Last Days Living

Hey, this is Tim Pratt Jr. and I want to welcome you to the Student of Life Podcast. Listen, we're going to get into so many transferable truths throughout the content of these episodes that I believe God is going to use to help you apply, because he's going to reveal what's already been there the entire time. Enjoy.

Yo, what up, family? So this is your host, Tim Pratt Jr., and we're going to jump straight into this one. It's titled Last Day— Living in the Last Days. Last Days Living, let's call it that. Living in the Last Days. So if you are a believer, you have heard of this like many, many times. You grew up in church or any type of thing, you probably heard the comment, we are living in the last days. Um, and I used to think like that the world was going to end in year 2000. I thought that was going to end about 10 years, 15 years ago. And it's still true. And, and I'm not here to make a mockery of it because I do believe that we are in the last days biblically. And I just think we're closer. I think things are definitely a lot more intensified of that nature. But, um, I'm just going to try to help give a little bit of perspective here. So, you know, because I know I speak to like a general audience. Some people just check in, uh, primarily because of the format, because I'm not striving to be very deep and theological on this for, uh, for me. I'm targeting like more so young adults, uh, kids, and, and even people that are like older in the context of of me. Um, I, I'm just— I believe that the word of God and these principles that I oftentimes talk about goes for everybody. But my target is sometimes, like, especially in the context of church or faith-based podcasts, is, is that, like, people try to push you to be very, very deep and, like, that I'm being a seminary professor or nothing like that. And I'm not. I'm not. That's not my target audience. So if you're rocking with me, I totally appreciate it. Because it just lets me know that the simplicity in the word of God and just these principles are just helpful. And there's no age discrimination, there's no ethnicity discrimination, none of that, man. I just believe that we are believers in Christ, that we are joint heirs. And even if you're not a believer, I still believe that I'm called to engage and reach you through the power of God, because at the end of the day, my Bible tells me that we are all made in the image of God. Now, we might not all serve God, but we all made in his image. Um, so because we can't have life without his breath, so that's just the truth, and I'm not going to get into that right now. But, uh, but this one right here is called Last Days Living. And so Pastor Reed down in Stuttgart, uh, he gave me the opportunity, uh, in the space to— I was fresh off the plane from Canada And I had accepted this, uh, some months ago. And, you know, of course, like I said, my wife being deployed and all of that nature. And so, um, he gave me the opportunity in the space to really just look at this. And of course, my dad's been in an end time series for a while, Pastor Pratt Jr. And so, and my father-in-law came and supported me, as well as some other ministers and pastors down there. So I'm very appreciative. This was, like I say, uh, at the time of this release, maybe 2, 3 Saturdays ago, something like that. But, um, but look, again, he gave me the space, so I'm very appreciative of him and his, uh, wife, uh, Lady Reed. And so, uh, that being said, I'm just— it's just gonna jump and give like the Cliff Notes version of it because I, I believe in this one it is so much. So there are 3 main views that people can have when it comes to the interpretation of end times. Uh, and those views can lead to a lot of disagreement, and even some people go as far as to argue misinterpretation of the Bible. And I believe that the Bible should interpret the Bible. I'm not going to get into my views on it. I'm just going to stay here with God's word. Um, so that being said, I'm not going to read this whole passage of scripture, but I, I do want you to open your Bibles, and you have to trace it. You just can't take this one passage of scripture and hijack it. Uh, but let me go pull it up real quick here. So 2 Peter 3, 2 Peter 3:3-9. I encourage you to read the whole entire chapter, but the— but these are the verses that I particularly focused on at the conference, and I'll just give you a summary. So 2 Peter 3, uh, 3-9. But matter of fact, you go read 2 Peter 3, all of 2 Peter 3. Um, but for me, like, this basically talks about how people will scoff, they will mock, um, in this, in these end times. Like, you know, and they're going to be driven away by their own evil desires. Uh, and keep in mind, like I said, we've been in the last days for the last 2,000 years. I mean, ever since the first coming of Jesus Christ, you know, he ascended back, even the Apostle Acts, like, we are in the last days. So Um, you know, so the Bible has to interpret the Bible. So in this verse, like, Peter is going to drill down on there will be mockers of this, and people will say, hey, where is this Jesus coming? Where is your Jesus? You've been talking about he's coming and he's no longer here. Then they go on and it's like they just dismiss— they choose to dismiss the flood, uh, I mean, they— the creation, the, the fall, the flood, and all of this type of stuff. So it's just mockery, and it's a deliberate attempt to just, like I say, denounce all of this type of stuff. And so Peter here is going to tell us like, hey, you know, friends, like, don't lose hope, in so many words, because our God is long-suffering. Like, this is not necessarily meaning that everybody's going to be saved, but he does have a desire for it. It's not a decree, but he does have a desire for it because he does not want anyone— God does not want anyone to go to hell. And so that is a choice. That is a choice that people make of the consistent rejection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And