Great Reward
Series: Mission Month 2013
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 19th May 2013
Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
00:00:00 --> 00:00:00 Well, good evening, everyone.
00:00:01 --> 00:00:04 If you haven't got a Bible in front of you,
00:00:04 --> 00:00:05 then you need to get one.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 And there are some up the back,
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 just out there in the foyer.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:16 Let me be frank with you.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 If you don't have a Bible, what I'm going to say
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 is going to get really confusing very quickly.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 And you need to follow along with me.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:27 I say that because I've been wrestling with this text all week.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:31 And up until five minutes ago,
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 I'm still wrestling with this text.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:40 And so we need God's help to see what can't be seen.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 So let's pray that we might be encouraged
00:00:45 --> 00:00:46 and we might not lose heart.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 Father God, I pray that as we look at your word now,
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 that you might bring clarity to the confusion.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 We pray that you would help us to see that which is unseen.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 And that in seeing that,
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 and even just getting a small glimpse of it,
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 that it would cause us not to lose heart
00:01:03 --> 00:01:07 as your disciples seeking to proclaim the lordship of Christ
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 so that everyone might bow their knee
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 and confess with their tongue
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 that Jesus is in fact Lord.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:14 And so Lord, spirit,
00:01:15 --> 00:01:16 we pray for the global task.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 In the name of the Lord Jesus.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:18 Amen.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:24 I've developed quite a bad habit recently.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 While I'm watching a movie on TV,
00:01:28 --> 00:01:29 I grab my phone
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 and I look up the movie in Wikipedia
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 and read the plot summary.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 And so very early on in the movie,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 I know how the movie ends.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 The negative side is that it spoils the end of the movie,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 especially if there's some unexpected twist.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 And sometimes there is.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 In fact, I was looking at the TV guide last night,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 wondering whether I would watch a movie,
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 looked at the plot summary,
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 went, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
00:01:58 --> 00:01:59 And then right at the end,
00:01:59 --> 00:01:59 something happened.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 I went, oh, that'd be good,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 but it's too late now.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:02 I know what's going to happen.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 The positive side of it
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 is that every little throwaway line
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 and statement and facial expression
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 and random event makes sense.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:14 First time up.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 The other positive side
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 is that I don't waste an hour or two of my life
00:02:19 --> 00:02:20 on a dud movie
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 and I get a little bit more sleep.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 So I feel like
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 that I need to do something similar now
00:02:27 --> 00:02:28 to help us understand
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 2 Corinthians 4 and 5,
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 which is our focus
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 for mission month this year.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 If we go to the end of the letter,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:41 it helps us understand the beginning
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 and especially what's happening
00:02:42 --> 00:02:43 in these chapters.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 So you need your Bible
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 and flick over.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 Chapter 10,
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 Paul starts to, if you like,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 pull the curtain back
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 on the reason that he has penned this letter.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 He's defending his ministry
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 against some people
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 who have commended themselves
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 to this church at Corinth.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:06 It would seem that they're boasting
00:03:06 --> 00:03:07 a lot about themselves.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 Their ministry achievements
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 and their spiritual experiences
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 and their successes
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 and stuff like that.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:15 And in the process,
00:03:15 --> 00:03:16 they're rubbishing Paul
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 as if Paul's not the real deal,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:20 that they're superior to Paul.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 And so in chapter 11, verse 5,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 all's revealed who these people are.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:26 He says,
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 I do not think,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 this is Paul speaking,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 I do not think that I'm in the least inferior
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 to those super apostles.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 And so there they are.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 These are the people
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 that Paul has been writing about.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 Right from the beginning of the letter,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:40 the super apostles.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 And he uses that term quite sarcastically
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 because while he's an apostle,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 these guys have elevated themselves
00:03:47 --> 00:03:48 as super apostles
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 over the top of every other apostle.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 These guys are the real deal,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:53 if you like.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 And so these super apostles
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 are on the forefront of Paul's mind
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 as he is penning this letter
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 and including these chapters,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 obviously in four and five
00:04:04 --> 00:04:05 that we are focusing on.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 It seems that these super apostles
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 were professional speakers
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 who got paid lots of money
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 for being impressive people.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 They were eloquent.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 They were loud.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:15 They were funny.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 They promised the world.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 They were successful.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18 They were beautiful.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 They were well-dressed.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 They were sort of like
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 the got-it-all-together types,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 if you like.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:26 The only thing I could think of
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 was maybe a Tony Robbins,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 if you ever know who that guy is.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 If you don't, Google him
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 and you'll soon understand what I mean.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 People looked out to them.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 They wanted to be like them,
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 like these super apostles.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 They had the kind of lives
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 and lifestyles
00:04:42 --> 00:04:43 that make you envious.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 And Paul's great defense
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 of his ministry
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 is at the end of chapter 11
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 where he joins in
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 on their boasting.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 He draws a big breath
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 and he starts to say
00:04:56 --> 00:04:56 the sort of things
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 that he hates to hear.
00:04:58 --> 00:04:59 And he starts with his heritage
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 in verse 22 of chapter 11.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 Are they Hebrews?
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 So am I.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 Are these guys Israelites?
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 Me too.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 Are they Abraham's attendants?
