Meaningless!" Corpses go straight to the morgue or the funeral home out of sight and out of mind. When I see you I should not have to wonder if you are saved and sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. Text: Hebrews 3:12-19 Glasses, contact lenses, even glass eyes, help with eye problems. In this message (the first of 4 messages) we are going to meet an elderly couple and a teenage girl who are going to teach us a life altering and world changing truth, that it is Never Too Late, and it is Never Too Early. You make him wait. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. It can't happen. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Langston Hughes, poet of the Harlem 1 Kings 13 And behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. (Hebrews 9:27) And because he loves Lazarus, He going to come right now. One day Lazarus got sick and his sickness was unto death. Prayer Is Not an Option Its a Necessity! The lie of too late He delays it for a reason. This, again, is personal to me because I dont want anybody to wait until its too late to come to the Lord. Again, I say that the same evil is ever present in our world today. It is awful. He has searched through all of life and reached the same conclusion. Verses9-10: Besides being wise, the Preacher [the Searcher] also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging proverbs with great care. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. The Kingdom is open to all but not accepted by all 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. To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. I just like men!! Challenge, Change, Repentance, Conviction, Self-Deception, Over Confidence, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. The usual explanation is that Jesus is angry at the tyranny of death. They just lay around in the sky all day long. For Belshazzar it was too late. One of the places he taught it was in Luke 7:3650. Experts say that 3 people die every second. read more, Scripture: INCONCEIVABLE PROMISES When Jesus arrives in Bethany, He comes upon a scene of utter despair. wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, Burned incense to other gods, And worshiped the works of their own hands., In other words, whats happening to the Israelites is obvious; they have forgotten their first love as did the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4-5, Revelation 2:4-5: Yet I have this against youthat you no longer love Me as you did at first. 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). Luke 16:19-31, As we look at this story in the Bible, we must realize that it is an aweful yet true story. 8 "Meaningless! Proverbs 27:1, The 2nd Saying from the Cross (Good Friday), Listen, Its Not too Late Theres Always Hope! Remember Lot's Wife! But we were with Jesus when we saw the blind eyes come open, dead raised, raise Jarius daughter. 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. And thats what Sister Opal did that day. Every time we share communion together, we are remembering His sacrificeHis broken body and His spilled blood. It's not too late!!!! Jeremiah is considered the 2nd of the four Major Prophets of the Bible, only to be preceed by Isaiah and followed by Ezekiel and Daniel. But isnt it something when God delays his coming. It is aweful because one man ended up in hell. . He had waited and wandered in the wilderness for 40 years but wasnt ready to quit and die. What a sad and awful proclamation being made by Jeremiah about the chosen people of God. HAVE YOU EVER AWOKE TO FIND THAT EVERYONE ELSE IN THE HOUSE WAS GONE? Id like to prove from these verses that no matter how bad the situation, God is able to turn things around. There is someone here today that needs to trust Jesus Christ. There is no hope expressed. VI. And two, "Love your neighbor as yourself." He is known as the Weeping Prophet because of his lamenting over the down fall and rebellious nature of Israel. Its only fair. A message from the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. Some of these people even became believers (John 7:31). Jeremiah 1:16 I will utter My judgments against them concerning all their. In Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah is called by God to preach to the Nation of Judah. This reason for Jesuss anger makes sense, but there might be another explanation. Matthew 25:1-13, Denomination: That day could become for Christs return and if you have not chosen to follow Him at that point, it will be too late. read more, Scripture: It had destroyed his family and his marriage; he had lost his job and could not function. Only as we confront the reality of death will we appreciate the hope of resurrection. Regardless of his age, it is a fact that God called Jeremiah into ministry, Jeremiah 1: 4-5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.. Jonah had received clear directions from the Lord about what to do. Nowadays, we get online to buy our tickets as fast as possible because we know that if we wait too late, none may be left. I have had the privilege of personally leading three men to Jesus just weeks prior to their deaths. Last of 5 messages on the parables of the kingdom. 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. To Start Over Job lost everything, including his 7 children. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Theres TO that means also. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. Cataracts form; various eye problems develop. I invite you to find Acts 3 and while you are finding this, I want to ask all those involved in next weekend's DiscipleNow to stand for a moment. Job had worked for years to accumulate his wealth. She has no idea what Jesus is about to do and she does not expect him to raise Lazarus from the dead. He just wants you to know he is going to move when he gets ready. Or, maybe they are like the people who show up to the movie after the movie has already begun. Why does resurrection occur for those who believe in Jesus? When we need a healing we take him off the shelf, as soon as we are healed we put him back on the shelf. They were not lightly chosen. Anytime, Anywhere. It is aweful because one man had so much suffering in this life and the other man had so much suffering in the next life. Lets notice the urgency that Christ speaks with in His message. SO there is nothing to hard for God. I can see him getting up early in the morning. The reason that many people do not act with urgency when it comes to having faith in the Lord is because they assume that there is no deadline with Gods arrival. Sun am It was used of Him, but never by Him. Or maybe there is something else going on. It is really this statement: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the wholenessof man. Christ is certainly still alive and well! 5/12/10 He thought it would be a wonderful She had been married 3 times and widowed three times. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. "Much study is a weariness of the flesh." Secondly, Ive always felt that my calling to preach was for those of my generation and younger. She had been married 3 times and widowed three times. Pentecostal. Text: Hebrews 3:12-19 (Ecclesiastes 12:1 RSV), It is clear that this is an appeal to young people to think carefully about their Creator, not merely to remember that he is there. Don't give into believing the well believed lie that it's too late! 5/12/10 Heaven is my home series: You CAN take it with you! We can't hide from God. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. Promo Video of The Story We have noted throughout this book the many proverbs he uses to illustrate the truth he was setting forth. It was used of Him, but never by Him. Sure, Jesus is powerful and can do amazing things, but even today no one can do anything about death. Baptist. They are kind of like the members of your family that show up late to Thanksgiving dinner. There are two deadlines and we draw closer to them everyday. Talk of the Lords return the apocalypse, the Great White Throne, or a clock ticking down on life as we know it all fits up under the bubble of foolish talk. Secondly: On the last day of the feast, we see that His last statement was a call for the people to follow Him. behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.. (Not this physical life but the one coming after the eternal life) In todays sermon, I want to focus on waiting too late to get right spiritually. 3. These two things are both true! The rich man in hell did everything that the poor man did on earth; however he did them simply TOO LATE! You will notice that as Jesus spoke, there were challengers there to challenge His authority and to question His calling. Use absolutely no pressure. They do not even want to drive at night because they are afraid of things "in the way.". In our passage of scripture for todays sermon (John 7), we see Jesus in Judea for the Feast of Tabernacles. The heart of God is the heart of a shepherd; he sees us as wandering sheep in need of a shepherd's care. "The pitcher is broken at the fountain" is a reference to the heart. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nailsgiven by one Shepherd. 3Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. ThenHe started over. Then, secondly, your motivations are highest now. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die (John 11:2526a). There are two excellent reasons given for this. What a waste to live your life and never discover why you are here! (Ecclesiastes 12:13 RSV). It is aweful because one man had so much suffering in this life and the other man had so much suffering in the next life. MAIN Jesus gives an offer to anybody to drink from His fountain and that choice belongs to the person free will. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. Enter your email address and we will send you a link to reset your password. TEXT - John 11:25 Jesus told her, I am the resurrection and the life. The mind, with its powers of reasoning, of memory and of imagination begins to fade, like the fading of the light of the sun. How Man Must Respond to God! . There is a reference to the increasing deafness of old age. This six-session study looks at three men and three women of the Bible who were used mightily by God despite their previous mistakes. Francis Schaeffer says that this is the great and first truth of the gospel -- The God Who Is There. How true this is! We need to be in the right place. says the Teacher. One phrase stood out to me: "Before it is too late." We must pray for God's mercy while we can. That is the secret to life; that is the secret of the wholeness of man. We have four seasons that come and go like clockwork. He tells her exactly what he plans to do, but Martha misunderstands: I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day (John 11:24). Constantine Campbell (PhD, Macquarie University) is associate professor of New Testament at. The lie of too late He had visions. 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Posted on February 22, 2022 by . An old saying is, "You can't beat the system." But today I hope to change your opinion. He is a God of mercy, of grace, of forgiveness. Dont let any doubt destroy your faith. "The grasshopper drags itself along.". The Saddleback teaching team reminds us that it's never too late to do what pleases God; whether it's making a fresh start spiritually or a new commitment to sharing our story that could change someone's life. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without So he makes us wait. . This was a call for the people living in that day to take advantage of the time He would physically be there. 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. Genesis: The Book of Ruin Exodus: The Book of Redemption Leviticus: The Book of Regulations Numbers: The Book of Readiness Deuteronomy: The Book of Remembrance Joshua: The Book of Realization Judges: The Book of Regret Ruth: The Book of Romance 1-2 Samuel: The Book(s) of Royalty 1-2 Kings: The Book(s) of Revolt 2. She loved to play her organ. 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. I dont need nor want anybody to follow in my way, but follow the way of Christ. Old people take very short steps; they can hardly walk. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Lets go ahead and ask the Lord to bless us this morning as we study His Word. 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. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil What is the connection between the Christ and resurrection? He delays. https://tonyevans.org/know-jesus-christ/ Stream Sermons: https://tonyevans.org/podcast/ Free Sermon App: https://subsp. Our problem is that we have expected God to do for us what we would not do ourselves. Explore the Kingdom. Caleb was 85 years old sayinggive me this mountain! when you thought it was over God says its not too late. 19 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. read more, Scripture: INTRODUCTION read more, Scripture: The Lord Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Fatherthe coming of the Holy Spirit. However, what is also true is that the fountain of Christ is still present in our world today. 20 views, 4 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Calne Free Church: Sermon: Telling the truth (Rupert Bentley-Taylor, Acts 24:22-27) That is the Searcher's conclusion. Do you have the willpower to take the mess that has been made and let God revive it?? While she may harbor such questions, she responds again with belief when Jesus asks, Do you believe this? (John 11:26b). November 23, 2008 (pm) You too can learn to focus on the potential of your future, not the missteps of your past. There is a world of evidence that God is there. The mind, with its powers of reasoning, of memory and of imagination begins to fade, like the fading of the light of the sun. Turn to your neighbor: 1.) You will seek Me and not find Me. Jesus knew that He would not be there physically with the people for long. Literal Meaning: Two Seasons to get their act together. Who knows, maybe they are realizing that the water smells coming from some of the fountains or that the water is hot. They are not mere one-liners, meant to amuse. (Need) Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach. 18 And I told them of the Sermon Outline Sermon Notes TOMORROW IS TOO LATE Dr. W. A. Criswell Acts 24:25 2-25-79 10:50 a.m. Now today, in our preaching through the Book of Acts in these morning services, we are in chapter 24. But Paul had been talking to God, and even though they had lost the ship, they didnt have to die. . Nehemiah 2:17-20, Denomination: Website 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries. He grew up in a godly home, exposed to the truth of the Scripture, involved with the work of his father in the carpenter's shop. 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. Back in 2017, we had a little old lady that came to church here. Just another site. The wisdom we need in this world often wears black. Metaphorically: They missed the blessings of God. Even the sound of chirping of birds outside the window awakens them. That's it. 19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 19 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. First, "the silver cord is snapped." Heart disease, cardiac arrest, is the most frequent cause of death in the United States today. We know this story Until you have stood before him and felt your guilt, acknowledged it, known you were wrong and corrupt, and heard him say in your inner heart, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more" (John 8:11 KJV), you will never be able to properly fear God. Ten Lamps But it will happen to us. Something, someone, is hunting them. They are afraid of the cracks in the sidewalk; they are afraid to mount stairs; they are afraid of "what is high." Now this was the same Mary that anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. Death is a sure appointment "The daughters of song, " those parts of our body by which we hear the song, are brought low; they lose their powers. Genesis 18:1-15, Denomination: This same type of urgency is hardly ever shown when it comes to faith and the spiritual. As a prophet, Jeremiahs sole purpose was to expose the sins of Gods chosen nation and to clearly explain the reason for the approaching (70 Year) disaster, which would be lead by Babylon, during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. I would like to go through these verses again and show you exactly what is being described. Those evil days are described in Verses2-8, in a vivid and beautiful imagery which describes the aging process, the approach and decrepitude of old age. You cannot come to God unless you know he is there. Yes, Lord, Martha says, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world (John 11:27). It is as though she is saying, I