Sermon in Ishpeming 09.12.2012

I'm in this form as a person. We are able to approach unto Him, and we do not need to fear, but can come close to Him because He knows us. He invites us to come near, to know Me, to know of Me and My kingdom.

So, I believe it was Martin Luther that spoke at one point that if He had come in that kind of form of an angel, we would fear Him. We would be in the presence of one that would bring fear to us. But when He came, such as we are, and He entrusted this gospel of the forgiveness of sins to mankind, then we are able to come close. We are able to feel His presence through the kingdom of God, and we are able to ask that the most important question that can be asked, that does this gospel of the forgiveness of sins, does this belong to me as a wretched sinner, as one who carries sin upon the conscience and carries guilt? And, of course, we know that that answer is yes.

And for that reason, has God established His kingdom here upon earth? That this joyous gospel, the gospel of Christmas, which resonates throughout all 12 months and 365 days of the year, that this gospel belongs unto the sin-fallen, unto such a one that has the need to be reconciled unto God and to have peace, peace of conscience with God.

Our text, as we mentioned, really speaks about the second coming of Christ. And it is part of a longer text. It speaks of signs and tension, signs and distress of fear that would be in the nations and would be with individuals. But it is kind of, in a way, a text that brings forward this kind of thought and idea that even though there are many signs, yet life goes on. There are those who do not heed these signs. They do not see them. They do not hear them. And they go on each day as if there would be a tomorrow.

We read that there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in these stars and upon earth distress of nations with perplexity and the sea and the waves roaring. We know that there are, when we deal with the scriptures, that the scriptures, if we studied them closer, that we would find that the signs that are found can relate both to the physical world and to the spiritual world. There are signs that we see in nature that happen, signs that are prophesied that would be the signs of the ends of times, signs of famine and war and the spreading of the gospel unto all nations.

These are signs that are physical when we speak of war and we speak of calamity, of hurricane and tsunami and so forth. They are all signs of nature. And we know that they have been here for all time. But when it speaks of these signs of war and distress of the nation, we know that we do live at a special time, a time when world war is been and is possible.

So, we cannot say that we understand all the signs that God will give us that will verify and will show unto us that it is the end of time. But we trust by faith that He will give us these signs as we need them. But I think that it is safe to say that the time that we live, that we feel in the spirit that it is really the end of time, that it is not some far away event.

But we feel the distress, the adversity to the preaching of the gospel of the forgiveness of sins. And even that kind of thought that has come to our mind, that perhaps that day shall come that the gospel will be restricted, that the powers of darkness shall be given a time when they shall be able to inhibit this proclamation of the forgiveness of sins in the name and blood of Jesus.

That is the spiritual meaning, we can say, of these very first words that we read, that the signs in the sun and in the moon. We have understood that the sun, as it says, in other parts, shall be darkened in the last days and the moon shall not give off its light. We know in the natural sense that the sun actually reflects off the moon and gives the moon light. But in its spiritual meaning, it speaks of that time which has been prophesied in Revelation where there will be a time at the end of time before time ceases to exist that the gospel won't be preached.

And even the law, which is often pictured by the moon, which reflects that light, that it neither will be preached to awaken people of their sins and of the deeds of unbelief. So, these kind of things are not yet here. We still have the freedom to proclaim openly and to all people that believe all of your sins forgiven in Jesus' name and precious blood.

And we are still able to preach that second edge of the sword of God's word, the law, that reminds people that God is a righteous God, that He will sow where He has not reaped. And to remind people that there is such a thing as sin. But we don't know at what point that even this shall not be allowed because the powers of darkness shall force the silence to come into the preaching of God's word.

We know, as we read, that this is a time where men's hearts are failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. For the powers of heaven shall be shaken. It is a time of distress, dear brothers and sisters, it is a time when there is no certainty, there is no promise that goes too far into the future where that security maybe that we once had in our nation, in our economy, and in our lives is not there because we hear such distressing news that comes from across the world and the global environment.

Everything is negative. Everything is for the worst. But the good news that sustains us, that keeps us here as God's children, that gives us strength to go forward, that comforts our hearts, is that news of the gospel. That good news that Jesus brought and the angels were made aware of, or the shepherds were made aware of to the angels.

This good news that shall be unto all people, this peace, the peace of God, that cannot be comprehended by carnal wisdom, but is felt, is understood in the heart, that good news belongs unto the child of God.

