It’s Not About A Religion

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IT’S NOT ABOUT A RELIGION

Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, give us ears to hear what your Holy Spirit wants us to hear this morning. May your words be heard and hidden in our hearts and may we have the courage to share them with the world that we come in contact with every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have you ever thought about the word religion or ever have someone ask you if you were religious? I have personally never cared for the word religion when it comes to my faith. It’s always seemed like something was missing. It didn’t truly encompass the entirety of my faith and what I believe. ​​ I have never liked the question because it seems like the person asking the question is giving the person asked an out. Are you religious? Sure, I go to church. I believe in God. I have never stolen anything or murdered anyone. The question are you religious seems to miss the point. It seems to be asked in order to not have to admit who it is we follow as Christians or to hide the fact that we may not be following the Christ we proclaim to be following.

On the website “All About Religion .org” it says that religion is a fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a group of people. Ever since the world began, man has demonstrated a natural inclination towards faith and the worship of anything he considered superior or difficult to understand. Religion consisted of trying to appease and get favors from the Supreme Being they feared. This resulted in performing rituals (some of them barbaric) and keeping traditions or laws to earn goodness and/or everlasting life. 

When we look at what the major world religions believe there are two things that stand out that are very much different than what we as Christians believe. One, of course is that they do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God and two, they believe in a god that is impersonal and unknowable. A god who created the world and everything in it and has left us to our own devices. A god that doesn’t care about us and would never want to know us.

Interestingly enough but maybe not surprising is that Montifiore, the great Jewish scholar, said that the one thing which no Jewish prophet and no Jewish Rabbi ever conceived of is the conception of God actually going out in quest of sinful men, who were not seeking him, but who were turned away from him. They believed that God would be there when man turned to him but never envisioned a God who would pursue them.

We as Christians know that God is a knowable, personal God who wants to have a personal relationship with us and actually pursues us to have it.

Jesus talked about religion in Matthew 23. In Matthew 23 Jesus was addressing the religious leaders in Israel and he had some very serious condemnations to say about them. Jesus said the following things about the Pharisees:

He said, they are teachers of the law so obey them but do not do as they do because they say one thing and do something else, they are hypocrites. He also said, they pile burdens onto the people and do nothing to help them. Everything they do is to show off to others. They put themselves above others instead of serving others. They keep people from going into the kingdom of heaven by teaching false things. They made sure they paid their tithe for all to see but they neglected the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Finally, he said they were like whitewashed tombs. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth. Outside they looked good, but inside they were evil and only pretended to be good.

Sounds like some of the same things that people say about Christians and the church today? They say we are hypocritical, judgmental, condescending, two-faced and the church is all about the money. ​​ 

The authors of unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity … and Why It Matters (Baker) claim that "Christianity has an image problem," ​​ In interviews with hundreds of 16- to 29-year-olds, coauthors Gabe Lyons and Barna Group president David Kinnaman discovered that nearly half of unchurched young Americans hold a bad impression of evangelical believers. They are especially bothered by, among other things, evangelicals' conservative political activism, hypocrisy, anti-homosexuality, and judgmentalism.

Another thing that Carey Nieuwhof says that hurts Christians today in the eyes of the world is that relatively few Christians actively pursue meaningful friendships with people who don’t share their faith. Between churches that offer programs 5 nights a week (leaving little time for Christians to make friends outside the church) and Christians who are afraid of the world, many Christians don’t pursue authentic relationships with non-Christians. Isn’t that a shame. God through Jesus has pursued us while we were yet sinners and even died on a cross for us and I think if we truly evaluated our own lives even this morning and counted how many non-Christian friends we really have and are investing in we might find ourselves lacking in that department. I know I do.

Mahatma Ghandi famously (and sadly) said: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Maybe this was what Jesus was saying in Matthew 23. The Pharisees knew the scriptures, they knew the 10 commandments, they thought they knew what God was like, but Jesus was maybe saying, “I love your God, but I am not so sure about his followers. You Pharisees are so unlike my God, my heavenly Father, who sent me and I think at times he would say the same about us.

I believe Jesus was saying the same things about the seven churches in Revelation. To the church in Ephesus the Risen Christ said, “I know your works, your toil, your steadfast endurance, you have put false apostles to the test, but you have lost your first love. They had worked so hard on orthodoxy, making sure that the beliefs and rituals of being a Christian were followed that they lost love for each other. They used to be a band of brothers in fellowship together, but that orthodoxy had been achieved at the price of fellowship. It was all about a religion for them.

To the Church in Pergamum, the Risen Christ said that there were people within the church who hold to false teachings, teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. These were people within the church who said it was ok to conform to the world’s standards and to compromise with the practices and the morals of the world. When the church does that it is no different than the world. Romans 12: 2 says, 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. We as Christ followers are called to be set apart from the world in which we live. The church is to be look different than the world and when it doesn’t it’s no more than a religion.

