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Finishing Well | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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let's read a few verses together, shall we meet me in
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the book of 2nd Timothy And chapter 4.
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Or six, second Timothy 46. Fry, I am already being poured
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out as a drink offering. and the time of my departure has come, I
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have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have
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kept the faith henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of
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righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award
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to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have
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At his appearing. Lord, we love We yearn we long
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for your appearing. We desire it?
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Or prepare us to live a life. Equip us to live a life in which
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we can Echo the same declaration that Paul makes here.
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Lord. We need your power.
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We need you Grace. We need your help.
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Lord cut through all the clutter in our hearts.
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Soft in the Catalyst parts of Who We Are.
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Destroy the curse of being too familiar with something to the
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point where it doesn't affect us.
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And and do what only you can do through this word.
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Energize the preaching by the spirit and let our hearts be
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revived in your presence. We ask these things in Jesus
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name. Amen.
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Death is the dreaded. Experience that all men must
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Embrace at some point in their lives at some point in their
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brief existence on this Earth. You will die.
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I will die. It is the inevitable and
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Universal fate of Adams Race. Men have tried to prolong their
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lives. Clever men have attempted to try
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to eliminate that possibility all together what God has said
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will be done. Man has been cursed.
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Men will die. And they'll every human life
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story. Reads differently.
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They really all have the same ending because each and every
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single one of us share the same curse.
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Every single one of us has a body with an expiration date,
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you may not know it, but God knows it is because of the sin
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of our first parents translating down to their descendants,
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including you. And I in 2022 and over the years
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we've had thinkers and Poets teachers who have philosophize
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about death and you've even have some who have claimed to have
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answers about this thing and they also with confidence claim
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that Their sources. Derived from some Transcendent
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being but while most believe that death cannot be explained
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until it is experienced and others.
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Have some very bold assertions about what to expect when one
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dies. It is the word of God that has
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the exclusive and the necessary truths about this mystery Called
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Death. This book is filled with
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extensive insights concerning the origination of it, the
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reason for death. Life after death, The Hope over
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death and praise God, the death of death itself.
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And this wealth of information should not only comfort.
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The believer should not only consult the soul of the one,
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who's been redeemed by Grace, but it should also challenge us
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as Christians to reach those before they enter into that
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portal of no return without a savior.
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And though many of us would know that the Bible speaks about
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death and gives hope concerning death.
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Many may not understand that. The Bible also strategically has
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given us many records of the final moments of people's lives.
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Think about it for a moment. Think about those in which we've
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been given the concluding thoughts and actions before they
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have departed into the next World.
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Think about Abraham, think about Jacob.
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Think about David, think about the Kings throughout Second
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Kings think about the prophets think about men like Stephen and
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others who have died for the cause of Christ.
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And before us today, you and I have a testimony of a man who
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sacrificially served God to the very last moments.
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And the Holy Spirit, saw it fit that you and I would see the
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upright attitude of a man who has laid down his life to serve
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the cause of Christ with everything that was within.
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And why does the bible go out of its way to reveal such things?
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Why does the bible? Give us records of what we just
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read here and even even examples of people who have died in a
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certain way, well, for one. So that as you and I reflect on
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how these men finished our race, we would To finish.
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Well, we ourselves would say that is something that I aspire
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to, that is something that I really, really want to avoid.
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And God cares about how you and I finish.
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God cares about how you and I and this thing.
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He's given us a few verses here to consider.
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Because what we see here with Paul though, it is a very
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strange thing. Because as you read these
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verses, you see, a fearlessness, you see a confidence, you even
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see an anticipation as a man is ready, to face one of the most
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chilling circumstances that can be possible.
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Imagine waiting day by day for that, call for you to exit this
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world into the next. Imagine the anxiety.
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Imagine that. Crippling fear.
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Imagine what's rushing through your mind and your heart?
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And yet this man here, seems so unmoved.
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So I'm Shakin, so undisturbed and what we see here with Paul,
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as he's about to embrace, with the Bible calls, in the Book of
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Job, the king of Terrors is available to you and I because
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we serve the same Master, we serve the same Lord, who is able
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to impart the same Grace that he put into this once a terrorist
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now, an apostle, The question is, how is it possible though?
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How is it possible for this? A this man to have such a level
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of composure? How can a man be?
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So calm, how can you have such presence of Mind?
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How can it be? So poised while he is pending in
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a prison the call for him to have his head removed from his
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shoulders? And it's in these verses that we
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just read. It's what we see right here.
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It's so plain, it's so clear, it's so obvious and an invites
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us to be able to realize the same strength as you.
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And I one day will slip into eternity.
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May, I remind you today that the preachers job is to remind you
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of Eternity. As you're hustling and bustling
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through life. This isn't it?
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There is another world and it's much more permanent than this
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one. How is Paul so strong?
