Series Introduction

Acts 1:9-11

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

I have appreciated Pastor Markle’s work on this series in part, as I said previously, because I have become convinced that prophetic teaching in Scripture is not primarily intended to give us a time-line of future events, but rather to motivate us to live today in a way that pleases the Lord.  I wanted to summarise this into a bullet-point list.

This listing of Pastor Markle’s points should serve two purposes.  First, the sheer volume of motivational instruction linked to prophecy in the New Testament provides, for me at least, a memorable demonstration of the need to apply prophetic teaching today.  May we never again approach prophetic Scriptures with a mindset of academic curiosity about future events, but rather with a humble desire to learn what God would have us do today.  Second, by putting the instructions into concise points, that which has been previously explained may sink into our hearts with an impact which differs from the way it teaches us as it is explained.

I have linked to each of the nine parts in the series in the list below, so that you can click through and read Pastor Markle’s thoughts on each point.  I have also added a new category for this series so you can click on the category and pull up each post in the series.

Without further ado, then, the motivational message of Christ’s return, from the New Testament:

The Promise of Christ’s Second Coming
Should Motivate Us To:

Part 1 (passages from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

Matthew 16:24-27

• Deny Ourselves
• Take up Our Cross Daily
• Follow Our Lord
• Lose Our Lives to be Lived for Him

Matthew 24:42-46

• Watch and be Ready for His Return
• Be Faithfully Doing His Service

Mark 8:34-38

• Lose Our Lives to be Lived for Him
• Lose Our Lives for the Gospel’s Sake
• Not be Ashamed of Him or of His Word

Mark 13:32-37

• Remain Faithful in Fervent Prayer
• Take Heed to Our Daily Walk
• Not Become Neglectful, Weary, or Faint in His Service

Luke 12:31-40

• Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
• Not Fear or Worry Over this Life’s Cares
• Lay Up Treasure in Heaven, not Treasure on Earth

Luke 21:34-36

• Take Heed Against Worldliness

John 14:1-3

• Not be Troubled at Trials and Tribulations
• Centre our Faith upon God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord

Part 2 (passages from Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians)

Acts 3:19-21

• Lost Sinners Should Repent and Receive Christ as Saviour

Romans 8:16-18

• Suffer Patiently for our Lord’s Sake in Service Without Wavering

Romans 13:11-14

• Cast off the Works of Spiritual Darkness
• Make no Provision to Fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh
• Put on the Armour of Spiritual Light
• Abide in our Lord Jesus Christ Throughout our Daily Walk

1 Corinthians 15:22-26; 51-58

• Be Steadfast and Unmovable in Service for the Lord
• Always Abound in the Work of the Lord
• Be Assured that Our Labour in and for the Lord is not in Vain

2 Corinthians 4:14-18

• Not Faint in Affliction
• Not Focus on Temporary Afflictions
• Focus on the Eternal Glory of the Life to Come

Part 3 (passages from Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians)

Ephesians 4:30

• Avoid Anything that Might Grieve the Indwelling Spirit of God

Philippians 3:17-21

• Follow the Example of Those who Live for Christ
• Follow Paul’s Example as Seen Elsewhere in Philippians 3
• Not Live for the Desires of Self
• Not Set our Mind upon Earthly Things

Colossians 3:1-15

• Set our Affection Above (Heavenly Things)
• Live for the Lord and His Purpose
• Put to Death Sinful Desires
• Put on the Righteous Characteristics of our Lord

Part 4 (1 Thessalonians)

1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

• Wait and Look for His Return by Serving Him
• Turn from the Ways of this World to Service for Christ
• Sound Out the Gospel to the Spiritually Lost
• Be Examples of Godliness and True Holiness

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20; 3:7-13

• As Leaders, Minister to Those for whom we have Responsibility
• Seek to Perfect their Faith
• Seek for them to “Stand Fast in the Lord”
• Seek that they might Increase in Love
• Seek that their Hearts might be Established in Holiness before God

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

• Be Comforted and Comfort One Another

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

• Live Spiritually Serious and Sober Lives
• Not be Drunken or Overcome by Earthy Pleasures
• Put on Faith and Love as a Spiritual Breastplate
• Put on Hope in God’s Promise as a Spiritual Helmet

Part 5 (2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus)

