While We Wait

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 NASB95

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

INTRO: This morning as the sun topped the mountains, a number of us gathered in the parking lot to celebrate and commemorate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. We sang songs, and focused our attention on the GOOD NEWS that Jesus defeated death, that the grave could not hold Him! The enemy has been defeated and our victory is secured! The sacrifice on the cross was accepted and we who have believed- who have placed our trust and hope in Jesus have been redeemed! Because He lives, we too can have eternal life. Because Christ was raised from the grave, you and I too will be raised from death just as we have been given new life in Him.

But we don’t just celebrate this once a year- no this is our reality each and every day. And because of this fact, we are radically different from the rest of the world.

Last week, we discussed this event and we celebrated the hope we enjoy as believers and disciples of Christ.

This morning, we continue our study by looking at our life while we wait for Christ’s return. As you are probably aware, after Jesus’ resurrection, He walked this earth for 40 days and revealed Himself to several hundred people, taught them, and commissioned them to take this good news to the ends of the earth. And even as He ascended into the heavens, we are promised that He will return to gather His church and judge the world.

As chapter 5 begins, Paul reiterates that the Day of the Lord, that is when Christ returns, is not something we can put on our calendar. Rather, it will be sudden and unstoppable.

It will take place when this sinful world least expects it. It will come like the flood came in the days of Noah- even though Noah preached, the world ignored him and kept living their lives as if there was no God. People will be celebrating their worldly successes, going to work, making deals, etc. It will be like it was for those who worked in the World Trade Towers on Sept. 11, 2001. When they went into work that day, they had no idea that planes would come crashing into the building and that on that day, their life on this earth would end.

Friends, Paul says that for so many in the world- who are living life as if they don’t have to answer to God- they are doing what is pleasing in their own eyes, they are indulging themselves in their lusts for money, fame, and sex. They might think they have plenty of time, but when Jesus returns it will be too late, for they will be overtaken. He will return like a thief in the night- no warning, no appointments, no countdown. For those who have not trusted in Jesus, they will find themselves receiving the just penalty for their sins- that is an eternity of suffering in a place called Hell.

And I just want to say, if that is you this morning. If you are here or watching online and you think that you have plenty of time- that you can just say the magical words of the sinner’s prayer on your death bed and all will be hunky dory, friend let me issue you a warning: you are not promised tomorrow and when Jesus returns it will be too late to repent! It will be too late to give your life to Him. You will be overtaken! Do not wait! In fact, you don’t even have to wait til I’m done preaching. Look, you come right in the middle of the sermon if you need to, and we will celebrate with you a new life in Christ!

But for you who are disciples of Christ- If you have acknowledged your sinfulness, confessed your need for a Savior, and placed your faith in the finished work of Jesus, then for you that day will be different. Paul says you will not be overtaken. Instead, he shows us 3 Attitudes of Disciples While We Wait. If you picked up a bulletin, I want to encourage you to utilize the sermon guide we provided for you to follow along this morning and also for further study throughout this week.

The first attitude expressed here is:

A Disciple Lives on Alert (4-7)

READ

Paul uses the analogy of sleeping against being alert.

ILL: This is a pretty good analogy. Most of the time, I wake up in the mornings will very little recollection of anything that I dreamt during the night. But, every now and again I’ll remember a dream… or part of one. And more often than not, these dreams make little to no sense. In fact, one dream I remember- I was in my office working, then someone came in - I think it was Chuck Norris - he said “It’s time.” And the next minute, I’m flying a helicopter over to pick up Jason Merrill whose hanging off the side of a cliff… it makes no sense in real life, but in my dream, I believed the action.

What Paul is talking about is that we have to understand the reality of the world we live in. We cannot just live in a dream- no matter how cool it might seem.

Yet, there are a lot of people who live like this. They have a dystopian view of how things should be, and they live like it makes sense.

Or perhaps it’s a little more subtle- perhaps you are one who just sees life as ‘getting through’ and you live each day to be a little more comfortable or a little more numb to reality.

But, as Christian disciples, we must live in truth- alert to the realities of the world around us and to the role we play in it.

What does this mean?

It means we acknowledge sin and its effects on the world.

