Month: December 2024

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date December 29, 2024
Text Matthew 18:21-35
Pastor Wayne Augustine

Listen to live audio here

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date December 22, 2024
TEXT: Isaiah 53:2; Zephaniah 3: 14-17 Luke 2:1-20
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

If you travel to the Northwest of the United States you may come to a road sign that reads; “Continental Divide.’ At this point the watershed of the North American Continent is found. A drop of water falling on the eastern side begins to journey toward the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. A drop of rain on the western side flows to the Pacific Ocean. The birth of Jesus Christ is the “ watershed” of human history. It divides the events of the past and the future. It was the great and pivotal event of history. When Jesus Christ began his public ministry, word drifted back to his hometown about his teaching and miracles. Had there been a newspaper in Nazareth, it might have run the headline “Local Boy Makes Good.” He was growing in fame and renown. But when Jesus preached in Nazareth, his townspeople rejected both him and his claims. They could not accept as Messiah one whom they had known as a carpenter. They could not follow one as King whom they had viewed as a fellow citizen. Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country” (Mark 6:4 RSV). Mark records the reaction of Jesus’ hometown in the words, “Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this? “What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands!” (vs. 2 RSV).In other words, they sought to accunt for him in human relationships and human terms. Our text for this Christmas Sunday says: “For he grew up before him… a root out of dry ground.” Dry ground suggest hard, arid soil, a most unlikely place for a plant to grow and flourish. It suggests 1. Unexpectedly. Jesus came, not full grown as expected, but as a tiny baby. He was born not in a palace or a mansion, but in a manger. like 12. Miraculously. He was born of a virgin mother. 3.Unaccountably. A gardener prepares the soul for planting and then keeps the ground moist and soft. If a plant grows out of a dry ground or in the crevice of a mountain, it is shriveled and stunted. Jesus grew as a root out of dry ground, but he was no frail weakling. He was the Fairest of Ten Thousand. He was Cedar of Lebanon in strength. He was the Lily of the Valley in purity and fragrance. He was the Rose of Sharon in glory and beauty. He was the best, the noblest and the highest, and the holiest of humankind. Look at the soil from which Jesus grew. You could no more account for him from that soil than you could account for the vigorous growth of a flower in a parking lot. I. NOTHING IN HIS FAMILY COULD ACCOUNT FOR JESUS Heredity is a real factor in our lives. We sometimes make too much of it, but it is a part of our makeup. We not only inherit physical and facial characteristics, but also mental gifts and personal charm. A study of Christ’s ancestry does northing to explain him. As Carol read in Zephaniah there was nothing about his physical characteristics that would have caused [people to be attracted to him. He was a descendant of King David, but so were multitudes of others. God saw that he grew up in a good family, but no other child in the family compared with him. II NOTHING IN HIS ENVIRONMENT COULD ACCOUNT FOR JESUS. Next to heredity our environment contributes most to what we are. The atmosphere in which we live and the company we keep have an influence on us. Jesus grew up in an ordinary village. His trade was that of a peasant carpenter. There was nothing in his upbringing that would explain him. So far as his environment was concerned, he was a “root out of the ground.” III.NOTHING IN THE TIME IN WHICH HE LIVED COULD ACCOUNT FOR JESUS. There have been many times in history when several geniuses in literature or music or government lived at the same time. But never was there a genius like Jesus. The time in which Jesus lived was a barren time. For four hundred years there had been no prophetic voice. Formal religion was 2filled with legalism and hypocrisy. As far as fresh religious thought and revelation were concerned, he was “a root out of dry ground.” IV. NOTHING IN HIS RACE OR NATIONALITY COULD ACCOUNT FOR JESUS. He was a Jew. The Jews had a genius for religion. They excelled in law, wisdom, poetry, and prophecy. They produced men like Abraham, Moses, David Solomon, Elijah and Elisha, Isaiah, Jerimiah, and Paul. But there was not another like Jesus. As far as his nation was concerned, he was a “root out of dry ground.” However, there was nothing exclusively Jewish about Jesus. It is true that he loved his country, Jerusalem, and the temple, but there was nothing sectional or parochial about him. He belonged to the human race. The human race has produced many great people, but in wisdom and truth and holiness Jesus excelled them all, and of course he was without sin. Others guessed at truth. He was the Truth. He was the greatest Teacher who ever lived. For two thousand years, he has inspired millions to live and even die for him, because as C.S. Lewis declared, he was more than a great teacher. He didn’t give us the option of accepting him or following him because he was a great teacher. We either believe he was a con-artist or crazy, or he was who he said he was; THE SON OF GOD AND IN FACT GOD IN THE FLESH. We look at the human race—stained defiant, and corrupt. Then we look as Jesus—sinless, obedient, and pure. We ask if so fresh and sweet a stream could flow from such a bitter fountain. If the human race could produce one Jesus, why could it not produce more? Human nature cannot explain Jesus. “He was a root out of dry ground” The Christmas story is the most logical account for Jesus. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became pure, so that by his poverty you might became rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9 RSV) His was not a mere human birth. The Word became flesh in a miraculous incarnation. Jesus was not simply the son of Mary. He was the Son of God. His virgin birth was a miracle, but also the fact that His Heavenly Father loved us so much that he made it possible for him to be born of an eathly mother, Mary. 3It was a glorious day when God created man. It was an even great when GOD BECAME MAN. er day It was a wonderful day when God made man in his image. It was an even more wonderful day when God mad himself in man’s image. THIS IS THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS! LET US TELL IT TO THE WORLD! 4

