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A Forever Home · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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We can turn back to our reading in the book of Revelation, chapter 21.
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! We can read again at verse 3.
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! Verse 3 to verse 5 will be our main focus this evening.
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Revelation 21 at verse 3.
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And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
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Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
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He will dwell with them, and they will be his people.
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And God himself will be with them as their God.
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He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.
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Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more,
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for the former things have passed away.
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And he who was seated on the throne said,
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Behold, I am making all things new.
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Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.
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Are you someone who browses property websites when you see a house for sale?
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Looking at it and thinking, I wonder what it's like.
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Perhaps you've seen a house advertised for sale as you've been driving past,
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and you want to know a bit more about it.
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How big's the garden out the back?
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What's it like inside?
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Maybe especially if you know the people who were living in it.
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You're wondering about it.
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And especially maybe, how much?
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How much is it being sold for?
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Why do we do that?
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Curiosity?
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Or maybe we're just nosy.
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We just like to know what that place is like.
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How much it's being sold for.
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Maybe you are interested in buying it.
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Maybe you want to show an interest in it that way.
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But very often it's just a case of, I just want to see what it's like.
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I've done it myself.
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I'm sure many of you have as well.
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But what about when it comes to inquiring about our eternal home,
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our eternal dwelling?
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Have you looked into that?
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Have you had any thoughts of what kind of place it is?
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What it will be like?
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Will it be worth going there?
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How do I get there?
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How much does it cost?
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Because here in the book of Revelation,
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we find for us an insight into what that place will be like.
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We see who will be there.
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We see a little of what it will be like.
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What kind of place it will be.
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And it will be our eternal home.
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Our everlasting home.
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And how interested are we in that compared to the homes in which we have in this world?
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You could say it's described in two main ways for us.
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As we look at the forever home, as we could call it.
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Two different ways we could describe it.
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Not in terms of what it looks like,
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but more who will be there.
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And especially as we look at it this evening,
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we see is God the one that we are looking for?
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Because our everlasting home will be one of two different kinds.
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A place with God
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or a place without God.
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That's the way it's described.
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It's described in this chapter itself as well.
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A place with God
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or a place without God.
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As we're looking at it this evening,
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we want to think about it in that way of a place with God.
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God's presence is a wonderful thing.
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And it's to have that promise.
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We have that promise so often through Scripture
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that God will be with his people.
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That he is with us always.
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But how much do we look for that presence?
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How much do we long for that presence?
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How much do we always want to know God with us?
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Well, if we do.
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If we have God as our hope and God as our trust,
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putting our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
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we have this hope that at the end of the day,
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we will be with him forever.
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As Psalm 23 says,
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For in God's house forevermore
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my dwelling place shall be.
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When you consider God's presence,
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God's promises in that way of being with his people
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in the Old and in the New Testament,
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very often as you look at them,
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there's a sense of there's more to come.
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There's more ahead for us.
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And here in the book of Revelation,
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we are given an insight into what that more is.
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Because as you look through the Old and the New Testament,
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you find that where he is with his people,
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there is sin,
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there is falling away from God,
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there is chaos,
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there is destruction,
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there are all of these things that spoil that relationship with God.
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But we are thankful that there is more to come.
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The finale,
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if you like.
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And yet,
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as we look at it here in Revelation,
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it still really is incomplete to us,
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because John,
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who wrote this,
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couldn't even describe it in a way
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that we could fully understand and appreciate.
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He was trying to describe the things that he was seeing
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as you read on into the latter part of the chapter,
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the walls,
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the gates,
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all of these things,
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they're described with precious jewels and pearls and gold
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and all of these things.
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It's remarkable how it's described.
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And yet we can't fully appreciate it.
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Neither could John himself.
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But what we have is an insight into a place we should long to be,
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and a place that we are looking at
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with eyes of faith through Jesus Christ.
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So we have that hope.
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The book of Revelation as a whole is
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maybe sometimes a difficult book to follow.
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It has many visions and symbolisms
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that are often difficult for us to understand.
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And sometimes we can just maybe shy away from it.
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We can just turn away from it.
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But too many people see it as almost just fiction.
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Make-believe.
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It's just made up.
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Like a movie that has a far-off land
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that just isn't real.
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Yet that's not what it is at all.
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As one author describes it,
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we are not carried into some never-never land of fancy,
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but into the ever-ever land
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of God's eternal values
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and judgments.
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An ever-ever land.
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And Revelation chapter 21
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is a very familiar chapter maybe to many of you.
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It's a very comforting passage of Scripture.
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You very often hear it read at funerals,
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especially funerals of believers,
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because there are great comforting words
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in this chapter.
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And yet despite maybe a familiarity with it,
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there's just a sense of awe
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because it's indescribable.
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What is heaven going to be like?
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We don't fully appreciate.
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We don't fully understand.
