THE CHRIST INSTITUTES, Session 8 Exploring and Experiencing Together the Spectacular Supremacy of...

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THE CHRIST INSTITUTES, Session 8Exploring and Experiencing Together

the Spectacular Supremacy of God’s Son “Meet Him again, for the first time!”

Before we begin Session VIII…

Praise. Prelude. Passage. Prayer.

PreludeWho Christ is UPON us

The Bible ends with Christ coming down, upon us. In the Consummation, the entire universe will become

engaged with God’s Son – permanently and supremely.

Everything will be summed up in our Lord Jesus, either by redemption, or by judgment.

Every person will be consumed with Him, or by Him.Until then, we long for Him, in His love for us,

to come upon us, right now – to conquer us afresh. May He do so, in ways that foreshadow how, one day,

He will come upon the entire universe, in triumph.Therefore, we always remain ready, to receive from

our King, loving approximations of the Consummation.

Passage2 Thessalonians 1 – Our Lord Jesus will be revealed

from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus…on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed…

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling…so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer(in unison)

Father – We look forward to that day, when Your Son visibly comes upon all Creation, to bring to consummation your purposes, and promises, in Him. We join with Your Spirit and the whole Church, to cry: “Come, Lord Jesus, come.”

Even so, as we enter into this Session, out of His love for us, we invite Him to come upon us, in powerful new ways, to bring us into greater intimacy with His glorious, spectacular supremacy. At the same time, we long for Christ to come upon His whole Church, to unleash, in us, approximations of the Consummation, making us fully alive, to His Kingdom ways.

Christ is all! AMEN

THE CHRIST INSTITUTESExploring and Experiencing Togetherthe Spectacular Supremacy of God’s

Son “Meet Him again, for the first time!”

“Saturation transformation”

“Saturation transformation”“Immersion conversion”

“Saturation transformation”“Immersion conversion”

“Inundation reformation”

Goal: to experience greater intimacy with Christ

by exploring the spectacular supremacy of Christ

At the heart of TCI is our intention to give greater attention to the

Ascension

Ephesians 4As the scripture says: ‘When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men’…. (He) “descended”, that is from the height of Heaven to the depth of this world. But the one who made this descent is identically the same person as he who has now ascended high above the very Heavens – that the whole universe from lowest to highest might know his presence.

(Phillips)

Colossians 1

He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things

Clearly, because He is alive and activeon the seat of the throne of the universe

we can say…

Christ is NOW !

Christ is NOW !• All He will be Lord of ultimately, He is Lord of

right now.

Christ is NOW !• All He will be Lord of ultimately, He is Lord of

right now.• All the glory that will belong to Him ultimately,

belongs to Him right now.

Christ is NOW !• All He will be Lord of ultimately, He is Lord of

right now.• All the glory that will belong to Him ultimately,

belongs to Him right now.• All the promises He will ultimately fulfill are His

inheritance right now.

Christ is NOW !• All He will be Lord of ultimately, He is Lord of

right now.• All the glory that will belong to Him ultimately,

belongs to Him right now.• All the promises He will ultimately fulfill are His

inheritance right now.• All the facets of His reign that awaits us at the

end of the Age He claims and retains in this very hour – every dimension of His supremacy is on display today.

Christ is NOW !• All He will be Lord of ultimately, He is Lord of right

now.• All the glory that will belong to Him ultimately,

belongs to Him right now.• All the promises He will ultimately fulfill are His

inheritance right now.• All the facets of His reign that awaits us at the end

of the Age He claims and retains in this very hour – every dimension of His supremacy is on display today.

• All the wonders that lie ahead of us chronologically are already present to us Christologically because the One among us is the summation of the Consummation.

Because Christ is Now! the time has come for God’s people to wake up to…..

…who Christ is TO us….now!

…….in His intimacy with the Trinity

…….as the summation of God’s revelation

…….by the claims of His names

…….as the picture of Scripture

…….as our identity and destiny

…….in the majesty of His supremacy

…who Christ is FOR us… now!

