Pastor Matt Hagee: "The Promise of His Return"

Hello and welcome to this Sunday conversation. For the past few weeks, we've been discussing the reality of the resurrection and considering Pastor Hegy's devotional, From tomb to triumph, and how you can experience the joy of the resurrection in your everyday life. Today, I want to conclude this conversation by giving you some thoughts from Acts 1 and verse 11.

Here's what the Bible says. It says, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come in like manner just as you saw him go." For the last two weeks, we've been discussing Bible truths about the resurrection taken from Pastor Hegy's latest devotional, From Tomb to Triumph, and how you can claim the victory of the resurrection in your everyday life.

This devotional will encourage you every day by reminding you of the reality of Christ's victory over death and his sacrifice at the cross and what that means to you and I. But today, I want us to look at the words spoken by the angels to the disciples in Acts chapter 1 and consider what they mean for us today and in the future.

This is the ascension of Christ into heaven that is recorded in the gospels as well as the book of acts because it is the passing of the torch so to speak between the earthly ministry of Christ and the beginning of the work of the church that Christ came to establish.

Now, I intentionally use the terms the earthly ministry of Christ and the church so that you and I don't get confused or disqualify ourselves from our work and responsibility in the earth today. First, let's talk about the term the earthly ministry. The reason I say earthly ministry of Christ is because he is still ministering.

He's just no longer doing it like he was doing when he was here on the earth. Now he ministers in heaven where the Bible says he is seated at the right hand of God the father according to Philippians chapter 2 and verse 9. In Hebrews chapter 4:es 1-6 we read that he is our high priest ministering in heavenly places making sacrifices for us of a more excellent ministry and a mediator of a better covenant which was established on better promises.

The point is Christ is still ministering. He's still working. He's still keeping his promises found in his word. Also consider what Jesus said in John 14:es 2 and 3. He said, "In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not true, I would have told you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am, there you may be."

Also, one of the things that Christ is working on is the preparation for when we all get to heaven. But look at this promise in verse in John 14 and consider what we read in Acts chapter 1. In John 14, he says, "I will come again." It's the same promise from Acts 1.

This same Jesus will return in like manner as you have seen him go. Now, here's the second thing that I want you to consider. This is not the end of Christ's ministry, but this is the beginning of the work of the church. Not just the apostles. While it begins with the apostles, it includes everyone who calls Christ Savior and Lord on the earth today.

We are as much a part of the work as the apostles were. We have as much responsibility to fulfill the great commission now as they did then. And the work will not end until Christ returns in the clouds just as he promised. In Ephesians chapter 2:es 19- 22, we're reminded that we are a part of the work that God is doing.

That Christ began and the apostles continued but is still required to be done even to this day. Here's what Ephesians says. Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building is being fitted together grows into the holy temple in the Lord.

The message, the point, we have work to do right here and right now. Why? Because Jesus is coming back and our responsibility is to do the work until he returns. He knows when that will be. It's not our job to worry about the timing. It's ours to do the work while we have time.

The reason I want you to think of it not as the apostles work or that Christ isn't still working is because sometimes we create the idea that we're just in some cosmic holding pattern waiting for the trumpet to sound instead of doing what he has commanded us to do.

And that is to go and make disciples to preach the gospel to every nation. We're not here to watch and wait. We're here to work and do his will and build his kingdom. In Luke 19, Jesus told a very powerful parable of the kingdom. He said, "The nobleman went to a far country to receive a kingdom and to return.

And he called his servants and told them, do business until I come." the message. We have work to do. When you read the full parable in Luke 19, the servants were judged based on the work they did while the master was gone. The point is you and I will be judged in the same way based on the work that we do while he is gone.

So now let's look again at Acts 1:es 10- 11. It says, "And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 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 have seen him go into heaven."

Think about this scene. The disciples have been through so much in the past few days. So many ups and downs from the triumphal entry to the arrest. They are aruck, gazing at him as long as they can think of it. He was there and he was gone. He was arrested.

He was crucified. Then he rose again. And now he's gone again. Question, will he come back? Another question, what do we do now? Another question, where do we begin? And that's when they're interrupted by two men dressed in white who tell them clearly, he will be back in the same way that you saw him leave.

