How did your team do in the playoffs this past weekend? Mine, the Cincinnati Bengals, lost.
However, I’m still proud. We were picked in the pre season to be the worst team in the NFL. Cincinnatians were used to an embarrassing team. We accepted the fact that we were to be disappointed again. However, a funny thing happened on the league’s march through the season --- the Bengals started winning. By playoff time, they had made it. Hope returned to Cincy. Then on Saturday, that hope was gone; no more advancing through the playoffs. No chance of getting to the league championship. No Super Bowl! There is always next year, but will they do well? Maybe yes ---maybe no. That is the hope of sports. However, the believer’s hope through Jesus Christ is a “lively hope.” (1 Peter 1:3) It is not a maybe so, maybe not. It is a living hope. That means the hope will remain alive until the declared end is reached.
Yesterday at Friendship Harmony was a fantastic day! The attendance was good and the service was exciting. There were several visitors whom we were honored to have, and a few more of our winter family safely arrived. We announced the beginning of a new small group concept. It is called, “Three Peas In A Pod.” Here’s how it works. Two people from the congregation decide to meet once a week for coffee, tea, or whatever. They will read a verse or so from Scriptures, share prayer needs, and have a time of prayer. The third pea will be an unchurched friend or neighbor. The hope is that as that person becomes comfortable with the pod, they will soon come into the Church where they can hear the Word preached and make their decision for Christ. If a pod grows to five people, two will split off, form another pod, and invite another friend who needs Christ and His Church. This program can be used by men or women. Guys, perhaps a weekly 3 man fishing trip. Two men from the congregation invites a third who is outside the body. This way, gentlemen, you can go fishing and legitimately tell your wife it is “for the Lord.” The beauty of the program is that each pod is free to adapt to what suits them best. Maybe in the weeks to come I’ll be able to share some exciting results from this campaign. I see greater things ahead for Friendship Harmony than we ever thought possible. As the Christian comedian Jerry Clower used to say, Ain’t God Good!!!
I finished the introductory message on why the study of prophecy is so important. In it we spoke of hope. In the opening paragraph of this blog, I said the hope of the believer is a living hope. It is not a maybe so, it’s a fact. The Bible tells us in many places that Jesus is coming again. God said it. He will come again --- end of discussion! Peter uses the Greek word “zao.” The word means alive. Our hope is alive. It will remain alive until Jesus comes to claim His bride; His Church. I told the people yesterday that if you wanted to take a cruise ship to some exotic and fascinating places, make sure you have passage booked on “The Old Ship of Zion.” Jesus Himself is her Captain, and He will take her to places where no ocean liner can go. Jesus is coming again. Are you ready for it? Below are the sermon notes for part two of why we study prophecy. If you missed part one, they were posted last week; just pull up that blog.
The Eschatological Question:
Its Meaning, Importance, and Properties
Part 2 of 2
C. It is the hope of the Church.
1. Paul --- Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
2. Peter --- 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
3. John --- 1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. [3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
D. It is the incentive to Biblical Christianity.
1. Believers who accept the second coming of Christ never:
a. deny the deity of Christ.
b. dispute the infallibility of the Bible.
2. Believers who accept the Doctrine of last things:
a. see self purification. 1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
b. are watchful. Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
c. warn the unsaved. 2 Thess. 2:7-10. And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
d. are comforted in times of mourning.
1 Thes. 4:15-18
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. [16] 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: [17] 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. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
E. Eschatology has a marked effect on our service.
Quote: “The coming of our Lord is a theme which came to me like a second conversion. It changed the whole current of my life, and made the Bible a new book to me. I believe it was the anchor to my faith in a day of much criticism and drifting from old channels.” Lectures in Systematic Theology p. 445
1. Paul wrote, 2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
In closing, I’d like to ask your help with something. Friendship Harmony would like to own land and build a building one day in the future. We have a CD in the bank that matures in March. We have $1585 in a savings account and plan to add it to the CD when it renews. We would like to bring that total to $2000, but we are $415 short of our goal. Would you consider helping us reach this figure? If you could send a donation, it would be gratefully appreciated and wisely used. Please consider sending your check of any amount to Friendship Harmony Baptist Church; 2296 Date Street; St. James City, Florida; 33956. On your check memo line, write “building fund.” Of course if we exceed the goal, that simply means more can be added to the CD. If you are here with us, bring your check to Church this coming Lord’s day. I thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Have a good and safe week these next seven days, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.
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