…by the invasion of His incarnation

…by the mission of His crucifixion

…by the re-creation of His resurrection

…by the coronation of His ascension

…who Christ is OVER us…now!

…over the workings of all creation

…over the unfolding of world history

…over the designs of global rulers

…over the destiny of earth’s peoples

…over the rebellion of evil powers

…over the building of His Church

…who Christ is BEFORE us…now!

…into the Future in order to bring it back to us.

…into the Heavens in order to bring us into it.

…into the Promises in order to make them ours,

too.…into the World

in order to open the way for us to serve.

…who Christ is

WITHIN us…now!

Where the Spirit abides, all of Jesus abides. At all times we should “act as if” the living, reigning Christ were among us – because by His Spirit He really and truly is!

…who Christ is THROUGH us…

now!

Because of who Christ is THROUGH us,

in His spectacular supremacy,

each of us means far more to the world

than we realize!

Throughout this TCI what’s been going on inside of you?

What is Jesus doing with you right now?

Is it possible you already have sampled a taste of a

genuine Christ Awakening during this TCI?

During these last seven sessions, how has God’s Spirit used God’s Word to re-introduce

you to God’s Son in new ways?

Throughout this journey have you noticed any increasing intimacy with Christ in His

supremacy?

Session XIII

Awake to who Christ isUPON us!

Here comes your pizza!

Heads up!Something awesome is on its way!

Be prepared! This may be the most “unsettling” session so far!

The transformative implications it holds

for both your current and future walk with God’s Son

are beyond imagination and beyond your control!

Get ready! There’s a climactic hour just ahead

when Christ will return to come upon us,

as He comes upon the whole creation,to reign over all, forever,

at the Consummation of all things and….

…and everyone of us will be there!

Take note! Knowing what’s coming then

can and must transform our walk with Him right now.

Watch out! As personally and purposefully as He will at the End,Jesus wants to come upon our lives right now!

Stay alert! He wants to do this in order to

intensify, deepen, extend, multiply and accelerate

all of our current experiences of His spectacular supremacy.

Be advised! Whenever Christ determines to come upon

 any believer or any church,

nothing less should be anticipated than wonderful

“approximations of the Consummation”.

Are you looking forward to this?

Seriously?

Mark 1After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached God’s good news. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!”

Mark 1After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached God’s good news. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is

near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!”

“near” = “at hand” / “bearing down upon you”

Christ UPON us =

Christ UPON us = Christ bearing down on us =

Christ UPON us = Christ bearing down on us =

Christ moving toward us =

Christ UPON us = Christ bearing down on us = Christ moving toward us =

Christ invading us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades• Intensifies

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades

• Intensifies

• Accelerates

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades• Intensifies• Accelerates• Deepens

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades• Intensifies• Accelerates• Deepens• Sharpens

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades• Intensifies• Accelerates• Deepens• Sharpens• Enflames

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades• Intensifies• Accelerates• Deepens• Sharpens• Enflames• Expands

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades• Intensifies• Accelerates• Deepens• Sharpens• Enflames• Expands• Multiplies

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades• Intensifies• Accelerates• Deepens• Sharpens• Enflames• Expands• Multiplies• Empowers…everything He already has begun

within us and through us

Whenever Jesus comes upon us, He…

• Invades• Intensifies• Accelerates• Deepens• Sharpens• Enflames• Expands• Multiplies• Empowers• Magnifies

…everything He already has begun within us and through us

“Manifest presence of Christ”

After I have committed to Him everything and after I have given Him my heart, I still must pray every day: “Lord Jesus, come and conquer me!” –Samuel Rutherford

2 Samuel 22But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;

    yes, I cried to my God for help.He heard me from his sanctuary;

    my cry reached his ears.He opened the heavens and came down;

    dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew,

    soaring on the wings of the wind.... He reached down from heaven and rescued me;

    he drew me out of deep waters.He rescued me from my powerful enemies...

    I will sing praises to your name.You give great victories to your king;

    you show unfailing love to your anointed,    to David and all his descendants forever.

