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The Lord Jesus Promised to Return for Us

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20130807_comeagain

The following blog post is taken from Bob Hoekstra’s popular devotional Day By Day By Grace. For previous posts in this series, click here.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
(John 14:1-3)

Jesus’ promise to return for His followers was given to bring them heavenly comfort. How comforting to us, in this troublesome world, to know that Jesus will be back for all of us who have followed Him here on earth.

When the Lord Jesus spoke these words, He would soon be leaving His disciples.

He knew that the cross, the resurrection, and His ascension were close at hand. As He spoke of His departure, they were troubled. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” One purpose in His leaving was to make ready a heavenly home for those who believed in Him. “I go to prepare a place for you.” Then, the promise that followed brought Jesus’ ultimate comfort. “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Jesus would be returning to take His beloved followers to be with Him again.

After His atoning death and victorious resurrection, the Lord instructed the disciples for a brief season in the matters of His kingdom. Then, it was time to depart. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). Their gaze remained upon this one whom they had come to love. “They looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up” (Acts 1:10). Then, angelic messengers repeated the promise of His return. “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). What hope this must have stirred in their yearning hearts.

Throughout the history of the church, loving hearts have longed for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles were inspired by the Spirit of God to bring us comforting promises of His return. “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. 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” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This is the promised hope we are to live in day by day: “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Dear Lord Jesus, I find sweet comfort in Your promises to return for me. I long to see You face to face. It is inexpressible joy to anticipate being with You forever. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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  2. “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

    Chris, I too find sweet comfort in his promises to return for me. I long to see him face to face. It is inexpressible joy to anticipate being with him forever. Amen and Amen.

  3. Speaking of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus for His people, how marvelous is the Lord’s perfect timing regarding the way He guides us, provides the resources to maintain us and gives us that which we need to do His work.
    Just yesterday I was sorting out a shoebox that was full of miscellaneous papers and notes. I came across a little card I found in 1999. Do you remember how worried many people around the globe were worried about the turn of the century, Y2K? Well, this little card was published by a group known as Yield 2 the King. The card read “Don’t be afraid of tomorrow. God is already there.”. Underneath that quote was this Scripture: “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
    Today’s scripture from John 14:1 begins with “Let not your heart be troubled”. Don’t worry! “Do not be anxious” Matt. 6:25,31. And that chapter ends with, “Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”. Hang in there. Be diligent to rest in His peace knowing He is taking care of you and soon will bring you home to Himself.
    Even so, come quickly LORD!

  4. “Dear Lord Jesus, I find sweet comfort in Your promises to return for me. I long to see You face to face. It is inexpressible joy to anticipate being with You forever. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”

    Amen to this prayer. Thank you Father for your special promises that are Your chilren’s inheritance both now and in the future.

    Thank you Chris for sharing these words.

    There is much to dwell on in a ‘single’ word when it is from God’s living word.

    Notice the word “taken.” repeated in Acts 1:9 and Acts 1:11.

    This word reminds me of the word “caught up” in Revelation 12:5

    “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was ‘caught up’ to God and His throne.”

    What also is brought to mind is 2 Thessaonians 2:6-7. verse 7 is “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is ‘taken’ out of the way.

    Let us now consider the Lord Jesus’ words in Matthew on being ‘taken’. Matthew 24:40-42 “Then two men will be in the field: one will be ‘taken’ and the other left. Two women will grinding at the mill: one will be ‘taken’ and the other left.”

    It is our Lord Jesus who then says in Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”

    These are such wonderful verses to ponder on. Who is the ‘He’ who it is written of that restrains the lawless one in
    2 Thessalonians 2:7-12.?

    Who is ‘He’ that the Lord Jesus sends into the hearts of those who call upon His name as their Lord, believing in their hearts that God has resurrected Jesus Christ from the dead and confessing with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord?

    Who will it be that are ‘caught up’ with the Lord Jesus in the clouds? 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

    Dear Lord Jesus help me in this present evil age that my heart remains untroubled. Enable me by the blessed Spirit of Christ to remain watching in these the days as of Noah. Keep your people hid I pray within You ‘that Spiritual Rock’ by the blessed Holy Spirit, for Your & our Father’s power and for Your and our Father’s glory to be manifested both now and at that fearsome and most terrible yet glorious day of Your coming.

    In Jesus name I pray. Amen

    Mark H NZ

    • Lord of glory knock at the door yet longer to save those that you died for.
      Gen 18:23-33
      Jesus, fill your people with the zeal of Your Holy Spirit calling out to the lost and dying.
      Exd 32:11-13
      Father choose more out of the captives with Your revelation.
      Psa 90:13-16
      Jesus, wait yet longer while your saints pray and follow your command for those that You died for.
      Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
      Luk 10:2, Jhn 4:35
      Jesus you are salvation, savior. Send a mighty movement of your Holy Spirit to save the multitudes.

      • Tess,

        Thank you. Yes I agree, it’s an awesome thing to consider isn’t it. Hallelujah!

        I’ll take a look at your link over the weekend.

        Our Lord does work in His marvelous ways. I just received an email today from a wonderful Indian sister in Christ on Matthew 24. God’s timing.Hallelujah.

        Sometimes I wonder, how is it that God would love us so much to give a sinner the King of Glory in his heart. Such is His mercy His compassion His love and His grace.

        In Christ
        Mark H

        • The first 30 minutes are not the meat of the video but since it included so much of Chuck Missler’s presentations I chose it. I pray it will bless you brother. 🙂

  5. The Holy Spirit used John 14 to show me The Lords wonderfulness so many times. Let not your heart be troubled has given me so much comfort and reassurance!!!

