1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,360 Amen. If you read in the book of 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:10,440 Judges, there's a woman in the Bible, her name was AXA, and she 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:19,960 come to her father-in-law and she said, give me a blessing and 4 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:23,440 we can come to our heavenly Father and we can say the same 5 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:27,000 thing to him. And then he'd remind us that 6 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:31,560 he's already blessed us with many wonderful blessings in 7 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:33,960 Christ. Our Bible reading is taken from 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,720 First Thessalonians chapter 5, and we're going to read from the 9 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,120 verse 9 right through to verse 15. 10 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,840 First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 9. 11 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,160 Let's hear the Word of God for those online. 12 00:00:47,160 --> 00:00:48,520 The words will come up on screen. 13 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:55,440 We're reading, of course, from the King James Bible, a most 14 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:58,800 faithful and reliable translation of the Holy 15 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:04,000 Scriptures. First Thessalonians, chapter 5, 16 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,240 verse 9. Let's hear the word of God. 17 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:13,520 Follow with me. For God have not appointed us to 18 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:21,200 wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who 19 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:28,080 died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live 20 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:33,160 together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves 21 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:39,880 together, and edify one another, even as also you do. 22 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:45,880 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among 23 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:52,480 you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to 24 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:57,520 esteem them very highly, and love for their work's sake, and 25 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:02,680 be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort your brethren, 26 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:09,680 warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, 27 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:17,600 support the weak, be patient toward all men, See that none 28 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:23,960 render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which 29 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:30,280 is good both among yourselves and to all men. 30 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:32,840 Amen. We know that God will stamp with 31 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,120 his own approval and blessing, this reading of His own precious 32 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:42,560 and infallible Word. Amen. 33 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:50,640 Now this morning I am continuing with our expository studies in 34 00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:55,720 the book of First Thessalonians, and today again we're at chapter 35 00:02:56,120 --> 00:03:02,000 5, and my text today is found in First Thessalonians chapter 5, 36 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:07,520 verses 9 through to 11. For God hath not appointed us to 37 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,360 wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who 38 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,920 died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live 39 00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:16,400 together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves 40 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,600 together and edify one another, even as also ye do. 41 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:27,120 They have entitled this message the Christian certainty on 42 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:33,320 Christ's return. Now you're well aware, beloved, 43 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:37,640 we are living in uncertain times. 44 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:45,880 The drum beat and the clouds of war over Iran have brought 45 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,960 tremendous upheaval into our world. 46 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:57,120 Many are living in fear. Fear of economic upheaval, the 47 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,480 fear of the unknown. Maybe it's a fear of illness, a 48 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,760 fear of death. Maybe it's even a fear of the 49 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,560 judgement of God. Let me ask this morning, is that 50 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,920 a picture of you? Is that a picture of the state 51 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,520 of your heart and mind today in the House of God? 52 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,680 You see, in the context of First Thessalonians chapter 5, the 53 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,480 apostle Paul had been addressing the subject of the Day of the 54 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,840 Lord and the sudden judgement that is coming upon the world of 55 00:04:26,840 --> 00:04:30,880 ungodly men. And in light of all this, true 56 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:35,840 believers are exhorted to watch, be sober, and put on the 57 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:40,920 breastplate of faith and love and the helmet called the hope 58 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,400 of salvation. Now these Thessalonian 59 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,680 believers, like us, they face trials and troubles. 60 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,720 They faced opposition, they experienced persecution. 61 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,680 They were living in days of uncertainty, days of doubt and 62 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,240 fear. And here in First Thessalonians 63 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:08,440 chapter 5 verses 9 to 11, the apostle Paul issues a powerful 64 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,760 word of great assurance to them. Listen to verse 9. 