This broadcaster has 2045 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
November 16, 2016 5:45 pm
Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners receive free email daily devotions were to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. Let's grab our Bibles now ever get to turn the two passages in this particular message. Revelation 20 and Luke chapter 19 Revelation 20 and Luke 19 in the title of my messages turning the world right side up.
When we pray together. Father, we want to take a moment right now to pray for America. We pray Lord that you will help our nation turned back to you.
We pray that there will be peace on the streets of America tonight. We pray that our new President-elect will surround himself with godly men and women who will give him biblical counsel.
We pray Lord that you will protect our nation.
We pray that we will have a spiritual awakening in our nation and Lord as we look at the last days we know were not superpower in these days ahead so we don't know why that is exactly but we pray that we will redeem our time and serve you faithfully here in this land of the free and home of the brave. Thanking you for this incredible liberty and freedom we have like we have right now to just have a Bible study and worship and pray so blessed this time as we open your word in Jesus name we pray. Amen. I told you the story before of dog. I used to have. He came free name. His name was Arlo strange name for a dog and he was a German Shepherd smartest dog I've ever met, and that just a wonderful, loyal canine cow you know and so one night I was taking them out for you know that last little to relieve himself on a what I how I should put you know and all of a sudden he sees a cat now look, I didn't tell him to chase the cat but as I saw him getting ready to chase the cat. I didn't discourage him that much either.
I feel it's a dog's right you know to do it. I know him to get letters now. I always do from People you know so anyway so he's chasing the cat and it's a long ways off and I'm watching them chase the cat and all of a sudden I heard a sound words on it was a and my dog stopped and turned and was running at me, full speed, I looked closer and realized he was not chasing the cat� Cat had a white stripe he was chasing this gun and there was a directed on Lowe's face is running back toward me. I'm like oh no, he's gonna run for the house I'm running ahead of him trying to out run of the house because the front door was open. I got in and trying to slam the door he came in past me rent to the house is in the backyard rolling around on the grass trying to get the smell off the whole house instantly reeks of skunk sent my wife is upstairs behind a closed door dead asleep and she's wakes up from the smell of my my wife is supersonic smelling abilities as well and she would happen. I told her and the poor dogs rolling around in the backyard that that's what I get for encouraging him to chase a cat. There was actually a skunk but you know there was nothing he could do to get rid of that smell and remind you little bit of sin, it just kind of wrecks everything whole world is infected with the stench of sin and there is no cure in sight.
You can run all that you like but you can escape it anymore though my dog to get rid of that smell.
But why are things the way that they are in our world today. When you're taking notes here's here's one answer number one. Satan is allowed to have his way. Satan is allowed to have his way. Satan, the fallen Angel is described as the God of this world.
The Prince of the power of the Ares a supernatural power that is manipulating culture and so many other things toward his own hands and the Bible tells us that one day he's going to be the throne. One day he's going to be knocked off his perch.
He's not invincible. He may be insidious, he may be invisible but he's not invincible. He's going down and he knows it backward told in Revelation 1212 for the devil is come down you in great anger and he knows he has little time to an interesting phrase little time and great anger because the phrase great anger can be translated of violent outbursts of rage. It's a phrase that describes turbulent emotional fury, not just rational anger, but just someone freaking out and the devil is effectively freaking out in the last days because he knows he's not going to continue his reign, and why does he have this hatred and venom. What does he hate Christians. Why does he hate Christ. Why does he hate the Bible because even though some liberal theologians don't believe that the devil believes that Jesus Christ is coming back soon and knows he is a little time and he is great fury know the return of Christ for Satan is bad for us.
It's good for him. It's an incentive to attack our faith try to cause us to stumble and fall. For us it's an incentive to share our faith and seek to live holy lives, knows this. The devil wanted to get as many people down with him as possible, and there's a second reason that the world is the way that it is and that is God is not completely having this way yet God is not completely having his way, yet not limited explain God is sovereign which means God's in control ultimately.
But God does allow wickedness. He has allowed the devil to have a certain leeway, but there's coming a day when that's all going to change is coming the day when Satan will be stopped dead in his tracks and no human system is going to bring that about God is going to bring that about know sometimes people think a politician is going to write all of our wrongs. They think the answer is technology or psychology.
We need to focus on the ecology of my answer is we need good theology without apology.
