Are You Ready? 10.10.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on teh book of Matthew, please read Chapters 23-24 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can cut & paste this link to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023-24&version=9

Today we will read about the hypocrisy; the destruction of the Temple is foretold; and Jesus explaining the signs on His return. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that Jesus is returning and we need to be ready for that day. Are you ready?

On the Mount of Olives, just three days before His crucifixion, Jesus sat with His disciples and foretold the destruction of the Temple. "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" (Matthew 24:1-3). The Temple was destroyed about 40 years after His resurrection.

Jesus also foretold of the signs of His return as well as the false Christ's and prophets that would surface before His arrival. "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows........And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (24:5-8,11-14). Like the Pharisees, the false prophets of today substitute God's True Word with man made words and opinions in order to be deemed as acceptable.

Jesus emphasized the importance of always being prepared, "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." (24:42-44).

We have no idea when Jesus will come, but we do know the signs of His return and if you take a look at the world today you will see that some of the signs are here already. That is why it is of utter most importance that we are prepared for that day.

Are You Ready?
Have you repented of your sins and accepted Jesus as your Savior and are you telling all you know about Him?

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
You know those whom You are leading us to share the Gospel, sometimes these people are on our hearts for years and we have prayed for them continously, other times we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak to someone we do not even know. Lord, watch over us, guide us, and give us the wisdom and courage to speak to these people openly and without shame. Help us to not be discouraged when we do not see an immediate response for we know that we are involved in planting seeds that produce beautiful fruit, sometimes many years later. In Jesus' name......Amen.

Have a wonderful day and weekend!
God Bless,
Christina

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