1 John 4:

11   Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another...

If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us.

Perhaps God is giving us – the Body of Christ – additional time to grow up spiritually in areas in which we still come short.

Sure, we know doctrine, we know prophecy, we keep the Sabbath, etc., but there is much more. 

Paul tells us that we still have a lot of growing to do.

Ephesians 4:

13   Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Ezekiel speaks of the time when “the sword comes upon the land.”

It is a “wakeup call.”  Terrorist’s attacks in the United States show that the time to “warn the people” and to “cry aloud and spare not” is at hand.  Acknowledging that time is short, let's be motivated to real Christian action. 

We are told to watch, and be ready:

Ezekiel 33:

1   Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying…

Prior to this God had set Ezekiel to be the Watchman and warn the people of what ruin would happen to Jerusalem.

Remember that Israel had gone into Assyrian captivity about 136 years before this.

Of course the Jews thought that because they had the Temple at Jerusalem – no harm would ever befall them.

They had a superstitious form of religion.

Now, I’m just trying to tie these things to what is going on in Ephraim and Manasseh today – England and the USA – and all the present day Children of Israel.

The siege and subsequent fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians, and the destruction of the Temple in 585 BC - forms a turning-point in the prophetic work of Ezekiel.

What constitutes the enemy bringing a sword against Israel?

When the Japanese attacked occurred against Hawaii and the USA beginning WWII, did that constitute the enemy bringing a sword against Israel?  Herbert W. Armstrong began to warn America and the nations.

When the radical Islamic jihadist 9/11 attack occurred against the World Trade Center Towers in New York, did that constitute the enemy bringing a sword against Israel?

God has removed our hedge of protection.

The April 15^th 2013 Boston Marathon bombing was more of the same – constituting an enemy bringing the sword against Israel?

Ezekiel 33:

2   Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

God renews Ezekiel as the Watchman.

And brethren, let’s understand – Ezekiel stands as the Watchman today! – because these prophecies are types for the end time as well!

Ezekiel 33:

3   If when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

4   Then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

This certainly sounds like a “wakeup call,” to me.

Ezekiel 33:

5   He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul.

6   But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

7   So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from Me. [God says.]

Brethren, you do realize that Israel never heard this warning form Ezekiel because they were already in captivity when Ezekiel wrote this down – this warning is for us today

Ezekiel 33:

8   When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

9   Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

10   Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

The people are lamenting – saying their suffering is too much.

The answer is repentance.  ““Turn ye, turn ye” means to Repent when you see that phrase in the Old Testament.

Ezekiel 33:

11   Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

12   Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression:

12b …as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turns [repents] from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins.

Put your marker here in Ezekiel – we will be right back:

People love to have substitute religion for the True Worship of God.

God says don’t do it:

Jeremiah 7:

4   Trust ye not in lying [deceptive] words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.

What is deceptive about those words?

Jeremiah 7:

5   For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor;

That sounds like New Testament Pure Religion doesn’t it?

Jeremiah 7:

6   If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

Zechariah 7:

9-10   Thus says the Lord of hosts, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

Jeremiah 7:

7   Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.

8   Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

9   Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

10   And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

“We are God’s special people – He can’t let anything happen to us!  He will not allow our enemy to prevail.”

Brethren, Yes He will.  He will use our enemy as the rod of His anger.

In the same way that Judah thought that they had an “Ace in the hole” a “get out of jail free card,” A “Sure thing” because they had the Temple in Jerusalem to save them.

Saying, “God would never let anything happen to His Temple.”

We in the Church of God today sometimes think we have it made because we are God’s People – we are in God’s Church.

Brethren, that Temple was utterly destroyed.  Buildings and organizations are not permanent.  Even the First Century Church of God all but disappeared from history.  Paul told Timothy:

2 Timothy 1:

15   This you know, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me.

Brethren, can we see the Big Picture here?  We must remain faithful to God – and to God alone.

Ezekiel 33:

13   When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.

14   Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;

15   If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

16   None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

17   Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.

18   When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall even die thereby.

19   But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

The judgment of God is averted by repentance.

Ezekiel 33:

20   Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.

If you keep studying beyond this point you will see the attitude of the people toward the prophet’s further announcements.

Matthew 24:

42   Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord doth come.

In the remainder of the sermon we are going to switch gears – slightly and speak to the subject of how our suffering must be like unto the sufferings of Jesus Christ if indeed we are to complete our Christian course.

Paul wrote to Timothy:

*2 Timothy 3:

12   Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

That is a Christian principle we often don’t like to think about.  “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

As we become one with Christ (Galatians 3:28) through partaking of His blood, our life with Him involves suffering as He suffered.

