Are you Ready

Good morning, everyone! Whether you're here with us in the room or joining online—listening live or later—I am truly glad you're here. Leaf River Baptist church exist to Know God, grow in faith, and to go make Him known.

Kids…it’s time for you to head on back to your class so you can learn about Christ and grow in your own faith. We are so blessed to have a group of volunteers that genuinely loves to teach our kids about Christ, and how Christ impacts their lives on a daily basis.

Now everyone else, it’s time to grab your Bible, and get ready to be uncomfortable. We are continue in Thessalonians 5. We are talking about something that’s really important…but also can be a bit intense.

Last week we briefly talked about how Christians don’t grieve the same way that non Christians grieve because we have the hope of eternity with Christ. I briefly mentioned the idea of the Rapture which I the theological concept that Jesus will return with resurrection power. That’s a pretty great thing to contemplate.

Well, today we are going to move into 1 Thessalonians 5 and we are going to talk a little bit about that time when Christ will return and how we may not know exactly when that’s going to happen…but Scripture says we should be ready for when that happens.

Let me just give you a little spoiler…The time when Jesus will return is gettig closer ever day folks and I believe it will happen far sooner than any of us realize.

Now let me tell you a little about our families travel this past summer. You see, we had the opportunity to go and visit Beth’s dad and some missionary friends in Ireland. It was a pretty great trip.

Although we had a couple of issues with the airlines, so that was a bummer. You see, we flew into Ireland for a connecting flight to Portugal. When we got to Ireland we had new tickets because we had missed our connection already. So, we saw where the tickets told us to be and we got there when it told us to. However, there must have been some sort of change that we missed because we were sitting there at the gate and I noticed that the gate had the wrong info. So, I asked and found out that our flight was on the other side of the airport and we better hurry because it’s getting ready to leave. So…we started running…well running as much as a big bald man is gonna run. We got there to the gate, and there was a delay and our flight didn’t leave for another hour. That was frustrating. But…we were really paying attention and making sure we were ready for the flight.

Now, let me tell you something I noticed. I saw people all around me wearing earbuds or headphones. That’s not a problem because I was wearing some also. However, it made me wonder…what would happen if you were so invested in whatever you were listening to or watching that you missed everything going on all around you?

Imagine your sitting there and you’ve checked in, went through security, found your gate and settled into a chair as you wait for them to call your flight.

You know the flight is coming, you know the boarding time, you’ve got your ticket and everything’s all ready.

Then you start into your movie or social media as you just sit and wait… You get so focused on what you’re doing that you stop paying attention to the announcements.

Finally, you decide to look up and you notice something shocking…the gate is completely empty…the plane has boarded…the door was closed and you missed your flight.

You were in the right place at the right time…you had the right tickeet…you knew the flight was cominig…but you just weren’t paying attention.

That story illustrates the danger of living a distracted and unprepared life.

You see, we can become so absorbed in the ordinary things of life that we lose sight of the most important reality…Jesus Christ IS coming again

We can and do get focused on work, bills, vacations, retirement, and everything you’re hoping to accomplish. None of those things are necessarily wrong. But…if they consume your attention so much that you forget eternity, there’s some stuff out of order.

So today Paul is going to remind the Thessalonians, and us that we know the Lord is coming back. The question is whether that knowledges is shaping the way you live today.

Today we’re going to see that we aren’t supposed to live spiritually distracted. We’re supposed to stay ready — not because we know when Jesus is coming back…but because we know that he is coming back.

Today we’re going to look at three characteristics of people who stay ready for the Lord.

First of all, those who are ready …

Anticipate His Return (v.1-3)

The first characteristic we’re looking at is a Christian who is ready for the Lord. Paul begins addressing the timing of the Lord return. Now the purpose of this discussion isn’t to satisfy our curiosity about the future. His purpose is to shape how we live our lives today.

1 Thessalonians 5:1–3 ESV

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

So…Paul is reminding the church that they are fully aware of the day the Lord will return unexpectedly. He’s using this picture of the thief in the night to emphasize the suddenness and the surprise involved in the coming of the Lord.

