WEBVTT 00:00:04.065 --> 00:00:04.966 Thank you Isaac. 00:00:04.966 --> 00:00:07.599 Good morning everyone. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:11.099 It's great to be with you on this Mother's Day. 00:00:11.099 --> 00:00:19.832 Few probably about six weeks ago or so, we were looking at the church calendar and looking at the sermon series and how it was going to wrap up. 00:00:19.832 --> 00:00:23.332 And this week we wrap up our series on You are a Theologian. 00:00:23.332 --> 00:00:25.832 What does it mean to love God and know him? 00:00:25.832 --> 00:00:27.632 And the more you love him, the more you can know him. 00:00:27.632 --> 00:00:29.399 The more you know about him, the more you can love him. 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:38.133 And we were looking at the topics and someone pointed out, John, you realize that's Mother's Day and your sermon topic that day is end times. 00:00:38.133 --> 00:00:42.566 And I thought, oh boy, not your typical Mother's Day sermon. 00:00:42.566 --> 00:00:47.899 Let's talk about the end of all things and how the world will end and how Christ will return. 00:00:47.899 --> 00:00:50.899 And for some that will be rejoicing, for some it will be judgment and wrath. 00:00:50.899 --> 00:00:53.033 And I thought, you know, there's some connections there to mothering. 00:00:53.033 --> 00:00:55.765 I think partly possibly. 00:00:55.765 --> 00:00:57.365 Mom says, I brought you into the world. 00:00:57.365 --> 00:00:59.432 I'll take you out. And she can read. 00:00:59.432 --> 00:01:00.533 Some mothers can relate. 00:01:00.533 --> 00:01:01.865 Now, my mom never said that. 00:01:01.865 --> 00:01:03.533 I'm sure others might have. 00:01:05.332 --> 00:01:08.933 I could try to make a real strong connection to Mother's Day, but I'm not even going to try. 00:01:08.933 --> 00:01:11.365 We're just going to say Happy Mother's Day. 00:01:11.365 --> 00:01:18.665 And now let's wrap up the theology series, and maybe we'll try to do better next year and how we connect the two more clearly. 00:01:18.665 --> 00:01:23.233 But it makes sense to wrap up this series on knowing God is loving God. 00:01:23.233 --> 00:01:27.766 And one of the questions we have and we all have is how will my own life end up? 00:01:27.766 --> 00:01:30.832 Many are often thinking, I wonder what my legacy will be. 00:01:30.832 --> 00:01:32.700 I wonder what I'll be remembered for. 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:35.500 You might even think, what will it say on my gravestone? 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:37.099 What will others say about me? 00:01:37.099 --> 00:01:51.132 We often think about ourselves, but also how will all things end if God created the world and there's going to be a time where things in Ephesians one talks about this, all things are summed up, drawn together in Christ. 00:01:52.332 --> 00:01:54.200 How's that going to happen? 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:56.332 What's that going to look like? 00:01:56.332 --> 00:01:59.099 Well, there's a lot of speculation around that. 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:01.299 There's a lot of crazy ideas out there. 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:05.066 There's a lot of questions that people have. When will Jesus return? 00:02:05.066 --> 00:02:06.766 What does that mean for his church? 00:02:06.766 --> 00:02:09.199 How does that relate to modern current events? 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:14.400 How does that relate to Old Testament prophecy and the nation of Israel, and how all that fits together? 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:16.466 And what does that mean for us today? 00:02:16.466 --> 00:02:19.066 Obviously, I can't cover all that today. 00:02:19.066 --> 00:02:24.366 That's a real long sermon series, probably involving the entire book of revelation and the book of Romans. 00:02:24.366 --> 00:02:26.633 And we're not prepared to cover all that today. 00:02:26.633 --> 00:02:29.765 But there are some absolutes we can address. 00:02:29.765 --> 00:02:34.233 And so we're going to look at First Thessalonians chapter four and chapter five. 00:02:34.233 --> 00:02:35.765 We're going to be in those two chapters today. 00:02:35.765 --> 00:02:39.165 If you have a church Bible, those are on page 939. 00:02:39.165 --> 00:02:42.366 And by the way, we have two different versions of the church Bible circulating right now. 00:02:42.366 --> 00:02:46.966 So if you're like, that's not the right page, then you may have gotten the older version, not the newer version. 00:02:46.966 --> 00:02:54.366 We're trying to get those all circulated to where they're on the same page, but ask someone around you if you can't find it and turn to First Thessalonians. 