"Thy Kingdom Come" by Kevin Harvey

ROCKBURN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH   August 9, 2020.

WORSHIP LEADER: Kevin Harvey

PRELUDE:                 Nancy & Norm

PROCESSIONAL:    Thy Word    
           
CALL TO WORSHIP:          
In the name of Jesus Christ, I welcome you to worship!
It is a delight to be together to worship God!
We lift our voices with joyful hearts!
It is a delight to be together to worship God!
May the grace of God, the love of Jesus,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us now in this hour and always.

WELCOME & COVID RULES: Betty     Hall protocol next time

OPENING HYMN:  # 20  Morning Has Broken (3 verses)  Mary’s Songbook  
 
OPENING PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER: 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES:    Betty   
                                      
(There will be not be the usual collection of our offering …if you wish to give a basket is placed on the Church steps)   

OFFERTORY PRAYER: Merciful Lord, you have provided each of us with many similar, yet unique gifts.  Thank you, Lord, for the talents and abilities of people within this congregation.  We are a blessed people!  Now, we unite as one body to share in this worshipful act of the offering.  Giving is such a joy-filled experience!  Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to support the transformation of people’s spiritual lives through the ministry and mission of this body of Christ.  Amen. 

HYMN:        #14    Sweet By & By, (3 verses)   Mary’s Songbook

PRAYER: 
     
MEDITATION:         “Thy Kingdom Come”

In this letter to the Hebrews we see, that when Christ came first, it was to offer his life a ransom. But we also learned the second coming where salvation will be truly realized!
Hebrews 9:28
English Standard Version28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

(B)
We are the church should not shy away from the messages concerning the return of Christ, of the judgement of the world of the lost. And salvation for the righteous. If we were to do so, it would be gross negligence and irresponsible. For the Old Testament and New Testament has hundreds of passages concerning first and second coming. Prophecies fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled. But,,, let's not be so eager and so preoccupied that we ourselves predict dates etc.

Because nobody knows the hour of Christ's return. However we can know the seasons.

Matthew 24:36
English Standard Version No One Knows That Day and Hour36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,[a] but the Father only.
(C)
Next we read of an event where the doctrine of the rapture of the church is mentioned. There are lots of theories to when that will happen during the tribulation. And my point that I want to stick to is that it will happen.

Most teach that the rapture happens before the tribulation starts, so I'm in the middle. And some of the end.

But one thing we can be sure of and be comforted by is that Christ is coming for us to set up his kingdom here on earth!

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
English Standard Version16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

(D)
Last week Nancy mentioned this passage and it was this passage that inspired to prepare this message. There is much here from chapter 24.

Somethings we can learn from this passage. Jesus was a profit. And he prophesied correctly. And here we see Jesus warns us of many false prophets. False prophets from. inside the church, and we are warned to be careful. And to do that we need to know this book called "the Bible" it is our lifeline to the eternal God...

Matthew 24 1-51
English Standard Version Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple 24 
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Signs of the End of the Age3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. .....

(E)
Here in this next passage we see that we should be encouraged to fellowship and go to church and minister to one another. Notice where it says. All the more as you see the day approaching...
Hebrews 10:24-25
English Standard Version24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

(F)

Jesus has the authority to give eternal life, and to judge the world!
Sometimes we read parts in the Scriptures and it makes us uneasy. But that is part of the job of the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside, so that we will be changed and ready for The kingdom
Romans 2:6-8
English Standard Version6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking[a] and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and ???

(G)

Apart from reading the word, praying, going to church and doing our Christian traditions. Our saviour asks us to be busy serving one another.

Here's where I have a bone to pick with us man. And something needs to change in us. We are often too guilty of leaving a job at serving one another to The women. And there's no excuse in saying that they are better at it. Yes they probably are. But we are to serve one another and 
Service involves sacrifice. For those of you to serve in the church and serve in your community. Thank you. And God bless, may we all follow and do the same.

Matthew 24:42-51
English Standard Version42 
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. .....

(H)
When Christ does return. It will not be in secret it will not be something we have to figure out. Why? Because
Revelation 1:7
English Standard Version7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail[a] on account of him. Even so. Amen.
(I)
Concerning the kingdom. And the end of this age. It is not until the gospel has been preached to all nations. And we are very close and accomplishing that. But there still more to do.
Matthew 24:14
English Standard Version14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
(J)
How will Jesus return again. In the clouds, coming from glory
Acts 1:11
English Standard Version11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
(K)
What is the best thing about the kingdom of God? I try to imagine it, and I have a very hard time picturing it. Even after knowing all the Scriptures and visualizing and then imagining what it will be like. It's almost too much for me. But this I do know for certainty. That the Lord will be there!
Hallelujah. And it is amazing to think that Jesus the God of the universe who doesn't need us. Is busy preparing a place for us.
John 14:3
English Standard Version3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
 (L)
Here we see you again in Jesus speaking of the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, that will happen some decades later and 70 AD, but we also see an added detail, that the end will calm when the time of the Gentiles is accomplished
Luke 21:20-24
English Standard VersionJesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
(M)
Do you know that when you read the book of revelation there is a promise that you will be blessed? Blessed are those who read and keep the words of this book
Revelation 1:3
English Standard Version3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
(N)
For those of us a little older and knows what it's like to have aches and pains and not be able to run so fast etc. The hope of having a glorified body that never grows old never get sick and never dies is amazing. Not to mention what we would be able to accomplish...
1 John 3:2
English Standard Version2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a] we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
Are you ready?
Let's pray

Kevin sings: “In Christ Alone”

CLOSING PRAYER:

CLOSING HYMN:  # 12 Jesus Loves Even Me (verses 1 & 2) Mary’s Songbook

BENEDICTION & CHORAL AMEN:       
POSTLUDE:  Nancy & Norm