- 2 days ago
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00:01:00Good evening, everyone.
00:01:04Let's put our hands together.
00:01:05Come on.
00:01:08I praise on the mountain, praise in the valley.
00:01:16I praise when I'm sure, praise when I'm doubting.
00:01:23I praise when I'm numbered, praise when surrounded.
00:01:31This praise is the water, my enemy's drowning.
00:01:39As long as I'm breathing, I've got a reason to praise the Lord.
00:01:47Oh, my soul, praise the Lord.
00:01:55Oh, my soul, I praise when I feel it, praise when I don't.
00:02:05I praise cause I know, I'm still in control.
00:02:13My praise is a weapon, it's more than a sound.
00:02:20Oh, my praise is a sound that brings sherry to go down.
00:02:28As long as I'm breathing, I've got a reason to praise the Lord.
00:02:36Oh, my soul, praise the Lord.
00:02:44Oh, my soul, oh, I won't be quiet.
00:02:49My God is alive.
00:02:51How could I keep it inside?
00:02:57Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
00:03:07All right, sing it out.
00:03:09I praise.
00:03:10I praise cause you're sovereign.
00:03:12I praise cause you're raised.
00:03:14Sing it.
00:03:17I praise cause you're faithful.
00:03:24I praise cause you're faithful.
00:03:27I praise cause you're ready.
00:03:29I praise cause you rose and defeated the grave.
00:03:33I praise cause you're faithful.
00:03:35I praise cause you're true.
00:03:36I praise cause there's nobody greater than you.
00:03:43Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
00:03:50Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
00:03:58Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
00:04:05Praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
00:04:10Oh, I won't be quiet.
00:04:12My God is alive.
00:04:14How could I keep it?
00:04:16Oh, I won't be quiet.
00:04:18Oh, I won't be quiet.
00:04:20My God is alive.
00:04:22How could I keep it?
00:04:24Oh, I won't be quiet.
00:04:26Oh, I won't be quiet.
00:04:27Oh, my God is alive.
00:04:29How could I keep it inside?
00:04:32I'm gonna praise the Lord, oh, my soul.
00:04:39Oh, my God is alive.
00:04:42Oh, my God is alive.
00:04:52Oh, my God is alive.
00:04:54Oh, my God is alive.
00:04:59Oh, my God is alive.
00:04:59Oh, my God is alive.
00:04:59Oh, my God is alive.
00:04:59Oh, my God is alive.
00:05:00Oh, my God is alive.
00:05:02Oh, my God is alive.
00:05:05Oh, my God is alive.
00:05:21And there is singing at the ancient gates
00:05:26There's a melody of ceaseless praise
00:05:31Age to age, the sound is only growing stronger
00:05:41There's a poem beneath the name of the necks
00:05:46There is seated on it one who reigns
00:05:51And his kingdom now is here and getting closer
00:06:02So praise him like we're there in glory
00:06:07Here and now he's just as holy
00:06:12Jesus, he's so worthy of it all
00:06:21And he exists in everlasting life
00:06:26And so on heaven's feet there is no night
00:06:31Every tear is wiped away
00:06:36Will know no sorrow
00:06:42Oh, worship him with joyful sound
00:06:47Oh, sing until your voice gives up
00:06:51No matter where or who's around
00:06:57Release your worship
00:07:01Oh, praise him like we're there in glory
00:07:08Here and now he's just as holy
00:07:13Jesus, he's so worthy of it all
00:07:23In your song he loves to hear it
00:07:28Bring him every prayer so appearing
00:07:33Jesus, he's so worthy of it all
00:07:43The one who was, the one who is
00:07:48The one who is to come
00:07:53The one who was, the one who is
00:07:58The one who is to come
00:08:02The one who was
00:08:06The one who is
00:08:08The one who is to come
00:08:13He's the one who was
00:08:16The one who is
00:08:19The one who is to come
00:08:22So please Him like weather
00:08:27In glory
00:08:29Here and now
00:08:31He's just as holy
00:08:34Jesus
00:08:35He's so worthy
00:08:38Of your
00:08:44Every
00:08:45Your song
00:08:46He loves to hear it
00:08:49Bring Him
00:08:51Every prayer so
00:08:53Clear it
00:08:54Jesus
00:08:55He's so worthy
00:08:58Worthy
00:08:59Worthy of it all
00:09:03The one who was
00:09:07The one who is
00:09:09The one who is to come
00:09:14The one who was
00:09:17The one who is
00:09:19The one who is to come
00:09:23The one who was
00:09:27The one who is
00:09:29The one who is to come
00:09:34He's the one who was
00:09:37The one who is
00:09:39The one who is to come
00:10:16Jesus is mine, he's been my fourth man in the fire, time after time, born of his spirit, and washed
00:10:37in his blood.
00:10:39And what he did for me on Calvary is more than enough.
00:10:50Oh, I trust in God, my Savior, come on.
00:10:58He will never fail.
00:11:16He will never fail.
00:11:28He will never fail.
00:11:42He will never fail.
00:11:52He will never fail.
00:11:54He will never fail.
00:12:10I trust in God, my Savior, come on.
00:12:19He will never fail.
00:12:26He will never fail.
00:12:31I trust in God, my Savior, come on.
00:12:38He will never fail.
00:12:46He will never fail.
00:12:51Oh, I sought the Lord, and he heard, and he answered.
00:12:57I sought the Lord, and he heard, and he answered.
00:13:02I sought the Lord, and he heard, and he answered.
00:13:07I sought the Lord, and he heard, and he answered.
00:13:30I sought the Lord, and he heard, and he answered.
00:13:50I sought the Lord, and he answered, that's why I trusted.
00:13:57I sought the Lord, and he heard, and he answered.
00:14:05That's why I trust Him. That's why I trust in God. My Savior, the one who will never fail. He
00:14:25will never fail.
00:14:28I trust in God. My Savior, the one who will never fail. He will never fail.
00:14:46I trust the Lord. Oh, I saw the Lord and He heard and He answered. I saw the Lord and
00:14:57He heard and He answered.
00:15:08I saw the Lord and He heard and He answered. I saw the Lord and He heard and He answered.
00:15:22I saw the Lord and He answered. That's why I trust Him. That's why I trust in God. My Savior,
00:15:34the one who will never fail.
00:15:42He will never fail. Oh, I trust in God. My Savior, the one who will never fail.
00:16:03He will never fail. He will never fail. Oh, I trust in God.
00:16:18We're going to learn a new song. I've been teaching a lot of new songs. Are you guys okay with
00:16:22that?
00:16:23It's fun, right? Wednesday nights are always with me. You guys are great.
00:16:28We love songs based off of Scripture and we try to make sure that every song that we do, it's
00:16:34based on Scripture.
00:16:35But this one is a little more directly based off of Psalm 23.
00:16:43And the chorus goes like this.
00:16:48He has good plans. He has good plans for me.
00:16:57So I will take heart in deserts and gardens. He has good plans. He has good plans for me.
00:17:12If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans.
00:17:31The Lord is my shepherd and He is everything.
00:17:37He has good plans for me.
00:17:38So I will not burn. I will not fear the enemy.
00:17:46He said that He loves me. He said that He's with me.
00:17:59He has good plans for me.
00:18:09He has good plans. He has good plans for me.
00:18:22For me.
00:18:24If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans.
00:18:31He has good plans for me.
00:18:32He has good plans for me.
00:18:41I know my Father wants to mine.
00:18:42I know my Lord has good plans for me.
00:18:46I know my Father has bad plans for me.
