WEBVTT

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 Thank you so much for leading us.

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 If you have your Bibles, turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

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 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, when we think of heaven,

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 our curiosities run wild.

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 And as we wonder what it'll be like,

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 and we try to figure it out,

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 and we have a tendency to embellish the things

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 that we're most concerned about.

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 Sadly, what I've noticed over the years

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 is people focus so much on the physical beauty

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 and the materialistic aspects

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 that they often miss the spiritual

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 and the worshipful reality of heaven,

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 which is the greatest part, by the way.

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 Heaven's not just about the walls of jewels

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 and the streets of gold.

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 Near as much as it is about the fulfillment of God's kingdom,

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 about the opportunity of believers to see him face to face

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 and to worship at the feet of Jesus.

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 Now, we still have our curiosities,

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 and I want to deal with one today

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 that I often am asked,

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 and that is, what will we be like in heaven?

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 What will we be like in heaven?

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 Let us never let our imagination

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 leave the Bible

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 and its revelations behind.

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 The only evidence that we have of heaven on this earth

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 is from the word of God,

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 and it may not answer every question that we have in our mind,

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 but it answers all we need to know.

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 And so I want to talk this morning about

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 what we will be like in heaven,

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 and I hope this morning is more than just a,

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 more than just giving you curious facts,

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 but instead to see the Lord of heaven,

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 to sense his glory,

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 and to allow him to move in our individual lives.

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 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, beginning in verse 13,

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 it says,

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 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,

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 about those who are asleep,

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 that you may grieve as others do who have no hope.

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 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again,

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 even so through Jesus God will bring with him

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 those who have fallen asleep.

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 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord

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 that we who are alive,

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 who are left until the coming of the Lord,

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 will not perceive those who have fallen asleep.

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 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven

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 with a cry of command,

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 with the voice of the archangel,

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 with the sound of the trumpet of God,

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 and the dead in Christ will rise first.

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 Then we who are alive, who are left,

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 will be caught up together with him in the clouds

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 to meet the Lord in the air,

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 and so we will always be with the Lord.

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 And my favorite verse of this impactful passage

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 is verse 18 when it says,

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 Therefore, encourage one another with these words.

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 My friend, this is not all there is.

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 Thank God.

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 And if you are a child of God,

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 you have a lot to look forward to.

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 And I want to talk about that this morning

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 because we're describing this morning

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 what we will be like in heaven.

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 It is simple to explain,

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 yet complex to understand.

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 It's a concept that we can try to imagine,

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 yet one that we have never seen,

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 and one that we'll have a hard time grasping.

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 To state simply,

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 what will we be like in heaven?

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 Well, we'll be perfect.

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 We'll be perfect.

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 Did you catch that?

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 Do you understand that?

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 I don't think we understand that.

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 But the Bible helps us understand it

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 as best as we can.

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 There are several ways we'll be perfect in heaven.

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 One is our salvation will be perfect.

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 Now, salvation is made up of three processes.

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 It begins with conversion or regeneration.

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 That's when we give our hearts and lives

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 to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 When we surrender our lives to follow Him.

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 We convert from running our own lives

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 down the wide wrong path,

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 as Christ put it,

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 and give all that we have over to God

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 to walk in His less traveled right path.

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 That is a heartfelt commitment on our behalf

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 and a promise on His behalf.

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 And my friend,

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 if that has never happened to you,

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 you have an open invitation today,

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 not only from me,

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 but more importantly,

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 from the Lord Jesus Christ

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 to surrender your life

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 to the Lord Jesus today

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 and allow Him

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 to regenerate you,

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 to convert you,

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 as He put it,

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 to be born again.

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 Once that happens,

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 the second stage of our salvation

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 is the sanctification process.

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 And sanctification is the process

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 of our Christian life.

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 It is in our salvation,

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 we are declared holy.

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 He has set us apart.

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 That's what that word means.

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 Don't mean perfect.

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 It means set apart for His purposes.

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 And as He sets us apart,

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 He begins a process in our lives

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 to help us to walk

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 and be more like Him,

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 to be made more holy.

