1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,680 Well, if you were here last week, then you would hopefully 2 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,920 remember that as a church we explored a very striking 3 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:15,360 contrast between two individuals who live very different lives, 4 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:22,520 and as a result they were granted 2 very different eternal 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,760 realities. And as we come to the Word of 6 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,320 God today, I want to highlight a different kind of distinction 7 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:32,880 that the Scriptures make. And it's not going to be between 8 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:38,200 the rich and poor. It's not going to be about the 9 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:43,840 saved and the unsaved, or any other common category for that 10 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,520 matter. Today, I want us to explore a 11 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,280 distinction that I believe believers often overlook. 12 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:55,200 Yet it was something that Paul passionately wrote about a more 13 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,720 than one occasion. I want us to look today at the 14 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:05,480 distinction between our earthly bodies and our heavenly bodies, 15 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:11,440 what we know to be what we live in today and what is promised 16 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:17,800 for us at the return of Christ. And Paul mentions this in more 17 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,600 than one place, as I alluded to. But where we're going to go 18 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:25,080 today is not Paul defending the truth of the resurrection, nor 19 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,520 is it him trying to satisfy the curiosity of Christians who just 20 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:30,840 want to know what's going to come for them because of 21 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,480 Christ's love and his purchase of their souls. 22 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:39,320 Now, today, what we're going to see is Paul explaining the 23 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:43,560 secret to his unwavering commitment to the gospel. 24 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:48,160 He's going to reveal something that will instill hope, that 25 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,040 will make us immovable, that will make us strong, that will 26 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,560 make us Worshipful regardless of our circumstances. 27 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:57,760 And what's beautiful about what Paul is going to share is that 28 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,080 he expects us to also know it for ourselves. 29 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,320 He's going to reveal this revelation that's meant to be 30 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,919 experienced by all believers and as a result, causing them to 31 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,480 know the same inspiration and motivations that this great 32 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:17,240 apostle lived with. And so you should be excited 33 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,680 today because this is something for our encouragement. 34 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,560 And as we come to this text in a moment, I'll let you know ahead 35 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,880 of time that we're going to land at 4 quick motivations that 36 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:34,240 these truths created in Paul. And again, expect that this is 37 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,000 something you can know for yourself if you do this one 38 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,440 thing. Believe what Paul says to be 39 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,120 true because he is a conduit of the Holy Spirit. 40 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:49,560 Grasp it wholeheartedly. Apply it to your life the way 41 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:55,520 it's calling you to apply it, and you will soar in this life. 42 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:01,320 And so I want us to consider it. What will unlock these 43 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:06,960 motivations requires you to be confident in your convictions 44 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:10,960 about it. Interestingly, that's exactly 45 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:16,080 where Paul starts with his analysis in our main text. 46 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,920 So if you have a copy of God's Word in your hand, meet me in 47 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:23,360 the book of Second Corinthians chapter 5 and we're going to 48 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,640 read the first 5 verses together before we delve into it. 49 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:43,560 My favorite sound in church apart from seeing the wrestling 50 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:47,920 of the leaves of Scripture. 2nd Corinthians 5 one. 51 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:52,280 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is 52 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,040 destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with 53 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:01,600 hands eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, 54 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,440 longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting 55 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,480 it on we may not be found naked for a while. 56 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,040 We are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened, not that 57 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,880 we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so 58 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,519 that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 59 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,600 He has prepared us For this very thing is God, who has given us 60 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:30,200 the Spirit as a guarantee. Lord, we ask that this would 61 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:34,560 birth in us the holy anticipation, the unwavering 62 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:40,000 hope, a devotion to You and practical service, a reflex to 63 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:46,080 suffering and pain. That would be true of what we 64 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,640 see here in Paul, in us as well. This is our longing and our 65 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,480 desire and we pray that You would transmit it into us as we 66 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,480 discuss it in Your Word now in Jesus name, Amen. 67 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,440 For we know the first 3 words of first one. 68 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:07,120 Don't you love it? Paul doesn't say, for I know he 69 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,840 expects the Christians to share in his confidence. 70 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:16,600 For we know all believers should have this anchoring realization. 71 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,720 What is it that Paul expects you and I to know? 72 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:23,920 We'll look at the rest of verse one again, that if the tent that 73 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,160 is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building 74 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,320 from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 75 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:32,840 And then he goes on to speak about this metaphor of tents and 76 00:05:32,840 --> 00:05:34,800 buildings. And we'll explore that in a 77 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,040 moment. But I'm sure you didn't foresee 78 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,520 that Paul was going to talk about tents and buildings. 79 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,640 But he does. And the reason why he does is 80 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:43,920 because he's speaking figuratively. 81 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:50,120 What Paul is wanting us to think about is how your body, what 82 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,600 you're in right now, sitting in those pews, it's like a tent. 83 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,600 And I can't help but wonder if the Holy Spirit used this 84 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:03,720 illustration because Paul by way of occupation was what he was, a 85 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,920 tent maker. So I'm just in my sanctified 86 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,760 imagination, wonder that as Paul was working with tents, sewing 87 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,600 it and cutting it and putting it together, that the Lord began to 88 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,320 teach him, this is like your body. 89 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:17,360 This is like your physical frame. 