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The signs of Times By Pastor Young Joon Park December 7, 2008 Matthew 16:1-4 1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, andtesting Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 "And in the morning, There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening." Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and wentaway. We traveled to Israel 2 years ago. We visited the temple area in Jerusalem. My wife and I prayed at the Wailing Wall (Western Wall). This place has 2 sections for women andfor men. So many people come to pray at the Wall. I thought that this wall was only for Jewish people to come in, but I found that any one can go inside and pray if you wear the Jewish small hat. I thought about 2000 years ago when I was there two years ago. Many people have come to this place and cried out for the Messiah, and at the same time, Jesus passed by this place many times. The real Messiah walked among them, but they did not realize Him. They turned their back and their face from Jesus and asked the Lord to send the Messiah. I did not have any chance to ask Jewish people who were praying at the Wall what they were praying for when I was there, but what I heard in their prayer was a cry to the Lord to send the Messiah. They missed the sign of the Messiah 2000 years ago, and they are still missing the sign of the Messiah withinChristianity today. This is what the Lord said that their problem was before and is today. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. I would like to meditate about the people who did not missed the sign of the time and they became a major part of the time with you today and following week. I. Zacharias and Elizabeth Luke 1:5 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias (Yahweh remembers), of the division of Abijah (my Father is Yahweh); and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth (God is my Oath). 1. Zacharias = Yahweh remembers. 1) He is a descendant of Aaron. 2) He is a priest under the division of Abijah (one of 24 divisions to serve in the Temple: I Chronicles 24:1-19). Abijah means "My Father is Yahweh." 3) He is Elizabeth's husband. The priest could serve in the temple in this time, because King Herod built the temple around 20 -19 BC. Herod's most famous and ambitious project was the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Also King Herod controlled Israel under Roman government authority. The new Temple was finished in a year and a half, although work on out-buildings and courts continued following years. To comply with religious law, Herod employed 1,000 priests as masons and carpenters in the rebuilding. The finished temple, which was destroyed in 70 AD, is sometimes referred to as Herod's Temple. The Wailing Wall or Western Wall in Jerusalem is currently the only visible section of the four retaining walls built by Herod, creating a flat platform (the Temple Mount) upon which the Temple was then constructed. The completion of the temple was by King Solomon and King Herod. King Herod Time 
the Site of the Temple today 
Now we are going to have the third movement of rebuilding the temple, which I believe is a sign for the end time. The time of Zachariah was under the pressure of the Roman government. Israel people looked for the freedom from the Roman government, but at the same time the high priest built up their greedy hearts and authority under the name of offering a sacrifice. They were so corrupted spiritually and politically. Israel people's hearts were so hungry for the Messiah for their freedom politically and spiritually. The time and the environment were all put together to fulfill God's new things that were prophesied by the Prophets who were sent by the Lord to this generation for the following generation of the world. 2. Elizabeth = God is my Oath. 1) She is a descendant of Aaron. 2) She is Zacharias' wife. 3. Their life Luke 1:6-7 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. 1) They were both righteous in the sight of God Righteous men in the Bible Genesis 6:9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. Matthew 1:19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. Luke 23:50 And a man namedJoseph of Arimathea, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man There are righteous women in the Bible, but only Elizabeth was named a righteous woman. Also Zacharias and Elizabeth were a righteous couple in the sight of the Lord. You cannot find any other coupleswho were named "a righteous couple in the sight of the Lord in the Bible." They are a good example of righteous life, and also married life. It is not easy to live as a couple, because married life is not easy. God made us to be one when we marry, but many times our own flesh is against each other. 2) They were walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements for the Lord This is the time to fulfill God's new plan for the redemption of the world, so He prepared everything perfect for us. He will not choose any imperfect condition at all. There is no spot in His plan. One of the parts of His new plan is to choose a couple who is committed to the Lord fully; who will live spotless and blameless lives as a godly couple. God's plan is to send one Spirit filled man who will prepare the road for the Lord and the children's heart to the Father and the Father's heart to the children. 