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Well, consider three things. First, his Readiness to meet
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death, second his reflection before death.
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And third, the reward that awaited him after death. first
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his Readiness to meet death second his reflection on his
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life before death and third, the reward that awaited him after
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death and verse 6, we read I am already being poured out as a
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drink offering. And the time of my departure has
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come, can you sense the resolved?
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Can You Feel The Tranquility the control?
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This man is not writing with uncertainty, or with panic.
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There is no, such tone, he's completely aware of the
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seriousness of the predicament. But he is also confident.
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Not just in the way, he delivers, what he is saying
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right here, but even then the choice of words that he uses in
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his explanation of what's about to come about, Looking at here
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after he says, I am already being poured out as a drink
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offering that's an Old Testament connection.
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A drink offering was a type of offering, which you would pour
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out, whether it was wine or another substance mainly that
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you would poured out upon a sacrifice.
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And what Paul is trying to say is my life, is spent every
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single drop has been given already and though he hasn't
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been a martyr yet, he's already determined in his heart.
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I'm ready to give it all. But from there, he goes on to
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say for the time of my departure.
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Sir has come the word departure is unique in this verse and let
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it all old New Testament. He when he says this he's
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choosing the specifically he doesn't say the time of my death
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has come though. That would have been true.
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He says, the time of my departure has come and the
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original word. There is unique and it has a
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variety of meanings and it's quite insightful.
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The word in a general sense to be means to be unloosed.
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The idea there is that you are bound and you are limited from
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moving freely or to move forward.
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And when he says, the time of my departure has come, when he's
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essentially saying is, I'm being set free.
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I'm being set free to go where I want to go and to do what I
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really want to do. And the common metaphor here is
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that of a ship that has been attached to the Shore by some
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rope or cable but all for a sudden it is lifted off and
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there's now no hindrance and that both can sail into the
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Horizon to its desired destination.
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The time of my departure has come.
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When this man is speaking about death, he's not speaking about
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it as a frightening experience, he's actually speaking of it as
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a freeing one. As much as she was busy in the
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world being fruitful for God, there is a sense that he felt
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Limited in many ways because another portion of scripture in
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Philippians 123 says, for my desire to depart and be with
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Christ for that as far better. That is far better, you know, to
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Paul to be with Christ was better than planting churches.
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It was better than seeing Christians built up in their
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faith is better than seeing Miracles performed through his
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own hands. The thing that was the best that
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him was to just be with Christ. And death here for the apostle.
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Through his final breath would be, the means to lift the anchor
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to lift the anchor that was holding him down from
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experiencing what he longed for since he was born again.
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And that was to reach the Harbour of heaven and be greeted
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by his Lord, and to embrace his master and to have him back
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Master Embrace him. Death to this man was always
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dark. It's served to undress him and
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dress him from his Brokenness, from his corruption from his
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limitations and so that he can be dressed and fashioned with a
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Holiness. And a beauty, that our minds
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could not comprehend so that he would be fashioned to live with
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Christ forever and ever and ever.
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My desires to be with Christ. The time of my departure has
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come. I got my ticket.
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I'm getting on this flight and I'm going where I wanted to go.
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For so long. Is there a fear in that?
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Is there trouble in that? Is there disturbance in that?
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Who can talk like this? Someone who understands death as
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a righteous as a righteous man who's been imparted with that
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righteousness from a gracious savior.
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You know, there's incredible verse in Proverbs 16 verse 7.
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It says that when a man's ways pleases, God, he even makes his
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enemies to be at peace with him. Have you ever read that
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scripture when a man's ways, please the Lord.
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He even makes his enemies to be at peace with him and the
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immediate sense that speaks about an unusual favor in life
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even. Opponents that God gives so that
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you can navigate and perform his will in a certain way.
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But I like to think of it beyond that without butchering the
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scripture because although God can give us peace with our
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enemies here on Earth, God has also grant us peace with the
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greatest enemy of all, and that is death itself.
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Not because you and I have please God, because one who are
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was on her behalf, pleasing God, who has please God.
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And because of his substitutionary, atonement
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death, that enemy of enemies the greatest and one of the greatest
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enemies to us cannot touch us. Cannot harm us because of
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Christ. We can transition through it,
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unscathed. Goddess Called Death to be at
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peace with us because Christ has pleased the father on our
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behalf. And now we can transition
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through that that gate that has claimed and seal the The Souls
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of men into condemnation as a we were walking through any
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ordinary door. Consider the other portions of
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scripture that speak about that experience of death differently
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for the righteous than, for the wicked.
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Consider, for example, with me God's prophecy over Abraham in
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the early journeys of his faith. When he was still known as
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Abram. I want you to go to Genesis 15,
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15 and see something quite interesting concerning Abrams
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Destiny after he was told about what was going to happen with
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his prosperous and numerous seed.