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date December 15, 2024
Text Psalm 98:2-9
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date December 8, 2024
Text: Isaiah 9:6-7
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

Since the time when the Hebrew prophets first articulated this holy vision for world peace, more than 2000 years have passed. We bow our heads in despair, pray, weep and hope for peace The Orthodox Hasidic Jew who rocks back and forth in prayer at the wailing wall in Jerusalem, prays for the peace of Israel, that they will be able to live at peace with her Arab Palestinian Muslim neighbors.

From God comes the promise of peace. But in human history war persists and suffering conflict and anguish. Men are crying out for peace yet war is everywhere. This shouldn’t astonish us, because wars will increase There will be wars and rumors of war throughout the earth, until our Lord comes back again. No matter who is in the White House, and how determined the President is to make sure our troupes aren’t sent to the Middle East or Europe even though war and conflict continues on. Russia seems determined to take back the Ukraine North Korea sure wants to take back South Korea. The Sudan isn’t happy that the South was able to secede and declare themselves Christian, so they continue to kill and persecute Christians A few year ago Muslims in the Philippines stepped up and undeclared war against Christians and at that time more than 60,000 had been killed, as Muslims sought a separate state. In the Northeast part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Christians are being persecuted and blamed for all the problems of Eastern Congo.

There have always been wars. Ever since the Fall of man. When sin entered the world, sin has created a woeful need for a divine Prince who can restore peace.

In our text, we see that there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordon. In verse 2 we see that, “the people who were walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy, they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat. You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulder’s the rod of their oppressor…Then in the text we read this morning verses 6 and 7; “For to us a child is born to us a son is given. And the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called, WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”

The heart of man hungers for peace, the desire for peace is universal among all people. All North Americans want peace. The nations of Europs and the Middle East want peace, Asia, and Africa, the Islands and Latin and South America want peace. What do we mean when we say we want peace? Usually we just mean—stop the fighting, we don’t want anymore wars. But what about inner peace?

DO YOU HAVE PEACE WITH GOD? So we ask ourselves the question this morning:

WHY HAVE WE FAILED TO ACHIEVE PEACE?

Not only in the U.S but in the West in general, we have achieved the highest standard of living the world has ever known. Even though, that is being threatened by what has happened during the past economic crises.

WE HAVE PLACED OUR FAITH IN OUR ECONOMY

RATHER THAN CHRIST

The dollar has now fallen to a record low, and China and some other nations, are no longer basing their system on the dollar. We owe China more than any other country in the world, and i0 years ago we printed I trillion dollars to make a payment on this debt to them. We have absolutely nothing to base it on. Just one more thing pointing to the end times and the Great Tribulation.

One of the main reasons we do not see peace is that substitutes for the Prince of Peace have been accepted. Nations are not encouraged to depend upon God for peace. We place our faith in our armed services, nuclear weapons and radar that can control “smart bombs” and drones that can drop them, wherever we want. More recently we are beginning to depend on A.I. (Artificial Intelligence )

. Individuals have accepted substitutes for the Prince of Peace too. They look to education, wealth (how good is your port folio? And, friends, and health for peace. There is nothing wrong with any of these things particularly, unless they are what we depend on to satisfy our hearts and give us peace.

The messianic titles that were given to the Savior by the prophet Isaiah is helpful, and can help us understand who Jesus really is and how he can actually meet the needs of the human heart. We should be focusing our attention this time of year on Christ and God’s great redemption for us through Him. The names that were given to Him can help us to understand God’s living purposes for us.