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If we could even have an insight
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into the greatest palace in this world,
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if we were to have a walk around,
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even if you went around Buckingham Palace,
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for example,
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it would be nothing compared to this.
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It would be nothing compared to what God has prepared
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for his people.
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And so John is giving us a little insight.
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And he's giving it,
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as he often does,
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as the Scriptures often do,
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in the midst of comfort,
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but also warning.
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We are told this will be a place of rejoicing
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for the Lord's people
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with the presence of God there.
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But it comes in the midst of warning,
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just like it does so often in Scripture.
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For example, in Isaiah,
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the book of Isaiah,
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you have great warnings
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throughout the book of Isaiah.
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They are going to be taken into captivity.
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There is disaster coming upon them.
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But in the midst,
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you have comforting verses as well,
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verses of hope.
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So in the midst of Isaiah warning the people,
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there's also comfort,
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as he says in Isaiah 35, verse 10,
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the ransomed of the Lord shall return
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and come to Sion with singing.
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Everlasting joy shall be upon them,
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upon their heads.
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They shall obtain gladness and joy,
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and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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Very similar to the words
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that we have in verse 4 here.
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So Isaiah is writing in the midst of warning.
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Great words of comfort.
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And the same could be said
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for this book of Revelation as well.
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We have these great comforting words
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in chapter 21,
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but they follow chapter 20, verse 13,
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where it says there,
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in verse 13,
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And the sea gave up their dead who were in it.
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Death and Hades gave up their dead who were in them.
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And they were judged,
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each one of them,
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according to what they had done.
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This warning,
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this warning of judgment
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into the deeds that they have done.
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But for those who are a people of faith then,
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that's what brings us then into chapter 21.
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This great hope
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of an everlasting place
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with God.
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A place we will see under three headings.
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A place that God dwells.
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A place that God dispels.
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And a place that God seals.
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A place that God dwells first.
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We often have that question.
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We hear it's a question asked,
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whether it's young or old,
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doesn't matter what age we are.
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What kind of place will heaven be?
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Where is heaven?
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We don't know all the answers.
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We don't know everything for sure.
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But in verse 3 to 5,
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we are given some insight into that question.
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And verse 3 reminds us
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that it's a place that God
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will dwell with his people.
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He is going to be ever present
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in this new Jerusalem.
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Verse 3 says,
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There is a sense of belonging together,
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of being together.
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A place where God will dwell
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ever with his people.
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And what he announces here
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in Revelation 21
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has very much Old Testament language
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behind it as well.
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The fulfillment of it.
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Because often through the Old Testament
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you see that phrase,
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I will be their God
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and they will be my people.
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It's repeated a number of times
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throughout the Old Testament.
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Genesis 17, verse 8,
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I will give us an everlasting possession
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to you and your descendants after you
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and I will be their God.
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Jeremiah 32, verse 38,
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They will be my people
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and I will be their God.
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It's that constant refrain
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that as a people are faithful
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towards God,
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they will be his people.
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He will be their God.
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There is this relationship
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that is right and that is good.
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But in these ones,
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it never lasts.
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There's no lasting peace.
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It comes so often to an end
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because of the disobedience
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of the people.
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They reject him,
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they turn away from him
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and then the pattern begins again.
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But what Revelation is showing us
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is a day is coming
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when those patterns will stop
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and that God will dwell
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with his people forever.
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And there's reminders of that
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in the Old Testament as well.
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Ezekiel has a great reminder to us
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a number of times in Ezekiel.
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Ezekiel 37, verse 27, 28,
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this is looking more
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to that eternal nature
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of God dwelling.
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My dwelling place will be with them.
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I will be their God
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and they will be my people.
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Then the nations will know
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that I, the Lord,
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make Israel holy
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when my sanctuary is among them forever.
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So he is reminding them
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there will be an eternal dwelling.
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And Ezekiel 48, 35,
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the last verse of that book
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of that vision says,
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and the name of the city
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from that time on will be,
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the Lord is there.
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If you were at the prayer meeting
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on Wednesday evening,
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you will remember that verse,
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I hope.
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The Lord is there,
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Jehovah Shammah.
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Shammah.
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That's what it means.
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One of the names of the Lord
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that we looked at.
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The Lord is there.
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God will dwell with his people.
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It's an eternal dwelling.
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It's not something temporary,
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which is what we have in this world
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and what we have always had.
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As you go through the scriptures,
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whether you're looking
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at the children of Israel
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in the wilderness roaming around,
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in their tents at times,
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then cities being made,
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villages and towns.
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We think of our own island,
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how homes have changed
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over the year from huts
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and small, just stone-built homes
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to black houses,
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to modern homes that we live in now.
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Accommodation,
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places we live is always evolving,
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always changing.
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And yet nothing that we have here
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is permanent.