    I had an awesome Word yesterday with some revelation that was much needed. It truly helped me to change my perspective on things in my life.

    I was very heavy and felt I could not continue this battle of pressing forward of letting Father “YHWH” build our home.

    All of our natural resources are extinguished and completely spent, our bodies are tired, our minds are stretched, the battles on all sides have made my husband and I just plain weary.

    I prayed and reached out for answers.
    In an instant answers came out.

    I realized I had an underlying fear that if I waited quietly and still for the Lord to rescue me in these certain situations in my life He might not come, He might forget me, or worse He might decide not to due to other obligations or just because he decided not to.

    Past garbage from a broken childhood, bitter roots deep down in me had planted these fears deep in my spirit.

    We had recently also prayed that if there were things in us that needed to be removed to insure our victory to remove them and expose the truths to us. He did this yesterday.

    This is the word He sent to me….

    If I say I will never leave or forsake you then I am here now, and the quietly waiting is for your faith to get where it needs to be so the manifestation of my promise can be brought forth. WOW…
    In other words he is waiting on me not I Him, as He is already here for me. The promise was already given it actually already is.

    It’s my faith in His Promises for me that is lacking to birth the manifestations of them here in the physical.

    Why can I believe for you but believing for me is well, much harder. Why can I apply grace and mercy to you but for me it has different rules?

    It is lies from the Devil that I listened to, those little innuendoes that I didn’t bring into the obedience of the mind of Christ that seeded in my heart and mind.

    Lord remove them all now! In your name….

    He also said to me..

    The heaviness tiredness is that you are and have been poised for a onslaught attack instead of being humbly bowed waiting on your blessing.

    If my trust in Him is where it needs to be, then being humbly bowed would be appropriate as I would have nothing to be worried about…instead of standing, ready to fight, not in His rest……

    So Today, My Sweet Daddy I choose to trust you to do exactly what your word says you will do in every situation in my life not just those that I feel I deserve it.

    I choose to trust you in the manner I should and in the humbleness you will honor. Forgive me for taking up my own arms in fear so I lay them at your cross, drop to my knees and wait for my faith to bring forth the manifestations’ of your promises here in the world down from heaven in Yeshua’s name,,,Amen.

    Please help me now to believe it and stand on it.. In my weakness you are strong. Change my heart and mind to be where it needs to be for you. For your Kingdom and Glory

    Your Loving Daughter
    Donna

  6. The Holy Spirit has gifted this month’s discussions with profound revelation of His Church.
    1Cr 6:14-20
    We who are joined unto the Lord are one spirit and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
    We see as Tess was moved to comment, “The only thing that can restrain sin is God through the Holy Spirit. When He that restraineth is taken out of the world those that have the Holy Spirit will be “caught up” as well to be with the Lord.” from what Mark was inspired to share about taken, caught up and restrained.
    The Holy Spirit led into what Donna was sharing as she said, “He did this yesterday.” Donna then went on with revelation presented to her that we do not wait on God. God is. That which we need is already, God waits for us. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
    Jhn 17:24, Eph 1:4, 1Pe 1:20

  7. The revelation outpouring to those who will yield to His Spirit is amazing.
    Although I will admit the preparation and burning out of my dross is painful!!! He is requiring a level of submission and trust that burns my flesh clear off me

    He is bringing up His Mighty Army and the Sons and Daughters are being brought forth 🙂

    PRAISE MY MIGHTY KING AND SAVIOR!!!!

    • Hallelujah Donna

      Well said. Truly our God the Father and His Son Jesus are amazing. Imagine it we have been given the Holy Spirit as our Counsellor!!

      You might recall the blogs around end April-13 and early May-13 while I was in Japan reading Derek Prince’s ‘Blessing or Curse.’ Truly since that time it seems I have been in continuous spiritual warfare.

      All Praises to the Lord Jesus. Today (tonight NZ time) He brought me into our Father’s blessed presence. Oh His wonderous love. I could only but tarry.

      A word was given to me tonight “Obstinate.”

      The Lord Jesus’ teaching on this to me is ‘We are to be obstinate in our heart to know God, nothing else matters.’

      It is I see from this, that we are to cherish God’s love, His word above all, just as Jesus was zealous over His Father’s house.

      Oxford dictionary definition of ‘obstinate’ = firmly adherring to one’s chosen course of action.

      Our chosen course of action is knowing Jesus, God’s living Word. The rest is for God’s Mighty Lord and Saviour, our Kingsman Redeemer Jesus Christ to do in us.

      My prayers are with you and your family in God enabling your new home. May each need & each anxiety be given to Him who cares, for His will to prevail.

      In Christ in love

      Mark H NZ

  8. Mark H,

    The unity in Spirit here is amazing. He showed me that he has allowed this current refining for us to have us seek Him on truly uncomfortable and increasing levels. Been battling right there with you my brother 🙂

    The last of our flesh must die and fall off of us in order to be resurrected into the oneness of Him !!! Debridement in order to grow new healthy cells.

    Painfully wonderful !!!

    He showed me how our strength interferes with His so now that ours is all diminished His can shine forth in all its Glory & Grace.

    Standing as one in His body Thanks for the blessing
    Donna

    P.S.
    AS soon as I cried out for His help and quit trying so hard on my own then laid them down at the cross and gave up.

    I have begun to feel the release for His Blessings & His Love coming down from the spiritual to the physical.He is pouring it out for all who seek His face 🙂