“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28 ESV)

Times of difficulty

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5 ESV)

The beginning of birth pains

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Mark 13:8 ESV)

Terrors and great signs from heaven

“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:11 ESV)

Those days will be cut shirt for the sake of the elect

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” (Matt. 24:21-22 ESV)

Therefore…

“Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea…” (Psalm 46:2 ESV)

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” (Matt. 24:42 ESV)

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matt. 24:44 ESV)

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103:8 NIV)

Abounding: to be present in large numbers or in great quantity; to brim, bulge, overflow, swarm, teem.

The Lord not only has love for you, He abounds and overflows with it for you! In fact, the Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16, proclaims that He loved you so much that He gave his only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for you on the cross, to redeem you from sin and to provide you with everlasting life! According to the Bible, laying down one’s life for another is the “greatest kind of love.”

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

God demonstrated His abounding love

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8 NASB)

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20 ESV)

True: being in accordance with the actual state or conditions; conforming to reality or fact; not false: dead on target, truthful, dependable, honest, reliable, genuine, unfeigned, lawful, on-key, straight, rightful.

God’s judgements are true and righteous altogether

“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.” (Psalm 19:9)

Keep your mind on whatever things are true

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8 KJV)

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”(Heb. 11:6 NIV)

Two things are required to please God

The above verse states that you cannot please God without faith marked by two things that you must believe: 1) You must believe that He exists, and 2) you must believe that he is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. Therefore, if you want to please God, earnestly trust in His Word which, 1) clearly proclaims His existence, and 2), states that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Read the following verses that tell about God’s existence and about how He is a rewarder and then believe it!

God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen proving He exists! - Believe it!

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Rom. 1:20 ESV)

God’s existence is proclaimed by His handiwork! - Believe it!

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 18:1 ESV)

You have an inheritance reward – Believe it!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col. 3:23-24 NIV)

Secret prayer brings God’s reward – Believe it!

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matt. 6:6 NIV)

Righteous sowing brings a sure reward! - Believe it!

“A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.” (Prov. 11:18 NIV)

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6)

We serve a God of multiple chances

In The Bible we find many examples of People who have failed God in one way or another. Some of them more than once, like Peter and David.

• Peter denied Jesus three times, and failed many times. Jesus had to rebuke him. (Matt. 16:22-23). Even after this, Peter was forgiven and was used mightily by God to encourage, teach, to heal, and to write New Testament books which continue to help us today.

• David committed adultery, deception, and murder in the story of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11 & 12). But, he repented, asked God for forgiveness, and God forgave him of his sin.

We’ve all failed God in one way or another and often many times!

We have all fallen short (Rom. 3:23). And we make mistakes, even some very big ones! The wonderful news is that we serve a God of multiple chances. He will keep helping you along the way, again and again! (Matt. 18:22). Even though God is not obligated to forgive us, He does again and again. That is something to rejoice about!

God’s kindness is meant to turn you from sin

“Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Rom. 2:4 NLT)

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:16 ESV)

For by Him years will be added to your life

“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.” (Prov. 9:11 ESV)

Walk in the way of the Lord your God that you may live long

“You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” (Deut. 5:33 ESV)

Honor your mother and father to receive the promise of long life in the land

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:1-4 ESV)

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceit to see good days

“For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit…” (1 Peter 3:10 ESV)

Fear the Lord for a prolonged life

“The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.” (Prov. 10:27 ESV)

Serve the Lord your God and be blessed with good health and fulfilled number of days

“You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.” (Exo. 23:25-26 ESV)

Choose life

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.”(Deut. 30:19 ESV)

 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57 ESV)

How you believe decides your outcome

All day long you make decisions based on what you believe about things. Someone has said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you are right either way.” That’s because the outcome, whether negative or positive, is usually decided by your belief and attitude going into what you are about to do. 

The Bible puts it this way

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7)

Negative words proclaimed

Perhaps you have had negative proclamations spoken over you as a child, perhaps by an angry parent, by a sibling, by other children, or even by an authority figure such a school teacher. Things like, “You’re stupid!”, “You can’t do anything right!”, “You are a failure!” Or, “You are worthless!” Now, as an adult, you have negative thoughts about yourself with a victim mentality.

Good news!

No matter what negative words may have been spoken over you in the past, you became a brand new creature when you become born again by receiving Jesus as your personal Savior!

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV)

Consider yourself to be dead to sin and alive to Jesus!

“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:11 NASB)

Change your mindset from VICTIM to VICTOR

In a resent sermon, my pastor, Taylor Simpson, (New Song Church, Bellingham, WA), shared his list to go from being a victim to being a victor. He gave me permission to share it with you.

VICTIM -vs- VICTOR

• I can’t -vs- I can
• I take -vs- I give
• Me -vs- You
• I need help -vs- I can help you
• They don’t like me -vs- I love them
• Self centered -vs- Christ centered
• It’s their fault -vs- I won’t blame people
• I expect bad -vs-I expect good
• I should -vs- I will
• Big talk -vs- Big walk
• Full of excuses -vs- Have no excuses
• Other people’s opinion -vs- Jesus’ opinion
• Chained to past -vs- Focused on future
• Reactive -vs- Proactive
• Co-Dependent -vs- Interdependent
• Living to victory -vs- Living from victory

Therefore…

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:38 NIV)

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24 NIV).

Doing it God’s way

The great missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, stated, “God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” He proved it by going to China with zero human support, with only the clothes on his back and with a strong call in his heart, expecting God to take care of his every need. And God did bless Him faithfully. Taylor spent 51 years in China. The society that he began was responsible for bringing over 800 missionaries to the country who began 125 schools and directly resulted in 18,000 Christian conversions, as well as the establishment of more than 300 stations of work with more than 500 local helpers in all eighteen provinces.

The key to successful ministry

When I was young and starting out in full time ministry, a pastor friend advised me with these words, “If you want to be successful in ministry, find out what God is doing and get involved with it.” Over the years I got involved in numerous ministries such as Billy Graham crusades and other successful ministries where I clearly saw God’s hand at work, and I got to share in their blessings for the sake of the gospel.

“I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor. 9:23 NIV)

And remember this

“Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV).

Therefore…

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33 NASB)

“And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.” (John 8:23)

“God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” (Exo. 3:14-15)

Before Abraham was I am

“Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (John 8:58)

I am the light of the world

“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” (John 9:5)

I am the door of the sheep

“So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7)

I am the bread of life

“Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:35

I am the Son of God

“…do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?” (John 10:36)

I am the resurrection and the life

“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies…” (John 11:25)

I am the way, and the truth, and the life

“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)

I am the true vine

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1)

I am the Alpha and the Omega

“I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8)

I am the first and the last

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last…” (Rev. 1:17)