Partakers Christian Podcasts

God Came to Town

The day God came to town!

Ezekiel 1:1-4, 24-28 to 2v2

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Introduction

I wonder if there anybody here that is 25 years old? Anybody turning 25 this year? How about those who wished they were turning 25 this year? Imagine you are a 25 year old and being trained for the family business. Then suddenly your enemies invade your city and take you away to a foreign land. That's what happened to Ezekiel 5 years before this passage of Scripture, when the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar in 597BC took 3000 Jews back to Babylon. This was the first deportation.

1. Ezekiel - who was he and how did he get there?

• His name means "God is strong" ·
• He was training to be a priest
• Now 30 years of age, if he had been in Jerusalem, he would have been ministering in the Temple.
• He was married to the woman who is described as the "delight of his eyes".

2. How does Ezekiel describe this vision of God?

2a. God is Holy 2b. God is Universal

• Omnipresent ·
• Omnipotent ·
• Omniscient ·
• God is Mission minded ·
• God is Personal.

3. What is our response in 21st century Britain?

3a. We Evangelize

• What is evangelism? ·
• Why evangelize?

3b. We boldly speak God's word.

Conclusion

When you are faced with a crisis or some trouble, how do you react? Are you like the ancient Israelites that Ezekiel was sent to? Do you trust in the holy, all-powerful, all knowing, personal God or do you trust in other things?

• God is coming again! ·
• Be Holy and be obedient!
• Live a life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
• Trust fully in the God of your salvation
• Go tell somebody!

Finally, if you need prayer for something related to what I have said today, then find somebody to pray for you. And if you cant find somebody to pray for you, then come and find me.

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Sermon - Aspects of Covenantal Love

Aspects of Covenantal Love

(Song of Solomon 8:5-7)

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Introduction

Two weeks ago, we started this journey together at Song of Solomon 2:3-14 and Life under the Apple Tree. We saw together that Jesus, the tremendous lover, wants to hear the voice of His people and to be their king. Then last week, we continued the journey, looking at Song of Solomon 5:9 - 6:9. There we saw together that Jesus is the best of the best and that Jesus is altogether lovely in every aspect - his birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, exultation, holiness, glorification, grace, protection, tenderness, power, wisdom, vengeance, judgment, redemption and pardon! Altogether: lovely and glorious. There are 3 main ways to interpret this book. Firstly as a story about the joys of biblical love between a man and woman. That bit even I can see. Some would say that it was erotic, but as a white Australian male, I just don't see it! Secondly, the earliest commentators and readers saw it as an allegory about God's love for His people Israel, particularly with their coming Messiah in mind. The third way shows that this Song of Songs speaks not only on a physical level about the importance of human love and intimacy between a man and a woman, but also the intimacy that exists, blossoms and grows between a person and Jesus Christ. Martin Luther called it the "noblest of all songs". Historically this book has been interpreted in 3 ways We move on tonight, to perhaps, what could be considered the key verses of this book. The couple have now entered a covenantal relationship - a relationship committed to one another. So please do open your bibles and turn to page XXX and let us read the Song of Solomon 8v5-7.These three verses are the key verses of the Song of Solomon or the Song of Songs as other people call it. As the couple, the Lover and the Beloved, have now entered into a Covenant of love, we are, tonight, going to look at 4 Dimensions of Covenantal Love. A Covenant is a contract - a promise. Throughout Old Testament history, God had made covenants with people - people such as Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses. The original readers and commentators would have known that and understood that. With that insight, we are going to ask together 4 questions about Covenant Love - Who? When? Why? How?

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Blessed

Seven Blessings for the Believer

Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. View the 5 minute video below, to discover the 7 blessings, the Apostle Paul talks about in this passage, for all those who are believers!

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Durrington 04082012 Part 5

Durrington 8 April 2012

Service - Part 5

How are we to respond to this Jesus, His cross and his resurrection?

Dave G Roberts

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1. We have a God who is not immune to suffering

The Christian God - the awesome and Almighty God, who was outside of time and space, entered time and space, to intimately know what suffering and death was, because of the suffering and death endured by Jesus on the Cross. Jesus, the innocent King who suffered and died, is the reason why we who call ourselves Christian, have a hope. Because the God we serve, personally knows suffering and has endured suffering just as we do.

2. We are to reflect this love

As Christians, we are to show a love, which is sacrificial. We all know John 3:16 " For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.", probably off by heart most of! Our active response to that love of God can be found in 1 John 3:16, which states: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

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Durrington 08042012 Part 4

Durrington 8 April 2012

Service - Part 4

Jesus – Risen as the firstborn from dead!

