The Life Everlasting

Father we draw near to you this morning. With hearts that have been sprinkled clean by the blood of your son Jesus Christ and we approach your throne room of Grace with confidence.

Confidence that you receive us in Christ confidence that you are changing us to be more like Christ and confidence that you will finally in fully perfectly change when you are bored as my prayer this morning that you would help us to set our mind on things that are above where Christ is seated at your right hand that you would help us to fix our Gaze on the reality is to come as you set them forth in your scriptures. And then I pray that you would increase our longing. for the age to come to be home with you. In Jesus name amen.

I remember as a brand-new Christian if there ever was a baby Christian, I was a baby Christian brand new believer wasn't brought up in a Christian Home hardly knew anything about God about the scriptures. But this I did know that God was real in my life that his Spirit was inside me that I had radically new our desires and inclinations toward God and the things of God that I didn't have before the end of the day with all those New England Nations. I didn't know a lot but I did know that I knew God and that God knew me and that I was on my way to be with God forever and I remember even as a very young Krishna baby Christian being in my room listening to MercyMe CD, you know that great head on the MercyMe CD. What is it? I can only imagine how you go and remember sitting in and meditating on those lyrics listen to that song over and over again, I can only imagine what it will be. Like when I walk by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes will see when your face is before me. I can only imagine surrounded by Your glory. What will my heart feel will I Dance For You Jesus or in awe of you be still will I stand in your presence or to my knees? Will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah to be able to speak at all? I can only imagine and there I was the young little Brandon bellomo knowing so little about God but having such a profound confident that these things are so few things will be so that sense of awe and wonder at what's the common what kind of peaceful as the heart, you know? We consider these things. I wonder if you're like me at all that it can become easy to

become doll to the realities that are to come right we can't see them in full yet until we become dull to them and we we don't think much about heaven. In fact, I think sometimes people think about thinking about having is almost on Market in maturity. Like all you're going through hard times actually thinking about heaven is one of the greatest marks of maturity in the Christian Life. In fact throughout the scriptures and especially New Testament the dominant emphasis in the New Testament is the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back again as we song about to judge the living and the dead and when he comes he's going to usher in new reality is eternal realities. And those reality is we're told in the scriptures are told to us so that they will radically shape our lives right now.

And since we get doll to the reality star to come we get we tend to get really fascinated by present reality is buying the lie that this is our best life now and really the best is truly yet to come. So these longings are meant to intensify not weakened. In fact the desire in the Christian life and in my prayer for my life and my prayer for yours especially coming in to the sermon is thinking about how it should not just be at the beginning of the Christian Life that we were all listening and wonder that childlike wonder about what's to come but that's meant to Mark us and increasing measure as we get closer to Glorious one of my prayers. I thought I found myself praying for you always that each of us would would increase in our longing for Glory and that we would be found on our deathbeds. like children longing wondering can hardly wait to experience that trying to imagine what it's going to be like other words, but that's the mark of maturity that we be childlike at the beginning and childlike at the end. But we've drawn deeply mature which means these things are waiting on us and beautiful as more now than ever before and we're warned in the scripture. over and over again that in these last days there will be those that are going to make it their life's mission to weaken your grip on the Promises of God to weaken your grip on the realities that are to come to try to pry your hands off of the promise, but thankfully But thankfully God is determined to strengthen our grasp on these realities on these promises and really 2nd Peter chapter 3 that were in today. The whole chapter is really focused on these reality. This word the promise of God shows up three times. I won in our text in verse 13, but according to his promise we're waiting for a new Heaven and a new Earth in which righteousness 12 but it also shows up earlier on in the chapter 4 verse 4 says they the scoffers that come in last days will say where is the promise of his coming right cuz God promises. Send the song again Jesus promises to come back and as much as the apostles Jesus himself. He's coming. He's coming throughout the province or say there's a great day of the Lord the day when God will come to judge the living and the dead there's going to be some that will try to pry your hand off of that promise of his coming and everything that is going to usher in and it's not only that there are others outside of us by Will Carleton scoffers that would seek to private lose that grip but the sad thing is is we too easily just loosen our group volunteer. On that the realities of what is to come and part of it is this right? It's the Lord's coming that's going to bring all these things to fruition. And we can feel this is taking a long time. Right we can feel this is a taking a long time to Stoppers are going to say old come on this promise that you're trusting in. I mean don't you think if he was going to come he would have come by now?