00:18:57He quiets the waters
00:19:00He quiets the storm inside of you
00:19:04So what could be better
00:19:07Than walking with Him when I believe
00:19:11He has good plans
00:19:15He has good plans for me
00:19:21So I will take heart in deserts and gardens
00:19:25He has good plans
00:19:30He has good plans for me
00:19:35If I know my Father, I know my Father that
00:19:40He has good plans
00:19:43He has good plans for me
00:19:49So I will take heart in deserts and gardens
00:19:54He has good plans
00:19:58He has good plans for me
00:20:04If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans
00:20:23Surely the goodness and mercy will follow out of me
00:20:30So if you will now find me
00:20:48Cause I'll be dwelling in the house of God
00:20:52Surely the goodness and mercy will follow out of me
00:20:59So if you will find me
00:21:16Cause I'll be dwelling in the house of God
00:21:20He has good plans for me
00:21:29He has good plans for me
00:21:44If I know my Father, I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans
00:21:52Good plans
00:21:56Good plans
00:21:59I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans
00:22:11He has good plans
00:22:12If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans
00:22:27If I know my Father, I know my Father has good plans
00:22:34He has good plans for me
00:22:37Always good plans
00:22:41You know, it's trusting in God
00:22:44It makes all the difference
00:22:46It's knowing Him
00:22:47Truly knowing Him
00:22:50That is pivotal in our lives
00:22:53Knowing that He is the one who was
00:22:55The one who is
00:22:56The one who is to come
00:22:56Knowing that His word is true
00:22:59Knowing that everything that His word says about His character is true
00:23:03We can know what the word of God says
00:23:07But do we know that truth in our hearts
00:23:12Because why would we surrender our lives to someone we didn't trust
00:23:18But when we get to that point of trusting Him
00:23:21And truly knowing His heart for us
00:23:24Knowing that He has good plans for us
00:23:27Knowing that He loves us so much
00:23:30If you really know that
00:23:31It's a lot easier to do the whole surrender part
00:23:38It's a lot easier to say
00:23:39Okay, here's my whole life for Your glory
00:23:41My whole world for You only
00:23:45All for the glory of Your name
00:23:48My prayer for all of us
00:23:53Is that we truly would know our God
00:23:55That we would truly know His heart for us
00:23:58And not let our life experiences
00:24:07Give God characteristics
00:24:10That don't belong to Him
00:24:15Our God is God
00:24:16He's not like man
00:24:19I'm pretty positive that in one way or another
00:24:22Man has failed you
00:24:23But God never will
00:24:29So Lord, we put our trust in You
00:24:32We trust in God, our Savior
00:24:34The one who never fails us
00:24:35As we say
00:24:41Lord, and we give You our lives
00:24:44We surrender our lives
00:24:46To You trusting that You only have good for us
00:24:52And my whole life for Your glory
00:24:58And my whole world for You only everything
00:25:02For the honor of Your name
00:25:07And if my days tell a story
00:25:12And if my days tell a story
00:25:12Let it be
00:25:13Of You only everything
00:25:17For the honor of Your name
00:25:35And if my days tell a story
00:25:40And if my days tell a story
00:25:41Let it be
00:25:42Of You only everything
00:25:45For the honor of Your name
00:25:50And if my days tell a story
00:25:53Let it be
00:25:57Of You only everything
00:26:00For the honor of Your name
00:26:04And if my days tell a story
00:26:09Let it be
00:26:11Of You only everything
00:26:14For the honor of Your name
00:26:18Oh, how I love you, oh, how I love you, Jesus, I love you, oh, how I love you, oh,
00:26:41how I love you.
00:26:48My whole life, for you, my whole world, for you, only everything, for the honor of your name.
00:27:02In my days, tell the story, let it be, of you, only everything, for the honor of your name.
00:27:16My whole life, for you, my whole world, for you, only everything, for the honor of your name.
00:27:30In my days, tell the story, let it be, of you, only everything, for the honor of your name.
00:27:44Oh, how I love you, Jesus, I love you, oh, how I love you.
00:28:06Oh, how I love you.
00:28:14Oh, will you be the center of your heart?
00:28:20Oh, how I love you, my heart belongs to you, my Savior all the way.
00:28:27You're the one I hold on to, for the beauty of your name.
00:28:34My soul will live to say, Jesus, I love you.
00:28:41My soul will choose to say, Jesus, I love you.
00:28:49My soul will live to say, Jesus, I love you.
00:28:59As Jesus, we surrender our hearts to you, God.
00:29:03Lord, may our lives tell your story.
00:29:06May the lives that we live truly proclaim how much we love you.
00:29:11And what an amazing and awesome and mighty God you are.
00:29:16Lord, we give you all the glory, not only in our songs, Lord, but in our lives.
00:29:21Would you be the center, Jesus?
00:29:24You be the center.
00:29:27We love you, God.
00:29:28We give you our lives for your glory.
00:29:30And all God's people said, Amen.
00:29:38All right, friends.
00:29:39Why don't you find somebody new?
00:29:41Meet someone new.
00:29:41Get their name.
00:29:42Commit to praying for them this week.
00:29:44Then have a look at the screens for our announcements.
00:29:45All right.
00:30:16Welcome to Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.
00:30:19We are so glad to be gathered back together with you guys.
00:30:22If you would like to give to what the Lord is doing here, we have three ways for you to
00:30:25do that.
00:30:26You could text to give using the number on the screen.
00:30:28You could give at calvarycch.org, or you can drop your offering in the agape box located in the back
00:30:34of the sanctuary.
00:30:36We have a special happening now coming up on June 17th, where Pastor Jack is going to be sitting down
00:30:42with Ruslan.
00:30:43And for those of you that haven't heard of him, he is one of the most influential Christian YouTubers, podcasters,
00:30:49influencers for this younger generation.
00:30:52So if you know a young person, I would encourage you to invite them out.
00:30:55Who knows, it might change the direction of their life.
00:30:58Young adults, this is your quick reminder that we have our Citizens Reset Night coming up this Friday.
00:31:04It's going to be an awesome time of worship where we're going to reset and refocus on the Lord.
00:31:08It starts at 6, but you're going to want to be here at 4.30 because we're going to have
00:31:12food vendors and free coffee right outside the gym.
00:31:15We'll see you there.
00:31:17Young married couples, we're going to be meeting this Friday to continue our study of the Song of Solomon.
00:31:24We're going to be sitting down with Pastor Shadrach and his wife, Melissa, as they walk us through that book.
00:31:28But as you can imagine, given the subject matter, this is exclusively for young married couples.
00:31:33So come join us this Friday.
00:31:36This town is out of control.
00:31:46It's like a flock of billy goats at a tin can buffet.
00:31:52I'm going to go to the big city.
00:31:54I'm going to see if I can find someone who can help us set this right.
00:31:58You're going to be in charge while I'm away.
00:32:02This badge is yours.
00:32:04You're going to be sheriff while I'm gone.
00:32:31What in tarnation have I got myself stuck into?
00:32:34What in tarnation have I got myself stuck into?
00:32:42Well, howdy, partners.
00:32:44Gather your young'uns and saddle up for this year's Vacation Bible School.
00:32:48We're fixing on having a rootin' tootin' good time filled with good old-fashioned teaching from the Bible,
00:32:54snacks, crafts, games, and more.
00:32:57Kids may even have a chance at striking a rich with some real gold.
00:33:01Yeehaw!
00:33:01But more important than that, we're going to be presenting these kids with the gospel
00:33:05by talking about King Josiah from the Bible
00:33:08and how God can use anybody to accomplish great things, no matter how big or small they are.
00:33:13So grab your cowboys and cowgirls, get them on the roster today.
00:33:17I'll see you there.
00:33:19Yee-haw!
00:33:24VBS sign-ups are now open.
00:33:26And this is an awesome and super fun event.
00:33:29It's one of the biggest events of the year.
00:33:30But not only that, it's free for the kids who come.
00:33:33And it's an event that has eternal value.
00:33:35So if you would like to donate to this event,
00:33:37you can pick up your VBS shirt in the church courtyard on Sundays,
00:33:41or you can donate using this QR code.
00:33:44Now that's everything from me.
00:33:45Here's an announcement from Pastor Jack.
00:33:47Hey everybody, you are in good hands tonight.
00:33:50Lisa and I are away, but we've left you in great hands.
00:33:53This man, he knows how much I and we as a church love him
00:33:58because he's our go-to guy.
00:34:01He doesn't show up as often as we'd like,
00:34:03but we're often requesting him.
00:34:06And that is tonight, prepare your hearts, prepare your minds,
00:34:10because this man is a lover of Bible doctrine.
00:34:13And over all these decades, now I can say decades,
00:34:17that we have known Charlie Campbell.
00:34:18Charlie has stayed true.
00:34:20Charlie has stayed firm in the word.
00:34:23He's not gone to the left or to the right.
00:34:27And there's a style that Charlie brings
00:34:30that is extremely unique.
00:34:33He has very much of a professor's style presentation,
00:34:38yet he's able to bring the cookies,
00:34:41as J. Vermeague says,
00:34:43down low on the shelf where the kids can eat them.
00:34:46Charlie's a gifted teacher.
00:34:48And just a, you know, he's a distant,
00:34:50yet family member of this church.
00:34:53So will you please give a warm welcome
00:34:56to our good friend, Charlie Campbell?
00:35:06Ah, he's too friendly, too kind.
00:35:11What a blessing to be back with you all again.
00:35:13Always a treat to stand in for Pastor Jack.
00:35:17I just love him and his faithfulness to God's word
00:35:21over all these years together.
00:35:23And I've been here many times.
00:35:26I feel like I know so many of you.
00:35:27It's just always a blessing to come back and see you
00:35:30and open up God's word with you.
00:35:33Why don't we dive in together tonight?
00:35:35Why don't you turn with me, if you would,
00:35:37to Revelation chapter 21, please.
00:35:42Revelation chapter 21.
00:35:47That's not hard to find, is it?
00:35:52Right at the back.
00:35:54I'd like to draw your attention to the first four verses
00:35:58and then we'll go ahead and pray.
00:36:01If you don't have a Bible,
00:36:02I'll put it on the screen for you as well.
00:36:06Notice what John says here.
00:36:07He says,
00:36:08I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
00:36:11For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
00:36:15Also, there was no more sea.
00:36:18Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,
00:36:22coming down out of heaven from God,
00:36:24prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
00:36:28And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,
00:36:32Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men
00:36:35and he will dwell with them
00:36:37and they shall be his people.
00:36:39God himself will be with them and be their God
00:36:43and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
00:36:47There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
00:36:52There shall be no more pain
00:36:54for the former things have passed away.
00:36:58Amen.
00:36:59Let's pray.
00:36:59Heavenly Father, what a blessing
00:37:00to get a sneak peek into the future
00:37:05and all that you have prepared
00:37:07for those who love you.
00:37:10In heaven, in this place that Jesus said
00:37:14he would go and prepare for us.
