Hope That Ignites Your Heart – Part 1

The notion of the things you do behind-the-scenes and nobody else is he knows your deeds.

He's going to reward you himself you're listening to, and Graham Watson. Her introduction to this week's message on living in the lion these past weeks, abandoning credible journey in one of the most powerful books of the Bible, Revelation, and is been leaving us step-by-step, sharing your passion for God's word in this eyewitness account by John of God's plan for our future. Now, if you've missed any of the previous programs you can hear them@andgrahamlots.org.

Now here's an with today's message starting with a reminder from Revelation chapter 22 verse six. I'm coming soon.

He says and remember these words are trustworthy and should do believe he's coming soon. I mean soon. Matthew 24 Jesus told his disciples how to tell time because people come to me nice and every generation expected Jesus to come back in their lifetime.

And I say yes and they say so and I say so you know what, where the only generation has all of the signs within one generation, everything that's been done necessary to all the prophecy that needs to be fulfilled before Jesus comes back in the rapture has been fulfilled and all the signs he gave in Matthew 24 are being fulfilled and have been in my lifetime and site calls and birth pains. If you go through the signs, you put them in the categories but birth pains. As most of us know. Start out maybe like a low back ache and then they wrap around in an increase in frequency five minutes, four minutes three minutes two minutes and then is increasing frequency increase in intensity until the end. I was hollering.

I can take one more pain than the baby again and Jesus is saying when you see the sun. All of these typhoons, volcanic eruptions, floods, wars, false prophets, persecution as it's increasing in frequency and increasing in intensity, meaning that is record-breaking. You know the record that was sent last year is not broken by the record a month ago and that one is broken by the one that happened this week and we just see the increasing frequency and intensity, says the baby is coming. The kingdom is at the door, but then he gave to signs that just nail it down and one he gave the parable of the fig tree, I will go into it, but I believe it's the rebirth of the nation of Israel, and he says that the generation sees the rebirth of the nation of Israel is the generation it will see his return.

And then he says my words are to heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away, not even a jot or tittle and he says that right after saying the generation that sees all of these things take place within one generation, including the rebirth of the nation of Israel is the last generation and I was born the same month that Israel was reborn May 1948 I'm 65, for those of you are sitting there thinking I believe it's not. Whatever generation he is my daddy said, and what the generation 40 years, seven years as a daddy. I don't know but it's mine you know that's what Jesus said and then to just clench it in verse 14. In Matthew 24 he said, then the gospel of this kingdom will be preached in the whole world. He didn't say to the whole world is in the whole world. Maybe not everybody will hear it, but it will be preached in the world and he says then the end will come in today. The gospel is being preached in the whole world. If you don't get in a live presentation. You can get on the Internet, radio, television, ham radio and printed material in your first language second language or third language is being preached over the whole all the things that happen since World War II ends my daddy's ministry for one people say who will follow Billy Graham.

Nobody will follow.

Billy Graham is a phenomena is worldwide evangelism and in the same time BGA or the Billy Graham evangelistic Association was founded so was campus Crusade for Christ and young life and youth for Christ Fellowship of Christian athletes and navigators and inner bars is even interesting, all those organizations that got people into the word and began to preach the gospel all over the world and that's not counting all the churches that are been sending missionaries and other nations were sending missionaries and the gospel is being preached to the whole world and Jesus said then the end will come. So you stay faithful to the words.

The message is true and is very timely because I believe my generation is the last generation.

I believe were living at the end of human history as we know, alright qualified I could be wrong. I don't think so, but let me tell you this, when I step into eternity. That's the end of the world for me right so I'm looking to be wrong.

So why lie knowing that one day it's going to be over and see you stay faithful to the words because it's true and it's very timely. Jesus is coming either at your death was coming at his return. Because of my age. Both are going to be soon. I the messenger party talked about this when you share the word with others you may be honored and people may come up. And thank you and say how wonderful you are and how blessed the and you be very quick to humbly say it's not me, it's the Lord, you point them to Jesus. What you do that. Corrie 10 boom is a wonderful Dutch lady. If you read her story and she hit the Jews during Nazi Germany and she has a story that she told that afterward she came out after because she hit the Jews and she was put into concentration camp had horrific suffering and God spared her so they could bring her out she could share his story in a wonderful way and she said that when people come up director should spoken and they would say courier wonderful and you know the server build her up and she said she would just take their thanks and praise.

