THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

 

MEMORY VERSE:  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  (Acts 2:1-4)

 

INTRODUCTION

            Many today speak of being “spirit-filled” and “born again”.  But what are they talking about? 

 

I.          The term “born again” usually refers to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to him at night in John 3:5-6: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”   Nicodemus was having a difficult time understanding how someone who was grown could be “born again” so Jesus explained that the wind is real and you can feel and hear it but you can’t tell where it came from or where it is going - you can’t control it - so is every one that is “born again”.  (John 3:7)

 

II.         So, what do people mean by “spirit-filled”?

A.  More than one Old Testament prophet wrote of this phenomenon of God’s spirit actually living inside of us:

1)  Jeremiah wrote about it in his 31st chapter, verses 33 and 34: “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

2)  Ezekiel, in the passage of his important prophecy about the New Testament Messiah       in chapter 36, even though the nation of Israel would not repent - for HIS NAME’S SAKE - He promises in verses 26 and 27:  “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

3)  Probably the most well-known prophecy about being “spirit-filled” is found in Joel 2:28-29, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”

            B.   So, what does the New Testament say about this same phenomenon?

1)   Our memory verse  (Acts 2:4) clearly states that the Spirit gave the       disciples

      the utterance of “other tongues” - the initial sign manifesting His indwelling presence.

2)  When Peter told the Jews assembled in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost that “this was that” spoken by the prophet Joel in Acts 2:16-18, his answer linked speaking with tongues to the gift of the Holy Ghost.

3)  Again, in Acts 2:33, later in his same sermon, Peter identified the sign of speaking with tongues as the evidence that the disciples had received the “promise of the Holy Ghost”.

            Both the Old and New Testaments agreed that God would fill His people with His Spirit, and when that happened, the initial evidence was speaking in tongues.

 

WHY DID GOD CHOOSE TONGUES?

            Fred Kinzie gives us several reasons in his tract about this subject:

 

I.          The Sovereignty of God - God is not accountable to us for what He chooses to do.  We have no reason to question His ways, nor to dispute His actions.  If you have any doubts that there is a decided connection between speaking with tongues and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, read the following scriptures:

1)  Isaiah 28:11-12

            2)  Mark 16:17

3)  Acts 10:46

4)  Acts 2:4

5)  Acts 19:1-6

 

II.         An External Evidence - There are many evidences of the operation of the Spirit of God in one’s life.  With some, it is a matter of time before they are manifest, such as the fruit of the Spirit.  These follow after the Holy Ghost comes to live in our heart and life and are results of it.  Peter and the six who went with him to Caesarea knew that the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost, not because of long-suffering, gentleness, meekness or temperance but because they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.  Such is an outward, external evidence, instantly observed and heard.

 

III.        A Uniform Evidence - In speaking about being born of the Spirit, Jesus states in John 3:8, “. . .so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.”  Certainly this is uniformity.  By carefully analyzing this verse, you will see that Jesus places emphasis upon the word “sound”.  You hear the sound of the wind blowing, and this is evidence of its presence.  It is not seeing nor feeling that is important, though these evidences may be present, but hearing the sound.  Some may conclude that this means the experience at Pentecost where they heard the sound as of a rushing mighty wind.  However, this rushing mighty wind was not spoken of in Acts 10:46 or in Acts 19:6, but speaking in tongues was.  We must conclude that the important part of the Spirit’s evidence at Pentecost was the speaking in other tongues.  The WIND was impersonal;  the SPEAKING was personal.

 

IV.        Complete Control - The speaking in tongues symbolized God’s complete control of the believer.  James teaches very revealing things about the nature of the tongue. 

1)  It is capable of defiling the whole body

2)  Though it is a small member, it has never been tamed of mankind

            Since these things are true about the tongue, doesn’t it need to be tamed before the whole body could be consecrated to God?  In Matthew 12:29, Jesus tells us that before you can enter a strong man’s house and spoil or plunder his goods, you must first bind the strong man.  The STRONG MAN OF YOUR HOUSE IS YOUR TONGUE.  When God tames your tongue, you are under the control of the great God of the heavens, you are endued with a spiritual force from on high and empowered for His service.

