So far in the first two parts of this sermon series we have learned that the Lord has promised us that He will return. We learned that we are not to just sit around and do nothing while we wait. Rather, we are to be actively engaged in the work of His mission and ministry until He returns.
We also learned that Jesus has not only promised to bring His peace to the entire world when He returns, Jesus has promised us that we can have His peace in our lives right now, today. He has given us the key to that peace. The key He gave us is that we need only to trust in Him and we will enjoy His peace of spirit.
This morning we are going to look at how we Christians are to live a holy life of praise for our God. Many people wonder what Heaven is like and what we will do when we get there. The Book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the answers to those types of questions, and more. Hear John’s description of a typical scene found in Heaven:
When we get to Heaven we will fill it with our uninhibited praise to God, just as those who are already there have been doing from the moment they arrived! I know it is very hard for us to understand what it will be like to worship God non-stop, day and night. Most of us spend but a few minutes with God, praising Him, during church services and/or during daily devotions. Many spend even less time than that. Try to imagine being with “great multitudes”, possibly billions, of other Christians and heavenly beings, in Heaven praising God continually.
I believe there is no better way to prepare for an eternity praising God in Heaven, than to praise Him regularly while we are here on Earth waiting for His return. There are those who ask, “Why does God need, or even want our praise anyway, especially day and night?” The answer is very simple. He is the only one who deserves our never-ending praise.
Then Jehoshaphat did something that must have appeared to his army and people to be totally insane. Jehoshapahat formed a choir of priests to march in front of his army singing the chorus, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His loving-kindness is everlasting!” Hear what happens next as recorded in 2 Chronicles, verse 22: “And when they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the enemy, so they were routed.” Understand and believe this: there is nothing the Enemy of our soul (Satan) hates to hear more than to hear our praises being sung to God!
The Apostle Paul and Silas were thrown in jail and beaten because they had driven a demon out of a young woman in Philippi (go figure). Well, at midnight they were in their cell singing and praising God when the Lord shook the earth. Not only did the jail doors fly open, but also “the chains fell from Paul and Silas’ hands and feet”! But that is not all. Paul and Silas could have simply walked right out of the jail cell and left the jailer to be punished for allowing them to escape, but they did not! They stayed and witnessed to the jailer who, along with his entire household, became followers of Jesus Christ. God had once again delivered His people when they praised Him and as a result, others were brought to the salvation that only He can provide.
Jesus says that we are to ready for His return at any time. Near the end of His ministry on Earth, Jesus told the parable of two servants, as recorded in Matthew 24. One servant was left with the responsibility of looking after the other servants. He was a faithful and sensible man who did what his master had asked him to do. The other servant, however, thought the master would be away for a very long time, so he abused the other servants and began to run around with the town drunks. Jesus tells us that the master returned sooner than expected, rewarded the good servant and severely punished the wicked servant.
Then Jesus re-emphasized His point with the story of the five bridesmaids who had trimmed their lamps and had an abundant supply of oil on hand as they waited for the bridegroom to come. Five other bridesmaids forgot to bring sufficient oil and while they were out shopping for more, the bridegroom came for the wedding feast. Those five bridesmaids who were unprepared were shut out of the wedding feast.
Jesus’ point is very, very clear. Jesus wants us to be like the faithful servant and the faithful bridesmaids. He wants us to be alert and prepared for His return at all times. Jesus tells us, “For this reason you be ready too. For the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
Passage after passage in the New Testament spell out for us how God wants us to live as we wait for the return of Christ. In Galatians 5:16-26, Paul condemns the work of the flesh and tells us that believers are to display the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control”. Peter, in 1 Peter 1:13-15, issues a number of commands regarding holy living. He says, “Gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace of God, do not be conformed to the former lusts…be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.”
We are to be exercising the spiritual gifts that God has given us to serve Him and build up the body of Christ until He returns. Whatever the gift, prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, or showing mercy, we are to use these gifts according to the measure of grace God has given us while we wait for His return.
So we wait. And as we wait, I have a challenge for you. Here it is. Make praising God a regular way of life for you as you wait for Christ’s return. It will chase away discouragement, impatience and fear. It will keep your mind focused on God and what He has in store for you in Heaven. And, as a bonus, you will see spiritual enemies fleeing before you in confusion. Amen.