90 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:24,320 Tents are fragile. They're weak, they're unstable. 91 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,760 They're not designed to be your permanent residence. 92 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:34,680 They are useful for a season, yes, but they are meant to be 93 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:39,880 temporary. Eventually a tent will be taken 94 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,720 down. That is exactly Paul's main 95 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,640 point with these verses, because he says how these tents. 96 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,600 Look at verse one again. That is our earthly home is 97 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:54,200 destroyed. Now the word destroyed doesn't 98 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,720 allude to obliteration necessarily. 99 00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:04,200 It speaks about being disunited, dissolving, and that is the 100 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,800 destiny of your physical frame. It is going to be disassembled 101 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,520 at one point. But what moves me is Paul's 102 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:14,600 strategic language. Notice again in verse 1. 103 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:18,120 He doesn't say for we know that when the tent that is our 104 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,000 earthly home is destroyed. You would think that he would 105 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,960 say when, because death in these bodies is inevitable, right? 106 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:30,080 He uses the word if. For we know that if the tent 107 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:34,600 that is our earthly home is destroyed, if suggests that 108 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,600 there's another option. Now, what could the alternative 109 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,640 be? Isn't death something that we 110 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:43,840 all will taste? Yes. 111 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:45,760 But there's another truth that we have to consider. 112 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,640 And I believe that what Paul has in mind, which was so deeply 113 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,120 ingrained in his thinking, was the return of the Lord. 114 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,600 Think about it. Paul in writing this is 115 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:02,480 revealing that though he and expects Christians are prepared 116 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,520 to die not in a morbid way, but with hope. 117 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,840 Yes, prepared to die. Paul also says here I'm also 118 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,680 living with an eager expectation of the return of the Lord. 119 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,400 So yes, I'm ready to face death, but I'm also believing that at 120 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:21,080 any moment in my lifetime Christ can come and I can skip this 121 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,800 whole death thing all together and I can go straight to my 122 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,120 resurrection body. Wouldn't that be wonderful come 123 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:30,440 Lord Jesus. And so he says if here 124 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,080 interestingly showing that there's another option, but he 125 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,960 goes on to say something so important leading us a model 126 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,200 yes, that we should live with that same expectation. 127 00:08:40,799 --> 00:08:44,159 The return of Christ is not in focus here necessarily. 128 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:51,600 It's the anticipation of what will become of us, what these 129 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:56,360 bodies will be replaced with. And that's where he says that we 130 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,240 have a building from God. Now I'm building a building in 131 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,200 contrast to 10 is what it is fixed. 132 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:08,360 It is lasting, it is functional, and frankly, it's more beautiful 133 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,560 and ornate than a tent. There's no doubt that he is 134 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:14,280 referring to our glorified bodies here. 135 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:19,080 We have a building from God. And notice the added description 136 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:25,600 of what will be ours. It is a building 1 from God. 137 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:31,040 It's a gift. It's granted more than that, it 138 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,240 is something that is not made with human hands, so it's not of 139 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,520 human origin. It's not produced by human 140 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,880 effort. And lastly, a building, yes, 141 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:43,920 much more sound and reliable than a tent. 142 00:09:44,560 --> 00:09:46,560 We also read here that it is eternal. 143 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:50,840 It is eternal meaning that whatever we are going to live in 144 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,320 is not subject to decay or the fear of destruction. 145 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:59,160 It will be everlasting. This is how he is describing it 146 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,840 in summary. And as he's teaching this, we 147 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:07,480 are supposed to understand that Paul loved teaching about this 148 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,440 because it's not just found here. 149 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,560 It's it's sprinkled throughout his epistles. 150 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:13,480 And let me remind you of another place where he says it in a more 151 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:17,120 direct manner and speaking about what is to become of us in 152 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,720 Philippians 320. What does he say? 153 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,640 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a 154 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:27,960 Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly 155 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:33,000 body to be like his glorious body, not a glorious body like 156 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:38,040 Him, like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even 157 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:39,760 to subject all things to himself. 158 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:44,080 What an incredible promise. Here we are told not only that 159 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,920 we have been granted citizenship in heaven, but we are also 160 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,880 promised to share in the characteristics of Jesus 161 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:57,120 glorified body. Yes, he's the prototype. 162 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,560 He's the first fruits. That's the upgrade that you and 163 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:09,040 I can expect. We all have been amazed of the 164 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:11,840 recent events that are taking place in California where so 165 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,320 many homes have been ravaged by these unprecedented fires. 166 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,880 And besides the lives that perish in those flames, I'm sure 167 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,560 you have seen some of these interviews with families and 168 00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:26,440 couples that, returning to their properties, have realized that 169 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,560 everything that they have known has been burned and brought to 170 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:31,920 ash. And our hearts go out to them. 171 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,120 And we've even prayed for them that a full restoration will be 172 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,080 made. And more importantly, if any of 173 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,600 those people have never called upon the Lord, they would do so 174 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:43,320 in this crisis. But as I was looking at these 175 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,120 verses earlier in the week, I couldn't help but imagine how 176 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,200 different those interviews would have been if each of those 177 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,360 individuals, each of those families were promised, were 178 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:57,520 granted a home that they could never even imagine. 179 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,080 Built on a property that they could never fathom affording. 