We understand that we are broken- imperfect and in need of God’s grace and mercy

We understand that others are broken, and they too need God’s grace, mercy, and love.

It means we must be vigilant regarding the urgency of the Gospel.

We don’t have unlimited time.

There is a judgment day coming

The Gospel is only good news when it gets there in time!!

It means that we anticipate Christ’s return and live so that we are found faithful.

Jesus taught about this attitude through a number of parables - one of them is found

Matthew 25:1–13 NASB95

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. “Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. “The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ “But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Discuss: What can you do differently to live your life on alert?

A disciple will live on the alert. Next, we see that

A Disciple Adorns the Gospel (8)

Listen to v. 8 (READ)

Here, Paul talks about putting on the armor of the Gospel. Paul wrote to the Ephesian church about this same kind of armor as he spoke about standing against Satan’s wiles. You know, Satan still attacks the Christian! He still whispers lies and tries to thwart your witness! He distracts your attention from the main things to petty arguments that don’t amount to much in light of eternity.

A couple years ago, our youth went to PA and we had the opportunity to play paintball… let me just tell you, I feel a lot better about getting shot at when I’m wearing armor!!

While we often think of spiritual warfare when we talk about the armor of God, it is just as applicable to consider that our armor is also our uniform.

ILL - Several years ago, I shopped regularly at Best Buy. Best Buy employees, at that time, wore Khakis and a blue polo. Well, one particular day, I was wearing khakis and a blue polo. I answered 4 customers’ questions that day…

As Christian Disciples, we must be wearing the uniform of the Gospel. We do this for a few reasons:

One is definitely as a protection against the enemy. But also

To encourage one another through our faith. In the midst of a battle, it is helpful to know that you are not alone. Friend, courage is contagious!!

When we display our faith and trust in Christ, others see and are emboldened! (1 Thess. 1:8)

So the world will know our identity.

Jesus taught us to love one another so that the world would see. (John 13:35)

Until Jesus returns, there is hope in the Gospel to change lives. This won’t happen because we are good at debating people on Facebook or simply because we denounce evil things. No, we must demonstrate the love of Christ. That is part of our uniform.

Discuss: What uniform does the world see you wearing? How might you adorn the Gospel this week?

A disciple will live on the alert and will adorn the Gospel. But finally, and especially relevant on this Resurrection Sunday morning,

A Disciple is Heavenly-Minded (9-11)

Read -

Now, some might say, “You’re so heavenly-minded that you’re no earthly good!” I tend to think that for most people, it’s quite the opposite. They are so earthly-minded that they’re no heavenly good!

But, I don’t mean that we should all go outside and just stare at the sky until Jesus returns. The disciples started with that approach… let me read you what happened in Acts 1

Acts 1:10–11 NASB95

And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Jesus actually taught them that they were to be busy doing His work - we’ve talked about this before and alluded to this already this morning. And what you and I need to grasp is this: This world is not our home.

God’s plan and purpose is far greater than the 80 or so years we get on this earth. God’s kingdom is greater than our life span and it’s far greater than any national boundaries.

I gotta tell you folks, some of you might be thinking that God’s purpose is to make America a Christian nation. Look, God’s purpose was being carried our long before America was founded and it will be present long after America has crumbled. Nations will come and go, but God’s Kingdom is forever!

And you and I need to recognize that God’s plan, His Kingdom should be our desire and our focus. His rule and reign in the lives of His people through all times in all the world- whether in China, Haiti, Mexico, Europe, or America.

Let me just highlight v. 10 again- “… whether we are awake or asleep (dead), We will live together with Him” (10)

I am reminded of the prayer Jesus taught- you might know it as the Lord’s prayer.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE on earth as it is in heaven...”

This is the hard part for us- let me ask you, Whose Kingdom do you care more about? God’s or yours?

A Christian Disciple anticipates the return of our Lord Jesus. We live on alert, we adorn the Gospel, and we are heavenly minded.

As we close our time this Resurrection Sunday, my prayer is that you will learn to live as a disciple of Jesus while you wait on His return.

Let’s pray.

Discuss: What specifically does it mean to be “heavenly-minded”?