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 Got that one.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 And then he makes a bold claim
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 about himself
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 against the super apostles.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 This is where he draws the line,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:15 if you like,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 in verse 23.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 Are they servants of Christ?
00:05:18 --> 00:05:18 And he's sort of like
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 a little bit of a sideline here.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:20 He goes,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 I'm just mad when I say this.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 And then he comes back in
00:05:23 --> 00:05:23 and he says,
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 are they servants of Christ?
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 I am more.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 That's a pretty big
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 sort of line in the sand
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 to draw at that point.
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 And then
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 what he does is
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 having declared
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 that he is in fact
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 the genuine apostle,
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 that he is
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 the genuine servant of Christ.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 At this point,
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 you would expect Paul
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 to go on
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 and give his resume
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 like the super apostles
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 and talk about
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 his successes,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 his spiritual experiences
00:05:56 --> 00:05:56 and everything
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 that makes him impressive
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 and more impressive
00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 than the super apostles.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 But instead,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 he talks about
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 his sufferings,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:04 his losses
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 and his defeats.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 Look at what he says.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 I have worked much harder,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 been imprisoned more frequently,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 been flogged more severely,
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 been exposed to death
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 again and again.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 Five times I received
00:06:14 --> 00:06:14 from the Jews
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 the 40 lashes minus one.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 Three times I was beaten
00:06:18 --> 00:06:18 with rods.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 Once I was stoned.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 Three times I was shipwrecked.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 I spent a night and day
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 in the open sea.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 I've been constantly
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 on the move.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:26 I've been in danger
00:06:26 --> 00:06:26 from rivers,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:27 in danger from bandits,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 in danger from my own countrymen,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 in danger from Gentiles,
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 in danger from the city,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:32 in danger in the country,
00:06:33 --> 00:06:33 in danger at sea
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 and in danger from false brothers.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 I have labored and toiled
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 and have often gone without sleep.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 I have known hunger and thirst
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 and have often gone without food.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 I have been cold and naked
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 and besides everything else,
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 I face daily the pressure
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 of my concern
00:06:47 --> 00:06:47 for all the churches.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 Who is weak
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 and I do not feel weak.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 Who is led into sin
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 and I do not inwardly burn.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 He says,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 that's what makes me
00:06:59 --> 00:06:59 the real deal.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 There is my CV
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 about genuine
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 authentic
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 apostleship.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 The biggest issue
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 for the super apostles
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 and this church of Corinth
00:07:13 --> 00:07:13 who have been swayed
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 by the super apostles
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 was not primarily
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 about Paul's teaching
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 but about Paul's lifestyle.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 Paul's response
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 is that his lifestyle
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 is characteristic
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 of the way of the cross,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 of a life of faith,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 of following his saviour Jesus.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 And so that's the perspective
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 that he wants us to have
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 as we look
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 at chapters 4 and 5.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:49 That is,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 he wants us to have
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 clay pot,
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 jars of clay,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:54 takeaway containers,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 expectations of life
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 as a disciple of Jesus.
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 If we understand
00:08:04 --> 00:08:04 with clarity
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 that we are jars of clay,
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 then I think
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 what Paul's saying is
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 that if we have
00:08:11 --> 00:08:11 that expectation,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 it will help us
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 not to lose heart
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 in the global task
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 of proclaiming
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 Clear expectations
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 and not losing heart
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 are in fact put together
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 in the passage
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 that you looked at
00:08:26 --> 00:08:26 last week
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 in chapter 4,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 verse 16.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 Have a look at it.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:32 Therefore,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 we do not lose heart.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:35 So,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 we don't lose heart.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 That's what he wants.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 Though outwardly
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 we are wasting away
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 clay pot,
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 yet inwardly
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 we are being renewed
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 day by day.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:50 We don't lose heart
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 even though
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 we are wasting away
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 outwardly
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 because
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 we are being renewed
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 inwardly
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 day by day.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 We don't lose heart
00:08:59 --> 00:08:59 even though the body
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 is falling apart
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 because
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 inwardly being renewed
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 day by day.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 Inward renewal.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 That is the key
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 to not losing heart.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 And how does that
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 inward renewal
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 day by day happen?
