Is This The End? | Ps. Keith Pittman

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Church, could you help me welcome our online community of those who are joining us in the family lounge?

We're so, so glad that you are with us today.

And today is a special day because we're kicking off a new series that we've entitled End Times.

Now, this is something that I realize has captured the imagination of people inside and outside of the church for centuries.

And it's something that is often referred to in scripture as last days.

So over the next four weeks, we're going to explore what scripture does indeed say about the end of the age.

I want to share with you our foundational passage for this series that we're going to anchor ourselves in and come back to on a very consistent basis because it's going to be the space that we extract a lot of the truths that I believe God wants me to share with us.

The book of Titus, chapter 2, verses 11 through 14.

Titus 2:11–14

If you have your Bibles, you can turn to it.

Verse number 11 says this for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lust and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He gave himself to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

There's a lot that's in there, but there's something I want to draw your attention to.

The way that the scripture connects the way we live now with an expectation of what we're going to see tomorrow.

Paul does a brilliant job at saying that the way that we live now, it's a reflection of what we anticipate we're going to see tomorrow.

And that hope that he's referring to is the return of Christ.

And that is ultimately the heartbeat of this series, that we live differently today because our eyes are fixed on Jesus returning tomorrow.

So today we're going to lay our foundation of where we're going, and each week we're going to build on this idea.

And so my hope is that if you're traveling, then make sure you stay dialed in because it's literally going to build and stack, and hopefully by the end of this series, we're going to have a hope-filled, life-giving perspective of this very powerful topic and theme.

Our teaching text today is going to come out of the book of Acts, chapter one.

We're going to refer to several passages.

I'm going to refer to them.

I'm going to read some.

If you're taking notes, make sure you try to keep up.

But we're going to be referring to a lot of scriptures because I believe it's important that we're extracting from the word of God, not the word of opinions.

And we want to make sure that we're rooted in what God says about this stuff and not about what my personal preference is about these things.

The book of Acts, it is framed in this way.

It is after Jesus has lived his life, he's died, he's been resurrected, and now he spent 40 days with his disciples, talking to them about the kingdom of God.

As he's preparing to ascend into heaven, there's a moment where the disciples are asking Jesus some questions about if this is the time that he's going to restore Israel?

Is this the time that he's going to redeem the people of God as they understood it?

I think some of us can relate to that.

Having those moments where we have these encounters with God and we're saying, Jesus, is this the time that I'm going to get my breakthrough?

Is this the time that I'm going to get my answer prayer?

Is this the time that I'm going to see my miracle?

But Jesus' answer for them, I believe, is just as good for us today.

The book of Acts tells us in chapter 1, verse number 6, it says this.

So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, are you restoring the kingdom of Israel at this time?

He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you.

And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

And after this he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.

They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?

This same Jesus who was taken from you into heaven will, in the same way, have you seen him coming to from heaven?

This powerful thought of the same way that they saw Jesus ascend is the same way that Jesus is going to return.

Today I want to provide a foundation on our thoughts today.

And my message title for today is simply this Is this the end?

Let's pray and let's see what it is the Lord wants to speak to us today.

God, we thank you for your word that serves as a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path.

And so, God, we just ask that you speak to us, that you stir our hearts, that we have an encounter with you and not with man.

Holy Spirit, you're welcome here.

And we ask, God, that you confront us, that you encourage us, that you challenge us, that you ultimately sharpen us to become more like you.

So I decrease and ask for you to increase.

Give us open eyes to see you, open ears to hear you, and open hearts to receive everything that you have for us.

It's in Jesus' name that we pray.

Amen.

And amen.

So I'm two weeks back from my sabbatical.

Megan and I take some time off every year to rest and reflect, and most of our church community knows that.

So we try to do some things that kind of like allows us to enjoy each other and travel when we are able to.

And so this sabbatical was a little bit more busy, but we did find an opportunity to get away.