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They are always only temporary.
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And what we have here
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is not just a renovation of something,
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it's a new build,
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a new heaven and a new earth
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made perfect by God.
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A place Abraham in the Old Testament
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was looking towards,
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as Hebrews says,
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Hebrews 11 verse 10,
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for he was looking forward
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to the city that has foundations,
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whose designer and builder is God.
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God dwelling with his people.
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A prepared place,
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as Jesus describes it in John 14.
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Let not your hearts be troubled.
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Great comfort in these words as well.
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Believe in God,
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believe also in me.
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In my Father's house
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are many rooms.
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If it were not so,
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would I have told you
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that I go to prepare a place for you?
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Prepared by the Lord himself.
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And if I go and prepare a place for you,
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I will come again
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and will take you to myself,
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that where I am,
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you may be also.
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It's a place the Lord desires
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his people to be forever.
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It is a place that God will dwell
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with his people.
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Some of you maybe have visited,
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the privilege of maybe visiting St. Kilda,
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a place I would love to go one day.
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Maybe you've seen images
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of what it was in the past
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if you've not been able to visit it.
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Fascinating place,
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a place where people lived
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in what must have been
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very difficult conditions at times.
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And yet when you see it,
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whether you've been there
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or when you see the images of it,
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you see it was once a community,
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once a village,
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once a place that people,
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families dwelled together.
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But it changed.
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Times changed.
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It's no more like that.
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There's people go out there
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to work now.
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But it's very different
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to what it was.
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Same as we look around our island,
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we see homes.
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We even find places
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where villages used to be
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but are no more.
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And yet they've all got a history
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and yet the people
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are no longer there.
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But is God there?
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Yes, he's still there.
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He's still wherever his people are.
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Times change.
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People change.
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Places change.
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But God doesn't.
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And what God has
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is a prepared place
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for his people.
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A place that he will dwell
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with his people.
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Is that the place
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that we are looking for?
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Is that the place
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that we are longing for?
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When our attention,
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our thoughts
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are so often caught up
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in the things
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that we have in this world,
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let's remember
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that there is another place
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to come.
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A place of God's making.
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A place where God will dwell.
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And where he longs to dwell
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with his people.
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When you think of how Jesus
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has gone to prepare a place.
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We know that he went
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to prepare a place
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as we were remembering
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last Lord's Day
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through giving.
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Through paying.
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We could never
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afford this home.
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Not just because of
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the way it's described
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and all its jewels
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and gold
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and pearls
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and all of these things.
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We could never afford them.
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But more than that,
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we could never afford it
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in what Jesus
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has done for us.
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But he goes
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to prepare
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a place.
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So God dwells
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in this place.
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But we see also,
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secondly,
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God dispels here as well
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in verse 4.
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He will wipe away
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every tear
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from their eyes
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and death
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shall be no more.
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Neither
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shall there be mourning
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nor crying
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nor pain anymore
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for the former things
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have passed away.
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God
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dispels.
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what does God
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dwelling with his people
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mean?
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We have God
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with us here.
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But while we are
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in this earth,
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there's a sense
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of
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an incompleteness.
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not in the sense
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that God
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doesn't care
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for us.
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He does.
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But an incompleteness
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because we are
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still sinners.
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We are still
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in a fallen world.
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And because of that,
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we are a suffering
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people.
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But as we put
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our trust in God,
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we know that he is
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concerned for us.
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That he has a love
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towards us.
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And that is
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God's desire
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is for us
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to know
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his comfort.
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But there is
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still
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suffering.
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We don't need
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reminded about
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that much
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because
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we all know it.
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We all go through it.
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We're reminded
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in different ways
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throughout this world.
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And yet God
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still has his people
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of concern
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for others.
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You may have heard
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of the dwelling
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places in Uganda
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an organization
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I'm sure many of you
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are familiar with.
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Looking out for
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street children
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in the cities of Uganda
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like Kampala.
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And when you look
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at the work
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that they do
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among orphans,
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children who are
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abandoned
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and out on the street,
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they are trying
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to give them
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a better life
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and help them
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in their pain,
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in their sorrow,
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in their loss.
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And they are trying
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to dispel
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that idea
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that they cannot
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be helped.
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The idea
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that their lives
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are just going
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to be always
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full of pain.
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And they have
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behind it,
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behind their work
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is the scriptures,
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the word of God.
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Their text
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is taken
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from Isaiah,
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Isaiah 58,
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verse 12.
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And your ancient
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ruins shall be rebuilt.
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You shall raise up
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the foundations
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of many generations.
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You shall be called
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the repairer
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of the breach,
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the restorer
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of streets
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to dwell in.
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Restoration
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is behind it.
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And their motto
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is until every child
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has a chest
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to rest his head
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on and a place
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to call home.
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That's their longing.