Habakkuk 2…the people’s labor

is only fuel for the fire,    that the nations exhaust

themselves for nothing

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of

the glory of the Lord    as the waters cover the

sea.

Habakkuk 3LORD, I have heard of your fame;  

I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day…

 God came…His glory covered the

heavens and His praise filled the earth…

In wrath you strode through the earth and in anger you threshed

the nations. You came out to deliver your people, to save your

anointed one. You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness.

Psalm 98 (The MESSAGE)

Sing to God a brand-new song. He’s made a world of

wonders! He rolled up his sleeves, He set things

right. God made history with salvation. He showed the

world what he could do…The whole earth comes to

attention…

Fill the air with praises to King God…A tribute to God

when he comes, when he comes to set the

earth right. He’ll straighten out the whole world, He’ll put

the world right, and everyone in it.

Isaiah 64Oh, that you would rend

the heavens and come down, that the mountains

would tremble before you!

As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water

to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the

nations to quake before you!

For when you did awesome things that we did not

expect, you came down, and the mountains

trembled before you.

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has

seen any God besides you,

who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

Fulfilled in Christ None of the rulers of this age

understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord

of glory. However, as it is written:    

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived – the things

God has prepared for those who love Him” – these are

the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2

Joel 2Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has

given you the autumn rains

   because He is faithful. He sends you

abundant showers,    both autumn and spring rains,

as before…

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all

people. Your sons and daughters will

prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young

men will see visions. Even on my servants, both

men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those

days.

Fulfilled in Christ

Upon us!

Upon us!

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. – Luke 1

Upon us!Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed…Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them… “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.”

– Luke 11

Titus 3

But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come – an eternity of life!

(The Message)

Upon us!

“See, I come quickly…I am Alpha and Omega, the first

and the last, the Beginning and the End…The Spirit and

the bride say, “Come!”

Let everyone who hears this also

say, “Come!”…

“Yes, I am coming very quickly!”

“Amen, come Lord Jesus!”

– Revelation 22

Selah!

Upon Us

Consummation

ConsummationApproximation

ConsummationApproximation

Anticipation

ConsummationApproximation

Anticipation

Ephesians 1He has made known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Christ, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth…. in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will,

• The Bible ends with Christ coming down.

• The Bible ends with Christ coming down.

• The Consummation is the final focus of all revelation.

• The Bible ends with Christ coming down.

• The Consummation is the final focus of all revelation.

• There’s a Great Day ahead when Christ will be confrontational with us like never before.

• The Bible ends with Christ coming down.

• The Consummation is the final focus of all revelation.

• There’s a Great Day ahead when Christ will be confrontational with us like never before.

• One way or another, the entire universe will become engaged with Christ permanently and supremely.

• The Bible ends with Christ coming down.

• The Consummation is the final focus of all revelation.

• There’s a Great Day ahead when Christ will be confrontational with us like never before.

• One way or another, the entire universe will become engaged with Christ permanently and supremely.

• In the end, every person will either be consumed with Him or consumed by Him. Utterly unavoidable. None will be exempt.

Jesus’ return is the convergent point for many related biblical truths: the Day of the Lord, the Resurrection, our reunion of all God’s people, the Final Judgment, the New Heaven and earth, with peace and justice reigning among the nations.

Christ will come down with the same historical literalness by which the prophecies of His first “coming down” were fulfilled.

At the Climax, everything will be summed up in our Lord forever, as He comes upon everything and everyone, either by (1) redemption or by (2) judgment.

In the judgment all evil and sin will be exposed, defeated and purged once and for all. When He comes upon us like this…

…He will vindicate His rejected claims, sweep away all opposition and all competition, humble all the proud powers of the world, so as to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory.

• Even as He is now the indisputable judge of all peoples, He will come down to bring everyone to account before Him. Everything will be revealed. This will settle the ultimate destiny of all.

• Even as He is now the indisputable judge of all peoples, He will come down to bring everyone to account before Him. Everything will be revealed. This will settle the ultimate destiny of all.

• He will come upon the nations to put all things right, to end all injustice, deception, brutality and violence.