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 He tells us
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 in verse 18.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 We fix our eyes
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 not on what
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 is seen
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 but on what
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 is unseen.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 Paul's renewed
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 heart
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 to pursue
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 God's global
00:09:31 --> 00:09:31 agenda
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 to keep
00:09:32 --> 00:09:32 surrendering
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 his life
00:09:33 --> 00:09:33 to the Lord
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 Jesus Christ
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 and his
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 priorities life
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 comes
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 from something
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 very strange.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 It comes
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 from looking
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 at what
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 he can't
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 see.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 As verse
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 18 says
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 the things
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 he can see
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 are temporal
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 the things
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 he can't
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 see
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 are eternal
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 and it's
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 gazing
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 on the
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 eternal
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 things
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 that means
00:10:04 --> 00:10:04 that he is
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 inwardly renewed
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 and encouraged
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 and not losing
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 heart.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 The summary
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 statement
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 I think
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 is in chapter
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 4 verse 17.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 for our
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 light and
00:10:14 --> 00:10:14 momentary
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 troubles
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 those he can
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 see
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 those he can
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 feel
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 those he can
00:10:18 --> 00:10:18 touch
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 are achieving
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 for us
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 an eternal
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 glory
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 that far
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 outweighs
00:10:25 --> 00:10:25 them all
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 that he
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 can't see.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 In other
00:10:30 --> 00:10:30 words
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 the unseen
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 things that
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 Paul looks
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 at for
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 inner renewal
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 is the
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 immense
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 weight of
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 glory
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 that is being
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 prepared for
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 him
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 not just
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 after
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 but through
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 and by
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 the wasting
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 away of
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 his body
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 in the
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 pursuit
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 of God's
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 glory.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 That is
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 there is a
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 correlation
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 between the
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 decay of
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 Paul's body
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 in the
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 service of
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 the Lord
00:10:56 --> 00:10:56 Jesus
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 and the
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 display of
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 Paul's glory
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 for all
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 eternity.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:05 the decaying
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 of his
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 body was
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 not
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 meaningless.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 The pain
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 the pressure
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 the frustration
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 and affliction
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 it's not
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 happening in
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 vain.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 They are not
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 causing him to
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 lose heart
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 because when
00:11:18 --> 00:11:18 Paul is
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 hurting
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 he fixes
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 his eyes
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 not on how
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 heavy the
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 hurt is
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 but on how
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 heavy the
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 glory will be
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 because of
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 the hurt
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 in the
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 pursuit of
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 the Lord
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Jesus.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 Now that
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 bit is
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 crucial for
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 us to
00:11:35 --> 00:11:35 get.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 Because when
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 we look at
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 Paul's life
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 of surrender
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 to the
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 Lord Jesus
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 there is a
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 very significant
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 threat here.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:46 If you
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 choose the
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 way of
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 surrender to
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 Jesus
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 then the
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 great threat
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 is the
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 loss of
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 everything
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 precious.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 When you
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 look at the
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 list of
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 what Paul
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 suffered
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 because of
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 the gospel
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 because of
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 God's
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 global agenda
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 of the
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 gospel going
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 to the
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 ends of
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 the earth
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 the great
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 threat to
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 us is
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 the loss
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 of everything
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 precious
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 everything
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 that is
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 most precious
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 and that is
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 our life.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 it's a
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 genuine threat.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 It's a
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 genuine threat.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 Anyone
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 want to
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 lose their
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 life?
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 No hands
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 go up.
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 I don't
00:12:27 --> 00:12:27 think you
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 need to
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 dwell that
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 point.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 I don't
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 want to
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 lose my
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 life.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 I had a
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 great time
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 today.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 After church
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 sat on the
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 deck of
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 morning tea
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 there and
00:12:37 --> 00:12:37 just discussed
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 this passage
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 with a couple
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 of people and
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 it was awesome.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 From that I
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 walked straight
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 over.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 we had a
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 bunch of
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 people for
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 lunch and
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 we sat
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 down to
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 roast lamb
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 and we
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 talked and
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 it was heaps
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 of fun and
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 my lovely
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 wife made
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 it and I
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 love her
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 dearly.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 My kids
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 are adorable.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 They are
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 an absolute
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 hoot.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:02 Basically
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 all the
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 time.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 Last week
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 I was
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 visiting Hong
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 Kong,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 meeting new
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 people,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 seeing new
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 places and
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 to lose all
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 of those
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 things.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 A threat.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 And so
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 a life of
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 surrender to
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Jesus looks
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 like a real
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 threat.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 He may
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 take it.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 And so
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 as Paul
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 launches into
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 chapter 5,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 he's helping
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 us not to
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 lose heart.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 To keep
00:13:34 --> 00:13:34 surrendering all
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 to Jesus.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 To keep
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 sacrificing for
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 God's global
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 cause because
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 in these verses
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 he deals with
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 that threat.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 and the
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 way he
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 deals with
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 it is
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 you're
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 actually not
00:13:46 --> 00:13:46 going to
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 lose it.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:49 You think
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 this is
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 good?
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 All those
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 things I
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 described,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 you think
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 this is
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 good?
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 You're
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 going to
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 get more
00:13:55 --> 00:13:59 if you
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 pursue
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 Jesus.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 Verse 1.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 Now we
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 know that
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 if the
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 earthly
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 tent we
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 live in
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 is destroyed,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 we have a
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 building from
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 God, an
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 eternal house
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 in heaven,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 not built
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 by human
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 hands.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 So the
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 contrast here
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 that he
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 says is
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 between the
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 temporary
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 inferior
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 tent that
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 is my
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 wasting away
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 body,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 to the
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 eternal
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 superior
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 building that
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 is the
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 resurrected,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 perfected,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 eternal body
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 that Jesus
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 will give me.