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And yet the reality
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is that that's not
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always what happens.
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Tears,
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sorrow,
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death,
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mourning,
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crying,
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all these things
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still happen.
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There is still
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that sorrow
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and sadness.
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And the reality
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is not just
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for the children
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of Kampala.
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It's for people
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far and wide.
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Have you read
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the bulletin sheet
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today for the
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Lewis Christian Conference?
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The speaker
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who's going to be there,
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Reverend Dr. Robert Smith.
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Paragraph there
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says this,
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Dr. Smith
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has faced
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extraordinary
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family tragedies.
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After losing
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his first wife
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to lupus,
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he subsequently
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lost two of his sons.
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His oldest son
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died of cancer
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and another son
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was murdered
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during a gang attack
21:28
at the supermarket
21:29
where he was working
21:30
that evening.
21:32
Tragedy,
21:33
sorrow,
21:34
grief that many of us
21:36
have never experienced
21:37
to that extent.
21:39
And yet here
21:39
he is coming
21:40
to minister,
21:42
to preach
21:42
the gospel.
21:45
Because it says
21:46
there as well,
21:47
Dr. Smith
21:47
has spoken publicly
21:48
about his grueling
21:49
spiritual journey
21:50
of processing
21:52
this murder,
21:53
noting
21:53
that he ultimately
21:54
chose to extend
21:56
forgiveness
21:56
to the young man
21:57
who shot
21:59
his son.
22:00
Grace
22:00
in the midst
22:02
of grief.
22:04
God gives us
22:05
grace
22:06
in this world
22:07
as we go on.
22:09
But he gives us
22:10
grace
22:10
preparing us
22:12
as his children
22:13
for a place
22:13
of rest.
22:16
A place
22:17
where he'd
22:17
dispel
22:18
all of these
22:19
things as described
22:20
for us
22:21
in verse 4.
22:22
It's a wonderful
22:23
verse.
22:24
He will wipe
22:24
away every tear
22:26
from their eyes.
22:28
There's that
22:28
personal nature
22:30
to it.
22:30
He,
22:32
not a servant,
22:33
not somebody else,
22:35
he will wipe
22:36
away every tear
22:38
from their eyes.
22:39
death
22:40
shall be
22:41
no more.
22:43
Neither
22:43
shall there be
22:44
mourning
22:44
nor crying
22:46
nor pain
22:47
anymore.
22:48
All of these
22:49
things
22:49
that cause
22:51
us grief
22:52
and hardship
22:52
and sorrow
22:53
so often
22:55
dispelled.
22:58
Dispelled
22:58
by him.
23:01
Maybe you're
23:02
here tonight
23:02
as a believer
23:03
and you still
23:05
have a great
23:06
sense of this,
23:07
the burden
23:07
of this world
23:09
upon you.
23:10
Sin,
23:11
grief,
23:13
disappointment.
23:15
All of these
23:16
things,
23:17
because we live
23:17
in a fallen
23:18
world,
23:18
can still
23:19
linger with us
23:20
and it can
23:21
leave us
23:21
anxious.
23:23
Does it
23:24
worry how
23:24
you feel
23:26
or how it
23:27
affects you
23:28
on a day-to-day
23:29
basis?
23:30
Your relationship
23:30
with the Lord?
23:31
Maybe your
23:32
relationship
23:33
with others?
23:35
Well,
23:35
you can come
23:36
to God's
23:37
word and
23:38
find here
23:38
comfort.
23:40
Comfort
23:41
that all
23:42
of these
23:42
things
23:43
will be
23:44
dealt
23:44
with by
23:45
him.
23:47
He
23:48
will wipe
23:49
away every
23:49
tear.
23:50
He
23:51
will dispel
23:52
death.
23:53
It shall
23:53
be no more.
23:54
No more
23:55
mourning,
23:56
crying,
23:57
pain.
23:58
All these
23:58
former things
23:59
have passed
24:01
away.
24:03
Maybe you're
24:04
seeking here
24:04
this evening.
24:06
You don't
24:06
believe in
24:07
God,
24:08
but you'd
24:09
love comfort.
24:11
You'd love
24:12
a sense of
24:12
there's better
24:13
in this life
24:14
and there's
24:15
better to
24:16
come.
24:17
Well,
24:17
where is it
24:18
found?
24:19
It is found
24:20
in the Lord
24:20
Jesus Christ,
24:22
the one
24:23
who prepares
24:24
a place
24:26
for his
24:26
people.
24:28
And you
24:28
can come.
24:29
You can
24:30
all come.
24:31
Believer,
24:33
non-believer,
24:34
seeker,
24:34
wherever you
24:35
are this
24:36
evening,
24:36
you can
24:37
come to
24:38
these words
24:38
and you
24:39
can find
24:39
comfort in
24:40
these words
24:41
because they
24:42
are great
24:42
words.
