It Will Be Done

Going through the book of Mark here this morning, but you know as we think in just a few days we're going to celebrate

what you might say is that first phase of God's redemptive plan. I mean we celebrate

as God sent forth his son

there and as we celebrate Christmas, that's what we celebrate is the coming of the Savior.

And so as we begin to celebrate that, that's part of God's

redemptive plan was to send forth a son that would go to the cross and to pay the price for our sin.

And the arrival of Jesus into the world as a babe in Bethlehem

really brought into that reality of what God had promised and what was

before and that was going to be done and accomplished.

And today we're going to be looking at to realize that what we celebrate

and what was done is also beneficial because it gives us assurance

of what was already done. God gives us assurance he's going to continue to do

and he will accomplish all that he has set out.

All that he has established in his word

he will do. And so if you found this morning in Mark chapter 13

Mark 13 · chapter mention

let's stand together and honor the reading of the word of God.

We'll pick up here in verse 28

here and it says,

Now learn a parable of the fig tree.

When her branch is yet tender and put it forth leaves,

ye know that summer is near.

So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass,

know that it is nigh even at the doors.

Verily I say unto you that this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Fathers, we come before you this morning.

Lord, we're thankful for your word.

We're thankful for your promises that you've given to us.

Lord, that we can rest in them, that we can know for sure

that those things are going to come to pass.

It will be done.

Lord, help us to always keep that in our forefront of our minds

that what you have said is true.

And that we're not only it's going to come to pass,

but Lord, also the reality of even salvation of what you've said

is what will be accomplished.

Lord, for all those who call upon you.

And Lord, we pray just have your hand upon each heart, each life here today.

Lord, might be encouraged and strengthened from the truth of your word.

Lord, that we know that these things will be done.

And Lord, we just give you all the praise in Jesus name.

Amen.

You may be seated.

You know, as we look here and consider even this time of year,

we think about the promises that God has given to us.

I mean, we celebrate really a promise.

Christmas is a fulfillment of God's promise that he gave to us.

You know, all the way back in Genesis chapter 3,

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

God promised to provide one that would overcome the serpent.

A savior would be of the seed of the woman,

and which later Isaiah prophesied of how it was going to come about.

You know, we talked about in Isaiah 7, 14, where it says,

Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign.

And behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel.

You know, that's a promise that he made.

That's when we celebrate Christmas, we're celebrating a promise that God's already fulfilled.

We're celebrating what he said, that it was done.

It was accomplished.

You know, even the very lineage in the birthplace of Jesus was a promise that was declared to us.

You know, Micah chapter 5 in verse 2 says,

Micah 5 · chapter mention

You know, we see these things being foretold, and then we see them accomplished.

In Galatians 4, it talks about that.

In Galatians 4 and verse 3, it says,

I mean, consider the promises in Galatians 4 basically declares this.

He says, what God said was going to happen, did.

God's first phase of his redemptive plan was to send forth his son with a purpose in the form of a servant to die upon the cross that he might pay the price for our sins.

Jesus said, hey, all that was done.

All that was accomplished.

You know, we need to see the details here.

Even as Jesus, he came forth as a humble child and servant.

And now he's going to declare, you know, we read here a little earlier in Mark in verse 26, he says,

Hey, rest assured, guys, I'm going to come in power and I'm going to come in glory.

I want you to know today that it's very important to know and to understand very clearly.

When he says he's going to come in power and glory, that's exactly what's going to happen.

We can rest assured in it, not because of just what is said,

but he says, my promises have already proven to you that what I say is going to come to pass.

We can have it in confidence.

You know, you know, sometimes we just have to take somebody's word for it.

But, you know, the great thing is in the generation we live, we have God's word and we see God's promises that have already been fulfilled,

that have already been laid out before us.

I mean, I'm thankful that we have God's word, that we might know for sure what God has said,

how God has laid out his plan before us.

I mean, you think of some of the Old Testament saints, it talks about in the Bible that they, the faith of them.