Why isn't he coming? Why is it taking so long? He's not fulfilling his promises. He is very slow. And of course the scriptures anticipate that and trying to strengthen our grip and really in a lot of ways that's what our passage is meant to do is strengthen our grip on the Promises of what are to come and we're told that this waiting this this time. It's taking is meant to meant to be interpreted in different. Why not as God being swole praise God being patient Look at verse 8 in Chapter 3 of your bibles are open but do not overlook this one fact beloved that with the Lord one day. One day is as a thousand years and A Thousand Years is as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you not wishing that any should perish. But that all should reach repentance you see it in the waiting and sometimes really really painful Waiting for God to fulfill his promises some try to lose her grip. Sometimes we voluntarily loose Target. Sometimes we can get kind of cynical angle. Is he coming? What is taking so long? But here were told one day to the Lord is like a thousand years A Thousand Years is as one day. He's not slow as some count slowness, but he's patient. Mercifully patient not wishing that any should perish but all should reach repentance all should have a time and opportunity to turn from sin and put their trust in Jesus Christ. This is no small thing. I want to adhere as we transition to looking at our specific passages is no small thing that God would keep this window open for people to repent because what's coppers want to say is they say all see he's not going to come judgment isn't really going to come. But we're told In this passage and 2nd Peter 3 that he's like, well, they deliberately Overlook that fact God has promised judgment in the past and has acted on in history. And you know what event they point to a gas is the flood right from creation on were all like God's going to see God's not going to bring judgment. Oh, God says you never judge me, but he hasn't done it yet. He hasn't done it yet. And here you are. Crazy Noah Wright building an ark preaching to a generation going. No it is coming. It is coming. It is coming by The car said no. No, it's not and many there is a Seneca like I wouldn't do that and then the floods came, right? And only the ones that run that Arc of Salvation or saved all else perished God did in the same way. God will bring Judgment at the end of the age. But the reason he hasn't come in. Now, it's not because people are getting nicer.

It's because he is patient and I think I tremble even saying this right now because even a little bit that I grasp of God's holiness making all it's unreal that he is waiting this long when people live so offensively before him every single day and it's storing up. But God is patient and he has a heart for Sinners and as we saying a few minutes, but he is calling centers home through the gospel of his son, but it might not be a flood. It won't be right, but it will be a fire and it is coming and that's what this text is bringing out and it's going to bring out also the hope that we have as the people of God in light of his coming so we're not just expecting fire. Okay. For us we are expecting. A thoroughly renovated place to spend eternity. And we are expecting to be a thoroughly renewed people they get to enjoy that place. That's where we're going to look at it today in our text. It was we could look forward to a thoroughly renovated plant. And we can all afford to being a thoroughly renewed people look at verses 11 through 13. We're giving extra Focus 2 verse 13 this morning first starting 11. Therefore since all these things are those to be dissolved what sort of people ought we to be in live the Holiness and godliness waiting for in hastening the coming day of God because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved in the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn but according to his promise. We are waiting for a new Heaven and a new Earth in which righteousness dwelf. We are waiting according to his promise. We are waiting for a new Heaven and a new Earth in which righteousness 12 think about that phrase new heavens and a new Earth. This language is Old Testament language that the prophets spoke special Isaiah and it's picked up now in the New Testament listen to Isaiah 65 R17. You'll have to turn their but listen to these words does for behold I create new heavens and a new Earth and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mine the Striking commands. I was thinking about this all you've been of all the guy to speak into the prophets about this new heavens and a new Earth that he would furnish for his people. And there it says that in that time the former things will be remembered and I'm one of those former thinks that he's talking about. Well, it's going to be come out in the next passage. I want to bring you to in Revelation chapter 21 verses 1 through 7, but I'll I'll I'll answer my question first. What are these things that are going to be remembered in the new heavens? And the new Earth? It says Behold The Dwelling Place of God is with men. He was well with them and they will be the people and God himself will be there guys. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. You're going to be remembered anymore.

