BE PREPARED FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD! (CC)
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[THEME: PREPARE FOR THE DAY OF
THE LORD!
IT WILL SURELY COME. IT WILL
BE A DAY OF JUDGMENT.
IT WILL BE A DAY OF
DELIVERANCE.]
PLEASE RISE.
DEAR FELLOW BROTHERS AND
SISTERS IN CHRIST:
GRACE AND PEACE ARE YOURS FROM
GOD OUR FATHER, AND
FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOR,
JESUS CHRIST. OUR TEXT THIS
MORNING IS 1 THESSALONIANS,
CHAPTER 5 VERSES 1 THROUGH 11.
"NOW BROTHERS,
ABOUT TIMES AND DATES WE DO
NOT NEED TO WRITE YOU. FOR YOU
KNOW VERY WELL THAT THE DAY OF
THE LORD IS
COMING LIKE A THIEF IN THE
NIGHT. WHILE PEOPLE
ARE SAYING, "PEACE AND
SAFETY," DESTRUCTION WILL COME
ON THEM SUDDENLY, AS LABOR
PAINS ON A PREGNANT WOMAN,
AND THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE. BUT
YOU, BROTHERS
ARE NOT IN DARKNESS SO THAT
THIS DAY SHOULD
SURPRISE YOU LIKE A THIEF.
YOU ARE ALL SONS OF THE LIGHT
AND SONS OF THE DAY. WE DO
NOT BELONG TO THE NIGHT OR TO
THE DARKNESS. SO THEN, LET US
NOT BE LIKE OTHERS, WHO ARE
ASLEEP, BUT LET US BE ALERT
AND SELF-CONTROLLED.
FOR THOSE WHO SLEEP, SLEEP AT
NIGHT, AND THOSE
WHO GET DRUNK, GET DRUNK AT
NIGHT. BUT SINCE WE BELONG TO
THE DAY, LET US BE
SELF-CONTROLLED,
PUTTING ON FAITH AND LOVE AS A
BREASTPLATE, AND THE HOPE OF
SALVATION AS A HELMET. FOR
GOD DID NOT APPOINT US TO
SUFFER WRATH BUT TO RECEIVE
SALVATION
THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
HE DIED FOR US SO THAT,
WHETHER WE ARE AWAKE OR
ASLEEP, WE MAY LIVE TOGETHER
WITH HIM. THEREFORE
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AND
BUILD EACH OTHER UP,
JUST AS IN FACT YOU ARE
DOING."
THIS IS GOD'S WORD. LET US
PRAY:
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE TURN
OUR ATTENTION TO
THE LAST DAY. AND WE READ
ALL THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN IN
YOUR WORD CONCERNING THAT. WE
REALIZE THAT IT IS A TERRIBLE
DAY OF JUDGMENT FOR THOSE WHO
HAVE REJECTED YOU. BUT IT IS
A GREAT DAY OF JOY FOR US
WHO BELIEVE IN YOU. WE TRUST
IN YOUR FORGIVENESS.
HELP US THEN, AS WE MEDITATE
UPON YOUR WORD THIS MORNING
TO REALIZE ALL THE MORE THIS
GRACIOUS
PROMISE OF YOU THAT YOU WILL
COME BACK TO TAKE US TO BE
WITH YOU FOREVER. WE ASK THIS
IN YOUR NAME JESUS.
AMEN.
AMEN.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WILL BE
WHEN IT HAPPENS? YOU COULD BE
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY.
OR PERHAPS YOU'LL BE SLEEPING
IN YOUR BED.
OR YOU MIGHT BE STANDING
OUTSIDE TALKING TO A NEIGHBOR.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE "BIG
ONE" WILL HIT.
GEOLOGISTS SAY THAT IT IS NOT
A MATTER OF "IF",
BUT A MATTER OF "WHEN". AT
SOME TIME
A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE WILL
HIT THE LOS ANGELOS AREA
AND THE LOSS OF LIFE AND
DAMAGE
TO BUILDINGS WILL BE
CATASTROPHIC.
