Participants:
Series Code: TMC
Program Code: TMC000027A
|
00:13 Tonight, we're doing something little special, folks.
00:17 Tonight, we're kind of featuring Dona Klein. 00:21 As I told you, a couple of years ago, 00:24 she started writing music. 00:26 And not only has she written some 00:28 but you've listened to her play at the organ. 00:30 Tonight, you're going to have the privilege 00:32 of not only listen to her play at the organ 00:36 but you're going to hear her sing, 00:38 one of her songs is titled, 00:40 entitled, "After the Rain." 01:02 When the twilight fades 01:10 Into purple shades 01:17 And I'm deep in blue 01:25 All the long night through 01:32 In my mind I see 01:39 Days that used to be 01:46 Then the teardrops start 01:53 Raining in my heart 02:01 When the raindrops hide 02:08 The rainbow of God's love 02:15 It's then I hear His voice 02:22 Speaking gently 02:24 From above 02:30 Into every life 02:37 A little rain must fall 02:44 So look up, my child 02:51 Dry your eyes and smile 02:59 As the years go by 03:06 There'll still be times 03:08 I'll cry 03:13 But through the clouds of rain 03:20 I can see 03:22 His smiling face 03:27 Though the nights are long 03:35 Jesus gives a song 03:42 Joy replaces pain 03:49 After all the rain 03:56 Joy replaces pain 04:04 After all the rain 04:22 As I mentioned to you, 04:23 we kind of featuring Dona tonight, 04:26 she's written quite a number of songs 04:30 in the last two years. 04:31 And one of the songs 04:33 that she has written about heaven, 04:34 and that's what we're going to be talking about tonight. 04:37 Tell me how to find my loved ones. 04:39 We're going to talk about heaven. 04:41 And she's written a song entitled, 04:43 "Almost Home." 04:45 And tonight Maddy is gonna sing that song. 04:48 And Dona will be joining her on the course. 04:51 So I hope that you're blessed 04:53 as Maddy brings that beautiful song to us. 05:04 Sometimes life gets so heavy 05:09 And I get so weary 05:12 Of fighting the good fight 05:16 Of faith 05:19 And the world seems to glimmer 05:23 With its fake gold and silver 05:27 Tempting me 05:29 To give up the race 05:34 Close the door 05:36 Lord, behind me 05:38 On these things that bind me 05:42 And then 05:44 Remind me again 05:50 That I am a sinner 05:53 A wayfaring stranger 05:57 In search of a land without end 06:03 I am almost home 06:08 Where Jesus is waiting 06:12 Where angels are singing 06:15 And where 06:17 I'll never more roam 06:23 Hallelujah I am almost home 06:34 All the sickness and dying 06:38 With it sadness and crying 06:41 Will all be 06:43 A thing of the past 06:49 And this world with its sorrow 06:53 Will all go tomorrow 06:56 And all things 06:58 Will be new at last 07:04 No more heartache or grieving 07:07 For soon I'll be leaving 07:11 For a land 07:13 Where I'll never more roam 07:19 I hear sweet music playing 07:23 And soon I'll be singing 07:26 Up there in that city of gold 07:32 I'm almost home 07:37 Where Jesus is waiting 07:41 Where angels are singing 07:45 And where 07:47 I'll never more roam 07:52 Hallelujah! 07:54 I'm almost home 07:59 Praise God 08:02 I'm almost home 08:07 Hallelujah! 08:09 I'm almost home 08:30 Father in heaven, tonight, 08:34 we're so thankful that we're almost home. 08:38 We ask that as we take a look 08:42 at the wonderful things that You've prepared for us 08:46 that our hearts may be open, 08:49 our minds may be clear, 08:52 that the Holy Spirit may fill our lives, 08:56 and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim 09:02 as we look to You and to Your wonderful face. 09:06 For this we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 09:18 Well, we're living in an age of modern technology. 09:23 Living in an age where we have 09:26 what we call highways of communication. 09:29 And because of these highways of communication today, 09:33 they can find almost any person, 09:37 any place in the world. 09:39 You can just... 09:41 In fact, there are companies that advertise 09:45 that for $35, 09:48 they'll find somebody for you. 09:50 You can't find a loved one, 09:52 you don't know where they are, 09:53 for $35 they'll find them for you. 09:56 That's part of the highway of communications 09:59 that we're living in today. 10:00 And in spite of all that, 10:03 there's still people that are lost. 10:05 Young people run off from home, 10:09 parents don't know where they are, 10:12 can't seem to locate them, find them, 10:16 even some of the homeless on the streets, 10:21 loved ones that people don't know. 10:24 In fact, I picked up a paper the other day 10:27 and read where these people 10:30 were walking down the streets of Los Angeles, 10:34 and here they found their brother 10:37 that they hadn't seen 15, 20 years, 10:41 homeless on the street in Los Angeles. 10:45 We live in a world like that today. 10:48 But what about our loved ones? 10:50 Is it going to be possible for me 10:52 to find my loved ones up in heaven? 10:56 Will I know them? 10:57 Will I recognize them? 10:59 What promise do I have? 11:00 What does the scripture tell me about finding my loved ones? 11:05 What is heaven going to be like? 11:08 Can we know one another? 11:10 What does the scripture have to say about it? 11:11 That's what we're gonna look at tonight. 11:13 Here in 1 Corinthians 13:12, 11:17 it says, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly," 11:22 we don't really see very good right now, 11:24 we see in a mirror dimly, "but then face to face. 11:29 Now I know in part, 11:32 but then I shall know just as I also am known." 