It’s The Last Hour 1 John 2:18-29 Adapted from a Steve Shepherd sermon http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/its-the-last-hour-steve-shepherd-sermon-on-antichrist-148967.asp

1. It’s The Last Hour 1 John 2:18-29 Adapted from a Steve Shepherd sermon http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/its-the-last-hour-steve-shepherd-sermon-on-antichrist-148967.asp

2. 1 John 2:18 NET Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.

3. 20Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.

4. 24As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you.

5. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him. 28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.

6. It’s the last hour. I don’t like the sound of these words: THE LAST HOUR!Three buddies die in a car crash, they go to heaven to an orientation. They are all asked, “When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning, what would you like to hear them say about you?”The first guy says, “I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time and a great family man.”

7. The second guy says, “I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow.”The last guy replies, “I would like to hear them say, ’Look, he’s moving!” Most people are like that last guy.Most people fear the last hour of life and there is only one sure cure for that fear. It’s a growing relationship with Christ!

8. Hebrews 2:14 NET Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), 15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.

9. Isn’t this great? Through Christ’s death we are free from the fear of death. How so? We know that He conquered the grave and He promised the same to us! PRAISE HIM, GLORY TO HIS NAME!1 John 4:18 NET There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.

10. The more we grow in our love for the Lord, the less we’ll fear Him, death and the judgment. Love is better than fear! On his deathbed, British preacher Charles Simeon smiled brightly and asked the people gathered in his room, "What do you think especially gives me comfort at this time?"

11. When they all remained silent, he exclaimed, "The creation! I ask myself, ’Did God create the world or did I?’ He did! Now if He made the world and all the stars of the universe, He certainly can take care of me. Into Jesus’ hands I can safely commit my spirit!" WHAT FAITH HE HAD AND WHAT FAITH WE NEED! The last hour of this text is not death.

12. The method or scheme according to which God carries out his purposes towards men is called a dispensation. There are usually reckoned three dispensations, the Patriarchal, the Mosaic or Jewish, and the Christian. (Easton) Creation<Patriarchal>Law 2542 years Law<Mosaic>Pentecost 2571 years Pentecost<Christian>today 2016 years (Calculated from, A CHRONOLOGY OF BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY by Dr. R.C. Wetzel)

13. It’s the last dispensation of time (Christian dispensation) and John said that certain things would happen. Of course, some people might say, “Well, John wrote that nearly 2000 years ago. If this is still the ‘last hour’ what’s the big deal?” This may well be what some people think.

14. This may be like those two pilots who told investigators they became distracted as they were working on their laptop computers on a complicated crew scheduling program when they flew past their destination in Minneapolis, MN, by 150 miles. They claimed to lose concentration while flying.

15. I can testify this type of thing could really happen. Cruising at altitude on a nice clear day things can kind of get “ho-hum in the cockpit.” The old saying is, “Flying is 99% boredom & 1% sheer terror!”

16. Sometimes we do the same spiritually. We lose concentration as to what we’re supposed to be doing and then end up getting into trouble or else have a bad spiritual crash. And it can happen to anybody, to any Christian who isn’t keeping their spiritual eyes open and seeking the Lord’s will every day.It’s the last hour! We all need to be awake!

17. Romans 13:11 NET And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. 12 The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.

18. Because it’s the last hour leading up to eternity, what must we do? John gives us the lowdown in plain language. It’s the last hour 1- Recognize the enemy2- Remember you’re united3- Remain in Christ

19. RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY 18Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.

20. A reporter was interviewing an old man on his 100th birthday. "What are you most proud of?" he asked. "Well," said the man, "I don’t have an enemy in the world." "What a beautiful thought! How inspirational!" said the reporter. "Yep," added the centenarian, "outlived every last one of them." Or did he?

21. DO YOU KNOW WHO YOUR ENEMY IS? It could be some man of the cloth, some false man of the cloth, meaning a false prophet.John said the antichrist is coming and there are many. Antichrist simply means “opposed to Christ.” And there are many in our world today: in politics, in Hollywood, and even in some pulpits, one could even live next door to you or in your home!

22. They may not claim to be prophets, but they are opposed to Christ. You can tell by what they say and do! Do like those in Berea did. Verify the message spoken by digging into God’s Word.Acts 17:11 NETThese (Berean) Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.

23. Paul warned the saints in Philippi about the enemies of the cross of Christ. Philippians 3:17 NET Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example. 18 For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

24. But here’s the real enemy behind the antichrist!One night Thomas Carlyle took Ralph Waldo Emerson through the dark streets of one of London’s worst sections and commented, “Do you believe in the devil now?” We could say the same if we travel through some of the worst sections of cities in the US like Kansas City, St Louis, Chicago, & Heaven help us, Los Angeles or New York City.

