Sermon – “Be Ready”

29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.[g] 30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.[h] 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world[i]—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. 32 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation[j] will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.[k] Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. 45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?[e]” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died[f] so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.[g] 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died[h] will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.

7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!

You know this morning he says actually this is a little pre so Armin Only way to church this morning in the van bringing the guys to church coming in sixty eight I had a visual reminder that the world will take that the truth and twist it around. What is right is wrong what’s wrong is right you know that they twist the truth around because I seen a billboard coming to church that it was advertising for the Rocky Gap Resort and Casino in it says. How was it fine you were escape Yeah fine your escape Well it’s more like find your trap because if you go out there and you get hooked on gambling use of found a trap because it’ll it’ll it’ll hold you to ruin you so they just take and twist the truth around all the time that’s just another visual example the smaller the message the titled be ready. Friends that’s what we need to do is be ready and you’ll see what I’m talking about as I get into the message this morning last Sunday as I was reading in trying to do a little research and what I was going to preach on this week the Lord lead me to Matthew chapter twenty four and it’s about being ready it’s about being ready for the Lord’s return or for our meeting him and Lord always gives me confirmation that of going in the right direction because I had a conversation with someone later that day on the telephone so hear the word of the Lord Matthew twenty four verses twenty nine through forty seven immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light the stars will fall from heaven and the powers of the heavens will be shaken then the sign of the Son of Man will peer in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory want to. Cause for a moment it says that all the tribes of the earth will see the sun a man coming in the clouds of glory all will see him not just the believers as all will see him so that secret ground snatch away and everyone’s going to stand or want to word it all go know the word says Jesus this is Jesus’ words that all the tribes the earth will mourn and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory and He will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds of the four winds from one end of heaven to the other now learn this parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves you know that summer is near so you also when you see all these things know that it is near at the doors assuredly I say to you This generation will by no means pass away to all these things take place heaven and earth will pass away but my words will by no means pass away but of that day and hour no one knows not even the angels of heaven but my father only but as the days of know were so also will the coming of the Son of Man be for as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark and did not know until the flood came and took them all away so also will the coming of the Son of Man be so just as in the days of Noah they were eating they were drinking they were marrying before the the Son of Man comes in the clouds are going to be done the same thing it’s going to look like you’re just you’re average day there’s going to be people getting married or people want to off the workers people coming home from work there’s people just into doing the things they normally do that’s what kind of day is going to be the same as in the days of Noah says then two men will be in the field one will be taken and the other left two women will be grinding at the mill. One will be taken and the other one left Watch therefore for you do not know what hour the Lord is coming but know this that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into Therefore you also be ready be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect Who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food in due season bless it is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing assuredly I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. Let’s go to Lou in prayer Heavenly Father we do thank you so much for your word nor We thank you that your word will never fade away that your word is true and that is faithful and father’s we open your word this morning May it impress your truth upon our hearts may receive what you have force father may or hearts all be ready for you lord be ready for your coming be ready to meet you lord father just that’s the most important thing that we are ready for the kingdom that we’re ready to be with you and father I just pray that your truth will be proclaimed today help us to receive what you have force for Your glory and for your honor in Jesus’ name amen if you remember the parable the talents I didn’t have that Scripture to share with them but when Jesus tells us parable the talents that there was a the master of the house was going to be going away so he took one servant he gave him five that we’re going to use dollars instead of. Dinner is for Dallas board he gave one servant five dollars and said Now go and do wisely with it he gave another servant This is my paraphrase he gave another servant two dollars and he gave another servant one dollar and the Master went away into the distant land and was gone for quite a while when he come. Back he brings as per the servants in he says OK now let’s give an account of what you did with the the parable of the talents that I gave you so the one that he gave five he said Well master I took that five and I made five more so here’s your ten talents for ten dollars back he says well done by good and faithful servant and the like was the one he gave to said Master I took these two and I made two more so here’s your four dollars back and says Well done my good and faithful servant I will make you a ruler over many things the one that you gave one dollars is master I knew that you was a hard man so I took it and I buried it in the ground here’s your dollar back he says you full servant you should have at least put it in the bank that would have got in the back with interest so who is the faithful my servant it is the one whom his master will make ruler over his