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A Thief In the Night

July 22, 2018 Speaker: Ron Sebesta Series: Sunday Sermons

                                                        A THIEF IN THE NIGHT NOTES

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will comeback in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21

 

  1. International Communications

 

I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.. Revelation 11

 

II.International Monetary Systems

 

The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, Revelation 13

 

III. International Evangelism

 

This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Vs 14

 

But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. Matthew 24

 

The day of the Lord’s return will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the heat will melt the whole universe. Then the earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are. 11 Everything will be destroyed. So you should serve and honor God by the way you live. II Peter 3

 

  1. Anticipating the Lord’s return comfortsus.

 

The Lord will come from heaven with a command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the dead who believed in Christ will come back to life. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord. 18 So then, comfort each other with these words! I Thessalonians 4

 

V.Anticipating the Lord’s return preparesus.

 

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and loveas a breastplate, and the hopeof salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thes. 5

 

Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,

and his bride has prepared herself.Revelation 19

 

You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory. 5 Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). 6 It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him. 7 You used to live that kind of sinful life. 8 Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. 9 Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, 10 and you’ve become a new person. Colossians 3

 

  1. Anticipating the Lord’s return causes us to be onguard.

 

When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. 38 People were eating, drinking, and getting married right up to the day that the flood came and Noah went into the big boat. 39 They didn’t know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man appears.

 

So be on yourguard! You don’t know when your Lord will come. 43 Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guardto keep one from breaking in. 44 Always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come. Matthew 24

 

Watching and waiting / What we do while we wait.

 

Everything will soon come to an end. So be seriousand be sensibleenough to pray.8 Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins. Welcome peopleinto your home and don’t grumble about it. 10 Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. I Peter 4

 

Don’t just stand around looking at the sky. You’ve got work to do.

  • Pray
  • Love
  • Show hospitality
  • Use your gift

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