This Same Jesus
This Same Jesus
Nambucca CLC 3rd April 2005 PM Service
Subject: Jesus
Theme: This same Jesus
Point 1. This same Jesus Eternal & Unchanging.
Point 2. This same Jesus indwelling
Point 3. This same Jesus returning
Introduction
Acts 1:8-11 (NKJV)
8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Point 1. This same Jesus Eternal & Unchanging.
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever
The plan of God to redeem the human race did not originate in the Garden of Eden after Adam & Eve sinned. God was not surprised when this happened. He did not say ‘oops, what are we going to do now?’
No. God had a plan. The plan was established and settled as a done deal before the universe was created. Before the very foundations of the Earth were laid. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit had agreed on how it was all going to happen. How to bring into existence a race of creatures that had never existed before. He called them ‘man’; a race of super beings unlike any other in heaven. Godlike in their power to think for themselves and to create anything their mind could imagine. They were to be a people who could enjoy a meaningful relationship with God at the highest level and who would choose to do so of their own free will.
Let me share with you some of the scriptures;
Examples from verse list
Before the Foundation of the World Verse List
Matthew 13:35
35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
Matthew 25:34
34 “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Luke 11:50
50 “that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation,
John 17:24
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:4
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
Hebrews 4:3
3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 9:26
26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
1 Peter 1:20
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
Revelation 13:8
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17:8
8 “…………..And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world,
He has always been there. With the Father, the living word of God. When God spoke at creation it was the word of God. When Ezekiel saw visions of heaven they saw the Son of Man
Daniel 7:13-14 (NKJV)
13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
Ezekiel 1:26-28 (NKJV)
26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.
27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around.
28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
The Apostle John saw the risen Christ in Heaven and described him like this; Revelation 1:12-18 (NKJV)
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;
16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
What does this mean to us?
It means that this faith we believe is not a temporary thing. It does not change with the seasons. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday the same today and the same forever. What he did back then, he will do today and he can be trusted to do again tomorrow and everyday until He returns. This same Jesus that healed the sick and raised the dead can never change. It’s written in the book. If He said it it’s in the book. It is unchangeable and immovable.
Point 2. This same Jesus indwelling
John 14:16-17 (NKJV)
16 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
17 “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
Remember the plan. He was always going to die. He was always going to be raised from the dead. The plan was for us, His people to be in relationship with Him. To fulfill the plan to bring into being a whole world full of people who call on His name. How did He do it? It is a very clever plan. Jesus explained it to His disciples at the last supper. He told them He had to go. But that He would send another; to dwell within them. To equip them for ministry, to empower them to conquer the world and perform signs and wonders as they fulfill the great commission; to go out into the entire world. Preach the gospel and demonstrate their authority with Jesus Himself there to back them up with miracles.
The Apostle Paul got it. He was the first to realize what was going on. He explained it as a mystery a hidden truth.
Colossians 1:26-27 (NKJV)
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Jesus Christ in you. The anointed one Jesus and His anointing in you. Every one of you has the potential to bring the lord Jesus in all His Glory and power to every one you meet. Have you noticed how some Christians just shine. The glow with the Glory of God on them.
Point 3. This same Jesus returning
Lastly this same Jesus is coming back. It’s a fact. It’s getting very close. We appear to be right at that pivotal point in history that will bring forth the return of Jesus. It’s not a game any more. We can’t play church any more. He’s coming back for His people first to meet them in the air. Then He comes to Earth with us behind Him to bring judgement and wind the whole thing up. This Earth is just about worn out. The signs of wear and tear are happening all too frequently just as He said it would in the last days.
When He comes what will he find in the Earth? He told the Apostles that He wondered if He would find faith in the Earth when He returned. If the rapture or taking away of the church and all the pain of the tribulation does not cause a widespread repentance and turning to God I don’t know what will. But He’s coming back. Will you be one of those called to meet him in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 (NKJV)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Chapter 5: 1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
The Bible ends with a promise: A promise that He comes quickly and a prayer that it be so. This should be a time of rejoicing not a time of pain and grief: A time of celebration not a time of judgement. Are you sure that you are on the right side of that question. If Jesus were to return tonight would you welcome Him or would you try to hide from Him.
Conclusion
You can settle that matter right now if you choose. That is the plan; remember. You have to choose. You cannot stand before God and say but no one told me. If you have been coming here for a while you will have heard the Gospel message many times, but you may have thought that you had plenty of time. Now you know that you don’t have much time. He could return at any moment and you need to realise that you really should not gamble with your life and your eternal destiny. You were made for a purpose you have an awesome destiny in God. Your name needs to be in the Lamb’s book of life. This same Jesus is calling you today just like he called Peter, James and John; just like he called the apostle Paul; just like he called Martin Luther, John Wesley, Charles Finney, Smith Wigglesworth, Amy Semple McPherson, Kathryn Kuhlman, Benny Hinn, Oral Roberts, Reinhart Bonnke, Brian & Bobbie Houston, Steve & Bev Spence, Peter & Barbara Lott, and every other believer here today. This same Jesus is calling you.
Won’t you choose today?