Messages from Pastor Raddatz


Nov 13, 2021, Mount Olive Houston: Readings for the day: Ps 98, Malachi 4:1-6, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-13, Luke 21:5-36

HELP FOR THE HOPELESS Luke 21:5-36

INTRODUCTION: The elections are over.  Will the candidates help you?  Will they give you hope?

God allows signs and gives signs to remind us that we do not need to respond with fear but with faith.

FEAR, Vv. 10-12, 16-17, 20-26

Fear can bring on feelings of helplessness through national disasters, natural disasters and persecution.

(Situation: When the disciples were remarking on the beautiful stones of the Temple in v. 5 Jesus warns them to “watch out”. Destruction will come, but the Son of man will also come in all his glory.)  

The followers of Jesus were walking by Herod’s Temple.  Jesus was probably teaching there.  This was an impressive building.  Historians think this was the biggest building of the area and it brought about great comments of admiration as to the beautiful stones and gifts being presented there.  “But Jesus said,” in verse six, “as for what you see here the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down. Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen?  What will be the sign that they are about to take place?”   Jesus replies, in verse 9, “When you hear of wars and revolutions do not be frightened.  These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness can bring on fear.  It does not only come through national disasters and natural disasters, but also through persecution.  God wants us to be prepared for the end.  The end to the Christian is when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.   The end is also referred to as the Apocalypse or the “End Times.”  When we face trouble as a nation or through weather we must remember that the world is groaning much like you, and I can groan to be redeemed and restored.  When Jesus talked about the present generation will not pass away, in v. 32, until all these things have happened, he was referring to a future event.  This was going to be the time that armies will be surrounding Jerusalem. He was referring to the temples future military destruction in 70 A.D., nearly 38-40 years after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

Have you heard the phrase, “Most of life happens while you make plans to do something else”? For example you and I can make great plans to do something but something unintended happens.   A sociologist named Robert Merton, in 1936, developed a theory called “unanticipated consequence.”  This is not necessarily a negative thing.

A man approached a little league baseball game one afternoon. He asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy responded, “Eighteen to nothing—we’re behind.” “Boy,” said the spectator, “I’ll bet you’re discouraged.” “Why should I be discouraged?” replied the little boy. “We haven’t even gotten up to bat yet!” - Bernard M. Baruch Source unknown

It's all about perspective!

Fear can lead us to faith.   You always have the power to choose your response to your circumstances.  Our faith is not driven by our feelings.  Remember Jesus words: He will use faith as a response as a witness to his glory.  Faith has its’ power in its’ object.  In other words we have faith in Jesus Christ.  He is the object of our faith.  Because of that our faith can be strong!

FAITH, Vv. 13-15, 18-19, 27-28, 33

Faith can bring on hopefulness through being His witnesses, God who gives you the word(s) and knowing we will not perish!

Think about some of the “best-laid plans” which do not actually go according to script but still have a positive result?  

  • In 1928, scientist Alexander Flemming found a strange fungus growing in his unwashed dishes.  When he looked at it closely, he discovered that the fungus had killed off all the bacteria surrounding it.  This lowly fungus was a building block of penicillin, which changed the course of modern medicine
  • In 1941, a Swiss engineer named Georges de Mestral went for a hike.  He was annoyed by the burrs that kept sticking to his pants.  As he struggled to remove them, he realized that the strength of their “sticking power” might be useful.  And Velcro was born.
  • A pharmacist named John Pemberton wanted to develop a reliable cure for headaches.  He took cola nuts and coca leaves.  His assistant mistakenly poured in carbonated water instead of plain water.  The result was a sweet drink that might not cure headaches but was very pleasing to the palate.  Today we call that drink (minus the coca leaves and a lot of sugar) Coca-Cola.
  • Only God can choose a form of capital punishment, a cross, and turn it into one of the most beloved symbols among Christians today.  It is the place where Jesus purchased our redemption and made us right with God.

When faced with distressing circumstances Jesus calls us to choose a response of faith.  He will use our faith response as a witness to his glory.   He will give us the words to say when we are faced with fundamental questions and even being put on trial for our faith.  He reminds us that not a hair of our head will perish.

Where can we find faith?  We can find it in his Word in the Bible.  As he says in V. 33,” Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away”.  He also calls us to look at nature, in v. 29 “Look at the trees.  When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves that summer is near.   Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”

CONCLUSION: God has elected you to be his child.  He has filled you with faith.  Your future is secure.

To God be the Glory,

Pastor John Raddatz

 

 

Current Weeks Message



Sunday, October 9, 2022



Sunday, September 25, 2022



Sunday, September 18, 2022



Sunday, September 4, 2022



Sunday, August 21, 2022



Sunday, August 14, 2022



Sunday, August 7, 2022



Sunday, July 24, 2022



Sunday, July 17, 2022



Sunday, June 19, 2022



Sunday, June 12, 2022



Sunday, May 29, 2022



Sunday, May 22, 2022



Sunday, May 15, 2022



Sunday, May 8, 2022



Sunday, May 1, 2022



Sunday, April 24, 2022



Sunday, April 17, 2022



Sunday, April 10, 2022



Sunday, April 3, 2022



Sunday, March 20, 2022



Sunday, March 13, 2022



Sunday, February 27, 2022



Sunday, February 6, 2022



Sunday, January 23, 2022



Sunday, January 2, 2022



Sunday, December 19, 2021



Sunday, December 12, 2021



Sunday, November 28, 2021



Sunday, November 21, 2021



Sunday, November 7, 2021



Sunday, October 31, 2021



Sunday, October 17, 2021



Sunday, October 10, 2021



Sunday, October 3, 2021



Sunday, September 26, 2021



Sunday, September 5, 2021




Sunday, August 22, 2021




Sunday, August 15, 2021



Sunday, July 18, 2021



Sunday, July 11, 2021



Sunday, June 20, 2021



Sunday, June 6, 2021



Sunday, May 30, 2021



Sunday, May 23, 2021



Sunday, May 02, 2021



Sunday, April 25, 2021



Sunday, April 11, 2021



Sunday, March 28, 2021



Sunday, March 21, 2021



Sunday, March 14, 2021



Sunday, March 7, 2021



Sunday, February 28, 2021



Sunday, February 14, 2021



Sunday, February 7, 2021



Sunday, January 31, 2021



Sunday, January 17, 2021



Sunday, January 10, 2021



Sunday, January 3, 2021



Sunday, December 27, 2020



Sunday, December 20, 2020



Sunday, December 13, 2020



Sunday, December 6, 2020



Sunday, November 29, 2020



Sunday, November 22, 2020



Sunday, November 15, 2020



Sunday, November 8, 2020



Sunday, November 1, 2020



Sunday, October 4, 2020



Sunday, September 27, 2020



Sunday, September 13, 2020



Sunday, September 6, 2020



Sunday, August 23, 2020



Sunday, August 16, 2020



Sunday, July 12, 2020



Sunday, July 05, 2020



Sunday, June 28, 2020



Sunday, June 21, 2020



Sunday, June 14, 2020



Sunday, June 7, 2020



Sunday, May 17, 2020



Sunday, May 10, 2020



Sunday, May 3, 2020



Sunday, April 26, 2020



Sunday, April 19, 2020



Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020



Good Friday, April 10, 2020



Sunday, April 5, 2020



Sunday, March 29, 2020



Sunday, March 22, 2020