LOOK FOR CHRIST’S RETURN
INTRODUCTION
1. Brothers and Sisters, we are free in Christ. There is no longer anything in this world that can bind us, that can imprison us, that can overcome us, we have been set free in Jesus Christ.
2. ISA 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
3. 2CO 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
4. We are becoming like Christ, which gives us the freedom to be holy and no longer under the condemnation of sin. Who here wants to have the pressure and pain of condemnation removed from their lives. YES you can have this, is you want it. It is beautiful beloved.
5. Brothers and Sisters, if I can have this freedom of the Spirit here on earth, and the Word of God tells me that this is only a deposit of the things to come, I cannot wait to be reunited with my beloved Yeshua, The Son of God.
6. You see beloved, this world is no longer my home. I do not care what happens here, My bridegroom, has made me a promise in Heb 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.", and I claim that promise daily, every hour of the day, and I know in my heart that He is faithful, and will do what He says. Therefore, the cares of this world are taken care of by my husband, I am no longer in control, He is, and this is beautiful, peaceful and I am content. Each and every day, I need to get more and more like Jesus, that is righteous perfection.
7. Beloved, I look forward to the day that my bridegroom will return to take me home to meet His Father and the rest of the family. One day, we will hear that Trumpet sound, and looking up, we will see the horizon covered from the east to the west in Angels, and in the center, we will see one who looks like the Son of Man, but He will be glowing bright, with fire in His eyes. He will have a flaming sword in His hand, and He will be the bridegroom coming to claim His bride, and to bind in eternal darkness, those who He does not know.
8. Every sermon, we begin with a question, and today, I once again ask you the question, will you be happy to see Jesus’ face. Are you running the race, are you fighting the good fight, are you longing for His appearing, as the apostle Paul was in 2TI 4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
9. To live the perfect Christian life, the disciple of Jesus Christ needs to be disciplined in his walk, and one of the disciplines that we need to adhere to is the discipline of looking for Christ’s return.
I. JESUS PAID THE BRIDE PRICE
A. Christ Came To Earth For One Reason.
1. He came to this earth to seek and to save that which was lost, and brothers and sisters we were lost. He came to bring back to God those whom agree to be faithful to Him in marriage.
2. You see, in the beginning, we belonged to the Creator, as His creation. Wholly and totally His to love and to cherish. But we decided that we would not be wholly His, we found another person more interesting. That Person was and is Satan, and so mankind was forever kicked out of the house and presence of God. Or God may have killed us for our choice.
3. Jesus coming to this earth, came and paid the bride price that was hanging over our heads, and purchased us from the devil with His own blood. He came to take those, who realize their mistake, and want to go to be with Him in paradise again. He came and proposed to us, and it is up to us to accept.
B. Christ Has Gone To Prepare A Place For Us.
1. The problem, however, is that there is no place for us to go to with our husband, as paradise and Eden had been destroyed and removed from the earth during the flood.
2. Jesus tells us JN 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
3. Jesus the Bridegroom has gone to prepare the wedding feast, the bridal house and all the other things that He needs to do, before He comes and gets us.
C. He Has Given Us A Promised Dowry
1. Before He left however, He gave us His promise that He would return, it is in fact a dowry. That dowry/promise is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit now resides in us, as we are promised to be married to the King. We do not belong to anyone else except Him, that is the covenant that we make when we say yes to Jesus.
2. He has not left us alone, The Holy Spirit that He left with us is our companion, who will teach us about our new Lord. It is the Holy Spirit that helps us and grooms us into the person that Jesus intended us to be. He is wonderful, holy, powerful and guides us through every aspect of our lives.
3. Jesus has also given us the church for support and growth into His likeness. The church is a haven where we can become all that Jesus intended for us to be.
II. JESUS WILL RETURN FOR HIS BRIDE.
A. Christ Promised To Return For His Bride.
1. Beloved, Jesus left a meek Lamb of God, an offered on the Sacrificial table for the sins of the World. He then took His blood and brought it into the Holy of Holies, and offered it to pay for all the sins of the world. HEB 9:11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
2. This same Jesus, when He is finished building a home for us, will return to claim His Bride. Not as a Lamb, but as a Lion. Very Ferocious and Insensitive to the cries and pleas of those who committed adultery with the world and the lord of this world.