And so one of the things that we did is that we went up to New York City and we went and saw a play on Broadway.

I never did that before.

So I'm up in Broadway, out in these New York streets, and we go and see Hamilton.

And I'm telling you, it was absolutely on Broadway.

On Broadway?

I'm not throwing away my shot.

Come on, man.

Like, who lives, who dies, who tells your story.

I'm telling y'all.

I'm telling y'all.

Like, I'm telling this, it had me, I was literally, there were moments where I wasn't sure if Megan was watching, the player watching me.

I'm mouthing the words the entire time.

I got tears in my eyes.

Like it was, it was chilling to the experience that I had.

It was absolutely, I definitely recommend it.

But while we were there, I had watched all of the, I've watched it multiple times, more times than I care to admit on Disney.

I've listened to the soundtrack multiple times.

So I have the entire sequence memorized.

I'm judging all the varying actors and comparing them to the actors that did it before them, like I could do any better.

But I'm like, man, put me in.

He stumbled on that line.

Put me in, God.

I can do Hamilton right now.

So so I'm I'm I'm ready to rock.

And so there's an intermission period.

So of course, like there's this great crescendo moment, and then the lights come up, and then there's this moment of, okay, we're going into this intermission period.

And so I'm looking around the room, and I love watching people who were experiencing it for the first time.

Maybe some people didn't see it, and there was a there was a father with a couple of his sons that was sitting um just a couple of feet down from us.

And and I could hear the young boy is probably like 12 years old.

He he turns to his dad and is like, Dad, like, is that it?

Is is it in?

Is this the end?

Is it over?

Where'd Hamilton go?

And so his father is kind of chuckling, like, no, son, like, this isn't the end.

This is this is just the intermission.

So his son's like, well, how long is the intermission?

Like, when's the show gonna come back on?

He's like, I don't know, son, but but what I do know is we want to make sure that we don't miss it.

So let's go use the bathroom, let's get something to eat, and then we're gonna come back and get our seats, and we're gonna watch and wait with anticipation for when the show is about to begin.

I have not been able to shake that moment since I saw it a few weeks ago.

Because I think, if I could be quite practical and honest with you, sometimes I feel like we're those children with that childlike faith.

We have these powerful encounters with God, and then we have a revelation of a word, and then we get insight that he is going to return, and then sometimes as a result of watching clips on social media or hearing people talk about it, hearing them say that Jesus is coming back, and we can often be those people like, Is this the end?

Is Jesus coming back?

Is he coming back now?

And we're often wondering, is this the moment?

And I want to let you know something.

Yes, Jesus is coming back, but no, we don't know how long it's gonna be.

But the beautiful thing is in this intermission period, there are still active things that we can be doing.

Because during that intermission period, there were people that were going and getting snacks, there were people that were having conversations, but the most beautiful thing was there were people that were on the stage that were setting arrangements preparing for the next act.

Watch this.

There were people who were setting the stage for the next act.

I believe that is our assignment while we're in this intermission period, that we know that Jesus has come, that he has ascended, and that he's going to descend.

And right now we're in that intermission period, but this is not a time for us to get distracted.

This is not a time for us to check out, but it's actually a time for us to continue to live life, to continue to engage one another, but to also do our part in setting the stage for the next act.

If you only understood that you have a part to play in the return of Christ, if you only understood that you have an assignment to fulfill for the return of Christ, but we don't know when it's going to happen.

In fact, Jesus speaks to this very idea in Matthew 24, 36.

He says this, he says, Now concerning the day and the hour, no one knows, neither the angels nor the Son, except the Father alone.

Jesus is saying there are literal angels who don't know when Jesus is coming back.

So it's not that we're asking ourselves, when is he coming back?

The appropriate question is, what do I do until he comes back?

We're not called to panic, we're not called to speculate, we're not called to check out, but we're called to stay awake, to stay faithful, and to be full of expectations.

Many of you probably have heard preachers, I know that I have.