Thyatira had much the same problem as Pergamum. There was a woman named Jezebel who taught compromise within the church. It may have been that the teaching of Jezebel was that the Christians did not need to be so exclusive in their worship of Jesus Christ. She would argue that there was no harm at all in conforming to the outward rituals and ceremonies of heathen worship. It may even help to convert the heathen to Christianity more easily. A person who walked into this church would be impressed with its abounding energy and generous liberality. It would be crowded, because its people come to it to be entertained instead of instructed, and to be soothed instead of challenged and confronted with the fact of sin and the offer of salvation. This is a picture of a highly successful Christian club rather than a real Christian congregation. More about a religion than about the Risen Christ.

To the church in Sardis, the Risen Christ says “Thou art dead.” This may have been an indication that ritual and ceremony often crowded out the true life underneath. The church at Sardis was untroubled by heresy or outside persecution. It had become a lazy church. It was so ineffective that it had ceased to matter in the life of the community. It had no witness for Christ, it was mere religion.

Which brings us to the final church that John wrote to. The church we are going to talk about this morning is the church of Laodicea. The Risen Christ calls it “lukewarm”. This church was indifferent. It had all kinds of organizations, programs, committees, activities but it had no power, no power of the Holy Spirit. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul tells us, But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. In the Church of Laodicea there was no transformation of souls from darkness to life. They were more interested in social action than Gospel action, more interested in reformation than transformation, more interested in planning than praying. This church had gotten so far away from what the Lord founded it to be that it was nauseating to God and literally made Him sick.

The church of Laodicea had lost their dependence on Christ. It had become self-dependent and self-sufficient to the point that it had no need for the Holy Spirit. It was trying to be the church in its own power.

But this church had also lost its passion for the things of the Lord. They had reached a place where they were going through the motions and were unmoved by the things of the Lord.   And when we try to do church without Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit it is only a religion.

Is this not the condition of the modern church?  People going through the motions with no burning passion for the things of the Lord! 

I think we need to examine ourselves (myself included) and our church. Are we apathetic or indifferent to the things of God?  We may not be exactly dead because we are praying, preaching, singing, etc.  But, are we on fire? Are we excited and passionate about, what we hear, and what we are doing and who we serve?  Do we just come to church, take our seats and fold our arms? Do we ever feel the need to go to the altar to pray?  To testify about what Jesus has done for us?  Do we ever feel the need to do anything but come and go?

This morning through this letter to the Church in Laodicea the Risen Christ wants us to know that it is not about a religion, it’s about a relationship with himself. That is our BIG IDEA this morning. It is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what all those world religions have missed. They feel that God is impersonal, unknowable and would never want a relationship with his creation, but as Christ followers we know better. We know that Jesus pursues us with an everlasting love and wants a personal relationship with every single one of us.

Before we read our scripture this morning, I want to give you some background information on Laodicea. It was founded about 250 BC by Antiochus of Syria and is named after his wife, Laodice. It was only important because of its position. It was a hub out of which all the important roads leading out of it acted like spokes in a wheel. These roads that ran right through Laodicea were important destinations in the known world. Because of that it was one of the greatest commercial and strategic centers of the ancient world.

It set high up on a hill and at one point it was a fortress but it had one fatal flaw. All its water supply had to come by an underground aqueduct from springs no less than 6 miles away. This would be a perilous situation if they were ever besieged. Laodicea was also the last stop on the route that began in Ephesus as you see on the map above.

Laodicea had certain characteristics which have left their mark on the letter written to it. First, it was a great banking and financial center. It was so wealthy and independent that in 61 AD when it was devastated by an earthquake the city refused any help to rebuild from the Roman government. They rebuilt the city entirely from their own resources and in their own efforts. They had gained so much wealth and were so rich they had need of nothing.

It was also a great center of clothing manufacturing. The sheep that grazed around Laodicea was famous for their soft, violet-black, glossy wool. It mass produced cheap outer garments from it.

It was also a great medical center. There was a medical school there that was famous for two things throughout the world, an ointment for ear problems and an ointment for eye problems.

The words of the Risen Christ to the Church at Laodicea arise directly from the prosperity and skill in which they had so much pride and which in the minds of its citizens, and even in its church, eliminated the need for God.

Let’s look at the Risen Christ’s words to this church in Revelation 3:14-22:

The Risen Christ, just as in all the letters before it, identifies himself by using characteristics of himself. You can follow along as I read from Revelation 3. I will start with verse 14. This is what God’s word says: “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 

The Risen Christ identifies himself to the church of Laodicea as the Amen, the faithful and true witness and the ruler of God’s creation. First, the Risen Christ is characterized by his dependability. Identifying himself this way recognizes that Jesus was reliable, true and trustworthy. When Jesus said he was the Amen he was affirming he was the answer to all the promises of God. As the Amen, Jesus was also the faithful and true witness. This description stands in stark contrast to the Laodicean church. Jesus is reliable, they are not. Jesus is faithful, they are not. Jesus was the true witness, but they had no real witness at all.

