The Greatest ComeBack Story
The ComeBack: Rise Up • Sermon • Submitted
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· 276 viewsGod not only has powerful arms to deliver, protect, overcome, and restore, but he also keeps His Word as eternal life my start here on earth, but we will join Him in the air for Jesus is our Soon Coming King.
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Great ComeBack Stories
Great ComeBack Stories
EXAMPLES:
the year was 1993 on January 3, backup quarterback Frank Reich was trying to lead the Buffalo Bills to victory over the Houston Oilers in an American Football Conference.
At half-time Buffalo was behind 28-3. What would happen in the second-half?
Houston strong safety Bubba McDowell intercepted a pass from Reich, who was filling in for the injured Jim Kelly. McDowell ran 58 yards for another Oiler touchdown, putting the score at 35-3. At this point, many Bills fans headed home out of the chilly western New York weather, convinced the game was lost.
On the very next possession, however, Buffalo began to rally, driving 50 yards in 10 plays and scoring a touchdown.
Bills kicker Steve Christie then recovered his own onside kick to give Reich the ball. Reich needed only four plays that time, connecting with Don Beebe on a 38-yard touchdown to put the score at 35-17.
Then the Bills’ defense gave Buffalo possession again, and Reich capitalized by finding Andre Reed for a 26-yard touchdown.
On the Houston Oilers’ next drive, Bills safety Henry Jones intercepted a deflected pass for a 15-yard return, enabling Reich to find Reed for another score.
By that point, the Bills had cut their deficit to four points.
After the Oilers botched a field goal attempt and turned the ball over again, Reich made a 17-yard touchdown pass to Reed to put Buffalo up 38-35 with less than three minutes left in regulation.
In the waning seconds of the game, Houston’s made a 26-yard field goal kick to tie the score and send the game into overtime.
On a Houston drive, the Bills defensive back Nate Odomes intercepted a pass.
Davis made two six-yard rushes, and Christie stepped up for a 32-yard field goal attempt. He booted the ball through the uprights, winning the game for Buffalo 41-38 and completing the largest comeback victory (32 points) in National Football League (NFL) history.
The Bills made it to the Super Bowl that year but lost to the Dallas Cowboys.
Whatever the sport or whatever—there will always be comebacks.
Such as
John Schlitt, leader singer for Head East fired due to Cocaine addiction then saved and became one of the greatest singers in Christian music.
Who could argue about the IMPACT
Billy Graham made in winning souls. What a significant impact as an Evangelist in our day and time.
Graham preached to live audiences of 210 million people in more than 185 countries
Graham was a spiritual adviser to U.S. presidents from Harry S. Truman (33rd) to Barack Obama (44th).
According to his staff, more than 3.2 million people have responded to the invitation at Billy Graham Crusades to "accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior"
Graham had been turned down for membership in a local youth group for being "too worldly" when Albert McMakin, who worked on the Graham farm, persuaded him to go and see the evangelist Mordecai Ham. According to his autobiography, Graham was 16 in 1934 when he was converted during a series of revival meetings that Ham led in Charlotte.
How many people could you impact in your life?
Not yet but in all your life.
maybe you feel your life doesn’t really matter—well that is the WRONG ATTITUDE!
GOD MADE YOU!
JESUS DIED FOR YOU!
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS READY TO USE YOU!
Preparation matters:
education,
attitude,
lifestyle,
missed moments… It all matters!!
How many people did Jesus impact?
Historian Philip Schaff described the overwhelming influence which Jesus had on the world saying: “This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon…”
HIS IMPACT ISN’T OVER:
Jesus is the greatest ComeBack story of all time!
Why? Because God is the most powerful of all times.
God not only has powerful arms to
deliver us, protect us, overcome for us, and restore us...
He also keeps His Word, just like eternal life start here on earth, but we will join Him in the air for Jesus is our Soon Coming King.
Has Jesus impact your life?
He lived
He died for you
He overcame Satan
He rose again, and
He is coming again
Foursquare Cardinal view of Jesus starts with “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
Jesus our Savior
Jesus our Baptizer
Jesus our Healer
Jesus our Soon Coming King
On the Day Jesus was Ascended into heaven, angels said to the disciples...
