100203 I Must Know Him
Tim Franklin
Mt 24:
Introduction:
· Last week I spoke from Philippians the words of Paul the Apostle, ‘That I May Know Him’
· Tonight we will go deeper in that, I MUST KNOW HIM!
· Why must I know Him? Mt 24:3-5, 23-26
1. The Times Demand It
A. The disciples are fishing for another end time story from Jesus. They find it all very interesting getting the message first hand from Jesus. But tonight they are asking and Jesus lays something totally different on them. Rather than dramatizing the whole ordeal He calls them to action and awareness. The times demand that I must know Him.
i. Take heed that no one deceives you. Mt 24:4
a. Deceives—to cause to stray, to lead astray; To cause to believe what is not true; To mislead.
b. Of all the things listed in Mt 24-war, rumors of wars, famines, pestilence, etc. there is only one that Jesus lists as the most dangerous. That is the concern for a heart deceived. The biggest devastation that a person can suffer is deception of the heart!
ii. Therefore I must know Him if I am not to be deceived. The real crisis or issue present by Jesus is this: What do I believe about Jesus? Do I know Him well enough that I will spot the imposters?
B. They will come—the imposters
i. 2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. NKJV
ii. 2 Peter 2:18-19 For when they (false teachers) speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. NKJV
iii. Common Deceptions
a. Eckhart Tolle-great example of Gnosticism
b. John Edward-talks to the dead. Remember King Saul.
c. Tony Jones Leader in the emerging church movement said: I am quite convinced that the Bible is a subversive text, that it constantly undermines our assumptions, transgresses our boundaries, and subverts our comforts. This may sound like academic mumbo-jumbo, but I really mean it. I think the Bible is a f***ing scary book (pardon my French, but that's the only way I know how to convey how strongly I feel about this). And I think that deconstruction is the only hermeneutical avenue that comes close to expressing the transgressive nature of our sacred text.”
d. Emergent village: We believe in God, beauty, future, and hope – but you won’t find a traditional statement of faith here. We don’t have a problem with faith, but with statements. Whereas statements of faith and doctrine have a tendency to stifle friendships, we hope to further conversation and action around the things of God.
e. Common deceptions that we will see increase in the coming days/years.
(i) Jesus is not the Son of God. There will be increase attack on His deity.
(ii) Tolerance. There will be continued attacks on the Christian faith in the realm of Absolutes. This is rooted in the new cultural trait of choice. People want the power of choice to choose what they want. This value of choice will attack Christianity at every level and make those who believe the Word of God to appear as fools.
(iii)There are many ways to God. This deception
C. Therefore, I MUST KNOW HIM
2. The Message Demands It
A. Jesus is central to all we believe and do in Christianity. In other words everything revolves around him. The OT is looking towards him and the NT is looking back at Him. He is central and supreme in scripture. Another of the deceptions is that there is no God. That is why secular humanists have taken God our of schools, our courtrooms, out our history books etc. They have duped and are duping a generation to believe there is no God. But for the believer no matter what they do we must have Christ central in all we do and supreme in our lives.
B. We are to have a relationship with Jesus not knowledge of Jesus. That is what Christianity is! It is a personal relationship with Jesus. It is not a religion. It is not a set of beliefs. It is a personal relationship with the Son of God. The more I know about him the stronger our relationship becomes. Ie. No one knows my wife like I do. Why is that? Because they do not have the knowledge of her that I do. That is why communication builds great marriages—shared knowledge.
C. The message of salvation. Christ is central to it. Without it is nothing. He is the supreme message of salvation. No one else can accomplish this. Only him. By the body Christ and the Blood of Christ a new covenant was established. When we get baptized we are buried with Christ and raise up with Christ. Jesus is central and supreme to salvation.
D. The message of sanctification. The goal of sanctification is to be made like Christ through the life of Christ being formed in us.
i. 1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. NKJV
ii. Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, NKJV
iii. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. NKJV Everything related to salvation and sanctification is Christ.
E. The message and importance of prayer. Christ is the great intercessor and example of prayer. He is the greatest teacher on prayer. It is in His name that our prayers are offered. And He is the One who hears and answers our prayers.
i. John 14:13-14 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. NKJV
ii. Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. NKJV
iii. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. NKJV
F. He is central and supreme in healing and deliverance.
G. He is central and supreme in the end time message.
H. He is the Word of God.
I. We are called to follow Christ in the path of suffering. When we do suffer we seek to display Christ and to find fellowship with Christ.
i. Acts 5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. NKJV
ii. 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: NKJV
iii. 1 Peter 4:12-14 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. NKJV
J. He is central and supreme to our joy, our hope, our life. Etc. That is why I MUST KNOW HIM!
3. The Next Generation Must Have It
A. We must introduce the next generation to Jesus, not stories about Jesus.
i. Stories are good they help us to remember. That is why Jesus used parables.
ii. Christianity is not stories—it is personal relationship with Jesus! When we tell stories about ourselves our loved ones etc. They are very real to us because we know them. And because we know them it evokes emotions in us that cause us to feel their life.
B. I am convinced that the reason why so many children seem to backslide or quit church in their teen years is because they have never come to know Jesus. Jesus was not celebrated in their homes. He was something you did on Sunday. He became the token God at meal times. He was the cuteness of bed time prayers. The reality of His presence was not practiced in spiritual gifting—word of knowledge, prophecy, discerning of spirits.
C. We are losing generations because Jesus has become a religion to us and we have not learned how to share the reality of His presence. Or we freak out when our child asks questions about their faith and we do not have the answers to give them. Therefore we throw them a ‘pat’ answer. And they walk away thinking, “Is that all you have?”
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