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THE
DESIRE OF THE CHURCH
Rev.
22.20 Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
What
does it mean, ‘to be saved’? That is what we have been looking at over
these past few weeks … and look where we have come from … look where
we began. Such a vast subject to consider? … The Bible clearly sets out what
it means, ‘to be saved’:
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To recognise the holiness of
God |
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To understand the character
of sin |
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To accept the only way of
salvation |
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To seek to turn our back on
sin and to forsake it |
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To have the Christian’s
ambition, that I may win Christ. |
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And last week we considered
how to know the assurance of sins forgiven. |
This
is a fantastic subject, and really it takes the rest of our life to
continue its study. However, as we draw this short series to a conclusion
there is one event we definitely must consider, - the coming again of the
Lord Jesus Christ for His Church.
Mt;
11:28 is a beautiful verse that we know and love,
Come unto me, all
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Another
beautiful verse is Jn. 6:37,
him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out.
The
Saviour often appealed to His listeners to “Come”
to Him, … i.e. He offered to them the Gospel invitation. It was the very
reason that the eternal plan of God sent His Son to the cross. He said, John
10:10 I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly.
Our
study this morning, however, is somewhat different. The invitation is not
from the lips of the Lord Jesus, but from the child of God who has been
born again by redeeming grace. It is the yearning of the Church for Jesus
to return for His own. That’s what we are going to think about, - the
desire of the Church, Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
There
were two disciples on their way from Jerusalem at Passover time. Their
world had fallen apart, - they had seen their Master arrested like a
common criminal and taken to His death. There was no point staying in
Jerusalem, so they decided to go back home to Emmaus. On the way Someone
caught up with them. They didn’t know who He was, or where He had come
from. … But they listened to Him as He spoke to them from the
Scriptures, … and here’s what Lk. 24:29 says,
They constrained
him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far
spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
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They invited the Lord Jesus Christ into their company.
Then
there was a family that lived in Bethany, - a brother and two sisters. We
read,
Lk. 10:38 Now
it came to pass, … that he entered into a certain village: and a certain
woman named Martha received him into her house.
What
a privilege to dine with the King of kings. … Yes, the words of Rev.
22:20 are so beautiful, Even so, come,
Lord Jesus.
It’s
the very last verse but one of God’s Holy Word. It is the final,
final invitation … and it’s from the Bride to the Groom … the
Church to the Master. It’s so simple to understand, - we could not
possibly fail to take in what these words mean. There is no heavy
doctrinal theology that you need to study in order to catch a hold of the
poignancy of these words. You don’t need to be a person of great years
to understand what is being requested here. It’s so simple …
even the youngest believer in the Lord Jesus can understand this.
It’s a cry from the heart of God’s people
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There’s no doubt in these
words that are coming from the lips of the Redeemed as they call for Jesus
to return for His own. |
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The world in which they lived
was in essence contaminated, corrupted and condemned. |
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Society was busy with other
things, … they had no time for God, |
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Religion had its place …
only whenever it was needed. |
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As the Christian looked around
him he could see all the debauchery and immorality … |
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Sodomy is nothing new, |
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Gambling is nothing new, |
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Nationalised religion is
nothing new, |
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Liars, deceivers, the sexually
immoral in government is nothing new! |
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… And as the apostle John
approached the conclusion of his vision on the Isle of Patmos he heard the
cry rising up from the people of God, Even
so, come, Lord Jesus. |
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They had a desire, - a strong
desire, - to depart from the environment of sin that so surrounded them. |
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They couldn’t bear it any
longer … they desired no more to smell the stench of iniquity ... for
they desired the presence of the Saviour. |
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It will be a tremendous time
when Christ returns for His people. |
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What will happen? The Bible
tells us … |
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I Thess. 4: 16 For the Lord
himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord. |
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The Bible tells us that He
will burst in upon a world that is not looking for Him, |
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The Bible describes the kind
of society He will enter into, |
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Mt. 24:37 as the days of Noah
were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in
the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the
ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be
in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two
women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other
left. |
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Luke recorded the words of the
Lord Jesus, |
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Lk. 21:24 and Jerusalem shall be
trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be
fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon,
and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for
fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:
for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see
the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And
when these things begin to
come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your
redemption draweth nigh. |
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When I see Him come will I not
be frightened in case I’m not good enough? What if He comes back and
I’m left behind? |
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Believer, it’s not about how
good you are, because – of yourself - you know you could never
hope to be good enough for anything Christ has for you, … but, you’re
not trusting in your own goodness anyway, you’re trusting in His! |
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If Christ is your Saviour, He
will receive you unto Himself when He returns for His people, - you
won’t be left out/behind! |
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But what about my loved ones
when He comes back … and they are not saved? … for I know if Jesus
Christ was to returnno – this moment – He would have to leave them
behind because they are not saved, and unless God’s redeeming grace
takes effect in their lives they will be in hell forever. |
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How can I call for Christ to
come back again and they are not saved?! |
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Yes, that’s the only thing
that truly bothers me as I study Christ’s Return. |
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Unless they are saved, they
will be left behind and for all eternity they will suffer the pains of
hell. |
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… how can I join with the
Church in Rev. 22:20 and cry out, |
Even so, come, Lord
Jesus ?