Early in my faith journey, I remember I was reading and consuming every book that I could.

And I'm gonna age myself, so there's no such thing as podcasts.

So when you were interested in hearing a preacher, you had to like go onto their channel and order their DVD videos or VHS VCRs.

Anyone remember what a VCR is?

Google it, you'll find out later.

But you had to go through this effort to listen to these people pontificate on God's word, and I don't know where, but I really got into like this whole like spiritual doomsday prepper mode.

The end is nigh.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The Lord is gonna crack the sky.

And I remember every little social event, there was a new person popping up and saying, This is found in Daniel chapter 8.

Daniel 8 · chapter mention

And if you read it through this lens, then this is the fulfillment of that prophecy.

Literally talking about American politics, not realizing that American politics didn't even exist when that passage was written.

But we will insert ourselves into anything, but don't let me get started.

People taking events and trying to insert these biblical prophecies.

I remember seeing preachers with timelines on charts saying that if you look at this and if you look at this constellation, and if you look at when this comet passed through the sky, then we will know that the last time that that happened is when Jesus was resurrected.

So the fact that it's happening again 2,000 years later, we have a strong expectation that Jesus is coming back next week.

Literally ignoring the passage when Jesus said, even the angels don't know when I'm coming back.

So this is why the angels appeared to the men as they were looking at Jesus, looking into the sky.

They were saying, Why are you so fixated with looking in the sky when you got work to do here on earth?

Why are you so fixated with trying to figure out when he's coming back instead of asking yourself, what am I supposed to do until he gets back?

The return of Christ is not something to be fearful of.

Let me diffuse that now because for me, I would hear people talk about the book of Revelation and seven-headed dragons with ten horns and all these other imageries that was terrifying to me.

So the return in the end of the age was something that was that was terrifying to me.

And then I realized that that wasn't a healthy, life-giving hermeneutic because we forgot that the return of Christ is good news.

That when Jesus comes, that means he's going to restore justice and bring righteousness and love for the follower of Christ.

The return of Christ is good news.

It's not a reason for us to be afraid, it's not a reason for us to be fearful, but it's a reason for us to be excited.

So for me, in this series, I want you to understand we're gonna unpack some challenging things, but it's gonna be through three lenses, through the lens of hope.

Because Christ will return and our future is secure, and that is something that we can be hopeful in.

It's through the lens of anticipation because we're called to live with expectancy and also preparation.

But we're also gonna live with urgency because we don't know the hour, but we do know that we have a mission.

And when we're gonna look through these filters and it's gonna empower us with how to live a life-giving way, knowing that Jesus is coming back.

So let me give you three primary thoughts to anchor us in today, and then we're gonna continue to build on this in the weeks to come.

Here's point number one.

I asked a question with the message is this the end?

Here's the answer to that.

Yes, these are the last days.

Man.

That hits a little different, right?

Because after I did all this stuff talking about these pastors and preachers that try to scare us, yes, this is the end.

But let me give you some context before we get a little nervous about what we mean when we say, yes, we are in the last days.

We're not talking about a time to come, we are living in them as we speak.

But before I can talk about last days, we need to understand how the Bible talks about time.

Because one of the things that I've seen that's been so harmful in the body of Christ is that we don't have a healthy hermeneutic.

That means reading the Bible in its context, on its terms, before we try to extract principles and meaning from it.

So the Bible talks about time in multiple ways, and it's helpful for us to understand it when we're trying to understand what the end times are.

The Bible uses terms like ages to describe time.

It uses words like times with a plural to describe time.

It talks about seasons to describe time, and then it talks about days.

And each of these things may sound similar, and sometimes we can use them interchangeably, but they actually mean something different.

I want to say this really quick because I want to move on.

But ages are ultimately the big eras or the big themes in God's story.

Times, they're like the chapters inside of God's book.

And then seasons are the turning points within those chapters, and days are specific events that have happened within that particular timeline.

