A Longing for His Coming Part 1

The King is Coming

We are so blessed with the favor of our God to live in a time in history and in a nation where we can, at this time, gather together in the name of Jesus Christ to worship, fellowship, study the Word of God without having to be in hiding for our very lives each moment. The highest form of patriotism we can display is to live Christ to the fullest. Our highest devotion is to His Kingdom from which all blessings and favor flow to any nation or people who keep His commandments and judgements in righteousness. A higher devotion to anything else He considers idolatry.

But for Israel, they survived many centuries of extreme persecution and efforts to wipe them and their faith in the Lord off the face of the earth.

For the generations who found themselves in captivity and oppression, they longed for a deliverer. For those generations who lived in peace and security, they often exchanged that longing of a Messiah for a longing for the ways of the wicked. In every generation there were those who, regardless of the circumstances of the day, longed for the coming of the King Messiah. The King Messiah would be the eternal divine Messiah establishing an eternal throne but how or where they had their own opinions. But there were some common beliefs about the coming of Messiah.

They believed the King Messiah would be the following:

1. Redeemer Hebrews 9:12

Hebrews 9:12 ESV

he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

2. Restorer Hebrews 10:14

Hebrews 10:14 ESV

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Perfected: שָׁלוֹם shalem, from the root shalom or perfect peace having been made healthy, made whole, complete through deliverance and salvation.

a. He restores Hearts - Psalm 147:3

Psalm 147:3 ESV

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

b. He restores Lives - 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

c. He restores Relationships - James 5:16

James 5:16 ESV

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

3. Reconciler Ephesians 2:14-16

Ephesians 2:14–16 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

They believed that the King Messiah would do the following:

1. Defeat His Enemies (Sin, Death, Hell, Satan)

Colossians 2:15 ESV

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Romans 6:6 ESV

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Hebrews 2:14 ESV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

2. Build a New Temple (You are that Temple if indeed the Holy Spirit dwells within you.)

John 2:19–21 ESV

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

3. Establish Eternal Justice (His Kingdom is Eternal Justice)

2 Peter 1:11 ESV

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Luke 17:21 ESV

nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

“In the midst of you” is in Hebrew בְּקִרְבְּכֶם (be-qare’-be-kem) meaning among you and within your inner most parts.

As believers and followers of the King Messiah who came and fulfilled all of these things, should we not live as if these things I have shown you are true? And if indeed He is risen and returning, should we not live as if He still has the power to do these things in us and others?

To live any other way is to deny the power of His name, the power of His Word, the power of His death and resurrection and deny the reality of His return. The King, the one true sovereign authority over the souls of men and the powers of all heaven and earth is coming again.

Acts 1:10–11 ESV

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthew 24:42 ESV

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

I have performed many weddings throughout my years of ministry. And I have found that those who have any waiting period before the wedding struggle the most with that longing for deeper intimacy. So, until then, to honor the Lord, they must set boundaries and have high levels of accountability.

Oh that the bride of Christ would have such a strong longing in her soul for that deep intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ until His return. And that the church would not compromise with culture or the ways of the flesh but would honor the Lord by truly keeping His commandments. Not commandments of ordinances of religious practice but commands of the heart, mind and soul that honor Him in righteousness. Like a bride with an engagement ring on her finger, may we bear the mark of His covenant as promise keepers of the vows of life we have made to Him in salvation.

John 3:29–34 ESV

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.” He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

Do you believe this to be true? What are you needing or not allowing Him to completely and perfectly redeem, restore, reconcile, defeat, rebuild, and establish in your heart, life or relationships by the way of His Kingdom? Whatever it is or was, whoever it is or was, let His Kingdom have His way in your inner most parts today. The King is not just coming again, but His Spirit and Kingdom are here now. Profess and resolve today, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in me Lord.”