Jesus is coming again… (4 things)

• 1^st – Be ready… vs. 35-40 (4 things)
  • 1^st – Instead of worrying about food/clothing – be ready for the return of Jesus…

• We call it the ‘Rapture’ – from the Latin translation of the Greek word – Harpazo…
• Within a generation of the rebirth of Israel – May 14, 1948 – Mark 13:28-32
• With the sound of a trumpet – the church will be called home to Heaven…
• * I Thessalonians 4:14-17 – “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with… with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…”
• Before the Great Tribulation – God’s wrath unleashed on this world – Revelation 6-18

• 2^nd – Don’t be caught unprepared – keep your lamps burning… vs.35
  • Jesus will return in a moment (atom) – in the blink of an eye – I Corinthians 15:52…
    • It will all happen so fast you won’t even have time to blink – and it will be over…
    • If you are not ready – if you miss it – then you will be left behind…
  • So keep the light burning – ‘parable of the 10 virgins’ – Matthew 25:1-13
    • While the 10 women were waiting for the wedding – the Groom was delayed…
    • They expected the Lord to return soon – but He was taking longer than expected…
    • II Peter 3:9 – “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.”
    • Jesus is not slow in coming – He just desires many more come to salvation…
    • If Jesus had come back 40/20/10/5 years ago – how many of us would have gone!
  • They all fell asleep / their lights went out – the excitement of Jesus’ coming wore away…
    • It is easy to be excited when we hear Jesus is coming soon for His church…
    • It is also easy to loose that excitement in the worries of life – food/clothing….
    • We can get caught up in work/family/kids – and we forget Jesus is on His way!
• 3^rd – The blessing of being ready… vs. 36-37
  • Be like a servant who waits for his master to return from THE wedding preparations…
    • THE wedding – the marriage of Jesus and the Church – Revelation 19:7,9…
    • He is ready and the moment his master knocks on the door – he opens up to Him…
  • The Master will sit him down – and serve him – as a reward for his faithfulness!
    • Jesus has spent the last 2000 years preparing a home for us – John 14:1-3
    • If we are ready when He comes – He will take to live with Him forever in heaven…
    • Considering the enormous blessings – why do so many of us take the risk…
    • Living for the pleasures of this world – gambling that Jesus will not come today…
    • Thinking there is still time to ‘get right’ with God – we can live for Jesus tomorrow…
    • Just hoping that ‘knock’ on the door does not come now!
• 4^th – When you least expect… vs. 38-40
  • If someone told you tomorrow at 3am – a thief would break into your house…
    • You would be ready for him – and nothing would be stolen…
    • But no one knows when a thief will come – that is why they are able to steal…
    • Jesus will come unannounced – like a thief in the night – I Thessalonians 5:2…
  • Therefore be constantly ready – because Jesus will come when you least expect!
    • You may not know when a thief will come – but you can be prepared…
    • You make sure you have a good fence – locked doors – maybe a dog – be ready…
    • In the same way you may not know when Jesus will come – but you can be ready…
    • Spending time with Jesus through His Word – and through prayer…
    • Preparing ourselves for the day when we will see Him face to face!

Today is the day – to believe – to be ready for Jesus return!

2^nd – Be faithful/wise… vs. 41-48

Peter asked Jesus – is this parable for us – or for everyone… vs. 41

Peter recognized that Jesus had given the promise of  ‘do not fear’ only to the disciples…

He now wanted to know if the command to ‘be ready’ was likewise only for them…

Knowing Peter – he did not want everyone to get the promise to be served by Jesus!

Jesus answered – the command is to anyone who will listen – and obey!

If you ask – most everyone knows Jesus is coming again – and we need to live for Jesus…

We all know the command – the question is are we obedient / are we ready!

The faithful vs. the wicked servant… vs. 42-46

The faithful/wise servant is the one who knows the command – and is ready…

When his master comes – He will reward the servant – ruler over all!

Dads/Moms we understand this – if you left one of your children in charge…

And you came back when they least expected you – surprising them…

But found they had been faithful – you would honor them with more responsibility!

The bottom line – if we are busy serving the Lord – waiting for his return…

When He comes – we will not only find we go to Heaven in the Rapture…

The Lord will also give us even greater honor!

Revelation 3:21 – “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne.”

The unfaithful servant – says in his heart – my Master will not come today…

He mistreats others – drinks / parties / and gets drunk…

All the while assuming he is OK – because his Master will not show up today…

But the Master comes in a day when he is not looking – hour unaware…

And when the Master arrive – He will cut that wicked servant in two…

And the servant will be given the ‘reward’ of the unbelievers – hell

We have everything to gain by being faithful – busy about our Father’s business!