 

V.         The tongue is man’s greatest expression of his spirit - The ability and power to coordinate thought and tongue into intelligent speech is one of the highest prerogatives of man and elevates him above the beasts of the field - it makes him superior to any of God’s creation.  Therefore, the tongue is the vehicle of expression for the spirit. 

            It is not difficult, after realizing these things about my tongue to understand why God would use the speaking in tongues to express the greatest, most wonderful experience that mere man could receive.  In the baptism of the Holy Ghost, God’s Spirit and yours become one.  He uses your tongue and voice to express it,  and it is the wonder chosen by God - the sovereign ruler of the universe!

 

WHO NEEDS THE HOLY GHOST?

            There are six categories of Bible people who needed the Holy Ghost.  By studying them, we can see who needs the Holy Ghost even in our modern society:  Bro. Simeon Young wrote an excellent article on this subject, and he says:

 

I.          Religious Activists Need the Spirit - even the twelve apostles who had been with Jesus for three and a half years - healing the sick, casting out devils - still needed the Holy Ghost so much that Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem until they were given the “power from on high”  (Luke 24:49).  In the book of Acts, Luke tells us that these 12 men received the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance  (Acts 1:13-14; 2:1-2).

 

II.         Highly Favored and Blessed People Need the Spirit -  Even Mary, the mother of Jesus who had been called “highly favored” and “blessed” at least five times in the first chapter of Luke needed the Holy Ghost.  Her name was listed with the names of the 12 apostles  and other family members of Jesus who were waiting in the Upper Room when the Holy Ghost first fell on the Day of Pentecost.  Just because God blessed her and favored her did not mean that she was okay without God’s spirit living inside of her.

 

III.        Those Healed and Delivered Need the Spirit - “Unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many (Samaritans) that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame were healed.  And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:7,8).  Peter and John still came from Jerusalem and “prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost:” because even with the divine touch of God in healing, they still needed His Spirit dwelling inside  (Acts 8:15-17).

 

IV.        Sincere, But Misguided, Religious Zealots Need the Spirit - Saul, of Tarsus was ALL of these things, but he desperately needed God’s Spirit living inside of him.  God sent him a preacher and Saul became Paul with a NEW BIRTH!  (Acts 9:17)

 

V.         Prayerful, Generous Friends of the Church Need the Spirit - Cornelius was very generous, and he prayed so hard, God sent an angel to speak to him!  But this God-fearing Gentile STILL needed the Spirit of God dwelling within!  (Acts 11:14)

 

VI.        Long-standing Church Members Need the Spirit - Paul found 12 men in the city of Ephesus who had been followers of John the Baptist for years.  It was obvious that these men were true believers.  But Paul STILL asked them, “have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”  (Acts 19:2).  After Paul baptized them again - this time in the name of the Lord Jesus - he “laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them:  and they spake with tongues, and prophesied”  (Acts 19:5,6). 

 

            These six examples from God’s Word cover just about everybody you can think of - ANYBODY WHO DOESN’T HAVE THE HOLY GHOST NEEDS IT!

 

 

WHAT DOES THE HOLY GHOST DO FOR YOU?

 

I.          John 14:26        tells us that the Holy Ghost will teach us all things and bring all     things to our                                          remembrance, and we will have an understanding of the Word of God.

 

II.         Isaiah 28:12       lets us know that the Holy Ghost is the refreshing and gives rest to the weary.

 

III.        John 16:13        says that the Spirit of truth lets us know things to come in the future.

IV.        Acts 1:8 here we are told that the Spirit gives us power for witnessing.

 

V.         Romans 8:11     helps us understand that the spirit is our promise that we will be

                                    resurrected!

 

VI.        Romans 8:26     gives us assurance that the Spirit even helps us to pray - through

                                    intercession.

 

VII.       Isaiah 59:19       says that the Spirit of the Lord will raise a standard against the enemy of our                                               soul.

 

VIII.      Romans 8:9       Christ places His seal of ownership on us by His Spirit IN US. 

           

If someone were offering you a gift that would reap all of these benefits, would you actually REFUSE it?  The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a WONDERFUL thing - needed by all, and with TREMENDOUS benefits!  If you want this gift, just obey Peter’s instructions, given on the Day of Pentecost:

 

 

“. . .Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ

for the remission of sins, and ye SHALL receive the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST!

