Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "The Sound of Trumpets" & "The Clock Is Ticking" – Wednesday, 19 & Thursday, 20 November 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 24:15-35

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "The Sound of Trumpets" & "The Clock Is Ticking" – Wednesday, 19 & Thursday, 20 November 2014 - Scripture: Matthew 24: The Monster of Desecration
15-20 “But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you’ve read Daniel, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you’re living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you’re working in the yard, don’t return to the house to get anything; if you’re out in the field, don’t go back and get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won’t happen during the winter or on a Sabbath.
21-22 “This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God’s chosen people, the trouble will be cut short.
The Arrival of the Son of Man
23-25 “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I’ve given you fair warning.
26-28 “So if they say, ‘Run to the country and see him arrive!’ or, ‘Quick, get downtown, see him come!’ don’t give them the time of day. The Arrival of the Son of Man isn’t something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it’s not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds.
29 “Following those hard times,
Sun will fade out,
    moon cloud over,
Stars fall out of the sky,
    cosmic powers tremble.
30-31 “Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he’ll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.
32-35 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you’ll know he’s at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.
Scripture: Matthew 24:36 “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.
37-39 “The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah’s. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away.
39-44 “The Son of Man’s Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.
45-47 “Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won’t be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation.
48-51 “But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it and make hash of him. He’ll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering.”
"The Sound of Trumpets" by J. K. Warrick
Don Metz was my mentor, professor, advisor, counselor, and friend. Don was a professor at Bethany Nazarene College when I enrolled as a student in 1964, and he quickly became one of my “most admired.” For nearly 12 years I had the honor of serving as his pastor in Olathe, Kansas. He and his wife, Eva, were faithful members and loving supporters of our ministry at College Church. Eva slipped away to heaven first.
After Eva’s death, Don asked me to officiate his funeral. He gave me the text and outline  (he must have remembered that I was not one of his brightest sutdents) to speak on trumpet call mentioned in this passage. Don Metz believed the Bible. He was an astute scholar, but at heart, he was a follower of our Lord. He lived believing that at the end of the age, a sound of trumpets would signal the full redemption of believers and of the wondrously created universe.
“When you see all these things,” listen. As Don would say, listen for the sound of trumpets–for the day of the Lord is “right at the door!”
"The Clock Is Ticking" by J. K. Wqrrick
I love clocks. At our house we have six clocks that require winding: five every week, one every 30 days. Additionally, five of them have some sort of chime: some every fifteen minutes, some less often. I really do love clocks!
One thing I like about clocks is that they often remind me when there is an important event drawing near. Christmas, a birthday, the birth of a new baby, a trip, an important meeting–there are all sorts of things that arouse our sense of anticipation. For instance, I am expecting a package today, and I keep looking out to the porch to see if the delivery person slipped up on me. I just checked again, and it is still not here! I’ll keep watching.
To “keep watch” is a biblical mandate–Jesus told us to “keep watch” because we do not know the day of His return. Our Scripture reading for today reminds us that keeping watch means doing what pleases our Lord: being faithful and wise. To “keep watch” is to be alert, expectant, and anticipate Him at all times.
Hymn for Today:

"When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder" by James M. Black
1. When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, 
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright, and fair; 
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, 
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
Chorus:
When the roll is called up yonder, 
(When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there,) 
When the roll is called up yonder, 
(When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there,) 
When the roll is (When the roll is) called up yonder, 
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
2. On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, 
And the glory of His resurrection share; 
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies. 
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
Chorus:
When the roll is called up yonder, 
(When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there,) 
When the roll is called up yonder, 
(When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there,) 
When the roll is (When the roll is) called up yonder, 
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there. 
3. Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, 
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care; 
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, 
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
Chorus:
When the roll is called up yonder, 
(When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there,) 
When the roll is called up yonder, 
(When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there,) 
When the roll is (When the roll is) called up yonder, 
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
"We'll Work Till Jesus Comes" by Elizabeth Mills
1. O land of rest for thee I sigh! 
When will the moment come 
When I shall lay my armor by 
And dwell in peace at home?
Chorus:
We'll work (We'll work) till Jesus comes, 
We'll work (We'll work) till Jesus comes, 
2. To Jesus Christ I fled for rest; 
He bade me cease to roam, 
And lean for comfort on His breast 
Till He conducts me home. 
Chorus:
We'll work (We'll work) till Jesus comes, 

And we'll be gathered home

Thought for Today: 

“And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence—we have the Master’s word on it—that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they’ll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words."(1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
"“And then—then!—they’ll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!”" (Luke 21:27-28).
Please Pray:
For the ministry of caring for the widows and orphans in Mesoamerica.
That Christians in Meso america will be strengthened in their faith.
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