1
00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:05,040
I gladly invite you to turn in 
your Bibles with me to the Book 

2
00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:10,320
of Revelation chapter 14. 
Revelation chapter 14. 

3
00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:18,080
Many of you know this by way of 
experience, but the Christian 

4
00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:23,800
life is like a marathon. 
And like any actual physical 

5
00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:28,360
race, in order for there to be 
any hope to completing it well, 

6
00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:34,000
there must be a preparedness of 
mind and awareness that such a 

7
00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:40,160
race will be demanding at times.
In fact, if we're honest, it can

8
00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:43,920
become so demanding that we 
might even feel the temptation 

9
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:49,320
to quit. 
To quit on growing unholiness, 

10
00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,800
to quit on sacrificial love, to 
quit on our pursuit of knowing 

11
00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,720
the Lord. 
To quit on the local church, to 

12
00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,440
quit on our ministries, and to 
even quit on our unashamed 

13
00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,360
witness for Christ and the Lord 
is so tender. 

14
00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,600
He's so kind. 
He's fully aware of our 

15
00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,720
tendencies to dial down our 
convictions and our callings. 

16
00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:18,480
And so He provides us fuel for 
our faith. 

17
00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:25,320
He has granted us means to no 
fresh oxygen to our souls, 

18
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:32,000
enthusiasm in our endurance, 
strength for every stride. 

19
00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:36,880
He has not abandoned us should 
those moments of weaknesses 

20
00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:41,720
visit us. 
And that is what we are prepared

21
00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,520
to see here. 
Because one of the ways that God

22
00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:51,760
does in fact provide energy to 
us, hydration to our souls, is 

23
00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:57,200
by reminding us just how blessed
we are in Christ. 

24
00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,280
And what we're going to see with
John in these two verses in 

25
00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:07,920
Revelation 14 is just how rich 
and how great the scope of our 

26
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:13,080
treasures are in Jesus. 
And so vast are such blessings 

27
00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:18,400
that John wants to focus on how 
we are even blessed in death, 

28
00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:24,280
that in Christ even death 
becomes a blessing. 

29
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,040
And my prayer is that by looking
at these Scriptures, each of us 

30
00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:35,080
will know heavenly enthusiasm 
poured into our hearts afresh. 

31
00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,840
And so let's turn here to verse 
12 and verse 13 and ask the Lord

32
00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,640
after we read it, for this to be
our portion today. 

33
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:49,400
Here is a call for the endurance
of the Saints, those who keep 

34
00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,480
the commandments of God and 
their faith in Jesus. 

35
00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:58,200
And I heard a voice from heaven 
saying, write this, Blessed are 

36
00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,400
the dead who die in the Lord 
from now on. 

37
00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:06,720
Blessed indeed, says the Spirit,
that they may rest from their 

38
00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:09,440
laborers for their deeds. 
Follow them. 

39
00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:16,560
Father, we ask, oh, you've heard
our prayers since the beginning 

40
00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,400
of this service, but we come yet
again as we open your word and 

41
00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,200
we pray. 
How? 

42
00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,520
We pray for the Holy Spirit's 
help to understand your mind and

43
00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,600
your heart in these scriptures. 
May they be delivered in power, 

44
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,320
may they be received in 
humility, and may you receive 

45
00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:36,560
glory through it. 
We thank you and we trust that 

46
00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,720
you will indeed speak to us 
today. 

47
00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,440
In Jesus name we pray. 
Amen. 

48
00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:48,800
Question #1 You've been falling 
with us, hopefully through the 

49
00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:51,320
series in Revelation, Carefully,
patiently. 

50
00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:56,280
And what I want to know, reading
these two verses, is why is John

51
00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:58,840
commanded to write about this 
now? 

52
00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:03,760
It seems a little bit out of 
place because John just finished

53
00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,640
describing a very vivid picture 
of the eternal torment that 

54
00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,240
awaits those who deny Christ and
worship the Antichrist. 

55
00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:15,800
But that is precisely the point.
Right after describing the 

56
00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,079
horrors and the torment and the 
holy wrath of God that will be 

57
00:04:19,079 --> 00:04:23,120
poured out on those who deny His
grace, we have this strong 

58
00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,640
contrast between two different 
types of worshippers. 

59
00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,280
We have here first the 
distinction between those who 

60
00:04:32,280 --> 00:04:36,320
worship the beast and those who 
serve Jesus Christ. 

61
00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,080
And there are many, many 
differences between the eternal 

62
00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,840
fates of such worshippers. 
But the one thing that the Holy 

63
00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:47,400
Spirit wants to emphasize is 
that of rest. 

64
00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,800
Scroll back to verse 11. 
Let's remind ourselves what was 

65
00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:58,160
said last week, John writes. 
And the smoke of their torment 

66
00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,520
goes up forever and ever. 
And they have no rest day or 

67
00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:06,360
night, these worshippers of the 
beast and its image and whoever 

68
00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,680
receives the mark of its name. 
And in comparison, as what we 

69
00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,840
just read in verse 13, those who
die in the Lord will have rest 

70
00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,080
from their laborers. 
So you notice what's being 

71
00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,720
highlighted here, that there is 
a rest that is eternal and 

72
00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,720
unending for those who worship 
Christ, and there is no rest for

73
00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:29,360
those who reject Christ. 
Now this message was primarily 

74
00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:33,080
given for those who would be 
believers during the Tribulation

75
00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:34,960
era, more specifically the Great
Tribulation. 

76
00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,400
And it makes sense, doesn't it, 
that they would have to undergo 

77
00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:46,120
such torment and sorrow and 
difficulties as they are living 

78
00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:50,360
under the tyrannical reign of a 
man who demands the devotion of 

79
00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:53,640
the masses. 
And so contextually, what's 

80
00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:57,240
happening here is that the Holy 
Spirit wants to provide fuel to 

81
00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,880
those who have to face such 
oppression and he grants them 

82
00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,000
the fuel to remain faithful, 
even if it means martyrdom, even

83
00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,760
if it means believing in Jesus 
will cost me my life. 

84
00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:12,440
But listen, this promise here, 
this blessing in verse 13 is not

85
00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,800
reserved for a single future 
generation will have to undergo 

86
00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,880
end times persecution. 
It's also for you and me. 

87
00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:23,240
And the reason why we know that 
is because of the wider 

88
00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:27,600
testimony of Scripture 
concerning the believer and his 

89
00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,640
or hers experience of death. 
It all is confirmed here. 

