Today, Sunday January 09
Looking For the Blessed Hope Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
No God, no hope! We are living in a day when many people have lost their hope of a better tomorrow. Just this week it was reported that nearly twice as many members of the U.S. military died of suicide from July to September 2021, than have died from the coronavirus during the entire pandemic. When even the mention of God or His Son Jesus in public is considered offensive in our current culture in America, it is no wonder that despair, depression and is plaguing us far greater than the covid-19 pandemic!
That’s why I’m excited about our study of end-time events and the Book of Revelation. Titus was dealing with difficult and discouraging circumstances in his present ministry on the Island of Crete. Paul wrote him a letter to give him some instructions and also to encourage him. He reminded Titus of the grace of God that brings salvation and that he should be looking for the “blessed hope and glorious appearing of great God and Savior Jesus Christ”!
The doctrine of the Second Coming of Jesus is a message of hope! Despite the ungodliness and evil in the world around us we should continue to live soberly, righteously and godly, knowing that we have been redeemed and have a great future with Jesus! Romans 5:1-5 tells us we have a hope that will not disappoint! “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
The prophet Isaiah saw the millennium reign of Christ in a very special way and described it in great detail.
Isaiah 11:6-10: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious."
In Isaiah 65:20, the prophet Isaiah described how people will live so long that even a hundred year old will be like a child: “No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young! (Be sure to listen to the Pastor’s Chat today as I give my opinion why and how people will live so long in this kingdom.)
Paul quotes Isaiah in Romans 15:12-13 to again tell us of our great hope because this coming reign of Jesus Christ that even the Gentiles (that’s us) will be a part of: “And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope." Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
We have a blessed hope!!!!! Jesus is coming back!!! Today, be encouraged!!!
God bless!