He literally left in the clouds and he will literally come back in the clouds. I love their reassurance. This same Jesus. That's what the Bible says. Not a different one, but the same one, the same healer, the same savior, the same merciful and loving and faithful friend. The message is clear.

Jesus does not change with time. He doesn't move with politics. He doesn't adapt to the culture. He doesn't evolve. Hebrews 13:8 says he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And so these men ask a question of the apostles that requires an answer. Why do you stand there gazing?

Jesus had given clear instructions. Go make disciples of all nations. They weren't rebuking the disciples. They were reminding them, you have work to do. It's going to start in Jerusalem, but it's going to go over all of the world. And I think that that's a question that should be asked and answered in this generation.

Why do we just stand there? Go to work. Preach the gospel. Make disciples. Love those who are broken. Be a witness to those who need to know. Stand firm when others refuse to be faithful. Shine your light where he sends you. And when you shine, shine in front of those that he sends you to.

The message is don't just stand there. Do something. Why? Because this same Jesus is coming back. And when he comes, he's going to take a full account of what we did for him while he was gone. He's working in heaven. And we should be doing his work here on the earth.

Consider the conversation that Jesus and the disciples are having just before he leaves. It begins in verse 6. In Acts chapter 1 and verse 6, the disciples ask, "Lord, will at this time you restore the kingdom to Israel?" They're still focused on their agenda and not his. They're saying, "Hey, now that you are alive, aren't you going to get rid of Rome?"

Jesus makes this point very clearly in verse 7. It's not for you to know the seasons or the times, which are the fathers, and he has in his own authority. His point, don't worry about that. In the next verse, he tells them, "Go to work." He tells them, "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 ends of the earth."

He's saying, "Don't worry about when I'm coming back. Don't worry about when Rome is going to leave. Focus on what you are supposed to be doing until he comes back. Witness to others. Witness to them about who he is and what he has done and what he can do for them.

People want to know all of the time. Is the end near? If it was near when the apostles were on the earth, it is certainly much closer now. And for certain, the prophets gave us clear signals about what would be happening on the earth when Christ would come again.

All of it has happened. Israel's rebirth in 1948, the return of the city of Jerusalem to Israel's control in 1967, the 10 prophetic signs of Daniel. Currently, the imminent war that exists with Iran and Russia, it's all happening. It has happened. And yet, as remarkable as those realities are, Jesus would tell each of us.

Don't worry about that. Just be a witness for me. Build my church. Do your job. Go into all the world. Which is why we have work to do. Will you help us do it? Our mission at this ministry, take all of the gospel to all of the world and to every generation, helping others discover the difference that Christ can make in their life.

Our purpose is taken directly from the great commission. This is not a spectator sport. You and I have a role to play and a purpose in God's plan. Don't be caught standing there and gazing when this same Jesus returns. Be found faithful. Be found working. Be found doing what he sent us to do.

Because soon we who are alive and remain, according to the Bible, will be caught up to meet the Lord. And when this same Jesus returns, we will always be with the Lord. These powerful principles and promises are found in Pastor Hegy's latest devotional, From Tomb to Triumph. I not only want you to get a copy, but I want you to be reminded that the triumph that Christ has given us through his death and his resurrection should be a part of your victory each and every day.

God bless you and thank you for joining me for this Sunday conversation. If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, faith would have no meaning and hope would have no future. But Jesus did rise and the same power that raised Christ from the dead now lives in every believer.

Because Jesus lives, you can walk in victory today. With your gift of any amount, you'll receive an encouragement greeting card, eight pack, and a vial of anointing oil, tools to strengthen your prayer life. And with your gift of $150 or more, you'll also receive two copies of Pastor Hegy's brand new book, From Tomb to Triumph, one to keep and one to share, plus a fruit of the spirit tumbler along with the cards and anointing oil.

This leatherbound book contains that power that you need to experience. >> Call the number on screen, use the QR code, or go to jhm.org/victory. >> Hi, I'm Kendall HGY. Thank you for connecting with us today. God bless you and we pray that you'll join us again next week.