00:02:54.366 --> 00:02:56.665 And we're going to read from chapter four. 00:02:56.665 --> 00:02:58.932 We'll just read the last few verses in chapter four. 00:02:58.932 --> 00:03:07.332 And so if you don't mind, would you stand while I read those verses will stand together as I read those out, just as a way to visually honor the Word of God. 00:03:07.332 --> 00:03:24.332 As I read through this section, first Thessalonians four, verse 13, and I'll read down through verse 18, but we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do, who have no hope. 00:03:24.332 --> 00:03:33.932 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 00:03:33.932 --> 00:03:44.566 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 00:03:44.633 --> 00:03:54.133 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. 00:03:54.133 --> 00:03:56.332 And the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:03:57.566 --> 00:04:04.165 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:04:04.165 --> 00:04:07.165 And so we will always be with the Lord. 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:14.466 Therefore encourage one another with these words, God help our ears to be open. 00:04:14.466 --> 00:04:18.432 Help our hearts to be open, to what you have to say to us through Your Word. 00:04:18.432 --> 00:04:20.432 We love you. Amen. 00:04:20.432 --> 00:04:23.432 You can be seated. 00:04:24.533 --> 00:04:26.199 So a lot of things could be said. 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:31.665 We're going to focus on three absolutes that we see in first Thessalonians. 00:04:31.665 --> 00:04:36.500 And the first one here comes from verse 13 and verse 16. 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:41.333 And if you have a notes outline, Jesus will return bodily. 00:04:42.365 --> 00:04:45.365 He will return physically. 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.199 It will be obvious. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.632 I often like to read at funerals, verse 13 here. 00:04:51.632 --> 00:04:57.333 We don't want you to be uninformed about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do, who do not have hope. 00:04:58.432 --> 00:05:02.300 Grieving is appropriate when someone passes. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.100 It's not a sin to grieve. 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:11.533 It's a natural reaction to death, which wasn't intended to be at first, but it's a consequence of our sin. 00:05:11.533 --> 00:05:14.333 There should be grief along with that. 00:05:14.333 --> 00:05:18.033 But however, for the Christian, we grieve differently. 00:05:18.033 --> 00:05:22.000 We don't grieve as those without hope. 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:35.432 We do have hope, and we have hope because of verse 16, for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. 00:05:35.432 --> 00:05:46.632 And the dead in Christ will rise first there will be a day where he descends, and it will be obvious that it is him, and it will be obvious that he is the one in control. 00:05:46.632 --> 00:05:50.899 And it will be obvious that he is the powerful, awesome, and Mighty One. 00:05:52.565 --> 00:05:56.565 And that is the day we can look forward to with hope. 00:05:57.833 --> 00:06:03.800 I shared on Easter Sunday about Barbara sharing with the EMT workers after her husband had passed. 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:08.432 She had the sense of awareness and mindfulness to share the gospel with them. 00:06:08.432 --> 00:06:11.932 It was a I felt like a holy moment for me to witness. 00:06:11.932 --> 00:06:20.800 But prior to that, almost as if she was talking to herself when they were had maybe still working on him, trying to revive him. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:36.865 But right after she had a few things to say that were more along the lines of hope in the gospel, and she was just saying out loud, you know, he's gone and we're grieving, but we also know he's in a better place. 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:39.399 He's not grieving anymore. 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:39.932 He's not. 00:06:39.932 --> 00:06:41.865 He's suffered for years. 00:06:41.865 --> 00:06:43.065 He's not suffering any more. 00:06:43.065 --> 00:06:44.833 And we can rejoice in that at the same time. 00:06:44.833 --> 00:06:48.699 And yes, we grieve, but I also know I'll see him again. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:53.132 And you hear these words of hope in the midst of grief. 00:06:53.132 --> 00:07:00.199 And it's okay to grieve, but we grieve differently because we know he will come back and it will be powerful. 