THAT'S WHY CALIFORNIA OBSERVED
THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
DAY CALLED THE "GREAT
SHAKEOUT". AS BAD AS THE
"BIG ONE" WILL BE, A GREATER
DESTRUCTIION IS COMING.
PETER WROTE, "THE HEAVENS WILL
DISAPPEAR
WITH A ROAR, THE ELEMENTS WILL
BE DESTROYED
BY FIRE, AND THE EARTH AND
EVERYTHING IN IT
WILL BE LAID BARE."
[2 PETER 3:10] WE DON'T KNOW
WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN, BUT
PAUL'S MESSAGE TO US TODAY
IS: PREPARE FOR THE DAY OF
THE LORD!
1. IT WILL SURELY COME;
2. IT WILL BE A DAY OF
JUDGMENT; AND
3. IT WILL BE A DAY OF
DELIVERANCE.
PAUL SAYS IN OUR TEXT, "WHILE
PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
'PEACE AND SAFETY,'
DESTRUCTION WILL COME ON THEM
SUDDENLY, AS LABOR PAINS ON A
PREGNANT WOMAN,
AND THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE."
THEY SCOFF AT GOD'S WARNING OF
THE END
JUST LIKE THOSE WHO DID IN
ANCIENT ISRAEL.
DURING THE TIME WHEN GOD KEPT
SENDING THE PROPHETS TO WARN
HIS PEOPLE TO TURN FROM THEIR
EVIL WAYS AND REPENT,
THE CONSTANT MESSAGE WAS: "THE
DAY
OF THE LORD IS COMING." HERE
ARE A
COUPLE OF MANY EXAMPLES. JOEL
PROPHESIED: [JOEL 1:13-15]
"COME, SPEND THE NIGHT IN
SACKCLOTH, YOU WHO MINISTER
BEFORE MY GOD; FOR THE GRAIN
OFFERINGS AND DRINK OFFERINGS
ARE WITHHELD FROM THE HOUSE OF
YOUR GOD.
DECLARE A HOLY FAST; CALL A
SACRED ASSEMBLY.
SUMMON THE ELDERS AND ALL WHO
LIVE IN THE LAND
TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD YOUR
GOD, AND CRY OUT TO THE LORD.
ALAS FOR THAT DAY! FOR THE
DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR;
IT WILL COME LIKE DESTRUCTION
FROM THE ALMIGHTY.
AND ISAIAH PROPHESIED:
WAIL, FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD
IS NEAR;
IT WILL COME LIKE DESTRUCTION
FROM THE ALMIGHTY.
BECAUSE OF THIS, ALL HANDS
WILL GO LIMP,
EVERY MAN'S HEART WILL MELT.
TERROR WILL
SEIZE THEM, PAIN AND ANGUISH
WILL GRIP THEM; THEY WILL
WRITHE LIKE A WOMAN IN LABOR.
THEY WILL LOOK AGHAST AT EACH
OTHER, THEIR FACES AFLAME.
SEE, THE DAY OF THE LORD IS
COMING -- A CRUEL DAY,
WITH WRATH AND FIERCE ANGER --
TO MAKE THE LAND DESOLATE AND
DESTROY THE SINNERS WITHIN IT.
THE STARS OF HEAVEN AND THEIR
CONSTELLATIONS WILL NOT SHOW
THEIR LIGHT. THE RISING SUN
WILL BE DARKENED
AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS
LIGHT. I WILL PUNISH
THE WORLD FOR ITS EVIL, THE
WICKED FOR THEIR SINS.
I WILL PUT AN END TO THE
ARROGANCE OF THE HAUGHTY
AND WILL HUMBLE THE PRIDE OF
THE RUTHLESS.
I WILL MAKE MAN SCARCER THAN
PURE GOLD, MORE RARE THAN
THE GOLD OF OPHIR. THEREFORE
I WILL
MAKE THE HEAVENS TREMBLE; AND
THE EARTH WILL SHAKE FROM ITS
PLACE AT THE WRATH OF THE LORD
ALMIGHTY, IN THE DAY
OF HIS BURNING ANGER.