Luke 24:

25   Then He said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26   Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and [then] to enter into His glory?

We are called to suffer in like manner.

Romans 8:

17   And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.

Peter also spends a great deal of time expounding on this principle of Christian suffering because we must suffer with Christ if we are to share in His glory.

Some people believe that a Christian should not have any trials – and that only blessings come from God’s way of life.

Brethren, here is a serious question to ponder:  Are you suffering persecution because of the Christian principles that you stand up for and live by?

In this selfish world, we often witness the "every man for himself" attitude that permeates society.

We should certainly understand the extent to which Jesus Christ demonstrated His love for us in giving His life.

But to what degree have we followed His example in demonstrating our loving concern for each other?

Who in the Church of God today is willing to suffer in order to help another person into the Kingdom of God?

1 Peter 1:

10   Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11   Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1 Peter 2:

19   For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20   For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

21   For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22   Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23   Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judges righteously:

1 Peter 3:

14   But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.

1 Peter 4:

12   Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13   But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

We are not to suffer for our own wrong doings…

1 Peter 4:

16   Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1 Peter 5:

10   But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

11   To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We should not be surprised by trials and sufferings.

Matthew 16:

21   From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22   Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

2^nd title

Matthew 16:

23   But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Brethren, do we savor the things of God – or of this world?

Luke 9:

22   Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

23   And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24   For whosoever will [seek to] save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

1 Thessalonians 3:

3   That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

4   For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

We are not the same as the world – God will even the score – it’s not for us to do.

2 Thessalonians 1:

3   We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith grows exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other abounds;

4   So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

5   Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

6   Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

7   And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

8   In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Expect to suffer Brethren – if you are laid back in a comfort zone – which it sometimes seems to be the goal of some in the Church – you do not understand the Gospel message and you have not properly counted the cost.

Philippians 1:

29   For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake

Paul explains how we are called to suffer with Christ:

Philippians 3:

10   That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made to correspond unto His death.

Men of influence are beginning to say that our country of America is dying.  Old England is no more.  This is a new and sad day.

What will be the straw that breaks the camel's back?  Our infrastructure is disintegrating, but no single factor will bring down our nation.  Why?  Because, it will not be the failure of one single system that will bring about the ultimate destruction of the end-time.

If that were the case, people would be able to say, "If only such and such... none of this would have happened, and Jesus Christ would not have had to return."  No, brethren, there is going to be total failure of all worldly systems at the same time!

All men, including the Israelitish nations, will realize the utter hopelessness of this world's God-less ways.

Revelation 1:

7   Behold, He [Jesus Christ] comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.

Men will finally realize how futile all existence is without Jesus Christ ruling in their lives.  There will be no second guessing the need for the Kingdom of God because history will have recorded that the result of mankind's best efforts was always ruin, failure, and devastation.

We need to realize that the root cause of our demise is the lack of Godly character.  It is rejection of the True God, and disobedience to His Commandments.

The degeneration of the English-speaking peoples in areas such as morality, secular education, and spiritual values is rapidly taking place.  This ever-growing trend has made us a people ripe for destruction.

Then, as Europe begins to strengthen and becomes a greater power – politically, religiously, militarily and economically – they will find that the weakened Israelitish peoples have made themselves an easy prey.

The European Beast power will simply inflict the “coup de grace” or deathblow – bringing to an end our mortally wounded Godless society.

The moral decline – the rejection of God and His ways – within America and the other Israelitish countries is the real cause of the coming obliteration of our society.

Look at the obvious signs of how our society is weakening from within:

The Ten Commandments are looked down upon with utter contempt.  One parent homes are the norm, and same sex "unions" are politically correct.  "Fatherless" births are increasing.

The gambling industry is growing, and the war against drugs is almost forgotten.  Genetically modified (GM) foods from greedy agricultural practices and the medical profession’s overuse of antibiotics are setting us up for the prophesied pestilence and disease epidemics of “Biblical” proportions.

God prophesied of Ephraim as a type of all Israelitish nations, that these pervasive and ungodly trends will finally result in a people that has made itself to be without substance.

Hosea 13:

1-3   And now they sin more and more... according to their own understanding... Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passes away.

We need to recognize these and other end-time signs, for what they are – a warning to us, brethren, to be lively Christians in a dying world.

Are we like Moses – are we willing to suffer and follow in Christ’s steps?  Moses could have enjoyed all the luxury afforded those of royalty in Pharaoh’s palace.

Hebrews 11:

24   By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25   Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

***

Sermon:

"Wakeup Call"