The Encourager

The Encourager

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The Return of Christ by Mike Richardson

Sunday, February 07, 2016

The Apostle Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.” I am made to wonder at times if people really believe the Bible, the word of God. In Psalm 14:1 the Psalmist states, “the fool has said in his heart there is no God.” One who makes such a claim is identified as a professed atheist. However, there is another type of atheist that we should notice and that is a practical atheist. A practical atheist is an individual who does not deny the existence of God, but lives like He does not exist. Some people live their life as if they do not believe they will be raised and judged by the Lord. Some almost give the impression that they do not believe in the second coming of Christ. Paul gives instruction to the church at Thessalonica to look forward to the second coming of Christ. Paul exhorts the brethren to comfort one another with the truth that Christ is coming again. Several things we want to notice about this.

(i)The Reality of His Return (I Thess.4:16) No one can read and believe the Bible and not believe in the return of Christ. Reading the Word one will see the promise of His coming again. (2 Pet.3) Now notice some things in regard to this reality. (1)Does not say He will establish an earthly kingdom. That doctrine is man-made. Nowhere in the Divine revelation does the Bible state that Christ will establish and reign over an earthly kingdom. Jno.18:36 “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Jesus is King now and reigns over His spiritual kingdom. (2)In fact, He will never touch foot on the earth again. In I Thess.4:16-18 notice we will be called up to meet Him. Those that have died will be called first then those that remain (are alive at His appearing) will be called up next. Every individual who has ever lived will be called up in the air to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (2 Cor.5:10)

(ii)The Reason for His Return Paul states in I Thess.4:13 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” Paul does not want the people to be ignorant in regard to the reason. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” When we go to the grave of a fellow Christian we sorrow and grieve, but not as one who has no hope. We have hope in the fact we will be raised from the dead. Revelation 21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

(iii)The Return (I Thess.4:16) Notice the angels are mentioned, but don’t miss the fact that Christ Himself is coming, to call us up. There is not a substitute coming for Christ, He who is our Substitute is coming Himself. His first coming He came to be our Savior, at His second coming He is coming to be our Judge. We must never forget that truth.

(iv)The Redeemed Raised (I Thess.4:17) Now all will be raised up, but not all go to the same place for eternity. Jesus said in John 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His  

voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” The redeemed will go to paradise, the lost to torments.

(v)The Reunion (I Thess.4:17-18) Don’t overlook that word “TOGETHER.” We will be raised up together to be together with God for all eternity. To be reunited with God and His people. To partake of the wedding feast in heaven.

Question—Are you ready for the second coming of Christ?

God Hates Separation by Mike Richardson

Sunday, January 17, 2016

It is of great interest to go through the Bible and take note of what God hates. One things that I believe we can put our finger on is the fact God hates separation in most cases. God has gone to great lengths to bring about reconciliation. Notice some things that causes separation that is against the will of God.  

(i)Physical death. Physical death came into the world has a result of man being cast out of the Garden of Eden (Gen.3). Physical death is a by-product of spiritual death. Physical death is when the spirit of man leaves the body. James writes in James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Death is called the last enemy. Paul writes in I Cor.15:26 that “The last enemy that will be destroyed is death…” Thus, God hates the fact that sin removed man from the Garden He made and thus eliminated access to the tree of life. Physical death is separation of body and spirit and was a result of sin.  

(ii)Spiritual death. Spiritual death is the separation of man away from God. This is the warning God gave Adam in Gen.2:16-17 “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” They were separated from fellowship with God because they disobeyed God and rebelled against His will. God in this case is not talking about physical death, He was informing Adam that if they chose to sin, to go against His Divine Word that their relationship would be severed. The day Adam and Eve sinned they did not die physically, but spiritually they were dead (separated) from God. All who are accountable have sinned (Rom.3:23). Man who is in sin is spiritually dead. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:1 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” So man needs to be reconciled to God that he may be in fellowship with God. Romans 5:10-11 “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” Like the son in Luke 15:24 “for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” we are now “alive” in the presence of God. Ephesians 2:4-6 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” Therefore, notice how we should present ourselves to God. “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Romans 6:13 Look at the cross and see the cost Christ paid to reconcile you to God and bring forth life for you. God hate

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