In Between

/ pastorjasonmiller

advent 2016

Listen to sermon here

Advent 2016 | Part 7

In Between

Luke 22:14-20

 

Introduction

One of the core truths about this Advent series: the REALITY of the 1st Advent PREPARES US for the CERTAINTY of the 2nd Advent

In other words: WE LIVE FOR THE SECOND ADVENT

WE LIVE with the PRAYER, “Thy Kingdom come”

 

Jesus Prayed for the Kingdom to Come

When Jesus taught us to pray, He taught us to pray for the Kingdom of God…

When Jesus was praying for the Kingdom of God to come, the prayer was on two scales:

  • COSMIC – Let your Kingdom advance on earth
  • PERSONAL – Let your Kingdom advance in me

 

Let your Kingdom come.

What X began in His 1st Advent He completes with His 2nd Advent

This is what is in view in our text today

 

The Kingdom of God – Already & Not Yet

 

1.) Was COMMENCED with Christ’s coming (Already)

Matthew 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 1:15

… saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Luke 4:43

… He [Jesus] said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”

 

2.) Will be CULMINATED with Christ’s return (Not Yet)

Luke 22:16-18

Revelation 19:11-16

Revelation 20:11-15

Revelation 21:1-4

 

3.) CONTINUES to advance today – NOT STANDING STILL!

Luke 13:18-21

 

God is propelling the Kingdom forward through the Spirit working in the followers of JX

 

Another Way to Think About the Kingdom

The Kingdom of God advancing on earth is like the Kingdom of God advancing in you:

  • Justification – God has begun a work in you

But you are not perfect yet

You are a work in progress

  • Sanctification – God is working within you

God transforming you into the Image of God

God is bringing forward within you what the Kingdom will be like

 

Phil 1:6

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

  • Glorification – At the resurrection, God will ultimately perfect you

1 Cor 15:51-57

At the trump… perishable for imperishable, mortal for immortal… “Death is swallowed up in victory”… thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In the same way as the Kingdom advances in you, the Kingdom is advancing in the world

1.) Was COMMENCED with Christ’s coming

2.) Will be CULMINATED with Christ’s return

3.) CONTINUES to advance today

 

This is where we live

We are living IN BETWEEN

We are waiting on the 2nd Advent

 

Waiting is not an easy thing to do

 

Illustration

          1.) Elevators and mirrors

 

          2.) Airline Passenger Terminal/Gate and Baggage Terminal

 

 

In life there will be waiting: What will you do while you wait?

This time of year is perfect for asking this question

It’s the New Year… New beginning… New start… Page has turned…

And so you resolve to do this or that (whether you tell anyone or not)

So INSTEAD of asking what do I want to do for me this year (Prov 16:9, 3)

ASK:  What does God want me to do while I’m Living in Between?

 

Our text answers this question for us…

Make an investment in FAITH

Jesus was making an investment in faith

 

1.) Jesus was making an investment in His faith (vv14-15)

  • Passover was a time to REFLECT and GIVE THANKS for the faithfulness of God
  • In the Passover (10th plague)
    • Pardoned from death
    • Set free from the bondage of Pharoh
  • Jesus was about to suffer so that we too could
    • Pardoned from death
    • Set free from the bondage of slave master of sin
  • The Passover was particularly important to Jesus as He was about to experience the worst suffering known to man… not just the cross but the wrath of God for the sins of humanity
  • Reminder and Rejoicing

 

2.) Jesus was making an investment in the faith of His disciples

  • Instituting the Lord’s Supper
    • Remember the crucible of My suffering on the cross.. it must happen so that you can…
    • Rejoice in the New Covenant of grace and mercy

 

In the same way, Jesus wants you to REMEMBER and REJOICE in Him and INVEST in your faith and the faith of others

 

Really practical application

Invest in YOUR Faith (2 most important Spiritual Disciplines)

1.) PRAY

How will you devote an unhurried time to pray

Develop a spirit of prayer – awareness, thanksgiving and dependence

 

2.) LISTEN to God by reading His letter to you

Illustration: Christmas letter

How will you read, memorize, learn it from others

 

Invest your faith in OTHERS

Illustration:

Traveler: Any great men born here?

Old man: No, just babies

 

Great men and women aren’t born they are made. Made by investing in them God’s love, God’s ways, God’s mercy and grace

 

1.) INVITE someone

3 Nots: 1.) Not in church 2.) Things not going well 3.) I’m not prepared for this

2.) Pray for SOMEONE ELSE

3.) Start a DEVOTION with someone

4.) Give with COURAGEOUS faith

5.) SERVE to show the way

Illustration: Irene, since 1949

6.) GO so others will know

 

Make your investments Specific, Measurable, and develop a Timeline!

 

 Why Bother? New Year.. New Covenant

Remember

 Rejoice

 Repent

 Run toward the prize of XJ

Invest in Your Faith

Invest your faith in Others

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