Series: All!

• Jesus has all authority,

• So that all nations

• Might pledge all allegiance to him.

Title: “How to prepare for when all hell breaks lose”

Scripture: Matthew 26:31-46

Bottom line: Prepare today for that day when all hell breaks loose.

1. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

2. SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

3. MAIN REFERENCES USED

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:

1. Explain why Matthew 26-27 is so crucial to our understanding of God, the world, sin, salvation, etc.

2. What impact should the cross have on our reading of the previous chapters in Matthew's Gospel?

3. Discuss how the following attributes of God are displayed in the cross: sovereignty, righteousness, wrath, and love.

4. Explain what is meant by the idea that the cross is fundamentally for God's sake.

5. How does the cross expose our sin? What does it say about the seriousness of our sin?

6. How would you explain the terms substitution and propitiation to an unbeliever with little or no theological knowledge or vocabulary?

7. Why is it important to see Jesus as our substitute, propitiation, and reconciliation, and not just a loving example?

8. How does the truth of Christ's substitutionary death impact our daily pursuit of holiness?

9. Discuss several ways in which the cross fulfills Old Testament prophecies and expectations.

10. How does the cross rule out the possibility of a works-based righteousness?

Final Questions (optional or in place of above)

• What is God saying to you right now?

• What are you going to do about it?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. What to do when all hell breaks loose.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. So they’ll be able to prepare for that day.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Prepare for the day when all hell breaks loose.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. So that they’ll respond like Jesus did when all hell breaks loose.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. 4 parts here:

1. Remember that he is faithful and forgives even when we bail on him.

2. Saturate our minds with his word daily.

3. Surrender, denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following him.

1. Not your will but mine vs Not my will but yours

2. Eden vs Gethsemane

4. Watch and pray as we

1. do,

2. remember and

3. believe these things.

SERMON OUTLINE & NOTES

Introduction

Today we will answer the question: What do we do to prepare for the day when all Hell breaks loose?

Bottom line: Prepare today for that day when all hell breaks loose.

Illustration

The closest thing that fits this disturbing title for me is the day back in December when our family collapsed through a portion of 15 ft high deck putting 10 of us in the ER at the same time.

The very short version is that we were trying to take a family group photo. We were celebrating Christmas at my brother’s house and outside on his elevated deck. We were grouped and ready to snap the picture when the deck opened like a trap door dropping all but my mom in a pile 15 feet below. My brother and his wife, our four daughters, their husbands, and 2 grandsons. I cannot describe to you the horror we experienced looking around and see a pile of bodies of your closes family members and the wailing…it’s still pretty intense. For us, that day felt like all hell broke loose.

SERMON OUTLINE

Q1. What do I want you to know?

A. What to do when all hell breaks loose.

Jesus and the 12 are about to go through a hellacious night and day. Actually, 3 days. The disciples will suffer for bailing on Jesus. Jesus will suffer the wrath of God for humanity on the cross and wherever he goes after that. There will never be a more intense set of circumstances than the ones that Jesus will experience. The 12 will go through a lot too.

As we look at this, we’ll probably realize that while we are going through our stuff too, there are principles that we can take away from this that will prepare us for that eventuality. If you’re not going through your excruciating trauma, you might want to prepare to. Because in this life we will have trouble.

My aim today is to give you four tools to put into your prep or go bag so that you’ll be as ready as you can be for the unexpected trauma that is coming your way.

Q2. Why do I want them to know it?

A. So they’ll be able to prepare for that day.

God gives us some principles here (and next week too) that will help us prepare for the challenges ahead. To know that they are coming and not prepare is just foolish. They may not come. You may be spared. But even then the preparations you end up not needing will equip those around you for the challenges that they will encounter and your preparations will be God’s gracious provision for them.

Q3. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Prepare for the day when all hell breaks loose.

I know it seems a little silly. I don’t care. I carry a back pack in my truck that has a few snacks, bottles of water, and other various things for the unlikely chance that we have an earthquake in Charleston and I’m in Mt Pleasant at the time. If we have an earthquake, the bridges will not be safe to drive across. Of course, I will want to get home. So I will park my truck, grab my bag and start walking.

It’s a 32-35 mile walk, depending on your route. Under ideal circumstances (daytime vs night; calm vs chaos; etc.), it will take you 11-12 hours (without rest stops) to walk from Barnes & Noble at Town Center and my house in the Knightsville area. I don’t know if stores will be open after an serious earthquake or not. But I will be glad I had that backpack. And that’s just an earthquake. (We’re overdue for another, in case you’re new to the area) Hurricanes you can see coming. Tornadoes, bombs, shootings, terrorist attacks…these are no longer far-fetched. To not prepare at all is sticking your head in the sand and hoping nothing happens in your lifetime. And that’s to say nothing about how you’re preparing your kids and grandkids for a future that doesn’t look so bright.