65 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:18,080 For God had not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation 66 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:23,440 by our Lord Jesus Christ. All true believers who are saved 67 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:28,440 by the grace of God alone, through faith in Christ alone, 68 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:35,200 they're not only saved, but they're also secure and in 69 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,680 Christ. They're satisfied now with 70 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:43,240 manifold blessings, and of course, they'll be satisfied in 71 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,480 the day of Christ's return when he comes back in power and 72 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,440 glory. All true believers, therefore, 73 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,360 should be spiritually awaiting Christ's return. 74 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,560 All true believers should be spiritually anticipating that 75 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,160 day. See, God's people are not 76 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,840 destined for wrath. They're not destined for fear 77 00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:09,920 and judgement. They're destined for the throne 78 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,160 room. They're destined to be welcomed 79 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,120 into heaven. Why? 80 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,480 How? Because the Lord Jesus has died. 81 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,560 Because the Lord Jesus has rose again, and Christ's atoning work 82 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:31,920 in Calvary, his finished work in the cross, is the guarantee of 83 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:38,360 our acceptance, the ground of our assurance, and of course, 84 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:44,120 the glory of our anticipation. And that's the teaching of First 85 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,760 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 9:00 to 11:00. 86 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,560 That's why I've called it the Christian certainty on Christ's 87 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,240 return. Now three things about this 88 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:58,280 certainty. Very quickly, there's a 89 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:05,400 foundational certainty. You see verses 9 to 11 bring to 90 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:10,640 a penultimate close Paul's teaching on the doctrine of our 91 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,640 Lord's return to earth in power and glory. 92 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:20,040 And as Paul closes this major theme, this is what he says, For 93 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,920 God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation 94 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:30,600 by our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, Paul is aware that as 95 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:35,560 he closes this theme about the second coming of Christ, that 96 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:40,440 this theme has got on a practical application. 97 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,880 There is a practical application of this important doctrine. 98 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,200 The doctrine of Christ, personal, visible, bodily return 99 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,400 to this earth, is so designed to have a very big impact upon our 100 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:56,080 lives as the people of God. The doctrine of the Second 101 00:07:56,080 --> 00:08:00,560 Advent, rightly believed and rightly understood, prompts us, 102 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:05,840 directs us, urges us to pursue a life of true holiness unto the 103 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:09,280 Lord. It instils within us a hatred 104 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,400 for sin. It instils within us a longing 105 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,520 for a deeper and a greater and a better knowledge of who God is. 106 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,720 Creates within us that pursuit after holiness. 107 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:22,320 Where? Why? 108 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:27,000 We die unto sin more and more, and live more and more unto 109 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,160 righteousness. You see, every true Christian 110 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:36,080 should be aiming for striving to live a holy life in the sure 111 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,440 expectation of our Lord's Second Advent. 112 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,360 That's what John taught. Listen to these words first, 113 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,120 John 3 and 1. Beloved. 114 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,800 Now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we 115 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,680 shall be, but when we know that when He shall appear, we shall 116 00:08:51,680 --> 00:08:56,120 be like Him, for we shall see him as he is. 117 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:00,000 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself 118 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:04,360 even as he impure. Now that day, when it comes, 119 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,240 will not and should not surprise us. 120 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:09,720 Why? Because we're children of the 121 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,920 light. We're children of the day. 122 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:17,680 We remember should be awake to His coming. 123 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,200 We should be alert to His coming. 124 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:25,480 We should be armed in light of His coming, armed with the 125 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:30,400 breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of salvation. 126 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,600 The breastplate, remember, covers the heart, and the helmet 127 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,520 protects the mind. Both the heart and the mind of 128 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,360 the true believer needs to be protected in a day of trial. 129 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:45,720 And a day of trouble needs to be defended at all costs. 130 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:51,040 And remember, we're to live a life of complete dependence on 131 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,440 the Lord. Think of the hymn My faith looks 132 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:59,280 up to Thee were to live a life of delight in the Lord. 133 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,880 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he'll give thee the 134 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:06,800 desires of thine heart and God and Christ must be the chief 135 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,560 object of her love. We must love Him first and 136 00:10:10,560 --> 00:10:13,320 foremost. And added to this life of 137 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,160 dependence and a life of delight is a life of desire. 