So let me put it all together to help us to not be as confused because I sound like we're in the multiverse right now.

So let me let me make it a little bit clearer.

Imagine God's redemptive plan as the greatest story ever told.

The ages, they represent major sections in that.

If you think of a chapter book, section one may have one topic, section two may have another topic, section three may have another topic.

If God's redemptive story is the greatest story ever told, the ages are the themes that are covered in that.

And some of the themes are creation, when Israel was birthed, the church age, which is what we're in now, and the new creation, which is going to come when Jesus returns.

Within those sections are times.

Those are like the chapters of God's unfolding work.

That's the specific work that God is doing.

And in those chapters, there are seasons, moments of character development, turning points for his direction, and then we have specific events that happen.

Those are the days.

Like there's a day that Jesus was born, there's a day that he died on the cross, there's a day in which he was resurrected, there's a day when he returns, and scripture refers to it as the day of the Lord.

This is not something that's conceptual, but it's a literal moment.

So when the Bible says we are in the last days, it's telling us that we are in the final section of God's book.

We're in the closing moments of that story.

We're living literally in the last chapters of God's appointed time, moving through significant seasons, all heading to the climactic day of when Jesus does return.

That's what it means when we're in the last days.

If we're looking at this through the lens of a book, then we are in the back section of that book and we're just waiting for us to get to the moment when Jesus returns.

For my football fans, we are in the fourth quarter.

The clock is ticking, the eagles are up, of course.

Um Peter Peter confirms this in Acts chapter 2, verse 17.

Acts 2:17

He says this, he says, It will be in the last days.

God says that I will pour out my spirit on all people, then your sons and daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

Peter doesn't say the last days are coming.

He was saying on the day of Pentecost, that marked the moment of when the clock for the last days began.

That is what Peter was ultimately communicating.

Hebrews chapter 1, verses 1 through 2, it says, Long ago, that's referring to past ages, past seasons, God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways.

Hebrews 1:1–2

In these last days, he's spoken to us by his son.

That word last days again.

God has appointed him the heir of all things and made the universe through him.

Jesus' resurrection and ascension into heaven, it activated what we now refer to as the last days.

Theologian N.T.

Wright says it this way The resurrection is the beginning of God's new world, the world that has turned a corner.

The kingdom has begun, and we are living in the overlap of ages between what God has already done and what he is yet to complete.

We're in this beautiful space where we're living in the kingdom, but yet we still have access to heaven.

And miracles break through is when the what is done in heaven meets the what's not done yet on earth.

That's the overlap that we're talking about.

That's the season that we're in, and that changes everything.

The last days are not something to fear, but they're something to faithfully live through.

Because God is still speaking, the spirit is still pouring out, this gospel is still advancing, and the world is still groaning.

But I know the follow-up question is so why is it taking so long?

If we're in the last days, this seems to be like a very long chapter.

This seems like this is being extended.

You ever like watch a TV show, like series, and you're like, how much longer can they drag this out?

There's a couple of shows that I've watched, I'm like, man, they still got 20 more episodes left.

Like, I feel like we got it.

I feel like we get it.

Like, I don't know how many more characters you can introduce.

Like, I get it.

So some of us are feeling that way.

Like, how much longer can we drag this out?

But but beautifully, the scriptures actually prepared us for this question.

Second Peter chapter 3, verses 3 through 9 has some significant substance that I think to anchor ourselves in.

2 Peter 3:3–9

It says this above all, be aware of this.

Scoffers will come in the last days, scoffing and following their own evil desire, saying, Where is his coming?

That he promised.

Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continued as they have been since the beginning of creation.

They deliberately overlooked this by the word of God, the heavens came into being long ago, and the earth was brought forth from water through water.

Through this world of that time perished when it was for flood.

By the same word, the present heavens and earth was stored up by fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Verse number eight, watch this.

Dear friends, don't overlook this one fact.

With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day.