180 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:07,520 With the reclaim of possessions that would bring so much joy 181 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,200 despite the loss of personal sentimental objects and 182 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:18,280 memories. All as a gift free because of 183 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,560 the generosity of a loving and caring individual. 184 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,360 It doesn't dismiss the devastation that you might feel 185 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,520 any kind of loss hurts, but it would definitely lessen it, 186 00:12:30,680 --> 00:12:35,040 wouldn't it? Yes, and that is precisely what 187 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:40,080 Paul is getting at here. You may have known a believer. 188 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:44,400 You may be facing a believer right before your eyes that is 189 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:49,080 deteriorating. You may be God forbidden in the 190 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:52,600 years to God, be surprised with a phone call of a Christian that 191 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:55,920 you know. And their death was tragic. 192 00:12:55,920 --> 00:13:02,160 It was sudden, it was swift. And no matter how much that 193 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,240 might shock us, we have to remember that they have been 194 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:09,080 granted an inheritance that is infinitely more glorious than 195 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:10,600 whatever they've known in this life. 196 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,560 This is what Paul is trying to convey here. 197 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:21,080 And where my illustration falls short is that this promise is 198 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:25,320 not going to be a surprise. It's already ours. 199 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,200 We're supposed to know it today. Look back at his language of 200 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,480 verse one. For we know that if the tent 201 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:33,640 that is in our earthly, that is our earthly home is destroyed, 202 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:37,480 we have a building from God, we have it. 203 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,440 It's your possession. The estate belongs to you. 204 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:45,360 It's been purchased on the cross and no one can take it away from 205 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,000 you. You have it, and I don't have 206 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:49,840 the habit here of usually skipping verses. 207 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,440 I'd like to go verse by verse. But let's just hop over to verse 208 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:57,360 5 to see how Paul confirms this. He who has prepared us for this 209 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:02,480 very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 210 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,520 Do you know what the word guarantee means in the original? 211 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:06,600 It's so awesome in light of this metaphor. 212 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:13,040 Down payment the Holy Spirit has been given to each believer to 213 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:17,480 abide and live in them as a down payment for this building that 214 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:25,320 is to come. Meaning what it's done meaning 215 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:29,120 what that upon you calling upon the Lord receiving Jesus Christ 216 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,480 as your Savior, your destiny is sealed. 217 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,080 It's coming, it's on its way. The down payment has been made 218 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:41,200 and the full realization of it is yours. 219 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,080 Nothing can tamper with it. He's not going to change his 220 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,000 mind. It can't be taken from you. 221 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:53,560 It belongs to you forever. Moreover, listen to this part. 222 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:59,240 This part excites me. Whatever changes, whatever 223 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:05,400 comforts that the Holy Spirit does in and through you are also 224 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:12,720 previews, reminders, nudges that there is a complete and perfect 225 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,000 transformation on its way. Does that make sense? 226 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,000 The Holy Spirit as a deposit, living in you as he's 227 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,240 sanctifying you through and through, day by day. 228 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,880 And this abundant peace that you experience and this joy that you 229 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,120 drink from. All of that, as much as it's for 230 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,320 now, is also supposed to indicate to you, hey, there's 231 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:34,200 something so much better than this that's coming, and it's 232 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,000 yours. It's yours. 233 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,560 So whatever experience that you've had with the presence of 234 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:44,200 God in this place by yourself, whatever testimony where the 235 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:47,520 Holy Spirit has transformed you in a way where you recognize 236 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:52,920 that all of that are just little indicators and whispers of love 237 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:56,840 to tell you it's only going to get better. 238 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:00,200 It's only going to become better. 239 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:05,080 And Paul wants us to know that. And as much as this truth 240 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:10,040 brought relief to Paul, astonishingly, it also created a 241 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:13,360 restlessness in him. Look again at verse 2. 242 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:19,480 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly 243 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,240 dwelling. What does it mean by groan? 244 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:26,240 He's talking about a yearning that is beyond words. 245 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:31,200 Words, they can't even communicate this sigh in his 246 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:37,000 soul regarding this truth that seems strange to us. 247 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,080 He can't even express how much this truth makes him want to 248 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:44,240 crave it, to be known. He longs for it. 249 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,120 And when you read this man's biography, it shouldn't be a 250 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:52,440 surprise to you why he groaned. Turn to 2nd Corinthians, the 251 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,400 same book, Chapter 11, where he gives a brief resume of his 252 00:16:56,400 --> 00:17:05,410 credentials as an apostle, and it's not what you expect. 2nd 253 00:17:05,450 --> 00:17:11,119 Corinthians 1124. Five times I received at the 254 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:16,880 hands of the Jews the 40 lashes. Less 1/3 times I was beaten with 255 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:20,359 rods. Once I was stoned. 256 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:24,960 Three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I was adrift 257 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:29,640 at sea on frequent journeys. And danger from rivers, danger 258 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:33,360 from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from gentiles, 259 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,600 danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, 260 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:43,760 danger from false brothers. And where can the guy go in toil 261 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:47,600 and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and 262 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,440 thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 263 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:55,640 And apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on 264 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,600 me of my anxiety for all the churches. 265 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:04,320 No wonder this man groaned. No wonder this yearning was so 266 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,680 intense. Can you imagine all the scars 267 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:11,120 that he collected? What did his face look like? 268 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:15,560 What kind of permanent nerve damage did he develop? 