Acts 1.11
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
I know we plan our day, our week, our months—year… But the Day of the Lord isn’t on our calendar. It will be a surprise.
When Jesus returns for the Greatest ComeBack...
#1. It will be a surprise
2 Peter 3:10
10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
When Jesus returns for the Greatest ComeBack...
#2. Everything on the earth will be found to deserve judgement.
2 Pet. 3:3-4
3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.
4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”
2 Pet.3.9
9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
When Jesus returns for the Greatest ComeBack...
#3. He will come in revelation power with Mighty Angels
2 thess. 1:7
7 and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.
Billy Graham once said, “When Jesus comes back he won’t be riding a donkey...he will be coming with his mighty angles from heaven.”
This revelation is brought full circle in Rev. 1:7 as the world mourns over him...
Rev. 1.7
Revelation 1:7 (NLT)
7 Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!
The revealing of Jesus on that Day will be like the unveiling of a GREAT work of art being dedicated with great anticipation.
On one hand--THERE WILL BE A GREAT CELEBRATION FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
But on the other hand THIS WILL BE A DAY REVEALING JUDGEMENT on those WHO DID NOT BELIEVE.
2 Thess. 1.8-9
8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.
9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.
Those who did not believe in God’s Son, Jesus will catch a glimpse of ALL of God’s Glory for a moment and then they will be forever separated from the Lord.
They will have seen the Glory, but will not be able to experience it being separated forever from God.
Let his Revelation Power work today so that on that Great Day you will be celebrating in that Glory of God’s presence with those who believed.
Hallelujah!
When Jesus returns for the Greatest ComeBack...
#4. He will come with a shout and a trumpet call.
“Trumpet call” definition:
a blast made by a trumpet that serves as a SUMMONS or call.
Like the fanfare that brings in the queen of England!
Hear the Scripture...
1 thess. 4.16
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
My Dad always said… the reason why the dead had to rise first was because they had 6 additional feet to go—thus they needed a head start!
One passage said, that the shout of one angel shook the pillars of the temple.
This shout will shake our inner pillar and we will rise up to meet him—YES THE GREATEST COMEBACK EVER!
When we rise to meet him, we will worship him with all of our might== but one of the greatest things that we will ponder is what we have become as the glorified Body of Christ.
Sir Christopher Wren redesigned St. Paul’s Cathedral in London starting in 1669 with the first stone laid in 1675.
Inside there is a plaque...
“if you seek the monument for Sir Christopher Wren—look about you— this is his monument.”
We we get to heaven you and I will be will be the memorial of Jesus Christ — for we are his Body!
7 SIGNS OF THE LORD’S RETURN
1- “He said there will be wars and rumors of wars.”
Matt. 24.6-7
6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.
7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
SIGNS OF THE LORD’S RETURN
2- He said, “Many will come in my name saying, ‘I’m Christ.’”
Matt. 24.5
5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.
SIGNS OF THE LORD’S RETURN
3- it will be like in the times of Noah.
Matthew. 24.37-39
37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.
38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.
39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
SIGNS OF THE LORD’S RETURN
4- Jesus said there would be famines in many places and pestilences.
Matt. 24.7
7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
Luke 21.11
11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
SIGNS OF THE LORD’S RETURN
5- Sin will grow rampant
Matt. 24.12
12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.
SIGNS OF THE LORD’S RETURN
6- There will be an increase of earthquakes.
Matt. 24.6
7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
SIGNS OF THE LORD’S RETURN
7- This will lead to a climatic end where the earth will melt away
2 Peter 3.10
10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
SO WHAT KIND OF LIFE SHOULD WE LIVE?
A LIFE WRAPPED UP ON PLEASURE AND COMFORT?
No.
A LIFE FOCUSED ON DOING FOR SELF?
No.
Peter answers the question...
2 Peter 3.11
11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?
What impact can we make in our lifetime?
We must
“Prepare to meet our God” Amos 4:12b
Eph. 2.10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.