The Appearing of Christ and our waiting

Sermon outline Sunday 24/12/17 by Rev.Renny khoo

Topic :The Appearing of Christ and our waiting

Text : Titus 2:11-14

In Titus 2 :11-14 the scriptures tells us that there are two appearings of Christ.

One is called the appearing of Grace and the other is the appearing of Glory of our great God.

The appearing of Grace happens more than 2000 years ago when Christ first born to redeem us from our sins and enabled us to live godly lives and express our gratitudes with good works to fullness of life.

The appearing of His glory will be upon His return and second coming when He comes again to take us home to glory with Him.

In between the two Appearings there is a time of waiting for the Blessed Hope of what is to come.

While waiting for any results there is a time of hoping in anticipations just like anyone waiting for an examination results or any outcome of an event.So waiting =Hope.

In Hebrew the word YAKHAL =To wait for.

Example like Noah has to YAKHAL wait for weeks for the water to recede from the earth before he can find land or waiting for your spouse to come home.

The other Hebrew word QAVAH (to wait).It has a root word to carve or cord like measuring line in full accord with tensions.Its like a feeling of tension and anticipation while you are waiting.

This type of QAVAH or waiting can be found in Isaiah 40:31 while you wait upon the lord they will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles,run and not grow weary,walk and not be faint.

This type of waiting comes with anticipations and tensions.

When we wait with anticipations there is an element of hope.This waiting can be Passive or Active waiting for the hope to come.

YAKHAL likens to be a Passive waiting like Noah waiting till it happens not knowing what to happen or waiting for wife shopping till she finish.

QAVAH is Active waiting in anticipation with hope like waiting for wife shopping with tension of the exorbitant bills to come jokingly.

QAVAH waiting likens to Hope with tension and certainty , unlike the type of hope to see you with elements of uncertainty.This type of QAVAH waiting is with biblical certainty of Hope to come based on the person of Christ and not on circumstances which is very different from the worldly hope like optimism with uncertainty.

What are we waiting and how do we wait?

It is important to celebrate Advent four weeks before christmas arrives just to prepare ourselves.

Christmas reminds us that christ is coming back again the second time as we wait for Him.

In Hebrews 9:27-28 Just as man is destined to die once ,and after that to face judgment,so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time,not to bear sin,but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

In His second coming he will come to bring us salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Are we eagerly waiting for him knowing we are only passing through on this earth to our heavenly home in our last days .

At christmas we need to look back to remember what Christ has done for us and be grateful to count our blessings with gratitude.

Then we look forward with blessed hope and wait with joy QAVAH for his second coming to bring us to His eternal glory.

Questions:

1) Share /what/how do you understand hope from following verses ;Hebrew 6:10-12,      Thes2:16-17,Col 1;21-23,1Peter1;3, Rom15:4

2) What are experiences or somethings you are grateful for this year ?

3) Share your prayers for next year.