He Is Coming.

Introduction:

Pledge

Passage:

English Standard Version Chapter 13

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake.

35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—

36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.

37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Title: He Is Coming

Segway:

We celebrate this time of the year.

For the Christian church, today is the 1st Sunday of advent.

Definition of advent - the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.

The time between the O.T. and the N.T. was about 400 years. (Silence)

But there was also a sense of ....

.... anticipation

.... longing

.... desperation

.... the need for God to reveal himself

(All of this …) was for the MESSIAH.

This is what we celebrate today .... “was the arrival of our Messiah.”

This Sunday helps us start focusing in on the arrival of the “Baby Jesus.”

But, the season of advent, for the children of Israel, was a time of suffering.

God was seemingly silent.

In this day and time we read, for the children of Israel, the season of Advent was a time of suffering.

God was seemingly silent.

There were no more prophets.

were no more prophets. There were no angels boldly declaring the words of the Lord. There was persecution.

There were no angels boldly declaring the word of the Lord.

There was persecution.

There was hardship.

There was difficulty.

long, O Lord, must we wait?”

What we come to find out is there was suffering and a continual cry of, “How long, O Lord, must we wait?”

Have you ever been in a situation where you were suffering and you have asked this question?

Many of you know my story of being out of the ministry for 7 months.

Those seven months seemed like an eternity.

I have to admit, I cried out, yelled, begged, “How long, Lord,must I wait?”

As I have grown older, I have come to the conclusion that I can somewhat handle .....

.... God saying “No” to my questions.

.... God saying “Yes” to my questions. (this one is the easiest!)

.... but the one where God says, “WAIT” is the most difficult.

I have rested in the idea that when it seems like God is not saying anything at all he is saying “WAIT.”

So, even though stepping into this pericope that starts with “after that tribulation” seems seems somewhat jarring next to our Christmas trees, lights, and stores playing every version of “Jingle Bells,” it fits perfectly in the season of Advent, in this season of waiting, and in the context of a people longing and waiting for God to speak again.

trees, lights, and stores playing every version of “Jingle Bells,” it fits perfectly in the season of Advent, in

this season of waiting, and in the context of a people longing and waiting for God to speak again.

Body:

Today, I think you would all agree there is an abundance of suffering in the world ....

But, today, we no longer anticipate / long for/are desperate for a messiahs coming.

In a few weeks will be celebrating the birth of our Lord and savior which took place over 2000 years ago.

But what we read in this pericope is a people who are reminded to look toward the future.

Because, just as Christ came as the savior of the world,

He is coming again, as the rescuer of God’s people.

He is coming!

So, with this understanding that Christ is Coming again, I believe Mark tells us a few things we might be interested in knowing ....

In his Coming again ..

believe Mark tells us of a few things we might be interested in knowing ....

He comes with great POWER and GLORY! (Vs 26 And they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.)

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 13:24–25

The last statement—the heavenly bodies (lit., “the powers that are in the skies”) will be shaken—may refer to: (a) physical forces controlling the movements of the celestial bodies which will be thrown out of their normal course, or (b) spiritual forces of evil, Satan and his cohorts, who will be greatly disturbed by these events.

The last statement found in verse 25— “the power of heaven will be shaken”—may refer to: (a) physical forces controlling the movements of the celestial bodies which will be thrown out of their normal course, or (b) spiritual forces of evil, Satan and his cohorts, who will be greatly disturbed by these events.

There is no greater power we will see as the one of Christ.

There is no greater glory!

Scripture tells us the son and moon will no longer shine.

That’s OK, because the Glory of God will be our light!

He is coming again .... and no power will prevail.

In his coming again ...

2. He comes with an Everlasting Truth! (Vs 31 … my words will not pass away.)

Heaven and Earth will no longer be, but HIS WORD will!

Let’s think about this then ...

The thing that will always be ..... as God, Christ, the Holy spirit will always be ..... is HIS WORD!

Let me ask you the question then .... Believing this to be true, How important should the word of God be to us today.

The only thing that will be ushered into eternity with the Father from our existing life today is US (Believers) and HIS WORD!

This being the case then, this should be the only thing of utmost value to us here on earth.

not our clothes ..... not our cars .... not our houses ....

not our money ..... not our jobs .... not our toys ....

not our computers .... not our apple watches .... not our Phones ....

You know all these great songs we sing on Sunday mornings?

They stay here! We have to learn new songs in Heaven

We are going to have to learn new songs!

In his coming again ...

3. He is coming at an Unknown Time! (32 … no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.)

And with knowing this, Jesus tells us to “Be on guard!”

He says to “Keep Awake!”

Its interesting .... there are two different Greek words used in the 4 instances where the word “awake” is used in verses 33-37).

(Vs 34,35, & 37 the Greek word used is “gregoreo” which means constant readiness!

Example: ( Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.)

Be aware of your surroundings!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

(Vs 33 the Greek word used is “agrypneo” which means to be vigilant in awareness of threatening peril.

Example: ( But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.)

Set up a guard post! Constant guard duty.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Climax:

This is why, when people ask me about the end times (Post millennial, pre millennial) I tell them I “Present-lennial”!

I’m am ready NOW!

Meaning that when the sun darkens, the moon no longer shines, the stars start falling from heaven and the powers in the cosmos are shaken.... I AM READY!

When the Son of Man (Jesus) comes on that white horse, with great power and glory, when the horn sounds, ..... WHEN HE COMES BACK .... I am ready!

PAUSE

Just as those who lived in the days of the OT, those 400 years!

In the days where there was a sense of ....

.... anticipation

.... longing

.... desperation

.... the need for God to reveal himself

for the COMING KING (Messiah)

Today, let us live for the coming Day of Christ return.

Let us Anticipate, long for, be in desperation, set on guard our hearts, minds, and souls for His return.

Conclusion:

As we go through these next few weeks, moving toward the day we have taken as the day to celebrate/remember the coming of our Messiah, let it also remind us of his coming again. His second coming!