For the promise is unto you, and to your children,

and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

(Acts 2:38-39)

 

.

. .RECEIVE YE THE

HOLY GHOST!

INWARD AND OUTWARD HOLINESS

 

A “HOLINESS” HIGHWAY

 

MEMORY VERSE:  “And an highway shall be there, and a way; and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein”  (Isaiah 35:8).

 

INTRODUCTION

            Now that we have  understood the Plan of Salvation and have experienced obedience to it,  we are no longer searching for the “Path TO Righteousness”, now we can walk on the “Path OF Righteousness”.

            It is no simple thing to follow the “Path OF Righteousness” in this present day - living righteously in an unrighteous world.  The child of God must appear blameless and harmless in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, as we are told in Titus 2:11-13:  “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”.    We must:

1)  deny ungodliness  (a pagan-like disregard of God in thought and action)

2)  deny worldly lusts (a strong desire and passion for things of this present world)

                        3)  live soberly (seriously considering the laws/commands of God’s Word)

                        4)  live righteously (doing things in a right way as identified by the Bible)

                        5)  live godly (according to the plan of God)

ALL should be done in this present world, and we should carefully prepare and look for the return of our Saviour.  And what is the thing that teaches us all of this? - THE GRACE OF GOD!  God has equipped us so that we will be able to do it with His salvation and His grace - no other way!  His Spirit IN US gives us hope - “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

            So, what is this righteousness, this holiness that we need before we shall see God?  The Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary defines holiness as:

1)  The quality or state of being dedicated for spiritual use

2)  The state of being spiritually perfect or pure; untainted by evil or sin

It actually refers to separation FROM the world and sin, and dedication TO God.

 

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR HOLINESS?

            There are THREE basic purposes for a life of holiness:

            A.   TO PLEASE GOD (I Peter 2:9)

            B.   TO COMMUNICATE CHRIST TO OTHERS (Matthew 5:16; II Cor. 3:2-3)

            C.   TO BENEFIT OURSELVES BOTH NOW AND IN ETERNITY  (Hebrews 12:14)

           

WHY  IS  HOLINESS  NECESSARY?

            Since the Lord God is Holy and perfect, He demands holiness and perfection from all who come to Him.  In both the Old and New Testaments, holiness was demanded of every one that received his call.   

 

I.          OLD TESTAMENT CALL TO HOLINESS 

A.  He said to Abraham in Genesis 17:16: “I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect.” To the children of Israel after they had come out of Egypt (a type of sin and slavery) He demanded of them saying: “Sanctify yourselves therefore and be ye holy; for I am the Lord your God”(Leviticus 20:7).

B.  In the Old Testament, after God had reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham and the      children

      of Israel, He decided to live among His people. 

                        1)  He demanded an offering (a sacrifice) from the people, and there must be a     sanctuary (a holy place) for him to dwell in.  (Exodus 25:1,2,8,9).

2)  Moses prepared this sanctuary according to the pattern and materials as God had revealed to him, and so God could live among His people (Exodus 40:33-35).

3)  During their wandering in the Wilderness, the Lord spoke of dwelling with his people, but this time not in the tabernacle or in the temple made by hands as in King Solomon’s day (I Kings 8:10-11; II Chronicles 7:15-16), but dwelling with human flesh and using the human body as his temple.  (Joel 2:28).

 

II.         NEW TESTAMENT CALL TO HOLINESS

A.  In Acts 17:24, Paul is preaching to the people of Athens on Mars Hill, and he says this about the temple dwelling place of God:  “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;”. 

B.  Just as in the Old Testament, when God dwelt among the children of Israel, He gave Moses the plan for building the Tabernacle.  Today, in the building not made with hands, God still has a plan - just any old way will not do!  Paul, in his writings to the church at Corinth said: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (I Corinthians 3:16-17).

C.  Peter, in his epistle to the church in general spoke of this also: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  Because it is written,  Be ye holy; for I am holy”  (I Peter 1:15-16).

              This preparation of the body as a sanctuary or temple, and dedicating it for the Lord’s use, this call to BE HOLY, is what the Bible calls “holiness”.