Otherwise, it will be our eulogy usually that's a lot of Jesus met but site that is the ultimate answer, it's Christ and it's his word being lived out in one day God is gonna write all wrong. One day God is going to take the sin sick world that is presently upside down and he's going to turn it right side up and rhino does seem like everything's upside down, you know, it seems like in our culture today that which was once celebrated is good and virtuous is now looked down upon in a with with hatred and anger and and things that we used to think it was very bad, are now acceptable and in some cases celebrated is good. I mean certain slang expressions kind of explain it you know it's interesting how certain words go in and out of fashion over the decades in on were expressions like geewhiz and holy smokes and hunky-dory that were in fashion.
Years ago, that would be very old people that say those things still you know people in their 90s door, but then you know when I was growing up as a kid we had expressions like far out far out man that's groovy right groovy. I never use that word, but some did you know that you know those and got out as well. Then other expressions came later. Like totally tubular. Yeah, whatever. Okay, but now there are certain expressions in them somehow transcended time.
I find it interesting going back to the 50s friends in school is been around forever and people still say cool. They use the word cool for everything and then to make things confusing. It's also interchangeable with the word hot.
So something can be cool and hot simultaneously right both words mean the same thing and then if something is really cool a really hot a really good we say it, that man, that thing is right in others a fast car.
We don't say how fast is that good boy. Go we say how fast is that bad Boyko that is bad and then if it's really bad or actually good and really fast. We say that thing is wicked now wicked means really good. I'm getting confused and if something's great, fantastic. We can stay in school, we can say it's hot we can say it's bad but we can say that sick okay now I don't I don't even know it's happening anymore. Now it's sick. So good is bad.
Really good is Keller or wicked.
And really, really good is sick. One day God is going to take your than is going to be sick and I mean good I mean killer, I mean wicked could dry or wicked bad however you want to put it. That's when Christ comes back and restores our planet to an Eden -like state.
Nope you've ever been to a place that's gorgeous maybe some tropical spot or even seen photographs is a wild in such places actually exist and he gives you sort of a glimpse of the paradise and out of many lived in before the fall for sin affected everything will one day working to have heaven on earth. You know something is really good. Sometimes I think that was heavenly wasn't not just only that was a slice of heaven.
You might feel that way.
Eating Krispy Kreme donuts that was like a slice of heaven until they kicked her stomach and then it's like from the pit of hell.
We use that expression heavenly or a slice of heaven when something is just extra special. You know one day it is going to be heavenly.
One day, heaven and earth are going to become one euro sometimes we think will when we die as Christians we go to heaven I will live forever in heaven. Well, actually, if you want to get technical and more importantly biblical that's a trip you will live forever in heaven because one day. Heaven is coming to earth. Listen to this God is not done with planet Earth.
Yet God is not abandon this planet that he is created because God is into restoration. That includes the planet were on right now you've ever seen a perfectly restored classic car cruising on the rodeo movement that's like a thing of beauty. It's hard on wheels right if you're into that sort of thing and I am. I lie like cool cars restored gods into restoration is well that the Bible says that she is planned according to Ephesians 110 is to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. Peter preached in acts 321 that God is going to a rather that Christ must remain in heaven until the time to the it comes for him to restore everything as he promised long ago through the holy prophets so God can restore everything.
One day God is going to make the earth into heaven in heaven and work just as a wall that separates man from God is torn down in Jesus. So to the wall that separates heaven and earth will forever be demolished and this is all promised in the book of Revelation and we also have a promise of global peace. I mean imagine worldwide peace on the antichrist is going to come and bring up pseudo-pieces you remember in the seven year tribulation. The first 3 1/2 years.
He comes across like a good guy but he is really a bad guy and he will use peace. The Scripture says to deceive many. But ultimately once antichrist is taken out of the way God can bring true global peace and think about it from the beginning of time man has search for peace is joy and peace movements. He's marched for peace. He's given prices for peace is gone to war for peace.
When you hear somebody being arrested for disturbing the peace you wonder word of even find any. But one day there will be peace in this document come through visualizing it and using those bumper stickers visualize world peace than they cut you off right that usually next another sticker that says coexist right with all the little symbols of various religions on it.
One day there will be peace. But God's going to bring this piece no country will bring it about. The United Nations will not bring in about though. It's interesting that the UN has a Scripture displayed over their doors, quoting from the Old Testament book of Isaiah the beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. So it is going to come one day and that's what were reading about one day Christ is going to return and he's going to put an end to all the wars of mankind and post assignments is under new management.
