1 00:00:11,700 --> 00:00:13,800 let's read a few verses together, shall we meet me in 2 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:18,600 the book of 2nd Timothy And chapter 4. 3 00:00:27,700 --> 00:00:39,700 Or six, second Timothy 46. Fry, I am already being poured 4 00:00:39,700 --> 00:00:47,500 out as a drink offering. and the time of my departure has come, I 5 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:54,300 have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have 6 00:00:54,300 --> 00:01:01,500 kept the faith henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of 7 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:06,300 righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award 8 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:12,100 to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have 9 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:19,900 At his appearing. Lord, we love We yearn we long 10 00:01:19,900 --> 00:01:22,400 for your appearing. We desire it? 11 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:29,500 Or prepare us to live a life. Equip us to live a life in which 12 00:01:29,500 --> 00:01:32,700 we can Echo the same declaration that Paul makes here. 13 00:01:33,900 --> 00:01:37,300 Lord. We need your power. 14 00:01:38,500 --> 00:01:42,200 We need you Grace. We need your help. 15 00:01:44,100 --> 00:01:47,000 Lord cut through all the clutter in our hearts. 16 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:51,100 Soft in the Catalyst parts of Who We Are. 17 00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:56,700 Destroy the curse of being too familiar with something to the 18 00:01:56,700 --> 00:01:58,200 point where it doesn't affect us. 19 00:01:59,500 --> 00:02:02,000 And and do what only you can do through this word. 20 00:02:03,100 --> 00:02:07,300 Energize the preaching by the spirit and let our hearts be 21 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:10,699 revived in your presence. We ask these things in Jesus 22 00:02:10,699 --> 00:02:12,500 name. Amen. 23 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:21,100 Death is the dreaded. Experience that all men must 24 00:02:21,100 --> 00:02:24,900 Embrace at some point in their lives at some point in their 25 00:02:24,900 --> 00:02:30,300 brief existence on this Earth. You will die. 26 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,700 I will die. It is the inevitable and 27 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:40,700 Universal fate of Adams Race. Men have tried to prolong their 28 00:02:40,700 --> 00:02:45,400 lives. Clever men have attempted to try 29 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:51,700 to eliminate that possibility all together what God has said 30 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,600 will be done. Man has been cursed. 31 00:02:56,500 --> 00:03:00,000 Men will die. And they'll every human life 32 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,500 story. Reads differently. 33 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:05,100 They really all have the same ending because each and every 34 00:03:05,100 --> 00:03:08,500 single one of us share the same curse. 35 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,600 Every single one of us has a body with an expiration date, 36 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,100 you may not know it, but God knows it is because of the sin 37 00:03:16,100 --> 00:03:19,700 of our first parents translating down to their descendants, 38 00:03:19,700 --> 00:03:23,300 including you. And I in 2022 and over the years 39 00:03:23,300 --> 00:03:28,200 we've had thinkers and Poets teachers who have philosophize 40 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,700 about death and you've even have some who have claimed to have 41 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:39,100 answers about this thing and they also with confidence claim 42 00:03:39,100 --> 00:03:41,900 that Their sources. Derived from some Transcendent 43 00:03:41,900 --> 00:03:46,600 being but while most believe that death cannot be explained 44 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,100 until it is experienced and others. 45 00:03:49,100 --> 00:03:54,000 Have some very bold assertions about what to expect when one 46 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,700 dies. It is the word of God that has 47 00:03:57,700 --> 00:04:03,100 the exclusive and the necessary truths about this mystery Called 48 00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:07,000 Death. This book is filled with 49 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:11,800 extensive insights concerning the origination of it, the 50 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:17,000 reason for death. Life after death, The Hope over 51 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,200 death and praise God, the death of death itself. 52 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,200 And this wealth of information should not only comfort. 53 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,700 The believer should not only consult the soul of the one, 54 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:30,700 who's been redeemed by Grace, but it should also challenge us 55 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,700 as Christians to reach those before they enter into that 56 00:04:35,700 --> 00:04:38,000 portal of no return without a savior. 57 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:42,400 And though many of us would know that the Bible speaks about 58 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,500 death and gives hope concerning death. 59 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,000 Many may not understand that. The Bible also strategically has 60 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,500 given us many records of the final moments of people's lives. 61 00:04:52,900 --> 00:04:56,000 Think about it for a moment. Think about those in which we've 62 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,600 been given the concluding thoughts and actions before they 63 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,200 have departed into the next World. 64 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,600 Think about Abraham, think about Jacob. 65 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:10,300 Think about David, think about the Kings throughout Second 66 00:05:10,300 --> 00:05:14,800 Kings think about the prophets think about men like Stephen and 67 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,300 others who have died for the cause of Christ. 68 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:22,700 And before us today, you and I have a testimony of a man who 69 00:05:22,700 --> 00:05:26,700 sacrificially served God to the very last moments. 70 00:05:29,300 --> 00:05:33,000 And the Holy Spirit, saw it fit that you and I would see the 71 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,600 upright attitude of a man who has laid down his life to serve 72 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,100 the cause of Christ with everything that was within. 73 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:46,400 And why does the bible go out of its way to reveal such things? 74 00:05:46,700 --> 00:05:48,800 Why does the bible? Give us records of what we just 75 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:52,100 read here and even even examples of people who have died in a 76 00:05:52,108 --> 00:05:56,500 certain way, well, for one. So that as you and I reflect on 77 00:05:56,500 --> 00:05:59,900 how these men finished our race, we would To finish. 78 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:04,800 Well, we ourselves would say that is something that I aspire 79 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:09,000 to, that is something that I really, really want to avoid. 80 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,300 And God cares about how you and I finish. 81 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:15,900 God cares about how you and I and this thing. 82 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:19,200 He's given us a few verses here to consider. 83 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,500 Because what we see here with Paul though, it is a very 84 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:24,500 strange thing. Because as you read these 85 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:28,600 verses, you see, a fearlessness, you see a confidence, you even 86 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:32,800 see an anticipation as a man is ready, to face one of the most 87 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:36,700 chilling circumstances that can be possible. 88 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:42,700 Imagine waiting day by day for that, call for you to exit this 89 00:06:42,700 --> 00:06:45,300 world into the next. Imagine the anxiety. 90 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:47,700 Imagine that. Crippling fear. 91 00:06:47,700 --> 00:06:51,300 Imagine what's rushing through your mind and your heart? 92 00:06:51,300 --> 00:06:55,500 And yet this man here, seems so unmoved. 93 00:06:55,700 --> 00:07:03,500 So I'm Shakin, so undisturbed and what we see here with Paul, 94 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,400 as he's about to embrace, with the Bible calls, in the Book of 95 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:11,800 Job, the king of Terrors is available to you and I because 96 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,200 we serve the same Master, we serve the same Lord, who is able 97 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:20,100 to impart the same Grace that he put into this once a terrorist 98 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:25,000 now, an apostle, The question is, how is it possible though? 