24:44
They are
24:45
wonderful
24:45
words.
24:47
They are
24:47
God
24:48
speaking.
24:50
And you
24:50
see here
24:51
he is
24:51
speaking
24:52
with a
24:52
loud voice
24:53
as it
24:54
says in
24:54
verse 3.
24:55
I heard
24:56
a loud
24:57
voice from
24:58
the throne
24:59
saying,
25:00
God
25:01
is speaking
25:03
here.
25:04
God is
25:05
speaking to
25:06
us.
25:08
He is
25:08
the one
25:08
who has
25:09
all of
25:09
these
25:10
things
25:10
in his
25:11
hands.
25:11
He is
25:12
the one
25:12
who says
25:13
he will
25:13
dwell.
25:14
He is
25:15
the one
25:15
who says
25:16
he will
25:16
dispel.
25:18
All of
25:19
these things
25:19
are in
25:20
his hands.
25:22
And so
25:23
we can
25:23
look to
25:24
him.
25:25
We can
25:25
put our
25:25
trust
25:26
in him.
25:27
The third
25:30
and final
25:31
thing we
25:31
see here
25:32
is that
25:32
God
25:33
seals.
25:35
God's
25:36
seal is
25:37
on all
25:37
of this.
25:38
In
25:38
verse 5.
25:40
And he
25:40
who was
25:40
seated on
25:41
the throne
25:41
said,
25:42
Behold,
25:42
I am
25:43
making all
25:43
things new.
25:45
Also he
25:46
said,
25:46
Write
25:46
this down
25:48
for these
25:48
words are
25:49
trustworthy
25:50
and true.
25:52
This
25:55
comes back
25:55
to the
25:56
fact that
25:56
this is
25:57
not a
25:59
fairy tale.
25:59
This is
26:00
not never
26:00
never land.
26:02
This is
26:02
the ever
26:03
ever land
26:04
of God.
26:05
These
26:06
words are
26:06
trustworthy
26:07
and these
26:09
words are
26:10
true.
26:12
God's
26:13
seal is
26:14
on it.
26:16
It is
26:17
the word
26:17
that comes
26:18
from the
26:19
throne.
26:20
A loud
26:21
voice from
26:22
the throne
26:23
saying,
26:24
This is
26:25
a royal
26:26
seal.
26:27
It is
26:28
the one
26:28
who sits
26:29
on the
26:29
throne
26:29
that
26:30
delivers
26:31
these
26:31
words.
26:33
They
26:33
are
26:33
trustworthy
26:34
and they
26:35
are
26:36
true.
26:38
In
26:38
Corinthians
26:39
Paul
26:40
speaks
26:41
about
26:41
having
26:43
been
26:43
purchased
26:44
through
26:45
Jesus
26:45
Christ.
26:48
2
26:48
Corinthians
26:48
1
26:49
verse
26:49
21.
26:50
Now
26:50
it is
26:50
God
26:50
who
26:51
makes
26:51
both
26:52
us
26:52
and
26:52
you
26:53
stand
26:53
firm
26:53
in
26:54
Christ.
26:54
He
26:54
anointed
26:55
us,
26:56
set
26:56
his
26:57
seal
26:57
of
26:58
ownership
26:58
on us
26:59
and put
27:00
his
27:00
spirit
27:00
in our
27:01
hearts
27:01
as a
27:03
deposit
27:03
guaranteeing
27:05
what is
27:06
to come.
27:07
He
27:07
has set
27:08
his
27:08
seal
27:09
on
27:10
his
27:10
people.
27:11
When
27:12
you are
27:12
trusting
27:12
in him
27:13
he
27:13
owns
27:14
you.
27:15
He
27:16
has
27:16
ownership
27:17
over you
27:17
and he
27:18
has put
27:18
a
27:18
spirit
27:18
in your
27:19
heart
27:19
as a
27:20
deposit
27:21
guaranteeing
27:22
what is
27:22
to come
27:23
which is
27:23
what we
27:24
have
27:24
here.
27:26
These
27:26
words
27:27
are
27:27
trustworthy
27:28
and
27:28
true.
27:29
God
27:30
will
27:30
dwell
27:30
with
27:31
his
27:31
people.
27:32
God
27:32
will
27:32
dispel
27:33
all
27:33
of
27:33
these
27:34
things
27:34
because
27:35
his
27:35
seal
27:36
is
27:37
on
27:37
it.
27:39
You
27:39
maybe
27:39
have
27:40
heard
27:40
of the
27:40
royal
27:41
seal
27:41
of
27:42
approval.
27:43
If you
27:45
look it
27:45
up you
27:45
find
27:46
it's
27:47
a
27:47
royal
27:48
seal
27:48
that's
27:48
given
27:49
to
27:49
suppliers
27:50
to
27:50
the
27:50
royal
27:51
family
27:51
very
27:51
often
27:52
these
27:52
days.