First we need to realize that

We cannot predict His return.

Paul says that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. That visual is important here. This is pointing to its unexpected arrival. Paul is warning believers not to be caught unready.

Paul is very deliberate with his words here.

First he describes, “Times and Seasons.” This phrase is only used three times in the Bible, and is used primarily to describe God’s plan for Israel. God has ordained times and seasons for the nations of the earth — and all of these times and seasons will culminate in a great and terrible time called, “The Day of the Lord.

Then there is the phrase, “The Day of the Lord.” The day of the Lord is a time when God will judge the world and punish the nations.

Finally there is the phrase, “Thief in the Night.” This describes the suddenness and surprise of Jesus’ return.

The world will be living a life as if everything is fine and will be as it always has been with no concern about standing before an infinitely holy God.

This is the mindset that we see today if we’re honest…even among Christians. People make plans for retirement, careers, families, and the future without ever even considering eternity.

Now just to be clear…planning for tomorrow is not wrong. It is actually wise. However, living as though tomorrow is guaranteed and living our lives based on the plans that we’ve made, is wrong.

Jesus said himself (in Matt 24:44) that we must be ready because the Son of Man will come when we do not expect it.

Listen…we shouldn’t be living in constant fear of Christ’s return. However, we should also never live as if eternity doesn’t matter at all.

We must live ready today!

We do not and cannot know when Jesus will return…That means we have to live a life ready for him to return at anytime.

Being ready doesn’t mean you’re constantly watching the news and interpreting every world event, or trying to calculate dates. Being ready means you are living faithfully before the Lord.

Are you walking with Christ?

Are you pursuing holiness?

Are you loving your family and serving your church?

Are you making the gospel known to those who need to hear it?

You see…too many people, and maybe some here today live as though we will get serious about spiritual things later — Later we will pray more — Later we will share the gospel — Later we will deal with the sin we’ve been excusing.

Folks…the return of Christ reminds us that faithfulness is not something to postpone.

When Jesus was with the disciples he tells them to stay awake because they do not know when the Lord will be coming.

Jesus paints a picture of someone breaking into a house. He said that if the person in charge knows what time the thief will come, he can be ready. However, if he does not know, he must live in a state of readiness.

Paul echos this teaching by saying the unknown timing should create in us a state of readiness…not speculation.

So…in the famous words Will Smith — “If you stay ready, you aint gotta get ready”

Paul continues by moving from the uncertainty of Christ’s return…to the certainty of our identity in Him. Paul teaches us to

Authentically Live (v.4-8)

Paul is going to make a pretty important distinction here. Paul distinguishes thos who belong to the world, and those who belong to Christ. The difference isn’t that Christians know when Christ will return while everyone else doesn’t. The difference is that believers belong to the light…and because of that…they should live differently.

Listen folks…I want everyone to pay very close attention to this today. I know that there are some here and some joining us online that are not in Christ. I know that becuase we have conversations and I see what is really going one.

I want you to pay attention becuase I don’t want you to continue living your life as if you are a Christian when you truly have never repented and surrendered to God.

That means you are walking around thinking you’re all good…when in reality you will be cast into the darkness of eternal torment unless you make a choice.

I say this because I lived this…I lived my life full of stupid and selfish decisions that should have had me killed. Folks…if I woul dhave been killed any of those times, I would not live in eternity with Jesus…I wouldhave spent eternity in Hell…I don’t want that for you…so pay attention folks.

1 Thessalonians 5:4–5 ESV

4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

Pay attention to the language Paul is using here. “Children of the light” “Children of the day”. Paul is describing those who believe as a result of their relationship with Christ. He is saying, if you are a child of the Light, then that should shape how you live.

Paul is encouraging us to

Realize who you are.

Paul is writing to the beleivers in Thessalonica saying, “You are all children of the light…children of the day.”

Paul isn’t telling people to try harder in order to become children of the light. Paul is reminding them that they are children of the light…in other words, they are in Christ.

The gospel changes our identiy. We were separated from God eternally, living in darkness, but through Jesus we have been brought into his light.

