Time Is Short

Scripture: (King James Version)
Revelation 12:12
"........Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and the sea...for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath...because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."
Notice these words......"He" (the devil) "knoweth that he hath but a short time."

Jesus is soon coming again!  The Holy Spirit through His body of believers, the church, feels this and with anticipation are saying "Come Lord Jesus."  This is a time of invitation - a time of warning and a time of challenge from the Holy Spirit.
                                                                   Time is short! 
 Time is limited for people to get right with God. Time is limited for unbelievers to repent of their sins.  
                                                         Jesus is soon coming again!

Not only does the Holy Spirit and the church feel the nearness of the coming of the Lord and know the urgency of stepping up operations to win the lost - but, the devil knows that time is short.  If time is short, then the time for everyone following him is short.
The devil knows that Jesus is coming again.  He is on a rampage in these last days.  We see and witness the increased evil and wickedness all around.  The devil is stepping up his evil operations because he knows that time is running out for him and those that are on his side.

St. Matthew 8:28-34 gives us the account of Jesus entering into the country of Gergesenes.  He was met there by two men who were demon possessed.  The demons cried out, "what have we to do with thee Jesus thou Son of God?  Art thou come hither to torment us before our time?"
                                                          Before what time?
* Before the time of Christs reign.
* Before the time of Christs return for His people.
* Before the time when Jesus and His people will rule the earth.
* Before the time when he (Satan) will be bound and later cast into hell.
The devil knows that his time is coming.  He knows that Jesus is coming again!  He knows what the consequences will be .....although he doesn't know the day nor the hour.  He does know that his time is short and therefore he is doing all he can to hinder God's message and destroy precious souls.  He knows his time is near and his opportunities are limited.
The Word of God declares the coming of the Lord.  Jesus promised to come again...the prophets and the angels foretold it...the Holy Spirit affirms it...the resurrection of our Lord from the dead assures it.  Despite the fact that the devil is a deceiver, a cheat, a liar and father of liars - he must confess that Jesus is coming again and that his (the devils) time is short.

The Holy Spirit is stirred over the shortness of time.  He is also stepping up His operations in these last days.  He is pouring out of His Spirit upon all flesh.  The prophet Joel delivered this in Joel 2:28 when he said, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;...." Again in Acts 2:16-17, "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:..."

BUT - the shortness of time has also stirred the devil, the enemy.  His evil nature is on fire.  He is pouring out his wrath as never before.  However, it is nothing compared to what it is going to be.  The devil is getting mad.
                                           The devils time is just about over!   

The Book of Revelation 12:12 confirms -   "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.  Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea, for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

                                                                             
                                                                               

The shortness of time should stir the hearts of the Christian, the followers of Christ - but it should also be stirring the unbeliever and those who have not yet given their hearts to God.  Just as the devil is on fire with his wrath and evil nature, the church and God's people should be on fire with passion and the power of the Holy Spirit.  We should be full and overflowing with the love of God.  This love should be causing others to come to an altar of prayer.  The devil does not know how to love.  Anger and wrath are the only emotion he is capable of.  The very nature of the Holy Spirit is love.  He does not wish that anyone die and spend eternity in hell.
  John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Those of you reading these sermon notes today - are you ready should Jesus come today?

                                          Does the shortness of time have you stirred up?
                                               If not, what is it going to take to stir you?

                               Please don't wait too long!  
                     Come to Jesus NOW - before it is too late!

                                                                     

The Prayer Of The Thief On The Cross

Scripture: Luke 23: 32-33 and then 39-43
"And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.  And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.   And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

                                                                   
Contained in this portion of scripture is one of the greatest prayers in the Bible.  The prayer of the thief on the cross.  It is found in verse 42.  It says "...Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."  This prayers reveals something about this dying thief.

#1 - First of all this prayer shows us that he believed in life after death.  This thief believed that Jesus had a kingdom and that he could be a part of that kingdom.
#2 - The prayer of the thief also reveals that he recognized and acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord.  He said, "Lord, remember me...."  No man can expect to enter the Kingdom of God unless they confess Jesus as Savior and Lord.   The Bible tells us in Acts 16:31, "...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..."
#3 - Also, this prayer revealed that this man, the thief, believed that Jesus had the power to save him...and he asked Him to do it.  "Lord, remember me."

That's all it took - because he wanted to be saved.  He was sorry for his sin.  He wanted to repent of the things he had done wrong in his life.  He wanted a clean heart.  The theft believed that Jesus could and would cleanse his heart and deliver him from his old life.
It only takes a moment to have Jesus cleanse your heart and help you become a new person.  You must be earnest with God and commit to letting Him be in control of your life, to guide your daily walk with Him.

Now, let's notice Jesus answer to the prayer of the thief.  Jesus said 3 definite things to the thief on the cross.
#1 - First, Jesus gave this man absolute assurance that he would be in paradise.  Verse 43 says, "...Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."  Jesus answered his prayer.  He forgave the man of his sins and assured him that Heaven would be his new home.  Aren't you thankful that there is such a thing as know that we are ready for Heaven?
#2 - Jesus assured this man that he would be with "Him" in paradise.  Think Of That......This thief, robber, by the GRACE of God would spend eternity with the Redeemer.
                                        Oh, how amazing is the GRACE of God!
How wonderful it is to be saved from our sins, to have a clean heart and to spend eternity with Jesus.

                                                                 

To those of us who have given our hearts to Jesus, He says in St. John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."  Farther down, in verse 27 -  He continues and says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."   What an assurance!
                             
#3 - Finally... Jesus assured this man that he would be in paradise or Heaven - TODAY.  That day.
The thief on the cross received immediate salvation.  IMMEDIATE.
Did you know that you can be saved and delivered from your sins, TODAY?  
     You can ask Jesus to come into your heart, RIGHT NOW?  
It can happen this very moment....right there, wherever you may be.
                                       Wherever. 
 Jesus, who died on the cross; who gave His life on the center cross, He is alive.  He lives - and He is only a prayer away. 
                   Won't you call upon Him right now?





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