WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:08.160 Welcome to the Celebration Church Orlando podcast. 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:09.839 Thank you for joining us. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:16.800 To learn more about Celebration Orlando, a church devoted to reaching the lost, equipping the found, and helping the hurting. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:25.519 Follow us on social media using the handle at Celebration ORL or visit our website, celebrationorl.org. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:30.239 Celebration Church Orlando, are you guys doing good? 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:32.079 There we go, there we go. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:32.799 I love it. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:33.679 Let's keep that energy. 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:36.320 Can you guys help me welcome those who are joining us online? 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:40.159 Those who are watching in the family lounge, those who may be checking us out on our podcast later. 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:40.960 We're so glad you're here. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:44.719 Let's give it up for our online disciples and community. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:48.880 We're truly so, so glad that you are here with us today. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:53.200 As it was mentioned earlier, we are in our End Times series. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:55.759 And this is a theme that we have seen throughout culture. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:58.240 It's gone through different iterations of interest. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.960 And right now we see there's a ramped up interest for it. 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:15.680 And so for us, our intent is not to hop on any cultural bandwagons, but but this is something we've been praying and processing through for the better part of the beginning of the year, and it's brought us to a time where we wanted to kind of expound on God's word as it relates to the end time. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:23.680 Not one to lead us into a place of panic or fear, but one that is meant to inspire hope, but also cultivate urgency and preparation. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:27.280 So over the past couple of weeks, we've been talking about the end times. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:33.760 We've been talking about what does it look like when Jesus is going to come and begin to change the dynamics in which we live. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:39.760 And so if you missed any of those messages, please go back and check them out because there is a momentum that is being established. 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:46.959 But today we're going to continue in our discussion, and we're going to continue by going back to our original foundational passage. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:51.359 Um and that is found in Titus chapter 2, verses 11 through 14. 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:53.760 Titus chapter 2, 11 through 14. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:56.319 If you don't have your Bibles, it's perfectly okay. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.760 It's going to come up in the Bible in the sky in in just a moment. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:02.959 But this is where we started our series off with this exact passage. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:10.159 Um, and it's for a reason because it speaks to virtually everything we wanted to share throughout the course of this four-week series. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:13.520 Now, I do want to go ahead and put this out here as a disclaimer. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:18.080 The the subject matter that we're going to get into today is ultimately the return of Christ. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:23.919 And I'm giving you this because I realize that that's a massive subject like everything else we've addressed so far. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:27.520 And so there's a very specific lens that I'll be speaking through today. 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:31.840 And there's a very uh there's a lot of nuances connected to the return of Christ. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:38.319 So on this Wednesday, we're going to be kind of like adding a part two to this teaching at 6 30 at our church office. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:39.280 It's in our church app. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:44.319 We'll be glad to inform and then give instructions on the best way to participate in that. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:55.759 Um, but this upcoming Wednesday, we're going to do a kind of like a part two to this where we're going to be talking about the rapture, we're going to be talking about tribulation period, and ultimately the judgment of that we see in scripture. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:03.919 So today we're going to talk about one specific aspect of it, but in the return of Christ, there's other dimensions to it that we're going to expound on this upcoming Wednesday. 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:05.599 Can I get a good amen to that? 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:12.159 Okay, let's read uh the word of the Lord so we can all kind of center ourselves around where God is leading us today. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:35.360 Uh, Titus chapter 2, verses 11 through 14 says this for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lust, and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:45.199 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:59.599 I want to draw your attention to verse number 13, where it says, While we wait for the blessed hope, this is what we're waiting for, and then it explains what that hope is: the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:15.759 We see here that that Paul is leading us to this space of saying that there's a great hope that all of us as believers have, and ultimately he he summarizes that great hope is in the return or the appearing of the great glory, and that is Jesus Christ. 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:18.560 So today, that's what I want to spend some time talking about. 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:25.680 So if you're taking notes and and I hope that you are, this is certainly an opportunity for us to lean in, but but ultimately take notes. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:29.120 I want you to listen to the scripture references, go back and read these things. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:32.959 I share this in the nine o'clock service, and and I say this as often as I can. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:36.879 But a lot of times when we're on this faith journey, it's so overwhelming. 00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:42.959 The Bible is robust with tons of topics and ideas, and and sometimes it can be overwhelming with books and things we should read. 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:59.040 And certainly there's avenues we can take, but my personal experience is when I got radically saved, the thing that helped my faith the most was coming to church every week, and then I would literally just listen to my pastor's messages, and then I would look over my notes and read every passage in its entirety. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:04.079 And that alone was something that gave me the foundation that I needed, and that expanded. 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:10.160 So no matter where you are in your journey, my encouragement is take notes, look at what we're sharing today, but go back and read this for yourself. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:14.240 I don't want your faith to be built on what I say, I want it to be built off of your own revelation. 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:15.600 Can we get a good amen to that? 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:18.800 Okay, so so today's message title is quite simple. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.040 It's called The Return of the King. 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:22.480 Let's pray and let's get into it. 00:05:22.639 --> 00:05:24.399 Lord, we thank you for your word. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:36.879 And as we open it, we recognize that we're seeing the literal words and mind and heart of God being put on display for us to lean into, to embrace, to be challenged and inspired by. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:45.600 Father, I pray in the name of Jesus that you give us open eyes to see you, open ears to hear you, and open hearts to receive everything that you want to speak to us. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:47.759 Holy Spirit, um, you are welcome here. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:06:00.160 This is your house, and we ask that you inspire us, that you challenge us, that you conform us, that this is a safe place for us to wrestle, to express our doubts, but ultimately to come to a place where we can live a life that's surrendered before Christ. 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:01.600 So have your way in this place. 00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:03.199 And it's in Jesus' name that we pray. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:05.600 Amen and amen. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:14.720 You know, I'm I'm I'm getting to a point now that I'm closing in on 50 years old that I find myself being a lot more reflective. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:31.519 I'm a few weeks out from turning 50, and and and as I've been thinking a lot, just as I'm getting old, and I'm not sure if this is in some kind of like manual for getting old, but as I got to be about 48, I started kind of like reflecting a lot more, thinking about legacy and just these kind of movements that we find ourselves in. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:41.519 And so for me, I find that I'm thinking a lot more about my family and different milestones and moments that I shared with my children and now subsequently my my grandchildren. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:46.160 And there's something that just hit me a few weeks ago that that just had me just like a ball of tears. 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:48.160 Like I was just bawling for no reason. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:51.279 If you would have seen me, you would have thought I was having a breakdown, but I was having a moment. 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:52.879 And let me paint the picture for you. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:54.959 I I was watching Lion King. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:58.560 And and I know that that may y'all y'all laughing at me, but let me let me explain to you. 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:01.759 The Lion King came out in 1994. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.120 Um, my firstborn, Keith Jr., he was born in 1993. 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.560 So I remember like watching that as a part of him growing up. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:16.240 I remember the only two things that he would watch that would somehow keep him contained would be Lion King and Barney. 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:18.000 Praise God for Barney for the time. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:19.680 Anybody remember who Barney is? 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:22.800 Okay, we got some folks that's old enough to remember Barney. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:23.759 I love you. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:26.079 Like, so I remember like Barney saved our life. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:28.160 Megan remember that season, like it was on repeat. 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.000 And but but Lion King was the other thing. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:31.600 Like we would watch that all the time. 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:40.160 And the reason why I had such an emotional reaction is because now I've watched it with Keith Jr., I've I've watched it with DeNera, and I've watched it with Caleb. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:46.240 So I've literally seen how the Lion King has been a part of our family, but now I'm watching it with my grandson. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:51.839 So I a couple weeks ago, I'm sitting there watching Lion King, the live action version. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.560 I don't want no hate, I'm just in the moment, I'm just here for the vibes. 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:58.639 But I'm sitting there watching it um with my grandson Keith III. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:01.839 Trey, so you have this legacy of Keith Jr. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.040 sitting there to the side. 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:06.560 He was on his phone, he wasn't paying any attention, just being a very rebellious father. 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:16.560 But me as the as the as the patriarch of the family, I'm sitting there with with Trey on my lap, and I have like this moment where I remember when Keith was on my lap, and I mean I'm just I'm just feeling it. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:18.800 But but here's the thing that hit me specifically. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:28.000 Um, you know how when you watch a movie or a show, and and maybe you've watched it at different points, and and and for whatever reason, that day you saw something you never saw before. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.120 That day something stands out in a way that it never had before. 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:39.200 Well, I had one of those moments, and the truth is, this is not a new director's cut version of it, it's that I'm in a different space, so I see things differently. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:42.000 And let me tell you the scene that hit me so deeply. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.399 It was the scene that, okay, so let me say this. 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:47.919 The Lion King came out in 1994. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:52.240 If you had not seen it yet, you had your chance. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:55.039 Because I'm gonna give us a couple of spoilers. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:09:00.879 I'm gonna try to step around things a little bit, but you've had over 30 years, so it's not my fault if I ruin it for you. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:02.159 I'm just putting that out there. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:07.840 If you hadn't seen it and it's on your heart to see it, go ahead and step outside, put the earplugs in for a couple of minutes. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:09.360 But I'm I'm gonna step into this space. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.000 I don't want nobody come up to me talking about I ruined the movie for him. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:12.639 30 years. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:13.519 That's on you, bud. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:20.399 Okay, so so so that so of course, of course, I'm gonna I'm gonna get kind of like I'm gonna summarize it because I do want to honor that, but watch this. 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:24.720 That we all know that that Simba is the rightful king. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:32.000 His his uncle Scar had ultimately convinced him that he was responsible for the death of his father, Mufasa. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:33.519 Ooh, say it again. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:39.360 So so we we we at this moment where we're where where Simba was was exiled, self-exiled. 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:48.799 And so while he's gone, living his best akuna matata life, um, the pride where his family and where his legacy is was barren. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:49.840 It was desolate. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:55.039 That scar had literally ran it into the ground and cooperations with the hyenas, it was a it was a hot mess. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:10:01.360 So Simba's over here, denying where he was supposed to be at, but but the pride where he was from was completely desolate. 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:04.000 It was a desert land that once was flourishing. 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:10.559 And so there's this moment where he's confronted with his past where they're like, hey, we need you to come back and take your rightful place. 00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:12.399 We need you to bring order back. 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:18.240 And so there's this moment where Simba is finally convinced to go back and take the throne that was supposed to be his. 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:21.679 And I'm telling you, this is a moment that got me got me having the chills. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:26.960 There's this moment where where Simba's kind of creeping up, like looking at the land and seeing how bad the land has gotten. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:30.480 Scar is there is arguing, and then Scar backhands his mom. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.799 Man, listen, that was a moment where Simba roared. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:37.200 And when he roared, look at the sequence of events. 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:42.960 He roared and there was lightning in the sky and it began to rain, and literally Scar shrunk back. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:58.559 I won't give you all the messy details, but ultimately in that moment when Simba stepped up, there was lightning in the air, the ground had begun to shake, and Simba took his rightful place, and what was once desolate had been nurtured back to a promising life. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:03.360 I'm telling you, when I saw that, I almost stood on my feet and dropped my grandson on the ground. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:07.440 Because I saw something there that I didn't recognize before. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:13.840 Because I think inside of all of us, we all know what it feels like to sense that things are hopeless. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:21.279 We all know what it feels like to feel like we're in a place of despair and brokenness and fear and wondering if it's ever getting better. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:28.559 And I think inside of all of us, there's something that is longing for the king to come back and put things back in their rightful place. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:36.159 We're all longing for the day that a king will come back and re-establish the order that the enemy, that scar, has established in our lives. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:38.720 Many of us are dealing with brokenness as we speak. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:48.080 We're dealing with brokenness in our bodies, we're dealing with brokenness in our families, we're dealing with brokenness in relationships, we're dealing with despair and desolation, even in our sense of self-worth. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:53.360 And there's something inside of us that is craving for something to come and show us purpose. 00:11:53.519 --> 00:12:05.759 And what Paul is saying, that blessed hope is Jesus, that our king is going to return and he's going to restore order and allow us to be vindicated by the roar of the line of the tribe of Judah. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:11.840 This is why we celebrate, this is why we hold on to Jesus, this is what we're holding in anticipation of. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:14.159 It's the return of the king. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:29.600 And so the idea that the king has conquered the land and that he's going to come back is a beautiful idea, and now we have a responsibility and a response that we're called to lean into it. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:39.440 See, in ancient times, a king wasn't just a ruler, he was also a protector, he was a defender, he was literally a savior for his people. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:51.360 Whenever the kingdom was being threatened by opposition, the king would lead his army out to battle while those stayed back in the security of the kingdom in hopes that the king would be victorious. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:59.919 And when the king was victorious, the victory didn't just belong to the king alone, it belonged to the entire kingdom as well. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:08.240 So an herald would come, and ultimately when he would come back, the king would be away, he would be victorious, they're sorting through the spoils of war. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:14.240 But an herald would come back and he would say, I bid you good news from the king. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:19.679 He was victorious in battle, you don't have to be afraid of your oppressors anymore. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:25.600 And the king is coming back, and we're going to have a massive celebration. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:35.279 That was literally referred to as you on Galeon, which is the word that translates to good news, which is what we call the gospel today. 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:46.240 That an herald would go forth and communicate and declare the good news is that the king was victorious, which means we are victorious, and he's coming back. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.200 Isaiah 52 speaks to this. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.720 It says this in verse number 7. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:14:05.679 It says, How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who herald the gospel, those who proclaim peace and bring good news, who proclaim salvation to those and saying that your king reigns. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:12.480 How how blessed, how glorious are the feet of those who preach the gospel. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.919 Look at these shoes. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:17.120 How glorious are the feet of those who preach the gospel. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:17.759 Look at these. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:29.519 What I'm saying to you is this there's a moment where the Bible says that for the people who carry the responsibility and recognize it's my job to go into different places and to declare the good news. 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:32.960 And that good news is that the king has won. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:38.240 And we're a part of that victory, and he's inviting us to be a part of the biggest celebration. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:55.440 The thing that he brought us victory over is not just that our sins can be forgiven, but he's letting us know that the enemy who has been tormenting your family, he's been defeated, that the sickness that has been tormenting your body has been defeated, that the hopelessness that you feel that will never get any better that has been defeated. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:59.519 And you are able to celebrate a victory that you didn't even have to fight him. 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:03.039 This is why the Bible says the battle is not yours, it's the Lord's. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:09.279 All I have to do is walk in the lineman behind the King of Kings because he's fighting on my behalf. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:12.080 And when we declare it, that is the good news. 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:16.320 That is why we celebrate, that is what we stand in anticipation of. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:21.440 And the beautiful thing is, not only was he victorious, but he's coming back. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:28.159 The king is coming back, and the spoils of that victory will be made available to us. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:31.200 The return of the king is not just wishful thinking. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:41.440 This is not a metaphor, it's not a promise, it's not a promised future that exists within an ether, but this is a reality that Jesus speaks about himself. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:52.720 On the night before he went to the cross, which I really believe that when you study the words of a person who know they're about to die and they're still declaring these things, it would seem that those are things we need to pay attention to. 00:15:52.879 --> 00:16:03.600 So as Jesus is literally preparing to go to the cross, he says to his disciples in John 14, verses 2 through 3, he says, In my father's house are many rooms. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:08.320 If it were not so, would I have told you that I'm going to a place to prepare for you? 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:17.360 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, you may also be. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:22.720 Jesus literally stakes his integrity, his character on this promise. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:33.200 And he says that just as surely as I was born, and just as surely as I live, just as surely as I died, and just as surely as I was resurrected, I am also coming back. 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:44.799 The good news is not just one aspect of that, but the gospel message is not that just Jesus came, but it's that he came, he lived, he died, he was resurrected, and he's coming again. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:46.639 Jesus is saying that it's all connected. 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:49.759 My return is just as important as what I did on the cross. 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:52.399 My return is just as important as my birth. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:55.519 My return is just as important as the resurrection. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:57.120 Jesus connects it all together. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.519 He stakes his very identity on it. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:04.960 After the resurrection, the disciples are watching Jesus ascend into the heavens. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:13.119 And the Bible says that as they were watching, enamored and filled with emotions and confusion, that two angels appear next to the disciples. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:19.440 Acts chapter 1, verse 11, and they said this, Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into heaven? 