And Death Shall be no more. Stephan be remembered anymore. Neither shall there be morning nor crying or pain? Or anything that would be the source of the morning the kind of pain that would cause such Greed for the former things have passed away. Just drying on that Isaiah language here, but let me read that since it's so glorious talking about a new heavens and a new Earth. I want to read Revelation 21 1 2 7 3 1 5 then I saw a new Heaven and new earth for the first heaven in the first Earth have passed and the sea was no more and I saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying Behold The Dwelling Place of God is with man and he will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and Death Shall be no more neither shall there be morning or crying or pain anymore for the former things have passed away and he who is Seated on the throne said behold. I am making all things new. I could read that over and over again this entire time in some ways. No, this idea of a new Heaven and new earth are some date a debate surrounding it because the question that people had is that reading the scriptures and thinking about this idea of a new heavens and a new Earth is is this will the present heavens and earth be destroyed and totally replaced. Or will they be powerfully purified and thoroughly renovated their wrestling with the scriptures and what they teach you show me. What was the question again for us will the present heavens and the Earth as we know them right now? Will they be out early destroy a totally replaced? Is that what you meant by new or will they be powerfully purified and thoroughly renovated. Can I give you my outline earlier? I think I kind of hit my hand a little bit but I can appreciate the attention that makes that question arises in the first place the causes that a question to rise in the first place because I'm at the same question. I've wrestled with it myself. It's a good question to be asked and because on the one hand there is intense language that describes what the present in heavens and earth will undergo when Jesus comes back. I mean the language is intense and we get some of that in our passage before I so look look back at our passage and look at some of this the description of starting verse 11 again, listen to the description of what can happen to the present heavens and earth as we know them spent all these things are dust to be dissolved what sort of people are we to be in live the Holiness and godliness waiting for in Hasting the coming day of God. because of which or on that day of his return the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn this is really really strong language, isn't it? So I can understand why someone if they like yeah, it's gone. It's gone and you go back 2 verse 10 as well and it says this but the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night back to me and then the heavens will pass away strong language with the roar in the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved and the earth and the works that are done in them will be exposed or as the NIV translation. It will be laid bare so I can understand why people would take it as they're going to be destroyed totally replaced. And maybe I did that way because of all the intense language that you is but well I can certainly understand appreciate how some take that to be a complete destruction and replacement of the oil I would argue for the opposite. I'd argue that it's probably more accurate to say that the present Heaven's Miracle be powerfully purified and thoroughly renovated and one of the reasons for that is when you read an when you take the scripture as a whole and even the passages before us she have language like in in 2nd Peter 3:10, you know, it said that when the fire comes it's saying with his strong as that language is as hot as the heat is It says that there's going to be this exposure this laying bare. Seems to be part of the point of this fire in the first place an even in a passage without to put a new heavens and a new Earth like like the Apostle John does in in Revelation chapter 21 verses 1 through 5 that I read a moment ago as he says there's a new Heaven and a new Earth in verse 5. He says and he was Seated on the throne says to behold I am making all things new so all the things that we know are the things that we've experienced in this present Evans in Earth. And these are the things it seems that are going to be made new what are the things that has really tipped the scales for me though, is Romans chapter 8 and you can turn their if you want to not going to spend too much time on it. But Romans chapter 8 starting Interstate 10 going to verse 22 listen to this language. Okay pause talking about creation, right the present heavens and the Earth think about how how Paul describes What creation is expecting he kind of personifies Creations Creations expecting something you got to ask yourself is creation seem to be expecting to be annihilated to be completely replaced in to have no future existence. So good Romo date for starting Verse. 18 says for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing the glory the distributor for the creation and Earth for the creation waits for what weights with eager long for the revealing of the sons of God. Okay, just waiting for the sons of God to be thoroughly renewed. Okay, the people have God that's waiting for that time for the creation was subjected to futility not willingly, but because of him who subjected it and hope subjected in hope so the creation was rejected because of sin in this world. So right now it's presently groaning, but it's groaning and hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God for we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the Pains of childbirth until now I thought you see that connection Vickery creation is groaning. It's long and it's an Ascend hoping To be thoroughly. restored Thoroughly renewed thoroughly renovated. It's not it doesn't seem here looking forward to being thoroughly destroyed. In fact, there's a parallel between what the people of God are going to experience and what the the creation of God is going to experience what the Pinnacle of creation people of God is going to experience and I think I burst it puts this all together pretty powerful and for us to have a category for his Colossians 1 verse 20 says this And threw him through Christ to reconcile to himself all things whether on Earth or in heaven Making Peace by the blood of the Cross. That's a thought. But the blood of Jesus Christ ultimately wasn't just to restore human beings to write wreck in relationship to restore all of creation to be able to properly function in God's eyes. I use my confusion. I think that the radical renewal of the present Heavens in Earth the present heavens and the Earth will be renewed not replaced the new heavens and a new Earth will be the present will be the present one only powerfully purified in Thoroughly renovated perfectly fit perfectly fit for us to live out our endless days in communion. So this is the place that God is preparing. But it isn't like I said only the heavens and the Earth that are undergoing this renovation. It will also be God's people so it's not just a thoroughly renovated Place itself to be a thoroughly renewed people and why I'm getting this verse 13 is says but according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new Earth new in the sense of Thoroughly renovated purified prepared as a bride for her husband this gift this eternal playground for the people of God is