Last week we talked about the fact that Immanuel means God with us. This should bring us HOPE. This prophecy was to give hope that the Great Creator of the Universe has come to be with us. First in the form of man—the man Christ Jesus, but then when He ascended into heave He sent His Holy Spirit to live within us and we also have hope –actually certainty—that he is coming back again.

Today we are focusing on just one of the names of Jesus; the Prince of Peace. All of the names the prophet mentioned help us understand who he is, but because he is the Prince of Peace, it means that he is able to give us inner peace within ourselves, and that is what people are missing.

Some people admire him as a good example or teacher. Perhaps you recall the words of C.S Lewis, who very harshly condemned those who only believed in Jesus as a good teacher. He said, and I paraphrase, You have three choices. Either Jesus was totally mad, because of the things he said, or he was the greatest fraud and con-artist of all time, or he was who he said he was; THE SON OF GOD. But don’t ever think such nonsense that he was just a good teacher. He never gave us that option. Then some think of him as a god among other gods like the Hindus, who have millions of gods. So to add one more like Jesus is not a big deal. The Muslims accept him as a prophet, among other prophets, but insist that Muhammad is the latest and the greatest prophet. They would never use the word wonderful to describe Jesus, like Isaiah does in our messianic prophecy.

PEOPLE HAVE NOT ACCEPTED HIM AS WONDERFUL

The Hebrew word para, translated WONDERFUL means to separate, to distinguish, or to make great. It is applied usually to anything that is great or wonderful, as a miracle. It is applied here to denote the unusual and remarkable assemblage of qualities that distinguished the Messiah. Those are specified more particularly n the other part of the verse, such as Mighty God. The proper idea of the word is miraculous. It is saying, that the person here will be exalted above the ordinary course of nature and which who fulfils the definition of one who excites, amazes, causes wonderment, and admiration, whether it be miraculous or not. This same word is used in Jeremiah 32:17, where it clearly denotes the miraculous, but this idea is not necessarily connected with it. He says; “Ah Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and out-stretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.’”

So anything which excites wonder and amazement, from any cause, will correspond with the sense of the Hebrew word It is a word which expresses with great accuracy everything in relation to the Redemer.

For the messiah was wonderful in all things. It was wonderful love by which God gave him and by which he came. The manner of his birth was wonderful His humility, his self-denial, his sorrows were wonderful

His mighty works were wonderful. His dying agonies were wonderful and His resurrection, his ascension were all of such magnitude that it excites admiration and wonder.

God has done many wonderful things for us in and through Jesus Christ who is also The Mighty God.

Jesus is wonderful because of who He is. He is wonderful because of what he did. He is wonderful because of what he can do for you.

People have not accepted him as wonderful, but ;

Another reason we don’t have peace is because people haven’t accepted him as COUNSELOR

Our world is groping for counsel On an International level some very intelligent people are brought together to work out the problems that face the nations of the world. It’s called the United Nations. Unfortunately they never seem to be able to solve any problems. On the National level, the President tries to surround himself with good counselors, but doesn’t always get good advice, and when he does he doesn’t always listen to it. And on the personal level we seek counsel from all kinds of self-help books, from teachers, lawyers financial advisors doctors, and ministers, or anyone except the greatest counselor there is. It seems we are willing to seek advise from everyone else.

We have a living Savior who comes to dwell in our hearts in the person of the Hoy Spirit. He is our advocate or counselor. I John 2:1 tells us that if we sin we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense. This is what an advocate does. It is the root meaning of lawyer or Counselor which is the common word for defense attorney. He counsels us by means of the Word-the Scriptures. He is our helper and guide. The disciples were reminded that he would teach them and remind them of everything he had said to them. The Holy Spirit made use of their memories, and all their natural faculties. But let’s not forget the work of the Holy Spirit in making sure that they wrote what he inspired them to recall and write.

We are provided counsel through the written word that we can read and the preached word that is taught. He offers counsel in the quietness of our pers0nal prayer life and through the leading of the Holy Spirit, IF WE WILL LISTEN. It is important to be still and listen to the Lord when He is speaking to you, for HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL BRING PEACE.

We need to be like Samuel when God spoke to him he finally answered to God’s call: “SPEAK, LORD FOR YOUR SEVANT IS LISTENING.

We too, today should listen. He still speaks to those who are willing to listen—to hear. Even though he may not speak in an audible voice, when he speaks you will know it. And sometimes it is so strong that it certainly seems like an audible voice. When he does we need to response with —Yes Lord I am here, speak to me.: He longs to be you COUNSELOR—but then he want you to obey.

