Things to Do Before the End of the World | Anticipating the Return of Christ

Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God.

Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith in Jesus and let your light so so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father was in heaven today on regulatory hope to see the way the Lord wants to wait for the return of Jesus also was of a hospital. So for pray for the doing those things that we do in the name of the more our culture gets darker, we shine brighter and along with them on hold music or pencil you daydream a little few of us enjoy weight, but we are all in a waiting mode right now as we write you pastor Greg Laurie points out, the Lord doesn't want to you want us to bring life and life for those around. Maybe we are not waiting on God, waiting for you to believe that Jesus could come back in your lifetime reason.

You believe it possible, if you believe that Jesus Christ could come back. It saw okay that's good. Let's just say for the sake of a point that we knew that Jesus Christ was returning for 3 o'clock in the afternoon tomorrow. The person would want to do is make sure our clocks are set properly right now. We know this is impossible because no man knows the day of the hour, but having said that, just of the thinkable point. Let's say when you Jesus was coming tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM. I am sure we would all look like St. at 245 right nobody would be messing around would be wearing our Sunday morning smiles and we would have her come quickly. Jesus attitudes will affect because that's the way we ought to be. Every day Martin Luther once said, quote there are two days on my calendar this day and that day and that day he was referring to was the day of the Lord's return.

The fact is we should live every day as though it were the day Christ were coming back.

We should live every day as though it were our last day so and one as the great evangelist DL Moody. How would you spend the last day on earth if you knew it was her last day. How would you spend it. His response was, I wouldn't do anything different than I do every day.

That is the way that we should live as Christian. So this is our last message in the book of Daniel, and Daniel is to a large degree a prophetic book which means it speaks of things to come. That's what we called it. End of days. It's a counterpart in the Old Testament to the New Testament book of Revelation.

There's a lot in Daniel about the Lord's imminent return and there's a lot in the Bible about the Lord's return as well. There are 260 chapters in the New Testament in Christ return is mentioned no less then 318 times in those chapters. In fact, statistically, one verse every 25 verses in the Bible mentions the return of Jesus Christ. So this is very it's an emphasis of Scripture you know I just wrote this book Jesus revolution about the last great American revival, and I pointed out our last message that one of the earmarks of that revival was we believe Jesus was coming back again. So some of your hearing this new "your timing was just a little bit off like maybe by 45 years yeah will look here's my response would never been closer to the return of the Lord than we are right now are 45 years, closer, and I still believe that with all of my heart. Besides the Bible says one day with God is as a thousand years a thousand years as one day the Lord is not late as some men count lateness but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Yes, it's true we were praying for Jesus to come back in the early 70s. Let me ask a question to make a point. How many of you become a Christian.

Since 1975. Raise your hand up since 19.

Aren't you glad God didn't answer our prayers. You have gone to the tribulation. So good news is the Lord's waiting for that last person to believe. Can you imagine if you actually knew who the last person was that was holding everything up by God's waiting for the last person when they believe were out here we have the rapture happened, if you knew was, would you be tempted to apply pressure on them a little bit like when you get saved, already.

We don't know who the last person is what the Lord does. But of course we need to be ready so here in Daniel 12.

The profit is given one final vision is given. Sort of a glimpse behind the veil of the supernatural world. The world of God and Satan of demons and angels and of the afterlife as well. Daniel 12 verse one.

At that time Michael the Archangel, who stands guard over your nation will rise though be a time of anguish greater than any since nation's first game into existence. But at that time. Every one of your people, whose name is written in the book will be rescue Daniel is referring here to the tribulation period that we talked about at length the last seven years begins with the emergence of antichrist and ends with the return of Jesus Christ continues on many of those as bodies lie dead and buried, will rise up some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky and those who lead many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever. There the Bible teaches that there is coming a day when Christians will be judged now understand the Bible speaks of the great white throne judgment. Toward the end of Revelation. That is a judgment that only nonbelievers will stand before we read the small and the great stand before God and the books are open and a book is open which is the book of life, however, is not found written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire. That's for nonbelievers only know Christians will be there. No Christian would want to be there but there's another judgment seat for Christians.