269 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,560 What kind of limitations? Did he have a limp when he 270 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:22,160 walked? What is it like that no matter 271 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,560 where you go, whether it's your favorite restaurant or a 272 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:28,720 conference out of state, to live with a realization that at any 273 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,920 moment I can be ambushed and beat up. 274 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,840 This is how this man lived. And here's what I want to say. 275 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:41,680 Perhaps the abundant comfort that believers share and 276 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:45,840 experience and joy in the West is why so many struggle to turn 277 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:49,320 this truth from a theological concept to a vibrant, living 278 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,200 hope. Could that be true? 279 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:59,480 I think so. But Paul's very suffering, his 280 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:06,720 constant battle with Satan, his sensitivity to sin, it stirred 281 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,240 him. It stirred him to continually 282 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:15,000 meditate on it, to verbally praise God for it, to draw 283 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,960 comfort from it, to joyfully teach about it and to live 284 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:27,800 wanting it, dreaming about it. I'm sure wherever this man 285 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:31,440 wasn't busy in his mind, the default of his meditation went 286 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:38,560 to I want my building. I want what Christ purchased for 287 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,880 me. But don't make the mistake in 288 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:44,720 believing that this is Christian escapism. 289 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:50,200 This isn't Paul wanting to just avoid trials and troubles. 290 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,600 That's part of it. But there's a positive element 291 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,680 more than just him evading from problems. 292 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:03,640 He wanted to be with a person, namely Christ. 293 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:08,680 And that's important because don't believe for a moment that 294 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,200 for you to know this kind of groaning, you have to 295 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:17,080 voluntarily accept pain in your life, chase down persecution. 296 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:25,920 Now you can also know this cry, this holy ache because of Christ 297 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:30,400 simply Jesus, where you've walked with him and you have 298 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,960 experienced his fragrance, where you've seen Him come through, 299 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:36,760 where He's opened your eyes to his beauty, where he said, if I 300 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:38,880 can know this kind of exhilaration now, what is to 301 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,800 come? What is to come is so glorious 302 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:44,760 that you need a new body to handle it. 303 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:50,760 That is what is to come. And Paul here is demonstrating 304 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,120 that. And we'll get to this craving 305 00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:54,760 for the person of Christ in a moment. 306 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:58,080 But let's look at these last verses that we didn't explore in 307 00:20:58,080 --> 00:20:59,200 detail. Verse three. 308 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:04,160 If indeed after explaining that he's groaning for this longing 309 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,240 to put on his heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on, we 310 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:11,680 may not be found naked for while we are still in this tent, we 311 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,600 groan being burdened. Not that we would be unclothed, 312 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,240 but that we would be further clothed so that what is mortal 313 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:20,280 may be swallowed up by life. If you feel overwhelmed, that's 314 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,840 OK because you know what Paul is doing here. 315 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:25,640 Now he's mixing the metaphor. He goes from talking about tents 316 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:29,720 and buildings to now speaking about what clothing did you 317 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:31,760 catch? It talks about being clothed, 318 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,840 talks about being naked, talks about being further clothed. 319 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:41,240 So now he is blending metaphor. And so let's let's just take our 320 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,240 time to trace his thought pattern here. 321 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,520 So in verse one and verse 2, what is he speaking about? 322 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:50,320 He's speaking about how we are guaranteed to receive a heavenly 323 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:54,440 dwelling and if we are guaranteed for that, look at 324 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:56,520 this verse three. It means that we will not be 325 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,800 found naked. Verse three, you think why is he 326 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:01,520 talking about being naked? Pause there. 327 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:03,880 We'll we'll look at that in a moment because now in verse 328 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:08,680 four, he recaps his thought in these verses and he clarifies 329 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:10,680 something. Now he says we have been 330 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,120 promises heavenly dwelling, which means we're not going to 331 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:16,200 be naked. And then in verse four, he says 332 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,200 for while we are still in this tent, we groan being burdened. 333 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:22,120 So he revisits that thought. Listen, let me tell you, while 334 00:22:22,120 --> 00:22:25,160 we're in this body, we're burdened by so much so we groan. 335 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,360 But now he wants to tell you what we are groaning for. 336 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,520 What are we groaning for? Not that we would be unclothed, 337 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:36,080 but that we would be rather further clothed. 338 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,360 What is he speaking about? It's simply this that as 339 00:22:42,360 --> 00:22:46,600 believers with this resurrection hope, we are not longing to 340 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:52,880 become disembodied spirits, IE naked, what we are actually 341 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:56,760 longing for the focus. The goal of this groaning is to 342 00:22:56,760 --> 00:23:03,200 be further clothed, meaning to receive a different kind of body 343 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,880 that what is mortal would be swallowed up by life. 344 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,720 If you understand what Paul is saying here, it actually is 345 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:14,840 astonishing in terms of implications. 346 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:22,440 One, it clarifies what the resurrection really is because 347 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,320 you have some good hearted believers who think that when we 348 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:30,760 give our final breath, yes, to be away from the body means that 349 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,080 we will be with the Lord, our soul will be with him, our 350 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,120 spirit will be with him, but that's it. 351 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:37,720 That's the final state of the matter. 352 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,920 That's it. That's all we're looking forward 353 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:41,000 to. That's not true. 354 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:47,880 On the other hand, I believe most Christians think we have a 355 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,440 general grasp of the resurrection, that yes, you will 356 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,640 give your final breath, you will be immediately in the presence 357 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:57,600 of the Lord, and at a later time the resurrection will take 358 00:23:57,600 --> 00:23:59,960 place. And when will the resurrection 359 00:23:59,960 --> 00:24:01,720 take place? At the return of Christ, the 360 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,640 culmination of the age. And when the resurrection takes 361 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:09,400 place, when Jesus returns, we each are going to receive a 362 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:16,400 brand new body disconnected from your body that you knew while on 363 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:17,920 earth. That's also wrong. 