• Even as He is now the indisputable judge of all peoples, He will come down to bring everyone to account before Him. Everything will be revealed. This will settle the ultimate destiny of all.

• He will come upon the nations to put all things right, to end all injustice, deception, brutality and violence.

• The hosts of darkness – because of the nature of evil itself – require such a direct, decisive intervention to come upon them.

• Even as He is now the indisputable judge of all peoples, He will come down to bring everyone to account before Him. Everything will be revealed. This will settle the ultimate destiny of all.

• He will come upon the nations to put all things right, to end all injustice, deception, brutality and violence.

• The hosts of darkness – because of the nature of evil itself – require such direct, decisive intervention to come upon them.

• Christ will banish all things incompatible with His eternal Kingdom. All that’s good He will embrace. All that’s evil He will destroy

Notice at Armageddon (Rev. 19) we witness a battle that actually never takes place – there’s no clashing of armies. Rather the Enemy is routed by Jesus alone, simply by His words -- “the sword of His mouth”!

In the judgment, Christ will take mankind so seriously He refuses to treat us with indifference. He will bring to closure our sin and rebellion against God…

By opening all our deeds to the light He will “honor” our choices -- even to reject Him. He will come upon each every person, face to face, as the Judge of all. Then, we will see Him fully exalted in His justice!

He also will come upon the cosmos in final redemption.

In the Consummation there will be simultaneous realizations of all God’s promises, confirmed for us in Christ Jesus.

• Everything of Christ’s current work in our lives will be intensified, deepened, enlarged, fulfilled in ultimate ways, continuing on throughout all ages to come.

• Everything of Christ’s current work in our lives will be intensified, deepened, enlarged, fulfilled in ultimate ways, continuing on throughout all ages to come.

• Everything in the universe that’s dysfunctional, disordered and diseased will be healed when Christ comes upon us.

• Everything of Christ’s current work in our lives will be intensified, deepened, enlarged, fulfilled in ultimate ways, continuing on throughout all ages to come.

• Everything in the universe that’s dysfunctional, disordered and diseased will be healed when Christ comes upon us.

• Peace with God will unite the saints in peace with one another bringing peace throughout the earth – all because the reign of the Great Peacemaker has come upon us fully and totally and forever.

The entire cosmos will be saturated with the grace and glory of Christ’s supremacy.

Philippians 2Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor

and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [NLT]

Titus 2For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation

to all people….we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. [NLT]

1 Thessalonians 1You received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead

idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom.

In all of this, however, the cross remains the ultimate sign as

well as the unqualified guarantee that His

final victory over Satan, sin and death

is inevitable.

At the End when Jesus comes upon us He will…

• Invade• Intensify• Accelerate• Deepen• Sharpen• Enflame• Expand• Multiply• Empower• Magnify

…everything with which He already is actively involved in His reign throughout His whole creation!

Side-bar

In the Consummation how does the TRINITY relate to the universal supremacy of Christ?

“Each of the divine persons centers upon the others. Each voluntarily circles the other two, pouring love, delight, and adoration into them. That creates a dynamic, pulsating dance of joy and love.” –Tim Keller

So, how does the “supremacy of Christ” fit into

the dance of the Trinity?

1 Corinthians 15… the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom

over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death…

1 Corinthians 15… the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to

God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death…

Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere. [NLT]

So how does the “supremacy of Christ” fit into

the dance of the Trinity?

“The greatest among you

will be your servant. 

For those who exalt themselves

will be humbled,

and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

– Jesus, Matthew 23

“Prime Minister”of the universe

“Supreme Servant”of the universe

So how does the “supremacy of Christ” fit into

the dance of the Trinity?

Revelation 5Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was

sitting on the throne…But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping!

Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory.

He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders….And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb…

And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation”….

And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” [NLT]

How was John able to see this whole scene?

Selah!

Consummation

ApproximationAnticipation

There are many “comings” of Christ into our lives and our churches. But they all take their cue from the Final Coming – the Consummation

There are many “comings” of Christ into our lives and our churches. But they all take their cue from the Final Coming – the Consummation

So we might call the End of the Ages the…..

