Living in Anticipation: Embracing Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Living in Anticipation of Christ's Return

Living in anticipation of Jesus Christ's return is not about predicting dates or times but about maintaining a heart of readiness and expectation. This mindset encourages believers to live faithfully and purposefully, reflecting Christ's love and teachings in their daily lives. The anticipation of His return is rooted in hope, not fear, and serves as a spiritual motivator to align one's life with the teachings of Jesus. By living in this state of readiness, believers can make the most of their time, knowing that they are called to be faithful stewards of the gospel. [03:06]

"For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of readiness and expectation for Christ's return in your daily life? What practical steps can you take today to align your actions with His teachings?

Day 2: History's Parallel Path to Christ's Return

Since the resurrection of Jesus, history has been running parallel to the brink of His return. This perspective reminds believers that they are living in the last days, which should inspire them to live with urgency and purpose. Understanding that time is precious, Christians are encouraged to make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel and live out their faith. This sense of urgency is not about fear but about recognizing the importance of being faithful stewards of the time and resources God has given them. [07:16]

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy." (2 Timothy 3:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you live with a greater sense of urgency and purpose in your faith journey? How can you make the most of the opportunities you have to share the gospel with others today?

Day 3: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare

While believers cannot be possessed by demons, they can experience oppression and must be vigilant in their spiritual lives. Engaging in spiritual warfare involves resisting the devil, standing firm in faith, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome spiritual battles. This vigilance is crucial for living a victorious Christian life, as it empowers believers to withstand the challenges and temptations they face. By being aware of the spiritual realm and actively engaging in spiritual warfare, Christians can protect themselves from the enemy's schemes and live in the freedom that Christ offers. [36:29]

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take to be more vigilant in your spiritual life and engage in spiritual warfare? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you overcome the challenges you face?

Day 4: Understanding the Millennial Reign of Christ

The millennial reign of Christ will demonstrate God's ultimate authority and justice on Earth. This period will provide a perfect environment, free from Satan's influence, and will precede the final judgment. Understanding the significance of the millennial reign emphasizes the importance of living a life that honors God. Believers are encouraged to live in a way that reflects God's justice and authority, knowing that their actions have eternal significance. This understanding inspires Christians to live with integrity and purpose, aligning their lives with God's will. [17:15]

"Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4, ESV)

Reflection: How does the understanding of Christ's millennial reign influence the way you live your life today? In what ways can you reflect God's justice and authority in your daily actions?

Day 5: The Role of Dreams and Visions in the Christian Life

While God can speak through dreams, especially to non-believers, believers are encouraged to seek confirmation through Scripture and prayer. Dreams should not replace the more sure word of God found in the Bible, and any message received should align with biblical truth. This understanding helps believers discern God's voice and ensures that their faith is grounded in Scripture. By seeking confirmation through prayer and the Bible, Christians can navigate their spiritual journey with confidence, knowing that they are following God's will. [01:00:09]

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." (Joel 2:28, ESV)

Reflection: Have you ever experienced a dream or vision that you felt was from God? How can you seek confirmation through Scripture and prayer to ensure that it aligns with biblical truth?

Sermon Summary

In today's discussion, we explored the concept of living in anticipation of Jesus Christ's return. This anticipation is not about setting dates or predicting exact times but about maintaining a readiness and expectation that aligns with the teachings of Jesus. Throughout history, Christians have lived with the belief that Jesus could return at any moment, a mindset that has been spiritually beneficial and motivating for many. This expectation is not about fear but about hope and readiness, encouraging believers to live lives that reflect the teachings and love of Christ.

We also delved into the idea that history is not merely moving towards a distant end but is running parallel to the brink of Jesus's return. This perspective helps us understand that since the time of Jesus's resurrection and the establishment of the church, we have been living in the last days. This understanding should inspire us to live with urgency and purpose, knowing that our time is precious and that we are called to be faithful stewards of the gospel.

