Jesus Is Coming
Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as
his work shall be.
Something we don’t hear enough about today is that Jesus is coming back.
A movie came out in 1997 about a scientist who was using a radio telescope to record sounds from outer
space and got a message from aliens. There are, no doubt, real scientists who are hoping for a message
from outer space, but I already got one. It says, “Behold, I come quickly”, and it is from Jesus.
Now, I am listening for the sound of a trumpet.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Are you listening?
The church has fallen into a slump – a slumber.
A Christian songwriter, Keith Green, wrote the words several years ago, “The world is sleeping in the dark
... but the church is asleep in the light!”
The Muslims are making a lot of noise today. The gays are making a lot of noise. When is the church
going to start making noise again? We’re trying to be polite. We’re trying to prove that we’re not as
fanatical and unbalanced as we are accused of being. We don’t want anybody to say anything bad about
us.
Know something? They thought Jesus was fanatical and unbalanced. Paul, too!
Know something else? I don’t care if people say I’m a fanatic. The truth doesn’t hurt.
Here is what I think has happened. We have waited so long for Jesus to return that we have gotten tired of
waiting. We have lost our sense of anticipation.
Listen to what Jesus said: Luke 12:42-47
“ The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his
servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the
master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to
beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant
will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to
pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. That servant who knows his master’s will and does not
get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.”
Illus: A few years ago, my mother-in-law became very sick and I sent my wife, Patti, home to take care of
her. We were living overseas at the time. I told Patti to stay as long as she needed to take care of mom.
After 3 weeks, Patti called and said she was coming home. I knew she would come home, but now I had a
specific date.
When I knew when she was coming I prepared. I cleaned up the house; I refilled the refrigerator; I drove to
the airport ... and waited ... and watched the clock. The plane was late, but I stayed right there.
Maybe you think Jesus is late. The Bible tells us that in the last days people 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 3:4)
This world has gotten so bad we all wonder why he hasn’t jumped in yet. But if we stop waiting in
anticipation we will lose our joy. We will lose our drive to serve him.
Is anybody excited about Christmas yet? No! It’s too far off. But come December, we’ll start getting
excited with anticipation. Why? Because we know it is close.
Guess what! The coming of Jesus may be closer than you think. Just look at the Middle East. Jesus
placed great emphasis on the sign of the Fig Tree. The fig tree represents Israel. As I read biblical
prophecy and read the news, it’s all beginning to sound alike.
Are you ready?
Are you waiting?
Are you waiting joyfully?
Are you looking forward to his coming like a bride awaits her wedding day, or do you just wish he’d hurry
up and get it over with?
How you wait is important. There is a great difference between anticipating the glorious coming of the King
and just wanting to get out of this world.
We are in this world for a reason!
Yes, I want to go to heaven. And today would be fine with me. But I want to enjoy the presence and
blessings of God in this life to the fullest until I leave. I want to walk in his presence knowing that the next
corner I come around, he may be standing there waiting for me.
I want to know that when that trumpet blows I can say, “Yes, Lord,” and not, “Uh Oh!”
What shall we do to make sure we are ready?
1. Examine your heart. Only the pure in heart will see Him.
2. Confess and forsake every known sin.
3. Read His Word daily. You must feed on the Word to strengthen your spirit.
4. Watch and pray. Pay attention to what is going on in the world around you.
5. Share your faith. People are going to hell. You can stop them.
How many of you want to be ready for the coming of the Lord?
Let’s gather around this altar and pray – “Lord, make my heart right. Make me ready for your coming.
Restore my passion for you. Help me to live in victory until you come.”
Now, let us all take some time this week to examine our lives and seek to have our joy and passion
renewed.
his work shall be.
Something we don’t hear enough about today is that Jesus is coming back.
A movie came out in 1997 about a scientist who was using a radio telescope to record sounds from outer
space and got a message from aliens. There are, no doubt, real scientists who are hoping for a message
from outer space, but I already got one. It says, “Behold, I come quickly”, and it is from Jesus.
Now, I am listening for the sound of a trumpet.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Are you listening?
The church has fallen into a slump – a slumber.
A Christian songwriter, Keith Green, wrote the words several years ago, “The world is sleeping in the dark
... but the church is asleep in the light!”
The Muslims are making a lot of noise today. The gays are making a lot of noise. When is the church
going to start making noise again? We’re trying to be polite. We’re trying to prove that we’re not as
fanatical and unbalanced as we are accused of being. We don’t want anybody to say anything bad about
us.
Know something? They thought Jesus was fanatical and unbalanced. Paul, too!
Know something else? I don’t care if people say I’m a fanatic. The truth doesn’t hurt.
Here is what I think has happened. We have waited so long for Jesus to return that we have gotten tired of
waiting. We have lost our sense of anticipation.
Listen to what Jesus said: Luke 12:42-47
“ The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his
servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the
master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to
beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant
will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to
pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. That servant who knows his master’s will and does not
get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.”
Illus: A few years ago, my mother-in-law became very sick and I sent my wife, Patti, home to take care of
her. We were living overseas at the time. I told Patti to stay as long as she needed to take care of mom.
After 3 weeks, Patti called and said she was coming home. I knew she would come home, but now I had a
specific date.
When I knew when she was coming I prepared. I cleaned up the house; I refilled the refrigerator; I drove to
the airport ... and waited ... and watched the clock. The plane was late, but I stayed right there.
Maybe you think Jesus is late. The Bible tells us that in the last days people 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 3:4)
This world has gotten so bad we all wonder why he hasn’t jumped in yet. But if we stop waiting in
anticipation we will lose our joy. We will lose our drive to serve him.
Is anybody excited about Christmas yet? No! It’s too far off. But come December, we’ll start getting
excited with anticipation. Why? Because we know it is close.
Guess what! The coming of Jesus may be closer than you think. Just look at the Middle East. Jesus
placed great emphasis on the sign of the Fig Tree. The fig tree represents Israel. As I read biblical
prophecy and read the news, it’s all beginning to sound alike.
Are you ready?
Are you waiting?
Are you waiting joyfully?
Are you looking forward to his coming like a bride awaits her wedding day, or do you just wish he’d hurry
up and get it over with?
How you wait is important. There is a great difference between anticipating the glorious coming of the King
and just wanting to get out of this world.
We are in this world for a reason!
Yes, I want to go to heaven. And today would be fine with me. But I want to enjoy the presence and
blessings of God in this life to the fullest until I leave. I want to walk in his presence knowing that the next
corner I come around, he may be standing there waiting for me.
I want to know that when that trumpet blows I can say, “Yes, Lord,” and not, “Uh Oh!”
What shall we do to make sure we are ready?
1. Examine your heart. Only the pure in heart will see Him.
2. Confess and forsake every known sin.
3. Read His Word daily. You must feed on the Word to strengthen your spirit.
4. Watch and pray. Pay attention to what is going on in the world around you.
5. Share your faith. People are going to hell. You can stop them.
How many of you want to be ready for the coming of the Lord?
Let’s gather around this altar and pray – “Lord, make my heart right. Make me ready for your coming.
Restore my passion for you. Help me to live in victory until you come.”
Now, let us all take some time this week to examine our lives and seek to have our joy and passion
renewed.
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