Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. my sermon ideas and illustrations are often taken from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, there could be instances where other minister’s wording is used, or wording similar. I am not trying to steal anything from anyone else, just trying to help others proclaim the gospel. my sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Ready Or Not He Will Come
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
As a kid I used to like playing hide and go seek.
It didn't matter if I was the one hiding (P) trying not to get caught, (P) or if I was the one seeking; who was trying to catch those that were hiding
You know it has been a few years since I have played that game
I do remember that the seeker, was called the "It".
The seeker would close their eyes and count to 20 (P) giving time for the others to hide.
Now sometimes the seeker would cheat a little bit (P) I must admit I did (P) and would peek around (P) But then you could hear the count, "One Mississippi Two Mississippi" All the Way To 20 Mississippi.
Then you would hear the seeker holler out Ready or not here I come."
Four things were always certain in the game:
(1 Finger) - the seeker was surely coming
(2nd Finger) - The seeker was coming when they were good and ready and not before
(3rd Finger) - The seeker was coming whether you were ready or not
(4th Finger) - If you were not ready, then you would pay the consequences. And lose the game
Little did I realize as a child how much this game of hide and seek paralleled The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (Long Pause)
Thats the reason Paul told the church of Thessalonica and us today about the importance of being ready.
Let's look at Paul's words to the believers gathered in Thessalonica. Once again
(1st Reading From the Bible 5:1-2a)
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is one of the most repeated teachings in all of Scripture.
Paul was well aware of Christ's return and he explained it to the believers gathered in Thessalonica.
As a matter of fact, Paul told them that he should not have to remind them about this fact again. (Pause)
It is much like the story of a tourist driving through a West Texas town who stopped at a gas station.
He observed a piece of rope dangling from a sign labeled "Weather Forecaster."
The tourist was curious and asked (P) "How can you possibly tell the weather with a piece of rope?"
simple, Sonny," is what the man told him
"When the rope swings back and forth, it's windy.
When it gets wet, it's raining.
When it's frozen stiff, and it has white stuff on it well it is snowing,
And when it's gone... tornado!"
The point of that little story is that
There are simply some things that should be obvious without even asking.
The return of Jesus Christ is one of those things.
The Scriptures inform us that the Messiah will return as a thief in the night."
The question is not "If Jesus will return?" (P) but "When will Jesus return?"
Paul answers this question with a very clear response, (P) "No one knows."
Paul explains this by describing the time of Jesus return as (P) A thief in the night.
Just as a thief plans his entry at an uncertain time (P) that is when least expected; so it will be with the coming of the Son of Man.
Jesus Himself proclaims this truth as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt. 24:36)(Slow) 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Later in the same chapter verse 44 Jesus said (Slow) 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh
Paul in our reading this morning continues with these words:
Verses 3-5
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Paul often refers to the Second Coming of Christ as the (P) "Day of the Lord."
As many of you know Throughout scripture the "Day of the Lord" was the designation of that latter time when God would pour out His wrath on the ungodly.
After Jesus comes for His people, Our Lord will begin to pour out His judgments upon them; in a time which is often referred to as Great Tribulation.
The tragedy of this day is that so many, so many people are going to be unprepared.
And not only will they be unprepared (P) they will actually be deceived. And they will be actively deceiving others as they proclaim we have "Peace and Safety."
Many will be convinced that there is no danger when in fact destruction (P) the end is near.
That's why we have to live daily with an Attitude of Watchfulness.
Hear Gods Word to us:
In verses 6&7
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
Much As a soldier is commanded to "Stay alert while on his post, so must we as Christians.
Paul instructs us to watch (P) to stay awake (P) to be vigilant.
Guys (P) His command is in the present tense that means this must be a continual practice of the mature Christian.
It is a matter of attitude. (Pause)
A Roman soldier would be put to death for falling asleep on his watch.
The outcome could be just as fatal for those of us who are not constantly on alert.
We as disciples must be Disciplined in our walk .
We are image bearers of the Lord and we should be diligent in that calling .
True Disciples know who they are in Christ.
True Disciples seek to be conformed into the image of Christ.
Paul is warning us that we must not allow anything to invade our lives that will be harmful to our moral alertness.
Just as an overabundance of alcohol will hinder a persons ability to focus and make wise decisions.
So Sin will also affect our ability to make moral and Spiritual decisions.
A person does not become drunk with just one drink.
Slowly the drinker becomes intoxicated.
A point is reached when all of the senses become blurred.
They become a danger to themselves as well as to others.
In the same way,(P) if we do not control sin in our lives, we could soon be overcome by its effects.
As a drunk is often passed out and oblivious to the world; so too the uncontrolled sinner is Spiritually passed out and oblivious to the workings of the flesh and of the evil one.
We must live daily in the light of obedience to Gods word.
Verse 8
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
We must be prepared.
We must be prepared at all times. (Pause)
During WWII there was a seamen who served on a small submarine chaser in the South Pacific.
While on the ship one of the strict commands was to always be combat ready.
Which meant even when you took a shower you were to keep your gear nearby.
Now, there were times when the crew would not see another ship or plane for weeks.
And during those times they would become a little lax in their readiness.
Then one morning the seaman and some of his shipmates where showering when the air-raid siren went off and they were all called to immediately man their stations.
Their was only problem, (P) no clothes.
As he came out of the shower a helmet was slapped on his head and he had to run immediately to his post as an artillery loader with nothing on (P) but a helmet.
Can you imagine the look on the enemy pilots face when they looked on the ship with naked men manning the guns?
This seaman and his buddies found out quickly that not being ready had some pretty tough consequences. (Pause)
There is a blessing when we walk in readiness.
Hear Paul's words: in verses 9-11
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do
There is a special spiritual Peace in knowing that you are always Ready (P)
always prepared for the Coming of Our Lord.
If you are ready you will have Gods heart.
A heart full of love and yearning to serve others.
The Scriptures are clear, (P) Crystal clear.
If you want to be great in the Kingdom of God you are to be a servant to all.
Jesus said I came to serve not to be served.
If you are ready, you will look for Christ's Coming with excitement and with expectancy. (Long Pause)
Let me close with this illustration:
During one of his expeditions to the Antarctic, (P) Sir Ernest Shackleton left some of his men on Elephant Island.
He did this with the intent of returning for them (P) and carrying them back to England.
But he was delayed.
By the time he could go back for them the sea had frozen and he had no access to the island.
Three times he tried to reach them but was prevented by the ice.
Finally, on his fourth try, he broke through and found a narrow channel.
Much to his surprise, he found the crewmen waiting for him, supplies packed and ready to board.
They were soon on their way back to England.
He asked them (P) how they knew to be ready for him.
They told him they did not know when he would return, but they were sure that he would.
So every morning, the group leader rolled up his bag, and packed his gear and told the crew to do the same thing, Get your things ready, boys. The boss may come today.
Well church I say You should plan for a voyage that has been over two thousand years in the making
each day be prepared because the boss our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ could very well come this very day
We are Children of the living God.
We are Children of the Light.
We must be ready (P)
We must be prepared. (Pause)
19 Mississippi 20 Mississippi (P)
Ready or Not He Will Come.
Amen and Amen!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Let's pray!
