THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 8-25-19

LESSON TITLE: THE HALF WAS NOT TOLD ME - HEAVEN

WELCOME

GOOD MORNING! LET ME WELCOME EACH OF YOU TO OUR PROGRAM THIS MORNING. IT IS ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU WITH US TO HEAR THE LIVING WORD OF GOD. WE ARE EXCITED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE THIS TIME OF SACRIFICE TO OUR GOD. WON'T YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING TO GIVE YOUR OWN REVERENCE TO GOD, AS WE TOGETHER OFFER THIS TIME OF WORSHIP TO HIM. MAY ALL THINGS BE DONE, TO GOD, FOR GOD AND UNTO HIS GLORY. LET'S BEGIN OUR OFFERING TO GOD WITH A PRAYER!

PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO BE SERVANTS IN YOUR KINGDOM. AND FATHER WE THANK YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS DAY TO WORSHIP YOU THEREFORE MAY WE DO ALL THE ALL THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ASKED, IN YOUR WORD THE BIBLE. AND FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR JESUS FOR WE KNOW THAT IT IS THROUGH HIM THAT WE STAND JUSTIFIED THIS DAY AND EVERY DAY UNTIL WE RECEIVE THE GREAT REWARD IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY AMEN.

IF I WERE TO ASK YOU, "WHAT IS THE GREATEST DAY EVERY IN YOUR LIFE?" I KNOW I WOULD GET A VARIETY OF ANSWERS IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION. HOWEVER, TO THE CHILD OF GOD THE GREATEST DAY TO US SHOULD BE THE DAY WE OVERCAME SIN THROUGH THE GIFT OF JESUS. OUR FIRST SONG THIS MORNING REMINDS US OF THIS GREAT PRIVILEGE WE HAVE TO KNOW GOD AND TO FIND SALVATION IN HIS NAME. SO, WON'T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER, "I BRING MY SINS TO THEE."

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

AS A CHRISTIAN, HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF THE QUESTION, "WHAT IS THIS ALL FOR," OR "IS THIS REALLY ALL WORTH MY WHILE?" I KNOW WE ALL HAVE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD AND OUR FAITH. HOWEVER, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE USE THESE TIMES IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY, TO ENCOURAGE US IN STUDYING HIS WORD, FINDING THE ANSWERS, AND THUS TURNING AGAIN TO GOD AND A COMMITMENT OF HIS WORD.

I READ A VERSE TODAY THAT REMINDS US OF WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT IT IS ALL FOR! THIS VERSE FURTHER HELPS US TO KNOW WHAT WE WILL RECEIVE IF WE CHOOSE TO OBEY GOD AND IF WE REMAIN FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH. THE VERSE IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 16:27, AND THE THINGS SAID ARE FROM NONE OTHER THAN JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF! THERE WE READ, "FOR THE SON OF MAN WILL COME IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS ANGELS, AND THEN HE WILL REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS." WOW, WHAT WONDERFUL HOPE AND ASSURANCE WE HAVE HERE IN THE WORD'S OF GOD HIMSELF � FOR CHRIST HAS COME, FULFILLED THE WILL OF THE FATHER, AND THUS WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF A REWARD. HOWEVER, I WANTED TO BRING OUT A FURTHER CLARIFICATION WHICH JESUS MADE IN THIS SAME VERSE CONCERNING OUR REWARD. NOTICE THAT OUR LORD SAID, "AND THEN HE WILL REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS." DID YOU CATCH THAT? THE REWARD IS THERE BEING OFFERED AND IS OURS, BUT WE MUST DO OUR PART TO MAKE SURE WE WILL RECEIVE IT. AS JESUS FURTHER SAID IN MATTHEW 12:37, EACH MAN WILL BE JUSTIFIED OR CONDEMNED ACCORDING TO HIS WORDS AND DEEDS!

