(I promise Im not picking on anybody.) 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. He had mocked God for the last time. 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. Lets notice that Jesus says, IF anyone thirsts. This is a great way to help them understand that what is necessary in preparation for public ministry is not only an understanding of the subject, but a thinking through of how to say it in such a way that people will listen. Matthew 25:1-13 For I am, with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.. Dakota Community Church Any talk of something that could be considered out of the ordinary also comes off as something foolish. B. They did their own thing. The very idea that there is a clock ticking away on life can become alien to some. The storm came, and beat the ship to smithereens. We preach of this fountain; urging others to drink of the waters of Christ to be born again and gain eternal life. They would understand that, as Isaiah says, "All we like sheep have gone astray. which no man shall see the Lord. The sun rises over the horizon and it sets over the horizon its clockwork. While at the feast, He began to teach and the people begin to marvel and wonder whether or not He really was Christ (John 7:25-26). One who drinks from the fountain of Christ will have drank of living water (John 7:38). He had waited and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years but wasnt ready to quit and die. Older people fear almost every step. . My brothers and sisters were all baptized but I was sick and I didnt get to. By Greg Johnson 1. November 23, 2008 (pm) "That COSTS TOO much." Or, "It's TOO late." Meaning it's PAST TIME. I. read more, Scripture: After a little while, the people would no longer be able to follow Jesus because He would be crucified, resurrected, and ascended to glory. Jesus said (John 7:37), If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He is encouraging the people to come to the fountain of Christ. I rather you meet the Lord standing in His good graces rather than standing on the opposite side. A. Just like an angel's wing. Bill is married to Janet., Theres the adverb TO. That is what the Qoheleth tells us: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Youth is the time to find God. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. That said, all of us have free will in being able to choose. The thought is: recall God's presence daily; live in a relationship with him; seek to discover the greatness and glories of God while you are still young, before it is too late. Christ has a deadline for His return of which no man knows the day nor the hour (Matt. trouble you, and thereby Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved. It will be too late to get serious about God. What a waste, to die without learning the secret of true existence! Right? The Invitation to a Longing Heart! Remember Lot's Wife! read more, Scripture: A Wonder about Minding God! There are two excellent reasons given for this. The title refers to the yearning hope of every one of us here this morning, young and old alike, that we might fulfill our dreams, that we might realize the possibilities of our lives and be wholly and truly what we were made to be. Text: Hebrews 3:12-19 We dont see bodies in the streets, as in some parts of the world. There is a lack of urgency when it comes to moving spiritually for which I do not fully understand. Intro: *** Friends of George Burns have always kidded him about his singing. The devil will play with your mind. 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 a shame when thats the only time we get real with God. It's Not Too Late to Pray (4 of 4) Series: Fools: It's Not Too Late Scott Maze Matthew 6:9-15 Find Matthew 6 in your Bible's as we look at the Lord's Prayer. He can let his heart be troubled or he can let it not be troubled. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil Matthew 20:1-16, Denomination: The heart of God is the heart of a shepherd; he sees us as wandering sheep in need of a shepherd's care. But now hes dead, so thats that. We did this in school when it came to assignments; we do it now when it comes to clocking in, taxes, getting concert tickets or tickets to a game, etc. He could quote them from memory at any time in his ministry because his mind was so filled with what God had said. Consider today with some urgency your eternal life. Dont misunderstand; He taught it, He lived it; He just never said it. It's not God's will for anyone to go to hell, the Bible says he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. That is one of the first signs of old age. The mind, with its powers of reasoning, of memory and of imagination begins to fade, like the fading of the light of the sun. Tell him to drop everything because he whom thou love is sick. He finds two very brokenhearted sisters. read more. Death is real. How could Jesus be the resurrection? Consider the situation in Acts 1. !" It's not to late for you to fall in love and find the person of your dreams It's not to late to step out on God and follow your dreams I"m praying to God adjust your time table 06/02/2019 Mark 5: 22-24; 35-36; 41-42. It is awful. Matthew 25:1-13 My brothers and sisters, I wish that none of the disaster that Jeremiah is prophesying come upon you, or that you even find yourself in position where Gods wrath in aimed at you. IT'S NOT TOO LATE Intro: The nation of Israel is in trouble! It is not in the Hebrew, although, unfortunately, every version seems to translate it that way. This In view of the fact that this is where life is headed for all of us, he admonishes us "remember your Creator in the days of your youth.". In fact, he waits two days until Lazarus is dead (John 11:47, 11, 14) because he knows exactly what he is about to do. JESUS IN HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE POWER OF PARABLES; TO BOTH TRANSFORM MENS LIVES FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT, AND ALSO TO SET ADVERSARIES OF THE CHURCH, TO CONTEMPLATE THE ERRORS IN THEIR OWN THINKING; USES A PARABLE HERE TO TEACH, TO HUMILIATE, AND INSPIRE Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. But SPEAK HE DID!!! Dont let any doubt destroy your faith. The reason, according to Verse11, is because, "the collected sayings are given by one Shepherd." 