11:37 So yes, it says we're going to know one another, 11:40 we'll recognize one another. 11:42 We'll know who people are. 11:44 In fact, people that you and I wouldn't recognize by looks. 11:49 The scripture says that we'll know who they are 11:52 because it says this. 11:54 Matthew 8:11. 11:56 "I say to you that many 11:58 will come from the east and west, 12:01 and sit down with Abraham, 12:04 Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." 12:07 It's going to be an experience, ain't it? 12:09 Sit down and talk to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 12:14 Marvelous. 12:15 But we'll know them, 12:17 we'll know who they are, we'll recognize them. 12:20 Each individual will be known, 12:24 we will know one another just as we are known. 12:28 So if we're gonna know one another, 12:31 how am I going to find my loved ones? 12:34 You know, I mean, I can read to you 12:37 here in Revelation where it talks about 12:40 there being an innumerable company. 12:42 It talks about numbers of people 12:44 of all nations and stuff. 12:46 So there's not gonna be just a little teeny company, 12:48 there's gonna be the people all the way down through time. 12:51 This is a huge multitude that will be there. 12:55 How am I gonna find my loved ones 12:57 in this great, great, big multitude of people? 13:00 Well, Isaiah 57:15 says, 13:04 "For thus sayeth, 13:05 the High and Lofty One who inhabits," what? 13:10 "Eternity," that's kind of nice to know isn't it? 13:13 Inhabits eternity, just think, 13:17 there will be no such thing as end of time. 13:23 No end of time. 13:25 He inhabits eternity. 13:29 You see, you and I think of everything in terms of time, 13:33 but that will be no longer. 13:35 He inhabits eternity. 13:37 "Whose name is Holy, 13:38 I dwell in a high and holy place with Him 13:42 who has a contrite and humble spirit, 13:47 to revive the spirit of the humble, 13:49 and revive the heart of the contrite ones." 13:51 So God says, "I just dwell with people who are humble, 13:55 who have a contrite heart." 13:56 That's God's people. 13:59 That's the people that God is interested 14:01 in is those that are humble and contrite. 14:03 And it says that He inhabits eternity with them. 14:07 "I give them," what? 14:12 Inhabits eternity, 14:14 and He's going to give to the righteous eternal life. 14:20 Never gonna come to an end. 14:24 Death will be something of the past. 14:27 You and I will never have to think 14:30 in terms of death again. 14:33 You see, when God made you, He didn't make you to die. 14:37 He made man to live for eternity. 14:41 So He's gonna give to them eternal life. 14:44 "And they shall never perish, 14:48 neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." 14:54 Nothing. 14:55 Absolutely nothing bad will ever happen to you. 15:01 What... Can you comprehend that? 15:04 That nothing throughout eternity, 15:07 nothing ever, ever, ever, throughout eternity, 15:10 will ever happen to you that's bad. 15:14 Can you handle that? 15:18 You know, nothing. 15:20 Listen, these are marvelous things 15:22 that God promises you that He will do for you. 15:25 Listen, Isaiah 33:24, 15:29 "And the inhabitants that will not say, 15:32 'I am sick.' 15:34 But the people who dwell in it 15:35 will be forgiven their inequity." 15:37 Nobody in all of God's wide Kingdom 15:41 throughout all the universe, will ever say, "I'm sick." 15:46 You know what that means? 15:49 Do you understand what that means? 15:50 That means some people 15:52 are gonna have to learn to talk over. 15:55 Yeah, 'cause I visit people and I say, 15:56 "How you doing today?" 15:58 They say, "Oh, my back's hurt me." 16:00 Next time I see them, I say, "How are you?" 16:01 They say, "Oh, my head's killing me." 16:03 They're going to have to learn to talk over. 16:05 Nobody in all of God's kingdom will say, "I'm sick." 16:10 That just won't be. 16:14 "And God will wipe," what? 16:17 "Every tear from their eye. 16:20 There shall be no more death, sorrow, nor crying." 16:26 Nothing bad, folks. 16:29 Anything that you can think of that is hurtful, that's bad, 16:34 that is causing sorrow, tears, pains, 16:37 that will be no more. 16:43 "There shall be no more pain 16:45 for the former things have passed away." 16:50 I don't know about you. 16:52 But I wanna go there. 16:53 Amen. 16:55 I wanna be there where there's no more sorrow. 16:58 There's no more pain. 17:01 Just think, 17:03 get up in the morning and knees won't be stiff. 17:06 And, you know, my back won't hurt, 17:09 and none of that will be there. 17:11 Person will be healthy, 17:13 strong, nothing will hurt or destroy. 17:18 Violence... 17:19 Isaiah 60:18, 17:20 "Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, 17:24 wasting nor destruction within your borders. 17:29 But you shall call your walls salvation, 17:31 and your gates praise." 17:34 That means there won't be tornadoes. 17:39 There won't be hurricanes. 17:41 There won't be floods. 17:43 There won't be war. 17:45 There won't be any of this anymore. 17:48 There will be violence nowhere in all of God's kingdom. 17:53 Amen. 17:54 Do you understand tonight? 17:57 That in all of God's vast universe, 18:01 this is the only one that has ever seen. 18:07 This is the only place folks that there's pain. 18:11 This is the only place there's sorrow. 