The Lord is not delayed as we understand delay, but is patient, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

So when we begin to think about this idea that God has not returned yet, it can make us either feel like he's not returning, or it can make us indifferent to his return.

And some of us can grow frustrated.

But the text tells us that God didn't return because he forgot he doesn't want any to not experience the repentance and live life with him in eternity.

He doesn't want anyone to miss out on it.

So his delay is an act of mercy.

I remember one time Megan and I was traveling and we got um, we were in Atlanta, of course, there were delays for our flight.

And I remember sitting on a plane and they were saying, like, hey, we're not gonna take off for another 30 minutes, we're waiting for a connecting flight to arrive.

Now, if I could be honest with you, I've been on the other side of that where I was the connecting flight, and they left without us.

So I'm sitting there in my seat saying, the same way that I had to book another flight, book another flight for them.

Like, I got places to go, I got things to do, people to see, like, let's get this thing going.

But they decided to hold the flight, and I didn't understand it.

Well, finally the connecting flight landed, and and some people were scurrying onto the plane, and there was a lady who got behind us.

And I remember sitting there looking at it.

You know, you're sitting, you know how sometimes we get on the plane before people, you're just looking at them like, look at these people.

That bag is terrible.

How'd they get that through TSA?

Like, what

All have that inner that inner dialogue, that judgment that we have there.

Not me, I'm just kind of narrating with you in your hearts.

Um, so I remember this lady gets behind us, and I hear her, she's like so flustered, and she's she's she's breathing heavy.

She's like, Oh my gosh, I'm so glad I didn't miss this flight.

My daughter is going into labor, and if I missed this flight, I would miss the birth of my of my new granddaughter.

How terrible did I feel?

Watch this.

Because now the delay made sense because it made sure that someone made it to their destination.

How much more should we be gracious in understanding that the heart of God is that He doesn't want anyone to perish, but He wants everyone to come to life?

So, church, it is not our time to disconnect.

It is not our time to be disinterested.

These are not normal days, but these are prophetic, and you've been hand-selected to live in this divine moment, to live within that tension of purpose, of opposition, but also opportunity.

The enemy wants us either to be panicked or passive, but the spirit is calling us to live with clarity and conviction.

These are the last days, but we have got work to do because God doesn't want any of his people to perish.

We don't have time to scroll through life, to flirt with sin, numbing ourselves with distraction.

The king is coming back, and he's calling us to carry his image, his glory into a weary world.

Yes, we are in the last days, but there's good news.

We have work to do.

So my second thought that I want you to write down is so we need to focus on the mission.

We're in the last days, so we need to focus on the mission.

Because I truly believe that in these last days, our biggest danger isn't persecution, it's being distracted.

Jesus didn't call us to predict dates.

He called us to make disciples.

Our charge isn't speculation, it's participation.

Stay focused on the mission.

After Jesus rose from the grave, the disciples said, Is this the time that you're restoring the kingdom?

Is this the time?

Is this the time?

Is this the time?

And Jesus understood that they wanted justice, they wanted answers, they wanted influence, they wanted power, but Jesus redirected their curiosity and turned it into a calling.

Acts 1, 7 and 8 said to them, It's not for you to know the times and periods that the Father has set by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Their question about when was answered about a commission to do what?

He was saying to them, Don't stand around watching the sky, go change the world.

Matthew 28, 19 says this: Go therefore and make disciples in all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Scott McKnight says it this way: The early church wasn't obsessed with guessing the end.

They were gripped with participating in what Jesus began.

Paul also echoes this in Titus 2.14.

He says that Christ gave himself to purify himself a people of his own possession who are eager to do good works.

This mission isn't optional.

It's the identity of God's people.

We are eager, not idle.

These last days are not a holding pattern, but it's the launching pad for a kingdom mission.

We aren't passengers waiting for departure.

We're laborers in the field waiting for the harvest to come in.

Let's not get caught looking into the skies when we're supposed to be walking in the spirit.

The enemy would love for us to be paralyzed with speculation and neutralize us with distractions.