[ISAIAH 13:6-13]
BUT DID THEY LISTEN? ISAIAH
COMPLAINED,
"WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR
MESSAGE?"
NO, SADLY, FOR THE MOST PART
ISRAEL
SCOFFED AT GOD'S PROPHETS OR
WORSE YET,
STONED THEM AND PERSECUTED
THEM.
THEY SCOFFED AT THE PROMISED
DESTRUCTION BELIEVING THAT
JERUSALEM WOULD NEVER BE
DESTROYED. GOD'S HOLY CITY.
BUT THE ARMIES OF ASSYRIA AND
BABYLON
MARCHED IN JUST AS GOD
PREDICTED
AND ONLY A REMNANT WERE SAVED.
MOST MERELY LAUGHED AT THE
PROPHETS AND WENT ON WITH
THEIR LIVES WITH NO
REPENTANCE.
PETER ALSO WARNED AGAINST
SCOFFERS. HE SAYS:
FIRST OF ALL, YOU MUST
UNDERSTAND
THAT IN THE LAST DAYS SCOFFERS
WILL COME,
FOLLOWING THEIR OWN EVIL
DESIRES. THEY WILL SAY,
"WHERE IS THIS 'COMING' HE
PROMISED?
EVER SINCE OUR FATHERS DIED,
EVERYTHING GOES ON AS IT HAS
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
CREATION." [2 PETER 3:3-4]
BUT IN TODAY'S TEXT, PETER,
I'M SORRY, PAUL
USES THE PRESENT TENSE INSTEAD
OF THE
FUTURE TENSE WHEN HE SAYS:
THE DAY OF THE LORD
IS COMING LIKE A THIEF IN THE
NIGHT."
THE DAY OF THE LORD IS ALREADY
ON THE WAY ...
IT'S LIKE A SMART BOMB THAT
HAS BEEN RELEASED
FROM THAT HATCH IN THE PLANE
AND IT'S GUIDED IN
ON THE TARGET BY GOD AT HIS
PREDETERMINED TIME.
NOTHING IS GOING TO STOP IT.
AND IT WILL HIT MUCH LIKE ONE
OF THOSE VIDEOS YOU'VE SEEN
OF A MISSILE SLAMMING INTO THE
HOUSE OF A TERRORIST.
THE DESTRUCTION WILL BE
COMPLETE AND SUDDEN.
IT'S THE SAME WORDS USED TO
DESCRIBE
THE SUDDENNESS OF A TRAP THAT
SPRINGS ... IT SPRINGS SHUT.
JESUS SAID: BE CAREFUL
OR YOUR HEARTS WILL BE WEIGHED
DOWN WITH DISSIPATION, AND
DRUNKENNESS, AND THE ANXIETIES
OF LIFE, AND THAT DAY WILL
CLOSE ON YOU UNEXPECTEDLY LIKE
A TRAP." [LUKE 21:34]
SNAP! THE CAREFREE DAYS
OF THE MOUSE COME TO A SUDDEN
END. BANG!
THE TERRORIST AND ALL THOSE
WHO ARE WITH HIM IN THE HOUSE
ARE SUDDENLY DESTROYED. THE
END!
THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL
ARRIVE. IT IS ALREADY
COMING, AND IT WILL NOT DELAY!
THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED OUR
LORD WILL NOT ESCAPE
THE ETERNAL DESTRUCTION OF
THEIR SOULS.
EVERYONE KNOWS IT'S JUST A
MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A
DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE HITS.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN.
ARE YOU PREPARED?
PERHAPS YOU HAVE LOTS OF WATER
AND STOCKPILED FOOD,
AND A GUN IN THE CLOSET.
PERHAPS YOU'RE
LIKE MANY WHO THINK THAT FEMA
WILL COME TO THEIR AID AND
HAVE DONE LITTLE TO PREPARE.