99 00:07:25,900 --> 00:07:28,700 How is it possible for this? A this man to have such a level 100 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:30,700 of composure? How can a man be? 101 00:07:30,700 --> 00:07:33,900 So calm, how can you have such presence of Mind? 102 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,100 How can it be? So poised while he is pending in 103 00:07:37,100 --> 00:07:41,900 a prison the call for him to have his head removed from his 104 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:44,900 shoulders? And it's in these verses that we 105 00:07:44,900 --> 00:07:46,900 just read. It's what we see right here. 106 00:07:46,900 --> 00:07:51,600 It's so plain, it's so clear, it's so obvious and an invites 107 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,800 us to be able to realize the same strength as you. 108 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,700 And I one day will slip into eternity. 109 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,300 May, I remind you today that the preachers job is to remind you 110 00:08:04,300 --> 00:08:07,800 of Eternity. As you're hustling and bustling 111 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,700 through life. This isn't it? 112 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,600 There is another world and it's much more permanent than this 113 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:20,000 one. How is Paul so strong? 114 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:25,200 Well, consider three things. First, his Readiness to meet 115 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:29,300 death, second his reflection before death. 116 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,600 And third, the reward that awaited him after death. first 117 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,200 his Readiness to meet death second his reflection on his 118 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:43,400 life before death and third, the reward that awaited him after 119 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:49,200 death and verse 6, we read I am already being poured out as a 120 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,000 drink offering. And the time of my departure has 121 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,100 come, can you sense the resolved? 122 00:08:56,700 --> 00:09:00,400 Can You Feel The Tranquility the control? 123 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,800 This man is not writing with uncertainty, or with panic. 124 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,800 There is no, such tone, he's completely aware of the 125 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,300 seriousness of the predicament. But he is also confident. 126 00:09:11,300 --> 00:09:13,400 Not just in the way, he delivers, what he is saying 127 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,500 right here, but even then the choice of words that he uses in 128 00:09:16,500 --> 00:09:21,500 his explanation of what's about to come about, Looking at here 129 00:09:21,500 --> 00:09:24,300 after he says, I am already being poured out as a drink 130 00:09:24,300 --> 00:09:27,800 offering that's an Old Testament connection. 131 00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:30,800 A drink offering was a type of offering, which you would pour 132 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,000 out, whether it was wine or another substance mainly that 133 00:09:34,100 --> 00:09:35,600 you would poured out upon a sacrifice. 134 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,200 And what Paul is trying to say is my life, is spent every 135 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,600 single drop has been given already and though he hasn't 136 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:44,000 been a martyr yet, he's already determined in his heart. 137 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,700 I'm ready to give it all. But from there, he goes on to 138 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:49,900 say for the time of my departure. 139 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,700 Sir has come the word departure is unique in this verse and let 140 00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:58,100 it all old New Testament. He when he says this he's 141 00:09:58,100 --> 00:10:01,100 choosing the specifically he doesn't say the time of my death 142 00:10:01,100 --> 00:10:03,200 has come though. That would have been true. 143 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,100 He says, the time of my departure has come and the 144 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:09,500 original word. There is unique and it has a 145 00:10:09,500 --> 00:10:12,200 variety of meanings and it's quite insightful. 146 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:16,800 The word in a general sense to be means to be unloosed. 147 00:10:18,700 --> 00:10:22,900 The idea there is that you are bound and you are limited from 148 00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:25,400 moving freely or to move forward. 149 00:10:25,500 --> 00:10:27,700 And when he says, the time of my departure has come, when he's 150 00:10:27,700 --> 00:10:30,300 essentially saying is, I'm being set free. 151 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:35,100 I'm being set free to go where I want to go and to do what I 152 00:10:35,100 --> 00:10:38,700 really want to do. And the common metaphor here is 153 00:10:38,700 --> 00:10:41,900 that of a ship that has been attached to the Shore by some 154 00:10:41,900 --> 00:10:45,100 rope or cable but all for a sudden it is lifted off and 155 00:10:45,100 --> 00:10:48,500 there's now no hindrance and that both can sail into the 156 00:10:48,500 --> 00:10:51,400 Horizon to its desired destination. 157 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:55,900 The time of my departure has come. 158 00:10:56,300 --> 00:10:59,600 When this man is speaking about death, he's not speaking about 159 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,700 it as a frightening experience, he's actually speaking of it as 160 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:07,600 a freeing one. As much as she was busy in the 161 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:11,000 world being fruitful for God, there is a sense that he felt 162 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,900 Limited in many ways because another portion of scripture in 163 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:20,100 Philippians 123 says, for my desire to depart and be with 164 00:11:20,100 --> 00:11:25,500 Christ for that as far better. That is far better, you know, to 165 00:11:25,500 --> 00:11:30,200 Paul to be with Christ was better than planting churches. 166 00:11:31,900 --> 00:11:33,900 It was better than seeing Christians built up in their 167 00:11:33,900 --> 00:11:37,200 faith is better than seeing Miracles performed through his 168 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:41,200 own hands. The thing that was the best that 169 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:46,800 him was to just be with Christ. And death here for the apostle. 170 00:11:48,100 --> 00:11:51,000 Through his final breath would be, the means to lift the anchor 171 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,400 to lift the anchor that was holding him down from 172 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,000 experiencing what he longed for since he was born again. 173 00:11:56,500 --> 00:12:00,200 And that was to reach the Harbour of heaven and be greeted 174 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:04,600 by his Lord, and to embrace his master and to have him back 175 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:10,600 Master Embrace him. Death to this man was always 176 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,800 dark. It's served to undress him and 177 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:16,800 dress him from his Brokenness, from his corruption from his 178 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:21,100 limitations and so that he can be dressed and fashioned with a 179 00:12:21,100 --> 00:12:23,800 Holiness. And a beauty, that our minds 180 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:28,000 could not comprehend so that he would be fashioned to live with 181 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,000 Christ forever and ever and ever. 182 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:36,600 My desires to be with Christ. The time of my departure has 183 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,800 come. I got my ticket. 184 00:12:38,900 --> 00:12:42,000 I'm getting on this flight and I'm going where I wanted to go. 185 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,400 For so long. Is there a fear in that? 186 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:51,500 Is there trouble in that? Is there disturbance in that? 187 00:12:52,300 --> 00:12:58,700 Who can talk like this? Someone who understands death as 188 00:12:58,700 --> 00:13:02,500 a righteous as a righteous man who's been imparted with that 189 00:13:02,500 --> 00:13:04,300 righteousness from a gracious savior. 190 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:07,300 You know, there's incredible verse in Proverbs 16 verse 7. 