Dave G Roberts

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We start not in the Gospels, but from the writings of the Apostle Paul in

1. The Facts about the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:1-8: Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. That was the Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church about the Jesus having been raised from the dead - physically!  All four Gospels, Matthew, Mark Luke and John, tell us that Jesus was crucified, died and was buried in a tomb. What do these four Gospels say about the Jesus' resurrection or rising from the dead? Let us first look at the sequence of events over the period of time after Jesus death till He ascended.  Now remember, the Gospels are documents which have recorded historical events.

a. The tomb is empty:

• Two Marys watch the burial: (Matthew27:61, Mark 15:47, Luke23:54-55)
• Roman soldiers guard the tomb and place an official Roman seal upon it: (Matthew 27:62-66)
• Women prepare burial spices then rest: (Luke 23:56)
• An angel rolls the stone away: (Matthew 28:2-4)
• Women arrive at dawn with spices: (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1-4, Luke 24:1-3, John 20:1)
• Angels appear to women: (Matthew 28:5-7, Mark 16:5-7, Luke 24:4-8)
• Women dart back to tell disciples: (Matthew 28:8, Mark 16:8, Luke 24:9-11, John 20:2)
• Peter and John investigate the empty tomb: (Luke 24:12, John 20:3-9)
• Peter and John go home: (Luke 24:12, John 20:10)
• Mary Magdalene weeps by the tomb: (John 20:11)
• Mary sees two angels: (John 20:12-13)

b. Jesus' appearances

• Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene: (Mark 16:9, John 20:14-17)
• Jesus appears to the other women: (Matthew 28:9-10)
• Women report to the disciples: (Mark 16:10-11, John 20:18)
• Guards testify to the priests: (Matthew 28:11-15)
• Jesus meets two people on the Emmaus Road: (Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:13-32)
• Jesus appears to Simon Peter: (1 Corinthians 15:5, Luke 24:34)
• 2 report to disciples in Jerusalem: (Luke 24:33-35)
• Jesus appears to the Disciples less Thomas: (Luke 24:36-43, John 20:19-24)
• Disciples report to Thomas: (John 20:25)
• Jesus appears to the Disciples and Thomas: (Mark 16:14, John 20:26-29)
• Jesus appears to seven people: (John 21:1-14)
• Jesus questions Peter 3 times: (John 21:15-23)
• Jesus appears to 500 people: (1 Corinthians 15:6)
• Jesus appears to James: (1 Corinthians 15:7)

2. The Significance of the Resurrection

Part 5 tomorrow

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Durrington 08042012 Part 3

Durrington 8 April 2012

Service - Part 3

Why is Jesus on the cross?

Dave G Roberts

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1 Corinthians 1:18-31 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.

a. The Problem!

b. The Solution!

c. The Cross is God's Glory!

d. The Cross and humanity

Part 4 tomorrow

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Durrington 08042012 Part 2

Durrington 8 April 2012

Service - Part 2

Jesus on the Cross

Dave G Roberts

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Mark 15

33 At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?- which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, Listen, he's calling Elijah.

36 One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down, he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, Surely this man was the Son of God!

40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Part 3 tomorrow

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Durrington 08042012 Part 1

Durrington 8 April 2012

Service - Part 1

Dave G Roberts

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Revelation 21:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.

He said to me: It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Part 2 tomorrow

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Jesus Mocked Crucified

Jesus - mocked and put on the cross Matthew 27:27-44

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Originally preached at Poulner Chapel 25 March 2012

Introduction Here is a complete outline of this event from all 4 gospels! We will look at briefly the events as recorded by Matthew!

• Pilate's soldiers crown and mock Jesus - Matthew 27:27-30, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:1-3
• Pilate tries to release Jesus - John 19:4-7
• Pilate questions Jesus again - John 19:8-11
• Pilate attempts to free Jesus again - John 19:12
• Pilate sentences Jesus - John 19:13-15
• Pilate delivers Jesus to be crucified - John 19:16
• Jesus carries the cross - John 19:17
• Simon of Cyrene bears the cross - Matthew 27:31-32, Mark 15:20-21, Luke 23:26,
• Jesus speaks to weeping women - Luke 23:27-32,
• Jesus is brought to Golgotha - Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:32-33, John 19:17
• Soldiers offer Jesus sour wine mix - Matthew 27:34, Mark 15:23
• Jesus is crucified at the 3rd hour - Mark 15:25
• Soldiers divide the Lord's clothes - Matthew 27:35-36, Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34, John 19:23-24
• Accusation written by Pilate - Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38, John 19:19-22
• 2 Robbers are crucified with Jesus - Matthew 27:38, Mark 15:27-28, Luke 23:33, John 19:18
• "Forgive them..." - Luke 23:34
• "Behold your mother." - John 19:25-27
• Multitude mocks Jesus - Matthew 27:39-43, Mark 15:29-32, Luke 23:35-37
• Robbers mock Jesus - Matthew 27:44, Mark 15:32, 29:39
• One robber rebukes the other - Luke 23:40-41
• "...you will be with me in Paradise" - Luke 23:43