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 Chuck Swindoll wrote a book years ago

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 called Three Steps Forward

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 and Two Steps Back.

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 That kind of describes the Christian life.

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 We begin to progress

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 and then we have setbacks in our lives.

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 But you know,

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 if you go three steps forward

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 and two steps back,

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 that's a step of progress.

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 And the job of the sanctification,

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 what we need to be doing

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 in our sanctification

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 is growing in the Lord,

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 becoming more like Him.

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 And then one day,

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 there'll be glorification.

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 Now some folks may look like

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 they've reached glorification,

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 but they haven't yet

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 if you're still walking around with them, okay?

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 And that is the perfecting

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 of our salvation.

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 That completes our salvation.

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 In Romans 8, verse 30,

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 it tells us that

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 whom God has justified,

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 thank God,

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 He's also glorified.

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 Justify means who He's made right.

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 That's done through conversion.

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 The glorifying speaks of the perfecting.

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 And it's the promise

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 that we will be made perfect

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 in eternity.

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 As 1 John 3, 2 says,

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 we shall be like Him

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 for we shall see Him as He is.

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 Now, as far as being perfect

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 in our salvation,

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 I want to make sure

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 you know two truths today.

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 One is,

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 if you're here this morning,

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 you're not there yet, okay?

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 You are not perfect

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 in your salvation.

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 Don't pretend to be.

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 We know better, okay?

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 Preach done said it.

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 You ain't perfect.

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 You're not there yet.

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 We are frail human beings

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 in need of a Lord and Savior

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 every day.

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 We are not there yet.

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 We are not perfect.

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 The second truth,

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 if you're a child of God today

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 and have given your heart and life

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 to the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 you will be perfect.

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 You will be.

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 The perfecting of our salvation

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 is the completion of our salvation,

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 and that happens in eternity,

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 and that only comes in eternity.

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 If we die before the Lord returns,

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 our souls will go to heaven.

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 Upon His return,

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 we'll be unified again with our bodies.

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 That is what 1 Thessalonians 4 speaks of.

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 However, our bodies won't be

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 like they are here.

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 Our bodies will be perfect.

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 How can we know

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 what our glorified heavenly bodies

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 will be like?

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 Well, there's some evidence in Scripture,

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 some things that I've touched on

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 in the last few weeks

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 that I'll hit again quickly.

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 And it comes from a few descriptions

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 in the Bible

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 of the post-resurrection body of Christ.

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 Luke 24 tells us

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 about the glorified body of Christ,

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 that He could be touched

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 and He could be handled.

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 He was not merely a fathom or a ghost.

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 In Luke 24, verse 39,

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 He said,

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 See my hands, my feet?

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 That is, I myself.

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 Touch me and see.

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 For a spirit does not have flesh and bones

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 as you see that I have.

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 He looked human.

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 However, when He was on the road to Emmaus,

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 they never questioned His humanity.

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 They knew He was human,

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 but they were slow to recognize Him.

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 They didn't quite recognize Him.

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 In that glorified body,

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 He ate real food with His friends.

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 Yet He passed through solid walls

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 or through a locked door.

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 Hello?

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 It's a little different.

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 He could appear in ways

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 in which His identity

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 was not immediately known.

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 He could suddenly appear

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 and disappear out of nowhere.

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 We see no evidence of that

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 in the Gospels before the resurrected body.

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 And He ascended into heaven

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 in bodily form.

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 And my friend,

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 that is as close on earth

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 as we can understand

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 of our heavenly existence.

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 Now, how much of that applies

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 to us and our future?

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 I don't know.

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 Let's be honest with you.

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 I don't know.

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 But Paul said this.

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 In Philippians chapter 3, verse 21,

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 he says this.

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 But our citizenship is in heaven.

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 And from it,

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 we await a Savior,

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 the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who will transform our lowly body.

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 How many of you feel like

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 you got a lowly?

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 No, you don't have to say it.

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 Will transform our lowly body

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 to be like his glorious body

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 by the power that enables him

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 even to subject all things

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 to himself.

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 In 2 Corinthians 5, verse 1,

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 Paul calls our body

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 an earthly tent,

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 but shares that we will have

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 an eternal house in heaven,

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 not built by human hands.

