FlashForward

If we were to flash for­ward 6 months and see where you would be at that point would you be happy if noth­ing changes? If you could affect where you will be instead, what would you you do? And why aren’t you? That is in essence what our ser­mon series is all about.

Our future isn’t always pretty. In fact the Bible is pretty clear that we can face a lot of chal­lenges from the world when we fol­low Christ. 2 Timothy 3:1–5 [show]2 Timothy 3:1–5 But under­stand this, that in the last days there will come times of dif­fi­culty. [2]For peo­ple will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arro­gant, abu­sive, dis­obe­di­ent to their par­ents, ungrate­ful, unholy, [3]heartless, unap­peasable, slan­der­ous, with­out self-control, bru­tal, not lov­ing good, [4]treacherous, reck­less, swollen with con­ceit, lovers of plea­sure rather than lovers of God, [5]having the appear­ance of god­li­ness, but deny­ing its power. Avoid such peo­ple. (ESV)

Ungodly peo­ple will chal­lenge us to fol­low their ways. And some will per­se­cute us for our beliefs. 2 Tim 3:12–13 [show]2 Timothy 3:12–13 [12]Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be per­se­cuted, [13]while evil peo­ple and impos­tors will go on from bad to worse, deceiv­ing and being deceived. (ESV)
We will be per­se­cuted, it isn’t a mat­ter of if but a mat­ter of when.

2 Tim 3:14–17 [show]2 Timothy 3:14–17 [14]But as for you, con­tinue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, know­ing from whom you learned it [15]and how from child­hood you have been acquainted with the sacred writ­ings, which are able to make you wise for sal­va­tion through faith in Christ Jesus. [16]All Scripture is breathed out by God and prof­itable for teach­ing, for reproof, for cor­rec­tion, and for train­ing in right­eous­ness, [17]that the man of God may be com­pe­tent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)
Continue in what we have started. We can because God has breathed His Word to equip us. Equip that we can con­fi­dent, good exam­ples, full­filled at work, be at peace and more. Our vision of the future is to aquire stuff, God’s vision is dif­fer­ent. He wants us to bear fruit, to have peace, to know love, to be courageous–all the intrin­sic things.

How does that hap­pen? We need God to be fuel­ing us. We need brain foods. The Scriptures pro­vide us teach­ing and rebuk­ing. Rebuking as in don’t go over that bridge, it has col­lapsed. It pro­vides us with power food as well.

We can know the Bible inside and out and not let it affect us — belemic bible read­ing. We need to pray (P.R.A.Y.) the scrip­ture. Praise God. See in scrip­ture who God is and praise Him. Repentance, allow God’s Word to rebuke us to the point of con­fess­ing our sin. Ask, ask for power to live the Christ cen­tered life. Yield to what God wants to teach and do in our lives.

When we pray the scrip­ture, we will ask for the right things, God’s will.

We don’t really know what will come our way in real­ity six months from now. But when we rely on God, we know every­thing will be taken care of.

What God wants is that we are fully equipped that when the world around us is col­laps­ing we are a strong­hold for God.