00:37:17We so look forward to that future
00:37:19and God now as we consider these words
00:37:23and other related scripture,
00:37:24we pray that your Holy Spirit
00:37:27would teach us.
00:37:28We pray that you would encourage our hearts,
00:37:30that you would build us up in the faith, God,
00:37:33that you would lead us into the truth.
00:37:35We desire to love you more
00:37:38and to know you better.
00:37:39So God, lead us in that.
00:37:42Bless this time, we pray.
00:37:44And it's in Jesus' name we pray.
00:37:46Amen.
00:37:48Amen.
00:37:49Well, I was praying about what to talk about tonight
00:37:52and I landed on the subject of heaven.
00:37:56I can't think of a happier subject
00:37:59for God's people to dwell on.
00:38:02And so that's what I want to talk to you about tonight.
00:38:05Now, this will not be a defense
00:38:07of heaven's existence.
00:38:09For those of you who know me,
00:38:11you know that I typically speak on topics
00:38:13related to the defense of the faith.
00:38:15Tonight is not going to be that.
00:38:17Our time together this evening
00:38:20will be just a consideration
00:38:21of what the Bible has to say
00:38:25about the subject of heaven,
00:38:27the eternal dwelling place of the redeemed.
00:38:31I hope and trust that it will be a blessing to you.
00:38:34A Gallup poll found in 2023
00:38:37that about 67% of U.S. adults believe in heaven.
00:38:43Among those who believe in heaven,
00:38:46about 61% believe they will go to heaven after they die.
00:38:51But what will heaven be like?
00:38:54Will we just float around on clouds?
00:38:58Playing harps?
00:39:00Some people envision heaven sort of being like that
00:39:03and you can understand why they're not
00:39:05all that excited to go there.
00:39:07But what has God revealed to us about heaven?
00:39:12That's what I'd like to focus on this evening.
00:39:14In our time together,
00:39:15I'd like to share with you
00:39:1610 wonderful truths about heaven.
00:39:21If you're a note taker,
00:39:22I'd encourage you to jot these down.
00:39:25The first truth about heaven
00:39:27comes right from our passage.
00:39:28Here in Revelation chapter 21, verse 2.
00:39:32Number one, heaven is a glorious, holy city.
00:39:37Heaven is a glorious, holy city.
00:39:41After Jesus' thousand-year reign here on the earth,
00:39:45discussed in Revelation chapter 20,
00:39:48God is going to create a new cosmos
00:39:50and a new earth.
00:39:53Notice what John writes there again in verse 1.
00:39:56He says,
00:39:56I saw a new heaven.
00:39:59Now, don't misunderstand him.
00:40:01He's not referring to the dwelling place of God, heaven.
00:40:05He's speaking of the cosmos.
00:40:07John says that he sees a new atmospheric heaven,
00:40:10a new universe, if you will,
00:40:12and he says,
00:40:14a new earth.
00:40:15For the first heaven and the first earth
00:40:18had passed away.
00:40:20Is John saying that this present cosmos and earth
00:40:24are literally going to pass away,
00:40:27to vanish?
00:40:28I believe the answer is yes.
00:40:302 Peter chapter 3, verse 10,
00:40:33says that the present heavens and earth
00:40:35are going to pass away one day with a roar
00:40:38and that the elements will be destroyed
00:40:40with intense heat.
00:40:42And for good reason.
00:40:44This present earth has been contaminated
00:40:47by thousands of years of humanity's sin.
00:40:52Well, in its place,
00:40:54God is going to create a brand new cosmos,
00:40:57a brand new heaven and earth.
00:40:59In this new heaven and on this new earth,
00:41:01God is going to place a wonderful new holy city
00:41:05for his people to live in
00:41:07called New Jerusalem.
00:41:11The word Jerusalem literally means city of peace.
00:41:16So this is a perfect name for this place,
00:41:19for it will be a city of perpetual peace,
00:41:22not like old Jerusalem.
00:41:25The Jerusalem that we're familiar with
00:41:27is the most fought over city in the history of the world.
00:41:32Well, this will be New Jerusalem.
00:41:36Now, we often don't think of cities
00:41:38as being peaceful places.
00:41:40Cities tend to have a lot more traffic and crime
00:41:43than suburbs and rural areas.
00:41:46But this will not be the case
00:41:48in the city of the living God,
00:41:52as it's called in Hebrews chapter 12.
00:41:54There's going to be peace there.
00:41:55No more wars and gang activity,
00:41:58vandalism and crime and so on.
00:42:00It will be a city, the Bible says,
00:42:02in which righteousness dwells without end.
00:42:08Aren't you looking forward to that?
00:42:10I love that peaceful aspect of the city.
00:42:16New Jerusalem, we're told,
00:42:18is bigger than any city the world has ever known.
00:42:20Revelation chapter 21, verse 16 and 17
00:42:22gives us the dimensions.
00:42:25Its four sides are 12,000 furlongs long.
00:42:28You do the math, that's about 1,400 miles
00:42:32west to east and the same north to south.
00:42:36To help you ponder how big that is,
00:42:39consider this, the city of Los Angeles,
00:42:42one of America's largest cities,
00:42:44is only 29 miles wide.
00:42:47It feels about 500 at rush hour.
00:42:52But no, it's only 29 miles wide.
00:42:55The United States, our entire country
00:42:57from west to east coast,
00:42:59is approximately 2,800 miles wide.
00:43:04So New Jerusalem is about half the width
00:43:07of our entire country.
00:43:09Its square footprint would stretch
00:43:12from San Francisco to Kansas City, Missouri.
00:43:15So it's just massive.
00:43:18The Bible tells us that its walls
00:43:20are made out of solid jasper,
00:43:22which is similar to ice or diamond in appearance.
00:43:26And the walls are 216 feet thick
00:43:31and 1,400 miles tall.
00:43:35This is a cross section,
00:43:38a scaled cross section of the wall
00:43:41with a silhouette of a six foot tall person
00:43:44to help you see how thick
00:43:46the walls surrounding the city are.
00:43:48And the foundation for this massive wall,
00:43:51all the Bible says,
00:43:52is 12 layers of precious stones.
00:43:57Sapphire, emerald, beryl, topaz, amethyst,
00:44:02to name a few, all translucent,
00:44:04all allowing the glory of God
00:44:06that permeates the city
00:44:08to glow through the foundation.
00:44:12Just amazing.
00:44:13We use cement for our foundations.
00:44:16God says, stand aside.
00:44:18Let me show you how I do it.
00:44:22And some Bible commentators have pointed out
00:44:24that the foundation likely
00:44:25won't even be below ground.
00:44:26We put our foundations in the ground
00:44:28because of the possibility of earthquakes.
00:44:30We want our buildings to stand, right?
00:44:31There aren't gonna be any earthquakes
00:44:32on the new earth
00:44:33that would pose any kind of a threat.
00:44:35So many commentators believe
00:44:36the foundation to this city
00:44:38is going to be above ground.
00:44:39As you walk up the steps into the city,
00:44:41you'll pass all these different layers
00:44:43of colorful stones.
00:44:44Is this going to be beautiful?
00:44:46So not only is the new Jerusalem gigantic,
00:44:49it's absolutely glorious.
00:44:52Revelation chapter 21, verse 18 says,
00:44:54the city inside is made out of pure gold,
00:44:58as clear as glass,
00:45:00and it radiates with God's glory
00:45:03to such an extent
00:45:04that there will no longer be any need
00:45:07for the sun.
00:45:09The redeemed from throughout history
00:45:11are going to live in that beautiful new city
00:45:14and have the ability to go in and out
00:45:17onto the new earth.
00:45:20Onto the new earth?
00:45:22Yes, Revelation chapter 21
00:45:24says New Jerusalem has four sides
00:45:28with three massive gates
00:45:30on each side that never close
00:45:33for a total of 12 gates.
00:45:36Why do these huge gates
00:45:38in the city's walls never close?
00:45:40Well, because there will never be a threat
00:45:42to the city.
00:45:43In ancient times,
00:45:43you would always make sure
00:45:44the gates were closed
00:45:46for fear of invaders.
00:45:48But God just says,
00:45:49no, leave the gates open.
00:45:51Because not only will there be
00:45:52no threat to the city,
00:45:54but so that you and I,
00:45:55the inhabitants of the city,
00:45:56can go in and out of the city
00:45:58onto the new earth.
00:46:01This is going to be amazing.
00:46:03In eternity,
00:46:03there are going to be things to do
00:46:06on the new earth.
00:46:07People to see,
00:46:08places to go explore.
00:46:10I can just imagine groups of people
00:46:11heading out to go whitewater rafting,
00:46:16making new friends,
00:46:17hiking to waterfalls together,
00:46:21taking a dip in the unpolluted waters,
00:46:23ziplining through jungles.
00:46:26Life in New Jerusalem on the new earth
00:46:29is going to be incredible.
00:46:31If you think this present planet
00:46:34has a lot of fun,
00:46:36interesting things to explore and go do,
00:46:39just imagine a brand new earth
00:46:41that's never been contaminated by sin
00:46:44or affected in any way by the curse
00:46:47or a global flood.
00:46:49It's going to be glorious.