WHILE WE CAN
TAKE STEPS TO PREPARE FOR AN
EARTHQUAKE, INADEQUATE AS THEY
MAY BE, WHAT YOU SAY, CAN WE
POSSIBLY DO TO
PREPARE FOR AN EVEN GREATER
DISASTER ...
THE END OF THE WORLD ... WHEN
THE HEAVENS WILL DISAPPEAR
WITH A ROAR; THE ELEMENTS WILL
BE DESTROYED BY FIRE, AND THE
THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING IN IT
WILL BE LAID BARE!
WHEN WILL THE DAY
OF THE LORD COME?
JESUS GIVES THE DEFINITIVE
ANSWER TO THAT IN MATTHEW 24,
VERSE 36: "NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT
THAT DAY OR HOUR, NOT EVEN THE
ANGELS IN HEAVEN, NOR THE SON,
BUT ONLY THE FATHER."
AND EVEN AFTER JESUS WAS NO
LONGER IN HIS STATE OF
HUMILIATION AND HAD RISEN FROM
THE DEAD, HE SAID TO THEM:
"IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE
TIMES OR DATES
THE FATHER HAS SET BY HIS OWN
AUTHORITY." [ACTS 1:7]
HIS MESSAGE TO US IS SIMPLY:
"BE
PREPARED AT ALL TIMES!"
THE "WHEN" IS NOT SO NEARLY AS
IMPORTANT AS THE
IMPLICATIONS THAT IT WILL
HAPPEN. IT IS ON ITS WAY!
AND IT WILL BE A DAY OF
JUDGMENT.
WE LIVE EVERY DAY IN THE
EXPECTATION THAT IT MIGHT BE
OUR LAST.
SARAH STELZER ... DID ANYONE
HEAR ABOUT HER IN THE NEWS?
SHE WAS A HEALTHY 18-YEAR-OLD
FRESHMAN AT SAN DIEGO
STATE UNIVERSITY. SHE CAME
DOWN WITH A FEVER.
TWO DAYS LATER, SHE WAS
HOSPITALIZED
AND TWO DAYS AFTER THAT SHE
WAS DEAD.
WAS SHE READY TO STAND BEFORE
HER CREATOR? WELL, CALLOUS AS
THIS SOUNDS ...
IT'S TOO LATE TO THINK ABOUT
HER.
BUT IT ISN'T TOO LATE FOR YOU
AND ME,
OR THOSE LIVING NEXT DOOR TO
US, OR THOSE
WORKING WITH US. OR THOSE
ATTENDING SCHOOL WITH US.
IN OUR OLD TESTAMENT READING,
DANIEL
DESCRIBES THE DAY OF THE LORD:
[DANIEL 7:9-10] "AS I LOOKED,
THRONES WERE SET IN PLACE, AND
THE ANCIENT OF DAYS TOOK
HIS SEAT. HIS CLOTHING WAS AS
WHITE AS SNOW; THE HAIR OF HIS
HEAD WAS WHITE LIKE WOOL. HIS
THRONE WAS FLAMING
WITH FIRE, AND ITS WHEELS WERE
ALL ABLAZE. A RIVER
OF FIRE WAS FLOWING, COMING
OUT FROM BEFORE HIM.
THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS
ATTENDED HIM; TEN THOUSAND
TIMES TEN THOUSAND STOOD
BEFORE HIM. THE COURT WAS
SEATED, AND THE BOOKS WERE
OPENED."
JOHN, IN THE BOOK OF
REVELATION, DESCRIBES THE SAME
SCENE. HE WROTE: "THEN I SAW
A GREAT WHITE THRONE
AND HIM WHO WAS SEATED ON IT.
EARTH AND SKY
FLED FROM HIS PRESENCE, AND
THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THEM.
AND I SAW THE DEAD, GREAT AND
SMALL,
STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE,
AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED.
ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED, WHICH
IS THE BOOK OF LIFE.