138 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:18,360 We have got the hope of salvation. 139 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,200 We thought about this last week, how that that hope was sure and 140 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,080 steadfast. And the hope of salvation is the 141 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,080 guarantee of a future blessing. Heaven. 142 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:32,120 And I want you to notice that the Christians hope rests on a 143 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,560 great foundational truth. And here's the foundational 144 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:38,080 truth. God has made a divine 145 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:42,480 appointment for his people. God has a plan for his people, 146 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,880 and God's plan for his people is salvation. 147 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,400 Notice the words here verse 9. For God has not appointed us. 148 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:53,760 The word appointed means to set, to establish. 149 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:58,280 And what has he not set us to or established us? 150 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,040 For He has not appointed us to wrath. 151 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:07,200 Now wrath is what we deserve because of sin. 152 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:12,160 Every man in his natural state deserves wrath. 153 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,440 Wrath refers to God's righteous judgement upon sin. 154 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,720 You know that the world of ungodly men is moving on towards 155 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:25,160 the great day of God's wrath upon the world, but true 156 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,800 believers are not appointed to wrath. 157 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:34,440 Yes, we all deserve God's holy, righteous punishment for sin, 158 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,720 but God's plan for the children of day, the children of light, 159 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,360 is not wrath, but to obtain salvation. 160 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:46,520 Remember, the wrath is God's settled anger and opposition 161 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:52,280 upon all sin. The word salvation here has a 162 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,680 very wide meaning. It includes being born again. 163 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,640 It includes a full, free and forever justification. 164 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,280 It includes A pardon from all known, secret and presumptuous 165 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:04,640 sin. It includes peace with God. 166 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,640 It includes deliverance from sin's penalty and sin's power. 167 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:12,120 The power of sin is broken in the life. 168 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,920 It includes a a life of acceptance by a holy God. 169 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:21,320 It includes being indwelt by the Spirit, whereby we're led and 170 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:25,800 prompted by the Holy Spirit. It includes growing in grace and 171 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,160 in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 172 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,080 It also includes assurance of a home in heaven. 173 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:33,960 It includes the anticipation of heaven. 174 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,160 I wonder, are you excited about heaven? 175 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,240 You can't wait. You know your life is moving 176 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:46,200 quickly, and you know one day your life will end. 177 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,680 And God has woven a wonderful plan for your life. 178 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:53,000 But the plan doesn't end when you die, because whenever you 179 00:12:53,000 --> 00:13:01,760 die, you enter into heaven. Sadly, many of God's people are 180 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,520 not anticipating that day. They're not assured of that day. 181 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,680 They're anxious about that day. They're worried Here's here's 182 00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:13,080 what they think. What if my life doesn't measure 183 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:17,080 up? What if my love for Christ is 184 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,160 weak? What if I have weak faith? 185 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,600 What about my coldness and my carelessness? 186 00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:25,520 What about the missed opportunities? 187 00:13:25,680 --> 00:13:28,200 What about the things that God told me to do that I didn't do 188 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,240 because I was stubborn and rebellious and wanted my way? 189 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,000 What about my sins and my shortcomings? 190 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:37,560 Now, is that how you feel this morning? 191 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:45,400 Is that a picture of you? You see, on the one hand, we're 192 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,640 meant to anticipate heaven because heaven is assured and 193 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,760 guaranteed. But the truth is, we're often 194 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,920 anxious about going into heaven because we don't feel worthy or 195 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,880 feel deserving. But let me ask this question. 196 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,160 What is the basis of your salvation? 197 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:08,400 What is the foundation? Is it based on Christ's 198 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,520 atonement? Is it rooted in Christ's 199 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:16,080 accomplishment on the tree? How can a true believer 200 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,600 anticipate and expect, get excited about entering heaven? 201 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,440 There's only one answer, salvation by the Lord Jesus 202 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,480 Christ. Look at first night, for God has 203 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:31,680 not appointed us to wrap, but to obtain salvation by our Lord 204 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:38,520 Jesus Christ who died for us. Did you notice that in 1st 10? 