191 00:13:07,300 --> 00:13:12,700 It says that when a man's ways pleases, God, he even makes his 192 00:13:12,700 --> 00:13:15,200 enemies to be at peace with him. Have you ever read that 193 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,800 scripture when a man's ways, please the Lord. 194 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,900 He even makes his enemies to be at peace with him and the 195 00:13:20,908 --> 00:13:24,300 immediate sense that speaks about an unusual favor in life 196 00:13:24,300 --> 00:13:27,800 even. Opponents that God gives so that 197 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,900 you can navigate and perform his will in a certain way. 198 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,200 But I like to think of it beyond that without butchering the 199 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:37,800 scripture because although God can give us peace with our 200 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:41,000 enemies here on Earth, God has also grant us peace with the 201 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,100 greatest enemy of all, and that is death itself. 202 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:46,700 Not because you and I have please God, because one who are 203 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,000 was on her behalf, pleasing God, who has please God. 204 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:54,500 And because of his substitutionary, atonement 205 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,900 death, that enemy of enemies the greatest and one of the greatest 206 00:13:57,900 --> 00:14:04,500 enemies to us cannot touch us. Cannot harm us because of 207 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:06,200 Christ. We can transition through it, 208 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:10,800 unscathed. Goddess Called Death to be at 209 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:15,100 peace with us because Christ has pleased the father on our 210 00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:19,200 behalf. And now we can transition 211 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:23,600 through that that gate that has claimed and seal the The Souls 212 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,800 of men into condemnation as a we were walking through any 213 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:32,000 ordinary door. Consider the other portions of 214 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,100 scripture that speak about that experience of death differently 215 00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:38,000 for the righteous than, for the wicked. 216 00:14:38,500 --> 00:14:41,900 Consider, for example, with me God's prophecy over Abraham in 217 00:14:41,900 --> 00:14:44,000 the early journeys of his faith. When he was still known as 218 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,300 Abram. I want you to go to Genesis 15, 219 00:14:46,300 --> 00:14:49,000 15 and see something quite interesting concerning Abrams 220 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,200 Destiny after he was told about what was going to happen with 221 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:54,400 his prosperous and numerous seed. 222 00:14:55,500 --> 00:14:58,700 God is sure his amiable long life and a peaceful departure at 223 00:14:58,700 --> 00:15:02,300 a good old age. And Genesis 15 15. 224 00:15:02,300 --> 00:15:05,700 This is the Lord speaking over Abram and this is what he says 225 00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:11,600 to this man. As for you in Genesis 15, 15, as 226 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,600 for you, you shall go to your father's in peace. 227 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,800 You shall be buried in a good old age. 228 00:15:19,900 --> 00:15:24,800 Here's the Assurance, you will be buried at a ripe age, but 229 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:29,000 more than that you will continue to live on still you are heading 230 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:32,900 towards something. You will actually be gloriously 231 00:15:32,900 --> 00:15:37,600 gather to your father's Specifically, his death would be 232 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:41,000 the door that would immediately Usher into the presence of those 233 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:46,100 who have passed on before him, who have also been claimed by 234 00:15:46,100 --> 00:15:47,500 God because of their faith though. 235 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:51,100 They were in the old Covenant, they looked forward as we look 236 00:15:51,100 --> 00:15:54,500 back to our Christ has done. Now, some might say the phrase 237 00:15:54,500 --> 00:15:58,000 here, you shall go to your father's and peace implies that 238 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,000 Abram would just be buried with his ancestors, but the flow of 239 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,400 the text does not suggest such a thing. 240 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:08,500 Let's look at the Fulfillment of this prophecy 10 chapters later 241 00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:12,800 in Genesis 25 verse 8 and look what we receive here concerning 242 00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:16,000 the Fulfillment of what God said earlier in. 243 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:23,800 Genesis 25 verse 8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a 244 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:29,200 good old age and old man and full of years and was gathered 245 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:33,700 to his people. Now this doesn't mean that when 246 00:16:33,700 --> 00:16:37,400 he died he was buried with those that were buried before him 247 00:16:38,100 --> 00:16:41,700 because the next verse tells us that Isaac and Ishmael did that 248 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:44,200 for him. So it's the sequence isn't 249 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,300 suggest that he was, he was gathered to those who are 250 00:16:47,500 --> 00:16:49,800 already. Son, and he put him in a 251 00:16:49,808 --> 00:16:52,900 location where he was in close proximity to those who are 252 00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:55,500 connected to him in terms of heritage. 253 00:16:56,900 --> 00:16:58,900 They would take him to where Sarah was buried. 254 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,900 Abraham purchased a k for her and he was buried in the same 255 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:05,099 place instead. What's really happening here? 256 00:17:05,099 --> 00:17:09,300 Is that the moment he gave his final breath He was in the 257 00:17:09,300 --> 00:17:12,700 presence of those who are also awaiting that glorious 258 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,400 unification with their glorified bodies. 259 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,200 Isn't it a thrilling thought to know that if God grants you a 260 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,900 deathbed, you might be whimpering with your last 261 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:27,200 breath. And as you whisper, that final 262 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,700 exhale, though, you may be surrounded by loved ones. 263 00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:34,400 In that moment. In that very moment, you will be 264 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:38,900 gathered to God's people. Perhaps, even some that have 265 00:17:38,900 --> 00:17:41,100 passed on in your life that you miss dearly. 266 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,700 If they are in Christ, they're waiting for you. 267 00:17:46,300 --> 00:17:49,700 They're waiting for you, if you still doubt that being gathered 268 00:17:49,700 --> 00:17:55,900 to his people means that we are brought into a blissful place 269 00:17:55,900 --> 00:17:59,700 with those who have been redeemed by God, just look at 270 00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:02,800 one final text and we'll put any doubts to rest. 271 00:18:03,300 --> 00:18:07,700 Consider how his grandson. Abraham's grandson died and come 272 00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:10,400 here to the final portion. Almost a final portion of 273 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:16,200 Genesis and 49:33. I want to make you excited about 274 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:22,600 this. Genesis 49 verse 33 when Jacob 275 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,200 finished. Commanding his sons, he drew up 276 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:31,300 his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was 277 00:18:31,300 --> 00:18:35,100 gathered to his people. The saying, well, it's the same 278 00:18:35,100 --> 00:18:37,300 thing. No, it's not because you read 279 00:18:37,300 --> 00:18:40,100 the next chapter. What do you realize that they 280 00:18:40,100 --> 00:18:44,300 embalm him for 40 days and the Egyptians wept over him for 70 281 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:46,700 days? So the man wasn't, if gathered 282 00:18:46,700 --> 00:18:48,300 to his, people means to be buried with your people. 283 00:18:48,300 --> 00:18:50,600 He wasn't gathered to his people for several weeks. 284 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,700 But here we're told that immediately when he put his feet 285 00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:59,000 up on that bed, that old man who had to walk around with a staff 286 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:02,800 who who was leaning on it and worship before this moment, as 287 00:19:02,808 --> 00:19:06,900 we're told in Hebrews, he gave up his final breath and he was 288 00:19:06,900 --> 00:19:12,700 caught up to be with his people. That's exciting to me. 289 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:19,100 Death is not Annihilation. Death is not cessation to live. 290 00:19:19,900 --> 00:19:23,800 Death is just a transition it just moving from one location to 291 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:27,100 the next though, your body remains it will be reunited with 292 00:19:27,100 --> 00:19:31,300 you at one point, but you were immediately brought into the 293 00:19:31,300 --> 00:19:34,900 company of those who have also chosen with their life to trust 294 00:19:34,900 --> 00:19:37,800 in the savior. And I don't know what's going to 295 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:41,900 happen there, but I'm sure it's great, I'm sure it's wonderful. 