household to give them food in due season we are to be wise with what the Lord has given us be it our finances be it our talents be it the abilities that God has given us we are to be wise with it and you know as we enter into the advent season this not this week but his next week as we caramelize his advent starts next week but it doesn’t it’s the following week but you know many many Christian churches across the country they observe Advent as just as the time of the expectant preparation for the celebration of the Nativity the celebration of Christ’s birth but the Latin word for Advent is a Ventus A D V N T U S which means coming. And this is a translation of the Greek word Perusia I like that word Perusia and this is commonly used to refer to the second coming of Christ so what we are to dismiss out there say in Peru are you ready for Perusia What’s that that’s the second coming of Christ we need to be ready for Perusia and that’s why I chose this passage from Matthew to show us that Advent is not only the time that we celebrate or we talk about the one who came in the passes in the tiny baby in the manger but it also means that future coming of Jesus Christ that future that he is coming the second coming he is the one who was but he also is the one who is present with us now through His Holy Spirit but he is the one that is going to come at a future date and he shall come as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords he’s not going to come again as the the lamb led to the slaughter to the offer of sacrifice because that has already happened it is already completed yourself nation is complete when you believe on the work of the cross but he will come as a righteous king to rule the earth verse twenty nine said immediately after the tribulation of those days and you knows I searched this out you know you read commentaries and you’re going to get all kinds of different answers to what they believe that it is and you know some believe that when Jesus said immediately after the tribulation of those days some speculate that he was speaking of the fall of the temple the destruction the temple I should say. But there are others that say no we believe he was speaking of His Second Coming. Which is the one that I tend to agree with now indeed the destruction of the temple would have been considered a time of great tribulation for the people of Israel Joseph this that first century historian tells this about the sad state in which the temple fell he says prior to the arrival of Titus the Roman general and now when the multitude were gotten together to an assembly and everyone was in indignation at these men seizing upon the sanctuary at their great pine and murders but had not yet begun their attacks upon them Agnes stood in the midst of them and casting his eyes frequently at the temple and having a flood of tears in his eyes he said Certainly it had been good for me to die before I had to see the house of God full of so many abominations and the sacred places that ought not to be trodden upon at random filled with the feet of these blood shedding villains that was written in the War of the Jews. The Temple indeed was a most holy place that’s a place where they went into the priest would go into the most holy place once a year so they they they love their temple so that would have been a horrible time for them it would have been considered a time of tribulation for the Jews whenever they had to watch it be destroyed but here is something that we should consider every generation. From Christ time until this present time has experience times of tribulation haven’t they every generation has had times of tribulation. Somewhere today in the world there is a time of tribulation going on for some people group or another I remember two years ago we went to Bulgaria and we visited one of the refugee camps and in Bulgaria where the Syrians had fled to then they were going through a time of tribulation you know as we talk with some of the Christian folks and actually some of the Muslim folks from air. That was a tribulation period for them they were completely up rooted from their nation think about that. They had to flee for their lives they left their jobs men. Am had to leave their families they left their homes they left everything that they had grown accustomed to. And had to flee because a civil war in their nation so that for them was a terrible time of tribulation but the Christian folks that we talked to still had that hope they had hope that someday they would be able to return. So no matter what tribulation we face we have that hope and our hope is in Christ there is plenty of scriptural evidence to back the theory that the Great Tribulation there will be a great time of tribulation before Christ coming so I do not think that Christ was talking about the destruction of the temple but of his own second coming because prior to the passage that I read earlier in chapter twenty four Jesus speaks more of his second coming he says when he returns there will be like lightning flashing from the east to the west so will the coming the Son of man be he says that where the carcass is there the eagles will be gathered to my friends of you are a believer in Jesus Christ and someone comes and says to you crisis come back you must come and see do not go. If he says there he is here in the inner room or he is out here in the desert do not go because if you are a believer in Jesus Christ if you repent of your sins and ask Him into your heart no one but no one is going to have to tell you. Because when he comes back you will know it you will know that it is him he that you will be gathered to him or we will does all know it we all see him where we are one of the other but you will know that Christ has returned no one is going to have to tell you that he is come first twenty one so as for then speaking of His return then there will be great tribulation as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time no nor ever shall be so. That tribulation the temples passed that can’t be the greatest tribulation ever because it will never be another great tribulation after that so he is speaking of his second return I believe that Jesus is so gracious that he warns believers. That there would also be imposters that will come and claim to be Christ. There will be many that claim here he is there he is this is the this is the Christ. But again don’t believe it. We will know. Jesus made an interesting statement in a passage that I read in vs thirty four and thirty five he says assuredly I say to you This generation generation will by no means pass away to all these things take place heaven a nurse will pass away but my words are by no means pass away some people will take that passage and I might misinterpret it but they misinterpret it whenever