ARE YOU LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH THAT CAN BE SEEN BY OTHERS AROUND YOU? FURTHERMORE, ARE YOU LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH WHICH CAN BE SEEN BY THE ONE WHO REALLY MATTERS, GOD ABOVE? CHOOSE TODAY TO DO YOUR PART TO SEE THAT BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH, YOU RECEIVE THE REWARDS OFFERED FROM OUR GOD IN HEAVEN!

TODAY WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE BROTHER BRENT GREEN WITH US AGAIN, AS OUR GUEST SPEAKER. BROTHER BRENT IS A FULL-TIME INSTRUCTOR AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF MISSOURI HERE IN SPRINGFIELD. WE APPRECIATE HIM TAKING HIS TIME TO BE HERE TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIM LEADING US IN THE STUDY OF GOD'S WORD. AS FAR AS OUR STUDY, WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSION CONCERNING OUR SERIES ENTITLED, "THE HALF HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD." TODAY OUR SPECIFIC LESSON WILL FOCUS ON, "HEAVEN." SO, PLEASE STAY WITH US AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, BROTHER GREEN WILL BE LEADING US IN THE LESSON THOUGHTS OF THE DAY. BUT FOR NOW LET'S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING. THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, "SEEK YE FIRST."

LESSON

BY BRENT GREEN

WHAT A GREAT JOY AND PRIVILEGE IT IS ALWAYS TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE WORD OF GOD AND STUDY FROM IT. WE WANT TO START IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WITH A VERSE OUT OF FIRST KINGS CHAPTER 10 IN VERSE SEVEN. THIS IS WHEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA CAME TO VISIT SOLOMON. IT SAYS: HOWEVER I DID NOT BELIEVE THE WORDS UNTIL I CAME AND SAW WITH MY OWN EYES AND INDEED THE HALF WAS NOT TOLD ME. YOUR WISDOM AND PROSPERITY EXCEED THE FAME OF WHICH I HEARD. NO DOUBT SOLOMON'S FAME HAD SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD AND THAT'S WHY THE QUEEN OF SHEBA HAD COME TO VISIT HIM. SHE SAYS WHEN I SAW THOSE THINGS ON MY OWN EYES I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HALF THE STORY. I'M SURE THERE'S SOME PLACES THAT MAYBE WE'VE BEEN TO IN THIS WORLD AND WE SAW THEM ON TV FIRST OR MAYBE WE SAW THEM IN A MAGAZINE AND THOUGHT MAN - THAT LOOKS REALLY NEAT. I THINK I WANT TO GO THERE AND SEE IT FOR MYSELF. MAYBE IT WAS THE GRAND CANYON OR MAYBE IT WAS TO DRIVE UP PIKE'S PEAK. MAYBE IT WAS VICTORIA FALLS IN AFRICA. BUT WHEN YOU VISITED THOSE PLACES I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE FELT THE SAME WAY THAT THE QUEEN OF SHEBA FELT HERE. MAN, IT LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER IN PERSON. IT'S AMAZING HOW I CAN'T HARDLY UNDERSTAND HOW GREAT AND AMAZING THIS CANYON IS AS YOU STAND THERE AND LOOK AT THE GRAND CANYON. OR I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT THE VIEW WOULD BE LIKE UNTIL I STOOD HERE ATOP TOM PIKE'S PEAK AND SAW IT FOR MYSELF. OR SAW THE MIST FROM VICTORIA FALLS. HOW GREAT IT IS TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE AMAZING THINGS OF THIS WORLD. AND TO KNOW AS YOU CAN SEE THEM WITH YOUR OWN EYES AND MAYBE EVEN HEAR THE SOUND OF CERTAIN THINGS WITH YOUR OWN EARS AND REALLY TAKING THAT MAGNITUDE FOR YOURSELF. I BET THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT WILL BE THE SAME WAY WHEN WE FINALLY EXPERIENCE THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME OURSELVES.

