Till He Comes

Notes: Till He Comes

Matthew 24

Revelation 19

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

God Came Near

Jesus Christ is coming back for His church; Christ will return to the Earth to right wrongs and bring justice. In today's message, Pastor Greg Laurie speaks about the return of Christ, end-time events, and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Sunday, June 7, 2015 — 8:00 a.m.

The second coming of Christ is a physical coming.

Acts 1:11 NKJV

[11] who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Jesus is coming back to judge the world in righteousness.

Armageddon is the final battle in mankind. It is in the valley of Megiddo.

The antichrist will be there.

Revelation 12:3 NKJV

[3] And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.

People do horrible things because there is a devil that leads people to do these horrific acts.

Revelation 16:14 NKJV

[14] For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Revelation 9:16 NKJV

[16] Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them.

Is China the kings of the East? They are the only ones that currently are big enough to field an army of 200 million.

Revelation 14:6 NKJV

[6] Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth-to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people-

Revelation 7:9 NKJV

[9] After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Revelation 11:1 NKJV

[1] Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

God will always have the last word.

Revelation 19:11-14 NKJV

[11] Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. [12] His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. [13] He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

The Second Coming will be:

1. It will be public and seen by all.

2. His return will be accompanied by sadness and weeping.

The Jews will realize that Jesus is God.

Rapture comes before judgement, Second coming comes with judgement.

Feeling alone? Matthew 28:20 NKJV

[20] teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

[5] Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Afraid of death? Revelation 1:17-18 NKJV

[17] And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. [18] I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

God is in control.

Living under a load of guilt? 1 John 1:9 NKJV

[9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The description of Jesus:

Revelation 19:11-13 NKJV

[11] Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. [12] His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. [13] He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

1. His eyes.

Like a flame of fire.

Looking at a sinful humanity.

Hebrews 4:13 NKJV

[13] And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

2. His head

Many crowns.

3. His robe.

Splattered in blood.

Revelation 19:14 NKJV

[14] And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Colossians 3:4 NKJV

[4] When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Not everyone is called as an evangelist, but we are all to evangelize.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV

[4] But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

Am I getting the gospel out?

Do your giving while your living so that you are knowing where it's going.

God seeks faithfulness from us, not success.

Three things we can use for God's glory. Time, talent and treasure.

Four Words That Can Change Your Marriage

Notes: Four Words That Can Change Your Marriage
Ephesians 5
1 Corinthians 13
Pastor Greg Laurie
SERIES: Live, Love, Fight
Communion Service
Thursday, June 4, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

Why do smoke alarms always go off in the middle of the night to change the battery? Do we even listen to the alarms anymore?

There are many marriages that are riding on fumes today.

We need to continually work on our marriages.

Marriage requires that we apply effort.

People can't believe that marriages can last for over forty years now.

The evening of the marriage is determined by the work done in the morning of it.

A strong marriage is the result of obedience to the Word of God.

Focus on the work you need to do to your marriage, not what your spouse needs to do.

God said to leave and cleave.

1. Leave all other relationships.

You have your old relationships, they just aren't as important as your marriage is.

Lay this foundation right, get it right. You may have to remodel but it is worth it!

There is hope for every hurting marriage.

Victory is not won by evacuation.

Four words that will change your marriage:

Ephesians 5:25 NKJV
[25] Husbands, love your wives...

Ephesians 5:25-33 NKJV
[25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, [26] that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, [27] that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. [28] So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. [29] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. [30] For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. [31] "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." [32] This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. [33] Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Four times in eight verses we are simply told to love our wives.

Antichrist, America, and Armageddon

Notes: Antichrist, America, and Armageddon

Matthew 24

Revelation 6

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: God Came Near

Sunday, May 31, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Bible prophecy is like a jigsaw puzzle.

In our world it appears we are seeing the foreshocks of Armageddon.

ISIS is doing horrible things to people. Other groups are killing people.

Iran is an even bigger problem.

Russia is taking places over.

China is taking lands over, wanting to dominate Southeast Asia.

There are scientists that do an Atomic Clock to doomsday. They say we are 3 minutes from midnight. An atomic catastrophe.

The world is setting a stage for a leader to come in and help. Unfortunately, we are told that will be the Antichrist.

The closest comparison we will see in the Bible would be Judas, the Bible says the devil entered him.

There are more than 100 passages of scriptures describing the origin, nationality, character and career of the antichrist.

The Bible predicts the future hundreds of times in detail. We can see how it has in the past accurately, and we can trust it to look at the future.

The next prophetic step will be the Rapture. The Antichrist will not come until after the rapture.

2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 NKJV

[7] For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. [8] And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

This is speaking of the fact that the Holy Spirit is working through the church.

Luke 21:28 NKJV

[28] Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Hebrews 9:28 NKJV

[28] so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

We should be looking in eager anticipation.

Jesus says He is going to keep us from this time.

Revelation 3:10 NKJV

[10] Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

We will have tribulation in our life but we will not go through the Great Tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 NKJV

[9] For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Peter 2:9 NKJV

[9] then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

Matthew 24:4-8 NKJV

[4] And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. [5] For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. [6] And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows.

