Are we near the end?

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Luke 21:5 ¶ When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,

These country Galileans undoubtedly regarded the magnificent Temple complex with a sense of awe and reverence, marveling especially at the massive size of the stones described by Josephus as "built of stones that were white and strong: and each of their length was twenty-five cubits; their height was eight, and their breadth about twelve." The Herodian Temple Complex covered approximately 1/6 of the old city of Jerusalem.

6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." 7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?"

v 6 About to take place… wouldn’t we all like to know when things are going to happen? What is going to happen just before the temple is destroyed? I want to know just enough ahead of time to get out. Let me know just ahead of when the stock market is going to crash.

8 And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. 9 "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately."

v 9 for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.

What things? Here is Christ or there He is…Wars, insurrections

10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

Other signs or things that must take place first

12 "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

v 12 But before all this occurs…

Are we near the end?  We hear of wars and insurrections, we hear of earthquakes, famines, plagues. Dreadful portents: portents = 1: something that foreshadows a coming event: OMEN, SIGN. 2: prophetic indication or significance

v 12 But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.

Because of the name of Christ: Are we being arrested? Are we being persecuted?  Are we being placed into prisons?  Are we brought before the authorities?

Last Sunday was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  Are there people being persecuted because of the name of Christ in the world?  Yes!

We might say, see it is happening.  But is it happening to us?

Do you want to know what I think? Of course, you do. 😊

I believe that Christianity worldwide will come under this persecution.  I believe America will cease to exist as a nation as we know it today. You think it is bad now? It going to get worse.

Matt 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Mark 13:8 these are the beginnings of sorrows.

“sorrows” – Greek “odin” (o deen’) a pang or throe, especially of childbirth:--pain, sorrow, travail.

First, “beginning” implies that patterns of war, famine, and earthquakes do have some connection with the end. But they do not necessarily indicate that the end is near. Adding to this concept is the idea of “birth pains,” which begin sometime before an actual birth. 

Second, birth is one of the most painful experiences in a woman’s life. Jesus, choice of word picture indicates that, when the end does come, it will be very painful for all of humanity. These sorrows are continually experienced in history. But as is true with the birth process, the pains will increase in frequency and intensity until the actual birth.  It will become more painful for all of humanity until Jesus returns in his power and glory. 

Third, birth is one of the most joyously fulfilling experiences of a woman’s life, bringing about the emergence of something precious, beautiful, and highly valued. Jesus’ word picture looked beyond God’s judgment to the emergence of the fully realized kingdom with Christ in his glory.

So, what is my response?

13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 

We will have an opportunity to witness to our faith in Jesus. How many of us witness now in this environment of non-persecution? In a time of persecution, the real believers will be separated from the non-believers.

v 9 says do not be terrified.

v 13 do not worry about preparing your defense.

I will give you words and wisdom

James 1:5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matt 28:20

16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

17 you will be hated by all because of my name

18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

There are some difficult days ahead. I know we think the days are difficult now.

1 Peter 4:12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

But as believers we have hope.  We start the advent season here in a couple of weeks.  The first candle is the candle of hope.

Another word I like for hope is resiliency. As believers we know that things are better for us in the future.  Because of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection we have the hope of living with Him.  How we get to that place might be a little uncomfortable.  

2 Peter 3:8 ¶ But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.

Someone once did some calculating and concluded that a lifespan of 80 years is about 2 hours in length if compared to a thousand years are as one day. I can deal with many things for just a couple of hours. Kind of like waiting at the DMV.

The point is we have hope.  If you are not a believer, you do not have hope.  There is no future with Christ for you.  There is opportunity to change this.  Today is the day of salvation.  

Rom 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.

I think Peter sums it up quite well.

1 Peter 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 ¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

May today we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: that we have a hope because of the name of Christ; we can endure until the end because of the name of Christ.

Scripture is from the NRSV.

Am I an egg or a potato?

Have you ever heard or read these sayings? 

The same sun that melts butter hardens clay.

The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s about what you’re made of, not the circumstances. –Anonymous

You see them in memes on Facebook from time to time.  You can search Google and get many different interpretations of what these mean for you or me.

Here is one that I thought of the other day.  I did not find it on Google, so I will claim its originality. :) 

The same breath that puts out the candle fuels the campfire.