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 And so
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 what he
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 does here
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 in verse
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 1 is he
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 gives us a
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 real dose
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 of realism.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 Every person
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 experiences the
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 wasting away
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 of the body
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 and finally
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 death.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 It is a
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 normal
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 experience.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 We will
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 all experience
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 that at
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 some point.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 His point
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 is your
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 life is not
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 secure anyway.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 we live
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 in a tent,
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 not a
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 building.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 Tents are
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 vulnerable and
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 weak.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 And Paul
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 here wants
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 us to be
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 free from
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 the expectation
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 that we
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 will be
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 free from
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 fragility and
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 frailty while
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 we live in
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 this world,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 whether we
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 pursue Christ
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 or not.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 Pursue all
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 the security
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and protection
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 and comfort
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 you like.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 It won't
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 provide what
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 you want it
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 to.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 Death looms
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 as a shadow
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 over every
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 life.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 Which is
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 partly why
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 we groan.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 Verse 2,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 we groan
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 longing to
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 be clothed
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 with our
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 heavenly
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 dwelling because
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 when we
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 are clothed
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 we will
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 not be
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 found naked.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 For while
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 we are in
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 this tent
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 we groan
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 and are
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 burdened
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 because we
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 do not
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 wish to
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 be
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 unclothed.
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 The groaning
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 while we're
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 in this tent
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 means that
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 we groan
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 all the
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 time.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 Impending
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 death
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 means that
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 groaning
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 is everyone's
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 experience.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 at any
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 moment
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 death
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 will bring
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 into question
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 everything that
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 we've held
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 dear.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 Everything that
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 we have
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 claimed to
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 achieve in
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 this life.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 But the
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 groaning of the
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 Christian has an
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 added element.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 Verse 2 says
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 that we groan
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 because we
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 want the
00:16:12 --> 00:16:12 eternal
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 perfected
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 resurrection
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 body.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 The building
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 made by
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 God.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 That's what we
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 groan.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 We long for
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 it in other
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 words.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 A resurrected
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 body is our
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 hope.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 Our own
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 bodies will
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 be fitted
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 out eternally
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 perfectly
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 fallously
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 like Jesus'
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 body.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 That's good
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 because a
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 building is so
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 much more
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 secure than
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 a tent.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 Especially
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 notice when
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 this building
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 in verse 1
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 is built
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 and is coming
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 from God.
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 The eternal
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 God.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 This building
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 is not made
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 by flawed
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 human hands
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 like mine
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 but made
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 by perfect
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 eternal
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 hands like
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 God.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 We have
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 the secure
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 hope because
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 of the great
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 treasure of
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 the gospel.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 That's why
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 we get this
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 building.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 I haven't
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 made it with
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 my hands.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 God has
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 made it for
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 me.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 For me,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 a sinful,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 flawed,
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 ungrateful,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 undeserving of
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 God's love,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 deserving of
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 his condemnation.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 People like
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 me who have
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 been forgiven
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 through the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 work of the
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 Lord Jesus
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 Christ have
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 this hope.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 I go from
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 death to
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 life eternal.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 It is
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 secure and
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 it is an
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 eternal gift.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 It's an
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 eternal house
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 in heaven
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 given to
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 everyone who
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 trusts in the
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 Lord Jesus
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 Christ.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 That is
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 Paul's hope
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 and it is
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 our hope
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 who live by
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 faith in
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 the Lord
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 Jesus.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 As verse 5
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 says,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 now it is
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 God who
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 has made
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 us for
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 this very
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 purpose.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 He is the
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 builder of the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 eternal house,
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 the secure
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 building,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 the perfect
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 building and
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 he has made
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 it for me.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 Okay,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 that's good.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 That renews
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 me and
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 gives me
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 focus in
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 serving Christ
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 in that life
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 in this world
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 is not the
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 end.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 Paul has
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 helped me to
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 see, just
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 get a glimpse
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 of the thing
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 which is
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 unseen.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 There is an
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 eternal and
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 perfect life in
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 Christ waiting
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 for me.
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 But there
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 is one
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 more unseen
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 thing that I
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 need help
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 here to
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 see and
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 that is
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 when do I
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 get this
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 new eternal
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 and perfect
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 life?
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 This new
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 body, this
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 new building
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 fitted for
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 eternity so
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 that I can
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 enjoy the
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 food, the
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 relationships and
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 everything else
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 in heaven for
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 all of
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 eternity.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 eternity.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 And this
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 is the
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 other unseen
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 thing which
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 I need to
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 see if I'm
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 going to not
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 lose heart in
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 serving Christ.
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 What happens
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 when you
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 die?
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 In his
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 answer, Paul
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 here wants us
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 to be utterly
00:18:56 --> 00:18:59 secure because
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 security will
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 renew us
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 inwardly as
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 we outwardly
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 waste away.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 And he
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 addresses this
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 in verse 4
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 and onwards.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 We do not
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 wish to be
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 unclothed but
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 to be clothed
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 with our
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 heavenly dwelling
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 so that what
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 is mortal may
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 be swallowed up
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 by life.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 To go back to
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 the tent
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 building metaphor,
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 what Paul is
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 saying here is
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 I want the
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 building
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 fantastic,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 new eternal
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 perfect body.