25. When we look at what is happening around the world and even in the US, how can we not exclaim, “Do you believe in the devil now?” There is rampant evil in our world and Satan is our enemy!Marshall Ferdinand Foch (Fosh - French General) spoke these words at one of the most critical moments of WWI: “My right has been beaten back. My left is in peril. My center is wavering. The situation is ideal. I attack.”

26. James 4:7 NET So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.

27. 1 Peter 5:8 NET Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. Satan is real and is out to eat you alive!

28. Ephesians 6:10 NET Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.Because it is the last hour we must recognize the enemy, resist him and fight him by standing firm in the faith. We must attack the evil one but only with the Lord’s strength!

29. REMEMBER YOU’RE UNITED 20Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.21I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.

30. 23Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also. You…know the truth. Of course, that truth is Jesus Christ. You have an anointing from the Holy One. We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit when we are baptized into Christ.

31. Acts 2:38 NET Peter said to them, "Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. What this amounts to is that we are united with Christ.Galatians 3:27 NET For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

32. Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Indians on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, "What are we going to do?" Tonto replied, "What you mean ’we,’ Whiteman?"

33. This doesn’t sound like much of relationship, does it? Or perhaps not much unity of thought and action. In some ways, however, it’s no different than our relationships today and even in our relationship with Christ.

34. Grady Nutt (September 2, 1934–November 23, 1982) was a Southern Baptist minister, humorist, television personality, and author) once said: A man once bought a new radio, brought it home, placed it on the refrigerator, plugged it in, turned it to WSM in Nashville (home of the Grand Ole Opry), and then pulled all the knobs off! He had already tuned in all he ever wanted or expected to hear.

35. We are not to "stand still" in our relationship to Christ! We should always be moving forward and upward, learning and growing. Philippians 3:12 NET Not that I have already attained this — that is, I have not already been perfected — but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

36. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, 14 with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

37. Pablo Casals was a Spanish cellist and later a conductor. When he reached the age of 95, a young reporter asked him: "Mr. Casals, you are 95 and the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?" He said, "Because I think I’m making progress."That’s the spirit and the attitude we all need to have when it comes to living the Christian life or our relationship to Christ.

38. In the course of their conversation at a dinner party, Albert Einstein’s young neighbor asked the white-haired scientist, "What are you actually by profession?" "I devote myself to the study of physics," Einstein replied. The girl looked at him in astonishment. "You mean to say you study physics at your age?" she exclaimed. "I finished mine a year ago."

39. We are never finished when it comes to the study of Christ. We must keep on, keeping on til we die. I’m learning more and more about Christ and enjoying Him all the more!2 Peter 3:17 NET Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.

40. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day. We all need to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. We need to know more about Him and we need more of Him in our lives. WE MUST NOT STOP GROWING IN HIM!

41. REMAIN IN CHRIST 24As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

42. 27 Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him. 28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.

43. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him. John uses the word “remain,” as in we must remain in him. He also says, “residein Him.” Him being “Christ.”

44. According to a 1974 newspaper item, Leo Fortier had rung the bell of his church in Three Rivers, Quebec, every Sunday for 52 years. That’s quite a record of faithfulness. It’s called sticking with the job, doing the work, staying the course.

45. 2 Timothy 4:7 NET I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! 8Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day — and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing. How many Christians can say today, “I have competed well; I have kept the faith?”

46. Many consider Dr. A. T. Robertson as the greatest scholar of his time on the Greek New Testament. He wrote more than fifty scholarly books on the New Testament. His “Big Grammar,” as he called it (1,454 pages), was recognized worldwide as the classical work on the Greek New Testament.

47. His former students always will remember him as being hard on them. One day he said about his students, “They will be preaching the New Testament for the rest of their lives. And I want them to know it!”He had a great passion for souls. While preaching during the invitation in a revival meeting, he left the pulpit and walked up and down the aisles, exhorting lost people to accept Christ as their Savior.

48. A man said: “I sat in his senior Greek class at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on a Monday afternoon in September 1934. I was not more than fifteen feet from him, not knowing a stroke was coming on him that would take his life an hour and a half later.”

49. On the Friday before that, he gave what was probably his greatest testimony about the New Testament. To our class he said, “Young gentlemen, I have been studying, teaching, preaching, and writing about the New Testament for more than fifty years. But I never open my Greek New Testament but that I see something I never saw before.”

50. After his death a student received permission to take a picture of his desk just as he left it. Papers and reference books were spread out on his desk. His pencil and the green eyeshades he wore when studying and writing were laying on the page on which he had been working. In the midst of a busy task he laid down his pencil, took off his eyeshades, picked up his class book, and taught his class—and then went home and died.

51. What a great picture of a man who kept the faith and remained in Christ until his death. WE ALL SHOULD DO THIS!28And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.

52. One time the advertising firm of J. Walter Thompson of Chicago presented this Biblical message in unique, twentieth-century, advertising style. For example, one ad shocked people into attention by proclaiming in large type: “You have 24 hours to live.” In the smaller type below “Today, that is.” Do you know what time it is? It’s the last hour and we must remain in Christ.