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:09.966 And if you've read revelation 19, you've you've had the imagery of him coming down on a horse, and he's called faithful and true and out of his sword mouth comes a sword. 00:07:09.966 --> 00:07:16.899 And it's the imagery is so powerful and moving and stirring it will be obvious. 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:18.833 That's one absolute truth. 00:07:18.833 --> 00:07:21.565 Now let's look at the second one here. 00:07:21.565 --> 00:07:22.932 First he will return bodily. 00:07:22.932 --> 00:07:25.199 Second. There is a heaven. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:27.932 Look back at verse 17. 00:07:27.932 --> 00:07:36.466 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them that were caught up in the original languages sound similar to our word rapture. 00:07:36.466 --> 00:07:38.000 That's where you get the word rapture. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:45.466 When people talk about how in the end times might come about, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:07:46.533 --> 00:07:50.565 And so we will always be with the Lord. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:57.865 So another hope we have is that not only will he come and take us, we will be with him forever. 00:07:57.932 --> 00:08:05.065 And I can't think of any better definition of heaven than being in the presence of Christ forever. 00:08:05.565 --> 00:08:09.766 You know, many people speculate about what we'll have and be like, and you'll get all kinds of different questions. 00:08:09.766 --> 00:08:11.333 Will animals be there? 00:08:11.333 --> 00:08:13.533 How much gold will be on the streets? 00:08:13.533 --> 00:08:14.833 Are the gates really pearly? 00:08:14.833 --> 00:08:17.432 How big will my mansion or my room be? 00:08:17.432 --> 00:08:20.165 And we focus on all of those secondary things. 00:08:20.165 --> 00:08:25.266 But the most important part about heaven is that Jesus will be there, and that will be in his presence. 00:08:25.266 --> 00:08:26.932 If he's not there, it's not heaven. 00:08:26.932 --> 00:08:34.932 No matter how fancy it looks, there is a heaven where we who know Christ will join him. 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:41.732 Now, these two truths together do something for all of us who know Christ. 00:08:41.732 --> 00:08:48.966 And he sums it up here in verse 18, therefore encourage one another with these words. 00:08:49.533 --> 00:08:57.033 These two truths, these two realities, should be an encouragement and a comfort to all who know Christ. 00:08:57.600 --> 00:09:02.432 Many times the temptation is to walk in fear about the unknown of how things will end. 00:09:02.432 --> 00:09:06.332 I think many of us, just even thinking about it, get a little fearful. 00:09:06.332 --> 00:09:08.666 You hear words like Armageddon. 00:09:08.666 --> 00:09:12.100 You hear things like how will think the apocalypse? 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:13.799 And you wonder, how's it all going to turn up? 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:14.865 And you become fearful. 00:09:14.865 --> 00:09:18.966 But Paul says, no, we're not controlled by fear. 00:09:18.966 --> 00:09:20.166 We don't walk in fear. 00:09:20.166 --> 00:09:22.765 Encourage one another with these truths. 00:09:22.765 --> 00:09:28.066 No matter what happens, you will be with Christ forever. 00:09:28.066 --> 00:09:31.066 If you know him. 00:09:31.432 --> 00:09:33.466 Now the Thessalonians. 00:09:33.466 --> 00:09:38.566 And by the way, Thessalonica was the name of the city to whom this letter was written. 00:09:38.566 --> 00:09:41.299 And it's still a city in modern day Greece. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:43.432 It was the capital of Macedonia at the time. 00:09:43.432 --> 00:09:46.865 I think it's the second largest city in Greece. 00:09:46.865 --> 00:09:48.033 And Paul had gone there. 00:09:48.033 --> 00:09:57.066 We know from acts chapter 17, Paul had gone there to preach, and he had preached in the Sabbath, on the Sabbath, three consecutive Sabbaths in a synagogue. 00:09:57.066 --> 00:10:00.100 And as a result, the number of people in the community came to know Christ. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:02.066 The number of the Jews came to know Christ. 00:10:02.066 --> 00:10:04.232 A number of the Greeks came to know Christ. 00:10:04.232 --> 00:10:07.399 And it also said, some of the leading women came to know Christ. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:11.399 So his his preaching made a difference. 00:10:11.466 --> 00:10:13.533 It led to conversions. 00:10:13.533 --> 00:10:15.932 But then what happened is some of the Jews got jealous. 