“Come — summation”

There are many “comings” of Christ into our lives and our churches.

But they all take their cue from the Final Coming – the Consummation

So we might define the End of the Ages as the…..

“Come — summation”

It is the summing up of all His other comings throughout all the ages.

Preeminently, for now the Spirit comes upon us to usher us into encounters with Christ – reflective of what it will be like when Christ comes upon the whole cosmos.

He is the extension of the

ASCENSION

The Spirit is how Jesus comes upon us to…

• Invade• Intensify• Accelerate• Deepen• Sharpen• Enflame• Expand• Multiply• Empower• Magnify

…everything with which He already is actively involved in His reign in the life of His Church

Acts 2

Now He is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at

God’s right hand. And the Father, as Christ

had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit

to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear

today.

as a result…

In the last days,

God says, I will pour out my Spirit upon

all people. Your sons and daughters will

prophesy. Your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

as a result…

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes upon you. And you will be my

witnesses, telling people about me

everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout

Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Christ Awakenings…

the ultimate approximation!

Revival = “visitation of the Lord”

With Christ the main issueshould never be, ultimately, the hope of

survival or even revival

With Christ the main issueshould never be, first of all, the hope of

survival or even revivalbut, rather, the main issue is the hope

of His ARRIVAL – both now and later!

A Christ Awakening comes at those times when Christ sovereignly “shows up” to re-conquer and restore and redeploy one person or an entire people of God.

“We meet Him again, for the first time!”

Christ Awakenings happen whenever Christ comes upon us in new ways to unleash approximations of the Consummation that reflect in principle central themes of the of His glorious coming down at the climax of all things.

Christ Awakenings bring increased revelations of Christ’s glory that produce tangible transformations in us and around us that approximate the renewal of all things when He visibly returns to reign.

Christ Awakenings usher God’s people into revitalized worship, fellowship and mission that become preliminary but substantial foretastes of the full taste awaiting us in the Age to Come.

Christ Awakenings come about when the Spirit pulls back the curtain before God’s people

to manifest in fresh ways the fullness of God’s Son Who was there and at work all along.

Christ Awakenings deliver us from a stale approach to discipleship that’s like occupying a “dressing room” where we’re simply fixing ourselves up for Eternity.

Instead, Christ Awakenings engage us in exciting “dress rehearsals” where daily we “practice” the kind of life we expect to experience with Jesus in the Grand Finale that’s already bearing down on top of us.

As it will be at the culmination of God’s plan, even so in every Christ Awakening God’s people become newly saturated with practical out-workings of the supremacy of Jesus.

When the Redeemer comes in the triumphs of

His grace to visit His churches, then his true

followers are seen waking from their apathy, and

going forth to welcome the King of Zion with an energy and earnestness and ardor

of affection greatly surpassing their first love.

– Ebenezer Porter (1830)

The implications of Paul’s prayers show us how awakenings are the desire of the Father’s heart for all of us all the time. He longs to give us today repeated experiences of the arrival of Christ upon us.

Ephesians 1I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God….

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand...the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him….that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms... far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else – not only in this world but also in the world to come.

The FINAL Revival = When the UNIVERSE becomes fully alive

to the supremacy of Christ “the Consummation”

Every other revival = When the CHURCH becomes newly alive

to the supremacy of Christ “an approximation of the Consummation”

How far can any revival take us toward the Final Revival?What are the limits?

Potentially, could not any Christ Awakening

take us right up to the very edge of

the Consummation itself?

Will we settle for anything less than for the Church – for our church –

to undergo God-given Christ Awakenings…

…in order to become a people who are more fully alive to the glory of Christ…

…even if it brings us into the final conflagrationbetween the two kingdoms,

which, in turn, ushers us into the climax of history?

Are we willing – do we dare! – to invite Christ

to come UPON us… even if it would come to that?

Are we willing – do we dare! –

to pray and live that “dangerously”?

“How can you legitimately pray for revivalif you do not consistently pray for

the Second Coming?Because the one is simply a

foretasteof the other!

