Faith and the Coming of Christ
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Intro
Intro
Text - Luke 18.6-8
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Title - Faith and the Coming of Christ
Background
Background
The parable of the unjust judge
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
The message of the parable
men should always be praying and not lose heart
if an unjust judge can find a reason to help a widow in need, how much more the Righteous God!
Christ’s message goes beyond man’s earthly needs
Will Christ find faith when He comes?
the parable is part of His discourse on His second coming (in Luke 17)
God wants to see faith in the Son of Man at His coming
God wants to see faith in the Son of Man at His coming
Most Christians are not aware that it is one thing to believe in God, and another thing to believe in Christ
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
believing in Christ is an offshoot, an outgrowth, of believing in God
When Jesus was on earth, most Jews beleived in God, but not in the Messiah, much less Jesus!
Most Christians focus their faith in their present needs, and set aside their belief in the coming of Christ!
they say - “We do not know when He will come, the most important thing is that we are saved”
the same thing happened to the Jews back then
The message of Cross includes the second coming of Christ!
the gospel not only shows us what happened in the past, but also what God is going to do for those who believe in Cross of Jesus!
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,
5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,
6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
God wants to hear the prayers of the people who have faith in the coming Son of Man
God wants to hear the prayers of the people who have faith in the coming Son of Man
Prayer is faith in action
if a non-believing can pray, how much should the believer!
Faith in God - Who He is and What He can do - prompts the believer to be prayerful!
Luke 18.1 - people should pray always and not lose heart
in this case - God is a Righteous Judge!
Prayers focused on the coming of Christ is faith in action!
you cannot pray for the Lord’s coming if you are not convinced He is coming!
likewise - you cannot say you believe He is coming soon, and not pray about it!
Persistent prayer is key to overcoming in the last days
Watch and pray
33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
If you believe that Jesus is coming very soon -
Pray about it!
Focus your life prayer on it!
just like Simeon and Anna
Christ’s return is not only the hope of the believers -
it is the hope of all creation!
it is the cure to all of man’s problems
it is the end of this old life, this present age and time
it is the beginning of the new day, the new age, for heaven and earth
it is also a time for Christ to be glorified in His people and to be admired
Song - He’s Coming Soon