Heaven's Urgent Message (2)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on September 9, 2009
Topic: Signs Indicating the Need to Proclaim Heaven's Urgent Message
(use the audio to study)
Background
Last week, as we began to look at Heaven's Urgent Message, we noted that an urgent message is one that warrants the abandonment of all else, in order to attend to the need of the urgent message. One of the examples we used was that of an sms, which though may have few words, can nonetheless be very weighty, and can make us abandon all else to attend to its requirement.
We saw that heaven's urgent message today is the same as it was in the days of the prophets, of John the Baptist, of our Lord Jesus; earthly ministry, and of the apostles and their proteges. This message we said is, "<em>Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.</em>" We saw that the word "repent" is the same as "turn from your sins and turn to God"; and it connotes having a change of attitude and behaviour. We noted that this message is so urgent the Lord Jesus asked people to abandon social functions and obligations that they would consider important, so that they could go and preach the gospel. We also noted that He even violently converted a rebel (Saul of Tarsus) so that the message can be taken all over the world, especially to the Gentiles. Again, we saw that the fact that death comes to all men regardless of age, gender, race, etc., is motivation enough for us to urgently take heaven's message of repentance everywhere. We were then challenged to drop all else and take this message to our families, friends, neighbourhoods, offices, cities, and even the ends of the earth.
Tonight, we want to go further by looking at the signs that indicate the need for the message of repentance to be preached everywhere. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to appreciate these signs as they confront us tonight, in Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 4:12- 17
The incarceration of John the Baptist was a sign to the Lord Jesus that the time had come for Him to begin proclaiming heaven's urgent message. We also see another sign with respect to the location to which He went.
Matthew 24:32-33; 4:12; 10:22-23; Acts 8:3-4; Jeremiah 33:1; 2 Timothy 2:9; Matthew 4:16; Acts 17:22-34; Mark 1:35-39; Romans 15:20; Luke 3:1-2; Daniel 4:4-5, 10-17; Isaiah 32:9-15; 2 Timothy 4:2-5; Acts 17:16-17; 2 Peter 3:7-8; Genesis 19:12-14; John 4:35.
Conclusion
The need to proclaim the gospel is sometimes lost on us, because many a times, we do not know that it is time to urgently move to save the perishing souls. However, we have seen tonight, some of the signs that should propel us into action with respect to preaching heaven's urgent message of repentance and return to God. Some of these signs as we have seen tonight include: the muzzling of preachers; the persecution of believers; seeing people who are living in darkness and ignorance; knowing that there are still people who have not heard the gospel or who have not heeded the gospel; seeing people who are living in comfort and complacency; becoming aware that people are no longer interested in sound doctrine; when our spirit is vexed by the iniquity around us; and, when we think that it is not yet time to preach repentance.
May the Lord help us to understand the parable of the fig tree in <strong>Matthew 24:32-33</strong>. Let us go before our God, and ask for discerning hearts to know when to proclaim heaven's urgent message.
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