2 Timothy 3:1-9
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
Haughty - Proud, Vain, Arrogant, Conceited, Snobbish, Stuck-up.
When you go on vacation you get prepared:
Suite Case
Under Garments
Pants or Skirts
Shirts
Coat
Tooth Brush
Under Arm Deodorant
Tooth Paste
Transportation
Gas or Flight Tickets
There is a lot of prep work that goes into your vacation or trip.
We recently went on a trip to Broken Bow, Oklahoma. When we were packing we tried to make sure that we had plenty of socks, pants, shirts and many other items as listed earlier. Not only that, but when we arrived at our cabin and took everything inside we needed to have food to eat, so we made a trip to town. While we were in the grocery story we bought everything that we felt like we would need to cook and eat for 3 days.
We were not only getting prepared for our trip, but we were preparing to eat.
In order for us to take a trip straight to heaven and not hell we need prep work.
When I was a child and a teenager my Dad you to show movies at the Lighthouse about the end times where one was taken to heaven and the other one was left behind. I remember having nightmares about that and even being scared when I came home and could not find no one anywhere.
This was something that was talked about all of the time.
We have had a lot that has been going on in the past 10 years that has everything pointing to Christ coming back. Not only have we seen thing happening in nature, but we have also seen things happening in government and our society.
We now have the homosexual movement, so that they can get married and have their lifestyle plastered all over our movies, social media, classrooms, and even in our kids cartoons.
We also have unusual things going on in our enjoinment that are even pointing to Jesus' return. We have the river Euphrates that is drying up where the angels are supposed to be released from their prison. We have floods, rain, and water showing up in desert places.
In the last week we have had several young people that have been killed simply by making a mistake in something.
There was a young teenage girl with a couple of other friend that were on their way to a friend's house. They pulled up into the wrong drive and on their way back out of the drive a person walked outside the house and starting shooting and killed the young girl.
We are living in the last days and it is time to get prepared for the coming of the Lord.
John 14:3
"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. We must start the preparation:
1. Repent of your sins:
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
We have all sinned and done things wrong in our life. Stop blaming someone for what happened 30 years ago and forgive so that you can make it into heaven.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2. Pray Often:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
One of the big things that we do not do enough of (myself included) is pray enough. We should spend more time in prayer. Every Sunday morning there is an alter call of some sort. Some people will come to the alter and some people will not.
What is it about coming to the alter that some never do or rarely do? This is something that we should want to do. Not only that, but spend the time with God and really seek God instead of just trying to put on a show to let people think you are still connected with God.
3. Give your tithes:
Malachi 3:10
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Let me make something clear. This church is not just about the money. We are about what God says in His word. Yes we need the money to operate, pay the bills. However, it is also a blessing that God promises.
4. Read the Bible daily and Live the Word of God:
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Hebrews 4:12
2 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It is important the we read the Bible and know what it says. We need to read and study the Bible so that we can use it when needed.
Jesus is coming back soon, very soon.
ARE YOU READY?