Your blessings are like a flower and she would collect the flowers that were brought to her at the end of the day, she would give her bouquet to the Lord and for myself.

Let me tell you something. When people give me that kind of praise and blessing on the way to the end of the day. I just I'm in my significant content people space and I'm just giving up okay I just wouldn't dare touch his glory because I know I know like the wedding servants at Cana saw the water go in and they saw the wind come out and that said only the servants knew the servant knows the water that goes in and the one that comes out and I know it's the Lord. So I would be very dishonest if I receive the praise. In the thanks and a blessing for myself to understand. So the same goes for you when you preach when you teach when you're sharing the gospel and people will make of you and it can be tempting to think you know you're really special and how wonderful you were and how he known whatever and there's so really blessed to have you in the church in teaching that class. Whatever you not let the thoughts are in your mind, but when you have those thought you just bring them to the cross and you have knowledge and I want to point them to you is one reason we don't use too many personal illustrations in our messages because we want to keep pointing people to Jesus. Don't get them confused in this angel was very honest. And when John fell down to worship the angel said don't do that I'm a servant like you and people that stand on the platform for servants like anybody else.

So be faithful to the word and if your messenger people may honor you, but you make sure that you stay humble were faithful to the words and faithful because of the message messenger. The motivation to be faithful. Verse 10 little phrase.

The time is near. And that's a motivating factor. Time is running out and were not going to have maybe tomorrow the share the word even read the word ourselves into a platen to live it out to correct some things, since the obedient to some things and at times I just think Jesus, thank you that you haven't come yet because I need to change this and I need to get this straight not need that relationship reconciled and I want to witness to that person. I just want to see it one more time I can get them to Christ. Want to see that person is set free, but time is running out.

The time is near and I believe the time is now in verse 11.

He says that verse that Henry does wrong continue to do wrong with him was about continue to be evolving into is what it does what's right continue to do right. Let him who is holy, continue to be holy and I think he's just saying at the end of this book. If the revelation of Jesus Christ doesn't make an impact on a person's life if the gospel efforts being shared from Genesis to Revelation. Doesn't get through. If it doesn't lead the rebellious to repentance. If it doesn't leave sinners to salvation. If it doesn't lead the religious to relationship with God and God is nothing more to say. He has said it and I believe the time is now. Now is the day of salvation. And I'm just wondering if there is somebody here who is still resisting the cross.

For whatever reason, and you're still resisting humbling yourself. Maybe because of pride may be rebellious maybe are just so set in your ways. The way you're raising your traditions. You can't get over that mental block, but today is a day of salvation for you.

I'm telling you, do not leave until you know that you know that you are say the time is now. There may not be another time like this near the Bible says that if today is a salvation. You hear the message and you hear the invitation and you don't respond when you leave, then next time you hear the gospel message. There's like a shell of your heart and so you just not quite as clued in on the next time is another shell, another layer to your heart is hard and you can't repent your heart is too hard.

So if if God is spoken to you, pray for somebody here that he is stirred your heart and you're afraid because you're going to have to reject so much of the way you are raising so much of the way you've been trained in so much of your thinking process.

But listen to me let God break down those wall that the barriers fall and you just embrace Jesus like a child. The time is near and the time is right now for salvation and the time is now for you and me to share the gospel. We may not have another minute to share the gospel member and evangelist in Amsterdam sharing something.

This testimony was in Africa and he was leading a revival and he shared the gospel one night, but he didn't give the invitation because he thought I'll come back tomorrow night and give the invitation tomorrow night. No one overkill.

It on his way home. Some bandits stopped and they beat him almost to death.

They left him beside the road. He was three months in the hospital. He never got back to finish his revival and he said he learned a lesson he would never again not given in because he didn't have a chance again. So when you have the opportunity you take it you may not have it again.

I got so many instances in my life of failure. When I had the opportunity and I didn't take and I'll tell you what it's the most miserable thing to live with and I have had to go back and back and back to the cross because the pain of wondering what would've happened had I shared the gospel.

Who would've come to Christ… Maybe they wouldn't have, but I don't know that because I never share so the time is near the time is now.

