Some of us have a bad attitude. The lie of too late The continual wheel of life which keeps us alive can stop, through degeneration of the veins, through hardening of the arteries; or a blood clot can arrest it and suddenly death occurs. When we need a way made we take him off the shelf, as soon as he makes the way we put him back on the shelf. You never can properly fear God until you have learned what kind of a God he is. That is what the Searcher did. By the fruits shall you know them? Even with our attitude we want god to come quick fast and in a hurry. He began the book with it, in Verse2, and ends here with the same words, in Verse8 of Chapter12. We use god for our convenience. How Man Must Respond to God! MAIN 14 For we are made He thought it would be a wonderful 5.1 1 20 2022 16 . It cant happen. 3.) I never understood until recent days what was meant by "the grasshopper drags itself along." I imagine that there were many people drinking from other fountains back then. 19 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. He is sitting by the temple gate and as Peter and John were walking in he asked for money. But what she says next is extraordinary: But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you (John 11:22). Jesus says (John 7:33-34): I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. He will say if we would have done this at this time I will be further ahead and I would have my blessing a long time ago. He is laying there with no help. The end of life is death. I need you to just cry out from your belly "It's not too late!! What a waste to live your life and never discover why you are here! The Kingdom is open to all but not accepted by all This increases as one grows old. It results in the infirm and feeble steps of the very aged. What does this mean to us: Lost time with family, back to school, being away from family, vacations are over, summer chores not completed, time to prep for winter. 1. But it will happen to us. While she may harbor such questions, she responds again with belief when Jesus asks, Do you believe this? (John 11:26b). We want you to know of the fountain of Christ and we urge you to drink from that fountain today! Jonah had received clear directions from the Lord about what to do. It has been well said that a sign of the onset of old age is when your knees buckle but your belt won't! In the healthiest churches, we find a holy conspiracy between pastors who gladly care for the sheep, and sheep who do what they can so that the pastors might serve joyfully. Yes, the crowd knows Jesus is powerful he opened the eyes of the blind man he could have prevented Lazaruss death. Believe it or not, Jesus never said Grace! There are three things that indicate the onset of old age: the first is losing the memory, and I can't remember the other two! Many of us, perhaps, know someone who did that in a real and genuine way. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The result is that the body crumbles: "Dust returns to the earth as it was, but the spirit" -- the part of our humanity which differentiates us from the animals, that part which seeks after eternity, which longs after something beyond life, that part which is restless and empty within us when we have not found the key to life -- "the spirit returns to God who gave it." You will seek Me and not find Me. Jesus knew that He would not be there physically with the people for long. One phrase stood out to me: "Before it is too late." We must pray for God's mercy while we can. The appeal of the world and the flesh is constantly with us, turning thousands of young people away from the truth of God. This year is the prophetic 70th year of Israel existing as a nation since If you ever want to know where we are on God's calendar then watch what is happening to Israel. Scripture: Acts 3:1-26This content is part of a series. God may be working some other things out for you. The Pharisees were moving in a way to corrupt the urgent call of following Christ. Her name was Opal. How do you know when your number is up? Its a shame when thats the only time we get real with God. But Paul had been talking to God, and even though they had lost the ship, they didnt have to die. This is characteristic of the aged, who are easily awakened in the morning. These tragedies have left the land ruined and the people demoralized. Remember how free clouds are. Why does Martha go out to meet Jesus while Mary stays put? TEXT - John 11:25 Jesus told her, I am the resurrection and the life. "The almond tree blossoms" is clearly a reference to the hair, which turns white as old age approaches. Do you have the willpower to take the mess that has been made and let God revive it?? If it is damaged, broken, or diseased, life can suddenly end, as we well know today. Last of 5 messages on the parables of the kingdom. Prayer Is Not an Option Its a Necessity! I dont think Martha understood at that moment what Jesus said. 2.) Talk about the coming year long series The Story Three students celebrate their graduation by visiting the Paris catacombs. He was the WEEPING PROPHET crying out to the people of Judah to REPENT and turn back to God. Matthew 25:1-13 submitted byPastor Jeff Ables. Daniel 5:1-32. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? Scriptures: It is aweful because one man had so much suffering in this life and the other man had so much suffering in the next life. And in Verses 5 and 6 we see his response. He had to die "Much study is a weariness of the flesh." First, "F" stands for faith in his existence. They said to me that a troubled heart in the believer is subject to the will of that believer. In Verses11-12 he underscores the value of this Scripture: The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings which are given by one Shepherd. IT WILL BE ONE OF THESE DAYS. 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Peter 3:9, Isaiah 55:10, Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah 6, Jeremiah 7:1-7, Jeremiah 8, John 5:26-29, Matthew 7, Proverbs 22:6, Romans 1:20-25, Sermon Topics: Galatians 6:1-3, Romans 12:3-5, Philippians 2:3-5. She told me one time. Then, secondly, your motivations are highest now. Corpses go straight to the morgue or the funeral home out of sight and out of mind. Why does it have this unique power? This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content. We are mean and clean. Read Eph. I'd like to prove from these verses that no matter how bad the situation, God is able to turn things around. (Need) Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach. 18 And I told them of the He rose with all power in His hands so that you can drink of His living waters. We must take them seriously. The very idea that there is a clock ticking away on life can become alien to some. You too can learn to focus on the potential of your future, not the missteps of your past. I to like to eat candy., Theres TO that means approaching or nearing. Mary saw death as the end, and not even Jesus could fix that. Literal Meaning: Two Seasons to get their act together. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. We need a right now miracle. He tells her exactly what he plans to do, but Martha misunderstands: I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day (John 11:24). Bad News: Life is about relationships. We have turned every one to his own way," (Isaiah 53:6a). 25:13). Christmas Stories week one Meanwhile, "the mourners go about the streets." That needs no interpreting for those who have lost many of their grinders through tooth decay. When they discover a bunker formerly occupied by the Nazis, little do they know it's not the only thing that was left behind. That is a reference to the cranium, the skull. That is the secret to life; that is the secret of the wholeness of man. A lot of times the enemy tries to convenience us that we missed our blessing. You see, the devil knows full well just how fragile we are as temporary beings, and he also knows that God has a deadline. Our message should be to drink from the fountain of Christ, not the fountain of another man or woman! Job had worked for years to accumulate his wealth. 8 "Meaningless! What led to his demise? She loved to play her organ. Id like to make an application from this prophetic passage about the Nation of Israel being restored to their homeland. Waiting so long is like playing with fire while soaked in gasoline because you never know when your time in this world is up. That is one of the first signs of old age. What an incredible time we ha. What a Being he is! Jesus says he is the resurrection and the life, and Martha says yes, you are the Christ. "The wheel broken at the cistern" is a reference to the circulation of the blood. Then Qoheleth speaks of "the day when the keepers of the house tremble." Leader Kit includes: Video-driven Bible study Two DVDs A copy of the Member Book An Opportunity we must Find! To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. read more. That is what the Qoheleth tells us: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. That COSTS TOO much. Or, Its TOO late. Meaning its PAST TIME. What a vivid description this is of the ending of life! God encourage our heart that it is not to late. The Searcher says there are coming days "when you will say, 'I have no pleasure in them.'" (I promise Im not picking on anybody.) I was especially gripped by those two words, "Let not." But I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee. For Belshazzar it was too late. There are two deadlines and we draw closer to them everyday. It is awful. Thats why I am learning how to rest in the Lord. There are stories (thank God for every one of them) of people turning to God in their last moments of life. Fewer have witnessed a person actually die. Baptist. So, some become comfortable with the idea that theres no deadline to meet when it comes to making a decision on their faith in the Lord. The Lord Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Fatherthe coming of the Holy Spirit. All Rights Reserved. Assembly Of God, Some day it will be too late for salvation; too late for service by the saints; and too late for winning the lost to Christ. 