Anticipate My Lord
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
20 May 18
In the King’s Service: Anticipate My Lord
What is the purpose of our salvation?
There are several purposes – one of which, perhaps gets the least attention.
Oswald Chambers said this –
“Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body.”
He goes on,
“You must ‘work out your own salvation’ which God has worked in you already. Are your speech, your thinking and your emotions evidence that you are working it ‘out?’”
I would add, is my life evidence that I am in the King’s service?
The purpose of salvation is not just so I get into Heaven or that I escape Hell - but that my life will be evidence to the world that Jesus is real.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
“Is Jesus manifested or revealed in my body?” That’s a good question, but it only elicits a yes or no response. So, let’s ask this – “In what ways is the reality of Jesus revealed in my body? What evidence do I give that He lives in me?” Those are worth pondering this week – but let me suggest that perhaps the greatest way to reveal Christ is to become His servant. And that is indeed
Our Objective: To Serve.
Peter is referring to spiritual gifts - that our King has given each of us gifts to use in service of Him and others. So, that’s our objective – to be servants – how do we get there?
Backward planning - identifying the steps necessary to reach our objective.
1) Crown Christ as My Lord - set Him apart as King of my life.
2) Think Like My Lord – Thinking like Christ enables me to …
3) Live Like My Lord – We are to live the remainder of our days for the will of God. That’s an interesting statement. Think about it, no one knows how much time they have remaining on this earth, but that’s never the issue – the issue is always making the most of what time I do have left living for the will of God. I hope you’re being challenged to do just that ….
Our fourth step in reaching our objective is to …
4) Anticipate My Lord
– Sooner or later, everyone will meet Jesus. Either He’s coming here or we’re going there – don’t know which one is first. Ironically, many Christians live as if Jesus is not coming back anytime soon. But again, how much time we have left is not the issue.
If I am saved, The issue is not so much about when I get to meet Jesus, but who I help meet Jesus.
Whether it’s 10 months or 10 years or 100 hundred years,
The expectation of Christ’s return should be my motivation to be about my Father’s business.
The anticipation of His return should compel me to have the same concerns as Jesus did.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
What was Christ’s attitude?
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
Bringing people to God was Christ’s attitude and should be our attitude as well. And as we anticipate His return, shouldn’t that attitude increase in us?
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.
When we come to Christ, we are to disengage from sinful activities and sinful indulgences - there should be an obvious heart change - a new love for God and others, and an increased hatred and disdain of sin.
And Peter says, you’ve done enough of that, so rather than continuing to devote yourselves to a never-ending search for happiness and pleasure, devote yourselves to God. But, know this, when we decide to devote ourselves to God and to decide to pursue Christ and holiness,
They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
We often say that if we live like Jesus, people will be attracted to us. True, some will. But it’s also true that perhaps more people will hate us. When that happens, just keep in mind that they are truly rejecting God, not you.
“Reckless, wild living” literally means “unrestrained or uncontrolled indulgence in seeking pleasure”
– which is the current state of our culture – and it’s getting worse. People will try anything to find happiness. And as their search for happiness spirals out of control, any trace of moral restraints becomes more difficult to find.
We could talk about how morally corrupt the world is, but that’s not the point here. The point is this – not everyone will celebrate our Biblical morals and Judeo-Christian ethics. Not everyone will applaud us. And as the last days are quickly approaching, hatred of God and Christianity will increase. In 2 Thes. 2, Paul mentions a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness being revealed. FYI – “man of lawlessness” does not necessarily mean a person or the anti-Christ. It could mean a system or that opposes God’s law or the Church. It’s possible that the “man of lawlessness” could mean a global law or system that is anti-Christ.
Anyway, as we anticipate our Lord’s return, as hatred and persecution increase - what do we do? Peter gives us something encouraging words to hold onto. Remember,
1) We are all accountable
- no matter what happens in this world, good or bad, remember that ALL people will be held accountable for their actions. They will get what’s coming to them.
But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
The truth is, everyone, Christian and non-Christian alike is accountable to God (Matt. 12:36). Nonetheless, we should take comfort that our judgment is paid for, and all the injustices of this world will one day be settled when Christ returns, thus Peter’s focus is not on our judgment, but on the judgment of non-believers.
The fact that God is ready to judge, does not suggest that He is eager to judge. It simply means that judgment could come at any moment. So, when life is unfair, when we see the wicked and the scoundrel prospering, take comfort in the truth that God knows, and God sees and someday, we will all stand before God to give an account for our actions – and some will inherit eternal life and others will inherit eternal destruction.
Secondly, as we anticipate our Lord’s return, remember to:
2) Be Hopeful
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
People talk a lot about how horrible the end will be – and there is no doubt that the end of the world will be full of horrific atrocities. Natural disasters, wars and failing economies will leave the world in chaos and ruin – and the scale of global death and suffering will be unparalleled to anytime in history. But these things take place, not because God takes pleasure in our pain, but because humanity refuses to repent and acknowledge Him as God.
“The end of all things is near” means that all the major events in God’s plan of redemption have occurred.
The final act of redemption was the death and resurrection of Christ. There is nothing left for God to do to save humanity. Fifty days after His resurrection, on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, the world entered the “last days,” for that is when God poured out His Spirit. So, we’ve been living in the last days ever since. All that is left, is for Christ to return! There are some prophetic events yet to take place, but regarding God’s plan of redemption – it is finished – and that gives us hope. Yes, the end will be a terrible time, but Christians are never to live in despair – we are always to be beacons hope, and we are to lift up our heads because our redemption draws nigh (Luke 21:28).
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
It’s going to get rough, but believers are called to live in the confidence of salvation and in the hope of redemption! We are also called to encourage one another as it gets worse.
Know this – the stage is set. The prophecies about the “End Times” are for the first time in history capable of being fulfilled. For thousands of years, much of prophecy was a mystery, but now, all the pieces of the puzzle are fitting together. However, knowing that Christ is soon to return does not give us permission to be lackadaisical about our faith and our mission to make disciples. The opposite is true. And as far as I can tell, wherever Scripture mentions the end, it also exhorts us to …
3) Be Diligent
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Being alert and sober minded means remain sensible, use your God-given brain and think, live wisely and exert self-control over one’s passions and desires – and in this context, especially as the end draws near. It will be tempting to cave into human desires, to save our own bodies, to renounce Christ - all at the expense of our soul, and our neighbor’s soul.
We are also exhorted, interestingly enough to …
4) Be Loving
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
And I remind you, that this was written in the midst of persecution and suffering. And the End will be no different, as a matter of fact, it will be worse – yet, we are called to remain accountable to God, to be hopeful of His return, to be diligent in our decisions and above all – to love. And that is our objective, is it not – to lovingly serve God and serve others.
Let me end with the same quote from Oswald Chambers –
“Remember that you have been saved so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in your body.”
Remember, that you and I have been called into the King’s service …
As we consider the reality that the end is near, whether by death or His return, how can I better manifest Christ in my body – in my life? Do I really look forward to His return? Do I live as if I am accountable to God? Do I exhibit hope to people around me? Am I diligent in my decisions? Am I loving, even when suffering?
I remind us that the last several months have all been about using the spiritual gifts God has equipped us with. It’s all been about becoming servants. I’m curious, has it all been head knowledge, or has it lead to personal changes? What changes have you made to pursue being in the King’s service?