70 Disciples who Conquer in Advance (Mt 24:3-14) – 7/31/2022
Last week’s message was the 70 Disciples who Save the Age. In one word, be alert and pray. Why? The day of the Lord’s return is near. The age is becoming darker and more evil. What kind of faith should we have – end time faith. The age after Christ’s resurrection and before his second coming is the last days. As the gospel goes throughout the world the day of the Lord’s return is hastening. That is why Satan is going berserk. Jesus will absolutely return (Acts 1:11). Jesus finished everything on the cross and rose victoriously from the grave. Our life is within that victory. This fact must overshadow all others. End time faith has three elements: 1) no matter how dark the age, God has chosen and set apart those who will receive salvation; 2) only after the gospel of the Kingdom is preached throughout the world will the end come; and 3) God is not willing for anyone to perish – he waits for the last person destined for salvation to be saved. We do not live just any walk of faith – we are walking on the journey of the end time faith that has conquered in advance. How can we conquer in advance? Just be inside of the Word and follow the Word. This is the Covenant and being in the flow of the Covenant (Covenant Journey). Then you will absolutely have victory. God gives to his people his Word in advance and He fulfills that Word. It is when we hold onto the Word and place it in our hearts that we experience the fulfilment of the Word. Inside of the flow of the Covenant, there are three identities and path of the Covenant that we must take.
1.One who Remained – Path of One who Remains
1) The one who remains is the one who has strength and will be victorious. Your start may be good and you worked diligently but if you are not able to remain it is worthless. True faith is remaining to the end. How? God has chosen and therefore God will hold you to the end (Rm 11:5, Jn 10:29). It is not my hard work. It is God’s work and God’s grace.
2) The one who remains will remain no matter what. In the last days there will be tribulation. For the sole reason of following the Lord you will be hated and put to death. Because of the increase of evil many will fall away and betray one another and hate each other. False prophets will appear and lead many astray. The love of many will grow cold (vv.9-12). However, the one who endures to the end will be saved (v.13). Only the one who perseveres in prayer will endure to the end (Lk 18:1-8).
2. Pilgrim – Path of Pilgrim
1) We are not traveling an unfamiliar path or a path that we do not know the outcome of. It is a path we already have won and are victorious in.
a. Possess in Advance – mixed gospel, vague gospel, incorrect gospel, different gospel. We must possess the accurate gospel (Mt. 16:16, 17:8, 16:24, Jn 19:30) – (C)ovenant
b. See in Advance – we know the conclusion. Only when this gospel is preached throughout the world will the end come (v. 14, Mt 28:18-20) – (V)ision
c. Enjoy in Advance – being full of peace, joy, thanksgiving right now (Phil 4:4-7, 1 Thes.5:16-18) – (D)ream
d. Fulfil in Advance – Always being inside of the Word, prayer, and worship. Absolutely the word will be fulfilled (Is 40:8, Mt 24:35, Is 55:10-11) – (I)mage
e. Conquer in Advance – the one who holds onto the Word will absolutely conquer (Josh 1:5-8) – (P)ractice
3. Conqueror – Path of Conqueror
1) Jesus accomplished everything on the cross and has overcome. Our enemy the Devil’s head has been crushed. We can no longer receive wrath and condemnation. We have become God’s children and are eternally in the bosom of the Father. We are conquerors (Jn 16:33, Rm 8:37-39, 1 Jn 5:5).
2) The people of this world have lost hold of the spiritual and are living for the physical. We are those who sacrifice the physical to invest in the spiritual (saving lives). The path of the conqueror is the opposite of the world. Whoever saves his life will lose it, whoever loses his life will find it (Mt 16:25). The first will be last and the last first (Mt 20:16). A Conqueror fights the spiritual battle, not a physical battle. We know Satan’s strategy. We must save everyone.
3) Where you invest now will determine the flow later on. The greatest path of a conqueror is to invest in the next generation. God’s greatest concern/interest is for the Gospel/Covenant to be passed to successive generations. Only then can the 237 nations and 5000 people groups be saved. Though they may seem small and insignificant now, they are the ones who will save the world (Is 60:22). If all the first generation and members and church officers and pastors place their focus here then God will allow His blessings to overflow in every way. We must be the Platform (gather), Watchtower (prayer background), Antenna (relay) for the remnants.
Conclusion – No matter how dark the age we are walking on the path that we know the result and conclusion to. Through Christ we are on the Covenant Journey where we have conquered in advance. As we follow the Word/Covenant, may the blessing of the Throne be upon our lives, the church, and the posterity.