Behold... He Is Coming

The resurrection anchors everything: Jesus rose bodily, the tomb is empty, and that reality reshapes hope, mission, and daily life. Worship erupts from gratitude for a living Savior whose victory over death invites human participation in heaven’s chorus. Scripture affirms Christ’s preexistence and eternal kingship, explains why the cross points to new life rather than permanent defeat, and insists that the resurrection validates the entire claim of Christian faith. The risen Lord calls people out of mere customs into encounters with the Spirit, breaking yokes, releasing peace, and transforming private sin patterns into public testimony.

The community of faith receives a threefold calling: to be hospitable to the hurting, to form a family marked by accountability and grace, and to mobilize as a unified force for justice and evangelism. Practical stewardship shapes that mission: tithes sustain ministry life while offerings fuel expansion—church plants, rescue work, and outreach that cannot be sustained by ritual alone. Malachi’s critique resurfaces as a warning against religion without reverence; liturgy and visible success mean little if love for God has cooled and devotion has become routine.

Readiness for Christ’s return threads the talk. Believers must cultivate vigilance and spiritual oil—pursuing holiness, humility, and perseverance—because the same Lord who left in glory will return in glory. Signs of increasing sin, deception, global unrest, and technological reach function as wake-up calls, not reasons for despair. The present season still bears divine favor: justification by faith grants peace with God, suffering refines character, and hope produces endurance. The response required is repentance, surrender, and a renewed life of engagement—practical generosity, earnest worship, and steady mission—so that when the King appears, communities and individuals stand prepared.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus is risen and returning The resurrection secures Jesus’ authority to judge and to redeem; it transforms historical remembrance into living expectation. Belief in the risen Christ demands more than admiration for moral teachings—faith must accept his lordship and anticipate his return with urgency. Living under that reality reshapes priorities, fuels mission, and reframes suffering as temporary in light of an eternal future. [70:30]
• 2. Resurrection validates Christian hope If Christ did not rise, theological claims collapse; because he rose, ethical imperatives and promises carry immutable weight. The empty tomb confirms that death, sin, and cosmic brokenness do not have final say and that divine promises are trustworthy. This truth calls for a coherent life of witness: words and works grounded in a secured future. [78:22]
• 3. Embrace holiness, not mere ritual Malachi’s indictment targets practices emptied of passion; external piety without inward transformation fails God’s intent. True worship requires the humility of a contrite heart, the willingness to relinquish idols, and a persistent pursuit of integrity. Revival begins where reverence replaces routine and presence displaces performance. [100:23]
• 4. Live ready with oil in lamps Readiness means sustained devotion, not last-minute scrambling; the parable of the ten virgins warns against spiritual procrastination. Oil symbolizes the ongoing presence of the Spirit and habits that keep faith bright—prayer, repentance, service, and community accountability. Vigilant, disciplined devotion produces the spiritual stamina necessary for sudden encounters with the King. [82:11]
• 5. Generosity expands kingdom work Giving moves beyond maintenance into mission: tithes keep ministry functioning while offerings multiply outreach and justice work. Generosity signals a trust in God’s provision and reallocates resources toward rescue, planting, and discipleship that extend the gospel’s reach. A generous community models a theology that trusts God to supply more seed for a larger harvest. [63:11]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:38] - Worship and Praise
• [22:22] - Angels and Worthiness
• [23:13] - Christ’s Preexistence
• [24:11] - The Lamb and Atonement
• [25:33] - Need for Anointing and Peace
• [56:40] - Church: Hospital to Army
• [61:17] - Generosity and Stewardship
• [70:30] - Malachi: The Lord Is Coming
• [82:11] - Readiness: Parable of Virgins
• [111:25] - Signs, Hope, and Invitation
• [117:20] - Altar Call and Benediction

1. According to Malachi 3:1, who is coming and how will he arrive?
2. The sermon states that the resurrection validates the entire Christian faith. What does 1 Corinthians 15:17 say is the consequence if Christ has not been raised? [01:19:03]
3. What does the parable of the ten virgins use "oil" to symbolize, according to the message? [01:22:11]
4. What two distinct purposes for our finances were described? [01:01:17]

1. The message described a progression for the church: from a hospital, to a family, to an army. What does each stage represent, and why is this progression important? [56:40]
2. Malachi confronted "religion without passion." What does that phrase mean, and what might that look like in a modern church setting? [01:40:23]
3. The idea was presented that God's silence does not mean He is absent. Why is this distinction so crucial for maintaining hope during difficult seasons? [01:43:53]
4. If the resurrection is true, it means death does not have the final say. How should this reality reshape a person's perspective on their current struggles and suffering? [01:20:54]

1. The same Jesus who left is coming back in the same way. How does this certain reality influence your priorities and what you think is important this week? [01:14:13]
2. Readiness means having "oil in your lamp" through sustained devotion, not last-minute scrambling. What is one practical, daily habit you can build to keep your faith bright and ready for Christ's return? [01:22:11]
3. Generosity moves beyond maintaining a church to expanding its mission. What is one area of kingdom work (e.g., church planting, rescue missions, outreach) that stirs your heart, and what is a step you can take to support it? [01:01:17]
4. It's possible to have all the right religious practices but lose the reverence and fear of God. When you pray or worship, are you primarily going through motions or truly seeking an encounter with God? What would help you move from routine to reverence? [01:40:23]
5. Hope is the fuel for mission and perseverance. When circumstances attack your hope, what specific promises from God's Word or past testimonies of His faithfulness can you recall to keep hope alive? [01:43:12]
6. Embracing the cross means letting go of other things we’ve been holding onto. Is there a specific thing—bitterness, a sinful habit, a reliance on something other than God—that you need to let go of to fully embrace Jesus today? [01:25:33]