Wake Union Baptist Church“Where the good news of Jesus Christ

is proclaimed in truth and love”

THE LORD’S DAY May 2, 2021

Call to Worship Stand Up For Jesus 485

Invocation

Welcome & Announcements

Scripture Reading Revelation 22:1-7 Bill Monroe

Hymn Am I A Soldier of The Cross 481

Children’s Bible Time March (ages 3-6)

Morning Prayer

Hymn When We All Get to Heaven 514

Offertory Prayer

Doxology Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

253

Hymn When The RollIs Called Up Yonder

516

Sermon THE MARK OF TWO KINGDOMS

Revelation 13:11-14:5Pastor Joel

Invitation There Is a Fountain 142

Benediction

EVENING SERVICE 6:00pmPreludeHymn Let Others See Jesus In You

(1, 4)571

Welcome and AnnouncementsMissionary

Jeremiah Brinkman New York

Hymn Living For Jesus (1, 3)

282

Message Study in James Pastor Joel

Invitation Near to the Heart of God (1, 2)

295

BenedictionUPCOMING EVENTS

ENDURANCEWhy is endurance an important spiritual quality?

BIBLE READING: Matthew 10:16–42

KEY BIBLE VERSE: And everyone will hate you because of yourallegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved.(Matthew 10:22)

Endurance requires preparation. Jesus told the disciples that whenarrested for preaching the gospel, they should not worry about what tosay in their defense—God’s Spirit would speak through them. Thispromise was fulfilled in Acts 4:8–14 and elsewhere. Some mistakenlythink this means we don’t have to prepare to present the gospel becauseGod will take care of everything. Scripture teaches, however, that we areto make carefully prepared, thoughtful statements (Colossians 4:6). Jesusis not telling us to stop preparing, but to stop worrying.

Endurance grows out of commitment to Jesus Christ. Jesus predictedthat his followers would be severely persecuted by those who hated whatHe stood for. In the midst of terrible persecutions, however, they couldhave hope, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times of trial serve to sifttrue Christians from false or fair-weather Christians. When you arepressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don’t do it. Rememberthe benefits of standing firm, and continue to live for Christ.

Standing firm to the end is not a way to be saved but the evidencethat a person is really committed to Jesus. Persistence is not a means toearn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life.

BIBLE READING: Hebrews 3:1–6

KEY BIBLE VERSE: But Christ, the faithful Son, was in charge of theentire household. And we are God’s household, if we keep up ourcourage and remain confident in our hope in Christ. (Hebrews 3:6)

Endurance is the means to joy in Christ. Because Christ lives in us asbelievers, we can remain courageous and hopeful to the end. We are notsaved by being steadfast and firm in our faith, but our courage and hopereveal that our faith is real. Without this enduring faithfulness, we couldeasily be blown away by the winds of temptation, false teaching, orpersecution. (See also 3:14.)

BIBLE READING: 2 Timothy 4:1–8

KEY BIBLE VERSE: But youshould keep a clear mind inevery situation. Don’t be afraid ofsuffering for the Lord. Work atbringing others to Christ.Complete the ministry God hasgiven you. (2 Timothy 4:5)

God will make our enduranceworthwhile. To keep cool whenyou are jarred and jolted bypeople or circumstances, don’treact quickly. In any work ofministry that you undertake,keeping your head makes youmorally alert to temptation,resistant to pressure, andvigilant when facing heavyresponsibility.

As he neared the end of his life, Paul could confidently say he hadbeen faithful to his call. Thus he faced death calmly, knowing that hewould be rewarded by Christ. Is your life preparing you for death? Do youshare Paul’s confident expectation of meeting Christ? The Good News isthat the heavenly reward is not just for giants of the faith, like Paul, but forall who are eagerly looking forward to Jesus’ second coming. Paul gavethese words to encourage Timothy, and us, to keep fighting—no matterhow difficult the fight seems. When we are with Jesus Christ, we willdiscover that it was all worth it.

BIBLE READING: Revelation 14:1–20

KEY BIBLE VERSE: Let this encourage God’s holy people to endurepersecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commandsand trusting in Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

Our endurance is related to the quality of our relationship with God.This news about God’s ultimate triumph should encourage God’s peopleto remain firm through every trial and persecution. They can do this, Godpromises, by trusting in Jesus and obeying the commands in his Word.The secret to enduring, therefore, is trust and obedience. Trust God togive you patience to endure even the small trials you face daily; obeyHim, even when obedience is unattractive or dangerous.

Handbook of Bible Application

True Wisdom

1. What is wisdom?

2. What's the best source of advice?

3. How can the Bible help me?

4. Are there different kinds of wisdom?

5. How is God's wisdom different from the world's wisdom?

Answer the Questions above, by looking at the Scriptures below:

· Job 28:28

· Job 32:7

· Psalm 111:10

· Proverbs 1:20

· Proverbs 4:7

· Proverbs 9:1

· Hosea 14:9

· Matthew 7:24

· 1 Corinthians 2:6

· 1 Corinthians 12:8

· 2 Timothy 3:15

· James 3:17

· 1 John 2:20

After you’re finished, read the text at the bottom of the page.

Sermon Points on Revelation 13-141. Sinful Presence (13:11-14)

2. Social Pressure (13:15-18)

3. Saintly Power (14:1-5)

Questions and Concepts

The 144,000

Defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins (14:4). Some takethis literally: the 144,000 are unmarried and celibate men. More likely, it isfigurative language: they have avoided the “adultery” to which the harlotworld city has tempted men and women (see 17:1–2; compare thedefilement of Jezebel in 2:20). Remember from 2:14 that adultery was a metaphor for spiritual infidelity(e.g. Jeremiah 3:6; Hosea 2:5).

Are you being tempted to commit spiritual adultery, to spend youraffections on the world of commerce, politics, and social life rather than onthe Lord? If so, how can you overcome this temptation?

Do you “follow the Lamb wherever he goes” (14:4)? What would it meanfor you to do this? Be as specific as possible.

1. Explain in your own words the chief characteristics of the redeemed (4-5)

2. Put a star by each of these traits in which you would like to grow. Talk withGod about what you and He might each need to do about this.

Could it be said of you, “No lie was found in their mouths” (14:5)? Watchfor situations in which you are tempted to distort the truth.

Lifechange

God's wisdom is best. His word in the Bible gives you the best adviceyou'll ever get. Read his word and do what it says, and you will soonbe wiser than ever.