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12

• Rest in the Patience of Faith and Hope even Under Persecution
• Live now for the Glory of our Lord’s Holy Name

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

• Stand Fast in Obedience to the Truth and Teaching of our Lord

1 Timothy 6:11-16

• Flee the Ways of this World
• Follow the Ways of our Lord
• Fight the Good Fight of Faith

2 Timothy 4:1-8

• As Pastors, Preach the Word Faithfully
• Make Full Proof of our Ministry
• Guard against Temptation
• Endure Affliction without Weariness in Well Doing
• Faithfully do the Lord’s Work
• Fight the Good Fight of Faith, Finish our Course, and Keep the Faith

Titus 2:11-14

• Live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly, in this Present World
• Be “Zealous of Good Works” as our Lord’s “Peculiar People”

Part 6 (Hebrews and James)

Hebrews 10:24-25

• Stir up and Motivate One Another to Love and Good Works
• Motivate One Another to Godly Love and Godly Life
• Not Forsake Assembling Together
• Exhort One Another Daily to Listen to and Obey God’s Word

Hebrews 10:32-37

• Keep our Confidence in a Heavenly “Better and Enduring Substance”
• Endure with Patience the “Great Fight of Afflictions”
• Do God’s Will Faithfully

Hebrews 12:28-29

• Serve the Lord “with Reverence and Godly Fear”
• Depend on the Grace of the Lord in Service for Him

James 5:1-11

• Not Live for Material Things, Especially through Dishonesty
• Be Patient in Faithful Service
• Establish our Hearts in Assurance of Faith in our Lord’s Tender Mercy
• Suffer Affliction for Righteousness’ Sake with Endurance
• Not Hold Grudges Against One Another

Part 7 (1 Peter)

1 Peter 3:1-5

• Bless and Praise God our Heavenly Father with All our Heart and Soul

1 Peter 1:6-9

• Rejoice in Trials so our Faith will be to Praise, Honour, and Glory
• Love our Lord through Faithful Obedience
• Walk with our Lord through Joyful Faith

1 Peter 1:13-17

• Have our Hearts and Minds Established in Hope unto the End
• Walk as Obedient Children, Holy in all Behaviour
• Pass the Time of our Sojourning Here in Godly Fear

1 Peter 3:14-16

• Not be Afraid of Those who Persecute us for Righteousness’ Sake
• Be Happy in Persecution
• “Sanctify the Lord God” in our Hearts, Making Him our Priority
• Be Always Ready to Testify of Christ as the Reason for our Hope

1 Peter 4:12-13

• Rejoice in the Midst of Fiery Trials for Righteousness’ Sake

1 Peter 5:1-4

• As Pastors, Feed and Oversee God’s Flock with Godly Motives and Leadership

Part 8 (2 Peter)

2 Peter 1:5-11

• Diligently Increase in Virtue, Knowledge, Temperance, Patience, Godliness, Brotherly Kindness, and Charity

2 Peter 1:16-21

• Take Heed to God’s Word as “a Light that Shineth in a Dark Place”

2 Peter 3:1-9

• Beware False Teachers who Speak Against our Lord’s Coming
• Be Assured that our Lord’s Promise if Faithful, but He is Longsuffering to Sinners

2 Peter 3:10-14

• Live, not for this Life, but in Holiness and Godliness for the Life to Come

2 Peter 3:15-18

• Beware being Led Away by Error and Falling from Steadfastness
• Grow in the Grace of God and in Fellowship with our Lord and Saviour

Part 9 (1 John, Jude, and Revelation)

1 John 2:28-3:3

• Daily Abide in our Lord Jesus Christ
• Allow Him to Abide in Us
• Purify Ourselves Even as our Lord is Pure

Jude 1:14-25

• Not Follow the Ungodly Ways of Those Around Us
• Build up Ourselves Spiritually on our Holy Faith in the Lord
• Keep Ourselves in the Love of God through Praying Dependence on the Holy Spirit
• Seek with Compassion after the Salvation of Lost Souls

Revelation 1:4-7; 19:5-16

• Give Glory, Honour, and Praise to God our Father and Christ, our Saviour and Coming King

Revelation 22:7

• Walk in Obedience to the Commands of our Lord’s Word

Revelation 22:20-21

• Desire for His Coming unto the Glory of His Name