00:46:52One of the reasons it's going to be so amazing
00:46:54is because, number two,
00:46:56heaven's architect and builder is God.
00:47:01Heaven's architect and builder is God.
00:47:04Turn with me, if you would,
00:47:05to Hebrews chapter 11.
00:47:08Hebrews chapter 11.
00:47:09Love for you to see this in your own Bibles.
00:47:16I went to college many years ago
00:47:19and studied to be an architect.
00:47:21After several years of architectural design classes,
00:47:25I feel like I have a pretty good eye
00:47:27for a well-designed home.
00:47:30As I walk through neighborhoods today,
00:47:32I can't help but pause, you know, at times
00:47:35and look at the beautiful architecture
00:47:38of certain homes.
00:47:39And I admire them from afar.
00:47:41And I think, who's the builder?
00:47:45Just fantastic lines.
00:47:47The big porch, the windows, you know,
00:47:49just the stonework.
00:47:50I think, who designed that?
00:47:52Who built that?
00:47:54And then I look at other homes
00:47:56and I think, oh, you know,
00:47:58that's just weird.
00:48:01I don't know.
00:48:03Purple walls and like creatures
00:48:06crawling off the roof or something.
00:48:08Gargoyles, I don't know.
00:48:09I'm sorry if that's your home.
00:48:14I hope it's not, actually.
00:48:18At least you have a roof over your head.
00:48:21Or several, actually.
00:48:25Well, you know,
00:48:26we couldn't ask for a better architect
00:48:29for our future heavenly home.
00:48:31Notice this, Hebrews chapter 11, verse 10.
00:48:34As Abraham looked toward the future,
00:48:37it says there at the end of that verse
00:48:39that he was looking for the city
00:48:41which has foundations,
00:48:44whose architect and builder is God.
00:48:50Abraham longed for heaven,
00:48:53a permanent city,
00:48:54a city with foundations.
00:48:56I think many of us can relate
00:48:57with Abraham's longing.
00:49:00But notice,
00:49:01the architect and builder of this city,
00:49:03the New Jerusalem,
00:49:04is the best architect of all time.
00:49:08God himself.
00:49:11On the eve of his crucifixion,
00:49:13Jesus was gathered there together
00:49:15in the upper room with his disciples
00:49:18and he let them know
00:49:20that he was going to be returning to heaven soon.
00:49:23Well, of course, this was troubling to them.
00:49:26They had just spent three years with him.
00:49:29But notice what he told them
00:49:30in John 14, verse 1.
00:49:32He said,
00:49:32let not your heart be troubled.
00:49:34You believe in God,
00:49:36believe also in me.
00:49:38In my Father's house are many mansions.
00:49:41If it were not so,
00:49:43I would have told you,
00:49:45I go to prepare a place for you.
00:49:51Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for them,
00:49:56for us, for you.
00:49:57If you belong to him,
00:49:58he's the architect,
00:49:59he's the builder.
00:50:01What does this mean?
00:50:02It means that the one who loves you
00:50:05and knows you better than you know yourself,
00:50:08the one who knows what you'll need,
00:50:11love and desire throughout eternity
00:50:13is the very one designing
00:50:15and preparing your future home in heaven.
00:50:20You can't find that in an architect today.
00:50:23That architect that you hire for that remodel
00:50:26or for that new home you want to build,
00:50:28he doesn't love you.
00:50:30He doesn't know what you're going to need,
00:50:33love and desire five years from now,
00:50:3510 years from now.
00:50:37But Jesus does.
00:50:41And so he says,
00:50:42I'm going to do it.
00:50:43I'm going to go prepare that place for you.
00:50:48Amazing.
00:50:49Why would he personally prepare this place for you,
00:50:52for us?
00:50:52Ephesians 2 verse 7 says,
00:50:54so that in the ages to come,
00:50:57throughout eternity,
00:50:58he might show the boundless riches
00:51:02of his grace in kindness toward us
00:51:06in Christ Jesus.
00:51:10Boundless, limitless riches of grace
00:51:14in store for his people.
00:51:17Amazing.
00:51:18God has such wonderful things
00:51:20in store for his people.
00:51:23In the ages to come,
00:51:24Paul points out there.
00:51:26This is one of the reasons
00:51:27Paul told the Philippians
00:51:28in Philippians 1 verse 23
00:51:30that he had a desire to depart
00:51:32and go be with Christ
00:51:34for that, he said,
00:51:36is very much better.
00:51:40So if you're taking notes,
00:51:41number one,
00:51:42heaven is a glorious holy city.
00:51:43Number two,
00:51:44heaven's architect and builder is God.
00:51:46Number three,
00:51:48heaven is described as paradise.
00:51:52Heaven is described as paradise.
00:51:56When Jesus was dying on the cross
00:51:58for our sins,
00:52:00he told that repentant thief
00:52:02on the cross next to him,
00:52:05truly I say to you today,
00:52:08you shall be with me
00:52:10in paradise.
00:52:12paradise.
00:52:13So the very day
00:52:15that man died,
00:52:16he would be with Jesus
00:52:18in paradise.
00:52:19The word paradise
00:52:21comes from a Persian word
00:52:23that means garden.
00:52:25It's used in the Bible
00:52:27and other ancient Jewish writings
00:52:29for the Garden of Eden.
00:52:32After the fall,
00:52:33in the book of Genesis,
00:52:34Adam and Eve were barred
00:52:36from eating
00:52:37from the tree of life
00:52:39from the tree of life
00:52:40in the Garden of Eden.
00:52:41Well,
00:52:41because of Jesus's death
00:52:43on the cross,
00:52:44we have had access
00:52:45restored to paradise
00:52:48and the tree of life.
00:52:50This is spoken about
00:52:51in the book of Revelation.
00:52:53Chapter two,
00:52:54verse seven,
00:52:55Jesus said,
00:52:55he who has an ear,
00:52:57let him hear
00:52:57what the spirit says
00:52:59to the churches.
00:52:59To him who overcomes,
00:53:01I will grant to eat
00:53:03of the tree of life
00:53:05which is in the paradise,
00:53:08the garden of God.
00:53:12So here again,
00:53:13Jesus refers to heaven
00:53:15as the paradise of God.
00:53:18When people think
00:53:19of a garden-like paradise
00:53:20today here on this earth,
00:53:23they often think of somewhere
00:53:24like Costa Rica
00:53:25or Hawaii.
00:53:26I've been to both places
00:53:28and there is spectacular
00:53:29beauty there,
00:53:31verdant mountains,
00:53:32cascading waterfalls,
00:53:34clear, warm water,
00:53:35beautiful birds and fauna.
00:53:37These earthly paradises
00:53:39offer a glimpse
00:53:40of what the new earth
00:53:42and new Jerusalem
00:53:43might offer.
00:53:45And boy,
00:53:46will we be able
00:53:47to enjoy it
00:53:47because number four,
00:53:50heaven's inhabitants
00:53:52will be faultless
00:53:54and forgiven.
00:53:56Heaven's inhabitants
00:53:58are going to be faultless
00:53:59and forgiven.
00:54:01The Bible says
00:54:02that Jesus laid down
00:54:03his life on the cross
00:54:05for us
00:54:05that he might present her,
00:54:09the church,
00:54:10the redeemed,
00:54:11to himself,
00:54:11a glorious church,
00:54:13not having spot
00:54:14or wrinkle
00:54:15or any such thing
00:54:17but that she should be holy
00:54:19and without blemish.
00:54:23Do you realize that, Christian?
00:54:24If you've placed your faith
00:54:27in Jesus Christ,
00:54:28you are going to stand
00:54:30before God
00:54:31holy
00:54:32and blameless
00:54:34without a single fault.
00:54:37That's how
00:54:38dealt with
00:54:40your sins have been.
00:54:42The book of Jude
00:54:43reiterates the same truth
00:54:44when it says that
00:54:45God our Savior,
00:54:46verse 25,
00:54:47will,
00:54:47or verse 24,
00:54:48will present you
00:54:49faultless
00:54:51before the presence
00:54:53of his glory
00:54:54with exceeding joy.
00:54:57Faultless,
00:54:58without spot
00:54:58or wrinkle.
00:54:59This is why
00:55:00there won't be any need
00:55:01for you to be judged
00:55:02for your sins.
00:55:04In John chapter 5,
00:55:05verse 24,
00:55:06Jesus said,
00:55:07truly, truly,
00:55:07I say to you,
00:55:08the one who hears my word
00:55:09and believes him
00:55:10who sent me
00:55:11has eternal life
00:55:13and I love this,
00:55:14and does not
00:55:14come into judgment
00:55:16but has passed
00:55:18out of death
00:55:19into life.
00:55:20What a blessing
00:55:21that is to know.
00:55:23Some Christians
00:55:23think that when
00:55:24they get to heaven,
00:55:25Jesus is going to,
00:55:26you know,
00:55:27hunt them down
00:55:29because he wants
00:55:30to finally talk
00:55:30to them about
00:55:31that one thing.
00:55:33I saw that.
00:55:34You didn't get away
00:55:36with it, buddy.
00:55:37You know,
00:55:38well,
00:55:38and they're nervous
00:55:40about eternity.
