Sermon Tone Analysis

A GLIMPSE OF GLORY

INTRO: What we need is a DVR mentality.

I am a basketball fan.

Since many sporting events take place when I am not at home, I record them.

When it's time to sit in my easy chair and view the recording, unlike most people, I don't rewind to the beginning to view it.

Instead I go to the climax to discover who won and who lost.

If my team lost, most of the time I'll erase the recording, but if my team won I'll view the game from the beginning, get out some snacks, and enjoy.

Some would think that this method can't be much fun.

On the contrary, no matter how bad things look for my team, I don't have to worry because I know the end of the story.

That's how we ought to think about what Jesus did for us on the cross and the death we will all experience unless He returns.

We ought to have a DVR mentality when facing the prospect of death.

No matter how bad things look, we don't have to worry because we know what lies ahead.

SLIDE 1

IN GOD’S WORD WE HAVE A GLIMPSE OF THE GLORY THAT IS ENJOYED BY GOD’S CHILDREN AFTER DEATH...

SLIDE 2

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—

CLICK 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

TRANSITION: DISCOVERING THE COMING GLORY GOD HAS FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM BEGINS WITH JESUS’ PROMISE TO HIS DISCIPLES...

SLIDE 3

JESUS’ PROMISE THAT HIS DISCIPLES WILL BE WITH HIM

John 14:1-2 Jesus’ preparation of His disciples for His crucifixion & resurrection which He had taught for some time, but they had not understood... “Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I am going there to prepare a place for you.

[via His death, resurrection & ascension He made the “many rooms” in His Father’s house available] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

WHERE IS THAT PLACE?

SLIDE 4

JESUS DESCRIBED THE PLACE WHERE HE IS AS PARADISE

Luke 23:41-43 The crucified thief appealing to Jesus for salvation declared...

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.

But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Paradise is the place of the presence of God - “My Father’s house”

SLIDE 5

THE MEANING OF “PARADISE”

Paradise is a picture word derived from ancient Persian (pairidaza) and means a garden with a wall.

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The Greek word paradeisos is used for the first time by Xenophon for the gardens of the Persian kings.

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The Greek version of the Old Testament translates “eden” in Gen. 2:8 using paradeisos.

CLICK In Hebrew “Eden” means “pleasure.”

A FITTING NAME FOR SUCH A PLACE OF MAJESTIC BEAUTY... PARADISE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LIVING LORD...

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This picture word suggests that paradise is a real garden of Eden like realm where God is present.

When they die, those who have been born again into God’s family will be with Jesus, the King of the Universe in that Paradise.

“Absent from the body, present with the Lord.”

(2 Cor 5:8) Ponder the beauty of the garden of Eden created by God and described by Him as “very good.”

All the beauty that we can appreciate in this fallen earthly home is infinitely surpassed in that wondrous realm.

SLIDE 6

THERE ARE LINKS IN GOD’S WORD THAT POINT TO PARADISE AS SUCH A GARDEN LIKE PLACE WHERE ONE ENJOYS THE PRESENCE OF GOD AFTER DEATH...

WE BEGIN WITH EDEN

Genesis 2:8-9 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.

9 And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.

In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

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JESUS’ PROMISE TO THE THIEF ON THE CROSS IS ECHOED IN HIS PROMISE TO THE CHURCHES...

Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

SLIDE 7

THE ETERNAL HEAVEN IS A CONTINUITY OF THE PARADISE ENTERED UPON DEATH

Revelation 22:1-3 [This is the vision of eternal heaven given John] Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city.

On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

3 No longer will there be any curse.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

IT JUST GETS BETTER IN THE NEW HEAVENS & EARTH (Rev 21)

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Both paradise and the eternal heaven are the place of God’s presence and infinite blessing – the curse of Eden is no more...

SLIDE 8

THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS GIVEN A GLIMPSE OF THIS GLORY

He described this experience when defending his apostleship against the accusations and slander of those opposing him in Corinth...

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2 Corinthians 12:1-4 I must go on boasting.

Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven.

Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.

3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise.

He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.

SLIDE 9

PAUL’S GLIMPSE OF GLORY TRANSFORMED HIS OUTLOOK ON DEATH

Philippians 1:20-24 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.

Yet what shall I choose?

I do not know!

23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, [in paradise- Luke 23:43] which is better by far; [I have experienced what lies with Christ in Paradise] 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

The apostle Paul’s strong desire to depart this life and be with Christ was based on having been caught up into that wondrous realm.

It was so splendid there were no words to describe it.

Its glory is beyond human ability to communicate.

SLIDE 10

THE GLORY TO COME INVOLVES ALL OF CREATION- EARTH & ALL LIFE FORMS

Romans 8:17-21 Paul indicates the result of being born of the Spirit into God’s family...

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

FREE FROM THE CURSE...