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 What I don't
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 want to experience
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 is my tent
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 being folded up
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 and packed away
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 before I get
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 the building.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:41 I don't
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 want to die
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 in order to
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 get that.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 That is, I
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 actually don't
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 want to be
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 separated from
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 my body.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 I don't want
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 to be found
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 naked is what
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 he says in
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 verse 3.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 He doesn't
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 want to die
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 and be absent
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 from the body.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 And so if he
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 has a choice,
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 he wants Jesus
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 to come back
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 and immediately
00:20:01 --> 00:20:04 swallow, if you
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 like, his life
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 up.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 That is, he
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 wants Jesus
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 to immediately
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 swap his
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 tent for the
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 building in a
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 twinkling of an
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 eye, as other
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 parts of the New
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Testament say.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 Christ will come
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 back and in a
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 twinkling of an
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 eye, those who
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 are alive in
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 Christ, those who
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 are walking the
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 face of the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 earth, trusting in
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 Jesus at that
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 moment, will
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 immediately be
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 transformed.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 No death.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 That's an
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 awesome option.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Bring it on any
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 day, I reckon.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 That's what he
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 means when he
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 says what is
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 mortal may be
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 swallowed up by
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 life.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 Good option.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 No death.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 No separation
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 from the body.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 No wasting
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 away.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 No weariness
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 and weakness
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 in a twinkling
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 of an eye.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 All that stuff
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 gone.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 Perfected.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 Unrestricted.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 Eternal.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 In the presence
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 of Jesus.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 With my body.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 Able to give
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 him a hug.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 That's
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 preference number
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 one.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 I'm assuming
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 that's if you're
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 in Christ, that
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 is your
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 preference.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 That seems
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 like a good
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 option to
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 me.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 You see, like
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 us, Paul loved
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 life in this
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 world.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 He loved the
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 ability to be
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 able to hug
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 people and
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 kiss them and
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 eat food and
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 chat and
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 travel and
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 whatever else
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 it was.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 Which is why
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 the Christian
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 hope of bodily
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 resurrection
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 connects so
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 significantly with
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 our hearts.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 We don't want
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 to be separated
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 from our
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 bodies.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 bodily
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 resurrection in
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 a perfect
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 physical world
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 that goes on
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 forever is
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 our hope.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 Our hope as a
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 Christian is not
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 an aimless
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 spiritual world.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 It's not
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 clouds and
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 wings and
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 harps, but
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 relationships and
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 work and trees
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 and rivers and
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 food in the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 presence of our
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 great God.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 life.
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 And that's, I
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 think, put Paul's
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 lifestyle in
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 perspective for us.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 He didn't endure
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 what he did for
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 Christ because he
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 didn't love life in
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 this world.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 He didn't surrender
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 all that he
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 surrendered.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 He did not suffer
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 what he suffered
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 because he was a
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 depressing, morose
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 kind of dude.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 He just went,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 I'll just bring it
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 on because I
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 really hate my
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 life.
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 He loved it and
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 he wants to spend
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 eternity with his
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 body in a
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 perfected world
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 and so he
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 doesn't want to
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 experience death.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 He wants to go
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 from this life and
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 immediately into the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 next.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 And it will
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 happen for
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 everyone who
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 lives by faith in
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 the Lord Jesus
00:22:37 --> 00:22:40 when Jesus comes
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 back.
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 That will be your
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 experience.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 If Jesus comes
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 back when you're
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 alive, pray for
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 that to come.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 Come, Lord
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 Jesus.
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 So Paul says,
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 see the unseen
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 and feel the
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 security of that.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 Now if you
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 took the first
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 option to his
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 extreme, you
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 could possibly
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 conclude that
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 life is greater
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 and the greatest
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 possible thing and
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 so do whatever you
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 can to keep
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 this life secure
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 in this world.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 Which is why Paul
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 gives us his second
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 preference in verse
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 8 and without
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26 verse 8 you
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 could misconstrue
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 verse 4.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 That is, this
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 helps us, verse 8
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 helps us to
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 correct any
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 misunderstanding of
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 verse 4 we
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 might have.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 He said, I
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 would prefer to
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 be away from the
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 body and at
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 home with the
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 Lord.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 What both
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 option 1,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 verse 4, and
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 option 2,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 verse 8 reveal
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 is that the
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 highest priority
00:23:46 --> 00:23:50 in life is to
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 be with Jesus.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 That's the
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 highest priority.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 If the choice
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 here is between
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 more life, for
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 Paul is what he
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 says, if the
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 choice is between
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 more life here by
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 faith and going
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 to be with
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 Christ, he'd
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 prefer that God
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 would take him
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 even if it means
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 that his body
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 gets buried in the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 ground here right
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 now and he has
00:24:12 --> 00:24:15 to wait before
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 Jesus comes back
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 and unites him
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 with that body.
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 Being at home
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 with the Lord,
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 he said, is so
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 irresistibly
00:24:24 --> 00:24:27 attractive because
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 it means ultimately
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 more intimacy
00:24:29 --> 00:24:31 with Jesus
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 than we would
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 ever experience
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 in this world.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 Whatever
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 happens with
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 you, Jesus
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 comes back,
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 twigly
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 even I, done
00:24:45 --> 00:24:48 or death
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 and wait
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 for your body
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 to be united
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 with him in his
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 presence in the
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 physical world.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 Paul
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 wants us to
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 have absolute
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 security and
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 confidence in the
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 future.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 For Paul,
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 death
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 meant
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 gain.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 Philippians 2,
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 to live is
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 Christ and to
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 die is
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 gain.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 It's better
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 in Christ.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 And what
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 Paul writes
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 here is meant
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 to give the
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 Christian a
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 deep sense
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 of security
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 in the future.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 For the
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 Christian who
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 loses their
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 life before
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 Jesus returns,
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 you are not
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 aimlessly floating
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 around in some
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 spiritual world.