205 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:43,920 We'll pause there. You see, the foundational truth 206 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:49,160 of our certainty is the fact of Christ's accomplishment, 207 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,160 Christ's atoning once and for all sacrifice for sin. 208 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:58,160 But this man, after he'd offered one sacrifice for sins forever 209 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:00,600 sat down on the right hand of God. 210 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,920 What secures our readiness for heaven, Our rightness for 211 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,360 heaven? It's Christ's atoning sacrifice 212 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:12,120 on Mount Calvary. Here's what we're not appointed 213 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:13,920 to. We're not appointed to wrath. 214 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:18,000 We're not destined, set and established for wrath. 215 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:23,560 This appointment is a reference here to God's sovereign 216 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:28,840 determination and plan of someone for his own particular 217 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:33,120 purpose. You see, it's often known as the 218 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,560 doctrine of election or the doctrine of predestination. 219 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,440 And sadly, many Christian professing Christians stumbling 220 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:41,840 over this. They reject this. 221 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,680 But this is a Bible doctrine. And remember what we read there 222 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:51,120 in Ephesians chapter 1, I'd say as there blessed be the God and 223 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,480 Father for Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with all 224 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,800 spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ, according as 225 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,360 He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, 226 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,200 that we should be holy and without playing before Him in 227 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,840 love. God hasn't programmed us like 228 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:09,760 robots. Doesn't mean that we're not able 229 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:13,720 to make real choices for which we are responsible. 230 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:19,520 No, it means that God is a plan. God has had a plan from all 231 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:23,000 eternity. God has a purpose and God has 232 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:28,400 the power to carry out His plan. And remember what we read there 233 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:35,200 in the Gospel of Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 46 and verse 234 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:40,240 10, God says, my counsel shall stand and I will do all my good 235 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,280 pleasure. He tells us in chapter 14 and 236 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:47,360 verse 24 the Lord of hosts have sworn, saying, surely as I have 237 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:51,480 thought, so shall it come to pass, and as I have purposed, so 238 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:56,200 shall it stand. And over there in Psalm 33 and 239 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:59,920 in the verse 11, the counsel of the Lord standeth forever the 240 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:03,520 thoughts of His heart to all generations. 241 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:08,800 God has a plan, and God has the power to carry out that plan. 242 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:12,599 And that plan is nothing to do with human optimism, nothing to 243 00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:16,440 do with human ingenuity. No, it's the plan of God rooted 244 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:18,800 in God's sovereign determination. 245 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:22,839 And if anyone's going to be saved, it happens because God 246 00:17:22,839 --> 00:17:26,520 has predestinated that and God has caused it to happen. 247 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,120 And that's exactly what Paul taught in the book of Romans, in 248 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:33,960 Romans chapter 8, Remember in verse 29 he says for whom he did 249 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,040 for No, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to 250 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:40,160 the image of a son, that he might be the first born among 251 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:41,720 many brethren. Moreover, whom He did 252 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:43,960 predestinate them he also called, and whom he called them 253 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,720 he also justified, and whom he justified them He also 254 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:50,560 glorified. God's wonderful plan is all 255 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,320 about salvation, and salvation's all of God, and it's all of 256 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:58,200 grace, and it's all for the glory of God, and all glory goes 257 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,080 to the Lord. Now let that sink in this 258 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,040 morning. Let that impact upon your 259 00:18:04,040 --> 00:18:07,920 thoughts and your mind. God and Christ set His love on 260 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:10,040 you from before the foundation of the world. 261 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:14,120 God prepared a most glorious future for you. 262 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:18,840 God sent His Son to pay the price for your salvation. 263 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,640 And your salvation is that you have not been appointed to 264 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,840 wrath. You've been saved from wrath. 265 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:31,120 And your salvation is secure and sure, not because you feebly lay 266 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:34,960 hold on the Lord, but because the Lord planned it all. 267 00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:38,880 And the Lord has laid hold on you by His Spirit and give you 268 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,960 the gift of faith. Now let me ask this question. 269 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,120 Are you aware of this truth? Have you laid hold upon this 270 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:52,080 fact that your assurance of heaven, your anticipation of 271 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:56,680 being there, is founded upon Christ and Christ's death alone? 