296 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,900 Death, doesn't delete your identity. 297 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,200 It doesn't you will be recognized and you will be able 298 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,700 to recognize others. You'll even be able to recognize 299 00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:55,500 Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as Jesus says that we will sit at 300 00:19:55,508 --> 00:19:57,600 the same table at them as them in you. 301 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:02,600 Imagine that how what how wonderful how glorious There's 302 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,500 such a different experience for the righteous as they come to 303 00:20:05,508 --> 00:20:09,300 that final time of their lives and as comforting. 304 00:20:09,300 --> 00:20:12,100 And as exhilarating as that might be, I can tell you this, 305 00:20:12,100 --> 00:20:17,500 that Paul's most exciting thought was not to be reunited 306 00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:21,800 with Steven to surprise him. Even though he played a part in 307 00:20:21,808 --> 00:20:27,800 his martyrdom, it wasn't to to finally meet Moses David and the 308 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,800 prophets, the men that he studied about and taught about 309 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,900 as great. As those things are, as great. 310 00:20:33,900 --> 00:20:36,500 As it would be to reunite with those who have died during his 311 00:20:36,500 --> 00:20:39,600 ministry. The climax for Paul was what you 312 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:45,200 heard earlier to be with Christ. to be with the one that for 313 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:48,300 week, after week, you have sung about and heard sermons about 314 00:20:48,300 --> 00:20:54,300 finally, you will see him And be in close proximity to him 315 00:20:54,300 --> 00:20:57,300 face-to-face. No more Veil, no more seeing 316 00:20:57,300 --> 00:21:01,900 through a glass dimly, as real as I am to you more real. 317 00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:04,400 Will it be when Christ calls you home? 318 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,700 And Paul here. Longed for that. 319 00:21:08,700 --> 00:21:11,400 That was the Delight of his departure that that's what made 320 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:17,100 him giddy almost. Christ, purchase our Salvation. 321 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:21,400 So that death would not be the Seal of your condemnation, it 322 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,700 would be the means to sail you into his presence. 323 00:21:26,300 --> 00:21:30,500 Who awaits us, who awaits us after that, who awaits us on the 324 00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:34,500 other side of deaths gate, who's ready to flood us with his 325 00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:38,400 affection who's ready to ready to welcome us and extend those 326 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,600 pierced hands who is ready, Christ himself, not just the 327 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:43,600 people that you miss that you live with on this Earth. 328 00:21:43,900 --> 00:21:47,800 Not just Angels who have been summoned to serve you while you 329 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:53,300 were a pilgrim in this world. Christ himself is there waiting 330 00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:58,100 for a personal welcome. And the enjoyment of his 331 00:21:58,100 --> 00:22:01,100 presence forever and ever, Paul's Readiness to meet death 332 00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:05,800 was framed by a revelation that the righteous will experience 333 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:09,400 death differently. And every person who is outside 334 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:13,800 of Christ, Have you heard that story that is often shared among 335 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:19,300 preachers of the father and the son driving on a country road 336 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:25,800 with their windows down and as they're driving, a bee swarms in 337 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:30,300 that vehicle and starts buzzing. And that child, that son is 338 00:22:30,300 --> 00:22:34,000 absolutely terrified because they know that they're allergic 339 00:22:34,900 --> 00:22:37,000 to bees. And if that bee stung him, then 340 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:38,800 he could quite possibly lose his life. 341 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,700 So, as the father and son are driving in that, that be became 342 00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:47,600 a third passenger. There was total panic, panic in 343 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:49,600 the Sun, at least the father was totally calm. 344 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,500 And the sun was calling for the dad to pull over to swat. 345 00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:57,700 A fly away and giving all these suggestions and without saying a 346 00:22:57,700 --> 00:23:01,900 word with great calm, but great strength, the father, extends 347 00:23:01,900 --> 00:23:06,300 his hand, and grabs the bee, and his palm closes it and makes a 348 00:23:06,300 --> 00:23:11,700 fist. there's a brief silence in the Sun, but then the father 349 00:23:11,700 --> 00:23:15,000 opens his hand again and the bee starts buzzing and moving 350 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,700 around, just like it was before and the Sun starts screaming 351 00:23:17,700 --> 00:23:22,300 again, frightened This time, the father speaks up. 352 00:23:22,300 --> 00:23:26,100 And when he speaks up his son, look at my hand, and he opens 353 00:23:26,100 --> 00:23:27,900 his hand, while he has the other one on the steering wheel in the 354 00:23:27,900 --> 00:23:31,900 sun looks down. And he sees that the sting is in 355 00:23:31,900 --> 00:23:35,500 that hand. And the father says, there's 356 00:23:35,500 --> 00:23:39,800 nothing to fear anymore, I took the sting All this be can do is 357 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,300 just buzz. Now, make noise And that's what 358 00:23:43,300 --> 00:23:45,000 it's like with death for the Christian. 359 00:23:46,100 --> 00:23:47,900 It's a fearful experience for many. 360 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,900 But Christ took the sting of death and all that thing can do 361 00:23:53,900 --> 00:23:55,800 now is intimidate you and lie to you. 362 00:23:57,300 --> 00:24:01,100 But the punishment has been dealt with it can do anything to 363 00:24:01,100 --> 00:24:04,300 you and I anymore for the righteous who have placed their 364 00:24:04,300 --> 00:24:07,600 faith in the one who took those piercings in his hands and his 365 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,300 feet in his side. It cannot touch you. 366 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:16,300 It cannot hurt you. It cannot claim you It only 367 00:24:16,300 --> 00:24:20,700 serves you now it serves you to bring you to where you want to 368 00:24:20,700 --> 00:24:23,200 be right Christian you want to be with Christ? 369 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,900 I'm sure. Paul had a Readiness to meet 370 00:24:26,900 --> 00:24:30,800 death because he understood what Christ did to death on his 371 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:33,400 behalf. But I want to tell you today, 372 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,500 that Readiness to me, death is not available to you, 373 00:24:35,500 --> 00:24:38,900 churchgoer. It's not available to you person 374 00:24:38,900 --> 00:24:41,600 who thinks that just because you got baptized your saved. 375 00:24:42,100 --> 00:24:44,500 Just because you take communion, consistently means that your 376 00:24:44,500 --> 00:24:46,900 sins are forgiven every single time, no matter what wretched 377 00:24:46,900 --> 00:24:51,100 things you did that week, You can only have a Readiness when 378 00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:55,200 you have put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 379 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,800 When you have repented of your sin and you have made him the 380 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:03,600 Lord of your life when he becomes Lord of your life and 381 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:08,000 savior, he will extend his hand and guide you through guide you 382 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:09,700 through even death. Not just life. 383 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,800 Paul, I did Readiness to meet death, do you? 384 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:21,000 Do you? you know, the question and you 385 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,800 know, the answer, But in verse 7, we don't just see the redness 386 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,000 to me, death, we see the reflection before his death. 