That's reading about here now just the kind of catch up to what we last left off at this point chronologically in Revelation before we read Revelation 20.
The NI crisis, he's established himself as the head of a 10 nation confederacy, and they've gone to war of facing off of the kings of the East in the Valley of Megiddo and their fighting what is called the battles of Armageddon. It's possible that nuclear warheads will be detonated at this point. Millions will die managers made a complete mess of everything.
Now it's God's term.
Revelation chapter 20 verse one then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of that Dragon that serpent of old who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years in the custom of the bottomless pit, and shut him up and set a seal on him, so he should deceive the nations no more of the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while and I saw thrones, and those that seven them, and judgment was committed to them and then I saw the souls of those who were beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God would not worship the beast or his image, and not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
There Sadat this point Christ has return.
He's thrown down the antichrist and the false prophet. His religious gurus sidekick into the lake of fire. This now is the answer to the prayer that Christ taught us to pray by kingdom come, thy will be done and notice the first thing that God does his chain of Satan for a thousand years.
Look at verse two of Revelation 20. He laid hold of that Dragon that serpent of old who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and customs of the bottomless pit, and shut him up and set a seal on him, not every one of these words that is used to describe the devil gives us an insight into his character. He's called devil and that means accuser and the Bible says easy accuser of the brothers, who accuses them before God. The NI and he's also called the serpent, which speaks of is deceptive ways. You know when I was a kid I used to collect reptiles. In fact I was so in the reptiles I would read books about reptiles. I would memorize everything about snakes and lizards but especially snakes and I was thinking of becoming a her pathologist which is Latin for nerd. No, not really gets an action means to creep and I was just into creeping things right so the thing that I was amazed by was snakes.
I was in a snakes are not the most affectionate little creatures.
I thought they were cool and you know but you never know what a snakes thinking right you know what a dog thinking Doug's happiest tongues hanging out those tails wagging, you know these Maddie's Jonas teeth you know Who even cares. I Think what I mean even a little bunny.
You can tell when there when they feel safer when they're scared the snake you never noticed they think they have no expression.
They don't like you. This is a little tongue coming out checking things out there looking out to dinner by browsing old smiled at him from the same expression all the time. They might be thinking about you in the face may begin to be a woman mentioned something about it. You know what I have snakes they could get out of the smaller spaces and just disappear and also Satan is that way you know you kick him an inch and you'll take a mile, and more. You open up one area of your life you will take full advantage of it. He's the devil who accuses us he's the serpent who manipulates us. Percy came to Adam and Eve. There is a serpent in the garden and then he is also an angel of light so he can appear as a beautiful creature but he's a fallen angel and here we have these different descriptions of him and now he's being humble those at the top of the heap of demon powers. Now he's coming down but it's kind of going into a holding tank. This is not as final judgment or read about that later. This final judgment is when he is cast into the lake of fire here. He's putting this some kind of upshift for a thousand years and gotten these bound by a single angel.
Now this is fascinating to me that here's this powerful spirit being brought down by a single angel and placed in this kit for a thousand years, where he is not able to go out and do what is been able to do up there that point of verse one and angel came down from heaven, having the keys of the bottomless pit and a great chain in the other. Some people and say you know these things. In Revelation, they've already This is not of the future that's happened already sold. Some would even say were already in the millennium. Bernie and this time or read about.
If this is the millennium, Satan has the longest chain ever right but were not there yet. But one day we will be in you'll be put in this place where he is not incarcerated and then we have a time where were ruling and reigning over the earth.
You see we have a special role that were going to play when we return to planet Earth with Jesus member I told you in the rapture we go to meet the Lord in the air and on the second coming. We return with Christ because the Bible says behold he comes with 10,000s of his saints on the work back here on earth that were in new glorified bodies and working to rule and reign with the Lord. In fact, the Revelation 20 verse work. I saw thrones, and those that sat on them, and judgment was given to them and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Now, this should not surprise us, because Jesus did promise that we would rule and reign with him one day. Matthew 1928, he said, I assure you when I the Son of Man set upon my glorious throne in the kingdom you have been my followers will sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel and here in Revelation, Jesus really reiterates a great promise of ruling with him. Revelation 226 says to those who are victorious and obey me to the end. I'll give authority over all the nations to rule the nations with an iron rod so will be ruling and reigning with Christ suicide. Just been in heaven working to combat tour same to be chained up for a thousand years no, you're probably wondering will cooler weaken any ruling over whether to be survivors of the tribulation.
