04/14/2024 Be Ready When He Comes (Audio Recording Not Available At This Time)

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor / Elder Jonathan Lonon Sermon Notes Be Ready When He Comes All scriptures will be from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) Recognition: 1. All honor and glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ 2. Pastor Wayne Mack and First Lady Michelle Mack, and all elders, ministers, and servants of the most high who serve here at Grace Place Atlanta Church of God by Faith, including my lovely wife. 3. All guest and new members attending in person and online. Thank you for worshipping the Lord with us today. Introduction We are living in the last days. One or less “amens” will suffice! The Lord has promised and His Word is true, He’s coming back just like He said He would! We want Him to crack the sky, but we also want to be in that number. Although the “saints marching in” is not exactly the rapture, it is part of the gathering of God’s people that will eventually culminate in the gatherings after judgment, at least 1000 years after the millennial reign of Christ reigns on earth. Be Ready When He Comes Page 1 of 19 The key, or the world might say, “the trick”, is to be ready. But it really isn’t a trick as much as a key which has be freely given to us to unlock our everlasting future of peace with our God. Don’t you want to be where there is no more pain, sorrow, suffering, or death? What about deliverance from mortal posturing for power, land, wealth, attention, and all the other vanities that Solomon lays bare in the book of Ecclesiastes? Well, it is possible to be ready, and Jesus starts us on the right track and many other scriptures align with His lessons on readiness. Now, let’s start with our primary scripture reading for this message: Primary Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44 36 “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son —except the Father alone. 37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. 44 This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Topic: Be Ready When He Comes Be Ready When He Comes Page 2 of 19 Background on Scriptures and Today’s Message The Word of God. We’re going to share the Word that supports the warning about being ready when Jesus returns. To make this more palatable, we have spread the warning of the lesson in three topical areas: A. Hinderances to this warning. B. Apathy to this warning. C. Heeding this warning. We’ve been warned to be ready, let’s start with what keeps us, or can keep us, from being ready: A. Hinderances to this warning. a. Deceptions 2 Corinthians 11:3 - But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. Ephesians 4:14 - Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. Matthew 10:16 - “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. Proverbs 7:10 - A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda. Be Ready When He Comes Page 3 of 19 Jeremiah 9:6 - You live in a world of deception. In their deception they refuse to know me. This is the Lord’s declaration. 1 Peter 2:1 - Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Psalm 119:29 - Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction. b. Distractions (from the narrow way) If we step back a bit and visualize the actual event of the deception mentioned above in II Corinthians 11:3, distractions become a clear part of the deception. We don’t have time to cover Satan’s punishment for this deception, but it could be said that his distraction attempt was a success that lingers to this day! Genesis 3:1-10 - Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the Be Ready When He Comes Page 4 of 19 tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Also, note at Shame can be a distraction in heeding the warnings. See Mark 8:38 and Romans 1:16. Mark 8:38 - For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. Fear is a distraction for the believer. By faith and not fear, the gospel leads to our salvation! c. Delusions (strong lies to hide the truth) Be Ready When He Comes Page 5 of 19 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 - 9 The coming of the lawless one is based on Satan’s working, with every kind of miracle, both signs and wonders serving the lie, 10 and with every wicked deception among those who are perishing. They perish because they did not accept the love of the truth and so be saved. Idols are delusions. In fact, the entire 41st chapter of Isaiah is a blow-by-blow comparison of the true and living God to idols! Verse 29 is enough for today on their “nothingness”. Isaiah 41:29 - Look, all of them are a delusion; their works are nonexistent; their images are wind and emptiness. People can all be delusions or illusional figures. David’s experience talks… Psalm 62:9 - Common people are only a vapor; important people, an illusion. Together on a scale, they weigh less than a vapor. Money and power are delusions… Revelation 3:17 - For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. d. Doctrines (bold modifications to appease, or to make you feel good) Be Ready When He Comes Page 6 of 19 1 Timothy 6:3-5 - 3 If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain. Although myths can be categorized with delusions, they are sometimes mistaken as gospel doctrine! So take heed… 2 Timothy 4:3-4 - 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. e. Disobedience (to God) Don’t be like Israel, as described in Jeremiah 2:13… Jeremiah 2:13 - For my people have committed a double evil: They have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug cisterns for themselves—cracked cisterns that cannot hold water. Ephesians 5:6 - Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. Be Ready