I want us to prepare. Whether it’s a persona/family catastrophe or a national emergency, we need to prepare—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. But since we all know it’s impossible to prepare for all possibilities, I hope you will see the infinite value in preparing spiritually and will start there. You can do these simultaneously but start with spiritually.

Q4. Why do I want them to do it?

A. So that they’ll respond like Jesus did when all hell breaks loose.

I want us to respond to this. I want us to start to prepare or build on your preparations—starting spiritually. For your sake. For your family’s sake. For your neighbor’s sake. For your church family’s sake. Your preparations will help you and others in the long run.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. 3 parts here:

1. Remember that he is faithful and forgives even when we bail on him.

2. Surrender, denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following him.

1. Not your will but mine vs Not my will but yours

2. Eden vs Gethsemane

3. Watch and pray as we

1. do,

2. remember and

3. believe these things.

Conclusion

It might sound silly, but I keep a go-bag in my car (and Anita’s) in case we get stuck somewhere and have to walk home. For example, if I was at Barnes & Noble on a Friday afternoon and Charleston was hit by another earthquake like the one in 1886, the bridges would be closed (if not damaged) and I’d have to walk home or drive a long way around in gridlock. (See below for Charleston earthquake of 1886)

Bottom line: Prepare today for that day when all hell breaks loose.

The day our family fell together was traumatic for us. We’re still healing from it. Not just the physical either. In fact, the mental/emotional toil is probably the hardest to heal from.

But I can tell you that our family was prepared and came through this much better than we deserved because of God’s grace. In his grace, he prepared us by

1. REMINDING US THAT WE ARE FORGIVEN. Even when we bail on Jesus, he forgives when we confess our sins to him.

2. TEACHING US HOW TO LIVE SURRENDERED. Our lives are a gift. We don’t deserve our life. We don’t have to exist. But we do. And God’s grace is there for us every day whether we acknowledge it or not. Living surrendered is a life-long journey. Because our human nature wants to save our life. But God calls us to live in light of eternity. That perspective really served us well as we took those mental trips down the road called worse-case scenario. This could have ended a lot worse than it did. One daughter still has another surgery ahead. One son-in-law still doesn’t have full range of motion in his shoulder. We’re all dealing with different levels of post trauma stress. We’re still triggered at times by sounds or words. But surrendering your life to God helps with all of these things.

3. Finally, WATCHING AND PRAYING. We are more alert on any deck now:-). We’re so glad our deck at home is only 12 inches high, I’ll tell you that. Elevators and apartment stairwells are still a challenge at times. But watching and praying remind us to be vigilant about all things in life. Not to stress out about everything but to rest in the peace of God in everything. I like to say, prepare as if it all depends on you, but pray and trust God as if it all depends on him.

1. God is faithful.

2. God is able.

3. God cares. Trust him

Pray

Notes

Sweating drops of blood = Hematohydrosis

1886 Charleston earthquake

The 1886 Charleston earthquake in South Carolina occurred about 9:50 p.m. local time August 31. It caused 60 deaths and $5–6 million ($179.14 million in 2022) in damage to 2,000 buildings in the Southeastern United States. It is one of the most powerful and damaging earthquakes to hit the East Coast of the United States.[3]

Scientists have classified it as an intraplate earthquake, and said that it had an estimated moment magnitude of 6.9–7.3 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). Very little to no historical earthquake activity had occurred in this region, which is unusual for any seismic area.[3]

Earthquake

The shock was felt as far away as Boston, Massachusetts, to the north, Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to the northwest, New Orleans, Louisiana, to the west, and across water to Cuba to the south, and Bermuda to the east.[4] The earthquake was so severe that outside the immediate area, there was speculation that the Florida peninsula had broken away from North America.[5] There were at least 60 fatalities.

OUTLINE MATTHEW 26

Jesus and disciples celebrate Passover in the upper room. Jesus predicts Judas's betrayal and Peter's denial, both of which come to pass. After supper Jesus prays in Gethsemane, then is arrested and taken before the high priest.

I. THE ACTION PRECEDING THE UPPER ROOM (26:1-16)

A. The prediction (26:1-2): Once again Jesus predicts his betrayal and crucifixion.

B. The plots (26:3-5, 14-16): On two occasions wicked plans are made to kill Jesus.

1. The plot by Caiaphas (26:3-5): Jewish leaders meet at the palace of this high priest to discuss ways to murder the Savior!

2. The plot by Judas (26:14-16): He agrees with Jesus' enemies to betray the Messiah for thirty pieces of silver.

C. The preparation (26:6-13): Jesus is anointed by a woman at Bethany.

1. The dedication (26:6-7): A woman pours a very expensive alabaster jar of perfume over his head.

2. The denunciation (26:8-9): The disciples criticize her for not selling the perfume and giving the proceeds to the poor.

3. The defense (26:10-13): Jesus defends the woman, referring to two aspects:

a. The preparation aspect (26:10-12): She did this to prepare his body for burial.

b. The prophetic aspect (26:13): Her act will be remembered wherever the gospel is preached!