Though millions and millions will die. There will be the survivors of the survivors of the survivors the children of the children of the children and these will be the inhabitants of the earth. These are people who are still in regular mortal bodies. We who have gone to heaven. Return with Christ are in glorified bodies, they still sin and I want you to notice.
They get themselves in the trouble even when the devil is chained up know we like to blame everything on Satan.
But the fact is we do a pretty good job of messing things up all of our own limited devil gets in the mix.
It's even worse. So were ruling over these people.
The cool thing is we are sin prove we are no longer vulnerable to sin, but that'll be great wanted to, but they are still vulnerable to sin. So here's some interesting things.
Now, as were ruling and reigning with the Lord, the millennium has begun the main drag through town is called the highway of holiness the righteousness of the Lord has filled the earth. It's beyond pure, perfect, unadulterated paradise and were ruling and reigning with the Lord. So this is phase 1 of the kingdom of God. Honor. But there's one final movement on planet Earth. That is the play out first and it's the final chapter in the unfolding drama of redemption because we see now in this strange little twist in the story mankind noted bated motivated by the devil plays his hand and it is in pretty survivors of the tribulation.
Have their children love their children and they rebel against God. There's a final rebellion. Can you imagine it. We've always said we had good leaders. We would never know rebellion of Christ ruling and reigning perfect leader and still there's rebellion.
But let's think a little bit about this time called the millennium and by the way, that's a word that you will not find in the Bible, but it's a biblical concept because millennium means 1000 so only say millennium were talking about the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ once again to be like on this planet during the millennium number one ever taken the beat world peace or dimension of the world peace. No more wars nor acts of terrorism. No more nukes.
No more crying. Isaiah 2 forces the Lord will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords in the plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks all wars. In military training will come to an end. Number two will be joy and happiness, and no more disabilities, no more depression no more wheelchairs no more handicaps.
Isaiah 35 says when he comes still open the eyes of the blind and him stop the ears of the death, the lame will leap like a deer. Those who cannot speak will shout and sing. Also, number three, the animal kingdom will be subdued in only hear about the wolf and the lamb lying down together the line on the landline got together this is that time animals will be completely tame and docile.
Isaiah 11 six says the Wolf will romp with the Lamb.
The Leopard will sleep with the kid Online will need from the same dish and a little child 10. No more suits nor animal parks. You can send your kid out to play with alliance mom and went on to play with the lines and gators K. Don't hurt them. Everything's going to be different to be amazing number for the universal justice and righteousness no more corrupt lawyers or judges. No more injustice no more frivolous lawsuits. Psalm 72 two says he will judge your people and righteousness. Your afflicted ones with judgment, you will defend the afflicted among the earth and save the children of the needy across the oppressor will endure as long as a son as long as the moon and then for the curse that came upon the world because of sin will be lifted. The curses lifted, it's gone.
Are Romans 819 says all creation is waiting eagerly for the future. Day one God will reveal who is children really are against its well everything on earth was subjected to God's curse all creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. This is a glorious millennium when heaven comes to work well is to shift gears and will bring this message to a close, I want to close with the parable and I had you turn earlier to look 19 that is directly connected to what we are reading in this parable given by Christ himself shows us how we ought to be living in the light of what is coming. Because what you do now will affect you, then as your faithful now.
This will dictate what you'll be doing that it will echo in eternity.
So pay careful attention because this means you decide how you will spend your eternal future. It's look 19 and I'm in a certain verse 12 and I'm reading from the new living translation. Jesus is a certain noble man was called away to a distant empire. He was crowned king and then he return before he left he called together 10 servants to give them 10 pounds of silver to invest for him while he was gone but his people hated him and sent a delegation after him.
So they did not want him to be their king. When he returned the king called was servants to whom he had given the money he wanted to find out what they had done with the money what the prophets were the first servant reported a tremendous gain 10 times as much as the original amount. All done. The king explain your trustworthy servant you been faithful with the little and trusted to you and you'll be governor of 10 cities as your award to see the connection. Faithfulness here results in opportunity there.
