We are living in a world 5hat screams racism at every turn, and yet many of the same people are calling for the annihilation of the entire Jewish race. We are living in a world that screams "follow the science" when we discuss vaccine mandates and evolution over creation, and yet many of the same people will socially and even legally persecute you for teaching simple, scientific human biology. We are living in a world that is beginning to openly hate Jesus Christ, laughing and smirking at His outdated ways, claiming to have wiser, more modern lives while their narcissism, hate, entitlement, and depravity bring suffering, division, depression and mental health issues galore. And mass confusion about who they are, why they are here and why anything matters in life. We are living in a world where holding true Christian values is increasingly labeled as bigoted, hateful, and even dangerous until many are afraid to even speak their beliefs openly. We are living in a world on the brink of complete moral disintegration globally, swiftly moving towards unprecedented governmental control. We are watching our world be literally torn apart at the seams while many of us on a local level leave our heads stuck in the sand and continue chasing the American Dream and our Christian blessings. In these unparalleled times within the life of our generation, and based upon the Words and Ministry of Jesus Christ Himself, I feel justified in saying I have grown weary of catering to soft, scared Christians; weary of trying to please and protect delicate believers so they can live secure and comfortable lives in their faith while the world goes to hell around them. Nowhere do the Scriptures call us to such a life, but quite honestly just the opposite. There has been no moment in our lifetimes which has called for more courage, action, and awakening than right now.

It's time to leave the worries and cares of all of the mess our world is in right now and focus anew on the most amazing, impacting, life-changing Words of Jesus concerning His Love and Plan for every one of us. Please open your hearts today and let Him speak fresh hope to your very soul. We have heard this verse spoken, and displayed more than any other verse of God's Word in the Scriptures—and with good reason. Because this verse tells so much about the depth of God's Love and His eternal plan for mankind. It is practically the Bible in a nutshell all on its own. But when we read this verse, we often miss an even greater message from our unfathomable God—because—notice something important at the start of the verse: it begins with, "For,” meaning that it is attached to an ongoing conversation. This incredible declaration is a summary (an answer, a climax) to a larger, previous conversation.
Let's explore this well-known verse by first seeing the context leading up to its truth.

We see about Jesus' early life...Something simply AMAZING... That we seldom contemplate! We have Studied of how Jesus EMPTIED HIMSELF...Of all of His Attributes of Deity...And walked this earth fully HUMAN!
 
That Incomprehensible Little Babe in a feeding trough...Was 100% a Human Baby! With no knowledge of Who He Was at that Moment...No Knowledge of Why He Came...No Knowledge of the Scriptures or the Will of God!
 
So... How did He Learn these Things?! These few Verses we have about His Childhood tell us clearly!

So often we are taught as Christians...
 
"Don't just follow your emotions!"
"Love is a Choice!"
"Choose to do right, no matter how you feel!"
"Worship is a frame of mind, not just feeling!"  
 
Every one of these statements is TRUE... In proper context! But... Just like many people base...
Their entire "religious experience" on pure emotion...Others of us are just as guilty... Maybe, more guilty...Of never feeling or expressing ANY EMOTIONS...In our love and worship of God!...And THAT... Not only shows a lack of true, deep Love...But is also... A strong indicator of arrogance and pride...On our part!

Mark 12:29-30: "HEART". Just as one might say, "That child is my whole heart!" This is how we are to see and love our God. And this is how our Jesus shows HIis love for God and for every one of us. The Advent passage we just heard—speaking of Jesus' moment of supernatural conception—shows the ultimate depth of Jesus loving God and His bride with all of his heart. There is a passage in Hebrews which is often misunderstood in the power of its context (the place and time) in which the words are expressed as having been spoken at the very moment we read about in Luke 1:35. What if I told you that just before Jesus leaves His throne, power and position—just before He sheds His divine power—to come to earth as a tiny, conceived child in Mary's womb. Scriptures actually reveal the very words He spoke to the Father: Hebrews 10:4-7. This is loving with all your heart.

