Prepared for His Coming

[ ] 1/2/2005 #586

PREPARED FOR HIS COMING

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

INTRODUCTION: Last Sunday thousands of people perished. The tsunami came upon many who were unaware of the danger. Many are unprepared for the unexpected Day of the Lord.

Billy Graham: "There has never been a time in history when so many storms have come together in one place and time as they have in the past decade. There have been famines, plagues, and earthquakes for thousands of years, but seldom so many all at once and seldom so concentrated in time and space."

Ed Hindson: "The stage is now set for the final signs of the end times. Changes and developments are happening so fast that we are speeding headlong toward the greatest crisis the world has ever known. Every new turn of events reminds us that 'the Big One' could be just around the corner."

Charles Colson: "We sense that things are winding down . . . Our great civilization may not yet lie in smoldering ruins, but the enemy is within the gates. The times seem to smell of sunset."

I. WORD TO THE CHURCH

A. RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH. (1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:13-14)

1. Presence with Christ. (John 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:8)

2. Perfecting of the church. (Eph. 5:26-27)

B. RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

1. Church is the bride of Christ. (Eph. 5:22-32; Rev. 21:2)

2. Church is married to Christ. (Rev. 19:7-8)

II. WRATH OF GOD

A. RETURN OF CHRIST. (v. 2)

B. REASON FOR WRATH.

1. Deception of the world. (v. 3)

2. Darkness of the world. (v. 4-5)

a. False prophets and teachers. (Matt. 24:11, 24; 1 Tim. 4:1)

b. False christ and anti-christ. (2 Thess. 2:1-12)

III. WATCHFULNESS OF THE CHRISTIAN

A. ARMOR FOR THE CHRISTIAN. (Eph. 6:11-18)

1. Breastplate of faith and love to protect the heart.

2. Helmet of salvation to protect the head.

B. ASSURANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN. (9-10)

C. ACCOUNTABLE TO OTHER CHRISTIANS. (v. 11)

LESSONS FOR LIFE:

1. We are moving fast to the day of God’s wrath upon an unbelieving world.

2. Only Jesus can save us from God’s wrath. (Rom. 5:9)

3. The Bible has given us the signs of the approaching return of Christ.

4. Are you prepared to meet Christ?