November 30 - Advent

Do you think about Advent much if you're not in church on Sunday morning?


What about the people you encounter during the day outside of your church.  Do you think they even realize that we are in this season?  


It's not a big deal like Lent - everyone seems to know when Lent begins.  Remember, it's got that great big party that kicks it off in New Orleans.  Advent starts up pretty quietly - generally the Sunday after Thanksgiving when everyone still has excess turkey on their minds.


We allow this season to prepare us for the coming of the Christ-child, but it is more than that ... it is a season meant to prepare us for the second coming of Christ.  We are to spend as much time in introspection during this season as we do during Lent.  Preparing our hearts to meet the coming Christ as He returns.


During Lent, many of us 'give up' something as a means of fasting ... trying to focus our hearts on God.  What can you do during Advent to focus your heart on the Messiah ... the coming King ... the Lord who reigns and who will reign over everything!

April 19, 2010 – I Am Coming Soon
Revelation 22:17-21

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.  He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Look closely at that first sentence.  Who are the Spirit and the Bride (the church) calling to when they say, “Come?” And then, the ones who hear also call, “Come.”  Who is it they are speaking to?  They / we are calling to Jesus.  Please Jesus … Come.  Make the time of Your return today.

The second half of this verse is an offering to the thirsty.  If you are thirsty, come and take the free gift of the water of life.  Don’t be afraid to admit to this thirst.  We are desperate for the water of life.

The water of life flows through the center of the great street of the New Jerusalem. It flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  It is clear as crystal.

Our physical needs will be met and our spiritual needs will be filled by God and the Lamb.  All of the things which are troubling to us, either physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually will no longer be important to us as we walk the streets of the New Jerusalem.  All will be healed.

Then comes the warning which is taken from the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 4:2 says “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I gave you.” This is in reference to the decrees and laws that the Lord God was giving to Israel through Moses.

John is letting us know that the Apocalypse is as important as the Pentateuch – the books of the Law.  Anyone who adds or subtracts from this book operates outside of the will of God.  God will then take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city.

Then the warning is followed by the final words of Christ in our Bible, who promises, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.