Light In A Lawless World

Real Life presents the Jack Hibbs Podcast, with intention and boldness to proclaim truth, equip the saints, and impact our culture. If every Bible was burned to dust today, big deal! Number one, it's in our hearts. That's why you read it, folks. That's why you read it. And number two, Jesus said, The Holy Spirit will remind you of everything that I've spoken to you. You can get the outlines of this podcast by going to jackhibbs.com slash podcast. Today, if this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a more fulfilled life in Christ, then make sure you leave us one of those five-star ratings. To us, that's like saying amen or yes. Then that rating will encourage others to listen. Now open your hearts to what God's Word has to say to you. Here is Jack Hibbs. Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. And no one comes to the Father but through me. And that is the covenant that God has made with his people. Go back and look at all of his covenants is all centered around God being faithful to pay the price for the redemption of Israel. On this side, for us Gentiles... That salvation is brought to you by God's mercy. That's why it says right here that the Gentile might glorify God for his mercy. What a wonderful thing that is. In Isaiah chapter 49, verses 6 and 7, it says, It is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up to the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel. That's a fascinating statement right there. God is able to preserve and to restore those of Israel. But he says, I will also give you as a light, get ready, to the Gentiles, and Aren't you glad about that? I don't know about you, but mostly, normally speaking, darkness is not a good thing. Are you with me? I love the fact that the God of the Bible says right here that you'll be a witness to the Gentiles. You'll be a light to them if you tell them my truth, if you tell them my gospel. And light is a wonderful thing. Now, dark is nice when you're looking at the stars. Have you noticed this? Go out to the desert. You go out where it's pitch black dark. No moon, just night sky. And here's the funny thing about it. You'll go out of the Mojave Desert to find total darkness so that you can do what? Lay down on your back and look up at the light. Remarkable. We love light. The Bible says that those who do evil love darkness. because their deeds are evil. God wants us to come into the light. And he says, you'll be a light unto the Gentiles that you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth. Church, that's never happened yet. You can mark it down in your note taking that Isaiah 49 verse six has not yet been fulfilled as a prophecy. It's going to, but not yet. Thus says the Lord, the redeemer of Israel, their holy one. Absolutely remarkable power, right there, spoken to us. How about this? Matthew chapter 28 verse 19. Matthew 28 verse 19 is the fulfillment, I should say, or the introduction of the beginning of that great work. Jesus says, go therefore and make disciples of all nations. Church, who did he say this to? The disciples. Were the disciples Gentiles or were they Jews? They were Jews. Jesus Christ, who you saw earlier in our argumentation of these points, would come from heaven to earth. He would be born of a virgin. He's the eternal God. He's the son of God. That he would come, go to the cross, and be resurrected from the dead. This Matthew 28, 19 is post-resurrection. He's about ready to return back to heaven. Return back to heaven. Remember this. And what does he say to a handful of Jewish disciples? Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. Do you know what that means? Gentiles. I thought that would get you excited. I don't know. Maybe I'm spending too much time in this. Gentiles. God wants all people to come to the saving knowledge of who he is. Jew and Gentile alike. He's calling out to you. And he's saying, come to me. You say, well, I'm Romanian. Come to me. I'm Persian. Come to me, he's saying. I'm Canadian. Come on. Right? All nations. And what do we do? Once we, by the way, do you see that there's not one word in here about evangelism? This is a shocking observation. Notice this. Are we supposed to evangelize? Yes. How often? All the time. Okay. Do we leave it up to Greg Laurie to be the evangelist? No. All of us are to evangelize. That said, it is normal for believers to share with unbelievers. And after, so to speak, after you go out on the boat and you fish and you catch the fish, you reel them in and you bring them to church and that's where we clean them up. We wash them with the word. Think about it. What is that called? Discipleship making. Making disciples. So watch this. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen to that. Wow, that is so very powerful. But listen, one of the, and I'm going to take a little bit of a well-intended diversion here for a moment. This has been going on for 2,000 years. And one of the evidences of this is, is that you and I are living in the days when the gospel, it's interesting, the gospel is getting more and more persecuted. The gospel, listen, by law, is becoming more and more illegal. Are you hearing me? The gospel is becoming more and more illegal. But the gospel is getting out more and more than ever before. Even in countries where it's closed, it's a closed nation. That means you can't, even if you're on vacation, you can't take a Bible into that country. You're not allowed. You can't go to, there's certain countries you can't bring any, listen, there's some countries that the tour agency will tell you, you got to take your cross off before we go into this country, before we land, you have to take your cross off. You can't wear a cross in that country. And don't mention the name Jesus while you're on vacation. Really? Some places the gospel is not welcome. Guess what? In the 21st century right now, the gospel is getting out like never before in human history. Think about that. Absolutely remarkable. You can say, well, you can't have the gospel here. You can say that all you want. You can pass any kind of a law you want. You can have all the security you want. Jesus just steps right over it by the power of the Holy Spirit. And as long as there's a believer walking the planet, the Spirit of God is in you. And so is the Word of God. Let's be honest. If every Bible was burned to dust today, big deal. Number one, it's in our hearts. That's why you read it, folks. That's why you read it. And number two, Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will remind you of everything that I've spoken to you. And as I get older, I'm counting on that every day. The word of God is eternal and enduring. But I have some diagnostic questions to ask you regarding these last days and the times in which we're in and how important it is that Paul has been teaching us in Romans 15 regarding the salvation of the Gentile and the Jew becoming one in Christ. Are you ready? By the way, you should always take the notes. Always have notes. So listen to this. Is this topic or issue a topic or issue of our day? Now watch this. I'm going to read some things to you which are going to be out of context. People, listen up. I'm warning you up front. Are you hearing me? I'm going to be reading for you a portion of Scripture that is futuristic. It's not happened yet. It's not happening yet. But you're going to recognize that the stage is being set for it. Are you with me? I'm going to be reading a chapter or portions of a chapter that deal with the tribulation period. If we can see indicators of the coming tribulation period over here, actually from where you're sitting over here, if we're starting to see indicators, and we're still here as a church, that these indicators involve the Jewish people in the world, then how close are we to the Lord's coming for his church? Any day now I pray. Right? Matthew chapter 24, verses 1 and 3 set it up. Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came up to him to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another that shall not be thrown down. Stop right there. Atheist, agnostic, listen up. Do you know anything about human history? Did this come true or not? If you don't know the answer to that, atheist, you need to find out that answer. I'm not going to tell it to you. You need to go find that out. That happened. You can even find out the day it happened. It's written in encyclopedias and in history books, the history of Rome, world history. And I'd like to hear back from you, by the way, after you read that. What do you think about Jesus, who announced it way in advance? Verse 3, Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, asking him three questions. Tell us, when will these things be? Number two, what will be the sign of your coming or the sign of your return? Don't you think that's an insightful question for them to ask? Pretty powerful. Third question is powerful. And of the end of the age, of the end of the world, Okay, so Jesus, you're telling us that our temple is going to be destroyed, not one stone is going to be left on another? All right, then we need to ask these three questions. Tell us, when would these things be? What would be the sign of your coming? In the end of the age or the end of the world? So watch this. He goes on. Ask yourself, is there evidence? Are there indicators that? Matthew chapter 24 verse 4. And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no one deceives you. Is deception a big deal? Is it increasing? Jesus said, watch out. Take heed that no one deceives you. This is regarding the future, but is it happening now? What about Matthew chapter 24 verse 5? Is there any evidence? Is there any indicators about this? Many will come in my name saying, I'm the Christ and will deceive many. That's called a cult. If you join our cult, you'll be saved. Follow our leader and you'll have salvation. That's called a cult. Jesus said it's going to increase. What about Matthew 24 verse 6? And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. That's like every day. See that you're not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Is there evidence and indications that we see? Matthew 24 verse 7 says, For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Nation. Ethnicities will rise up against ethnicities, and political realms will war against political realms. Are you seeing indicators of this? And we're not even there yet. But the answer is yes. What about these indicators? Do they exist or not? Matthew 24, 7 and 8 says, And there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. that starts and then it intensifies. Church family, listen, if you forget everything else, listen up. Jesus said all of these things about the last days, they're going to start small and they're going to increase. And I'm here to tell you today, on this day, on this year, in this millennia, everything Jesus said is spot on and it's increasing. What about this? Is this true? Matthew 24, verse 9. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my namesake. By the way, there's a great reference there, not only to believers, of course, but specifically to Jewish believers, those who have come to faith in Messiah. The context, listen, Bible student, the context of Matthew 24 demands that. Are there indicators of this? Verse 10. And many will be offended and will betray one another and will hate one another. Wow. What about verse 11, Matthew chapter 24? Verse 11. Ask yourself, are there indicators? Is there evidence of this being true? And many false prophets or false teachers will rise up and deceive many. Wow. What about this? What about Matthew 24 verse 12? Is there evidence of this? And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Wow. Remarkable. The context, Matthew 24. God is getting to the game board in place and ready for the for the last day's events to take place. The stage is being set. And as you and I are watching in our news today, there's, as I've mentioned last week, the context of our scripture in Romans 15 demands this. 2 Samuel chapter five, verse seven. It's the first time it's ever mentioned in scripture. 2 Samuel five, verse seven says, nevertheless, David, that's King David, took the stronghold of Zion. That is the city of David. Zion. I mean, you know I've been bringing this up a lot the last three weeks because I'm really enjoying how much trouble it causes in people's lives. You kick against the Bible, you're going to hurt yourself. Zion. Zion is a real place. God says. God calls it the city of David in the Bible. Psalm chapter 2 verse 1 starts out by saying, Why do the nations, the Gentile nations, rage and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his Messiah or anointed one. Isn't that interesting? The anointed one means the Messiah. Write that in your notes. Go research that later. Psalm chapter two, verse three. Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us. Verse four. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh. Don't you love this? I'm sorry, have I had too much coffee today? Or are you extra sleepy? He who sits in the heavens will laugh. I see it this way. The nations are getting ready to go to battle against God in some way, shape, or form. And he who sits in the heavens will go, ha, ha. Oh, I love that. I'm sorry. I'm feeling extra just, I don't know. It's like God, it's like God parting the cloud and saying, you want a piece of me? The Lord shall hold them in derision. You know what that means? Watch my hands. The Lord will hold them in derision. It means they have no place to go. They'll go this way, dead end. They'll go that way, dead end. Every direction they go is the judgment of God coming upon them. Wow. He'll hold them in derision. Verse 5. Then he shall speak to them in his wrath and distress them in his deep displeasure. This is during the tribulation period. You watch. Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of... Interesting. Verse 11, Psalm 2. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son, S-O-N, lest he be angry and you perish in the way. When his wrath is kindled but a little, blessed are all those who put their trust in him. What an amazing thing. My Hebrew friends, listen up, everybody. Whoever you're to put your trust in, him, he is the son. Kiss him. Kiss him now. Greet him. The word kiss is greet him. Welcome him in. Why? Because listen, there's only one way to escape the wrath of God. And that is to come to faith and to trust in him who is the son. Who said that? Psalm chapter 2 says that of your Old Testament. 3,000 year old document. Are you hearing me? Wow. Wow. That is awesome. And the throne of David will be established. And in the future, what has been written is going to come into reality. Zechariah chapter 2, verse 10. And sing and rejoice, O daughter of? For behold, I am coming. I will dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Excuse me, everybody. There's people saying, we need to destroy, never bring up the word Zion again. Don't even mention the word. Think of it. You just read it in your Bible. This is, if God says, not only is it recorded in the Old Testament, but when I come back, I'm going to make my dwelling there. So who would not want that to happen? Amen. All unbelievers in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. All unbelievers who do not see Jesus as the Messiah. Because when Messiah returns, he will return and establish the throne of David, which the scripture says is the throne of the Messiah himself on earth. We are so into the last days that there's crazy people running around this world saying, don't mention the word Zion. Are you a Zionist? Because if you mention the word Zion, you're a Zionist. Boo on you. Boo on you. Boo on you. And I got news for you. The God of the Bible is a Zionist. The God of the Bible is returning to Zion. The God of the Bible says, Zion is where I'm gonna live for a thousand years. When I return, Zion is where he's gonna set up his headquarters. No wonder why Satan's upset. If Satan's seen indicators of the end times and he's working through people to say that there is no Zion, there is no Israel, there is no nation, How close are we? Let's go. This Jack Hibbs podcast, as well as all the broadcast outreach opportunities, are listener supported. Will you consider partnering with us through a special gift? Go to jackhibbs.com to learn more and stay connected.