27:53
From
27:53
chemists
27:54
to
27:54
chocolate
27:55
companies
27:55
to
27:55
cars
27:56
to
27:56
clothing
27:57
they
27:58
grant
27:58
the
27:58
royal
27:59
seal
27:59
of
28:00
approval.
28:03
Well
28:03
here
28:03
we
28:04
have
28:04
as a
28:05
people
28:05
we
28:06
are
28:06
told
28:06
that
28:06
God
28:07
from
28:08
his
28:08
throne
28:09
in
28:09
heaven
28:09
puts
28:10
his
28:10
royal
28:11
seal
28:11
on
28:12
his
28:12
people.
28:13
Again
28:15
in
28:16
Corinthians
28:16
Paul
28:17
describes
28:17
it
28:17
in
28:17
this
28:18
way
28:18
for
28:18
it
28:18
is
28:18
not
28:18
the
28:18
one
28:19
who
28:19
commends
28:19
himself
28:20
who
28:21
is
28:21
approved
28:21
but
28:22
the
28:22
one
28:22
whom
28:22
the
28:23
Lord
28:23
commends.
28:27
The
28:27
one
28:27
whom
28:27
the
28:28
Lord
28:28
commends.
28:30
We
28:30
are
28:30
approved
28:31
by
28:32
God.
28:34
So
28:34
if you
28:35
put your
28:35
trust
28:36
in
28:37
him
28:37
you
28:38
are
28:38
approved.
28:39
Do
28:43
you
28:43
want
28:43
to
28:44
be
28:44
in
28:45
this
28:45
place?
28:47
Do
28:47
you
28:47
long
28:48
to
28:49
be
28:49
in
28:49
this
28:49
place?
28:51
Because
28:52
it is
28:52
a place
28:53
that we
28:54
can dwell
28:54
eternally
28:55
with
28:56
God.
28:57
Remember
28:58
the
28:58
alternative
28:58
is
28:59
without
29:00
God.
29:01
But
29:02
here
29:02
we
29:02
have
29:03
with
29:04
God.
29:05
The
29:06
words
29:06
of
29:06
Jesus
29:07
as he
29:07
says
29:08
well
29:08
done
29:08
good
29:09
and
29:09
faithful
29:09
servant.
29:10
You
29:10
have
29:10
been
29:11
faithful
29:11
over
29:11
a
29:11
little
29:12
I
29:12
will
29:12
set
29:12
you
29:13
over
29:13
much.
29:13
Enter
29:14
into
29:14
the
29:14
joy
29:15
of
29:15
your
29:15
master.
29:16
That's
29:16
the
29:16
words
29:17
of
29:17
entering
29:17
into
29:18
his
29:18
kingdom,
29:19
into
29:19
heaven,
29:20
into
29:20
his
29:21
glory
29:21
forevermore.
29:25
We
29:26
can
29:26
be
29:26
nosy
29:27
as to
29:27
what
29:28
other
29:28
people's
29:29
homes
29:29
look
29:29
like.
29:30
We
29:31
can
29:31
look
29:31
them
29:31
up
29:32
online
29:32
and
29:32
see
29:33
what's
29:33
around
29:34
them,
29:34
what's
29:34
inside
29:35
them,
29:36
what's
29:36
the
29:36
price.
29:37
But are
29:39
you
29:40
as
29:40
keen
29:40
to
29:40
find
29:41
out
29:41
about
29:41
this
29:41
place?
29:42
To
29:43
know
29:43
more
29:44
of
29:44
this
29:44
place?
29:46
To
29:46
realize
29:47
the
29:47
hope
29:47
that
29:48
there
29:48
is
29:48
in
29:49
this
29:49
place?
29:50
When
29:50
you go
29:51
back to
29:51
the
29:51
beginning
29:52
of the
29:53
book of
29:53
Revelation
29:54
chapter
29:54
3,
29:56
there's a
29:57
verse
29:57
there that
29:57
says,
29:58
behold,
29:58
I stand
29:59
at the
29:59
door and
30:00
knock.
30:00
So God
30:02
is standing
30:03
on the
30:03
outside of
30:03
your
30:04
home,
30:05
knocking,
30:05
wanting
30:06
to come
30:06
in.
30:07
If anyone
30:08
hears my
30:08
voice and
30:09
opens the
30:09
door,
30:10
I will
30:10
come in
30:11
to him
30:11
and eat
30:12
with him
30:12
and he
30:12
with me.
30:14
It's almost
30:15
like that
30:15
sense of
30:16
God wants
30:16
to see
30:17
where we
30:18
live,
30:19
where we're
30:20
at,
30:21
and he
30:22
wants to
30:22
dwell with
30:23
us here.
