Unshakable Week 12 (10/18/2020)

Unshakable Week 12 (10/18/2020)

October 22, 2020

“At that time MICHAEL, THE ARCHANGEL WHO STANDS GUARD OVER YOUR NATION, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. (Daniel 12:1 NLT)

  • This reference here to Michael, the archangel, standing guard over nation, is an indicator that there is a warfare going on in the heavenly realm that you and I cannot see.
  • To me it’s an assurance that Our God is sovereign and our victory is guaranteed.

Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will RISE UP, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.  Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and KNOWLEDGE WILL INCREASE.” (Daniel 12:2-4 NLT)

  • Now to me, verse 4: “knowledge will increase” is one of the greatest indicators that we are living in the end times. We are living in an accelerated time of information overload.
  • Today, our smartphones, have more computing power than the astronauts who landed on the moon. The digital universe of data is 2020 has now reached 44 zettabytes. (A zettabyte = 10007 bytes).
  • It’s the equivalent of watching the entire Netflix catalog 140 million times.
  • Going back to verses 2 and 3, Daniel is looking past the 1st coming of Christ (The Rapture) and into the 2nd coming of Christ. (Premillennial)

I believe, it will be a great injustice to this series if we don’t use what we have learned from the scriptures, primarily here in the Book of Daniel, and plot out a prophetic timeline.

I call this timeline: The Hope of The Believer. Now this timeline represents where we stand theologically as Oceans United: From the rapture of the church prior to the tribulation period to the 2nd coming of Christ prior to the millennial reign.

  • The cross marks the beginning of what we call the church age. Exactly where we are today in the church age, no one knows. But there plenty of markers to indicate an end.
  • From the point of the cross, one thing has been set into motion: The building of the Church. Jesus said: “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NKJ)
  • One soul at a time, Jesus is building His church and the enemy cannot stop this.
  • Our responsibility as a church is to remain unshakable when everything else around us is being shaken: wars, civil unrest, natural disasters, violence and sin.

Why remain unshakable? Christ in us is our hope!

  • What is hope? It is not wishful thinking. It is a confident and divine expectation that God can deliver on His promise.

Let me tell you about that hope: 2 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

  • Hope that comes when we look up for our redemption.

16 FOR THE LORD HIMSELF WILL COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN WITH A COMMANDING SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMPET CALL OF GOD. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will BE CAUGHT UP (Raptured). IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.

  • I like the way verse 18 reads: “So encourage each other with these words”
  • This means talk about it with hope, with confidence.

TRANSITION: Let’s pause here for a hot minute and address a few spine issues: (SHOW TIMELINE)

  • The rapture is Christ coming for His Church, His bride.
  • Here’s how Jesus describes this day: It will be similar to “the days of Noah” and “the days of Lot” (Luke 17: 26, 28). Here’s the solid spine issue: In both cases, the “righteous”, the church, the believer were removed thus escaping the tribulation.

What happens to the believer who dies today prior to the “Rapture”?

  • When a believer dies, the soul and spirit goes to be in heaven with Jesus leaving the body behind. Away from the body and present with the Lord. (2 Cor 5:6-8; Phil 1:23)
  • During the Rapture, the physical body is resurrected and reunited with the soul/spirit.
  • You and I will be given a glorified new body! (Revelation 21-22).
  • Now my new body Lindsay will be chiseled J

What happens to the unbeliever who dies today?

  • The Bible tells us that when an unbeliever dies the soul and spirit goes to hell to await their final judgment (The Great White Throne) and eternal destiny. (Luke 16:22-23, Revelation 20:11-15)

TRANSITION: Friends, hope has only one name- Jesus! Today is the day of salvation- No one is promised tomorrow. Here’s what God promises:

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. NO, HE IS BEING PATIENT FOR YOUR SAKE. HE DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO BE DESTROYED,  BUT WANTS EVERYONE TO REPENT. (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

So my only assignment today and in the days ahead is simply this: to get you ready. To get you ready for not a sign but to get you ready for a sound: The sound of that trumpet. The voice of the archangel.

  1. BE LOYAL TO GOD’S WORD ALONE
  •  James puts it in an amazing way: If you are not loyal to God’s Word alone, you will be unsettled. In other words- a double minded person.

BE SURE THAT YOUR FAITH IS IN GOD ALONE. Do not waver, for a person with DIVIDED LOYALTY is as UNSETTLED as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their LOYALTY IS DIVIDED BETWEEN GOD AND THE WORLD, and they are UNSTABLE in everything they do. (James 1:6-8 NLT)

  • Your loyalty to God’s Word has the ability to your opinion.
  • You might be entitled to your own opinion. But you are not entitled to your own truth.
  • There can be only one truth- The word of God
  1. BE TRANSFORMED BY THE WORD

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)

  •  Don’t just read the word but let the word read you
  • When the Word reads you, it transforms you
  1. BE UNSHAKABLE IN YOUR FAITH

33 I have told you all this so that you may have PEACE IN ME. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” (John 16:33 NLT)

CONCLUSION:

  • What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?

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