Full Measure 2021 Advent Celebration Day 6 December 3, 2021

Welcome Friends to The Full Measure’s Celebration of Advent 2021

ADVENT CELEBRATION DAY 6

Wednesday, December 3, 2021

Scripture Reading: Luke 21:25-36

Reader: Ms. Betty L. Smith 

THEME: Week 1 of Advent, is HOPE 

CANDLES: Light one purple candle for each reading The Hope Candle from Day 1 through Day 7.

Luke 21: 25-36 NIV

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and 

great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

READING:

Hear ye, hear ye hear ye! This may be the end of time.

These may be the last days!

Time may be up.

2 Timothy 3

The Message

Difficult Times Ahead

3 1-5 Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.

Signs in the heavens

Signs in the earth

Signs in the people and in their behaviors.

These may be the last days.

Or not!

The truth of the matter is there have been wars since Cain and Abel. The Revolutionary War, the Spanish Mexican War, the Civil War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Crimean War, the Boar Wars, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War the Iraq War. American thought the world was ending with 911.  

Men and women’s heart failed during Katrina, Columbine, Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook.  

Mr. Floyd’s death and those of others whose cause of death was “being Black” have been experienced in the Montgomery, Birmingham, Mississippi, the Belgian Congo rubber fields, Mother Emanuel, in the 1800’s, 1900, ‘20’s,‘30’s 40’s 50’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s. 

Natural and man-made disasters have occurred since the days of Noah and leperosy, the bubonic plaque, the flu, polio have threatened human existence in ages past.

So why does this feel different?

Our idols are crumbling

Religion

Education

Democracy

Communism

Capitalism

The bigger they are the Harder they Fall.

But the truth is not one single human being knows the day or the hour when time will be no more.  

When Jesus will return to rule over the earth.  God has not revealed this time.

So, what is a human to do?

Occupy until Jesus returns, until we see Jesus descend on a cloud, we are to trade and profit on the investment that God has made in us, the Church of the Living God, the pillar, and the ground---the foundation of the truth.

We are not to be self-absorb, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. partying, and drinking our way through pandemics and pandemonium.  

Instead, the Church will continue to be the Church, singing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in our hearts, praying without ceasing, waiting patiently and laboring tirelessly. 

Apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, evangelists will edify the body equipping the church to do the work of ministry, so that each joint is fitly supplied.    The Church is being all things to all people that some might be saved. We are those laying up treasures in heaven, and visiting the sick and imprisoned, clothing the naked and feeding the hungry ministering to the least of these, who bear the image of our soon coming Savior and King.

The fields are ripe for harvests. And those of us who know Jesus as savior, are growing up into the full stature of Christ, going from glory to glory, Christ in us the hope of glory. Until the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of our Lord’s Christ.

Prayer:

Oh, God everything that can be shaken is being shaken, so that we can receive your kingdom, which is unshakeable.  As signs manifest themselves in the heaven, the earth and in humanity, help us to trust in your word, which shall not pass away.  Help us oh God to keep our eyes on you.  Help us to hope in the you for the new heaven and new earth.  Help us to relish in the fact that the kingdom of God is within us and eternal life begins now for those who have hope and faith in you and your Righteous and just Savior, Jesus. Lord, we love you, we worship you, we put our trust in you.  Amen!