30:25
But then
30:26
as you
30:26
come to
30:27
this
30:27
passage,
30:28
it's as
30:28
if he's
30:29
saying,
30:29
now,
30:29
come and
30:31
see where
30:31
I live,
30:33
come and
30:33
see where
30:34
I dwell,
30:35
and come
30:36
and join
30:36
me here.
30:39
So that's
30:40
the way we
30:40
see life.
30:42
He knocks
30:43
at our
30:44
door and
30:44
wants to
30:45
come in
30:45
and dwell
30:45
with us
30:46
here,
30:47
that we
30:47
might have
30:48
that relationship
30:49
with him,
30:50
that he
30:50
might see
30:51
our homes.
30:54
But he
30:55
longs for
30:55
us then
30:56
eventually
30:57
to come
30:58
and abide
30:59
with him,
31:01
to dwell
31:02
with him
31:02
in his
31:04
home,
31:05
in the
31:05
place that
31:05
he has
31:06
made,
31:07
the place
31:07
that he
31:08
has
31:09
prepared.
31:10
What
31:11
compares
31:12
our home
31:14
here
31:14
or what
31:16
he has
31:16
done
31:16
for us?
31:19
There is
31:20
nothing that
31:20
will compare
31:21
to this
31:22
place,
31:22
this place
31:23
that John
31:24
couldn't even
31:25
put into
31:25
words.
31:26
what we
31:28
need this
31:28
evening is
31:29
as Kenny
31:29
was saying
31:30
to us
31:30
this morning
31:30
in the
31:31
children's
31:31
address,
31:32
help us
31:33
see,
31:35
help us
31:35
understand
31:36
our need
31:38
of this
31:39
place.
31:42
Help us
31:43
understand the
31:44
way to
31:45
this place
31:45
that is
31:47
through faith
31:48
in the
31:49
Lord Jesus
31:50
Christ,
31:50
that as
31:52
you put
31:52
your trust
31:53
in him,
31:55
you can
31:55
dwell in
31:56
this place
31:57
secure
31:58
forevermore
31:59
as Psalm
31:59
23
32:00
describes.
32:03
I think
32:03
I have
32:03
used this
32:04
before,
32:05
words of
32:06
Richard Baxter,
32:07
but I love
32:07
just the way
32:08
they tie in
32:09
with the
32:09
whole theme
32:10
of heaven.
32:12
And I will
32:13
leave you
32:13
with them
32:13
again this
32:15
evening as
32:15
we think
32:16
of how
32:16
God
32:17
dwells,
32:18
how God
32:19
dispels,
32:20
and how
32:20
God
32:21
seals
32:21
all of
32:23
these
32:23
things.
32:24
Richard
32:24
Baxter
32:25
once said,
32:26
Christ
32:26
leads me
32:27
through no
32:28
darker rooms
32:29
than he
32:29
went through
32:30
before.
32:31
He that
32:32
unto God's
32:33
kingdom
32:33
comes must
32:34
enter by
32:35
this door.
32:37
Come,
32:38
Lord,
32:38
when grace
32:39
hath made
32:40
me meet,
32:41
thy blessed
32:41
face to see.
32:43
For if thy
32:43
work on
32:44
earth be
32:45
sweet,
32:46
what will
32:46
thy glory
32:47
be?
32:48
Then I
32:49
shall end
32:49
my sad
32:50
complaints
32:50
and weary
32:51
sinful
32:52
days,
32:53
and join
32:53
with the
32:54
triumphant
32:54
saints that
32:55
sing my
32:56
Saviour's
32:57
praise.
32:58
My knowledge
32:59
of that
33:00
life is
33:00
small,
33:01
the eye
33:02
of faith
33:02
is dim,
33:04
but tis
33:04
enough that
33:05
Christ knows
33:06
all,
33:07
and I
33:07
shall be
33:08
with him.
33:09
is that
33:13
what you
33:14
want?
33:16
Our
33:16
eyes of
33:16
faith
33:17
are small,
33:19
our eyes
33:19
of faith
33:20
are dim,
33:21
but surely
33:22
it is enough
33:23
that Christ
33:24
knows all.
33:26
Do you
33:27
want to
33:28
be with
33:29
him?
33:32
Don't just
33:33
be curious
33:33
about this
33:35
house.
33:36
this house
33:37
is yours
33:39
if you
33:40
put your
33:41
trust in
33:42
the Lord
33:43
Jesus
33:43
Christ.
33:45
May you
33:46
know the
33:48
way to
33:49
him and
33:50
his dwelling
33:50
place with
33:51
you now,
33:53
but that
33:53
hope
33:54
forevermore.
33:56
Let us
33:56
pray.