But the Holy Spirit didn't fall so we can have debates about timelines.

He fell so that we can bear witness.

Your calling isn't about when is Jesus coming back?

It's about what are you going to do until he does.

The world is hurting.

People are struggling.

The world is broken.

People are desperate.

And God has sovereignly placed you at your job.

God has sovereignly placed you in your school.

God has sovereignly placed you in your family to be a missionary.

That is your mission field.

Every time we have a conversation, every invitation, every testimony, it matters.

Heaven is counting on us to carry this profound kingdom message.

This is not just a preacher's job because you have access to spaces that I will never get into.

But if you are a blood-bought, spirit-filled believer, you're on a mission.

You're on an assignment.

So when you said yes to the gospel, you also said yes to and listen in the Lord's army, and we have work that God is calling us to do.

We need to move with urgency and with compassion and model it in our everyday lives.

N.T.

Wright says that Jesus didn't give us a timetable, he gave us a task.

And when we confuse the two, we stop transforming the world and start trying to escape from it.

Let that sink in for a minute.

If we lose focus of the mission, we lose our reason for existing in this cultural moment.

Christians, stop being surprised that the world is the world.

I am fascinated every time I see a Christian commentator commenting on a movie that's not a Christian movie.

I am so exhausted with us being surprised that people who don't walk with God, spoiler alert, are living like they don't walk with God and we're so incensed by it.

Can you believe that when I walk into this school that they don't have the scriptures on the wall?

The Bible never promised that the culture was going to conform to the Bible.

We're supposed to.

The Bible doesn't promise that.

So for us to be so incensed about living in a world that doesn't reflect our beliefs, that was never a guarantee.

What God says is that you are going to be hated because I was hated.

Spoiler alert, Jesus was crucified for who he was.

And the last time I checked, there's not a single one of us who's been nailed to anything.

Maybe you got removed from a group chat.

That hurts.

I get it.

We're left out.

I get it.

But God has called us to stand out.

And there's some environments that maybe we just can't get into.

Listen to me.

God has given us assignment.

This is not a season to retreat.

It's not a time to back down.

It's not a time to slow up.

It's not a time to check out.

It's a time to lean in, to share boldly, to serve sacrificially and shine brightly.

In these last days, we can't get distracted by the things that the enemy's trying to throw at us, which is inclusive of us being divided.

Here's my third and final thought.

We need to live a godly life.

It is so important in the last days that we actually live a godly life.

The call isn't to panic, it's to purity.

It's not to obsess over the antichrist, but it's to become more like Christ.

The world is darker than ever.

But that only makes holiness shine that much brighter.

Church, I want you to hear me.

The most prophetic thing you can do in this perverse generation is live a godly life.

Titus 2.11 through 14 gives us the roadmap on how we do this.

Let's look at it together.

It says, For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny godlessness, a worldly lust, and live a sensible, righteous, and godly life in the present age while we wait for the blessed hope.

Paul beautifully lays it out.

He says, in this present age, while we're waiting, live a godly life.

It uses that word instruction, which is literally the language of discipleship, the language of transformation.

Grace is the conduit that allows that to happen.

Listen to me, grace is not passive, it's a teacher.

It doesn't just save us, it shapes us, it tutors us on how to resist sin, how to walk in wisdom, how to reflect the very character of Christ.

And Paul breaks down what those attributes are to be sensible.

He says, just be sensible, rooted with spiritual maturity, self-control, having a mindset.

He says, righteous, living upright towards others and in alignment with God.

That means our actions should reflect what's in our hearts.

And then he says, ultimately, and just be godly, a life of reverence and devotion to God.

That's the posture of our hearts.

Holiness is not about behavior modification, it's spiritual transformation.

It's not about just looking the part, but it's about becoming the person that God has created you to be from the inside out.

Tim Keller says this the gospel doesn't make holiness unnecessary, it makes it possible.