so, um, in this text— so like I said, just quick overview. Read it. It's so much substance in that. Of course, I spent more time on it when I was teaching, but for the— for the— this episode here, I'm not— I'm not going to do that here. I just really want to just spark your mind, and through the power of God, encourage you to go search your Bible yourself. So a little context here. So again, like I said, the last days, um, it— I see a lot of mockery on Facebook. I have seen people say, oh my God, you Christians, you still talking about my grandma said that when I was 2 and I'm 50-something years old now, I'm 70-something years old. And this has led to a lot of people denouncing because people have even in it, uh, prophesy, it just won't be long, I believe that I'm gonna see the return of Christ, the Holy Spirit told me I'm gonna see the return, and then they die going into glory, and they didn't have the Holy Spirit told you that, then you surely would have been here to see the return of Christ, or more so, the church called up. And it's because there's a couple different interpretations, because a lot of times we over-conflate, you know, the return versus the rapture, the second coming, you know. But the second coming is not going to take place until, you know, after we see all this type of stuff with the tribulation and all of that nature. And people have pointed to like a lot of movies— I'm not going to say the pastor name, but I grew up on a lot of movies that were written about this type of stuff. And if you grew up, you probably know what I'm talking about. And, um, it was a little bit of— it was a lot of exaggeration. And when I seen those movies, based on me studying my own Bible to this day, there's a lot of things that, uh, led to a lot of confusion and I believe led to a lot of people denouncing because it's not playing out quite that way. And so we have to be careful with when Hollywood or even some leading pastor voices you know, try to put things in production, uh, and it's more so about— what's the word that they use when they say based on true events, but then we dramatize it or whatever? Because sometimes we overly dramatize stuff, uh, versus biblical accuracy. So I'll leave that there. But, um, so in, in this one right here, I just want to give you 3 quick tips. And I've been on this point stuff a lot. I got to get back to this Bible story, uh, but And there's nothing wrong, like my 3 points are heavily baked in, in, uh, expository. But, um, so the 3 points I want to give you when you read 2 Peter, and I would even go as far as say go read James 5 as well, but is that I want you to just encourage you to focus on Christ, not just the signs. Focus on Christ, not just the signs. And why do I say that? Because many times, uh, as, as I was saying that, that past Saturday, is that we can be overly preoccupied with end time signs. And we can have an emphasis on the signs and not be maintaining an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Like, it's like I'm so focused on the signs and what's going on, I'm so focused on the elections, I'm so focused on how people acting. And if we're not careful, these signs can get us— this, this leads us being, uh, discouraged. It can lead to, uh, truthfully like anger that's not righteous. A lot of us use that like, oh, I have this righteous anger No, it's just like, be real, you're pissed, you're getting upset, you're tired of the markers, you're frustrated. Because I feel these things, and it's like, okay God, you know, what is going on? And so, because the signs— I'm focusing on the signs. I'm like, okay, I need to get back, I need to commune, I need to pray, uh, with, with the Lord. I need to read my Bible, I need to study, I need to live out my Bible through the power of the Holy Spirit. And so I just want you to imagine like driving through a dense fog and focusing only on the road signs. Like, just think about driving through a super dense fog and you're only focusing on the road signs and you missing what's directly in front of you. Like, you, you miss, like, the indicators in front of you that if you focus on those, or you end up hitting something that's right in front of you because you were so focused on the signs. And like I said, all these examples kind of fall flat at some degree when you're comparing things to our Lord and Savior. But for the most part, in tracking is that we can miss Jesus. Like, we can miss Jesus if we're only looking at the signs in the end times instead of focusing on him, because our eyes are— have left him. And, you know, Hebrews 12:2 explains that to us, that we are— Hebrews 12:2 basically encourages believers that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. And so if he's the author and finisher of our faith, no matter what's going on in this world, uh, I want to stay fixated on him. Like straight up. So I want to focus on Christ and not just the signs. Uh, point number 2, you want to stay faithful and active. And we can only do this by maintaining a steadfast commitment to Christ, you know, rather than getting caught up in speculation, as we said earlier. So like one of the things that I look at is that, um, if you just think about like in, in this context, a farmer— and a farmer that, you know, they have looked at the forecast, they're aware of a storm that's coming on And so they plan, they get up, you know, they do their day. Just imagine if that farmer got off that tractor, whatever they're on, because they already have an awareness because they're so in tune with the forecast, the media, the forecast through the news outlet. And so just imagine them getting off and then they see the eye of the storm coming and they just say, man, you know, instead of staying active, I'm just going to look at this storm. I'm going to talk about it with everybody. Now, it's so much harvest out there. But I'm just gonna talk about the storm coming. Now, there's nothing wrong with having an awareness and talking about the storm, but