Please be turning to Matt ch16. The title of our lesson this morning is…
Some folks do a better job at that than others.
You’ve perhaps heard some of these anecdotes / quotations…
In 1943, Thomas Watson, the chairman of IBM, said, "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
In 1949, the Popular Mechanics magazine was giving its forecast of the progression of science and technology.
It said, "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
In 1981, Bill Gates said, "640K ought to be enough for anybody."
In 1965, a guy named Fred Smith turned in a term paper to his professor at Yale University. He got a C on the paper, and the professor said, "The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn better than a 'C,' the idea must be feasible." The paper was about the possibility of a reliable overnight delivery service, and Smith went on to found Federal Express.
As I said, some people do a better job than others at reading signs of the future and knowing what is to come.
Matthew 16:1 This is one of those occasions where the
Pharisees were trying to test Jesus. They asked Him for a sign from heaven, hoping to discredit Him somehow.
You will notice on this particular occasion the
Sadducees have joined forces with the Pharisees.
These two groups normally opposed each other, but they came together on this occasion because they had something in common: they both were opposed to Jesus.
 Jesus responded in v2-3…
They could predict the future regarding weather fairly well, but they weren’t doing well at all at understanding all the signs that had been given them concerning Christ the Messiah.
The prophets had foretold His coming. John the Baptist had told of His coming. Jesus Himself was preaching and even performing miracles that demonstrated who He was.
But still so many people remained ignorant of the times in which they lived, and they were ignorant of what was about to happen in their future.
This morning, I want for us to think about what is going to happen to in our future .
Obviously we don’t know about everything that may happen in the future. But there are a few things about which I am most confident, and we all should be.
There are some things that we can know – without a doubt – that God will do in the future. And I want to remind you about some of those things…
1. Things We Can Know… that the Lord will continue to Save!
Our Lord still longs to bring people into a saved relationship with Him.
 John 3:14-17 (Nicodemus came to Jesus “born again”)
 John 12:44-47 (Jesus spoke again why He came)

Luke 19:10 “The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful/trustworthy saying, and it deserves full acceptance, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness; but He is patient toward us, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

Luke 14 In Christ’s parable of the great supper, the servant went into the streets of the city and brought back many people. But then he reported back to his master, “Lord, it is done as you have commanded, and yet still there is room for more.”
God is still God of abundant love + amazing grace.
There is still room for more in Family of God! And certainly we know there is still plenty of room in this church family for many more to come to
Christ!
2. Things We Can Know… that the Lord will continue to Lead!
So many people today don't know what to do or where to turn to / to go. Even we as Christians sometimes seem to have trouble finding our way.
But it shouldn’t be like that.
We should never despair.
We have been given by God so much to help up find our way. Two really big things…
First, God has given us the marvelous gift of the Holy
Spirit to help lead us in the way we should go.
Acts 2:38 Peter said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.”

In Romans 8:14-15, Paul said we have received a spirit of adoption as children of God, and that means we are going to be led by His Holy Spirit.
 John 14:16-18 (Jesus had told His disciples He was going to leave)
 John 16:5-7 I love “advantage” – surely intends HS to be great blessing
When you let God wash away your sins and put you into Christ, He puts into you His Holy Spirit. He is there to help us, to strengthen us, and to lead us in the way God would have us to go.
Second, God has also given us the marvelous gift of
Scripture to help lead us in the way we should go.

[Look at holding in hand] The Psalmist said God’s word is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.

Apostle Paul said that Scripture, the sacred writings from God, are profitable for so many things, and they help us to be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
3. Things We Can Know… that the Lord will continue to Bless!
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Let me say this: I really believe when we determine to live for God according to His ways, that is when our lives will truly be greatly blessed! God’s way is the best way. Following His commands makes life the best it can be.

Titus 3:8 The teachings of God “are good and profitable for men.”

1 Timothy 4:8 “Godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for this present life and the one which is to come.”
 John 15:11
 John 10:7-10
4. Things We Can Know… Lord will come again to take us home!
 John 14:1-3 (talked about this great event last week)
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
 2 Peter 3:4, 8-10 (some would be mocking and scoffing at the idea)
I cannot tell you exactly when Christ will come again. But you and I can know without any doubt whatsoever that one day our Lord will come again.
You’ve probably heard of Charles Spurgeon, a wellknown preacher from back in the 1800s. On one occasion he was asked if he thought Christ might return soon, and he said, "I think not!" This rather surprised people, and they apparently kept asking him the same thing over and over. And every time they asked, he said the same thing.
Finally someone got up enough nerve to ask him,
"Doesn't the Bible command that we should anticipate
Christ's coming? Why then do you say, 'I think not!'?"
And Spurgeon answered, "Because the Bible says, 'in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man cometh'.
I like that! Believers have been looking for Christ's return for almost 2000 years. I really have no idea when it’s going to happen, but I do know without a doubt that one day it’s really going to happen!
Conclusion
There’s a lot of things about the future we do not know.
But we do know the Lord will continue to save us, and lead us, and bless us
And best of all, we know one day He will come again to take us home!
I think all this should greatly encourage us…
But it should also cause us to think seriously about our lives as they are now, and to ask (as we did last week):

Are you ready for that day?

Are you ready to meet the Lord when He comes again?

Have you been baptized into Christ so that His blood… ?
 2 Peter 3:11-14
This morning, if you’re not ready, make sure you get ready today. If you need respond to the Lord’s invitation, won’t you do so now as together…