00:10:15.932 --> 00:10:18.666 You know, you're taking some of our people, Paul. 00:10:18.666 --> 00:10:20.200 You're becoming a little more popular than us. 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:25.365 And so they stirred up a riot against him and his followers and drove them out of town. 00:10:25.365 --> 00:10:29.765 Now, imagine you're in the seat of the First Thessalonians. 00:10:29.765 --> 00:10:31.500 You've just come to know Christ. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:32.566 You've known him three weeks. 00:10:32.566 --> 00:10:34.466 You heard about him three weeks ago. 00:10:34.466 --> 00:10:38.966 And the guy who brought all this good news here to you is run out of town. 00:10:40.066 --> 00:10:46.000 You're probably going to have some questions you still need answered Paul. Hey. Great ideas. 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:47.133 I love that I'm now in Christ. 00:10:47.133 --> 00:10:47.865 What does that mean? 00:10:47.865 --> 00:10:49.500 How do I live? How do I make decisions? 00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:54.966 What does that mean about the way I approach family and work and the culture and the idolatry in the culture and all of the things I'm used to? 00:10:54.966 --> 00:10:55.633 What do I do? 00:10:56.832 --> 00:10:57.966 You're going to have a lot of questions. 00:10:57.966 --> 00:11:01.966 And one of the big ones they seem to have that he's addressing. 00:11:02.133 --> 00:11:07.000 Okay, you say that we will go to heaven with our loved ones who have passed. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.533 Well, when is he coming back? 00:11:08.533 --> 00:11:10.566 That's what we want to know. 00:11:10.566 --> 00:11:12.966 I think that's a natural question for a lot of us. 00:11:12.966 --> 00:11:15.200 When will he return? 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:17.533 And Paul goes right into addressing it. 00:11:17.533 --> 00:11:20.533 Chapter five, verses one through three. 00:11:20.533 --> 00:11:22.533 When will he return? 00:11:22.533 --> 00:11:24.799 What will that look like? 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:29.332 Here's what he says now concerning the times and the seasons. 00:11:29.332 --> 00:11:45.765 Brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, while people are saying there is peace and security. 00:11:46.066 --> 00:11:50.765 Sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman. 00:11:50.765 --> 00:11:51.500 Oh, here we go. 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.533 Here's our Mother's Day verse. 00:11:52.533 --> 00:11:54.332 Sorry, I had just noticed. 00:11:54.332 --> 00:11:55.365 Happy mother's day. 00:11:55.365 --> 00:11:58.365 There's your sermon. 00:11:59.666 --> 00:12:02.200 Now let's get back to the message. 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:05.200 And they will not escape. 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:05.765 How? 00:12:05.765 --> 00:12:07.700 What will it look like when he comes back? 00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:09.365 Here's here's this third point in your outline. 00:12:09.365 --> 00:12:11.732 Here's the third absolute. 00:12:11.732 --> 00:12:14.966 It will be sudden, right? 00:12:14.966 --> 00:12:17.600 His return will be sudden. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:21.432 It says it will be like a thief in the night. 00:12:22.432 --> 00:12:25.700 You know, we get lulled to sleep in our life. 00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:26.432 Even here. 00:12:26.432 --> 00:12:29.166 People around us are saying, oh, peace and security. 00:12:29.166 --> 00:12:30.133 Everything's great. 00:12:30.133 --> 00:12:32.332 The culture will say to you, what do you mean? 00:12:32.332 --> 00:12:36.200 That some bad guy that you think is God is going to come back and judge people? 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:38.399 Wasn't that like 2000 years ago? 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:39.332 It didn't come back then. 00:12:39.332 --> 00:12:40.932 You think he's going to come back now? 00:12:40.932 --> 00:12:42.500 It doesn't matter. Live however you want. 00:12:43.633 --> 00:12:44.533 Peace, security. 00:12:44.533 --> 00:12:47.432 Everything's fine. 00:12:47.432 --> 00:12:52.066 But then sudden judgment will come upon them. 00:12:52.066 --> 00:12:54.466 The Bible, over and over again gives examples of this. 00:12:54.466 --> 00:12:59.432 Where there is warning and warning and warning and it's ignored and ignored and ignored. 00:12:59.432 --> 00:13:03.133 And people assume because he hasn't judged, he won't. 00:13:04.966 --> 00:13:11.232 We went, I took my mom and my youngest son to Africa with me to teach at a Bible college. 