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God is sure his amiable long life and a peaceful departure at
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a good old age. And Genesis 15 15.
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This is the Lord speaking over Abram and this is what he says
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to this man. As for you in Genesis 15, 15, as
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for you, you shall go to your father's in peace.
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You shall be buried in a good old age.
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Here's the Assurance, you will be buried at a ripe age, but
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more than that you will continue to live on still you are heading
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towards something. You will actually be gloriously
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gather to your father's Specifically, his death would be
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the door that would immediately Usher into the presence of those
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who have passed on before him, who have also been claimed by
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God because of their faith though.
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They were in the old Covenant, they looked forward as we look
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back to our Christ has done. Now, some might say the phrase
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here, you shall go to your father's and peace implies that
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Abram would just be buried with his ancestors, but the flow of
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the text does not suggest such a thing.
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Let's look at the Fulfillment of this prophecy 10 chapters later
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in Genesis 25 verse 8 and look what we receive here concerning
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the Fulfillment of what God said earlier in.
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Genesis 25 verse 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a
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good old age and old man and full of years and was gathered
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to his people. Now this doesn't mean that when
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he died he was buried with those that were buried before him
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because the next verse tells us that Isaac and Ishmael did that
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for him. So it's the sequence isn't
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suggest that he was, he was gathered to those who are
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already. Son, and he put him in a
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location where he was in close proximity to those who are
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connected to him in terms of heritage.
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They would take him to where Sarah was buried.
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Abraham purchased a k for her and he was buried in the same
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place instead. What's really happening here?
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Is that the moment he gave his final breath He was in the
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presence of those who are also awaiting that glorious
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unification with their glorified bodies.
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Isn't it a thrilling thought to know that if God grants you a
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deathbed, you might be whimpering with your last
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breath. And as you whisper, that final
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exhale, though, you may be surrounded by loved ones.
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In that moment. In that very moment, you will be
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gathered to God's people. Perhaps, even some that have
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passed on in your life that you miss dearly.
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If they are in Christ, they're waiting for you.
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They're waiting for you, if you still doubt that being gathered
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to his people means that we are brought into a blissful place
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with those who have been redeemed by God, just look at
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one final text and we'll put any doubts to rest.
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Consider how his grandson. Abraham's grandson died and come
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here to the final portion. Almost a final portion of
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Genesis and 49:33. I want to make you excited about
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this. Genesis 49 verse 33 when Jacob
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finished. Commanding his sons, he drew up
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his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was
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gathered to his people. The saying, well, it's the same
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thing. No, it's not because you read
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the next chapter. What do you realize that they
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embalm him for 40 days and the Egyptians wept over him for 70
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days? So the man wasn't, if gathered
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to his, people means to be buried with your people.
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He wasn't gathered to his people for several weeks.
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But here we're told that immediately when he put his feet
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up on that bed, that old man who had to walk around with a staff
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who who was leaning on it and worship before this moment, as
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we're told in Hebrews, he gave up his final breath and he was
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caught up to be with his people. That's exciting to me.
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Death is not Annihilation. Death is not cessation to live.
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Death is just a transition it just moving from one location to
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the next though, your body remains it will be reunited with
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you at one point, but you were immediately brought into the
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company of those who have also chosen with their life to trust
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in the savior. And I don't know what's going to
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happen there, but I'm sure it's great, I'm sure it's wonderful.
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Death, doesn't delete your identity.
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It doesn't you will be recognized and you will be able
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to recognize others. You'll even be able to recognize
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Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as Jesus says that we will sit at
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the same table at them as them in you.
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Imagine that how what how wonderful how glorious There's
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such a different experience for the righteous as they come to
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that final time of their lives and as comforting.
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And as exhilarating as that might be, I can tell you this,
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that Paul's most exciting thought was not to be reunited
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with Steven to surprise him. Even though he played a part in
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his martyrdom, it wasn't to to finally meet Moses David and the
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prophets, the men that he studied about and taught about
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as great. As those things are, as great.
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As it would be to reunite with those who have died during his
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ministry. The climax for Paul was what you
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heard earlier to be with Christ. to be with the one that for
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week, after week, you have sung about and heard sermons about
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finally, you will see him And be in close proximity to him
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face-to-face. No more Veil, no more seeing
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through a glass dimly, as real as I am to you more real.
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Will it be when Christ calls you home?
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And Paul here. Longed for that.
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That was the Delight of his departure that that's what made
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him giddy almost. Christ, purchase our Salvation.
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So that death would not be the Seal of your condemnation, it
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would be the means to sail you into his presence.
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Who awaits us, who awaits us after that, who awaits us on the
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other side of deaths gate, who's ready to flood us with his
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affection who's ready to ready to welcome us and extend those
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pierced hands who is ready, Christ himself, not just the
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people that you miss that you live with on this Earth.
