Latest / Pastor John Piper's answers / If Jesus Returns Tonight

Transcript

If Jesus Returns Tonight · Pastor John Piper's answers

• 0:04
  Speaker 1: Imagine that you knew, you knew for an absolute fact
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: that Jesus was coming back before this day will come
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: to an end. That would be amazing, of course, and
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: of course that would also be impossible impossible to know.
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: We can't know the date or the time of Christ's return,
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: But what if we did. What if we knew he
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: was coming back at ten pm sharp local time tonight?
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: How would that change your day today? On Ask Pestor John,
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: if Jesus returns tonight, we are about to read Luke
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: twelve Versus thirty five to forty eight, and we just
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: read Firs Stessalonians five, so we are thinking a lot
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: right now about Christ's return in our Bible readings. The
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: question today is from Claire, a young woman and listener
• 0:48
  Speaker 1: to the podcast Pastor on Hello and thank you for APJ.
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: This podcast is a constant stream of encouragement for my
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: soul and of correction two in the right balance. Wonderful,
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: thank you for both kinds of precious gift to me.
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: Jesus repeatedly calls his followers to live with watchful expectation
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: for his return. In Luke twelve Versus thirty five to
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: forty eight, he says, stay dressed for action, and keep
• 1:09
  Speaker 1: your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: for their master to come home. He praises the servant
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: who has found ready, faithful and active when the Master
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: arrives at night. Obviously, we need physical rest every night,
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: so it's not a literal staying always awake all night. Metaphorically, though,
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: how should I be living today as if I truly
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: believe Christ could return tonight? What does staying dressed with
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: lamps lit look like today?
• 1:35
  Speaker 2: It's amazing to me, remarkable how thoroughly the New Testament
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: answers this question. I mean, just thinking about it was
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: good for me.
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: Yeah.
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: So let me see if I can pack into this
• 1:49
  Speaker 2: little episode ten transforming ways to live as we eagerly
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: look forward to the coming of Jesus. So here's number one.
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: Let's start with that word eagerly Hebrews nine twenty eight.
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: Christ will appear a second time to save those who
• 2:10
  Speaker 2: are eagerly waiting for him, and tewod Timothy four to eight.
• 2:15
  Speaker 2: The Lord will award a crown of righteousness to all
• 2:18
  Speaker 2: who have loved his appearing. So as we wait, we
• 2:23
  Speaker 2: cultivate a heart of love and eagerness for the Lord's appearing.
• 2:29
  Speaker 2: That's number one. Second, be alert, but not alarmed Matthew
• 2:37
  Speaker 2: forty two. Stay awake Luke twelve forty Be ready Luke
• 2:42
  Speaker 2: twenty one thirty six. Be vigilant, Mark thirteen twenty three,
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: bey on guard, Luke twenty one thirty four. Watch yourselves,
• 2:51
  Speaker 2: so all that's be alert. The point of all those
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: texts is not that we don't sleep physically, but that
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: we don't sleep spiritually or morally. We maintain a vital
• 3:05
  Speaker 2: living relationship with Jesus and alertness to how we can
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: serve him. But alertness does not mean alarm, because Matthew
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: twenty four to six says, when you hear of wars
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: and rumors of wars, see to it that you are
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: not alarmed. We are not to be nervous and fearful. Third,
• 3:33
  Speaker 2: be joyfully patient, no matter what sufferings are required of
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: us in the last days James five seven. Be patient, therefore, brothers,
• 3:44
  Speaker 2: until the coming of the Lord, and Peter adds do
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: it with joy verse Peter four twelve. Do not be
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: surprised at the fiery ordeal that comes upon you to
• 3:57
  Speaker 2: test you, as though something strange were having happening to you.
• 4:01
  Speaker 2: But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings,
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: that you may rejoice and be glad when his glory
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: is revealed. Rejoice and suffering now, so that you will
• 4:16
  Speaker 2: know the fullness of joy at his coming. Fourth, keep
• 4:21
  Speaker 2: yourselves pure, for so three to two beloved, we know
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: that when he appears, we should be like him, because
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: we'll see him as he is. Everyone who thus hopes
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: in him purifies himself as he is pure And two
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: Peter three eleven. Since all these things are thus to
• 4:41
  Speaker 2: be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be?
• 4:45
  Speaker 2: In lives of holiness and godliness? Fifth, be gentle and reasonable.
• 4:55
  Speaker 2: That may sound like an odd priority for the in
• 4:59
  Speaker 2: anticipating the the second coming, But listen to Philippians four
• 5:02
  Speaker 2: or five. Let your gentleness And I know that ESV
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: translates it reasonableness, but I've studied that word in all
• 5:10
  Speaker 2: of its contexts, and I still can't help but think
• 5:13
  Speaker 2: that the old translation gentleness is better. I think it's
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: okay to go both ways, but I think gentleness, because
• 5:22
  Speaker 2: it's parallel with not being pugilistic in some places, is better.
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is
• 5:32
  Speaker 2: at hand. How easy it is to become quick tempered
• 5:37
  Speaker 2: and harsh in times of crisis. Oh my goodness, we
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: see that. Don't let it happen. Six. Don't be deceived
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: by powerful pretenders. There's watch. Don't give in to deception.
• 5:55
  Speaker 2: Matthew twenty four to four. See that no one leads
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: you astray for me, and we will come in my
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: name saying I am the Christ, and they will lead
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: many astray. This is one of the reasons we need