18:13 This is the only place there's death. 18:17 See, when Jesus told the story of the one lost sheep, 18:24 He was talking about this planet. 18:27 One lost sheep. 18:32 There's only place there is. 18:33 When it's all over, there won't be this anywhere. 18:37 We just won't have any sorrow, or death, or crying, 18:40 that's all gonna be ended. 18:43 Nothing will hurt nor destroy. 18:48 There will be no lack of food. 18:52 You enjoy that? 18:53 I do. 18:55 No lack of food, no lack of water, 18:57 marvelous things to eat. 19:03 "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, 19:06 clear as crystal, 19:08 proceeding now the throne of God 19:09 and of the lamb." 19:11 I mean, absolutely clear, 19:14 not polluted in any way, you know? 19:20 I have a hard time here 19:23 'cause I don't think 19:24 most of the water tastes very good. 19:25 I'm not talking just about Chicago, 19:27 I'm talking about everywhere. 19:29 I don't think the water tastes very good. 19:30 They have to put so many chemicals in it, 19:32 doctor it up 19:34 because it's polluted and all that. 19:35 Just think about it, 19:37 when that stream is absolutely clear 19:38 and there is no pollution in it at all, 19:42 marvelous. 19:44 Then it says, "In the middle of the street 19:49 and on either side of the river was the tree of life, 19:55 which bore 12 fruits," bore how many fruits? 20:00 "12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit," 20:04 Come on, how often? 20:06 Remember that. 20:09 "Each tree bearing its fruit every month." 20:14 I always kind of hate to see summer come to an end. 20:19 And the reason I do 20:20 is because I really do like peaches. 20:25 I enjoy peaches. 20:27 And I can't hardly wait to get to heaven. 20:32 And get my hands on a nice, great, big, large, 20:36 juicy peach 20:39 and bite into it and not have to worry 20:42 about the worm haven't bitten me there. 20:44 It'll be so nice, you know? 20:46 But all the things that there will be there 20:49 for God's people in heaven, folks, 20:51 that God has prepared and made for you and me. 20:55 Just think, the scripture says 20:58 that not only will you have all the things 21:00 that I'm talking about but it says 21:03 that you're not even going to get tired. 21:06 What do you think about that? 21:08 Listen, this is what the scripture promises you. 21:12 Isaiah 40:31, 21:13 "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, 21:17 they shall mount up with wings like eagles, 21:22 they shall run and not be weary, 21:26 they shall walk and not faint." 21:29 Boy, just think what it is. 21:30 If you take out and run two or three miles 21:32 and you're not even out of breath. 21:36 But it says they'll run, they won't get weary. 21:40 And there's a text in the Bible that says, 21:44 "I hath not seen, nor ear heard, 21:48 neither have entered into the heart of man 21:50 the things that God has prepared 21:51 for those that love Him." 21:53 It's hard for you and I to even imagine 21:57 what it will be like, 21:59 this wonderful place 22:00 that God has prepared for you and for me. 22:03 I mean, He's made that place just for you. 22:08 So where do I start looking? 22:11 I don't have to worry about dying. 22:13 I don't have to worry 22:14 about something bad happened to them. 22:16 I don't have to worry about not having enough food, 22:18 all that the scriptures clear. 22:20 So if I'm gonna find my loved one, 22:22 where am I gonna start looking? 22:24 Well, let's look at some clues 22:26 that the scripture gives us for finding them. 22:28 Revelation 21:3, 22:30 "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 22:32 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men.'" 22:38 Marvelous. 22:40 That says that God, 22:43 God the Father, 22:45 God of the universe is gonna come 22:49 and make His home with you and me. 22:54 Think about that. 22:56 Going to come and make His home with you and me. 23:00 That He has there. 23:06 "And He will dwell with them, 23:09 and they shall be his people. 23:12 God Himself will be with them and be their God." 23:17 That's the promise. 23:18 That God gives you an eye, 23:21 so it says, He's going to tabernacle with us. 23:23 And it says that we will have the privilege 23:26 of seeing His face, "They shall see His face, 23:32 and His name shall be on their foreheads." 23:36 Just think what it's gonna be to. 23:40 To reach out and take someone's hand, 23:43 find it to be God's hand. 23:46 And, you know, I think of that song 23:48 that we sing 23:49 "Face to Face with Christ my Savior" 23:52 Face to face, what will it be when in rapture? 23:55 I behold Him, Jesus Christ, that died for me. 24:01 It's gonna be Wonderful. 24:03 Wonderful the scene, face to face, 24:06 He'll dwell with us. 24:08 "For as the new heavens and a new earth 24:11 which I will make shall remain before Me, 24:14 says the Lord. 24:16 So shall your descendants and your name remain." 24:19 Watch what it's saying here in Isaiah 66. 24:23 "And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another," 24:30 Now just a minute, 24:31 one new moon from another, to another... 24:36 How often do you have a new moon? 24:41 You know, you have a new moon every month. 24:45 Okay, so it says, 24:47 "From one new moon to another shall all flesh come," 24:52 do you know what they're coming for? 24:55 Are you putting two and two together? 