Guess who came to church this morning.

Text: “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on

turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man” (Rev. 1:12 RSV).

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst

of them” (Matt. 18:20 RSV).

Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:9–20

Offertory Prayer: Father God, we come to the church of the living Lord today that we might bow in worship before him. We come bringing tithes and offerings that we might dedicate ourselves to you in your service. Accept these gifts and use them to spread the good new of Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins and his victorious resurrection from the dead that we might have eternal life. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This is Easter Sunday. Guess who came to church this morning! As you look around, you see many familiar faces. They are here every Lord’s Day. You can also see the faces of friends who have moved away but who have returned for this special time of the year. In our joy of greeting and welcoming guests, we need to be cautious lest we overlook the presence of our special Guest this morning.

This is Easter Sunday. This is the one day out of the year in which we celebrate in a special way the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.It is altogether proper that many people come to the house of prayer and worship on this day. It is most appropriate that we should have many guests with us today. If a person could attend church on only one Sunday out of the year, we would not be surprised if he or she chose Easter Sunday for that significant experience.

Easter tells us that Christ’s death on the cross was not a disaster. Easter tells us that love is stronger than hate and that in God’s heart life is stronger than death. Today we recognize that Easter is what gave to us a living Christ, who is to be with us in our hearts all of the time; and he is to be with us in a special way when we come together for worship. He made that promise to his disciples when he said,

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20 RSV).

As the years stretched into decades following the resurrection of our Lord, some people became disillusioned and even depressed; this happened particularly as they experienced persecution and great suffering because of their loyalty to the lordship of Jesus Christ. The book of Revelation was given to John, the beloved apostle, while he was in exile on the Isle of Patmos. He records, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (1:10 RSV), and there came to the eye of his soul a vision of the living Christ: “in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man” (1:13 RSV).

The word translated “in the midst” is the same word found in Matthew 18:20. Today we need to recognize and respond to the promise of this living Lord to meet with his people when they come together for prayer, praise, proclamation, and the purification that comes through confession.

He is here. May you have ears to hear and eyes to see the spiritual reality of his presence.

Our Lord is alive from the dead.

Jesus Christ is not merely a historical figure to whose great deeds we look back with admiration.

He is alive, and we call him Master.

He is alive and has authority over death and the grave.

We speak of him as one who was, but he is also the one who is.

His residence on the earth was only one part of his existence.

His life did not begin in Bethlehem, nor did it conclude when he died on the cross.

He is essentially the Living One John saw our Lord “in the midst” of the churches.

In the person of the Holy Spirit, he came to abide with us and within us.

He is not removed by an immeasurable space from where we are living and laboring.

He is in the midst of us, quite near to us; he is accessible every hour.

He can observe our every action. In the fullest sense, he is with us.

John saw Jesus in the midst of the churches as the ruling Lord.

He is described in terms that emphasize his sovereignty.

During his earthly ministry he exercised authority over disease, the demonic, death, and natural events.

Today we need to recognize the sovereignty of our Lord who manifested himself as love, and we should become the channels for that love to reach others.

Our living Lord came to church today.

As we read the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor that John wrote after his vision of the Lord, we can discover the purpose Christ was for coming to church today.

Christ came to church to commend us.

Christ wants to commend you in every area in which you are seeking to do good.

He wants to affirm you and encourage you.

He sees and knows about your faithfulness and endurance, your generosity, kindness, and helpfulness.

Christ came to church to correct us.

He wants to correct us, not condemn us.

“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but to save the world through him” (John 3:17 NIV).

ii. All of us need to make adjustments in our attitudes, ambitions, and actions.

iii. Jesus wants to help us do so.

d. Christ came to church to cleanse us.

i. From time to time, Jesus not only offered forgiveness, but granted forgiveness to those who came making confession.

ii. Every time we come to God’s house, we need to do some heart searching and put forth a sincere effort to confess and turn from our every sin. J

iii. Jesus is more eager that we experience the joy of cleansing than we realize.

e. Christ came to church to complain.

i.Though he came to complain, he is not a complainer.

ii. He complains if we fail to be our best.

iii. He complains if we disobey God or mistreat others.

iv.He has a right to exercise authority in our lives, and he wants to use us for the glory of God.

f. Christ came to church to comfort us.

i.Some of us are greatly discouraged today.

ii.Some of us are lonely.

iii. Some of us are experiencing the pain of grief.

iv. Jesus Christ will comfort us today if we will listen to him.

f. Christ came to church to commission us.

i. He has work for us to do, ministries for us to fulfill.

ii. A needy world needs to know about the love that took our Savior to the cross and the power that raised him from the dead.

Conclusion

Yes, Christ came to church today.

If you have not yet trusted him as Lord and Savior, he is here to come into your heart and bring you the gifts of forgiveness and new life.

If you have already trusted Christ as Savior, he is here not only to minister to you, but to use you in ministering to others.

This living Christ who has been with us today will go with us when we leave. Recognize him, respond to him, and let him be to you all he is able to be.