In Perilous Times

In Mark 13: 9b, Jesus said, "…And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows."

In Matthew 24:7b-8 it reads: "…And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."

But Jesus also says, in Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

One cannot help but think of these scriptural references about the end times because so much is happening. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, wrote: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come." (2 Timothy 3:1)

The word perilous had a multitude of meanings. They included such definitions as fierce, harsh and dangerous. However some of the definitions that caught our attention were ‘hard to bear’, ‘hard to take’ and ‘hard to approach’. We think those phrases truly describe this season. These are times that are really hard to bear, hard to take, and hard to approach. Yet, we’re in it now and we need the wisdom of God in order to live triumphantly in the midst of so much pain and loss.

Paul gave Timothy the way to handle perilous times and we just want to pass that reminder on to you today. He wrote: "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them." (2 Timothy 3:14) 

Take courage, family. Don’t panic and don’t sink into despair.

Now is the time to really go for it in God. Just continue in what you have already learned.

When Peter was coming to the end of his life, he wrote: "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever." (1 Peter 4: 7-11)

And that’s what we’re going to do family:
· Be sober and watchful in prayer
· Have fervent love for one another
· Be hospitable (without grumbling)
· Minister our gifts to one another

As we’ve told you many times before, this is not the Chris and Carol show. Nothing would bring us greater joy than to see this Body of Believers moving in maturity and power, where our gifts are going forth, backed up by lives of integrity and Godly character.

Yes, we are in perilous times, but this is not the time to give up. This is the time to step into your purpose and calling. Remember, we’re not building a great ministry that does special things for people. We’re building special people who will do great things for God.

Don’t shrink back because you feel that you’re not worthy, able or ready. Already, most of you can see things about the ministry that need to improve or can be done more efficiently. Well, you can’t wait for Chris and Carol to fix it, or make it better. The reason you see the areas that need to improve could be because YOU are the person who is supposed to step up and minister your gift.

Many, many people sit back and complain about all the things that need to change or improve in their church, yet they never offer their gifts to bring about that change. We feel that they don’t have the right to criticize or complain if they don’t do something about it.

Of course we realize that some of you are coming from places where you may have offered your gift, but it was thwarted. In this season at Urban Life, we’re presenting the opportunity for you to help build people. We're calling you forth to present your gifts of help, hospitality, administration, creativity and more. It’s time to minister your gifts to one another. Some have sat under our teaching for more than a year and now it’s time to move beyond sitting and receiving, to standing and giving. Are you ready family?