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:27.519 This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will come in the same way that you've seen him going into heaven. 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:34.960 That says that the same way that you've seen Jesus leave is the same way that you're going to see him return. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:43.039 This same Jesus, our loving Savior, the one who was crucified, the one who has been resurrected, will also personally come back. 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:46.880 Scripture underscores this reality over and over again. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:55.839 In fact, one Bible teacher noted that there are references to the return of Christ that outnumber the references to his original birth. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:58.079 It's outnumbered by a factor of eight to one. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:05.680 By some accounts, 23 of the 27 books of the New Testament explicitly mention the return of Christ. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:11.200 Over 300 passages in the New Testament refer to the return of Christ. 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:17.279 That means roughly one in every 30 verses talks about the return of Christ. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:22.960 It's as if God is trying to reinforce an idea that we could sometimes forget. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:37.839 It's almost as if God knew that we would grow weary, skeptical, and doubtful, and so he made sure that he wove in over and over again to make sure that we never lose sight of the fact that Jesus is coming back, and our responsibility is to be ready. 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:42.000 The beautiful thing is that the early church, they lived in this tension. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:48.160 In fact, they would often greet each other and say a statement to one another to kind of continue to put this in front of them. 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:50.319 They would use a phrase called Maranatha. 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.519 Somebody say Maranatha. 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:54.000 Come on, y'all guys learn Aramaic now. 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:54.640 Like, watch this. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:19:02.720 Maranatha is an Aramaic word that literally says, Oh, come, Lord Jesus, or Lord Jesus, come. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:13.200 And the believers would say these words to one another as a single statement, a way to encourage one another to remind them that no matter what's going on in their life, that Jesus was going to return. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:24.000 So the Maranatha phrase was meant to serve as an invitation into your situation, but also a declaration and a reminder that your present state is not the final state that Jesus is going to come back. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.920 So it had two different purposes to it. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:30.480 If your kids are acting up, Maranatha, Lord, I need you to get involved because I'm about to lose my mind up in here. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:35.599 If your spouse is acting up, Lord Maranatha, I need you to get involved in a situation, but watch this. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.960 There's chaos in the land. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:38.720 That the government is wilding out. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.599 I don't have any peace. 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:44.079 Maranatha, the Lord's going to come and he's going to bring hope and restoration. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:55.119 That phrase was meant to be a part of the bedrock of their faith where they never lost sight that my present pain is not worthy to be compared to the glory that will eventually be revealed in us. 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.240 Now here's what we know. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:20:00.240 We see that Scripture over and over again reinforces the return of Christ. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:03.440 If we're looking at the Word of God, it's it's saturated there. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:10.640 But where there's been much room for discussion and debate is the manner in which Jesus will indeed return. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:20.799 One of the things that I've learned as I began to grow in my faith and begin to enter into academic spaces, I used to believe that when you have an answer, that answer is the only answer. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:29.440 But then as I began to study scholars and theologians and be exposed to doctorate-level thinking, what I've realized is there's a tension that different people wrestle with. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:37.759 So the debate within the academic space isn't if Jesus is going to return, but there is discussion on how his return is going to look. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:45.839 Many of us, we I know early in my faith tradition, my my theology on the return of Christ was highly influenced by the Left Behind series. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:50.160 I got any Left Behind, um, we're gonna have a trauma group. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:21:00.640 If you don't know anything about Left Behind, it's it's the it's the idea of the rapture that everything is going good one day, and then in the snap of an eye, in like a just one moment, all the Christians disappear. 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:04.240 That means if a if you had a Christian pilot, good luck. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.079 Like it was like gone. 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:12.319 So like so the left behind series kind of accentuated the idea that Jesus is gonna come back, every Christian is gonna be raptured. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:15.839 Like, I know that I had a couple of people that were on my rapture list. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:19.759 That if I woke up in the morning and things felt a little bit off, I'm like, like, where's everybody at? 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.400 I would call my grandma. 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.759 I'm like, hey, she answered the phone. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:22.400 Jesus didn't come back. 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:24.400 Because if he was coming back for somebody, he'd definitely taken her. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:29.039 Like, I had my rapture list of people that I knew that if devil didn't make it, then nobody's making it. 