Sermon Notes 9/7 – The Last Days

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – Paul shares about the rapture of the church and the second coming of Jesus Christ.  We see that difficult times lie ahead for the world…….
2 Timothy 3:1 – difficult times will come
-difficult – means hard to deal with…dangerous…savage…
-it is the same word used in Matthew 8:28 for demons
Know – means to absolutely positively know
Know is be knowing which refers to keeping this on our minds
Last Days – this is the time when Jesus is going to return
-Paul lists several characteristics that will manifest in the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-9
UNTHANKFUL – is a lack of gratitude – Luke 17:11-19
        -all believers must have an attitude of gratitude in the last days
-these difficult times will be times of uncertainty
-the only certainty today is Jesus Christ and His Word – Matthew 7:24-28 and Psalm 18:2 – Jesus Christ is our Rock…
          DIFFICULT TIMES
1.) Difficult times do not change who God is – Malachi 3:6
-the Lord never changes.  He is the same in good and bad times
-He is good – Psalm 100:5/Psalm 34:8/Psalm 145:1-21
-Stand on the Word and not on our emotions & feelings
-So we need doctrine, theology, deep roots and discipleship
2.) DIFFICULT TIMES PROVE GODS IS A PROVIDER – 1 Kings 17:1-9
-the Lord will always meet our needs
-He commands provision to come to His children
-Difficult times help us remember & discover who our true source of provision is
How does the Lord provide for us?
-Give – Phil 4:19
-Put Jesus first – Matthew 6:23-33
-Supernatural – 1 Kings 17
-Pray and believe
-Practical
3. DIFFICULT TIMES NEED TO CAUSE US TO REMEMBER – Psalm 77:11-12 and Deut 8:1-4
Remember  – means to bring all the power of past events into the future
-what the Lord has done in the past He will do again and more in the future
4. DIFFICULT TIMES SQUEEZE OUT THE I WILLS OF OUR CHRISTIANITY – PSALM 145:5 & 119:15,23,27,78
-Difficult times put the squeeze on us from every direction
-Let the I Wills from the Lord and His Word come out of you.
-This is when we dont feel anything