00:13:11.232 --> 00:13:13.633 This was 15 years ago. 00:13:13.633 --> 00:13:14.533 Now. 00:13:14.533 --> 00:13:17.799 And while there, I was going to visit a family. 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:20.566 We knew we were connected to their son, who was here in the U.S. 00:13:20.566 --> 00:13:25.265 going to college, and they lived right next to the big game park there. 00:13:25.265 --> 00:13:30.966 And you can go and see the elephants and the lions and the giraffe and the hippopotamus and these crazy animals. There. 00:13:32.633 --> 00:13:33.765 I said, I definitely want to do that. 00:13:33.765 --> 00:13:40.732 However, I'm not going in one of these open trucks that have no doors and windows. 00:13:40.732 --> 00:13:43.533 You've seen those safaris where they do that. 00:13:43.533 --> 00:13:45.633 I don't know how they convince anyone to do that. 00:13:45.633 --> 00:13:46.466 By the way, what did they say? 00:13:46.466 --> 00:13:49.932 Oh, don't worry, the lions, they don't bite. 00:13:49.932 --> 00:13:52.700 I mean, I love it when people say that to me about their dog. Oh, he doesn't bite. 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:55.066 Really yet. 00:13:55.066 --> 00:13:56.899 Right? 00:13:56.899 --> 00:14:00.832 I said, the only way I'm going is if I'm in one that's got doors and windows that lock. 00:14:00.832 --> 00:14:06.000 And it's very secure because right before then, I'd heard the story. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:12.533 There was one of these safaris, and they had the open truck, and they they're driving along and they stop somewhere for the guy to point some things out. 00:14:12.533 --> 00:14:16.500 He steps out on the on the little running board on the outside of the truck. 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:19.832 He's still attached to the truck, is holding on to the truck, point some things out. 00:14:19.832 --> 00:14:23.500 While he's talking, a lion jumps out and drags him off into the wilderness. 00:14:26.232 --> 00:14:31.399 Just because you they never have attacked doesn't mean they won't. 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:33.732 Just because it's never happened. 00:14:33.732 --> 00:14:40.133 Just because he hasn't judged and hasn't come back doesn't mean he never will. 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:42.865 We've got to be ready. 00:14:42.865 --> 00:14:44.765 It will be sudden. 00:14:44.765 --> 00:14:46.299 Yes. 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:50.432 Now, I think that means a few things for us to take to heart today. 00:14:50.432 --> 00:14:52.232 Those are three very basic truths. 00:14:52.232 --> 00:14:54.000 But they're easy to forget. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:57.265 We're easy to get lulled to sleep in life. 00:14:57.265 --> 00:14:59.799 What are four truths that we can hold on to today? 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:04.799 Four actions that we can take today in light of those three truths. 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:06.466 Here's the first one. 00:15:06.466 --> 00:15:09.466 Walk in your identity. 00:15:09.932 --> 00:15:12.633 Walk in your identity as a child of God. 00:15:12.633 --> 00:15:24.566 And he talks about this more in chapter five. Look at verse four, but you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 00:15:24.566 --> 00:15:28.899 You don't have to be worried because you're not in darkness. 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:34.232 You are all children of light, children of the day. 00:15:34.232 --> 00:15:37.232 We are not of the night or of the darkness. 00:15:37.232 --> 00:15:42.033 So first walk in your identity as children of the light. 00:15:42.033 --> 00:15:46.533 Your heart is one that is drawn to light, not to evil. 00:15:46.533 --> 00:15:48.799 And of course, there are times there a temptation. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:50.033 But walk in that identity. 00:15:50.033 --> 00:15:51.133 This is who I am. 00:15:51.133 --> 00:15:53.033 I'm a child of the light. 00:15:53.033 --> 00:15:54.432 I long for Christ. 00:15:54.432 --> 00:15:59.265 I long for the things that he represents, not the things of evil and of this world. 00:16:00.033 --> 00:16:02.600 Now he goes on from there to tell us ways that we can do that. 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:04.966 What does it mean to walk as children of light? 00:16:04.966 --> 00:16:06.365 How do we do that? 00:16:06.365 --> 00:16:09.066 Number two, be alert. 00:16:09.066 --> 00:16:09.932 Stay alert. 00:16:09.932 --> 00:16:11.299 Look at verses six through eight. 00:16:13.133 --> 00:16:15.500 So then let us not sleep as others do. 