Misled by MisLeaders
Year Delivered or Published: 2006
Author: Pastor Dale Critchley
Author's Faith: Christianity
Date Submitted to Inspiration and Issues: November 16, 2006
Hear Audio
Topic: Theology
Citation: Mark 13:1-13
While a transcript of the sermon has not been made, below is a detailed outline:
I. Introduction
A. This week, the Jehovah’s Witnesses stopped by and left a pamphlet in our door
1. The back of it talked about the marks of true religion
a) Moral uprightness
b) Adherence to the Word of God
c) And keeping God’s commandments
2. While I have to agree that those are all good things, they seemed to have missed the point
B. It wasn’t what the pamphlet said that disturbed me
1. It was what it didn’t say
2. Because Muslims and Jews will agree with those principles, too
3. And I doubt the Jehovah’s Witnesses would consider them true religions, either
C. The mark of the true religion, the religion of the Bible, is the cross of Jesus Christ
1. Because every one of us have failed all three of those marks
a) None of us have been 100% morally upright
b) None of us have adhered to the Word of God in everything we’ve done
c) And none of us have kept God’s commandments
2. But every single one of us have been redeemed—paid for—by the blood of Christ
II. As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples says to Him, "Teacher, look! What stones and what buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not even one stone will be left on another which will not be destroyed."
A. You see, just like the marble temple that Jesus and His disciples were leaving,
1. The things of this world remain in this world
2. And while the temple up to that time had been the house of God,
3. Since Jesus came into the flesh, the new temple is Jesus Himself
B. It’s easy to look at things that look religious and godly and say, “This is what it’s all about!”
1. But Jesus directed their attention away from that earthly temple
2. He predicted the destruction of the same earthly temple, which was indeed destroyed about 40 years later
C. And so it is with our works
1. It feels good to point to your works and say, “Look at those beautiful good deeds!”
2. “Look what I did!”
3. But as the saying goes, “You can’t take it with you.”
4. That includes your good works
5. Because those good works aren’t done for God
6. He doesn’t need them
7. They’re done for your neighbor
8. He’s the one who needs your help
D. But since you can’t do anything for God per se, you can’t earn God’s favor
E. Thus the importance and centrality of Jesus Christ and Him crucified
III. And sitting on the Mount of Olives, opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, "Tell us when these will be, and what [is] the sign when all this will be finished?"
A. The disciples were confused, as many others continue to be about these words
B. Was Jesus talking about the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 or the end times?
1. Yes
2. In typical prophetic form, Jesus spoke of “the now and the not yet”
3. As most prophecies have both an immediate fulfillment (or, in this case, 40 years later)
4. And a final, greater fulfillment, in this case, at least 1,970+ years later
IV. But Jesus began to say to them, "See that nobody misleads you. Many will come with My name, saying that "I am" and many will be misled.
A. And this warning applies to us today
1. Cults and false teachings are big business still today
2. We have the Latter-Day Saints in Manchester and the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Dyersville
3. The new leader of the Episcopal church says that Jesus is not the only way to heaven, that He’s just a man and can’t possibly have a corner on the mind of God
B. We have many leaders who choose to mislead instead of leading God’s people
C. And the Jesus they proclaim is not the Jesus of the Bible
V. But when you hear of wars and information of wars, don't be alarmed. [They] must happen, but [that's] not yet the end. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; There will be earthquakes in places, and there'll be famines. These are the first of the sorrows.
A. War is just the cold reality of living in this world
1. The news networks keep telling us how tired our nation is of the war in Iraq
2. And we might even go so far as to be tired of being in this world full of war and destruction
B. But the war you see on TV or know someone there is just a symptom
1. When nation rises against nation or a nation against its own people,
2. You know you’re still in a world full of sin
3. And you can also know that a greater war is being fought and has been for much longer
4. And you’re right in the middle of it, as is everyone you know, young and old
C. That war is being waged by the devil himself
1. And he wants you dead
2. Not just physically,
3. But spiritually—separated from God in hell for eternity
VI. "But watch yourselves: they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and before the governors and kings you will be put for My sake as witnesses to Me.
A. The devil will use whatever methods he can to attack you
1. And his methods are generally not a physical assault
2. That would do him little good
3. So instead, he uses the slow poison of temptation and worldly endeavors
a) He holds a good reputation in front of you like a carrot so you won’t tell others about Jesus and risk your reputation
b) Even though the sacrifice of Christ has given you a good reputation with God, whose appraisal of your character matters the most
c) He holds friendships up so that you seek to save your friendship instead of seeking to save the soul of your friend
B. But God uses the devil’s own tricks against him
1. Because God strengthens us through suffering
2. He turns temptation into training by turning us to God for help
3. And the more Satan attacks us, the more God unravels his plans
C. And God has already won the war
1. Even though the battles continue, the result is sure
2. Jesus already won the war on your behalf
3. And ironically, He won because of the devil’s attack
a) Satan was so intent on destroying the Son of God,
b) He forgot that dying was Jesus’ reason for coming in the first place
D. So even when the devil attacks you, you need not fear
1. Whether it be by threatening your reputation
2. Or whatever you’re tempted by,
3. God will use you as His witness
4. Because when you resist sin,
5. When you reach out in love to your neighbor,
6. You serve as God’s witness to your neighbor
7. And you show the love God has given you
VII. And to all nations first, the Gospel must be proclaimed.
A. We don’t deserve to hear the good news of salvation in Christ
B. But that’s why it’s such great news
1. Because even though we have more often sided with Satan than with God,
2. God sent His Son for us anyway, and even for that specific reason
3. So by Jesus, the Son of God, living a perfect life to fulfill God’s law,
4. And by His death in our place on the cross, serving out our sentence,
5. God has given us freedom from all that would threaten us, even death itself
C. And it’s because of that love that God wants all nations to hear the Good News
1. God sent Jesus to die to save every human being who ever lived and ever will live
2. And He gives that gift freely through faith
3. And faith comes by hearing the Word of God, specifically the Gospel, the Good News
4. So since God already paid for us,
5. He wants us to receive that gift
6. So He has proclaimed the Gospel to all nations
7. This prophecy, too, has been fulfilled
VIII. And when they take you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what you will say, but the thing that is given you in that hour, say that, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
A. So often, we’re afraid of what to say
1. So we don’t say anything while our friends and neighbors die
2. Do you want to know what to say?
a) The first, let the Spirit speak to you through reading and hearing the Word of God
b) Then, once you’ve heard the Spirit, you can trust Him to speak through you when the time comes
B. Remember, God has not called you to be an expert
C. He has called you to witness—to tell what you know and have seen and heard
D. The Holy Spirit will handle the persuading and convincing part
IX. And brother will betray brother to death, and father, child, and child will rise against parents and have them executed. And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the [one] enduring to the end, he will be saved.”
A. Jesus makes it clear that our trouble in this world will continue
B. You will continue to be assaulted by the forces of this world, both religious and secular
C. But the one enduring to the end, he will be saved
1. You, who know Christ and Him crucified
2. You, who have been given faith in Jesus Christ, your Savior and Lord
3. You, who, by God’s grace, will live forever in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Now the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