364 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:21,960 Now, I got a lot of facial reactions. 365 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,160 So you have to pay attention now because you don't want to miss 366 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,120 it. Here's what you have to 367 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:30,240 understand. The Bible doesn't teach that 368 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:34,000 there's a time coming when you will receive something that is 369 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:38,000 not related to the body that you have lived with this gift of 370 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:41,040 life. Instead, what it teaches is that 371 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,360 when the resurrection comes, the earthly body that you have 372 00:24:44,360 --> 00:24:48,520 always known, with its unique properties and characteristics 373 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:52,640 will be marvelously transformed and made fit to live with God 374 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:54,800 forever. Just think about it. 375 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:57,440 Or else the term resurrection doesn't make sense. 376 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:01,440 What are you resurrecting? If you're going to get, if your 377 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:06,440 body is just going to go into the earth decay and your 378 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,000 disembodied spirit in the presence of God will be 379 00:25:09,120 --> 00:25:13,400 receiving a brand new suit, so to speak, then why use the term 380 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:18,160 resurrection if Christ is the prototype of our resurrection? 381 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,600 Did Jesus leave the tomb with a different kind of body? 382 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:25,800 Yes and no. There's a level of continuity 383 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,040 because he didn't leave that body or leave that tomb rather, 384 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,560 with a glorified body, but he still had the scars because it 385 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,200 was the same body that was nailed on the cross in like 386 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:40,240 manner, this body that you have right now, that is what is going 387 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,040 to be resurrected on that final day. 388 00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:47,480 And you're hearing this perhaps for the first time, wondering 389 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:53,880 does it matter or even why? Maybe you're not very happy with 390 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:57,320 your body and you were looking forward to something brand new. 391 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:00,760 And so this was more of a disappointing message than it 392 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:05,880 was an encouraging 1. Don't worry, it'll be altered. 393 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,600 It reveals something about the depth of God's character and 394 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:15,840 love. When the Lord proposed to save 395 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,480 us as fallen creatures, He determined to save all of who 396 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,080 you are, not some of who you are. 397 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:26,600 So not just your spirit, not just the immaterial parts of who 398 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:34,720 you are, but even the polluted, fractured, sin soaked body that 399 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:38,160 has caused pain for you and others, that has been damaged 400 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:40,840 because of the fall. Even that part of who you are, 401 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:42,880 the Lord Jesus Christ wants to redeem. 402 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:48,240 I'm going to recover everything, not just some things. 403 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:52,520 So it speaks to the completeness of a saving work. 404 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:57,280 It speaks to His yearning to actually have all of you, not to 405 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,680 discard any part, but to redeem everything. 406 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:05,280 So the resurrection is not about replacing your identity, it's 407 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:07,880 renewing it. The resurrection, more 408 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:12,520 importantly, is not about erasing any part of who you are, 409 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:18,000 but actually beautifying it, making it reflect and shine with 410 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:22,080 the glory of God. And there's so many massive 411 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,440 implications with this. I mean, if we had time, I would, 412 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:29,920 I would discuss about how if God so values these bodies that he 413 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:34,200 is determined to rescue these physical frames, how much should 414 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:36,640 we as Christians cherish these bodies? 415 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:41,440 How much more? Let me give you an example. 416 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:43,520 I wasn't planning to do this, but since we're so close to the 417 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:47,800 text, go to 1st Corinthians 6. I'm just going to read it. 418 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:49,760 I'm not going to take my time to explain it, just to give you an 419 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:57,040 idea and tell me what word reappears over and over again in 420 00:27:57,040 --> 00:28:06,360 First Corinthians 6/18. Flee from sexual immorality. 421 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:12,120 Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the 422 00:28:12,120 --> 00:28:15,800 sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 423 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:20,120 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy 424 00:28:20,120 --> 00:28:22,000 Spirit within you, whom you have from God? 425 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,680 You are not your own, for you are bought with a price. 426 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:30,720 So glorify God in your body. You look at the end of First 427 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,720 Thessalonians talks about the sanctification of our whole 428 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:39,800 spirit, soul and body. The body should be honored, 429 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:45,600 should be consecrated, should be set apart for His glory. 430 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:51,000 He's going to resurrect that body of yours, and it's going to 431 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:53,680 testify the greatness of His power and His love. 432 00:28:56,320 --> 00:29:00,880 But there are many other reasons why this truth should be 433 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:05,000 considered. I told you earlier that there 434 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:07,320 were four specific motivations in the main text that we are 435 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,480 looking at, and I want you to see that with me. 436 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:14,080 So let's go back to 2nd Corinthians in chapter 5. 437 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:17,480 I want us to look at verses 6 down to verse 10 and in those 438 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:22,720 verses 4, motivations that this truth of our resurrection bodies 439 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:26,520 should instill in US today, verse 6. 440 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,960 So we are always of good courage. 441 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,360 We know that while we are at home in the body, we are away 442 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:38,040 from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. 443 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:42,560 Motivation number one, This truth that Paul wants us to know 444 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:45,920 and be confident in will motivate you to live a life with 445 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:49,440 courageous faith. Look at verse 7, for we walk by 446 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,320 faith, not by sight. This will energize you to 447 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:59,640 navigate through life as a conqueror, not as a victim, not 448 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,680 as weak. Even though you're not living in 449 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:06,240 the immediate, unfiltered presence of the Lord, the 450 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:11,280 profoundness of this truth will do something in you that will 451 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,360 influence your whole outlook and inlook. 