PAGE 2 OF Sermon for Lent 4 B The Vision of the Victory Of Jesus Christ, part two; April 2, 2000

in God, all of Israel who were reconciled to Christ when He returned, all the Gentiles who believed. All were in white robes and suddenly this throng of billions sings "Crown Him With Many Crowns" in every language, every different melody, every style of music from chant to hard rock all at once, and it was good and beautiful. The roar of praise from the Angels in the stadium even grew louder by billions of times. Christ slowly led the procession of billions of people who are His reward into the stadium. The stadium is filling now as one huge eternal presence of all the redeemed and saved all glorifying God. I was way far, far, far, in the back of the crowd, yet also able to see the front of the crowd... again something I cannot explain in human terms. What I noticed that really moved me was Jesus led the Saints all the way across the field toward the Throne of God, and when Jesus came to the circling rainbow and the dashing light and energy He rode His horse right into the light and presence of God. What was amazing was I realized He was returning to his One Being with God. The horse disappeared in sections as they entered into the Being of God. Again the applause and praises even grew louder.

Then I clearly heard the voice of Jesus say: "It is over! All is Yours now, all is restored, and all is one with God again! Praise God from whom all blessing flow!" Imagine, Jesus said this in the vision! Even in the moment of victory Jesus is giving all glory to God. Billions of souls of the Saints were still entering this huge stadium as Christ's voice was booming over all the praise and worship!

I stayed in the vision for a few minutes to enjoy the presence of the redeemed and then I was aware of returning to my place giving this sermon. I was deeply moved by this.

I have thought often about it since last Saturday. After seeing this future event played out before my eyes there is no doubt in my mind that God truly wants every soul there in that Victory arena where God will celebrate the Victory of Jesus Christ as Christ presents His reward, His bought inheritance, the Church to God to be reunited forever. The comfort of being able to draw from my memory of this vision is hard to describe. I saw the reward of Christ. I know what God is doing and how God clearly plans to conquer sin with LOVE.

Again that verse that opened this vision to me was Ephesians 2:6-7 "by grace you have been saved, and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." The billions of Saints that Jesus will lead into the Victory arena are the evidence and fruit of "the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." I explained and described this vision as it was happening during the worship service in Elmira, NY at the April 1, 2000 10:30 am worship and again as I described it to the congregation in Syracuse, NY at the April 2, 2000 6;00 pm worship. In both locations people said they could see every detail and they were deeply, profoundly moved by the vision as the Holy Spirit opened it up to each one who would receive it as I described it.

The next verse in the Ephesian reading said: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." (Ephesians 2:8-10) When we stop to realize what God is begging to give us if we only believe, and what the eternal union with God and all of God's creation has to offer, how can we respond in any other way than to praise God and live as Children of Light, and never as children of disobedience and wrath????

Jesus told us we are the Light of the world. This means with Christ in us, we should be a source of joy everywhere we go. It means we should be the beacons that light the way to God. We should be the ones quick to talk about Jesus and God's plans for the Universe. These are examples of the "good works" what we are created to fulfill in Christ Jesus.

We are the reformers of the modern Church. We are the people who are called upon to bring the Christian Church to the place where finally every congregation everywhere will follow the command of Christ and welcome and acknowledge the salvation of "everyone" and "whosoever" and "anyone who" and "the ones who" believes in Jesus may have eternal life. (John 3:16) That is the Light that is needed in the Christian Churches today. Often congregations have added their own filtering system to the exclusion of millions who are in fact saved because they believe and love Jesus.

Lets continue the good work God has called us to and continue to call people out of the world of darkness, wrath, jealousy, envy, greed, violence, and abuse of every kind, and call them into the Kingdom of God where there, and only there will there ever be liberty and justice for all. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that He alone provides the way to God. Let us continue to preach Christ and hope that millions will come home to God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

May almighty God bless you, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

TOTUS TUUS! Totally Yours, Lord Jesus Christ.

May Almighty God bless all of us, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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