But it's also it says this new Heaven and Earth in which righteousness 12 what's in Peter's mind only there or righteousness, moral term, right? It's going to it's describing first born with the kind of quality of people that are going inhabit the new Heaven and the new Earth and soul. It's going to be a place. in which only righteousness 12 ponder that with me Think about words from Isaiah 60 verse 21 says your people shall all be righteous. Your people shall all be righteous. They shall possess the land forever the branch of my planting the work of my hand that I might be glorified. So this people shall all be righteous all righteous and they shall possess the land forever Revelation 21 verse 8 space it negatively. does this and this is right after that beautiful description of a new heavens and new earth it John gave in Revelation 21 says this but as for the Cowardly The Faceless the detestable as for a murder is the sexually immoral Sorcerers idolaters and all liars and he's not trying to be exhausted here. Like he's basically saying for anyone who's not righteous. Says their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur which is the second death. You can't talk about heaven without talking about hell right vividly. Ultimately, there's two places that are prepared in Revelation 21 verse 27 says it again later on in the same chapters this but nothing unclean will ever enter it Nothing unclean will ever enter the new Heaven and new earth nor anyone who does what is detestable or false? But only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, so nothing and no one that is not thoroughly righteous will inherit the new Heaven and a new Earth that have been thoroughly renovated for a right of people to dwell. So there's a place prepared for the righteous. And then you see there's a place prepared for the unrighteous. Listen to Matthew 13. Verses 42 43 are gathered and burned with fire soul. Will it be at the End of the Age the son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin in all La Breakers and throw them into the fiery furnace in that place. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their father he who has ears let him hear for Matthew 25 at great judgement chapter get the same kind of contrast these two different places that are prepared one for the righteous one for the unrighteous Matthew 25 or 34. Speak to the righteous and the King will say to those on his right come you who are blessed of my father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world. And he turns the other side those on his left and 441 depart from me you cursed into the Eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Wow. This is supposed to be really encouraging sermon on new heavens and a new Earth. I wanted to be really encouraging. I trust it will be but this needs to be fed, and we need to get this. nothing and no one that is unrighteous will enter this new heavens and the newer there will be nothing to compare to pollute or contaminate that beautiful place that God has for his people and nobody know people there. They could contaminate it. This is really way too because I think that we live in an age that is just so flippin and takes God's holiness so lightly

Until When God says nothing righteous unrighteous will enter into this life.

But you mean we can have time after we die to be purified and eventually end up there. Hell no. Like this is a holy God judgement day is going to be the defining Factor here and in heaven and hell are real they are real and nothing unrighteous will enter so it forces us to ask this question. We hear this text a new heavens and a new Earth in which righteousness dwells. Okay.

I will not dwell there unless I'm righteous. So then the natural question should be how do I become righteous? Right? That's the question that we did this text really demands because the reality is is that God is righteous and therefore he cannot permit anything on righteous to he deals with it here below separate from a write-in bears with it. But there it's a different story. It's a totally different story Hill only permit that which is righteousness present. So What is the state for Sinners when the scriptures themselves teach that none are righteous? No, not one.

Weighty thing when you let those two things stand the place where people will spend eternity is barred to anyone who done righteous and yet all are unrighteous.

You feel the weight of that. Do you feel the weight of that? I feel the way to that for my unbelieving long as I feel the weight of that for this town. I feel the weight of that for some of you here that think that you are righteous and God fight cuz you're basically good people and do nice things. And yet God standard is soul. Hi. That none of us in ourselves can reset standard.

