"And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as in the days of Lot—they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out, and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding grain at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left." And answering they said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered."
Good Morning my beloved,
I have not the words to accurately describe to you what a tremendous privilege to come together with you to worship today, in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us today, whether it's your first time or you are a faithful member of our family in Christ, your presence is acknowledged and truly appreciated. If you're not certain about whether or not you want to embrace Jesus Christ, I pray there will be something in our message today that will point you toward Christ. I humbly thank God for every opportunity that He has provided for me to proclaim the Gospel to those are deceived by false religion, misled by a false doctrine, a privilege and responsibility that I do not take lightly. If God is using this ministry to help transform your life or the lives of those around you, please contact us to share your story. We would be honored to hear from you.
The return of our Lord Jesus Christ is presented in Scripture as the greatest, most climactic, most significant event culminating the end of human history and of the world as we now know it, fulfilling ancient prophecies and securing the ultimate salvation of believers. In fact, the New Testament mentions this event in more than three hundred places, making it one of the most frequently repeated Truths in all of Scripture. Before Jesus left this earth, more than two millennia ago, He told His disciples that the days would come when His disciples – both near and far off – would long for the Messiah’s return. If you are a true Christian, you will not only hunger for God’s Word, you will long for our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing. Beloved, Scripture affirms with certainty, that there is soon a day coming, when the faith of God’s people will become a visible reality, when our future hope will become history, and when the Jesus that we have loved, preached about, prayed to, and longed for will be seen with every eye, and before Him, every knee will bow.
I am convinced that most people are completely ignorant of the person of God; Who God is, they do not understand His Holiness, they cannot comprehend His righteousness and His absolute sovereignty. Not because they haven't heard the Gospel of Christ, not because they have never heard a message proclaiming the Truth about His coming, but because they never allowed themselves to perceive any of it to the degree that would allow it to penetrate their hearts and transform their lives because the Truth exposed their sin. And, as our Lord stated in John 3, that men will love the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil, all while claiming to hate sin and unrighteousness, especially in others. In Isaiah 65:1-3a, God express His frustration with the rebelliousness of His people saying, "I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ To a nation which did not call on My name. I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, A people who continually provoke Me to My face."
One of the biggest misconceptions affecting the church today, is that disobedience and prolonged sin are no reason to doubt one’s salvation. Repentance is not an essential part of salvation. All who claim Christ by faith as Savior, including those involved in continued, prolonged sin, are assured that they belong to God. "Surely, God understands that I’m only human. After all, He made me." I am absolutely astonished that anyone who has ever read the Bible could come up with such shocking statements, much less a teacher of God's Word, who supposedly has studied the Scriptures. You can't sit in church, listening to false teaching, compromised to suit cultural demands, singing songs written by "Christian artists" who openly live in unrepentant sin, promoting a false theology thinking everything is fine when Scripture explicitly links doctrinal error with financial greed and moral failure. In 2 Peter 2:1-3, Peter warns that false teachers will "exploit you with false words" driven by greed. Similarly, in 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Paul describes those who imagine "godliness is a means of gain," are deprived of the Truth.
I believe that we have reached the age where God's people are longing for the visible intervention of their King. And yet Jesus says—"you will not see it." I don't know about you, but for me, this is not merely a casual desire this is deep ache in our soul, a spiritual homesickness as the days grow darker and darker. I believe there are moments in the life of every believer when God's presence feels close, tangible, undeniable and then there are other times, when He feels distant, silent, almost hidden. I often am reminded of the days when faith required less endurance, and clarity required less effort. Satan is the author of chaos and confusion, the father of lies. In 1 Corinthians 14:33, Paul declares that "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." I believe this uncertainty is intentional—designed to keep hearts awake and alert and lives devoted, longing for the return of our Lord.