272 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,680 Christ bore the wrath of God for you. 273 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:03,280 Christ satisfied divine justice. Christ kept the law of God 274 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:06,320 perfectly. So I'm asking, are you excited 275 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,200 this morning? Are you stirred up? 276 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,560 Are you awake and alert to this truth? 277 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:14,080 Have you armed yourself in your heart and mind? 278 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,120 See, many are not. Many professing Christians are 279 00:19:17,120 --> 00:19:20,520 focused on the things of the world, things of time and sense 280 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:24,080 spiritually. They're drowsy, they're cold and 281 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,600 they're careless. And that impacts upon them. 282 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:28,920 When it comes to the prayer meeting, they're absent from the 283 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:31,200 prayer meeting. They don't read the Word of God 284 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:35,680 Day and daily they don't really come to the House of God and the 285 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,360 Day of God to worship the Christ of God. 286 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:44,240 They profess to love him, but it's it's very weak and it's 287 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,720 it's a waning love. They're not living in 288 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:50,400 expectation of heaven. They're not excited about 289 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,680 heaven. They're not assured of heaven. 290 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:58,520 They're not expecting a full and final salvation when Christ 291 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,920 returns. The foundation of this certainty 292 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:04,720 very quickly. It's a focused sermon, focused 293 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:06,280 certainty. Go back to our text. 294 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:10,440 Notice what it says in verse 10. That whether we wake or sleep, 295 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,120 we should live together with him. 296 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,560 You see, the ultimate aim and purpose and promise of the 297 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:20,600 gospel is that we live together with Christ forever. 298 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:26,480 The phrase wake or sleep in the context is not whether we're 299 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:31,080 spiritually awake or alert and expecting Christ coming or 300 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,400 spiritually asleep and insensitive and careless about 301 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:37,720 his coming. It's that's not the meaning. 302 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,440 It's not that all of us together, the excited and the 303 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,800 non excited will live with him when he comes. 304 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:46,360 That's not the teaching of the Bible. 305 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,800 That's not the proper context. It's, it's ludicrous to suggest 306 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,000 that Paul means whether you live like a child of darkness or 307 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:55,360 whether you're a child of the light. 308 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,120 It will make little difference in that day. 309 00:20:57,120 --> 00:20:59,520 It'll not really matter. It'll be all OK in the end. 310 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:00,880 We'll all be brought into heaven. 311 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,880 No, that's not the teaching. The word wake here is those who 312 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:08,920 are alive when Christ comes. The word sleep here is those who 313 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:11,400 have died in Christ. Their bodies have been buried, 314 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:18,320 but they were died in Christ. Remember 2nd Corinthians 517 If 315 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:20,080 any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. 316 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:22,200 Old things have passed away and all things have become new and 317 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,640 all things are have gone. And what is the evidence of 318 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:26,640 God's salvation that you profess? 319 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,960 Is it not a changed and transformed life? 320 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:34,080 And you see, if if God in Christ has changed you, you have the 321 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:38,960 nature of God within you, you'll not live comfortably in sin. 322 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:44,560 I'm gutted about those that tell me that they love the Lord Jesus 323 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:48,520 but deliberately violate the commands of Christ. 324 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:53,880 Remember we read this in first John chapter 2 verse 3. 325 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:58,440 And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his 326 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:01,040 commandments. He that saith I know Him, and 327 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,560 keepeth not his commandments as a liar, and the truth is not in 328 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:06,480 Him, but who shall keepeth His word? 329 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,840 And Him verily, as the love of God perfected, hereby know we 330 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:19,480 that we are in Him. In the context here, living or 331 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:23,960 dead, we'll be granted eternal resurrection. 332 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:29,000 Our bodies will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns and 333 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:33,440 we will be with him and we will live with him forever. 334 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,600 That is God's promise to all who believe in the Lord Jesus 335 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,280 Christ. So the focus is a focus, 336 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:47,200 certainty, and the focus is, of course, an eternal life with 337 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,480 Christ. And that eternal life is certain 338 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:56,440 because of our union with Christ, being in Him, being with 339 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,360 him forever. He is all the glory. 