I’ll Fly Away [rapture / Second Coming]

I’LL FLY AWAY

PSALMS 55:1-6/I Thess. 4:16-17

Powerpoint for this and hundreds more free sermons at our website:

http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons.html

In these verses written by David, he is being oppressed by his enemies. He is tired of persecution and wickedness all around him. Thus, in his prayer to God, he says “I wish I could fly away to a place of rest and get away from it all.”

Have you ever felt like that? Well one day we will get away, for we will literally fly away. If it is in death, we fly away in our soul, to be later joined by our bodies at the rapture. If it is at the rapture, we fly away to heaven with the Lord in body and soul.

A farmer had an old clock that just about was gone. One night it struck 16 times. He woke up and said, wife get up, it is later than it ever has been before. IT IS TRUE TOO CONCERNING THE COMING THE LORD

[closer today than ever before in human history!][not looking for undertaker, but uppertaker! Ronald Reagan went a hard way…I’d like to take that rapture flight!]

I-NOTICE THIS FLYING AWAY INVOLVES A LIFTING UP:

I THESS. 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

D L Moody was asked, why did he look up when he prayed? He said, because heaven is up where my Jesus is.

Another man said, Heaven is not up, it is all around us?

[song: “Ooo, Heaven is a place on earth”?]

Wrong-for the Bible says: Gen. 3-God went up from Abraham, John 3- Jesus came down from Heaven, Acts 1-Jesus which is taken up from you unto Heaven. HEAVEN IS UP

[what’s up? Yes, gas prices, but also heaven!

New soft drink: Heaven-Up?]

A-THIS LIFTING UP TO HEAVEN INVOLVES A PEOPLE:

I THESS. 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren…

Jesus is coming after the saved, those who have made themselves alive in Him. He will not be coming for the lost, and those still dead in their sins.

Will you be among those lifted up that day? You say I hope so Preacher. That is like if I asked you if you are American? And you say, I hope so. Brother you know if you were born in America or not, and you know if you are born again by Jesus.

Did Job say, I guess my Redeemer liveth? No! He said, I KNOW. You either got Him or you don’t.

Christ isn’t returning for anyone who thinks they are saved, but for those who know it! [If you’re saved and you know it, clap your hands!]

B-THIS LIFTING UP TO HEAVEN INVOLVES A PERSON:

I THESS. 4:16 ‘THE LORD HIMSELF’

No one will make it to heaven on their own. None can climb that ladder…there is no stairway to heaven, or highway either!

Not you, yourself…but the Lord, Himself!

3 yrs. ago, Dale Earnhardt, “The Intimidator," was approaching the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500 when his car was sent head-on into the wall at 180 mph. An autopsy revealed that he died from the force of his head whipping back and forth on his neck, and by the force of his chin hitting the steering wheel. It has been suggested by some that had he been wearing a device designed to support the head and neck in a collision, he may have survived. But Earnhart, like many other NASCAR drivers, refused to wear the device because it interfered with his ability to drive the car. That choice cost him his life.

Those of you who have not placed your faith firmly and fully on Jesus Christ are headed for a terrible collision; a collision with God’s Judgment. A safety device is available—but you’ll have less control!

Like Dale Earnhart and all the other NASCAR drivers, you must decide to make use of what God has offered in Jesus Christ, no matter what it may cost you. It may save your life!

[he went w/ the undertaker…now here’s a man looking for “upper!”]

Roger Bennett wrote yesterday in his daily online journal: “One word of encouragement to you, TRUST! Sometimes during this valley of mine I’ve tried so hard to "grab the wheel" so to speak and do the driving myself…always with terrible results. I’ve found that God is well aware of my needs and has both hands on the wheel. His vision reaches much farther down the road than mine ever could. So I’m letting go. This is not something that happens overnight. After a lifetime of trying to be the designated driver, it’s difficult to let go, but time after time He has proven that He is a much more experienced driver than me. He knows the road of my life like the back of His hand so I’ve determined to sit back and enjoy the trip!”