So that even though there may be severe trial or tribulation, or there may be difficulties in our lives that we know that we always face, that we have that good news of the gospel, the promise that it brings with it, death, that promise of eternal life, of a better life to come, of a life that is without stress and pain, that life which is reserved for the children of God there in heaven.

That is the good news of the gospel that comes through the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins.

Then our text relates, and I most likely forgot to state that these all were the words of Jesus. Then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud and with power and great glory.

We know that the testimony of the scripture is this, that that time, that moment shall come quickly. I think that it speaks of it as being the twinkling of an eye. Such a short time, measured time, that it will all of a sudden be here and it will be over, so to speak.

There will be no more opportunity to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of Christ. There will be no more opportunity to receive the forgiveness of sins. It will happen that way so quickly. They shall, we shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

We know, as the scriptures give testimony, that Jesus came the first time as the Savior of all mankind, and the second time He shall come as the judge of all mankind. It shall no longer be that He shall come as a Savior and further offer His grace and forgiveness. But He shall come then as a righteous judge, as one who comes in glory and power.

So it means, dear brothers and sisters, that it speaks unto us of the need to be watchful, to be diligent in our faith, to put away sin that sin attaches, to trust in the power of the gospel. That is that power that shall sustain us, shall carry us unto the destination and make us heaven acceptable.

Our text also mentions that when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh. We have already touched upon this thought, but we are so frail, we are so weak in ourselves. We tend to be so fearful, even though Jesus has said that fear not, little flock, fear not, dear child of God.

I say that unto myself even more than unto you, but it belongs unto all of us that fear not, yet we are so frail that we find our faith is weak, and we are so fearful. What shall happen in our life? What shall the future hold? Will I have that which I need?

And as a child of God, we can begin to have such great doubts, such darkness of mind, that we wonder, we doubt, that can such a poor one as me, can such a wretched traveler here in God's kingdom possibly reach the destination of life eternal?

And we must say, dear brother and sister, according to the scripture, that yes, you, even as a poor child of God, even as weak, even as doubting and fearful, that yes, with the power of God, the power of the gospel, that you will reach the destination, you will safely reach unto heaven's shore.

You need only, time and again, make those promises to believe for yourself, the forgiveness of all sin and error, doubts and fears.

Jesus then turns His teaching in this way, and He spake unto them a parable, which He often did and made comparison to nature and think spiritual. Behold the fig tree and all the trees, when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves, that summer is now at hand.

So, likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is at hand. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled.

I believe that when Jesus mentioned these words that this generation, that He spoke unto us, unto the generation that exists today, as much as to that generation that He lived it. But He made that simple comparison that we are all familiar with.

The fig tree is not familiar to us, but the maple and the birch and the popple and so forth are. And we know when springtime comes that the first sign of spring is when those little buds start to come out. We know that summer then will not be so far away.

So Jesus gave this to us that when we see all of these signs, when they are revealed unto us, that we know that our redemption draws nigh, that there will come that time when together the children of God shall be taken into the glory of heaven, and that those who have passed before us together with us shall then be partakers of that eternal time of safety, that time of joy, that time that we await for.

So it is a time, even in the midst of all the fears and all the difficulties that we have, to lift up our heads, dear brother and sister, be joyous this day and every day for that day does come when we can depart, when the care shall be forgotten, the pain and the suffering, and we shall be there with our Lord and Savior.

Jesus also said right at the very end of that portion that we read, heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away. All that which we see, heaven, earth, the heavens, we could say, the planets and the stars and all, and this earth shall cease to exist, and there shall be something new that we do not comprehend in our beings at this time, but something that is worth striving for, something that is worth living for.

But He says, My words shall not pass away, or My words shall remain, and that is comfort to us, because this word that is written for us, that we use as the source and the power for our preaching and comforting, and that the Holy Spirit opens to us and makes alive, that this word shall not fail us.

It has opened to us the way of salvation, and that simple mystery of the gospel, that mystery of the forgiveness of sins.

So, dear brothers and sisters, as you would find yourself, be encouraged to believe personally the forgiveness of all sins, all doubts, and all fears. You young people, and older people, and parents, and grandparents, this gospel belongs unto all people. Believe unto peace, unto freedom, and unto joy, the forgiveness of all sin.

And I desire for my own faulty part to also hear this blessed message of the gospel, and ask that are you still able to find strength to preach unto such a poor one the forgiveness of sin. I promise to believe as weak and poor in the kingdom.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Let us close our services for this morning, and unite our hearts into the benediction. The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make His face shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up His countenance upon us, and give us peace. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. Amen.