I mean, you think about the faith of Abraham, where God tells, it comes to him and says,

Hey, get you forth out of the land into a place I'm going to show you.

You don't know about you, but that's a tough one.

You had to trust God.

Today we have much more assurance than Abraham had.

We have a reality of history recorded for us that God is faithful,

that God has shown forth those things to us.

And we understand that these prophecies that God would have his power and his glory were declared also,

you know, look back in the Old Testament for a moment, go to Isaiah chapter 9.

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

Because when we look at Isaiah 9, I want you to see here and grasp this.

Notice here in Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6, it says this,

Isaiah 9 · chapter mention

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.

And then you have kind of a break there in that verse.

Because the son has been given.

Jesus Christ has come.

But one day he's going to come in power and glory.

He's going to do all that and perform all those things.

Notice what it says.

And the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,

the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Now notice this.

Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end.

Upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom,

to order it into establishment with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

It's going to be done.

You know, just as the details of Jesus' arrival was foretold in detail,

so is his return in power and glory.

You know, Jesus had described to his disciples what was going to happen before his triumphant return.

You know, as we've gone through the Gospel of Mark,

we've seen here in chapter 13 that Jesus is telling them some highlights of what's going to happen.

Now we know some of those highlights aren't the best news.

Tribulation and troubles and sorrows.

Things that are going to take place.

There's going to be deceivers.

There's going to be all those things that come about.

But Jesus described to the disciples what was going to happen before his triumphant return.

And I want you to know that God says that his return is not going to be mysterious.

You're not going to doubt what's going to happen at the moment.

It says he's going to break forth in glory.

The clouds will reveal him.

I want you to know that when Jesus comes again, there's not going to need a news report.

There'll be no need because it'll be clear and it'll be obvious.

There won't need to be something declared to let you know what happens.

You will know that it has taken place.

Because here we find in Mark chapter 13, we know that Jesus is describing the tribulation.

Mark 13 · chapter mention

Also known as we looked a few weeks ago here at the time of Jacob's trouble.

You know, he relates this time period.

He's talking to them as how God's going to deal with the Jews.

He tells them when you see these things come to pass, know that his return is soon.

So as he comes here and presents this to them, he begins here.

Look at verse 28 of our text here this morning.

Because we see here he says, now learn the parable of the fig tree.

Learn the parable of the fig tree.

Jesus describes to the disciples as they sat there on the Mount of Olives.

You know, sometimes I think we kind of lose some of the emphasis from the Word of God

because we don't really picture in our minds sometimes.

But the Mount of Olives was known for having fig trees upon it also.

As they would have been sitting there, they tell us that there would have been figs intermixed along there.

And they tell us that the disciples would have been very familiar with this picture.

I mean, you think earlier as they went into Jerusalem, alongside the road was a fig tree that Jesus cursed.

Figs, they were familiar with figs.

And we understand that Jesus knew what was the presentation he wanted.

He knew they understood because that's the purpose of a parable.

He says, learn the parable of the fig tree.

Because a parable is something that, it takes something from real life.

It's a representation of something that you can grab a hold of from life or nature

in which a moral is drawn for instruction.

In other words, something that they could take and say, okay, I understand that.

Therefore, I get a picture of how to know this.

We use those same things all the time.

You know, you relate things.

You know, it's kind of like this or that.

And you say, okay, now I understand how that works because a parable is that.

It's kind of a parallel to help us understand what's going on.

So he says, notice the parable of the fig tree.

Pay attention to the parable of the fig tree.

It's something that will be understood because as Jesus is there, this is springtime.

And we know it's springtime because the Passover is just right around the corner here.

Passover happens in the spring.

We see this coming together and we see the announcement.

Notice here in the scripture what he says.

He says, when her branch is yet tender and put forth leaves, ye know that summer is near.

He says, hey guys, you know it's springtime and you know how the figs put on their figs

and then the leaves come.

You've seen it your whole life.

