Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "Stand Firm!" – Tuesday, 18 November 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "Stand Firm!" – Tuesday, 18 November 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 24: Routine History
1-2 Jesus then left the Temple. As he walked away, his disciples pointed out how very impressive the Temple architecture was. Jesus said, “You’re not impressed by all this sheer size, are you? The truth of the matter is that there’s not a stone in that building that is not going to end up in a pile of rubble.”
3 Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, “Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time’s up?”
4-8 Jesus said, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.
9-10 “They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other’s throat, everyone hating each other.
11-12 “In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.
13-14 “Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
"Stand Firm!" by J. K. Warrick
The Father has set the time of Jesus’ return (Acts 1:7), and in this passage, Jesus promised the disciples that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit would equip them for anything that would happen between Jesus’ departure and His return.
However, the people of God have always been fascinated with the question of when Jesus will return. Speculation on this matter is not necessarily wrong, but it can be dangerous. The danger is that some might be deceived and lose faith–there is just too much we cannot know.
However, we do know some things. In Matthew 24, Jesus says that the end of the age will be:
1. A time of great uncertainty punctuated by political intrigue and war (v. 6).
2. Filled with widespread persecution. Increased wickedness will cause many to turn away from the faith; the love of many will grow cold (vv. 10, 12).
3. Plagued by false teachers and preachers (v. 11).
4. Ushered in with the preaching of gospel to the whole world (v. 14).

There is, however, one thing we can know:  The one “who stands firm to the end will be saved” (v. 13). So stand firm!
Hymn for Today:

"A Charge To Keep I Have" by Charles Wesley
1. A charge to keep I have, 
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.
2. To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
to do my Master's will!
3. Arm me with jealous care,
as in thy sight to live,
and oh, thy servant, Lord,
prepare a strict account to give!
4. Help me to watch and pray,
and on thyself rely,
assured, if I my trust betray,

I shall forever die.

Thought for Today: 

“The God who calls us to Salvation is the one who encourages us in His Holy work"(Robert Branson).
Please Pray:
For te child develoment programs that minister to children in Mesoamerica.
____________________________
WordAction Publishing Company
Beacon Hill Press
Nazarene Publishing Company
2500 Troost Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64108 United States[
Embrace holy living…visit reflectinggod.com.
____________________________