Weekly Tea

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

“The signs of the times are everywhere, there’s a brand new feeling in the air” is the words to a song my wife sings and is a reminder that the second coming of Christ is imminent. We all remember the “88 reasons Christ is coming in 1988” and there is a host of others who through the years have tried to predict the timing of His coming. To lay a foundation for our discourse, I believe in the imminent, pre-tribulation, premillennial  coming of Christ to receive His bride. The second coming has been lost in a maze of prophetic interpretations and it must be rediscovered and returned to its rightful place as a cardinal tenet of faith.

We have and are seeing so many signs, earthquakes, famine, wars, middle-east conflicts, Israel has become prominent headlines news and on and on. We must come to understand there is a distinction between promise and prophesy. In prophecy we look for events that fulfill a prediction, but prophecy is also a promise, it is true because it is divinely inspired. A weatherman can predict rain, snow, wind, but he can never promise them because he has no control over the elements. God can promise things to come and nothing can prevent it from happening. The response to a promise is faith. Faith is believing these promises without a sign of there fulfillment existing. Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for (promise) and the evidence of things not seen”. When Peter addressed the promise of His coming, he reminded them of the flood and that there were no signs of rain, “they knew not until the flood came and took them all away” Matthew 24:39. Like a “thief in the night”, not the prophesy to destroy   Jerusalem, or of Armageddon and also the mark of the beast. He who had all knowledge pointed to one thing as an assurance and inspiration for that blessed hope, “the end of all things is at hand.”

The second coming was proclaimed to instill righteousness. In a lot of the parables of Christ it was emphasized to be ready when the Master returns. When Paul spoke of this “blessed hope” he reminded Titus to teach sobriety and godliness. Peter urged his readers to “be diligent that ye may found in His peace without spot and blameless.” Every man will purify himself at the hope of His coming. It is also to instill urgency. Men are unrighteous and will delay obedience until the last. If Christ told His return would be in 2030 there would probably be no Christians for there would not be a sense of urgency. Jesus gave the parable of the ten virgins and emphasized the need to be diligent for we do not know when the Bridegroom is coming. We must work for the night is coming when no man can work. It will instill perseverance. Peter also spoke of being armed with the same mind as the suffering Christ. Scorn, evil-speaking, and fiery trials of the wicked upon the righteous. The will of God is the primary for us now. We have the promise that the struggle is temporary and victory is assured along with reward. This leads us to the fact that the doctrine of the second coming brings comfort. 1Thessalonians 4:13-14 “comfort one another with these words”, over deceased loved ones, deaths abolishment, the grave left defeated and comfort in sorrow. The Lord shall descend the saints shall rise and we who are alive shall ascend and be with the Lord. What comfort! The people of God need no assurance of His return we are content that He said “Behold I come quickly!” Even so come Lord Jesus!

Weekly Tea

(continued)

What is a home- It has been said, “There’s no place like home,” I would like to rephrase that as, “there's no place like home, if God is there!”

Home is a place where the members support each other in love when Jesus Christ is at the center. It is a place where members sustain and support values that will endure.

There are six major qualities that will be prevalent and manifested if the home is to be Christ centered:

• patience (suffers long),

• sensitivity (the ability to understand why others do what they do),

• imagination (used to expand the vision of the children),

• good deportment (character),

• sound social attitudes (freedom from prejudices), and all these are motivated by love. This love is a revelation of the nature of God. 1Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Love bears all things!

Christ said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me…” Matthew 11:29. Love believes all things, there is no end to its trust. Romans 8:28-29. Love hopes all things, dreams of a better future, hope is the joy of the prodigal son’s father waiting for his return. Love endures all things,1Peter 4:8. These are qualities that will make a Christian home, but they can only be born and nurtured when we live our lives at the alter daily sacrificing and communicating with God and our family!

Home is more than brick and mortar

with a roof to shed the storm

Home is more than walls and windows

with a hearth to keep you warm

Home is more than just a restaurant

where the hungry mouths are fed

or when the journey’s ended

where we rest our weary head

Home isn't just a hangout

when theres nothing else to do

or to which we slowly wonder

when the mighty deeds are through

Home is a haven when we’re battered

by the tempest of the day

Where there is peace and understanding

that will chase the cares away

Home is the place our hearts return to

though our errant feet do roam

It’s our earthly bit of heaven

yes that paradise called Home.

Weekly Tea

(continued)

b.What is an alter- It is not a script, a time and place to do a regimented or disciplined task in order to keep us religious.

• The alters of the Old Testament were a place of reverence where the presence of man encountered the presence of God.

• It was a place where men developed an awe of the Almighty.

• It was a place where unworthiness was sensed and a reverence for God’s voice from His word was developed.

• It was a place where Gods character was seen, His name was revealed, His will was made known.

So it should be in the Christian home of today, the same reverence with all of these attributes must be taught. Here is where a respect for His creation is learned, especially for fellow man and the human body. High ideals are developed here for they will reflect the underlying reverence we have for God.

• The alter is also a place of sacrifice, the bodies and blood of the sacrificial animals were consumed by fire. This represents the surrender of man’s best to God’s honor. We know that literal sacrifices were annulled at Calvary, but we are to offer our own bodies as a living sacrifice. (Romans 12:1-2) The home offers some of the greatest opportunities for sacrificing with unreserved  affection. Here we learn things like honesty, purity, denying self, integrity, forgiveness, and love.

• The alter is a place of communion, here God talks to man and man talks to God. If we cannot learn to communicate in the home environment (alter) it will be very difficult to do the same with God when we are with Him.

In our 21st century, communication skills are becoming obsolete with the access of technology such as, texting, e-mailing, and social media. It’s to be understood that these are not wrong in themselves, but our families should be taught that real communication is done voice to voice or even better face to face. Can you imagine texting God, or even sending Him an email. Communication is a key to all our relationships.

All of these definitions that surround the alter are not relegated to a specific time or place. Abraham revisited the alter at different times and at different places and Issac followed suit. Christ in the New Testament set an example of going into the mountain to pray or getting away to an alter by Himself at times of pressure.

We are exhorted in 1Thessalonians 5:17 to “Pray without ceasing”, or in other words have a continual atmosphere of prayer. Lets not confuse the two, one is for our everyday life and the other is for circumstances that demand special attention from God. Does your family know with an assurance that an alter can be found in your life in times of crisis? Don’t misunderstand, thank God for those who have a dedicated space in their daily life for their family devotions, but devotion should be practiced every moment of the day in the presence of our families, when going out the door, coming in the door, cleaning the house, on trips, eating at the table or in a restaurant, doing business, hunting, fishing, shopping, every day all day.

Duet. 6:6-9,11:18-25

(to be continued)