Second, Jesus said he is the ruler of God’s creation which means Jesus is the originator of God’s creation. In John 1:1-3 it says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

And in Colossians 1:15-18 it says, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Both these scriptures affirm Christ as the chief, the ruler and the originator of both creation and the church. He is Lord over both the material and spiritual realms. He is first in time and position. We can trust what Jesus says and we can trust what Jesus starts.

In verses 15-17, the Risen Christ gives his condemnation of Laodicea which harkens back to the characteristics that Laodicea was so proud of in themselves. Follow along as I read those verses.

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 

The Risen Christ says he knows their works. He knows what they are doing. He knows their spiritual condition. He said they are neither hot, meaning zealous or on fire for him nor are they cold, meaning lifeless. Instead they are lukewarm or indifferent and because of that he will spit them out of his mouth.

We can interpret this statement against the geographical background of Laodicea. In nearby Hierapolis, there bubbled up hot, medicinal waters like a spa. If you have ever been in a steam room or hot tub you know that the hot steam or water can soothe tired achy muscles. Then in nearby Colossae, cold, pure refreshing waters flowed. But if you remember we said earlier that their water supply for Laodicea came from 6 miles away. The water in Laodicea was barely drinkable and volcanic activity in the area left sulphuric deposits in the water, so it was not only unpleasant temperature wise, but it was even horrid smelling and almost toxic. This water had the effect of making the people sick and want to throw up. The water and the people of the church in Laodicea had a kind of nauseating quality that made the Risen Christ want to vomit them out of his mouth.

Jesus wants His church to be a place where people can relax and find healing, like a trip to a hot spring.  He wants His church to be a place where people can be refreshed by His worship and His presence.  

The Risen Christ was condemning their attitude of indifference and neutrality. He was saying with that attitude you are useless to me and even offensive. Indifference is the hardest thing to combat. Have you ever tried to persuade someone about something that they could care less one way or the other about? It’s not easy. If you feel strongly about something, it is possible to persuade someone who feels just as strongly the other way but it can be impossible to persuade someone if they just don’t care at all about what you are talking about.

To many people, Christianity and the Church have ceased to be relevant to them and they have become indifferent to it. Also, Christians have become indifferent and complacent in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in the world. If we as Christians and in the church are indifferent in sharing the gospel how can we expect non-Christians to care about receiving it. To be neutral about our faith is to be an obstacle to Jesus. He works through us to pursue, grow and multiply disciples, to accomplish the Great Commission and that cannot be done if we are indifferent about our faith and what we believe.

The Risen Christ goes on to condemn them because they were saying they are rich, they have become wealthy and in need of nothing. Like their city, the church boasted about who they were and what they had. They claimed to have reached this lofty spiritual status on their own. They had gotten where they were without the assistance of anyone. They needed nothing and no one including the Lord.

The Risen Christ is saying, “Let me set the record straight.” Five marks of their true spiritual status are noted. They are wretched meaning miserable and unfortunate and because of that they are pitiful. They are poor meaning destitute and reduced to begging. There are in extreme poverty, spiritually. This was a slap at a city that bragged of its wealth, commerce and banking industry. And they are blind which of course slapped at their pride on having the cure for eye problems that their medical school had produced for the world.

Lastly, the Risen Christ said they were naked, which ridiculed a city that boasted of it famous glossy black wool. They were clothed with religion not clothed by faith with the garments of Jesus’ righteousness. This imagery and illustration would have hit them right between their eyes and where they lived. The Risen Christ exposed their spiritual destitution, deception and desperate condition. Jesus had judged the Laodiceans. Now they knew who they really are. They can no longer plead ignorance. Action is now called for.

We also need to look at our own lives and make sure we are not wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked spiritually either. We can fall into the same traps today and the Risen Christ is speaking to us this morning and asking us to examine our church and our lives so as to not fall into the same deception the Church at Laodicea did.

In verse 18, we see the counsel of the Risen Christ to the Church of Laodicea. Verse 18 says, 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

There is a sustained irony that confronts the arrogant attitude and smug satisfaction of the Laodicean Christian. The Risen Christ counsels them to make specific purchases from himself in precisely those areas where they are so certain they have no need. Jesus sternly instructs them to buy from HIM gold refined in the fire so that they may be rich. Only from Christ can true and lasting riches be purchased. The currency to buy that which will last is always the same. It is faith, trust, and radical dependence on Christ and Christ alone. The cure for spiritual poverty is first faith for salvation followed by faith for sanctification. We need the spiritual wealth that comes only by constant and abiding faith in Jesus. In John 15:4-5, it says, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Such wealth, unlike earthly riches, will endure forever. Day by day we need to renew our faith in the Risen Christ for everything we need.

Next the Risen Christ tells the church they need “white clothes so that they will be dressed and their shameful nakedness not be exposed.” White clothes symbolizes the righteousness of the Savior. The Laodicean Christians were walking around spiritually naked, completely unaware of their humiliation and their need for the pure white righteousness of Jesus. ​​ He invites them to adorn themselves in spiritual garments that is available only by calling upon the name of Jesus for salvation.

