In the 1^st century AD, Paul wrote to the church at Rome, reminding them that the return of Jesus to remove them from the very presence of sin was closer than when they first believed in Him.

Our Savior is coming! Get ready!

Romans 13:¹⁰ Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. ¹¹And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. ¹²The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. ¹³Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. ¹⁴But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Where is your focus?

Are you watching = focus on Jesus

Are you wanting = focus on wants

Are you worrying = focus on needs

Are you ready?

Do you know these songs?

Coming Again – John Peterson, 1957

Marvelous message we bring, Glorious carol we sing,
Wonderful word of the King, Jesus is coming again!

Chorus
Coming again, Coming again, May be morning, may be noon,
May be evening and may be soon! Coming again, Coming again;
O what a wonderful day it will be -Jesus is coming again!

Forest and flower exclaim, Mountain and meadow the same,
All earth and heaven proclaim, Jesus is coming again!

Standing before Him at last, Trial and trouble all past,
Crowns at His feet we will cast, Jesus is coming again!

O the King is Coming by Charles Millhuff, Gloria Gaither, Willam J. Gaither

The marketplace is empty, No more traffic in the streets,
All the builders’ tools are silent, No more time to harvest wheat,
Busy housewives cease their labors, In the courtroom no debate,
Work on earth is all suspended As the King comes thro’ the gate.

O the King is coming, The King is coming!
I just heard the trumpets sounding, And now His face I see,
O the King is coming, The King is coming! Praise God, He’s coming for me!

Happy faces line the hallways, Those whose lives have been redeemed,
Broken homes that He has mended, Those from prison He has freed,
Little children and the aged Hand in hand stand all aglow,
Who were crippled, broken, ruined, Clad in garments white as snow.

O the King is coming, The King is coming!
I just heard the trumpets sounding, And now His face I see,

O the King is coming, The King is coming!
Praise God, He’s coming for me!

I can hear the chariots rumble, I can see the marching throng,
The flurry of God’s trumpets Spells the end of sin and wrong:
Regal robes are now unfolding, Heaven’s grandstand’s all in place,
Heaven’s choir now assembled, Start to sing “Amazing Grace!”

O the King is coming, The King is coming!
I just heard the trumpets sounding, And now His face I see,
O the King is coming, The King is coming!
Praise God, He’s coming for me!

John said it best in Revelation 22:²⁰ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. ²¹The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through  you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti