Sunday Sermon

CLUE FOR SUNDAY SERVICE SERMON

Sermons

DATE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH 2020

THEME: PREPARE TO MEET THE LORD

SCRIPTURE READINGS
Isaiah 64:1-9
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37

PSALTER: Psalms 80:1-7

PREPARED BY: OSOFO YAW DODD

INTRODUCTION
We are in a time of the year set aside to commemorate the first advent of the Lord Jesus Christ into this world. We celebrate Christmas, which is a time when we remember the birth of God’s Son into the world. We are pretty familiar with all the details of His first coming.
The word “ADVENT ” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. By the 6th century, Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “COMING” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world.

The world is familiar with Bethlehem, the shepherds, Mary and Joseph, the wise Men, the Angels, the Frankincense, the Myrrh and the Gold, along with the other parts of the Christmas story. But, the world is far less familiar with the Lord’s Second Coming. Before Jesus went to the cross to die for sins, He wanted His disciples to understand what would happen when He returned the second time. So, in very clear, concise language, the Lord Jesus tells His disciples, and us, what will happen when He returns.
Let me just say that we need to live in the light of His coming, Titus 2:13. It is HOPE for the believer and it is damnation for the unbeliever. So, it is important that we have some understanding of the events that will surround His return.

BODY
I. THE SETTING FOR HIS COMING

It is amazing to see how the Lord sets the stage for His Second Coming. Earthly rulers announce their coming with parades, pomp and ceremony. They sound trumpets and attend their appearances with all manner of elaborate preparations.

Jesus Christ will set the stage for His return by demonstrating His authority over all the universe. When Jesus comes back, all of creation gets in on the act. Here is what Mark says, “…the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken,” Mark 13:24-25. Our text says, “the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.” The word “POWER ” refers to “influence or control.” In Hebrews 1:3, we are told that Jesus “upholds all things by the word of His power.” The Lord Jesus created this universe and He holds it all together. Nothing moves anywhere without His permission.

II THE SIGN OF HIS COMING
So what is the “SIGN ”? It isn’t a CROSS. It isn’t SOME LIGHT sent from God. The “sign” is the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in the clouds above the earth.
a. He Will Come In Splendor – Verse 26 says that He will come “in the clouds with … glory”. When Jesus comes back, He will appear in His unveiled glory. This idea of Jesus being in the clouds is all through the Word of God.
b. He Will Come In Strength – Mark says He will come with “great power”. The word “POWER” has the idea of “STRENGTH”. When Jesus comes, He will come with “strength”. No power on earth will be able to oppose Him.
c. He Will Come With Salvation– Mark tells us that, when Jesus comes, He will send His angels throughout the world to “gather His elect”. The language of this verse makes it clear that no one will be left out. Every single living saint will be brought to Jesus and they will stand before Him redeemed and rejoicing!

III THE MEANING OF THE SIGNS
▪ They Are Clear Signs – It was spring time when Jesus uttered these words. He and His men were sitting on the side of the Mount of Olives. All around them were the signs of life that document the transitions of the seasons. Jesus uses the fig tree to teach a spiritual truth. When a fig tree puts forth its leaves, it is a clear sign that summer is on the way. It is a clear sign and nothing can be done to change it. Summer is coming, thus men need to prepare for summer weather. So, Jesus says, when people see the signs He has mentioned in these verses, they will know the end is near.
▪ They Are Concluding Signs – Jesus says that the generation that witnesses these things will not pass away until they have all been fulfilled. The appearance of the signs he has mentioned will be a signal that the end is very near.
▪ They Are Confirmed Signs – This is a simple confirmation that everything Jesus says will come to pass. The Word of God is an eternal book, Psa. 119:89. Every word in it will stand forever, Isa. 40:8. Every promise in God’s Word will be met, Deut. 4:21. Every prophecy will be fulfilled, Matt. 5:18.

IV. THE SECRECY OF HIS COMING
A. It Is A Hidden Time – Jesus is coming, but no one knows when that event will take place. When Jesus gave His men this prophecy, He told them that even He, didn’t know the hour of His Own return. The point He is making is that it is foolish to try and set dates concerning the Lord’s return.
B. It Is A Heavenly Time – The only One Who knows the timing of the Lord’s coming is the One Who planned His coming. God knows when these events will take place. He knows because He has planned the precise instant when Jesus will return to this earth.

V. THE SERIOUSNESS OF HIS COMING
A. We Are Challenged To Watch – The word “WATCH” appears three times in these verses. Jesus wants His people to be on the ALERT. We are to live every moment in anticipation of His return.
What does it mean to “watch”? The word means “to keep awake, to be attentive, to be ready.” It has the idea of a watchman who dares not to fall asleep while he is on duty. He keeps his eyes and ears open. He stays on the alert at all times.

Jesus is coming and we need to be on the alert. Our enemies are seeking to infiltrate our churches and turn us from the old paths. The world is seeking and wants to grab our attention and captivate us with its treasures. Satan wants to lull us to sleep by telling us that we have plenty of time. The truth is, Jesus is coming and His people need to be awake and watching
B. We Are Challenged To Work – In Mark13: 34, Jesus describes Himself as a house owner who leaves his business in the hands of his servants. This man assigns each of his servants a specific task and then he takes his journey. The servants do not know when their master will return, so they are encouraged to work at their tasks diligently, so that they will not be found shirking their duties when their master comes back.

When Jesus saved us, He saved us to go to work for Him, Eph. 2:10; James 2:18. When He saved us, He gave each of us a specific assignment, 1 Cor. 12:7, 11. In other words, Jesus gave you a job to do and He gave me a job to do too. Our duty to Him is to faithfully do those things He has called us to do until He comes for us.
C. We Are Challenged To Weigh – In verse 37, Jesus makes these verses very personal. He is calling upon every person who reads these words to look at themselves in the light of His coming. In other words, what will His coming mean for you?

APPLICATION
Child of God, are you ready for His coming? If Jesus were to return today, would He find you faithfully serving Him and carrying out His will in the world? Or, would He find you skating around the edges, holding hands with the world? Would He find you inactive in the church? Would He find you doing His will or doing as you will? I challenge every believer in this room to look at yourself and your walk with the Lord in the light of His coming. Do you want Him to come while you are living the life you are living right now?

CONCLUSION
Precious One! What can we take away from all of this? Jesus is coming, whether we are ready or not! If you aren’t ready, you can be! If you are ready, be WATCHING and be WORKING, for the Master is at the door! Enjoy the service. Stay BLESSED.

PREPARED BY
VERY REV DR. SAMUEL DUA DODD
CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH
ADABRAKA-ACCRA

  • 0%
    Like
    Like
  • 0%
    Sad
    Sad
  • 0%
    Love
    Love
  • 0%
    WOW
    WOW

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *