TRANSITIONAL GENERATIONS

TEXT:

(Hab 2:14 NIV) "For THE EARTH WILL BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD, AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA."

THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAS BEEN REVEALED (IN MEASURE) TO EACH GENERATION:

EVERY GENERATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY DO WITH THE REVELATION OF GOD’S GLORY…

1. IF THEY HEAR…

a. THEY ARE PREPARED

b. THEY MAKE THE TRANSITION

c. THEY ARE BLESSED AND LIVE IN THE POWER & PURPOSES OF GOD


2. IF THEY DO NOT HEAR & MAKE THE TRANSITION

a. THEY ARE NOT PREPARED

b. THEY DON’T MAKE THE TRANSITION

c. THEY ARE DESTROYED OR SUFFER LOSS

d. THEY DO NOT WALK IN THE POWER & PURPOSES OF GOD

GOD’S DESIRE IS TO BE FULLY REVEALED ON THE EARTH…

IN THE LAST DAYS…

THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS GLORY WILL COVER THE EARTH!!

(Hab 2:14 NIV) "For THE EARTH WILL BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD, AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA."

WE LIVE IN A TRANSITIONAL GENERATION…

GOD INTENDS TO FULFILL THE LORD’S PRAYER:

“Let your kingdom come, let your will be done – ON EARTH – as it is in heaven..”
I BELIEVE THAT GOD INTENDS TO FULFILL THIS PRAYER IN OUR NATION…

THERE HAVE BEEN CULTURAL AND GLOBAL TRANSITIONS BEFORE…

IN FACT, JESUS REFERS TO NOAH AND LOT...

(Luke 17:26-30 NIV) "JUST AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, SO ALSO WILL IT BE IN THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN. {27} People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

{28} "IT WAS THE SAME IN THE DAYS OF LOT. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. {29} But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. {30} "IT WILL BE JUST LIKE THIS ON THE DAY THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED."

1. NOAH – A GLOBAL TRANSITION..

(Gen 6:5-9 NIV) "The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. {6} The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. {7} So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth--men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air--for I am grieved that I have made them." {8} But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. {9} This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."

(Gen 6:13-22 NIV) "So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. {14} So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. {15} This is how you are to build it: ……..

{18} But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark--you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. {19} You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you……

{22} Noah did everything just as God commanded him."

(Gen 7:1 NIV) "THE LORD THEN SAID TO NOAH, "GO INTO THE ARK, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY, BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND YOU RIGHTEOUS IN THIS GENERATION."

CHARACTARISTICS OF A TRANSITIONAL GENERATION…

1. PEOPLE IN A CULTURE HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM GOD…

2. GOD FINDS A REMNANT PEOPLE WHO LOVE HIM..

3. GOD GIVES HIS PEOPLE “DIVINE STRATEGY” – “DIVINE INSIGHT”

a. GOD’S PEOPLE OBEY THE STRATEGY NO MATTER WHAT!

b. THIS STRATEGY INVOLVES DYING TO SELF

c. THIS STRATEGY INVOLVES LAYING ASIDE OTHER “INTERESTS”

4. THIS “STRATEGY” LOOKS/SOUNDS FOOLISH TO THE WORLD

a. NOT UNTIL THE REVELATION OF GOD COMES DOES THE “STRATEGY” MAKE SENSE

5. WHEN THE TRANSITION COMES..

a. ALL THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE WISDOM OF GOD ARE READY FOR THE TRANSITION

b. ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT ACCEPT IT ARE LOST..

2. LOT – A TRANSITIONAL GENERATION

(Gen 18:20-33 NIV) "Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous {21} that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know." {22} The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. {23} Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? {24} What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it….

(Gen 19:1-26 NIV) "The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.

{12} The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here--sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, {13} because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it." {14} So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, "Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. {15} With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished." {16} When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them….

{24} Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah--from the LORD out of the heavens. {25} Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land. {26} But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt."