1 Kings 13:1-33, Never Too Late However, his ways and his time are best. Trapped deep underground, the group needs to get out before . Mennonite. As Micah put it, "What does God require of man, but to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly before his God," (Micah 6:8). These were genuine Im gonna tell them that its LATE but not TOO LATE to repent., I may be way off here but I can imagine her saying, Ok, but theyre not gonna listen. Its only fair. His wife asking him, What are you going to do today honey? Well, Im going down to the TEMPLE and Im gonna stand in the GATEWAY and Im gonna PREACH to the people. 3. He knows the motives that we seek to hide from others. With all our advanced science and medicine, the best we can do is delay death. Jesus takes Marthas belief in resurrection at the last day and redirects it toward himself. Consider today with some urgency your eternal life. When the realization struck me that my Living Lord was there, with wisdom and power to handle the situation, I felt the lifting of my heart's load. Free Sermons and Sermon Outlines for Preaching : Slow Down, Big Fellawhat A Motorcyclist Taught Me About Preaching, Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight. One day Lazarus got sick and his sickness was unto death. "TOO LITTLE!!! And because he loves Lazarus, He going to come right now. Only as we confront the reality of death will we appreciate the hope of resurrection. What a sad and awful proclamation being made by Jeremiah about the chosen people of God. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. In our waiting he works out our patience. A message from the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. While you are resting tell the devil I know its not too late!. Jesus might be able to heal the blind (John 9), turn water into wine (John 2:112), and prevent death (John 4:4654), but no one can do anything about death once death comes. 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. "The grasshopper drags itself along.". We preach of this fountain; urging others to drink of the waters of Christ to be born again and gain eternal life. Notice that we all can choose the fountain from which we choose to drink from. (Hebrews 9:27) We find a story of a man named Lazarus of Bethany and he had a sister by the name of Mary and Martha. But notice how he describes the value of Scripture: it is like a "goad." Langston Hughes, poet of the Harlem That is what fearing God means. This sermon deals with a simple biblical truth: God's ways and his sense of timing are not the same as ours. In this rather revealing verse he reminds us how carefully he has recorded what is in the pages of this book. RayStedman.org/permissions. They were not lightly chosen. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil read more, Scripture: So open your heart is dealing with them. Then, it will start disabling certain features, starting with the radio, GPS and other "discomfort-causing . Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die (John 11:2526a). This is the richest single source in the entire Bible of information on how to pray. 2. It's not too late!!!! People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? Metaphorically: They missed the blessings of God. If you are like me, you have seen to it that your wife has taken care of that already. Death is real. If you just learn to wait right there. If you come to Jesus, he won't cast you out. Steve N. Wagers Isaiah 55:6 June 26, 2005 Sermon Outline 1. Nowadays, we get online to buy our tickets as fast as possible because we know that if we wait too late, none may be left. We would rather not think about death, we dont like to talk about it, and wed prefer to pretend it wont happen to us. Parable of the Sower some refuse to assimilate kingdom truth Remember Christ's Return 1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"-. The doors of the face, the lips, fall in, one begins to mouth everything. It was kind of cold but that didnt matter. ! She was 94 and was still driving. In the times that we now live in, I find myself being both saddened and even depressed that many are still putting off coming to the Lord. Yet even with all these helps in this modern age, what a revelation this is of the up-to-dateness of Scripture. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. Lets read Jeremiah 7:1-7 today. Lets notice that Jesus says, IF anyone thirsts. I'd like to make an application from this prophetic passage about the Nation of Israel being restored to their homeland. I dont need nor want anybody to follow in my way, but follow the way of Christ. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But its amazing how when we get in trouble and we need something we want him to come quick, fast and in a hurry. It is wrong. The Pharisees were being anti in that they were too concerned about maintaining their power.