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 At the point
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 of death,
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 there is an
00:25:32 --> 00:25:32 immediate
00:25:32 --> 00:25:34 folding into
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 the presence
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 of Christ.
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 We will not
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 be separated
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 from Jesus.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 We will never
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 be separated
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 from his love.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 that is the
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 impact of
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 verses 6 to
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 8.
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 But these
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 verses do
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 emphasize that
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 the great and
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 final hope of
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 the Christian
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 is not to
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 die and be
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 freed from
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 our bodies.
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 Our hope is
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 not a
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 spiritual world.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 It is a
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 world more
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 physical and
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 real than the
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 world in which
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 we live.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 This is but a
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 foretaste, this
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 world, of what
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 is yet to
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 come.
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 The hope of
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 the Christian is
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 not to be free
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 from their
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 body.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 We often
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 say of the
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 Christian who
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 has just
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 died, well
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 it's all over
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 now, at least
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 they're in
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 heaven.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 And I want to
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17 say that's
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 option number
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 two, according
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 to Paul, and
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 that is good,
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 but it's not
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 the best.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 There is still
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 something yet
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 to come.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 There is even
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 more forward to
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 look forward to
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 when Jesus
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 return and
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 raises all the
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 dead in Christ.
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 As 1
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 Corinthians 15
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 54 says,
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 when the
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 perishable,
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 this body,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 has been
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 clothed with
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 the imperishable,
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 my eternal
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 body, and
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 the mortal,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 this body,
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 with immortality,
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 the eternal
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 body, then
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 the saying
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 that is written
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 will come
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 true.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 Death has
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 been swallowed
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 up in victory.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 That, the
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 perusia, the
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 end of time
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 when Jesus
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 comes back and
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 winds up this
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 whole show,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 that's the
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 victory we're
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 looking for.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 The
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 resurrection
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 body is
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 our hope.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 And so
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 Paul here has
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 given us a
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 glimpse of the
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 unseen.
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 I can't explain
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 it all to you.
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 I can just do
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 what Paul did
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 and try and
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 explain something
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 of what he has
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 seen.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 It is meant to
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 cause us to be
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 confident.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 In fact, he uses
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 the word twice in
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 these verses,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 that he is
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 confident.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 Of course, the
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 future shapes his
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 present life.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 If Christ doesn't
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 come and clothe him
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 with immortality in
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 the twinkling of
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 an eye, bam, and
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 he doesn't call him
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 home in death, then
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 Paul will, verse
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 7, live by faith
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 and not by sight.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 That is his life
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 in this world.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 Now, that living
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 by faith and not
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 by sight doesn't
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 mean we leap into
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 the dark and just
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00 hope that preference
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 one or two, one or
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 both of them sort
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 of work out and
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 come true.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:07 What it does mean
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 is that what is
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 eternal, precious,
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 important, and
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 beyond our senses,
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 that's what it
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 means.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 We can't see or
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 even imagine what
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 the eternal building
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 will look like and
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 feel like.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 What does it mean
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 that my body will
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 not decay?
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 Ever.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 What does it mean
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 it will never be
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 restricted?
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 Ever.
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 I don't get that.
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 I mean, I'm
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 preaching with a
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 neck that I can't
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 hardly move.
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 That direction at
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 the moment.
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 That's got to be
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 good to get rid of
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 that one.
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 And so what
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 happens is,
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 living by faith
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 means we look to
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 what we know of
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 the Lord Jesus
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 from faithful
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 witnesses who
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 walked and ate
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 with him and
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 heard his voice,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 witnessed the
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 horror of his
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 crucifixion and
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 saw him risen from
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 the dead, who
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 ate fish with him
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 on a beach after
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 that had happened,
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 put their hands
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 in his side and
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 in his fingers.
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 And we look to
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 such tests and
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 we believe the
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 good news of the
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 salvation of
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 sinners and with
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 the help of the
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 down payment of
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 the Holy Spirit,
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 we trust his
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 word and we
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 renew our
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 courage and we
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 make it our
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 goal to please
00:29:12 --> 00:29:15 him, to live
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 by faith.
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 death.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 There is, just
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 before we finish,
00:29:21 --> 00:29:21 there is another
00:29:21 --> 00:29:24 aspect of the
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 end of all
00:29:24 --> 00:29:26 things that
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 shapes Paul's
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 lifestyle and
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 gives us another
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 reason why we
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 should want to
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 please him.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 It's verse 10,
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 for we must all
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 appear before the
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 judgment seat of
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 Christ that each
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 one may receive
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 what is due him
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 for the things
00:29:38 --> 00:29:38 done while in
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 the body,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 whether good or
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 bad.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:42 very quickly,
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 for Paul in
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 these verses,
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 it's not
00:29:47 --> 00:29:49 condemnation that
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 he fears,
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 although it
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 might be true
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 for some who
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 at the present
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 are not trusting
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 in Christ.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 What he fears
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 in that verse,
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 in the judgment
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 throne, is
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 evaluation.
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 salvation.