 

III.        PREPARATION OF THE BODY

            Just as it was very important in the construction of the Tabernacle that the outer covering was properly put together so that the inner furniture and function could be correctly observed, so it is with the preparation of the body as God’s dwelling place – both inward and outward preparation is necessary.  The Psalmist David understood this very well when he wrote in Psalm 24:3-5:  “ Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?  or who shall stand in his holy place?  He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation”.

            A.   INWARD PREPARATION - This involves a change of heart - repentance. 

1)   It is forsaking sin and never going back to it again.  “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).

2)  Giving oneself to baptism in Jesus’ name for the washing away of one’s sins: “To him gave all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins”  (Acts 10:43).          

3)  Paul in his letter to the church at Ephesus had this to say:  “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish”  (Ephesians 5:26-27).

With repentance and baptism, the inner part of the body is prepared as God’s dwelling place.  The Holy Ghost, by faith, can now reside in this temple:  “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and  length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God”  (Ephesians 3:16-19).   But the work of holiness does not end here.

B.  OUTWARD PREPARATION  - We all like to eat delicious food, prepared and      arranged beautifully so that we enjoy looking at it before we eat it.  But who will eat a beautiful meal that is served out of a chamber pot (toilet bowl)?  The body, as the  temple of God, should be seen in a way that actually reveals the attitude of God.  Thus, the outward preparation of the body is very important.  This outward preparation involves the transformation of the individual from his old ways of life.  Paul had this to say to the church in Rome:  “I beseech (I beg) you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”  (Romans 12:1-2).  What is “this world” that we should not be conformed (made like) to?  The Apostle John, in his first epistle (I John 2:16) defines the world as:

1)  the lust of the flesh

                        2)  the lust of the eye

                        3)  the pride of life

And John made it a point to emphasize that whoever has his love in these things has no love of God in him. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away; and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”  (I John 2:15-17). Given  these scriptures and an understanding that friendship with the “world” is enmity with God (James 4:4), there are seven questions you should ask yourself before you begin to do, say, think  or enjoy anything!

                        1)   Can it be done for the glory of God?  (I Corinthians 10:31)

2)   Can it be done “in the name of the Lord Jesus” asking His blessing on the activity?  (John 14:13)

                        3)   Can it be done while sincerely giving thanks to God?

                        4)   Is it a Christ-like action?  (I John 2:6)

                        5)   Will it weaken the sincere convictions of other Christians?  (I Corinthians 8:1)

6)  Will it weaken my desire for spiritual things - God’s Word, and prayer?  (Luke 8:14; Matthew 5:6)

                        7)   Will it weaken or hinder my witness for Christ?  (Matthew 5:13-16)

C.  The reason for holiness standards is to protect us in one or more of these areas.  A standard is a fixed rule or measure that is established by authority.  God has never wanted His people to be frustrated about what will or will not please Him, so He has given us some Biblical principles which apply throughout the centuries of time, even today! 

1)  We have already learned that in this present day, our bodies are the temple of the Lord.   So what are we supposed to do with His temple?  Paul wrote the Corinthian church in II Corinthians 6:16 - 18;  7:1 and explained it like this:  “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said,  I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.  WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE,  SAITH THE LORD, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING; AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU.  AND WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, saith the Lord Almighty. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

2)  The life of holiness is a continual striving for perfection (Philippians 3:12-17).  No one is absolutely perfect, but we are holy if we place our faith in Christ, live a repented life according to God’s Word, and seek to grow progressively more Christ-like by the power of the indwelling spirit.  God expects continued growth in grace and knowledge and increasing production of spiritual fruit.  (II Peter 3:18).

3)  We may not be perfect, but we are supposed to be walking on a road that leads to heaven - one that is straight and narrow, and one that is HOLY.  The prophet Isaiah spoke about it in his 35th chapter, verse 8:  “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

 

IV.        CONCLUSION   

            The “Path of Righteousness” is a special path.  Why?  Because it is the road where God Himself walks - leading us to heaven - our eternal home!  God knew we wouldn’t be able to walk a holy walk without His help, so he provided all we need in the Comforter He sent us - that Comforter who works inside of us to make us Holy - like He is!  There is a special chorus which tells us so plainly how it all works together:

 

 

 

 

Jesus on the inside,

working on the outside,

Oh - What a change in my life!

