Introduction:
Since the first of the year, we have been focusing primarily on PRAYER. This is step one in our emphasis on PRAYER – CARE – SHARE. We have found that prayer can mean many things to each of us, but it should certainly involve the winning of souls into the Kingdom of God. As well, prayer should mean our praying for one another. Our desire is that all of us will –
1. Discover what we can do for this Family of God,
2. Eventually become everything the Lord has for us.
Furthermore, as we pray, we must be making ourselves ready for the soon return of Christ. Specifically, that is what I want to talk with you about this morning.
WATCH AND PRAY
Question: Do you remember back in 1999 when the whole world was planning for the New Millennium? Can you remember all of the fuss about Y2K?
(It would be hard to ever forget all of that.)
Everyone seemed so concerned about a world-wide computer disaster that was supposedly going to take place. People all over the world began to stockpile water and dehydrated foods. I personally knew a couple from Evansville, IN, who had went out and bought weapons to protect themselves with. They even built a bomb shelter to store their food and to escape to when this unknown cataclysmic event. There was fear and pandemonium all of the world for fear of what would take place.
We all look back on those days and laugh at how crazy things got over a simple computer glitch.
Little did we know that –
· Less than two years later we would experience “911”, that would take the lives of over 3000 people and launch us into a global war on terror.
· Less than four years later we would see 5 cataclysmic hurricanes pound the State of Florida in just few weeks, causing billions of dollars in damage and taking the lives of many people.
· Less than four years later an earthquake registering 9.2 on the Rictor Scale would cause a Tsunami Tidal Wave to kill well over a ¼ million people. Many projections now coming in put that figure closer to a ½ million will die and 1 million are now left homeless. Thousands of orphan children have been left with nowhere to go.
My question is, WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
I do not intend to preach a doomsday message and frighten us with all of the bad news we read and hear about, but (as Christians) WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?
Our only answer can be found in God’s Holy Word.
Text: Mark 13:31 thru 33
Prayer:
Transition
In times like these, many people enjoy keeping up with news events out of Washington. The sports play offs, ongoing scientific research, financial news, etc…
If you are like me, you may want to know –
· What is going on around the world?
· What’s the latest out of Washington, Iraq, Israel, Afghanistan, Korea, or Indonesia?
I once had a business friend who made sure he kept up with every little detail, everyday. A real “News Junkie”.
Now I know that there are some who will purposely ignore most of the daily news. It’s boring or depressing.
Regardless of how you feel, each of us is affected (in one way or another) by the world events.
Now in a moment I want to talk about the Good News, but first I want you to hear the really Bad News.
Those who are without Christ as their personal Savior are faced with a cataclysmic event far worse than a “dirty bomb”, 911, a hurricane, or an earthquake.
The Bible says that theirs will be an eternity in a “Lake of Fire”, somewhere in “outer-darkness”.
This is much worse that cataclysmic. This is frightening. These are certainly days of uncertainty. My friend if you want to know what is going on in the world, you won’t need to read the New York Times or the Paducah Sun.
You only need to read the Bible!
My Bible tells me –
· The fate of this world is very certain…as far as God is concerned.
· The fate of the born again believer is very certain…as far as Jesus is concerned.
· The fate of the Christian has been sealed in Heaven…God has guaranteed it.
· That if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are certain to enjoy an eternal life in the glory of the One and Only Son of the Living God.
The days may be uncertain, but I am certain and assured that Christ has saved me from my sins.
That much I know. That much is all I need to know.
The fate of this world is certain. Jesus said this world will “pass away, but His words will never pass away.”
This is the reason Jesus told us to WATCH AND PRAY!
But Jesus said something else important for us to know:
In Matthew 16:3, Jesus tells us to -
“discern the signs of the times”.
What that means is it is our individual responsibility to:
· Stay informed with what God is doing.
· Know what is going on and why it is.
· Know that Jesus is coming soon
I want us to consider two words that are often spoken in God’s Holy Word. They are WILL and SHALL. These two words are found in I Thessalonians 4:16 and 17.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
(SECOND SLIDE)
Then we who 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.
This sounds like to me that God is going to make this happen for us. He Will and Shall make this happen for us, but (unfortunately) not for those who refuse Him, reject Him, neglect Him or disobey Him. God help us!
Transition:
Jesus is coming soon!
Talk about a news event to read about. I want the devil to (one day) read this in all of the newspapers:
“Millions Meet Jesus In The Air”
Talk about newspapers - God’s Daily Newspaper is the Bible. God is the news. In fact, He is the “Good News”!
The news article God is reading this morning won’t be the Editorial Page, (where man thinks he knows it all). This morning, God is looking at the very last page.
Way down at the bottom of the last page you will find Revelation 22:20 where Jesus has said,
“Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Question: Are you genuinely excited about the soon return of Jesus?
I hope so. His coming is the “sign of the times”
My friend in these final/last days we must –
· Turn off the news.
· Put down the newspaper
· Get a hold of God’s Good News and see what the Bible has to say.
In spite of those who believe this world will last forever, only the Bible really knows what will happen next.
Jesus says that “heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”
The stories coming out of Indonesia are horrifying. Many have told that after the enormous wave (that destroyed everything), there was another wave that went in the opposite direction (back out to sea).
That riptide swept people off of their feet and pulled them out into the open sea. People were clinging on to anything stationary/permanent that might keep them from being sucked out to sea.
There is a spiritual significance here.
When I read these words from Jesus, I would suggest we are now in a similar situation.
Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
As we draw nearer to the coming of the Lord, we are going to see everything we know of this earth simply “pass away”. This morning, we have only one thing to hold onto to keep from being pulled away and destroyed. It is surely the Word of God.
When God speaks to His people, he never intends to frighten anyone. He only speaks with words of caution, words of instruction, and words of encouragement.
You and I desperately need to hang onto the Word of God. It is the only secure and stationary and permanent thing we have in this life. Amen?
If we hear nothing else from the Lord this morning, may we only hear the words of Jesus telling us to
WATCH AND PRAY?
Conclusion:
We can no longer afford to sit back and just wait on the return of Christ. That is not His plan for your life. Jesus was emphatic with His instruction to us.
Many Christians nowadays are becoming very comfortable with their walk with the Lord.
It almost seems that as long as they have their Christian music and television they are happy with this life.
Jesus has emphatically spoken, “Watch and Pray”.
You need not live in a country that’s been devastated by cataclysmic floods, earthquakes, diseases or famine before you will finally realize it is time for you to pray.
My concern is that Christians here in the U.S. are more concerned about what is taking place in other countries, but cannot see the –
· Cataclysmic tidal wave of sin and disbelief.
· Real urgency for each of us to pray.
Let us not be guilty of living in the comfort of this nation and not see how imminent the return of Christ is. Time is running out for those who do not have Christ.
We have an awesome responsibility in these last days.
We must be –
1. Anticipating His return.
2. Reminding ourselves and our loved ones that Jesus is coming soon.
3. Praying for those who are lost and facing judgment.
4. Preparing His people for that day.
