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About-Him.Com Devotional 11-26-2005
Http://About-Him.Com/ My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension. We concluded last week with the words of Jesus that no man knew the day or hour of His coming. Par. 200b: Discourse on Signs and Coming Events (The Coming of Jesus) Mt. 24:15-51; Mk. 13:14-37; Luke 21:20-36 Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. It is sad that many have lost their expectancy of the coming of the Lord because of the repeated failures of those who persist in setting dates. Of course this is usually in an effort to sell books or solicit donations to their various ministries. However, that does not change God's word. He said that He would come at the hour that we think not. Our job is to be waiting watching and working. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Noah preached for a long time as he built the ark. His simple message was, "Repent, a flood is coming." Men turned a deaf ear and continue on with business as usual and in the pursuit of pleasure. Much like today, wouldn't you say? 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. The word "therefore" reflects back to the previous text of verses 37-42, all of which refers to His coming. Two will be at the mill, in the field or in the bed. One will be taken and the other left behind. Jesus tells us that this will be at the time of His coming. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Jesus likened His coming to a thief in the night. If we knew the thief was going to be trying to break in to our house we would be prepared to repel him. We are to be ready, because we do not know when Jesus is coming, but we can rest assured that He is. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. A blessing is promised to the one who is going about the Master’s business when He returns. Likewise, to be caught uncaring and unaware will invite severe judgment. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus said that He would come when some felt that He had delayed his coming. They would fall into sin, oppress others, and eat and drink with the drunken. We remember His words from Luke 21:34: Lu 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Peter tells us that some will ask, "Where is the promise of His coming." They’ll claim that all things continue as usual. II Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. I feel that those days are upon us. I am very concerned over any doctrine that minimizes the expectancy of our Lord’s return. Conclusion and Application: Jesus told His disciples in John 14 that He would be leaving and going to His Father's house to prepare mansions for us. The purpose of the mansions was not just for us to have a big house. It was as He said, "That where I am, there you may be also." The thrust of the gospels is that we not lay up our treasures on earth, but rather in heaven. Where our treasure is, there will our heart be also (Matthew 6:21: Luke 6:34). When He ascended, the angels proclaimed, that this same Jesus that you see leaving shall so come in like manner as you see Him go (Acts 1:11). We know that much was fulfilled in A.D. 70, but there is much more that was not: The anti-Christ, the covenant with Israel and the mark of the beast. The epistles remind us that Jesus is coming for a blood washed, sanctified, Spirit filled, spotless bride (Ephesians 5:26-27). And yet, some would tell us to not get so excited about it. Others would say that it has already happened. Some would have me change my emphasis from looking for Jesus to being successful in this present world. Maybe we are not reading the same word? I read of a blessed hope when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, comes and catches us away (Titus 2:13). I read of a time when we are gathered around the throne. Pain and suffering, sorrow and crying, will have ceased. Death will have been conquered and God Himself will wipe away all tears from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). Most of all, we won't even need the sun. The glory of God and the Lamb will be the light of that eternal city (Revelation 21:23). Some say that this is an escapist mentality. If so, count me in? I desire to join with the apostle and cry out, "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). I’ve noticed that since the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many secular people have been asking, What’s happening? First a tsunami, then hurricane devastation from Guatemala to Florida, extensive flooding in the northeast and a massive earthquake in India and Pakistan. Is God trying to get out attention? I believe that He is indeed! Next week we will continue on to Matthew 25 which is a continuation of the dialogue which the disciples initiated in Matthew 24. There they asked a three part question: When will these things beIn Matthew 25, Jesus gives the parable of the Ten Virgins which stress watchfulness and being prepared for His coming. It then continues on to cover the final judgment and rewards to the faithful. In my view, to separate the last part of Matthew 24 and 25 from the last part of Matthew 23 does violence to the scripture. We have a song that goes along with the text of this lesson, that I hope you enjoy. I'm Looking For Jesus RealAudio http://about-him.com/music/looking5.ram MP3 http://about-him.com/music/looking.mp3 In About-Him
Online Sermons http://about-him.com/sermonlink.htmlOur Bible Studies http://about-him.com/bslinkpage.html Our Music: http://about-him.com/audio.html Flash Theater http://about-him.com/player.html Scripture list on 30 subjects http://about-him.com/wordarc.html Humor
My kids love going on the internet and they keep track of their passwords by writing
them on sticky notes. I noticed their Disney password was
"MickeyMinnieGoofyPluto." I asked why it was so long.
"Because," my son explained, "they say it has to have at least four characters." Somebody Has Said
What does it profit a man if he gain the world and lose his own soul? - Jesus Christ
Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
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