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:18.700 But let us keep awake and be sober. 00:16:19.832 --> 00:16:22.566 Keep awake, stay alert and be sober. 00:16:22.566 --> 00:16:24.200 For those who sleep, sleep at night. 00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.865 Those who get drunk are drunk at night. 00:16:25.865 --> 00:16:29.666 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober. 00:16:29.666 --> 00:16:33.633 Having put on the breastplate of faith and love. 00:16:33.633 --> 00:16:36.633 And for a helmet the hope of salvation. 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:41.600 Be alert, stay alert, stay mindful. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:47.432 Of course, this idea of sobriety is certainly referring to physical sobriety. 00:16:47.432 --> 00:16:48.265 We talked about that. 00:16:48.265 --> 00:16:55.200 And when we talked about the Holy Spirit, do not be drunk with wine or anything else, but be filled with the spirit. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:17:00.500 We want our bodies, our presence, our minds to be sober, but also spiritually. 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:06.200 We want to be sober. We want to be alert to this world and all the tricks this world has. 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.833 We want to be aware. 00:17:07.833 --> 00:17:09.665 We don't want to be naive. 00:17:09.665 --> 00:17:17.066 We want to be mindful, present, focused on Christ, ready for all the things the world is going to throw at us. 00:17:17.066 --> 00:17:19.333 And let me just make a plea to you. 00:17:19.333 --> 00:17:26.133 As a result, really try to reduce the amount of noise you take in from news and social media. 00:17:26.766 --> 00:17:34.266 Because as much as you might think that you are selecting what you're consuming, let me tell you they are very intentionally feeding to you what they want you to hear. 00:17:34.266 --> 00:17:41.432 No matter whatever, whatever branch you're taking in from, you're not fully in control of that. 00:17:41.432 --> 00:17:42.266 They've got a narrative. 00:17:42.266 --> 00:17:43.833 They want you to believe, they've got an agenda. 00:17:43.833 --> 00:17:48.099 They want you to become their little puppets, their little parrots that repeat back their story. 00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:50.932 They want to control you, and they're very good at it. 00:17:50.932 --> 00:17:53.432 They spend billions of dollars every year doing it. 00:17:53.432 --> 00:18:00.432 Now, I don't want you to walk in fear, but don't just mindlessly consume everything that's out there. 00:18:00.432 --> 00:18:02.133 Instead, be sober minded. 00:18:02.133 --> 00:18:03.900 First, Peter, we quoted that verse all the time. 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.633 Be sober minded. 00:18:04.633 --> 00:18:07.099 Self-control for the sake of your prayers. 00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:10.099 Be alert. Be on guard. 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:15.766 Be proactive, not just being led along by whatever message this world is sending you. 00:18:15.766 --> 00:18:18.766 Mindlessly consuming. 00:18:19.165 --> 00:18:20.799 Be alert. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:26.333 And then number three, stay faithful. 00:18:26.333 --> 00:18:27.333 Stay faithful. 00:18:27.333 --> 00:18:28.232 Look at verse nine. 00:18:28.232 --> 00:18:32.965 In chapter five he says, For God has not destined us for wrath. 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:37.266 Here's hope, here's encouragement, here's joy. 00:18:37.266 --> 00:18:49.532 He's not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him. 00:18:49.532 --> 00:18:52.532 Stay faithful. 00:18:52.532 --> 00:18:54.599 Stay encouraged. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:58.299 You know, the same way he ended chapter four, he said, be encouraged. 00:18:58.299 --> 00:19:00.200 Encourage other with these words. 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:09.032 He ends verse 11, therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing so in the midst of all the chaos. 00:19:09.432 --> 00:19:14.766 And I know it probably feels like to a lot of us, like the end has got to be any time now. 00:19:16.133 --> 00:19:19.200 I mean, things just every year seem to be ramping up. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:21.032 You see the evil in the culture. 00:19:21.032 --> 00:19:25.066 You see so much chaos across the world with wars and rumors of wars. 00:19:25.066 --> 00:19:31.299 And it seems like whenever one war ends, the next one starts, and sometimes they overlap and go back and forth. 