I BELIEVE HEAVEN WILL MOST LIKELY BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS. WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A DESCRIPTION IN THE BIBLE AND GOD HAS TRIED TO DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT HEAVEN IS GOING TO BE LIKE; HOW GREAT OF A PLACE IT IS GOING TO BE BUT I WONDER IF WE DON'T SAY MUCH LIKE THE QUEEN OF SHEBA? THE HALF WASN'T EVEN TOLD TO US. IT IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN I COULD'VE EVER IMAGINED, SO MUCH MORE WONDERFUL THAN EVER DESCRIBED FOR ME IN THE WORD OF GOD. LET'S CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE AS IT'S DESCRIBED FOR US. REMEMBER HOW GREAT OF A PLACE IT'S GOING TO BE AND WE HOPE TO GET THEIR OURSELVES ONE DAY AS WE LIVE FOR GOD. LET'S CONSIDER THAT DESCRIPTION AS WE FIND IT THERE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. REVELATION 21 IS WHERE WE WANT TO BEGIN HERE AND SEE THE DESCRIPTION THAT IS GIVEN TO US BY JOHN HIMSELF AS JOHN IS GIVEN THE WORDS THERE OF GOD. THERE ARE THINGS THAT HE GIVES TO US HERE THAT HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT HEAVEN IS GOING TO BE LIKE. AGAIN, HEAVEN IS A SPIRITUAL PLACE BUT THESE PHYSICAL TERMS HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THOSE VERY THINGS. REVELATION 21 AND VERSE ONE JOHN SAYS: NOW I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH. FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY AND ALSO THERE WAS NO MORE SEA. THAT IS ALL THE PHYSICAL THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY AT THIS POINT AND JOHN SAYS I SAW HEAVEN ITSELF. THERE IN VERSE TWO JOHN SAYS HE SAW THE HOLY CITY; NEW JERUSALEM COMING DOWN OUT OF A HEAVEN FROM GOD PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. WHAT A GREAT IMAGE AS WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HERE JOHN SAYS I SAW HEAVEN IN THIS VISION THAT WAS REVEALED TO ME. THERE IS DESCRIBED AS A PLACE THAT IS A HOLY CITY. IT IS A PLACE AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. I'M SURE THAT EVERY HUSBAND WHO STOOD THERE IN HIS WEDDING DAY WAITING FOR HIS BRIDE TO COME DOWN THE AISLE THOUGHT WELL, SHE'S NOT AS PRETTY AS I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO BE. WELL SURELY NOT! EVERY HUSBAND PROBABLY THOUGHT OH - HOW AMAZING, HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS AS SHE'S ADORNED HERSELF IN THAT WEDDING GOWN AND ALL THOSE PREPARATIONS. WHAT A GREAT THOUGHT THAT IS! AND HEAR THAT IMAGERY OF HEAVEN AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. AS YOU CONTINUE THROUGH CHAPTER 21 OF REVELATION THERE ARE MANY OTHER DESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE GIVEN. THERE IN VERSE FOUR HEAVEN IS A PLACE THAT HAS NO TEARS, NO SORROW, AND NO DEATH. WHAT A GREAT PLACE THAT IS. YOU DONT HAVE TO BE SAD AGAIN. YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LOVED ONES DYING BECAUSE ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY. THERE IS NO DEATH THERE. HEAVEN IS A PLACE THERE ALSO IN VERSE 4 THAT IS PAIN-FREE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE PAINS IN THE JOINTS OR THOSE PAINS IN THE BACK OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. THIS IS A PLACE THAT IS PAIN-FREE. THIS IS ALSO A PLACE IN VERSE SIX THAT IS DESCRIBED AS HAVING LIVING WATER. LET'S READ THOSE WORDS THERE. THERE IT IS SAYS: HE SAID TO ME IT IS DONE. I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA. THE BEGINNING AND THE END. I WILL GIVE OF THE FOUNTAIN OF WATER OF LIFE FREELY TO HIM WHO THIRSTS. YOU KNOW, IN THIS LIFE WHEN WE GET THIRSTY WE HAVE TO DRINK SOMETHING. AND HOW OFTEN? WHATEVER TIME WE GET THIRSTY. BUT HERE WATER IS OFFERED; WATER OF LIFE AND WHEN YOU DRINK OF IT YOU WILL NEVER BE THIRSTY EVER AGAIN. WHAT A GREAT THING THAT IS TO THINK ABOUT. THIS IS THE PLACE THAT IS ALSO AS WE SAID FREE FROM SIN. REVELATION 21 VERSE 8: THE TEMPTOR IS NOT THERE. THUS SIN IS NOT THERE AS WELL. ALL THOSE THINGS THAT DEFILE. THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IMPURE. THOSE THINGS THAT EXISTED HERE ON THIS EARTH THEY'RE NOT GOING TO EXIST IN HEAVEN. THEY'VE ALL BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PICTURE. THIS IS A PLACE THAT IS THE GREAT CITY OF GOD. REVELATION 21 AND VERSE 10. THERE IN VERSE 11 SOMETHING ELSE EXISTS THERE. THE VERY GLORY OF GOD. READ THERE THOSE WORDS. IT SAYS: OF THIS PLACE IT HAS THE GLORY OF GOD, HER LIGHT WAS LIKE A MOST PRECIOUS STONE LIKE A JASPER STONE CLEAR AS CRYSTAL. SOME OF THOSE IMAGES ONCE AGAIN OF STONES AND CRYSTALS AND HOW BRIGHT THEY ARE AND HOW BEAUTIFUL. THEY ARE GIVEN TO US TO UNDERSTAND HOW WONDERFUL AND PRECIOUS THIS PLACE IS. GOD DWELLS IN THIS CITY. HIS GLORY DWELLS THERE. A LOT OF THIS IMAGERY IS ALSO REMINISCENT OF EVEN THE TEMPLE OF OLD. THAT TEMPLE WAS COMPLETED. THE GLORY OF GOD FILLED IT THERE IN SOLOMON'S DAY AND GOD DWELT AMONG HIS PEOPLE. THIS IS A SPIRITUAL PLACE WHERE GOD'S DWELLING IS AND WE WILL DWELL THERE WITH HIM ONE DAY IF WE ARE THE FAITHFUL WHO GO ON TO THAT REWARD. THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD - HOW GREAT THAT IS AS WELL. DESCRIBED FOR US THERE AGAIN IN VERSE 16 AND SOME OF THE DESCRIPTIONS THERE HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN THIS PLACE IS AS TALL AS IT IS WIDE. THAT THERE ALSO THAT IT HAS A GREAT AND HIGH WALL (VERSE 12 AND VERSE 18 OF REVELATION 21). THAT IT IS A PLACE OF PURE GOLD LIKE CLEAR GLASS. SOME OF THOSE MOST PRECIOUS THINGS TO US IN THIS WORLD. THINK ABOUT GOLD AND HOW VALUABLE IT IS - HOW SHINY AND HOW WONDERFUL IT IS. A MATERIAL WHICH EVEN RINGS AND JEWELRY ARE MADE OUT OF. BUT IT'S A PLACE THERE THAT IS DESCRIBED LIKE PURE GOLD. THERE ALSO IT HAS 12 GATES OF PEARL (REVELATION 21 VERSES 12 AND 21). IT HAS A STREET OF GOLD. IT HAS NO NEED OF SUN OR MOON BECAUSE GOD IS IT LIGHT. THINK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT ALL THOSE DESCRIPTIONS HERE IN REVELATION 21 - THOSE PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS - THINGS THAT WE UNDERSTAND, GOLD AND CRYSTAL AND ALL THESE THINGS. REMEMBER AGAIN HEAVEN IS NOT A PHYSICAL PLACE BUT GOD GIVES US THESE DESCRIPTIONS