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 It's not the
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 loss of salvation,
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 but the loss of
00:30:09 --> 00:30:11 commendation that
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 he fears.
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 Because he lives
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 to please the
00:30:15 --> 00:30:17 Lord, his
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 greatest fear is
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 in fact not to
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 please him with
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 his life.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 Now when I say
00:30:23 --> 00:30:25 that, it sounds
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 like I'm talking
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 about rewards in
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 heaven.
00:30:29 --> 00:30:31 And that's
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 true, because
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 that's what I am
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 saying.
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 The problem
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 is that when I
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 talk about
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 rewards in
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 heaven, it
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 sounds anti-grace.
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 Ephesians 2
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 verse 8 says
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 that we are
00:30:45 --> 00:30:45 saved by grace
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 through faith and
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 not of any works
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 that we've done.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 We do not earn
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 our salvation.
00:30:52 --> 00:30:52 Works
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 contradict grace,
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 according to
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 Ephesians 2,
00:30:55 --> 00:30:57 and rewards
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 sound like works.
00:30:58 --> 00:31:03 I think what
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 Paul is saying
00:31:03 --> 00:31:05 is salvation is
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 by faith and
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 rewards are by
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 faith, but the
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 evidence of
00:31:08 --> 00:31:10 invisible faith in
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 the judgment room
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 of Christ at the
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 end of time will
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 be a transformed
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 life.
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 I don't think his
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 teaching here is
00:31:18 --> 00:31:19 out of line to the
00:31:19 --> 00:31:19 rest of the New
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 Testament.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 It's in line with
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 Jesus teaching on
00:31:23 --> 00:31:23 the accountability of
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 the steward to his
00:31:24 --> 00:31:26 master with respect
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 to the faithful
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 use of gifts
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 entrusted to him.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 It's in line with
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 Paul's teaching in
00:31:30 --> 00:31:34 1 Corinthians 3.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 The purchase of
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 our pardon by the
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 blood of Jesus,
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 sorry, the purchase
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41 of our pardon was
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 the blood of Jesus,
00:31:42 --> 00:31:44 sufficient once for
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 all to cover all
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 of our sins.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:48 The means by which
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 we own it is
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 faith.
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 And faith alone.
00:31:53 --> 00:31:55 And at the
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 judgment of
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 believers, Jesus
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 is looking for
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 deeds that prove
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 that we have
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 enjoyed our
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 pardon.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:10 One movie I
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 haven't searched
00:32:11 --> 00:32:13 on Wikipedia and
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 haven't gone to bed
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 early on is
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 Gladiator.
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 At the beginning
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 of the movie,
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 Russell Crowe's
00:32:20 --> 00:32:22 character, Maximus
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 Decimus Meridius,
00:32:23 --> 00:32:27 is inspiring
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 his troops to
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 fight well in
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 one final battle,
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 knowing full well
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 that they might
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 die, but the
00:32:33 --> 00:32:34 victory is almost
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 there.
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 It's been a long
00:32:36 --> 00:32:36 campaign.
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 And to inspire
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 his troops to
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 throw their life
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 into the battle,
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 he says to them,
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 what we do in
00:32:46 --> 00:32:48 life echoes in
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 eternity.
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 of course, it's
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 unfortunate that he
00:32:51 --> 00:32:52 then went on to
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 live a life of
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 seeking revenge,
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 but that's beside
00:32:56 --> 00:32:56 the point.
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 He was still the
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 hero, I think,
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 in the end,
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 even though he
00:33:01 --> 00:33:01 died.
00:33:04 --> 00:33:04 I think that's what
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 Paul is doing for
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 us here.
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 Do not lose
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 heart.
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 The Lord Jesus
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 has secured an
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 eternal building for
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 all who trust in
00:33:13 --> 00:33:13 him.
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 Look towards it by
00:33:15 --> 00:33:17 surrendering your
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 life to him.
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 Who we are in
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 Christ, what we
00:33:20 --> 00:33:21 have done with
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 our time, how we
00:33:22 --> 00:33:22 have pursued
00:33:22 --> 00:33:24 opportunities, how
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 single-minded we
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 have been in our
00:33:26 --> 00:33:28 Christian service
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 will matter for all
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 of eternity.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 And he says it's
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 possible to live in
00:33:32 --> 00:33:34 such a way as to
00:33:34 --> 00:33:36 build an eternal
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 weight of glory.
00:33:39 --> 00:33:40 In 2 Corinthians,
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 Paul demonstrates a
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 life that hasn't
00:33:43 --> 00:33:44 lost heart.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:47 His lifestyle is
00:33:47 --> 00:33:48 the evidence of
00:33:48 --> 00:33:48 it.
00:33:48 --> 00:33:50 He longed for a
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 life of comfort
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 and security and
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 health and safety
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 and painlessness,
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 and so much so
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 that he surrendered
00:33:57 --> 00:33:58 his body to
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 insults and
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 torments and
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 beatings for the
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 sake of Christ.
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 Because in
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 surrendering his
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 body, he secured
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 the comfort, the
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 security, the
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 health, the
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 safety and the
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 painlessness.
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 And it was the
00:34:15 --> 00:34:15 grace of God that
00:34:15 --> 00:34:16 was sufficient to
00:34:16 --> 00:34:17 sustain him.