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 And I want you to listen

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 to this passage.

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 It's in 1 Thessalonians chapter 15.

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 It's 42 through 44

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 and 50 through 57.

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 Listen to this.

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 So it is with the resurrection

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 of the dead.

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 What is sown is perishable.

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 That means what you put

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 in the ground when you die.

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 What is raised is imperishable.

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 It is sown in dishonor.

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 It is raised in glory.

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 It is sown in weakness.

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 It is raised in power.

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 It is sown a natural body.

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 It is raised a spiritual body.

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 If there is a natural body,

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 there's also a spiritual body.

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 He goes on to say in verse 50,

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 I tell you, brothers,

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 flesh and blood cannot inherit

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 the kingdom of God,

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 nor does the perishable

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 inherit the imperishable.

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 Behold, I tell you a mystery.

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 We shall not all sleep,

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 but we shall all be changed.

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 Now let me clarify something real quick,

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 okay?

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 Because he refers to this sleep

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 a couple of times.

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 Do not believe that when somebody dies,

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 that their soul rests with that body

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 that you put in the casket

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 and that you put that body and soul

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 in the ground.

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 No, no.

00:11:27.680 --> 00:11:30.720
 The body lays there for a time.

00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.860
 But the soul is in the presence of the Lord.

00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:37.460
 The apostle Paul said to be absent from the body

00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:40.379
 is to be present with the Lord.

00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:42.980
 I'll give you further evidence in future days

00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:45.460
 about the instantaneous nature.

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.400
 As I called it a few weeks ago,

00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:49.360
 one minute after you die,

00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:52.660
 and I'm just giving you about 59 seconds of grace

00:11:52.660 --> 00:11:55.820
 because I really believe that when your eyes close in death,

00:11:55.900 --> 00:11:57.120
 they'll open in eternity,

00:11:57.940 --> 00:11:59.160
 whatever that may mean for you.

00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:02.559
 So the reality is,

00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.480
 when he says sleep here,

00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:09.339
 don't ever believe that one that passes away is sleep.

00:12:09.699 --> 00:12:11.419
 They're not talking about the soul.

00:12:12.699 --> 00:12:14.159
 Soul sleep is a heresy.

00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:16.019
 Not at all.

00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:18.319
 It's that body that's resting there.

00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:20.100
 But he says, listen,

00:12:21.219 --> 00:12:22.500
 we shall not all sleep.

00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:26.639
 We shall all be changed.

00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:28.460
 Because in a moment,

00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:29.460
 in the twinkling of an eye,

00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.679
 at the last trumpet,

00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:31.720
 for the trumpet will sound

00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:33.439
 and the dead will be raised imperishable,

00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:36.980
 and we shall be changed.

00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:40.019
 For this perishable body

00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:41.240
 must put on the imperishable,

00:12:41.340 --> 00:12:43.779
 and this mortal body put on immortality.

00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:45.840
 But thanks be to God

00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.960
 who gives us the victory

00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:51.679
 through our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:52.840
 Thank God

00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:55.620
 that he takes care of us

00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:57.100
 and will provide for us

00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:58.179
 and gives us

00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:59.440
 the victory.

00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.279
 Our bodies will be

00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:02.120
 made perfect.

00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:03.580
 Not only that,

00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.980
 but our minds will be

00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.980
 perfect.

00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.320
 Our minds will be perfect.

00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:09.600
 In 1 Corinthians

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.139
 chapter 13,

00:13:11.220 --> 00:13:11.659
 verse 12,

00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:12.299
 Paul put it

00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:13.019
 so well,

00:13:13.060 --> 00:13:13.620
 he said for this,

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:15.179
 for now we see

00:13:15.179 --> 00:13:16.440
 in a mirror dimly,

00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.879
 but then face to face.

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:20.220
 Now I know in part,

00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:22.419
 but then I shall know fully,

00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:24.000
 even as I am fully

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.039
 known.

00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:27.379
 Now when it says

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.259
 that

00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:31.360
 we will know fully,

00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:34.039
 I don't believe that's

00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:34.779
 speaking of

00:13:34.779 --> 00:13:36.860
 perfect omniscience.