Don't miss the opportunity. So were to be faithful to the word and faithful to the work and you can be faithful with expectancy do the work expectantly. Verse 12 it says, behold, I'm coming soon. My reward is with me. You my daddy traveled a lot when I was growing up, and whenever he came home he brought a surprise and I learned later course, it was just something it picked up in the airport. Something in the little gift shop at the hotel so little stuffed animal toy, or just but it was something we got so excited about when our daddy came to the door. We welcome them, but we're looking in a suitcase is the prize was in when Jesus comes back, he's going to have prizes with to give you an reward for your life's work is like gold. Some of her precious and you're going to have the joy of taking the crown the prize that he gives you and laying in at his feet so you do the work with expectancy is going to be rewarded. He knows your deeds. Remember, even the things you do behind the scenes and nobody else is no should be and he's going to reward you himself, and you're going to say it was worth it is a redo the work expectantly.

We do it seriously in verse 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life. Only those who wash their robes. Only those who been to the cross. Only those of been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Only the ones of humble themselves and come like a little child, but all their trust in Jesus there.

The ones who wash their robes.

They are the only ones who have the right to the tree of life. The tree of life is eternal life. Jesus said eternal life is knowing God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit in a personal passion permanent relationship. Eternal life is not just going to have an eternal life is your relationship with God, which is heaven and I know heaven is a place but eternal life is not just being in heaven heaven it's it's not only God and having him know you and you go through the gates of the city you can walk through those pearly gates with absolute confidence that you welcome. You have to be afraid.

You have to be ensure you have to be hesitant you'll have to stumble. You can just walk right in. Because you're the father shall not go home the big fence around the property a gate, no ordinary person can't get through outcome. Let them know I'm coming in the gate rolls back and I got the cause on the father shall not ever think twice about it and the gates are going to be wide open and we can walk right hand because her robes washed in with her father's child and he's expecting us and we don't have to hesitate.

We don't have to be question, we just walk right in. Thoughts outsides are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, sexually immoral, the murderers and idolaters. Everyone who loves and practices falsehood you look back to chapter 21 verse eight cowardly, unbelieving, those who just don't believe the Bible is true.

Don't believe the gospel don't believe the cross is the only way to God.

Don't believe Jesus is the son of God, a good man but not the unique son of God, the Volvo, the murderers, the sexually immoral, we get all hung up on homosexuality, but any immorality outside of marriage between a man sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts idolaters liars, their lawyers are put in that list their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. That's the second first step is when you die physically. The second death is when you die spiritually and you go to hell I'm going to take a minute and I'm going to run you through hell. Okay, I mean a description of sigh and the reason I want to do this is in case anybody here tends to be complacent. We want to take doing the work seriously because it's life-and-death business hell is a real place.

The Bible give you the verses with Bible describes Hell is a place of great suffering, weeping and gnashing of teeth. The only time I gnash my teeth was in childbirth because I hurt, and as a place of pain, physical torment, heaven is a place where there's no more suffering or death or mourning or crying or pain. Hell is described as a bottomless pits that fell into a bottomless pit. I would be terrified because you never feel like you're going to land you just always feel insecure and scared and heaven is a place that is safe and secure within those 200 foot walls. Hell is described as a lake that undulates and changes in your never feel secure in heaven is built on 12 foundations absolutely stable unshakable hell is described as a place of total darkness where the sun never rises it never shown people say you know I want to go to hell because all my friends are there and have a party and all your friends may be in hell but you never see him because it's dark. One of the worst parts of suffering is at night when everything is dark and is nothing to distract you from the pain and agony in the hopelessness and the fear memories and when you go to hell. It's dark and is nothing to distract you from yourself or your physical torments in the spiritual torments in the memories and the pain total darkness.

Heaven is a place with is no more nights is no darkness at all. Hell is a place we are all alone is like solitary confinement. Heaven is a place for the kings of nations bring their glory into it.

God's children gathered together and we worship you, and we have fellowship with him and hell is described as a place of fire, which would be intense, thirst, dissatisfaction always feel your creative or something, but you never get always hungry for something in your never satisfied and heaven is described as a place where there's a river of life that flows continuously that brings healing.