90
00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,240
This confirms what we see in the
wider testimony of the Word of 

91
00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,040
God. 
And I believe the best way, 

92
00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,600
though there are many ways to 
approach this one verse, verse 

93
00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:44,160
13 is what we're going to be 
spending time on, is to consider

94
00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:49,240
at least three reasons why the 
Christian can no blessing in 

95
00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,240
death. 
Job tells us that death is the 

96
00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,960
king of terrors, but because of 
our faith in Christ, because of 

97
00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:00,000
what Christ had accomplished on 
the cross, death is different 

98
00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,360
now. 
And I want us to focus on these 

99
00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,800
three things that we find in 
this one verse. 

100
00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:08,880
The first thing that we have to 
consider is the reassurance of 

101
00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,480
death, the reassurance about 
death. 

102
00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,000
This can be so easily 
overlooked, but you and I can't 

103
00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,800
skip over the reliable testimony
of this blessing that's being 

104
00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,440
pronounced. 
Notice what John says. 

105
00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,600
He tells us that he sees as he's
experiencing this vision, a 

106
00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,760
hearing of a voice. 
He hears a voice from heaven 

107
00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:35,280
saying, but the Bible doesn't 
tell us whose voice this is 

108
00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,640
exactly, but knowing where it 
came from is enough for us to 

109
00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:45,040
comfort us. 
It came from heaven, heaven. 

110
00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,720
Why is that important? 
Well, for one, we know that 

111
00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,040
heaven is a place of perfect 
holiness. 

112
00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:57,000
There are no liars in heaven. 
There are no manipulators in 

113
00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,280
heaven. 
There is no exaggeration in 

114
00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,400
heaven, which tells me that if 
there's any representative from 

115
00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,040
heaven, it is going to be 
dependable. 

116
00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:09,720
It's going to be true, it's 
going to be right, it's going to

117
00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,920
be trustworthy. 
But secondly, heaven is around 

118
00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,320
beyond this world. 
And what that tells us is that 

119
00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:22,960
death ushers us into heaven if 
we are in Christ, which means 

120
00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,240
that this announcement is coming
from someone who is on the other

121
00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:30,160
side, someone who is witnessing 
and Speaking of what awaits the 

122
00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,960
Saints when they die in the 
Lord. 

123
00:08:35,039 --> 00:08:39,720
Do you remember what the Lord 
Jesus told Nicodemus when he 

124
00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,159
wanted to provide credibility to
his teaching? 

125
00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:46,640
When he wanted to explain why 
his teaching is more 

126
00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,600
authoritative than any other 
kind of teaching? 

127
00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,880
Well, let me remind you in John 
chapter 3, let's turn there. 

128
00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,000
Notice what Christ says to 
Nicodemus as he explains to him 

129
00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,880
of spiritual things. 
He pauses to inform him why he 

130
00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,640
is more credible than any other 
voice. 

131
00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:08,080
John chapter 3, Look at verse 11
and read the blessed words of 

132
00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:15,880
our Lord. 
John 311 reads Truly, truly. 

133
00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:20,400
I say to you, we speak of what 
we know and bear witness to what

134
00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,760
we have seen, but you do not 
receive our testimony. 

135
00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,920
If I've told you earthly things 
and you do not believe, how Can 

136
00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:29,960
you believe if I tell you 
heavenly things? 

137
00:09:30,560 --> 00:09:34,640
No one has ascended into heaven 
except he who descended from 

138
00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,200
heaven, the Son of Man. 
You see the case that Christ is 

139
00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,240
making here, especially in verse
13. 

140
00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:45,080
Nicodemus, I can tell you about 
heavenly things because I 

141
00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:49,520
descended from heaven. 
I have experiential knowledge of

142
00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:50,680
heaven. 
Therefore I am the most 

143
00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:52,720
qualified to speak about 
heavenly things. 

144
00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:59,560
I have the greatest rabbinic 
credentials because heaven has 

145
00:09:59,560 --> 00:10:03,960
been my home from eternity past.
Therefore I alone have first 

146
00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:08,400
hand experience of spiritual 
things and spiritual dimensions.

147
00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,240
I come from heaven. 
So listen to me. 

148
00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,040
And in like manner, when we 
consider this voice in 

149
00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:18,920
Revelation 14, verse 13, the 
fact that it is speaking about 

150
00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:23,560
the blessedness of dying from 
heaven gives the testimony more 

151
00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:27,760
weight. 
It's the difference between 

152
00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:32,400
someone suggesting something 
without experience of it and 

153
00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,200
someone who has tasted it for 
themselves. 

154
00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,880
That is not to say that the 
voice that is speaking to John 

155
00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,200
is someone who died, but what it
does mean is that this is 

156
00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:47,240
something and someone coming 
from the place that death leads 

157
00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:51,760
to. 
You know, if that wasn't enough,

158
00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,040
amazingly we have a second 
glorious testimony to this 

159
00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:57,480
blessedness. 
Go back to verse 13. 

160
00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:58,920
What does it say? 
And I heard a voice from heaven 

161
00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,920
saying, write this. 
Blessed are the dead who die in 

162
00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,400
the Lord from now on. 
Blessed indeed, says the Spirit.

163
00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,640
Now the Holy Spirit interjects 
and he confirms this blessing. 

164
00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:13,240
And here's what's so fascinating
about this. 

165
00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:19,320
The Holy Spirit's speech is not 
frequently quoted directly in 

166
00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:24,600
the New Testament especially. 
There are times in the New 

167
00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,080
Testament where we read that the
Spirit says, the Holy Spirit 

168
00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:31,280
says, but to have his words 
actually recorded rarely occurs.

169
00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,160
In fact, the two books that have
the most of the Holy Spirit's 

170
00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,680
direct speech is the Book of 
Acts and the Book of Revelation.

171
00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:44,360
And if you don't consider the 
seven letters to the churches we

172
00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,480
read at the end of every letter.
He who hasn't here, let him hear

173
00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:49,000
what the Spirit says to the 
churches. 

174
00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,760
You only have two recorded 
places in the Book of Revelation

175
00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:54,840
where the Holy Spirit is quoted 
directly. 

176
00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,840
What we find here and what we 
find at the end of the book when

177
00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:01,960
we read that, the Spirit and the
Bride say, come. 

178
00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,960
They make that invitation for 
those who are thirsty and desire

179
00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:07,960
to take the water of life 
without price. 

180
00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:13,160
So consider this for a moment. 
We know that all of the word of 

181
00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,280
God is breathed out by God. 
We know that the Holy Spirit is 

182
00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:20,120
the author of this book. 
But for him to speak out, for 

183
00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:25,080
him to almost interrupt and to 
say something at a particular 

184
00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:30,920
point says something. 
And for him to say something at 

185
00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:35,120
a point where a promise is being
made to the Saints in order to 

186
00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:40,080
encourage them in facing death 
says something about his 

187
00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:44,560
eagerness, does it not? 
The Spirit himself speaks up. 

188
00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,840
So here's the author who's 
inspiring John to write it. 

