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9/5/10 - Today I visited The Central Baptist Church in FWB, FL
This new church was built as an addition to the original structure and
completed last year.
At the service I met Pastor Kevin R. Davidson and his proud Dad who
introduced me during the Visitor Greeting segment. Everyone was very cordial.
The music was great: There is Music Minister Johnny O'Quinn conducting from
the pulpit below and Pastor Davidson sitting to his right, getting ready to
preach the word!
About fifty enthusiastic parishioners attended.
 < MUSIC VIDEOS
THE MESSAGE:
" Be Ready."
(A summary, adapted & edited from the sermon given
9/5/2010 by Dr. Kevin R. Davidson at Central Baptist
Church, in Fort Walton Beach, FL; referencing Matt. 24:32-51).
More than 2000 years ago Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins. ("I
accept!" said Pastor Davidson). After remaining in the tomb for three days He
arose and appeared to many people. Later He gave the Great Commission
to go forth and teach the Word. Then He ascended into Heaven. He told the
Disciples, and He tells us today, that He will come back.
So we sit here this morning awaiting His return. We are listening for that
Trumpet - I don't know exactly how it will sound. It would be great to be alive
then, wouldn't it? For all who are alive and saved will ascend with Him!
So it is that we go about our daily work awaiting His return. I
guarantee you He will return to get His children. It will happen in the
twinkling of an eye and we will meet Him in the air. This fact changes what we
do daily, every moment: We must be ready!
The text today warns us to be ready. You know the Hymn:
"There's a great day coming by and by ... when Saints and sinners will be
parted." Are you ready? Matthew 24:32 teaches us the lesson of the fig tree. "As
soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is
near." But, Matt. 24:36 warns us - "no one knows the day or the hour" of the coming of
The Lord!
Meantime, it will be like the days of Noah up until the flood: Do not expect
a warning. There will be two in the
field (verse 40); one will be taken and one left. We do not know the hour, so be
ready. (And read on with me through verses 45-49). Blessed is the servant that
the master shall find faithfully waiting.
Note that here in Matthew 24, Jesus is NOT talking about the second coming.
This is a reference to "Pre-tribulation" times when Jesus will come and take His
children away in the Rapture, before the seven years of tribulation. Then AFTER
the tribulation, Jesus will return to finally establish His Kingdom. We
can look for clues to the second coming by identifying the tribulation leading up to
it. But there are no clues to the Rapture, which precedes those events.
However there are some hints to the Rapture in Noah if we read those verses
carefully. Noah kept two of all the
animals and his family in the Ark before the flood. But no one else entered.
They were all too busy doing their own thing. They made their own
decisions. It was said that in those times, everyone did "what was right in
their own eyes." Does that sound familiar? It sounds a lot like today! Maybe
that's a clue to the
forthcoming Rapture.
In the days of Noah, everyone was too busy with their own ideas when the
flood came upon them. When they realized their peril, it was too late. They
didn't make the boat. Similarly, at the Rapture some will be taken and some won't. So today, the
decisions we make will be critical.
FIRST (to prepare for the Rapture): Everyone needs to be born again. Remember
that you don't know the hour of the coming of your Lord. Realize that sinless
God-In-The-Flesh, Jesus Christ, came to pay our debts for us. Few will find this
gate to salvation. Aren't we lucky that we know the route to salvation; that we
recognize the need to be born again?
SECOND (to be ready for the Rapture): We must be separated. For
there is a difference between Christians & "The World". What does this mean? Do
not be a hypocrite like the Pharisees. It's not about appearances. Do not be
"Whitewashed sepulchers ... hypocrites ... vipers" This is not about portraying
"Religion" to the world. For "Religion" is all about looking the part with
nothing inside.
On the other hand, if your heart and your walk are right then you will dress
right. You need to "show the signs, bear the marks." You should banish strife
and discord from your life and forgive. We are children of God. So we, like God,
must forgive. Be separated from evil (and never forget that we live in an evil
society). We must banish the greatest spiritual challenges to believers:
Materialism, pride, self-centeredness, laziness, anger, bitterness, lust, envy &
gluttony.
Because Christ can return at any time we must remain alert and focused on
Him; and care for others. So serve Christ. Remember that the only place where
success comes before work is in the dictionary!
Therefore work hard at perfecting the Christian life; get saved and be
seperated ... and watch for His
coming.
Amen
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACIOUS
SUPPORT!
- CONTACT DATA
- Telephone
- (850) 225-7228
- Postal address
- 265 Country Club Rd., Shalimar, FL 32579
- Electronic mail
- E-Mail: dr.Escoffery@SenateBill.US
- WEB-SITE: http://www.senateBill.us/
- Webmaster: dr.Escoffery@SenateBill.US
WILLIAM ESCOFFERY III,
Candidate, U.S. SENATE, FL
2010
(NOTE: I want to emphasize that, pursuant to the relevant campaign
prohibitions, none of the churches, Pastors nor parishioners in their official
church capacities ~ referenced or pictured herein ~ officially
support my political candidacy).
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