2. To "Fear God, and keep his commandments" is to learn to be and to discover the secret of being a whole person. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!'' 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. You shall have no other gods before Me. Jesus said in John 6:37 - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. We may be the saints who are dead in Christ, and rise first to meet Him in the air. There is no theological promise. 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. 1:5), not a priest like his father and his grandfather. Once in my own life when I was severely troubled of heart and deeply disturbed so that I could not even eat, one phrase from the lips of Jesus came into my mind again and again. They have experienced a terrible drought and a massive invasion of locusts, 1:7-20 . It would be an honor. She never had any children but her nephews and nieces were here to witness it. "The grasshopper drags itself along.". That needs no interpreting for those who have lost many of their grinders through tooth decay. Luke 16:19-31, As we look at this story in the Bible, we must realize that it is an aweful yet true story. [Here it is] Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. When one gets old that same cycle returns again. Ten Lamps Awe at the sense of his majesty, his comprehensiveness, his unfailing wisdom and power, is part of fearing God. Firstly: He wanted the people to know on whose behalf He worked for (John 7:28-29). And thats what I want to preach to you today. You see, we only act with urgency when there is a deadline for us to meet. Is it simply that Martha is the more active of the two? And because he loves Lazarus, He going to come right now. As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was approaching the village, she went to meet him, while Mary remained seated at the house (John 11:20). 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. Neither Martha nor Mary knew that the story would end with a resurrected Lazarus. We are urgent in temporal (earthly) matters, but matters of eternity gets shoved to the backseat. Death is the great enemy, though many of us live in denial of it. We need to be in the right place. read more, Scripture: Old age is setting in, and one of the characteristics of old age is that we lose our ability to change and to learn new things; we are subjected to greater pressures. A lot of times the enemy tries to convenience us that we missed our blessing. Intro: *** Friends of George Burns have always kidded him about his singing. Jeremiah 1:16 I will utter My judgments against them concerning all their. We can't hide from God. In this rather revealing verse he reminds us how carefully he has recorded what is in the pages of this book. read more, Scripture: Do you have the willpower to take the mess that has been made and let God revive it?? He makes you wait. The Pharisees were moving in a way to corrupt the urgent call of following Christ. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without There must be urgency given to our lives spiritually that many of us simply do not bother to live with. A TUTU is what a ballet dancer wears and most women shouldnt. How Man Must Respond to God! When we give up because we think it's too late for something to happen it could be that we've given up when God is still involved and at work in & through our lives. What a vivid description this is of the ending of life! At the very same time, we ourselves have a date that we will one day have to come face to face with. IT WILL BE ONE OF THESE DAYS. With all our advanced science and medicine, the best we can do is delay death. The Searcher sought to find pleasing words, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. Is it TOO LATE? She had trusted the Lord as her Savior and she wanted to get BAPTIZED. There is a rest in God. read more, Scripture: Paul had warned the captain of the ship not to leave port. "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. People of faith sometimes have a falling out with God. Sermons from January 2021. You see, the devil knows full well just how fragile we are as temporary beings, and he also knows that God has a deadline. Lazarus is lying on his bed of affliction. Learn the Scriptures now, when you are young, while motivation is high and evil pressures are less, and you can discover the secret of living while you are still young. A message from the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. Does it stink like rotten meat? If some are left, theyre certainly not going to be good seats. . Of course theres a double TO. We know this story That is what this verse describes, the fading of the memory, the fading of the imagination, like the stars which fade at the approaching dawn. Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Church Of God. That COSTS TOO much. Or, Its TOO late. Meaning its PAST TIME. 2. The doors of the face, the lips, fall in, one begins to mouth everything. 