THE DEAD WERE JUDGED ACCORDING
TO WHAT THEY HAD DONE AS
RECORDED IN THE BOOKS. THE
SEA GAVE UP THE DEAD THAT WERE
IN IT, AND DEATH AND HADES
GAVE UP THE DEAD THAT WERE IN
THEM, AND EACH PERSON WAS
JUDGED ACCORDING TO WHAT HE
HAD DONE. THEN DEATH AND
HADES WERE THROWN INTO THE
LAKE OF FIRE. THE LAKE OF FIRE
IS THE SECOND DEATH. IF
ANYONE'S NAME WAS NOT FOUND
WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE,
HE WAS THROWN
INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE."
[REVELATION 20:11-15]
JESUS WANTS US TO BE WATCHFUL
AND ALERT.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO
ARE UNPREPARED WHEN
HE RETURNS? THE BIBLE
UNFLINCHINGLY
STATES: IT WILL BE A DAY OF
JUDGMENT.
MARK 16:16 SAYS:
"WHOEVER BELIEVES AND IS
BAPTIZED
WILL BE SAVED, BUT WHOEVER
DOES NOT BELIEVE
WILL BE CONDEMNED."
SOMETIMES WHEN OUR GOSPEL
READING IS HEARD,
PEOPLE HAVE A
MISUNDERSTANDING. JESUS COMES
IN GLORY WITH ALL HIS ANGELS
WITH HIM AND IS SEATED ON HIS
THRONE IN HEAVENLY GLORY JUST
AS DANIEL AND JOHN
PICTURE HIM IN THE PREVIOUSLY
DESCRIBED QUOTES. AND HE
SEPARATES THE SHEEP FROM THE
GOATS ...
THE BELIEVERS FROM THE
UNBELIEVERS ... AND HE SAYS
TO THE BELIEVERS ON HIS RIGHT:
"COME, YOU WHO ARE BLESSED
BY MY FATHER; TAKE YOUR
INHERITANCE,
THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU
SINCE THE CREATION OF THE
WORLD." [MATTHEW 25:34]
AND HE GIVES EXAMPLES OF THE
GOOD THINGS THEY'VE DONE.
THEY'VE FED HIM, THEY'VE
CLOTHED HIM, THEY'VE VISITED
HIM, THEY ... THEY UH, WHEN HE
WAS SICK OR IN PRISON. THE
FIRST IMPRESSION IS THAT THEY
HAVE EARNED ETERNAL LIFE BY
THEIR GOOD DEEDS.
LIKEWISE WITH THE UNBELIEVERS
ON HIS LEFT [MATTHEW 25:41]
WHEN HE SAYS: "DEPART FROM ME,
YOU WHO ARE CURSED, INTO THE
ETERNAL FIRE PREPARED FOR THE
DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS." AND
JESUS SAYS THEY DIDN'T HELP
HIM WHEN THEY HAD OPPORTUNITY
TO DO SO. AGAIN, THE FIRST
IMPRESSION IS THAT THEY ARE
BEING CONDEMNED BECAUSE OF
THEIR LACK OF GOOD DEEDS.
AND IT ENDS BY SAYING, "THEY
WILL GO AWAY TO ETERNAL
PUNISHMENT." [VERSE 46]
BUT YOU CAN'T INTERPRET
SCRIPTURE JUST FROM ONE
PASSAGE, CAN YOU? SCRIPTURE
INTERPRETS SCRIPTURE!
AND WE KNOW FROM ALL OF
SCRIPTURE THAT
ALL OF OUR ACTIONS ARE EVIL
AND SINFUL APART FROM CHRIST.
EVEN THOSE THAT APPEAR GOOD TO
THOSE AROUND US.
WITHOUT CHRIST'S FORGIVENESS,
ALL OF OUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS
STINK
IN GOD'S NOSTRILS. WE'RE LIKE
A HOMELESS PERSON
WHO HASN'T BATHED IN A YEAR
AND CAUSES ALL AROUND
TO GAG AND HOLD THEIR BREATH
AND RUN AWAY.
