A Moment of Destiny pt. 1

Mark Finley: You can't ignore and treat with contempt God's word, God's truth, God's law, and his eternal heavenly principles without experiencing the consequences in your own life.
Guest (Male): This is Hope Lives 365 with Pastor Mark Finley.
Guest (Male): Today's message, a moment of destiny, part one. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with Hope Lives 365 and Pastor Mark by going to hopelives365.com. And now Pastor Mark Finley.
Mark Finley: The title of my message this morning is America a moment of destiny. Over the last few weeks and months I've become convinced that not only we as a nation, but we as individuals are standing at the crossroads of eternity and that this is a moment of destiny. The choices we make settle our destiny and the book of Revelation speaks of hope, courage in this generation. So let's pray as we open the word of God together. Father in heaven, as we open your word, come by your spirit and speak to us. May this be a special meeting where we sense the Holy Spirit talking not only to our nation, but talking to us personally. Teach us the importance of making good choices every single day. Help us to know that every seed will go to harvest, a harvest of righteousness or a harvest of unrighteousness, a harvest of holiness or a unharvest of unholiness. Come speak to us through your book. We pray thee in Christ's name. Amen. America is at the crossroads. We're really at a moment of destiny. Moral values are waning. Honesty, integrity, purity are in short supply. One writer put it this way. Christian morality is being ushered out of the American social structures and off the cultural main stage, leaving a vacuum in its place. And the broader culture is attempting to fill that void. So you get what the writer is saying. He's saying essentially that the culture is influencing the church in individuals rather than the church changing the culture. Then he makes this remarkable statement. New research reveals a growing concern about the moral condition of the nation even as many American adults admit that they're uncertain about how to determine right from wrong. That is a shocking statement that many American adults today are uncertain how to determine right from wrong. They're asking this question. Is right a matter of what I feel? Is right a matter of how I think? Is my feeling about what's right as good as your feeling about what is right? Are there any moral absolutes in our society today? Now according to a recent poll by Barna Research Group, 80% of Americans, regardless of ethnicity, regardless of gender, regardless of social economic status and political ideology, express concern about the nation's moral condition. 80% of Americans, eight out of 10 say we are deeply concerned about the moral condition of America. It's very interesting. In 1960, 72% of the American population said this. We believe that our government will do the right thing always or almost all the time. 72% When the poll was taken just a few weeks ago, it said this. That statistic has dramatically plummeted to 19%. 19% of Americans said we believe that the government will do the right thing always or almost all the time. That's 81% said that we have serious questions about that. Now I want you to compare those two statistics. 80% of Americans say we are deeply concerned about the culture and we're not sure what's right, we're not sure what's wrong. We're kind of like a drift on a moral sea. 81% said that we've lost confidence in the ability of leaders to make moral decisions. May I suggest to you this morning that a nation is in serious trouble when popularity is more important than purity. When the almighty dollar is more important than the almighty than the almighty's decency, a nation is in trouble. When entertainment is more important than ethics, a nation is in trouble. When pleasure parties are dominated by alcohol and mind numbing music and open immorality, a nation is in trouble. When there's confusion of sexual roles and sexual orientation and when God's original plan of one man married to one woman for a lifetime is flagrantly violated, a nation is in trouble. When crime is rampant in our streets and Christ is mocked in our schools, a nation is in trouble. When some legislators seek laws to allow people of various sexual orientations to use the same school bathrooms, but students are forbidden to pray in the name of Jesus, a nation is in trouble. And when you protect the eggs of the endangered species of turtles in Florida, and when you can go to jail for destroying the eggs of turtles and you can go to jail for destroying the eggs of the bald eagle, but open abortion is practiced in a nation, I would like to suggest to you a nation is in trouble. Do you know that in New York State one out of three pregnancies end with an abortion? That's in the United States of America today. The New York legislator this week passed a law that it is no longer illegal to abort a baby full term, no longer illegal. Ladies and gentlemen, the moral fabric of our society is falling apart. Take your Bible please in turn to the book of Proverbs. Proverbs the 14th chapter in the 34th verse. The scriptures speak to this generation and they speak not only to government leaders, they speak not only to public officials, they speak not only to society, but they speak to you and they speak to me. The book of Revelation talks about two harvests, the harvest of golden grain, saved men and women saved in God's kingdom and the harvest of gory grapes men and women lost. And we're going to study this morning those two harvests, but as a setting I want you to look at Proverbs chapter 14 verse 34. Notice what it says. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach. That mean it destroys a people. Righteousness exalts a nation. Nations are great because nations are good and when a nation ceases to be good, it ceases to be great. Honesty, integrity, truthfulness, purity, family values are the bedrock foundations of all society. And when these values are compromised either personally or corporately, nations crumble. Now Solomon puts it this way in Proverbs 26 verse 2. Proverbs 26 and verse 2. Proverbs puts it this way. I'll read it from the New King James and then we'll look at it in the King James version. Proverbs 26 verse 2. Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight. The King James version puts it a little clearer. It says the curse shall not causeless come. In other words, there is a law of cause and effect. When a nation, when a society, when individuals compromise the eternal principles of God's values, that society begins to decay from within. That society begins to rot from within. And when it does that, the curse does not causeless come. Now I was fascinated by taking a look again at that seminal work that that documentary work done by Edward Gibbon in seven he finished his work in 1787. He spent 20 years researching the Roman Empire. How could an empire that began in 168 BC and ruled for over 500 years to about 351? How could that empire that was so mighty ever fall and collapse? He lists five major reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire after spending 20 years. See if when I read these reasons that any of them are present in America today. Number one, Gibbon says Rome fell because the rapid increase of divorce. It fell because the undermining of there was the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of the society. Morality rapidly declined, immorality was present, the family unit fell apart and and sexual promiscuity was commonplace. Number two, the Romans had a very high national debt and to deal with that debt what uh Gibbon said after 20 years of study is they had to impose higher and higher taxes. And in those taxes the richer got rich and the poor became poorer. Uh the society became a welfare state and people despised work and they substituted entertainment. Number three, he says there was a mad craze for pleasure in Rome. Sports became the most exciting, but they became more brutal every single year. Think video games, TV, movies, DVDs. Four, he says that the Roman Empire built gigantic armaments and they failed to understand that the real enemy was within and they overextended their military. Five, he said there was a decay of religion that faith faded into a mere form losing touch with life and became impotent to warn and guide people. In other words, in the ancient Roman Empire there was no prophetic voice. There was no solid voice calling men and women in society back to the bedrock values of scripture.
Guest (Male): Will be right back with Pastor Mark Finley. We thank you for listening and hope you're enjoying today's message. Our mission is to attractively present the Christ centered biblical truths of scripture in a practical relevant way to people around the world so that they may experience the abundant life that Christ offers and effectively share with confidence his life changing truths with others. You can support this ministry and help us reach even more by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now back to Pastor Mark Finley.
Mark Finley: Now the Bible's last book, the book Revelation, reveals that what is true of nations and societies is also true of individuals. James Russell Lowell, that great American writer wrote this. He wrote that song or that poem that was put to a song once to every man and nation he said. Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide in the strife of truth and falsehood for the good or evil side. We are at a crossroads. Not only is our nation at a crossroads, not only is our society at a crossroads, your family is at a crossroads. You as a husband are at a crossroads. You as a wife are at a crossroads. As teenagers you're at a crossroads. As children you're at a crossroads. We're at the crossroads of decision. We're at the crossroads of choice. Which way will we go in our lives in the choices that we make? Now the book of Revelation is the very heart of God's last day message and it leads us to make positive choices. Take your Bible and turn to Revelation the 14th chapter. Now Revelation chapter 14 is divided into three parts. And this is a the first of a series of messages on Revelation 14 that we'll preach from this pulpit. Revelation 14 is divided to three into three parts. The first five verses of Revelation 14 talk about a group of people called the 144,000. Who are they? What are the characteristics of the 144,000? Are they literal? Is that a figurative number? Are they Jews? Is this something beyond that? What are their characteristics? We're going to study that in one of our sermons, not today. Then from verses six to 13 there is a message to prepare people for the coming of Jesus. It's called the three angels message. We'll be studying that from this pulpit verse by verse. Look at it how it relates to us. The last six verses from 14 to 20 are a study for today on the two harvests. Focus on the coming of Christ and the need for positive choices. So in Revelation 14 you have three sections. You have a group on the sea of glass, the redeemed called the 144,000. You have the message that prepares them to stand on the sea of glass in the three angels message. Then you have the event for which they are prepared. Now it's very fascinating if you look at Revelation 14. There are six angels mentioned in Revelation 14. The first three angels announce the judgment. The last three angels execute the judgment. Notice this in Revelation chapter 14. So you have in Revelation chapter 14 verse six. I saw another angel flying in the middle of heaven. That's angel one. Verse eight. Another angel follows saying Babylon is fallen. That's angel two. Verse nine. Then a third angel followed them saying with a loud voice. That's angel number three. Now look for example at verse 15. And another angel came out of the temple. That's angel four. Verse 17. Another angel came out of the temple, a different angel which is in heaven having the sickle. That's angel five. Verse 18. Another angel came out of the altar. That 's angel six. Between the first three