24:56 You know what they're coming for? 25:00 Well, how often does the tree of life 25:04 bear its fruit? 25:06 Once a month. 25:08 Saying you're coming up to eat of the tree of life? 25:12 "All the righteous have come from all over the earth. 25:15 And they're going to come up to the New Jerusalem 25:17 to worship and eat of the tree of life." 25:21 And then it says, "'From one Sabbath to another, 25:25 all flesh have come to worship before Me,' sayeth the Lord." 25:28 So every Sabbath, 25:30 all of the people throughout the whole new Earth 25:33 are going to come up to the New Jerusalem 25:35 and there they're gonna worship. 25:38 Oh, think what that's gonna be like. 25:41 Just think what it would to be to hear the angelic choir sing. 25:45 Amen. 25:48 Think what it'll be to hear Jesus, 25:52 never a man spake like that man. 25:57 You and I will have that privilege. 26:00 Oh dear friend, 26:03 I hope you're planning on going there. 26:06 I also hope 26:09 that it won't be a surprise to you. 26:14 Yeah? 26:17 Because it says you're gonna worship on what day? 26:22 Every Sabbath. 26:24 Now if you're planning on going there, 26:27 you probably ought to get used to worshiping on the Sabbath. 26:29 Amen. 26:32 That's what the scripture says. 26:33 "One new moon to another, 26:36 from one Sabbath to another 26:37 all flesh will come to worship before Me." 26:40 So if you're looking for your loved ones, 26:42 one of the best places to find them would be, where? 26:46 Yeah, on the Sabbath at church. 26:49 And so please go find them. 26:51 That's where they'll be. 26:53 All flesh is going to be there. 26:55 Okay? 26:57 New Jerusalem, 26:59 marvelous city, folks. 27:02 The on description, 27:05 the city that He's prepared for you. 27:08 I want you to listen 27:09 to some of the wonderful things about it. 27:11 Revelation 21:15. 27:14 "And he who talked with me 27:15 had a gold reed to measure the city," 27:17 so we're gonna get an idea of what size the city is. 27:20 "Its gates and its wall, 27:23 the city is laid out as a square. 27:27 Its length is as great as its breath." 27:31 That means it's square. 27:32 "And he measured the city with a reed 12,000 furlongs. 27:38 Its length, and its breath, and its height are equal." 27:43 Okay, 12,000 furlongs. 27:47 There's eight furlongs in a mile. 27:50 So if you divide 8 into 12,000, 27:53 that tells you what? 27:56 That it is 1,500 miles 28:00 around that city. 28:04 It's square. 28:05 So that means that it's 375 miles on a side. 28:12 You see, we don't comprehend cities like that. 28:15 We have a state in the United States. 28:19 That's almost that size. 28:24 Right there, State of Colorado. 28:28 Just about that size, 28:30 the New Jerusalem will fill that whole state. 28:35 Yeah, fill that whole state. 28:38 You stop and think about that. 28:40 And I talk to people and they say, 28:41 "Oh, Brother Cox, 28:43 I'm not worried about going to heaven 28:45 because there won't be room for me there." 28:48 Let me ask you a question. 28:51 Who told you? 28:52 Who told you that the buildings in the New Jerusalem 28:55 were one story? 28:57 Who told you that? 28:59 You know, I mean, here it's 375 miles long. 29:04 I mean, I can guarantee you, 29:06 I'm gonna show you the walls of the city 29:09 are over 200 feet high. 29:11 Now you're gonna try to tell me 29:13 they're gonna have one story houses there? 29:15 No, not hardly. 29:17 There's room for every man, every woman, 29:20 every child that's ever been born. 29:25 So there's plenty of room for you, friend, 29:27 if you wanna go there. 29:30 Revelation 21:18, 29:32 "The construction of its wall was of jasper, 29:37 the city was pure gold, like clear glass." 29:41 Now we don't quite understand jasper. 29:44 Closest thing we have to jasper is diamond. 29:47 So it says that this city is clear, 29:50 the gold, it's made out of gold. 29:52 And I don't know how God refines it, 29:54 but He refines it 29:55 so that it's as clear as glass, okay? 30:00 "Twelve gates were twelve pearls, 30:04 each individual gate was of one pearl." 30:08 Can you imagine that? 30:10 I mean, the Bible tells you 30:11 that there's three gates on each side. 30:15 Okay, now, folks, you got a wall here, 30:18 that's 375 miles long, it's over 200 feet high. 30:23 Don't get in your mind 30:25 that the gates gonna be a little dinky thing. 30:29 I mean, it's got to be in proportion to the wall. 30:32 And it's made out of one pearl. 30:36 One pearl. 30:38 So you talk about it's beyond 30:40 what you and I understand or comprehend. 30:43 "And the street of the city was pure gold, 30:47 like transparent glass." 30:51 By the way, on each one of those gates 30:56 is written one of the names of the tribes of Israel. 30:59 That's what's written there? 31:02 You know why? 31:04 Or maybe I should ask you, 31:06 which gate are you gonna go through? 31:09 And why would God write over the top of each one 31:12 one of the names of the tribes of Israel? 31:15 Why He writes the names 31:16 of the tribes of Israel over them, 31:18 because you find out that each one of those tribes 31:22 represent a different personality type. 31:25 And according to your personality, 31:27 you're gonna go through that gate 31:28 into the city. 31:31 That's what's happening there. 31:32 "And the city had no need of the sun 31:37 or of the moon is shine in it, 31:38 for the glory of God illuminated it. 31:41 The Lamb is its light." 