This sermon will be uncomfortable, politically incorrect, socially unaccepted, and difficult for many! (But loving, and true!) It is about the explosion of the Transgender Movement in our culture... Even in our own local society!
It is about what God Says concerning the tidal wave of change...Towards sexuality, gender, and acceptance! But it will be even more focused… On what the secular world says... And what the secular world shows… Through the horrible suffering of our culture...Showing that God’s Words… Are full of Wisdom & Love!...And what God has Said about sexuality is ABSOLUTE TRUTH! Whether WE want to accept that Truth or not!

Stop for a moment... And as a Christian...Take a long, serious look at where we are right this minute! Your own children are being purposefully taught…Extreme views of sin... Which are against our God... Our core beliefs...Being taught against your own will...And any resistance to that is being labeled extremism...Even terrorism!
Drag Queens are reading to our children in schools...But Christian doctrines and beliefs are excluded...Because they are against the interests and views of institutions! Crime, drugs and violence on the streets...Are literally making life in many cities unlivable...While we work to remove even more order and protection...And we produce laws which make life easier for offenders!

Today's Study will be very different from our usual sermons, but one of absolute importance in our Christian walk, our understanding of the world in which we live, our understanding of how God is working through Israel, and how Satan is cleverly working on Israel, and the world to bring about the Times of the End. So many well-meaning Christians are completely oblivious to the truths of current event because of the ignorance and even purposeful lies being parroted around the world. So many people are uncertain of the reasons behind all of the current events in Israel and Gaza today. So many people are rapidly turning against Israel because of the current military retaliation in the Gaza Strip. So many people blame Israel for the conflict—allegedly, because of their mistreatment of Palestinians and especially their “occupation" of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank Territories. We will take a look at some of the history and see the truth of this situation today from some of the most unbiased and completely informed sources, rather than from tainted and distorted opinions which are being screamed loudly around the world in the largest, quickest anti-Semitic growth the world has known since the Holocaust.

Israel is at war. Here is a portion of the address to Israel from their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday morning: "Citizens of Israel, we are at WAR. Not in an operation or in rounds, but at war... I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price... We are at war and we will win it." Hamas, one of two major political parties in Palestine—which governs more than 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip—is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Egypt, and Japan, and is part of a regional alliance offering them support, composed of Iran, Syria, and the Shi'ite Islamist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hamas conducted a massive ‘surprise attack’ on Israel during a major Jewish holiday (Feast of Tabernacles) and on a Sabbath at 6:30am—which they have called "The Al-Aqsa Flood/Storm" (Hamas is angry over Jews praying at Temple Mount). This attack coming almost 50 years, to the day with the 1973 Yom Kippur Attack against Israel (Oct. 6, 1973). The attack consisted of: a barrage of more than 5000 rockets overwhelming and confusing the "Iron Dome" anti-rocket system, and a coordinated ground attack launching from land, sea and air; took out 50 Israeli outposts along the border and made way for 1000 enemy terrorists to rush in—with over 100 soldiers, commanders, and civilians being murdered in their homes and taken hostage by the terrorists. Men, women and children were paraded on main road, dead bodies paraded on main road. Latest available updated tell us over 300 killed, over 1450 wounded (October 8, 2023)—the most civilian casualties in one day since rebirth of Israel. Israel has notified the U.S. that they will conduct a "prolonged and powerful campaign" deemed, "Operation Iron Sword" to destroy this threat.

I just want to start out point blank with where we are going today. We are not meant to know the day or hour of Jesus' return, but He did not give us hundreds of prophecies about the events of the Last Days so we would be blind to His works; so we would be blind to the days we are living in. There have been alarmists in every generation believing they were seeing the events of the Last Days. Some were honest enough to recognize the end could not come unless Israel was home. We have seen this incredible return of Israel from every corner of the world in our time. We cannot know the day or the hour of His return, but we can see certain objective facts which undeniably say He is close at the door. Jesus warned us not to be lackadaisical about His coming, but watching, vigilant, ready. I want us to stop for a moment and take in the snowballing events around us today and look up.