in Matthew 10 verse 16 reading through verse 22. Matthew 10:26-22 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. The first clue that we have that Jesus is not so much talking about this first commission to go out as later and on through the entire church age is in the fact that there is no record of the disciples facing any persecution at all during this first time being sent out. They were not delivered up to councils nor were they scourged in the synagogues. Most of the persecution began after the ultimate act of persecution, the murder of the Messiah. It wasn’t until after the resurrection that the disciples who by then were referred to as apostles, meaning sent ones, really began to face persecution. These were the ones Jesus sent to kick off the entire church age and establish through their Holy Spirit guided writings everything about the way we worship God. The New Testament epistles are the equivalent of a thesis of the entire history of God’s dealing with man and man’s response, in both man’s failure and in his success. Definition time again. A thesis is a dissertation on a particular subject in which one has done original research, it is a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections. The epistles, the apostles had done the original research and what they wrote was put forward for consideration especially to be discussed and proven, maintained and then lived by against any and all objections. But back to our passage we do not find this description of persecution taking place until the book of Acts. Matthew 10:17-20 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. The entire book of Acts chronicles events that fit this description to a tee. The first event being found in Acts chapter 4. The first three chapters of Acts detail the coming of the Holy Spirit and the subsequent powerful preaching by Peter that bore amazing fruit in the conversion of thousands. Acts 2:40-43 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. In Acts 4 we find the reaction of the leaders and the manifestation of Jesus predictions. Acts 4:1-4 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. How awesome that during the time they were in custody that 2000 more people got saved? But as you continue reading through chapter 4 you see Jesus words come to life as they are in fact brought before councils. Acts 4:5-7 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” And then something else Jesus had said comes right to the fore. Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said to them,” and he goes on t lay it out fully empowered by the Holy Spirit. Remember what Jesus had said? Matthew 10:18-20 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. While Peter may have been just a fisherman he was also a Jew and certainly had a working knowledge of the Old Testament albeit from a totally Jewish perspective. However after much time hearing Jesus interpretation of the Old Testament he was by this time very astute in the handling of the Word. You can bet you bottom dollar that each and every one of those twelve men were deep in the scriptures from the moment they were called to follow the Lord. How should it be for you and for me? So the entire book of Acts records both the growing of the church but also exactly what Jesus had warned about concerning persecution. So moving on Jesus takes another jump and lands in times that straddle both the present time we are in as well as the post rapture period of the tribulation saints. Matthew 10:21-23 Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Persecution has always been part and parcel for the church in this world. But the apostles and Saints the world over ever since have stood up and been counted faithful in times of the worst persecution adopting this mindset. 1Peter 3:13-17 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. Further on Peter said this; 1 Peter 4:12-15 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. And you may say, “Yeah but Pastor Pete brothers killing brothers, parents and children killing each other?” Well, there are religious extremists who have and do kill their family members for getting saved and proclaiming Christ. They are called honor killings and they are real and do happen. But in this case it says that family members will deliver each other up to be put to death which means that the death sentence for being a Christian will already be in place. This is a direct result of refusing to accept the mark of the beast during the second half of the seven year tribulation period called The Great Tribulation. You can go on our website and listen to a series I did called The Rapture And The Tribulation. It is on the Wednesday night archives. There will be millions who come to faith in the tribulation, who face the death squads of the antichrist and refuse the mark and instead become sealed by the Holy Spirit. Many of these will have been people who have been delivered up by family. Revelation 7:9-17 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” There are going to be a whole lot of folks getting saved in those days and it will not be an easy way to the Lord. There will be incredible persecution. I am sure that there will be task forces assigned to seek out those who refuse the mark of the beast and it is when their relatives are themselves threatened with death that Jesus’ words will come true. But not just that, it will be extremely difficult to grasp hold of the truth and get saved because of the spiritual blindness so permeating every aspect of life at that time. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. ‘ Regarding the power of the antichrist and his system the book of Revelation tells us much. Revelation 13:15-17 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Revelation 14:9-11 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” So let’s look back at out passage in Mathew 10 for this morning, Matthew 10:21-23 Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. But he who endures to the end will be saved. If you are here this morning and you do not receive Christ and the rapture takes place and you find yourself in the tribulation period then the kind of enduring you will be challenged to do is a far cry from the enduring you would have to do as a believer. But he who endures to the end will be saved. That is where the hope lies for us. Enduring is overcoming so listen to this. 2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 1 John 5:4-5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Revelation 2:7 To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’ Revelation 2:17 To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it Revelation 3:5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. Revelation 3:18-21 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Commentary in the Lord and close in prayer and invitation.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 16:29:39 +0000
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