31:43 So don't miss read the text. 31:46 It doesn't say that there's not sun. 31:49 And it doesn't say there's not a moon. 31:51 It just says it doesn't need it 'cause God is the light there. 31:56 So God is there and the city, the New Jerusalem, 31:59 will never need the sun or the moon 32:03 because God is the light. 32:05 "Its gate shall not be shut at all by day." 32:09 Why? 32:11 'Cause there's no night there, so the gates are never shut. 32:14 They're always open. 32:16 And people can come and go into the City of God 32:20 because He is the light there. 32:24 "And there shall be no night there. 32:27 They need no lamp or light of the sun, 32:30 for the Lord God gives them light." 32:34 That's going to be wonderful. 32:36 City will be always be light. 32:40 Now you think about it. 32:43 If there's no night there, 32:45 okay, 32:47 and you never get tired, 32:50 how much can you get done? 32:55 I mean, there's no end, no end. 32:59 'Cause all of us will be very real people, 33:03 real individuals, 33:04 "And they shall reign forever and ever." 33:10 You say, "Well, that's a large city." 33:13 I mean, 375 miles on the side. 33:18 Skyscrapers, wall over 200 feet high, 33:22 in a city that big, 33:24 how will I ever find my loved ones? 33:27 Well, let me tell you something. 33:28 God keeps perfect records. 33:33 God keeps perfect records. 33:37 He knows every one of you. 33:41 He knows you by name. 33:45 Okay? 33:47 He even knows your address. 33:52 He even knows how many hair is in your head. 33:56 So He keeps perfect records, 33:59 God will have no trouble 34:01 letting you know where your loved ones are. 34:04 Philippians 4:3. 34:06 "And I urge you also, true companions, 34:08 help these women 34:09 who labor with me in the gospel." 34:11 Paul's talking about these women that helped him 34:13 in the gospel, helped him preach it, 34:15 they supported him, they cared for him. 34:17 That's what he's talking about. 34:19 "With Clement also, 34:21 and the rest of my fellow workers, 34:23 whose names are in the..." 34:27 He said their names are in the Book of Life. 34:28 You see, God has recorded your name in the Book of Life. 34:32 And when God has recorded your name in the Book of Life, 34:34 I'll guarantee you, you can be found 34:38 because you are the apple of his eye, 34:42 cares about you. 34:46 Jesus said in John 14:1-3, 34:49 "Let not your heart be troubled. 34:51 You believe in God, believe also in Me. 34:56 In my Father's house are many mansions, 35:00 if it were not so, I would have told you. 35:03 I go to prepare a place for you." 35:06 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will what? 35:10 "Come again and receive you unto Myself, 35:13 that where I am, there you may be also." 35:15 So the scripture says that this city, 35:18 up in heaven, that we've been looking at, 35:20 that Jesus has made that. 35:23 He's the one that's made it. 35:25 He's prepared a mansion 35:28 up in heaven just for you. 35:32 Huh? 35:35 A mansion just for you. 35:38 Okay. 35:39 "He who overcomes, 35:41 I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, 35:44 and he shall go out no more. 35:48 And I will write on him the name of My God, 35:54 and the name of the city of My God, 35:58 the New Jerusalem." 35:59 So He's gonna write down your name, 36:00 and your address, 36:02 and all He knows exactly where you are. 36:08 You'll have the privilege 36:11 of talking to Him face to face. 36:16 God grants that. 36:18 The New Jerusalem, 36:19 "Which comes down from heaven from God, 36:21 and I will write on him My name." 36:24 So you won't have any trouble finding Him. 36:28 But let me tell you something. 36:30 You're not looking for spirit. 36:33 Understand that you're not looking for spirit. 36:36 They're not going to be, 36:37 you know, a spirit that flips around 36:39 on an invisible cloud. 36:41 That's not the way it's going to be. 36:44 The Bible tells us this is how it will be. 36:48 Philippians 3:20, 36:50 "For our citizenship is in heaven, 36:53 from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, 36:58 the Lord Jesus Christ, 37:00 who will transform our lowly body," 37:06 that's this body we have now, 37:07 He's gonna transform our lowly body. 37:10 "That it may be fashioned 37:12 or conformed to His glorious body." 37:17 So it says this body of ours, this lowly body, 37:20 that it's gonna be fashioned like His body. 37:24 That's referring to His body after the resurrection. 37:29 Okay? 37:30 That's what it's telling you that our bodies 37:32 will be like His after the resurrection. 37:34 According to the working by which 37:36 He is able to even subdue all things to Himself. 37:40 Okay. 37:42 Was Jesus real? 37:47 Well, you remember when He appeared 37:49 to the disciples after the resurrection? 37:52 Here in Luke 24, 37:53 He said, "Behold, My hands and feet, 37:58 that it is I Myself. 38:00 Handle Me and see, 38:03 for a spirit does not have flesh and bones 38:06 as you see I have." 38:08 Remember, He said, "Come here, Thomas, 38:11 put your finger in the nail print." 38:15 He got something to eat. 38:17 He was a real person. 38:19 And so, dear friend, you and I will be real. 38:24 The most fantastic things you have ever dreamed of, 38:28 you'll be able to do. 38:31 We'll be real people. 38:33 Says in Job 19:26, 38:37 "And after my skin is destroyed, 38:39 this I know, that in my flesh, I shall see God." 38:45 So we're gonna be real people. 