Today' the popular view seems to be that all paths lead to God and to eternal life, however Scripture teaches that is a heresy. Seeking eternal life through Christ alone is the least popular choice, it comes with a life of self-denial, willing obedience, and loving our enemies, doing good to those who persecute us, which eliminates the majority of people. True Christianity stands alone. A self-righteous person full of pride does not face his own sinfulness, but is quick to point out the sins of others. Notice that Jesus mentions the narrow gate twice, He mentions the wide gate only once. Both roads point to heaven, but only one will take you there. Many Christians don’t have a problem with Jesus being a Savior, they do however take issue with His being Lord and Master! I'd like you to notice the gate comes first, so before you get on the road, you have to go through the gate. There is an implied sense of urgency here. An imperative call to action. A command. Jesus is calling us to a very narrow, exclusive way of life. I realize this is challenging but if we are to proclaim Christ, we must not compromise on what Scripture teaches for the sake of unity. Man must conform to the Authority of God's Word, never do we compromise Scripture to please a sinful society. We are commanded not to conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2), but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I believe there is something deep inside the heart of every true believer that simply cannot be satisfied by this present age.
If we're seeking to please man, we are rebelliously acting in direct opposition to being a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10).
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, as always we are thankful for Your Word. Lord, we confess that we have grown comfortable where we should have been alert and watchful. We have allowed ourselves to become distracted where we should have been devoted. We have filled our lives with the noise of the world, and have neglected to listen for that still, small voice that calls us back to You. O' Lord, it is my prayer that You would awaken people, expose every hidden compromise, every quiet rebellion, and every false idol we have tolerated. Father, forgive us for our lukewarm worship, for prayerless gatherings, for our preaching without power, for hearing Your Word while neglecting to obey. Rekindle our first love, set our hearts on fire, so that we might burn with desire for You and Your presence and not be satisfied with the passing things of this world. Stir the hearts of those who have not yet received Christ as Lord and Savior, disturb their peace until their soul belongs to You. We ask and pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, for Your glory.
Amen.
Today's Message: Will The Day We All Long For Come?
I cannot imagine a time where this passage is more needed than today. It's not just that we wait for Christ's return from heaven, we wait with anticipation, looking for the blessed hope, longing for the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus. In 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul wrote shortly before his death, "In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." Beloved, that means the church is to live with expectation, longing, and holy anticipation, not passively waiting in the delay. In an age marked by spiritual confusion, doctrinal compromise, and a culture that rewards "self-expression," I am convinced that distinction matters more now than ever! If you are a Christian, "born again, crucified with Christ" your identity is no longer defined by who you were or what you did, you are defined by what He has done and who you are in Him—a child of God. Stop clinging to old identities and old sins, He came to take them all away, not just some, allowing you keep your coveted ones, because true grace trains us as believers to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, now in the present age, with a true hope for the return of Christ, which always produces obedience, visible to a watching world. Biblical hope is not vague optimism— it is a settled confidence in the Person, promise, and coming glory of Jesus Christ. If we live truly anticipating Christ, Who could return at any moment, we will live differently in our homes, our churches, and our secret places, prioritizing forgiveness, people over possessions, serving others selflessly without complaining. I am continually grieved at the way the Lord is treated in the world, but especially within the church I don’t want to bog you down in a bunch of theology, so I'll just point out a few verses before we move on.
Colossians 3:5-11, "Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. On account of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, lay them all aside: wrath, anger, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you put off the old man with its evil practices, and have put on the new man who is being renewed to a full knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and freeman, but Christ is all and in all."
In 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, Paul says "And for this reason God sends upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness." A life of habitual, ongoing sin will inescapably have severe consequences. That's nothing to celebrate! The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus will come, that return to earth will be a literal, physical, bodily return. In Acts 1:11, the angels declare that Jesus will return "in the same way" He ascended, this unmistakably implies a visible, physical descent from heaven. In spite of the way that things appear, Jesus said, in Matthew 16, "The gates of Hades cannot destroy the Church." Therefore, the true Church, the invisible Church is indestructible, eternal, and supernatural. Its head is Christ, who lives forevermore. Its members are believers who have been granted eternal life.