452 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,720 And when you look at the verses surrounding it, you can see it. 453 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,640 It's so undeniable. This is the point that he is 454 00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:21,360 making. So look back at 2nd Corinthians 455 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,000 4 verse 8, for example. Paul says we are afflicted in 456 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:29,320 every way but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to 457 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:34,600 despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not 458 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:37,680 destroyed. Where is he getting that from? 459 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:39,960 Where's the strength to be able to do that? 460 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:41,800 It's not just getting out of nowhere. 461 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:43,800 He's not finding it in his own fortification. 462 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:48,640 He knows that I will be clothed with the heavenly dwelling one 463 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:53,440 day. He knows that this is a tent and 464 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:55,840 that it will be brought down and it will be replaced with 465 00:30:55,840 --> 00:31:00,040 something much more amazing. Look at verse 11, Second 466 00:31:00,040 --> 00:31:03,640 Corinthians 4. For we who live are always being 467 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:06,560 given over to death for Jesus sake. 468 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:09,800 Wow. So that the life of Jesus also 469 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:11,560 may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 470 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:13,760 We are always being given over to death. 471 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:16,800 I'm not sure how many people would sign up for ministry in 472 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:21,000 Paul's day. You know, they say one of the 473 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,000 persecuted churches in China that if you wanted to be a 474 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:26,600 pastor, one of your qualifications is that you have 475 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:30,720 to be ready to do prison time. These days we just look for 476 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:33,680 people who get a degree. No, no. 477 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:35,520 Are you willing to go to jail? Are you willing to be in jail 478 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:37,320 and not see your family for five years? 479 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:39,320 That's what it takes for a pastor. 480 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:43,480 Become a pastor in China. We are always being given over 481 00:31:43,520 --> 00:31:46,320 to death for Jesus sake. Look at verse 17 of 2nd 482 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,000 Corinthians 4. I'm trying to show you something 483 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:51,280 here. For this light momentary 484 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:55,840 affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory 485 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:59,760 beyond all comparison. Then right after that we have 486 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:03,400 chapter 5 where he talks about what what one of those glories 487 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,120 are the glorification of your bodies. 488 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:09,880 And it literally, this truth was so real to Paul that it 489 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:13,960 redefined the afflictions he knew and they're not small. 490 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,080 It wasn't a Co worker that gave him a dirty look because he 491 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:18,640 brought his Bible and put it in his cubicle. 492 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:20,840 That's not the persecution he experienced. 493 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:24,200 You read it in 2nd Corinthians 11 and he was able to look at 494 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:27,800 that catalogue of suffering and say it's light momentary 495 00:32:27,800 --> 00:32:32,640 affliction. How this truth, this is not the 496 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:35,080 end of it. This is just a little bit of 497 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:39,680 pain, and it won't even be worth comparing to what awaits me. 498 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:43,760 We need us to be real. I can't just live here. 499 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:47,760 It's got to live here. Motivation #2 found in verse 500 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:54,280 eight of Second Corinthians 5. Yes, we are of good courage, and 501 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:58,080 we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 502 00:32:59,080 --> 00:33:03,160 Motivation #1 is that this truth influences us to have courageous 503 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:04,960 faith and to navigate through life with that faith. 504 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:11,800 Motivation #2 to live this life with promise. 505 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,880 What's the promise? Yes, verse 8 reveals Paul's 506 00:33:16,880 --> 00:33:18,400 passion. I would rather be away with the 507 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:22,600 Lord, but also says something about a guarantee. 508 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:27,400 The moment that death will evict you from your body, you will be 509 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:29,400 immediately moving in with Jesus. 510 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:35,720 So not only did this truth redefine suffering for Paul, it 511 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:38,920 redefined death. And that's why he would on more 512 00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:41,280 than one occasion use the synonymous word for death. 513 00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:43,000 With what? Depart. 514 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:47,280 So what do you say in Philippians 123? 515 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:51,200 My desire is to depart and be with Christ. 516 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:56,400 What did he tell Timothy? His spiritual child And second 517 00:33:56,400 --> 00:34:01,480 Timothy 4/6 The time of my departure has now arrived. 518 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,680 Do you know what the word depart means in the original to 519 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:10,440 unloosen another way of understanding it. 520 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:13,639 And it's used in these ways to unfasten the ropes of ready for 521 00:34:13,639 --> 00:34:19,280 this a tent. So the time of my departure, the 522 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:23,360 time of me putting this thing away and tucking it has now 523 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:26,480 come. That's the language that Paul 524 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:30,639 had when he spoke about death. I heard of a pastor who preached 525 00:34:30,639 --> 00:34:33,639 the message on behalf of a fellow minister and a best 526 00:34:33,639 --> 00:34:36,080 friend of his. And when he got before the 527 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:38,840 church, he revealed the title of his message as he was speaking 528 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:40,600 about the end of this man's life and his legacy. 529 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:41,840 And this was the title of the message. 530 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:48,960 Excuse me, but I got to go. I like that. 531 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:54,080 If the Lord doesn't return in my lifetime, I might consider 532 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:56,480 something similar at my departure. 533 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:01,840 Excuse me, but I got to go. That's what it is. 534 00:35:02,800 --> 00:35:04,320 Death is not the cessation of life. 535 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:06,360 It's a transition into a better one. 536 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:10,560 That's what we're supposed to believe as Christians. 537 00:35:11,560 --> 00:35:13,920 And that's why as much as we weep and yes, we we cry, 538 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,320 remember that illustration? Imagine what it'd been like for 539 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:19,640 those Californians to lose their home, but immediately realize 540 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:22,920 you have something 1000 times better than what you've known. 541 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:28,240 There is pain, but there's also excitement. 