This has not quite started yet. Now we are just seeing the foreshocks.

Earthquakes and natural disasters will increase before these times.

Revelation 6 is a parallel chapter of Matthew 24.

Revelation 6:1-8 NKJV

[1] Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." [2] And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. [3] When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." [4] Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. [5] When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. [6] And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." [7] When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." [8] So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Antichrist not only means "against" but also "instead of".

The Antichrist will deceive many through offering peace.

The tribulation does not start violently, but peacefully.

Presidents have tried to bring peace to the Middle East but have failed. The antichrist will appear to succeed.

A good forerunner to the antichrist was the Roman Empire. Rome controlled through their strong army. There was peace but then the emperors wanted to be worshipped.

Hitler started out by helping the German people. He fixed a lot of things for the people, then he revealed his true plans. He brought death and destruction.

The antichrist has a sidekick called the false prophet.

We that believe in Jesus are not popular right now. A poll says that for the first time in America that Christianity is not growing.

People used to just say that they are Christians, but really weren't. Now they say they are not, they are "nones", meaning they don't believe in anything.

Matthew 24:12 NKJV

[12] And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV

[3] Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

1 Timothy 4:1-2 NKJV

[1] Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, [2] speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

True believers may go astray for a while but they always come home. A prodigal will always come home.

Are you a pig or a prodigal? Pigs return to their slop and dogs will return to their vomit.  

Why do they return? Because that is their nature.

You know a true Christian by where they end up.

Where will America be in the last days story?

Their is a pretty good case for Russia and China being dominant in the last days. Airtight for Israel and Iran. But where is America?

1. We may not be there because of nuclear decimation.

2. We may just decline as a world power. Rome was in power for 600 years, but every nations days are numbered.

3. America may not be mentioned in scripture because a great revival may take place.

If there is a great revival then when the rapture occurs our country would change greatly.

The scriptures don't tell us to look for the antichrist, but to look for Jesus Christ!

We are not supposed to have a bunker mentality but an outreach mentality.

We see the signs of the times on the news so we need to look up!

Are you ready?

What the Bible Says about Sex and Marriage

Notes: What the Bible Says about Sex and Marriage

Ephesians 5

Pastor Greg Laurie

Series: Live, Love, Fight

Thursday, May 28, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

Quotes from an article about marriage that Greg read say that many young people don't believe that marriage will work for them.

Studies show that couples that live together before marriage have a much higher chance of divorce.

Song of Songs 8:7 NLT

[7] Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.

BIBLE acronym Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Why do people obsess about weddings and put no thought to marriage?

Ephesians 5:31-33 NLT

[31] As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." [32] This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. [33] So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

God invented marriage, so we should do it.

A family can survive without a nation, but a nation cannot survive without the family.

The purpose and objective of marriage can be summed up in two words: Leave and Cleave

You must leave all other important relationships behind. You are now in a more important one.

Your best friend should be your husband or your wife.

Malachi 2:14 NLT

[14] You cry out, "Why doesn't the LORD accept my worship?" I'll tell you why! Because the LORD witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.

How well do you know your spouse? Do you know their favorite color, movie, food, place and activity?

1 Peter 3:7 NLT

[7] In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

You give a lot of things maintenance. Cars, houses, your body...but do you give your marriage maintenance?

You must work at it, maintain it, and pay attention.

Ephesians 5:25 NLT

[25] For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her

If husbands did their part then marriages would probably be a lot stronger today. We can do our part and change everything.

Cleave means to adhere to or stick to or to hang on for dear life.

We should be so united that it could hurt to tear us apart.

Part of this union can be expressed through sex in its proper place, in marriage.

Marriage is the only place for sex that God will bless.

Fatherless homes account for many, many of the social ills we face today.

Hebrews 13:4 NLT

[4] Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

Sex is given by God to be enjoyed by a husband and wife to enter into oneness.

These standards are from God for our own protection.

Standards are from God like how traffic laws are for the road. These rules are to protect us.

1 Corinthians 6:16-18 NLT

[16] And don't you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, "The two are united into one." [17] But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. [18] Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

This scripture refutes the ideas of a one-night stand. Sex is not for recreation.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 NLT

[2] But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. [3] The husband should fulfill his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband's needs. [4] The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. [5] Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

What does the Bible say about same sex attraction?

There have been eight major studies that have shown that there is not a gay gene. They show that it is a result of environment. They were based off of identical twin studies.

The Bible says we are all born sinful. The Bible calls us all not to sin.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT

[9] Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, [10] or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

We are not defined by our sins because it is God that defines us.

It is very problematic to have friends that are of the opposite sex when you are married.

Communication is the lifeblood of a healthy marriage.

We need to know how to fight healthy.

It was said that good marriages consist of two good forgivers.

Don't ask, "Can they make me happy?" Ask, “How can I make them happy?"

God uses marriage as a picture of His love for us.

We need to ask God for His help in our marriage.