Hope and Action: Anticipating Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Return as a Beacon of Hope

The promise of Christ's return serves as a beacon of hope in a world filled with darkness and turmoil. This hope is not merely a future event but a present call to action for believers to share the gospel with those who have not yet heard of His first coming. The anticipation of His return should ignite a passion within us to ensure that no one remains in darkness. As we witness the world's turmoil, with wars, moral decay, and natural disasters, we are reminded of the urgency of the gospel message. The return of Christ is not just an escape from tribulation but the culmination of God's redemptive work, where Jesus will establish His kingdom on earth. [03:36]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:11-13, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life has not heard the gospel? How can you share the hope of Christ's return with them this week?

Day 2: Living in Holiness and Obedience

The anticipation of Christ's return should ignite a passion within us to live holy and obedient lives. As the bride of Christ, we are called to purity, and our lives should reflect this as we await His coming. The early church lived with the hope of Christ's return, and this hope should be alive in us today. The promise of His coming is personalized, as the same Jesus who ascended will return in like manner. This anticipation is clouded by the reality that many have not heard the gospel, which should spur us to action, ensuring that no one remains in darkness. [32:34]

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." (1 Peter 1:13-15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to live a life of holiness and obedience in anticipation of Christ's return?

Day 3: Urgency of the Gospel Message

The signs of the times, such as wars, moral decay, and natural disasters, remind us of the urgency of the gospel message. The world is filled with false hopes and promises of peace through human means, but true hope is found in Christ alone. The church must remain vigilant, living in readiness for His return. As believers, we are called to be the light in a dark world, sharing the gospel with urgency and passion. The bride of Christ is called to purity, and our lives should reflect this as we await His coming. [26:10]

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in spreading the gospel message in your community this week?

Day 4: Fulfillment of God's Promise

The return of Christ is not just about judgment but about the fulfillment of God's promise to His Son. The church, as the bride of Christ, is to be prepared, living in obedience and submission. The Spirit and the bride say, "Come," longing for the day when Christ will reign as King. This hope should transform our lives, keeping us from impurity and motivating us to live in expectation of His return. As we live in anticipation of His coming, we are reminded of the importance of living in holiness and readiness. [47:13]

"Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure." (Revelation 19:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prepare yourself as the bride of Christ, living in obedience and submission to Him?

Day 5: True Hope in Christ Alone

True hope is found in Christ alone, not in the false promises of peace through human means. The Spirit and the bride say, "Come," longing for the day when Christ will reign as King. This hope should transform our lives, keeping us from impurity and motivating us to live in expectation of His return. As we witness the world's turmoil, we are reminded of the urgency of the gospel message and the importance of living in readiness for His return. The church must remain vigilant, living in holiness and purity as we await His coming. [48:07]

"Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him." (2 Peter 3:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What false hopes or promises are you tempted to rely on instead of Christ? How can you refocus your hope on Him alone today?

Sermon Summary

In John 14, Jesus promises, "I will come again," a statement that offers hope amid the world's darkness. This promise is not just a future event but a call to action for believers today. The anticipation of Christ's return should ignite a passion within us to share the gospel with those who have not yet heard of His first coming. The world is in turmoil, with wars, moral decay, and natural disasters, but these are signs pointing to the fulfillment of God's plan. The return of Christ is not just an escape from tribulation but the culmination of God's redemptive work, where Jesus will establish His kingdom on earth.

The early church lived with the hope of Christ's return, and this hope should be alive in us today. The promise of His coming is personalized, as the same Jesus who ascended will return in like manner. This is emphasized by the apostles and prophesied throughout Scripture. However, the anticipation of His return is clouded by the reality that many have not heard the gospel. This should spur us to action, ensuring that no one remains in darkness.

The world is filled with false hopes and promises of peace through human means, but true hope is found in Christ alone. The signs of the times, such as the rise of false prophets, wars, and natural disasters, remind us of the urgency of the gospel message. The church must remain vigilant, living in holiness and readiness for His return. The bride of Christ is called to purity, and our lives should reflect this as we await His coming.

The return of Christ is not just about judgment but about the fulfillment of God's promise to His Son. The church, as the bride of Christ, is to be prepared, living in obedience and submission. The Spirit and the bride say, "Come," longing for the day when Christ will reign as King. This hope should transform our lives, keeping us from impurity and motivating us to live in expectation of His return.

Key Takeaways

1. The promise of Christ's return is a beacon of hope in a world filled with darkness and turmoil. It is a call to action for believers to share the gospel with those who have not heard of His first coming, ensuring that no one remains in darkness. [03:36]
2. The anticipation of Christ's return should ignite a passion within us to live holy and obedient lives. The bride of Christ is called to purity, and our lives should reflect this as we await His coming. [32:34]
3. The signs of the times, such as wars, moral decay, and natural disasters, remind us of the urgency of the gospel message. The church must remain vigilant, living in readiness for His return. [26:10]
4. The return of Christ is not just about judgment but about the fulfillment of God's promise to His Son. The church, as the bride of Christ, is to be prepared, living in obedience and submission. [47:13]
5. True hope is found in Christ alone, not in the false promises of peace through human means. The Spirit and the bride say, "Come," longing for the day when Christ will reign as King. This hope should transform our lives, keeping us from impurity and motivating us to live in expectation of His return. [48:07]
** [48:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Introduction to John 14
[00:44] - The Promise of "I Will Come Again"
[01:33] - The Outlook and Uplook
[02:47] - The Cloud of Judgment
[03:36] - The Urgency of the Gospel
[05:00] - Humanity's Dark Path
[06:19] - False Promises of Peace
[09:09] - The Hope of the Early Church
[12:03] - The Motive for His Coming
[13:31] - Every Eye Shall See Him
[20:27] - Signs of the Times
[32:34] - The Bride's Call to Purity
[47:13] - The Spirit and the Bride Say "Come"
[56:10] - The Coming Kingdom

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 14:3 - "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Acts 1:11 - "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."
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

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Observation Questions:

What promise does Jesus make in John 14:3, and how does it serve as a source of hope for believers? [00:14]
According to Acts 1:11, how is the return of Jesus described, and what significance does this have for the early church? [09:36]
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, what events are described as accompanying the return of Christ, and what is the ultimate outcome for believers? [30:16]
How does the sermon describe the current state of the world, and what signs are mentioned as indicators of Christ's return? [26:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the promise of Christ's return in John 14:3 challenge believers to live differently in the present world? [00:14]
What does the personalized nature of Jesus' return in Acts 1:11 imply about the relationship between Christ and His followers? [09:36]
How might the events described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 influence a believer's perspective on life and death? [30:16]
The sermon mentions the urgency of sharing the gospel due to the signs of the times. How should this urgency affect the church's mission today? [03:36]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the promise of Christ's return. How does this promise influence your daily decisions and priorities? Are there specific areas in your life where you need to align more closely with this hope? [00:14]
The sermon emphasizes the need for the church to remain vigilant and live in holiness. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are living a life of purity and readiness for Christ's return? [32:34]
Consider the urgency of the gospel message in light of the world's current state. Identify one person in your life who has not heard the gospel. How can you share the message of Christ with them this week? [03:36]
The sermon discusses false hopes and promises of peace through human means. What are some false hopes you have encountered, and how can you refocus your hope on Christ alone? [06:19]
How does the anticipation of Christ's return motivate you to live in obedience and submission to God? Are there areas of disobedience or resistance in your life that you need to address? [47:13]
The sermon mentions the Spirit and the bride saying, "Come." How can you cultivate a longing for Christ's return in your personal prayer life and community worship? [48:07]
Reflect on the signs of the times mentioned in the sermon. How can you stay informed and discerning about these signs without becoming fearful or anxious? [26:10]

Sermon Clips

The anticipation of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and yet I confess to you that as I meditated over this I kind of saw a cloud over this Pulpit over every pulpit in the land not a white cloud not a small Cloud not a thin Cloud a heavy Cloud a black cloud a cloud I think with judgment. [00:02:34]

The shadow is this that are millions in the world haven't heard about the first coming of Jesus and this is our shame if we were really excited about his coming we'd just bend every energy that we have that nobody will be sitting in darkness as far as possible before this great event the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:03:40]

The promise given by the Lord Jesus Christ I will come again well there are different ways of saying that you can say I will come again, or you can change the emphasis say I will come again or you can change it and say this I will come again there's no question in my mind but what this was the hope of the church. [00:08:47]

The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God and the dead in Christ I got a daddy and mommy in the cemetery I had an old friend in England and people used to say oh I hope I'm alive when Jesus comes he said I hope I'm dead. [00:09:58]

The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout the promise personalized proclaimed and prophesied over and over and over again in what we call the four go goels emphasized repeated L we become slack and careless about this now it's good for us to remember we do believe I'm sure you do. [00:10:31]

The gospel must first be preached to All Nations then the end cometh it's a very serious charge that's laid against us well then the theory that Jesus comes when we're born again doesn't hold water because he's going to come in the clouds or that we come from our Graves no no no that is not this same Jesus. [00:19:42]

The spirit and the bride say come and let him that Heth say come and let him that is the thir come and whosoever will let him come and take of the Water of Life freely and then verse 20 he which testifieth these things sayith surely I come quickly so here is the last recorded prayer of the church. [00:46:32]

The bride says come well let me ask you a simple question you don't have to answer it to me answer it up there how many times have you said this week come Lord Jesus H we we we like retherford's himy the bride eyes not her garments how many times have you said Lord Jesus I want you to come. [00:47:39]

The Earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as Waters cover the sea the Earth is the Lord and the fullness thereof he's coming to set up his kingdom on Earth and so the bride says come the holy spirit's only recorded prayer that I remember in in the book is he says come because you see he's been working. [00:48:57]

The spirit was given to him without measure that he had unlimited love he had unlimited power he had unlimited knowledge had Unlimited beauty everything in creation was made for him I read to you last week and let me read the end of it I re to that statement of Phillips there in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 9. [00:50:32]

The stock market never thinks that everything is pointing it's going in One Direction God says even about evil men he puts evil men on the throne for his own intentions he's going to do something even out of that evil now that boggles my mind I can't think all the devilish things Hitler did will glorify God. [00:51:18]

The handwriter says well one smile from the Savior I know will Through the Ages be glory for me somebody said to one day to Mr Wesley when he was grieving over the death of his friend who he said was the holiest man since the Apostle Paul John fletched of mle somebody said Mr Wesley don't grieve. [00:52:36]

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Hope and Action: Anticipating Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Return as a Beacon of Hope

Day 2: Living in Holiness and Obedience

Day 3: Urgency of the Gospel Message

Day 4: Fulfillment of God's Promise

Day 5: True Hope in Christ Alone

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Hope and Action: Anticipating Christ's Return

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