This one is not about whether or not you get in the habit because in fact this judgment seat. I'm talking about happens in heaven is called the judgment seat of Christ, where we will receive rewards for our faithful service to the Lord and God does give rewards out and I went to my grandson soccer game yesterday is Christopher.

He's only five he's playing soccer quite well.

I bribed them ahead of time. I said if you score a goal. I'll buy you a toy that work for his sister. She wasn't scoring any goals.

I said if you score a goal. I'll buy you a doll.

She scored a goal in the next game I said I'll get you a doll. She scored three goals I stop saying it is getting to expect, but but I don't think Christopher scored a goal yet so I said that to mature love. You scored a goal. Now here's the problem with sports for kids nowadays they don't keep score right because everyone's a winner right so tycoon is a good nobody knows are all winners and and I think this is ridiculous. By the way, I think we should keep score. There should be a winner and a loser, because verse setting them up for a lie because in life there's winners and losers against what in heaven.

There are those who achieve and receive rewards and there are those that don't achieve so much and will receive no reward going to take everyone's a winner on the way we are could really have but do you want to really have nothing to show for your life when you're in heaven. You see I'm to get to heaven because of what God has done for me by sending Jesus to die on the cross by grace I'm saved through faith, not of works lest any man should boast. The Bible says. But now, because I'm a Christian because I been saved by God, I should want to do things for him so describing this judgment. First Corinthians 3 says that judgment day fire will reveal what kind of work. Each builder has done the fire will show if a person's work is any value of the work survives that builder will receive a reward of the work is burned up. The builder will suffer great loss builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames so we want to be rewarded in that day because of our faithful service to the Lord, Esther, Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment in such a blessing to hear from listeners who take time to express their appreciation and you are my favorite. After your video on the radio in Ohio. One day I heard you were talking and was excited because I was actually making.

During that time the music artist most green one month before my husband and I were scheduled to help clean costs first killed in a plane crash. It was a real blow cannot perform in person music and ankle heaven one day and continuing God. If your life is been impacted through the ministry of harvest which you let Pastor Greg know just drop him an email craig@harvest.org again. That's great@harvest.org and find out more about the Jesus music movie available through us harvest.org Pastor Greg is presenting his final study in our Daniel series today a message called things to do before the end of the world right. Let's shift now from Daniel 12 over to Luke 12 Luke 12 this is a story that Jesus told about how we are to live as we await his return. It's called a parable, a parable is simply an earthly story with a heavenly meaning and illustration I reading from the new living translation. Luke 12 Jesus has been transferred. Service and keep your lamps burning, so you're waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.

Then you will be ready to open the door let him in. The moment he arrives and knocks the servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them put on an apron and serve them as they said any verse 38.

He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn, but whenever he comes overboard. The servants were ready understand this of a homeowner knew exactly what a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.

You must be ready all the time. For the Son of Man will come when least expected computer us an interesting question Lord is this illustration just for us present for everyone. The Lord replied of faithful sensible servant is one whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them that the master returns and finds that servant is done a good job there will be a reward of drop-down diverse 48 when someone is been given much, much will be required in return.

When someone is been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Jesus is using our first century illustration of a wedding. Weddings were different back in the days of Jesus and they are now weddings are very expensive now as a whole industry catering to it. People can spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a wedding now my wedding cost about $10 early 70s wedding. It was a hippie wedding. Okay, everybody had long hair and my wife was a vision of beauty. She actually wore the dress. Her mother was married in a classic white wedding dress timeless. I I don't know what I was thinking I picked the ugliest tuxedo ever made. I this, roughly sure the bow tie wide lapels.

I'm being honest I look like a pimp. That's this I had long hair long red beard. I don't know why she went through with it to see she should look to me and said but you know underneath all that Eric Kathy could see a bald man that's exactly what it was, you know 44 years later were going strong so were thankful to God.