Then finally people can’t find PEACE because they have never accepted Jesus as their EVERLASTING FATHER. (Their FATHER OF ETERNITY)

An old story is told of a little girl on board an old sailing ship, and a terrible storm arose and as the waves increased and water poured onto the deck, she walked on the deck after leaving the bridge, and when the next day was asked was she afraid, she replied; “No not at all—My father is the captain, and he is at the helm.”

When the storms of life press around is, we should know that our Father is at the helm. He Is our “Forever Father.:

In Hebrew when someone possesses something he is called the “father” of it. So —the father of peace is PEACEFUL AND HE IS BRINGS PEACE FOREVER.

PEOPLE HAVEN’T ACCEPTED JESUS AS THE PRINCE OF PEACE

People want peace, but they want peace that they can understand. We read in the Word that Jesus gives peace beyond our understanding. Even professing Christians don’t always understand that:

The basic individual need of people is to experience

PEACE IN OUR HEART. .

Jesus, the Prince of Peace provides peace with God

. His peace is, the peace that brings reconciliation with God the Father and fellowship with Him.

It is the peace of self-control through spiritual power and divine energy

His peace is the assurance that our sins have been forgiven.

With his presence it is possible for us to walk in peace with poise in the midst of storms. It makes it possible to cease fighting among ourselves in our nation, in our families, or in our church. He brings peace that is the peace of surrender to the role of love.

If we let his will become our will we will discover ourselves in harmony with God and everyone around us, especially in the body of Christ. The prophet Isaiah said; “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you.”

Jesus can be more than just a name in history, or even a person whom you know a lot of facts about He can be WONDERFUL to you , He can be your COUNSELOR, he can be you MIGHTY GOD and ETERNAL FATHER, and he can truly be THE PRINCE OF PEACE TO YOU.

Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661

Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org

OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”

Nobleton Community Church
Date December 1, 2024
Text Luke 21: 5-36
Pastor Paul Lehmann

Listen to live audio here

Many times when something happens we say things like; “ Oh, it’s not the end of the world.” During the Cold War days of the early 60s, people thought that a nuclear war would bring about the “end of the world.” A journalist named Lawrence Joseph in December of 2012 wrote a book entitled “Apocalypse 2012. A Scientific Investigation into Civilization’s End,” a book which predicted widespread catastrophe beginning in December of that year. He looks to the sky and sees signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars.” Just as Jesus did. Specifically, he notices that on December 2, 2012, the sun was to line up with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in roughly 26,000 years. Joseph says that “whatever energy typically streams to Earth from the center of the Milky Way will indeed be disrupted on Dec. 21, 2012, at 11:11 pm. Lawrence Joseph was not alone. According to USA Today back on March 27, 2007, a number of people thought that the Apocalypse was coming because of something else that happened on December 21, of 2012. You may remember all the discussions about the Maya tribe and their Long Count calendar which came to an end in 2012. It was the end of an era that had been running for 5,126 years, and dire predictions were raining down upon us.

However, according to NASA, there was no scientific evidence that the world was going to end in 2012, contrary to the popular belief of some. You don’t only have to put your trust in science though, because you can count on the Word of God, which does not reveal any such thing. The Armageddon myth dates back to the Mayans. Yet, the Mayans never actually predicted the end of the world. The nature of the Mayan calendar is that it functions on a series of cycles, some short and some quite long. One of the longer cycles of the calendar ended in 2012, so when some people said the Apocalypse would come “because the Mayan calendar ended, this is what they were referring. The fact of the matter is that the Mayan calendar did not end in 2012. Just a cycle did, one that had been going on for over 5,000 years. In the nature of cycles, the calendar started over after the termination on December 21, 2012. NASA also confirmed that. Just as the calendar you have on your wall, does not cease to exist after December 31, 2024, the Mayan calendar did not cease to exist in 2012. This date was only the end of the Mayan long-count period but then—just as our calendar begins again on January 1st, another long-count period began for the Mayan calendar.

This reminds us of what Jesus said about the “end of days.” “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves (Luke 21:25. Jesus is speaking about the “Apocalypse” —a Greek word which means a revelation of uncovering. Revealed and uncovered is the completion of God’s work in the world, and the coming of the Son of Man.