00:55:42They're nervous
00:55:43about heaven
00:55:43because they don't
00:55:44understand
00:55:45the doctrine
00:55:46of justification
00:55:48that they've been
00:55:49declared righteous
00:55:50in God's sight.
00:55:53Past,
00:55:54present,
00:55:54and future sins
00:55:55have all been
00:55:55paid for there
00:55:56on the cross.
00:55:57Jesus isn't going
00:55:58to bring up
00:55:59any of your sins.
00:56:03And not only
00:56:04have your sins
00:56:04been forgiven,
00:56:05God himself,
00:56:06in Hebrews 10,
00:56:07verse 17,
00:56:09says that their sins
00:56:10and their lawless deeds
00:56:12I will no longer
00:56:14remember.
00:56:16we don't have
00:56:17the ability
00:56:17to do that.
00:56:19You can remember
00:56:21sins you committed
00:56:2230 years ago.
00:56:24You remember sins
00:56:25that your enemies
00:56:26and friends
00:56:27and family
00:56:28committed against you
00:56:29decades ago.
00:56:31We don't have
00:56:32that ability
00:56:32to totally
00:56:34forget things,
00:56:35but God does.
00:56:37He says
00:56:38their sins
00:56:39and lawless deeds
00:56:40I will
00:56:41no longer
00:56:42remember.
00:56:43He's put your sins
00:56:44totally out of
00:56:45His memory.
00:56:47Hallelujah for that.
00:56:48So don't think
00:56:48you're going to get
00:56:49to heaven one day
00:56:50and go moping
00:56:50around heaven
00:56:52nervous to meet
00:56:53Jesus
00:56:54because He might
00:56:55condemn you.
00:56:57No,
00:56:58Romans chapter 8
00:56:58verse 1 says
00:56:59there is therefore
00:57:00now,
00:57:01right now.
00:57:02This isn't
00:57:03something you even
00:57:04have to wait for.
00:57:05Right now
00:57:05there is no
00:57:06condemnation
00:57:07for those
00:57:08who are in
00:57:08Christ Jesus.
00:57:11This is something
00:57:11we can enjoy
00:57:12right now.
00:57:14And then
00:57:14of course
00:57:15it will only
00:57:15enhance our
00:57:16experience
00:57:17and joy
00:57:18in eternity
00:57:19because that will
00:57:20continue
00:57:21throughout eternity.
00:57:22Alright,
00:57:23so that's number
00:57:23four.
00:57:24Heaven's inhabitants
00:57:24are going to be
00:57:25faultless and forgiven.
00:57:26we believe that's
00:57:26going to add
00:57:27to our joy
00:57:28in heaven.
00:57:29But it gets better.
00:57:30Number five,
00:57:30heaven's inhabitants
00:57:31will no longer
00:57:34experience death,
00:57:35sorrow,
00:57:36crying,
00:57:37or pain.
00:57:40Revelation chapter 21
00:57:41verse 4,
00:57:42the passage we
00:57:43opened up with
00:57:44makes this clear.
00:57:46I'll put it on
00:57:46the screen again.
00:57:47God will wipe away
00:57:48every tear from
00:57:48their eyes.
00:57:49There shall be
00:57:49no more
00:57:51death.
00:57:52No more sorrow
00:57:53nor crying.
00:57:55There shall be
00:57:55no more pain
00:57:56for the former
00:57:56things have
00:57:58passed away.
00:57:59So the sorrow
00:58:00and pain
00:58:01and death
00:58:01that have plagued
00:58:02humanity now
00:58:03for millennia
00:58:05will finally
00:58:06be over.
00:58:07In eternity
00:58:08we are going
00:58:09to have
00:58:10incorruptible,
00:58:12imperishable,
00:58:13heavenly bodies,
00:58:14the Bible says,
00:58:15that will never
00:58:16break down,
00:58:17grow old,
00:58:18get sick,
00:58:19or die.
00:58:20You'll never
00:58:21need that wheelchair
00:58:22or your crutches
00:58:24or your medication.
00:58:27So thankful
00:58:28for that.
00:58:292 Corinthians
00:58:29chapter 5
00:58:30verse 1
00:58:31says,
00:58:31for we know
00:58:32that if our
00:58:32earthly house,
00:58:33this tent,
00:58:34he's using a
00:58:34metaphor there
00:58:35to refer to
00:58:35our weak bodies,
00:58:37if our tent,
00:58:38our bodies are
00:58:39destroyed,
00:58:40we have a
00:58:40building.
00:58:41That sounds
00:58:42better.
00:58:42It is better.
00:58:43Much better
00:58:44than a tent.
00:58:45We have a
00:58:45building from God,
00:58:46a house not
00:58:48made with hands
00:58:49eternal
00:58:51in the heavens.
00:58:53So our
00:58:53resurrected,
00:58:54glorified bodies
00:58:55will be
00:58:56permanent,
00:58:58fit for heaven,
00:58:59fit for
00:59:00eternity.
00:59:01Aren't you
00:59:02looking forward
00:59:03to that?
00:59:04Everyone over
00:59:0550 is nodding
00:59:06their head.
00:59:06Yes.
00:59:07Yes.
00:59:08The young people
00:59:08are like,
00:59:08I guess.
00:59:11Doing fine.
00:59:13But we know
00:59:14people in this
00:59:15life who are
00:59:15healthy from
00:59:16head to toe.
00:59:16They hit the
00:59:17gym three or
00:59:18four times a
00:59:18week and
00:59:20they're still
00:59:20miserable.
00:59:23Being healthy
00:59:24and fit doesn't
00:59:24mean you're
00:59:25going to be
00:59:25joyful.
00:59:26Well, that
00:59:27won't be the
00:59:27case with us
00:59:28in number
00:59:28heaven because
00:59:29number six,
00:59:30heaven's
00:59:31inhabitants
00:59:31will be
00:59:32full of
00:59:33joy.
00:59:35Heaven's
00:59:35inhabitants
00:59:36will be
00:59:36full of
00:59:37joy.
00:59:38This comes
00:59:39from Psalm
00:59:3916,
00:59:40verse 11.
00:59:42David said
00:59:42this,
00:59:43you will show
00:59:44me the path
00:59:44of life
00:59:45in your
00:59:46presence.
00:59:48God's
00:59:49presence is
00:59:50fullness of
00:59:51joy.
00:59:53So God
00:59:54isn't just
00:59:54going to
00:59:54deliver us
00:59:55from sorrow
00:59:56and crying.
00:59:57That would
00:59:57be amazing
00:59:58just if we
00:59:58didn't have
00:59:59sorrow and
00:59:59crying,
01:00:00but he's
01:00:00going to
01:00:00replace
01:00:01sorrow and
01:00:02crying with
01:00:03fullness of
01:00:04joy.
01:00:06You can't
01:00:06get any more
01:00:07full than
01:00:08full.
01:00:08There's going
01:00:08to be
01:00:08fullness of
01:00:09joy.
01:00:09Think of
01:00:10a time here
01:00:10in this
01:00:10life when
01:00:11you were
01:00:11full of
01:00:11joy.
01:00:13Man,
01:00:13you just
01:00:14felt like
01:00:14dancing.
01:00:16Maybe you
01:00:17got a new
01:00:17job offer
01:00:18or maybe
01:00:20it was
01:00:20after a
01:00:20sweet time
01:00:21of worship
01:00:21or whatever
01:00:22and you
01:00:22were overflowing
01:00:24with joy.
01:00:25Can you
01:00:25imagine living
01:00:26throughout
01:00:27eternity with
01:00:28that kind
01:00:28of joy?
01:00:28No more
01:00:30worries or
01:00:31depression or
01:00:32loneliness or
01:00:33anger or
01:00:33strife, just
01:00:34perfect joy
01:00:35without end
01:00:36with nothing
01:00:37to ever
01:00:38interrupt it.
01:00:40Amazing.
01:00:42And notice
01:00:43the second
01:00:43half of
01:00:45verse 11.
01:00:46David goes
01:00:47on to say
01:00:47your right
01:00:48hand are
01:00:49pleasures
01:00:51forevermore.
01:00:53Now,
01:00:54David doesn't
01:00:54go into
01:00:55specifics here,
01:00:56but I think
01:00:56it's reasonable
01:00:57to assume that
01:00:58one of the
01:00:59pleasures we'll
01:00:59experience in
01:01:00heaven is
01:01:01the pleasure
01:01:02of enjoying
01:01:03delicious food.
01:01:05Some of you
01:01:06perked up.
01:01:08Food in
01:01:09heaven?
01:01:12Now,
01:01:13I've heard
01:01:13some Christians
01:01:14say that our
01:01:14glorified bodies
01:01:16won't need
01:01:16food, so
01:01:17there probably
01:01:18won't be
01:01:19food.
01:01:20I disagree
01:01:21with their
01:01:22conclusion.
01:01:23Jesus told
01:01:24his disciples
01:01:25this in Luke
01:01:25chapter 22,
01:01:26verse 28
01:01:28and following,
01:01:28he said,
01:01:28you are
01:01:29those who
01:01:29have stayed
01:01:30with me
01:01:30in my
01:01:30trials,
01:01:31and I
01:01:32assign to
01:01:33you as
01:01:33my father
01:01:34assigned to
01:01:35me a
01:01:35kingdom that
01:01:36you may
01:01:37eat and
01:01:39drink at
01:01:40my table
01:01:41in my
01:01:42kingdom and
01:01:43sit on
01:01:43thrones judging
01:01:44the twelve
01:01:45tribes of
01:01:46Israel.