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Not just Angels who have been summoned to serve you while you
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were a pilgrim in this world. Christ himself is there waiting
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for a personal welcome. And the enjoyment of his
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presence forever and ever, Paul's Readiness to meet death
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was framed by a revelation that the righteous will experience
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death differently. And every person who is outside
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of Christ, Have you heard that story that is often shared among
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preachers of the father and the son driving on a country road
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with their windows down and as they're driving, a bee swarms in
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that vehicle and starts buzzing. And that child, that son is
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absolutely terrified because they know that they're allergic
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to bees. And if that bee stung him, then
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he could quite possibly lose his life.
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So, as the father and son are driving in that, that be became
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a third passenger. There was total panic, panic in
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the Sun, at least the father was totally calm.
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And the sun was calling for the dad to pull over to swat.
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A fly away and giving all these suggestions and without saying a
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word with great calm, but great strength, the father, extends
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his hand, and grabs the bee, and his palm closes it and makes a
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fist. there's a brief silence in the Sun, but then the father
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opens his hand again and the bee starts buzzing and moving
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around, just like it was before and the Sun starts screaming
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again, frightened This time, the father speaks up.
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And when he speaks up his son, look at my hand, and he opens
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his hand, while he has the other one on the steering wheel in the
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sun looks down. And he sees that the sting is in
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that hand. And the father says, there's
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nothing to fear anymore, I took the sting All this be can do is
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just buzz. Now, make noise And that's what
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it's like with death for the Christian.
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It's a fearful experience for many.
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But Christ took the sting of death and all that thing can do
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now is intimidate you and lie to you.
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But the punishment has been dealt with it can do anything to
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you and I anymore for the righteous who have placed their
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faith in the one who took those piercings in his hands and his
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feet in his side. It cannot touch you.
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It cannot hurt you. It cannot claim you It only
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serves you now it serves you to bring you to where you want to
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be right Christian you want to be with Christ?
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I'm sure. Paul had a Readiness to meet
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death because he understood what Christ did to death on his
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behalf. But I want to tell you today,
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that Readiness to me, death is not available to you,
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churchgoer. It's not available to you person
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who thinks that just because you got baptized your saved.
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Just because you take communion, consistently means that your
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sins are forgiven every single time, no matter what wretched
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things you did that week, You can only have a Readiness when
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you have put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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When you have repented of your sin and you have made him the
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Lord of your life when he becomes Lord of your life and
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savior, he will extend his hand and guide you through guide you
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through even death. Not just life.
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Paul, I did Readiness to meet death, do you?
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Do you? you know, the question and you
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know, the answer, But in verse 7, we don't just see the redness
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to me, death, we see the reflection before his death.
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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have
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kept the faith, the greatest piece that you can know in this
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life. Is that, you know, you, you are
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ensured that you have, put your soul in the saving hands of the
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Lord Jesus. Nothing can triumph over that,
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nothing had come close to the serenity that comes only from
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salvation and salvation alone. But there was a part to pause
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pulse piece that you and I have to consider and what it is here
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is that when he chose sir recollect and reminisce about
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his days from the moment, he became a born-again Believer to
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the He would come into Glory. There was no serious regrets.
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And it's Christian Journey. These powerful metaphors.
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I've fought the good fight, I have finished the race.
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I have kept, they're all saying the same thing.
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Essentially, they speak of a complete admission, they speak
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of someone who was Secure in their reflection, that the
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essence of their life on Earth was to serve God.
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There is a comfort that comes that whatever was assigned to
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him by the Lord, it was accomplished and observed with
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faithfulness and consistency. Paul didn't go off course, he
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didn't put his ministry on this Shelf.
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He didn't fall in love with this present world, he didn't end in
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the flesh and to him, that was a surge of Peace.
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As he faced this moment, you know, there are some followers
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of Christ. I hope every person in here
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would agree to this who are convinced today and day by day
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that to make your life about anything else.
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Except for the cause of Christ is a complete waste.
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Unfortunately, you have some believers who won't realize that
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until later. Ron in life once they explored a
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little bit and and tried buying the newest and the latest and
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expanding and projects. It's only later on in life where
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they realize, and think it would feel like this and then you have
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some Who will realize that at the end of the road all
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together. We're not convinced.
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Until they begin to smell eternity.
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It's true. There's some professing
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Christians who struggle to be persuaded that to make your life
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practically framed around knowing the Lord and serving
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him. Maybe isn't as worth it as the
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preacher says it is, God knew that that would be a Temptation.
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God knew that, that would be a lie that Christians would have
28:07
to face even. And so he ordains his word to be
28:12
filled with examples and encouragement and warnings not
28:15
to believe the lies that would dampen your devotion.
28:19
And cause you to do the opposite of what Paul is doing here in
28:22
this prison cell and say to yourself.
28:24
What have I done. What did I do?
