No Joke

Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word, it warns you of the wrath to come.  In western civilization perhaps like the church of Laodicea, people often tend to think that God came for our comfort, and privilege, instead of our holiness and purity before Him.  God’s word clearly warns of the nearness of His return, the unexpectedness of that day for those who live life for pleasure, and not his kingdom.  God says the coming day of the LORD will be like the days of Noah, men and women will just be going about their everyday life, eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage – and suddenly the day of the LORD will be upon them.  But with this warning, God gives hope.  When Jesus ascended into heaven into a cloud, and his disciples watched.  Acts 1:10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “Why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  This is the promise that we have – Christ’s return to save his church from the coming wrath and also to establish His rule on the earth.  I Thes 5:8-9 – 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.”  Encourage each other with what?  I Thes 4:15 – According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will forever be with the Lord.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.”  People differ in their belief of the order of these events, but God will do exactly as He has purposed - despite what you, or I or anyone else thinks.  Rather than trying to figure out the timing, we might be better served figuring out if we are ready.  Because there will come a day of testing on the earth, such as never has happened before, and the wrath of God will be poured out on the wicked who refuse to turn from their evil ways.  That time is coming so very soon.  Jesus said unlike those who are blind, we are of the light not the night, so it shouldn’t surprise us, as it will them.  We won’t know the day or the hour, only the Father knows that - but we should see that day approaching.  Jesus condemned the Pharisees, Matt 16:3 – “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”  John the Baptist, the prophets and Jesus warned of the coming wrath of God being poured out on the earth in the Tribulation, as time draws to an end.  But believers have this hope, that we will be saved from the wrath to come, and forever be with the Lord.  Luke 21:25 - There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.  On the earth nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.  Men 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 power and great glory.  When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.  When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.   So what do we do - as believers in the Salvation that God has promised - in light of the day that is almost upon us?    #1 Be sure your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Acts 16:1 - Believe on the LORD, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!  John 3:16-19 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does has been done through God”.  So be sure that you are saved, from the power of sin in your life, from the wrath to come on the earth, and the second death – prepared for the devil and his angels, and unfortunately all who reject the gift of God - Salvation through Jesus Christ alone.  What else must we do to be prepared for that day that will come so suddenly, when so many do not expect it?  #2 Be filled with His Spirit – it is the Holy Spirit that leads us into all truth, and keeps us from deception that will be rampant in that day. (Luke 11:13, it’s that simple. Ask, and He will give you the Holy Spirit and power.)  #3 Be watchful and prayerful.   Luke 21:34 – Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation (squandering of time and opportunity), drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.  For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.  Be always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”  See the signs around you.  Even the April 8th Solar Eclipse is a reminder of the soon return of Jesus Christ.  So how should we live? #4 Be Holy.  I Thes 4:3 – It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality, that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passional lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.  The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.  For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore , he who rejects this instruction doesn’t not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.  How do we prepare?  #5 Encourage each other – in the hope that we have, and turn people from sin to Christ!  I Thes 5:14-24 – And we urge you brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.  (#6) Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.  Test everything.  Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil.”  God clearly tells us what kind of lives we should live in preparation and hope of his soon return.  And here is the hope that we have… I Thes 5:23 – May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  24 The One who calls you is faithful and he will do it.  Praise God, Jesus does it, nothing you can do - can qualify you for heaven, or save you from the coming wrath.  The blood of Jesus does that, if you put your faith in him, turn from your former ways, and watch and wait for his return.  Don’t get caught up in debates of times and seasons, just know that Jesus could return any moment, even today!  Many watchers feel that this could be the year and the season, based on prophesies, and simple math.  Praying that you will be ready, that you will live a life worthy of the calling you have received, (Eph 4:1) and that you would turn others from the error of their ways so that they too can receive the life that is in Jesus Christ and be spared from what is soon to come.  Encourage one another, Look for His return.  Finally, - #7 Be fulling doing what He called you to do!  So that when He comes, things will go well for you.  Matt 24:45 – “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.  What has God called you to do in this season?  Are you doing it?  Praying that you will be watchful and prayerful, joyful, and blameless by the power of Jesus Christ.  That you will be ready and longing for his return, fulling doing what He told you to do.  Praying that you will put your trust in Him, He is faithful!  He is coming soon! 
 
Love you all,
dad