01:01:47So Jesus
01:01:48spoke here of
01:01:49his disciples
01:01:50eating and
01:01:50drinking in
01:01:51his future
01:01:52millennial reign
01:01:53here on
01:01:55the earth,
01:01:55and by
01:01:56that point
01:01:57we will
01:01:58be living
01:01:58in our
01:01:59glorified
01:02:00bodies.
01:02:01So our
01:02:01glorified bodies
01:02:02will be
01:02:03capable of
01:02:04eating.
01:02:05Will we
01:02:05need to
01:02:06eat to
01:02:08survive in
01:02:09heaven?
01:02:09No.
01:02:10There's no
01:02:11death in
01:02:12heaven, but
01:02:13perhaps we'll
01:02:13just eat for
01:02:14the pleasure
01:02:15of it, like
01:02:16we do now.
01:02:19Right?
01:02:19If we're being
01:02:20honest, I mean,
01:02:21you're not even
01:02:21hungry.
01:02:22Whoops.
01:02:25Sorry, I
01:02:25just skipped
01:02:26ahead.
01:02:28Where was
01:02:29that verse
01:02:30go?
01:02:30Oh, there
01:02:31we go.
01:02:35You're not
01:02:35even hungry,
01:02:36right?
01:02:36Like me, and
01:02:36you just go to
01:02:37the fridge because
01:02:38you're like, I
01:02:38wonder if we
01:02:39have any ice
01:02:39cream.
01:02:42You don't
01:02:42need ice
01:02:43cream.
01:02:43You're not
01:02:43even hungry.
01:02:44You had a
01:02:45big dinner,
01:02:45right?
01:02:45But we
01:02:46still, we
01:02:46eat for the
01:02:47pleasure of
01:02:48it.
01:02:48And I
01:02:48think the
01:02:49same will
01:02:50probably be
01:02:50the case in
01:02:51heaven.
01:02:51You know,
01:02:52when Jesus
01:02:53appeared to
01:02:53his followers
01:02:54in his
01:02:55resurrected
01:02:56body, he
01:02:57asked them,
01:02:58have you
01:02:59anything here
01:03:00to eat?
01:03:01And they
01:03:02served him a
01:03:03piece of
01:03:04broiled fish
01:03:05and he took
01:03:06it and ate
01:03:07it in front
01:03:08of them.
01:03:09Friends, Jesus
01:03:10did not need
01:03:11to eat to
01:03:12survive in that
01:03:13situation.
01:03:14He had just
01:03:15conquered death
01:03:16and defeated
01:03:17the grave.
01:03:19But he
01:03:20ate.
01:03:20This again
01:03:21goes to
01:03:21show that
01:03:22a resurrected
01:03:23glorified body
01:03:24can enjoy
01:03:25food.
01:03:27Revelation
01:03:27chapter 22
01:03:28verse 2
01:03:29mentions the
01:03:31tree of
01:03:31life in
01:03:32heaven with
01:03:33its 12
01:03:34kinds of
01:03:35fruit yielding
01:03:36its fruit
01:03:37each month.
01:03:39So verses
01:03:40like these
01:03:40lead me to
01:03:41believe that
01:03:41there will
01:03:42be food
01:03:42in heaven
01:03:43and I
01:03:43trust that
01:03:44it will
01:03:44be surprising
01:03:46and
01:03:46scrumptious.
01:03:47think of
01:03:48it a tree
01:03:49that yields
01:03:4912 different
01:03:51kinds of
01:03:52fruit
01:03:52perpetually.
01:03:54We can
01:03:55hardly imagine
01:03:55such a
01:03:57thing but
01:03:57that will
01:03:58be the
01:03:58reality in
01:03:59heaven.
01:04:00But there's
01:04:01more.
01:04:02Number 7
01:04:02we will be
01:04:03rewarded
01:04:04in heaven.
01:04:06We will be
01:04:07rewarded in
01:04:08heaven as
01:04:09if fullness
01:04:10of joy,
01:04:11pleasures
01:04:12forevermore,
01:04:13imperishable
01:04:14bodies and the
01:04:15free gift of
01:04:16everlasting life
01:04:17in his
01:04:18eternal
01:04:18kingdom
01:04:19wasn't
01:04:20enough.
01:04:21Jesus said
01:04:22his followers
01:04:23will also
01:04:24be rewarded
01:04:25in heaven.
01:04:27In Matthew
01:04:28chapter 5
01:04:29for example
01:04:30verse 11
01:04:31Jesus said
01:04:32blessed are
01:04:33you when
01:04:34people insult
01:04:35you and
01:04:36persecute you
01:04:37and falsely
01:04:38say all
01:04:39kinds of
01:04:40evil against
01:04:40you because
01:04:41of me.
01:04:42Verse 12
01:04:42rejoice and
01:04:44be exceedingly
01:04:45glad.
01:04:46Why?
01:04:46For great
01:04:47is your
01:04:47reward where
01:04:48in heaven
01:04:50for so they
01:04:51persecuted the
01:04:52prophets who
01:04:53were before
01:04:54you.
01:04:55This verse
01:04:56and others
01:04:57make it clear
01:04:58that there
01:04:58are going to
01:04:59be rewards
01:05:00in heaven
01:05:01and these
01:05:02aren't going
01:05:02to be like
01:05:03the Grammy
01:05:03awards or
01:05:05the Caleb
01:05:06fan awards
01:05:07where only
01:05:08one person
01:05:09or one
01:05:10band wins
01:05:11each of the
01:05:12categories.
01:05:13No,
01:05:14we can all
01:05:15all be
01:05:15rewarded.
01:05:17We're not
01:05:17competing
01:05:18against each
01:05:19other.
01:05:20I love
01:05:20that.
01:05:22I'm not
01:05:23asking people
01:05:23to vote
01:05:23for me.
01:05:25You know,
01:05:26it's like
01:05:26these Caleb
01:05:26artists,
01:05:27they send
01:05:27out the
01:05:27emails,
01:05:28you gotta
01:05:28vote for
01:05:28me.
01:05:28I don't
01:05:29know,
01:05:29I'm not
01:05:29into it.
01:05:31There's
01:05:31that competition
01:05:32amongst the
01:05:33Christians.
01:05:33I'm not a
01:05:34fan of it.
01:05:34I don't,
01:05:34I just,
01:05:35whatever.
01:05:36I mean,
01:05:36some people
01:05:36love these
01:05:37award shows.
01:05:38But in
01:05:39heaven,
01:05:39we're not,
01:05:40there's no,
01:05:40we're not all
01:05:41competing for
01:05:42like artist
01:05:42of the year,
01:05:43male servant
01:05:44of the year,
01:05:44pastor of the
01:05:45year,
01:05:46best worshiper
01:05:47in the
01:05:47congregation,
01:05:48you know,
01:05:49best bass
01:05:50player.
01:05:53No.
01:05:53Why,
01:05:54why,
01:05:54why aren't we
01:05:55competing with
01:05:55each other?
01:05:56Because God
01:05:56isn't comparing
01:05:57your good works
01:05:58to anyone
01:05:59else's.
01:06:00The rewards
01:06:01will be based
01:06:02on your
01:06:02faithfulness
01:06:03with what
01:06:04God has
01:06:04given you.
01:06:05We all
01:06:06have different
01:06:07gifts and
01:06:08callings and
01:06:09resources and
01:06:10so on.
01:06:10How you use
01:06:12those will be
01:06:13the determining
01:06:14factor when
01:06:15it's time to be
01:06:16rewarded.
01:06:16Your faithful
01:06:17service will
01:06:18be rewarded.
01:06:21Paul tells us
01:06:22in 1 Corinthians
01:06:23chapter 3
01:06:23verse 8,
01:06:25he says,
01:06:25the one who
01:06:25plants and the
01:06:26one who waters
01:06:27work as a
01:06:28team with
01:06:29the same
01:06:30purpose,
01:06:30yet they
01:06:31will be
01:06:31rewarded,
01:06:32there it
01:06:33is,
01:06:34individually,
01:06:36according to
01:06:37their own
01:06:38labor.
01:06:39Skipping down
01:06:40to verse 13,
01:06:41but there is
01:06:41going to come
01:06:42a time,
01:06:42he comes back
01:06:43to the same
01:06:43subject of
01:06:44rewards,
01:06:45there's going
01:06:45to come a
01:06:46time of
01:06:46testing at
01:06:46the judgment
01:06:47day to see
01:06:47what kind
01:06:48of work
01:06:48each builder,
01:06:49each Christian
01:06:50has done.
01:06:51Everyone's
01:06:51work will be
01:06:52put through
01:06:52the fire to
01:06:53see whether
01:06:53or not it
01:06:54keeps its
01:06:54value.
01:06:54If the
01:06:55work survives
01:06:55the fire,
01:06:56that builder
01:06:56will receive a
01:06:57reward,
01:06:57but if the
01:06:59work is
01:06:59burned up,
01:07:00the builder
01:07:01will suffer
01:07:01great loss.
