How to Live in the Last Days

Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham a little later in the program will tell you how you can get a copy of Dr. Graham's brand-new book to reignite the first hears his message how to live in the last day Bibles and opened it with James chapter 5 James chapter 5 James writes in verse seven. The patient therefore, brothers, unto the coming of the Lord see how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth being patient about it until he receives the early in the light rain. You also be patient, establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. That is a mere do not grumble against one another brothers so that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. The whole we consider those blasted remain steadfast you heard of the steadfastness or the patience of Job and you've seen the purpose of the Lord how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all my brothers do not swear either by heaven or earth or by any other of, but let your yes be yes and your no no so that you may not fall under condemnation, how to live in the last days number one the repair be prepared earlier in chapter 5. As I mentioned, James writes to wicked man wealthy ungodly men, who are living self-indulgent lives.

Lovers of self, as the Scripture says, rather than lovers of God, and he declares that they are laying up treasures in the last days for judgment that the judgment is coming and the cries of those who have been abused and used by those who are over them are now being heard in heaven and God will make everything right. There is nothing wrong with having wealth. The Bible speaks of the godly rich, but the Bible also speaks of the godly rich, the wealthy who are wicked who live for themselves but think that life is all about making money is all about them and we know that you can't live like that and expect to go to heaven expect to have eternal life because you're putting all your hopes and all your stuff right here you can live things and money and expect to know God. That's why the prophet said prepare me your God prepare to me God. But you know the preparations that we are to me. God also goes for us who believe we artists all live our lives in Christ as to be prepared spiritually and primarily we are to live with expectation and and and confidence. Let me just give you some verses regarding how we are to live in the last day how we are to prepare for the last days.

Titus two says that we are looking for the blessed hope is in the sky first writ is 17 that we are waiting. Anticipating the revelation that is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 324. Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior of the Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 34 when Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

First Thessalonians, 19 intent, for they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the true and living God and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. First John three beloved, we are God's children now and what we will be has not yet appeared but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is not as he was in his humanity. But Jesus and all of his glory, and everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, for he is pure. In view of the second, with all of this going around is where to look up look up brother. Look up sister because Christ Jesus is coming again visibly and victoriously for all who know and trust in him, so get ready. Jesus is coming the early Christians lived with this kind of expectation eagerly waiting for the coming of Christ. They even coined a word that we've used from time to time. Maren at the Lord is coming, and when James speaks here several times in this passage about the coming of the Lord, the coming of the Lord the appearing of the Lord. It means the arrival of the Lord. There is a day set in history and Christ will return the same Jesus who was born and lived to die, who rose again, who ascended on high, our risen Redeemer is returning as King of Kings and Lord of lords again leading coming.

This is a can't miss core conviction of every Bible believing Christian. If you know and believe God and his word. You know the Bible teaches that Jesus himself is coming again. Now there may be, and there are differences as to how is all going to go down and people have various kinds of theologies and eschatology's study of last things and we may have differences in this but the one thing that drives it home for all of us are Christians is that we know Christ is for sure for sure for certain coming again, so get ready be prepared because it can happen at any moment. People get read Jesus is coming again. But not only the prepare because Jesus is coming, but be patient because we are waiting for him to come.

That's why James says in verse seven he patient is is the word actually which means to be steadfast away and await with expectation confident hope hope as we defined it is knowing that our future is with him.

The best truly is yet to come, to be patient, but we are in waiting mode a lot where there is a teenager waiting to get their drivers license. Can't wait or someone waiting for their wedding day. Can't wait for that are waiting for their birthday.

Some of us quit counting those, but waiting for Christmas, but that's the idea, the expectation is like a child getting up on Christmas morning.

That's the kind of waiting. Our expectation is not passive we not just sitting around, you know ordering on Ascension roads and waiting for the second coming, sweetheart, waiting with anticipation and perseverance, and this word steadfastness is a word that I love.

Instead of asking movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord because we know that we can be patient that we can persevere. We can instead be steadfast because Jesus is coming and when he comes is going to be a great celebration of the harvest that is yet to come. That's why James talks here about farmers. I don't know a lot about farmers when I learned about farming.

I learned when I was a pastor my first pastorate up in western Oklahoma wheat farmers, Dutch, German wheat farmers people whose names like Gribbin and Fidel Ecton, the Navajo people like that great people solve their people, and I learned a little bit about the one hard-working farmer in the sewing in the reaping and waiting on the rain and waiting on the harvest and in living and dying your whole life passing before you based on the weather. Based on the wind and in and James says it will be like that farmer, sowing and reaping and waiting, and God uses both sun and rain, sun and rain in our lives to boost this spiritual harvest.

That's why the Scripture says in Galatians. Don't be weary in well doing more in good season due season you will reap if you too many are quitting person on their marriage. Quitting too soon on their careers on their job quitting too soon on their church quitting too soon on their faith and some are even quitting too soon on God. I've been a pastor long enough now to have observed so many believers enduring and persevering through the most unfathomable difficulties from time to time.

I've seen people who have been given a lot and then was taken away. They quit on God give up on their face because I presume they thought God owed them something that they didn't deserve cancer or tragic also generation mixing we as Christians must not quit listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in today's message how to live in the last days bring fresh passion and joy to your faith with Dr. Graham's newest book, reignite an intimate account of how God let Dr. Graham to one of the darkest seasons of his life.

Whether you're facing disappointment, doubt, depression, or heartache. Reignite offers biblical insights to encourage you in your pain and help fan the flames of faith in your life and it's our way to thank you for your gift to PowerPoint so call today to get your copy of reignite as thanks for your support: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627. He can also text the word PowerPoint to 313131. And don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop a restore give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotional our website again is Jack Graham.O RG. Now let's get back today's message how to live in the last days.

James reference the patient or the steadfastness of Joe. One day Satan was given access to the throne of God and he spoke of God is that senior servant Job down there.

God said yes he's one of my findings. He's one of my best.

Satan sneered and said I the only reason the only reason that he serves you and live a righteous life is because you giving so much blessing so much.

If you take that stuff away from him. He'll deny you your cursor to your God said all right try and Job was attacked by Satan in tragedy K and there was there were high winds in his house fell down and his children died in this tragedy and and he lost his wealth, he lost his crops. He lost lost everything financial and yet he continued to trust in God effect in Job 121 when the greatest confessions of faith in all the Bible. He said the Lord gives the Lord takes away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord judge would later say Lord no use letting me yet will I trust in you. He believed in the sovereignty and the sufficiency of God that when God is all you have Goddess enough. What you do when there doesn't seem to be an answer for the questions we all have? I tell you what you don't know you don't down the dark. But God showed you in the light. I tell you what, you don't you don't trade what you don't know what you know what you know is that God is good and that he is merciful and gracious, and James tells us Job learned that lesson that God is faithful that God is merciful. The devil went back to God and said well I tell you what if you attack him personally if you take away his health. He will deny. And so God allowed Job to get sick can be had boils and open sores on his skin. He was miserable and depressed and despondent and yet he would not deny his God and the book of Job is about the entire conversation that he had with God. In conversation with his friends and even his family and his wife said no, why not you just curse God and die. They didn't get a lot of encouragement from his friends or his family, his wife, but he learned to know God and elderly God restored double what he lost. But in the midst of that he experienced he. He said I know that my Redeemer lives in the dark when you don't understand, don't trade what you don't know for what you know, I know my Redeemer lives, that Jesus live that Jesus is Lord and so Job the 42nd chapter says something like this in verse five and six. I heard you talking about God. I heard you in the hearing of the year by now. But now my eyes see and I repent dust and ashes, he repented and receive the reality of Christ. God in his life and before he knew about God. He knew God he love God.

There was a lot he knew about God, God love him, but through this experience.

These dark common experiences in his life. He said you know I heard about you had heard about you, but now I nine you are sovereign over all my life that you are sufficiently strong enough for every problem so we can endure. We can be steadfast and strong. James doubles down on the idea of patients when he says in verse six, I believe, be strong in heart. Don't be anxious or afraid. But know that Jesus is near.

He's coming soon we all know there are cynics and skeptics have said the generations. Well, he's not coming. It's been 2000 years while you still holding on to this promise. Well the fact is that Peter address this problem in first Peter chapter 3 knowing this first of all the scoffers will come in the last days was scoffing following their own sinful desire.

They will say where is the promise of his coming for ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation, for they deliberately overlook the fact that the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God and that by means of these this world that existed was diluted with water talking about the flood.

The judgment, but by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up by five is talking about a coming judgment now being Them to the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly, but do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day as a thousand years in the thousand years is as one day the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient.

Aren't you glad patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach, repent, God is waiting on you to come to him. God is waiting for the last one to come in and if you are a scoffer. If you are a cynic you need to get on your knees right now and thank God that he hasn't come today because when it comes the day if you don't know price there is hell to pay. There is judgment the bottle he loves you. He's waiting on you. He's patient with merciful toward he said the patient be prepared and one final thing quickly said, be positive, deposited by having a sweet disposition. Look at verse nine do not grumble against one another. When we face pressure we often blow our staff and we start complaining or blaming and grumbling and going negative. We feel the heat. We boil over. We begin to criticize others. Don't be a negative Christian. We are where pure is no reason to grumble our complain. The practical James as he moved from the heavenly's in Christ is coming. Eternity is real for right now where we live. When he said don't be grumbling.

Don't be grousing.

Don't be grumpy. Don't be miserable and make others around you miserable.