angels that announce the judgment and the last three angels that execute the judgment stands Jesus Christ, the son of man. He is the the peak, the mountain peak of this entire prophecy in the book. So we go now to Revelation chapter 14 and we begin studying today one of the most significant messages in all of scripture. Revelation 14 verse 14. John is an exile on the island of Patmos. He's an old man. There are deeply etched lines in his face. He has his hair is gray. His hand is shaking as the heavens are illuminated with the glory of God. And John begins to write verse 14. I looked and behold a white cloud. John says I looked away from the trauma of the earth. I looked away from the collapsing Roman Empire. I looked away from the ethical and moral values that were crumbling. John says I looked someplace else. I looked behold a white cloud. And on the cloud one sat like the son of man having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle. Now Revelation 14 verse 14 is the fulfillment of Acts 1 verse 9 to 11. So we're coming back to verse 14, but notice what it says. John looks up and he sees a white cloud. And one on that cloud like the son of man. Go back to Acts chapter 1. Acts chapter 1. Here in the Bible, in Acts chapter 1, the disciples strain their necks to see the last lingering traces of Jesus as he ascends to heaven. And here as Jesus is ascending, the disciples watch perplexed, confused, wondering. And here the scripture says verse nine, Acts 1 verse 9 to 11. Now when he had spoken these things while they watched, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And when they while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men, that's two angels of course, stood by them in white apparel who said men of Galilee, why stand you gazing into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you in heaven, that is in the clouds, will so come in like manner as you've seen him go into heaven. So here the angels say to the disciples why are you standing gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus that you saw go up is going to come back. In Revelation chapter 14 the harvest is ripe. Righteousness, the seeds of righteousness that have been sown grow so that the light of the glory of Christ is revealed through his people in the world. But at the same time that the seeds of righteousness are producing a harvest of righteousness, the seeds of evil are producing a harvest of evil. And so in the last days of Earth's history both harvests are fully ripe. The harvest of righteousness and the harvest of wickedness. And in this world before Jesus comes, we will see a manifestation of hate, a manifestation of evil, a manifestation of corruption, a manifestation of wickedness like we've never seen in the history of the universe. It'll be worse than Noah's day and worse than Lot's day. But on the other hand we will see a manifestation of righteousness in the people of God, a love, a purity and honesty and integrity and compassion that has not been witnessed since apostolic times. So both seeds will go to harvest back to Revelation the 14th chapter. Notice what it says. I looked and behold a white cloud. Jesus ascended in the clouds. Jesus will descend in the clouds. He was caught up in the sky. He will return in the sky. Now notice what it says. One like the son of man. Now sometimes you read the expression son of man and you say that's an expression that describes the humanity of Christ. But it's much more than that. The expression son of man was the favorite title that Jesus used of himself. That title is used by Matthew's Gospel 30 times alone. 30 times in Matthew's Gospel Jesus is called the son of man. In fact, in the Gospels 82 times the Bible talks about Christ as the son of man. When you take every one of those references on the son of man and study it, something quite remarkable emerges. Take your Bible and turn to Matthew 16 verse 27. There are three thoughts wrapped up in the title son of man that we read in scripture. Matthew 16 and you're looking there at verse 27. I want you to see the depth of this title. Matthew 16 verse 27. For the son of man will come in glory of his father with his angels and then he'll reward everyone each according to his works. Now notice what you see there. Matthew 16 27. The title son of man is linked with Christ coming in glory with his father, the glory of his father with his angels. And it's linked with the judgment. So you see these three things, son of man, the one who walked the dusty streets of Galilee, the one who touched the eyes of the blind and they were open, who touched the ears of the deaf and they were and stopped. This Christ, this son of man is going to return. And when he returns there'll be a judgment. Every seed is gone to harvest. Notice how this is expressed in Matthew chapter 24 as well. Matthew 24 verse 27 and 30. Same idea. Christ comes, son of man, judgment. Matthew 24 verse 27 and 28. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, second coming of Christ, so will the coming of what's that next phrase? Son of man be. For where the carcass is, there eagles will be gathered together. Judgment. So Christ comes, son of man, judgment. Return of our Lord.
Guest (Male): You've been listening to Hope Lives 365 with Pastor Mark Finley. We hope you've enjoyed today's message and remind you that you can find more in our many ministry resources at hopelives365.com. And you can support this ministry by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now a final thought from Pastor Mark.
Mark Finley: There are two days every week that you should never worry about. One of those days is yesterday. With its mistakes, its cares, its aches, its pains, its faults and blunders. Yesterday has passed beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring it back. We cannot do undo a single act we performed yesterday. We cannot erase a single word that we said yesterday. Yesterday is gone. The other day that we shouldn't worry about is tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our immediate control.