I'm feeling the weight of this even as I preach it, but I'm also feeling another thing is it in this very chapter where we're being told nothing unrighteous is going to go there and everything else burned up as it were.

We're also told that God is telling us ahead of time about that Judgment Day that is coming. That's his design. That's why I speak so much about it. And do you remember why he's so slow? portable slow why he's patient not wishing that any should perish. And so what were meant to hear here with all this Hellfire and brimstone is we have a God who is unspeakably righteous and holy who has made a way for Sinners to be made right with them and he's given the time for Sinners to repent and turn so that they don't have to face the fire like those faced the flood and Noah's day. This is glorious news, but it still circles back to that question. God has his heart for Sinners. God is giving time for Sinners to repentance. He's obviously has Mercy towards Sinners, but how do Senators become a righteous that still is the dominant question that must linger in our minds and that is beautiful that Peter himself gives us a splinter in the very first verse of this book. If you have your Bibles, you can turn back to chapter 1 verse 1 after Peter introduces himself. It's a very first thing off his lips is telling us something about where righteousness comes from now. I can go to a hundred places in the scriptures by I'm going to choose just to one is here and 2nd Peter chapter 1 verse 1 Peter or Simon Peter a servant Apostle Jesus Christ himself and now he's referring to the Christians and he's running to to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours. By the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. There's a hint there whose righteousness is it? Jesus's and noticed that reference to him the right side of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. The god-man Jesus Christ is righteous. Install it someway this righteous one. This righteous one makes us righteous by faith. This is where I want to just read from Romans Chapter 5 Verse 18 make the super plane versus 89th and it says therefore as one trespass Adams Legend of condemnation for all men. So one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for almond pressed by the one man's Disobedience. The many were made sinners. So by the one man Jesus his obedience, the many will be made righteous. So China Boeing that how this is an important question. How is someone made righteous in God's sight according to the scriptures?

It's through faith. In the second Adam the god-man Jesus Christ. It's through faith in him. Not of our works. It's not of our own doing but it's a righteousness if the righteousness of Christ credited to us by faith in him. If we return from our sin and put our faith in Jesus Christ. God credits. Jesus is righteousness to us. Therefore we can stand right. It's in God's sight right now, but you might be staying there going but Like I've done that and I still don't feel righteous.