They are naked and lost in their sins.  If they will come to Him, He will cloth them in robes of righteousness and they will no longer be naked and exposed in the sight of God. Nakedness in the ancient world was a sign of judgement and humiliation. To receive fine clothing was a symbol of honor and acceptance. Before Jesus we are all stripped naked and exposed for who we really are. We dare not stand in the filthy rags of our own righteousness and good deeds. We need Christ’s righteousness.

The Risen Christ tells them to buy ointment or salve to spread on their own eyes so they could see. They were famous for their own eye ointment but ironically the church was blind to its own spiritual condition. Such healing comes from looking to Christ and into his word for instruction and wisdom. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. We need Christ’s remedy that comes from knowing and obeying the Word of God.

We need to honestly evaluate our own spiritual conditions daily and regularly. Spiritual compromise and complacency are “spiritual cataracts” that shut out the light of spiritual sight. We need to ask God to reveal our spiritual blind spots and the areas of sin in our lives that we can no longer see.

In verse 19 we see that all is not lost for this church in Laodicea. This is what God’s word says, 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 

Here we see the encouraging part of Christ’s discipline. He says that he loves the Laodicean Christian even if they have fallen away from him. Their sin does not quench his love for them just as our sin does not quench his love for us. Jesus says he corrects and disciplines those he loves. Discipline that educates and brings about repentance and change is what the Risen Christ offers the church at Laodicea. If they reject his discipline he will spit them out of his mouth but if they accept it he will come in and stay with them. Turning from our sin once is not enough. It must be a daily practice and habit in our lives. A community of daily repenting sinners characterizes healthy churches and healthy Christians.

So, we started off talking about religion. I believe that all the churches including the one at Laodicea were just playing church. They were being religious. They were no better than the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. They were probably hypocritical, judgmental, condescending, two-faced and all about the money. ​​ 

But in verse 20, we see the remedy for religion. God’s word says, ​​ 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

We see that it is all about a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus says Listen! Which means to look, to see, take note and to wake up. He says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Jesus has taken up a position outside the door of the church and will remain there knocking and patiently waiting. If anyone, if just one hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and have dinner with him and he with me. What an amazing promise. Revival starts with one. It can start with me. It can start with you. Here we see the offer of Christ that he will always come in if we invite him.

John here uses the Greek word for dinner or the evening meal. The Greeks had three meals in a day, breakfast which was no more than a piece of dried bread dipped in wine. Lunch, the midday meal which was simply a picnic snack eaten by the side of the road or in the city square. You didn’t go home for it. Then there was dinner, the evening meal. It was the main meal of the day. You would linger at this meal and talk about the day you had after your work was done. This was a time of unhurried, intimate fellowship together. This is what Christ would share with the person who answered his knock. This is what a personal relationship with Jesus Christ would look like. This is what the Risen Christ wanted with the Laodicean Church and what he wants for us here at Idaville and for all of us individually as well. If you open the door, Jesus Christ will come in and linger long with you. He wants a personal, intimate relationship with you.

But there is also a human responsibility. I love this picture. It is probably one of two of my favorite pictures of Christ. You are probably familiar with this picture of Christ standing at the door of your heart knocking and wanting to come in and have a personal relationship with you. But you know what? He will not force himself in, he cannot force himself in. You notice there is no handle on the door outside your heart. Only you can let him in to your heart. Only you can ask Christ into your heart and start that personal relationship with him that he so much wants with you. It is the reason we were created. We were created to be in relationship with him not to just practice a religion or to be religious.

Maybe this morning you are ready to let Jesus into your heart. Romans 3:23 says for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all are in need of a savior because as Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. Death is a separation from God and is not what we were created for. God’s Words says that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. In Romans 10:9, it says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Maybe that is right where you are at this morning. Maybe you are ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and let him into your heart this morning. If so, on the back of your communication card that second next step is for you.

I hear Jesus knocking on the door to my heart and I want to let him in and be saved.

Maybe you here this morning and have already asked Jesus into your heart but confess that you have just been religious and have been playing church. You are ready this morning to start a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. If so on the back of your communication card that last next step is for you.

I want to stop being religious and stop playing church and start a personal relationship with Jesus.

If you marked either of those next steps, please put your name on the front so Pastor Stuart and I can talk with you. We want to celebrate those decisions with you and help you on the road of discipleship.

Next, in verse 21, we see the promise of the Risen Christ.21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 

The promise of the Risen Christ to the victor is that they will sit with Christ on his victorious throne and rule and reign with Christ in his coming kingdom. In the eastern world the throne was more like a couch than a single chair. Imagine one day we will sit with Christ on his victorious couch and rule the nations with him. Heaven will be like the grandest living room/throne room.

