INVINCIBLE CHURCH 10-22-23

Invincible Church Sermon Notes
10/22/2023
Be Ready pt 2
Luke 21:5-38
One of the foundational themes Jesus taught us through His life, teaching, instructions, ministry and prophecies is to be ready! The primary reason He warns His followers to be ready is that only God knows the exact date and time that Jesus is coming back.
All through scripture the Bible tells us that the time is counting down to an ending moment that’s been predetermined by God. That specific moment is the “end of time” as we know it on earth and it ushers in the start of eternity for all mankind… either in heaven or hell!
So, God’s going to terminate physical time and that’s when Jesus will eliminate all rule, authority and power of the enemy on this earth… and establish His millennial kingdom under the authority, principle and power of God Almighty! And Jesus tells us to be ready!
We’ve started looking at all the reasons Jesus tells us to be ready and why we should want to be working hard to get ready. It all centers on us loving Jesus enough to be an obedient faithful follower of Him as our Lord, Savior and King!
The main passage for this study is in Luke 21: 5-38. It’s the final public sermon from Jesus and He preached it from the Mount of Olives. So, it’s called “The Olivet Discourse.” The foundation of the message is, “Be ready for His second coming!” The message has 4 specific segments, which gives us…
The Four Primary Ways Jesus Teaches Us to “Be Ready”
Jesus tells us that the countdown to His second coming would start in Jerusalen when God’s Holy temple would be destroyed by the Romans. History tells us it happened exactly when and how He said it would. Last week we started with the first way Jesus tells us to be ready which is…
1) Discern “The Prophetic Times” we’re Living In! … (vs 5-9) Tells us followers of Jesus are supposed to be diligently praying, working and watching for “the prophecy” of the end times, so we can discern exactly how God wants us to respond to what we see going on around us.
(vs 5&6) Tell us we have to know and understand Bible history… (vs 7&8) tell us to be diligent in discerning the truth so we know when we’re being lied to… and (vs 8&9) tell us to know and understand the Bible prophecy that hasn’t happened yet because God’s telling us what’s going to happen in advance! That’s a review of (vs 5-9). Today we’re going to cover (vs 10-19).
Luke 21:10-19 NIV - 10 Then He said to them … “Nation will Rise against Nation … And Kingdom against Kingdom! ... 11 There will be Great Earthquakes … “Famines and Pestilences” in Various Places … And Fearful Events … And Great Signs from Heaven! … 12 “But Before All This … They will Seize you … And Persecute you! ... They will Hand you Over to Synagogues … And Put you in Prison … And you will be Brought Before “Kings and Governors” … And All On Account of My Name! ... 13 And so you will Bear Testimony to Me! ... 14 But Make Up your Mind Not to Worry Beforehand How you will Defend yourselves! ... 15 For I will Give you “Words and Wisdom” that None of your Adversaries will Be Able to “Resist or Contradict”! … 16 You will Be Betrayed … Even by Parents … “Brothers and Sisters” … “Relatives and Friends” … And they will Put Some of you to Death! … 17 Everyone will Hate you Because of Me! … 18 But Not a Hair of your Head Will Perish! 19 Stand Firm …And you will Win Life! …
The 2nd Way Jesus Teaches us to Be Ready is…
2) Discern “The Prophetic Signs” We’re Living in – So, (1st is “times” and 2nd is “signs”) … (vs 10-19) tell us our response to prophecy needs to be, “I’m not afraid because I’m ready!”… which means it’s super important that we study and understand the signs of Bible prophecy because…
1) It reassures us the guaranty of our salvation through Jesus … 2) it gives us confidence and boldness to do God’s work… 3) it helps us evaluate our actions… 4) it helps us calm our mind and emotions… 5) it increases our faith in God and His Word and 6) it continually shows us that God almighty is real!
Followers of Jesus are supposed to be discerning people! To discern the signs means we have to stay alert! The definition of discern is to separate with a keen eye and mind. It means to distinguish and segregate or to divide or to profile!
When (vs 11) says, “fearful events” it’s talking about things we see going on that terrify and disgust us all at the same time! These are things like tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornados, famines, floods, plagues and pestilence!
So, the prophecies of Jesus are incredibly profound and 100% accurate. That’s why there’s no excuse for a professing follower of Jesus to not fully trust His instructions and be obedient, diligent and urgent in carrying them out and getting His work done! No matter what’s going on! We’re told all through the Bible, both Old Testiment and New Testiment…
Ecclesiastes 8:5-6 NIV – 5 Whoever obeys His command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. 6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery!
We’re also warned by Jesus that we shouldn’t give more credibility to the so-called experts of this world than we do to the truth and power of the Word of God! God even gives us powerful brains and minds primarily so we can experience, encounter and know Him better. The secondarily to help us in our spiritual and physical battles on earth! Look at…
Luke 12:54-56 NIV – 54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? … So … à
True followers of Jesus should have a Biblical worldview (vs 10-11). When we’re diligent to align everything we do and say with God’s Word, we’ll stay under the protective umbrella of the power of the Holy Spirit! Remember Satan can’t accurately produce or predict prophecy!
But when we’re spiritually attacked, if we don’t keep a Biblical perspective on everything we do, then we’re setting ourselves up to be deceived, distracted, disrupted and detained by the enemy. And we’re going to be attacked, that’s for sure!
Deception is a huge part of Satan’s strategy in his spiritual battle plan against us! So, we have to be ready to discern when we’re being deceived! And when we’re saved, we’ve been spiritually equipped to do it! Jesus has even given us the weapons to fight with!
