THE STONE COLDNESS OF THESE LAST DAYS

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=837633" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=95 BGCOLOR="#330066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="048005f0dkblkv.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Preach The Word</b></FONT><B>     </b><B>|    </b><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Preach The Word"><U><B>home</b></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2 Timothy"><U><B>2 Timothy</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DANIEL"><U><B>Daniel</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ZECHARIAH: "><U><B>Zechariah</b></U></A><B>   l   </b><A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARK"><U><B>Mark</b></U></A><B>    I    </b><A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TOPICAL STUDIES"><U><B>Topical Studies</b></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>THE STONE COLDNESS OF THESE LAST DAYS</b></div> <div> 2 Timothy 3:2g-3b</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1. PEOPLE IN THESE LAST DAYS WILL BE UNAPPRECIATIVE</b></div> <bR> <div> "People will be… ungrateful"  (2g)</div> <bR> <div> "Acharistos":  To be thankless</div> <bR> <div> Websters defines "ungrateful" as someone who is "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >not thankful</FONT>".</div> <bR> <div> "The person who elevates self above all others will feel he deserves everything good he receives and therefore feels no need of gratitude for it." <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >MacArthur, p.114</FONT></div> <bR> <div> You see, when you buy into this post-modern pagan philosophy that the whole universe revolves around "Oh, so wonderful, you!" you fall head first for the lie that you are the king of the mountain and therefore grace is a concept that doesn't apply to you. The very idea of grace is repugnant to the selfish person because in his mind, he's so perfect that nothing is too good for him. He deserves simply the best, the greatest, number one. You can never over do it for him. Even when you give him your absolute best, he really doesn't feel the need to say, "Thank you", because, in his self-centered mind, he deserves every ounce of it. </div> <bR> <div> The Bible says that ungratefulness is one of the reasons God is not happy with mankind and will bring judgment in the world because of it;</div> <bR> <div> "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men… For although they new God, they neither glorified him as God <B>nor gave thanks to him</b>…" Romans 1:18, 21</div> <bR> <div> So, don't be surprised in the Last Days if you put out a lot of your time and effort to be a blessing to people and don't get much of a reaction. That's why The Bible says to do every thing you do first of all for the Lord.  </div> <bR> <div> But here's another great opportunity for the Christian to be different. As Bible knowing Christians we know that as a sinner man deserves what? Eternal damnation. So, everything above that is a bonus. It's grace. </div> <bR> <div> "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thess.5:18</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>DAVID</U></b><B>:</b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"Now, our God, we give you thanks" 1 Chron.29:13</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>DANIEL</U></b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Arial" >: </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers" Dan.2:23</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>JONAH</U></b>:</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>"But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you." Jonah 2:9</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>PAUL</U></b>:<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"I thank my God every time I remember you." Phil.1:3</FONT></div> <bR> <div> The key to really being thankful is knowing the truth about who you are before Almighty God and what you really deserve. Nothing chokes thankfulness more than selfishness and overindulgence. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2. PEOPLE IN THESE LAST DAYS WILL BE PROFANE</b></div> <bR> <div> "People will be… unholy" (2h)</div> <bR> <div> <B>"Anosios"</b>: "It carries the idea not so much of irreligion as of gross indecency. It was used of a person who refused to bury a dead body or who committed incest. The unholy person is driven by self-love to gratify his lusts and passions of whatever sort, as fully as possible with no thought to propriety, decency, or personal reputation."<I> </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >MacArthur, p.114</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >In other words, God is telling us</FONT><I>, </I>"Be ready to see things happen in these last days that will be quite horrendous to behold or even think of."<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> I say that <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"unholiness"</FONT> is nothing less than an unbridled display of human depravity. People taking pleasure in the ugliest of sins.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Old-Testament Examples of Unholy Acts:</U></b></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>David's Son, Amnon</U></b></div> <bR> <div> He raped his own sister, Tamar.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >2 Samuel 13:1-22</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>David's Son, Absalom</U></b></div> <bR> <div> He planned and sent his men to murder his own brother, Amnon.  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >2 Samuel 13:23-29</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Are people <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"unholy"</FONT> today in North America?  It's the order of the day, isn't it? Every single day in Canada and the US we live in a society that is composed of Abortions, Serial Killings, Rapes, Torture, Beatings, Divorce, Kidnappings, Abuse of every kind, etc.  And then you have the Phd's in the Law Firms, the Government and Psychological communities that are more than ready to accommodate, legislate and exonerate the whole mob for a buck and a handshake.</div> <bR> <div> It's become so "everyday" that even a large part of the Christian Church has hopped on the bandwagon. It seems as the years go by, that just about everything <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"unholy"</FONT> that's been going on in the world can also be found among professing Christians. And the results are devastating: People are asking why they should become Christians if Believers are not different than Unbelievers are. </div> <bR> <div> Just in the past couple of months, I've seen at least 3 cases where a Christian girl has become pregnant with her boyfriend and apart from an initial shock, everything seems quite normal.  Evidence for repentance seems non-existent.  In one particular Christian home the young lady got pregnant twice within a 12-month period.  So what should we do?</div> <bR> <div> Exposing it and condemning is not enough. No, what the world needs in these dark and last days are Christians who put their money where their mouth is.  Who love God. Who takes God's word seriously, to the point of being ready to die for it. Where are these Christians today? Do you know any?  