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Well, here’s how, … |
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Everyone of my friends and
family knows and has access to the Gospel of Saving Grace. |
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I want to see everyone of them
in Heaven … so what can I do? I cannot save them. I cannot drag them
kicking and screaming against their will into the Kingdom. |
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… But I can live before them
as I ought to live, … so that they are not able to blame David Greenaway
for leading them the wrong way. |
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I can pray for them …
regularly and consistently; I can pray that God in the richness of His
mercy would reach down and save them. |
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And then I must leave
them with Him, - I can’t save them, that’s God’s job! … I’ve got
to leave it with Him. |
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He has promised me eternity in
Glory and would I not be lacking in gratitude if I said to Him, “Yes,
I’m looking forward to seeing You coming; I’m looking forward to
rising to Glory, but not just yet, Lord, not just yet!” |
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No, these people who belonged
to the Church in Rev. 22:20 held up no hindrances to the promised coming
of the Saviour. |
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Jesus breaking through the
clouds was what they desired more than anything else, - it was the cry
from the heart. |
IT
IS THE REALITY FOR THE BELIEVER
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Believer, it’s what you are
looking forward to, … |
Safe
in the arms of Jesus,
Safe
on His gentle breast,
There
by His love o’ershadowed,
Sweetly
my soul shall rest.
Safe
in the arms of Jesus,
Safe
from corroding care,
Safe
from the world’s temptation,
Sin
cannot harm me there.
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No national lottery or
anything the world has to offer compares with what Jesus offers. |
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Believer, when Jesus comes
again you will be drawn to Him closer than you have ever experienced, …
no matter how long you have been saved. |
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You will be beside Him and you
will see nobody else because He will take up all your attention. |
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Yes, you’ll be standing
along with your loved ones in Christ, and the desire of your heart will be
fulfilled. |
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You’ve prayed in the prayer
meeting and in your own quiet times, Even
so, come, Lord Jesus. |
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… He will answer your
prayer, and He will take you up to glory, - beyond any shadow of a doubt,
this is the will of God for every born-again believer, … and it will
happen! |
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… This is the promise of
God’s Word, and |
Standing
on the promises of Christ our King,
Through
eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory
in the highest I will shout and sing,
Standing
on the promises of God.
Conclusion.
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Jesus had so much to say to
those seven churches at the beginning of the Book, and throughout the Book
we see the glimpses of His coming; the Song of Solomon put it like
this,
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Song of Solomon 1:3 Because of the
savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth,
therefore do the virgins love thee. 4 Draw me, we will run after
thee. |
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Believer, - you have been
washed in the blood of the Lamb and your name is in the Book of Life, -
are you looking forward to leaving this world when Jesus Christ returns? |
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Are you faithful at the place
of prayer and Bible Study … in your home and also with the Family of
God? |
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All that you have accumulated,
… you’ll leave behind, … but you’ll not even miss it. |
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You’ll be in the presence of
the King, … saved eternally. |
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What if you are not saved? If
you continue to reject Christ and He comes back again you will die in your
sin, |
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You, - with all the
opportunities God has blessed you with, - will stand before the Judgement
Throne and sin will rob you of His presence forever. |
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You can cry out to Him today
to save you, and He will. |
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I’ve been talking about an
invitation the Church cries heavenward, Even
so, come, Lord Jesus. |
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… there’s another
invitation you need to offer to Christ and it is simply this, |
Come
into my heart, Lord Jesus Christ,
Come
in today, Come in to stay,
Come
into my heart, Lord Jesus Christ
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He’s a great Saviour, He’s
a great Lord, and this is the hope of the believer, v.20
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even
so, come, Lord Jesus. |
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