We get to avoid the coming Great Tribulation – instead celebrate in Heaven…

We get to receive great honor – rather than the reward of the unbeliever – hell…

We are the last generation – Jesus is coming soon – in our lifetime…

Let us live every day – knowing today could well be the day we see Jesus!

Those who know have more responsibility… vs. 47-48

If someone was caught by LTO driving with no license – but did not know the law…

Might be given leniency the first time – they broke the law in ignorance…

But someone who was a repeat offender – would be judged more harshly

Those who know Jesus is coming – are more accountable – more responsible…

Than someone who has never heard – those who know will judged more harshly…

We can’t use ignorance as an excuse – we can’t say we did not know…

We know Jesus is coming back soon – but are we ready – are we faithful and wise!

3^rd – The purpose of the message… vs. 49-53

A message to purify us… vs. 49-50

Moved in His Spirit – Jesus poured out His heart…

Man had grown cold and distant from God – his fire for the Lord had gone out…

Jesus had hoped He would find an ember – a spark – at least a little desire for God…

But He came to reignite the hearts of men – stir up their hearts for the Lord…

Jesus came to be baptized – speaking of His death and resurrection…

He would take the first step in restoring men to God – He would pay the price for sin!

And one day He will return for us – those He gave His life to redeem/save….

He is our beginning and end – Hebrews 12:2 – “The author and finisher of our faith…”

If we understand this message – it should ignite a flame in our hearts for God…

Knowing God loved us so much He was willing to die for us – Romans 5:8

And the knowledge of His eminent return keeping us pure – I John 3:3

A message to bring division… vs. 51-53

Jesus came with a sword – Matthew 10:34…

Colossian 1:20 – “Through Jesus God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross…”

The sword that Jesus brought was the cross – through it he defeated satan and death…

It was through the cross that the King of peace brought true peace to all who believe!

But the Gospel and Rapture message come across as a sword – causing division…

The reason is leaves no middle ground – it causes you to make a stand…

Luke 11:23 – “He who is not with Me is against Me…”

There is no middle ground – no grey – if you are not for Jesus then you’re against Him!

When you start talking about the Gospel / Rapture of the church – people react…

It is a message that will quickly reveal if someone truly believes in Jesus!

It can even divide your family…

In one family of five – three will be against the other two…

Son against father / daughter against mother/ daughter-in-law against mother-in-law

Being ready – living for Jesus is not always an easy command…

It often means people don’t like us – because they don’t like Jesus in us – John 15:18

When we tell others about the Gospel / the rapture – we will be mocked / made fun of

One of the hardest places to stand for Jesus is with our family…

We want to be accepted by our Fathers / Mothers / Sons / Daughters…

But it is a divisive message – if they are not with Jesus – then they will oppose us…

Yet the more they oppose us – all the more we need to give them the message!

4^th – Today is the day… vs. 54-59

You know how to read the weather…

Jesus turned His attention back to the crowds…

They knew how to ‘read’ the weather – it was a simple matter of observation…

In Israel if a cloud was rising in the west (Mediterranean) – it meant rain was coming…

If a south wind was blowing (off of Africa) – it meant hot weather was coming!

Jesus called them Hypocrites (two faced actors)!

Because they could observe something as apparent as the weather…

But they missed the simple truth that God was standing right before them…

Because they did not wan to see – they choose to ignore Jesus!

Jesus is not hidden – He is easy to find – the Gospel message is available to everyone!

But Men don’t want Jesus – they prefer to stay in their sin – John 3:19-20…

They would rather have their sin – than eternal life with God in Heaven!

Get right – or get left…

When others take you to court for the things you have done wrong against them…

Do your best to make it right with the person you wronged before you get there…

Or else the judge will throw you in prison and make you pay every centavo…

In the same way – we need to get our lives right with Jesus…

If not – come judgment day when we stand before the judgment throne of God…

We will have to ‘pay’ for every sin we have committed – to the last ‘centavo’!

Don’t wait till the last minute – get right with God today…

Perhaps you are thinking – once I see the rapture I will believe…

* II Thessalonians 2:11-12 – suggests you will not – you will instead believe a lie…

Those who reject the Gospel today – won’t believe even if they see the rapture!

Or perhaps you think I will just make it right with God at the judgment seat…

The decision on where we spend our eternity is limited to our time here on earth…

The moment we die our fate is sealed – there are no second chances…

There is no purgatory – the prayers of saints/priests/family cannot help you…

Hebrews 9:27 – “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”

Either we have received Jesus and have the hope of eternity with God…

Or we have rejected the Gospel – and have sentenced ourselves to eternity in hell…