As you know from the reading we are looking at this event in the life of Jesus Christ, as recorded by his friend and disciple, Matthew. Tonight we look at Jesus mocked, Jesus crucified, and the implications and challenges we are presented with. Matthew, throughout his Gospel, presents Jesus as King - and it is probably his main theme as he writes his gospel. In Chapter 27 alone, Matthew ascribes Jesus as king 7 times. He uses Old Testament imagery from passages such as Psalm 22, Psalm 69 and parts of Isaiah to build his story. Even if you are new to this story, nobody here should really be shocked by this macabre tale. I don't think anybody could really be that naïve about human history and some of the horrors it contains. Human history is full of incidents of people treating others in less than a human and dignified way. The horrors of the killing fields of what was Cambodia, the systematic brutality of Nazi Germany and the macabre excesses of Uganda in the last century, have often been repeated throughout history. Sadly, even at times, by Churches and those purporting to be Christians...

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Jesus Comes To Town!

When Jesus Comes To Town!

Sermon based on Revelation 21 & 22

(Recorded at Bishopsdown Church, Salisbury)

Revelation 21v4 - "God will wipe away our tears. There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying and no more pain, for former things have passed away." The audio MP3 file for this sermon can be downloaded by right mouse clicking here.

Introduction

Today I want to do two things on our subject of heaven as given to us in Revelation 21.  Firstly I want to give a big picture view of this chapter, which gives just a snapshot of heaven - the place where God radiates His glory and Jesus is the city light, the streets are made of purest gold and where we shall serve and honour Jesus in all His glory.  Then secondly, I have picked out just 3 brief vignettes for this morning, as we contemplate together our eternal home. The book of Revelation is the book where the bride of Jesus are consummated in marriage to Him.   It is where, we the church, the bride of Christ are finally joined with Jesus as One. In Revelation, God's programme of redemption, starting all the way back in Genesis, comes to fruition and God's holy and majestic name is vindicated before all creation.  Here Jesus is seen in all His glory, to judge the earth and to rule it with righteousness. The writer is the Apostle John, now approaching 100 years of age and almost blind.  John was in exile on Patmos, put there by the Romans due to his effective witness for Christ.  Patmos was where the Romans banished criminals and political offenders.  There was open persecution of Christians at the time.  This is the same John, who was the apostle Jesus loved.  John saw Jesus walk on the water.  He seen and heard Jesus command a storm to cease! He saw Jesus both weeping.  He saw Jesus in righteous anger clearing the Temple courts.  He seen Jesus heal the sick and raise the dead.  He himself had been there with Jesus when Jesus had cast out demons.  He had been there when Jesus miraculously fed the 5000 with 2 loaves and 5 fish.  He had his feet washed by Jesus.  He saw Jesus transfigured.  He saw Jesus torn and bloody on the cross as Jesus died.   Three days later he ran to survey the empty tomb.  He saw Christ risen again and ascend into heaven.  And in verse 14, John reads his name written on the foundations of heaven.  As John was taken up in the Spirit (v.10) to view this majestic image, I wonder if John looked back and remembered the sufferings he had endured for the sake of Christ.  His torment at the hands of his persecutors for the sake of Christ.   I wonder if he thought to himself, "it was all worth it and no matter what I endured for the sake of the gospel and for the glory of my Lord and Master." What is the purpose of heaven - for the eternal worship and glorification of God.  We shall serve Him (22:3).  Its inhabitants are saved (v3); satisfied (v6);  and overcomers (v7).