189
00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,920
And he takes the time now to 
actually interject and make his 

190
00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:57,320
own personal pledge in order to 
offer even more guarantee, a 

191
00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:59,720
double guarantee to this single 
blessing. 

192
00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:04,200
Now, if you doubt that this is 
the interpretation of this, 

193
00:13:04,560 --> 00:13:08,840
consider another interesting 
detail in that verse alone, did 

194
00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:14,480
you notice that this voice from 
heaven tells John, write this, 

195
00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:19,000
look again, and I heard a voice 
from heaven saying, write this. 

196
00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,360
You would think that's obvious. 
Why would you think that's 

197
00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:27,760
obvious? 
Because the last time that John 

198
00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,880
was commanded this clearly and 
specifically to write something 

199
00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,680
again if you don't include what 
is said in the churches is back 

200
00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:38,640
in Revelation 1. 
Let's remind ourselves, go back 

201
00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,280
to the beginning of the book. 
This is John's initial 

202
00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:48,520
Commission by Jesus Christ that 
he faithfully honored Revelation

203
00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:58,920
One, verse 11 saying write what 
you see in a book and send it to

204
00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,840
the seven churches, to Ephesus 
and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum, 

205
00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,600
and to Thyatira, and to Sardis 
and to Philadelphia and to 

206
00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,880
Laodicea. 
Look at verse 19 right there for

207
00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:12,080
the things that you have seen, 
those that are and those that 

208
00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,600
are to take place after this. 
Write it. 

209
00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:18,560
John. 
He's told at the start, and we 

210
00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:20,800
know that he honored this 
command because he completed the

211
00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,880
book. 
We even see a glimpse of John's 

212
00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:27,040
faithfulness in chapter 10 where
we read that he's about to write

213
00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:29,920
what he saw and the Lord says, 
OK, this you don't write about. 

214
00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:33,560
So he had this constant posture 
of obedience. 

215
00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,800
And so it seems strange to be 
redundant here. 

216
00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,400
It makes us wonder, why are you 
telling someone who is 

217
00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:42,680
faithfully doing what he was 
called to do from the beginning 

218
00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,920
to do it here? 
Unless, of course, it's meant to

219
00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:50,000
convey the absolute importance 
of what's about to be said. 

220
00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:56,440
As though this voice is saying, 
John, don't miss this. 

221
00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,240
You've been writing. 
But I want to ensure that you 

222
00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:04,080
document this blessing for my 
people, especially my people who

223
00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,880
are enduring great pressure for 
their faith in Christ. 

224
00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,680
And So what I want you and I to 
see is the reassurance about 

225
00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:14,720
death. 
You have this voice from heaven,

226
00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,600
a voice from another realm, a 
voice in which death will usher 

227
00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,040
us into. 
You have the voice of the Holy 

228
00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,480
Spirit. 
You have this eagerness, this 

229
00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,480
keenness in order for us to be 
assured. 

230
00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,680
Consider the source of this 
promise. 

231
00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:34,120
God Himself wants you to know 
that there is blessing that 

232
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,600
awaits death, that death in 
Christ becomes a portal into 

233
00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:43,120
glory. 
The second reason why death is a

234
00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,560
blessing for the believer is 
because of the rest that follows

235
00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,640
death. 
Isn't that what's being 

236
00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:51,720
underscored here? 
The Spirit says blessed indeed, 

237
00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,000
says the Spirit, that they may 
wrest from their laborers. 

238
00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:01,840
Heaven is a domain of 
uninterrupted, unending, 

239
00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:10,080
marvelous, blissful rest. 
And the question I have is, what

240
00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:11,280
kind of rest are we talking 
about? 

241
00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,000
Rest. 
From what we don't have to 

242
00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:14,920
guess, he tells us rest from 
their laborers. 

243
00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:21,440
So hold on, is heaven going to 
be this eternal slumber? 

244
00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:29,840
Is it going to be this unending,
idle way of life strolling 

245
00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:34,360
around glory, doing nothing? 
Very unlikely. 

246
00:16:35,560 --> 00:16:37,840
You know this very well, that 
work was a part of the world 

247
00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:40,920
before it was fractured by sin. 
I believe that many of us are 

248
00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,360
going to be very busy in heaven,
but there will be no toil. 

249
00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:45,760
There will be no sweat on our 
brow. 

250
00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,320
There's going to be a lot more 
to do in heaven than you think. 

251
00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,840
So then when he says rest from 
our laborers, what is he 

252
00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,320
implying? 
Well, here's where word studies 

253
00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,120
help a little bit. 
Labor can be more than just hard

254
00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:02,080
work. 
It can actually communicate 

255
00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:08,040
trouble, a labor that comes 
through sorrow and grief. 

256
00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:10,839
Now that makes more sense 
according to this context 

257
00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,160
because again, the primary 
audience are those who will be 

258
00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,160
alive during this great 
tribulation era, who are trying 

259
00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,200
to survive under a Christ hating
regime. 

260
00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:23,560
And so yes, they're maintaining 
their faith. 

261
00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,160
They're trying to survive 
physically and spiritually all 

262
00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,120
the horrors that will be 
imposed, all the threats, all 

263
00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:35,200
the dangers, all the loss, all 
the layers of problems that they

264
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:38,880
will have to face. 
And the Holy Spirit wants to let

265
00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:43,640
that audience know. 
Primarily, listen, in Christ, 

266
00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,480
death will be the greatest 
relief you will ever know. 

267
00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:53,200
Now, most of us in here have 
lived long enough to know that 

268
00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,800
the human experience has much 
trouble in it, never mind the 

269
00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:59,880
tribulation period. 
And that's why this truth 

270
00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:06,360
applies to you and I as well. 
That death, although it is a a 

271
00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:10,880
great danger and threat to many,
for the believer it has a 

272
00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:15,440
different translation. 
All of Satan's harassments, 

273
00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:19,600
every single allurement of the 
world, all the frustration that 

274
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,200
our flesh causes us, all the the
sadness and the pain from 

275
00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,240
disease and sickness and the 
evil that people inflict on one 

276
00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:33,960
another will suddenly come to an
end, will forever be put behind 

277
00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:37,760
us, and death will be the 
instrument to bring it about. 

278
00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:45,480
Someone said something so wise 
about death that because of sin,

279
00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,600
death is brought into the body 
before the redeemed. 

280
00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:53,760
Death will cast sin out of the 
body. 

281
00:18:54,920 --> 00:19:00,080
Isn't that true? 
There is a relief that awaits us

282
00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:03,000
through death. 
There is going to be a new 

283
00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:07,760
dress, a new body, a new mind, a
new heart, a new environment, a 

284
00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:10,840
new world. 
And this is what's being offered

285
00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:16,920
to these believers and to us. 
Realize this, that you and I are

286
00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:20,320
being called into a reality that
offers rest. 