01:07:03Some of our
01:07:03works are going
01:07:04to be burned
01:07:04up in heaven
01:07:06at the
01:07:07beam of
01:07:07seats when
01:07:08we're being
01:07:08evaluated for
01:07:09the purpose
01:07:10of rewards.
01:07:12For example,
01:07:13I think I've
01:07:13mentioned this
01:07:14here in the
01:07:14past,
01:07:15you sign up
01:07:16to serve the
01:07:16Lord out in
01:07:17the parking lot
01:07:18ministry and
01:07:18everyone thinks,
01:07:19wow, what a
01:07:20great guy.
01:07:21But in your
01:07:22heart, you only
01:07:23signed up to do
01:07:24that because you
01:07:25want to say
01:07:25hello to the
01:07:26ladies, right,
01:07:29as they walk
01:07:30into church.
01:07:32Okay, I need
01:07:32to come up
01:07:33with a new
01:07:33example, but not
01:07:36to pick on the
01:07:37parking lot,
01:07:37people.
01:07:38I think I
01:07:38seriously think I
01:07:39gave that
01:07:40illustration a few
01:07:42years ago here.
01:07:42But anyways,
01:07:44those kinds of
01:07:45works that maybe
01:07:46appear great to
01:07:47all of us were
01:07:48done with impure
01:07:49motives, those are
01:07:50the kind of works
01:07:50Paul is talking
01:07:51about here at the
01:07:51end of this
01:07:51passage.
01:07:52Those works are
01:07:52going to go up in
01:07:53flames, no reward
01:07:54for those.
01:07:55Who's the one
01:07:56going to be
01:07:57determining the
01:07:58rewards?
01:07:58Jesus.
01:07:582 Corinthians 5,
01:08:00verse 10.
01:08:01It says,
01:08:02For we, speaking
01:08:02of the redeemed,
01:08:03must all appear
01:08:04before the judgment
01:08:05seat of Christ,
01:08:08that each one may
01:08:09receive the things
01:08:10done in the body
01:08:10according to what
01:08:11he has done,
01:08:11whether good or
01:08:12bad.
01:08:14You know, when I
01:08:14was a young Christian
01:08:15many years ago,
01:08:16I, not knowing the
01:08:18Bible very well, I
01:08:19kind of wondered if
01:08:20I'd even meet Jesus
01:08:21in heaven.
01:08:22I was pondering what
01:08:23it was going to be
01:08:24like, and I
01:08:25thought, you know,
01:08:25am I ever even
01:08:26going to meet
01:08:26Jesus?
01:08:27It's going to be
01:08:27so crowded.
01:08:29You know, and
01:08:30everyone's going to
01:08:30want to talk to
01:08:31Jesus.
01:08:31I mean, how long
01:08:32is the line going
01:08:33to be?
01:08:36Not knowing that I
01:08:37actually have an
01:08:38appointment before his
01:08:40throne for the
01:08:42purpose of being
01:08:44rewarded for my good
01:08:46works.
01:08:47As you do,
01:08:48Christian, you will
01:08:49meet Jesus.
01:08:50You're going to stand
01:08:50before his throne,
01:08:51the Bible says.
01:08:54And he's going to
01:08:55reward you for the
01:08:57good works you've
01:08:58done in this life.
01:08:59What an honor that
01:09:01will be.
01:09:02You know, people
01:09:03consider it a great
01:09:04honor to be awarded
01:09:05a Presidential Medal of
01:09:07Freedom by a U.S.
01:09:09president, but what a
01:09:11bigger honor it will be
01:09:13to be rewarded by the
01:09:15king of the president,
01:09:17the king of kings,
01:09:19kings, and the Lord of
01:09:22the universe, Jesus
01:09:24Christ.
01:09:25I can hardly fathom
01:09:26that day.
01:09:28This is one of the
01:09:29reasons Jesus said,
01:09:30lay up for yourselves
01:09:31treasures in heaven,
01:09:33where neither moth nor
01:09:35rust destroys and where
01:09:36thieves do not break in
01:09:38and steal.
01:09:40Your earthly treasures
01:09:42and savings accounts are
01:09:44susceptible to all kinds
01:09:46of calamity and will
01:09:49one day, the Bible
01:09:50says, pass away.
01:09:52But the treasure, the
01:09:54rewards you'll receive
01:09:55in heaven will last
01:09:56forever.
01:09:57Why will they last
01:09:59forever?
01:09:59Number eight, heaven is
01:10:02unshakable.
01:10:04Heaven is unshakable.
01:10:07Earthquakes, fires, and
01:10:09invading armies have
01:10:10brought many cities to
01:10:13ruin.
01:10:13Well, this will never be
01:10:15the case with the city
01:10:17of the living God.
01:10:19Why do I think that?
01:10:20Because the Bible says,
01:10:21Hebrews 12, verse 28,
01:10:23we are receiving a
01:10:25kingdom which cannot be
01:10:28shaken.
01:10:30Daniel chapter 7, verse 14
01:10:32says that God's dominion
01:10:34is an everlasting dominion
01:10:37which will not pass away,
01:10:39and his kingdom is one
01:10:41which will not be
01:10:42destroyed.
01:10:44So the Bible makes it
01:10:45abundantly clear here
01:10:47that New Jerusalem
01:10:47will never crumble.
01:10:49It will never be
01:10:50overthrown or fall
01:10:52into disorder.
01:10:54The Bible says that it
01:10:55cannot be shaken.
01:10:58Hallelujah for that.
01:11:00A ninth wonderful truth
01:11:02about our eternal home
01:11:03is this.
01:11:04We will live there
01:11:05forever with all
01:11:08of the redeemed.
01:11:08We will live there
01:11:10forever with all
01:11:11of the redeemed.
01:11:12In the book of
01:11:13Revelation, John
01:11:14describes a future
01:11:16scene in heaven.
01:11:18And he says,
01:11:19after this, I looked
01:11:20and behold, a great
01:11:22multitude which no one
01:11:23could count from every
01:11:25nation and all the
01:11:26tribes, peoples, and
01:11:28languages standing
01:11:29before the throne
01:11:30and before the Lamb
01:11:31clothed in white robes
01:11:33and palm branches
01:11:34were in their hands
01:11:35and they cried out
01:11:36with a loud voice
01:11:38saying, salvation
01:11:39belongs to our God
01:11:41who sits on the throne
01:11:42and to the Lamb.
01:11:45In heaven, we are
01:11:47going to meet people
01:11:49from all over the
01:11:50world, from every
01:11:51century of human
01:11:53history who were
01:11:54recipients of God's
01:11:56grace.
01:11:57How much fun will
01:11:59that be hearing their
01:12:01stories?
01:12:03This will include
01:12:04sitting down and
01:12:05feasting with people
01:12:06like Abraham and
01:12:07Isaac and Jacob.
01:12:09Jesus said, I tell
01:12:10you, in Matthew 8,
01:12:11verse 11, I tell you,
01:12:13many will come from
01:12:14east and west and
01:12:16recline at table with
01:12:17Abraham, Isaac, and
01:12:19Jacob in the kingdom
01:12:22of heaven.
01:12:23And you'll be looking
01:12:24across the table and,
01:12:27oh, my goodness, that's
01:12:29Adam and Eve right over
01:12:31there.
01:12:33Did you see Noah?
01:12:34Noah's right there.
01:12:36And that's Moses over
01:12:38there.
01:12:39And then later on, you'll
01:12:40be walking around and
01:12:41bumping into people and
01:12:42getting to know people.
01:12:44Gideon and Esther.
01:12:47And then later on, it's
01:12:48Ruth and Mary and Peter
01:12:51and James and John and
01:12:54all these people you're
01:12:55familiar with from the
01:12:57Bible.
01:12:58The fellowship we'll have
01:13:00with them, amazing.
01:13:01But not just them.
01:13:03How about well-known
01:13:04Christians throughout the
01:13:05church age like Abraham
01:13:07Lincoln and C.S.
01:13:08Lewis, William Tyndale,
01:13:10Charles Spurgeon, Fanny
01:13:11Crosby, Billy Graham,
01:13:13Jim and Elizabeth Elliot,
01:13:15Pastor Chuck Smith, Charlie
01:13:17Kirk.
01:13:19And all your precious
01:13:21loved ones who have
01:13:25preceded you into glory.
01:13:28Imagine the stories you'll
01:13:30share, the laughter, the
01:13:32fellowship.
01:13:34Oh my goodness, my heart
01:13:37overflows with anticipation
01:13:39at it all.
01:13:40It's going to be so rich.
01:13:43I bumped into a photo
01:13:44recently on Facebook by a guy
01:13:47who collects photos of
01:13:49major league baseball hitters
01:13:52who had just hit walk-off
01:13:55home runs.
01:13:57And he said that the
01:13:59reason he did this is
01:14:00because this is how he
01:14:01views us entering heaven.
01:14:04And, you know, that put a
01:14:06big smile on my face as a
01:14:08lover of baseball.
01:14:11Because, I mean, can't you
01:14:13just envision it?
01:14:15All your friends and loved
01:14:17ones there to celebrate
01:14:18your arrival.
01:14:20The dancing, the laughing,
01:14:22the celebration, the joy,
01:14:27it's going to be so much
01:14:30fun.