dont know what you can do now, Jesus, but I have hope that you can do something.. It is aweful because one man had so much suffering in this life and the other man had so much suffering in the next life. Denomination: Ten Lamps Bunbury read more, Scripture: Text-Hebrews 12:14-17 Drink from that fountain while you can because tomorrow might be too late. Fed-Ex Overnight service, Western Union. And he understood these marvelous words. He just says, Where have you laid him? (John 11:34). We find a story of a man named Lazarus of Bethany and he had a sister by the name of Mary and Martha. It's Not Too Late as Long as You Are Willing to be Tempered, By & By. In fact, Jesus gets angry a second time (John 11:38), but this is in response to what Marys fellow mourners say: Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying? (John 11:37). This is a little strange, isnt it? There was an employer who fired his branch manager for s Even with our attitude we want god to come quick fast and in a hurry. It results in the infirm and feeble steps of the very aged. This valley of bones was FAR BEYOND hope. Today is Resurrection Sunday; it is a day of tremendous hope and victory for every When he gets ready to move then you will appreciate God just a little bit better. (14 of 28), Overcoming the Barrier in Your Brain (2 of 3), CCPA - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. And finally "desire fails." Jesus says (John 7:33-34): I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. Im gonna warn them that JUDGMENT is coming. Nobody listened to the preacher. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. He had ambitions. Then there are others who just dont bother to consider coming to Christ. I use to say God I want you to come right now quick fast and in a hurry. After Biden faced criticism last year from some Democrats who felt he was too ambitious and veered too far left, his State of the Union speech in many ways sought to set down a more middle-of-the . of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up Some folks are this way because they believe they can show up whenever because no matter how late they are, they wont miss anything. 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). He could quote them from memory at any time in his ministry because his mind was so filled with what God had said. Jesus might be able to heal the blind (John 9), turn water into wine (John 2:112), and prevent death (John 4:4654), but no one can do anything about death once death comes. As we look at this story in the Bible, we must realize that it is an aweful yet true story. The handwriting was on the wall. 2023 SermonSearch. 6Then said I, Ah, Lord God! The Invitation to a Longing Heart! While you are resting tell the devil I know its not too late!. We offer 30,000+ outlines and 10,000+ free sermon illustrations from top Christian pastors and communicators. Mary accepts this finality and there is no hope. Matthew 25:1-13, Denomination: Greetings My fellow Friends and Family,I had the honour to speak/preach at an NGO 'Sisters Helping Hand' hosted by Ps Arabang. It's Not to Late for you. John 11:21-23, Joel 2:25-28, Denomination: When that happens "the doors to the street" are obviously shut. Then, "one rises up at the voice of a bird." We would rather not think about death, we dont like to talk about it, and wed prefer to pretend it wont happen to us. You'll write powerful and fresh messages every week with our preparation tools on a number of sermon topics, including expository preaching. "Hard-pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in" (NEB). But do they mean something different? 111 views, 3 likes, 0 loves, 4 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk, VA: First Presbyterian Church of. read more, Scripture: You suddenly find yourself exhibiting the appearances and experiences of age. Lets read Jeremiah 7:1-7 today. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Full text of Joel Osteen's sermon titled "When God Seems Too Late" which was delivered on March 07, 2021. 19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. Until we discover him, study and books will never be of any continuing value to us. . Youth is the time to find God. The finality of death is clear to all humanity past and present. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich mans table. Matthew 25:1-13 But then we see the Pharisees move in to stir up trouble (John 7:32). 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. A question that I fear too often we dismiss in our daily lives. There are stories (thank God for every one of them) of people turning to God in their last moments of life. I know that this is a difficult word for us to comprehend. ( John 5:1-15, NKJV; Ephesians 3:20-21) The multitudes knew where to go. By the fruits shall you know them? These are inspired, God-breathed words. Then Qoheleth speaks of "the day when the keepers of the house tremble." This is how brief life seems to be. While she misses Jesuss direct meaning, her response is a good one. We like to think that the devil quietly sneaks around and does his work, but this evil is blatantly out in the open there is no hiding it. That is one of the first signs of old age. Message transcript and recording 1982 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. The reason, according to Verse11, is because, "the collected sayings are given by one Shepherd." Matthew 20:1-16, Denomination: . We go through our everyday routines so often that we begin to feel like we are machines, right? Hebrews 11:6 says, "He that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him."