287
00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,760
Now some would take this verse 
and make crazy conclusions like 

288
00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,880
ha see this shows that when you 
die, even if you're a Christian,

289
00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,120
that you remain unconscious. 
That rest is synonymous with you

290
00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,240
being dormant and you're 
actually going to come alive in 

291
00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,680
eternity when that final day 
comes and Christ summons us in 

292
00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,360
the resurrection. 
But that's not what the Bible 

293
00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:46,240
teaches. 
For the Spirit to say that there

294
00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,360
is rest that are that awaits us 
assures us that we'll be fully 

295
00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:53,280
alive the moment we die. 
In fact, you'll be more alive 

296
00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,200
than ever. 
And that's supposed to comfort 

297
00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,200
us and more than just comfort us
in our own experience with that 

298
00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:06,200
appointment, but also brings 
consolation concerning those 

299
00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:11,480
whom we love that have gone 
before us to rest in the Lord 

300
00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,400
forever. 
I want to take the time to 

301
00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:17,360
actually address that. 
You know my prayer has been 

302
00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,880
leading up to this message. 
Those who are still trying to 

303
00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:27,080
manage the pain of losing a 
loved one with no relief from 

304
00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,440
the truth that's about to be 
explained. 

305
00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,800
There's so many places that we 
can go to bring us that kind of 

306
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,440
consolation. 
But let's turn to the book of 

307
00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,280
Job to see it. 
Go to Job chapter one for a 

308
00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:43,080
moment. 
Job, chapter one, verse one. 

309
00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,920
I'll wait for you. 
I don't mind listening to the 

310
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,200
pages of our Bibles flipping 
over in this place. 

311
00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,360
It's one of my favorite sounds 
on Sunday afternoon. 

312
00:20:54,520 --> 00:21:04,630
Job one, verse one. 
There was a man in the land of 

313
00:21:04,630 --> 00:21:10,070
Oz whose name was Job, and that 
man was blameless and upright, 

314
00:21:10,070 --> 00:21:12,630
one who feared God and turned 
away from evil. 

315
00:21:14,270 --> 00:21:16,910
There were born to him seven 
sons and three daughters. 

316
00:21:16,910 --> 00:21:22,790
Remember that he possessed 7000 
sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of 

317
00:21:22,790 --> 00:21:27,880
oxen, and 500 female donkeys and
very many servants, so that this

318
00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,880
man was the greatest of all the 
people of the East. 

319
00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,320
So you're in Job one, right? 
Go to the very end of the book 

320
00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,680
of Job. 
We know the story very well, and

321
00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:43,720
most of us are aware that after 
Job endured this trial and 

322
00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:48,200
received the fresh revelation of
God's sovereignty, God blesses 

323
00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,200
Job. 
Very specifically, look at verse

324
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:56,760
10 of Job 42. 
And the Lord restored the 

325
00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,960
fortunes of Job when he had 
prayed for his friends. 

326
00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:06,560
And the Lord gave Job twice as 
much as he had had before, twice

327
00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,840
as much as what? 
As he had had before. 

328
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,840
What you just read in chapter 1.
And we're told exactly that in 

329
00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,040
verse 12 of 42. 
Look at it with me. 

330
00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,280
And the Lord blessed the latter 
days of Job more than his 

331
00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:27,040
beginning, and he had 14,000 
sheep, 6000 camels, 1000 yoke of

332
00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:33,800
oxen, and 1000 female donkeys. 
He also had seven sons and three

333
00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:36,920
daughters. 
Wait a minute, hold on. 

334
00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:39,600
There must be a miscalculation 
here. 

335
00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,640
The Bible says that the Lord 
gave Job twice as much as he 

336
00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,280
had. 
So based on what we read, he 

337
00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:50,800
doubled the sheep. 
Yes, He multiplied the camels, 

338
00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,240
absolutely. 
He doubled the yoke of oxen, and

339
00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:55,160
he did the same with the female 
donkeys. 

340
00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:59,480
We would think then that when it
came to his children that it 

341
00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,640
would be consistent that the 
Lord will also give him what? 

342
00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,040
Well, if he had seven sons and 
three daughters, it's basic 

343
00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,400
math. 
Fourteen sons and six daughters.

344
00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:13,600
But that's not what we read 
verse 13. 

345
00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,760
He also had seven sons and three
daughters. 

346
00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:23,000
Is this a mistake? 
Is this an error? 

347
00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:25,400
Did he forget about the 
children? 

348
00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:30,680
Not, not at all. 
This is intentional. 

349
00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,400
And when you see something like 
this that seems to be a 

350
00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:38,520
discrepancy, it invites you to 
lean in and ask the question 

351
00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,720
why? 
And when you don't have a clear 

352
00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,680
answer in the immediate text, 
you are invited. 

353
00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,200
Because God's word is consistent
because our God is consistent, 

354
00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,360
he doesn't contradict himself to
see how other truths in the 

355
00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:53,280
Bible can inform what we find 
here. 

356
00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:58,760
For example, if God said that he
doubled the blessing that Job 

357
00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,360
once had when but when it came 
to his children there was no 

358
00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:05,240
double, then what could that 
mean? 

359
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,080
The best explanation for this 
apparent contradiction is that 

360
00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,720
although Job's children 
tragically and suddenly died, 

361
00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:20,240
they did not cease to live. 
What does the Bible teach about 

362
00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,840
the death of the righteous? 
It does not mean the cessation 

363
00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:25,320
of life. 
It may mean the cessation of 

364
00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:29,400
life in this world, but we go on
living, do we not? 

365
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,880
So what do we find here? 
Here's what we find. 

366
00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,680
Job is told that he would be 
blessed. 

367
00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,640
Job receives double blessing 
when it came to his children. 

368
00:24:41,680 --> 00:24:43,320
It's the same number. 
Why? 

369
00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,480
Because he's going to be 
reunited with the first sons and

370
00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:47,880
daughters that he lost in 
chapter 1. 

371
00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,080
If you count them seven sons and
three daughters, and here he has

372
00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:55,520
seven sons and three daughters. 
That is double the number. 

373
00:24:57,360 --> 00:25:00,160
And that teaches us a glorious 
truth of what happens to those 

374
00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,520
who pass on from this life to 
the next. 

375
00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,360
Jesus said that those who 
believe in Him, that believe He 

376
00:25:06,360 --> 00:25:09,040
is the resurrection of the life,
they will not die. 

377
00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:13,040
Well, weren't Job's children 
sinners? 

378
00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:16,800
Read your Bible carefully. 
When Job woke up every day to 

379
00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,200
intercede for his children that 
visited each other on feast 

380
00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:23,560
days, he said it may be that 
they have sinned in their 

381
00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:27,200
hearts. 
People have this understanding 

382
00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:29,720
that the Job's children went on 
partying every single day and 

383
00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,680
Job interceded for them. 
Job said it may be that they it 

384
00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,280
didn't say that they're guilty 
of sin. 