00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:40.259
 I believe that's what it speaks of,

00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.299
 because I believe there's evidence

00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:41.980
 of other ways.

00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:43.779
 And let me assure you,

00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:45.299
 you will not turn into gods,

00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.639
 as some cults

00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.659
 say you will.

00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:49.819
 It does mean

00:13:49.819 --> 00:13:51.500
 that we'll know things

00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.860
 on a much more

00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:54.159
 comprehensive level

00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:55.179
 than we do here.

00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.179
 In other words,

00:13:56.419 --> 00:13:57.620
 our minds will be

00:13:57.620 --> 00:13:58.379
 as complete

00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.579
 as we could ever

00:13:59.579 --> 00:14:00.399
 desire.

00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:01.480
 Therefore,

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.860
 the questions that you have

00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:03.480
 about heaven,

00:14:04.699 --> 00:14:05.819
 if you ever say,

00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:07.079
 you know,

00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:07.559
 when I die

00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:08.120
 and I get to heaven,

00:14:08.199 --> 00:14:09.039
 I'm going to ask,

00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:10.740
 let me tell you

00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:11.600
 my personal opinion.

00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:12.500
 No, you ain't.

00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:15.360
 No, you ain't.

00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:16.759
 You're going to be so caught up

00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:18.299
 in the atmosphere

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.840
 of being in the presence

00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:20.440
 of the Lord,

00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.379
 I believe the questions

00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.759
 that are digging

00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:24.740
 at you today

00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:25.899
 will be answered

00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:27.399
 instantaneously.

00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.799
 I believe you'll

00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:30.860
 know.

00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:35.039
 I believe the questions

00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:36.399
 you have about this life

00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.580
 that sometimes nobody

00:14:38.580 --> 00:14:39.740
 can answer for you.

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:42.019
 I believe if you're

00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.779
 a child of God

00:14:42.779 --> 00:14:43.279
 and you die

00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.379
 in the Lord instantly,

00:14:45.560 --> 00:14:46.279
 there'll be answered.

00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:47.440
 There'll be no more ums.

00:14:48.680 --> 00:14:50.000
 There'll be no more confusion.

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.560
 There'll be no more

00:14:51.560 --> 00:14:52.060
 forgetting,

00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:53.120
 no more ignorance,

00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:54.940
 no more needing

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:56.440
 to walk by faith.

00:14:56.700 --> 00:14:56.940
 Hello?

00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:59.039
 We'll know it then.

00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.019
 We'll walk by sight.

00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.639
 Our minds will be

00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:03.180
 made perfect.

00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:05.100
 The fourth thing is

00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:05.980
 our love

00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:07.639
 will be perfect.

00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:08.500
 If I told you

00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:09.379
 I had seven points

00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:09.700
 this morning,

00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.200
 when I started

00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.279
 it had scared you to death.

00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.139
 But we more than

00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:13.639
 halfway there.

00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.379
 Our love

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.580
 will be perfect.

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.100
 Now when we look

00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:20.159
 at 1 Corinthians 13

00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:21.019
 we see a pattern

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.100
 of love to live by.

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:22.620
 However,

00:15:23.060 --> 00:15:24.419
 we cannot fulfill

00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:25.259
 that completely.

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.820
 It is the goal

00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:28.639
 to set forth.

00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:29.980
 We should not

00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:30.560
 forgive our,

00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.259
 we should not

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:32.220
 excuse ourselves

00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.080
 from some that

00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:34.279
 we're not so good at.

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:34.960
 We ought to work

00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:35.680
 harder at it.

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:37.080
 Do more for it.

00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.080
 However,

00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.879
 we won't fulfill

00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:39.419
 it completely.

00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:40.100
 Much like the

00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:40.980
 examples of Christ

00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.659
 in our lives,

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.279
 we won't fulfill

00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:42.779
 those things.

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.519
 1 Corinthians 13

00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:46.120
 13 closes out

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.840
 the love chapter

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:47.539
 saying this,

00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:48.620
 Now faith,

00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.120
 hope,

00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:49.639
 and love

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.100
 abide.