I swear sometimes our our feelings are going to fully match the reality if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we're told that right there. We are justified by faith in Christ, which means that God legally declared righteousness. I with me we stand before God through faith in Christ, right position blameless in his sight now practically we know ourselves to be a little different. I'm Jose is right. And that's where this story of the Bible as it unfolds and what we looked at last week is so powerful is that yes, we are positioning right just practically we still stuck in mud puddles. But the whole point is is that God is transforming us. What's that Doctrine called? Sanctification when God progressively changes us with make us more like Jesus Christ. And when will that process be complete? When he comes back again, right when he comes back again or Hazard fighter versed for today though some of the free. Sandy also called those who me call the also Justified those May justify the also glorified and that is ultimately points that day when Christ comes back again, and when we see him we will be like him, right we will be glorify. We will receive Resurrection body on that day bodies fit furnished for a new Heaven and a new Earth in which righteousness 12in sew-in that day. We will not just be positionally righteous. We will be perfectly practically righteous in every way. This is where you start thinking about having you start going while it is hard to imagine because it's hard for me to imagine myself in any way that I'm not right now. But the day is coming. We not only will we experience a new Heaven and a new Earth. I thoroughly renovated place for us to spend eternity, but we will also get to experience that with Resurrection bodies completely made righteous before God and we will be in that place. So it is true when Peter says that we are waiting for this promise the new heavens and a new Earth in which righteousness while you are in that category. If you are in Jesus Christ, what a glorious thought what a glorious thought we get to look forward to that only a thoroughly renovated Place prepared for us but a thoroughly thoroughly renewed people you are not who you will ultimately be on that day be encouraged that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. He who promised is faithful. He will bring it to pass. No. Scriptures teach us here. This is what we're waiting for. What would it look like for us to wait Faithfully, they just a minute just to point at what Peter says in our passage and just below it. So you could say likes if we've been given this promise, what would it look like the tighten your grip on that promise? How would you live if you were living with a tight grip on that promise? That's what's being encouraged In this passage. So for example verse 14th there for beloved since you are waiting for these promises to come to fruition for Christ to come back from the judge the living and the dead for him to usher in a new heavens and a new Earth says be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish and at peace And count the patience of the Lord as salvation. And then you can bounce up to our text verse 11 since all these things are just to be dissolved another word since the fire is coming at the End of the Age what sort of people ought we to be and if it fires going to thoroughly exposed everything. Air purifier everything what sort of people ought we to be. Now you say in lives of Holiness and godliness waiting for is hastening the coming day of God. so This is the kind of people we're going to be in and and when you stop and think you know about this day, like what it's going to be like to have a thoroughly renewed body in to be in a place. It's been thoroughly renovated in all of this by God doing. You do want to just sing that song again. Like I can only imagine what it will be like when I walked by a side like what will I do? What will it be like exactly and you know could preach a sermon on Heaven at the end of the day like what we know about heaven from the scriptures is baby talk like this is God in his word condescending speaking baby talk to us so that we can grasp just something of it and there's why reason why the biblical writers himself a what no eye has seen nor ear heard no heart can fully imagine what God has in store for those who love him, but we are called to imagine we are called to look at the pointers of scripture in Wonder. We're told that we're going to have Resurrection bodies. We're told that there's going to be nothing unrighteous there. I can tell you in from this last week I long for that day to come to Bath. There's a lot of external factors that just Mandy's things to just record day right things that other people do things that other people say and then you're going to have to stay this time. I'll be like new heavens and new earth. Like don't try to find all your satisfaction here, you know, like it's going to come and there's not going to be anything there that's going to dampen one of your days feel that every time you're disappointed your day went. I'm looking forward to an endless day. That will never go south. Righttime think about that think about your relationships and like you're trying not to mess things up too bad. And you just feels like it's hard to live and just perfect harmony with people and it just takes a lot of work to get anything close to that. Right and even was your try and you just feel like you're stepping on landmine sometime. What a hopeful reality that it's going to come easy in a new heavens and indoor. I mean, I thought I think about you brother and sister, I think about how we're going to share in the Lord's Supper in a few moments and I just go. How I like I get for Taste being with you all for taste in fellowship with you all but imagine that day when we're in perfect communion with one another. That day is going to come. That day is going to come. W nothing else has an OB nothing inside of us that is going to hinder our communion with God. Could you imagine that mean how much of you this week has hindered your communion with God? I'll be the first one to raise my hand be like, yeah, it's pretty much mostly me. Cuz my heart my desires my simple attitude these things hinder what my soul Longs for the most all of this this whole story that were in is forward to what it says in Revelation 21 when there be a new heavens and a new Earth. And we will hear God's voice say Behold The Dwelling Place of God is with man. I will be their God and they will be my people where there is perfect. Come you not another not a moment where we are not seeing God and being satisfied in God for who he is. The white-hot worship forever and sweet coming. We will know him as our father. We won't doubt it for a single second longer. Can you imagine that? I can't fly, but I'm looking forward to it because when I know the opposite here, it makes me long for something so much more there doesn't it? I haven't got good sleep all week and you can tell by the pricking. I don't know but the reality is is that I wasn't long to get I wasn't made to get perfect rest here. But I'm looking forward to perfect grass there. See whatever is going on in your life right now. I want you to consider it no matter how hard it is and start thinking about the opposite. It's a mature thing to do to look forward to what comes ahead and then say God let the shape my perspective right now cuz we would be a people to be really wise to lay hold of his promises and not let external thing or internal that does voluntary releasing of the let's grab on to these promises brothers and sisters cuz these are not the anchor Us in this life and make us look forward to the life to come because it is going to be orderly glorious beyond our wildest imagination and as we come to the Lord's Supper, I want us to just know that this meal You know in a fallen world when we share this meal. There's got to be some things that you hear me say every you know time we take the Lord's Supper, you know, too that this meal is for Christians. It's for people who have repented and believe it's for those who are not Practically Perfect the righteous but it is for those who are positionally righteous those who have turned from their sin to put their faith in Jesus Christ. You got to stay these things that feel clumsy almost just want to go to the meal together, but on the side having like it has to be said this meal is for those who are trusting cuz it's those it's kind of silly. If you're not trusting a price to try to take a foretaste of what you're knocking experience there.