In this particular servant has been faithful will rule over 10 cities. The next seven verse 18 reported a good game five times the original amount. Well done. The king said, you'll be governor over five cities. Notice how the reward is tied to the faithfulness. The third servant brought back the original amount of money and said well I hit it and kept it safe. I was afraid because you're a hard man to deal with taking what is it yours and harvesting crops you didn't plant, you wicked servant. The king roar part of my if you know so much about me and how tough I am.
Why did you deposit the money in the bank so I can at least gain some interest on it and then turning to the other standing nearby, the king ordered take the money from the servant and give it to the one who was earn the most, but master they said that servant is enough already.
Yes, the king replied, but to those who use well what they are given even more will be given, but from those who are unfaithful, even with little they have will be taken away. I guess God doesn't believe in the redistribution of wealth that he takes from the one was little and came to the one the web more because he was faithful so this is all about faithfulness.
So who is this address. Doing what is it now to do with us. Remember a parable.
We call these teachings of Christ is just it's an illustration I parable is then been defined as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. So Jesus would tell a story, but it always had a point. What's the point of this story. The point is, Christ is the nobleman, the king is being crowned and returning we are the servants he gives the money and responsibilities to so you fit in the category of one of these three servants what you do with what he gives you and then your reward is directly related to how faithful you are with what God set before you are.
There are three categories for taking notes number one there's a super faithful number to the less faithful but still faithful and number three the unfaithful. Let's consider the first two together. The supreme less faithful both received a measure of money is called a pound and that would basically be about 100 days wages or three months of salary. So it's a sizable amount of money how one guy makes 10 times as much as the other guys were not told where the first guy he just seemed to have no limitations. It's like hey I want to take this and invest their sin, and he went for half the second guy. He was more conservative. He still commended, but he was playing it safe you know and it's like some people in the church. Some people are willing to take risks for the kingdom of God. Some people are willing to step out in faith more and see what the Lord will do. Others are more careful in their more cautious and those serve the Lord, but they they don't want to leave their comfort zone.
You know some people are sending the world on fire while others are still looking for a match and you determine which of these people you're going to be God is indeterminate. You determine it is given us all talents are a pound and I'll tell you what those can potentially be in a moment, but you just take what God is giving you when it comes on what you do with it.
The third guy.
He's just pathetic. Not only is he on productivity is the audacity to impugn his master in verse 20 and 21 of look.
19. The third servant brought back the original amount of money and said well I kidded and kept it safe because I was afraid of you because you're a hard man to deal with actually we really put it in the ground, so here's your money back to worms to dirt your psych masters like are you serious if you put it in the paint.
Even with low interest rates on what I had something to show.
But you give me back this worm infested money and this is the guy who just doesn't do anything with what he has been given in one day there's going to come a reckoning in God's gonna want to know what we did with what he gave to us. The problem with this guy is.
He had a faulty concept of his master.
He actually said your hard bed in your heart to deal with all yeah well if you think that's true, why did you at least put it in the bank and get me some interest. Some people in this concept of God that he's hearts and he's angry and he's mean and nothing could be further from the truth. EW toes are great writer I once wrote my quote nothing twists and the forms the soul more than the low or unworthy conception of God."
I think some people misunderstand who God is now zero God and I don't know what this parable means to me to let me put it in like with a modern illustration in the like guys going on a trip and he has 10 cars in the one he wants to sell his cars so he's like 10 different people and he says get the most money for the car so he comes back and in the first guy is actually driven the car so the soul and he said a few fender bender's and Todd's in the shop.
At present, and it's worth less than what was on the guy left of the second guy sold the car made a tidy profit bought another car sold that and then bought a couple more cars is pretty good, but the third guy. He's just out of control. He took the first car sold and bought a couple more cars sold those bought a few more cars of those invest money in various deals and when the master gets back. He bought a Ferrari dealership and said here.
This is yours now wow that's amazing. So you know we are all given these opportunities in life disable what is this mean though, will everybody has certain things given to them number one we have our life, our life this time span that God is given to us and we don't know how long that time span is your may have many years ahead of you may not have so many years ahead of you. You some of you have more years behind you, then in front of your maybe I should say some of us have more years behind us. Then the forest so here's what we need to constantly remind ourselves up. Why am I here in earth and what am I supposed to be doing, why are you here on earth you're here to glorify God and to bring forth spiritual fruits. That's a revelation tells us Revelation 411 we have a song sung in heaven that says you're worthy of God, to receive glory and honor for you created everything and it's for your pleasure that we exist and were created.
I am here to bring glory to God.