Oh - What a Change. . . .

In. . . . My. . . . Life!

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN

JESUS  IS  COMING  AGAIN!

 

MEMORY VERSE:  “In my Father’s house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”  (John 14:2,3).

 

INTRODUCTION

            A careful study of God’s Word reveals that apart from Jesus’ first appearing as a baby in a manger, there are four other times when He promised to come.  Just to make these clear, let us speak of each one: 

1.   In John 14:18, Jesus promised to come back to the disciples and give them comfort.  This was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost as found in Acts 2:1-4.

2.   Our memory verse speaks of another “second” coming - when Jesus promised to take His disciples unto Himself in a beautiful home He has gone to prepare (John 14:2,3).

3.  In Revelation 19:11-19,  the KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS will come with all the armies of heaven to smite the nations.

4.   In Revelation 20:11-15, God once again comes to judge everyone who has ever lived upon the face of the earth.

            We want to spend our time in this lesson learning more about the “second coming” of Jesus, or the second time He will actually come to earth in a bodily form, as spoken of in our memory verse.

 

I.          Jesus Speaks of His Second Coming

            Jesus first began to speak of this special time when His disciples were asking questions because they understood that following Him had a price connected to it.  Jesus promised them another comforter (John 15:26-27).  But then, they wanted to know about this coming again to take them home with Him, and thy even asked for signs to help them recognize that the end of their suffering was near.  So, they went to Jesus in a private place, away from all the crowds, and asked for more understanding.  Matthew chapter 24 speaks of many things that we can look for as preludes to His Second Coming:

A.  “Take heed that no man deceive you”. . . Jesus promised that many false Christs would arise, claiming to be a Messiah of some sort.  We must be careful to stay in God’s Word to know for sure that we are following His truths.  (Matthew 24:4,5)

B.  “. . .wars and rumors of wars”. . . You can hardly pick up a newspaper without seeing another war begun somewhere in the world.  All around us, men are fighting each other for land or some other form of material wealth.  There is talk of “ethnic cleansing”, civil war, and      so many terrible troubles among so many peoples of the world.  (Matthew 24:6,7)

C.   “. . .and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places”- We are experiencing so many different weather patterns in our world today - heat where there is normally cold, and cool weather where there is normally heat.  Droughts, floods, and yes, even serious earthquakes in many different locations around the world. “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8).

D.  “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). There has never been a time in history when more people were being deceived and led astray from the one true God. Many are falling away because of so much iniquity, but that is not a reason to quit, it is a better reason to hold on harder than ever before!  Those who endure are the only ones who will make it!  (Matthew 24:13).

E.  “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” Matthew 24:14).  This is one of the only signs of the end time that has not been totally fulfilled. We are still working daily to share the Gospel with “whosoever will”, and the task is great.  But Jesus never asked us to do anything that was impossible - we just have to trust Him and keep on working! 

F.   No One KNOWS When the End Shall Come - “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). The purpose of our study is not to tell you when Jesus is coming again, but to make you aware of the signs He has given us to let you know that His coming draweth nigh.  We need to be looking up - He could come at any time!

G.  Compare the Days of the End to the Days of Noah - What was going on while Noah and his sons were building the ark?  (Matthew 24:37-39)

1)  eating and drinking - more restaurants, bars, and places to consume food than ever before in the history of the whole world!

2)  marrying and giving in marriage - more people marrying and divorcing and remarrying to their heart’s content!

3)  knew not until the flood came and took them all away - they didn’t listen to the preaching of Noah - they didn’t realize what was taking place until it was too late to do anything about it!

H.  How Will it Happen?  Jesus said that it would take us all by surprise - two would be working together - one taken  - the other left behind  (Matthew 24: 40-42). His main point here was to let us know that His coming will be a surprise - we need to be ready at all times - we never know when He will appear!  (Matthew 24:44).

 

II.            Others Speak of His Second Coming   

Paul, in his writings of the epistles, spoke to different churches of this “Second Coming” of our Saviour.

A. To the Church at Thessalonica - Because of intense persecution by some Jews who lived in Thessalonica, Paul was forced to leave his newly founded church before he had taught them as much as they needed.  So, he wrote this letter to give them some encouraging words, and some more sound doctrine. 