Paul beautifully tells us about the tension that we have to manage in these last days.

2 Timothy 3, verses 1 through 5.

2 Timothy 3:1–5

But know this hard times will come in the last days.

That word again.

For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of godliness but denying its power.

Avoid these people.

That sounds like the playbook of what's happening in our society, not just with people who don't follow Christ, but with literally people who declare Christ.

I am so fascinated at the mean Christian era that we're in.

The angry Christian era that we're in, the love nobody era that we're in, and it's so inconsistent.

In these last days, it's not just about sin, but it's about shallow religion.

People will appear spiritual, but they lack transformation.

They'll have theology, but they won't have intimacy.

They'll have charisma, but they won't have character.

They'll have influence, but they won't have integrity.

We we don't need more believers telling us how to look godly.

We need saints who know how to actually live godly.

I wanna I wanna use this as a way to kind of help drive this point home.

Let's let's have this hypothetical scenario.

Let's say that somebody has in this room a medical emergency.

Sean.

Let's say Sean has a medical emergency.

He's standing there and he's like, you know what?

The Eagles are better than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

And so he has this moment of conversion.

He has he has he has this moment.

He has this moment, a chart change.

So Paul, so, so so Sean's there, he collapses on the floor.

His wife is like, Life insurance is good.

No, I'm just kidding.

I'm kidding.

I'm kidding.

I'm kidding.

His wife is like, oh my gosh, like Sean's passed out.

And we look around the room, we're like, man, like, is there is there anybody here that can help?

Is there is there a doctor in the house?

And then I look in the back and I see somebody who has on scrubs, they have down their their medical coat, they have stethoscope, and they have a badge that says doctor.

Why did you come to church with all that on?

I don't know.

You came here, I'm just telling you what you had on.

But I look out and I see somebody with that on.

I'm like, oh, you're a doctor, sir.

Can you can you come and help my dear friend?

He's like, Oh, I'm not really a doctor, I just watch a lot of Gray's Anatomy.

I know the language, I know the phrases, but I don't have the training and the lifestyle to sustain what I'm talking about.

So my question is, why wear the uniform if you're not going to adapt into the lifestyle?

Why are we saying we're Christians if we're not going to adapt to what it really means to be a Christian?

To be a follower of Christ, not a follower of culture, not a follower of man, but recognizing that when I say yes to Jesus, then I am saying yes to a lifestyle.

I am saying no to a world of sin.

I'm saying no to compromise.

I'm saying yes to all the things that God has for me.

I'm saying yes to forgiveness.

I'm saying yes to generosity because that is what it means.

Because whether we recognize it or not, around this world, every single day, at your job, in your home, with your family, people are having spiritual crisis, and we're not stepping into it because we don't have the training and the consistency of death to know how to pray and recognize.

No, you guys are bickering.

That's a demonic spirit, and in the name of Jesus, we're calling that thing out.

We don't even be able to discern when the enemy is attacking us or when it's complications in the relationship because we've lost the intimacy with God.

And what God is saying is that there is a time in the last days where more is required of you.

It's not good enough to just post on social media, it's not good enough to just show up every three Sundays, it's not good enough just to tip God when you want to.

But this is a lifestyle that requires radical transformation because people are dying every day, and Jesus says, I am not coming back because I don't want anyone to perish, and I've enlisted you into the family of faith, but I need you to get to work, and it starts with the life that you live.

The life that you live, it matters, but we're in a time where we have image but no integrity, we have faith but no fruit, we have godliness but no power.

And we can't afford to have Instagram Christians with filtered faith but no fire.

God is saying, holiness is not a burden, it's a birthright.

You were redeemed to radiate, you were saved to shine, and in these last days, God is raising up a remnant not just marked by gifting, but marked by godliness.

Understand that every time you say no to lust, every time you say no to pride, when you say no to greed, that you are raging war in the spirit.