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 My friends, I
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 think that one of
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 the primary
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 evidences of a
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 Christian's losing
00:34:23 --> 00:34:24 heart in pursuing
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 God's global
00:34:25 --> 00:34:27 agenda is seen in
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 pursuing confidence,
00:34:28 --> 00:34:30 security, and
00:34:30 --> 00:34:31 painlessness, and
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 everything else here
00:34:32 --> 00:34:34 and now, bedding down
00:34:34 --> 00:34:36 in this world now.
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 That is, we start
00:34:38 --> 00:34:41 living by sight rather
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 than living by faith.
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 life.
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 The temporal becomes
00:34:45 --> 00:34:47 what's, becomes, you
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 know, the supreme
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 thing for us.
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 We stop looking to
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 the eternal building
00:34:51 --> 00:34:53 and try to make
00:34:53 --> 00:34:55 this tent as
00:34:55 --> 00:34:57 secure and as
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 comfortable as we
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 possibly can.
00:35:00 --> 00:35:02 A few more poles,
00:35:03 --> 00:35:05 a few extra chairs.
00:35:07 --> 00:35:07 I mean, have you been
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 to a camping shop
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 lately?
00:35:09 --> 00:35:11 It's astounding.
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 You can get
00:35:13 --> 00:35:15 recliner camping
00:35:15 --> 00:35:15 chairs.
00:35:16 --> 00:35:17 You've got one.
00:35:18 --> 00:35:20 Oh, you can get
00:35:20 --> 00:35:21 recliner camping
00:35:21 --> 00:35:23 chairs, hot water
00:35:23 --> 00:35:25 systems, fridges.
00:35:25 --> 00:35:27 I mean, why, why
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 even go?
00:35:29 --> 00:35:30 Just stay at home.
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 You've got it all
00:35:32 --> 00:35:32 there.
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 And sometimes we do
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 the same with the
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 Christian life.
00:35:37 --> 00:35:39 We just pursue the
00:35:39 --> 00:35:39 comfort and the
00:35:39 --> 00:35:40 security.
00:35:40 --> 00:35:41 We try and make the
00:35:41 --> 00:35:43 tent as livable as
00:35:43 --> 00:35:44 we possibly can.
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 And my friends, it's a
00:35:45 --> 00:35:46 daily struggle.
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 Present comfort,
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 security, and glory,
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 or eternal comfort,
00:35:49 --> 00:35:50 security, and glory.
00:35:51 --> 00:35:52 It's my struggle.
00:35:53 --> 00:35:54 I'll level with you.
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 I love comfort.
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 And the older I'm
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 getting, the more I
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 like it.
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 I'll be frank with you.
00:36:01 --> 00:36:02 That's why I wear a
00:36:02 --> 00:36:03 jumper on a cold day.
00:36:03 --> 00:36:03 It's because I love
00:36:03 --> 00:36:04 comfort.
00:36:05 --> 00:36:05 It's why I'd rather be
00:36:05 --> 00:36:06 sitting in business
00:36:06 --> 00:36:07 class than economy
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 class, because I love
00:36:08 --> 00:36:08 comfort.
00:36:09 --> 00:36:10 It's like the fact I
00:36:10 --> 00:36:11 like an air conditioner
00:36:11 --> 00:36:11 when I'm in hot
00:36:11 --> 00:36:14 economy, hot climate.
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 It's because I like
00:36:16 --> 00:36:16 comfort.
00:36:16 --> 00:36:17 I like gadgets in my
00:36:17 --> 00:36:18 car.
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 Not because I need
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 them, because they're,
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 I don't know, because
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 I like comfort.
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 It's a daily battle.
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 It's a daily battle.
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 And so I think what
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 this passage is doing
00:36:32 --> 00:36:33 for us is, do we share
00:36:33 --> 00:36:35 Paul's biblical
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 priorities and values
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 in life?
00:36:38 --> 00:36:39 Do I love his grace and
00:36:39 --> 00:36:40 his mercy?
00:36:40 --> 00:36:41 Do I enjoy his pardon?
00:36:41 --> 00:36:43 Do I long first and
00:36:43 --> 00:36:45 foremost, and do I pray
00:36:45 --> 00:36:47 for Jesus to come back?
00:36:48 --> 00:36:49 Or would Jesus coming
00:36:49 --> 00:36:51 back right now be an
00:36:51 --> 00:36:52 inconvenience for you?
00:36:56 --> 00:36:57 Secondly, do I long to
00:36:57 --> 00:36:59 be at home with Christ,
00:37:00 --> 00:37:02 even if it costs the
00:37:02 --> 00:37:04 surrender of my body?
00:37:05 --> 00:37:06 And thirdly, am I
00:37:06 --> 00:37:07 committed to walk by faith
00:37:07 --> 00:37:09 until he comes or until
00:37:09 --> 00:37:10 he calls, and to live by
00:37:10 --> 00:37:12 faith in such a way
00:37:12 --> 00:37:14 that what awaits me in
00:37:14 --> 00:37:15 the building is an
00:37:15 --> 00:37:16 eternal weight of glory
00:37:16 --> 00:37:17 in Christ.
00:37:18 --> 00:37:18 Amen.