If you are a Christian, I don’t want you to be ignorant because of some false theology, some damning lie from Satan, coming from the pit of Hell. You must understand that Scripture teaches because you claimed Christ as your Savior, because you have claimed to be a recipient of God's grace, does not mean that you can live any way you want, flagrantly flaunting your sin as if it doesn't matter to God. Grace is the power to overcome sin, not permission to indulge in it. I believe this distinction is absolutely critical for understanding the difference between genuine salvation and being self-deceived with a false sense of security because you walked an isle and prayed a prayer. The Apostle Paul directly addresses this misconception in Romans 6. He anticipates the argument: "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" His response is emphatically a resounding: "May it never be!" A true Christian has "died to sin" through their union with Jesus Christ. Everybody everywhere serves a "master," before Christ, you were a slave to sin; however, after receiving God's grace, you have become a "slave to righteousness," and the way you now live your life must reflect Christ's obedient nature, "doing the Father's will, "not your old sinful nature. By living a life characterized by flagrant, ongoing, unrepentant sin suggests one is still enslaved to the old master, regardless of their verbal claims.
walking in a manner worthy of our high calling, by imitating Christ’s humility and sacrificial love. The post-modern church that rejects absolutism, propositional truth, and institutional hierarchy, prioritizing a "lived experience" over traditional doctrine can no longer afford to continue in this complacent, comfortable Christianity, as if we've been promised a life ease in this world. In a recent conversation regarding Western Christianity, a study reveals a continuing trend of "instability" and "secular drift," all while global persecution continues to increase with recent reports of violence and intimidation against Christians in places such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Sudan, and Pakistan.
In John 14:3, Jesus personally promises, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also," indicating a personal return rather than a metaphoric or symbolic one. Being a recipient of God's grace imposes a higher standard of holiness, as the call to obedience is intensified, not a lowered. In Matthew 5, Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that our internal attitudes are just as morally significant as our external actions, equating anger with murder by revealing an attitude of superiority and contempt for another person's dignity as an image-bearer of God, and lust with adultery of the heart, regarding it as a "long, creepy stare intended to stir up sexual desire for personal gratification, even if no physical act occurs, but carrying the same legal penalty. In Matthew 5:29–30, using several hyperbole, Jesus urges believers to deal drastically with sin by removing the source of their to sin to avoid the consequences of such moral failure. I believe that in order for the church to be able live by the high standards to which we have been called to live, we must first recover a higher view of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In Romans 8:29-30, Paul emphasizes that God’s predestining purpose is for believers to be "conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers; and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified." In 125 A.D. a 2nd-century Christian philosopher known as Aristides of Athens, looked at Christianity and this is what he said, likely addressing Roman Emperor Publius Aelius Hadrianus, "They are remarkable people, they walk in humility and kindness, and falsehood is not found among them, and they love one another." As Christians, we are to be known for our sacrificial love, love for one another and love for our enemies. A faithful pastor, true to his calling, should feel the weight of that Truth without instinctively reaching for a defense. I believe if we are to see the glory of Christ, the church should not be comfortable with hidden sin, doctrinal vagueness and manipulation, or double-minded living. We are a "called out" people whose distinctiveness relies on Truth, moral purity, theological clarity, holiness and wholehearted obedience. Partial obedience does not cleanse broader disobedience, therefore, we cannot allow unrepentant sin to persist within our ranks. 2 Timothy 3:5, calls for separation from those who profess faith but live in contradiction to its principles to ensure that the community maintains spiritual integrity and doctrinal fidelity. To reject ungodliness and live righteously for the Gospel’s credibility is not burdensome legalism or old-fashioned severity; it is the essence of New Testament Christianity.
Open your Bibles with me, if you will, to Luke 17:22-37. Obviously, this is another very important portion of Scripture, it is profound, centering on Christ’s Lordship and the believer’s cry for His to return to set all things right
The Bible is clear in everything it says, because God means exactly what He says, no matter what the particular subject on which it is speaking. We’re all familiar with The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew chapter 6, where Jesus said, "In this manner, therefore, pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name." This is often recited without grasping its weight, it is a plea for His name, His nature, His character be considered holy.