Finally, every letter finishes with the same words. This what verse s 22 says, ​​ 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This phrase individualizes the messages of the letters. It says to whoever hears these words, “This means YOU.” If you have been here at Idaville and have heard Pastor Stuart speak on the previous six churches that means the Risen Christ has been speaking to you. There are now no excuses for us. We know and understand that the Risen Christ is calling us out of a religion, out of being religious and into a personal relationship with himself. I have been moved by these seven letters. Every time I have heard Pastor Stuart preach these letters I have noticed where I have fallen short. If you have heard these sermons and don’t believe that they are for Idaville church in this place and in this time then you don’t have ears to hear. I pray that we all have the ears to hear not only the commendations of the seven churches but also the condemnations to the seven churches. If we at Idaville Church can have ears to hear then this body of believers and our lampstand will never disappear.

 

As Gene and Roxie come to lead us in a final song and the ushers prepare to pick up the communication cards please bow your heads with me.

Dear Heavenly Father, again let us have ears to hear what your Spirit is saying to us. Let us leave this place encouraged by these letters to the seven churches. Help us to share the gospel of Jesus with those we come in contact with and not be ashamed of the gospel as it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Take us from this place in your strength and protection in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

/by

Ready or Not . . .

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How many here today have ever played Hide and Seek? Hide-and-seek is a popular game in which any number of players, ideally at least three, conceal themselves in the environment, to be found by one or more seekers. The game is played by one player chosen as being "it". This person closes their eyes and counts to a predetermined number, usually 100, while the other players hide. After reaching this number, the player who is "it" calls "Ready or not, here I come!" and then attempts to locate all concealed players. This popular game probably has been around since the second century originating in Greece. With hide and seek four things were always certain: “It” was surely coming, “It” was coming when “It” got ready, “It” was coming whether you were ready or not and if you were not ready, then you would pay the consequences.

When I think of being “ready or not” I think of those times when something happens when you least expect it. You can probably think of many times in your life where something happened and you were either ready for it or you were not. For me my mind goes to July of 1999 when I was in a car accident and spent 21 days in the hospital and many more laid up at home through November of that year. You know I didn’t say to my wife Judy the day before, “Hey I hope we have that supplemental insurance, tomorrow we are going to need it” or the morning of the accident, say, “Stay close to your phone because you are going to get a call from the State Police to come meet me at the hospital”. No, it was a totally unexpected event that happened and we were either going to be ready or we were not going to be ready for the future that came with that unexpected event. Now you can never be ready for something like that but as we looked back God definitely prepared the way for us to come through that experience.

What is it for you? I am sure everyone here this morning can think of something that has happened to them or their family and you were either ready or not ready for it. Maybe, it was a financial situation that came upon you all of a sudden, maybe it was a job promotion or demotion, maybe it was finding out you were having twins, triplets or quadruplets. Sure, you have time to prepare, but ready or not those little ones were coming and you probably had to change some of the plans you had at first. Maybe it was a diagnosis, disease or illness or maybe it was a death in the family that was unexpected.

This morning we are going to be looking at two passages that you may not think are linked together but they are. The first is in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, in chapter 5. Paul had gone to Thessalonica to preach the gospel to them. In the short time he was there, before being run out of town, he told the people about Jesus’ return. Now, in Paul’s absence, the Thessalonians did not deal with this knowledge the way Paul would have hoped and this was one of the reasons for this letter to them. Paul was encouraging the church of Thessalonica and us today about the importance of being ready. That game, of Hide and Seek, reminds me of the return of Jesus.

The second passage we will look at this morning is the parable of the talents. This parable is a familiar one to us and the insights we can glean from it prepares us for our future on this earth as we await Jesus’ return. That brings us to our big idea this morning that Paul and Matthew ​​ want to us to know, and that is, being ready for Jesus’ return must be proactive not reactive. But before we start unwrapping these passages let us dedicate this morning and this message to the Lord in prayer. Please bow your heads with me.

Dear Heavenly Father, Open our ears, this morning, to hear your word and know your voice. Speak to our hearts and strengthen our wills, that we may serve you today/now and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

To understand this passage in chapter 5, we need to first go back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 starting in verse 9. I will give you the cliff notes replay of chapter 4. When Paul was in Thessalonica he preached about the return of Jesus and this teaching had produced an odd and awkward situation in Thessalonica. The result was that many Thessalonians had quit their day job. They were getting together in crowds exciting and upsetting not only themselves but the community at large as they waited for what they thought was the imminent return of Jesus. Ordinary life had been disrupted in their communities. They had abandoned their jobs and stopped trying to make a living for themselves. Paul gave them some very practical advice in chapter 4. First, he tells them that when Jesus comes back he would want to find them quietly, efficiently and diligently working and making a living for themselves and their families. Knowing that Christ is coming back doesn’t mean we should stop our lives it means we should live our lives even harder and better and all the more faithfully. Second, he tells them the way to show others that they were Christ followers is by not allowing their Christianity to turn them into useless citizens. That would just discredit Christians and Christianity. A religion is known by the kind of people it produces. Our witness must line up with the lives we are living. Our lives must be the sermon that brings people to Christ. Third, he tells them they need to support themselves by working their jobs and not sponging off of others for charity. The effect of the Thessalonians quitting their jobs to wait for Christ’s return was that others had to support them. As Christians we need to help others who cannot help themselves but we also must be able to help ourselves and give back to the community not just take from it. We need to delight in giving and not taking especially if we can supply our own needs.