385
00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:39,080
And here's God who pronounces 
his blessing over this man of 

386
00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:42,320
God and he indirectly 
communicates to them. 

387
00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:43,720
I'll give you double of the 
camels. 

388
00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:44,920
I'll give you double of the 
donkeys. 

389
00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:46,440
I'll give you double of this and
a double of that. 

390
00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:48,360
But I don't need to double your 
children because your children 

391
00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:49,880
are going to be reunited with 
you one day. 

392
00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,360
So what about your loved one in 
the Lord? 

393
00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,440
They are more alive than you can
imagine. 

394
00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:06,680
They are more at rest than you 
can fathom, and there is an 

395
00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,520
appropriate time for grief. 
Even Jesus, knowing that he was 

396
00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:11,120
going to raise his friend from 
the dead, wept. 

397
00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,120
There was somebody who didn't 
need to cry about someone's 

398
00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:14,880
death. 
It was him. 

399
00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:18,320
And yet he still showed emotion.
Because Christ hates death. 

400
00:26:20,360 --> 00:26:21,760
Thank God. 
Through His sacrifice, He 

401
00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,400
changes our experience of it, 
but he still hates it. 

402
00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:26,320
He will conquer that final 
enemy. 

403
00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:32,040
But listen, brother and sister, 
if it's been three years and you

404
00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:37,680
can't still get out of bed, you 
can't go on your normal life. 

405
00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,400
May God give you a revelation of
the rest that your loved one is 

406
00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,880
enjoying now. 
May you be comforted in knowing 

407
00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:50,200
that there is a time coming 
where you will be greeted by 

408
00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:57,160
them and they will embrace you. 
And I'm sure whatever they are 

409
00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,920
experiencing now, they wouldn't 
want you to waste a moment of 

410
00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:04,560
grief because of the glory that 
they are basking in. 

411
00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:08,720
Listen very carefully. 
You're joining them one day. 

412
00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:13,800
This is just a temporary 
separation, and they're waiting 

413
00:27:13,800 --> 00:27:15,840
for you on the shores of 
eternity. 

414
00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,720
And that reunion, though the 
greatest union, will be between 

415
00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,200
US and Christ. 
There is layers of blessing to 

416
00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:24,200
this place that death will usher
us into. 

417
00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:27,280
And one of the treasures that 
are there is that we will see 

418
00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:29,080
our loved ones face to face 
again. 

419
00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:35,960
And Job is just one illustration
of that truth, where he receives

420
00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:41,400
children, but not in a way that 
replaces the ones that passed on

421
00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:49,480
because they are alive. 
To this day I've not been able 

422
00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:55,840
to find any theologian or 
minister who is able to speak 

423
00:27:55,880 --> 00:28:01,720
about death like the Puritans. 
And I want to read to you a 

424
00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,840
quote from a Puritan, from the 
book The Fading of the Flesh and

425
00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:08,560
the Flourishing of Faith. 
Just lean in and listen to these

426
00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:14,160
words. 
What wise man will grieve at his

427
00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:18,520
friends gain? 
In the ceremonial law there was 

428
00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:22,160
a year of Jubilee in which every
man who had lost or sold his 

429
00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:26,040
land gained it back. 
The day of death for your 

430
00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:30,760
believing Friend is his day of 
Jubilee, in which he is restored

431
00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:34,920
to the possession of his eternal
and estimable portion, who 

432
00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:38,360
complaints about receiving his 
inheritance once he comes of 

433
00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,280
age. 
Their death is not penal, but 

434
00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:44,000
remedial. 
It is not destructive, but 

435
00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,800
perfective to their souls. 
It does for them what none of 

436
00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:51,560
the Ordinances of God, the 
Providence's of God, or Graces 

437
00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:53,600
of the Spirit, ever did for 
them. 

438
00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:59,440
It sends the weary soul to its 
sweet and eternal rest. 

439
00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:08,120
This serpent is turned into a 
rod like an Exodus 4, with which

440
00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:10,040
God works wonders for their 
good. 

441
00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:13,480
Do you see the argument being 
made here? 

442
00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:19,560
Who grieves at the gain that 
their friend experiences? 

443
00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:23,920
If death is gain for us, then 
how can we sorrow over the loss 

444
00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,280
of those who have gone on before
us? 

445
00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:30,120
This thing called death? 
And this is the analogy that's 

446
00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:31,920
being used. 
It's like a serpent, but because

447
00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:36,160
of God's power, it's turned into
a rod, and then that rod is used

448
00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:42,120
for our good. 
Brothers and sisters, you and I 

449
00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,280
need to constantly remind 
ourselves that Christ changes 

450
00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:49,560
everything, including death. 
And that's true for you, and 

451
00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,080
that is true for those who die 
in the Lord that you love. 

452
00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:57,840
The second reason why we can 
rejoice even in the face of this

453
00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:00,880
terror, it's because there is 
arrest that follows it. 

454
00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,560
There is a life that awaits. 
Lastly, there is a reward that 

455
00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:10,080
awaits us after death. 
Look again at verse 13. 

456
00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,800
He says at the end here the 
final words of the Spirit. 

457
00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:19,280
For their deeds follow them. 
For their deeds follow them. 

458
00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,360
You know, one of the 
difficulties of facing death is 

459
00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:25,640
that it calls for separation 
from what we've always known. 

460
00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:32,280
And that separation may include 
permanent severance, right? 

461
00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:35,680
Like from your possessions and 
your positions in this life. 

462
00:30:37,160 --> 00:30:39,360
Or that separation might be 
temporal, like from our 

463
00:30:39,360 --> 00:30:43,280
believing loved ones. 
But the Bible reminds us in this

464
00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:47,120
one verse that there is 
something that will immediately 

465
00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:52,600
follow us when we are summoned 
into that new world, our deeds, 

466
00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:59,800
what you and I have done with 
the name and the will and the 

467
00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:04,560
message of Jesus Christ that 
comes with you and I right away.

468
00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:09,880
And that message again is 
primarily to comfort the 

469
00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,240
Christian. 
Remember who John is writing to.

470
00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,920
Primarily look at verse 12. 
Here is a call for the endurance

471
00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:19,800
of the Saints, those who keep 
the commandments of God and 

472
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,560
their faith in Jesus. 
So this is meant to stimulate 

473
00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:27,320
the faithful, the selfless, the 
sacrificial, those who are again

474
00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:28,720
paying a price to serve the 
Lord. 

475
00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:32,120
And what John is saying here is 
also for you and I. 

