The Coming of the Lord

Gtcotr/ss072025 

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (NKJV)  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 

2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 

The scriptures consistently encourage us to put our hope in the coming of the Lord to deliver, rescue and save us during the night times of this life. In both the Old Testament times of the Patriarchs and the New Testament accounts of the disciples, help from the hand of God comes when we need it most and often when we least expect it.  

One day while sitting on the Mount of Olives with Jesus, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus a direct question about the last days and what would be the sign of His coming. Jesus gave His memorable discourse as recorded in Mark 13 saying you shall hear of: 

• · Wars and rumors of wars 
  
• · Nation will rise against nation 
  
• · Earthquakes in various places 
  
• · Famines 
  
• · Troubles 
  
• · Persecutions 
  
• · Brother against brother 
  
• · Father against son 
  
• · Children against parents 
  
• · Worldwide hatred of Christianity 
  

But none of these things mark the end Jesus said. Rather these are only the beginning of sorrows for an ungodly world driven by lust, greed, power and prominence. Truly, the love of money is the root of all evil.  

What else can we expect from a world without God. 

Mark 13:20 (NKJV)  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 

We live in extreme times. The prophecies of the Bible are unfolding right before our eyes … literally! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we have a front row seat to what is happening around the world via the world wide web. Our phones, our watches, our workstations, and even our eyeglasses have all become giant screen televisions keeping us constantly informed on the latest news, sports, entertainment, and the financial markets of the world.  

Artificial intelligence gives us access to research, writes proposals, teaches university courses, pilots commercial jets, manages financial portfolios, prescribes medicine, and gives advice on everything from religion to raising vegetables. The next world war will be more like a video game than an armed conflict between human combatants.  

On the one hand the future of the world is as bright as it has ever been and on the other hand things have never been darker. Just in the last 100 years, men and women have moved the world within one decision of total destruction. Today man possesses the ability to destroy all life as we know it. We have also moved ourselves into a deep spiritual darkness. We cannot continue on this path. Our only hope is in Christ. 

Mark 13:35 Watch therefore: for you know not when the master of the house comes, at evening, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 

Jesus has made it very clear that we do not know and cannot predict the end, but we do know He will come to save us in a time of darkness, when perhaps we least expect. This verse, Mark 13:35, speaks of the 4 Roman Night Watches.  

• · 1st Night Watch = The Evening – 6pm until 9pm 
  
• · 2nd Night Watch = Midnight – 9pm until 12am Midnight 
  
• · 3rd Night Watch = Cockcrowing – 12am until 3am 
  
• · 4th Night Watch = Morning – 3am until 6am 

Turn with me to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, where we can see a life parallel, an overlay if you will, of the coming of the Lord. 

Matthew 14 – The setting: 

• · Jesus and His disciples had just finished feeding more than 5000 people with only 3 fishes and 5 barley loaves. 12 baskets full of fish and bread were left over after the miracle Jesus performed that day.  
  
• · Jesus was tired and burdened by the death of John the Baptist and He really wanted to be alone. (vs. 10 - 13) 
  
• · But when He saw the multitudes, He had compassion on them and gave them His attention. He healed and fed them all. 
  
• · After Jesus met their immediate needs, (which were only temporary needs), He wanted to spend time with His Father and talk to Him. So, Jesus sent His disciples and the multitudes away.  
  

Matthew 14 NKJV 

22  Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 

23  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 

• · The 1st Nightwatch = Evening – 6pm until 9pm 
  

24  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

• · By 6pm Jesus was already alone in prayer and the disciples were in the middle of their journey and caught in a storm. 
  

25  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 

• · The 4th Watch of the Night = The Morning Watch – 3am until 6am 
  

Bless these boys’ heart … the disciples, having obeyed Jesus, they were doing exactly what He said, right in the middle of God’s will, and they had been rowing hard, but they were stuck in a storm for at least 9 hours while Jesus was praying on a mountain top spending time with His Father.  

The distance across the Sea of Galilee at that point is only about 4 miles and it could have been sailed or rowed easily in an hour. Yet, they were 

only about halfway. Don’t you know they were all tired, troubled, and afraid. 

Right when they least expected it, in their nighttime, perhaps the darkest part of their journey, Jesus came walking on the water. It seemed too good to be true.  

Here comes Jesus … but … the storm was not over yet! 

Matthew 14 NKJV 

26  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 

27  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 

28  And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 

29  So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 

The storm was still raging but they saw Jesus! 

Perhaps your storm is raging or maybe you have experienced some dark times of life. You can be right in the middle of God’s will, doing exactly what God wants, and yet the storms rage against you.  

This passage is a picture showing us what we can do when storms arise in our lives and we grow tired, troubled or afraid.  

• 1. Open your ears to the voice of God.  
  
• a. They heard His voice. 
  
• b. Jesus is always saying, “Take courage. Do not be afraid.” 
  
• c. He will never say “I don’t know what you can do …” 
  
• d. The Word of God will always bring us comfort and direction. 
  
• 2. Ask Him for a miracle. 
  
• a. If this is really You Lord, show me something impossible … 
  
• b. Ask me to do something I cannot possibly do without you … 
  
• c. Give me the miracle I am asking for. 
  
• 3. Take a step of faith. 

• a. Get out of the boat … 
  
• b. Take a bold and courageous step … 
  
• c. Remember, the storm is still raging … you are however no longer limited by tiredness, trouble or fear … 
  
• d. You have the promise and the presence of the Son of God. 
  
• 4. Keep your eyes on Jesus! 
  
• a. Which is something Peter failed to do … 
  
• b. Peter got distracted by the storm and became afraid again. 
  
• c. Fear wants to get in the way of your miracle. 
  

Matthew 14 NKJV 

30  But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 

31  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

• · Doubt = Distazo (Gk) – Think twice; have second thoughts. 
  
• · Get your eyes off of Jesus and entertain second thoughts and you will begin to sink. 
  
• · But he cried out to Jesus … “save me!”  
  
• · Immediately Jesus lifted him up! 
  

32  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 

33  Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” 

This is a picture of Jesus coming again to put and end to the storms of this world and save His followers. One day the wind will cease and those in the boat will worship Jesus forever declaring “Truly You are the Son of God!” 

What would you ask God for if you believed He would do it? We are in a year of miracles. Most likely you are already walking on water. Realistically, we are already in the biggest miracle of our lives. We have been saved and are on our way to eternal life … what shall we fear?  

Open your ears to the Word of God; Ask God for a miracle; Take a step of faith; and Keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus is coming!

ENTRUSTED PART I - ENTRUSTED WITH THE GOSPEL

Recap from the intro of this series: 

• - Entrust = To assign the responsibility of something valuable to someone in confidence 
  
• - God has entrusted us things that which He considers valuable 
  
• - We looked at the parable of the Talents learned a few things about stewardship. 
  
• - God owns everything (The master owned the entire property in the parable). The first step in stewardship is understanding that everything belongs to God. 
  
• - We are stewards of what God has given us (the talents of gold the servants had were given to them by the master). What God has given us God considers valuable.  
  
• - God expects a return (the master received a report from each servant when he returned). God expects for us to be faithful with what He has given us and not do nothing out of fear. 
  
• - What we do with what we have been given matters.  
  

Part I - The Most Valuable Message Ever Entrusted 

When someone gives you something valuable, they do so because they trust you. Think about it—babysitting someone’s child, holding someone’s wallet or purse, driving someone else’s car—all of these require trust. 

Now imagine this: God has entrusted you with the most powerful message in the world—that is the gospel. 

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 — “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” 

That means the gospel isn’t just something we believe. It’s something we are called to steward. It’s not just something we hear. It’s something we pass on.

We aren’t the owners of the gospel—we’re the managers of it. God has placed it in our hands with purpose and expectation. 

And what we do with it—how we handle it, live it, and share it—matters deeply to God. 

We are called to “steward” the gospel. Paul the apostle considered himself a steward of the gospel. So the question is, what is a steward? 