REV 19:11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
3. That day will be terrible for those who are slack, and have been waiting, saying “He will not come”. They will be caught unawares and experience pure terror. MT 25:1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: `Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, `Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 " `No,’ they replied, `there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.11 "Later the others also came. `Sir! Sir!’ they said. `Open the door for us!’12 "But he replied, `I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
B. Those That Have Been Prostitutes Will Be Punished.
1. We are expected to be holy in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is there to help us overcome. We are dead to the flesh. The problem is, that we blame the devil or others for our weakness and lack of fidelity. The Bible tells us JAS 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
2. Beloved, we are being given time now to mend our ways, and to start being holy unto Jesus Christ, to allow His Holy Spirit to Empower us, and yet we continue to hold on to the ways of the world, not letting go of the very things that will brand us unfaithful to Jesus.
3. On that day, the Church, the Holy Bride, will be called out of this world, so that the evil may be destroyed. JER 51:45 "Come out of her, my people! Run for your lives! Run from the fierce anger of the LORD. 46 Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land; one rumor comes this year, another the next, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler. 47 For the time will surely come when I will punish the idols of Babylon; her whole land will be disgraced and her slain will all lie fallen within her.
4. The problem is, that many will be unable to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and recognize it. Their ears are not attuned to the Master’s call, only to the call of the World and that master.
JN 10:25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
C. The Bride Will Be Escorted And Presented To The Father.
1. When Jesus returns for His Bride the Church, there will be much rejoicing to be leaving this place. 1TH 4:15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
2. There shall be a great rejoicing in Heaven when the Bride is presented by the Lord.
REV 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) 9 Then the angel said to me, "Write: `Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ " And he added, "These are the true words of God."
III. JESUS COULD RETURN AT ANY TIME.
Making This Apply to our lives
A. No one Knows The Hour Or The Day
1. Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, at His Father’s house, so that we might be reunited with Him in Holy Matrimony. While he is away, we are to conduct ourselves, as one pledged to be married. MT 24:36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come
2. We are no longer on the market, and one day He will return for you. No one, not even Jesus knows when it will happen. There are many clues in the Scriptures as to the end times, but the actual hour is known only to God the Father.
3. One day, The Father will look the Son in the eye, and say “Ok Son, it is time, you may go and get your bride. The house is ready to receive her, bring her home. In that day, many will be caught in adultery with the enemy of Jesus. Those people may have thought that there was much time yet, and were caught short.
B. What Will Jesus Find You Doing?
1. Beloved of Jesus Christ, I have said it many times and I will say it again. It is not what you do, but who you know and love. With that said, it does not mean that we can be blatant with Jesus, and hurt Him by continuing in sin. That is not loving toward Jesus.
2. One of the worst things that could ever happen is to be caught in the act of adultery. Beloved, that is what will happen if you are living in sin, and Jesus comes back and catches you. You see, committing sin is being united with the father of sin, Satan. You become one with him, and are committing adultery with him against Jesus.
3. The question is; as your life stands today, what will Jesus find you doing when He returns? Not if He returns, but when He returns. What would Jesus Do in this situation?
C. Keep Your Eyes To The Skies.
1. Know that you belong to Jesus Christ, you have been promised to Him, and that your actions are being recorded. You are in a struggle to overcome, and Paul in Hebrews puts it this way..
HEB 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
2. Knowing deep in your heart that Jesus could come back at any time, and knowing that He will only take those who are wearing the garments of white, which according to Rev are the righteous acts of the saints. Learn to respect your Lord, and ask yourself the question, am I willing to hurt Him by doing this. This will do two things. It will help you to realize how serious you are about Jesus and your faith, and if you are, it will help keep you from sin.
3. Be sure that we are in the end times, and Jesus is coming back soon. Are you ready for that? What will your response be, if Jesus suddenly was standing in our midst.
a. MT 7:22 Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
b. REV 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
c. Master I am not worthy to be called your servant.
LK 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, `Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’
CONCLUSION
1. Beloved of Jesus, be sure that Jesus is coming soon, and the question is, are you ready to face Him?
2. Do you know Jesus Christ, and more importantly, does He know you?