28:31
And we see here, That God wants us to be able to Echo the
28:36
sentiments. And he provides so many, so many
28:39
so many so many instructions to be safeguarded and protected so
28:44
that we can arrive or Paul is here.
28:46
Can I show you one example, it's in the Gospel of Luke chapter
28:48
12, We're told in Luke 12:1. That there are many thousands
28:58
who were gathered around Jesus. I mean, so many people were
29:01
gathered around the god-man that they were trampling.
29:05
On one another. They were actually trampling on
29:08
one another and Jesus took this time to address his disciples
29:12
and there's no doubt that the crowd around them heard what was
29:16
being taught. And so as he looks to his Core
29:19
group, he begins to teach and the first thing that he does is
29:22
he warns his disciples about hypocrisy and he points to the
29:27
And the Sadducees he says, be careful, be careful being like
29:30
them and after that, he goes on to speak about fearing.
29:34
God, not fearing man. He touches on hell, he touches
29:38
on judgment. And then in the same sentence,
29:40
he goes on to talk about the loving care of the heavenly
29:43
father, that even gives attention to, what we would
29:46
think is insignificant. That is the little birds that
29:48
you drive by and walk by. And then from there, he speaks
29:52
about the day of standing before Christ and ensuring that you do
29:58
not deny him on Earth and enduring persecution is the
30:03
price to pay to following this Lord and the promise that, as
30:08
you stand up for those, who would try to condemn, you the
30:10
holy spirit, will give you the right words to say don't even
30:13
meditate about it. And after these deep spiritual
30:17
truths are declared, the teaching is interrupted by a man
30:22
unnamed in the crowd. And you would think that he
30:26
would ask for clarification on these things or perhaps the best
30:29
application to these truths. But then, we come here to verse
30:33
13, a realize what is actually being said.
30:36
Someone in the crowd said to him teacher Tell my brother to
30:40
divide the inheritance with me. What?
30:47
What's the relevance of this? There isn't any?
30:52
And though, I don't know this man's name and you don't know it
30:54
either just from this. I know a lot about him.
30:59
As she is sitting there in the presence of the word, made flesh
31:04
the Incarnate Son of God. Declaring these glorious truths.
31:11
You know what? He's concerned about personal
31:13
security. Possessions being secured in his
31:17
name, his future being established.
31:21
There's no concern here from this man about spiritual riches
31:24
or being prepared for eternity. You know what this tells me that
31:28
even as Jesus preaching, somebody's mind is somewhere
31:31
else. Brings me, some comfort at
31:32
least. This is my this man is not even
31:37
responding to what's being said. He's not even considering he's
31:40
not even inquiring about it all for a sudden you just belches
31:43
up. Would you tell my brother to
31:45
divide the inheritance with me? Where's your mind at?
31:50
And why is he asking? Jesus I have a hunch that he
31:53
realizes when this guy speaks, there's Authority, man, people
31:56
are gripped. And I've seen people come up to
31:59
him, make requests to heal their daughter or their
32:00
demon-possessed son. So, surely, he's a humble
32:03
servant enough to consider my desire.
32:05
Hey, Rabbi would you ask my brother, this split the check
32:10
with me? if you ever doubt the power of
32:16
greed, don't forget this man. If you ever deny or put into
32:22
question, how materialism can possess a person.
32:25
Consider this person case on point, he's in the very presence
32:30
of God. Who has done things, that Israel
32:33
has never seen. And yet all the while he is
32:38
consumed with stuff. Jesus as the master teacher as
32:47
he was, he's going to take this Interruption and make it into a
32:50
teaching opportunity. And so, he masterfully says, in
32:57
verse 14, but he said to a man, Who made me a judge or
33:01
arbitrator over you? In other words, I didn't come
33:03
here to deal with civil issues. I came here to save Souls.
33:07
I'm not concerned about you. Having the inheritance that your
33:09
father left your brother, I'm here about your soul, and then
33:13
he goes on to warn. And he said to them, take care,
33:19
the NTSB would say beware. King James new King, James take
33:23
heed, beware take care and be on your guard against all
33:29
covetousness. For one's life, does not consist
33:35
in the abundance of his possessions.
33:40
This flies in the face. Of the American dream this flies
33:45
in the face of many people in the west, even who go to church
33:48
and love hearing sermons and their life is about
33:51
accumulating. And Jesus says, don't do that.
33:55
And for him to warn with such severity, already gives us an
33:59
idea that it is quite possible that at one point, in our
34:02
journey, we can get caught up. With possessions and experiences
34:09
and promotions and Jesus says, that's not what life is about.
34:16
And usually when you bring such a thing before a crowd of
34:19
Christians, there is some anxiety because especially in
34:23
the west people want to know how can I measure whether or not?
34:25
I am making my life about the wrong thing.
34:28
I work. I have desires.