Steward = Someone entrusted with managing what belongs to someone else

Paul saw himself as a steward of the gospel. He expected other people to see him that way as well. He believed he was called to manage the good news about Christ. He held himself accountable and held himself to a higher standard because of the gospel of Christ. He regarded it as the most valuable thing that he possessed in His life. In fact, he regarded it as the most important thing in his life as well. There was nothing more important to Paul, than the gospel. That is saying a lot! 

What is the gospel? 

So, what is the gospel? 

Gospel = Good News 

Good News = Through Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, God offers forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and restored relationship with Him to all who believe. 

Why is the Gospel Important?

• - Because it is the only message that can save.  
  
• - The gospel is the power of God to salvation that brings forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life through Jesus Christ.  
  
• - Without it, people are lost. 

Who is it Important To?

• - It is important to everyone! 
  
• - The gospel is not limited by age, background, race, or status.  

• - Every person needs it because every soul matters to God. 
  

Why Are We Called to Steward It? 

• - Because God chose us to carry the message.  
  
• - We are His messengers. We are called to be the beautiful feet who bring the message of salvation to all. 
  
• - He has entrusted it to us—not to keep it to ourselves, but to share it with the world. 

How do we steward the gospel? 

As stewards we are called to… 

• 1. Preach the Gospel 
  Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”
  
  The gospel isn’t just something we believe—it is a message. And we as stewards have the responsibility to deliver the message that we have been entrusted with. 
  
  Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel. That tells us something: there’s a real temptation to hide it. To shrink back. To go silent in a culture that does not make room for Jesus. It is easy to allow the message of the cross to be something that fades into the background. 
  
  But when we preach the gospel—boldly and clearly—we’re giving people access to the power of God for salvation. The same power that transformed our lives! 
  
  You don’t have to be a preacher or stand on stage to preach the gospel. You can share it: 
  
• • With a friend over coffee 
  
• • When you are spending time with a family member 
  
• • In a text, a post, or a testimony 
  
  You don’t have to be perfect to preach the Gospel—you just have to be faithful with it.

• 
  
• 2. Live the Gospel 
  Philippians 1:27 — “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel”
  
  My youth pastor used to tell me, “your life is often the first “sermon” people hear. 
  
  Paul tells the Philippians that our manner of life should match the message we carry. In other words, if we say we’ve been transformed by the gospel, our lives should show it. 
  
  Living out the gospel means: 
  
• • Walking in humility and grace 
  
• • To forgive as we’ve been forgiven 
  
• • To love people, even when it’s hard 
  
• • That our words and our actions line up with God’s Word 
  
• • It will be seen in our fruit 
  
  The way we live validates the message we preach.
  
• • When our lives reflect Christ, people are more likely to receive our words about Him. 
  
  
  
• 3. Preserve the Gospel 
  2 Timothy 2:2 — “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” 
  
  The gospel must be preached, it must be lived, and it must be passed on. 
  
  Timothy taught passed on the message of the gospel, who then passed it on to others. We are part of a long line of faithful Christians who stewarded this message before us. Paul tells Timothy to entrust it to faithful people—which means this message is meant to outlive us. 

• 
  Preserving the gospel doesn’t mean changing it or modernizing it to fit culture (which some have done).  
  
  It means:
  
• • Keeping it centered on Christ 
  
• • Guarding it from distortion 
  
• • Sharing it with clarity and conviction 
  
• • Discipling the next generation to carry it further 
  
  We as stewards to be “bridge-builders” between our generation and the next. Let us make sure the gospel doesn’t stop with us.
  

Takeaways 

• 1. We have been entrusted with the most powerful message on earth 
  
  
• 2. Do not be ashamed of the gospel 
  
  
• 3. Let your life reflect the Good News of Christ 
  
  
• 4. Pass it on to others as it was passed on to you

Entrusted Intro: What You Do Matters

We are beginning a new sermon series here in the first service entitled, “Entrusted.” We are going to be looking at how we can be faithful with what God has placed in our hands. More specifically, we will be looking at 4 areas of our life that God has entrusted to us to be faithful with. 

Word Study 

What does the word “entrusted” mean? 

Entrusted = To assign the responsibility of something valuable to someone in confidence 

• • The word entrusted implies ownership by someone else, but a delegation of responsibility to another. 
  
