THE INCREASE OF WICKEDNESS
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: THE DECEPTION AND APOSTASY OF MANY
Main Scripture: Matthew 24:1-14 NLT
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week, consider reading the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
If this is your first week I want to briefly catch you up on what I am teaching in this mini-series before Christmas. We are looking at scripture, specifically, the signs that will precede last-day events according to Matthew 24:1-14. We are looking at scripture that discuss signs of the end times and discerning whether we see these beginning to bud around us. So far it has been a resounding, yes. Now, a large portion of the events in Matthew 24 have been determined by certain scholars as Jesus describing the 7-year tribulation. While these signs are resemble what we see today, we are not in the 7 year tribulation. I am simply helping us discern and confirm that our world is certainly preluding or heading towards the Matthew 24 events Jesus graciously warned His followers about. We covered wars, rumors of wars, and kingdoms and nations against each other. Last week we examined the increase of false teachers and deception. This week I want to examine another obvious sign and how we can counter its influence.
Let’s look at Matthew 24:12 NIV: Because of the increase of wickedness the love of most will grow cold. NLT: 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
I believe the increase of wickedness is a direct result of false teachers. Wicked people already want to move, blur, or remove moral lines altogether, so when false teachers in the church are leading that charge we know things have really escalated. I also believe wickedness increases because love has waned and waning love increases because of wickedness. I see them working hand in hand.
Examples: Well, the world is the stage of examples. I recently saw critical reviews on three things. One is Naked Education. A reality TV show that explores human sexuality, involving observant teens for “educational purposes”. Second, a library hosting a demon summoning for the family. Lastly, a woman who teaches people on social media how to perform an abortion ceremony that disturbingly resembles a sacrifice ritual.
The Increase of Wickedness
In Matthew 24 Jesus referenced the wickedness in the days of Noah. Luke records Jesus including the days of Lot..(Sexual lust and violence were rampant Gen. 6:2-11; Luke 17:26-30;2 Peter 2:5-10).
In the days of Noah, wickedness was so bad that God’s judgment brought flooding on the whole earth.
Genesis 18-19 gives us vivid examples of the wickedness in the days of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah. God would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah with sulfur and fire.
But in both stories, God preserved a few righteous people.
What's happening today? The effects of wickedness on our ability to discern righteousness and truth from wickednesses and deception.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Sadly, it’s rather simple. We reject God, we reject truth. Without God, there is no moral truth and consequently no moral clarity.
Without accepting God and His truth we are forced to draw our own beliefs, convictions, and moral lines. However, the hearts of mankind are deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17). Some will draw moral lines, but not everyone will. When we do successfully draw moral lines (these lines are always borrowed from God’s law) we struggle to follow them. Without God, we are incapable of being faithful and true. Humanities rejection of God is the simple and sad answer to why wickedness has increased.
Wickedness also suppresses and blinds the world from the truth (Romans 1:18-23).
Wickedness is doing something else: it’s making the love of many grow cold.
The love of many will grow cold
2 Timothy 3:1-5
How does wickedness cause the love of many to grow cold?
Wickedness distorts and darkens the heart of mankind damaging our ability to truly love, even in the most common ways.
Wickedness hurts your ability to love God. Wickedness turns one’s focus from loving others to loving self, loving material possessions, being lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, not loving what is good, and becoming unholy.
Wickedness corrupts us to an unhealthy love of self. Wickedness creates a haughty view of oneself that is proud, boastful, conceited, ungrateful, and disobedient to parents. This results in not being teachable, humble, sorry, or repentant.
Wickedness leads a waning of love and outright hurting others around us. The words Paul uses are abusive, brutal, rash, treacherous, unforgiving, and simply lacking the ability to show love in relationships that need it.
Paul ends with one more concerning sign in the last days. There will be those “having a form of godliness but denying its power [NIV]... “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly [NLT] (v.5).
He finishes this paragraph by saying, “Have nothing to do with such people.”
“While Christians need to reach out and maintain positive relationships and influence with people who do not know Christ, they are to "stay away from" hypocritical people who pretend to follow Christ but are simply trying to fool God and others. Such people tend to distort Christ's message, mislead others spiritually and cause divisions in the church” (cf. Rom 16-17). -Fire Bible Note, pg. 1997
2 Timothy 2:22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
Running from wickedness many times means not running with a crowd who lives in or excuses wickedness.
There’s good news. Righteousness will increasingly shine.
God is reaching many and righteousness is increasing too. The darkness does not overcome the light.
People in the world are waking up to the absurdity of wickedness and turning to God so they won’t be judged and condemned in the end days with the wicked.
Here are some pictures and highlights of things that won’t make the news…
How do we counter a wicked culture?
Live Righteously Psalm 37:1-11; Romans 12:1-2
Psalm 37:1-11 speaks to how the Godly or righteous ought to live in the midst of wickedness. Take notice of what the Holy Spirit is saying through David. The bottom line is don’t let the wicked discourage or hinder you from trusting and obeying the Lord. God will deal with the wicked, you keep living righteously.
Romans 12:1-2 reiterates once again who we live for and how our lives are meant to worship God. In response to God’s love for us, we strive to live holy lives that seek to honor God and not conform to this world. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 shows those who don’t love God and choose to become like the world.
We don’t have the ability to be righteous on our own. We are made righteous through faith in Christ and anything righteous we do is because of Christ living in us. This happens by putting our life and faith in Christ’s work.
Love in the midst of the wickedness - Romans 12:9-21
This is how we keep our love aflame and from growing cold. Remain close to God and sacrificially love others just as Christ loves you.
Don't let the wicked and hurtful actions of others keep you from loving others.
Don't allow yourself to return evil for evil.
Overcome evil by doing good. Don’t let darkness overcome your light.
If you are here today and you’re saying I am a wicked person in need of help. I have good news for you, that’s why Jesus was born. He came to save all mankind because no one is without sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
It’s only by accepting and believing in the sacrifice of Christ for your sins that you can exchange a heart bent on sinning to a new heart that desires to live holy and righteous. Choose to do this, today! Believers, you’ve trusted in the righteousness of Christ and His righteousness continues to cover you. Let us be grateful and careful to honor His sacrifice by appropriating the grace God has given us to pursue holiness.
Let’s take time to pray and make sure our hearts are right. Let’s pray for the Holy Spirit to flood our hearts and keep us sensitive to love God and love others.
Discussion:
What are some unfortunate examples of increasing wickedness that you have observed?
How does wickedness affect our love for God, self, and towards others?
What are some good reports you have witnessed that we should celebrate?
How do we counter wickedness in our world?
What do Psalm 37:1-11 and Romans 12:1-2 suggest for countering the wickedness in our world?
What does Romans 12:9-21 suggest for countering the wickedness in our world? How can we counter false teaching and how are you helping contribute to this mission?
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!