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:51.240
 These three,

00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:52.100
 but the greatest

00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:52.919
 of these

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:54.120
 is love.

00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:54.179
 love.

00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:57.560
 Why is love

00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:58.080
 the greatest

00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:58.399
 of that?

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.039
 Because it's

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.639
 the one

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.659
 that is eternal

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.960
 that's there.

00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:04.220
 Because you see,

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:04.840
 our faith

00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.639
 will be fulfilled

00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:07.120
 when we see

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.899
 Him face to face.

00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:09.440
 Our hope

00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:10.500
 will be met.

00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:13.600
 Our love

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:14.379
 will be made

00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:14.940
 complete

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.980
 and be

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:18.080
 perfect.

00:16:18.820 --> 00:16:19.620
 Thank God.

00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:20.840
 Our love

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.360
 will be perfect.

00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:22.399
 Fifth thing

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:22.899
 is our

00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.820
 joy

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:24.500
 will be

00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:24.960
 perfect.

00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.120
 The Christian

00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:27.960
 has the opportunity

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:28.440
 in this life

00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:28.960
 to live

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:29.539
 in the joy

00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:30.039
 of the Lord.

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:30.379
 However,

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:30.800
 that joy

00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:31.039
 is not

00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:31.500
 perfect.

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.340
 That joy

00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:33.759
 is not

00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:34.139
 perfect.

00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:34.720
 Sin,

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.419
 sorrow,

00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:36.919
 discouragement,

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:38.240
 loss,

00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:39.120
 worry,

00:16:39.419 --> 00:16:40.259
 all that stuff

00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:41.100
 gets in the way.

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.620
 But that

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.399
 will not be

00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.060
 the case,

00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:45.860
 thank God,

00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:46.620
 in eternity.

00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:48.279
 in the account

00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:49.120
 of the beggar

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.299
 Lazarus.

00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.100
 There's a couple

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.639
 of Lazarus

00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:52.100
 in scripture.

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:53.039
 The account

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.860
 of the beggar

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.659
 Lazarus,

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:56.259
 he was comforted

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:56.759
 when he went

00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.200
 to heaven

00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:58.720
 after he lived

00:16:58.720 --> 00:16:59.440
 a tough life

00:16:59.440 --> 00:16:59.980
 on earth.

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.519
 And in the same

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:01.820
 way,

00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:02.379
 thank God,

00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:02.879
 there'll be no

00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:03.500
 more sin,

00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:04.240
 there'll be no

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:04.859
 more sorrow,

00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:05.740
 there'll be no

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.660
 more discouragement,

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:07.400
 there'll be no

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:08.180
 more worry.

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.279
 Matthew 25

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:09.839
 verse 23

00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:10.859
 says that we

00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:11.660
 will be invited

00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.460
 to come and

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.339
 share our

00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.480
 master's happiness.

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.119
 In other words,

00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:15.799
 we will be

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:17.000
 welcomed into

00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.759
 the joy

00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.839
 of the Lord.

00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:20.399
 Our joy

00:17:20.399 --> 00:17:23.059
 will be perfect.

00:17:23.159 --> 00:17:23.500
 Now I think

00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:23.819
 you ought to

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.500
 practice that

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:24.859
 here,

00:17:25.059 --> 00:17:25.339
 okay?

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:29.639
 But it ain't

00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:29.879
 going to be

00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:30.279
 perfect

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:32.319
 until we see

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:32.779
 him face to

00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.039
 face.

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.299
 Listen,

00:17:34.459 --> 00:17:35.639
 our relationships

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.579
 will be

00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:36.919
 perfect.

00:17:39.339 --> 00:17:40.079
 Not only

00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:40.379
 will the

00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:40.879
 relationships

00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:41.579
 that we know

00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.119
 on earth

00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:43.339
 be enhanced

00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.799
 by sinlessness,

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:48.859
 but we'll

00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.439
 know those

00:17:49.439 --> 00:17:49.859
 in heaven

00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.399
 that we

00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:50.779
 didn't know

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:51.299
 on earth.

