Asking For A Friend

Why Does the World Feel Like This?

Message Notes


Message Intro

  • Why does the world feel this way?
  • Quick list
    1. It feels immoral - There doesn’t seem to be a moral standard.
    2. It feels confusing - Truth seems hard to find.
    3. It feels disconnected - With so much technology, we feel more disconnected than ever.
    4. It feels polarized - Constant division.
    5. It feels on the brink - Like something bad could happen at any moment.
    6. It feels violent - There’s always someone dying and someone killing.
    7. It feels apathetic - People don’t care about God, country, future.
  • AWARENESS
    1. These things have always been around, but you are now aware of them because of exposure. 

Key passage

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NLT) — 1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

3 answers to the question: Why does the world feel this way?

  1. The Spirit of the Age
    1. It’s the spirit of the Antichrist
      1. Do you think of The Exorcist or Good Omens? Some type of hollywood portrayal of good vs. evil
      2. 1 John 4:3 (NLT) — 3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
      3. 2 John 7 (NLT) — 7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. 
    2. Some teaching on the Antichrist - Who is the antichrist?
      1. Against Christ
        1. Against Christ, his teachings, his values, his people
        2. Have you noticed this? Consider this.
        3. Muslim hatred against Christians globally. 
        4. Atheist hatred of Christian. 
        5. The tension you feel is the tension between two spirits. The spirit of Abel and the spirit of Cain. 
          1. The world wants to abort, Christians want to save life; 
          2. The world wants to change marriage, Christians want to stand for God’s intention; 
          3. The world wants to change the definition of man and woman, Christians want to uphold God’s original design  
      2. In Place of Christ
        1. In place of Christ, his lordship, his worship
        2. The goal of the antichrist is to replace Christ. It has become the one that everyone follows, bows to, looks to. 
        3. Everything that Christ represents is under assault to be planted by secular humanism. 
        4. We don’t need Christ
          1. We have goodness without Him
            1. We have morals without Him
            2. We have love without Him
          2. We worship other things instead of him
            1. Money
            2. Sports
            3. Fame
    3. 1 John 2:22 (NLT) — 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.
    4. The way we react to the spirit of the antichrist is continual allegiance to the name of Jesus! 
    5. ANSWER NUMBER ONE - THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE
  2. The Heart of Man
    1. Humans are brilliant
      1. Just caught the “super heavy” space x booster in mechanical arms.
      2. Multiple AI’s invented and in use
      3. Gene editing through CRISPR
      4. Cars that drive themselves
    2. We are under the curse of sin
      1. Visualizing corruption 
      2. Decay - Rusted wrench; pellet gun; fishing pole; basketball
      3. Infected - Virus on a device
    3. Humans are corrupted
      1. Sin has corrupted our hearts
      2. Our thought life - “everything they thought or imagined”
      3. Our violence - “filled with violence”
      4. Our corruption - “lust, perversion, greed, pride”
    4. Genesis 6:5–8 (NLT) — 5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the LORD said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the LORD.
    5. Genesis 6:11–13 (NLT) — 11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!
    6. How could God cause this evil?
      1. How could man cause this evil?
    7. ANSWER NUMBER TWO - THE HEART OF MAN
  3. The End of Days
    1. God has set a start and stop day to his creation. There is an ending to the movie. 
    2. God started the clock and God will conclude the clock.
    3. Prophecy has been fulfilled
      1. End time prophecy
      2. Christ’s prophecy
      3. Israel is in the land
    4. 1 John 2:18 (NLT) — 18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.
    5. ANSWER NUMBER THREE - THE END OF DAYS
    6. Many wonder, “Is it the last days?” One thing is for sure: “It’s your last days.”

What hope can be offered

  1. Receive a difference spirit
  2. Receive a new heart
  3. Receive a new life

Closing

  1. One thing is for sure, it’s YOUR last days

Asking For A Friend

Do you have a question about God or about life that you're too scared to ask? Like...Is Heaven really real? Or...Why do I feel so depressed, anxious, stressed out? How about, Why does the world feel this way? This series is answering the tough questions, unpacking what God's Word says about eternity, mental health, pop culture and more.

3 Part Series

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Full package also available on Dropbox.

Related Content: Small Group Series - Asking for a Friend

Assets & Files

Part 1: Is Eternity Real?

Is eternity really forever? What will we do in eternity? What will we do in eternity? These are just some of the questions many people have about the afterlife. In today's sermon, we're going to give you answers from a Biblical perspective.

Part 2: Can God Heal My Mental Health?

God’s word is alive and active, giving us truth to wash and renew our minds, peace in times of uncertainty and power against spirits of darkness and despair. In this message, we're exploring the complexity of mental health, and God’s desire for us to have a sound mind.

Part 3: Why Does the World Feel Like This?

As the world feels uneasy & difficult, we know that Jesus was before the world, he has overcome the world, and will reign forever when the world passes away. We take heart in knowing that when troubles come and the world feels crazy, we belong to the Kingdom of God which will never pass away. In this message, let's unpack this important truth together.

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