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:36.066 It seems like all the signs are pointing that he could return at any moment. 00:19:36.066 --> 00:19:37.532 We don't know. 00:19:37.532 --> 00:19:44.232 I mean, even Jesus said in Mark 1332, no one knows the day of thou, and not the son, not the spirit, only the father knows. 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:48.465 That means Jesus could know, but he was choosing not to know. 00:19:48.465 --> 00:19:50.633 And we don't know either. 00:19:50.633 --> 00:19:53.633 Either way, our call is to stay faithful. 00:19:54.432 --> 00:19:56.932 Stay faithful to the gospel. 00:19:56.932 --> 00:20:04.333 Don't let all the noise drive you away from faithfulness and into despair and giving up and feeling like, well, nothing I do matters. 00:20:05.333 --> 00:20:07.833 I'll stay faithful. 00:20:07.833 --> 00:20:15.633 And then lastly, number four, remember there will be a day of judgment. 00:20:16.365 --> 00:20:26.133 Yes, it said in verse nine, God has not destined us for wrath, but for those who don't know him, there will be a day of judgment. 00:20:26.133 --> 00:20:27.633 Don't forget that. 00:20:27.633 --> 00:20:31.900 Don't be lulled to sleep by the culture thinking everything's going to be just fine. 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:35.299 He hasn't come back yet, therefore he never will. 00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:45.732 In fact, if you turn your Bibles one page to second Thessalonians chapter one spelled out real clearly, verse five. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:53.932 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. 00:20:53.932 --> 00:21:09.200 Since indeed God considers it just to repay with a repay with a fixed repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted, as well as to us. 00:21:09.465 --> 00:21:13.432 When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 00:21:13.432 --> 00:21:26.732 And look at this picture of judgment, of when he comes in mighty with mighty angels, in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 00:21:26.732 --> 00:21:34.500 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might. 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:39.732 You see the contrast here, first Thessalonians, you will be with Jesus forever. 00:21:39.732 --> 00:21:45.932 Second Thessalonians and those who don't know him have a very different destiny. 00:21:45.932 --> 00:21:48.465 There will be a day of judgment. 00:21:48.465 --> 00:21:49.165 Remember? 00:21:52.532 --> 00:21:59.465 Julian, I when we lived in Phoenix, we had some neighbors, two single ladies trying to raise the kids together. 00:21:59.465 --> 00:22:05.833 One mom worked in the morning, one worked at night, and so they helped each other out that way. 00:22:05.833 --> 00:22:08.766 They were just friends, but they were helping each other out. 00:22:08.766 --> 00:22:13.700 And one of them who worked at night was a dancer at night, if you know what I mean. 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:16.465 That was her main job, and we kept inviting them to church. 00:22:16.465 --> 00:22:18.099 Come join us at church. 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:22.732 And our church was going through them through some light easy series during that time. 00:22:22.732 --> 00:22:25.266 You know, about the love of God or something. 00:22:25.266 --> 00:22:27.500 One Sunday they say, hey, yes, we're going to come. 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:29.333 We'll be there and they show up. 00:22:29.333 --> 00:22:34.066 Well, the guy who normally preaches, who is preaching through the series on love, was sick that day. 00:22:35.066 --> 00:22:44.066 And the guy who came to preach instead preached from first Thessalonians chapter four and five about the judgment and vengeance of God and His return one day. 00:22:44.066 --> 00:22:47.066 And we thought, oh boy, how will this go? 00:22:47.566 --> 00:22:48.500 And we got home. 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:51.333 We came back, invited them over for lunch, and we asked them, what do you think? 00:22:51.333 --> 00:22:53.799 How was it? 00:22:53.799 --> 00:23:00.400 And the girl who was the dancer, she said, you know, that was incredibly depressing. 00:23:01.066 --> 00:23:03.299 She said, I'm used to the churches I've gone to. 00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:07.732 The messages are light and uplifting and encouraging and building up. 00:23:07.732 --> 00:23:10.732 And by the way, we want to be that too. 00:23:13.032 --> 00:23:20.133 But for some, the message of God's return and judgment is very depressing. 