What Time Is It?

WHAT TIME IS IT?

Mt. 13:35-36; 2 Tim. 4:3

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A certain pastor claimed that his church people would be the first to go up into the clouds to meet the Lord Jesus in the Rapture.

2. Another minister said, “And on what basis do you make this remarkable assumption? “The pastor replied, “Because the Bible states that, “The dead in Christ will rise first!”

B. TEXTS

Mark 13:35-36, “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back....If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.” Romans 13:11, “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” 2 Tim. 4:3, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

C. THE N.T. TELLS US WHAT TIME IT IS:

1. Peter says we’re living in the last days, because God is pouring out His Spirit on all people, Acts 2:17.

2. John says, “Dear children, this is the last hour” 1 John 2:18.

3. Peter says, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (1 Pet. 4:7).

4. Paul writes, “Brothers...the time is short” (1 Cor. 7:29). Philippians 4:5, “The Lord is near.” Romans 13:12, “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

5. Jesus himself says, “I will come again” John 14:3. 6X in the Book of Revelation He said, “I am coming quickly!” Rev. 2:5,16; 3:11; 22:7,12,20. He is coming soon. Every day brings us closer to His coming

D. ILLUS.: KNOWING THE TIME

1. Blake Inscore & his wife Lenea were flying from Sacramento, CA to Chicago, but hey had a layover in Salt Lake City. The pilot came on the intercom and told them the local time (it was one hour ahead of CA).

2. Blake thought to himself—“change your watch,” but he didn’t. Big mistake! They got off the plane, figured out where the gate was for their connecting flight to Chicago, and then went to get something to eat and did a little shopping.

3. They started toward their gate when it hit Blake – “It’s not 3:55 its 4:55! And we’re going to miss our plane!” They ran for the gate and found it empty. The lady at the counter said, “Are you the Inscore’s?” “Yes.” “You’re one minute from missing your flight!” They hurried on. Blake said, “None of that would have happened if I’d known what the real time was!”

E. THESIS

1. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS? We’re living in a critical moment in history – between the Cross and the 2nd Coming of Jesus! Between our REDEMPTION and the RAPTURE! Between TIME & ETERNITY! And what the church needs today is urgency!

2. God’s prophetic clock approaching the closing moments of human history; it ought to make us wake up, examine our lives for needed change, and help us throw ourselves into a last-ditch effort to turn people from Hell to Heaven.

3. The title of this message is “What Time Is It?” I want to expand on 4 things it’s high time we do:

I. IT’S TIME TO BE ALERT To the dangers of our time

A. ILLUS.: “ALWAYS ON DUTY.”

1. A soldier on duty always has to be vigilant during wartime. In case you didn’t know it -- we’re in a war between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light! And we’re soldiers of the Lord is this conflict.

2. The Duke of Wellington (a General) asked an officer in uniform, “Why do you stand there so slouchy, in non-military posture?”

3. The officer responded, “Sir, I’m off-duty.” Wellington replied, “A British officer is never off-duty. Always maintain your military bearing.”

4. Someone might respond, “Well, don’t I have the right to live like I want to?” The answer is, NOT if you’ve died with Christ and risen again! Dead men don’t have any rights or want any. MY question is, are you crucified with Christ? Or is your old life still in charge?

B. VIGILANT TO ACT AS A CHRISTIAN

1. Paul told Timothy, “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but SET AN EXAMPLE for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” 1 Tim. 4:12.

2. If what we have is real, it ought to show. The world is crying to see reality (John 12:21). You’re probably the only Jesus/Bible those around you will ever see! “We are epistles, known and read of all men” 2 Cor. 3:2. We can’t lay it off on someone else to be a Christian; the responsibility falls on us.