Worst of all hell is a place that is totally devoid of God's presence. So you created by God and for God you're completely separated from heaven is a place we'll see God's fate and you'll never be separated from he puts his name on your four head region and your heavenly home you live with him forever. So do the work seriously.

That's one reason we see that judgment so patients and there was that pause in that progression and that precision is God's warning the world. One just restraining himself because he knows what hell is like and he knows how long. Eternity is and he doesn't want anybody to go there and you enough.

We have the heart of God. We want anybody to go there either. So who you going to share the gospel with who do you know who's going to hell right now and you know God doesn't send anybody know he did, the antichrist and the beast, but we send ourselves their when we reject his salvation. In fact, there's a fox you know in the last verse of chapter 21 it says nothing impure will enter heaven or anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. When you come to the cross and you receive Christ by faith. Your name is written in the Lamb's book of life.

But there's another book and everybody was ever born the human race. The name is recorded there, and Jesus died for the whole world. So could it be that he died for the whole world and everybody in the world is ever born of the human race is say, but if they don't come to the cross and claimed that salvation when they step into eternity. Their name is its erased from the book of Psalms I get to heaven, and the open up the book and they see my name is underneath going to be a blank space because I didn't share the gospel with somebody who has say, but they never knew it and they didn't accept it and they didn't claim it. And so their name is blotted out. We do the work seriously. We don't want anybody to go to hell do we do it confidently. Verse 16 Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches you have the full authority of the son of God.

There's no one with higher authority in the whole universe to his ambassador. People say you have to earn the right to share the gospel. Somebody know you don't hear on the right. He gives you the right you going share the gospel and maybe won't do it right. Maybe somebody will be offended. Maybe somehow ask a question you cannot you just keep on doing it because we do it dependently in the next verse.

It says the Spirit and the bride say, come that whoever is thirsty come when you share the gospel. You're not the Holy Spirit is in you and drawing that person to Jesus. I love the story about the woman at the gas pump and you love that he's just pumping gas is that you must go and get your payment or something, he goes and he finds this Muslim woman who for 40 years has been having dreams about Jesus and amazing and we can just say for four years for all these people that should've been sharing the gospel. But thank God Tom showed up finally took you a long time.but shows up and we share the gospel is just like you just fell off of the tree. She was so right because the spirit was working in there and working through time and it was a thing that Tom and the spirited together and she was born again to see and so sometimes we don't know who the spirits and working in rights to just share the gospel with every body you come across somebody once in a while you're the disciples fished all night and they pulled up and that there was no fish in the Jesus I threw it on the other.

He told them where to go for every morning. Give me an opportunity to trust somebody to Jesus to tell somebody about the cross to tell somebody the gospel just prayed go through your day with your eyes open, looking to lose opportunity you take them.

If it doesn't seem to work and you just prayed going to the next person. Just keep now here's a man with this final word wire you and I so preoccupied with our own happiness and celebration Christ that were oblivious to a lost and dying world to the woman seeking love in multiple marriages and relationships.

The spirit says come come to the well of living water that satisfies you will never thirst again. The man was a workaholic striving so hard to achieve the good life and provide comfortably for his family, yet never seeming to have enough this spirit says come come to the bread of life and eat until your field, the one who is burdened with a heavy load of sin and guilt, the spirit says come come to the Savior who died to cleanse you of all sin and absolve you of all guilt. The one who's been abused, abandoned, attacked and takes pills to get up in the morning and pills to make it through the day and more pills again at night to sleep. He says come come to the light of the world who can turn your dark night of depression and despair in the day, the one who is consumed with worry suffering from panic attacks.

He says come come to the Prince of peace will give you peace that passes all understanding who relayed the invitation to you to come to Jesus. When did you respond to whomever you issued the invitation, the vision of the glory of Jesus helps us to be faithful in our witness because it makes us aware that any moment.

The one who is Lord and King may return for his bride and those who do not belong to him will be left to endure his judgment. How many people do you know who would come under the judgment of God.

If Jesus were to return today named them how many people will be saved from judgment because you are faithful to extend them. His invitation to come. Make it a priority to be faithful to invite people to come to Jesus now you been listening to living in the light and when you go to and grandma start work there free resources to help you in your study of God's word and's desire is that you embrace a God filled life step-by-step choice by choice living in the light