Sometimes you buy or buy into something, but you can’t see all of what you have bought
* other things we don’t fully see spouse – family – job – friends
Everything is bidding for your allegiance
* Groups / Org / Political Parties
* These days more important to recognize…
There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. | 2 Timothy 3.1-5
* He’s talking about church people!
Jesus talking about the last days, followers asked Him what?
Nation will rise against nation… 24.7a NIV
- Nation – a multitude of individuals of the same nature” – Same belief
* Group will rise against groups not like themselves
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom… 24.7a NIV
* Kingdom – Kingships and authorities
* Power will be against power
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…All these are the beginning… 24.7-8a NIV
At that time many will turn away from the faith…
* These are believers
* At that time, people of God will become more infected!
…then many will be offended,
* How familiar does that sound
* Turning from the true faith, they will leave a godly mindset and adopt the mind of the nations, and powers
* They will become offended and…
…will betray one another, and will hate one another. 24.10-11 NKJ
* If you don’t see things the same as me, then you offend me
* Betray – to hand them over, abandon them to harm
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold… 24.10-12
* Lovers of God will abandon their first love
* And they will grow cold!
* More difficult – Judged for what we DON’T do rather what we DO
Jesus goes on to say…
…but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 24.6 NIV
These things will have to take place
* Things don’t get better, don’t be a part of the division
* If we aren’t careful we will fall into the trap of Sameness…
SAMEness – The natural draw and desire to unite with others that are the same as yourself
* Jesus said…
(Father) I pray that they (My Followers) will all be one, just as you and I are one. John 12.21 NLT
Followers of Jesus…are called to ONEness not SAMEness
► Unity – People coming together to DO Something
► ONEness – People coming together to BE Something!
Now I urge you…note those who cause divisions and offenses…and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ... Romans 16.17-18 NKJ
* Don’t subscribe to that division
* My way of thinking must be the RIGHT WAY!
The Lord has prepared everything for his purpose —
even the wicked for the day of disaster. Proverbs 16.4
No government would exist if it hadn’t been established by God. The governments which exist have been put in place by God. 2 Therefore, whoever resists the government opposes what God has established. Those who resist will bring punishment on themselves. Romans 13.1-2 GW
* May find ourselves fighting agains God Himself!
The root of all these begins with “Sameness”
► SAMEness – The natural draw and desire to unite with others that are the same as yourself
► Toxic SAMEness
(Father) I pray that they (My Followers) will all be one, just as you and I are one. John 12.21 NLT
Followers of Jesus…are called to ONEness not SAMEness
► Unity – People coming together to DO Something
► ONEness – People coming together to BE Something!
Just like being a storage unit and you have to own all of it.
* Jesus paid the price for you, but needs all of you
* All of your allegiance