542 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:34,400 There's also relief, security, joy. 543 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,760 How much more for us with an eternal dwelling motivation to 544 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:44,320 live this life with promise And this this truth refused the 545 00:35:44,320 --> 00:35:48,800 notion of soul sleep, the idea that we remain unconscious until 546 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:52,720 the return of Christ occurs. So you have many people who 547 00:35:52,720 --> 00:35:55,680 believe this, that when a believer dies, they don't go 548 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:57,480 into the immediate presence of the Lord, they remain 549 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:01,680 unconscious and they'll only be awakened at the resurrection. 550 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:05,320 So what does it mean here for Paul to say that I desire to 551 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:09,520 depart and be with Christ, or that in verse 8 we would rather 552 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:13,360 be away from the body, implying that to be away from this body 553 00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:15,280 means that I'm going to be with the Lord. 554 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:18,120 So you have every right to believe that when a loved one 555 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:21,680 gives their final breath, the next breath is them praising 556 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:25,920 Jesus Christ in His face. That's the truth. 557 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:30,080 Motivation to live this life with promise. 558 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:33,600 And I'll redefine pain even if that pain leads to death. 559 00:36:35,080 --> 00:36:38,960 Motivation #3 look at verse 9 with me. 560 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:44,880 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to 561 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:50,360 please Him. Motivation to live this life not 562 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:55,320 with promise, but with purpose. So knowing that the Lord is 563 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:58,000 alive today and that we will one day meet him face to face and 564 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:01,400 live with him forever, Paul outlines the fundamental purpose 565 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:07,560 of every Christian's life. To please him, to live for him. 566 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:13,240 So you see, being a Christian is not about slavishly abiding by 567 00:37:13,240 --> 00:37:18,960 certain precepts and being so rule and and and restrictive 568 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:22,240 oriented. It's about bringing joy to a 569 00:37:22,240 --> 00:37:26,680 real person. Notice it doesn't say here. 570 00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:29,360 So whether we are away or we're present that we should obey the 571 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:31,080 law. Well, yeah, there is an element 572 00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:32,720 of the law of Christ that we do obey. 573 00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:34,640 There is obedience in that. It's no, no, no. 574 00:37:34,640 --> 00:37:40,200 It's to please him. And what I love about this verse 575 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:44,080 in light of the context is that Paul is also implying, when I 576 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:47,840 realized this truth, by the way, it radically transformed me. 577 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:50,640 I'm just personally testifying because what Paul is saying here 578 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:55,800 is that there is a way to please the Lord in this body, that you 579 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,680 won't be able to please the Lord with your new body. 580 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,960 There is a way to please the Lord while on earth that you 581 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:04,960 won't be able to please the Lord in heaven. 582 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:13,000 This is what he believes, and This is why he can move forward 583 00:38:13,720 --> 00:38:17,480 and not even entertain the thought of giving up in his walk 584 00:38:17,480 --> 00:38:20,280 with the Lord. And here's one example in this 585 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,600 context, among many other examples. 586 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:25,120 Go to chapter 4. Again, look at verse 15. 587 00:38:25,760 --> 00:38:28,360 Notice what he says after in that chapter, at least this part 588 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:31,400 of the chapter, describing some of the sufferings that he and 589 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:33,480 his obedience invited into his life. 590 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:38,640 For it is all for your sake. So that as grace extends to more 591 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:42,400 and more people, it may increase Thanksgiving to the glory of 592 00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:45,240 God. So he tells his Corinthians, 593 00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:47,640 you, you want to know why I'm suffering the way I'm suffering? 594 00:38:47,960 --> 00:38:53,240 In part, it's for your sake. And more than that, my heartbeat 595 00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:57,120 in this life is that this gospel of grace would extend to more 596 00:38:57,760 --> 00:39:02,960 and more people so that more people can give glory to God for 597 00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:07,920 this grace that they received. Little idea of what Paul lived 598 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:11,360 for, that he would reach more than the word, would go out more 599 00:39:11,360 --> 00:39:12,200 and more. And guess what? 600 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:16,080 You can't do that when you receive this building in glory. 601 00:39:16,440 --> 00:39:18,720 Why? Because nobody's lost in that 602 00:39:18,720 --> 00:39:20,960 place. I know that's an astounding 603 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:24,240 thought. Your evangelism won't matter in 604 00:39:24,240 --> 00:39:27,640 heaven. Your your prayers are not going 605 00:39:27,640 --> 00:39:32,040 to go anywhere in heaven. You can't resist temptation in 606 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:36,120 heaven. It isn't there now in this life. 607 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:41,840 Can you glorify God in this tent that you won't be able to when 608 00:39:41,840 --> 00:39:44,920 it collapses and you receive your heavenly dwelling? 609 00:39:45,560 --> 00:39:48,160 Doesn't that motivate you? When you're in your ministry? 610 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:50,120 You're frustrated because you're not seeing the fruit that you 611 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:52,160 want to see or because nobody appreciates or there's even 612 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:56,040 persecution with it. As much as this is difficult, I 613 00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:59,240 know that I only have this breath of a life to be able to 614 00:39:59,240 --> 00:40:01,960 glorify God. How dare I even complain or 615 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:06,240 contemplate quitting. I'm only in this tent for a 616 00:40:06,240 --> 00:40:10,960 little while, so I'm going to stick with it and I'm going to 617 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:15,760 honor him as long as I live in this body because I'm going to 618 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:20,120 glorify him in another way when I am away from this body. 619 00:40:21,120 --> 00:40:23,720 Oh, that should energize you. It energizes man. 620 00:40:26,120 --> 00:40:32,960 Last motivation. Along with his encouragement 621 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:38,160 comes a sobering reminder in verse 10 that how we live in 622 00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:41,080 these bodies will determine the rewards that the resurrected 623 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:42,360 Lord will give us when we meet Him. 624 00:40:44,080 --> 00:40:48,560 Verse 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of 625 00:40:48,560 --> 00:40:52,640 Christ so that each one may receive what is due for what He 626 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:55,640 has done in the body, whether good or evil. 627 00:40:55,840 --> 00:41:00,560 Motivation #4 that this provides us is to live this life with 628 00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:04,000 accountability, with accountability, not just with 629 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:07,600 courageous faith, not just with a promise, not just with 630 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:11,160 purpose, but to live this life with a sense of accountability. 631 00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:15,120 So listen, we're not only going to experience embrace when we 632 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:19,200 are clothed with glory after we meet the Lord, we're also going 633 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:22,880 to be met with in evaluation. The judgement seemed of Christ 634 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:25,320 is not synonymous with the great white throne judgement that you 635 00:41:25,320 --> 00:41:27,880 find in Revelation, 22 different judgement seats. 636 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:30,280 The great white throne at the end of Revelation is for 637 00:41:30,280 --> 00:41:32,880 unbelievers to determine the degree of their punishment in 638 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:36,600 hell. The judgement seat of Christ is 639 00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:39,960 not Christ evaluating us to see if you are worthy to be saved. 