FOR A REASON. THAT WE MIGHT BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND HOW WONDERFUL AND HOW MAGNIFICENT AND HOW AMAZING THIS PLACE IS. DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU GET THERE SOMEDAY YOU'LL SAY - GOD, THIS ISN'T QUITE AS GOOD AS I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE? IT IS NOT AS SHINY. IT IS NOT AS MAGNIFICENT - IT IS NOT AS WONDERFUL? NO, I THINK WE WILL PROBABLY RATHER SAY SOMETHING LIKE THE QUEEN OF SHIBA. THE HALF WAS NOT TOLD TO US. GOD HAS GIVEN US ENOUGH THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND JUST HOW WONDERFUL OF A PLACE THIS IS.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING THERE? THERE ARE A FEW OTHER CHAPTERS IN REVELATION THAT GIVES US OTHER DETAILS. ONE OF THEM IS REVELATION 14. WE LOOK THERE FOR A MOMENT AND ONE OF THINGS WE WILL BE DOING THERE IS DESCRIBED HERE IN REVELATION 14 AND VERSE 3. IT SAYS THEY SANG AS IT WERE A NEW SONG BEFORE THE THRONE, BEFORE THE LIVING CREATURES; THE ELDERS AND NO ONE CAN LEARN THAT SONG EXCEPT THE HUNDRED AND 44,000 WHO ARE REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH. WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE THERE THEY WERE SINGING PRAISES. THOSE WHO ARE SAVED ARE REJOICING AND PRAISING THE NAME OF GOD FOREVER. A SIMILAR STATEMENT IS MADE ALSO IN A FEW CHAPTERS LATER IN REVELATION 19 IN VERSE 6. AS WE MIGHT CONSIDER THOSE WORDS ALSO THEY REMIND US WHAT WE WILL BE DOING THERE WHEN WE MAKE IT TO THAT HEAVENLY REALM. THERE IN REVELATION 19:6. IT SAYS: I HEARD AS IT WERE THE VOICE OF A GREAT MULTITUDE AS THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS AND AS THE SOUND OF MIGHTY THUNDERING SAYING HALLELUJAH FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNS. HALLELUJAH! THAT IS PRAISE GOD. WHAT TAKES PLACE IN HEAVEN? THAT REJOICING, THAT SINGING, THAT PRAISING OF GOD THE ALL POWERFUL ONE. AND JOHN SAYS IT WAS LIKE THE SOUND OF MANY WATERS - MIGHTY THUNDERINGS. ISN'T IT AMAZING TO BE A PART OF THE CHURCH AND BE ABLE TO SING PRAISES TO GOD HERE ON THIS EARTH. ONE OF THE JOYS I'VE HAD FOR MANY YEARS IS TO BE A PART OF BIBLE CAMP. TO HAVE MANY KIDS AND COUNSELORS COME TOGETHER FOR A WEEK IN NATURE AND BE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND STUDY GOD'S WORD BUT ALSO TO SING PRAISES. THAT'S REALLY BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS OF BEING ABLE TO HEAR AND BE A PART OF THAT SINGING AND PRAISES TO GET ALL THOSE VOICES LIFTED UP. AND I THINK OF HOW GREAT THAT IS HERE IN THIS LIFE ON THIS PLANET - BUT HOW MUCH GREATER IT WILL BE WHEN ALL THE VOICES OF ALL THE SAINTS AND THE ANGELS OF GOD WHO ARE PRESENT IN THAT HEAVENLY REALM LIFT UP THEIR VOICES TO PRAISE THE NAME OF GOD ALMIGHTY. HALLELUJAH! THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNS. YOU THINK WHEN WE ARE PART OF THAT ONE DAY WE WILL SAY THE SINGING WAS NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS I EXPECTED IT? NO - AGAIN I THINK WE WILL SAY THE HALF WAS NOT TOLD UNTO US. HOW GREAT IT WILL BE ONE DAY TO BE IN THAT PLACE.

HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF EVERLASTING LIFE. WELL, THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THIS WORLD THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR A LONG TIME AND SOMETIMES EVEN COME WITH GUARANTEES. MAYBE A FIVE YEAR WARRANTY OR TEN YEAR WARRANTY OR MAYBE EVEN A LIFETIME WARRANTY. A MANUFACTURE SAYS I GUARANTEE THIS PRODUCT WILL NEVER WEAR OUT. YOU CAN USE IT FOR YOUR LIFETIME AND WE BACK THAT WITH OUR WORD. IF IT FAILS WE WILL GIVE YOU NEW ONE. THERE IS NOTHING COMPARABLE TO HEAVEN. IS NOT JUST A FIVE OR 10 OR 15 - NOT EVEN A LIFETIME GUARANTEE BECAUSE THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE WILL CORRODE. THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD WILL ONE DAY BE DESTROYED BUT HEAVEN WILL BE FOREVER. THAT'S ETERNAL LIFE THAT GOD PROMISES TO THE FAITHFUL AND AGAIN THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD GET THERE AND SAY - I DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. THIS JUST DOESN'T MATCH UP TO MY EXPECTATION. NO, AGAIN IT IS GOING TO BE GREATER THAN ANYTHING WE COULD EVER IMAGINE - ANYTHING THAT WE CAN EVER FATHOM WITHIN OUR FINITE MINDS ON THIS EARTH. THE DESCRIPTIONS GOD HAS GIVEN TO US HELP US TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND BUT WHEN WE MAKE IT TO THAT HOME HOW GREAT IT WILL BE! FAR BEYOND ANY EXPECTATION WE EVER HAVE. IT WILL BE A PLACE OF ETERNAL LIFE. THERE WILL BE NO CORRUPTION. 1 CORINTHIANS 15 WILL TELL US AS WE READ THAT THE CORRUPTIBLE WILL PUT ON INCORRUPTION. OUR PHYSICAL BODIES WILL BE CHANGED INTO A SPIRITUAL BODY IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE. WE WILL GO ON TO THAT HEAVENLY REWARD. THERE WILL BE NO TEARS, NO SEPARATION ANY LONGER. WE WILL BE IN THAT REAL DWELLING PLACE OF GOD. WHAT A MAGNIFICENT THOUGHT THAT IS. TO THINK ABOUT BEING ONE DAY WHERE GOD IS. TO THINK ABOUT BEING WHERE JESUS IS. TO THINK ABOUT BEING WHERE THE ANGELS ARE IN THAT HEAVENLY REALM. IT IS A GREAT PLACE THAT I WANT TO GO TO AND I'M SURE YOU WANT TO AS WELL. IT IS A PLACE OF ETERNAL PARADISE WHERE THE INHABITANTS LIVE AND THEY LIVE AS JESUS SAID IN MANSIONS. THERE IN JOHN 14 JESUS SAID THAT HE WENT TO PREPARE PLACE AND SINCE HE WENT TO PREPARE THAT PLACE HE WAS GOING TO COME AGAIN AND RECEIVE THOSE FAITHFUL UNTO HIM THAT HE MIGHT TAKE THEM TO THAT HEAVENLY REALM. IT IS GOING TO BE A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE MANSIONS PREPARED FOR THE FAITHFUL. NOT THE DWELLING PLACES LIKE WE LIVE IN HERE. THE SPIRITUAL MANSION WHERE WE CAN LIVE FOR ALL ETERNITY WITH THESE OTHERS WHO ARE THERE - THAT WE CAN BE REUNITED WITH THE FAITHFUL OF GOD WHO HAVE GO ON BEFORE - THOSE FAITHFUL THE PATRIARCHAL AGE LIKE ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB. WHAT ABOUT THE FAITHFUL OF THE MOSAICAL AGE THOSE LIKE MOSES AND AARON AND MANY OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE AGES WHO LIVED FAITHFUL UNTO GOD? WHAT ABOUT THE FAITHFUL OF THE CHRISTIAN AGE. MAYBE YOU HAVE LOVED ONES WHO ARE FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS WHO DIED ALREADY AND THEY'VE GONE ON TO THEIR REWARD. DON'T YOU LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM SOMEDAY? MAYBE YOU HAVE SOME CHILDREN WHO DIED BEFORE THE NEW SIN. CHILDREN WHO DIED IN A SAFE STATE BECAUSE THEY NEVER KNEW SIN BECAUSE THEY DIED SO YOUNG. WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO SEE THEM ONCE AGAIN TO BE REUNITED IN THAT HEAVENLY REALM A PLACE OF GOD AND HIS ANGELS - A PLACE OF PRAISING AND REJOICING, A PLACE OF MANSIONS, A PLACE OF REUNION WITH ALL THOSE LOVED ONES WHO HAVE GONE ON BEFORE WHO DIED IN FAITH. IS ANYONE GOING TO GET THERE AND SAY - I THINK IT TOOK A WRONG TURN? I THINK I ENDED UP IN THE WRONG LOCATION. I THINK I'D RATHER GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. WELL, THERE IS ONLY ONE OTHER OPTION AND THAT OPTION IS HELL. AND AS SURELY AS WE SEE FROM SCRIPTURE NOBODY WANTS TO GO THERE. WE CAN READ ABOUT HEAVEN AND WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE AND WHO IS THERE AND HOW BAD WE WANT TO BE THERE. AND WHEN WE GET THERE WE SURELY WILL AGAIN SAY THE HALF HAS NOT BEEN TOLD. THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO. THIS IS A PLACE THAT WE SHOULD LIVE TO GO TO. IT SAYS IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 5 IN VERSE 9 THAT JESUS IS THE AUTHOR ETERNAL SALVATION. SOME WOULD LIKE TO STOP RIGHT THERE BUT THE VERSE CONTINUES AND FINISHES BY SAYING THAT HE'S THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM. MAYBE WE SHOULD FINISH WITH THAT THOUGHT. HAVE YOU OBEYED JESUS CHRIST? IF YOU HAVE AND YOU CONTINUE TO LIVE FAITHFULLY BECAUSE YOU OBEY THE GOSPEL PLAN OF SALVATION AND YOU BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST AND YOUR SINS HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY AND YOU CONTINUE TO WALK IN HIS LIGHT - YOU HAVE THE REAL HOPE AND THE PROMISE BECAUSE GOD CANNOT LIE THAT YOU HAVE THAT HOME IN HEAVEN. THINK ABOUT THAT. ARE YOU CONTINUING TO LIVE AS YOU SHOULD TO MAKE IT TO THAT HEAVENLY REALM? ONE DAY IT WILL BE A GREAT REUNION WHEN WE MAKE IT THERE! MAY WE ALL REJOICE FOR ALL ETERNITY KNOWING THAT WE WILL BE WITH GOD IN A PLACE THAT FAR EXCEEDS OUR EXPECTATIONS THAT WE WOULD EVER HAVE IN THIS LIFE. SURELY THE HALF HAS NOT BEEN TOLD CONCERNING HEAVEN.

CLOSING COMMENTS

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY, IN GIVING THIS TIME TO GOD. I HOPE OUR TIME TOGETHER HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND BLESSING TO ALL OF US. WE INVITE YOU BACK EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS SERVICE OF GOD!

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HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW OF THE GREAT PROMISES OF GOD. ESPECIALLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR ETERNAL REWARD IN HEAVEN. OH, HOW WONDERFUL IT WILL BE TO LIVE WITH GOD ETERNAL IN THAT PERFECT PARADISE. ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART TODAY TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO BE A RECIPIENT OF THIS GREAT REWARD?