Are You Ready For That Day?
Throughout the Bible we are admonished not to be afraid. In fact the phrase “fear not” is found 63 times in the KJV Bible.
In the NT we are encouraged to be patient and not to worry. There is a reason for this and I am going to try to convey it to you in the next few minutes.
It is really very simple to understand when we honestly look at our lives.
When we are afraid, when we worry our eyes are not on Him. We can not see Him coming.
In fact I have examined myself and I spend so much time trying to tell you how God wants you to live and the destiny that He has for you. This is what I feel my ministry is, but today I want to tell you that there is a day coming when the Son of God will return for His own; and I want to ask you are you ready for that day?
Philippians 4:4-7 KJV
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Message
Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
I love the way the message Bible renders these verses. Working with people instead of against them. Helping them see Jesus is coming and it could be any minute. Instead of worrying pray. Let your petitions and praises shape your worries into prayer. God will bring things together.
Celebrate God all day every day.
I am just curious; does this sound like very many of your days?
Many of our days, in fact much of our life has become a futile act of worry.
Please hear me today. God is reminding us what this is all about.
Yes I believe that we must make the best of everyday, why; because the day approaches that Christ is coming back. Why do I preach with urgency? Because Christ is coming back.
This life is not about having a nice obituary written about us when we die.
It is about lifting our heads because our redemption draws near.
I must lift my head from the pit of despair and praise God for the soon coming King of Glory.
Let me tell you something. It is not worry that opens the eyes of the blind. It is not worry that heals the sick. It is not worry that sends your enemies to flight. You will not resist the devil with worry.
These things and more will happen when you celebrate the grace and mercy of God. Helping others see the goodness of Jesus with the love you have for them. Pointing them to the forgiveness and restoration that Christ provided and sharing the Good News that Christ is coming soon.
Worry does not bear fruit but praise will. Prayer will. Faith will.
The Apostle Luke begins the book of Acts with the story of the Ascension of Christ. He shares the words He spoke to the assembled disciples.
Acts 1:10 KJV
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Acts 1:9-11 Message
These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”
Whatever they were thinking the Angels spoke to jar them from the worry that was building in their hearts and remind them that they had an appointment in the upper room.
You can not fulfill your God given destiny when you are worried about everything. When every minute of every day is filled with anxiety and fear.
The Bible says; “Cast all your care on Him.”
What you have need of is patience. You all need patience!!!!
Hebrews 10:36-37 Amplified
For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
37 For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.
It is the world we live in and the cares of the world that hold our attention most of the day. Most of our lives.
We worry over our job, our family and friends. We are anxious in our relationships and fearful of the way the world is changing. This has become our life. Living our days thinking only how we can best fulfill our immediate needs and selfish desires.
Focused solely on the moment with little thought given to the day that is approaching.
Jesus gave us this warning to consider.
Luke 21:34-36 KJV
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Message
“But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.”
Jesus spoke of being ready for that day often. Directly and in parables.
It was, I believe for this result. That His people would go forward in their mission and declaring the Gospel. Celebrating God and helping their fellow man along the way.
Not bound by circumstances and asleep with complacency. But moving forward through every obstacle and every temptation with a firm commitment to Him. Knowing that He is coming back again and that the day is fast approaching.
Let me end with how I began.
Are you ready for that day?
