An Expected Homecoming

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

(Give a thank you for allowing you this opportunity to preach)

(Share some brief words about who you are, family, and your connection to Stancil’s Chapel)

This past week I had something strange happen. I was working in my office, and I would hear this low tuba like sound go off at random times.

Now this was quite noticeable in my office, but as I would get up to try to find the source, it sounded like the horn sound moved. What seemed to be over here was over there, and when I went over there, it seem that it was back where I started.

This went on for quite a while until the sound just stopped. And it got me thinking of a horn that we read about in the Bible, a sound that I am longing to hear, and if you are a believer it is a sound that you should be longing to hear as well. And it is talked about in the passage that we read today.

If you have found 1 Thessalonians 4 – would you say Praise the Lord.

(Read Scripture)

Now this passage is speaking about the coming of Jesus Christ, in what we believe to be the rapture. And friends, be sure to know that there is coming a day when Jesus is going to call his children home.

Someone may ask, when is it going to sound – friend it can sound at any time. Who is going to sound it – no other than Jesus Christ. Where is it going to sound – friend there will be no guessing of where this sound comes from – it will come from the Lord as he comes out of heaven.

Now notice these three things when it comes to Jesus.

The Awareness of Jesus Christ

· Now Paul speaks to the people of Thessalonica and there are three main problems that he addresses.

· The first problem is ignorance, the second problem is sorrow, and the third problem is hopelessness. They are all found here in verse 13.

· These three problems is what was plaguing this group of people and these same three problems are what many still struggle with today.

· And people search throughout the world. Who are trying to find the answer to these problems, but friend there is only one answer to man’s ignorance, sorrow, and hopelessness. And we find him in Scripture.

· Now these people were perplexed, they struggled with understanding death and the Christian. They knew that Jesus had promised to come again, and they were anticipating his return.

· Now this should tell us something right here, if those people were anticipating the return of Christ, how much more should we.

· Some believe the idea that there are certain prophecies that need to be fulfilled before his return.

· Friend there is nothing stopping the Lord from coming now. There is nothing that is stopping the Lord from coming now.

· So what does this mean to you and I, that we should be living every moment with the anticipation of the Lord’s return.

· Now these people had an ignorance about those who had died and about Jesus Christ.

· And what does Paul do here, he tells them exactly what Jesus will do with those who have died.

· When he comes he is going to bring them with him.

· You know the ignorance that these people had when it came to Christ and their loved ones is an illustration of many today when it comes the Jesus.

· They are ignorant to his power and authority, they are ignorant to his love and grace. And if they are ever going to know the truth, we like Paul have got to make them aware of who Jesus really is.

· Jesus is not some one that we leave people in the dark about, we need to make others aware of who Christ is.

· Now Paul makes these people aware of Christ by sharing with them the death and resurrection of Christ, about his coming again, and the authority he has over those who have died.

· Now if you are here today and you don’t know Jesus, friend I would not have you ignorant regarding Christ.

· He is savior, friend, comforter, he is the Son of God, and he is coming again. He will save you from all of your sins, and bring into the family of God.

· Don’t leave here today, wondering who Jesus is. Know who Jesus is.

The Acclamation of Jesus Christ

· Now there is a second thing we find in this passage and it is found in verse 16, and this is the acclamation of Jesus Christ.

· Now Paul begins to explain to these people and to us, that when Jesus comes again, it is not going to be a quiet affair. This is going to be a boisterous event.

· When Jesus comes again, he is going to shout, he is going to blow the trumpet, he is coming to get his children.

· And what does Paul say the dead will do? He says that they will rise first. These that are laid next to this church, those graves are going to burst open, those bodies that have laid in those coffins for so long, they are going to burst open, and those bodies are going to be reunited with the soul and spirit.

· Now some want to teach that those who are dead, they are in some sort of soul sleep. But friend that isn’t the case at all, in fact what we find back in verse 14, is that when Christ comes back those souls of believers are coming with him, that means they are with him right now.

· And when he comes they will come with also, and those bodies they once inhabited will rise up and be perfected and they will rejoin the Lord!

· Oh, what a day that will be, it reminds me of the words found in the hymn, Lord hast the day when our faith shall be sight; the clouds be rolled back as a scroll.