34:30
I have plans. I'm a businessman.
34:33
I want to expand. I want to multiply, I want to
34:35
secure my future and so I something like this is taught.
34:38
You get some people to think. So what are you asking of me?
34:41
Aren't you glad to know that Jesus clarifies what it means to
34:45
make your life about possessions?
34:49
And having your life be the exact opposite of how Paul
34:52
reflect on his own. All you have to do is read on.
34:56
He gives a parable and we go to verse 18 speaks about a rich
34:59
man. And he said this rich, man, I
35:02
will do this, I will tear down my Barns and build larger ones.
35:06
And there I will store up all my grain and my goods and I will
35:10
say to my soul soul, you have ample Goods laid up for many
35:13
years. Relax eat drink, be merry.
35:19
But God said some fool. This night, your soul is
35:24
required of you and the things you have prepared.
35:26
Whose will they be? this will they be you noticed
35:32
reoccurring words and this men's thoughts to very short words but
35:37
are significant understanding this Parable I and my I and my
35:47
look at it. Again, I will tear down.
35:49
I will do this. I will build larger ones.
35:51
I will store up. I will say to my soul.
35:56
I I my my my what's the idea here?
36:03
if our plans, if our desires, if our resources are exclusively
36:07
about I and my and exclude, God, and his kingdom, as this man is
36:14
showing in his thoughts, you have something to be worried
36:16
about You do. Notice that all this men's was
36:22
concerned was about relaxing. Eating drinking.
36:29
And being happy saying, is there anything wrong with that?
36:33
And I say no, unless you were doing it apart from enjoying
36:36
God, is it wrong to relax and eat and no, but if you're doing
36:43
it without God, it is it's idolatry who gave you all those
36:46
things to enjoy by the way. This man doesn't have the Lord
36:53
in his Ambitions at all. And when I looked at this, I
36:56
thought to myself. How would a Christian?
36:58
How would a true born again? Christian think and reflect, if
37:02
he was in this man's shoes, if he was successful, he was
37:05
strong. If he was a businessman who made
37:09
much much for himself and I thought maybe he would say
37:12
something along the lines of Lord.
37:15
How can I be serving? How can I be witnessing?
37:18
How can I Advance your purposes with a lot of life that you have
37:22
ordained for me? This is that sound different.
37:26
It doesn't exclude, the eating drinking relaxing.
37:29
But in includes the program of God lording over your plans in
37:36
mind. When you say stuff like this
37:40
man, people get uncomfortable. At least I didn't call you a
37:44
fool. That's what God did.
37:48
That's what God did. Oh, I mean, when you look at
37:52
these words you think to yourself This is what most
37:55
people are occupied by and what's so amazing here is that
37:59
when a person forgets God they at the same time often forget
38:03
about their mortality. Did you understand what?
38:06
I just said when a person excludes God from their
38:09
thinking, or they fail to include God in their living at
38:14
the same time, they fall into another trap and that's a
38:17
failure to realize their own mortality.
38:20
And then they plan accordingly. They plan as other staying here,
38:24
forever, as other stuff will be there forever, like this man is
38:29
And that is the result of failing to see God and the realm
38:32
that he occupies, and the destination that we are headed
38:35
towards. We begin to think that we are
38:37
Immortal. And that this is our permanent
38:39
residence. And God says you're a fool
38:43
because in the middle of your planning, I'm going to call your
38:45
soul to come up. This is the opposite of what
38:51
Paul said about his life. Remember those words indeed I
38:55
count all things as loss compared to the surpassing worth
38:58
of knowing Christ. Jesus, my Lord for his sake, I
39:00
have suffered the loss of all things.
39:04
That I may gain Christ and be found in him Polar Opposites.
39:09
I've suffered the loss of all things, for the sake of Christ,
39:13
that I may gain him. Know him, love him, glorify him.
39:17
This man. I my me and as Paul comes to
39:23
that portion of second, Timothy He is able to reflect on his
39:28
life and realize that I lived for a Heavenly purpose.
39:32
Oh, I fought. It wasn't easy.
39:36
I ran. It was a marathon.
39:40
I want you to be able to say at the end of your life, whether
39:43
you will be a businessman, whether you will be a nurse,
39:45
whether you'll be a doctor, whether you are one right now or
39:48
just a mother who is just raising up their children
39:50
Faithfully, to be arrows in the kingdom of God.
39:53
I want you to be able to say at the end of your life.
39:56
I struggled for Christ. I struggled men, I endured
40:02
betrayal. I by the grace of God did not
40:06
give myself over to a life of sin.
40:08
I didn't lazy. I didn't that laziness get a
40:11
hold of me. When other people walked out on
40:14
him by the grace of God, I was loving him still.
40:17
I want you to be able to say that.
40:21
Because although it is hard. Fighting is not easy running a
40:28
foot. Race is not easy, although it's
40:30
hard in the moment, although there's nothing more.