00:23:20.133 --> 00:23:29.299 And it should be if you don't know him, if you're not walking with him, this should raise concern. 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:32.032 This should lead to discomfort. 00:23:32.032 --> 00:23:36.799 This should lead to you wondering what is going to happen to me. 00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:39.165 That is an appropriate response. 00:23:39.165 --> 00:23:41.299 And we tried to say something similar to her. 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:46.865 Maybe this is God speaking to you and saying you need to get right with him. 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:51.066 And I don't know where each of you are today with the Lord. 00:23:51.066 --> 00:23:52.766 We're all probably in a different place. 00:23:52.766 --> 00:23:55.066 Some of us have been walking with him for decades. 00:23:55.066 --> 00:24:00.732 Some are still trying to figure out what does it mean to have any faith at all. 00:24:01.766 --> 00:24:02.833 But don't be load to sleep. 00:24:02.833 --> 00:24:05.232 There will be a day and it will be sudden. 00:24:05.232 --> 00:24:06.965 Don't wait forever. 00:24:06.965 --> 00:24:08.732 Don't wait. 00:24:08.732 --> 00:24:10.432 It feels like you have forever. 00:24:10.432 --> 00:24:10.799 Listen. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:13.400 Every day in the news someone is stabbed or shot. 00:24:13.400 --> 00:24:17.099 It seems like someone dies every week on Dixie highway just going along for their normal day. 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.766 Just driving. 00:24:20.766 --> 00:24:23.432 It will be sudden. 00:24:23.432 --> 00:24:26.432 Don't assume you have another day. 00:24:26.865 --> 00:24:30.032 And so here's what I want to say to you today. 00:24:30.032 --> 00:24:31.865 Let me just plead with you. 00:24:31.865 --> 00:24:38.133 We're actually going to do a baptism service June 7th, and we already have some people who have said, yes, I want to be baptized. 00:24:38.133 --> 00:24:40.333 They're planning to be baptized that day. 00:24:40.333 --> 00:24:42.532 Maybe you've been putting that off. 00:24:42.532 --> 00:24:48.165 Maybe, you know, I need to commit to follow Christ, but come join us for that on June 7th. 00:24:48.165 --> 00:24:49.633 Come talk to us today. 00:24:49.633 --> 00:24:51.465 I'll be down front right after the service. 00:24:51.465 --> 00:24:53.266 So will my wife, Julie. 00:24:53.266 --> 00:24:54.932 One of the elders will be down in front as well. 00:24:54.932 --> 00:24:58.400 And our student, Pastor Colby, is going to be down front. 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:01.266 Can't talk to one of us after and say, you know what? 00:25:01.266 --> 00:25:02.566 I do want to get baptized. 00:25:02.566 --> 00:25:03.833 I do want to follow Christ. 00:25:03.833 --> 00:25:05.066 I know I've been putting it off. 00:25:05.066 --> 00:25:06.299 I know I've been playing the game. 00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:09.932 I know I've been trying to walk a fence and I want to in that today. 00:25:11.633 --> 00:25:14.532 So come talk to us after. 00:25:14.532 --> 00:25:15.732 I'm going to pray. 00:25:15.732 --> 00:25:18.932 And then I've got a couple of people to present as new members to the church. 00:25:18.932 --> 00:25:21.599 But as I pray, I want you to wrestle with that. God. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:25.266 Are you calling me to follow you today or not? 00:25:25.266 --> 00:25:28.266 Let's pray. 00:25:28.432 --> 00:25:29.665 God, thank you for this morning. 00:25:29.665 --> 00:25:39.432 I thank you for the picture this morning that we started our service with a families walking up front and saying, we want to dedicate our families to you. 00:25:39.432 --> 00:25:42.500 We want to raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:45.500 Would you give them wisdom and favor? 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:54.333 And I thank you for the truth that we can walk in, that you will return one day, visit visibly, bodily, and we will join you. 00:25:54.333 --> 00:25:57.165 For those who know you, we will join you in heaven. 00:25:57.165 --> 00:25:58.833 But that return will be sudden. 00:26:01.633 --> 00:26:05.633 And for those who don't know you, Lord, I pray that you would bring them under conviction today. 00:26:05.633 --> 00:26:08.165 Godly holy conviction. 00:26:08.165 --> 00:26:10.833 And they would not wait another day. 00:26:10.833 --> 00:26:15.665 They would choose to walk with you today and follow in baptism. 00:26:15.766 --> 00:26:17.200 Thank you Jesus that we can gather. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:18.700 We love you. 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:21.200 Amen. Okay,