· Now what will Jesus shout when he comes back, well I’m not 100% sure, but I believe he will shout something very similar to what he said to Lazarus – Come Forth!

· It will be voice that those believers dead and alive all over the earth will hear. From the dust of the earth, bodies will be reform, from the sea living people will spring out, and all who have given their hearts to the Lord will hear him shout – come to me.

· Oh, that is something to shout about. But sadly, as many will go to meet the Lord, there will be many who will be left behind.

· You know, I believe when the rapture comes, that the church will become a crowded place. I think there will be many coming to the church house looking for answers.

· While the believer will be giving acclamation unto the Lord, there will be many who lament not coming to Christ when they had the opportunity.

· The scripture tells us that today is the day of salvation, and what we must do is come to him now.

· You know there was a time in my life, that I put off coming to Jesus. What would have happen if he came back during that time?

· I would have been bound for Hell. But praise God I came to him, and friend that might be the reason he hasn’t come back as of yet.

· That there is still another soul that needs to come to him. And maybe that soul is seated in this room right now.

· You came for the chicken and corn, you came to see old friends and family, but Jesus has you here for something greater. He has you here to save you from your sins.

· Oh, there will be an acclamation when Jesus comes, but let it be praises instead of sorrow.

· Now Jesus comes with a shout and the dead arise, but what else do we see, those who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.

· Now friends we are here today having homecoming, a reunion so to speak. But this homecoming won’t compare to that heavenly homecoming that awaits.

· And here is the great news, when he comes and calls us home, that is where we will be forever.

· Does that excite you? Or does that scare you? If it scares you, maybe because you haven’t gotten your heart right with the Lord.

· Death should not frighten us either, because we know that death cannot hold us because Jesus conquered death.

· We should be listening everyday for the call of Christ.

· Illustration – the dream of Christ calling us home.

· That dream is going to become a reality.

The Awaiting of Jesus Christ

· Now we have seen the awareness of Jesus Christ and the acclamation of Jesus Christ, but here is the final thing and that is the awaiting of Jesus Christ.

· Paul reminded those in Thessalonica to be comforted and to comfort one another with those words.

· Let me ask you, when you hear about the return of Jesus Christ, does it comfort you or scare you?

· For some, they like the idea of Jesus coming again, but they just don’t want him to come now.

· And why is that? Because they have things they want to do. Goals they want to accomplish. Events they want to witness. Relationships they want to enjoy.

· And then there are some that don’t believe it will happen at all, there are some who have heard this message over and over again, and they say when is he coming? They just don’t believe it.

· Friend, how does Jesus want us to be living? He wants us to live everyday in anticipation that this is the day of his return.

· Years ago, I worked in the automotive industry, and we were anticipating the owner of the company coming by the dealership to check up on us.

· Do you know what every employee was doing? They were making sure their work spaces were neat and orderly, everyone was treating every customer with respect and courtesy. Everyone had a smile, and went the extra mile to show people who we were and who we represented.

· Now here is the thing, none of us had seen the owner before, so we didn’t know what he looked like. We were anticipating some warning of his arrival, something that alerted us that he was there. But that didn’t come.

· In fact, he didn’t even come that day. All of that work in getting ready seemed pointless, but in reality, it wasn’t. Because the owner of the company wanted us to be like that everyday.

· Now eventually, when we weren’t expecting it, he showed up. Some of us were ready some of us were not.

· But in similar manner, we should be living our lives like that for Jesus Christ. He is coming back, and I don’t want to be doing something that I know I shouldn’t be doing.

· I want to be prepared. I want to be prepared when death comes, I want to be prepared to meet Jesus.

· So, what should we be doing, we should be living each day as if it were the day of the Lord’s return.

· This is not to scare us, but it is to comfort us. Friends this world is getting worse by the day.

· And I may not know the day or the hour of his return, but I believe we can know the season.

· And when I look at this world, I believe that Jesus is about to return at any moment.

· Will you be ready for when that trumpet blows? Are you awaiting Jesus return?

· If you are worried that you are not right with Christ today, please come and make it right. Come and ask the Lord to forgive you and rise up a person alive in Christ.

· Don’t leave here ignorant, sorrowful, and hopeless. Leave here today with joy in your heart for Christ is coming again!!