Living in the Anticipation of the Return of Jesus Christ

01. June 2026

Devotion by Reverend Joseph Antwi

Theme: Living in the Anticipation of the Return of Jesus Christ

Day 1: The Promise of Christ’s Return

Scripture Reading

• John 14,1–6

• Acts 1,9–11

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Happy New Month and Welcome, Church Family!

Welcome, church, to another edition of our devotion, and I want to personally wish each and every one of you a blessed and Happy New Month! June is here , praise the lord !

May this month release supernatural grace upon your life. May your faith be strengthened. May your spiritual eyes be enlightened. May your confidence in God increase on every side. May everything you lay your hands upon flourish according to the will and purpose of God for your life.

Church, especially after these two weeks of fasting, I want to encourage you: fasten your seatbelt spiritually. Never forget that after every season of fasting often comes a season of testing. Even our Lord Jesus, after forty days of fasting, was immediately confronted by the tempter.

Just this past Sunday, right after church, we experienced something similar. After preaching about our role as a church in the territory and the assignment God has given us, we faced a physical backlash outside the church building. We were confronted by individuals who were clearly being influenced by forces beyond themselves. Not because the church is the problem, but because of what we are provoking in the atmosphere through prayer, evangelism, and the preaching of the Gospel.

But glory be to God, the Lord intervened.

This should remind us that whenever God increases His oil upon our lives, the enemy seeks opportunities to distract, provoke, discourage, or drain us. Let us therefore be careful not to become entangled in things that rob us of the precious oil that God has poured upon us during this season.

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Before You Continue This Devotion

Church family, before you continue, please take your Bible and carefully read today’s assigned passages:

• John 14:1–6

• Acts 1:9–11

Read slowly and prayerfully.

Underline any verse that speaks to you.

Highlight words or phrases that stand out.

Write down any observations the Holy Spirit gives you.

Memorize at least one verse that ministers to your heart.

Do not rush.

Allow the Scriptures to speak to you before continuing.

Remember, the goal is not simply to read a devotion but to encounter God through His Word.

Now, let’s go into today’s devotion.

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1. Jesus Promised That He Will Return (John 14:1–6)

Church, one of the greatest promises in all of Scripture is not only that Jesus came, died, and rose again, but that Jesus is coming back again.

In John 14, Jesus was speaking to troubled disciples. Their hearts were heavy because He had begun speaking about His departure.

Yet instead of leaving them in fear, He gave them a promise.

He told them not to let their hearts be troubled. He told them that in His Father’s house there are many mansions and that He was going to prepare a place for them.

Then He made one of the most powerful promises in Scripture:

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

Church, our faith is not only built upon what Christ has done.

Our faith is also built upon what Christ has promised to do.

He promised that He will return for His people.

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1. Heaven Is Real and Christ Is Preparing a Place (John 14:2)

Many people spend years preparing for a career.

Preparing for marriage.

Preparing for retirement.

Preparing for holidays.

Preparing for earthly success.

But Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).

Think about this.

If God created the earth in six days and it is this beautiful, imagine the place Christ has been preparing for over two thousand years.

Church, heaven is not a myth.

It is not imagination.

It is a prepared place for a prepared people.

The question is not whether heaven is prepared.

The question is whether we are preparing ourselves for heaven.

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2. The Ascension Guarantees His Return (Acts 1:9–11)

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples and then ascended into heaven before their very eyes.

Can you imagine standing there and watching Jesus disappear into the clouds?

The disciples stood gazing into heaven.

Then the angels gave them a powerful reminder.

They told them, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Church, notice they did not say another Jesus.

They said:

This same Jesus.

The same Jesus who healed the sick.

The same Jesus who raised the dead.

The same Jesus who died on the cross.

The same Jesus who rose again.

The same Jesus who ascended.

He is coming back.

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3. The Promise of His Return Should Change How We Live

If Jesus is truly coming back, then we cannot live casually.

If Jesus is truly coming back, then holiness matters.

Prayer matters.

Evangelism matters.

Faithfulness matters.

Church attendance matters.

Serving God matters.

How we treat people matters.

The early church lived with this expectation every day.

They did not see Christianity as a weekend activity.

They lived every day with the understanding that Christ could return at any moment.

As Titus 2:13 reminds us, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

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4. Are We Ready?

One of the greatest questions every believer must ask is:

If Jesus returned today, would I be ready?

Not tomorrow.

Not next year.

Today.

Would there be anything in your life that you would need to surrender?

Would there be someone you need to forgive?

Would there be a habit you need to let go?

Would there be an assignment God has called you to do that you are postponing?

The promise of His return should move us toward readiness.

Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

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Personal Reflection

Church, when I read John 14, I am always encouraged by the fact that Jesus did not leave us without hope.

He did not simply save us and abandon us.

He promised that He would return for us.

No matter how dark the world becomes, no matter how difficult life becomes, we have a blessed hope:

Jesus Christ is coming again.

And because He is coming again, we must live differently.

We must think differently.

We must prepare differently.

As 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 declares,

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout… and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

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Final Charge

Church family,

Do not allow the busyness of life to make you forget eternity.

Do not allow earthly pursuits to make you forget heavenly promises.

Jesus is coming again.

Live with expectation.

Live with holiness.

Live with urgency.

Live with faithfulness.

And let every day be lived as though Christ could return at any moment.

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Chair Time

After reading John 14:1–6 and Acts 1:9–11, spend a few moments in prayer and reflection.

Ask yourself:

• What does the promise of Christ’s return mean to me personally?

• Am I living in readiness?

• What changes do I need to make if Christ were to return today?

Write down what the Holy Spirit speaks to you.

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Prayer

Father,

thank You for the promise of Christ’s return.

Help us to live with expectation and readiness.

Keep our hearts focused on eternity.

Help us to remain faithful until the day we see You face to face.

In Jesus’ mighty name,

Amen.

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Please leave a comment below and share what the Lord revealed to you during your chair time.

God bless you.

Shalom.

Rev. Joseph Antwi