It's not how much is spent well back to biblical times are winning like our weddings. You know, we sent out the invitation. You arrive.

The ceremony takes place, there's a reception following etc. back in these days, a wedding could last upwards to a week. It was a big event a big feast and there was sort of a fun element to it, everyone would arrive ready to go, but you did not know when the groom was coming so the groom I come in the morning or in the afternoon or in the evening and when he was on his way and announce it would be made.

The groom is coming.

Everybody fell in the place in the ceremony took place.

So with that in mind that's what Jesus is talking about maybe he will come later them were expecting okay so here's the point number one if you're taking notes.

We should be shining lights in a dark place. We should be shining lights in the dark place. Look at verse 35.

Address for service and keep your lamps burning back in those days everyone wore these long flowing robes so when it says that you are to have your lamps burning to be dressed or is King James puts it at your waist girded means, tighten your belt so they would wear a belt over there long flowing garment. In those days, and on the belt you might have a flask with oil for your little lamp in other things. And so the idea of tightening the belt was sort of pulling your robe up above your knee tightening the belt giving you freedom of movement right so that's the idea that's being conveyed and so we were to put it into our vernacular today.

It would be like saying have fresh batteries in your flashlight or have your phone charged webcast in your car. I don't know why this, but my wife loves to run my card to the bottom of empty associate since we have another 9 miles and I got to drive the car just praying I make it to the gas station right, that's not a good way to live and so the same way you want to have your tank filled want to have your phone charged and in light of the Lord's return. You want to be ready for his return.

So you take that fuel that oil, and you poured into your little dish up back in those days there there lights would be like a little clay – and you would have oil in it and a floating wick and so that's how you fueled your little first century flashlight so always have a little extra oil that flask on your belt so the ideas be brightly shining always have oil to shine brightly as our culture gets darker, we as Christians need to shine brighter, Jesus said, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Notice it says let your light shine so people see your good works, so it's not only talking about the gospel.

I think you know, we believe in talking about the gospel. Harvest if you know nothing you know that we believe in verbal proclamation were not ashamed of the gospel. Having said that, we need to live the gospel and we need to demonstrate in show the gospel to people being a good and godly neighbor of summons in a hospital you go visit them. Someone needs prayer. You pray for them that someone is hit hard time to take a meal to them doing those things that we do in the name of the Lord. Hey, if a child has no hope you bring hope to them.

We want to show compassion why Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew and I was hungry you fed me when I was thirsty, you gave me drink when I was a stranger, you took me into your home when I was naked you gave me clothing when I was sick you cared for me when I was in prison, you visited me as a disciple said well way, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you are thirsty and give you something to drink or a stranger, and show your hospitality, or naked, and give you clothing when we see you in prison to come and visit you and he said I tell you the truth when you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters.

You are doing it to me so were doing it for the Lord is only of all have three things we can give to God. Three things we can give to God our treasure, our talents and our time, our treasure, our talents and our time firsters our treasure and that's those finances that God is put under our care.

This is why we encourage every believer to give generously to the Lord because I find that your heart follows your money. Jesus said where your treasure is there with your heart be also. If you've invested in a certain stock. I'm certain you will follow that stock as you wanted to do well because if it does well you do well. So what I've invested in the kingdom of God. I'm interested in the benefits of its where we put our treasure, our hearts will follow.

Number two, there's our talent. God is blessed. Every believer, every person would talent you have natural talent and the newer gifting from the Holy Spirit. God gives gifts to people was talking to a young man the other day who is getting involved in ministry and he still trying to find this place and what is real gift is in.

I said you know what I did when I was your age I volunteered for everything.

I offered to do anything that no one else would do you know what I found out I was bad, a lot of stuff, but also found that I was good at. If you think a few things and some of those things apprise me. I didn't know that I got a gifting there, but I did and so we have these gifts that God has given us and we come and say I want to serve the Lord somehow finally, there's our time. Our time God gives to each of us 1440 minutes to use every day.