THERE'S NO ONE RIGHTEOUS IN
GOD'S SIGHT,
NOT EVEN ONE. THERE IS NO ONE
WHO DOES GOOD,
NOT EVEN ONE.
THAT'S WHAT ROMANS CHAPTER 3
TELLS US.
THE REASON THOSE WHO DO NOT
BELIEVE IN CHRIST JESUS WILL
BE CONDEMNED IS BECAUSE NONE
OF THEIR ACTIONS ARE GOOD
IN GOD'S SIGHT. ALL OF THEIR
ACTIONS
ARE EVIL. AND IT IS GOD'S
PERSPECTIVE
THAT MATTERS, NOT OURS.
WE ENTERED THIS WORLD SINFUL
AND DESERVING OF DAMNATION.
AND, APART FROM CHRIST,
THAT IS THE WAY PEOPLE LEAVE
THIS LIFE ALSO.
THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD, THAT'S
THE SECOND DEATH,
DYING APART FROM CHRIST IS THE
SECOND DEATH,
BEING THROWN INTO HELL ...
ETERNALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD.
THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD WILL BE
CONFIRMED IN THEIR
SPIRITUAL DEATH FOR ALL
ETERNITY.
SEPARATED FROM GOD AND HIS
LOVE FOREVER IN AGONY AND
AS THEY PAY FOR THEIR SINS BY
BEING PUNISHED
IN THE FIRES OF HELL. AND WE
KNOW THAT NO PAYMENT IS
EVER ENOUGH. THANKS BE TO
GOD
THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
THAT WE
HAVE BEEN RESCUED FROM ETERNAL
DEATH THROUGH THE RESURRECTION
OF OUR LORD! FOR WE WHO
BELIEVE, THE DAY OF THE LORD
WILL BE A DAY OF DELIVERANCE!
[IN 1 THESSALONIANS 5 ...]
PAUL SAYS TO US: "BUT YOU,
BROTHERS, ARE NOT IN DARKNESS
SO THAT THIS DAY SHOULD
SURPRISE YOU LIKE A THIEF.
YOU ARE ALL SONS OF THE LIGHT
AND SONS OF THE DAY.
WE DO NOT BELONG TO THE NIGHT
OR TO THE DARKNESS.
SO THEN, LET US NOT BE LIKE
OTHERS, WHO ARE ASLEEP,
BUT LET US BE ALERT AND
SELF-CONTROLLED.
WE'VE BEEN RAISED TO LIFE
BEING UNITED WITH CHRIST IN
HIS DEATH AND RAISED WITH HIM
THROUGH BAPTISM INTO HIS
RESURRECTION.
WE'VE HAD OUR SINS WASHED AWAY
[ACTS 22:16]
THROUGH THE WASHING OF WATER
WITH THE WORD ...
THE PROMISE OF OUR SAVIOR:
"WHOEVER BELIEVES
AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE
SAVED." [MARK 16:16]
AND AS PAUL WROTE TO TITUS:
[TITUS 3:5-7] "HE SAVED US,"
HE SAVED 'US'! "NOT BECAUSE OF
RIGHTEOUS THINGS WE HAD DONE,
BUT BECAUSE OF HIS MERCY. HE
SAVED US THROUGH THE
WASHING OF REBIRTH AND RENEWAL
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM
HE POURED OUT ON US GENEROUSLY
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
OUR SAVIOR, SO THAT, HAVING
BEEN JUSTIFIED" - HAVING BEEN
DECLARED RIGHTEOUS - "BY HIS
GRACE,
WE MIGHT BECOME HEIRS HAVING
THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE."
AND PETER REMINDS US
IN THE SIMPLE WORDS - "BAPTISM
SAVES YOU
BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
CHRIST." [1 PETER 3:21]
IF YOU LISTEN TO NOTHING ELSE
IN THIS SERMON,
LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING: YOU
WILL NEVER
GET TO HEAVEN BY WHAT YOU DO.
IT IS ONLY BY WHAT CHRIST DID
FOR US
THAT WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT
WE ARE FORGIVEN.
GOD DEMANDS BE PERFECT. BE
HOLY.