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.279
 If Peter,

00:17:55.459 --> 00:17:55.839
 James,

00:17:55.919 --> 00:17:56.519
 and John

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.359
 recognize

00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.299
 Moses and

00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.079
 Elijah at

00:17:59.079 --> 00:17:59.239
 the

00:17:59.239 --> 00:18:00.239
 transfiguration,

00:18:01.939 --> 00:18:03.059
 if Lazarus

00:18:03.059 --> 00:18:03.739
 and the rich

00:18:03.739 --> 00:18:04.239
 man were

00:18:04.239 --> 00:18:05.019
 known in

00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.539
 eternity,

00:18:06.139 --> 00:18:07.399
 then so

00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:08.319
 shall we

00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:08.559
 be.

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.379
 Jesus said

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:11.739
 in Matthew

00:18:11.739 --> 00:18:12.279
 8 verse

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:12.939
 11 that we

00:18:12.939 --> 00:18:13.799
 should sit

00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:14.740
 down together

00:18:14.740 --> 00:18:15.259
 at the

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.220
 feast in

00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:16.839
 eternity.

00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:18.399
 And unlike

00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:18.919
 some of those

00:18:18.919 --> 00:18:19.539
 sit-downs that

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:19.940
 you're a part

00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.220
 of now,

00:18:20.419 --> 00:18:20.980
 there'll be no

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:21.879
 family squabbles

00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:22.379
 in glory.

00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:23.220
 You know?

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.559
 There'll be no

00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.200
 bickering at the

00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:26.500
 table.

00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:28.440
 Thank God

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:28.899
 there'll be no

00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:30.079
 politics in glory.

00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.139
 No talk of

00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:33.480
 that.

00:18:33.919 --> 00:18:34.480
 Nothing to

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:34.919
 divide.

00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:36.599
 We won't even

00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.259
 get tired of

00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:37.720
 each other.

00:18:38.919 --> 00:18:39.919
 Our relationships,

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:40.639
 thank God,

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:41.159
 will be

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.400
 perfected.

00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:45.480
 But not only

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.040
 that, but our

00:18:46.040 --> 00:18:46.700
 worship will be

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.320
 perfected.

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.620
 You know why?

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.500
 To put simply,

00:18:50.800 --> 00:18:51.440
 we'll see him

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.160
 face to face.

00:18:53.700 --> 00:18:54.380
 We'll see him

00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:54.860
 face to face.

00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:55.420
 1 Corinthians

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.420
 13 verse 12

00:18:56.420 --> 00:18:57.360
 tells us that

00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:58.440
 we shall know

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.740
 him like we

00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:01.340
 can't hear.

00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:02.980
 We'll know

00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.180
 him.

00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:04.560
 It says,

00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:06.120
 for now we see

00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:06.540
 in a mirror

00:19:06.540 --> 00:19:07.620
 dimly, but then

00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:08.220
 face to face.

00:19:08.300 --> 00:19:08.940
 Now I know in

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.800
 part, then I

00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:10.600
 shall know fully,

00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:11.539
 even as I

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:13.839
 have been

00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:15.079
 fully known.

00:19:15.719 --> 00:19:16.199
 We will

00:19:16.199 --> 00:19:17.819
 enjoy unhindered,

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.459
 no longer

00:19:18.459 --> 00:19:19.119
 clouded by

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.759
 sin,

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.079
 separation,

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.639
 ignorance,

00:19:22.939 --> 00:19:23.699
 all those

00:19:23.699 --> 00:19:23.980
 things.

00:19:24.199 --> 00:19:24.799
 The greatest

00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:25.899
 delight that we

00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:26.500
 will ever

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.959
 experience in

00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:29.099
 heaven, the

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:30.079
 greatest delight

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.019
 will be seeing

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.139
 him face to

00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:33.359
 face as we

00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.619
 reign with

00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:35.059
 him.

00:19:35.419 --> 00:19:36.259
 Revelation 22

00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:37.039
 verse 3 through

00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.799
 5 says,

00:19:38.419 --> 00:19:40.399
 forever we'll

00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:40.780
 reign with

00:19:40.780 --> 00:19:40.980
 him.

