Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning April 2, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO KEEP LOOKING FOR JESUS
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Titus 2:11-15
Text: Titus 2:13
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Introduction: I was saved on Feb. 11, 1968. One of the things that has kept me living for the Lord has been the promise of the IMMINENT (about to happen) return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Those who look the most for his return are living the best for Him right now!”
I spent much of the day yesterday visiting people who claim to be saved and are not faithfully attending Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night services at the church God would have them to be in. If these people are saved, they have one main problem: they are not looking for Jesus as they should. If you’re looking for Jesus to come today, you will want to be obedient to Him today!
Let me give you some things this morning that motivate me to keep on keeping on in looking for the return of our Lord, who PROMISED that He would come again.
I. THIS DEPRAVED SOCIETY KEEPS ME LOOKING FOR JESUS
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Today’s society is characterized by
A. Shameful sinners but shameless, too
B. Scoffers
C. Sodomites and their supporters
II. DYING SERVANTS OF GOD KEEP ME LOOKING FOR JESUS
2 Samuel 1:25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
2 Samuel 1:27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
A. I want to see them
- Lester Roloff
- John R. Rice
- Harold Sightler
B. I want to serve God as they did
C. want to stand for God as they did
III. DESCRIPTIVE SONGS KEEP ME LOOKING FOR JESUS
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
A. We sing about His return
- Some Golden Daybreak
B. We sing about heaven’s reality
- Sweet By and By
C. We sing about hearts rejoicing
- Won’t It Be Wonderful There?
D. We sing about a happy reunion
- We’ll Never Say Goodbye in Glory
IV. DELIGHTFUL SCRIPTURES KEEP ME LOOKING FOR JESUS
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
A. They burn in my heart
B. They build up my hope
C. They bring me help – 1 Thess. 4:18
V. DEFEATED SAINTS KEEP ME LOOKING FOR JESUS
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
A. I want to see saints shouting
B. I want to see saints singing
C. I want to see saints serving the Lord
D. I want to see saints sinless
E. I want to see saints spiritual
F. I want to see saints sweet