also too, man, keep your hand, uh, let's keep your butt in that seat and stay active. Keep your hand on that wheel and keep on plowing through that field to gather up that harvest. And that's what we need to do in the body of Christ today. Like I, I said it, uh, like this, you know, uh, keep one eye on the sky and one hand on the plow. Keep one eye in the sky and one hand on the plow, because I don't want to be overly consumed with talking about the storm and I don't finish what my job— and in this context, what God has called me to do. I don't want to be so focused on the end times that I lose sight that it all points to Jesus Christ, because again, I can go back to things that were like in 200-something AD and where people thought the world was going to end. So like, that's, that's just the truth of it. Now again, I do believe from a technological standpoint, knowledge standpoint, we are further along. Like, I— it is scary, uh, what technology has done, and you see some things playing out. But also too, again, it kind of goes back to what view do you maintain in interpretation of the Bible. And so I do think some things still have to take place for the second coming, but I do not believe anything has to take place, uh, for Jesus to be caught up with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Um, and so that's, that's just me based on my understanding. If I'm wrong, I'm definitely open to sit down. Um, it's gonna take time because like I consistently research this, I'm consistently being refined on it. Uh, but like with, with me, I, I'm just one that I have to be tread lightly when it comes to interpretation of scripture. And, uh, and how we do that. Because like, uh, for me, like, I remember when I was early in the ministry, I would do some Old Testament teaching. And then, you know, as I started really, really studying— because these things like I heard and stuff, just whatever, growing up— and it was like, oh man, you got to be very, very careful with that because a lot of that has been fulfilled. And, um, now we over here, and, you know, and, and Drew, like, the gospels Like I say, that's not the New Covenant, uh, per se, because the New Covenant didn't take place after Jesus' resurrection. But, um, but nevertheless, man, I'm not— let me digress. But we just want to be very, very careful. So, uh, we want to stay very, very faithful and active in our, uh, approach when it comes to living these last days. So point number 1 was focus on Christ, not just signs. And point number 2 was to stay very, very faithful and active. Listen, um, before we move on to this last point, you know, I think that in the local church per se, not all, a lot, a lot of like some ministries are probably overly active. And what I mean by that, because you might say, how are you overactive? Meaning that they just look more like the world. Like they have hijacked what Paul said, I become all things, to just really act like the world. And if, if there's no distinction, if there's no line of demarcation, like, man, like, that's, that's dangerous. So there should, there should be a distinction. Now, I do feel like some people are— look at those situations, and there are a lot of overly lazy— and I apologize for my daughter in the back, this is real-time podcast, I'm not going to edit it, uh, but, but, um there are some people that are overly lazy. Like, so they look at them like they just doing too much and they doing this and they doing it and they just up and talk about and they not making no impact. Like, if their doors closed down today, nobody would know. So like, there— that's the thing. So we want to find that balance and be better together. And the way we're gonna do this, truthfully, is that some of us just truthfully are going to have to learn to come together so we can stop trying to just survive And, uh, what I'm trying to— help me say this right— some ministries are in the state of just survival rather than impact, because every Sunday is about, did we just— do we just have enough to make it? And it's like, if you're in that mindset consistently, it might be time to pray. I don't know if the Lord has you in this for a season. I said it's all about communing with him and make sure that you're truly listening to him, because you're not active. You're not active. You might be maintaining a few uh, that's coming consistently, but that's not an active of going out and fulfilling the Great Commission, in my opinion, according to the text. And so it might be something to consider, like, hey, okay, should we come together, uh, with another ministry or two? Or even if it's not joining but just working more, collaborating more together to just be a little bit more effective. Because again, the other side of that too, I do believe that you, you will have small town ministries because you have to have Uh, ministry strategically placed. Like, so many times we focus on the big ministry. I'm like, well, why is this local church down here existing with only 20 people in it? Well, somebody has to pastor those 20 people. So like, we have to be mindful of the things that we're saying. But all I'm trying to say in this point here is that make sure that we are being faithful to God and active in the things that he called us to, and we're not following our own agenda. Uh, that's what I'm trying to say. Now, I know that's a little tangent, but I just felt this time to be led to say that because again, a lot of us are doing. And then for the bigger ministries, make sure that you're, you're not saying that you're faithful and active, but you're really truly just faithful and active to the world. You're not faithful and active to God's word. And so let's just be mindful of that, um, when, you know, when, when we're carrying these things out and living in the last days. So point number 3 is just simply anticipating the return. It is nothing wrong to anticipate the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You know, we, we should live with