Times and Seasons at Day of the Lord

The point: Recognize when you need facts to resolve emotional problems versus when you need exhortation to act on existing knowledge.

Paul doesn't exhort sorrowful, ignorant people to 'lift themselves up by their bootstraps'; instead, he provides facts, which then resolve their sorrow. This illustrates the power of doctrinal truth.

Now there's a tremendous principle involved in the different way the apostle handled these two sections. If people are sorry because they are ignorant of Christian doctrine, Paul does not come and exhort them, get over your sorrow, get out of it, lift yourself up by the bootstraps. No, he pours in facts and as though then the facts will lift them from their sorrow. However, where they have facts, he says, ye know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief.

7:34 - 8:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize when you need facts to resolve emotional problems versus when you need exhortation to act on existing knowledge.

When people have facts but need to act, Paul doesn't give more facts but 'gets behind them and pushes them with the impetus of exhortation,' illustrating the role of practical preaching.

These people don't need more information. The thing they need to get them moving is exhortation and so the apostle does not come with more facts, but rather he comes and seeks to get behind them and push them with the impetus of exhortation. Now any effective communication of the truth of God to men will remember this distinction. There are times when as a believer you don't need to go to those passages that exhort you to activity.

8:12 - 8:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Wisely administer both instruction (facts) and discipline (the rod) to your children, discerning which is needed at a given time.

Parents need to know when to instruct children with facts and when to 'swat in the britches' to enforce known duties, illustrating the balance of teaching and discipline.

Well, you see, either of these extremes is an unscriptural imbalance. And this is what we need in our own development. You parents, you need to recognize this in your relationship to your children. There are times when you need to sit down and give them some facts.

9:53 - 10:12 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have enough facts about the gospel, repent and flee the wrath to come, laying hold of Christ.

Some unbelievers have 'enough facts about the gospel to sink a battleship' but need exhortation to repent, illustrating that knowledge alone is not salvation.

There are some people who don't need to know one more fact about the Christian faith. They need to be warned through the wrath to come. We need to plead for the reconciled to God. Some of you here this morning, you've got enough facts about the gospel to sink a battle.

10:44 - 10:58 Read in full sermon

The point: When witnessing, discern if people need to be exhorted to repent or if they first need to be given the great facts of the Christian faith.

In a biblically illiterate age, simply telling people to 'repent' or 'believe' is insufficient; they need the facts of the Christian faith, illustrating the need for doctrinal content in evangelism.

However, many times, especially in our day where there's been such a paucity of biblical knowledge to tell people, repent, repent, repent, believe, believe, believe. They say, repent of what? Believe on what? And they need to be given the great facts of the Christian faith.

11:07 - 11:25 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The day of the Lord generally any eminent manifestation of God in works of mercy and judgment specifically the climactic manifestation of judgment and mercy at the second coming of Christ

The deliverance from Egypt, judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, and the flood in Noah's day are given as 'little previews' of the great, final Day of the Lord, illustrating partial manifestations of God's character.

is more and more focused upon the return of Christ and that return is called by the various terms the day of Christ the day of our Lord the day of God the day of the Lord Jesus Christ sometimes simply called the day 1 Corinthians 3 and verse 13 what can we say then in conclusion that the day of the Lord generally any eminent manifestation of God in works of mercy and judgment specifically the climactic manifestation of judgment and mercy at the second coming of Christ the climactic manifestation of judgment and mercy at the second coming of Christ there have been many comings of the Lord in th...

28:38 - 30:03 Read in full sermon

The point: If you are not joined to Jesus Christ, be convinced that the Day of the Lord is coming and will bring sudden destruction from which there is no escape.

The sudden destruction for the unconverted is compared to a woman suddenly gripped with birth pangs, illustrating the unexpected and inescapable nature of judgment.

that not only is that day coming but coming with suddenness and unexpectedness next week we shall see how the apostle relates this to the unconverted for when they shall say see those on the outside those who are strangers to grace when they shall say peace and safety sudden destruction cometh upon them the day of the Lord will be a manifestation of judgment catching them unawares verse 4 but you brethren are not in darkness though that day will come as a thief in the night it will not catch you as a thief for you will be found in expectation and in preparation but whether it's a day of unwant...

41:48 - 43:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Take seriously the exhortations against spiritual drunkenness and slumbering, living with your heart cleaned up and ready for Christ's unexpected return.

If Christ's return at 3 PM were known, people would do 'pretty quick last minute cleaning up' of their hearts, illustrating the urgency of living in readiness.

that's the analogy that he uses this is a sobering thing God willing next week we shall focus our entire time upon verse 3 but I have no assurance that I shall be here to expound the passage and to give the gospel appeal to flee to Christ to repent and to be found hidden in the Savior I say to you dear child of God if you really believe that day shall come as a thief you will take seriously the exhortations here against spiritual drunkenness and spiritual slumbering for certainly if I could by some prophetic utterance make known to you that the Lord Jesus were to come at 3 o'clock this afterno...

43:13 - 44:43 Read in full sermon