1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 The scripture for today is from the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. He reassured them that believers in Jesus Christ will not miss his return if they die before he comes back. In fact, Paul said that the dead in Christ will rise first when Jesus returns. Today, we know several people that believed in Jesus and have died. We comfort each other with the words Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. We know that they will rise to be with Jesus when he returns. If we are still alive, we will join them in the air to be with Jesus. Since we do not know the day or hour Jesus will return, we must be alert and self-controlled. Now is the time to cut back on things that are not helping our relationship with Jesus. Now is the time to cut back on things that are hindering our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Now is the time to do the things Jesus told us to do. People need to know there is hope in believing in Jesus Christ. People need to know there is peace in believing in Jesus Christ. People need to know there is love in believing in Jesus Christ. People need to know there is forgiveness of their sins in believing in Jesus Christ. People need to know the good news about Jesus Christ. It is up to us, those that believe in him and follow him, to tell the world before he returns. How has someone encouraged you about a believer you know that has passed away? How have you encouraged someone about a believer they know that has passed away? How are you staying alert and self-controlled before Jesus returns?
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1 Corinthians 15:50-58 We will continue our study on the return of Jesus today. The scripture today is part of a message the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. We must realize the fact that our current bodies, our flesh, can not inherit the kingdom of God. Some people believe and live their lives like they can earn their way into the kingdom of God. Some people believe and live their lives like they can follow a certain set of rules and that is enough for them to enter into the kingdom of God. Then there are other people that do not believe there is life after our current life on this earth and they live life doing whatever they feel like doing. There is a day coming, and it is sooner than some people would like, when the children of God will be changed. Those that are dead will be raised and those of us alive will have our current body changed so we can inherit the kingdom of God. We all will gain victory over death and sin through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ was victorious over sin and death first, his followers can also be victorious. As we expect for the day to come for us to inherit the kingdom of God, we need to hold on to our faith. We must do the work God has assigned us as individuals and as the body of Christ. Paul told the church in Corinth to let nothing move them, because their work in the Lord would not be in vain. We, as followers of Jesus and children of God, can not let anything move us in these days we are living in. As the day approaches for Jesus to return and for us to inherit the kingdom of God, we must continue doing what Jesus told us to do. How are you living your life from day to day? How do you hold on to your faith in Jesus? How are you doing the work Jesus told you to do? Matthew 24:42-51 Today we will continue our study on the return of Jesus. Our scripture continues with the conversation Jesus was having with his disciples. Jesus said we must be ready because he will come back at a time we do not expect him. It is important to watch for return of Jesus. We do not know when Jesus is returning, so we should spend our time wisely. We should love God the Father and love each other. How have you showed God the Father you love him this week so far? How well are you serving others this week? How are you keeping watch for Jesus to return? Matthew 24:36-42 Today we will continue our study on the return of Jesus. In today’s scripture, it starts out with a fact we need to remember. No one knows the day or the hour Jesus will return for his church except God the Father. Jesus compares the days of Noah to how people will be living their lives when he returns. People will do their normal routines before Jesus returns just like people did their normal routines before Noah and his family entered the ark with the animals to escape the flood. Jesus is returning so that his church can escape the coming wrath of God. Jesus gives an important detail to his disciples in verses forty and forty-one. Some people will be left behind when Jesus gets his church. Two people will be next to each other and one will go to be with Jesus and the other will be left. We are given an instruction by Jesus in forty-two that goes along with what to do before his return. We are to watch. Watching is not the same as watching Netflix or your favorite sporting event. Next week we will look at scripture that describes how we watch for the return of Jesus. How are you living your day-to-day life right now? In what ways are you similar to Noah and his family before the flood? In what ways are you different than Noah and his family before the flood? |
AuthorPastor Chris Martin Archives
May 2024
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