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:32.400 So my grandma was on that list, my mom was on that list, I wasn't on that list. 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:34.079 So I was I was trying to get on a nerd coat. 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:36.079 So we all had our rapture list. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:38.079 We're gonna talk about that more on Wednesday. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:42.000 But but the Left Behind series kind of really scarred and terrified many of us. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:50.319 So people are saying it doesn't make any sense that if Jesus comes back and he raptures or takes away every living Christian, it'll be chaos. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:52.799 And the Bible says God's not the author of confusion. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.440 Is that gonna be the ushering in of the tribulation period? 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:56.640 What is that all gonna look like? 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:02.240 And again, we'll talk about that on Wednesday, but it does create Lot of discussion and debate. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.880 Some people say that Jesus has already come back. 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:14.480 There was a secret return, and that many missed it, and that right now we're living in that age of tribulation, and there's going to be an ultimate, it's a two-part second return. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:18.400 That part one is he raptures the church, part two will be when he comes back for judgment. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:21.519 So there's these different theological frameworks for it. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:26.640 Now I'm going to simply present to you what scripture says, and you can come to your own conclusion. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:35.680 What I truly believe is that Jesus has not returned as of yet, because the Bible makes it very clear that the second coming of Christ will not be a secret. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:39.920 It makes it very clear that the second coming of Christ will not be something that, hey, did I miss it? 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.720 Did I not miss it? 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:43.920 The Bible defines, hey, when he comes back, you'll know. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:47.440 Here's how Jesus describes it in Matthew 24, 27. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:54.559 He says, For as lightning comes from the east and flashes as far to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.680 Think about that. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:59.680 Lightning that is so bright that it literally illuminates the sky. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:05.920 I feel like right now we're in a stage right now of like the days of Noah where it's raining nonstop, at least where it is out in my house. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:13.440 And so I know that there are times where lightning's so bright that I'm not even facing outside, but I can see the illumination that is taking place. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:18.559 What scripture defines it says that's not even an inkling of what it will be like when Christ returns. 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:23.839 It'll be so bright, it'll be so evident that reality will recognize that Christ has returned. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.240 Jesus continues on this in verse number 30. 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:32.720 He says, The sun, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the peoples on earth will mourn. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:38.319 They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.519 I want you to hear me. 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.559 The first time Jesus came, it was in humility. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:46.400 The first time Jesus came, it was in obscurity in Bethlehem. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:50.319 The second time he comes, it will be undeniable majesty. 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:53.759 Revelation echoes this same thing in Revelation chapter 1, verse 7. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:24:00.799 It says, Look, he's coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:04.559 All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him, so it will be. 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.279 Amen. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.319 I want y'all to hear this. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:09.680 It says, Every eye will see when Jesus returns. 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.440 It says, even those who pierced him. 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:11.920 Watch this. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:16.160 The people who pierced Jesus, they're dead and gone, but they're going to see him. 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:21.200 That means that everybody will see Jesus, the dead and the living. 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:25.920 That means that every person who's ever lived at some point is going to see Jesus. 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:32.319 This is why the Bible says, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:39.759 That means that everyone who has ever existed at some point is going to lock eyes with Jesus and be rendered to surrender to that. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.839 His return will not be a secret. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:46.000 His return will not be something that we are wondering if it happened and if we missed it. 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:51.359 The Bible makes it clear that the return of Christ will be very evident and everybody will see it. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:57.279 Matthew chapter 24, 31 says that when he returns, it's going to be loud. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:05.759 In fact, he says that he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds of the earth into the other ends of the sky. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:14.000 That means that when he comes back, there's going to be a party, a procession, like trumpets are being played in preparation for the return of the king. 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:17.119 This is why when I hear a train go by, I'm like, is that the return? 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.839 Because I never know. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:20.559 I hear the trumpets, I hear the sounds like it sounds like that could be heaven. 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.680 Like, is this, should I pull over? 