Feb. 2003

My Hope in Christ’s Return

Each week I study, learn, and pray about the many lessons one can possibly hope to relay to the ladies in our class through a second language lecture. My prayer often is “Lord teach me what you want me to learn personally, what you want me to relay to our leadership team, and what you want me to relay to each individual class member.”

Each week God gives me something to apply to my life, and then He calls me to be vulnerable to share.

This past week’s lesson was out of John 13 & John 14. Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure (through His death, resurrection, and ascension) and he was promising to return again. So many our Christian doctrinal truths are surfacing through the John study, but I really want to relay to you (our prayer supporters) what God is doing in my life, so you can get a glimpse of your prayer investment.

I find that the Lord has me repeat to these ladies - “take personal ownership to the promises of God”. Often, He shows me a practical way to show them how to do that. Many scriptures outside of John were brought into this week’s lesson concerning the doctrine of Christ’s promised return for his own. I grew in my own confidence to express passionately my hope in Christ’s return. I pray that the members of our class will understand that they too can stand on the promises of God as they learn to personalize the word of God.

Here is just a glimpse of my passion:

HE will return and take ME (his own) back to be with HIM. [John 14:1-4]
HE will return the same way HE ascended - in a heavenly cloud [Acts1:9-11]
Those who have fallen asleep will come down with Jesus [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]
I will hear a loud command from an archangel on a trumpet [1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]
HE will transform MY lowly body to be like HIS glorious body [Philippians 3:20-21
I will be like HIM when he appears [1 John 3:2-3]
HE has granted ME a heavenly citizenship [Philippians 3:20-21]
I will live together with HIM [1 Thessalonians 5:10-11]

I personally find much comfort in the knowledge of a heavenly reunion with my father, my grandparents, my niece and many others who have already gone to the place prepared for them by Jesus.

The Second Coming of Christ - Scripture teaches that Christ’s return will be a physical coming; His appearance will be sudden; His return will be visible, and unexpected. His return also will be followed by the final judgment. [John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Mark 13:26; Luke 12:40; 2 Peter 3:10 helps us better understand this truth.]

The promises of Christ are for every believer.
How will you explain to an unbeliever your hope in Jesus’ return and the assurance of your place in heaven?

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