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV – 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary … They have Divine Power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments … And every pretension that sets itself up against The Knowledge of God … And we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
The easiest way to develop and maintain our Biblical worldview is to know and follow the instruction we’re given in the Bible! It’s the only way to do and live what’s right in the eyes of God and stay focused on the things of God. It also sets an example for others!
Philippians 4:8 NIV – 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable … if anything is excellent or praiseworthy … think about such things.
We’re called to be the salt and light of the earth, which means true follower of Jesus are called to live in a way that causes other people to think about pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ! We can’t be salt and light if we’re not trusting Jesus and doing things God’s way!
2 Peter 3:11 NIV – 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live Holy and Godly lives.
This world is very temporary! None of the things of this earth will carry over into heaven… or hell. So, we’ve got to stop being consumed by worldly things! When we live our lives focused on the things of God, other people are able to tell we’re a follower of Jesus. It has to be seen in everything we do!
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV – 14 “You are The Light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your Light Shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and Glorify your Father in Heaven.
Being “the light” means that we’re people who love, pray and are thankful for everything! We GO – MAKE and TEACH people to be disciples… and we ASK – SEEK and KNOCK on the doors of opportunity that God gives us to serve Him!
It’s also very important to train ourselves and remember that followers of Jesus should discern words of wisdom from God when we speak advice into the opportunities He gives us (vs 12-15).
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV – 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All Authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in The Name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I Am with you always, to The Very End of The Age!”
Once we submit to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we’ve been transformed and reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus, which means we’ve got something important to tell everybody! So, every follower of Jesus is supposed to be in training to speak the truth of the Gospel as an evangelist!
The reality is, if we’re a follower of Jesus today, It’s because somebody was obedient to the instructions Jesus gives His follower and told us about being in a relationship with Him! Somebody spoke the truth to us, so let’s speak the truth to a lot of people. It glorifies God!
When we’re saved, we’ve got “Good News” for people to hear! We’ve got something good to say! People are hearing enough bad news these days. Let’s give them the good news about Jesus! And we don’t have to wait for them to ask! We just discern from God when He wants us to speak. And when it involves the truth, He’ll give us plenty of opportunities!
When we're saved, we've got "Good News" for people to hear! We've got something good to share.
Acts 4:13; 17-21 NIV – 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this Name.” 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in The Name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is Right in God’s Eyes … to listen to you, or to Him? You be The Judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.
The truth about Jesus always impacts people one way or another because it’s a spiritual thing. And a lot of times we’ll be persecuted in some kind of way for speaking about Jesus but that’s ok too because a true follower of Jesus can’t lose in this world!
John 14:25-26 NIV – 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But The Advocate, The Holy Spirit, Whom The Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
The only way true followers of Jesus can be deceived is if they fail to discern the truth from God through the power of the Holy Spirit! So, true followers of Jesus should have 100% confidence in their acceptance and assurance from God! (vs 16-19)
As far as persecution goes, think about the stoning of Stephen. The rocks were flying at him and he cried out, “Father forgive them… they don’t know what they’re doing!” … just like Jesus did at the cross! That tells us the closer we get to Jesus, the more we’re going to be like Him!
Again, the reality is, somebody who professes to be a Christian is going to be persecuted, but the great news is persecution, rejection or even death can’t separate a true follower of Jesus from God!
So, we’ve got nothing to be afraid of! Literally, all of the very worst things that can happen to us on this earth are only temporary! Even death! Then, if we’re saved and a follower of Jesus, we get to go be with Him in heaven for eternity… where nothing bad ever happens! It’s true, so it’s real and it lasts forever!
2 Corinthians 5:8-9 NIV – 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at Home with The Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
Which means in life and death, if we’re a saved believer, not even one hair on our head will ever be lost forever! Yes, followers of Jesus are going to be persecuted, some even up to execution, but not one single follower of His will ever completely perish… forever! That’s why we’re invincible because of Jesus and what He did at the cross!
Romans 8:37-39 NIV – 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from The Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 16:25 NIV – 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.
Just a few more scriptures to wrap up today’s message…
Mark 10:28-30 NIV – 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow You!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and The Gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age … homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields … along with persecutions … and in The Age to come Eternal Life.
The power of death on earth shouldn’t scare a true follower of Jesus because ultimately, it’s what ushers us into His presence in heaven!
Matthew 18:14 NIV – 14 In the same way your Father in Heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
A believer who walks with Jesus may lose their life on earth, but they’ll never lose their way to heaven!
John 3:15 NIV – 15 ... That everyone who believes may have Eternal Life in Him.
John 10:27-29 NIV – 27 My sheep listen to My Voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them Eternal Life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My Hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is Greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s Hand.
All of this works together to let us know that followers of Jesus will be able to discern the signs, times and seasons of when His return is near, but only God knows the day and hour! But that’s ok because it’s God’s plan and it ought to motivate us to get His work done!
Now we’ve discerned the signs of the times so we’re ready to: tell others about Jesus, love our husband or wife God’s way, keep training to do what God wants us to do, give God our best of everything, learn how to enjoy God’s amazing love for us and learn how to live in His awesome power!
If you’re listening online and you haven’t made the decision to follow Jesus, then I’m inviting you to pray to Jesus right now and receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior! He knows what’s best for us and it’s eternity with God in heaven, but the only way to get there is through a salvation relationship with Jesus. So, don’t wait… receive Him now.
Let’s pray.