Furthermore, we discussed the importance of spiritual warfare and the reality of demonic oppression. While believers cannot be possessed by demons, they can be oppressed and need to be vigilant in their spiritual lives. This vigilance involves resisting the devil, standing firm in faith, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome spiritual battles.

Lastly, we touched on the significance of the millennial reign of Christ, a period that will demonstrate God's ultimate authority and justice on Earth. This reign will provide a perfect environment for humanity, free from Satan's influence, and will precede the final judgment, highlighting the importance of living a life that honors God.

Key Takeaways

1. Living in Anticipation: Jesus taught us to live in constant readiness for His return, not by predicting dates but by maintaining a heart of expectation and hope. This mindset encourages us to live faithfully and purposefully, knowing that our time is valuable and that we are called to reflect Christ's love and teachings in our daily lives. [03:06]
2. History's Parallel Path: Since the resurrection of Jesus, history has been running parallel to the brink of His return. This perspective reminds us that we are living in the last days and should inspire us to live with urgency and purpose, making the most of every opportunity to share the gospel and live out our faith. [07:16]
3. Spiritual Warfare: While believers cannot be possessed by demons, they can experience oppression. It is crucial to be vigilant in our spiritual lives, resisting the devil and standing firm in faith. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to overcome spiritual battles and live victoriously. [36:29]
4. The Millennial Reign: The millennial reign of Christ will demonstrate God's ultimate authority and justice on Earth. This period will provide a perfect environment, free from Satan's influence, and will precede the final judgment, emphasizing the importance of living a life that honors God. [17:15]
5. The Role of Dreams and Visions: While God can speak through dreams, especially to non-believers, believers should seek confirmation through Scripture and prayer. Dreams should not replace the more sure word of God found in the Bible, and any message received should align with biblical truth. [01:00:09]
** [60:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction and Setup
[01:47] - Lead Question: Is Jesus Coming Soon?
[03:06] - Principle 1: Watch and Be Ready
[05:00] - Principle 2: Expectation of Jesus's Return
[06:25] - Principle 3: Historical Expectation
[07:33] - Visualizing History's Path
[09:32] - Living in the Last Days
[10:54] - Current Signs of the Times
[13:36] - Understanding the Millennial Reign
[17:15] - Necessity of the Millennium
[20:52] - Women and Men in the Church
[25:04] - The Fall of Adam and Eve
[29:51] - Spiritual Warfare and Demonic Oppression
[38:23] - The Role of the Holy Spirit Post-Rapture
[59:52] - Dreams and Visions in the Christian Life

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 24:42 - "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."
Matthew 24:44 - "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
Matthew 25:13 - "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

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Observation Questions:

What does Jesus emphasize about His return in Matthew 24:42 and 24:44? How does this relate to the concept of living in anticipation? [03:50]
How does the sermon describe the timeline of history in relation to Jesus's return? What visual aid was used to explain this concept? [07:33]
According to the sermon, what is the role of spiritual warfare in a believer's life, and how should they respond to demonic oppression? [36:29]
What is the significance of the millennial reign of Christ as discussed in the sermon, and how does it relate to God's authority and justice? [17:15]

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Interpretation Questions:

How might living in anticipation of Jesus's return influence a believer's daily life and decisions? Consider the urgency and purpose mentioned in the sermon. [05:15]
In what ways does the concept of history running parallel to the brink of Jesus's return challenge or affirm your understanding of the "last days"? [09:32]
How does the sermon suggest believers should engage in spiritual warfare, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in this battle? [36:29]
What are the implications of the millennial reign of Christ for believers today, and how does it shape their understanding of God's ultimate plan? [17:15]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are not living in anticipation of Jesus's return? What changes can you make to align more closely with this mindset? [03:06]
How can you make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel, knowing that history is running parallel to the brink of Jesus's return? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [07:16]
Consider a time when you felt spiritually oppressed. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to be more vigilant in your spiritual life moving forward? [36:29]
The sermon discusses the importance of living a life that honors God in light of the millennial reign. What specific actions can you take to ensure your life reflects God's authority and justice? [17:15]
How do you discern whether a dream or vision is from God? What steps can you take to seek confirmation through Scripture and prayer? [01:00:09]
Identify one area of your life where you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit to overcome spiritual battles. What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith in this area? [36:29]
How can you cultivate a heart of expectation and hope in your daily routine, especially in moments of doubt or fear? Share a specific practice you can implement this week. [03:06]