Paul is telling these Christians here to pay attention to who they are. He is reminding them of who they were…and who they are now.

Let me just say this…If you are unsure if you are in Christ, or not…please—please—please come to me and let’s get that figured out together.

Listen, there is such an important distinction here. We, as Christians, cannot — or should not adopt the values and attitudes of a world that is living as if God were not real.

If you belong to Christ…your life should reflect that reality…and I know that can be uncomfortable in “the real world”.

Paul told the believers in Ephesus that although they were darkness, they are now light in the Lord and must walk as children of the light.

Being a Christian isn’t ust about what you believe or profess on Sundays. I say this all the time folks.

Being a Christian affects how you speak to tyour spouse…how you behave at work…how you respond when youre frustrated…and what you do when no one else in watching…You know what I’m talking about.

Listen, if you can go on living your life as if Christ doesn’t matter outside of Sunday…then there will come a day when you are no longer able to live for Christ, even if you wanted to.

On that day you will be eternally separated from God…So you better get your heart right before the Lord today…before it’s to late.

There is a reason all of this is important…WE pursue holiness and godliness because Christ has literally given us a new identity.

So…

Protect what shapes your life.

Paul is going to move beyond identity to action. Because we belong to the day, we must not live carelessly like those who are spiritually asleep. Instead we are to be sober-minded, putting on faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

1 Thessalonians 5:5–6 ESV

5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

What Paul is writing is not just ideas we should agree with. This is the reality that should shape our daily lives.

This means having faith and trusting God more than allowing our circumstances to control us.

That means loving others more than I love myself and not living selfishly.

That means remembering your hope is in a future that is secure in Christ…even when your circumstance is hard.

The world around us is constantly trying to make you think differently. There are companies that are popping up like, “Better Help” and “Rula” whose goal is to make you feel better and shape how you think.

If you are not intentioal about what shapes your mind and your heart then you will gradually begin living like everyone else…and maybe that describes you today…living like everyone else and realizing that needs to change.

Think about how we can become spiritually careless. We become consumed by entertainment…distracted by our phones…driven by money…controlled by anger and anxiety.

The answer is not to try harder…the answer is to keep your eyes fixed on Christ and allow the truth of the gospel to shape you thinking and behavior instead of those who are living in the dark.

Wake up and take control of your spiritual health…live like the child of the light that you are...live like the Christian you are.

And if you are just now realizing why things have been so hard for you…then turn your lfie over to God through Christ Jesus today.

Of course this raises an important question. If staying ready requires faithfulness…how can we have confidence that we will be ready when JEsus returns?

Well…Paul answers that by pointing us to God’s saving work and gives us

Assurance of Salvation (v.9-11)

Today I could end here with the command to stay ready and live a godly life. Then you could walk away thinking that everything depended on your own effort.

That’s not where Paul leads us though. Paul reminds us that our hope rests on what God has already done for us through Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 ESV

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

I love these verses right here. These verses give us the foundation for everything Paul has been writing. Our readiness is not based on our own works or our own worthiness.

No, our readiness is grounded in the worthiness of Jesus Christ, and God’s purpose to save us through Christ.

So…take some time and

Rest in what Christ has done.

This promise right here is what gives me the hope that as Christians we will not expeience the time of the great tribulation.

Paul writes, “God has not destined us for wrath” That is an amazing promise right there.

You see, the Day of the Lord is a day of judgement. This is an incredibly serious time of standing before the holy God.

However, for those who belong to Christ, the future is not defined by God’s wrath…it’s defined by the salvation Christ has secured.

Paul tells us that believers who are alive or who have died before Chrsit returns, all share in the future life with him.

His point is to remind the Thessalonians that death does not separate the beleiver from the future that Jesus has already secured for you.

Now this is important becuase there are two very different ways to approach the return of Jesus.

Either you can hear about Jesus return and you will be filled with fear because you know you are not right with God.

Or, you hear about Jesus return and you are filled with hope because you belong to Christ.