To want the one is to want the other!”

2 Thessalonians 2 This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in

blazing fire with His powerful angels. He will punish those who

do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus….on

the day He comes to be glorified in His holy people

and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

You called, you cried,

You shattered my deafness;

You sparkled, you burned,

You drove away my blindness;

You shed your fragrance

And I drew in my breath,

And now I pant for you alone.

You called, you cried,You shattered my deafness;You sparkled, you burned,

You drove away my blindness;

You shed your fragranceAnd I drew in my breath,

And now I pant for you alone.

Side-bar

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Jesus life was a blaze with miracles.

One main purpose of His miracles was to certify His

claims as Lord..

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Even more they pointed beyond themselves to the glory of the person of the

Healer.

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

They were not only salutary but also revelatory –

displaying His supremacy for this age

and the Age to come.

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Consider them today as Christ coming upon us

to offer to us:

of all that is coming to us in the His Day of Triumph.

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Consider them today as Christ coming upon us

to offer to us:

…appetizers

of all that is coming to us in the His Day of Triumph.

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Consider them today as Christ coming upon us

to offer to us:

…appetizers…samplings

of all that is coming to us in the His Day of Triumph.

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Consider them today as Christ coming upon us

to offer to us:

…appetizers…samplings

…advertisementsof all that is coming to us in

the His Day of Triumph.

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Consider them today as Christ coming upon us

to offer to us:

…appetizers…samplings

…advertisements…signposts

of all that is coming to us in the His Day of Triumph.

Regarding miracles, signs, wonders:

Consider them as Christ coming upon us today

to offer to us

“previews of

coming attractions! ”

Selah!

Consummation

Approximation

Anticipation

HOPE

Hope is hearing the music of the future.

Hope is hearing the music of the future.Faith is dancing to it right now.

Hope is hearing the music of the future.Faith is dancing to it right now.

Love is reaching out and inviting others into the dance with you

Hope is hearing the music of the Consummation.

Hope is hearing the music of the Consummation. Faith is dancing right now to the music

made up of approximations of the Consummation.

Hope is hearing the music of the Consummation. Faith is dancing right now to the music

made up of approximations of the Consummation. Love is inviting others to hear that music

and to join us in the dance.

Through it all, however, we always are dancing with HIM,

the One who makes all of it possible!

Thus, in a special sense He brings us with Him into

“the dance of the Trinity”!

With Christthere is alwaysso much MORE!

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With Christthere is alwaysso much MORE!

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Romans 5

With Christthere is alwaysso much MORE!

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Romans 5Romans 15

With Christthere is alwaysso much MORE!

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Romans 5Romans 15Colossians 1

With Christthere is alwaysso much MORE!

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Romans 5Romans 15Colossians 1

I Peter 1

Understanding the present time…wake up…

salvation nearer…day almost here…put on

armor of light…clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Rom. 13)

Continue in Him…when He appears we may be

confident… when He appears we will be like Him, we will

see Him as He is. Those who have this hope in Him

purify themselves even as He is

pure. (1 John 2, 3)

Rejoice in the Lord always…the Lord is

near. Do not be anxious about

anything… (Philippians 4)

With Christ there is always so much more!

“where sin abounds, grace

abounds so much more.” (Romans 5)

Our Lord Jesus Christ is

wonder-filled! Therefore, expect His

interventions to be surprising,

unprecedented, inexplicable – and

always amazing!

Our confidence is this: Now and always,

our Lord Jesus Christ is not only able,

Our confidence is this: Now and always,

our Lord Jesus Christ is not only able, not only willing

Our confidence is this: Now and always,

our Lord Jesus Christ is not only able, not only willing but also ready

to come upon us afresh …again and again.

Bottom line: We must grow in a spirit of expectancy

that He will “come upon us” in new ways

Bottom line: We must grow in a spirit of expectancy

that He will “come upon us” in new

ways –to intensify, accelerate,

deepen, multiply, unleash in new ways

all He already is doing within us and through us.