BE ABSOLUTELY RIGHTEOUS DOING
ONLY
GOOD AND NEVER DOING BAD.
THOSE ARE THE DEMANDS OF OUR
HOLY GOD. HE IS
SET APART FROM SIN. HE WILL
NOT ALLOW
SINFUL HUMAN BEINGS TO COME
INTO HIS HOLY
PRESENCE. BUT JESUS CHRIST,
TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN TOOK OUR
SINS AWAY
AND AS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB OF
GOD
PAID FOR THEM ALL ON THE CROSS
WHEN HE OFFERED HIMSELF UP FOR
US.
WE ARE FORGIVEN BECAUSE HE
MADE FULL
PAYMENT. THERE'S NOTHING LEFT
TO PAY.
FULL ATONEMENT HAS BEEN MADE
THROUGH HIS BLOOD.
THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY WE COULD
BE RIGHT WITH GOD.
WE COULDN'T DO IT,
SO HE DID IT AS OUR SAVIOR.
HE IS THE ATONING SACRIFICE,
NOT ONLY FOR OUR SINS,
BUT FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE
WORLD, JOHN WROTE. [1 JN 2:2]
AS 2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 REMINDS
US, "GOD WAS
RECONCILING THE WORLD TO
HIMSELF IN CHRIST,
NOT COUNTING MEN'S SINS
AGAINST THEM.
AND HE HAS COMMITTED TO US
THIS MESSAGE OF
RECONCILIATION."
IT'S NOT THAT OUR ACTIONS
DON'T MATTER. THEY DO.
AS SONS OF GOD, AS MEMBERS OF
CHRIST'S HOLY PRIESTHOOD OF
ALL BELIEVERS [1 PETER 2:9] WE
WALK IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S
WORD. [2 PETER 1:19] AS THOSE
WHO ARE FILLED WITH GRATITUDE
ABOUT HOW MUCH HE HAS DONE FOR
US, HOW MUCH WE HAVE BEEN
FORGIVEN, [LUKE 7:41-48, 2 PET
1:9] WE WANT TO LIVE FOR GOD.
WE WANT TO DO HIS WILL IN OUR
LIVES.
GOD'S WORD IS A LAMP TO OUR
FEET AND A LIGHT TO OUR PATH.
[PSALM 119:105] WE TURN TO IT
FOR GUIDANCE
AS WE LIVE OUR GRATEFUL LIFE
FOR GOD.
LIVING FOR OUR SAVIOR IS OUR
SPIRITUAL ACT
OF WORSHIP. [ROMANS 12:1-2]
WE NO LONGER LIVE AS
UNBELIEVERS DO, UNAWARE OF THE
MEANING OF LIFE.
WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS
INTO LIGHT FOR A PURPOSE: TO
DECLARE THE PRAISES
OF OUR GOD AND SAVIOR.
WE WHO WERE SPIRITUALLY BLIND
HAVE HAD OUR EYES OPENED
TO THE PLOTS OF SATAN AND HIS
INFLUENCES.
AND WE PUT ON FAITH AND LOVE
AS A BREASTPLATE
AND THE HOPE OF SALVATION AS A
HELMET.
PAUL'S WORDS HERE ARE VERY
SIMILAR TO WHAT HE WROTE IN
EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 6:11-18:
"PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD
SO THAT YOU CAN
TAKE YOUR STAND AGAINST THE
DEVIL'S SCHEMES.
FOR OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT
AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD,
BUT AGAINST THE RULERS,
AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES,
AGAINST THE POWERS OF THIS
DARK WORLD AND AGAINST
THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL
IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS.
THEREFORE PUT ON THE FULL
ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT WHEN
THE DAY OF EVIL COMES, YOU MAY
BE ABLE TO STAND YOUR GROUND,
AND AFTER YOU HAVE DONE
EVERYTHING, TO STAND.
