Heaven Wk#2

Have you ever been shocked…stunned…completely surprised by something you didn’t see coming?

Students - Ever have a pop quiz sprung on you?

Adults - Ever show up at work only to realize work wasn’t there any more and the doors were locked shut? Ever come home to a busted pipe and water flooding the bathroom?

Maybe you ask yourself the question, how can I be best prepared for anything? Because there’s much in this life that’s out of our control. There’s much that we don’t determine. We’re faced with surprises, if not daily, weekly. Some are larger than others. Some have longer lasting affects than others. Some can change the course of a life.

But there’s none more significant, more life altering, more important to take seriously and plan for than when God determines that it’s time for Jesus to return and make all things new.

Jesus said...

42“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

Paul writes...

1Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

Peter writes...

10But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

The day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.

Jesus said...

42“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

What are we taking with us when Jesus comes back? Everything around us is going to be destroyed.

43Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into.

44You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. What are we taking with us when Jesus comes back? Everything around us is going to be destroyed.

John quotes Jesus saying...

Hurrying along the day of God.

15“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

Part 1 - Keep watch

(NLT)

We know it’s coming

Paul uses the analogy “like an expecting mother.” I’m no expert, but a pregnant mother knows something is coming. It’s not a surprise in so much that at week 34, 35, 36, you don’t know that something’s been going on in there. And like an expecting mother, there are estimates and projections - a due date, right.

Now, there’s been a host of people throughout history that have made projections. Here’s when Jesus is coming back - Got this formula, Seeing these signs, Connecting these dots - and we’ve figured out when it’s all going to happen. And that day comes and goes. Scripture tells us that no one knows but the Father. If Jesus don’t know, why would we know?

Then, all of a sudden...

When we least expect it

“Unexpectedly” seems to be a translated word that all of these verses use. I remember walking out of Pro Bowl West in the late 1990’s after an evening of hanging out with friends. The closer I got to my fairly new Cherry red extended cab 4x4 S10, it seemed like there was something wrong with my window. The closer I got the more it confirmed that something was very wrong. Some had slammed a bowling ball through my passenger window to steal some useless items.

I remember thinking…If only I would have known; If only I would have seen it coming. It completely caught me off-guard. I didn’t even consider the possibility. If only I would have known. I would have kept watch and been ready for it to happen.

1Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

Keep your pants close

Story of Jill seeing a spider & screaming

“Exposed” is the word that comes to mind here. If you’re not ready; if you’re not prepared, you will be exposed on the day of Jesus’ return.

2For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

The second thing I’d like to highlight is

3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

11Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along.

12looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

14And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

Part 2 - Hurry along the day

While we are waiting, make every effort to live in peace, pure & blameless in his sight.

Use the time wisely

Peter likes using this phrase - “make every effort.” This is precisely what you and I are to be doing. In he tells us that God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. Then in verse 5 he tells us to make every effort to add to our faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and the self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection (brotherly kindness); and to mutual affection, love for all people.

As we are adding and growing these characteristics in our lives, we are becoming more like Jesus. And as we are becoming more like Jesus, it’s impossible for others not to see Jesus in us.

Become more like Jesus so others see Jesus

It’s our greatest goal to imitate His life and for others to see Him in us.

Share Jesus with others

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

19Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Been asked about what the Wesleyan denomination believes when it comes to the second coming of Jesus. This may be over-simplified, but here’s what we believe: Jesus is coming back; We need to be ready.

What if God’s delay in returning is because of the nature of our sin problems?

What if God’s delay in returning is because of the lack of godliness in our lives?

What if our prayer lives will help hasten the return of Jesus?

(NIV)

Lucas, R. C., & Green, C. (1995). The message of 2 Peter & Jude: the promise of His coming (p. 146). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

(NLT)

“make every effort”

While we are waiting, make every effort to live in peace, pure & blameless in his sight.

9Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

10May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

9“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

11Give us today the food we need,

12and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

13And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

10your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us today our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

Let’s life like...

Heaven is our promise, not our purpose.

Heaven Wk#2

Good Morning & Welcome to New Hope

Part 1

Part 2