SO IS THE APOCALYPSE GOING TO HAPPEN NOW
OR AT LEAST SOON?
A spiritual healer named Andrew Smith predicts a restoration of a “true balance between Divine Feminine and Masculine” Author Daniel Princhbeck looks forward to a change in the nature of consciousness,” which he connects to psychedelic drug use. The movie 2012 portrayed a series of cataclysmic events taking place that year, tied to the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar.

It is safe to say that this is not the Apocalypse predicted in the Gospel of Luke.

Still, the media back then, continued to buzz about this because people are fascinated by Mayan civilization, known for its refined writing, math and astronomy. The Maya flourished for centuries in Central America, particularly between the years 300 and 900. They developed a Long Count calendar which tracks more than 5,000 years, and then resets at zero. They made the big reset in 2012. Starting at 0.

But scholars feel that modern attempts to link the Mayan calendar with contemporary spirituality are misguided at best. “For the ancient Maya it was a huge celebration to make it to the end of a whole cycle,” says Sandra Noble of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies. It was not an apocalypse, a doomsday, or a time of cosmic shifting. No one knows if the Maya even predicted the position of the sun on December 21, 2012. Susan Milbrath, an expert in Mayan archeoastronomy (who knew that was a specialty?) doubts that they would have known where the sun would be in the galaxy. What’s more, she says, there is no evidence “that they would think the world would come to an end at that point.”

So is the Apocalypse now? Probably not, at least not because of the Mayan calendar. Jesus warned the disciples and us, that there would be false prophets claiming to be the Messiah. Not claiming to be Jesus but claiming to be The Christ—(The Anointed One.) He said don’t be deceived by them. Also, we are not to be deceived by those who would predict the dates of His return.

THE TRUE NATURE OF THE APOCALYPSE IS THAT THE DATE IS UNKNOWN TO US.

Jesus told his disciples that even He didn’t know, but only the Father. He said they were not to concern themselves with that, but they were to be His witnesses. Other dales prophets predict wrong dates as to when Jesus will return.

William Miller is perhaps the most famous false prophet in history. In the 1840s he began to preach about the world’s end, saying Jesus Christ would return for the long-awaited Second Coming and that Earth would be engulfed in fire sometime between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. He circulated his message in public gatherings and by using the technologies of the day,–posters, printed newsletters, and charts. Moved by those messages, as many as 100,000 “Millerites” sold their belongings between 1840 and 1844 and took to the mountains to wait for the end. When that end didn’t come, Miller changed the date to Oct. 22. When Oct. 23 rolled around, his loyal followers explained it away yet again and went on to form the Seventh-day Adventist movement.

In more recent days false prophets like Harold Camping who was an engineer and mathematician (in the early 1990s attempted to figure out the day of the end of the world. I believe he has been wrong at least three times.

Let’s keep in mind the true nature of the Apocalypse as revealed to us by Jesus. This endpoint is not all death and destruction. Instead, it includes the return of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. —He is the one who came to save the world, but who is returning only for those who believe in Him. For Christians, it hardly matters when the sun lines up with the center of the Milky Way. Much more important to us is when Jesus the Son of Man and Son of God, lines up with the center of our “spiritual galaxy.”

OUR APOCALYPSE IS REALLY ABOUT SALVATION, NOT DESTRUCTION

People will faint from fear and foreboding, predicts Jesus, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” (verses 26-27). When danger is coming, we normally tell people to duck and take cover. But Jesus says the opposite, “Stand up and raise your heads” (verse 28) But ultimately the apocalypse is going to help us because the Son of Man is coming to redeem us, to save us, to bring about a truly happy ending.

The Apocalypse of Luke 21 reminds us that the activity of God is not limited to biblical times. It is present today and will continue into the future. “God is working toward a goal,” says professor of Bible and Homiletics Elizabeth Achtemeirer God is on the move, constantly active, constantly pressing forward to the time when his kingdom has come in its fulness and his rule is acknowledged by every living creature.” We read in Isaiah 45: 23, and in Romans 14: 11 similar words; As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me and every tongue will confess to God. And then Philippians 2:10 repeats it and adds; every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, TO THE GLORY OF THE FATHER. Because God is working toward a goal, we can trust that his kingdom will come—although it won’t be finished by a date that we have tried to set.

SO WHAT STEPS SHOULD WE BE TAKING AS WE WAIT FOR THE SON OF MAN TO COME AND FOR GOD’S PLAN TO BE COMPLETE?

At the start of World War II there was good advice on a British poster created to encourage all those in Britain. “KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON” was designed to raise morale among the British people in the face of an apocalyptic invasion by the Germans.