Many Christians tend overlook that the first three petitions are entirely God-centered, establishing a hierarchy, shifting the focus from human needs to God's glory, authority, and purpose. Our Father implies that the petitioner is are part of a unified family rather than a purely individualistic, establishing an intimate yet reverent relationship. In heaven immediately balances intimacy and reverence, pairing a familial relationship with sovereignty of God. Then, notice the petition is, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This is a present-tense request for God’s rule to expand now in the hearts of believers and through the church. "Your will be done," is the logical follow-up to the hallowing of God’s name and the coming of His kingdom, emphasizing that these outcomes are inseparable from the execution of His will. This is not optional, which why it is the most difficult petition to pray sincerely, as it demands the complete surrender of our human autonomy, and the renunciation of our own will, prioritizing God’s plans over everything else, regardless of personal cost.
I'd like to encourage you to follow along with me as I read to set the text in our minds and so that you can see that this message comes directly from the inspired Word of God and not from human philosophy or the thoughts and opinions of a fallible man. I pray that you will hear the voice of our Lord. Luke 17:22-37.
"And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as in the days of Lot—they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out, and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding grain at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left." And answering they said to Him, "Where, Lord?" And He said to them, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered."
Let's look at verse 22, "And He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it." This is a sober warning to every generation of believers. He's undoubtedly referring to disciples who were already in the kingdom because they're the only ones who will desire this to come. A time is going to come when you're going to long, with an all consuming passion, to see one of the days of the Son of Man. The Christian life has often been lived between promise and fulfillment, requiring believers to hold fast to their faith without visible signs of confirmation. He says His disciples will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and will not see it.
The phrase "Son of Man" is a Messianic term connected to the prophet Daniel 's vision in chapter 7, one of the most significant prophetic visions in the Hebrew Bible about the Ancient of Days, representing God the Father, depicted with white hair and a fiery throne, symbolizing eternal existence, purity, and judicial authority, describing where the Son of Man arrives on the clouds of heaven, being presented before God to receive the transfer of an everlasting kingdom in a heavenly court or coronation ceremony. That's why Jesus often chooses to use the phrase "Son of Man" to describe Himself, emphasizing His humanity. However, here He is using it to connect Him with Daniel's prophecy. He's not talking about the rapture of the church here, these are two, very different events. We'll get one more verse in then will pick back up next time.
Verse 23, "And they will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them." Jesus is emphasizing that believers must resist the urge to fall for sensationalism and false signs of Messiah while waiting for Christ’s glorious day when He is granted "dominion, glory, and a kingdom. I want to make a distinction here, the Kingdom is always present—but is not always perceivable. Why does this matter? It matters because in today's world confusion sells. Fraudulent messiahs, false predictions, falsified healings and fabricated testimonies still draw massive crowds, whether through charismatic personalities, digital platforms, or even religious content that sounds bold but is completely devoid of the True counsel of God, in favor of their own schemes leading to spiritual ruin.
Beloved, I cannot stress well enough the importance of great discernment and knowing Scripture to identify error, especially as these damning deceptions are being disguised as biblical Truth. We are living in an age that is being flooded with misinformation, and false teachers thrive in the atmosphere of desperation and longing, preying upon those who are most vulnerable. Satan's deception still works in the same way as it did in the Garden of Eden: "Did God say?" He will use false teacher willing to say anything to redirect our attention away from Christ and toward a substitute, while sounding "close" to the truth, but missing the mark. Nothing in Scripture is obscure or hidden, in theology this is known as the perspicuity of Scripture or clarity of Scripture. Nothing! The danger of false teaching extends beyond the obvious heresy, it's spiritual numbness, where believers become so absorbed with the ordinary rhythms of normal life that they cease to watch, pray, and obey the commands of God. The best way to overcome spiritual complacency, is keep the Gospel central in our lives: Christ crucified, risen, reigning, and we preach Christ’s return! He did not enter into the world to add an additional way of salvation, He came to confront and eradicate all pre-existing paths of false religion that claimed lead to heaven.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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