Title: The Day the Lord Jesus Appears
Contents
Bible: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 Sermon: The Day of the Appearance of the Lord Jesus
When the people of Israel were being abused like slaves in Egypt, when they cried out to the Lord and prayed, 'I came down' to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and lead them to a beautiful and vast land flowing with milk and honey. Exodus 3:7-8) Knowing that the Thessalonian church is suffering a lot of persecution and is in tribulation, the day when the Lord Jesus appears is near. This is a letter of encouragement to love the Lord more with faith and hope.
If we take a comprehensive examination of the spiritual condition of the modern church, there are many seriously ill. They are suffering from Nicholas' disease (not serving with office and honor), Balaam's disease (greedy for material things, belief in blessings), Jezebel's disease (fornication and worldliness), and the rich disease (Laodicea church). This is the message that the Lord Jesus, the head of the church, told John (Revelation 2:9) that the church that is living a religious life because of this disease is not a Jew, but a synagogue of Satan (the Devil Hall) (Rev 2:9). It is not that they do not wait for the Lord because they believe in Jesus because of themselves.
Looking at the history of the church, when the church suffered tribulation and persecution, the spiritual level and quality of the church increased, but as Christianity became a popular religion, the spiritual level and quality fell. .
1. Why the Lord Jesus will appear (advent)
The great interest in the Second Coming of Christ has existed since the first century of the church. Even the slightest social, political, natural, or religious turmoil or symptoms made the church nervous and showed interest in the Second Coming of Christ. The Bible doesn't tell us when or when, but why did Christ? It teaches you how to come again.
The word Advent is Parousia, a technical term used by the emperor to patrol the provinces. The long-awaited problem could be solved directly without going through complicated administrative procedures during the emperor's local tour. The reason for the second coming of Christ is to think of the parousia of Christ from the perspective of the perpetrator and the victim (2 Thessalonians 1:6,7).
The world ignores God's sovereignty over creation and insists that it is its own. They don't even acknowledge the glory of God, they try to acknowledge only their own glory. The very existence of the church in the world is to acknowledge God's sovereignty over creation, and to accuse the world of claiming the earth as its territory is greed and treason.
The church will suffer persecution because it does not listen to the dragon, the serpent, and the devil, but only to listen to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who know the reason for the coming of Christ are saints and brothers, and the gathering of such people is called the church.
2. The culmination of glory on the day of the appearing of the Lord Jesus
The way of living without the need for Christ is called secular. People see no glory in their indifference. Glory begins to come into your eyes only in the things you care about. The day Jesus appears will bring punishment to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Such will be punished with everlasting destruction from the face of the Lord and the glory of his might. But he will be glorified by the saints and marveled by the believers.
3. Ready posture to wait for the advent (10)
As believers who are waiting for the day of the appearing of the Lord Jesus, just as God the Savior comes down, we must also get down from our seats and wait for the day when the Lord appears in the place of prayer. God's salvation was achieved by descending to the lowest point of suffering. But, much less, where the sinner who will be saved through God's humbled incarnation does not come down to receive salvation.
When the people of Nineveh fell to the ground and repented, God's grace came upon them. What is God's descent? It is to accuse us that our pride and exaltation are sins that prevent salvation. Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down quickly and made him a descendant of Abraham. Our spiritual revival and God's blessing is going down. Descending is expressed as our prayer of repentance. The Savior will come when you descend from all grasping human methods and efforts.
Prayer: Lord! We eagerly await the glory of Christ because we know the reason for His coming. Oh Lord! Please come soon. Maranatha! Amen.