THE PATIENT WAITING FOR CHRIST

2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

1. GOD WANTS US THINKING ABOUT THE LORD’S COMING.

A. JESUS GAVE PARABLES ABOUT PREPARING FOR HIS COMING.

B. JESUS TOLD US TO ACT AS WATCHMEN AND PORTERS, LOOKING FOR HIS COMING.

C. WE ARE REMINDED OF THE LORD’S COMING EACH TIME WE HAVE THE LORD’S SUPPER.

WHY ? THE CLOSENESS OF THE BREAD AND BLOOD SHOULD MAKE US DESIRE HIM MORE, AND TO CRAVE HIS COMING.

1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come.

2. WE SHOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED OR CONFUSED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THIS WORLD

A. NOAH HAD TO LOOK AT THE EVIL WORLD BECOMING WORSE AND WORSE FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE JUDGMENT FELL.

Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

B. GOD WANTS US ACTIVELY SERVING HIM WITH THE GIFTS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.

1 Corinthians 1:5-8 That in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. OUR RESPONSE TO THE NEARNESS OF HIS COMING SHOULD BE FOR US TO GET READY.

A man who has worked all day in the heat cleaning out septic tanks will want to change clothes and take a bath before going out on a date that night. “Coming as you are” is not an option. The same is true for the bride of Christ when meeting the Lord in the air. We need to be clean, and blameless.

A. WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD AT THE END.

We should not accept a lowered standard of living just because the world’s standards are dropping. Instead, knowing the Lord is coming, we should upgrade our standards to the highest possible level in preparation of being with Him.

–EVEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT BECAUSE THE LORD MIGHT COME.

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.

2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

1 Corinthians 5:8–Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4. DO NOT BE MOVED BY CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND UNFOUNDED RELIGIOUS THEORIES.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

5. EXERCISE PATIENCE.

That is not sitting in a chair expecting the door to open any moment. It is actively doing what God wants, anticipating that we should be taken while serving God, so sleeping. Keep an eye on the door, look out the window, but be doing God’s work.

James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

”The Patient Waiting For Christ”

A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams

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End Times, Prophecy, Serving God, Waiting