II. THE ACTION IN THE UPPER ROOM (26:17-30)

A. The instructions (26:17-19): Jesus directs two of his disciples to prepare a room in Jerusalem for the Passover.

B. The indictment (26:20-25)

1. Jesus' betrayal (26:20-24): The Savior announces that one of the Twelve will betray him.

2. Jesus betrayer (26:25): He then identifies ludas as the one.

C. The institution (26:26-30)

1. The supper (26:26-29): The Lord's Supper is now instituted.

a. He speaks concerning the bread 26:26): It is his body.

b. He speaks concerning the cup (26:27-29) Itis his blood, poured out to forgive sins.

2. The song (26:30): They sing a hymn, then go out to the Mount of Olives.

III. THE ACTION FOLLOWING THE UPPER ROOM (26:31-75)

A. The prophecy of Jesus (26:31-35, 56b, 69-75)

1. As foretold (26:31-35): Jesus makes a twofold prediction concerning the disciples.

a. All will desert him (26:31-32): He will meet them in Galilee after the Resurrection.

b. One will deny him (26:33-35): He says Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows!

2. As fulfilled (26:56b, 69-75)

a. The desertion (26:56b): All the disciples flee.

b. The denial (26:69-75): Peter denies Jesus three times.

B. The prayers of Jesus (26:36-46)

1. The assistance he seeks (26:36-38): Jesus requests that Peter, James, and John keep watch with him.

2. The agony he suffers (26:39-46)

a. His first prayer (26:39-41)

(1) The struggle (26:39): Jesus begs his Father to remove the suffering he is about to endure but emphasizes that he desires the Father's will, not his own.

(2) The sleepers (26:40-41): Returning, he finds the three disciples asleep.

b. His second prayer (26:42-43)

(1) The struggle (26:42): Similar to the first prayer.

(2) The sleepers (26:43): Again he finds them asleep.

c. His third prayer (26:44-46)

(1) The struggle (26:44): Similar to the first two prayers.

(2) The sleepers (26:45-46): Upon awakening them, he warns of his imminent arrest.

C. The persecutions of Jesus (26:47-56a, 57-68)

1. He is arrested (26:47-56)

a. Jesus and Judas (26:47-50a): Judas betrays him to the soldiers by a kiss.

b. Jesus and Peter (26:50b-54): Peter is rebuked for cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant.

c. Judas and the soldiers (26:55-56a): He reminds the arrest ing soldiers of his innocence.

2. He is accused (26:57-66)

a. The attempts (26:57-61)

(1) The frantic efforts to locate false witnesses against Jesus (26:57-59)

(2) The futile efforts to locate false witnesses against Jesus (26:60-61): No two people can agree in their testimony.

b. The affirmation (26:62-64): Jesus acknowledges to the high priest that he is indeed the Messiah.

c. The agreement (26:65-66): The Sanhedrin votes to put him to death for blasphemy!

3. He is assaulted (26:67-68): The Jewish leaders spit upon him and strike him.

Nicky Gumbel notes (BIOY)

Your way

The way of Jesus is to say to God, 'not my way but your way! Jesus not only taught us to pray 'your will be done', he also prayed it himself: 'My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?' (v.39, MSG). A second time he prayed, 'My father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way' (v.42, MSG).

These are not prayers of resignation, but prayers of great courage - being willing to follow God's ways, no matter what.

In this passage we see Jesus' humanity: 'He began to show grief and distress and was deeply depressed' (v.37, AMP). He has his three closest friends with him. The same three who saw Jesus in divine glory at the transfiguration now see Jesus in the depths of human sorrow. He prays for God the Father to show him if there is any alternative. Nevertheless, he is willing to do the Father's will whatever the cost.

For Jesus, the cost was of a totally different order to anything we face. He took the sins of the whole world on his shoulders. Hence his soul was 'overwhelmed with sorrow' (v.38). Three times, Jesus prays for 'this cup' to be taken away from him (VV.39,42,44). The cup refers to his impending suffering and death.

Just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus spoke of the cup at the Passover meal representing his blood 'poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins' (v.28). More than that, as is often the case in the Old Testament, this cup includes reference to God's wrath (for example Isaiah 51:22; Habakkuk 2:16). On the cross, Jesus took the cup in your place.

When you are deeply depressed, overwhelmed with sorrow, troubled or in the middle of tough times, it is such an encouragement to know that Jesus has experienced all that you face, and far more. He knows what vou are going through and vou can follow his example by submitting your ways to God.

There is an amazing contrast between what took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and in the Garden of Eden. 'Not your way, but mine' was the essence of the response of Adam and Eve to God in the first garden. However, in the second garden, 'Not my way, but yours' was Jesus' prayer to the Father. Doing it God's way meant suffering and death. But, it brought the redemption of the whole world.

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes

“Matthew” by RC Sproul

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)

Outline Bible, D Willmington

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt

AnswerThePublic.com

Wikipedia.com