38:47 Not only we're gonna be real people, 38:49 we're gonna have real houses. 38:53 Did you know that? 38:54 Yeah. 38:55 In fact, you've got a mansion 38:57 up in heaven that Jesus has made for you. 39:04 I heard a story the other day 39:09 that this fella dreamed 39:16 that he was in heaven, and met by the angel. 39:21 And the Angel Gabriel told him 39:24 he was going to show him to his home. 39:27 And there were some other people with him. 39:29 And as they went down the street, 39:32 Gabriel pointed out their homes to them. 39:34 And they were beautiful, marvelous, beautiful mansions, 39:39 I mean, lovely places. 39:40 And he walked through, 39:43 you know, their mansions and looked at him. 39:45 And he thought, 39:47 "Man, I can't hardly wait till I get to my mansion. 39:49 It's going to be wonderful." 39:51 And they walk down the street little farther, 39:53 and they came to rather humble cottage. 39:57 And the Angel Gabriel said, "This is your home." 40:01 And the fella said, "This is my home?" 40:03 He said, "Yes." 40:04 He said, "No, there's some mistake. 40:05 This can't be my home." 40:07 And the Angel Gabriel said, "Yes, this is your home. 40:11 This is for you." 40:13 And he said, "No." 40:14 He said, "This can't be my home here." 40:16 He said, "I had better than that on earth." 40:21 And the Angel Gabriel said, "I'm so sorry." 40:23 He said, "We did the very best we could 40:26 with what we received." 40:32 So you have to realize 40:35 where your treasure is, 40:38 there your heart is also. 40:41 Right. 40:42 But it says He's gonna make us homes, 40:45 mansions, the scripture calls them. 40:47 And this is what it says about it, 40:49 "And they shall build houses and inhabit them. 40:54 They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 40:57 They shall not build another inhabit, 41:00 they shall not plant and another eat. 41:03 For as the days of a tree, 41:05 so shall be the days of My people. 41:07 And My elect shall long enjoy the works of their hands." 41:11 Now I don't know if you caught what that text is telling you. 41:16 That text is telling you 41:17 that you're gonna have two homes 41:21 because you got one in the city that Jesus has made for you, 41:25 then you're gonna have one out in the country 41:27 that you're gonna build. 41:29 Huh? 41:30 That's what its saying. 41:32 We'll build houses and inhabit them. 41:33 Just think, now just think when you can build a mansion 41:39 out in the country, 41:41 and what you build it out of you can build it 41:45 out of anything you want to 41:48 'cause the city's pure gold, 41:53 so you can build your mansion out of anything you want. 41:58 Secondly, you don't have to hurry. 42:01 Time is no restraint. 42:04 Okay? 42:05 And you can build it out of anything you want to. 42:08 And I don't know about you, 42:10 but I've already started making plans. 42:15 I've already started 42:16 'cause I'm planning on going there. 42:18 Tell you for sure. 42:20 Fact. 42:22 One of my rooms in my house, 42:26 I'm gonna have one whole wall 42:29 made out of diamonds. 42:34 A whole wall will have diamonds, 42:37 a wall on this side, 42:39 I'm gonna have it out of living roses. 42:41 Just think how nice that'll look 42:43 as they reflect in that diamond wall. 42:45 How nice it'll always smell. 42:48 Anything you wanna think of, you can do. 42:52 You're not gonna get tired. 42:55 You can make it out of anything you want to. 42:59 See, it's beyond our comprehension, folks, 43:02 of what God has prepared for you, 43:06 mansions that you and I will have. 43:09 How will I recognize my friends and my relatives? 43:13 How am I gonna know them? 43:16 Well, to begin with, 43:17 it says that these bodies 43:19 of ours are gonna be fashioned like His. 43:22 Okay? 43:23 Well, let's see what Jesus body was like. 43:26 Let's see if people recognized him. 43:29 John 20:19, 43:33 "Then the same day at evening, 43:34 being the first day of the week, 43:36 when the doors were shut 43:37 where the disciples were assembled 43:40 for fear of the Jews, 43:41 Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them, 43:43 'Peace be with you.'" 43:45 I mean, Jesus came, spoke to them. 43:48 Did they recognize Him? 43:51 Oh, sure. 43:52 They knew who He was. 43:54 How did they recognize Him? 43:56 By His looks. 43:58 They saw Him, 43:59 they recognized Him by His looks, 44:01 so you and I will recognize our loved ones by our looks. 44:05 And I know there's a bunch of you saying, 44:08 "Oh my, all this time, I thought I'd look different." 44:14 Well, let me tell you something. 44:17 If you take any individual, I don't care who they are, 44:21 and you take away all the imperfections, 44:25 and all the wrinkles, and all that, 44:28 everybody will be absolutely beautiful. 44:32 No question. 44:33 Okay? 44:35 So we'll recognize people by the way they look. 44:38 "And when He had said this, He showed them His hands, 44:41 and His side. 44:42 Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." 44:46 So they recognized Him by the way He looked. 44:49 Second way 44:50 that you will recognize your loved ones 44:51 as you remember. 44:53 Mary. 44:54 Mary has gotten to the tomb before anybody else, 44:57 she's gotten there while it was still dark. 45:01 And Jesus has already risen. 45:04 And she thinks that somebody has robbed the grave. 45:08 And she sees in the darkness, and she's crying, 45:11 and she sees someone standing over there. 