When you do read what people write about these sayings, it is primarily about what I am.  I am to change my attitude towards the situation I am to create a different result.  I do not disagree with these interpretations.  I do believe that your attitude is the only thing you can control in any particular situation.

However, I would like to give you a little different take on these.

Without the sun melting the butter it would be difficult to spread it on my toast without ripping the toast to pieces.  We never say we like cold hard butter on our bread or cinnamon roll.  Without the sun hardening the clay, I could not have that mug to drink my coffee or a plate to hold my toast or cinnamon roll.

Without the boiling water making the egg hard and the potato soft, I could not enjoy potato salad, or mashed potatoes or deviled eggs.

Without the breath to put out the candle, I could not celebrate my birthday or other special events.  Without the breath blown on the fire to start a campfire, I could not enjoy a s’mores.

The point is who am I?  What was I created to become?  I have no control of what I am made of.  Was I created an egg or a potato?  If I was created an egg, then boiling water is going to make me into a different kind of egg.  I did not change into something else. 

What is my purpose?  The circumstances that we encounter are designed to mold us into that purpose.  Was I destined to me a hard-boiled egg?  My attitude will not change that.

We are always encouraged to find your purpose.  I believe that each person has a purpose for living.  The challenge is do we like what our purpose is?

As a follower of Christ, I seek to be molded into His image. What does this image look like?  It looks like whatever He has planned (purposed) for my life.  He wanted me to be a hard-boiled egg.  He brought circumstances into my life to bring me to that point.  My attitude should be one of gratefulness that He has made me into what He wanted me to be.  Not, I wish I was a potato.

Do we know when Jesus died?

Jesus was CRUCIFIED on Wednesday, the Bible Tells Me so:

Most of the professed Christians in the world believe Jesus was crucified on Friday.  They say "Good Friday" is the day to celebrate His sacrificial death.  However there are some Christians who believe the crucifixion had to be earlier, perhaps on Thursday or even Wednesday.  They point to ten or eleven Scriptures in the New Testament, which specifically say Christ would be in the grave for three days.  In particular, they cite the words of Christ: "So shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth"(Matthew 12:40).  Also, a statement by Christ that it would be AFTER three days He would rise again.  "And be killed, and after three days rise again" (Mark 8:31).

POSITIVE STATEMENTS:

Now I find in the Bible positive statements which specifically tell us exactly on what day of the week Christ was crucified.  Let me show you what I have discovered - something most people do not know.

In John 12:1 we are told that: "Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was."  Note the specific statement: it was six days before the Passover.  We are not told which day of the week this was, but it was SIX DAYS before the Passover.

Then John reveals exactly what day it was when Jesus arrived in Bethany, for in John 12:12-14 we read: "On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him."  Remember, it was the next day after Jesus came to Bethany, and of course this "day after" was the day of the Triumphal Entry which took place on the first day of the week, which we now call Palm Sunday.  So we can establish the fact that Jesus arrived in Bethany the day before Palm Sunday, which would be the seventh day, or the Sabbath - our Saturday.  Recall that this day on which He came to Bethany was "six days before the Passover."

Now all we must do is count six days from that Saturday, and we will find exactly what day of the week the Passover came that year.  So let us do it: Jewish Month of Nisan (April)

COUNT SIX DAYS FROM SATURDAY
FIRST DAY	Saturday	Jew's Sabbath
SECOND DAY	Sunday	Jew's First Day Palm Sunday
THIRD DAY	Monday	Jew's Second Day
FOURTH DAY	Tuesday	Jew's Third Day
FIFTH DAY	Wednesday	Jew's Fourth Day- Preparation Day- Passover Lamb Slain
SIXTH DAY	Thursday	Passover Extra Sabbath Christ in Tomb One Night and Day
SEVENTH DAY	Friday	Jew's Sixth Day Christ in Tomb Second Night and Day
EIGHTH DAY	Saturday	Jew's Sabbath Seventh Day Christ in Tomb Third Night and Day
NINTH DAY	Sunday	Jew's First day of the Week Resurrection Day

So here we have positive and specific information, direct from the Scriptures, as to exactly which day of the week the Passover came in the year of the crucifixion of our Lord.  It was on Thursday.  But you say: "Then why are you saying Christ died on Wednesday?"