5/12/10 Meanwhile, "the mourners go about the streets." Now I want you to pay very close attention to what was occurring throughout Jesus call to follow Him. of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up Remember Christ's Return 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! This is a little strange, isnt it? He has made provision for it all; nothing can be hid. Trust fully in Jesus and turn from, Its Never Too Late to Trust in Jesus 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. Christ was crucified so that you can stand in the good graces of the Lord one day. Two things: we do not know the day of the Lords coming and we do not know the day of our passing. There are 21535 characters in the full content. That day could become for Christ's return and if you have not chosen to follow Him at that point, it will be too late. What if in the next moment - even as my words fall upon your ears - Christ returned with the shout of the archangel and the trumpet blast? The patent outlines a series of increasingly annoying punishments that the car can inflict upon its owners for missing payments. It bothers me when I see saints that are claiming to know God with a bad attitude, it bothers me. Or, maybe they are like the people who show up to the movie after the movie has already begun. He delays it for a reason. John 11:21-23, Joel 2:25-28, Denomination: He is angry to see what death does to relationships and to those left behind. You'll write powerful and fresh messages every week with our preparation tools on a number of sermon topics, including expository preaching. B. Then there are others who just dont bother to consider coming to Christ. She had been married 3 times and widowed three times. January 31, 2021; Dyke Crane; Genesis; 0 Comments; Scripture: Genesis 19:12-17 12 The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else heresons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? A Word about Meeting God! Yet relatively speaking, that is not a frequent occurrence. read more, Scripture: NO BIG DEAL? Text: Hebrews 3:12-19 Most of us think of it in terms of abject terror, of running from God, of seeing him as a threat, but that is never the biblical meaning of the word. Jeremiah 8:20 (RSV) "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." What a sad and awful proclamation being made by Jeremiah about the chosen people of God. Others drink from the fountain of their religion. read more, Scripture: "Hard-pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in" (NEB). Why does resurrection occur for those who believe in Jesus? But it does not mean that he is not going to move. He pulled the door to.. Who knows, maybe they are realizing that the water smells coming from some of the fountains or that the water is hot. As we look at this story in the Bible, we must realize that it is an aweful yet true story. It's always too soon to quit! Only as we confront the reality of death will we appreciate the hope of resurrection. The usual explanation is that Jesus is angry at the tyranny of death. The Word of God declares it. The handwriting was on the wall. That is where hope comes in life. You can read yourself to death; you can study yourself to death. it's never too late to start over. She does not follow up this statement the way Martha did, with the words, But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you (John 11:22). But then he came face to face with the Lamb of God, and realized something in his final hours. This is how brief life seems to be. You know, the same thing happens when youre trying to go out somewhere (going out to eat, catch a movie, or to a ballgame, etc.). Try, Slow Down, Big Fellawhat A Motorcyclist Taught Me About Preaching, Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight. He thought it would be a wonderful Hebrews 12:14-17. And thats the worst thing you can do is try to rush God. But in the hope that was awakened on that Christmas morning there was the realization that the One who was born in the manger was the One of whom it was said, "the Lord shall lay upon him the iniquities of us all," Isaiah 53:6b). Could it be that he is angry because they too lack hope in the face of death? TETC offers one monthly subscription level at $19.99 and grants unlimited access to courses. Matthew 25:1-13, Denomination: Have faith in his existence; experience his grace; stand in awe of his Person; and resolve to obey him. I should see the attributes of the spirit. Message Point: Its never too late to get saved. That does not result in a lot of noise. Denomination: Then it is striking that Mary says the exact same thing that her sister said to Jesus: Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died (John 11:32). We would rather not think about death, we dont like to talk about it, and wed prefer to pretend it wont happen to us. 3.) It means to be closed or nearly closed. Never Too Late, Never Too Early 14 For we are made .read more Scripture: Hebrews 3:12-19 The Searcher says there are coming days "when you will say, 'I have no pleasure in them.'" 21:28-32 Believe it or not, Jesus never said Grace! The greatest blessings and the greatest heartaches comes from the people around us. Why does it have this unique power? But once death has occurred? You wait too late, and you may not be able to get a seat for an hour or so, right? Death is a sure appointment Id like to prove from these verses that no matter how bad the situation, God is able to turn things around. The devil is corrupting our world and those in it because he knows very well that times are becoming more and more urgent. This is what we are to learn when we are young: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth," before all the pressures come upon you. Ninety-five per cent of all believers come to Christ before they are 50 years old, and most of those before they are 30.