  
• • It also implies relationship: someone trusts you enough to place something important in your care. 
  

Oikonomos = Steward, manager, one entrusted with the care of a household 

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 

“This is how one should regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards (οἰκονόμοι) of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” 

One day, we all want to hear those famous seven words, “Well done My good and faithful servant.” In order to hear those words, we have to be found faithful on this side of heaven. 

Parable of the Talents 

Matthew 25:14-19 

“14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded 

with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.” 

Summary of Matthew 25:20-30… 

What we learn from this text: 

• 1. The Master owns everything
  
  v14 — “It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.”
  
  The talents that were given to them didn’t belong to them—they belonged to the master. 
  The Master in this story is God. The servants are us. The talents represent the things that God has entrusted to us.  
  
  The first step in stewardship is understanding that everything belongs to God. He owns everything. That means the things we have do not belong to us. Nothing belongs to us, it all belongs to God. If we want to be faithful stewards, then this is the place we have to begin. 
  
  
  
• 2. We are stewards of what God has entrusted to us
  
  v15 — “To one he gave five…to another two…to another one…each according to his ability.”
  
  The master gave each of the servants talents. That means that they did not own them. The talents didn’t belong to them. Instead, they were given to them by their master. 
  
  In the same way, God has entrusted to us that which He considers valuable. Some may have more than others. However, it is less about how much you have and more about what you do with what you’ve been given. 
  
  Steward = Someone entrusted with managing what belongs to someone else

• 
  We are called to faithfully manage that which God has entrusted us with. 
  
  
  
• 3. God expects a return
  
  v19 — “Now after a long time the master came and settled accounts…”
  
  When the master returned, he received a report from each servant on what they did with what they were given. Each of them gave a report as to what they did with what they master gave them. The master was expecting a return. 
  
  One day, Jesus will return. We will all give an account to what we have done with what we have been given. God has entrusted you with what He considers valuable. However, He expects a return on what He has given you. Why? Because God is building His kingdom. The return that He is looking for is not carnal, but eternal. 
  
  
  
• 4. What you do with what you have been given matters to God
  
  After hearing the report of each servant of what they did with what was entrusted to them, he responds accordingly. He rejoices with the first two servants and rewards them for their diligence and faithfulness. However, he was disappointed with the last servant for doing nothing with what he had been given. It is clear that the master cared about what was done with what he had given. 
  
  Similarly, God cares about what we do with what we have been given. It matters to Him what we do with what He has entrusted to us. What you do with what you have been given matters to God. 
  
  Why? Because stewardship is more than just about responsibility—it’s more about relationship. It reveals how we see God. The first two servants clearly trusted their master. What they had was not about themselves or about what they could get back. Instead, it was about their master. They wanted to give something back to him because the master was deserving. 
  
  

What we do with what we have been given shows what we believe. It shows whether we truly trust God or not. If we love God, we will want to honor Him by being faithful with what He has given us. 

Question: What are you doing with what God has given you? 

God is not asking you to do what someone else can do. He is asking you to be faithful with what He gave you. 

Four areas God has entrusted us with: 

• • Influence 
  
• • The Gospel 
  
• • Resources 
  
• • Relationships 

Takeaways 

• I. Everything Belongs to God 
  
  
• II. We are called to be stewards 
  
  
• III. What you do with what you have been given matters

The 5 Powerful Prayers of Paul

Gtcotr/ws070225 

The faith-filled matriarchs and patriarchs of the Bible all had one thing in common … they prayed powerful prayers. It has been said that Jesus Himself went from the place of prayer to the place of prayer and in between He did miracles. In the best of times and in the worst of times, we read that King David was always talking to God.  

Women like Hannah, Jochebed, Esther, Rahab, Deborah, Martha and even Mary, mother of Jesus, were God-fearing faithful servants who only wanted to know what God wanted them to do. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Noah, Moses, Solomon, Peter, James, and John also experienced the power of prayer.  

After watching Jesus heal the sick and cast out demons, the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray like John the Baptist had taught his followers. Jesus gave them a template to use as their guideline to ensure they covered all of the important bases when they came before God in prayer. We all know it as The Model Prayer of Jesus. 

“Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen”

This is the perfect model prayer we can use to pray for ourselves. But what about when we want to pray for others? 

When God saved Saul of Tarsus, who we know as the Apostle Paul, He called him to be a special messenger to the Gentiles. Much of the New Testament follows the ministry of Paul as he went from city to city preaching and teaching and writing letters under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit, expounding on the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout much of the Gentile world of that day.  

We are fortunate that God moved His hand and by His divine grace preserved many of Paul’s writings so that we continue to have access to them today. In fact, the world has more access to the Holy Scriptures today than ever before in history, including the days in which they were written. We live in a marvelous time for the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The knowledge of the glory of God covers the earth as the waters cover the sea. There is virtually nowhere in the world that can escape the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. People everywhere want to know and can get their hands on the Bible and hear amazing expository preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

One of the reasons why I am writing these notes this evening, just prior to leaving for East Africa in our efforts to expand the Kingdom of God, is so that the thousands of people who search the internet daily will have access to one more opportunity to hear a Word from the Bible. Last month, June 2025, one of our websites where I post a copy of my sermon notes (www.ezsermons.com) was accessed over 33,000 times from countries all around the globe. People are hungry for the Word and for material to share with others. 

This evening I want to simply share something I first studied for myself and preached on in 1980. I had initially heard about these prayers from my pastor, Pastor Dale Burris in a little Baptist Church in Albuquerque, NM, on the 10th of January, 1979. I took notes and wrote them in the back of the Bible my mom had given me. I wrote those notes in pencil and they are almost faded now.  

Pastor Dale only expounded on one of the prayers, which will be our fourth to mention tonight, but he alluded to there being 5 powerful prayers in all. So, tonight’s message is entitled: The 5 Powerful Prayers of Paul. I hope to share a template, not a formula, but a simple example of how you too might pray for those you love and care about. With that in mind, let’s dig in: 

The 5 Powerful Prayers of Paul 

• 1. Enlightenment 
  
• · The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation … 
  
• · To understand the inheritance we have in Christ. 

• ·To know and experience power of God in our lives. 

Ephesians 1  NKJV 

15 ¶  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 

16  do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 

17  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 

18  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 

19  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power … 

• 2. Supernatural Strength 
  
• · That is rooted and grounded in love. 
  
• · And be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Ephesians 3  NKJV 

14 ¶  For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

15  from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 

16  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 

17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 

18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height —  

19  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

• 3. Character  
  
• · Filled With the Fruits of Righteousness  
  
• · So that you may be a person with Character … God’s character 
  
• · And keep on growing, discerning things that are excellent. 
  
• · And be sincere and without offense. 
  
• · Character is who you are when no one is looking 

Philippians 1  NKJV 

9 ¶  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 

10  that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 

11  being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 

• 4. Patient – Joyful – Thankful  
  
• · The very reason we are filled with knowledge and wisdom and spiritual understanding … 
  
• · The very reason we are people of character, righteous before God, walking worthy, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in good words … 
  
• · The very reason why we are given supernatural strength and given access to His glorious power … 
  
• · Is so that we can be patient, joyful and thankful for the inheritance we have in Christ. 

Colossians 1  NKJV 

9 ¶  For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 

10  that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 

11  strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 

12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 

• 5. Glorification 
  
• · According to the grace and the calling of God on your life … 
  
• · May Jesus be glorified in you … 
  
• · And may you be glorified in Him. 

2 Thessalonians 1  NKJV 

11 ¶  Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 

12  that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

These prayers represent the heart of God shining through the heart and hopes of the Apostle Paul, a special messenger to the people around him. I pray you too develop a heart of God towards those to whom God has called you. When you pray for others, those in your family, workplace, church, community or those you’ve never yet met around the world in far away places, open your Bible to one or more of these special prayers prayed by Paul and follow along with him and his heart as you pray. 

The model prayer Jesus taught is how we pray for ourselves … these prayers of Paul are how we can pray for others. Why not? It’s nothing short of a Holy Spirit template for us to follow.