But, this idea of the imminent return of Jesus had brought another problem to the people of Thessalonica. They were expecting it to happen at any time and they definitely thought it would happen in their lifetime. They were worried about their loved ones who had died since becoming Christians. They were not sure that those who had died would join them when Jesus returned. Paul’s answer is that both those who are alive and dead will be together when Christ returns. He tells them not to sorrow about death as those who have no hope such as the pagans. ​​ In the face of death, the pagan or non-Christian has no hope. Paul lays down a great principle here that if a person has lived in Christ and died in Christ, even if he is dead he is still in Christ and he will rise with Christ. Paul in Romans 8:38-39 says this, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. The importance is that if we are in Christ nothing can break that union.

Paul goes on to draws us a picture which is his attempt to put into words what is inexpressible and indescribable. This is the picture: On the day of Christ’s return, he will descend from Heaven to earth. He will utter the word of command, and thereupon the voice of an archangel and the trumpet of God will awake the dead, and then the dead and the living will both be caught up in the chariots of the clouds to meet Christ and will be with the Lord forever.

Here is a picture of what it may look like when we meet Jesus in the air. This picture of being caught up in the air with Jesus is sometimes called the Rapture and is considered by some Christians to be the first part of the Second Coming of Jesus. The picture that Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 4 is a picture of Jesus returning but only in the sky and all of a sudden and unexpectedly. This event ushers in the Great Tribulation where we see seven years of upheaval and the rise of the Antichrist. At the end of the seven years Christ returns for the second time on the earth and conquers Satan and his forces at the Battle of Armageddon.

Let me pause here and give a public service announcement so to speak. Starting in February of 2018, Pastor Stuart will be preaching on the Book of Revelation which will flesh all this out. I am looking forward to hearing Pastor Stuart unpack it next year. So consider this morning a kind of prequel to what Pastor Stuart will be preaching next year.

Now we are ready to look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. If you have your Bibles or want to use one of the pew Bibles turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and follow along with me:

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 love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

It is hard to understand the pictures in the New Testament of the return of Jesus to get his children. It has its background in the Old Testament in a concept called the Day of the Lord. This Day of the Lord was common in the Old Testament and all the pictures which belonged to the Day of the Lord have been attached to Christ’s return. To the Jews all time was divided into two ages – the present age which was totally and incurably evil and the age to come which would be the golden age of God. In between the two ages was this Day of the Lord which would be a terrible day. It would be like birth pangs of a new world. It would be a day when God would pour out his wrath on the ungodly. When Jesus comes to take or “rapture” his people, soon after God will begin to pour out His judgments during those seven years called the Great Tribulation. Unfortunately, many people will not be prepared. They will actually be deceived and actively deceiving others. The Antichrist who steps forward after the Rapture begins to assume power all over the world. The chaotic conditions created by the Rapture will cause people to look for someone to lead them. This Antichrist will claim that he can bring "Peace and safety". In verse 3 of our scripture this morning, Paul says destruction will come on them and they will not escape.

The main characteristics of the Day of the Lord were that it would come suddenly and unexpectedly. It would involve cosmic upheaval where the universe was shaken to its foundations, and it would be a time of judgment. The New Testament writers identified the Day of the Lord with the return of Christ. Naturally, people wanted to know when that day was and the Thessalonians like us today are no different. Jesus in Mark 13:32 said “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Jesus, himself, doesn’t even know the day he will return, only God knows the time. But, that didn’t stop people from speculating in that day and it doesn’t keep us from trying to figure it out today as well. Here are a few of the predictions of Christ’s return in the past. One of the earliest predictions was in 500 AD. Three Christian theologians predicted Jesus would return in the year 500. One prediction was based on the dimensions of Noah's ark. A Spanish monk prophesied the second coming of Christ and the end of the world would take place on April 6, 793 to a crowd of people. Johann Jacob Zimmerman, a Lutheran minister, predicted Jesus would return in 1694. Charles Taze Russell, the first president of what is now the Watchtower Society of the Jehovah's Witnesses, calculated 1874 to be the year of Christ's Second Coming. There have even been people who have predicted Jesus’ return and when it didn’t happen actually predicted it again and again continuing to move the date back. One of the latest predictions was that Christ's return would correspond with the September 28, 2015 lunar eclipse. You may have heard it called the blood moon prophecy. Finally, there are future dates that have been predicted to be the day Jesus will return. The next being June 8, 2019 which corresponds to the Day of Pentecost that year.

