Our Best is ahead of Us

We are all on a journey. Our best is ahead of us. Story about sailing trip.

As a people, their best was ahead of them.

After the Wall was built the people worshiped!

Nehemiah 8:6 NIV84

6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

As a nation, their best was ahead of them.

As a people, their best was ahead of them.

As a nation, their best was ahead of them.

Ezra 8:

Ezra 8:6 NIV84

6 of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;

English Standard Version Chapter 12

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

We as Christ followers, our best is ahead of us!

Requires dying to self (John 12:24-25)

John 12:24–25 NIV84

24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Requires dying to self (Neh 8:24-25)

Requires Urgency (John 12:26)

Urgency:

John 12:26 NIV84

26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

Urgency:

1: to follow Him

2: to address personal hinderances

1: to address personal hinderances

3: to dig deeper into spiritual formation

2: to dig deeper into spiritual formation

4: to daily refocus life in a gospel centric manner

3: to daily refocus life in a gospel centric manner

We as a church, our best is ahead of us!

We will spend eternity in God’s Glory! (John 12:27-28)

John 8:27–28 NIV84

27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

John 12:27–28 NIV84

27 “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

N 8:27-28

Revelation 7:9 NIV84

9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Glory is God’s Greatness like:

Heat is to fire

Blue is to sky

It is an Advertisement of His Greatness/Glory

It is an Advertisement of His Greatness/Glory

Exodus 33:18–23 NIV84

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

Exodus 33:

God’s Glory is so great we cannot even see His face!

Heat is to fire

The sun- 93 million miles away

Blue is to sky

Unapproachable yet sufficient to take care of our needs

Glory is to God

It is an Advertisement of His Greatness

Revelation 7:9 NIV84

9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

He is calling you to Him, How will you respond? (John 12:32)

He is calling you to Him, How will you respond? (John 12:32)

John 12:32 NIV84

32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”