Isaiah 62 The Lord Jesus Christ

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Isaiah 62 The Lord Jesus Christ

I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem.they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest and give God no rest

till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Ultimately, all PRAYER is about our opening the door and inviting Jesus to “come down ” and “come upon us ” – to manifest

more of Himself to us by revealing more of His reigning presence among us,

in sovereign ways that are always exceedingly above and beyond

all we could ask or think.

Selah!

ConsummationApproximation

Anticipation

(1) How much do we really want Christ to come upon us at the End?

(1) How much do we really want

Christ to come upon us at the End?

(2) How much do we really want

Christ to come upon us right now?

Are we living daily in readiness to receive and be part of the Spirit’s increasing approximations of the Consummation – in our lives, in our churches, in our nation and among the peoples of the earth?

Are we praying, seeking, watching, waiting and preparing for nothing less than fresh revelations of Christ…

to us, for us,

over us, before us, within us

through us

Are we willing to invite Him

to come upon us and conquer us afresh – and to do so in ways that foreshadow

how He will one day come upon and conquer

the entire universe?

Come upon us, Lord Jesus Christ!

Ultimately, come in the triumphs,

of your victorious return.

Come upon us, Lord Jesus Christ!

But until then,

come with similar transforming power –

right here and right now.

Come upon us, Lord Jesus Christ!

Pour out your Holy Spirit

upon your people gathered before your face.

Pour out remarkable manifestations

of the Father’s all-consuming grace and truth.

Come upon us, Lord Jesus Christ!

Give us foretastes –

Give us foretastes –

of what will fill all of Eternity very soon.

Focus us on your unparalleled Person, as the Son of God.

Fill us with your royal resources, as the Regent of God.

Fulfill through us your saving mission, in the Purposes of God.

Come upon us, Lord Jesus Christ!

Come upon us to intensify

and deepen, and extend,

and accelerate, and multiply

all you have become TO us

and FOR us, and OVER us, and BEFORE us,

and WITHIN us, and THROUGH us.

Come upon us, Lord Jesus Christ!

Wake up your followers in every part of the Church.

Empower us to advance the Gospel among all peoples.

Invade this place! Transform us more and more into

a showcase of your glorious reign.

Overtake us as your people!

Unleash your life-changing initiatives,

in everything we are together,

and in everything we do together.

Break in and breakthrough without delay!

Answer us in a way that approximates how one day

– one Grand and Glorious Day –

your triumphs will be displayed throughout all Heaven and earth –

bringing everlasting praise to our Triune God.

We watch with great anticipationfor the hour when you are revealed, fully –

for the hour when you deliver all things, fully –

at the Consummation of the Ages!

Come upon us that day!

Come upon us this day!

Amen! Never, ever stop coming down upon us!

Come in the fullness of your spectacular supremacy.

Come in the fervor of your magnificent majesty.

Saturate us!

Saturate us!

Saturate us!

Son of the Father! Focus of the Spirit!

Redeemer of the Church!Our. Lord. Jesus. Christ.

Come!

Hallelujah!

This is the 7th and final step in the TCI journeyinto the spectacular supremacy of Christ

TCI concludes with Session IX

What is the most strategic way for us to respond to

the spectacular supremacy of God’s Son?

What do you feel inside when you envision the day when you will see the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face in the hour when He comes upon us at the End? Is this really something you are looking forward to?

What is your greatest hope for the Church at large? Do you really expect to see Christ come upon this generation in new ways that will accelerate and intensify what He’s already doing to spread His fame and extend His reign? Do you expect to see a Christ Awakening any time soon?

What is your greatest hope for your own church? Do you really believe the Lord Jesus desires to come upon your congregation in new ways that will accelerate and intensify what He’s already doing to spread His fame and extend His reign? Do you expect your church to experience a Christ Awakening in any form – anytime soon?

This has been a Christ Awakening resource from www.ChristNow.com, your one-stop hub for free Christ-exalting resources, for the Church from the Church.

THE CHRIST INSTITUTESExploring and Experiencing Togetherthe Spectacular Supremacy of God’s

Son “Meet Him again, for the first time!”