Panoramic vista

(v.6-7) God's people possess it!!  They are thirsty for Jesus, and drinking from the fountain of the water of life. God's people have overcome!  Overcoming doubts, trials and persecution because of their reliance upon Jesus.  God's people inherit it.  God will be their God and they will be His people.  An echo back to the time when God called the nation of Israel to Himself.  It is composed of people from all nations (v.24),p echoing again that promise God made to Abraham all those years ago about Abraham being a blessing to ALL nations.  It is a secure and promised place (v.5-6) God has said it, it will be done!!  Also nobody can enter if they don't trust and obey Jesus.  If somebody's name isn't written in the Lamb's Book of Life, they wont be entering (v.27).  Will your name be in there? You may have noticed the frequent use of the number 12 by John.  12 is the symbol of the church - both in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, hence its unifying, continuing significance here.  The number 12 is God's choice to show completeness and perfection.  This can be seen in the 12 gates mentioned in our passage - 12 gates is enough for all!!  And for us, this leads and gives us confidence in a God who longs for all to live with Him eternally.

• (v.12) 12 gates and 12 angels with the 12 tribes of Israel written on them.
• (v.16) A perfect cube - 12000 furlongs high, wide and deep. That is about the same distance as Edinburgh to Rome.  It is symbolic of the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem temple, where the priest could only enter once a year.  This whole city is a temple, where we encounter God face to face, not just one day a year, but all the time!
• (v.17) each wall is 144 cubits.  Twelve square is 144.
• (v.19-20) 12 stones symbolises the 12 stones around the high priests breastplate to signify the 12 tribes of Israel.
• (v.22-24)  God's glory radiates through the city!!  His glory, radiating in purity, to make it a sacred place so that God is accessible to all.  Jesus The Lamb is the light of the city.  There is no sun or moon.

1.  Prepared place

Jesus said (John 14:1-4) One of the most beautiful buildings in the world is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.  It was built by a Muslim emperor in memory of his wife, of whom he had only known 19 years.  It took 20,000 workers a day and 21 years to complete.  In Britain today, it would cost about 2,200,000,000 pounds and made of the purest marble sitting on a red sandstone base and adorned with precious jewels.  Now if a pagan Indian prince can make this beautiful building for somebody he had known for only 19 years, how much more beautiful than that, is our new home going to be.  Jesus has been working on it almost 2000 years to this point in time!!   Heaven is a beautiful place, prepared for you and me, to live forever and ever! At the moment, I live in Christchurch and my wife temporary lives in our London flat. But when I get home to London, I know I am expected and loved.  She has my favourite meal prepared.  The heater on.  Everything I like, that makes it a home is done for me, by her!  The first week I was showered with balloons and all manner of things, because I was expected and she loves me!! When we got married ten years ago, we had a wedding here in England and 3 days later she flew to her home country to prepare for our wedding there, which was to be 6 weeks later.  I had no idea what was going to happen when I flew there for the wedding.  But, when I landed there, every detail was prepared and ready. Similarly, when we go home, Jesus has prepared a place for those of us who love Him, trust Him and obey Him.  Jesus is waiting for us!  He is expecting us, wanting to lavish His love upon us.  We know He loves us now, but that is only in part.  When we are with Him eternally, we shall have the full picture of Jesus.  He is with us now in Spirit, but then we shall be with Him physically. Heaven is a prepared place of extraordinary beauty.  John tries to portray it for us, building up layer upon layer of words, just as painters paint a picture.  Laying on the colour, as they paint until finally the painting is finished.

2.  Purity (v.4)

We all suffer in some way.  For myself in the recent past, I have suffered with a brain haemorrhage.  I went to bed on a Saturday evening and woke up in intensive care on a Tuesday afternoon.  I have lost three days, I will never regain.  I continue to take medication for blood pressure and  hypothyroidism in the morning and in the evening I take anti-convulsants.  With the medication, come all manner of side effects.   I find it difficult doing certain activities.  In childhood, I had to overcome the suffering of childhood asthma that almost took my life several times.  Sometimes my entire body aches and groans in protest at my actions.  We suffer, don't we.  My father suffered for years under a misdiagnosis when the doctors originally thought he had emphysema, before they found out too late that it was actually a hiatus hernia, where the stomach acid comes back up and enters the lungs and burns them internally.  My mother suffers with arthritis and hyperthyroidism.  We suffer don't we? One day soon, we will have perfect bodies and full health.  We only have to look at the news on TV or read the papers to see global suffering. There will be no more terrorism, missiles, guns, wars or bombs.  No more will man's inhumanity to man be allowed.  No more torture, rapes, muggings or robberies.  No more poverty or famine.  No more religion, idols or icons.  No more gossip, fornication, adultery, lying or debauchery.  No more cowardice.  No more pain.  No more death.  No more suffering. No more sin. Suffering of any kind leaves some sort of scar or mark.  Do you have scars?  Physical, emotional or mental scars due to sickness, somebody else sinning against you or as a result of your own sins?  Scars come as a result of human life.  Much like a house that has been lived in.  Scratches in the paintwork.  Dents and knocks in the wood.  Our human bodies are the same, yet...  Yet, one day they will be gone!! Vanished!!  A pure body you will have!! And I will have! No need for annoying spectacles.  There will be no Specsavers or Stannah stair-lifts in heaven!!  No more wheelchairs.  No more walking sticks or frames.  No more hearing-aids.  No more braces.  No more doctors or dentists!! Perfection attained and it is to the glory of God and His majestic doing, that this will occur.  Do you believe it? Do you live it? Are you suffering today from sickness?  Are you suffering today because of somebody else??  Well one day, one glorious day, all suffering will be banished for those of us who love Him.  Read with me verse 4, "God will wipe away our tears.  There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying and no more pain, for former things have passed away." Take that verse to heart.  What a glorious day it will be for those of us who love Him now.  God Himself, wiping away our tears...  It will be a place where we will live the fruit of the spirit for eternity.  A place where "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are permanent and universal." (Gal.5:22-23).  What a day, that will be!!  We will enter those gates, thanking Jesus, looking back at how we suffered.  Not only medically, but also for His sake and saying with John "It was worth it all.  The sufferings I endured  and overcame for the sake of Jesus, was all worth it, so as to be here eternally."