387 00:25:28,100 --> 00:25:32,700 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have 388 00:25:32,700 --> 00:25:36,000 kept the faith, the greatest piece that you can know in this 389 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:40,800 life. Is that, you know, you, you are 390 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:45,000 ensured that you have, put your soul in the saving hands of the 391 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,800 Lord Jesus. Nothing can triumph over that, 392 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,700 nothing had come close to the serenity that comes only from 393 00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:56,000 salvation and salvation alone. But there was a part to pause 394 00:25:56,500 --> 00:26:00,800 pulse piece that you and I have to consider and what it is here 395 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,200 is that when he chose sir recollect and reminisce about 396 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,100 his days from the moment, he became a born-again Believer to 397 00:26:07,100 --> 00:26:12,000 the He would come into Glory. There was no serious regrets. 398 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:18,500 And it's Christian Journey. These powerful metaphors. 399 00:26:18,500 --> 00:26:20,300 I've fought the good fight, I have finished the race. 400 00:26:20,300 --> 00:26:21,500 I have kept, they're all saying the same thing. 401 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:25,800 Essentially, they speak of a complete admission, they speak 402 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:29,100 of someone who was Secure in their reflection, that the 403 00:26:29,100 --> 00:26:32,100 essence of their life on Earth was to serve God. 404 00:26:33,300 --> 00:26:37,500 There is a comfort that comes that whatever was assigned to 405 00:26:37,500 --> 00:26:40,600 him by the Lord, it was accomplished and observed with 406 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:45,100 faithfulness and consistency. Paul didn't go off course, he 407 00:26:45,100 --> 00:26:46,900 didn't put his ministry on this Shelf. 408 00:26:48,100 --> 00:26:52,500 He didn't fall in love with this present world, he didn't end in 409 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:57,600 the flesh and to him, that was a surge of Peace. 410 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:01,000 As he faced this moment, you know, there are some followers 411 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,600 of Christ. I hope every person in here 412 00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:08,200 would agree to this who are convinced today and day by day 413 00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:10,100 that to make your life about anything else. 414 00:27:10,100 --> 00:27:12,700 Except for the cause of Christ is a complete waste. 415 00:27:15,100 --> 00:27:17,500 Unfortunately, you have some believers who won't realize that 416 00:27:17,500 --> 00:27:20,300 until later. Ron in life once they explored a 417 00:27:20,308 --> 00:27:23,600 little bit and and tried buying the newest and the latest and 418 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:27,100 expanding and projects. It's only later on in life where 419 00:27:27,100 --> 00:27:32,400 they realize, and think it would feel like this and then you have 420 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:35,800 some Who will realize that at the end of the road all 421 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,500 together. We're not convinced. 422 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,400 Until they begin to smell eternity. 423 00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:49,600 It's true. There's some professing 424 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:54,900 Christians who struggle to be persuaded that to make your life 425 00:27:54,900 --> 00:27:58,300 practically framed around knowing the Lord and serving 426 00:27:58,300 --> 00:28:01,300 him. Maybe isn't as worth it as the 427 00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:05,400 preacher says it is, God knew that that would be a Temptation. 428 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:07,800 God knew that, that would be a lie that Christians would have 429 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:12,000 to face even. And so he ordains his word to be 430 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:15,800 filled with examples and encouragement and warnings not 431 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:18,800 to believe the lies that would dampen your devotion. 432 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,000 And cause you to do the opposite of what Paul is doing here in 433 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,000 this prison cell and say to yourself. 434 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,600 What have I done. What did I do? 435 00:28:31,500 --> 00:28:36,400 And we see here, That God wants us to be able to Echo the 436 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,900 sentiments. And he provides so many, so many 437 00:28:39,900 --> 00:28:44,900 so many so many instructions to be safeguarded and protected so 438 00:28:44,900 --> 00:28:46,600 that we can arrive or Paul is here. 439 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,900 Can I show you one example, it's in the Gospel of Luke chapter 440 00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:58,300 12, We're told in Luke 12:1. That there are many thousands 441 00:28:58,300 --> 00:29:01,800 who were gathered around Jesus. I mean, so many people were 442 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:05,200 gathered around the god-man that they were trampling. 443 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:08,100 On one another. They were actually trampling on 444 00:29:08,100 --> 00:29:12,700 one another and Jesus took this time to address his disciples 445 00:29:12,700 --> 00:29:16,100 and there's no doubt that the crowd around them heard what was 446 00:29:16,100 --> 00:29:19,300 being taught. And so as he looks to his Core 447 00:29:19,300 --> 00:29:22,400 group, he begins to teach and the first thing that he does is 448 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,600 he warns his disciples about hypocrisy and he points to the 449 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:30,800 And the Sadducees he says, be careful, be careful being like 450 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:34,400 them and after that, he goes on to speak about fearing. 451 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:38,000 God, not fearing man. He touches on hell, he touches 452 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,600 on judgment. And then in the same sentence, 453 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,100 he goes on to talk about the loving care of the heavenly 454 00:29:43,100 --> 00:29:46,300 father, that even gives attention to, what we would 455 00:29:46,300 --> 00:29:48,800 think is insignificant. That is the little birds that 456 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:52,900 you drive by and walk by. And then from there, he speaks 457 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:58,100 about the day of standing before Christ and ensuring that you do 458 00:29:58,100 --> 00:30:03,600 not deny him on Earth and enduring persecution is the 459 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:08,100 price to pay to following this Lord and the promise that, as 460 00:30:08,100 --> 00:30:10,700 you stand up for those, who would try to condemn, you the 461 00:30:10,700 --> 00:30:13,400 holy spirit, will give you the right words to say don't even 462 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:17,300 meditate about it. And after these deep spiritual 463 00:30:17,300 --> 00:30:22,100 truths are declared, the teaching is interrupted by a man 464 00:30:22,100 --> 00:30:26,000 unnamed in the crowd. And you would think that he 465 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,800 would ask for clarification on these things or perhaps the best 466 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:33,100 application to these truths. But then, we come here to verse 467 00:30:33,100 --> 00:30:35,900 13, a realize what is actually being said. 468 00:30:36,500 --> 00:30:40,900 Someone in the crowd said to him teacher Tell my brother to 469 00:30:40,900 --> 00:30:44,100 divide the inheritance with me. What? 470 00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:50,500 What's the relevance of this? There isn't any? 471 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,300 And though, I don't know this man's name and you don't know it 472 00:30:54,300 --> 00:30:57,400 either just from this. I know a lot about him. 473 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:04,100 As she is sitting there in the presence of the word, made flesh 474 00:31:04,300 --> 00:31:10,500 the Incarnate Son of God. Declaring these glorious truths. 475 00:31:11,300 --> 00:31:13,800 You know what? He's concerned about personal 476 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:17,900 security. Possessions being secured in his 477 00:31:17,900 --> 00:31:20,200 name, his future being established. 