340 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:09,080 Remember, in Emmanuel's land it is the continuity and the 341 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:15,920 certainty of life in Christ. In Christ were spiritual men and 342 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,640 spiritual women, and in Christ, because we're spiritual, we live 343 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,920 spiritually unto the Lord, and death cannot break the promise, 344 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,080 the grave cannot cancel the hope. 345 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:30,200 We are safe and secure and we are satisfied with all that we 346 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,280 have in Christ. You and I remember, have a 347 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:40,120 wonderful inheritance in Christ. In Psalm 16 and in the verse 15, 348 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:44,120 the psalmist made this tremendous statement. 349 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:51,560 Psalm 16 and verse five rather than 15. 350 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:54,520 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. 351 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:59,240 Thou maintainest, my Lord you in Christ we have a glorious 352 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,320 portion. In Christ we have a glorious 353 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:06,240 promise in Christ with a glorious perfection. 354 00:24:06,360 --> 00:24:09,200 Not only are we in him and going to be with Him, but we're going 355 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,080 to be like him. We're going to have a body like 356 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,440 unto his glorious body. And if our bodies is going to be 357 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,520 His, then surely we should see to it to protect our heart and 358 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:20,880 protect our mind. We should be careful with the 359 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,880 use of our tongue. We should be careful with our 360 00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,120 hands. We should be careful with our 361 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:30,080 our money and and not only is there glorious portion and 362 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:33,160 promise and perfection here, but we're going to a glorious place. 363 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:36,320 Where's Jesus this morning? He's he's in the heavens, the 364 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:40,560 3rd heaven forever. That is where heaven where Jesus 365 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,480 is, there's heaven there, the hymn writer said. 366 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,040 And that's the glorious place that we're going to. 367 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,360 It's a focus certainty. One final thing. 368 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,680 It's a fruitful certainty. Look at verse 11. 369 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:55,600 It says where for comfort yourselves together and edify 370 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:59,720 one another as also ye do. The word wherefore means in 371 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,240 light of this. You see, God's people are to 372 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:07,760 encourage, build up one another with this wonderful truth. 373 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:13,400 The truth of anticipating heaven, the truth of being with 374 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:18,360 Christ, which is far better, The truth of being like Christ in 375 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:25,080 the glory, a full and free and final salvation, a forever 376 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:28,680 salvation. And this truth in the Scriptures 377 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:33,360 is not merely theoretical, it's to produce spiritual 378 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:35,960 fruitfulness. Notice the feature of the 379 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:40,440 encouragement, he says, Wherefore comfort yourselves 380 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:45,360 together. This assurance, this 381 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:49,000 anticipation of salvation should produce encouragement among true 382 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,240 believers. We live in a troubled world. 383 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,680 We've been shocked with what's happening in Iran. 384 00:25:55,840 --> 00:26:00,680 The world is full of uncertainty this morning, and we're to 385 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,480 strengthen one another. How do we do that? 386 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:11,760 The feature of encouragement by our words and by our actions. 387 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:18,960 We speak to each other about the glorious portion that we have in 388 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,600 Christ, the glorious promise, the glorious perfection, the 389 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:29,720 glorious place that we're bound to, the glorious promise of 390 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:33,440 Christ's return. Brothers and sisters, I know 391 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:35,960 this morning that many of you need a wee word of 392 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,560 encouragement. I know that for you, life is 393 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:41,920 tough. I know that there's trials and 394 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,480 troubles in your lives individually and and in your 395 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,000 families. And think of the comforter. 396 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,720 What did he do? He comes alongside to help. 397 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,560 And you can sense the Lord drawing near to you. 398 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,480 And here we are in an ungodly world, a World of Darkness and 399 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:58,240 depravity, a world of difficulty. 400 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:02,320 And when we think of the future, you think of what awaits us in 401 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:06,320 glory in Christ. I've got a glorious portion in 402 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,960 Christ. I've got a glorious promise, The 403 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,600 Father's house in Christ. I'm going to be like him, not 404 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:15,560 only with him. That's a glorious perfection in 405 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,600 Christ. I'm bound to a glorious place. 406 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,760 I can be assured and anticipate heaven. 