STAND FIRM THEN, WITH THE BELT
OF TRUTH BUCKLED AROUND YOUR
WAIST, WITH THE BREASTPLATE OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS
IN PLACE, AND WITH YOUR FEET
FITTED WITH THE READINESS
THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF
PEACE.
IN ADDITION TO ALL THIS, TAKE
UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WITH
WHICH YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL
THE FLAMING ARROWS OF THE
EVIL ONE. [OF THE DEVIL] TAKE
THE HELMET OF SALVATION
AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,
WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL
OCCASIONS
WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND
REQUESTS.
WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT
AND ALWAYS KEEP PRAYING
FOR ALL THE SAINTS."
WE DON'T GO ALONG EACH DAY ...
ALONG THE WAY THE WORLD
THINKS. WE SEEK EACH DAY
TO BE TRANSFORMED BY THE
RENEWING OF OUR MIND
SO THAT WE CAN TEST AND
APPROVE WHAT GOD'S WILL IS -
HIS GOOD AND PLEASING AND
PERFECT WILL. [ROMANS 12:2]
AND WE TRY TO LIVE AS CHILDREN
OF THE LIGHT,
WALKING THE PATH OF GOD'S WILL
AS DIRECTED BY HIS WORD. FOR
WE KNOW
THAT GOD DID NOT APPOINT US TO
SUFFER WRATH
BUT TO RECEIVE SALVATION
THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
FILLED WITH THAT JOY, WE ARE
MOTIVATED EACH DAY TO LOVE THE
ONE WHO LOVED US FIRST.
AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE
FALLEN ASLEEP BEFORE CHRIST'S
COMING?
PAUL WRITES: "CHRIST DIED FOR
US SO THAT,
WHETHER WE ARE AWAKE OR
ASLEEP,
WE MAY LIVE TOGETHER WITH
HIM."
AND AS PAUL WROTE IN
1 THESSALONIANS 4, "WE BELIEVE
THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT GOD
WILL BRING WITH JESUS THOSE
WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP
IN HIM." PAUL ENDS THIS
SECTION WITH THE WORDS:
"THEREFORE ENCOURAGE ONE
ANOTHER AND BUILD EACH OTHER
UP, JUST AS IN FACT YOU ARE
DOING."
THIS IS WHY WE GATHER TOGETHER
EVERY WEEK
AROUND GOD'S WORD. AS WE
AWAIT
THE DAY OF THE LORD, WE DO SO
WITH CONFIDENCE, REMEMBERING
PAUL'S WORDS AND GOD'S PROMISE
TO US:
GOD DID NOT APPOINT US TO
SUFFER WRATH
BUT TO RECEIVE SALVATION
THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
LET US KEEP WATCH
AND BE VIGILANT AS WE
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
ALL THE MORE AS THE DAY DRAWS
NEAR.
JESUS TOLD US ABOUT THE COMING
OF THE DAY OF THE LORD:
UNBELIEVERS "WILL FAINT FROM
TERROR, APPREHENSIVE OF WHAT
IS COMING ON THE WORLD, FOR
THE HEAVENLY BODIES
WILL BE SHAKEN. AT THAT TIME
THEY WILL SEE THE
SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD
WITH GREAT POWER
AND GLORY." [LUKE 21:26-27]
BUT HE ALSO ADDS
IN THE VERY NEXT VERSE, "WHEN
THESE THINGS
BEGIN TO TAKE PLACE, STAND UP
AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS,
BECAUSE YOUR REDEMPTION
IS DRAWING NEAR." AS SONS OF
THE LIGHT,
AS SONS OF THE DAY, SONS OF
CHRIST ...
WE KNOW THAT CHRIST HAS FULLY
PAID THE DEBT OF OUR SINS -
THEREFORE YOU HAVE NOTHING TO
FEAR
AS YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY
OF OUR LORD
AND ITS COMING.
AMEN.
NOW MAY THE PEACE THAT COMES
FROM KNOWING THAT ALL YOUR
SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, KEEP YOUR
HEARTS AND MINDS IN THE TRUE
FAITH TO LIFE EVERLASTING.
AMEN.