Every act of kindness, every disciplined prayer, every decision to forgive, that is spiritual warfare, and you're pushing back darkness by you choosing to live a life of light.

Hear me.

Godliness is not just about what you avoid, but it's what you choose to pursue.

You love deeply when culture tells you to divide.

You forgive freely even when you have every reason to stay bitter.

You pursue justice even when it's costly.

You seek wholeness in your soul and your relationships, and in your mind, you you live healthy, spiritually, emotionally aware, and biblically rooted.

You don't have to be perfect, but you do have to be surrendered.

Holiness doesn't mean you don't stumble, but it does mean you refuse to settle.

We're not waiting for Jesus to come back so that we can just be indifferent.

We're called to be active.

We're preparing the bride without spot or blemish.

His church.

And hear me.

Jesus is coming back for a bride, not a side shift.

A bride who's faithful, who's holy, who's been prepared, who's living a life that is going to be glorifying to God.

The Holy Spirit didn't fall so we can be charismatic.

He fell so that we can be holy.

So are we letting the grace of God train us?

Are we truly living a godly life?

We don't just live in these last days to disconnect from the culture that God has called us to make a difference in.

We don't do this out of fear.

We don't have to earn our salvation.

Jesus already did it.

But we do need to let the life we live be the biggest sermon that we ever will preach.

Family, yes, we are in the last days.

Christ has come and he will come again.

These are the last days.

But we have hope, we have expectation.

And Acts and Titus reminds us that we are saved by grace, we're filled with God's Spirit, and we're called to fix our eyes on Jesus while presenting and setting the stage for when he comes back.

The world may feel chaotic, but Jesus is not surprised.

Every shaking, every sign, it's all leading somewhere.

And next week we're gonna talk about the signs of the times and we're gonna unpack what that means.

We're in the last days and it demands a response.

So let me ask you are you living like Jesus could return today?

If Jesus did come back, would he find your lamp burning or your heart distracted?

Would he find you faithful or just familiar?

This is a wake-up call and a warm invitation that if you drifted, it's time to come home.

If you're afraid, you can trust again.

If you're tired, be strengthened.

But it's a time for us to respond.

So with every head bowed and every eye closed, Lord, we thank you that we're not lost in time.

We're located in yours.

You've placed us in the last days on purpose, not to fear, but to live by faith.

God, we repent for the times that we've drifted away from you, where we've gotten distracted.

And Lord, we ask that you set our hearts ablaze with urgency and purity.

We say yes to you.

We say yes to the gift of salvation.

And for those that are overcome with fear and anxiety, I pray that the peace of God that surpasses all understanding begins to wash over you.

Lord, remind us that you are with us.

And as we say as a church, Maranatha, come, Lord Jesus, come.

Until you do, allow us to be faithful in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

And amen.

Jesus is coming back, and that's good news.

Jesus is coming back, and that's good news.

Jesus is coming back, and that's good news.

And he's called us for such a time as this.

To be his ambassadors, to let our light shine, and watch this world be transformed as a result.

Because his desire is not to see anyone perish, but all come to repentance, and we all got work to do.

Amen.

Amen.

Let me get you to stand on your feet.

I want to pray a blessing on us if we prepare to go out.

I want to remind us that we do have some things that we want you to interact with.

We have a back to school uh area where you can take some pictures.

We have some resources we want to put into your hands for all the families that are engaged in this back to school season.

We are sincerely praying God's blessing and favor over you.

I want to remind us about this fast.

I'm gonna go eat one last good meal and I'm shutting it down.

Shutting it down.

So go have your last supper and let's lock in and let's all pursue God together.

But let's lift our hands to heaven and receive this blessing.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May He make His face to shine upon you and give you everlasting supernatural peace in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

God bless you guys.

We love you.

We'll see you next week.

Thank you for joining us to learn more about Celebration Orlando, a church devoted to reaching the lost, equipping the found, and helping the hurting.

Follow us on social media using the handle at celebrationorl or visit our website, celebrationorl.