478 00:31:21,100 --> 00:31:24,900 There's no concern here from this man about spiritual riches 479 00:31:24,900 --> 00:31:28,800 or being prepared for eternity. You know what this tells me that 480 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:31,200 even as Jesus preaching, somebody's mind is somewhere 481 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:32,500 else. Brings me, some comfort at 482 00:31:32,500 --> 00:31:37,400 least. This is my this man is not even 483 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:40,600 responding to what's being said. He's not even considering he's 484 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,400 not even inquiring about it all for a sudden you just belches 485 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:45,000 up. Would you tell my brother to 486 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,400 divide the inheritance with me? Where's your mind at? 487 00:31:50,500 --> 00:31:53,500 And why is he asking? Jesus I have a hunch that he 488 00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:56,400 realizes when this guy speaks, there's Authority, man, people 489 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,200 are gripped. And I've seen people come up to 490 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:00,900 him, make requests to heal their daughter or their 491 00:32:00,900 --> 00:32:03,100 demon-possessed son. So, surely, he's a humble 492 00:32:03,100 --> 00:32:05,500 servant enough to consider my desire. 493 00:32:05,700 --> 00:32:10,400 Hey, Rabbi would you ask my brother, this split the check 494 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:16,000 with me? if you ever doubt the power of 495 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:22,500 greed, don't forget this man. If you ever deny or put into 496 00:32:22,500 --> 00:32:25,600 question, how materialism can possess a person. 497 00:32:25,900 --> 00:32:30,600 Consider this person case on point, he's in the very presence 498 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:33,900 of God. Who has done things, that Israel 499 00:32:33,900 --> 00:32:38,300 has never seen. And yet all the while he is 500 00:32:38,300 --> 00:32:47,900 consumed with stuff. Jesus as the master teacher as 501 00:32:47,900 --> 00:32:50,600 he was, he's going to take this Interruption and make it into a 502 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:57,000 teaching opportunity. And so, he masterfully says, in 503 00:32:57,008 --> 00:33:01,400 verse 14, but he said to a man, Who made me a judge or 504 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:03,500 arbitrator over you? In other words, I didn't come 505 00:33:03,500 --> 00:33:06,500 here to deal with civil issues. I came here to save Souls. 506 00:33:07,400 --> 00:33:09,500 I'm not concerned about you. Having the inheritance that your 507 00:33:09,500 --> 00:33:13,600 father left your brother, I'm here about your soul, and then 508 00:33:13,600 --> 00:33:18,100 he goes on to warn. And he said to them, take care, 509 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:23,100 the NTSB would say beware. King James new King, James take 510 00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:29,000 heed, beware take care and be on your guard against all 511 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:35,200 covetousness. For one's life, does not consist 512 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,800 in the abundance of his possessions. 513 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:45,100 This flies in the face. Of the American dream this flies 514 00:33:45,100 --> 00:33:48,700 in the face of many people in the west, even who go to church 515 00:33:48,700 --> 00:33:51,900 and love hearing sermons and their life is about 516 00:33:51,900 --> 00:33:55,900 accumulating. And Jesus says, don't do that. 517 00:33:55,900 --> 00:33:59,900 And for him to warn with such severity, already gives us an 518 00:33:59,900 --> 00:34:02,400 idea that it is quite possible that at one point, in our 519 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:09,000 journey, we can get caught up. With possessions and experiences 520 00:34:09,500 --> 00:34:15,100 and promotions and Jesus says, that's not what life is about. 521 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,500 And usually when you bring such a thing before a crowd of 522 00:34:19,500 --> 00:34:23,000 Christians, there is some anxiety because especially in 523 00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:25,699 the west people want to know how can I measure whether or not? 524 00:34:25,699 --> 00:34:28,400 I am making my life about the wrong thing. 525 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,800 I work. I have desires. 526 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,100 I have plans. I'm a businessman. 527 00:34:33,100 --> 00:34:35,699 I want to expand. I want to multiply, I want to 528 00:34:35,699 --> 00:34:38,199 secure my future and so I something like this is taught. 529 00:34:38,199 --> 00:34:40,600 You get some people to think. So what are you asking of me? 530 00:34:41,500 --> 00:34:45,699 Aren't you glad to know that Jesus clarifies what it means to 531 00:34:45,699 --> 00:34:47,800 make your life about possessions? 532 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:52,199 And having your life be the exact opposite of how Paul 533 00:34:52,199 --> 00:34:55,400 reflect on his own. All you have to do is read on. 534 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,700 He gives a parable and we go to verse 18 speaks about a rich 535 00:34:59,700 --> 00:35:02,500 man. And he said this rich, man, I 536 00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:06,800 will do this, I will tear down my Barns and build larger ones. 537 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:10,000 And there I will store up all my grain and my goods and I will 538 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,800 say to my soul soul, you have ample Goods laid up for many 539 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:17,700 years. Relax eat drink, be merry. 540 00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:24,000 But God said some fool. This night, your soul is 541 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:26,600 required of you and the things you have prepared. 542 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:31,700 Whose will they be? this will they be you noticed 543 00:35:32,500 --> 00:35:37,900 reoccurring words and this men's thoughts to very short words but 544 00:35:37,900 --> 00:35:46,500 are significant understanding this Parable I and my I and my 545 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,700 look at it. Again, I will tear down. 546 00:35:49,700 --> 00:35:51,900 I will do this. I will build larger ones. 547 00:35:51,900 --> 00:35:54,600 I will store up. I will say to my soul. 548 00:35:56,000 --> 00:36:00,400 I I my my my what's the idea here? 549 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:07,900 if our plans, if our desires, if our resources are exclusively 550 00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:14,000 about I and my and exclude, God, and his kingdom, as this man is 551 00:36:14,000 --> 00:36:16,600 showing in his thoughts, you have something to be worried 552 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:22,400 about You do. Notice that all this men's was 553 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:28,700 concerned was about relaxing. Eating drinking. 554 00:36:29,300 --> 00:36:33,200 And being happy saying, is there anything wrong with that? 555 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:36,800 And I say no, unless you were doing it apart from enjoying 556 00:36:36,800 --> 00:36:43,200 God, is it wrong to relax and eat and no, but if you're doing 557 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:46,400 it without God, it is it's idolatry who gave you all those 558 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:53,300 things to enjoy by the way. This man doesn't have the Lord 559 00:36:53,300 --> 00:36:56,600 in his Ambitions at all. And when I looked at this, I 560 00:36:56,607 --> 00:36:58,400 thought to myself. How would a Christian? 561 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:02,600 How would a true born again? Christian think and reflect, if 562 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,600 he was in this man's shoes, if he was successful, he was 563 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,100 strong. If he was a businessman who made 564 00:37:09,100 --> 00:37:12,600 much much for himself and I thought maybe he would say 565 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:14,000 something along the lines of Lord. 566 00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:18,700 How can I be serving? How can I be witnessing? 567 00:37:18,700 --> 00:37:22,800 How can I Advance your purposes with a lot of life that you have 568 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:24,900 ordained for me? This is that sound different. 569 00:37:26,500 --> 00:37:29,400 It doesn't exclude, the eating drinking relaxing. 570 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:36,200 But in includes the program of God lording over your plans in 571 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:40,200 mind. When you say stuff like this 572 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:44,100 man, people get uncomfortable. At least I didn't call you a 573 00:37:44,100 --> 00:37:47,000 fool. That's what God did. 574 00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:52,200 That's what God did. Oh, I mean, when you look at 575 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:55,600 these words you think to yourself This is what most 576 00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:59,000 people are occupied by and what's so amazing here is that 577 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:03,400 when a person forgets God they at the same time often forget 578 00:38:03,400 --> 00:38:06,400 about their mortality. Did you understand what? 579 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:09,800 I just said when a person excludes God from their 580 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:14,400 thinking, or they fail to include God in their living at 581 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,600 the same time, they fall into another trap and that's a 582 00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:20,200 failure to realize their own mortality. 