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:23.920 I don't want to crash my car because I'm going with him on that one. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:29.200 But but what my what I'm saying is there's this idea that trumpets are going to usher in. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:39.039 If you ever watch anything with regality, you'll see that before a king enters a room, there's almost like this sound that goes before it that announces the return of the king. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:41.519 Scripture is supporting that very idea. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:46.000 Paul says it this way that when he comes back, it will be undeniable. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:48.319 It'll be a moment that we didn't anticipate. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:55.680 1 Thessalonians 5, 2 says, For we know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in a night. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:58.240 That sounds a little bit scary, doesn't it? 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:00.720 Because when we think about a thief in a night, that's like terrifying. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:02.640 It seems like something's going to be taken from us. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:04.640 Like you don't know when a thief is coming. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:07.359 Well, I do, because I have the ring app, I have a whole bunch of cameras around my house. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.880 I got something for the thief if you show up at my house. 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:11.279 But what I'm saying is back then they didn't have that technology. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:18.559 So for them, the thief in the night metaphor was simply saying, we don't know, we can't anticipate it, but we need to be in preparation for it. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.720 Jesus warned that when he returns, it'll be just like in the days of Noah. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:28.240 If you read Genesis chapter 6 all the way through 11, you'll realize that people were just living their everyday life. 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:30.799 And Noah was given the assignment to build the ark. 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:35.359 And as he was building the ark, people were saying, Noah, what are you preparing for? 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:37.200 I'm preparing for rain. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.880 Noah, what's rain? 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:40.799 Because it never rained up until that point. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:45.839 But but Noah was building in preparation of what God had told him to expect. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:51.839 He didn't know when it was going to happen, but he knew he had to respond to it in the same way that we as followers of Christ today. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:54.000 We don't know when Jesus is going to return. 00:26:54.160 --> 00:27:02.400 But much like Noah, we need to be in preparation and inviting as many people to join this ark as humanly possible because that is our assignment. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:09.039 Over and over again, we see that there's no countdown clock given, but nonetheless, we have clarity of what it's going to look like. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:14.400 Revelation 19 beautifully gives us a glimpse of what the return of the king is going to look like. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.880 It says that the heavens are going to be opened. 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:19.200 There will be a rider on a white horse. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:21.440 He's called faithful and true. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:28.559 His eyes are like fire, wearing many crowns, his robe dipped in blood, the armies of heaven following him. 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:37.279 And John writes that on his robe and on his thigh he has a name that is written, and that name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:40.799 The first time Jesus came, he wore a crown of thorns. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:44.079 The next time he comes, he's wearing a crown of authority. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:47.279 The first time he came, he was mocked as the king of Jews. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:51.119 But the next time he comes, creation will know him as the king of the universe. 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:54.559 The first time he came, he was called the lamb that was slain. 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:57.839 But the next time he comes, he will be known as the lion who reigns. 00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:08.000 That when Jesus comes back, we will see a different dimension and aspect of his character where he will no longer be the suffering servant, but he will be the king who reigns in all of glory. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:10.720 And Paul refers to this as the blessed hope. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.799 This is what we are anticipating. 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:14.880 This is what we're in expectation of. 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:20.799 But it's not that just he's coming back, but it's what does his coming back mean practically for us. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:27.440 I have three principles that I want to encourage us with, and the clock is telling me that I have a minute and 43 seconds. 00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:31.599 So prophetically, the Spirit of the Lord is telling me, that's not gonna happen. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:34.400 But we're gonna get done as quickly as we can. 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:36.720 Here's the first thing that I want you to write down. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:40.000 The king's return, it means this the king redeems his people. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:44.640 That when the king returns, he's coming to redeem his people. 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.839 Paul says that he gave himself to redeem us. 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:50.960 That word redeem means to pay the ransom. 00:28:51.200 --> 00:29:03.759 That was a language that was used, that was often referred to when a slave was purchased back, their debt was paid, that the that the cost of their servanthood was now paid, and now they were set free. 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.519 The king has set us free. