Be The Church - Lessons learned from studying the Second Coming of Jesus.

At Clark Baptist we have been working through Matthew 24 where Jesus talks about the coming tribulation and His second coming. Jesus tells us so much in these chapters. He points to the signs of the beginning of the tribulation, what is going to happen during the tribulation, the signs of His triumphant return, and more importantly what we need to do. Yes, He is talking about His second coming but much of the message applies to those of us who are alive today. It does apply to those living through the tribulation but the message has a real life impact for you and me.

Matthew 24:36-51

³⁶ “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son —except the Father only. ³⁷ As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. ³⁸ For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. ³⁹ They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be: ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one left. ⁴² Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. ⁴³ But know this: If the homeowner had known what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed alert and not let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ This is why you also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.⁴⁵ “Who then is a faithful and sensible slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded. ⁴⁷ I assure you: He will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But if that wicked slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ ⁴⁹ and starts to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ that slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

First off we need to be aware of what is going on in the world. We need to be watching for the signs of the coming of the antichrist. We need to be aware that he will throw anything at us to try to lure us away from the One True King. He wants us to turn our back on the Truth so that we will be led astray and not be able to do what we were created to do.

Psalms 19:12-13

“Who perceives his unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent and cleansed from blatant rebellion.”

We need to lean on Jesus every step of the way. With all the things in this world attacking us we cannot withstand it on our own. The Holy Spirit was sent to be our comforter, teacher, and helper.

Galatians 5:16

“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”

Pray for the Spirit to guide you daily, to help you so that sin will not get a hold of you.

Also pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in your steps every day. Which brings me to the second thing these verses tell us we need to remember. We need to be faithfully serving Jesus and others every single day, we are to be faithful servants. We were created for a purpose and we need to fulfill that purpose.

It starts with loving God and ends with loving others. According to Jesus, these are the greatest two commandments If we are loving God we are following the commands He has given us, which includes sharing His amazing message of unearned Grace and caring for those who are in need. Our Love for God is seen in our Love for Others.

Ephesians 2:8-10

“⁸ For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.”

We were not created to just go to church on Sunday, or even a couple of times a week. We were created to do the works that Jesus has given us.

We were created to be The Church!

If someone is lost… we are to show them The Way! (aka Jesus Christ)

If someone is hungry… we are to feed them!

If someone is thirsty… we are to give them something to drink!

If someone is hurting… we are to come alongside them for comfort!

If someone is in need… we are to help meet that need!

The Church is the tool used by God to meet the needs of the world. Are you that tool?

When Jesus was talking about His second coming, He was telling all believers that they need to be aware of what is going on around them AND that they need to let their faith drive them to serve others.

Read your Bible, be aware of what is happening in the world, and get out there and serve others!