Paul had two things to say to the Thessalonians about that day. One, the day will be sudden and unexpected but there is no reason why anyone should be caught unawares or unprepared. We can be certain that Jesus is coming back. The return of Jesus Christ is mentioned approximately eight times more frequently in the Old and New Testaments than His first coming. ​​ In fact, Christ’s return is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament alone. ​​ The only doctrine mentioned more than the doctrine of Christ’s second coming is the doctrine of salvation. ​​ All of the nine authors of the New Testament mention Christ’s second coming.

Paul knew that the Second Coming of Jesus was one of the most repeated teachings in all of scripture. He even tells the Thessalonians it is so obvious that I really have no need to write to you about these things. Here is an illustration:

There was a man who stopped at a gas station. He noticed a piece of rope dangling from a sign. The sign was labeled "Weather Forecaster." The man asked the station attendant, "How can you possibly tell the weather with a piece of rope?" The attendant smiled and replied, "When the rope swings back and forth, it’s windy. When it gets wet, it’s raining. When it’s frozen stiff, it’s snowing. And when it’s gone... it’s a tornado!" There are some things that should be obvious without even asking. The imminent return of Jesus Christ is one of those things.

Two, Paul goes on to say that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Just as a thief does not call you up the day before and tell you he is planning on robbing your home, so it will be when Jesus returns. ​​ It would have been helpful if the Bible gave us the exact time of Jesus’ return so we all could be ready, but that was not God’s plan. God’s plan for us was to accept his son as our Savior which would make us ready when Jesus came back for us. Jesus in Matthew 24:44, said, Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

In verses 4-7, Paul, says it is only the person who lives in the dark and his deeds are evil who will not be prepared. The Christian who lives in the light and who is watchful and sober, will be ready. The Christian must be watching and waiting for the coming of Jesus. We are to be like soldiers assigned to guard duty who are commanded to “stay alert”. One of my favorite hymns growing up was “Onward Christian Soldiers”. As Christian soldiers we are commanded to “watch”. The Greek word for watch is gregario. It means to stay awake or be on the alert. This must be a continual practice of the Christian. Roman soldiers were put to death for falling asleep on watch. The outcome of not being watchful and ready for Jesus’ return could be just as fatal for the person not constantly looking for the return of Jesus. Paul also tells us we need to live daily with self-control. He warns us that we must not allow anything in our lives that will influence our moral alertness. Paul talks about be sober and being drunk. We know that drinking alcohol and getting drunk greatly hinders a person’s abilities to focus and make important decisions. Likewise, sin will affect one’s ability to make moral decisions. Usually, a person does not get drunk with just one drink, but one drink leads to 2 and then to 3. Slowly the drinker becomes drunk without even noticing it. All his senses become blurred making him a danger to himself and others. Likewise, if we do not control the sin in our lives, we will soon become so overcome by its effects that we are unmindful of spiritual matters. We can become unaware of and unconcerned about the imminent return of Jesus. Just like a drunk person who is passed out and unconscious so is the uncontrolled sinner spiritually passed out. In verse 8, it says that since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. We need to live each day with the protection of God’s armor and Paul makes special mention of faith, love and salvation.

So, we have learned that no one knows when the day will come and we cannot leave things til the last second. We must be ready now because it will be too late when that day is already here. Ready or not . . . Jesus is coming. Being ready for Jesus’ return must be proactive not reactive.

In Romans 3:23 it says for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That’s all of us and because of our sin in Romans 6:23 it say the wages of our sin is death which is an eternal separation from God. But God made a way for us to be saved. In Romans 5:8 it says, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And, finally we must trust and surrender to Jesus as Lord. In Romans 10:9-10 it says, If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Which brings us to our first next step. Maybe this next step is for you which is to be ready by accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior and living my life every day for him. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be left behind. As Pastor Stuart looks at Revelation next year you will see the judgment that God has not only for this earth but for those who do not believe in him or his son Jesus for salvation. Revelation does not paint a pretty picture for those who are left behind and if you are not a Christian here this morning Revelation will be a scary ordeal. But the awesome thing about Revelation and the Day of the Lord is that if you are a Christ follower and you are ready then it is a book of hope and encouragement and it should motivate us to witness to our family, friends and co-workers etc. who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

So now that we have the hope of Jesus’ return how should we live out our lives as Christ followers on this earth. The answer is found in the Parable of the Talents. In 1 Thessalonians we saw that they had stopped working and were idle waiting for the Lord to return which they felt was right around the corner. I also talked about different people, who predicted Jesus’ return and probably had fallen into the same trap. And Paul told the Thessalonians they needed to be working and being good citizens and in that way they would be good witnesses of Christ and Christianity to the world. Now, Matthew gives us the roadmap of what we are to do while we wait for the Lord’s return. Turn in your Bibles to Matthew 25:14-30 and follow along as I read from God’s word:

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

In Matthew 25:13, the verse immediately before Jesus tells this parable, he said this, "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." Jesus prefaced this parable with telling us he is coming again and we don’t know when. It could be tonight or tomorrow or next year! But what if it's not tonight or tomorrow or next year? -- While we wait for the Lord’s return, how are to live, what are we to do? We need to answer four questions:

The first question comes from vs. 14-15 and it is “What gifts do I have from God?” Notice here that the man gave some of His goods, (His possessions, His property) to all of His servants. They didn't all get the same amount, but all of them got something according to their abilities and then he went away. God wants us to understand that He has given us all some valuable gifts and abilities. We need to explore these gifts and abilities and to be using them for the good of the kingdom of God here on earth.