When He Comes Page 7 of 19 f. Disassociation (from other believers by association with those or with things unknown – or even self-indulgence) Mark 7:22 - adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, selfindulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. It is a known tactic of any warfare campaign to get the enemy to separate from the group for easy pick-offs! B. Apathy to this warning a. Not studying the Word (inspiration doesn’t fit apathy) 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, b. Not praying without ceasing (alertness doesn’t fit apathy) Ephesians 6:18 - Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Colossians 4:2 - Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - pray constantly, [w/o ceasing KJV] c. Not walking in the Spirit Galatians 5:16 - I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. Be Ready When He Comes Page 8 of 19 d. Not wanting to hear the truth to “stay” saved or to “be” saved e. Not being faithful or fruitful (in a nutshell). See Jeremiah 2:23-37 for a good picture of unfaithfulness and its rewards. Is an unfaithful wife worse than a “missing” wife? Or could they be one-in-the-same?! Out of sorts, out of place, seeking another or others or idols! We’ve been warned to be ready, we’ve seen some hinderances to being ready, and we know we should not have apathy about this warning, or not take it seriously. So, how do we make sure that we are ready? This leads to the third point… C. Heeding this warning a. Reverse the apathy and run from the hinderances (like Joseph abandoning his clothes to escape Potiphar’s wife). 2 Timothy 2:2 - What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Romans 16:17-18 - 17 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them, 18 because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words. Hebrews 12:1-2a - Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run Be Ready When He Comes Page 9 of 19 with endurance the race that lies before us, 2a keeping our eyes on Jesus, 2 John 9-10 - 9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; b. Stay in the Word. [study to show yourself approved KJV] Be Ready When He Comes Page 10 of 19 2 Timothy 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. 2 Peter 1:10 - Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 1 Timothy 4:13, 16 - 13 Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. 16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. Proverbs 4:10-13 - 10 Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. 11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go. Guard it, for it is your life. c. Seek the Lord “early”. (Less me-sus, more Jesus!) Psalm 5:3 - In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you and watch expectantly. Psalm 63:1 - God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. Be Ready When He Comes Page 11 of 19 Amos 5:6 - Seek the Lord and live, or he will spread like fire throughout the house of Joseph; it will consume everything with no one at Bethel to extinguish it. Jeremiah 29:13 - You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near. d. Be godly and content. 1 Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain. Romans 12:1-3 - Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. e. Believe what the Lord says. (He’s talking directly to you!) John 14:1-3 - “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. f. Tell others about your relationship with Christ. Be Ready When He Comes Page 12 of 19 1 John 2:28 - So now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Matthew 28:19 - Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, g. Don’t be like the five foolish virgins. (Stay close – the bridegroom is coming – see Matthew 25:1-13 as ref.; Matthew 24:43-44 repeats what we’ll see here in Luke 39 and 40 of the following verses.) Luke 12:35-40 - 35 “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. 36 You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” h. Never forget that you are the bride of Christ. Be Ready When He Comes Page 13 of 19 Titus 3:5 - he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 7:6 - For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be his own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. 1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Remember that we are different breed, although the same man with a sinful nature, now saved by grace through faith. He won’t forsake us, so why should we forsake Him? There is definitely hope for us now that He has paid the price for our sins, just as there was always the promise of hope to Judah and Israel as we see in Jeremiah 3:6-25. Be ready for the coming of the Lord to carry you away to His home forever. One more time… John 14:2 - In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? I want to share one final thing today… Be Ready When He Comes Page 14 of 19 A vivid and alarming dream I had this week As the dream started in the place where I was, I didn’t recognize the church building or the land it was on. Apparently, we were in a new location with lots of land and a nice campus, but I could have been visiting or serving elsewhere, I don’t know. I arrive for service and I am immediately engaged with a team having challenges with some technical equipment therefore delaying the preservice and start-of-service activities. I am a bit disappointed, but we get the ball rolling after some discussion and I am satisfied the resolution will be hasty. A church minister inside the sanctuary sends word to me that they are ready to start service, to which I send a reply to allow for a few minutes with an apology. I then walk to the back door a few minutes later to ask an usher (who happens to be dressed in an all-white