33:57
Lord,
34:00
our
34:00
gracious
34:01
God,
34:02
we can
34:02
echo
34:03
with the
34:04
words of
34:04
Richard
34:05
Baxter
34:05
that our
34:06
knowledge
34:07
of that
34:08
life is
34:08
small,
34:09
our eyes
34:10
of faith
34:10
are dim,
34:12
but help
34:12
us to
34:13
know that
34:13
in Christ
34:14
who knows
34:15
all we
34:16
have enough
34:17
and that
34:18
we would
34:18
have that
34:19
hope to
34:20
be with
34:20
him.
34:21
Lord,
34:22
we thank
34:22
you that
34:23
your word
34:23
reminds us
34:24
that although
34:25
there are
34:25
many struggles
34:26
in this
34:27
world,
34:28
though there
34:29
are many
34:29
times of
34:30
mourning and
34:31
grief,
34:32
that it is
34:32
also a
34:33
world that
34:35
is passing
34:35
by,
34:36
but a
34:37
world that
34:37
you are
34:38
showing us
34:39
that is
34:40
better to
34:40
come,
34:41
that is
34:42
greater
34:42
ahead,
34:43
a new
34:43
heaven and
34:44
a new
34:45
earth prepared
34:46
for all
34:46
your people,
34:48
a place
34:48
where you
34:49
will dwell
34:49
with each
34:50
of your
34:51
people
34:51
forevermore.
34:53
Lord,
34:53
give us
34:53
eyes to
34:54
see,
34:55
as we
34:56
ask all
34:56
in Jesus
34:57
name.
34:58
Amen.
35:04
We're
35:04
going to
35:05
conclude by
35:06
singing to
35:07
God's
35:07
praise in
35:08
Psalm 73a,
35:10
the Sing
35:11
Psalms
35:11
version,
35:12
Psalm 73a.
35:14
We'll
35:14
sing from
35:15
verse 23
35:16
down to
35:17
the end
35:17
of the
35:17
psalm.
35:18
Psalm 73a,
35:29
at verse
35:29
23.
35:34
Yet I
35:35
remain with
35:35
you continually,
35:36
by my
35:37
right hand
35:37
you hold
35:38
me as
35:38
my guide,
35:40
you lead
35:40
me with
35:40
your
35:41
counsel to
35:42
the end,
35:43
and take
35:43
me into
35:44
glory to
35:46
abide.
35:46
Psalm 73a,
35:47
verse 23,
35:49
to the end
35:49
of the
35:50
psalm.
35:50
Psalm 73a,
35:50
verse 23,
35:52
to the end
35:50
psalm.
35:51
Psalm 73a,
35:51
verse 23,
35:53
verse 23,
35:53
verse 23,
35:54
verse 23,
35:55
yet I
35:58
remain with
36:00
you continually,
36:04
by my
36:09
right hand
36:11
you hold
36:13
me as
36:14
my guide,
36:16
you lead
36:19
me with
36:21
your
36:22
counsel
36:23
to
36:24
the
36:25
end,
36:27
and take
36:29
me into
36:31
glory to
36:34
my
36:35
life.
36:37
In
36:39
heaven
36:40
room,
36:42
how I
36:44
and
36:45
you
36:45
alone,
36:47
on
36:49
earth
36:50
there
36:51
is no
36:52
one else
36:54
whom I
36:55
adore.
36:57
Oh,
36:58
oh,
36:59
my
37:01
heart,
37:02
make
37:04
heal
37:04
and
37:05
pleasure
37:06
me.
37:08
God
37:09
is
37:10
my
37:11
strength
37:12
and
37:12
for
37:13
shall
37:14
ever
37:15
go.
37:19
Those
37:20
who
37:21
are
37:22
far
37:23
from
37:24
you
37:25
will
37:26
be
37:26
God
37:27
down,
37:29
all
37:30
those
37:31
who
37:32
are
37:33
unflictful
37:36
you
37:36
destroy,
37:39
all
37:40
that I
37:41
know
37:41
near,
37:43
and
37:45
sheltered
37:46
in my
37:47
heart.
37:48
I
37:48
will
37:49
be
37:49
torn,
37:50
me,
37:51
so
37:51
Lord,
37:53
I
37:53
will
37:54
revive
37:56
with
37:57
joy.
37:58
after
38:02
the
38:02
benediction,
38:02
I'll
38:03
go to
38:03
the
38:03
door to
38:03
my
38:04
right.
38:04
We'll
38:04
close with
38:05
the
38:05
benediction.
38:06
Now may
38:06
grace,
38:07
mercy,
38:08
and
38:08
peace
38:08
from
38:08
God,
38:09
Father,
38:10
Son,
38:10
and
38:10
Holy
38:10
Spirit
38:11
rest
38:12
upon
38:12
and
38:13
abide
38:13
with
38:13
you
38:14
all
38:14
now
38:14
and
38:14
forever
38:15
more.
38:15
Amen.
38:29
Thank you.