• 6:07
  Speaker 2: to be alert and vigilant over our minds and hearts
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: to protect us from deception, which will be so rampant
• 6:15
  Speaker 2: in that last time. Seventh, don't give into hysteria. Go
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: to work. You got a job. Do it. In Paul's
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: day in Desalonika, they were giving way to hysteria and
• 6:30
  Speaker 2: quitting their jobs. What's the point of working, They're saying,
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: the Lord is near? Why work? We don't need money.
• 6:39
  Speaker 2: Paul tells them to stop being like that, stop being alarmed,
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: go back to work. Here's what he says. We hear
• 6:46
  Speaker 2: that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work,
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: but busy bodies. Second Thessalonians three eleven. This is basically
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: what Jesus was getting at when he said in Luke
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: twelve forty two, Who then is the faithful and wise
• 7:04
  Speaker 2: manager whom his master set over his household to give
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that
• 7:12
  Speaker 2: servant whom his Master will find so doing when he comes.
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: I love that When I was a preaching pastor. That
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: was my rock solid assignment. You've been set over a household,
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: You've got food to give them. Give them that every Sunday,
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: and you're going to be blessed if the Lord breaks in,
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: splits the clouds, and finds you studying for your sermon.
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: I want to be found doing what God has given
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: me to do when he comes. That's what Jesus expects. Eighth,
• 7:48
  Speaker 2: go to church Hebrews ten twenty four. Have you ever
• 7:51
  Speaker 2: noticed the connection between the Second Coming and going to church?
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: Let us consider how to stir up one another to
• 7:57
  Speaker 2: love and good works, not neglect to meet together, as
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: says the habit of some, but encouraging one another. And
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: all the more go to church, all the more as
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: you see the day drawing near, meet together more as
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: you see the Lord's coming approaching. Don't curl up in
• 8:20
  Speaker 2: your chair at home, go to church. Ninth, give yourselves
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: to regular earnest prayer, even prayer for the second coming,
• 8:31
  Speaker 2: fasting for the second coming. Even Jesus said, you can't
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: fast when the bridegroom is here. But them is going
• 8:37
  Speaker 2: to be taken away, and then you'll fast, Why because
• 8:40
  Speaker 2: you want him back? Look twenty one thirty six. Stay
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: awake at all times, praying that you may have strength
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: to escape all these things that are going to take place,
• 8:51
  Speaker 2: and stand before the Son of Man on me to
• 8:55
  Speaker 2: four to seven. The end of all things is at hand. Therefore,
• 8:59
  Speaker 2: be self controlled and sober minded. For thus sake of
• 9:03
  Speaker 2: your prayers. So pray to him day and night. He
• 9:07
  Speaker 2: will not delay long over you and will vindicate you
• 9:11
  Speaker 2: in your prayers. Finally, tenth, hasten the day of God
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: by finishing the great commission. Two Peter three twelve says
• 9:21
  Speaker 2: we are waiting for and hastening the coming of the
• 9:25
  Speaker 2: day of God. Now how do you hasten a day
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: that the Lord has fixed with his own authority? And
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: I think two passages point to the answer. Chapter one,
• 9:40
  Speaker 2: verses six to eight, where the disciples asked Jesus after
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: the resurrection. Is it now time for you to establish
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: the kingdom? And Jesus said, it is not for you
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: by his own authority. But you receive power. You will
• 10:01
  Speaker 2: receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
• 10:05
  Speaker 2: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all
• 10:08
  Speaker 2: Judea and Sameria and to the end of the earth.
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: In other words, if you want to see the Kingdom arrive,
• 10:14
  Speaker 2: finish the mission, which is what Matthew twenty four or
• 10:18
  Speaker 2: fourteen says. This Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed
• 10:22
  Speaker 2: throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations,
• 10:26
  Speaker 2: and then the end will come. So how do you
• 10:30
  Speaker 2: hasten the day of the Lord. We give ourselves to
• 10:35
  Speaker 2: finishing the great commission. So let me end where I began.
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: May the Lord give us eagerness and love for his
• 10:46
  Speaker 2: second coming. The Lord will give a crown of righteousness
• 10:51
  Speaker 2: to all who have loved his appearing.
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: Yeah, amen, there's this glorious task. We don't quit our
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: job just yet. We don't stare off into the sky.
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: We don't give in to hysteria, we don't give up
• 11:04
  Speaker 1: to idleness. We cultivate a heart of eager love for
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: his appearing with busy hands working the tasks in front
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: of us to do. It's about everyday faithfulness right up
• 11:14
  Speaker 1: until the clouds split apart. Until then, let your gentleness
• 11:19
  Speaker 1: be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. That's
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: an amazing text. I'm going to be thinking about that today.
• 11:24
  Speaker 1: Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is
• 11:28
  Speaker 1: at hand. Thank you, Pastor John. And on all of this,
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: be sure to check out Pastor John's twenty twenty three book,
• 11:37
  Speaker 1: Come Lord Jesus, Meditations on the Second Coming of Christ.
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: If you want to meditate on all of this more,
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: Come Lord Jesus Meditations on the Second Coming of Christ.
• 11:48
  Speaker 1: But of course we don't know when Christ is coming back.
• 11:51
  Speaker 1: It could be in a century or two centuries. And
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: that means we still have to wake up to alarms.
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: We still have to find jobs, we still have to
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: make more money, we still have to pay the bills,
• 12:01
  Speaker 1: and that means we will go on facing the temptations
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: of money fearce I'm Tony Ranky. We do that next time,
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: Surviving financial Panics. That's next up on Thursday. Thanks for
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: listening to the as Pastor John Podcast. We'll see then,