01:14:32But best of all, number
01:14:3510, we will be with our
01:14:38great God and Savior, Jesus
01:14:41Christ.
01:14:46Jesus said in John 14,
01:14:48If I go and prepare a place
01:14:50for you, I will come again
01:14:52and receive you to myself
01:14:54that where I am, there you
01:14:57may be also.
01:14:58The highlight of heaven
01:15:00throughout all eternity will
01:15:02be the very presence of our
01:15:04great God and Savior, Jesus
01:15:06Christ.
01:15:07What wonderful things God has
01:15:11in store for those who love
01:15:13him.
01:15:13What should our response be to
01:15:15all this goodness God has
01:15:17stored up for us?
01:15:18Jesus said in Matthew
01:15:19chapter 5, verse 12,
01:15:21Rejoice, Christian.
01:15:24Rejoice and be exceedingly
01:15:25glad for great is your
01:15:27reward in heaven.
01:15:30God wants us to rejoice.
01:15:32He wants us to be glad as we
01:15:35anticipate all that he has
01:15:36in store.
01:15:37Christian, the best is yet to
01:15:40come.
01:15:41And it could be coming soon.
01:15:44Any day now.
01:15:46That trumpet could blow and the
01:15:49Lord himself will descend from
01:15:52heaven with a shout, the Bible
01:15:53says, with the voice of the
01:15:55archangel and with the trumpet
01:15:56of God and the dead in Christ
01:15:58will rise first.
01:15:59Then we who are alive, who
01:16:02remain, will be caught up
01:16:03together with them in the
01:16:05clouds to meet the Lord in the
01:16:07air.
01:16:07And so we will always be with
01:16:09the Lord.
01:16:10Therefore, comfort one another
01:16:13with these words.
01:16:15What comfort.
01:16:20Paul says, stir each other up to
01:16:22to, well, that's a different
01:16:25writer, to love and good work.
01:16:26I'm misquoting verses here.
01:16:28But we're to think on the future
01:16:31and what God has in store for us
01:16:32and to comfort one another with
01:16:33these words and remind each other.
01:16:36What a blessing to anticipate it
01:16:39all.
01:16:39Friend, have you placed your faith
01:16:41in Jesus?
01:16:42We would really like for you to
01:16:44join us there.
01:16:46And you can.
01:16:47That's why Jesus, God in the
01:16:49flesh, died on that cross.
01:16:52Because of his great love for you,
01:16:54the Bible says he died there in
01:16:55your place.
01:16:57To suffer the judgment you
01:16:59deserve for your sins so that you
01:17:01could be forgiven.
01:17:02So that you could be rescued from
01:17:04spending eternity in hell and be
01:17:06brought back into a right
01:17:08relationship with your maker.
01:17:11But Jesus rose from the grave
01:17:13three days later.
01:17:14And today he is offering all
01:17:17humanity the forgiveness of sins,
01:17:18peace with God, and the free
01:17:21gift of everlasting life in his
01:17:23eternal kingdom.
01:17:24What a gracious offer.
01:17:26How do you lay hold of that
01:17:28offer?
01:17:28Jesus said, whosoever believes in
01:17:30him will not perish.
01:17:32But have everlasting life.
01:17:34God's done all the work.
01:17:36The price for your salvation has
01:17:38already been paid.
01:17:40God just wants you now to place
01:17:42your faith in Jesus and what he
01:17:43did on the cross.
01:17:45And you can lay hold of that
01:17:46offer tonight.
01:17:47God, as a prayer way, I'd
01:17:48encourage you before you walk out
01:17:50of this place just to pray
01:17:51something like this.
01:17:52God, thank you for loving me.
01:17:55Please forgive me for my sins.
01:17:57I trust in Jesus Christ to save me.
01:18:00Come into my life and be my Lord
01:18:03and Savior.
01:18:03Make me into the person you want
01:18:05me to be.
01:18:06An honest, sincere prayer like
01:18:08that will be answered with a yes
01:18:11from your maker.
01:18:13The Bible says whoever calls upon
01:18:15the name of the Lord will be
01:18:18saved.
01:18:19So don't put it off.
01:18:20If you need to get right with God,
01:18:22do that tonight.
01:18:24Call out to him.
01:18:27In heaven, we all here tonight
01:18:29can assure you of this.
01:18:30You will never regret it.
01:18:34Amen?
01:18:35Amen.
01:18:38Well, thank you.
01:18:39I hope that was a blessing to you.
01:18:41If you'd like to review anything I
01:18:43shared with you tonight, this whole
01:18:45presentation is pulled out of a
01:18:46little book titled Heaven.
01:18:49Ten Wonderful Truths About Our
01:18:51Eternal Home.
01:18:51We've got some copies of that out
01:18:53there in the foyer at my book
01:18:55table if you'd like to share it
01:18:56with a friend.
01:18:57If you stop by my book table,
01:18:58you'll also see several fictional
01:19:00novels.
01:19:01If you'd like to read a good
01:19:03thriller or historical fiction or
01:19:06maybe even just a laugh out loud
01:19:08rom-com, I've been writing a lot
01:19:10more fiction over the past five,
01:19:12ten years because I'm trying to
01:19:13create books that Christians will
01:19:15enjoy, but then feel comfortable
01:19:19giving away to a non-Christian
01:19:22friend or co-worker who will not
01:19:25come to church with you or crack
01:19:27open the Bible, but they might read
01:19:29a spy thriller like the Tehran
01:19:32Extraction, okay, or the Spy in
01:19:35Dubai or Silent Night Siege or one
01:19:37of these other ones on there.
01:19:38And about halfway through my novels,
01:19:39they're going to bump into Evidence
01:19:41for God, evidence for the Bible,
01:19:45the Gospel.
01:19:46How do I do that?
01:19:47I often make one of my main
01:19:48characters an atheist or a skeptic
01:19:51or a backsliding Christian and
01:19:53they're right alongside a Christian
01:19:54who gets to share the Gospel with
01:19:56them and answer their questions
01:19:57about, you know, whether or not God
01:19:59exists and whether or not we can
01:20:01trust the Bible and all of that.
01:20:02So that's why I'm writing these
01:20:04novels.
01:20:04They're not just to entertain you.
01:20:06They're to work as tools, resources
01:20:08you can give away or loan out.
01:20:09So we've got the same kinds of books
01:20:11for the teens in your life.
01:20:13There's several there that I wrote
01:20:14for the 13 to 18-year-old age
01:20:17brackets, Staring Down Dragons,
01:20:20Saving Air Force One, lots of fun
01:20:22books out there for them.
01:20:23And then a few for the younger kids
01:20:25as well.
01:20:25These would be for 5 to 12-year-olds.
01:20:29So if you've got some readers in
01:20:31your family and would like to stop
01:20:33by the table and say hello and
01:20:35peruse what's out there, feel free
01:20:36to do that.
01:20:37Let's go ahead and pray.
01:20:38Heavenly Father, what a blessing to
01:20:40open up your word tonight.
01:20:43How gracious of you not only to make
01:20:46a way of salvation available to
01:20:49sinners like us, but to prepare this
01:20:52glorious eternal home for us and to
01:20:55even give us some incredible details
01:20:58about it.
01:20:59We so look forward to being with you
01:21:03and all of the redeemed.
01:21:04It's going to be amazing.
01:21:06In the meantime, God, we do pray that
01:21:08you would help us to rejoice and to
01:21:10be exceedingly glad.
01:21:12You want us to be a joyful people,
01:21:15shining for you, living for you,
01:21:17getting the gospel out.
01:21:18God, we pray that you would strengthen
01:21:19us by your spirit to do that.
01:21:21We pray that you would guide us in your
01:21:24will that we might live our lives in
01:21:27every way, holy, pleasing, and glorifying
01:21:30to you.
01:21:30And God, we do pray for our friends and
01:21:33family members who don't yet know you
01:21:36in a personal saving way.
01:21:38Maybe some are even here tonight or
01:21:41watching online.
01:21:42God, tonight we place them before you in
01:21:44our prayers.
01:21:45We ask for their salvation.
01:21:47We pray that you would convict them of
01:21:49their sin and help them to understand
01:21:52their need for your grace, your forgiveness,
01:21:57God, our relationship with Jesus.
01:21:59Draw them to yourself, we pray.
01:22:02And it's in Jesus' name we pray.
01:22:05Amen.
01:22:06Thanks for letting me share with you tonight.
01:22:08God bless you.
01:22:08God bless you.
01:22:11The one who is, the one who is, the one who is to come.
01:22:21The one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come.
01:22:30The one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come
01:22:41The one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come
01:22:50So praise Him like we're there in glory
01:22:57Here and now He's just as holy
01:23:02Jesus, He's so worthy of it all
01:23:11Bring your song, He loves to hear it
01:23:17Bring Him every breath so clear
01:23:22Jesus, He's so worthy, worthy, worthy of all
01:23:31The one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come
01:23:40The one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come
01:23:51The one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come
01:24:01You're the one who was, the one who is, the one who is to come
01:24:16Amen. God bless you guys if you need prayer. Come on up, friend. Our prayer team will be up here
01:24:20for you. We'll see you on Sunday morning.
01:24:25God bless you guys.
01:24:26God bless you.
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