40:33
Satisfying, that at the end of the road, you can say that I
40:36
endured until the end. I endured until the end.
40:42
Finally, in the last verse of our text, Paul reflects upon the
40:46
reward that awaits him after his death.
40:49
There was no regrets running through his mind as he sat there
40:51
in that dungeon, he could lay his head back on that wall, with
40:56
a smile on his face. After Penning these words to
40:59
Timothy, he didn't have to pound it in regret or shame or
41:02
embarrassment, but the lack of regret was not the only reason
41:06
for his gratification, there was a knowledge of a coming reward.
41:09
Something is happening. Do you think Paul was frowning?
41:12
when he was writing about this heavenly award ceremony, where
41:17
there was a crown that was guarded for him and safely
41:20
secured. Can I tell you something?
41:25
If you take this book from cover to cover and you just study what
41:29
awaits you as a Believer? And you put all the clues
41:32
together, you will be overwhelmed.
41:36
You will be overwhelmed. and if you choose to believe it, I
41:43
don't think you'll be nervous about that.
41:47
In fact, you might be just like Paul.
41:50
Here. Can I give you a couple of
41:52
glimpses before we close? I love how the Bible organizes
41:56
itself. It causes you to investigate it
41:59
cause you to excavate. You have to go here and there
42:01
and put it together and put the pieces so that you have a more
42:04
clear. It's exciting.
42:07
Let me show you your and Luke still right, we'll go to Luke
42:09
16. Jesus and this chapter, this
42:13
wonderful chapter teaches about different things.
42:15
One of the things that he teaches about us, hell, a word
42:22
that's really even said in church today, Hell.
42:28
But in his teaching, he contrast to men are rich man.
42:34
And a poor man named Lazarus. This rich man was filthy rich
42:40
Lazarus. He was just filthy And this man
42:44
eyes, she was clothed with royalty outside of his home, at
42:49
his gate, laid a bum. Who only experienced The
42:55
Compassion of dogs, who are licking his wounds as he lay
42:58
there as a diseased piece of meat.
43:01
And he didn't even have a crumb in his name.
43:04
That's all he aspired to in his pathetic life, one would say.
43:11
But finally, Jesus says that these two men died.
43:15
They died. And look at verse 22, with me to
43:18
see the description of this incident.
43:21
The poor man died and was carried by the angel, say
43:25
Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was
43:28
buried. Here's a verse to, to show us
43:31
the importance of reading our Bible slowly.
43:33
And carefully notice that both men died, but only one was
43:37
buried. The poor man died and was
43:40
carried by the Angels, the rich man also died and was buried,
43:44
the poor man didn't even have a burial.
43:47
Some believe that he was just thrown outside as an outcast
43:49
with the dump of the city. Letting his flesh, rot there
43:53
like nothing and yet this rich man had surely, a fashionable
43:57
funeral. Surely a rich tomb.
44:00
Surely an honorable event in light of his life.
44:06
One was buried one. Didn't the fate of these men?
44:09
Even follow them to that last moment.
44:11
Even to their death, their death itself.
44:13
Describe the great difference between these two people and how
44:16
they live on this Earth, but everything changed after death.
44:21
There was a great reversal of position and privilege and you
44:26
see it in the same verse this poor men died.
44:29
Oh yeah, he didn't have a burial.
44:31
But he was carried by angels. To Abraham's side this rich man.
44:39
Oh he might have had a parade for his funeral.
44:42
No, mention of angels escorting him.
44:47
Drop like nothing into Hades. While Lazarus was ignored the
44:53
spies throughout his life and was not offered a hint of human
44:56
dignity. Even in his death, the moment he
45:00
gave his final breath. God didn't send one Angel.
45:04
He sent angels. And they ushered him into the
45:08
presence of the redeemed. and this man who was rich tall his
45:13
life, Experience a great reversal quite opposite to that
45:19
of Lazarus and Paul I can't help but think that he is
45:24
anticipating that great reversal and his own martyrdom because at
45:28
any moment his head is going to be placed on a block.
45:31
And a corrupt government is going to claim his head, but he
45:34
says, there are weights me a crown of righteousness, the same
45:38
head that they're going to chop off as the same head that Jesus
45:41
Christ is going to crowned with Glory.
45:46
Death is going to change a lot of people's faith.
45:49
Death is going to change a lot of people's scripts, death is
45:53
going to change a lot of people and the way they experience
45:56
their existence. Paul knew that there was
46:02
something coming on the other side and it made him not care.
46:06
What they were going to do with him.
46:07
In this brief moment with this body, there's so many clues in
46:11
the bible. Let me give you another one.
46:12
I'm going to close. Go to the Book of Revelation
46:15
3:21. What happened to your Jesus,
46:25
speaking to the Church of laodicea.
