Helping Second Coming Promises Become Reality

Helping Second Coming Promises Become Reality

Helping second coming promises become reality in our own lives and for all those who live in the heavenly will of God, which includes the animals who are suffering horribly at the hands of unscrupulous human beings.

Helping Second Coming Promises Become Reality

Helping Second Coming Promises Become Reality

A Sermon Delivered to

The Compassion Internet Church

14 December 2014

Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References:

Isaiah 61:1–11
John 1:6–13
1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
2 Peter 3:13-18

Helping second coming promises become reality in our own lives and for all those who live in the heavenly will of God, which includes the animals who are suffering horribly at the hands of unscrupulous human beings.

And the sooner we start helping second coming promises become reality, the sooner Jesus will come, for we are preparing the way.

The easiest and best way to help end the corruption of creation is to stop supporting the suffering, of both humans and animals in this world, with our direct support, with our silence, or with our money.

If we stop eating animals and their byproducts, we will: be in much better health, we will lessen the global impact on water, air pollution, global warming, conserve water, help feed the hungry, and we will help end the exploitation of animals and our human warring madness.

We really can be helping second coming promises become reality.

Last week in our discussion about preparing the way for Jesus’ second coming, we looked at 2 Peter 3:8-12.

This week let’s continue and take a look at 2 Peter 3:13-18.

13. But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

We suppose that just about everyone can look forward to a better tomorrow, but only those with a repentant spirit who are true children of God trying their best to be living in the heavenly will of God will actually see this better tomorrow where righteousness dwells.

14. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

This is where the separation occurs between those who simply look forward to a better tomorrow and those who do their best to live in the heavenly will of God.

15. and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

16. as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

These distortions include trying to justify the exploitation and eating of animals, which hardens the human heart and leads to all kinds of atrocities that are continuing to this very day.

17. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness,

Once again we are given both the warning and the encouragement to stand firm in the ways of the Lord and to be careful not to be carried away by the people who live in the ways of this corrupt world.

18. but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
NASB

These are just some of the ways we should be helping second coming promises become reality.

Now, let’s take a look at Isaiah 61:1-11, and see how we can improve on the ways we can all be helping second coming promises become a reality for ourselves and, at the same time, help free creation from its present corruption.

1. The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives,
And freedom to prisoners;

In reality, the Lord God has called not only Isaiah, but all the rest of us who are willing to listen and accept God’s anointing to this mission.

These are the truly born again children of God, and not the many who simply claim to be born again, for unless this anointing that comes with the infilling of the Holy Spirit is evident, it most likely isn’t real, and we need to be cautious about what they say and do.

Most of all we need to realize that these Bible verses not only refer to our fellow human beings, but they also refer to all the animals exploited by humans, because most animals are broken hearted and are being held in captivity, for through our efforts of helping second coming promises become reality, we can bring comfort and freedom to the animals as well as our fellow human beings.

2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,

It is very important to remember that vengeance always belongs to the Lord, for only He can see the true intent of a person’s heart and soul.

We are always to remain as peacemaking children of God, and leave all thoughts of violence with the Lord.

3. To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

In other words, we are to help encourage more people to change from their worldly ways into true peacemaking children of God.

4. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations,
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.

In other words, as peacemaking children of God, we can help free the whole of creation from its present corruption, suffering, and death.

5. And strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

The world will once again be at peace.

6. But you will be called the priests of the LORD;
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
You will eat the wealth of nations,
And in their riches you will boast.

Worldly people boast about having wealth, or status more than others, but true children of God glory in the fact that they are living in the heavenly will of God where there is everlasting peace and joy.

7. Instead of your shame you will have a double portion,
And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion.
Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land,
Everlasting joy will be theirs.

The worldly way is always for people to hoard the things they want or desire at the expense of humans and other animals.

But when we are helping second coming promises become reality, we are also helping to end the corruption of creation which returns to us the riches of God’s creation.

The proof of this is what the Lord tells us next.

8. For I, the LORD, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering;
And I will faithfully give them their recompense,
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

Many people ask us about why God demanded sacrifice, and we always tell them that He never did, and in this verse we can plainly see that God hates taking the lives of animals and sacrificing them, for there is no justice in killing another living being.

9. Then their offspring will be known among the nations,
And their descendants in the midst of the peoples.
All who see them will recognize them
Because they are the offspring whom the LORD has blessed.

Then the blessed of the Lord will say with Isaiah…

10. I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11. For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations.
NASB

If we want this to happen, then we need to be helping second coming promises become reality.

Let’s now take a look at John 1:6-13, for in this Bible passage there are a number of ways that should be helping us face the world, and at the same time be helping second coming promises become reality.

6. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

We don’t have to be a John the Baptist to make a positive difference in this world, for all peacemaking children of God should be the same kind of witness to the world around us.

7. He [John] came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.

And today we are to be this witness.

8. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.

We need to bear witness to the Light, Jesus Christ, and to the peaceful world He will usher in.

Our being vegans should also be witnesses to the world of God’s heavenly will, and also against most people’s way of living in this world, which is the reason our vegan witness makes animal eaters uncomfortable.

9. There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

We need to remember that while this is true, all the violence, suffering, bloodshed, and death in the world is from darkness and not from enlightenment, which means that most people rejected the light of Jesus Christ.

10. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

This is referring to Jewish people of His day, but the Christian church is doing the same thing today, for most of them are still living in the darkness and violence of this corrupted world.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

13. who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

These are the ones who are truly born again.

These are the peacemaking children of God who live in His heavenly will, and who are helping second coming promises become reality.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:15-24, Paul gives us some examples of how our way of living, our attitude, and the way we see the world should be helping second coming promises become reality.

15. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.

We should never desire to bring revenge upon any other person for the evil they do or have done, but we are to pray for their heart change so that they would come to repentance and truly seek the Lord to guide their lives as peacemaking children of God.

This is the way we pray for all those who exploit animals.

There is enough evil in the world along with all the pain, suffering and death it causes; we don’t need any more violence; we need more peace, love, and compassion.

16. Rejoice always;

17. pray without ceasing;

18. in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

There are times in each of our lives when doing this may seem difficult, but if we are truly born of the Holy Spirit, we should be able to see into the kingdom of God, and the way that God desires this world to be, including each and every one of us.

It is through this spiritual insight that we find ourselves to be thankful, rejoicing, and with a way of making our lives a constant prayer, for we are living in the heavenly will of God.

19. Do not quench the Spirit;

20. do not despise prophetic utterances.

21. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

22. abstain from every form of evil.

As we said above, if we are truly living in the heavenly will of God as peacemaking children of God, then all of these things should just come naturally to us.

23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
NASB

This is why it is so important for all of us to be helping second coming promises become reality.

The world has suffered long enough.

We can and should be helping to usher in the reign of Christ with His everlasting love, compassion, and peace.

Amen.

See our Sermons Archive: http://all-creatures.org/sermons.html


Thank
you for visiting all-creatures.org.

avatar

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply

5 × four =

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.