CHARACTARISTICS OF A TRANSITIONAL GENERATION…

1. PEOPLE IN A CULTURE HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM GOD…

2. GOD FINDS A REMNANT PEOPLE WHO LOVE HIM..

3. GOD GIVES HIS PEOPLE “DIVINE STRATEGY” – “DIVINE INSIGHT”

a. GOD’S PEOPLE OBEY THE STRATEGY NO MATTER WHAT!

b. THIS STRATEGY INVOLVES DYING TO SELF

c. THIS STRATEGY INVOLVES LAYING ASIDE OTHER “INTERESTS”

4. THIS “STRATEGY” LOOKS/SOUNDS FOOLISH TO THE WORLD

a. NOT UNTIL THE REVELATION OF GOD COMES DOES THE “STRATEGY” MAKE SENSE

5. WHEN THE TRANSITION COMES..

a. ALL THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE WISDOM OF GOD ARE READY FOR THE TRANSITION

b. ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT ACCEPT IT ARE LOST..

2. JOHN THE BAPTIST – A GLOBAL TRANSITION

(Mark 1:1-8 NIV) "The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. {2} It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"-- {3} "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" {4} And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE for the forgiveness of sins. {5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. {6} John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. {7} And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. {8} I BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER, BUT HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.""

(Luke 3:7-18 NIV) “John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? {8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. {9} The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." {10} "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. {11} John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." {12} Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" {13} "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. {14} Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be content with your pay." {15} The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. {16} John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE.

(Luke 7:29-35 NIV) "All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN BAPTIZED BY JOHN. {30} But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN BAPTIZED BY JOHN.

THEN JESUS GIVES AN ILLUMINATING ILLUSTRATION…

{31} "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? {32} They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'

CHARACTARISTICS OF A TRANSITIONAL GENERATION…

1. PEOPLE IN A CULTURE HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM GOD…

2. GOD FINDS A REMNANT WHO LOVE HIM..

3. GOD GIVES HIS PEOPLE “DIVINE STRATEGY” – “DIVINE INSIGHT”

a. THEY OBEY THE STRATEGY NO MATTER WHAT!

b. THIS STRATEGY INVOLVES DYING TO SELF

c. THIS STRATEGY INVOLVES LAYING ASIDE OTHER “INTERESTS”

4. THIS “STRATEGY” LOOKS/SOUNDS FOOLISH TO THE WORLD

a. NOT UNTIL THE REVELATION OF GOD COMES DOES THE “STRATEGY” MAKE SENSE

5. WHEN THE TRANSITION COMES..

a. ALL THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE WISDOM OF GOD ARE READY FOR THE TRANSITION

b. ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT ACCEPT IT ARE LOST..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE NATURE OF THE TRANSITIONAL GENERATION WE ARE IN…

(Mat 24:3-42 NIV) "As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING AND OF THE END OF THE AGE?""

"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. {5} For

1. many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. {6}

RELIGIONS THAT CLAIM THEIR LEADER IS THE WORLDS MESSIAH:

ISLAM, BAHAI, Jim Jones, David Koresh, Hogan Fukenaga, Sergei Torop..

2. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. {7} Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

The Most Violent Century of Human History - By Steve Cornell

The progress made in the 20th century is staggering. The advancements in science, medicine and technology alone have brought incalculable benefits to human beings. Yet a much darker side of the 20th century cannot be ignored. For all its progress, the 20th century was the most violent one of human history. Over 100 million people were killed in two world wars. Many smaller wars claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. An estimated 170 million civilians were murdered by their own governments. Places like Afghanistan, Rwanda, Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, Chechnya, along with others, experienced unimaginable violence and bloodshed. Words like holocaust, genocide, terrorism, abortion and mass suicide became well-known in the 20th century.

In the later portion of the 20th century, America witnessed a dramatic increase in violence. From 1960 to1993, violent crime increased by 560 percent. In 1987, the Department of Justice estimated that eight out of ten people will be victims of violent crimes at least once in their lives. Even more alarming violent crimes committed by children ages 10 to 17 increased 400 percent.

3. There will be famines and

According to the World Health Organization, hunger is the single gravest threat to the world's public health... Six million children die of hunger every year.[3]Figures on actual starvation are difficult to come by, but according to the FAO, the less severe condition of undernourishment currently affects about 925 million people, or about 14 % of the world population.[4]

4. There will be earthquakes in various places. {8}

Since the mid-70’s there have been twice as many deadly earthquakes on the earth than since recorded history!

All these are the beginning of birth pains.

5. you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. {10}

20th Century Saw 65% of Christian Martyrs – associated press
ROME, (Zenit.org).- The 20th century may have been the most striking in the annals of Christian martyrdom, and a new book shows it with numbers.