they only read one verse you know how how many misinterpretations have there been by taking one verse. And using that one verse to focus on when Jesus said this generation by no means pass away he was not speaking of the ones that were standing listening that day he’s speaking to those during that time of great tribulation that they will see the Son of Man coming those who are alive when He returns to live through that great tribulation will see the Lord coming. You may remember if you’re old enough to music a group musical group Chicago recorded a song many years ago says Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is Does anybody really care. When it comes to predicting. Christ’s return or the end of the world the end of the world as we know it I should say. Jesus was saying nobody nobody knows what time it is nobody knows when it will be nobody knows the year nobody knows the day so so we send and all of our time focusing on just that no we’re to be ready for it but not focus on just that one thing but we we always want to know you know we have schedules we have meetings we want to know exactly when that meeting is going to be what day is that meeting going to be on what times that meeting going to be we want to know all these things so it’s natural for many people to want to know when Christ is going to return but we won’t know the Angels don’t know the son doesn’t know only the Father so we just have to trust that and be ready for whatever it will be. History is full of people that have ignored the statement of Jesus. That only the Father knows just trust in him it’s full. In five hundred A D.. Politics of Rome Sextus Julius Africanus Irenaeus these three Christian theologians predicted that Jesus would would return in the year five hundred one prediction was based on the dimensions of Noah’s Ark and in it is why out how they come up with some of these predictions but they base one of them on the size of Noah’s Ark maybe it was five hundred feet long I’m not sure where does tell us how long it is. Solomon a cliches in six hundred sixty five ran through the streets of London carrying blazing sulphur Oni’s head announcing that the world was going to go up in flames within the year in eight hundred thirty six John Wesley the Wesley in West is the founder of Methodism. Foresaw the millennium beginning this year he wrote that Revelations twelve fourteen refers to the years ten fifty eight through eight hundred thirty six when Christ should come I’m pretty sure that has passed in eight hundred seventy four Charles Russell founder of the Jehovah Witness concluded that Christ had already return but people would have another forty years of grace in one nine hundred fourteen domination was forced to revise its timetable obviously because it has passed. Armstrong pastor general and self-proclaimed apostle of the Radio Church of God and then the Worldwide Church of God felt the return of Christ might be in one thousand nine hundred five a particular note and was that the was the book one nine hundred seventy five in prophecy written by Armstrong published by the Radio Church of God in one nine hundred fifty six though he never explicitly stated a date in the book but the title led people to believe the date was the second coming of Christ it was actively preached in sermons in the one nine hundred sixty S. by all the ministers of the Worldwide Church of God. They told people that they would that church would flee to Petra Jordan in one thousand nine hundred two and that Christ would return three and a half years later on strong had previously predicted in the. Eight hundred thirty four and one thousand thirty four dish in the plain truth that Christ would return in one nine hundred thirty six after that prediction failed he stated one nine hundred forty edition of the plain truth that he would return in three and a half years or so after October of one thousand nine hundred three after those predictions failed and the loss of many members he moved his operation from Oregon to Pasadena California and my friends this is just but a very few of the notable predictions there is at least fifty notable predictions of Christ’s return that I found that’s not counting the lesser ones notable ones there have been so many predictions and you know. It’s sad that it’s many it will lead astray because those predictions fail and they just fall away from the church but I’m here to say I’m standing for you today that those predictions can sometimes have a positive result back in one thousand nine hundred eighty seven I shared this with some so I’m going to bore you through it again back in one nine hundred eighty seven there was a book that was out called eighty eight reasons why the Lord return in one thousand nine hundred eight and at that time in one thousand nine hundred seven we had you know I went to church as a child and same with my wife and course those teenage years was far from the Lord then we got back in the church in the early one nine hundred eighty S. and then some a little bit here and there through the mid eighty’s and I have read the scriptures and I had read the passage in Matthew and I knew that the Lord said that no man will know the day now or. Only the Father and I knew that so that book eighty eight reasons why I was going around down at work and lot of people talking about it I did not bother to read the book because I knew the scripture but. That book made me ask myself if the Lord was to come back in one thousand nine hundred eight or if you were to pass are you ready. And the answer was a scary Absolutely not I am not ready so that book led me to go home and have that discussion with my wife honey we need to get back in church we need to get our lives right with the Lord Jesus Christ so it can have a positive effect on many people those predictions might cause many to say wow what if it’s true what if he does come back and I read it. I need to be ready so but Christ is coming back friends I can’t tell you what year I can’t tell you what day I’m not going to say it’s next Tuesday I’m not going to say it’s five years from now but I can assure you this word tells me he is coming back he is coming back that much I know for certain that he. Return. A few years ago actually quite a few years ago work we were talking with a gentleman about salvation and about repentance and about believin in the Lord and he said he said I’ve got a lot of wild oats I’d like to sow yet I’m going to wait til I get older. It’s like yeah like we’re guaranteed tomorrow. We are not guaranteed tomorrow today is a day of salvation you know I believe it every generation from the time of Christ up into the present day or to believe that it can happen in our lifetime I believe that they all thought it was going to happen in their lifetime and we are to