April 28, 2013
Morning Service

Jesus told of His second coming 22 times in the gospels.  Whether directly or in parables.  One of my favorite, faith building scriptures on this topic is St. Jn. 14:1-3.

 

But what did His disciples teach on this subject?  What is revealed to us to build our faith?  We know that faith is very important in our lives; 

·         Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We also know that we build our faith by hearing, and reading the Word of God.  Rom. 10:17.

Paul, who wrote 14 of the 27 N.T. letters, speaks of this happening 23 times.  He mentions it in:

·         I Cor. 1:7-8;  4:5;  11:26;  15:23.

·         Phi. 3:20-21;  4:5.

·         Col. 3:4.

·         I Thess. 1:10;  2:19;  3:13;  4:15-17;  5:2-3;  5:23.

·         II Thess. 1:7-10;  2:1-3;  2:5;  2:8;  3:5.

·         I Tim. 6:14-15.

·         II Tim. 4:1.

·         Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

·         Heb. 9:28.

James mentions it in chapter 5:5-9.

 

Peter speaks of it in:

·         Acts 3:20-21.

·         I Pet. 1:7;  4:13;  5:4.

·         II Pet. 1:16;  3:3-4;  3:8-14.

 

John mentions it:

·         I Jn. 2:28;  3:2.

·         Rev. 1:7;  3:11;  16:15;  22:12;  22:20.

 

Jude mentions it in 1:14-15.

 

This morning we want to build our faith on this subject of the Lord’s second coming.  Some refer to it as the rapture, or the catching away of the church.  The word rapture is not in the Bible, but the idea behind it is.  Jesus is coming back for His church.  We will be looking at these Scriptures.

Let’s look at what Luke wrote concerning this subject;

 

Act 1:1-11  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  (2)  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:  (3)  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:  (4)  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.  (5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.  (6)  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 

(7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 

(8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (9)  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  (10)  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  (11)  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

·         So we can see Jesus is taken up.  One of the most important instructions that the Lord gave these disciples was given at this time.  “Wait for the promise of the Father, and you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.  And you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

·         We see the results of them obeying this command.  With this power to witness they changed the world.  And part of this witness was that Jesus is coming back after His followers.

 

Listen to Peter’s second sermon:

After the healing of the lame man, the people marveled, then Peter preached to them:

Act 3:12-26  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 

(13)  The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.  (14)  But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;  (15)  And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.   

(16)  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.  (17)  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.  (18)  But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.  (19)  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 

(20)  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  (21)  Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 

(22)  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.  (23)  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.  (24)  Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.  (25)  Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.  (26)  Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

·         This message came from a Holy Ghost filled fisherman.  It came to pass just as Jesus said it would, “you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you.”

·         This message originated with a Holy Ghost filled carpenter.  It continues to be delivered by Holy Ghost filled School teachers, house Wives, Insurance salesmen, Policemen, Fire fighters, Mayors, City Workers, etc;   ONE THING IN COMMON, THEY ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST.

·         This boldness to share their experiences with the Lord got all of them killed except John.  But just as the Apostle Paul said, “for me to die is gain.”  What a blessed reward they will have at the judgment.

 

Lord, give us this power to witness, as you did these early disciples.  Give us this to die for faith.