476
00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:38,560
The Lord will not forget a 
single deed, a single act that 

477
00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:44,360
you've done for him, not one. 
And even if your faithfulness to

478
00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:48,560
Christ will cost you your life, 
all that you did for the Lord 

479
00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:51,680
will be accounted for. 
Every single thing will be 

480
00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:55,000
rewarded. 
Every single minute that was 

481
00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:59,520
spent, every single dollar that 
was donated, every single mile 

482
00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:03,480
that was driven, every single 
visit that you made, every soul 

483
00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:07,880
that you served, whether small 
or great, will be remembered and

484
00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:12,320
recompensed by our God. 
Remind yourself of that. 

485
00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:16,280
Remind and exhort others about 
that truth, because this is a 

486
00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:18,280
truth that echoes throughout the
Bible. 

487
00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,800
That our God, because of His 
nature, because of His grace, 

488
00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:25,400
will reward us for what we did 
in His name. 

489
00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:28,280
We will celebrate for what He's 
done for us. 

490
00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:32,000
None of our deeds will guarantee
or even give us a chance of 

491
00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:34,000
eternal life. 
It's His deeds, His words. 

492
00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:39,120
We know this. 
Nevertheless, it's possible that

493
00:32:39,120 --> 00:32:43,560
we would grow weary and miss out
on even greater experiences in 

494
00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:47,680
the world to come because we 
don't consider how seriously God

495
00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:50,440
takes our deeds. 
Turn with me to the book of 

496
00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,280
Hebrews for a moment in chapter 
6. 

497
00:32:58,450 --> 00:33:05,730
Hebrews 6, and look at verse 10.
Here you have another group of 

498
00:33:05,730 --> 00:33:10,570
Christians who are very weary. 
They're battered, they're 

499
00:33:10,570 --> 00:33:14,120
bruised, they're ready to quit, 
they're ready to just assimilate

500
00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:16,400
with their Jewish culture again.
If that means denying the 

501
00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:18,280
Messiah, at least I get to go to
the temple. 

502
00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:20,880
At least I get to be visited by 
my Jewish neighbors. 

503
00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:24,920
At least I get to be integrated 
back into society. 

504
00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:27,520
And the author by the Holy 
Spirit wants to encourage 

505
00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:29,800
faithfulness until the end. 
Notice what he says here in 

506
00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:33,840
verse 10 of Hebrews 6. 
For God is not unjust so as to 

507
00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:37,360
overlook your work and the love 
that you have shown for his name

508
00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:40,600
in serving the Saints as you 
still do. 

509
00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:43,520
Most of us know this verse, but 
I don't think many connected to 

510
00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:47,080
the next part, verse 11. 
And we desire each of you to 

511
00:33:47,080 --> 00:33:52,000
show the same earnestness, to 
have the full assurance of hope 

512
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:56,040
until the end. 
Many people start with 

513
00:33:56,040 --> 00:34:00,080
enthusiasm and excitement, and 
they lose it over time. 

514
00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:02,360
And one of the reasons is not 
because of temptation, but 

515
00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,680
because of pressure, 
persecution, and problems that 

516
00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:09,960
arise because of your faith. 
So let me just tone it down a 

517
00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:12,000
bit. 
Let me not be so public with my 

518
00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,040
faith. 
Let me not be so sacrificial in 

519
00:34:15,040 --> 00:34:16,840
my service to Christ. 
And the author says, by the 

520
00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:22,679
Spirit, don't you dare. 
It's possible to maintain that 

521
00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:25,800
same earnestness until the end. 
And that's the will of God. 

522
00:34:26,159 --> 00:34:28,639
The nature of your service and 
mine might change over the 

523
00:34:28,639 --> 00:34:32,239
years, but the conviction and 
the passion for it shouldn't. 

524
00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,159
And that should encourage us to 
keep going. 

525
00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:44,679
By the way, notice the greatest 
motivation in serving the 

526
00:34:44,679 --> 00:34:47,600
Saints. 
One of the reasons why I believe

527
00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:51,199
the author is saying this is 
because as we go on serving the 

528
00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:54,880
Lord, we tend to lose the 
encouragement for it because we 

529
00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:57,480
feel overlooked. 
And even Christians can overlook

530
00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:59,800
us, right? 
Especially for those who are 

531
00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:02,360
working in the background, who 
keep things running. 

532
00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:05,480
But nobody sees it because most 
people see what's happening here

533
00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:07,480
and most people applaud what's 
happening here. 

534
00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,000
And the author wants to say, 
hey, listen, people may overlook

535
00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:14,400
you. 
Even Christians may overlook 

536
00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:15,760
you. 
Elders may overlook you. 

537
00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:20,360
God does not overlook you. 
His character is at stake. 

538
00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:22,520
His nature is at stake. 
He is just. 

539
00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:25,640
And if he were to forget, he 
would be unjust. 

540
00:35:26,160 --> 00:35:31,640
And he will never be unjust. 
But notice there's, there's the 

541
00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:34,360
greatest motivation intertwined 
in this promise. 

542
00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:36,800
What does He say here? 
Look at the language carefully. 

543
00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:40,360
For God is not unjust for us to 
overlook your work and the love 

544
00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:43,520
that you have shown for His 
name, the love that you have 

545
00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:47,280
shown for His name in serving 
the Saints. 

546
00:35:49,120 --> 00:35:51,160
You want to know how to continue
serving the Saints because the 

547
00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:53,480
Saints alone will give you a lot
of reasons not to continue to 

548
00:35:53,480 --> 00:35:57,520
serve them. 
It's love for His name. 

549
00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:03,040
Your love for His name will help
you love others even when they 

550
00:36:03,040 --> 00:36:09,240
are unlovable at times. 
So you see what God is saying 

551
00:36:09,240 --> 00:36:11,160
here. 
There's this, there's this push 

552
00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:14,760
and there's this drive, love for
his name. 

553
00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:19,560
And, and God so loves you that 
you will have a conversation one

554
00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:21,960
day with him about what you did 
for him. 

555
00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:27,560
And he has blessings awaiting. 
He has treasures in mind. 

556
00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:33,240
And so the Spirit of God in 
Revelation 1413 says there is a 

557
00:36:33,240 --> 00:36:39,240
reward that awaits, and death is
the means by which we get to 

558
00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:42,560
inherit them. 
And no one will take them away 

559
00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:44,160
from us. 
They will never rot. 

560
00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:47,560
They can never be stolen. 
They'll be yours. 

561
00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:51,840
Let's end them with one final 
verse. 

562
00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:54,400
Do you remember the prophet 
Balaam? 

563
00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:56,840
He wasn't a good prophet. 
He was a false prophet. 

564
00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:01,200
He said something amazing in his
first Oracle when he was hired 

565
00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:05,560
by Bailek to pronounce curses 
toward the people of Israel 

566
00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:07,880
while they were wandering 
through the wilderness. 