You understand that when you see it, you say, hey, summer is right around the corner.

You know, I relate this to kind of us today, you know.

When you see the trees starting to bud, at least most years, you know, sometimes trees in Nebraska get confused.

Is it really spring or is it not spring?

I mean, sometimes they can get confused.

But generally speaking, what does the trees, when they begin to bud, what comes to mind?

Spring is almost here.

You start to get that idea put in by nature.

You know, when the trees start budding, that spring is almost here.

Jesus says, hey, when you see the fig trees put on leaves, guys, you know very clearly that summer's nigh.

He says these signs are what's going to reveal that my return is near.

These things will be done.

These things will be accomplished.

It was a simple parable, a simple instruction and application.

You know, sometimes we need to be careful because sometimes people will take parables in the Scripture

and they'll start adding all sorts of things into them.

I want you to always be careful because don't add something the Scripture doesn't say is there.

Because you'll get a wrong conclusion if you put things in place that aren't there.

Let me give you an example just from this passage.

If you read prophecy, people take this passage and say, well, Israel was put back in 1948,

so there's a fig tree and it's blossoming.

It's like that might sound good, but it's not in the Scripture.

No place is that tied in.

Be careful to never tie something to a parable that the Bible doesn't tie to the parable.

We understand the importance of that, of the context of Scripture.

Here Jesus is just giving them a simple instruction.

When one sees the signs of the end, both those given in Daniel, remember he relates back to see the times,

to see what Daniel had foretold, the timetable.

Because the next thing that, when Jesus was saying this, the next thing on Daniel's timetable was the Messiah being cut off.

Jesus was soon to go to the cross.

Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come.

But he said, guys, know that this will all come to pass.

To know the time of his return will be near when you see these prophecies begin to be fulfilled.

Because as a question, he was answering for them.

He was answering them, when shall we see, what are the signs of your coming?

What's the sign of the end?

Well, when the tribulation is upon this world, it's a sign that the end is near.

Because you've begun another set time that God has lined out.

When we know these things, because when it comes to prophecy,

it's important to put it in the right timetable.

Put it on God's timetable.

To know what God has said.

The lesson here is when the signs are unfolding,

in that terrible time known as the tribulation,

those that know, they ought to be looking for his coming.

Verse 29, it says this, it says,

So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass,

know that it is nigh even at the doors.

In other words, know in like manner,

just as you can look at the tree and say,

hey, the fig is putting on its leaves.

Summer is going to be right here.

When you see these things, these signs I've declared,

when the world sees them,

they can know that Jesus is at the door.

I want you to know that Jesus tells them how this is going to come to be.

Because when these things are, he says,

be prepared for people to know,

to be prepared because his power and glory is coming and waiting to unfold.

Because the end is set.

Just as the first part was established when Jesus came,

everything he did when it came to his birth was lined out and foretold.

The timing, the place, the who, the what,

I mean, everything was put forth.

It was declared very clearly in like manner.

I want you to know that Jesus lays out what the end is going to be.

He lays it out for us to declare those things before us of how those things are going to come to be.

The end is set.

Just as the first part was done, the last part is going to be done.

It's going to be accomplished because Daniel does give us a timeline of what we know has happened,

but also a timeline for what is to come.

You say, preacher, why do you hang on Daniel?

Well, Jesus hung on Daniel.

What Daniel prophesied, he said, pay attention to what Daniel wrote.

When it comes to prophecy, I'll take Jesus' word for it.

He says to look to Daniel, and Daniel has a timeline,

and it was that we understand that the Messiah was cut off when Jesus Christ went to the cross

and died for our sin.

The very Messiah, God with us, Emmanuel, came and died on the cross.

That word cut off means to be killed.

Jesus died for our sins.

That was God's plan.

It was a purpose, and he said it will be done.

Why?

Because he cares about you.

He did the first because he cared about you.

What he fulfills in the future is because he cares about you.

Why does he give a warning of what's to come?

