Prepare Us for Spiritual Rain – December Blog Post

Left Behind (Preached on March 29th, 2020) Matthew 24:36-41
Prophecy seems to be out of place these days in our preaching unless a tragedy takes place. People go immediately to sensationalism to scourging the preaching but we need to go to the Scripture. The soon coming of the Lord seems to as common as American as apple pie, hotdogs, and baseball. We don’t think much about it. But we should! Jesus is coming again.
Our world is anxious today and worried. Everything has been turned upside down. Jobs are shut down, parking lots are empty, nonessential businesses have closed. And the church is emptied of its congregants. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me…” (John 14:1). The Lamb of God is coming for the lambs of God. We are seeing a dress rehearsal for the coming tribulation.
People don’t believe in the rapture. Enoch did. Elijah did. Jesus did. Paul did. One day Jesus is coming back to catch us away. You find that in I Thessalonians 4:13ff. Who are going to be taken up with Him? The ones who have been born again, who have the same nature as God. Those who have a second birth. Those who follow Jesus as Lord on earth.
Some things out of place at this time. The bride is not with the bridegroom. The Jews are not back in the land of Israel. Satan is not in hell. Jesus is not reigning in Jerusalem from David’s throne. God is preparing all things to fulfill these prophecies.
One day children will disappear from their beds. Moms will be missing. Pilots will be taken up. Bus drivers and car drivers will exit their cars. One man working beside another and one is taken. Two in bed, a man and his wife, and one is taken.

1. A Word of Caution (Matthew 24:36)
   We don’t know when the event will take place but we know it will. Millions will vanish without a trace. It will be a worldwide event. In less than a millisecond, there will be an evacuation, an exit, an entry into the glory to be with the Lord forever. Can you imagine the anguish when loved ones have been taken and many don’t know where they are? We look at the nation of Israel. It was reformed as a nation in 1948. Never has this happened to any other nation or state. Jesus said this is the budding of the fig tree and when this happens the coming of the tribulation is nigh. That means before the tribulation happens the rapture will take place. Only when the true church is taken from this world will we see this happen. The world is awaiting a devastating day. And they do not know it and they are indifferent to it.
2. A Word of Contemplation (Matthew 24:37-41)
   Look at the situation today: politically, economically, ecclesiastically, and morally. Jesus said these things would take place and the world will be shaken from its moorings. Their anchor will be pulled up. Everything people have lived for, sold their souls for, will suddenly, fatally, finally be taken away. Noah preached for 120 years and only 8 got in the ark. He was a preacher of righteousness. With every blow of the hammer, with each cutting down of a tree, with the dabbing of tar on the boards of the ark to waterproof the ark from the water, God was speaking. God is saying things today. Adrian Rogers said, “I would rather scare you into hell than lull you into hell.” Too many are not ready! Mortality is coming, hell is coming, and people are being warned by today’s situations. Too many say they know Christ but the question is does He know them? Many Christians are asleep and they will stand at the judgment seat of God to be shown their bad works before a holy and righteous God.
3. A Word of Concern (Matthew 24: 42-51)
   After the rapture God will focus His concern on the earth. He is going to allow man to continue in their rebellion. They will ruin themselves. Then Satan will come in the person of the Anti-Christ to rule over and stamp his mark of 666 on earth of his subjects. But at the last 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation, God will begin to pour out his bowls of judgment upon the earth dwellers. They will cry out for the rocks of the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb of God. Can you imagine that? What should we do as God’s people? Be watchful! Be Warned! Be Awake! What should the lost do? They should repent of their sin, their life of self-serving, self-ambition, and get the life of God in them by turning from their sin and asking God to be merciful unto them.
   One day Jesus is coming. A man went upstairs to the attic. He found an opened box with nuts, bolts, nails, dust, pieces of paper, and some splintered wood. He found a strong magnet and waved it over the box. What leaped to the magnet? The nuts, bolts, and nails. Why? They alone had the same nature as the magnet. Only those who have the same nature of God within will be caught up to Jesus. Those who know Him will be rescued from this world’s chaos that will take place one day. Either party, saved or lost, come to Jesus before it’s too late!

“And of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace” (John 1:16).

When you and I look into a river and perceive the fish swimming we would like to reach in and stop the water flow and catch the scene for a while. But we can’t because the current is heading downstream and it is strong, yet it was never meant to be stopped and caught.

While God gives us grace He desires for us to enjoy what He does for the moment but He doesn’t want us to reach in and try to stop it. He has more grace coming downstream that will pass by our eyes. It is wave of grace upon grace that He sends our way. We were never meant to stop the flow of grace and hunker down and bask in it.

Do you remember when Peter, James, and John were with the Lord Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration? They were asleep on that mountain. And all of a sudden they were awakened and saw the Lord Jesus speaking with Elijah and Moses about His upcoming death and resurrection.

