No Time For Sleeping!

A Marriage and An Anniversary

An Anniversary

1 Peter 4:8 NKJV

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

The Greatest Love of All

Though so many people saw the love of Harry and Megan yesterday, there is another love that people really need to see.

It is the love of God. It is the greatest love of all!

For God Himself Is Love!

1 John 4:16 NKJV

16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Think of the Love of God Towards us!

In the beginning our heavenly father created the heavens and the earth. He created us as male and female in his image to be able to have a holy relationship with us.

He was thinking about us before the creation of the world and he loved us before the beginning of time.

He created us so that he might be able to bestow his love upon us.

The entire focus of his love is us. He planned to make us holy and complete by his love.

He courted us with the intention to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ.

Though we were his creation, he would do something with us that he had never done any of his creation.

He would make us his offspring. So He created us in his image so that when our hearts were devoted to him he would have someone to love him with a love as great as his.

Ephesians 1:11–12 NKJV

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Eph 1:

(The Message) — 11 It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, 12 part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

Genesis 2:15–18 NKJV

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

He gave us a garden so that he could lavish his love on us. He wanted us to walk alongside of him and experience the bounty of a world designed by his love with every good and perfect gift provided freely for us.

He gave us a garden so that he could lavish his love on us. He wanted us to walk alongside of him and experience the bounty of a world designed by his love with every good and perfect gift provided freely for us.

He courted us and asked us to obey him. But we rejected his love believing we could go on without him.

We did him wrong. He wanted us to be faithful to him. But instead we gave our attention and devotion to another.

And like a lover, he said to the woman, like a hurt lover, "What is this you have done?"

Our heavenly father saw our hopeless condition. He knew we were totally lost without him and because of love he took on the form of a man to court the one he loved.

He gave us another chance even after we cheated on him.

Even now, after you and I, cheat on him with other lovers… He still loves us.

All he's ever asked of us, is just to love him! That's all he's really ever ask.

We’ve missed the point! The way he feels love from us… Is by our obedience.

Because of our inability to be loyal and faithful, He gave up his royalty and became as a man to present himself at a level we could understand.

Ultimately, he gave up his life, he sacrificed his life for us; the ones he loved.

For the well-being of all of us he died for us.

And by his sacrifice he purchased redemption for us.

He paid the price so that his word could remain true.

(NKJV) — 4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.

Through Christ, He restored us back to innocence. Innocence that was at the beginning when he first created us.

He did this so that he may be able to commune in perfection with us and no sin separating us.

The prophet Isaiah spoke to us about this and made a remarkable statement:

Isaiah 54:5–6 NKJV

5 For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. 6 For the Lord has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God.

Isaiah 54:5 NKJV

5 For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

Is

(NKJV) — 5 For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.

6 For the Lord has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God.

7 “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. 8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the Lord, your Redeemer.

We must come to understand we don't have to get God to love us by doing something right. He loves us just because! He loves us because he is love and his desire is for us!

1 John 4:10–11 NKJV

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

(NKJV) — 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

(NKJV) — 10 I am my beloved’s, And his desire is toward me.

Monday An Anniversary and the Recognition of a City

The nation of Israel celebrated its 70th birthday. On May 14, 1945 the United Nations declared Israel as a new nation.

Israel became a nation after over 2000 years Israel was reborn

It is not unusual for God to take things that are dead and give new life to them. It is an encouragement to us that no matter how broken and destitute we are, our God is able to give new life to us.

This lines up with a prophecy spoken by Jesus. When asked by his disciples to tell them what will be the sign of his coming at the end of the age? He told them several things but most importantly he said this

(NKJV) — 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

And speaking of these things many people think he was talking about the nation of Israel becoming a nation.

Or to some 20 years later in 1967 when Israel retook Jerusalem as the capital of its nation.

In any event, 70 years ago or 50 years ago when Israel took Jerusalem, the generation that was alive at both times has not passed. They are at least as old as 70 or as young as 50.

Many of the things he spoke of that would come to pass we have seen them and spoken of them here in this church.

What this statement regarding the fig tree implies is that anytime within the next 20 years the things Jesus spoke of in about his return, is extremely likely to occur.

(NKJV) — 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

What will be his reason for coming?

(NKJV) — 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

It was the wedding customs in the time of Christ that

the Groom would pay a dowry, a price to be able to marry the one he chose for his bride.

Later he would come back, accompanied by his male friends, to go to the house of the bride at midnight looking for her to be ready with her maidens and they would join in a parade to end up at the Groom’s home.

This is spoken of in

The 3rd phrase was the marriage supper itself. This is what the revelation Scripture speaks of.

The first phase has already taken place. And Jesus paid the price.

We are awaiting the 2nd phase when he will come back to take us in the rapture back to his home, his father's house.

There, in heaven a marriage will take place and there will be a supper where believers in Christ will dine with him as his bride.

This was like yesterday, after the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan, there was a reception.

This past week on Monday, not only was it 70 years that Israel has been a nation, but on this Monday additionally the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. What is the significance of this?

Jerusalem is the city that God the father has prepared for his son and his bride to dwell in.

(NKJV) — 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Now, those of us chosen by God, having received his Holy Spirit are preparing and making ourselves ready for the marriage to the Lamb of God, Jesus to us his church.

What began as a courtship in a garden will end in a marriage in heaven.

I mentioned earlier that many people remarked how they saw the love of the Prince and his bride. The Bible also said

(NKJV) — 5 For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.

It would do you well now to read the story of the 10 virgins. Though all of them were called, because of their failure to be diligent, not all of them were chosen.

Only those who were faithful to keep their lamps lit.

What is the reference to the lights being lit?

(NKJV) — 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

It is an expectation of Christ, and the father who is in heaven that we who are the one saved by the blood of Jesus should be doing things that bring glory to the father in heaven who has given us his son so that we might have life.

It is interesting that in the wedding yesterday, the father brought to his son Harry, the woman that was to be his wife. In the same manner the father has brought us has brought us to Jesus.

(NKJV) — 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Everyone of us in this room have been drawn to Jesus by the father that we might know him and be cleansed by him by the washing of the water of the word so that we will be a bride

(NKJV) — 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Now, the conclusion.

We saw a marriage of 2 radically different people this week.

We saw the 70th anniversary of Israel and we repeated the words of Christ that the generation that was alive at the budding of the fig tree would not pass before seeing the coming of the Son of Man.

Acknowledging these events and recognizing the love of God by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, how should we react after seeing the events of this past week as signs of the soon coming of our Lord?

We need to get ready for the coming of the Lord.

It could be any day now.

If we neglect the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to prepare us for the love of God, then our rejection of him is the same thing that Satan did.

Brothers and sisters, we dare not reject him after he has extended such a great love towards us. The end results of us failing to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and rejecting his love extended to us through Jesus means we are just like Satan. We turn our backs on God and then the Scripture says

(NKJV) — 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

(NKJV) — 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

It is time for you to accept the love of and like the 10 brides keep your lights burning, for you do not know at what time the groom will come.

We have had a very event filled and meaningful week. I want to draw your attention to two events of the week.

One on yesterday and one occurring on Monday.

A marriage of man and woman

An anniversary of the birth of a nation and recognition of a City

Both revealed the providence of God to cause something to happen that is like a fairytale.

This is no time for sleeping!