2 Chronicles 16:9a For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. God chose them to fulfill His New Plan for us 2000 years ago. 3) They had nochild. Their life is full of the Lord, but they did not have children. In this time, it is not a big issue in our society if we do not have a child in our married life. But for their time, it is a huge issue for them and the society. Barrenness is a symbol of shame and curse. Even in Korea 50 years ago it was big issue too. They had gone through difficult times so many years because of this issue, but they had kept their faith faithfully. Even in their old age they did not lose hope in the Lord and kept asking the Lord for a child. Lots of time we do give up when things are getting impossible. Because of their age they could have given up, but they did not give up at all. Faith works when the things become impossible, because there is no impossible to God. What are impossible things in your life right now? 4) They are old. I am 56 old now, and I can be 60 pretty soon. My mind keeps reminding me that I am strong, but the reality is not that strong. Sometimes I feel pain here and there physically. Recently my back pain is growing slowly. I did not mean that I have a physical problem, but I feel different than before. My mother is 86 years old now. When I see my mother my heart is broken, because she has many different physical problems here and there. Some times she barely walks because of her knee joint problems. But she has sons who can visit her and help her. But Zacharias and Elizabeth did not have children. They serve the Lord in the temple faithfully no matter what their ages were, and they still kept their faith. It is very important to start well, but even more important is that we finish well. II. Zacharias encounter with the angel Gabriel 1. He was chosen Luke 1:9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. God chose him to fulfill His Will, because he was a righteous man in the sight of the Lord. In the same way Jesus chose you because of your righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the Excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 2. His prayer was answered. Luke 1:13-17 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb. 16 “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.? John means “Yahweh is gracious? Elijah means “Yahweh is my God? 1) His petition has been granted. Luke 1:13-14 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wifeElizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Sometimes our prayer is not answered right away, but we need to keep praying until the Lord stops us. We have to have faith when we pray to the Lord. Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. 2) The great destiny of his son Luke 1:15 15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the HolySpirit while yet in his mother's womb. (1) His life a) He will be great in the sight of the Lord b) He will drink no wine or liquor. c) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother's womb. Luke 1:16-17 16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.? (2) His mission a) He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God a) He will be as a forerunner before the Messiah in the spirit and power of Elijah. b) He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children c) He will turn the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous d) He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The prophetic word for John's role will be the major human historical turning point. He was the one used for the major role for Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God. 3. Prophetic Picture Prophesied for the Elijah Malachi 4:5-6 5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great day of the Lord and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." John the Baptist came as Elijah came before Jesus. The great day of the Lord – Jesus redemption good news – the Day of Salvation Elijah will come again for the end of the time before the judgment. The dreadful day of the Lord – the Lord's Judgment Day We are a part of Elijah in this time too. III. Vessels of the Lord We need to watch the time right now. There are so many signs of the time around us. God is lookingfor people who have a pure heart to follow Him and be fully committed to the Lord. 1. God is searching the people who are the righteous. (Lord's searching) 2 Chronicles 16:9a For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. Sodom and Gomorrah Genesis 18:32 Then he said, "Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there??And He said, "I will not destroy it on account of the ten. Jerusalem Jeremiah 5:1 Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, andlook now and take note. And seek in her open squares, if you can find a man, If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth,then I will pardon her. (background – people act like a very spiritual, butall of them are false) Centurion Matthew8:10-12 (MT 8:5And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, MT 8:6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lyingparalyzed at home, fearfully tormented.? MT 8:7 Jesus *said to him, “I willcome and heal him.? MT 8:8 But the centurion said, ?Lord, I am notworthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servantwill be healed. MT 8:9 "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go! and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this! and he does it.") 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11 "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 2. God is going to use those people. (Lord's Best Choice) 2 Timothy 2:20-21 20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Conclusion Let's meditate the parable of Jesus. Matthew 24:42-51 42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. 45 "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 "But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,? 49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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