The difference isn’t that one person is good enough…the difference is Jesus.

We are not saved because we stay ready all the time. We stay ready because by God’s grace, we belong to the One who saved us.

So Paul ends this short section with another very clear command.

Build one another up.

I want you to pay attention to the word, “Therefore”. I’ve been told before, when ever you see the word therefore…look to see what it is there for.

So here it is. Because Christ has secured your salvation, and because you’re future is held by him, and because we belong to one another, we should be encouraging to one another.

The Christian life was never intended to be lived alone.

There will be times when believers are discouraged…some of you here today are discouraged in various ways…There will be times when believers are struggling with sin..or overwhelmed by life…or maybe losing sight of the hope they have in Christ.

Those are the times that we as the church must support each other and help each other stay ready for the day of the Lord.

Listen…this is important here. This encouragement frequently comes by way of a difficult conversation or bearing another burden or praying with someone or reminding someone that their struggle is not greater than the promises of God.

But it isn’t just telling someone that everything will be okay — The greatest encouragement we can ever give someone is to point them back to Jesus.

That also means encouraging those without Christ. You see, if Christ is returning, and if salvation is found only in Christ, and if people are living without Christ, then the gospel cannot remain something that we keep to ourselves.

Your everyday life should be a display of the difference that Christ makes. Your everyday conversations should create opportunities to speak about Christ.

People who stay ready, rest in the finished work of the cross and empty grave.

People who stay ready encourage each other with the truth.

People who stay ready have the hope of the gospel known.

We have all been given a salvation to celebrate…a community to strengthen…and a message to share.

Pause

So let’s bring all this together.

Paul has given us three truths here, telling us to

Anticipate His Return — don’t live as though eternity doesn’t matter.

Authentically Live — You belong to Christ, so walk as a child of the light.

Assurance of Salvation — Trust what Christ has done for you, encourage His people, and make the gospel known.

Pause

So today before you leave this place you need to answer one question.

Am I ready to meet Jesus?

You can be religious and have attended church your whole life and still be unprepared. You’re still seperated from God by your sin.

You don’t just need to improve your behavior…Your deepest need is to te reconciled to God friend.

That’s exactly why Jesus came.

He lived the life you could never live. He died the death you desevrve so that you can be forgiven and have an eternal life with him.

You don’t prepare for Christ to return by promising to be a better person. You prepare for Chrsit to return by turning from your sin and trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

So stop putting off the most important decision of your life. You are not promised tomorrow. This week I heard about a young family who was driving in Wisconson and the wheel came off a semi going the opposite direction and flew into their van killing the father and 6 year old son. You are not promised tomorrow!

Turn from your sin…trust in the finished work of the cross and empty grave…and receive the salvation that God offers freely through him.

Pause

Christian! If you belong to Jesus…then live like it.

Listen, let me just say that if we were all living our life faithfully; there’s no telling the lives God would change through us — so many that the walls of this church could not contain them.

Don’t let the world lull you to sleep. Don’t allow your faith to become a Sunday routine while the rest of your life is shaped by the priorities of the world.

Pursue holiness…Love your family…Serve your church…Encourage the discouraged…Confront sin with humility and grace…Be the same person in private that you claim to be in public.

And most of all…Don’t keep the gospel to yourself.

Let your life demonstrate the difference Jesus makes…then let your words explain the hope you have in him.

We are not only called to stay ready until Jesus comes…We are called to live faithfully and make him known while we wait.

Now everyone…Please do not leave this as a good thought or a sermon you heard today. I want you to put this into practice.

On your note sheets you will see homework like you do every week. However, this week I made it a bit more and classified the homework.

So…identify your classification, and take action…starting today.

And listen…there are some of you here that have been putting off a very important decision. You know you need to give your life to Christ and follow him in baptism…but you’ve been holding off for some reason. Let today be the day that you give in the the Lords calling and you surrender your life to him and agree to follow him in baptism.

To give you a taste of what’s to come if you agree to follow Jesus and to encourage you as a church family…watch this short clip to remind you of what God has done so far this year…

Let’s Pray