In two millennia of Christian history, about 70 million faithful have given their lives for the faith, and of these, 45.5 million -- fully 65% -- were in the last century, according to "The New Persecuted" a book by Antonio Socci

Italian journalist Antonio Socci presented his work today during a conference on "Anti-Christian Persecution in the 20th Century" held at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical Athenaeum.

"I handed in the draft of the book in January; since then the martyrdom of Christians has had no letup," the author noted. "Suffice it to think of what is happening in Colombia and Indonesia."

It includes the Molucca Islands of Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, East Timor, Cuba, the former Soviet republics, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries, Vietnam, China and others.

According to the author, the two currents that fuel the persecution of Christians today are Communism and Muslim fundamentalism.

SOCCI SAID THAT PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IS CURRENTLY MOST SEVERE IN SUDAN.
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

6. many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. {12}

just recently a prophet from Baltimore declared that the end of the world would occur on May 21st 2011 (last Saturday) the worldwide trend is staggering..

7. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, {13}

Time magazine article April 9th “The rise and fall of Christianity in America”: that the percentage of Americans who identify themselves as unaffiliated with any particular faith has “doubled in recent years, to 16 percent.” He also thinks it quite noteworthy that the number of those who describe themselves as atheist or agnostic has increased from 1 million in 1990 to 3.6 million today.

but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. {14}

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. {15}

THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN YET!

THEN THE REALLY BAD STUFF HAPPENS..

8. {15} So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- {16} then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. {17} Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. {18} Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. {19} How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! {20} Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. {21}

{21} For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again.

{22} If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. {23} At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. {24}

9. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. ……

10. "'the sun will be darkened, and

11. the moon will not give its light;

12. the stars will fall from the sky, and

13. the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'

THEN THE EVENT WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR!!

{30}"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

{37} As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. {38} For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; {39} and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. {40} Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. {41} Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. {42} "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."

THE GOOD NEWS…

GOD SPIRIT IS MOVING - LIKE NEVER BEFORE- ALL OVER THE WORLD!

1. ASIA

a. CHINA – largest church in the world… very faithful with signs & wonders

i. Over 1 million are coming to know Jesus per month

b. KOREA – 50% are believers (up from 15% in the 50’s)

i. The Prayer movement started in Seol

ii. Prayer mountain… the whole culture has changed

c. INDONESIA – government says 15% “other” and 85% Muslim

i. Revivals have been sweeping over

ii. Local officials say that in places 80% are believer

iii. Overall conservatively 40% are believers

2. AFRICA

a. GHANA – 2/3 are believers

b. UGANDA – The president gave the country to Jesus in 1991

c. Mozambique – rapidly becoming Christian… Heidi Baker 30% up from 3%

d. KENYA – 90% Christian (revivals in 80’s & 90’s)

e. NIGERIA – 70% and growing

3. AMERICA

a. COLUMBIA - Sweeping revivals in the late 80”s are starting again

b. BRAZIL – 80% are believers… signs and wonders… Miracles

c. GUATAMALA – Revivals in the 90”s are igniting again… after civil unrest

4. MUSLIM NATIONS

a. IRAN – 2 million young people in revival

b. Covert infiltrations in towns all through the 1040 window

SO… HERE WE ARE… IN A TRANSITIONAL GENERATION

CHARACTARISTICS OF THIS TRANSITIONAL GENERATION…

1. THE PEOPLE IN THIS CULTURE HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM GOD…

2. GOD IS LOOKING FOR A REMNANT WHO LOVE HIM.. (is that us??)

3. GOD HAS GIVEN US A “DIVINE STRATEGY” – (“DIVINE INSIGHT”)

a. WE WILL OBEY THE STRATEGY NO MATTER WHAT!

b. THIS STRATEGY INVOLVES DYING TO SELF

c. THIS STRATEGY INVOLVES LAYING ASIDE ALL OTHER “INTERESTS”

4. THIS “STRATEGY” LOOKS/SOUNDS FOOLISH TO THE WORLD

a. NOT UNTIL THE REVELATION OF GOD COMES DOES THE “STRATEGY” MAKE SENSE

5. WHEN THIS TRANSITION COMES..

a. ALL THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED WILL MAKE THE TRANSITION

b. ALL THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ACCEPTED IT WILL BE LOST..

NEXT WEEK… THE DIVINE STRATEGY FOR THIS GENERATION…

I BELIEVE THAT THE STRATEGY FOR THIS GENERATION IS FOUND IN:

JOHN 17:20-26

ACTS 2:41-47

REVELATION 2:1-3:22