Previous Service
Welcome
“Lord, help us all to be ready for Your Second Coming, Amen!”
Testimony
“The Bible speaks approximately 320 times of the return of Christ, so it’s hardly a subject that should be ignored … one thing is absolutely certain – if you believe the Bible you must believe that Jesus will return in the future in majesty and glory … there are … things happening right now that cause me to believe this is not the time to ignore teaching on the second coming.”
John Hosier
Worship
Word
Please read: Matt. 24:36-51
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matt 24:37-39
With the war in the Ukraine, speculation about the end of the world is on the increase. If Jesus had clearly mapped out the day of His Second Coming, so we could all work it out with precision, then people would live carelessly, and, just before His return, try to get right with God. It would all be a bit of a sham. Here, there is a need to be ready at all times.
It’s amazing that Jesus taught about His Second Coming in a way that has kept billions of believers living in expectancy and readiness for 2,000 years:
So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him. ‘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.
Matt. 24:44-47
For the faithful that day will be a time of being lost in wonder, love, and praise and of being rewarded. They say a good teacher keeps emphasising the important points to drive them home, well, look at Jesus emphasising the suddenness and unexpectedness of that day and hour:
But about that day or hour no one knows.
Matt 24:36
they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matt 24:39
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come
Matt 24:42
So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.
Matt 24:44
It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when He returns
Matt 24:46
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.
Matt 24:50
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Matt. 25:13
So the time of Jesus Second Coming is unknown and many will be caught unawares, as in the days of Noah when only 8 people made it. Jesus’ disciples need to be always alert and ready. But what does this mean in practice? Matt. 25:31-46 provides us with some of the answers, e.g.
The King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you ill, or in prison and go to visit you?”The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matt 25:34-40
Quote of the week
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
C. S. Lewis
Verse of the week
We wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:13
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, You were faithful to send Your Son the first time as a sacrifice to bear sin; but now we look forward to His Second Coming when He will bring salvation to all who are waiting for Him. Help us by the power of the Holy Spirit to be ready, in Jesus Christ, Amen!