45:14 She thinks it's the gardener. 45:16 And so she speaks to him and said, 45:19 "If you've done something with my Lord's body, 45:21 tell me what you've done with it, 45:22 and I'll take care of it." 45:25 He says, "Now when she had said this, 45:28 she turned around and saw Jesus standing there 45:30 and did not know that it was Jesus." 45:34 She didn't recognize Him because it was dark, 45:36 and she was crying. 45:38 Okay. 45:39 "And Jesus said to her 'Woman, why are you weeping? 45:42 Whom are you seeking?' 45:44 And she supposing Him to be the gardener, 45:48 said to Him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, 45:51 tell me where you have laid Him, 45:53 and I'll take Him away.'" 45:55 She said, "If you've done something with His body, 45:57 just tell me what you've done with it." 46:00 "And Jesus said to her," what? 46:03 "'Mary!' 46:05 she turned and said to Him, 'Rabboni!' 46:07 which is to say, teacher." 46:09 She recognized Him by His what? 46:12 Voice. 46:13 You and I recognize our loved ones 46:15 by their voices. 46:16 You see, when you call home or when I call home, 46:19 I don't have to say, "Who's speaking?" 46:22 I know them by their voice. 46:24 You and I will recognize by their voice. 46:26 Jesus has been resurrected. 46:30 There's a couple disciples that are walking down to a city 46:35 called Emmaus. 46:37 And as they're walking along, 46:39 they're talking about what's happened. 46:41 And Jesus comes and starts walking with them. 46:45 The Bible says that God did not permit them 46:49 to recognize Him, 46:50 it's what the scripture says. 46:52 It uses a term, it says, "Their eyes were holden." 46:55 It meant that they couldn't recognize Him. 46:57 God didn't let them recognize Him. 46:59 He walks this eight miles to Emmaus with them. 47:03 And they invite Him to stop at their house 47:05 for a bite to eat. 47:07 Folks, these are disciples. 47:09 These are men that spent 47:11 three and a half years with Jesus. 47:12 And so He goes into the home. 47:15 And when they get there, He picks up the bread, 47:18 and blesses it, and breaks it. 47:21 They have seen Him do that hundreds of times. 47:24 And the moment He did that, watch what happens. 47:28 "Now it came to pass, 47:29 as He sat at the table with them, 47:31 that He took bread and blessed and broke it, 47:33 and gave it to them." 47:35 Okay, watch. 47:38 "Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him. 47:42 And He vanished out of their sight." 47:44 They recognized him by His characteristics, 47:46 His mannerism, the way He did things. 47:49 So you and I are not gonna have any trouble 47:51 recognizing our loved ones. 47:52 I told you, I tell you four ways. 47:55 That's three. 47:57 The fourth way, 47:59 I'm afraid only applies to women. 48:05 I'm not saying a man can't do it. 48:07 I just never have known of one. 48:09 Okay. 48:12 As a boy, growing up at home, 48:15 I had a brother 48:17 that was three years older than I. 48:20 And my folks never did put 48:25 any restrictions on us. 48:28 I wanna tell you that was not for our good, 48:31 young people. 48:32 No. 48:34 For instance, when we got into the teens, 48:36 my folks never told us 48:38 when we had to come home at night. 48:40 All my dad ever said is, 48:41 "You better be here in time to milk the cow." 48:43 And he meant that. 48:46 So my brother and I, we'd come home late at night. 48:51 And of course, when I came home late at night, 48:53 I didn't wanna wake up my parents. 48:56 So I would try to be very careful 48:58 in not running into anything. 49:00 I didn't turn the lights on. 49:01 And I would try to walk through the living room 49:04 and make sure I didn't disturb anybody, 49:06 never once. 49:07 Never once in my entire life 49:11 did I ever get through the living room 49:13 that my mother didn't say, "Kenneth, is that you?" 49:16 Never. 49:18 In fact, I asked my Brother Don, 49:21 I said, "When you come home at night, 49:22 you turn the lights on?" 49:24 He said, "No." 49:25 I said, "Does mother speak to you?" 49:26 He said, "Every time." 49:29 she recognized us by our walk alone. 49:33 See? 49:34 So you're not gonna have 49:35 any trouble recognizing your loved ones, friend. 49:38 They're there, you'll recognize them. 49:40 We won't have any trouble finding them. 49:43 Heaven is gonna be a very, very wonderful place. 49:48 A place where there won't be heartache, 49:53 place where the children will play with the animals. 49:59 It says the lion and the lamb shall lie down together. 50:05 Won't have to worry about it. 50:07 I pastored several years 50:10 in a little town called Dalhart, Texas. 50:16 When we drove into town, 50:17 moved there, we went by a little zoo. 50:21 It's kind of a family thing. 50:23 And my daughter 50:24 who was very small at that time, 50:26 said, "Daddy, Take me to the zoo." 50:28 And I said, "Honey, when we get settled everything, 50:31 I'll take you to the zoo." 50:32 And so one day, I said, "Let's go to the zoo." 50:35 And so I took her out here to this little zoo. 50:37 And it was just owned by this man. 50:39 And really for a little zoo that he owned, 50:42 it was quite nice. 50:44 We saw the possums, and the raccoons, and, 50:46 you know, the snakes 50:48 and all the things he had and enjoyed. 50:51 And we were about ready to leave. 