that awareness in our heart. We should keep our heart and mind centered on him. Uh, I, I look for his return, um, again in the context of, you know, being caught up with him based on my understanding now. And so like in this context, you know, I just want to encourage you, uh, just as if you're a believer, I want to encourage you that Jesus is going to return. I don't know if it's going to be in my generation, my kids' generation, generation after that. I, I don't know. But at the end of the day, like, death is certain that we're all going to cross over that way, um, if we're not here for his return. Like, there's no out about— hope I said that right— if, if we're not here. And you know, of course, none of us right now as I'm speaking, uh, will be here in the next 300 years. So if Jesus has not returned in the next 300 years, like, none of us— everything that we're doing now, we're not— it's going to be a whole new generation of people that not have not even been thought about will be here, or we could be, you know, caught up with him. And so I guess I don't know how it's going to play out, I really don't, but I anticipate it because the Bible tells me to. We're 2,000 years closer to it now, and I'm gonna like say live with that awareness. But nevertheless, um, I'm not going to allow that anticipation to cause me to be lazy, to not be active, to not, uh, keep my mind focused on him because everything that's going on. So I just, again, I just want to encourage you to like just live out these 3 little points, uh, because I just believe it'll help recenter you and give you a peace of mind. Like, my intent was not to be super, super deep in this one because it, it's a lot of groundwork. This would be like a 5-hour-plus podcast and we'd probably still be just scratching the surface, uh, and then I'm not one to say that I know all the ins and outs of it. Like, it would be me probably bringing on people and him talking, all that type of stuff. So, uh, but I just wanted to encourage you that, you know, in living in these last days, just keep focusing on Christ, not just the signs. Stay faithful and active to what Jesus has called you to do. And keep in mind that there's nothing wrong with anticipating his return, because at the end of the day, when like we look at all of this— and this is what I wanted to hit here, let me go just find my notes real quick— yeah, the primary purpose of prophetic teaching is not to satisfy our curiosity but to motivate us to change our lives. In other words, I like to motivate us to surrender our lives to God. So I just want to encourage you, like, things that will ultimately be— take these techniques, take— we should work for these. Do your homework, do your research. That is it. And most importantly, just about— so don't be scared to practice. Practice. Teaching and, uh, just be really, really helpful. I had to do a lot of that in my— to help you bring out program, and I hated it all the time. I'm so thankful because of just the role-playing, like, just kind of build and evaluate yourself as well as allowing, uh, even in my pastoral leadership, uh, master's program, uh, ministry and leadership program, like, that's what this is all about at the end of the day. And just now in church, you know, when I'm counseling the youth, when I'm actually counseling young adults, and even some adults older than me, like, I'm slowly consistent building patience with most Now I do it in a secular— I had to just make some switches. Like, one of them, I'm using a lot of scriptures. No, the other one, I'm not using a lot of principles, but most of the time scripture. Like, I'm always, for the most part, getting the opportunity while we're living on this really— so then this, you know, just muscle and continue to live your life when it just comes to communication. And of course, my family, like, my wife and I, we communicate all the time, and I just think we talk a lot. And so, you know, if both parts try to, uh, just, you know, get more mature in these techniques when it comes to each other. So again, just seek out opportunities to just practice and destroy. I know I'm going to live with the monster. I rambled a little bit with the story. Like I said again, I don't— my approach is very— nothing else. I'm just going— I don't try to chase rabbit holes. Sometimes I do, but— and I have a high level of self-awareness because it's about to be one now. But for the most part, I just felt led and compelled to share that because that gave you a little background. I just look at it like that. I hope that gave you— but it was also just kind of a little bit of context and and how and why I am the way I am. And love you all, always praying for you people. When it comes to what I believe in, you know, in this context and how I strive to just coach and understand like all the nuances that makes up people's life. Like life is so multifaceted. And so there's always something influencing someone's behavior. And for me, from a coaching perspective, like I'm always gonna try to get to the bottom of that so I can help facilitate the right spaces and try. And then sometimes it's just, you don't have the right people. And that's, that's the episode that we talked about, the last one. But sometimes it's just, it's just, it is, it's just a person. It is just a person, and we have to be okay with that, and we have to just let it play out however it plays out, especially we don't have any control to move them or, you know, whatever of that nature. So all that being said, I hope this helps, and I hope that you have a better understanding of what it means to validate someone and remain in, in a conversation.

Hey, what's up? I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to the Student Life Podcast today. If this content has impacted you in any kind of way, please take some time to share it on your social media feeds. And also, if you want to connect with me or just learn more about me, go over to www.timothyprattjr.org. Once again, thanks.