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:07.039 Now, quick theology lesson. 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:09.519 The Bible says that we're born in sin and shaped in iniquity. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:16.160 That means that because of Adam and Eve's sin, they were the representative of all mankind, so their violation was passed on to us. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:21.200 It's like when you're on a team and somebody may commit a foul, but the entire team experiences the penalty. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:22.480 That's what happened with humanity. 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:29.279 Adam and Eve, they were the representatives of mankind because they rebelled against God, that rebellious nature was then passed on to us. 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:33.039 So scripture refers to that sin nature as a debt. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:37.200 And the Bible says that the wages of sin, the price of that, is death. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:41.359 That means that something had to die in order to pay the price to cover our sins. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:43.279 Let me go a little bit deeper in theology. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:48.720 The Bible says that when Adam and Eve were created, that they were naked and unashamed, just walking around, just letting it all flow. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:50.480 Naked and unashamed, life is good. 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:56.240 But when they sinned, they recognized their nakedness and they went and tried to cover their nakedness in their own strength. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.680 They went and got fig leaves. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:06.480 That means when we try to create our own righteousness, that means for those of us that whenever we make mistakes and we haven't surrendered our life to Christ, we try to create our own righteousness. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:10.160 We try to create our own fig leaves, we try to create our own path of redemption. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:13.119 But when God confronts Adam and says, Where are you? 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.480 Who told you you were naked? 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:20.960 The Bible then says that God killed an animal and covered them with animal skins, and that is where the redemptive process started. 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:24.000 That meant that something had to die in order to cover your sins. 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:28.240 That was meant to be a reminder of mankind that the price of sin is costly. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:37.920 So now we continue to perpetuate this idea that over and over again that man would sin, something would die to cover man's sin, and that is the redemptive process. 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:44.640 So Jesus came and he died as a representative of mankind, and he took all that debt to the cross. 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:47.839 In fact, Paul describes it this way in Colossians chapter 2. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:54.640 He says, He erased the certificate of debt with its obligations that was against us and that opposed us. 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:57.680 And he has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:31:02.559 He disarmed the rulers and the authorities and disgraced them publicly, and he triumphed over them. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:11.920 In other words, what Paul is saying is the debt that we inherited as being people who were made in the image of Adam and Eve, that sin debt was paid by Jesus. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:18.240 And when Jesus went to the cross, he nailed our sins to the cross, which now means that our debt has been paid. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:22.319 Now, I'm not sure if you know what it feels like when you finally pay off something. 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:24.319 Come on, Ilya, you know what I'm talking about. 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:26.400 Financial Peace University, you know what I'm talking about. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:29.279 Like that, that debt has a way of limiting what we can do. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.480 It limits our dreams. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:33.839 But when you are debt-free, there's a freedom that you have in your life. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:38.480 What the Bible says is that sin was a debt that we never could pay our way out of. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:45.440 But thanks be to God that Jesus paid that sin debt, so now we are free in Christ and we no longer have to pay the price for it. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:47.519 That's the beginning of the redemption process. 00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:50.480 So at the cross, Christ conquered sin. 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:52.880 At the resurrection, he conquered death. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:56.240 And at his return, redemption will be completed. 00:31:56.400 --> 00:32:01.599 That means that our bodies will be restored back to God's original intent. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:07.279 Romans 8 22 says, For we know that the all of creation has been groaning together with labor pains. 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:18.640 Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruit of the Spirit, also grown within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption and the redemption of our bodies. 00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:28.480 That means that even though we are now debt-free, we still are living in bodies that are still dealing with the consequences of that debt. 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:33.759 This is the pain that we feel, this is the anguish that we feel, the suffering that we feel. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:38.799 I want us to think about redemption, kind of like the way that we think about when you purchase a home. 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:41.519 There's a moment where you see a home, and maybe it's a fixer-upper. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:52.640 And so you put a down payment on the house, and now that you've got a down payment on the house, you begin going through the inspection process, you do, and then you begin to do some upgrades to the home before you finally move in. 00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:55.680 But when you finally move in, that's the move date. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:58.000