407 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:24,720 This morning. Think of what awaits you in 408 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:28,160 glory. Notice the feature of edifying 409 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:30,240 one another. Not when he says word for 410 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:35,080 comfort yourselves together. He also adds and edify one 411 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,880 another. That's a deeper meaning. 412 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,040 The word edify means to build up. 413 00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,680 Think of a an architect and a builder building a house. 414 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:52,120 We're to build up one another and that involves a plan that 415 00:27:52,120 --> 00:27:56,800 involves a priority, that involves a purpose. 416 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,960 The Bible says do good to all men, especially there who are 417 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:02,360 the household of faith. And again this involves our 418 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:05,200 words. This involves our actions and 419 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,280 we're to bless and help one another. 420 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:09,520 We're certainly not to hurt one another. 421 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,360 I want to tell you that. And if anybody feels hurt by 422 00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:15,560 another believer, come and speak to me. 423 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:18,920 I had a dear lady who phoned me yesterday and tell me about her 424 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,800 hurts in the House of God. And I was shocked. 425 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,400 I was saddened and, and and it's not right. 426 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:33,400 I'm not here to be a bully. I'm here to bless the people of 427 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:38,120 God, to help the people of God. We're not to act out of hate and 428 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:42,000 spite. 1 to one another. We'll certainly not speak rotten 429 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,360 and bad words one with another. We'll finish this morning. 430 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:46,800 Turn over there to the book of Job. 431 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:51,280 Jude, In the little epistle of Jude, just before you come to 432 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:54,560 Revelation, listen to verse 20. It says this. 433 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,920 But ye beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy 434 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,720 faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping yourselves in the 435 00:29:00,720 --> 00:29:04,840 love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 436 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:09,400 unto eternal life, that's connected to the second coming 437 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,320 of the Lord Jesus Christ. Build up one another in the most 438 00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:17,760 holy faith with, with gospel truth, with gospel night, with, 439 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:22,000 with gospel grace. That's our responsibility. 440 00:29:23,320 --> 00:29:28,520 Notice this as we finish, even as also you do. 441 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,720 In other words, this was the practise of the believers in 442 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:33,680 Thessalonica. They were already doing this. 443 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,160 They were involved in this feature of encouragement with 444 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:41,000 words and actions. They were involved in this 445 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:45,480 edifying of the believers by by building them up. 446 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:50,000 They were already doing this. And Paul's just saying keep on 447 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:56,120 doing it even as also you do. Many are having a hard time. 448 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:00,560 Maybe they need a wee phone call and a word of encouragement. 449 00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:03,600 Maybe they need a wee ladder or a wee card. 450 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:07,000 Think of those who've lost loved ones that we've prayed for so 451 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,480 often. Think of those who are suffering 452 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:13,160 illness and sickness. See, Paul had a pastor's heart 453 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:19,840 and Paul had a pastoral concern. And Paul points them to God's 454 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:24,400 plan and purpose and salvation. And he reminds us them that that 455 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:29,280 plan of salvation was founded on the death of Christ and that 456 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:35,240 that plan of salvation is forever finalised in the second 457 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:39,400 coming of Christ. Those that are living a night of 458 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:44,040 His coming are anticipating it. They're excited about it. 459 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:48,160 Even so, come Lord Jesus. Now, many are not living like 460 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:49,640 this. Many are not thinking about 461 00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:51,400 Christ. They're not anticipating heaven 462 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:53,640 and home. They're certainly not praying in 463 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:56,200 the Holy Ghost. They're not laying hold of the 464 00:30:56,200 --> 00:30:58,360 Lord. There's certainly no passion and 465 00:30:58,360 --> 00:31:02,800 power in their prayers. You see, the aim of God's people 466 00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:05,000 should be this. My brother, I want to help you. 467 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:07,960 My brother, I want to encourage you. 468 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:12,120 My brother, I want to or sister, I want to edify you and the 469 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:16,800 Lord. You see, if we say we're going 470 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:18,240 to heaven and it needs to be seen. 471 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:21,760 If we say we're going to heaven and it needs to be shown. 472 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:25,640 If we say we're going to heaven and we need to be shown. 473 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:30,080 If we say we're going to heaven and we need to be sanctified, is 474 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:33,240 that true of you? I pray the Lord will bless these 475 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:35,400 few thoughts to your heart. The smile.