1)  I Thessalonians chapter 4, begins with instructions about how to please the Lord. But then, Paul begins to explain to them about those who die before Jesus comes again.  “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus  died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words”  (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

2)   Then Paul begins to speak of certain things that would be happening when this “trump of God” should sound: 

a.  This day would come as a “thief in the night” - Paul agrees that no one knows exactly when this event will take place.

b.  People would be crying for “peace and safety” - the whole world is crying for peace, and there are more “peace talks” than ever before - while more war and destruction is taking place around the world!

3)  Paul’s final admonition is that the church “watch” - “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (I Thessalonians 5:6). Paul was telling his new converts to be spiritually prepared so they would escape God’s wrath. We must be spiritually awake and morally alert, and very careful to stay in God’s Word!

B. To the Church at Corinth - Paul was teaching the Corinthian saints about the resurrection of Jesus, and the hope this gives us as believers in Him.  “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable”  (I Corinthians 15:19).  He went on to tell them exactly how they would receive a glorified body at the resurrection that would be a part of Christ’s second coming:  “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”  (I Corinthians 15:51-55).  Paul gave us several interesting clues in these passages:

                        1)  All believers won’t be dead, but they will all be changed - I Corinthians 15:51

                        2)  It will happen in a moment - in the twinkling of an eye - I Corinthians 15:52

                        3)  There will be a trumpet blast heralding the grand event - I Corinthians 15:52

4)  The corruptible (those whose bodies have decayed) will put on incorruption (they will have a new body!) - I Corinthians 15:53.

5)  This mortal will take on immortality - those still alive will take on a new body that will never die! - I Corinthians 15:54.

6)  Death will no more be victorious over those who have received their victory        through Jesus Christ - I Corinthians 15:55.

 

III.        The Purpose of His Second Coming

            As with everything else in life, God has always had a plan for the saving of His people.  In the Old Testament, He makes it very clear, that sin has separated Him from His creation, but He had a plan for redemption!  Nevertheless, He must still punish those who refuse to accept that plan and follow in His Path of Righteousness. 

            A.   He spoke through the prophets of the Old Testament:

1)  Isaiah 13:9-11 - “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate:  and He shall destroy the sinners thereon out of it.  For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light:  the sun shall be darkened in His going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.  And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity, and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”

2)  Zephaniah 1:14-18 - “The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly,      even the voice of the day of the LORD; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.  And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.  Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath;  but the whole land  shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy:  for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.”

            B.   He spoke through New Testament writers:

1)  John the Revelator asked this question in Revelation 6:17: “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

  2)  Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 5:2,3:  “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the      Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

3)  Paul wrote again in that same chapter of I Thessalonians 5:9,10 of our hope in Jesus:       “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”

 

IV.        WHEN is He Coming?

            There are many and varied opinions as to whether Jesus will come the second time, before, during, or after He allows His wrath to fall on the earth.  However, we have already given enough scriptures to support this understanding:  “NO MAN knows the day nor the hour” (Matt. 24:36). . . “like  a thief in the night” (I Thess. 5:2). . . . “be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the son of man cometh” (Matt. 24:44).

            Why do we need to know when?  So we can play around until the hour has arrived?  So that we can do as we please, and then when the time comes, be ready?  NO!  We don’t actually need to know the exact time - we need to live every minute of every day in the expectant hope that HE IS COMING AGAIN!  He is coming back to take us home with Him - and “so shall we ever be with the Lord!”  (I Thessalonians 4:17). 

            Vance Havner, one of the most quoted of American preachers of all time had this to say about the second coming of Jesus in “The Vance Havner Quote Book - compiled by Dennis J. Hester:

 

 

 

 

      

”The early believers were not looking for something to happen, they were looking for Someone to come!  Looking for the train to arrive is one thing, but looking for someone we love to come on that train is another matter.”

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       “I’m not looking for signs.  We’ve had plenty of them.  I’m listening for a sound.  Every time you see a scoffer who says there are no signs of His coming, you’ve just seen another sign.  I’m listening for a shout!” 

 

(Vance Havner)

 

 

 

 

JESUS IS COMING SOON!

 

WILL YOU BE WALKING IN HIS

 

“PATH of RIGHTEOUSNESS”?