3.  Pearly gates (v.21)

Heaven is prepared and pure.  Do you know how a pearl is formed?  When an oyster gets an irritating grain of sand within its shell, it covers it over with layers of mother-of-pearl until the irritation and the suffering is no longer felt.  Now what could the suffering have been with these giant pearls that are the gates (v21)?  I think they are to remind us of the cross and the suffering and pain that Jesus endured.  People denigrate the cross.  I have had people say that "the cross doesn't matter and your religion is as good as my religion thank you very much.  Because all religions lead to heaven, don't they?".  However the very gates of heaven tells us that  is wrong.  It tells us that it is only through the cross, that we get to pass through the gates to enjoy heaven in worship and service of God.  Only through the pain, the agony and the suffering that Jesus endured, culminating in His crying "My God! My God!  Why have You forsaken me?"  God Himself has suffered for us, so that we may enjoy His company forever and ever, if we only trust and obey Him now and placed our faith in Him while we are here.  We know in part now, but then we will know in full. This makes the sins that we commit while we are here on earth trying to follow Him, even more serious.  Sometimes we take a rather blasé attitude to sin.  We excuse it as only a little sin and it doesn't really matter.  Each time we sin as believers, it is as if we are spitting in the very face of Jesus.  Our desire should be, to be Jesus and to be like Him.  I long to be perfect.  When I make a mistake and sin, I cry out in frustration to be perfect now!  However, I also know that God is taking off my rough edges to continue making me purer, more like His Son Jesus, each day under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. I won't be entering heaven because I am Australian.  Although I consider that a very close second.  You won't even be able to claim your entry into heaven by showing your passport that shows you are a British citizen, let alone a member of the European community.  Even more surprising to some across the Atlantic I am sure, is that if you are American, your passport wont even let you in!! No, we can only enter heaven, our new home, through the cross.  When we first decided for Jesus and turned over our lives to him, that is when our eternal life with Him commenced.

Conclusion

Be encouraged, heaven is for you if you are trusting and obeying Jesus and have him as Lord of your life!  Are you suffering?  Suffering will soon be gone.  When you sin against God, keep a short account and ask for forgiveness as soon as you recognise that you have sinned and the Holy Spirit has convicted you of it.  We long to be with Him for ever and ever.  We are to keep one part of our mind on Heaven and the other on the responsible work we have been set to do, here on earth.  We are not to be so heavenly minded, that we are of no earthly use.  Conversely, we are not to be so earth bound that we are not tied to Jesus in our eternal home.  Go tell somebody.  Won't you go tell somebody this week, this message.  Heaven is a great big place, and there will be room for everybody in this town, this county, this nation and this world to enter through one of those twelve gates!  Go and share this good news with somebody this very week. What now can we say?  Chapter 22.  (v.14, 17) - Trust Him! (v.8-9, 15) Live a life worthy of Him!  (v.7, 12, 16, 20) Look for his coming! He is coming back for us soon! I conclude with this quote from CS Lewis'  last book of the Narnia Tales - "The Last Battle" : "But the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them.  And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after.  But for them it was only the beginning of the real story ....which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before." To which we unite with John, and say "Come Lord Jesus.  Come..." (22:20) The sermon as a audio MP3 file, you can download by right mouse clicking here.

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