Awakening to the Hour - Awaken

City Church Tulsa

AWAKEN Awakening to the Hour 6.2.24 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 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. Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:42-44 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Paul directs the attention of his readers away from “when” Christ will return to a matter of “how” they should conduct themselves in light of his coming. · Speculation brings ridicule on the gospel and hurts our witness as the church · Speculation breeds a crisis mentality where we are always living in panic and fear · Speculation is a distraction that wastes our time, energy, and resources Three major positions on the return of Christ… Amillennialism Premillennialism Classical Premillennialism (post-tribulation) Dispensational Premillennialism (pre-tribulation) Postmillennialism What does Paul teach us about the coming of Christ? 1) No human knows the time of the Lord’s coming 2) To unbelievers, the Day of the Lord will be a surprise but not to those who in Christ and ready 3) Believers have a deep security in Christ and their future salvation that is greater than whatever they may face in this world 4) For believers, the coming of Christ will mean life in full communion and fellowship with Him 5) In the meantime, we are to live fully alert and disciplined as we build one another up in faith, hope, and love Matthew 25:1-13 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. To live without preparation (without oil) is to live in a way in the present where you do not care or think about the future.