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.440
 Now how do

00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.100
 you respond to

00:19:45.100 --> 00:19:45.620
 all that?

00:19:48.540 --> 00:19:49.280
 Well, 1 Corinthians

00:19:49.280 --> 00:19:50.160
 15, Paul

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.019
 describes the

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.620
 resurrection.

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.180
 He describes the

00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.360
 glorified state,

00:19:54.540 --> 00:19:55.860
 and he closes out

00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:57.680
 with this, his

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.500
 purpose for

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.360
 sharing it.

00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:01.340
 In 1 Corinthians

00:20:01.340 --> 00:20:03.140
 15 verse 58, he

00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:03.820
 says this,

00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.960
 therefore my

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:05.919
 beloved brothers,

00:20:06.419 --> 00:20:06.960
 talking about

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.799
 today folks,

00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:09.960
 be steadfast,

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.599
 immovable,

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.939
 always abounding

00:20:13.939 --> 00:20:14.619
 in the work of

00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:14.859
 the Lord,

00:20:14.980 --> 00:20:15.859
 knowing, thank

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:17.079
 God, that the

00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.539
 work, that in the

00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.819
 Lord your labor is

00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:22.319
 not in vain.

00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:24.339
 What difference

00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:24.919
 does it make?

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.740
 It ought to make a

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:28.720
 difference today in

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.559
 how we live.

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:32.700
 Fanny Crosby wrote

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.480
 some of the greatest

00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:34.460
 hymns that's ever

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:34.960
 been written.

00:20:36.399 --> 00:20:37.200
 I'm not going to

00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:37.919
 sing, don't panic.

00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.899
 But she wrote a

00:20:41.899 --> 00:20:43.240
 hymn, and it says

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:45.940
 this, when my life

00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:48.200
 work is ended, and I

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:49.299
 cross the swelling

00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:53.399
 tide, when the bright

00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:55.720
 and glorious morning I

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:58.980
 shall see, I shall know

00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:01.299
 my Redeemer when I

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.120
 reach the other

00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:05.220
 side, and his smile

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.700
 will be the first to

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.339
 welcome me.

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:12.160
 I shall know him, I

00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:14.779
 shall know him, and

00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:17.120
 redeemed by his side,

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.940
 I shall stand.

00:21:20.140 --> 00:21:23.299
 I shall know him, I

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:25.900
 shall know him by the

00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:29.480
 prints of the nails in

00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.140
 his hand.

00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:37.480
 Fanny Crosby was born

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.220
 blind.

00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:42.860
 She never saw a thing

00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:44.480
 in this life.

00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:47.600
 How wonderful it must

00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:50.960
 have been to know that

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.280
 the first thing that she

00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:55.160
 would ever see would be

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:57.639
 the smile of the Savior

00:21:57.639 --> 00:22:00.940
 welcoming her into

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.500
 eternity.

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.339
 And the same is true

00:22:04.339 --> 00:22:04.799
 for you.

00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:08.339
 You shall see him like

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.899
 you never have.

00:22:12.319 --> 00:22:14.139
 And you shall see you

00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:15.420
 like you never have.

00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:18.960
 What difference does that

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.059
 make in our life today?

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:23.440
 Well, my friend, if

00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.079
 there's never been a

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.899
 time in your life when

00:22:25.899 --> 00:22:26.659
 you've asked the Lord

00:22:26.659 --> 00:22:29.419
 Jesus to forgive you, to

00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:31.599
 cleanse you, that you've

00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:33.339
 asked him to remove the

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.359
 sin in your life and

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.519
 acknowledge the fact that

00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:37.799
 you've done wrong, if

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.779
 that's never happened to

00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:40.960
 you, thank God today's the

00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.700
 day of salvation.

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.480
 And if you ask the Lord

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.960
 Jesus to forgive you of

00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:47.859
 your sins, to come into

00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:49.319
 your life and save you, I

00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.599
 thank God today he'll do

00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:50.759
 it.

00:22:51.700 --> 00:22:52.720
 He's the one that gives

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.819
 you the passion to do

00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.000
 it.