Peter spoke up and wanted to build memorial booths for the occasion, and God the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him” (Matthew 17:5). God had more work to be done, more grace He wanted the disciples to see.

What about us? Are we satisfied with what the Lord has done thus far? Are we now satisfied that the debt renovation is now paid and there is no other territory to explore? Are we satisfied that no more people can be saved? Are we enjoying what has been accomplished and have no more get up and go for God?

God’s grace is new grace, continuous grace, uninterrupted grace that exceeds all we could imagine. Each spiritual blessing we appropriate becomes the foundation of greater blessing. God’s grace is like a mighty Niagara, thundering unending out of eternity into our hearts and lives.

Let us look into the future and ask God what He has in store for KMBC. He has an inexhaustible supply that every believer is given for all he or she needs in this world and the world to come. Pentecost filled the believers with Christ Himself and yet God emptied the upper room into the streets of Jerusalem. That is what God wants to do through us today and tomorrow and the future.

Let’s get full of Him and allow Him to carry us from grace to grace.

I Love you,

Pastor Don

KMBC Family and Friends,
Let us realize that we are living in the last of the last days. It’s as plain as it can be. The warning siren is heard across this world.
Satan is the god of this world system . He is in rebellion against his Creator. Our Education system, government, media, politics, are ran by Satan. It’s all coming unglued.
This world system is in rebellion against God’s authority and it is passing away. Remember that God said it would be like this! It has to happen! The sewage of the flesh (the self-centered life) is continually spewing out of the hearts of men. God’s people are different.
We are not worried about the so-called climate change. What we are concerned about are the souls of men who have never been born of God. We are called to preach the Gospel of the Good News. We are essential to our Lord and so are others upon us.
Are you born again? Here are 9 Vital Signs from the Book of I John that give Airtight Assurance of salvation. A saved person will exhibit all of the 9 vital signs in their life, not one or two, or a few. All will be present in varying degrees if one has eternal life.

1. Vital Sign #1 – You have communion with Christ (I John 1:1-4).
2. Vital Sign #2 – You are dealing with sin by grieving over it and confessing it (I John 1:5-2:22).
3. Vital Sign #3 – You are committed to obey God’s Word ( I John 2:3-6).
4. Vital Sign # 4 – You love other believers and have compassion for them
   ( I John 2:7-11; 3:14-18; 4: 7-21).
5. Vital Sign # 5 – You have a change of affections. You no longer love the world but love the world to
   come. You love God, others, church, the Word of God (I John 2:12-17).
6. Vital Sign #6 – You comprehend the truth in God’s Word (I John 2:18-27; 4:1-6).
7. Vital Sign #7 – You are conforming to the image of Christlikeness (I John 2:28-3:10).
8. Vital Sign #8 – You are in conflict with the lifestyle of the world (I John 3:11-13).
9. Vital Sign #9 – You pray and have confidence in prayer ( I John 3:19-24; 5:14-15).
   Tell your family that this is what a Christian is. There are many who are religious but lost. Many are deceived. Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of God, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.”
   Church is more essential more than ever. As the days grow darker God’s people shine brighter. Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star, will appear at the darkest period to rapture His people out of this world. Are you ready? Are your children? Your family? Your neighbors? Your coworkers?
   If you need further instruction, please know I’m available!
   I love you with the love of the Lord,
   Pastor Don

Our church’s address is no mistake.  God has placed us here to reach out to those who surround us in our neighborhood.  We have this great privilege and responsibility before God.

The Lord has also given us the privilege to live where we do.  It is here on our streets that we become mission minded to those who are our neighbors.  We have the great joy of mastering the art of neighboring.  Our neighbors need Christ, and we have the tool to do just this.

What do we do as we gather in our church buildings?  We learn who we are, and that God has given us a special commission to reach others through prayer and discipleship.  It is our responsibility to share and God’s responsibility to save.

Let’s refocus our prayer ministry toward our neighbors.

Love in Christ,

Pastor Don

“But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” (Matthew 9:11 NLT)

God desires compassion, mercy, and not mere religion. Who needs a doctor but those who are sick? God is after compassion, kindness, and not mere outward religious activity from His people. God is dwelling in us to invite outsiders to Himself, not to coddle the insiders of the church.

What is pure religion?

Pray for someone who you know is in need, whether it is physical or spiritual, but start your prayer by asking what you can do to help meet that need. Don’t just ask God for the solution–ask Him how you can become part of the solution.

“There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul” (Psalm 142:4).

David was beaten all the way down. Everything he counted on was now out of his life. There was no where else to look, but up, for David was at a critical juncture of his life. And when he looked up, cried out, God was there.

When you and I decide not to walk away, God will make sure you know He is there. No matter if you feel as if you are in a cave God will climb into it with you. Better yet, He is already there. How unusual for God to work in your life or in my life, but He does.