The second question comes from vs. 16-18, and it is “Am I gaining all I can for God's Kingdom?” In verses 16-18 Jesus said: "Then he who had received the five talents went and put his money to work and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money." “Am I gaining all I can for God's Kingdom?” God has given each of us gifts and abilities, but are we using them for his glory? We can’t bury our talents! We must be using them for God's Kingdom! We must get busy, and put our talents to work for God. In the King James Version verse 16 says the man with 5 talents "went and traded with them." The idea behind this word "traded" is somebody working, somebody carrying out a task.

Jesus told a similar parable in Luke 19. In verses 12 and 13 it says this, . . . A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. We might say: "Get an occupation" or "Get busy" or "Get a job!" Jesus Christ wants us to get enthusiastically involved in serving His cause: praying, going, giving, helping, teaching, leading, serving any way we can. So, while we wait for the Lord's return, we need to ask ourselves “Am I gaining all I can for God's Kingdom?”

The third question comes from vs. 19-23 and it is “What is our ultimate goal?” Jesus mentions what our ultimate goal should be twice in vs. 19-23. Our ultimate goal as Christians is to hear the Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." Notice here that we as Christians are accountable to God. We will give an account of our lives to God. God's Word makes this truth very clear. In Romans 14, Paul wrote these words to the Roman Christians. Starting with verse 10, But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.'' So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.”

Also in 2 Corinthians 5:8-10, the Word of God says this to us as Christians. “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” We must appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Paul is not talking about lost people, here. He is talking about saved people. God saves us to serve Him. And while we wait for the Lord, He wants all of us to be occupied in serving Him. We should be occupied serving the Lord in our church, in our communities, at our places of work, in our families, everywhere. We will stand before God one day and all our days will be laid bare before Him and we will be judged by how we lived our life on this earth while we were waiting for Jesus to return. Did we work hard? Did we use the gifts God gave us to further his kingdom on this earth? Each one of us can only you can answer that question for ourselves.

The last question we need to ask ourselves comes from verses 24-30 and it is this: “Do I really know God?” In verse 24, the wicked and lazy servant said, "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown." But let me ask you this question: Did that man really know God? – I don’t think so. Our God is merciful, kind and gracious! Listen to part of King David's prayer in Psalm 86:

“Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

Our God is merciful, kind and gracious, and He proved that forever by the cross of Jesus Christ! God is so good that He came into this world and died on the cross for our sins. He will surely save anyone and everyone who trusts in Him. This is the merciful God we know as Christians. This is the God who wants to know you as Lord and Savior, Father and friend. So, the last question is “Do you know God for who he is?”

This brings us to our second next step. Maybe this next step is for you which is to identify the talents that God has given to me and start to use them to further God’s kingdom on the earth.

I have asked Ben Verow to come and play a song for us this morning before I close. Listen to the words and search your hearts and answer the four questions we just discussed.

Far too many people today are focused on the things of this world. They do not have time to go to church on Sundays or they never pick up a Bible and read it. They care nothing for Jesus or spiritual things. They are not ready and watching for the return of Jesus. They don’t even know Jesus and do not want to know him. Unfortunately, the same thing is true of people all over the world who go to church and say they are Christians. They are so wrapped up in the things of this world, they believe it is okay to be a fan of Jesus instead of a totally committed follower of Jesus. They are like the Pharisees who say one thing and do something completely different. Their lips say one thing but their hearts are not for Jesus. No matter if you are a Non-Christian or if you call yourself a Christian, if you are not ready and watching for Jesus and using your gifts for his kingdom here on earth, when Jesus comes you could be left behind. What will Jesus find you doing when he calls out, “Ready or Not, Here I Come”?

As the ushers prepare to take up the communication cards and Doris and Gene come to lead us in our final song this morning let us pray.

Generous God, we thank you for salvation. We long for the day of your return. Help each of us to be ready for that day and to be watchful and sober. We praise you for the gifts that you have given each of us. We praise You for the gift of unity that the Spirit creates in our body of believers here! You place others perfectly in our lives, and inspire us as Christians to work together with the gifts that you have given us. Help us to use the gifts and abilities that you have given us to further Your kingdom here on this earth. Not one of us can accomplish your work in this world on our own. But together, we can complement each other’s strengths and cancel out our weaknesses. As a team, a unified body focused on the gospel of Christ, we can do great things for your honor and glory as we were purposed to do. All this we pray in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.

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