This church had literally lost its Blessed Hope- v.7 When the LORD Jesus is revealed from heaven or as it is put in Revelation 1.2 The Revelation of Jesus Christ. The same Greek word is used in both places. It is where get our English word apocalypse, which means "an unveiling, disclosure of truth visible to all, an appearance or manifestation."
They thought that the day of the LORD had already come (2.2)
Among other things that will take place when the LORD Jesus is revealed from heaven there will be:
1. Punishment for those who do not know God and do not obey the the gospel v.8
What a horrible time (endless) for unbelievers and the disobedient.
Jesus spoke of this Matthew 7.23 I never knew you. shut out- everlasting destruction.
2. He will be glorified in His Holy People and marveled at.
Wonder and admiration. He will be the leading one! We will see loved ones and be with them forever, however Christ will be the center. Just speaking to one of my Sunday School teachers I had as a kid in Bellmore. She is now retired. Her mom is in her 90's, looking forward to joining her dad in heaven. She will one day. One of the coolest things about being a pastor is that all the dear souls who knew Jesus that I did funerals for will be there! But as an old gospel song goes Jesus will outside them all.
It was important for those church to have its hope restored. The church in America needs to have renewed hope in Christ's Coming.
Thoughts about Christ's Return effect many things - one thing is our prayers. We pray for healing in each other's bodies and that is right. We are told in
James 5.16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The first thing we should tend to is the spiritual eternal things. The healing of the body, as wonderful as it is, is a temporal thing. Everyone healed by the LORD before 1900 is now with Him!
Here are things we are to continually pray for (spiritual things since Century One the church has prayed for). Let's keep praying for people to be healed but move our prayers up a notch to this level:
1. That Our God May Count You Worthy of His Calling- v.11
Pray that we will all fit into His plan for our lives and we will live that plan out.
I Thessalonians 4.3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified.
I Peter 1.15 Just as He Who called you is holy so be holy in all you do.
Our call is to be holy. May God count us worthy of His calling.
Romans 12.1-3 Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Pray for people to obey the LORD, for His church to fulfill its call to be a Holy Nation (I Peter 2.9)
Pray for the church in light of Christ's Return II Peter 3.11-14
2. By His Power May He Fulfill Every Good Purpose in You - v.11b
Ephesians 2.10 For we are God's workmanship (Poema=work of art), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.
Psalm 139.16 All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
These good works are every act prompted by your faith. It is wonderful to serve the LORD- to be His messenger, His courier, His envoy, His servant and to know because people prayed and cared about your soul- like my parents, grandparents, pastors, Sunday School teachers, my congregation you are doing His will.
Pray for one another. The LORD's Prayer is about His kingdom coming to this earth.
Finally pray:
3. That the Name of Jesus May Be Glorified in You and you in Him. -v.12
It is the LORD Jesus Christ you are serving. All for Him. May His name be glorified in His church. I get concerned because so often we hear less of Him and more about everything else in the church! We need to aim the glory to Him.
Hold onto Hope Through Prayer- Praying for things Eternal.
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