46:26
We talked about him last week, right?
46:29
The lukewarm church. One of the most condemned
46:31
churches, out of the seven. And then Jesus says something,
46:34
quite fascinating and verse 21, the one who conquers, I will
46:38
grant him to sit with me on my throne.
46:42
As I also conquered and sat down with my father on his throne, he
46:46
who has an ear. Let him hear what the spirit
46:48
says, to the churches. Did you catch that?
46:52
The one who conquers conquers, what will read the preceding
46:56
verses conquerors lukewarmness indifference compromise.
47:01
A casual attitude towards God, and His purposes.
47:04
His word, and his commands, the person who conquers over that,
47:09
who overcomes those things. Jesus says, will sit with me on
47:14
my throne. If I didn't show you the verse
47:19
and I suggested that you would think I was Blasphemous.
47:22
I didn't say it. Jesus said it.
47:25
They will sit with me on my throne.
47:29
What does that mean? I don't know.
47:32
All I know is that. That is mind-boggling.
47:38
You're telling me that the most wretched Church of the seven
47:41
arguably is going to be rewarded with one of the highest
47:44
privileges in glory. You know, when we come to the
47:48
word of God and we see what was accomplished at Calvary, many of
47:52
us, just see it as us. Escaping God's Wrath, that is
47:55
glorious and itself but Christ purchase so much more so much
48:01
more I know this, the sounds scary but it's true that there
48:05
is a level of exaltation that awaits the believer.
48:10
And it doesn't make sense, but welcome to Grace it.
48:14
We can't comprehend it and it is true.
48:17
But Christ promised it nonetheless.
48:19
And I believe that as Christ goes beyond what we can imagine.
48:23
He doesn't just let us slip through a door to get into
48:25
heaven and Escape hell. There is going to be crowning
48:27
and reward and elevation, and I think it's going to break us.
48:34
I think it's going to totally crush us to a degree by the
48:39
goodness of God, being lavished on us undeserved inexplainable.
48:44
And that's the point. That's the point.
48:49
If you only knew what was coming.
48:52
If you only knew what you were going to see what you're going
48:54
to be handed, if you only knew the words are going to come out
48:58
of that mouth that precious glorious saviours mouth.
49:04
There is a reward that he anticipated, he believes form.
49:09
And guess what? It wasn't because he was an
49:11
apostle, he clarifies by the spirit and not only to me, but
49:16
also, to all who love his appearing, Think about it.
49:23
I believe the Bible teaches that Believers will be rewarded
49:26
differently in glory and I see that there is a reward here for
49:30
one simple thing. There will be a reward extended
49:33
to those who simply loved his appearing.
49:36
Can you imagine that? I don't know what that's going
49:39
to be like, but I like my imagination to go to the idea of
49:42
Christ saying your whole life. You've been waiting for this
49:46
moment. Even waiting for me to come even
49:50
waiting for me to call you home, and here's a gift to you.
49:54
Here's a gift to you, notice that it is safe for those who
49:57
believed for his appearing. You're not a Christian, I don't
50:01
believe that Jesus Christ is coming back.
50:03
This is for those who loved his appearing, there's a great
50:07
difference about believing a Doctrine and Desiring, what that
50:10
Doctrine teaches. And in this case, Jesus, Jesus
50:15
will reward those who desire his appearing.
50:20
You want to be ready to face death, understand what Jesus
50:24
purchased for the righteous so that you would be ready.
50:28
By the grace of God live in a way in which it's not about I
50:31
and my but his kingdom and you will be able to reflect.
50:33
If you have the chance to even do that to say it was worth
50:37
fighting, it was worth gritting it out.
50:39
It was worth enduring, the scars and the whips, and the pain, and
50:42
the persecution. It was worth it.
50:44
I've invested in another world to come.
50:48
And lastly, believe that there is a reward for such
50:52
faithfulness, a reward that will blow you away.
50:58
Give you more reason to glorify him as you are showered by his
51:02
love and mercy for all eternity. Lord, we thank you.
51:14
For giving us a taste. We have no reason to be afraid.
51:22
We have no reason to be nervous. If anything, we have all the
51:26
reasons to be excited, strong courageous, Fearless.
51:36
We are unworthy. Unworthy.
51:41
Thank you Jesus, for your love. Thank you, Jesus, for Hope.
51:47
Thank you for salvation. Thank you for forgiving us.
51:53
Thank you. Oh God.
51:57
That death is, but a departure. It is not our seal of
52:05
condemnation. It is the door into your
52:11
presence forever and ever. Because we don't fear death or
52:18
we don't fear disease. We don't fear.
52:26
Where this economy will lead us, we don't fear what people will
52:30
do to us because you have dealt with the greatest enemy of all.
52:37
And we thank you. We just Worship You Lord, we
52:41
worship you today in Jesus name, amen.