640 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:44,760 That's been dealt with at the cross, but it will be an 641 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:49,920 evaluation to determine the rewards that you will know for 642 00:41:49,920 --> 00:41:54,240 eternity. Salvation is the same for all 643 00:41:54,240 --> 00:41:57,280 Christians. Rewards are not. 644 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:01,800 Yes, the Bible gloriously teaches that salvation cannot be 645 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:05,280 taken from you, but it also teaches that rewards can. 646 00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:10,680 And while we rejoice that salvation is for all who believe 647 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:14,000 you and I must understand that the rewards are for those who 648 00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:18,600 work. And the reason why Paul brings 649 00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:21,080 us up here is because the resurrection puts into proper 650 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:26,240 perspective meeting the Lord at that judgement seat, puts into 651 00:42:26,240 --> 00:42:30,600 perspective what we do as Christians with our time, with 652 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:36,200 our money, with our abilities, with our opportunities. 653 00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:40,240 Paul understood that he was called. 654 00:42:40,240 --> 00:42:43,120 Paul understood that he was gifted with an incredible mind. 655 00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:45,640 And when he lived with the realization that I will leave 656 00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:49,760 this tent and meet the Lord, yes, with an embrace, yes, to be 657 00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:52,600 clothed with something that I can't even explain in detail. 658 00:42:53,480 --> 00:42:56,760 I will also have a face to face conversation with the Savior to 659 00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:59,720 discuss what I did while I lived in that tent. 660 00:43:01,080 --> 00:43:03,160 And this is the last verse because we're going to close it 661 00:43:03,160 --> 00:43:04,400 here. But just to give you an idea, 662 00:43:04,560 --> 00:43:06,680 peek over at verse 11 to see what I'm speaking about. 663 00:43:06,800 --> 00:43:11,120 Therefore, so I shared this little verse here last Wednesday 664 00:43:11,120 --> 00:43:12,480 at our prayer meeting. Whenever you see the word, 665 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:14,640 therefore you have to say what is therefore, therefore, 666 00:43:15,400 --> 00:43:19,000 therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. 667 00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:23,600 Pause there. So he just finished in verse 10 668 00:43:23,600 --> 00:43:26,080 talking about the judgement seat of Christ, and he says we must 669 00:43:26,080 --> 00:43:30,480 all appear before it. Therefore I live with the fear 670 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:32,560 of God. Why? 671 00:43:32,560 --> 00:43:34,000 Because God will send you to hell. 672 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:36,840 No, he's a born again believer filled with the Spirit, sealed 673 00:43:36,840 --> 00:43:41,920 as a guarantee. I don't want to disappoint my 674 00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:46,440 God. I don't want to look at my life 675 00:43:46,880 --> 00:43:51,720 at the end and realize that I didn't honor His commands. 676 00:43:52,320 --> 00:43:56,040 I didn't fulfill my calling. I quit when He didn't tell me to 677 00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:58,880 quit. I lived in the flesh. 678 00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:03,720 I lived in carnality more than than I did in the Spirit. 679 00:44:07,000 --> 00:44:09,320 And so though there is no threat of losing salvation in these 680 00:44:09,320 --> 00:44:15,640 verses, there is the danger of missing out on a more fulfilling 681 00:44:15,640 --> 00:44:22,200 encounter with Christ. May the Lord help us live with a 682 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:28,600 realization that this tent is temporary, that we're promised a 683 00:44:28,600 --> 00:44:33,160 building and we're going to one day meet the builder of that 684 00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:36,320 building. And we've come to these elements 685 00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:39,920 because, yes, we're reflecting on the body and blood of Jesus, 686 00:44:41,120 --> 00:44:48,280 but we're also looking forward to the extent of this purchase 687 00:44:49,440 --> 00:44:51,200 of our eternal dwelling with him. 688 00:44:52,560 --> 00:44:56,200 So we would, we pray now and ask the Lord to help us believe it 689 00:44:56,200 --> 00:45:05,980 as this man Paul believed it. Lord, we thank you for this 690 00:45:05,980 --> 00:45:10,940 time. And we ask that the reality of 691 00:45:10,940 --> 00:45:13,260 the resurrection would be more real to us than anything else in 692 00:45:13,260 --> 00:45:18,000 this room. And we pray that the truths that 693 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:25,840 we heard from these verses would would never leave us, may be 694 00:45:25,840 --> 00:45:29,880 absorbed by every person, may get into the bloodstream of our 695 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:31,960 existence. We, we want to be like this man 696 00:45:31,960 --> 00:45:36,080 who was able to be so motivated by this truth. 697 00:45:37,360 --> 00:45:41,000 But we've come to reflect on your grace, thanking you that 698 00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:43,440 our salvation is a gift. But Lord, we also want this 699 00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:48,560 grace to not be in vain. We want it to stir us to be 700 00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:54,040 useful, effective, unashamed of your gospel. 701 00:45:55,200 --> 00:45:59,480 We give you thanks today together in Jesus name, Amen. 702 00:46:00,120 --> 00:46:03,960 Allow me to make one more observation about this truth of 703 00:46:04,240 --> 00:46:07,000 our glorification, the final stage of our salvation. 704 00:46:07,560 --> 00:46:12,560 Each of us in here very likely will fall asleep at a different 705 00:46:12,560 --> 00:46:14,160 time. And I use the New Testament 706 00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:17,760 language for death. Everyone here will fall asleep 707 00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:21,280 at a unique time. There are instances where it 708 00:46:21,280 --> 00:46:25,800 happens tragically with others at the same time, but generally 709 00:46:25,800 --> 00:46:30,280 that's the case. Additionally, most if not all of 710 00:46:30,280 --> 00:46:34,400 us in here were saved at a unique, different time. 711 00:46:35,160 --> 00:46:38,000 But when it comes to us being clothed with our heavenly 712 00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:42,240 dwelling, the glorification of our bodies, I'm not sure if you 713 00:46:42,240 --> 00:46:45,480 know this, but that's going to happen collectively at one time, 714 00:46:46,520 --> 00:46:51,240 that upon the return of Jesus Christ, his entire body, the 715 00:46:51,240 --> 00:46:55,160 church will be transformed, the twinkling of an eye. 716 00:46:55,840 --> 00:46:58,080 So think about this. Even in our glorification, 717 00:46:58,520 --> 00:47:01,200 everything that we've known, even in Christ has been unique 718 00:47:01,200 --> 00:47:03,160 and separate and individualistic to some degree. 719 00:47:03,480 --> 00:47:07,240 But when it comes to that final stage, we're all going to know 720 00:47:07,240 --> 00:47:11,080 it at the same time. Not a glorious thought, but we 721 00:47:11,080 --> 00:47:13,840 thank you. Your word is so deep, so rich. 722 00:47:14,280 --> 00:47:17,480 We ask, Oh God, for those who might be struggling with 723 00:47:17,480 --> 00:47:21,560 sickness, maybe their own bodies or those who are deeply loved 724 00:47:21,760 --> 00:47:27,520 that are their tents are ready to collapse. 725 00:47:28,080 --> 00:47:30,800 Lord, may the truth of the resurrection bring them comfort 726 00:47:31,320 --> 00:47:33,640 and knowing that this not it's not the end. 727 00:47:33,640 --> 00:47:37,080 This is not the permanent state of their being or for us who are 728 00:47:37,080 --> 00:47:39,840 enduring persecution and suffering from family friends 729 00:47:39,840 --> 00:47:43,000 for our faith in Christ. May we remember that it is worth 730 00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:46,000 it because this pain is not the end of the story either. 731 00:47:46,800 --> 00:47:50,400 The betrayal, the harm, the the loneliness at times is not the 732 00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:53,000 final say. We will be gathered together 733 00:47:53,000 --> 00:47:57,200 forever Lord, when we feel like we've lost purpose or we've lost 734 00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:00,400 passion or we're even feeling weak in our service to you. 735 00:48:00,640 --> 00:48:04,400 May we remember the face to face encounter that we will have for 736 00:48:04,600 --> 00:48:07,520 with the one that saved us. May we never lose sight of it. 737 00:48:07,520 --> 00:48:09,320 Oh God. So we pray that you instill 738 00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:12,440 these truths. Help us live before them, Lord, 739 00:48:12,720 --> 00:48:15,360 place them before the eyes of our minds so that we would never 740 00:48:15,360 --> 00:48:17,320 fail to recognize these promises. 741 00:48:18,080 --> 00:48:19,280 Lord, we love you and we thank you. 742 00:48:19,280 --> 00:48:22,680 As a church we give you all thanks and honor in Jesus name, 743 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:24,080 Amen and Amen.