believe it could happen in our lifetime why so that we have our lives ready. Because we could meet our Lord and maker at any moment because I said we are not guaranteed of tomorrow. We don’t know that we are going to not have a heart attack tomorrow we’re be in an accident and so there is a sense of urgency to be ready for his return. And I know I share this story quite a few years ago if anyone heard of John Harbor John Harper was a reputable evangelist well known back in the early one nine hundred he was invited to go and preach at the famed movie church in one thousand ten. In the revival went so well they invited him back in one nine hundred twelve for another three months so John Harper made preparations to go back to Chicago and preach at Moody church and his sister and his six year old daughter was going along with him his wife had passed away so they boarded a ship. And that ship was called the Titanic. Of course you know what happened to that great ship the Titanic and John Harper after he made sure that his daughter and his sister were safe and one of the. Rescue boat went to little boats he jumped overboard he had a life jacket on and he is going around from one person to another and say Are you saved or you saved do you know Jesus Christ are you ready to meet the Lord and he go from one to the other Any went to one particular man he says or you saved and man says no he took his life jacket off and gave it to that man said You need the Lord Jesus Christ and then he sung in die. And they had a reunion some four years later and that man gave the testimony that he was the last witness to John Harper witness to but he gave his heart to the Lord. So he died with a nerd in C. of the salvation of other souls an urgency to know that they were ready to meet Jesus Christ. Believe only Lord Jesus Christ there’s more to just say in Lord forgive me my sins I want to be a believer he wants us to be faithful that is the first step the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom that is so true but were to be faithful verses forty five forty six said to who is a faithful and wise servant whom is master made ruler of his household to give them food in due season. Bless it is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing you know we’re thinking about all those that have made predictions over the years. Were not to become so hung up on the return of Christ and think oh we’ve found the date that we just forget about planting the crops all there’s no sense plan across because I know he’s going to be coming back before the harvest and there were those that did that they said don’t bother even plan because we know he’s going to come back before Vall before the fall harvest so you know we shouldn’t come to the place where we forget about taking care of the daily needs forget about planting the crops so that we can provide for our families or provide for those in need you know we’re not supposed to grab our lawn chairs and seven lawns a walk on this white because I’m sure he’s coming back today. What do you do when sun goes down and he hasn’t come back we’re to be faithful that’s the key word to be faithful day in and day out. To share the Good News of the Kingdom of God to share the crisis coming back to say Are you ready be ready get ready believe in the Lord Jesus Christ were to be doing his work that’s what we’re called to do that’s who the faithful servant is to give them food in due season the food that we give us the food of the kingdom to teach others about Christ to help them to grow and mature in Jesus Christ. Jesus told Peter this in John Chapter twenty one. Verses fifteen to seventeen when they had eaten breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter Simon son of Jonah do you love me more than they said he said to him Yes Lord you know that I love you he said to him feed my sheep feed my lambs he said to him again a second time Simon son of Jonah do you love me he said to him Yes Lord you know that I love you he said to him tend my sheep he said to him a third time Simon son of Jonah do you love me Peter was grieved because he said to him a third time do you love me and he said to him Lord you know all things you know that I love you Jesus said to him feed my sheep so he said feed my lambs ten my sheep feed my sheep we are called to be faithful to be faithful in everything we do in our daily routine of life. Were to be faithful to God every moment of every day Saint Francis saying of nature was home in his garden one day and a philosopher friend approached him and asked Francis what would you do if you learned it you would die before the sun said Francis thought for a moment said I keep O. my garden. I keep on how in my garden my friends. Keep spreading the news keep being faithful. So that others can be ready share the good news of Jesus Christ one last richer first US alone eons for thirteen through eighteen. But I do not want you to be ignorant brother and concerning those who have fallen asleep less you sorrow as others who have no hope for we believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus for this we say to you by the word of the Lord that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means proceed those who are sleep for the Lord Himself would descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first then we are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and thus we shall always be with the Lord therefore comfort one another with these words and then revelations one seven again this kind of mirrors another passage that already read behold he is coming with clouds and every will see Him even they who pierced Him And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him even so Amen those who have not believed him my friends they will mourn because they will realize the mistake that they have made the eternal mistake they have made be ready so that when the trumpet of the Lord will sound and time will be no more that when that morning breaks eternal brite and fair when the saved on earth gather over on the other shore and when that roll is called up yonder that you will be there my friends that’s the. He to be ready that you’ll be there that your name will be written in that Lance book a life that is the message Paul says on those Christ and Him crucified for us that’s what we know that’s what we preach we don’t know the day but I know that today is the day of salvation because we’re not guaranteed that tomorrow so be ready for the Lord Jesus Christ and if you’re watching or if you’re here and if you’re not ready if that if you ask yourself that question if I would die today do I know that I’d spend eternity with the Lord of the answers I’m not sure what the answer is No I’m not I urge you be ready be ready to meet Jesus Christ because he is coming again Amen.