567
00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:12,520
And God and his sovereignty 
turns those curses into 

568
00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:15,400
blessings. 
But from time to time, Balaam 

569
00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:20,200
also received revelation of 
Christ and those who belong to 

570
00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:22,520
Christ. 
And here's one instance of that.

571
00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:27,680
Turn to Numbers 23 and look here
at one single verse, verse 10. 

572
00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:41,520
Balaam. 
The New Testament doesn't speak 

573
00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:47,240
very kindly of Balaam. 
Balaam is a picture of a false 

574
00:37:47,240 --> 00:37:51,480
teacher, of a wicked man, of a 
covetous man, and he's a real 

575
00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:53,240
man. 
Notice what he says here in 

576
00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:57,000
Numbers 23, verse 10. 
Who can count the dust of Jacob,

577
00:37:57,720 --> 00:37:59,720
or number the 4th part of 
Israel? 

578
00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:05,800
Let me die the death of the 
upright, and let my end be like 

579
00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:09,440
his. 
Do you see that? 

580
00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:14,360
Balaam, as he is giving these 
oracles, as he is receiving 

581
00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:19,120
downloads from God, catches a 
glimpse of the death of the 

582
00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:24,360
upright, and he sees something 
about the end of those who are 

583
00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:26,960
righteous. 
And he can't help but exclaim, 

584
00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:32,080
oh, that my end might be like 
his, that I might share in that 

585
00:38:32,080 --> 00:38:34,600
same fate. 
Makes you wonder that Balaam 

586
00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:37,200
have a revelation of the 
reassurance of death and about 

587
00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:41,000
death, the rest that follows 
death, the rewards that await us

588
00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:44,960
after death. 
But you know, what shocks me the

589
00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:48,000
most about Balaam's experience 
here is not that he got a 

590
00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:50,840
revelation of it. 
It's that he desired it. 

591
00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:56,040
This is an evil man. 
This is a sorcerer. 

592
00:38:57,400 --> 00:38:59,600
And yet he can't help but say, I
want that. 

593
00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:04,840
But he never realized it, 
because when you continue in 

594
00:39:04,840 --> 00:39:09,000
numbers, especially in chapter 
31, Balaam will be killed. 

595
00:39:10,280 --> 00:39:12,800
Balaam will be killed because of
God's judgment. 

596
00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:19,160
Balaam never experienced the 
death of the upright, and he 

597
00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:22,680
desired it. 
Desires are tricky things. 

598
00:39:25,520 --> 00:39:28,560
People can desire righteousness 
and holiness and they can even 

599
00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:36,080
desire Christ and never own it, 
never possess it, in fact die 

600
00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:39,240
without it. 
And it's possible for you and I 

601
00:39:39,240 --> 00:39:41,440
to listen to a message like we 
just heard in the last 40 

602
00:39:41,440 --> 00:39:46,000
minutes or so and be moved by 
these truths and these insights.

603
00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:49,840
Job and the eagerness and the 
keenness of the Spirit and 

604
00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:56,800
heaven comforting Christians. 
It's I, I want that and never 

605
00:39:56,800 --> 00:40:01,240
realize it. 
Do you know why? 

606
00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:06,000
Balaam never realized it even 
though he desired it, because he

607
00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,720
longed for the death of the 
upright, but he didn't want to 

608
00:40:08,720 --> 00:40:17,320
live the life of the upright. 
Do you know why Balaam never got

609
00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:20,480
the chance to even live the life
of the upright? 

610
00:40:21,160 --> 00:40:27,360
Because he loved money. 
That's why money was his God. 

611
00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:31,480
He obeyed money instead of 
Yahweh, instead of God. 

612
00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:38,520
He submitted to the impulses and
the inspirations of money 

613
00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:46,120
instead of the will of God. 
You want to die the death of 

614
00:40:46,120 --> 00:40:49,320
the. 
Righteous #1 You have to 

615
00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:51,040
surrender your life to the 
righteous 1. 

616
00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:56,440
Living the life of the upright 
doesn't mean that you. 

617
00:40:57,720 --> 00:41:03,000
Pull your bootstraps and become 
more moral and become more clean

618
00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:07,480
in your living and integral at 
your workplace and pure in your 

619
00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:12,400
sexuality. 
That's pride to think. 

620
00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:14,400
That you can attain your own 
righteousness. 

621
00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:17,920
It primarily means that you 
surrender to an alien 

622
00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:19,920
righteousness and a 
righteousness outside of 

623
00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:24,080
yourself. 
Where you surrender. 

624
00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:28,360
Your garments and you say clothe
me in the righteousness of 

625
00:41:28,360 --> 00:41:32,320
Christ. 
Let him be my canopy and be my 

626
00:41:32,320 --> 00:41:33,960
banner. 
I want to live under his grace 

627
00:41:33,960 --> 00:41:35,960
and mercy. 
I receive his gift of salvation 

628
00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:39,760
and then. 
From there, the righteousness. 

629
00:41:39,760 --> 00:41:43,480
That's imputed unto you, 
inspires you to now live 

630
00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:48,600
righteous for Him. 
This is Christian righteousness.

631
00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:51,920
Not that we reach. 
Out to try. 

632
00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:55,160
To please God, but that we bend 
the knee and surrender to what 

633
00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:57,360
God had done in Christ on our 
behalf. 

634
00:41:57,360 --> 00:41:59,200
And then from there you live 
from out of the place of 

635
00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:01,240
gratitude and grace. 
Big difference. 

636
00:42:05,880 --> 00:42:10,720
And my question for you today. 
Is how confident are you for 

637
00:42:10,720 --> 00:42:14,000
your appointment with death? 
Because no matter. 

638
00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:16,720
How advanced we become. 
In the society and our cultures 

639
00:42:16,720 --> 00:42:19,920
and our civilization, we still 
haven't figured out this death 

640
00:42:19,920 --> 00:42:22,080
problem. 
Oh sure, you can take a little 

641
00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:24,920
bit more vitamins and go to the 
gym and live a bit longer, but 

642
00:42:24,920 --> 00:42:29,480
even guys who do that sometimes 
die tragically it. 

643
00:42:29,480 --> 00:42:32,680
Doesn't matter what we invent. 
Or what we come up with, or what

644
00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:37,720
things we discover in science. 
We can't seem to break free from

645
00:42:37,720 --> 00:42:42,080
our individual appointment with 
death and with. 

646
00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:45,360
All the studies that we're. 
Trying to come up with and all 

647
00:42:45,360 --> 00:42:48,040
the ideas that philosophy have 
been able to conjure up. 

648
00:42:48,440 --> 00:42:52,560
Only the Bible has the most 
articulate and accurate data 

649
00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:55,080
concerning death. 
It's not going anywhere. 

650
00:42:57,200 --> 00:42:59,200
It's not going. 
Anywhere because we brought. 