583 00:38:20,300 --> 00:38:24,200 And then they plan accordingly. They plan as other staying here, 584 00:38:24,200 --> 00:38:28,600 forever, as other stuff will be there forever, like this man is 585 00:38:29,600 --> 00:38:32,600 And that is the result of failing to see God and the realm 586 00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:35,100 that he occupies, and the destination that we are headed 587 00:38:35,100 --> 00:38:37,700 towards. We begin to think that we are 588 00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:39,900 Immortal. And that this is our permanent 589 00:38:39,900 --> 00:38:42,400 residence. And God says you're a fool 590 00:38:43,300 --> 00:38:45,300 because in the middle of your planning, I'm going to call your 591 00:38:45,300 --> 00:38:51,300 soul to come up. This is the opposite of what 592 00:38:51,300 --> 00:38:55,400 Paul said about his life. Remember those words indeed I 593 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:58,900 count all things as loss compared to the surpassing worth 594 00:38:58,900 --> 00:39:00,900 of knowing Christ. Jesus, my Lord for his sake, I 595 00:39:00,908 --> 00:39:02,800 have suffered the loss of all things. 596 00:39:04,300 --> 00:39:08,400 That I may gain Christ and be found in him Polar Opposites. 597 00:39:09,500 --> 00:39:13,400 I've suffered the loss of all things, for the sake of Christ, 598 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:16,800 that I may gain him. Know him, love him, glorify him. 599 00:39:17,900 --> 00:39:23,400 This man. I my me and as Paul comes to 600 00:39:23,408 --> 00:39:28,000 that portion of second, Timothy He is able to reflect on his 601 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:31,400 life and realize that I lived for a Heavenly purpose. 602 00:39:32,500 --> 00:39:35,800 Oh, I fought. It wasn't easy. 603 00:39:36,300 --> 00:39:38,300 I ran. It was a marathon. 604 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:43,200 I want you to be able to say at the end of your life, whether 605 00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:45,400 you will be a businessman, whether you will be a nurse, 606 00:39:45,400 --> 00:39:48,200 whether you'll be a doctor, whether you are one right now or 607 00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:50,900 just a mother who is just raising up their children 608 00:39:50,900 --> 00:39:53,200 Faithfully, to be arrows in the kingdom of God. 609 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:56,000 I want you to be able to say at the end of your life. 610 00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:02,000 I struggled for Christ. I struggled men, I endured 611 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:06,400 betrayal. I by the grace of God did not 612 00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:08,400 give myself over to a life of sin. 613 00:40:08,700 --> 00:40:11,900 I didn't lazy. I didn't that laziness get a 614 00:40:11,900 --> 00:40:14,500 hold of me. When other people walked out on 615 00:40:14,500 --> 00:40:17,100 him by the grace of God, I was loving him still. 616 00:40:17,100 --> 00:40:19,000 I want you to be able to say that. 617 00:40:21,300 --> 00:40:28,300 Because although it is hard. Fighting is not easy running a 618 00:40:28,300 --> 00:40:30,500 foot. Race is not easy, although it's 619 00:40:30,500 --> 00:40:32,700 hard in the moment, although there's nothing more. 620 00:40:33,500 --> 00:40:36,500 Satisfying, that at the end of the road, you can say that I 621 00:40:36,500 --> 00:40:40,500 endured until the end. I endured until the end. 622 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:46,900 Finally, in the last verse of our text, Paul reflects upon the 623 00:40:46,908 --> 00:40:49,000 reward that awaits him after his death. 624 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,500 There was no regrets running through his mind as he sat there 625 00:40:51,500 --> 00:40:56,000 in that dungeon, he could lay his head back on that wall, with 626 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,200 a smile on his face. After Penning these words to 627 00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:02,900 Timothy, he didn't have to pound it in regret or shame or 628 00:41:02,908 --> 00:41:06,200 embarrassment, but the lack of regret was not the only reason 629 00:41:06,200 --> 00:41:09,600 for his gratification, there was a knowledge of a coming reward. 630 00:41:09,600 --> 00:41:12,100 Something is happening. Do you think Paul was frowning? 631 00:41:12,300 --> 00:41:17,300 when he was writing about this heavenly award ceremony, where 632 00:41:17,300 --> 00:41:20,700 there was a crown that was guarded for him and safely 633 00:41:20,700 --> 00:41:24,400 secured. Can I tell you something? 634 00:41:25,100 --> 00:41:29,500 If you take this book from cover to cover and you just study what 635 00:41:29,500 --> 00:41:32,700 awaits you as a Believer? And you put all the clues 636 00:41:32,700 --> 00:41:34,900 together, you will be overwhelmed. 637 00:41:36,800 --> 00:41:43,100 You will be overwhelmed. and if you choose to believe it, I 638 00:41:43,100 --> 00:41:44,800 don't think you'll be nervous about that. 639 00:41:47,500 --> 00:41:49,600 In fact, you might be just like Paul. 640 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:52,700 Here. Can I give you a couple of 641 00:41:52,707 --> 00:41:56,000 glimpses before we close? I love how the Bible organizes 642 00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:59,500 itself. It causes you to investigate it 643 00:41:59,500 --> 00:42:01,700 cause you to excavate. You have to go here and there 644 00:42:01,900 --> 00:42:04,400 and put it together and put the pieces so that you have a more 645 00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:05,600 clear. It's exciting. 646 00:42:07,200 --> 00:42:09,200 Let me show you your and Luke still right, we'll go to Luke 647 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:13,900 16. Jesus and this chapter, this 648 00:42:13,900 --> 00:42:15,900 wonderful chapter teaches about different things. 649 00:42:15,900 --> 00:42:22,500 One of the things that he teaches about us, hell, a word 650 00:42:22,500 --> 00:42:27,500 that's really even said in church today, Hell. 651 00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:32,800 But in his teaching, he contrast to men are rich man. 652 00:42:34,700 --> 00:42:39,900 And a poor man named Lazarus. This rich man was filthy rich 653 00:42:40,000 --> 00:42:44,800 Lazarus. He was just filthy And this man 654 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:49,200 eyes, she was clothed with royalty outside of his home, at 655 00:42:49,200 --> 00:42:55,100 his gate, laid a bum. Who only experienced The 656 00:42:55,100 --> 00:42:58,000 Compassion of dogs, who are licking his wounds as he lay 657 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:00,000 there as a diseased piece of meat. 658 00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:03,700 And he didn't even have a crumb in his name. 659 00:43:04,500 --> 00:43:09,000 That's all he aspired to in his pathetic life, one would say. 660 00:43:11,700 --> 00:43:13,800 But finally, Jesus says that these two men died. 661 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:18,900 They died. And look at verse 22, with me to 662 00:43:18,900 --> 00:43:20,900 see the description of this incident. 663 00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:25,400 The poor man died and was carried by the angel, say 664 00:43:25,400 --> 00:43:28,200 Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was 665 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:31,800 buried. Here's a verse to, to show us 666 00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:33,400 the importance of reading our Bible slowly. 667 00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:37,700 And carefully notice that both men died, but only one was 668 00:43:37,700 --> 00:43:40,900 buried. The poor man died and was 669 00:43:40,900 --> 00:43:44,400 carried by the Angels, the rich man also died and was buried, 670 00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:46,900 the poor man didn't even have a burial. 671 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:49,800 Some believe that he was just thrown outside as an outcast 672 00:43:49,800 --> 00:43:53,400 with the dump of the city. Letting his flesh, rot there 673 00:43:53,400 --> 00:43:57,600 like nothing and yet this rich man had surely, a fashionable 674 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:00,600 funeral. Surely a rich tomb. 675 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:04,900 Surely an honorable event in light of his life. 676 00:44:06,600 --> 00:44:09,900 One was buried one. Didn't the fate of these men? 677 00:44:09,900 --> 00:44:11,600 Even follow them to that last moment. 678 00:44:11,600 --> 00:44:13,500 Even to their death, their death itself. 679 00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:16,200 Describe the great difference between these two people and how 680 00:44:16,200 --> 00:44:20,700 they live on this Earth, but everything changed after death. 681 00:44:21,900 --> 00:44:26,000 There was a great reversal of position and privilege and you 682 00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:29,400 see it in the same verse this poor men died. 683 00:44:29,600 --> 00:44:30,900 Oh yeah, he didn't have a burial. 684 00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:38,600 But he was carried by angels. To Abraham's side this rich man. 685 00:44:39,100 --> 00:44:41,300 Oh he might have had a parade for his funeral. 