Jesus says: "Be Ready"

"These Last Days"-Be Ready!

Sunday was an amazing day at United! As your Pastor, I am blessed to be able to fellowship with you and to meet your friends, family and neighbors! As a matter of fact, many Pastor's in America very rarely see new faces such as we do. Let's keep inviting and encouraging others to join us on Sunday mornings.

Several made new commitments to Christ yesterday! 

Here us a summary of what we discussed on Sunday:

Matthew 24:36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.

42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

3 Things to Do As you Wait for Jesus to Return:

I. FOCUS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. 

1. Relationships are what life is all about.

• What about using every opportunity to restore relationships that have been broken, strengthen relationships that have been weakened and make stronger relationships that are vital to our emotional and spiritual well-being.

ILLUST: Let me tell you about a family that went on a week of vacation. They left their dog in a Pet Hotel. When they returned, they picked up their pet and took her home. However, almost immediately they noticed something quite disturbing. When they would stroke her large clumps of her hair fell out. Shocked, they called the vet who said that the small animal was stressed by the absence of human contact. If they would spend two hours with her, he said, the hair would stick again. Sure enough it worked. 

*Relationships are UNDERRATED! 

*Someone in your life could have better emotions and better health if relationships were in order

II.     FOCUS ON YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Your own soul (Are you feeding your soul with the Word, Prayer, Worship?)

• Your family-your spouse (is anyone else getting more quality attention?)

• Your neighbors, co-workers, etc (do they see Christ in you?)

III. FINALLY, TO PREPARE YOURSELF COMPLETELY, FOCUS ON THE REDEEMER.

MICAH 6:8---No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

HAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD EVER BEEN BETTER THAN IT IS NOW?

ILLUST: A church in a small Swiss town was renowned for its beautiful pipe organ. The music from that organ was so moving, so resonant, so rich that those who heard it swore that they could see visions of God. Worshipers left that church each Sunday inspired to live lives that reflected the glory and reverence of God, because the awesome music of the pipe organ drew their hearts closer to their Creator.

But over time, the organ pipes began to lose their rich sound. The music became thin and mediocre. The church’s pastor brought in repairmen from all over Switzerland to examine the organ. None of them knew how to restore its wonderful sound.

One night, a shabby-looking stranger entered the town. He went to the church and asked the caretaker to be allowed to stay the night. The caretaker was suspicious of the stranger, but the caretaker’s young daughter was moved by the glow of the stranger’s eyes. She convinced her father to let him in.

Later, the caretaker awakened to hear the church sanctuary filled with music. The music was not thin and ordinary. It was the rich, resonant, soaring tones that once filled the hearts of the worshipers. He ran to the sanctuary, where he saw the townspeople assembled. They sat in reverent awe, praising God for the beauty they experienced. At the organ sat the shabby stranger.

When the music stopped, the caretaker asked the stranger, “Who are you?”

“My name is Gott,” the stranger replied.

“But who are you that you could restore the beautiful music of the organ?”

The stranger smiled and wiped some dust from the mantle of the organ. Underneath in gilt letters was the name “Gott.”

“Many years ago, I built this organ with my own hands,” he explained. “Now, I have come, to make it sing again.” 

ARE YOU STILL SINGING? 

God loves you just the way you are but loves you too much to leave you that way!