I have trouble finding them. Maybe they're like those in Elijah's day: hiding in a cave somewhere.</div> <bR> <div> Turn with me to<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Ephesians 4:17-24</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3. PEOPLE IN THESE LAST DAYS WILL BE UNLOVING</b></div> <bR> <div> "People will be… without love" (3a)</div> <bR> <div> The New Testament teaches 4 different kinds of love a person can participate in:  1) <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" ><B>"Storge"</b></FONT>= Family Affection, 2) <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" ><B>"Phileo"</b></FONT>=Friendship Love, 3) <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" ><B>"Eros"</b></FONT>=Sexual Love, 4<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >) <B>"Agape"</b></FONT>= Divine Love</div> <bR> <div> In this verse it's <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" ><B>"Storge"</b></FONT> love, or Family Love. The Holy Spirit is telling us that the closer we're gonna get to the Return of Christ in these Last days, the more we're going to witness the breakdown of love inside the family.  The KJV translates in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"without natural affection."</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>THE PROPHET MICAH</U></b></div> <bR> <div> "Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter in law against her mother in law- a man's enemies are the members of his own household." Micah 7:5-7</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>THE PROPHET JEREMIAH</U></b></div> <bR> <div> "Your brothers, your own family - even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though speak well of you." Jeremiah 12:6</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>DAVID</U></b></div> <bR> <div> "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." Ps.27:10</div> <bR> <bR> <div> On this subject of the diminishing of love in the family, John MacArthur writes this, </div> <bR> <div> "Unloving behavior is reported daily in newspaper and broadcasts. Husbands and wives abusing one another, parents and children abusing one another-often to the point of murder-are so common that they make headlines only if they are particularly brutal or sensational. Tragically, the evangelical church has its share of the unloving and heartless." <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >2 Timothy, p.114</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Just about a month ago in Calgary, Alberta a young mother in total desperation clutched her 6 months old baby in her arms and jumped in front of a subway train. The baby was killed. The mother's is in a coma in the hospital.</div> <bR> <div> In the last 2 weeks a mother left her baby boy in a grocery store here in Calgary with a letter saying she couldn't care for him any more and was hoping someone else could. I'm not saying this to beat these desperate women on the head. I'm just stating the fact that these are the days the Bible predicted would come. Dark days. Desperate Days. Cold Days; where family members will give up natural affection for their own blood relatives. </div> <bR> <div> What's the cause of this? Look back at <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >verse 2</FONT>. <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"Selfishness"</FONT>.  Unbelief and alienation from God. And when society at large buys into this self-love New Age Philosophy these are the kinds of atrocities that occur. Temporary insanity. Hopelessness. Desperation. </div> <bR> <div> How can Christians respond? </div> <bR> <div> By staying close to the God who is love and loving our family members as Christ loved us: unconditionally. You see, the unbeliever has a hard time doing this because of his carnal nature. Man is naturally prideful, egotistical and selfish. But that's where the Christian has a world of difference. </div> <bR> <div>  "Because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5</div> <bR> <div> I urge you parents today to create and keep up an atmosphere and spirit of open communication, grace, forgiveness, goodness and unconditionally committed love in your home. This way your home will most definitely be a light in this dark world.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>4. PEOPLE IN THESE LAST DAYS WILL BE UNFORGIVING</b></div> <bR> <div> "People will be… unforgiving" (3b)</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Interesting word in the Greek. </FONT><I><B>"</b></I>Aspondos<I><B>"</b></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > which speaks of someone who can't be relied upon to keep his word or promise.  You see this attitude in a person who previously made a promise of committing himself but was hurt or betrayed and therefore refuses to forgive the offender and relinquishes his previous engagement. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> In other words, again it's a form of selfishness. It's the Spirit that says <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"Okay, sure, I'll commit myself to this but don't you dare offend me or else I'm out."</FONT> That's the idea of this word translated <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"unforgiving"</FONT> in the NIV. <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"Implacable"</FONT> or <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >"irreconcilable"</FONT> in other versions. </div> <bR> <div> Again, I quote John MacArthur on this:</div> <bR> <div> "The irreconcilable are those who refuse to change, no matter how desperate even their own situation becomes, much less the situation of those they should care about.  They are determined to have their own way regardless of the consequences, even to the point of knowingly destroying their own lives and the lives of their families. They do not forgive and do not want to be forgiven. They are implacable, beyond reasoning, and inevitably self-destructive. As far as they are concerned, there is no compromise, no reconciliation, no court of appeal. Their self-love is so extreme and their egoism so massive that absolutely nothing matters except doing as they please." <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" > 2 Timothy pp.114-115</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> So, the Holy Spirit is saying here, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >"Hey! Be ready! People today will not even care what breaking their promises will do to you or anybody else. They just don't care because they only care about themselves."</FONT>  </div> <bR> <div> This is the Spirit behind divorce, abortion, struggling Churches and a host of other modern catastrophes.</div> <bR> <div> But as a Christian, you can make a difference. People are looking for honest and faithful people today. Many are asking themselves if there are any left! Yes, there are. They might be few, but there are. </div> <bR> <div> How do you react when somebody you love turns around and offends you? Do you isolate yourself in self-pity and renege on your promises? Or are you quick to forgive and plod on, staying true to your engagement?</div> <bR> <div> Turn with me to<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" >Romans 12:14-21</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:14</div> <bR> <div> Amen and God Bless You All.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>