The Reigning Christ and the Coming King

ascended to heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, thence He will come to judge the living and the dead

Christ’s Ascension

Acts 1:9–11 NIV

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

What happen here is that Jesus PHYSICALLY Ascended to heaven, this was signaling the completion of His earthly ministry and the beginning of His heavenly reign

With this he left us with some important instructions

To Live With Purpose

When Jesus ascended to Heaven He left us with a mission

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Trust in His Presence

When Jesus Left He sent us the Holy Spirit to empower us.

John 16:7 NIV

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Fix Our Eyes on Heaven

Jesus is no longer on earth, He is preparing a place for us

John 14:2–3 NIV

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 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.

So the question is are you living for eternity, or are we being consumed with temporary things

Christ At The Right Hand of the Father- His Authority in our lives

Jesus is not idle, He is reigning with full authority and interceding for us

Romans 8:34 NIV

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

So many times into todays world we have a problem with Authority.

We were rebels when we formed our country

Protestant mean to protest

We feel like we have to have it our way, and if it goes against our way then we fight to have it our way.

But with God, we do not get to set the terms, He is in charge. So many time we try to find ways around it

God calls us to pray/ we pray for a second and we check that box

God calls us to tell people about him/ we tell people they need Jesus but nothing else in a joking matter

God call us to be above repoarch/ but when cornered we lie to get out of trouble

God calls us to follow Him

Matthew 28:18 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

But why do we think we can go against His authority and it be ok?

Luke 6:46 NIV

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

We have to submit to God, and let Him guide our lives, NO RULE our lives. even I had a problem saying it.

Christ has authority in our lives

Christ Will Come Again as a Judge- Are We Ready

Matthew 25:31–34 NIV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead, separating the righteous from the unrighteous.

A few years ago there was a term called YOLO, live with however you want______

but instead we should be living knowing that We might be meeting Christ at anytime, one way or another.___

So we should be living with that in mind

How do we do that?

Live As If Jesus Could Return Today

Are we watching and preparing our hearts 

Matthew 24:42–44 NIV

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Examine Our Faith

Are we truly following Christ, or just going through religious motions

2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Share the Gospel Urgently

Judgment is real. Are we sharing Christ with others before it’s too late

Romans 10:14–15 NIV

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

How Should We Live in Light of Christ’s Ascension & Return?

Trust in Christ’s Reign: No matter what happens, Jesus is in control.

Live as Kingdom Citizens: Our true home is in heaven—live like it

Prepare for His Return: Jesus is coming back. Will He find us faithful?

As we transition to the Lord’s Table I want to leave you with this verse

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Lord’s Table

Talking about the return of Christ we remember What He did with these elements

1 Corinthians 11:26 NIV

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

We Do this until He comes back

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 NIV

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”