PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THIS TROUBLED WORLD

Mark 13:10, 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

Good morning! Welcome to Todays Sunday Service. From last Sunday we could learn the heart offering that God desires
from each one of us through the parallel in the offerings by the rich people and the poor widow that Jesus observed.
Mark 12:44, They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on."

This might not necessarily be in quantity but quality of offering especially it should be out of the outpouring gratitude
and acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord over all. Through Jesus view point we are challenged to shift our eyes off what
we can visibly see but rather focus on the object of our worship Jesus Christ.

In Todays passage we see the prediction of the utter destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem, what was to
become of the Jewish rule and by extension the events that precede the second coming of Jesus. In light of this our view Commented [EJ1]: Sh Ken, simplify this for our brethren.
point of this world and value system ought to be different. We should watch and await the second coming of Jesus
Christ. I pray that through this passage we might be awakened to the truth and reality of the era in which we live. Amen

Look at verse one, 1 As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones!
What magnificent buildings!". On his way out of the Temple one of his disciples remarks how extensive the Temple is.
History has it that the stones were white and strong, FIFTY feet long, TWENTY-FOUR broad and SIXTEEN in thickness. The
disciples marveled by the great buildings, with massive stones!

This however wasnt the first temple but the third. The First Temple was built in 957 BCE by King Solomon. The Second
Temple was authorized by Cyrus the Great and began in 538 BCE, after the fall of the Babylonian Empire the year before.
It was completed 23 years later, on the third day of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the Great (12 March 515
BCE), dedicated by the Jewish governor Zerubbabel. During the Roman era, Pompey entered (and thereby desecrated)
the Holy of Holies in 63 BCE, but left the Temple intact. In 54 BCE, Crassus looted the Temple treasury, only for him to
die the year after at the Battle of Carrhae against Parthia.

Around 20 BCE, the building was renovated and expanded by Herod the Great, and became known as Herod's Temple. It
was destroyed by the Romans in AD70 during the Siege of Jerusalem.

This temple must have been adorable and had drawn the attention of the disciples because of the great stonework and
beauty. Like them we are at times are earth bound and very materially oriented. We marvel at latest phones, cars,
trendy fashion and as such reflects what our hope is. However what is Jesus response to their amazement? Look at
verse two, 2 "Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone
will be thrown down." Jesus points them to the massive and durable appearance and tells them their fate; "Not one
stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down." This temple as we saw earlier was destroyed by Titus
a Roman General ordered the whole city and temple to be demolished. Because the walls were embedded with gold,
the Roman soldiers removed every stone of the temple to take the gold. In this way what Jesus said that not one stone
will be left on another came to pass. Through Jesus prophecy we should ask ourselves what our admiration is. Are we
earth bound or heavenly bound? Where hope is and state of heart? We should distinguish what is eternal or what is
temporal. We should desire what is of eternal value.

Col 3:1-4, 3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the
right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden
with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your a life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. It is not bad to
have all life amenities but they shouldnt be the point of our admiration because they all pass away. (Mark 13:31,31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.)

The news of the destruction of the temple must have bothered the disciples so they come approached Jesus. 3 As Jesus
was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 "Tell us,
when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"

The Mount of Olives was directly east of Jerusalem, and from it there was a fine view of the temple where, in response Formatted: Font color: Auto
to their question, he gave some glimpses of the future and called his disciples to faithfulness (the Olivet discourse, 13:5-
37). He began by describing the first half of the coming Tribulation, which will be marked by deceptive false messiahs,
wars, earthquakes, and persecution. Then will come a pivotal time, marked by the abomination that causes desolation at
which point all who are able should flee for their lives. All these signs have been and are being fulfilled as the second
coming of Jesus draws closer. Jesus describes these last days leading up to the Lord's return to the earth and also gives
us principles that apply to suffering saints in every age. With this, Jesus issued four warnings for His people to heed in
times of persecution and opposition. Formatted: Font color: Auto

Dont be deceived, Dont be afraid, Dont be Ignorant, Dont be Careless

I. Don't Be Deceived. Look at verses 5-8,5 Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in
my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed.
Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

We can see these visible signs happening so as Christians we should be ready for Jesus second coming. Formatted: Font color: Auto

One of the greatest concern was that His people should not be deceived by the false Christs that would appear and
promise to lead them to victory and glory. He also pointed out the "false signs" that could lead them astray. Although
this admonition relates primarily to the Jews, the church must watch out for false teachers (2 Peter 2); and we are
looking for the Savior and not for signs (Phil 3:20-21).

As Christians we should remember the words of Jesus and through diligently studying the word we can grow in faith to Formatted: Font color: Auto
overcome such deception.

II. Don't Be Afraid. Look at verses 9-13, 9 "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and
flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the
gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry
beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them
put to death. 13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

The times of persecution are to be heightened. This however calls for greater time of preaching. Look at verse 10 again
this is our key verse. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. The good news of gospel is what the
world needs to hear especially in this troubled world. John 3:3, 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can Formatted: Font color: Auto

see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. a" Rom 10:9-13 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you
believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone
who trusts in him will never be put to shame." e 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile the same
Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved."

We must not be afraid to declare the Gospel and acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit helps
those who walk with the Lord and sincerely want to glorify Him.
III. Don't Be Ignorant (13:14-27)

Look at verse 14, 14 "When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' a standing where it b does not belong
let the reader understand then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. The emphasis here is on knowing
what the Scriptures teach. The "abomination of desolation" refers to the image that the Antichrist that is put into the
Jewish temple (Dan 9:27; 2 Thess 2:3-10) and force the godless world to worship. That is why it is important for us to
study and know the prophetic Scriptures so we will not be "in the dark" and led astray (2 Peter 1:12-21).

IV. Don't Be Careless (13:28-37)

The emphasis is on knowing (vv. 28-29) and watching (vv. 33-35, 37). The Parable of the Fig Tree stresses what we know
that is Jesus coming is near, and the Parable of the Servants stresses what we do not know that is when He will come.
"Coming events cast their shadows before"; so when we see some of the "tribulation signs" beginning in our day, we
know that the time is short (Luke 21:28). But the important thing is not watching the calendar but building our
character. We must be alert and wake up from our slumber so that we are found doing His work when He comes.

Rom 13:11-14,11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your Formatted: Font color: Auto

slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost
here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the
daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful
nature.

Like Jesus disciples I found that I too was earth bound and materialism traces in my life. I had strong desire and marvel
at technologically advanced gadgets phones, computers that friends around me have and would love to have them.
Through this message Jesus challenges me to re-evaluate my values system especially in light of where my hope should
be. God has called me as campus Shepherd so I can preach the gospel in this troubled world as a wait for his second
coming. When I believe in Jesus second coming I will gladly do this. In planning bible studies and serving in Gods
mission I should keep watch and pray and in so doing not slumber. Sh Ken, can you share abit of application here based
on your life testimony. Your value system changed from worldly hope to true hope in Jesus Christ. Also, when you
believe in Jesus coming, you hasten his coming by teaching the word of God as a shepherd. It is also one way to keep
watch, not to slumber--- so you plan bible studies and service Gods mission as a campus shepherd. We should all be
active in some way as a measure to keep watch. , etc.

In conclusion we have been challenged to overcome worldly and materialistic culture by having Jesus view point and
value system. Our hope should be in Jesus Christ who is to come again. When we have such hope we can watch and wait
on him through the times that we leave in. Amen

Lets read the Key verse once again. Mark 13:10, 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.