50:52 And he said, "Let me show you something else." 50:55 And so he took us out 50:57 to this large tin building out there 51:00 and walked in the door 51:02 and we followed him. 51:03 And when we walked in the door, 51:05 clear at the other end of that tin building 51:08 was two large cages. 51:10 And in one was a male lion 51:12 and the other was a female lion. 51:15 And it didn't bother me because, 51:17 you know, I've seen lions in cages before. 51:19 But he just quickened his pace and walked off and left us. 51:23 And he walked over there. 51:25 And he pulled the pin on the door, 51:28 that great big male lion, 51:29 and opened that door 51:30 and that lion come walking out there, 51:32 and that bothered me. 51:34 I'll tell you for sure. 51:36 And he said, "Now, don't let it bother you." 51:38 He said, "He's just as tame as a kitten." 51:41 And sure enough, the old lion, 51:42 you could just pull on his mane 51:43 and he'd just rub up against you, 51:45 just as tame as it could be. 51:47 This is the way the animals will be in God's kingdom. 51:52 All the things will be there. 51:55 The roses will never fade. 51:58 There will be no death. 52:01 There will be nothing 52:03 that will decay or destroy in all of God's kingdom. 52:07 That will be something of the past. 52:09 You and I will have the privilege 52:12 in enjoying all the wonderful things 52:16 that God has prepared for you and for me. 52:20 Heaven will be a very, very wonderful place 52:25 where you and I will be able to enjoy 52:28 the ceaseless ages of eternity. 52:32 No sorrow, no pain, we can do anything 52:38 that we could ever envision. 52:42 You're not wanna not have anything to do, friends. 52:46 You'll be very, very real people. 52:50 Who can go there? 52:52 Who can go there? 52:55 Have any idea? 52:58 Anybody? 53:00 Anybody that wants to? 53:03 Revelation 22:17. 53:05 "And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' 53:08 Let him who hears say, 'Come!' 53:12 And let him who thirst come. 53:14 Whosoever desires, 53:18 let him take the water of life freely." 53:22 Dear friend, there's not any of you here tonight, 53:26 there's not any of you that are watching by television 53:29 that can't be there if you want to be. 53:32 It's open to you. 53:34 The invitation is given to you. 53:36 God is inviting you. 53:38 "Blessed are those who do His commandments 53:42 that they may have right to the tree of life 53:47 and may enter through the gates into the city." 53:52 So God says, "Listen, the gates are open. 53:57 They're never closed." 53:59 All you have to do is say, 54:01 "I want to be there and reach out in faith." 54:05 Give your heart to Jesus Christ. 54:08 And when you give your life to Him, 54:11 then He says, "You're my child." 54:14 You shall inherit what? 54:18 You're gonna what? 54:21 Inherit. 54:22 Let's take a moment on that, 54:24 I wanna make sure you understand. 54:27 You're given a gift. 54:30 You're given an inheritance. 54:33 And you're given a reward. 54:36 Did you know that? 54:38 Okay, what's the gift? 54:42 What's the gift that God gives you? 54:45 Eternal life. 54:47 That's given to you free. 54:49 You can't buy it. 54:50 You can't work for it. 54:52 All you can do is accept 54:54 what Jesus Christ has done for you. 54:57 Okay? 54:59 He gives you an inheritance. 55:03 What's the inheritance? 55:07 Matthew 5:5. 55:09 Come on, folks. 55:11 The inheritance. 55:12 "Blessed are the meek, 55:14 for they shall inherit the earth." 55:20 That's given to you as inheritance. 55:25 Why are you given an inheritance? 55:30 'Cause can you work for an inheritance? 55:33 No. 55:34 You're given an inheritance because you're a child of God, 55:38 gives you a inheritance, gives you a reward. 55:44 Do you know what the reward is? 55:47 Huh? 55:50 Crown of life. 55:52 Gives you a crown. 55:55 And the reward is given to you based on what? 56:00 Works. Works. 56:04 If you want to know where works come in, 56:06 that's where they come in. 56:08 Ask what is given to you on the basis, 56:10 crown of life given to you. 56:13 Those are the things God gives you. 56:15 He invites you to come, He says to all of you, 56:18 Matthew 25:34, 56:20 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 56:22 'Come, you blessed of My Father, 56:27 inherit the kingdom prepared for you 56:30 from the foundations of the world." 56:33 He said, "I've prepared all this for you, 56:37 come enjoy it, enjoy it for eternity. 56:42 It's yours. 56:44 Given it to you free." 56:48 And so He's inviting you tonight 56:50 to come, enjoy the kingdom of God. 56:53 Jesus Christ is inviting you this evening 56:58 to come and accept Him. 57:00 It won't be long, dear friends, we're almost home. 57:05 You'll have the privilege of living in His kingdom. 57:11 We're almost home 57:17 Where Jesus is waiting 57:22 Where angels are singing 57:27 And where 57:29 We'll never more roam 57:36 Hallelujah 57:40 We're almost home 57:50 Let us bow our heads for a word of prayer. 57:52 Father, we thank You 57:54 for the privilege 57:56 that You've given us to worship You, 57:58 to study Your Word together. 58:00 We pray that You will bless each one, 58:03 those that are taking their stand here, 58:05 and those that are taking it 58:07 around the world for Jesus Christ. 58:10 We ask, Lord, that Your Holy Spirit 58:13 will hover over them, be close to them, 58:16 and may they know Your presence in all that they do. 58:19 For this we ask in Christ's name, amen. |
Revised 2019-06-14