Look To Jesus

 Heb. 12:2
looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
Jesus says, “Look to Me, faith in God begins with Me. Without Me there is no faith. I went to the cross on my own free will, gave my life for you, took on your sins and bore your shame. I now sit at the right hand of the my Father, making intercession for you, that you may not grow weary and lose heart during times of tribulation and suffering. I and the Author and finisher of your faith, I alone can save you and set you free from the bondage of sin. Look to me you sinners, for I came to save you. Believe in Me, trust Me with your life, give me your heart. I am the way, the truth, and life. There is no other name under heaven that can give new life. Look to Me and you will have eternal life, and dwell with me forever and ever.” 

The Last Battle

Revelation 20:7-15

The battle that will end all wars will someday be fought. There will be no human artillery in this battle. The Lord God will use fire from heaven to destroy all Christ rejecters and Satan will also be cast into the lake of fire. All sinners will give account for what they did with Christ. Those who are not found in the book of life will be given their reward. The justice of God demands payment. Payment for sin in only made when the blood of Christ is applied to the doorpost of our hearts. “When I see the blood, I will pass over you”

Restraining Satan - bound him a thousand year vs. 1-3

• The devil is chain and bound
• Cast into the bottomless pit
• Shut up and sealed for a thousand years

Reign of Christ – They live and reigned with Christ vs. 4-5

• Saints beheaded for Christ
• Did not receive the mark of the beast
• No sin, no Satan, but the flesh lives

Release of Satan – Satan shall be loose out of his prison

• Just for a season
• Satan’s last chance
• Army is gathered- Gog and magog- sand of sea

Rebellion and Deception – shall go out to deceive

• Those born in the Millennium are tested
• The heart is deceitful and wicked- turn against Christ Lordship

Rain of Fire – fire came down from heaven

• The army surrounded the city of Jerusalem
• God send fire from heaven to destroy them
• The battle is the Lords- He will fight for us

Released into Hell – the devil…cast in the lake of fire

• Satan is thrown into the fire that quenches not
• The beast and the false prophet are already there
• Will be in torment for ever and ever

Resurrection of the Dead- And I saw the dead

• The dead are brought before God to give an account
• Name not found in the book of life

Revelation of Sinful Deeds- according to their works

• The “books” were open- things recorded in God’s account book
• Punishment given out in degrees- Hell will burn hotter

Reward of the Unbeliever- cast into the lake of fire

• The 1^st death and hades was cast into Hell fire
• This is the second death- will be no end- perpetual dying

Tormenting Locust

Revelation 9:1-12

These are days foretold by John that should cause all men to fall to their knees and acknowledge Christ as Lord of all. But, even with this warning, many will still deny the power of Christ to rule in their lives. For those who refuse to come under His Lordship, great torment will be afflicted. The pit of hell will open up and bring forth creatures that will cause the ungodly to seek death, but in vain, they will not find it. Woe unto those who call good evil and evil good, judgment is coming and all sinners shall see the wrath of God to come.

Four trumpets- events proceeding the fifth trumpet

• First trumpet- hail, fire, blood
• Second trumpet- a burning mountain-meteor
• Third trumpet- fallen star- meteor- bitter waters
• Fourth trumpet- stars, moon, sun- little light

Fallen Star – I saw a star fall from heaven

• Angel of God

• Satan cast to earth
• Christ- holds the keys- From Savior to Judgment

Furnace and Smoke- the smoke of a great furnace

• Bottomless pit- the Abyss- hell fire
• Smoke caused darkness- evil proceeds from darkness

Fierce Locust – and there came out a smoke of locust

• Body of a horse- with armor of protection- ready for battle
• Tail like a scorpion- The sting of pain and suffering
• Head of a man with long hair and a gold crown, teeth like a lion
• Intelligent, ferocious, victorious, and conquer

Fear and Torment – tormented for 5 months

• Fear will grip the heart of me- just looking at them
• Their focus was to inflict pain- not death
• Men and women will seek a place to hide

Faithful Spared –except for those who have the seal of God

• 144,000 Jews- The protection of Israel- Passover

• No indication that Gentiles will be included
• God will protect His own- In His providence

Futility of Men– shall me seek death and not find it

• Death is alluded
• A glimpse of hell- pain and suffering

Future Woes

• The wrath of God is poured out against the ungodly

A Friend of Jesus

Mark 2: 13-22

What is a friend?
It has been said that a friend is someone who accepts you for who you are unconditionally. They see and know your faults, failures, and shortcomings and still will keep their heart open and listen to your heart as you cry out. Jesus loves unconditionally. Sin has taken man to the depth of depravity yet Christ still reaches down to lift them out. His love crosses social barriers and will be a friend to anyone who will come unto Him. His friendship exceeds that of any human. He is a friend that will not leave you or forsake you. Christ died for our sins and is forever reaching out with His forgiveness. He loves and cares too much for our souls to leave us without hope. His friendship entreats us to follow Him and accept Him as our friend and Savior.

A Friend to the Multitude (multitude resorted unto him)
• Jerusalem, oh Jerusalem!
• Whosoever will
• Compassion for a lost world
A Friend to the Despised (the Levi)
• Those hated by others
• Unpopular
• He passed by their way
A Friend to the Sinner (sat with sinners)
• The undeserved
• The blood has gone deeper than the stain of sin
• The confessor- Have mercy on me
A Friend to the Sick (but they that are sick)
• Sick in soul- those who’s hearts are diseased
• In affliction, He is near
A Friend to the Unrighteous (came not to call the righteous)
• Through Christ we are made right
• We are has filthy rage in His sight
• Our heart is made right by the light
A Friend to His Disciples ((they cannot fast)
• He knows what we can bear- They are not ready to fast
• Intimate communion with God- We can enter sacred dwelling place of God- Drawing close to the Jesus and He will bring you into His arms.
• What a friend we have in Jesus- He’s a friend that sticks closer than a brother.