The pending judgment of accountability.

Why does God tell us that?

Because he cares.

God doesn't want you to have to stand in judgment.

God says, I've done all this that you might be able to come unto me.

That I'll take your condemnation.

I'll take all your sin.

I'll take all the things that are burdens of your life and put them upon himself.

But Jesus died there upon the cross, and when he rose again, it ushered in something different.

He came and fulfilled all those things, but when he rose again, it ushered in.

I believe from Scripture, what Paul talks about is the dispensation of the grace of God.

You know, Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 2 says,

Ephesians 3 · chapter mention

If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you word.

I want you to know that we live in what we can call the age of grace.

I'm thankful to be born in the age of grace.

We are so blessed to be born in the age of grace.

What advantages we have is amazing.

Like I said, when I read through the Old Testament, and I look at some of the Old Testament saints,

and I'm thinking, when Hebrews talks about their faith, I'm like thinking, man, they had some faith.

To trust God above all.

Some of it, they didn't even know how it was going to play out.

But to say, I'm going to trust God.

God will be faithful.

I mean, read through the book of Job.

Job didn't have all this.

He didn't know how it was all going to work out, but he said, no matter how it works out, I'm going to trust God.

If Job could have that kind of faith in his day, how much more should we have today knowing what we know?

The confidence we can have, the knowing what was done, that God's going to accomplish it.

But Jesus here is talking to this dispensation that's going to close.

He says, guys, there's going to be another transition.

This dispensation will draw to a close when Christ draws his saints out of the world.

I want you to understand, the next thing on the timetable, if you're a believer, is not tribulation.

He says to be looking for his coming.

We'll see next week as we finish this.

He says, watch!

In Matthew, he says, occupy till I come.

I want you to see this morning very clearly what Jesus is doing.

He says that you can know the time that these things are going to be done, to be aware of the sign of the times.

Because one day, the believer is going to be caught up, and it's going to usher in what Jesus is speaking about here.

A time that if it wasn't for the days being shortened, there would be no survivors.

You know, you read through the tribulation in Revelation.

You know, the book of Revelation, when you read through, there's an interesting, because you have parallel things happening.

You have things happening in heaven, and they parallel things happening here on the earth.

The question is, where are you going to be?

Because if you're saved, if you've called upon him as Savior, you're going to be up here.

Because trust me, you don't want to be down here.

The description you find from the tribulation, I don't know why anybody would say,

Hey, I think God's going to send me through the tribulation.

There's people who believe that.

Nowhere does it say that.

It says we're going to be caught up.

We're going to be taken out.

You know, we're not going to cover all that this morning.

That's a whole other series of lessons.

But I want you to understand that when Jesus says this is going to take place,

and to know that it's going to take place,

because there's a surety of the times that we live.

Look here in verse 30 with me this morning.

He says, Verily I say unto you that this generation shall not pass till all these things be done.

Simply this, Jesus says these things are going to happen.

Rest assured, you know, know without a shadow of a doubt,

there's no need to be wondering about it,

because today I want you to know that we're witnessing what Jesus referred to earlier there in verse 8

as the beginning of sorrows.

You know, there's a lot of things leading up to when Christ returns.

And there's a lot of things, I believe, are unfolding that are preparing the way.

You think about a great deception during the tribulation,

that those here are going to be deceived.

I don't know if anything, if you've been paying attention,

do you know how easy it is to deceive people today?

And how gullible some people are?

I believe sometimes they're gullible because they don't know what God said.

They're not measuring against the right things.

They're not measuring against the things that they ought to measure it against.

But He says the beginning of sorrows,

and we see even those things today,

those beginning of sorrows,

those birth pains,

those elements that are there.

because Jesus standing before them there

was a walking, talking testimony of the surety of the God's Word.

Just as He came as a babe in the manger

that we're about to celebrate in a couple of days,

just as sure as that happened,

you can rest assured He's going to fulfill everything else.

We already know that it was sure,

and He says these things,

just as these other things were done,

this will be done.

