Sunday – February 19, 2012

February 19, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Suffering and the Return of Jesus Christ from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Tribulation and persecution…. Why does a loving God allow His children to go through such terrible things? Paul knew the saints would face hostility when they left their former lives and began to follow Jesus Christ. Many believers in the United States need the wake up call of 2nd Thessalonians and to realize we are the exception. Join us tomorrow as we continue in chapter 1 of 2nd Thessalonians and consider “Suffering and the Return of Jesus Christ.”


Word On Worship – February 19, 2012         Download / Print

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ
.”

Whether you are thinking about the rapture, the Judgment Seat of Christ, or His glorious appearing at the end of the Tribulation, the return of Jesus Christ should bring great comfort to our hearts and mind and motivate our hands and feet. The question for our hearts to decide is what are we doing with the redeemed lives God has given us as we wait for our Lords return? How we answer this question is the evidence of practical sanctification in our lives.

This is one of the reasons Paul was constantly in prayer for the saints in places like Thessalonica. Paul understood that true spiritual change is the work of God in the life of the believer. Yes, we train and remain diligent in our faith, but is only the Lord who can bring about the increase. That increase is a walk that is worthy of the calling God Himself has given us, which is to the glory of God. Paul was praying that by the sanctifying work of God in their lives even through their trials, they would live in a manner consistent with their holy calling.

Knowing the glorious future that awaits for us as His children should impact our heads, our hearts and our feet. Each one of us will experience trials and tribulations. Therefore it is important we keep our thinking straight and know that God will use even our worst trial for His glory and our good, because His glory is always our good. God knew His saints would need their hearts to be encouraged with the truth that God will fulfill every good purpose and act prompted by faith. God has told us these things so that we do not lose heart, but persevere with great joy.

The words of prophecy found in the Scripture are designed to provide comfort and propel us forward to godly and fruitful lives. When we understand this life in the light of what is to come for eternity, we can fulfill the words of our Lord from the standpoint of heavenly treasures, as Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 6:19-21,”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What do you think?