651
00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:03,440
Death into this world through 
our sin and the only. 

652
00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:05,680
Time death will be dealt. 
With is when Christ comes back 

653
00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:11,760
and fixes everything. 
It's inescapable and. 

654
00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:12,640
My. 
My wish. 

655
00:43:12,640 --> 00:43:16,440
Really my? 
Prayer is that more churches 

656
00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:21,840
would remind the people of God 
of death, not from a morbid 

657
00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:25,880
place because the world. 
Is constantly telling. 

658
00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:28,800
You and I of how to make the 
most of this life and how you 

659
00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:31,360
can live forever and how you can
enjoy this as though there's 

660
00:43:31,360 --> 00:43:34,920
nothing else after this and it's
God's house. 

661
00:43:34,920 --> 00:43:36,280
That has to regularly. 
Remind us. 

662
00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:39,760
Listen, this isn't it. 
You're. 

663
00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:41,440
Going to leave behind 
everything. 

664
00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:45,680
That house that you're building,
that bank account that you're 

665
00:43:45,680 --> 00:43:49,240
trying to stuff with more money,
those relationships even. 

666
00:43:49,240 --> 00:43:52,280
That you're building to a. 
Certain degree all of this is 

667
00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:56,040
going to be left behind and the 
only thing that's. 

668
00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:59,840
Going to matter with your. 
Final breath is did I put my 

669
00:43:59,840 --> 00:44:03,680
faith and trust in Jesus? 
Did I walk? 

670
00:44:03,680 --> 00:44:05,920
With him in this life. 
Am I going to stand before 

671
00:44:05,920 --> 00:44:09,480
Christ as a stranger or as a 
familiar friend? 

672
00:44:11,360 --> 00:44:13,520
Am I going to? 
Be ashamed at his appearing. 

673
00:44:15,520 --> 00:44:19,720
What will I sing? 
And it's the preacher. 

674
00:44:19,720 --> 00:44:22,760
'S duty to do exactly. 
What's taking place here to 

675
00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:25,800
ensure not to just give you life
hacks? 

676
00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:30,640
Not to just make your family a 
little bit. 

677
00:44:30,640 --> 00:44:34,120
More comfortable. 
How to overcome this and? 

678
00:44:34,200 --> 00:44:36,840
There is a place for. 
That yes, but from time to time,

679
00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:38,680
oh, we need to remember about 
eternity. 

680
00:44:42,960 --> 00:44:44,760
And not just the people of God, 
but people who stumble into. 

681
00:44:44,760 --> 00:44:47,400
This place who don't know Christ
and like Balaam, you like 

682
00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:49,400
listening to sermons, but you 
don't know the one that we were 

683
00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:52,840
speaking about you. 
Like the songs? 

684
00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:54,040
They're nice. 
They have a nice tune. 

685
00:44:54,040 --> 00:44:56,000
I like the lyrics, they make me 
feel a certain way. 

686
00:44:56,600 --> 00:45:00,200
Who cares about the feelings? 
What's going on with your faith?

687
00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:02,680
Where's your? 
Confidence. 

688
00:45:02,680 --> 00:45:07,960
Where's your conviction? 
Where's the assurance I come 

689
00:45:07,960 --> 00:45:09,600
here? 
Because I know the one. 

690
00:45:09,600 --> 00:45:10,840
That the preacher is talking 
about. 

691
00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:13,440
I come here because I'm singing 
to the one that I have a living,

692
00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:20,000
vibrant relationship with. 
And so today can. 

693
00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:25,000
Be the day where even your 
interests, your curiosity, your 

694
00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:28,520
attraction to Christian 
realities can become true for 

695
00:45:28,520 --> 00:45:32,720
you and. 
The only way that can happen is 

696
00:45:32,720 --> 00:45:34,640
if you humble. 
Yourself in the presence of God 

697
00:45:34,640 --> 00:45:38,000
and say, Oh God forgive me for 
my sins. 

698
00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,880
I repent. 
I believe that what you did on 

699
00:45:41,880 --> 00:45:42,960
the. 
Cross, you did for me. 

700
00:45:42,960 --> 00:45:45,240
I believe that there's no other 
way that I can have heaven and 

701
00:45:45,240 --> 00:45:49,120
the rest that it offers and the 
roars that await unless I put my

702
00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:50,920
complete trust and confidence in
you. 

703
00:45:52,120 --> 00:45:56,080
I believe that I will only have 
the chance to stand before you 

704
00:45:56,640 --> 00:46:00,240
because of what Christ did for 
me and stood in the gap for me. 

705
00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:05,880
Would you do that today? 
Would you go from desire? 

706
00:46:06,920 --> 00:46:10,440
To devotion today Christ is 
waiting. 

707
00:46:11,720 --> 00:46:26,810
Let's seek him. 
Here is a call for the 

708
00:46:26,810 --> 00:46:29,730
endurance. 
Of those who obey the. 

709
00:46:29,730 --> 00:46:32,410
Commandments of God. 
And have faith in Jesus. 

710
00:46:33,490 --> 00:46:34,730
We pray, Lord, that you would 
give. 

711
00:46:34,730 --> 00:46:38,770
US. 
More energy, more efficiency, 

712
00:46:39,490 --> 00:46:45,120
more enthusiasm to serve you as 
we are reminded of death. 

713
00:46:47,560 --> 00:46:51,120
Thank you that you reassure. 
Us that it is a blessing. 

714
00:46:51,800 --> 00:46:55,680
Thank you that you promised us 
that there is a rest that we 

715
00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:58,360
will enjoy forever. 
Thank you that though 

716
00:46:58,360 --> 00:47:01,960
undeserving, there will be 
rewards for what we've done in 

717
00:47:01,960 --> 00:47:08,200
your name. 
And Lord, if there's any Balaams

718
00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:11,720
listening. 
To this now we pray. 

719
00:47:11,720 --> 00:47:15,960
That they would go beyond. 
Desire, but that by your spirit.

720
00:47:15,960 --> 00:47:21,560
You would draw them to. 
Yourself into saving faith, but 

721
00:47:21,560 --> 00:47:23,000
we. 
Sing because you have. 

722
00:47:24,160 --> 00:47:28,520
Informed us of the glories of 
the gospel that in Christ you 

723
00:47:28,520 --> 00:47:29,640
not. 
Only change. 

724
00:47:30,560 --> 00:47:33,720
Us now, but you change what we 
will experience at the end of 

725
00:47:33,720 --> 00:47:36,440
our lives. 
For this we are thankful. 

726
00:47:37,240 --> 00:47:40,160
We bless you and worship you now
in Jesus name, Amen. 

727
00:47:40,240 --> 00:47:44,200
Let's stand and let's worship 
the Lord for the gift that we 

728
00:47:44,200 --> 00:47:45,000
have in Jesus.