He was fulfilling every way

the testimony of the Scripture concerning Himself.

When He revealed the signs and the times of the end,

it also stands that it's going to come to pass.

All these things will be done.

You know, there have been many generations

that have passed since Jesus declared

that it will come to pass.

I want you to know,

it may not be tomorrow,

but rest assured,

all these things will come to pass.

All these things will happen.

They'll be revealed.

They will reveal the time at hand.

And Jesus gives His Word upon this matter.

Look back in our text there at verse 31 this morning.

It says,

Heaven and earth shall pass away,

but my Word shall not pass away.

Jesus gives His Word on the matter.

It's the affirmation that the Word of God will stand.

It will stand even when the heavens and earth are no longer.

You know, this is really a great contrasting verse.

Because there's a lot of people who put their trust in heaven and earth.

They trust in the things that happen here.

They trust in all the things of this life.

They think, well, these things are going to always be.

You know, you think about those that promote the false idea

that it's been millions and millions of years,

and people evolved.

What are they saying?

He says,

My confidence is in all the things that I think of this nature and earth and space

and all the science that I can muster.

And they fail to realize what they're worshiping

and what they're relying on is just the creation,

not the Creator.

We have to trust the Creator.

The One who has set the timetable.

When Jesus gives His Word on the matter,

we can just know that these things were going to happen

just as all those things were given about His birth.

Everything about His next appearance will also come to pass.

Simply, if God has declared it,

you can rest assured that it will be done.

Because notice what Jesus puts on.

He says, I'll give you my Word.

My Word, which I find this statement rather declarative

because consider what the Word of God talks about

when it comes to Jesus.

I mean, Jesus is the Word.

John chapter 1 says,

John 1 · chapter mention

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

So when Jesus says,

My Word will not pass away,

what's He saying?

The very words of God will not pass away.

Verse 14 of that same chapter tells us this,

And the Word was what?

Made flesh and dwelt among us.

When Jesus said,

My Word will come to pass,

He wasn't speaking of just anybody.

He was speaking as God,

the authority, the Creator.

He said,

These things are going to come to pass.

Jesus earlier declared

concerning the certainty of the Word.

You know, think about,

turn back to Matthew chapter 5 for a moment.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

Matthew chapter 5,

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

and Jesus makes it clear here for us.

He says,

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets.

I am not come to destroy,

but to what?

Fulfill.

In other words,

to have it come to pass.

These things that were foretold.

He says this,

Barely I say unto you,

till heaven and earth pass,

one jot or one tittle

shall no wise pass from the law

till all be fulfilled.

He said,

Hey guys,

everything contained in the law

is going to be fulfilled.

You know what?

Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law.

He provided the perfect sacrifice

for sin.

He perfectly fulfilled

everything that was required.

He's the only one that could,

and the Word of God stands

even after this heaven and earth

is no more.

You know,

Psalm 119 verse 89 says,

Psalms 119:89

Forever, O Lord,

Thy Word is settled in heaven.

You know,

there are those that question

the surety of the Word of God,

even mocking the fact,

and yet He's still going to fulfill it.

You know,

what we think about something

doesn't change the outcome.

Look what Peter says.

Turn over to 2 Peter

for a moment this morning.

2 Peter chapter 3.

2 Peter 3 · chapter mention

Because Peter here

talks specifically,

yeah,

that's one of those fun words

this morning,

specifically.

He says this,

that you may be mindful

of the words

which were spoken before

by the holy prophets

and of the commandment

of us,

the apostles

of the Lord and Savior.

In other words,

He says,

hey,

be paying attention

because just as sure

as the Old Testament prophets,

the apostles,

He says,

Jesus has given us authority

and we're speaking

not of our own

but with His authority.

He says this,

He said,

knowing this first,

that there shall come

in the last days

scoffers walking

after their own lusts

and saying,

where is the promise

of His coming?

You know,

today there's many people

who scoff at the fact

that Jesus is one day

going to return.