686 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:45,000 No, mention of angels escorting him. 687 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:53,700 Drop like nothing into Hades. While Lazarus was ignored the 688 00:44:53,700 --> 00:44:56,700 spies throughout his life and was not offered a hint of human 689 00:44:56,700 --> 00:45:00,400 dignity. Even in his death, the moment he 690 00:45:00,400 --> 00:45:04,500 gave his final breath. God didn't send one Angel. 691 00:45:04,500 --> 00:45:08,700 He sent angels. And they ushered him into the 692 00:45:08,700 --> 00:45:13,500 presence of the redeemed. and this man who was rich tall his 693 00:45:13,500 --> 00:45:19,200 life, Experience a great reversal quite opposite to that 694 00:45:19,200 --> 00:45:24,000 of Lazarus and Paul I can't help but think that he is 695 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:28,200 anticipating that great reversal and his own martyrdom because at 696 00:45:28,200 --> 00:45:30,800 any moment his head is going to be placed on a block. 697 00:45:31,900 --> 00:45:34,700 And a corrupt government is going to claim his head, but he 698 00:45:34,700 --> 00:45:38,800 says, there are weights me a crown of righteousness, the same 699 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:41,500 head that they're going to chop off as the same head that Jesus 700 00:45:41,500 --> 00:45:43,600 Christ is going to crowned with Glory. 701 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:48,200 Death is going to change a lot of people's faith. 702 00:45:49,800 --> 00:45:53,300 Death is going to change a lot of people's scripts, death is 703 00:45:53,300 --> 00:45:56,000 going to change a lot of people and the way they experience 704 00:45:56,000 --> 00:46:02,800 their existence. Paul knew that there was 705 00:46:02,800 --> 00:46:06,400 something coming on the other side and it made him not care. 706 00:46:06,400 --> 00:46:07,500 What they were going to do with him. 707 00:46:07,700 --> 00:46:11,800 In this brief moment with this body, there's so many clues in 708 00:46:11,800 --> 00:46:12,900 the bible. Let me give you another one. 709 00:46:12,900 --> 00:46:15,300 I'm going to close. Go to the Book of Revelation 710 00:46:15,300 --> 00:46:25,500 3:21. What happened to your Jesus, 711 00:46:25,500 --> 00:46:26,800 speaking to the Church of laodicea. 712 00:46:26,800 --> 00:46:28,400 We talked about him last week, right? 713 00:46:29,000 --> 00:46:31,300 The lukewarm church. One of the most condemned 714 00:46:31,300 --> 00:46:34,900 churches, out of the seven. And then Jesus says something, 715 00:46:34,900 --> 00:46:38,800 quite fascinating and verse 21, the one who conquers, I will 716 00:46:38,800 --> 00:46:41,200 grant him to sit with me on my throne. 717 00:46:42,500 --> 00:46:46,700 As I also conquered and sat down with my father on his throne, he 718 00:46:46,700 --> 00:46:48,200 who has an ear. Let him hear what the spirit 719 00:46:48,200 --> 00:46:51,600 says, to the churches. Did you catch that? 720 00:46:52,700 --> 00:46:56,200 The one who conquers conquers, what will read the preceding 721 00:46:56,200 --> 00:47:01,300 verses conquerors lukewarmness indifference compromise. 722 00:47:01,400 --> 00:47:04,400 A casual attitude towards God, and His purposes. 723 00:47:04,500 --> 00:47:09,000 His word, and his commands, the person who conquers over that, 724 00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:14,900 who overcomes those things. Jesus says, will sit with me on 725 00:47:14,900 --> 00:47:19,200 my throne. If I didn't show you the verse 726 00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:22,000 and I suggested that you would think I was Blasphemous. 727 00:47:22,600 --> 00:47:24,600 I didn't say it. Jesus said it. 728 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:28,800 They will sit with me on my throne. 729 00:47:29,800 --> 00:47:32,100 What does that mean? I don't know. 730 00:47:32,900 --> 00:47:36,300 All I know is that. That is mind-boggling. 731 00:47:38,700 --> 00:47:41,400 You're telling me that the most wretched Church of the seven 732 00:47:41,400 --> 00:47:44,200 arguably is going to be rewarded with one of the highest 733 00:47:44,200 --> 00:47:48,700 privileges in glory. You know, when we come to the 734 00:47:48,700 --> 00:47:52,200 word of God and we see what was accomplished at Calvary, many of 735 00:47:52,200 --> 00:47:55,400 us, just see it as us. Escaping God's Wrath, that is 736 00:47:55,400 --> 00:48:01,700 glorious and itself but Christ purchase so much more so much 737 00:48:01,700 --> 00:48:05,900 more I know this, the sounds scary but it's true that there 738 00:48:05,900 --> 00:48:08,800 is a level of exaltation that awaits the believer. 739 00:48:10,100 --> 00:48:14,200 And it doesn't make sense, but welcome to Grace it. 740 00:48:14,300 --> 00:48:16,800 We can't comprehend it and it is true. 741 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:19,100 But Christ promised it nonetheless. 742 00:48:19,400 --> 00:48:22,900 And I believe that as Christ goes beyond what we can imagine. 743 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:25,200 He doesn't just let us slip through a door to get into 744 00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:27,900 heaven and Escape hell. There is going to be crowning 745 00:48:27,900 --> 00:48:32,000 and reward and elevation, and I think it's going to break us. 746 00:48:34,000 --> 00:48:39,000 I think it's going to totally crush us to a degree by the 747 00:48:39,000 --> 00:48:44,300 goodness of God, being lavished on us undeserved inexplainable. 748 00:48:44,500 --> 00:48:48,800 And that's the point. That's the point. 749 00:48:49,600 --> 00:48:51,000 If you only knew what was coming. 750 00:48:52,500 --> 00:48:54,800 If you only knew what you were going to see what you're going 751 00:48:54,800 --> 00:48:58,300 to be handed, if you only knew the words are going to come out 752 00:48:58,300 --> 00:49:02,700 of that mouth that precious glorious saviours mouth. 753 00:49:04,300 --> 00:49:07,300 There is a reward that he anticipated, he believes form. 754 00:49:09,000 --> 00:49:11,700 And guess what? It wasn't because he was an 755 00:49:11,700 --> 00:49:16,200 apostle, he clarifies by the spirit and not only to me, but 756 00:49:16,200 --> 00:49:22,200 also, to all who love his appearing, Think about it. 757 00:49:23,300 --> 00:49:26,200 I believe the Bible teaches that Believers will be rewarded 758 00:49:26,200 --> 00:49:30,300 differently in glory and I see that there is a reward here for 759 00:49:30,300 --> 00:49:33,200 one simple thing. There will be a reward extended 760 00:49:33,200 --> 00:49:35,300 to those who simply loved his appearing. 761 00:49:36,800 --> 00:49:39,600 Can you imagine that? I don't know what that's going 762 00:49:39,600 --> 00:49:42,900 to be like, but I like my imagination to go to the idea of 763 00:49:42,908 --> 00:49:46,500 Christ saying your whole life. You've been waiting for this 764 00:49:46,500 --> 00:49:50,700 moment. Even waiting for me to come even 765 00:49:50,700 --> 00:49:53,600 waiting for me to call you home, and here's a gift to you. 766 00:49:54,600 --> 00:49:57,700 Here's a gift to you, notice that it is safe for those who 767 00:49:57,700 --> 00:50:01,500 believed for his appearing. You're not a Christian, I don't 768 00:50:01,500 --> 00:50:03,200 believe that Jesus Christ is coming back. 769 00:50:03,900 --> 00:50:07,700 This is for those who loved his appearing, there's a great 770 00:50:07,700 --> 00:50:10,100 difference about believing a Doctrine and Desiring, what that 771 00:50:10,100 --> 00:50:15,100 Doctrine teaches. And in this case, Jesus, Jesus 772 00:50:15,100 --> 00:50:18,500 will reward those who desire his appearing. 773 00:50:20,500 --> 00:50:24,000 You want to be ready to face death, understand what Jesus 774 00:50:24,000 --> 00:50:26,400 purchased for the righteous so that you would be ready. 775 00:50:28,200 --> 00:50:31,000 By the grace of God live in a way in which it's not about I 776 00:50:31,000 --> 00:50:33,400 and my but his kingdom and you will be able to reflect. 777 00:50:33,400 --> 00:50:37,000 If you have the chance to even do that to say it was worth 778 00:50:37,000 --> 00:50:39,000 fighting, it was worth gritting it out. 779 00:50:39,000 --> 00:50:42,100 It was worth enduring, the scars and the whips, and the pain, and 780 00:50:42,100 --> 00:50:44,400 the persecution. It was worth it. 781 00:50:44,900 --> 00:50:47,500 I've invested in another world to come. 782 00:50:48,700 --> 00:50:52,200 And lastly, believe that there is a reward for such 783 00:50:52,200 --> 00:50:56,900 faithfulness, a reward that will blow you away. 784 00:50:58,400 --> 00:51:02,700 Give you more reason to glorify him as you are showered by his 785 00:51:02,700 --> 00:51:06,300 love and mercy for all eternity. Lord, we thank you. 786 00:51:14,800 --> 00:51:22,100 For giving us a taste. We have no reason to be afraid. 787 00:51:22,100 --> 00:51:26,300 We have no reason to be nervous. If anything, we have all the 788 00:51:26,300 --> 00:51:31,500 reasons to be excited, strong courageous, Fearless. 789 00:51:36,100 --> 00:51:39,200 We are unworthy. Unworthy. 790 00:51:41,100 --> 00:51:47,400 Thank you Jesus, for your love. Thank you, Jesus, for Hope. 791 00:51:47,400 --> 00:51:52,400 Thank you for salvation. Thank you for forgiving us. 792 00:51:53,900 --> 00:51:55,300 Thank you. Oh God. 793 00:51:57,900 --> 00:52:05,400 That death is, but a departure. It is not our seal of 794 00:52:05,400 --> 00:52:11,000 condemnation. It is the door into your 795 00:52:11,000 --> 00:52:18,000 presence forever and ever. Because we don't fear death or 796 00:52:18,000 --> 00:52:24,500 we don't fear disease. We don't fear. 797 00:52:26,200 --> 00:52:30,100 Where this economy will lead us, we don't fear what people will 798 00:52:30,100 --> 00:52:34,400 do to us because you have dealt with the greatest enemy of all. 799 00:52:37,700 --> 00:52:41,400 And we thank you. We just Worship You Lord, we 800 00:52:41,400 --> 00:52:45,100 worship you today in Jesus name, amen.