Jesus — Yesterday, Today, and Forever
Following worship led by Radiant Collective Worship of Radiant Church of Tampa Bay, Florida, and a video presentation and candle lighting ceremony recognizing the need for the seven ministries of U.S. Missions in reaching our Jerusalem, the United States, Clay took the podium.
“Jesus — five letters, two syllables, one cross, three nails,” Clay began. “We live because He lives.”
Reading John 1:14 (MSG), Clay noted that Christ could have presented himself in many ways, but chose to become flesh.
“He became one of us so we might become one with Him,” he said. “He entered our world so that ultimately, we could enter into His world.”
Turning to the Book of Hebrews, Clay noted that it provided a broader picture of Jesus as, repeating several times with the audience that, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Clay explained the significance of the three time periods: Yesterday is when Jesus showed us in history who He was and what He is like. Today is when we have fellowship with Him and relate to Him from what we read about yesterday. And forever, it’s crucial that Jesus is the same tomorrow because all of our hope hinges on relating to Him tomorrow.
“He was in the past exactly who He is in the present and precisely who He will be forever,” he stated.
Clay then zeroed in on each of the three time periods.
“Jesus yesterday, that’s where our salvation begins,” Clay said. “. . . He, Jesus, left His place to come to our place, to take my place, so that I could spend all of eternity with Him in His place.”
Clay affirmed that it was only by grace, through faith, that he received the gift of salvation, expressing his determination to never become complacent and fail to treat his relationship with God with the awe, the thankfulness, or the lifestyle He deserves.
After pausing to allow an extended time for people to reflect upon the grace God showed them through their personal salvation experience and beyond, Clay moved forward with today.
Referring to how the disciples fled in fear after Christ’s death and hid behind locked doors while dealing with fear, doubt, and discouragement, Clay said things changed when he appeared to them.
“It wasn’t until Jesus rose again, and met with them (His followers) . . . they were running on empty, they were dealing with fear, and they were experiencing a lot of doubt . . . the Jesus of today helps to keep your tank full — your spiritual tank full, your emotional tank full, your ministry tank full — it’s what He did for His disciples who fled in fear after His death” Clay said.
Quoting John 19:20,22 (TEV, when Jesus appeared to the disciples), Clay pointed out that Jesus always meets us where we are at, always offers encouragement, and always gives us His presence.
“Our ministry isn’t done in the memory of Jesus,” Clay stated. “Our ministry is done in the authority of Jesus and Jesus today gives us the authority to minister in the power of His name.”
As Clay unpacked Jesus forever, he noted that God has already shared His plans for the future, enabling the establishment of priorities. Yet, he expressed concern that some may not take Revelation 22:7 (Christ is coming soon) seriously.
“I suspect the greatest danger facing the church today is not a few misguided date predictors of when Jesus is going to come back, but it’s a church that doesn’t act like Jesus is going to come back,” Clay cautioned.
Referring to Matthew 24, Clay explained how Jesus was teaching about the end of history — what to expect — so His disciples, then and now and tomorrow, wouldn’t fall away (John 16:1) when they saw these things (in Matthew 24) happen more frequently.
Clay then walked through the advice Jesus gave in Matthew 24:
In times of deception, keep your head. “Spiritual deception is one of the most insidious weapons the enemy likes to use against the body of Christ. And the best weapon for deception is truth and keeping your head wrapped around truth.”
In times of war, stay calm. “Jesus is saying don’t panic when you’re surrounded by wars and rumors of wars, but rather wrap your emotions, wrap your perspective, wrap your mind around God’s promises.”
In times of disaster, remain confident. “Remember the words of the Lord, ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken’ (Acts 2:25, NLT). God’s got you when global disasters happen.”
In times of persecution, stay strong. “The persecution of Christians started with Jesus and it continues today. And Jesus says, stay strong.”
In times of betrayal, remain faithful. “That’s especially painful when that happens inside the body of Christ.”
In times of lawlessness, love strong. “Because of the increased of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).
In times of bad news, preach the gospel. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
Clay explained that when any of these things happen, the enemy can use those things to “push us off mission, from staying in the gospel lane, staying in the building of the Church, staying in the lane of advancing His kingdom here on earth.”
Sharing the story of Jacob Smith, a 15-year-old legally blind skier who relies on his father to direct him down the ski hill through a two-way radio, he noted how Jacob’s father calmly and carefully guides him down the slope.
“When Jacob was asked, ‘How much to you trust your father’s voice?’ He said, ‘Enough to turn right when he tells me to do so.’”
“I pray,” Clay continued, “that we would trust the Father’s voice, that when He says stay calm, we’ll stay calm. When He says to go, we’ll go. When He says hang onto my promises, that we’ll have that kind of a relationship with the Jesus forever, that we trust the voice of His Father in the here and the now . . . may God help us to trust the Father’s voice in such a way.”
Clay shared what he believed the Holy Spirit was calling those present and viewing to do to respond to Jesus.
“I believe God wants us to make eye contact with Jesus,” Clay said, listing biblical examples of Jesus making eye contact, such as Peter following denying Christ, the Rich Young Ruler, Zaccheus, and others. He acknowledged that there were those present bearing heavy burdens.
“I really believe God wants us to make eye contact with Jesus, the Jesus of yesterday, today, and forever,” Clay stated. “You see, it was Jesus’ eyes that wept over Jerusalem; His eyes closed on Calvary; and then they opened in triumph at the tomb. And those same eyes are fixed on you today.”
Clay used a story of his grandson, Mason, to bring the point home. Mason, who after swinging at and missing two pitches, turned to look at his coach, his father, who simply nodded his affirmation. Mason responded with a hit to the outfield, knocking in two runs.
“After two whiffs at two bad pitches, his confidence was here,” Clay said pointing low toward the floor, “but after making eye contact with his father, he had a confidence — bring it on, bring it on!”
The illustration hit home as Clay added, “You may feel like you’re swinging and missing, but He wants to give you encouragement, He wants to give you confidence for the assignment He has called you to do.”
As Clay drew to conclusion and a time of prayer, he urged, “Do whatever it takes to make eye contact with Jesus, so that the eyes of your understanding will be open to understand that Jesus is really the same yesterday, today, and forever and wants to encourage you in your ministry.”