He’s Coming to Town
Key points from Melvin Newland’s sermon of the same title
Nov. 25, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction
A (IL)
B Isn’t it fun to see the excitement & expectation of children for Christmas Day?
1 They can’t wait for the round guy in the big red suit.
a Christian, we should be even more excited about the coming of our King.
b Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 2 Peter 3:11-12 (NASB)
2 He’s coming to town!
a Paul tells us in 1 Thess. 4:16-18: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thess 4:16-18 (NASB)
b Jesus isn’t sending His secretary, angels, or an ambassador... He’s coming Himself.
C Let’s ask three good questions about His coming. (Pray)
I How will Jesus return?
A Not as the 7th incarnation of Buddha, not as a mystical force called up by Luke Skywalker.
1 The Bible explains the mystery of how He’s coming to town.
a And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Matt 24:30-31 (NASB)
b And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. Acts 1:10 (NASB)
2 There will be no mistaking the Lord’s Second Coming.
a Every eye will see Him, every knee will bow before Him, every tongue confess that He is Lord.
b Coming in power & glory!
B When He comes, He won’t be riding in a sleigh with 8 tiny reindeer.
1 He’ll be riding on a white war horse, in the clouds of Heaven.
2 His radiance will flood the universe.
3 How will He return? With power & glory.
II When will Jesus return?
A We are frantically getting ready for Christmas because we have a deadline to work with, Dec. 25.
1 Meals, gifts, decorations, plans must be dealt with, or people are going to be let down.
a So from Black Friday to Christmas Eve it’s a free-for-all.
b The problem we have with the Second Coming is we don’t have a deadline on our calendar, we only know He is coming.
B For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 "Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 "Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. 43 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matt 24:37-44 (NASB)
1 Days of Noah
a When God told Noah to build an ark, He didn’t have a clear understanding at the beginning of the revelation God gave him (I’m sending a flood, get to work).
aa Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Gen 5:32 (NASB) Baseline age of Noah is 500
Then God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. 14 "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. Gen 6:13-14 (NASB) Revelation
bb Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him. 6 Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. Gen 7:5-6 (NASB) Noah was 600.
b Noah didn’t know when the rain was coming, he just knew it was coming.
c You won’t know the day.
d Thief in the night (home)
2 V. 44: Do you think Christ is coming back tonight?
a Jesus said when you least expect Him, expect Him.
aa You get done shopping, wrapping gifts, cash Christmas bonus.
bb Whenever you least expect Him, expect Him.
b Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 1 Thess 5:1-2 (NASB)
aa No dates, times, because He’s coming...like a thief in the night.
TS: How, when, & now why
III Why is Jesus returning?
A There are two reasons why He’s coming back:
1 Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And you know the way where I am going." John 14:1-4 (NASB)
a He’s coming back for you & me.
b Awesome!
2 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. Rev 11:15-17 (NASB)
a He came as a sacrifice, servant, beaten, rejected by those whom He came to save. That is finished.
b He’s coming back to rule & reign. King!
aa The One who was, is, & is to come comes to town...
bb The lion will lie down with the lamb, the nations will be at peace, no more death, mourning, pain, sorrow, tears...He’ll rule & reign triumphant.
Conclusion
A He’s coming to town, aren’t you excited?
1 We’re not talking about Mohammed, Buddha, Mahareshi Yogi, Jim Morrison, or anyone else...just Jesus.
a For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9-11 (NASB)
b Hallelujah, Jesus!
2 Isn’t it fun to see the excitement & expectation of children on Christmas Day? (It oozes out of their pores)
a As kids, we are excited about the round man in a red suit’s coming, now we can be excited about the coming of our King, Jesus.
b When Jesus spoke to John in Revelation, He said, "Surely, I come quickly." John said, "Alright, then come, Jesus." (Rev. 22:20)
3 Many of you will get exactly what you want for Christmas.
a Wii, X-Box 360, plasma TV, ring, clothes...they all wear out (use of lack of use).
b When Jesus gives gifts, they never wear out.
aa Gives eternal life, privilege of sharing eternity before His throne.
bb Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. James 1:17-18 (NASB)
c Santa gives you gifts based on your goodness-Jesus gives you gifts based upon His grace!
B I don’t know about you, but I’m excited that He is coming to town.
1 I don’t know the hour or day...but He’s coming to town!
a For you & me
b Do you know Him? He’s coming to town...be ready.
2 (IL)
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