00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.879
 He's the one that came to

00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.200
 you.

00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:58.639
 You just respond to him in

00:22:58.639 --> 00:22:59.039
 obedience.

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.139
 I want to be clear.

00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.960
 If that's never happened to

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:07.179
 you, and you were to slip

00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:08.319
 into eternity today, it's not

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:09.159
 a threat, it's just the

00:23:09.159 --> 00:23:09.480
 truth.

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.559
 If you were to slip into

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.519
 eternity today, you would

00:23:11.519 --> 00:23:12.839
 forever be separated from

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.259
 the Father.

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.579
 Forever.

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.379
 Hell's just as real as

00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:18.660
 heaven.

00:23:21.540 --> 00:23:22.820
 If you've never given your

00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:23.640
 heart and life to the Lord

00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:25.780
 Jesus Christ, come today, I'd

00:23:25.780 --> 00:23:26.880
 love to guide you in that

00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.260
 process.

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.840
 Maybe you're here and you

00:23:29.840 --> 00:23:31.100
 have done that privately, but

00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:32.120
 you've never told anybody

00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:32.580
 about it.

00:23:32.780 --> 00:23:34.000
 You've never made that

00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:34.500
 public.

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:37.300
 And Scripture tells us that

00:23:37.300 --> 00:23:39.800
 the way we do that is to

00:23:39.800 --> 00:23:40.800
 acknowledge that just the

00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:42.640
 way that Christ gave us an

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:42.900
 example.

00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:43.800
 He didn't even need it, but he

00:23:43.800 --> 00:23:45.180
 gave us an example of being

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:47.120
 baptized as a believer.

00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:49.519
 If you've never acknowledged

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:51.100
 your faith in Christ publicly

00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:53.080
 by baptism, I encourage you

00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.779
 to come this morning.

00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:55.060
 We'd love to line that up.

00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:55.620
 We're not going to do it

00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.019
 right now.

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.620
 We'll love to line that up in

00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.279
 the days ahead.

00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:01.080
 Maybe God's drawing you to

00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:03.140
 this church, and you know this

00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:04.200
 is where you are to serve.

00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:06.480
 We'd love to guide you in that

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:06.900
 process.

00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:08.420
 I encourage you to come.

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.299
 Or maybe you just got stuff

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.419
 going on.

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.139
 You're just burdened about

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:15.639
 stuff.

00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.180
 You just got weight in your

00:24:18.180 --> 00:24:20.500
 life that you need relief

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:20.859
 from.

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:22.259
 I'd love to pray with you.

00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:25.119
 Or you can come to these

00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:27.339
 stairs and make this your

00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:29.119
 altar and just lift that up

00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.299
 to the Lord.

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.200
 You can do it where you are.

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:33.039
 I'll never ask you to do

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.919
 anything more than what God

00:24:33.919 --> 00:24:34.480
 tells you to do.

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:36.039
 And I'm going to try my best

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.180
 never let you be satisfied

00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:39.019
 doing anything less than what

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:40.119
 God tells you to do.

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:42.119
 Just obey him today and

00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:43.739
 trust him.

00:24:44.459 --> 00:24:46.039
 Lord Jesus, I love you and I

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:48.139
 thank you for your love for

00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:48.439
 us.

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:51.159
 And I ask, oh God, today that

00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:53.299
 you'll guide us to simply

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:55.879
 follow your will, to simply

00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:57.399
 do what you tell us to do,

00:24:57.459 --> 00:24:57.919
 dear God.

00:24:58.179 --> 00:24:59.699
 I'm thankful for an eternity

00:24:59.699 --> 00:25:01.239
 that we can rest in when we

00:25:01.239 --> 00:25:02.019
 leave this place.

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.839
 But until we do, dear God,

00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:05.279
 help us to live for you.

00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:07.039
 Help us to make the decisions

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.959
 that please you.

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.519
 Guide us today.

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:11.859
 Right now to be obedient to

00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.779
 follow your will and your way

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.740
 in our hearts and lives.

00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.319
 We love you dearly.

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.519
 Thank you for the privilege.

00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.440
 In Jesus' name, amen.