Especially brothers and sisters in Christ you can afford to be arguing and debating and fighting and holding grudges and in resentments because as he says the judges at the door.

That's all that it be evaluated are very words are going to be evaluated at the judgment seat of Christ, the judges standing at the door. You know, if you were arguing with your family. Maybe having a big time argument with your wife and there's a doorbell and somebody looks outside cities. Jesus out there. I think you clean things up right. Jesus is at the door. We live every day with the nearness and nearness of Christ. Paul said in Philippians 44 rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice, no go negative. Don't be a miserable, always upset, always getting offended kind of person Jesus is coming look up your redemption is drawing near and then he said not only have a sweet disposition, but have a sincere declaration. He says in verse 12, it looks like is out of place, he says, but above all brethren's let your yes be yes. Your no, no, don't be swearing by heaven or by earth again being very practical, very personal.

James is saying be careful the way you communicate the way you talk because you know the way you talk is really the way you are what's down the well comes up in the bucket. Jesus set out of the heart the mouth speaks and he says no be making all these old sometimes when trouble comes we we make notes we make promises we can keep stuff like what God if you get me out of this. This is what I'm and then we don't do or we swear and profane God. Simon Peter did. He made a bodacious promise that he would never deny the Lord in the end that denying the Lord, and with it he was swearing and profaning and saying I never knew him. He lied and he lost his testimony and nearly lost his faith in Christ, not restorative.

You know why we curse and swear and profane, and use they were is because were trying to add emphasis to our words or emphasis to our lives don't trust anybody who regularly uses profanity to punctuate. There's been freshly somebody going to marry for the rest of your life with. Here's what James is saying if you're a person of integrity. You don't need to add anything to give your words, wait for me. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. This is the echo what Jesus taught us in the sermon on the Mount he say view of the second coming. Watch your mouth.

Watch your mouth. He's talking about the simplicity and sincerity and integrity and security of what we say he that has this hope in him purifies himself as God to purify your heart and your mind. I will close this message with how to live in the last days here to help. Number one, we need to be praying for our loved ones and lost people all around ramp up the prayers in these dangerous days. Number two. We need to boldly share our faith with those around us, especially our family, our friends and the people closest to us, our own neighbors. Number three. We need to live godly lives separated from the world to be holy as God is holy by the power of his spirit live a separated line.

I like this different from the world number four. We need to teach God's word and help people understand the last days is what were trying to do today. I'm getting you prepared.

I'm helping you to know is coming.

Get ready, we need to teach God's word number five. We need to be comforted by our own clear focus on the rainy and returning Christ and never, never be discouraged and never ever number six. We need to live and hold that God is sovereign sufficient listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham in today's message deleted in the last days, chances are you faced your share of crisis maybe or even in the fight of your life right now. Or maybe you're simply feeling exhausted by the busyness of life and sap the spiritual strength. Whatever you're facing. We want to help fan the flame of faith your life by sending you Dr. Graham's newest book reignite this personal account of how God let Dr. Graham to his own crisis will help me focus on God during difficult season. See you can experience fresh passion and joy in Jesus and will send you a copy as thanks for your gift today so call now to request your copy of reignite: 800-795-4627 that's 1-800-795-4627.

You can also text the word PowerPoint to 313131. And don't forget to visit Jack Graham.org where you can shop the store give a gift online or sign up for Dr. Graham's free daily email devotion our website again is Jack Graham.Margie Pastor what is your PowerPoint for today is very important as we live in these last days that we not get discouraged that we look up and I say look up because Jesus truly is coming again is coming soon and our lives should reflect our anticipation are excitement our expectation of his promised return.

The Bible tells us that in the last days it will be a time of demonized fierceness a time when the entire world will be churned into a frenzy receiving that, of course, today, during these days. The world is controlled by fear and anxiety, and terrorism, but we can't get into that. We need to always look up Christians live with a sure expectation a confident hope we know we know that our future is secure with Christ. We know when he comes back, he's coming again victoriously and surely truly the best is yet to come. So as we look forward to the return of Christ, we have an important role to play, not just to hold out to the end. But to hold out hope to a lost and dying generation. We are to be a beacon of light in the encroaching darkness all around us, so we don't just sit around and order our Ascension robes, but we persevere.

We live out our purpose we are steadfast and immovable in our faith and always abounding in the work of the Lord best first Corinthians 1558. It would be a great verse to memorize here it is again, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain. We are living with purpose where living with passion and were looking up in this generation that seems to quit almost everything we cannot, we must not quit doing what God has called us to do. We are to light the night and to live as lights in the world and that is today when you give a gift to PowerPoint today will send you Dr. Graham's brand-new book, reignite as our Saints call one 800-7954 627-1800 795-4627 can also text the word PowerPoint 313131 text PowerPoint 3131 joined Dr. Graham next time when he brings a message you can experience God's healing power. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint ministries