House of Desolation instead of a House of Adoration
Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsJesus reveals the judgement coming to the Jews and the world due to rejecting Jesus
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FDA disclaimer
FDA disclaimer
We are going to have to apply this type of label to the our study today
Matthew 24 is a very difficult passage to unfold
It fits perfectly with Rev 6 which just so happened to be our study on Wednesday night
Plug for Wednesday nights
But Im going to preface and say I could be wrong about this
Im going to take the most conservative biblical possibility I know for interpreting this passage.
10 -20 years from now my view point may move some and I maybe need to regroup on some thinking here
That happens- Sometimes we study all we can and only to find we were wrong about a detail
That happens often in studying Scripture and concerning End Times teaching- we must tread easily
With no further adieu, lets read Matt 24 this AM
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus has now finished his last public teaching and rebuke in the Temple
I think there is more weight here than we think
In the very place were the Son of God should be worshipped- he was questioned
They hailed him as Messiah on the way into the city but Jesus then overthrew the tables and drove out the money changers
Then he comes back the next day and the RL come to question him
At the end of this, Jesus gives a scathing rebuke of the Pharisees as we saw last week
He ends with
See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
The Temple was to be the centerpiece of worship to God as the HOH was where the presence of God would come and the HP would offer sacrifices here
But that house, the building, Judaism is left desolate as the Prince of Peace is walking out the Temple- never to return to it again
In a very similar way, the Spirit of Lord was removed from the Temple in Ezekiel 10
The people believed God presence was bound to the temple and could not be moved so speak as almost to say your not going anywhere so why does it matter if we listen
Thats exactly how Israel acted
-They refused to repent of the idolatrous ways
-They lived life like Gods word and messengers were optional
-I put the messengers there because for the majority, they killed the genuine prophets and ignored the Word of the Lord
So the Spirit of the Lord left the Temple, as a sign of judgement on Israel
Their house was left desolate
When God leaves- there is no hope
Doesnt that seem every so valid for our time in which we live
Society seemingly is removing all basic morality which weas instituted by God and put into each individual
There are reasons why most people whether Christian or not, whether its in other countries or our own realize its wrong to personally harm some one
To kill someone is wrong- We dont have to be a Christian to have that basic understanding
Being a Christian- makes this all the more important because we realize God made them in the image of God himself
Random cells didnt all the sudden say lets make some slime and crawl out of water and turn into some other organism and who knows how many other processes to get to mankind
Genesis and the Holy Scriptures have settled that debate- in the image God, God made Adam dust and his own breathe and in the image of God, God made you in your mothers womb- Psalm 139
But in society, when you begin the systematic removal of God from all things- you are left with a broken mess like we see now
Where we cant cut down live oak trees in Horry County or if you shoot a doe before Sept 15 you would get ticketed but yet abortion clinics are perfectly fine to be open and is now included in a woman’s health
When you remove God- you get insanity, you get brokeness, you get hopelessness
You get people who become consumed with externals than internals
You legalism that creates unmovable burdens instead of the Gospels that removes it and restores
You get house left desolate
We went a long around, but I want to bring this full circle for us to see just how powerful this statement is
“Jesus left the temple and was going away”
Chapter 23 does not appear to be a chapter pleading for repentance but a chapter of judgment
It is capped off with these statements
You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
When reject God, there is nothing left but judgement
And the one who should be worshipped in the temple walks out and never will return
Somewhat fitting today we have moved back into the main building
We have been blessed to be meeting together for 4 months in the FLC
But I know there is something different about this part of oour campus
Its the walls, but the declaration of heart and purpose and willful assembling of ourselves to meet together to worship God- Amen
We can do that outside or we can do that inside
But may we be careful today- and everyday going forward
When Covid began- we had a influx of people watching online
Extremely high numbers- those have faded
But watching things online became, ill get it later, to ill get it next time, to Ill get it some time, to purposeful meeting in our homes for many in churches was non existent
So there was longing to meet together in worship because the biblical command is for us to worship together, in person, if possible
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Not to mention- the 4 commandment to Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy
And as time has gone by our numbers have continued to lowly comeback
While many cannot come back yet, we have a desire for us all to be back together
We desire “normal”- the “way it used to be”
I think we should desire the free assembly of worship
But may we purpose ourselves to not fall away from meeting together
Streaming our service is not a suitable substitute for coming to church
Its a place holder till you can be here in person
But even with that, we can meet and sing and do the “normal” and the house be desolate
May our greatest desire to meet here this AM, not be driven by ‘normal” or location but adoration for Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
Then and only then is real worship taking place
The temple- in all of its grandeur- Literally the biggest piece of Ancient architecture- was filled with Jews coming to offer sacrifices but the temple was empty of real worship
When Jesus was in the middle of it, they missed it and he walked away
The disciples didn’t miss the moment- look at what they do
Jesus- look at this walls, looks at these stones- it was an absolute spectacle to behold
Some stones were measured as 40x12x12- not inches but feet
Herods Temple was marvelous- but it was desolate
But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Jesus then tell them, look at them all
They are all coming down- these walls wont last
Jerusalems walls where 150 feet tall around the city
It was a massive place- Jesus says its all coming down
Judgment is coming for the nation as whole in 70 AD but judgment is coming for every unbelieving Jew at the end of time
Same is for us- Judgment for sin may come upon us or things may come on us just because we live in a sin cursed world.
But rest assured final judgement is coming
There is warning for you and I today
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
As we approach the rest of this chapter, we will put this verse in front of our eyes
That we should endure and hold fast the Scriptures- Because God wins and he is worthy of our worship
May the Lord not find us desolate but obedient and persevering