I'm not here to chase happiness.
I'm not here to bring glory to me.
I'm not here to run after nothingness. I'm here to bring glory to God. So my question to you tonight is, what are you doing for heaven's sake, for the sake of heaven. What are you doing with your life and my concern is a lot of people there. Life is like a Trivial Pursuit game they're just chasing after trivial things instead of asking the question what can I do with the life that God is given in Corrie 10 boom one said the greatest measure of a life that's not its duration but it donation not duration donation. We spent so much time thinking about how to live longer. That's okay, hang out at whole foods.
If you want to eat all the tofu and all the KLM all the things that are supposedly good for you. I just read about some woman who made it past the hundred. They asked her what her secret was and she said I eat bacon every single day. Go figure. She probably doesn't even rep and entail.
So you can think about prolonging her love. There's nothing wrong with that.
But again, the key is not duration it donation.
What are you doing with your life that God has given you. Number two, we have our money will of money. Some have more than others, but we all have a lot in America compared to most of the rest of the world. God wants us to be wise stewards over what he is given to us and he wants to be faithful in our giving. Listen to this. Every Christian should tie from the income that God gives them and him only should they do it but there's a blessing attached. When you do, do it because Amalekites that God says they put me to the test of the Lord in an bring your ties into the storehouse and watch and see if I will not open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing you won't have room enough to receive it. Some sable Greg I can afford to get paid. I can't afford not to get because you recognize your life come from God, your money comes from God. So tithing manages like the training wheels that that's where you begin now if you want to go to the next level you give above tithing and say I want to bring my type and my offering, but here's a problem. The Christians don't do either. They don't bring the bare minimum, much less more than that and were told in second Corinthians 9 each one of you must make up your mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need and then you have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others, but here's a problem when you leave and come to this subject. People get chance. Why it's sort of like the last area of our life we want to turn over to God. Okay you can have anything, but don't you touch my walnuts or my credit cards and where your heart is there your treasure will be also.
If you know if you thought if he's not Lord of all, he's not Lord at all and he should be Lord over your finances like the bumpers are good that says don't honk time.
If you love Jesus and all rights and then thirdly were given the sacred trust of delivering the gospel message all reviewing what is God given to every Christian is given us our life, our time, don't squander your life pursuing nothingness. He's given your finances, your resources about them wisely into the kingdom of God and third and lastly you been given the commission the sacred trust of delivering the gospel message of the guy you heard me say this before and I'm sure you'll hear me say it again that we've all been given what is called the great commission to go on the wall the world and preach the gospel.
Paul spoke to Timothy and said in first Timothy 111 how he had been given the glorious gospel committed to his trust.
It's a sacred trust. We've all been given a first Thessalonians 2 Paul says we been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. And so we been given the gospel secures the message in a nutshell, taking what we just read Jesus is saying what I'm coming soon. Take this message I've entrusted you with and get it out to others to God's business before I return. Because when they do that now or now or in eternity now in heaven now were coming back to the earth and our awards are given a look.
It's not about getting heaven.
You know how many get to heaven because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But the only way because of what I've got. I don't have a leg up in you because I'm a preacher rodeo your preacher, you know. Hey I have to be faithful to what God has called me to do. That's all I have to concern myself with. And you have to be faithful to what God is called you to do. He's not going to judge me accordingly what is called you to do is nothing to judge you, according to what is called me to do each of us has our only that we run it in the race of life were not competing with each other, our enemies are the world the flesh and the devil. So we just run in that lane and do what God has set before us and take advantage of the opportunities that are before us because one day going to get to the other side and for those of you that gave certain things up for God's kingdom. For those of you that took advantage of opportunities and never never received the applause of man you never received a citation or a metal or acknowledgment God will award you heard about an old missionary couple that have been working in Africa for years finally return home to retire. They had no retirements, no money to help was broken down. It turns out that they were on the same ship as president Teddy Roosevelt. He was returning from a hunting expedition in as a passengers disembark. There was a crowd of admirers to see the president in person. A band started playing down the planking, the president of the United States and end after the people cheered. The president walked out this old missionary couples slowly made their way down the gangplank and there was no band for them. There was no one to greet them know what to say welcome back word to say. Well great job and the husband was so discouraged he buried his head in his hands and he said to his wife I didn't expect a band or a parade, but someone could've been here to welcome us home and his wife turned to him and wisely said honey or not home yet, home yet hope for us is heaven.
