Sunday – March 4, 2012

March 4, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

The Man of Lawlessness, the Restrainer & the 2nd Coming from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

In the history of the church, people have been very fast and loose with branding people as “the man of sin” or the Anti-Christ. I am sure if I were to ask you, you would be more than willing to nominate some contemporary names to wear the mantle. The Bible tell us us he will not be revealed until the “one who restrains him is removed”. Who is the man of sin and who is the restrainer who holds him back? And just who will willingly follow this man of sin? Join us this Sunday as we continue in 2nd Thessalonians 2 verses 6 to 12 as we look at “The Man of Sin, the Restrainer and the Second Coming”.


Word On Worship – March 4, 2012      Download / Print

2 Peter 3:15-16
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

I get a chuckle when I read Peter telling us Paul writes things that are hard to understand. After all Peter has his fair share of obscure texts that cause many people to scratch their head. But Peter is bringing out the same truth Paul does when it comes to people twisting texts they do not like, wanting to understand in a literal sense so they can avoid changing their thinking and their lifestyle.

Some will say, “I cannot understand how a God of love can send anyone to hell.” What they really mean is: “I do not want to believe in a literal hell because it would mean there is a consequence for my sin. I do not want to pay the price for how I actually live my life. Therefore I do not believe there is a hell and any passage in Scripture that states there is a hell must be too vague, too obscure or inconsistent with other passages of Scripture.”

So what might someone find “hard to accept” about Paul’s writings in 2nd Thessalonians? 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.”  We want believe there will always be time to get “serious” about Jesus Christ. After all, you think, “When I see the things Paul describes happening I know it will be time to take the Bible more seriously.” But when the truth is continually rejected, what makes you think you will not jump in with the man of falsehood who is more than willing to take you further down the path you have already shown is the desire of your heart?

If you are not ready to follow Jesus today, understand the marriage you are entering into. The deceiver wants followers and will tell you what you want to hear. And you will listen because you want to hear what requires nothing of you. You have chosen to reject the truth of the gospel and to believe the lie. So in the end you are not dragged off against your will down the path of disbelief, but rather you pursue willingly what your heart truly desires. The path which gives you what you want will take you to where you deserve. I pray we all consider the cost of God sending His Son to pay for our sins. What do you plan to do with that today? Grace is the free gift of God that will cost your life that you might have eternal life.

4 thoughts on “Sunday – March 4, 2012

  1. Every time I try to watch this the video freezes at about the 12 min. point. I’m sure it is on this end, as we have very limited reception and thus, intermittent connection. I’ll keep trying! Miss you all- Prayers and God’s Blessings! Pam

    • Hi Pam. I hope you had a great Resurrection Day! I was wondering: Are you are still having problems watching the sermon videos on the SunriseTC.org site? I miss having around. -Bernie

      • Hi, Bernie! I have been able to watch a couple of them. The problem is definitely NOT on your end. It is a combination of where I live and the poor quality of our service. It’s doing better, I did a little juggling around of my computer placement, but we are in the middle of the Texas countryside, and weather conditions play havoc with many things… 🙂 (possible tornadoes today- prayer would be welcome!)
        Miss all of you, too!

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