uniform) to inform the minister to proceed with starting the service, even though the issue had not yet been resolved. I then walked to a large deck area been the church, but near where the team with the challenge had been working. The deck all types of beautiful flowers as well as vines. As a walked there was an unusually loud busyness to the insects and bees around the flowers and I remember complaining a bit as I walked away while swatting at a few that followed me. I walked back toward the front of the property, passing the team working on the issue, and into the open field area at the front side of the church. For some reason, I looked up. I cannot remember if it was because Be Ready When He Comes Page 15 of 19 things were falling from the sky or because of noises like blowing winds, etc. I immediately saw a very large church (yes, I said church, as in a church building) falling from the sky. Of course, I was confused about what was happening, but also startled by what I was seeing – a church? The falling building was the size and type of one of those old city block Baptist or other old-school denominational brick and wooden buildings. It was slowly falling from the sky (likely faster than I thought) and when my eyes shifted slightly to the right and slightly up higher, I saw the detached steeple coming down behind it. It was at that moment I realized it really was a church that I was seeing falling from the sky! It’s direction of descent suggested that it would crash near the front side of the church if not onto the side near where I was standing. I immediately turned and yelled to the few people (unidentified) who were standing at the front door area, “run inside and tell everyone to take cover!” I screamed this out two or three times quickly and then turned back to look up again. It was real! When I looked back up, the falling church was much closer and pieces were landing in the yard around our building. As my eyes came back to ground level I noticed that the entire highway and roadway that ran parallel to the front of the our church building was busy with cars, but oddly, the entire back end of the train of cars and trucks on the highway was slowly sliding toward our building and property! Of course, I was already set to run by now and head for cover, but as my eyes moved to the left away from the moving road of traffic and towards the side of the church where the team was earlier having the issue, I caught a glimpse of the field behind them and noticed that all of the buildings and trees in that area, normally not visible at ground level from our property when you looked over there, were slightly raised and Be Ready When He Comes Page 16 of 19 all moving in the direction of our church building and property. There were not many trees, but the buildings were warehouse sized buildings! At this point, I did a Road-Runner move and picked up speed running toward the back of church to enter at the same door where the usher was stationed earlier. She was not there and when I ran inside, there was a frenzy of movement. It seems that our church building was already shaking and some benches and lighting were displaced. [In hindsight, I assume that others had by now looked out the windows and also realized something large was happening. The church falling from the sky looked as if it had been hurled up like a football and the roadway, cars, fields and buildings seemed to be rolling up like carpet. I believe I surmised a tornado or other weather event, but quickly dismissed trying to figure it out knowing there was little time to think about it.] Once inside the church, I ran through the small hallway and into the sanctuary yelling for my wife, “Bren”, I yelled a couple of times before I saw her waving frantically so I could see where she was. I ran to her over several items and between others who were huddling and [I assume] praying. I held her tight and apologized for anywhere I fell short as a husband or father, as she was, like everyone else, wondering what was happening. There was an earie silence in the background as I whispered to her that I believed the Lord was coming back and that this may be our time. Everything went dark. I awoke and it was a clear as I just described it. I was calm in spirit because I knew that I knew the Lord. I knew it wasn’t the rapture, but I knew we don’t know everything about some things that will occur in the earth before the Lord comes. Many think they have everything figured out, but God is sending out warnings and reminding us of the simple things we can do to be prepared. Whether we live or die during the turmoil on this earth, His promise holds true for the ready ones. Be Ready When He Comes Page 17 of 19 The interpretation? The following symbolisms came from this dream as I asked the Lord for what it could mean for me and those I could share it with. As best I could tell, the lesson from this dream (for me) was that “Nothing should keep us from being ready”! • • • • • • • • • • • Our duties Our religious rituals and services Our attire Our personal hangups (with insects or people!) Our land Our differences of theology Our buildings Our busyness (to get here or there) Our business endeavors Our ideas or plans Our relationships I don’t claim to be a dreamer or prophet with a special connection to God. Maybe you could see more in my dream, and that may be possible as God uses messages to alert people in different ways – He’s amazing like that! But all-in-all, I believe the bottom line is that nothing should Be Ready When He Comes Page 18 of 19 keep us from being ready for the return of Christ or to meet the Lord with His favor! Be ye also ready! Altar call Return to Service Leader Be Ready When He Comes Page 19 of 19