Matthew 12:38-42

1. Intro.
1. the scribes and Pharisees did everything they could to provoke Jesus, and now they demand a sign from Him
1. their demand was swiftly denied
2. what more could He have done to convince them
3. the attitude that demands miraculous signs as a condition for belief is not the attitude that pleases God
4. He called them an evil and adulterous generation – 39
2. we live in an evil generation - II Timothy 3:1-5
1. Paul is informing us that evil would be of greater intensity in the last days
2. evil is being accepted and promoted by society in a bolder way today than ever before
3. verse 13 tells us that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse"
3. What does this evil generation need?
2. this generation needs preaching that brings repentance - II Timothy 4:1-2
1. an old time preacher had a message entitled "How to preach so as to convert nobody"
1. he stated, one way to do this is to talk about sin in general, but never name the sins of anybody that is present
2. a man does not truly preach, if he deals in generalities
3. vague preaching sounds all right; it offends nobody, and it will take you a long way in this world
4. it is in the other world, that we are going to have to give an account
2. just because we have a generation of people with itching ears is no reason to trim our preaching to suit their condition – II Timothy 4:3
1. the preacher is not an ambassador with the privilege of negotiation; he is a messenger with a proclamation to be heard and heeded
2. he is not to give them what they want to hear but what they need to hear
3. preaching that brings repentance disturbs - Acts 2:37; Isaiah 58:1
1. man calls sin an accident, but God calls it an abomination
2. man calls sin a sickness, but God calls it iniquity
3. man calls sin a liberty, but God calls it lawlessness
4. man says sin is no big thing, but God calls it a transgression
5. man calls sin a weakness, but God calls it willfulness
6. man calls sin an alternate lifestyle, but God calls it an abomination
4. many preachers are afraid to disturb the people, but the Holy Spirit will have nothing to do with a message or minister who is afraid to disturb
1. light disturbs, and if we preach the Word, we will preach light "the entrance of thy word giveth light"
2. light disturbs because it reveals dirt and disorder
3. present day preaching does not save men, because it does not annoy men; but leaves them precisely as they were, without a ruffle or the slightest disturbance
5. preaching that brings repentance directs - Acts 2:38
1. "a fog in the pulpit will produce darkness in the pew"
2. preaching that brings repentance divides - Acts 2:40-41
3. this generation needs to see a people that brings respect to Christianity - Philippians 2:15
1. we are to shine in a depraved world by a distinct walk
1. far too many who profess, do not practice – Titus 1:16
2. Gallup poll: "there is very little difference in the behavior of the churched and the unchurched"
3. the poll went on to say that "most people's religion is secondary"
2. Christians are not respected anymore, there is a great need for saintly believers
1. to make a difference, we have to be different
2. we cannot change anything by adding more of the same
3. the early church was feared and respected – Acts 2:42-43
4. the world looks at the church today and sees no difference between them and itself
5. instead of making an impact on society, the church is ignored and treated as of no account
3. the church is not held in respect today because the church is so much like the world
1. the church is entertained by the same pleasures - Hebrews 11:24-25; II Timothy 3:4
2. they miss church for the same things the world does
3. the church embraces the same poisons - Proverbs 20:1
4. the church engages in the same perversions - I Corinthians 5:1
5. no difference in our dress
4. this generation of saints will have to answer for this generation of sinners
4. this generation needs power that brings results – I Cor. 2:4; 4:19-20
1. loss of power is the great tragedy of the church
1. she stands paralyzed in face of her enemies
2. the Holy Spirit does not lack power but only the opportunity in our lives to demonstrate it
3. the early church was marked with great power; no foe could frighten them, and no fear could haunt them
4. this generation needs to see the power of God demonstrated in the lives of the saints and in the church
2. power that brings a changed life -I Corinthians 6:9-11
1. power to stand up, power to speak out, power to shine forth
2. an appetite for the Word of God and the House of God
5. this generation needs prayer that will brings revival - II Chronicles 7:14
1. all that God is, and all that God has, is at our disposal through prayer
1. the devil can wall us round, but he cannot roof us in
2. prayer has divided seas, made rocks gush with water, muzzled lions, burst open iron gates
3. the lack of prayer has brought paralysis to our generation today
2. our generation will rise or fall on its praying - Jeremiah 33:3
6. this generation needs love that is genuine - I Peter 4:8
1. "fervent" means without ceasing
2. a Christian without love is lifeless and powerless
3. this kind of love will cost us something
1. no such thing as cheap love
2. we can give without love, but we cannot love without giving
4. this kind of love will cover many things
1. love does not publish another's sins
2. how much gossip would be eliminated if we truly loved one another
3. gossip runs down more people than automobiles do every year
4. where love is thin, faults are thick; where love is thick, faults are thin
5. where love is, forgiveness is easier
6. man is most like a beast when he kills; man is most like men when he judges; and man is most like God when he forgives
5. this generation needs to see Christians that have the love of God in their hearts – I Cor. 13:1-7
7. conclusion: we will not serve our generation well unless the preaching, the people, the power, the praying, and the love is present