Consider Things to Come

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

11 February 2018

Updated: February 9, 2018

By:

Boyce Belt

Consider Things to Come

Opening:

• (Slide) “Knowledge of the Bible never comes by intuition.  It can only be obtained by diligent, regular, daily attentive reading.” —J. C. Ryle^[1]
• Prayer

Text:

Isaiah 41:22 (KJV) Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

Daniel 9:23 (KJV) At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Introduction:

It is easy in a study such as we are embarked upon to simply search for a word and when it is found use only the phrase it is found in and totally misrepresent what the Scripture is actually saying.  In Isaiah 41:21-24 God challenges the nations to foretell the future by their idols as accurately as Isaiah has done by the Spirit of the Lord.^[2]

God also points out that they and their idol gods are unable to properly interpret the past.  We have already talked about considering the days of old so to day we will be looking at consideration of things to come.

1. Why Do We Consider Things to Come

1. Because of Past Example: Repeatedly in the Old Testament God’s people were admonished to serve the Lord will the promise of a prosperous and long future in the land God had given them if they obeyed.  He also sent numerous prophets to warn them of future destruction and captivity if they failed to put away idolatry from among them and follow only Jehovah.  Their failure to heed the warnings of these prophets resulted in the very thing which had been foretold.  God has given us His word whereby we may discover what the end will be for both the faithful and the unbelieving.  Failure to walk in obedience to His Word will result in punishment for men and women today just as it did for those who ignored God’s warning in days of old.
2. To Motivate Holy Living

1. 2 Peter 3:11 (KJV) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness
2. 2 Peter 3:14 (KJV) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
3. 2 Peter 3:17 (KJV) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
4. 1 John 3:2-3 (KJV) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

3. To Comfort One Another — 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (KJV) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
4. To Be an effective Witness
5. Because We Do Not Know the Time of Christ Return
6. To Discover God’s Plan and Purpose
7. To Know How and What to Pray

1. We are to pray for the fulfillment of promise.  We will not know what to pray for without considering God’s purpose and plan.
2. Scripture tells us that when we pray according to God’s will He hears us so it is important that we know what that will is.
3. Much of our prayer is careless, casual, and cliched.
4. The last book of the Bible concludes with a prayer for the fulfillment of God’s future plan: Revelation 22:20-21 (KJV) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

2. What Should We Consider About the Future

1. The Destiny of the Saint — The more we understand God’s plan for the Christian the better we can comfort (encourage) each other.
2. The Destiny of the Sinner — The contemplation of the eternal destiny of the unbeliever in the lake of fire will help to create a burden for the lost.
3. The Destiny of Self

1. Eternity
2. Tomorrow
3. If the Lord wills

3. How Do We Consider the Future

1. Cautiously — There are many false prophets.  We must be careful to seek counsel for proven, godly men and women of God.
2. Scripturally
3. Prayerfully —Daniel 10:11-19 (KJV) And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. 15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 18 Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

1. When we seek to understand God’s plan, purpose, and desires, we will be hindered by the enemy of our soul.  We must remember during these times that (KJV) we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2. It is impossible for us to win this kind of battle in the flesh.  We must intercede that the battle be won in the spiritual realm.

Conclusion:

Israel’s reliance on false gods gave them a false hope for their future.  The gods of materialism and self-sufficiency have given many today this same false hope.

Next Week: Consider Who You Serve

Prayer