24 hours to invest. They have to sleep for part of that. Of course, before those other hours we were responsible for what we do with them. That is why the Bible says redeem the time, because the days are evil and that word redeem can be translated make sacred and wise use of every opportunity. So back to our story. Jesus is saying, have your bags packed and be ready to go.

Even if your master doesn't return as quickly as you would hope. Look at verse 38. He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready, so Jesus is saying even if I come later than you originally expected to read encouragement from Pastor Greg Laurie from his message called things to do before the end of the world you will have more force. Next time you're on a new beginning as he wraps up his series called End of Days. So, have you seen the film called the Jesus music is now out on DVD. It's a fast-paced vision with some of the pioneers. What we now call contemporary Christian music. It was often a musical expression of how lost they were until they found the Lord Tommy Combs of love song drugs didn't work all the freethinking jealousy… Just left peeping rather hopeless beginning at the bottom line Kaiser of resurrection morning size didn't go away even though we exercise our freedom to me to experience what we want structural parts of myself still empty.

Still clueless sitting there kind of bewildered thinking like a pair started here about Calvary pastor Greg Moore every night.

It was something you knew Ben would form a new song this new thing called Jesus music hot fire hearts on fire for the Lord.

I saw contemporary Christian music board baryons Michael W Smith… One record is read Marinol sat on a white cover on the everlasting Jesus constantly made the out for about $4000.

It went on to sell 200,000 units labeled D this is a new resource were offering to our listeners that I know they're going to love. Let me tell you a story that I really told I was in a Christian band for one night. One night, this is early 70s right Calvary Chapel is experiencing the Jesus movement in full force, all these new bands are literally forming left and right and so I was over the little home Bible study and one of the guys there was a very good guitar player and songwriter and singer. Then there was another guy who is an amazing flautist is not obviously a flag to strike really incredible he could play that flute like there was no tomorrow. So my friend singing this song and the flautist is playing his flute and I'm sort of keeping time on the coffee table kind of drumming a little bit and someone said let's form a band and I think I remember the band was bright and morning star something like that. So we went on the cover general hey were brand-new.

Ben, can we play and that they said sure you're you're on tonight. The next thing I know I'm standing on the stage with a competent musician on guitar, another competent musician on a flute and I'm standing there with a conga drum and I you know I couldn't scrub on a coffee table and I got I got nervous I couldn't keep time with the song and immediately discovered. This is not by calling but you know this just sort of gives you a sense of the times as all these bands are forming bands like love song names like country, faith, general faith lot of feedback in those days the way and others that were creating a new kind of music. Now let me explain. Up to that point basically in the church you would find traditional hymns. The, the odd folksong here and there but no drum sets no amplifiers, no electric guitars, but that is what was happening so I saw contemporary Christian music happened before my very eyes, and a front row seat for a spiritual awakening, and so this is been captured in a beautiful way by the Irwin brothers out from the kingdom story company who produces documentary film called the Jesus music and we want to offer it to you for your gift of any size. Sometimes people say that I really mean my gift of any size. Yes it does. Some give a little, some give more. Some may give a bit more whatever you can give will invested in our ministry to continue to teach the word of God and preach the gospel and I want to thank you need to answer that and I will send you a special little package. It has the DVD and the Blu-ray and a downloadable code so you can watch the Jesus music on your computer on your laptop on your phone or whatever device you have so order it right now were so excited offer to you the Jesus music. Let me had one other thing this movie is sort of the forerunner if you will about major film that's coming out next year called Jesus revolution. The film organist send you is a documentary. But this other film is going to be a feature film shown all around the world.

So get ready and learn about your spiritual heritage and order your copy of the Jesus music right now. Yeah that's right we have it waiting for you will send it to say thank you for your generous investment in teaching believers in reaching unbelievers as we do each day here on a new beginning again is called the Jesus music and you can call us anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 orders online to harvest.org the next time pastor Greg as is practical insights on how we can be ready for the turn of our Lord.

Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible feature Greg Laurie and everybody thinks you're listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it.

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