But if you're a Christian, it's completely appropriate to come. And partake in this meal this supper. It is a meal of Hope. a meal of a longing aching that's why we say is often as we eat this bread drink. So we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes it's a meal of longing. It's a meal of Hope or expressing it and it's a time where we together as we are living speaking to live in obedience to our Lord. We get a foretaste. We got a foretaste of the joys that come and go as we prepare to enjoy this supper of hope. I wanted to read this first home from Matthew 26 verse 29, it says this These are Jesus's words.

I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the Vine. So take out the cop again. I will not drink of the wine again. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's Kingdom. So when this text we were talking about waiting like with our grip on the Promises of God waiting for a new heavens and a new Earth waiting to be fully restored ourselves as this people and as we're waiting and as we're long, we're waiting actively seeking to live lives that honor the Lord. what we need to be fun this actually he's waiting for you to Like he's waiting with a sense of anticipation cuz he's going to take up that cup again when we sit around the table of the king think about that. He's waiting cuz he's anticipating all things making all things new. He's anticipating everything that we've been talking about this morning. We're not the only ones anticipating. He's waiting for his father's to to say. Alright, it's time to wrap this whole thing. That's what we're longing for when we take up the cup together in the Lord's Supper, but we need to know that we are looking forward to the one who is waiting for a lot and come and it will be a glorious reunions want it. Let me pray and then we're going to come to the Lord's supper together.

Father we acknowledge before you the reality of Heaven. And the reality of hell. Lord we believe that there is life Everlasting.

But there is a place prepared for those who are not righteous in Christ in a place prepared for those who are righteous in Christ. Or we acknowledge. The sometimes we take way too lightly your standards and your holiness.

Or we do tremble. at the fact that nothing unrighteous

will be permitted in the new heavens and the new Earth. Get at the same time. We were Joyce Lord because you have held back your wrath long enough in your patient Mercy to give us an opportunity to repent and Lord. We thank you that we have a meal that we get to celebrate together where we celebrate the fact that you gave us that time. We celebrate that fact that you called us. How are irresistibly that you drew us to yourself?

The Lure we Rejoice at the supper knowing that if it wasn't for Your son's broken body and shed blood. We would not be righteous and we have no place in this eternal inheritance. Dolor de acidez. Because of his broken body and shed blood we know that through faith in him. We have been made righteous. We praise you for this reality that we don't wake up each day, since we're in Christ knowing that the verdict. Is not guilty over our lives knowing that we are truly righteous in your side. And even though we don't feel it fully Lord because of how we stray like sheep. We thank you Lord that you constantly are our Good Shepherd. And that you lead us on path of righteousness for your namesake. And thank you that you will buy your goodness and mercy pursue us every day of our lives and that your goodness and mercy. Lord will be ultimately showing when we dwell with you in a new heavens and a new Earth forever. More thankful than Lord that we will know what it's like to be fully renewed. perfectly like Christ Barber so thankful that you have prepared a place where no unrighteousness will dwell.

We also humbly acknowledge board that we would mess that place off. It wasn't for what you have done and I was through your son Jesus Christ. We humbly acknowledge that we would not have a seat at your table if it wasn't for the sacrifice of your sign. But we call him Lord a people thankful become and the people that are hopeful and where this is all headed. Got to pray for those here. Did are not righteous in your sight yet. Got to pray that you would allow your word and your spirit to go to work on their minds and hearts. And so that they would be driven to your son Jesus Christ. Call them Lord, powerfully. effectually

so that they can spend eternity around the table of the king enjoying perfect fellowship with you and with all the redeemed. Let It Be Solo or let none perish but reach repentance

God I pray finally that you would forgive us four ways that we are way too fascinated with the fleeting pleasures of this life. Ways that we've been numbed to the realities of Heaven?

And we have become so intoxicated with this world that's passing away. For me pray that you help us to live upright life waiting for and hastening the coming of Our Lord. Help us to knock off the rust. And the carelessness and Lord help rekindle that childlike heart in each other or we just are in Wonder trying to imagine what it's going to be like to be in your presence. I was to do that even as we share this meal together in Jesus name. Amen. commence can invite. Usher's to come forward? Pass out the bread and and ask they do it. You can hold it. We're going to partake together in a few moments.

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