We live in the same day

of scoffers.

There have been scoffers

through many generations

because notice

what they're basing it on

is for since the fathers

fell asleep,

all things continue

as they were

from the beginning

of creation.

In other words,

they say,

hey,

generations before us

lived through this.

I believe that I'm

going to live through this

and I'm going to believe

generations after us

are going to be here.

And notice why they do it.

It says because of

their own lusts,

their own desire.

They don't want to face

the fact that they're

going to be accountable

to the Creator.

Walking after their own lusts.

Let me put that

in modern words for you

that we use today.

When somebody's walking

after their own lusts

is when somebody says,

follow your heart.

Because when you're

following your heart,

what are you seeking?

My desires.

My lust.

I want you to understand,

lust is not just always

what we play at.

Lust is a strong desire

for anything.

Lust is a desire.

A deep desire for something.

And lust can drive us

to many things that sin.

Lust can drive us

to those things.

It begins within.

Amen.

But I want you to see here,

why do they want to deny

or not acknowledge

His coming?

Because they don't want

to be accountable.

They want to do

what they want to do.

And as believers,

we ought not to desire

our own,

but His will be accomplished

because His will

will be done.

He tells us and reminds us

that this world

is going to fade away,

but His word

is going to stand.

Verse 31,

Heaven and earth

shall pass away.

This world,

one day,

is going to dissolve.

God makes it very clear

that those things

of this world

are going to pass away.

Peter talks about it there

in 2 Peter chapter 3.

2 Peter 3 · chapter mention

He says that the earth

is going to be dissolved

in a fervent heat.

It's going to go away.

And you say,

well, why is it going away?

Well, we'll talk about that

in just a moment.

Because even Isaiah

understood this

as he prophesied.

He says this in Isaiah 40,

Isaiah 40:8

verse 8,

The grass withereth,

the flower fadeth,

but the word of our God

shall stand forever.

Because the real question

when it comes to this

is where do you place

your trust?

Will you trust the creation

more than the Creator?

You know,

these verses serve

to remind us

that we need to take

the word of God

seriously.

What it says will happen

will happen.

It's a call to believe it,

not just in what is to come,

but also in what is necessary

presently

to address our greatest need

and that's sin.

The sin that separates us

from God.

The sin that prevents us

from coming to God.

That's separation.

Because what God has done

for us

to deal with it,

1 Corinthians 15

tells us this

in verses 3 and 4.

It says,

For I delivered unto you

first of all

that which I also received.

how that Christ died

for our sins

according to the Scripture

and that He was buried

and He rose again

the third day

according to the Scriptures.

I want you to see

that when Jesus came

nothing happened

that wasn't already foretold.

That wasn't already presented

the reality

that He was going to come,

He was going to die.

You can read Psalm 22

declares that.

Isaiah 53

all present the fact

that the Messiah

was going to come

and suffer

and take upon Himself

our sin

and place it upon Himself.

All this

that He was buried

and rose again

the third day

according to the Scripture.

All this was foretold.

And only through Christ

can one believe.

Because if you trust

in what this world

has to offer,

the foundation is not sure.

The Bible says

this world is going to dissolve

and go away.

I encourage you to

understand it is

because it's going to get replaced.

It's not going to get refreshed.

It's not going to get remodeled.

It's going to be new.

You can read Revelation 21 and 22

if you have any questions.

Revelation 21

makes it very clear

that He's going to make

a new heaven

and a new earth.

New means new.

Amen?

When we understand

that we can trust Him,

we can trust what He's doing.

We can trust

that His will

is going to be done.

We can trust

in what He has said.

You know, today

we need to just trust Him.

Trust and believe

and belief

go together.

Because I want you to know

that believing

is more than just

acknowledgement.

When the Bible speaks

of believing,

it's more than just

acknowledging something exists.

People believe

in all sorts of things

that are not so.

But we must believe

that Jesus is

who He says He is.