So many people just think about the here and the now right here in the moment. There's much more there is an afterlife and on it goes.
And then we go to heaven as Christians in one day. Heaven comes to earth to think big picture that's really one of the reasons we read the book of Revelation not to talk about Antichrist Armageddon and Mark of the beast that's all in their but what is it it's a revelation of Jesus Christ. The unveiling of Jesus Christ.
It's all about Jesus Christ and knowing him that there were learning together one day we will be home as Christians in heaven let you determine where you're going to spend eternity that I could close with the thought one day like length.
If you come quickly to come later.
We don't know we have no control over this can if you're right with God. You do not have to be afraid of death. Because you know you will go immediately in the God's presence. But if you don't have this relationship with God. Jesus Christ, you will not go to heaven heaven is not the default destination of every person you don't even get in the heaven because you're in America you have to admit you're a sinner until God you're sorry for your sin, then you need to turn from that sin then you need to ask Jesus Christ to come in your life to be your Savior and Lord.
I can't do it for you.
You have to do it for yourself. Here's my question enclosing if you died tonight.
Where would you go will go to heaven. How do you know because I'm a good person actually you are. How do you know because were all sinners and we've all committed more than enough sense to keep us out of heaven and by the way.
One is enough to keep us out.
We've all done a lot more than one right, but the good news is this Christ died for us 2000 years ago on the cross and repeat for our sin and satisfied the demands of the righteous heavenly father that we've all offended and a full turn from that sinner believe in Jesus, we can know. I know I'm going to heaven when I die. How do you know because of Jesus because they believed in Jesus and then I find serving him faithfully Toby rewards waiting for me on the other side to but you know what I know I'm going to get there, no matter what I want you to know that too in a moment you're up right I'm going to extend an invitation for you to believe in Jesus Christ and invitation for you to help all of your sin forgiven an invitation for you to know that if the Lord were to come back you'll be ready to meet him. You don't want to be one of those people that would be left you want to be ready and Solomon to tell you how to do that you need to respond to this invitation.
I meant to give as we close in prayer.
If you're not sure Christ is living in your heart if you're not sure your sin is forgiven. If you're not sure you're ready to meet the Lord respond to this invitation as we pray now okay let's all bow our heads everybody praying father, thank you for your word. Thank you for your love and sending Jesus Lord Jesus thinking that you came and died on the cross for us and paid the price for all of our sins and then rose again from the dead and now here you are Jesus standing at the door of our life knocking in your scene up will hear your voice and open the door you'll come in. We pray for everyone here and everyone that is listening or watching it is not yet know you help them to respond to this invitation.
We would pray now in Jesus name Elinor heads about and her eyes are closed nor praying together. How many of you would say tonight.
Greg pray for me.
I want to go to heaven when I die I want Jesus Christ to forgive me of my sin. I'm ready tonight.
There's a Jesus come into my life. I want to know God in a personal way.
Pray for me if you want your sin forgiven, if you want to go to heaven when you die if you want that big hole in your heart filled. If you want to be ready for the Lord's return.
Would you just raise your hand up right now.
Wherever you are and I'll pray for you. God bless you raise your hand up our vacancy accomplish you and you. God bless you to bless you all over the room. Hands are going up. I hope yours is one of listen, you may never have another opportunity like tonight you think while do this next week or next month. How do you know there's going to be in next week or next month. The Bible says today is the day of salvation tonight your night. This is this is what you wanted. This is what you been searching for here is Jesus Christ himself, ready to come in your life, but he won't force his way in. He want you to invite your to open the door and asked him in anybody else. You want Christ to come of your life. Raise your hand up when we pray for you.
God bless you, bless you. Anybody else raise your hand. We pray for you, bless you what I heads are still valid. Maybe there's some of you that walk with Jesus for a time but you while you come and gone astray, then like the prodigal son or daughter you got out there chasten with the world offers those promises were not fulfilled. The phone wore off quickly. And then there was the dull ache of sin or maybe the repercussions that you face because of bad decisions, you say well I messed it up it's too late for me know it isn't you can come home again. You can return to your father who loves you if you need to come back to Jesus Christ and I need to return to the Lord like a prodigal, would you raise your hand up and when we pray for you right now, bless you. Anybody else, bless God bless all of you, bless you father thank you note for each of these given the strength to follow you and receive all that you have for them, for we ask it now in Jesus name that