THE DAY OF CHRIST'S DEATH

If the Passover came on Thursday that year (as it did in the years 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009), then our Lord must have been crucified on Wednesday, because God commanded that the Passover Lamb must be killed on the afternoon of the day before the Passover (Exodus 12:6). At the time of Christ, this was still the pattern for the Passover feast.  The day before the Passover, which was called "the Day of Preparation," or "the Day of Unleavened Bread" was the day on which the Passover Lamb was to be killed, as Luke tells us.  "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed" (Luke 22:7).  If the Passover came on Thursday that year, then that "day of unleavened bread or of preparation" would be on Wednesday.

Now when was Jesus sent to the Cross by Pilate?

On what day and hour did He die?

John tells us specifically the very day and hour.  "And it was the Preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour; and he (Pilate) said unto the Jews, Behold your King!  (John 19:15, 16).  When John said, "it was the preparation" he meant it was the day of preparation.  When he said "sixth hour" he meant it was about noon (12:00 o'clock).

Thus we have discovered in the Scriptures the exact day and hour when Christ was sent to the Cross.  It was on Wednesday, the day before the Passover, at noontime. His death then occurred at the ninth hour, three hours later, when the Passover Lambs were slain for the feast.  In our time this would be at three o'clock in the afternoon.

So I believe I can say like Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar: "The thing is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure" (Daniel 2:45).

Cooler Weather in Texas and Kansas

Wondering why we have cool weather in Texas and Kansas? Here is the long answer.

The last couple of days have ended a project that started back in April. Many of you are aware that my Dad came to the states for some medical reasons. We started the process of bringing my Mom to the states. She arrived safely today (agust 21st). As with all projects there are sometimes uncertainties. These are to be avoided to successfully complete a project.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, these uncertainties were handled by the only person who knows and understands such things. This would be our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

One of the pieces was to get my Mom's dogs to the states from Antigua. We completed everything we could on our part. The main uncertainty was the weather. For dogs to fly the weather must be no higher than 85 degrees at any point on their trip. The day I left Kansas (July 31) it was 109 degrees. Today (August 21st), when I arrived in Kansas it was 73 degrees.

I saw several postings of my Facebook friends in Kansas about the cooler weather. I want you to know that you have experienced the work of God on behalf of my mother and I so that we could get her dogs safely here without any hiccups. These dogs are an important part of my mother's life. They will help her in her transition.

I would appreciate your continued prayer for my parents as they adjust to a new life here in the states. They have just completed 46 years as missionaries. We look forward to what the Lord will have for them now.

Brother YO Begins

June 8, 1992, I made my first YO-YO performance at a small church in Andover, KS.  I did 12 more programs that summer.  Since then Brother YO has been across the state of Kansas performing about 50 shows a year until 2005.  The past seven years have not been as active since I decided to go back to school.  Brother YO has also been to Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Jamaica and Antigua.


My first performance was done with a Duncan Professional YO-YO.  This was a very slim YO-YO that was made of plastic and riveted together.  In my world at the time, it was the best I could get.  The most difficult trick I could perform while standing in front of a crowd and talking was man-on-the-trapeze.  


I moved on to a wooden YO-YO made by the Hummingbird Toy Co.  These were very nice to play with, but I wore them out every two weeks.  I was introduced to the Tom Kuhn YO-YO.  I purchased a couple from him and my skill began to grow.  I really liked his Flying Camel (imperial shaped).  I was introduced to the Tom Kuhn YO-YO by Gene Mauk.  Gene was a YO-YO champion back in the 1930s.  We had several good visits.  Gene helped to start a YO-YO club in Wichita.  Together we trained quite a few YO-YO players.  The YO-YO club is closed now but we produced a National YO-YO Champion from Salina, Kansas (Brent Dillinger).  


My YO-YO of choice now is the Spintastics Technic YO-YO.  I also like the YOYOjam SuperSpinFaktor.  One of these is with me every where I go. :) 


Today, I meet people throughout Wichita who remember me at their school or church.  It is cool to meet them until you realize that they are now adults with their own families.  Time does travel fast.


I look forward to YO-YOing into the future.  The Lord has given me a unique opportunity to speak on His behalf to 1000s of people using what some consider to be a toy.  I consider it a tool of ministry.  It is a reminder that God can use anything when we seek Him for guidance and then allow Him to make it happen.


Thank you to everyone who provided me an opportunity to minister.


Matt Johnson
Brother YO
Matt 5:16
brotheryo@gmail.com




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