That’s what Jesus would have us do as we face an uncertain future. To help us keep calm, Jesus offers the lesson of the fig tree. “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.: he says. “as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. (vs 29-30).

Jesus makes the point that the coming of the Kingdom of God is every bit as natural as the springtime sprouting of leaves on trees, Keep calm, he seems to be saying, these apocalyptic developments are as predictable as the change of seasons. Even though some of the events of the future will be frightening, the God of the whole created universe is in control.

In our text, he predicts some things that are very unusual. Verses 9 and following tell us that there will be wars and revolutions but he says don’t be frightened. These things must come first, but the end will not come right away.

Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

N.T. Wright points out Isaiah 13:10 instead of saying the empire of Babylon is going to fail, and this will be like a cosmic collapse, Isaiah said, “The sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light, and stars will fall from heaven.”

Verse 25 of our text, tells us that there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming in the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken, At that time ‘

THEY WILL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near. (2 Peter 3:8-13_

Yes, it is hard to keep calm when there is “distress among the nations: (verse 25) and “the powers of the heavens” are shaken (vs. 26). It is difficult to maintain serenity when we receive a cancer diagnosis from the doctor, but even a diagnosis of something that is not terminal, but is debilitating. For those who are working, a pink slip from an employer can shake up our world, a breakup text message from a spouse, for students a failing grade on a final exam. But Jesus assures us that God is in control, and there is one thing that will remain the same forever and ever. The words of Jesus himself; “Heaven and earth will pass away, “he predicts, “but my words will not pass away” (verse 33). These everyday things are nothing compared to what is coming, but, “Keep calm,” basically says Jesus. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63).

The second half of the British poster says, “Carry On.” It is not enough simply to keep calm and meditate on the words of Jesus, the challenge for all of us is to “Keep Calm and Carry on.” This means that you are to “be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with careless ease and drunkenness and the worries of this life” (Luke 21:34). It means that you are to “be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man “(verse 36).

It has often been thought that an emphasis on the end time and the coming of the kingdom leads to otherworldliness, passivity in this life, and acceptance of the status quo,” writes Prof. Achtemeier. But the opposite is true. “Christians constantly attempt to shape their lives according to the ways of their Master,” she writes. This means carrying on in a Christian fashion, focusing our efforts on love, justice mercy, and faith.

The end of the world won’t come because of some prediction, but we Christians know that God is at work in the long march of history, and is moving us toward the day when the Son of Man will come with power and great glory, as we just read. This may be a fearful time, but it will ultimately be a celebration, for all of the brokenness and injustice of this world will be replaced by healing and righteousness.

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN That event is staggering and inexhaustible in its implications. The wisest and most noble of the Sons of Adam (that’s us), cannot fully fathom the impact the return of the Son of God will make on this planet and universe. His coming will not turn the world upside down, it will turn the world right-side up. Jesus is :

The One who spoke the galaxies into existence

The One who created man from the dust of the earth and breathed into him the breath of life

The One who came to die to satisfy the infinitely holy demands of His Father so that sinful man could be restored to fellowship and enjoy God forever

The One who rose from the grave a victor over sin and death and

The One who ascended and is now enthroned at the right hand of God on high. When He returns, men will not refer to the Son of God as “Little Jesus meek and mild” in that day, His title will be “King of kings” and “Lord of lords” (Revelation 17:14, 19:16. At His return, transgressors will be judged, faithfulness will be rewarded, and righteousness will be established in the Earth.

It is the highest order of ignorance to equate God’s wonderful attribute of long-suffering with indifference (2 Peter 3:9). At the proper time, whatever a man sows he will reap. If he sows to the flesh he will reap of the flesh—-if he sows to the Spirit he will reap of the Spirit (Gal. 6:7). Men cannot mock God and get away with it.

The return of Christ will be the vortex of human history. Everything and everyone will be drawn into His direct irresistible, controlling force. Heaven and earth, demons and angels, righteous and unrighteous men, time and eternity, life and death—all will be under the dominion of the conquering King when He returns to fulfill His unconditional covenants with the patriarchs and brings an end to the rebellious and wicked history of mankind and personally establishes a Golden Age on the Earth.

Until then, Keep Calm and Carry On. God is working his purposes out, and our focus should be on walking in the path of Jesus Christ because He will establish a reign of peace and justice.

Until then, we will continue to remember him and do as He said. We will eat the bread representing His body that was wounded for us. We will drink of the cup representing His blood that was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. We will remember His first coming, His ministry, and His death and Resurrection, and ascension. And we will await His second coming, Putting our Hope in Him.