Sermon Clips

Jesus clearly told us to watch and be ready, and to live in anticipation of his return. This is what Jesus said now obviously when Jesus walked this Earth, his glorious Second Coming was at least 2,000 years or so down the road in linear history, counting by you know as you take off every year from the calendar, but he he didn't seem to want his followers to think that way. [00:03:10]

Jesus wanted his people to live in anticipation of his return not to set dates not not to be that kind of book, but again just to say we're going to live in anticipation of the soon return of Jesus Christ. That's principle number one. Here's principle number two: it's good for Christians to live in the expectation of Jesus's return. [00:04:34]

I believe that Jesus has given every generation reason to believe that his return was near because Jesus wants his people to live with that expectation he wants people to be ready, so I believe that that's just very important as you go through church history you find many many times people were living with the expectation of Jesus return. [00:05:34]

Since that time history has moved along the brink of the return of Jesus, not towards the brink. It's just a different way to think of it to visualize it. So let me give you some charts that kind of help visualize it at least in my mind and look I'm not very good with charts I did the best I could with this so please be gentle in your criticism of my charts. [00:07:20]

There is a very real sense in which we have been living in the last days ever since Acts chapter 2. Now I must say that I believe right now and as I record this video it's October 13th 2022 uh all our live listeners know when that is but uh those of you are going to watch it later on video this is October 13th year 2022. [00:09:34]

I believe that the Bible describes a fine Matthew chapter 24 and is spoken of again in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians in the Book of Revelation in the Book of Daniel. I believe the stage is set politically, spiritually, culturally and economically for the kind of scenario that God has said will happen in the very last days. [00:10:08]

I do not believe that Christians can be demon possessed in the sense that they are controlled by an indwelling demonic spirit, and they cannot be free from demonic control by resisting the devil and seeing the devil flee. I don't believe that a Christian can be indwelt and controlled by a demonic spirit. [00:30:47]

I definitely believe that Christians can beat demon oppressed, and I think that many many Christians are not aware of Satan's attacks and devices and the way that he attacks and I think Christians need to be much more proactive much more active much more Discerning in their uh efforts of Spiritual Warfare without having to believe it all that a Christian can be demon possessed. [00:32:56]

The Millennium happens before the great white Throne judgment the final judgment where those will be consigned for eternity to the Lake of Fire will be judged. I think it's very important that the Millennium happens before the great white Throne judgment because what the Millennium will be is as perfect an environment on Earth as could be possibly conceived. [00:18:31]

I believe the Millennium is necessary because uh it fulfills the plan of God in having an actual literal physical Rule and reign of Jesus Christ over this Earth. It means that for uh an appreciable period A Thousand Years that Satan is bound, his activity on Earth has ceased there will still be the Flesh and the world to deal with but no longer the devil. [00:17:07]

I know some Christians that I know and love and respect who kind of put a lot more weight on dreams than I would. I definitely do believe that it's possible for God to speak to people in dreams it happened in the scriptures many times one thing interesting the vast majority of times and again I'm doing this off the top of my head so forgive me if my math isn't right. [01:00:09]

I would just be careful of trying to read too much into them and simply make it a matter of prayer and seeking the Lord. Lord I had this dream, if there's something you're trying to tell me through this dream, then Lord would you just uh confirm it to me through your word confirm it to me in some other way uh but if this is from you Lord would you speak to me about it. [01:01:02]

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Living in Anticipation: Embracing Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Living in Anticipation of Christ's Return

Day 2: History's Parallel Path to Christ's Return

Day 3: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare

Day 4: Understanding the Millennial Reign of Christ

Day 5: The Role of Dreams and Visions in the Christian Life

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Living in Anticipation: Embracing Christ's Return

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