Look over to the Gospel of John

for a moment.

John chapter 3

John 3 · chapter mention

in verse 18.

It's a great verse today

that oftentimes people say,

well, why is God so angry?

Have you ever had somebody

tell you that?

Why is God going to judge me?

God gives you

the explanation right here.

He says,

He that believeth on Him

is not condemned,

but he that believeth not

is condemned already.

Our condemnation

is because of our sin.

It's what within us

that separates us

from God.

And God says,

I love you enough

to make a way

to overcome that.

He said,

I took you.

He came

and I said,

I came to rescue you.

I came to save you.

Why?

Because you are already

condemned.

You've condemned yourself

because of your sin.

Jesus says,

I've come to rescue you.

He says,

already because

he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.

You know,

Jesus is the one

that makes the difference.

It's only through Him

that makes the difference

and He's reminding

His disciples,

but my word

shall not pass away.

Jesus tells us

that we're to believe

not just in Him

to say,

I acknowledge.

You know,

this time of year

a lot of people will say,

yeah,

I believe that Jesus

was born in a manger.

That's good.

That's a start.

But it's much more

to understand,

I believe He died

for my sin.

That when He came

as a babe in a manger,

He came to fulfill

perfectly all that

was required

to pay what I could not pay.

That's believing

in Jesus

and on what Jesus did.

Because we can't get

to heaven on our own.

Jesus wants them

to know that all

these things are going

to come to pass.

We can rest assured

what Jesus says

is going to be.

That things are secure,

that we can trust Him

not only in this life

because we trust Him

for that which is to come

that He says

is going to be accomplished.

Those things are true

and everyone

will one day answer

to Him.

You know,

the Bible says

one day every knee

will bow

and every tongue confess.

Revelation chapter 20

Revelation 20 · chapter mention

talks about a great

white throne judgment

where all those

who have rejected Christ

will one day stand.

But the good news is

is that you can bow

to Him today

and become His child.

What greater thing

that we can have

than what we have

in Christ?

You know,

this is something

oftentimes it's easy

for people to put off

until tomorrow.

But tomorrow we don't know

whether the opportunity

will pass.

You know,

next week as we look

in here,

I want you to know

that Jesus says

no man know at the hour.

We don't know

when this age is going

to end

and you ought to be prepared.

You know,

today I'd encourage you

that this Christmas

let it be accomplished

in you

what He has accomplished

for you

because Christ

has provided a way

for us.

When He promises

to save

anyone that will believe

that He is the one

that came

and paid the price

for their sins,

He says it will

be done.

That's when the Bible

says whosoever shall call

upon the name

of the Lord

shall be saved.

It will be done.

As heads are bowed

and eyes are closed

this morning,

you know,

consider for a moment

I want you to just

contemplate between you

and the Lord.

I think it's important

anytime we look

at God's Word

to really consider

how does this apply

to me?

How does it apply

to me as a person?

Today,

what are you trusting?

Are you trusting

in the Lord?

Trusting in what

He says is going

to be done

and what's going

to be accomplished

and how it's going

to be accomplished?

Are you trusting

in other things?

Today,

I pray that you're

trusting in Jesus

Christ alone.

If you're not sure,

I encourage you here

in just a moment,

if you'll come

and let somebody

show you from God's

Word how you can know.

It's not what

Plains Baptist Church

says,

it's what God has said

that makes a difference.

Today,

maybe you know

that you're saved

but maybe there's

some things that you

need to deal with

in your life

because you're saying,

God, I've given

other priorities.

If there is,

won't you come

to Him today?

Heavenly Fathers,

we just turn this time

and opportunity

to respond over to you.

Lord, I pray

that you save your hand

upon each heart,

each life here today.

Lord, we can hide

from one another,

Lord, but we cannot

hide from you.

Lord, I pray

that you just work

in a mighty way

even as we have

an opportunity

to really consider

where we are

with you.

Lord, we ask it

all in your precious name.

Amen.