1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,680 everyone has their battles. 2 00:00:03,680 –> 00:00:05,600 And there will be times in your life 3 00:00:05,600 –> 00:00:09,160 when you get tired of the battle. 4 00:00:09,160 –> 00:00:11,480 And this letter we’ve been seeing 5 00:00:11,480 –> 00:00:14,640 is written to help Christians persevere 6 00:00:14,640 –> 00:00:16,480 when the going gets tough 7 00:00:16,480 –> 00:00:21,280 and when you get tired of the battle that you face. 8 00:00:21,280 –> 00:00:22,559 In the first chapter 9 00:00:22,559 –> 00:00:25,840 and we come to the end of the first chapter today, 10 00:00:25,840 –> 00:00:28,360 there are really three strategies 11 00:00:28,360 –> 00:00:30,639 for staying the course. 12 00:00:30,639 –> 00:00:35,000 In our first message from this chapter 13 00:00:35,000 –> 00:00:38,580 we saw that in order to have perseverance 14 00:00:38,580 –> 00:00:43,119 you need to exercise faith and practice love. 15 00:00:43,119 –> 00:00:45,080 That’s verses three and four. 16 00:00:45,080 –> 00:00:49,320 Perseverance flows from faith and from love. 17 00:00:49,320 –> 00:00:51,520 Faith and love are the roots 18 00:00:51,520 –> 00:00:54,080 from which perseverance or patience grow. 19 00:00:54,080 –> 00:00:56,400 If you sow faith, you sow love 20 00:00:56,400 –> 00:00:58,439 then the fruit you will get 21 00:00:58,439 –> 00:01:00,700 will be patience or perseverance in your life 22 00:01:00,700 –> 00:01:03,759 and so we saw very practically together 23 00:01:03,759 –> 00:01:06,860 that if you want to persevere in ministry 24 00:01:06,860 –> 00:01:09,639 the way to do it is to grow in love 25 00:01:09,639 –> 00:01:11,379 for the people you serve 26 00:01:11,379 –> 00:01:14,440 and in faith with regards to what God can do among them. 27 00:01:14,440 –> 00:01:17,000 That’s the only way to persevere to have patients 28 00:01:17,000 –> 00:01:19,180 and to continue in ministry. 29 00:01:19,180 –> 00:01:20,760 If you need to have more patience 30 00:01:20,760 –> 00:01:23,540 with a difficult person in your life 31 00:01:23,540 –> 00:01:25,279 here is where you begin. 32 00:01:25,320 –> 00:01:27,000 You have to ask God for his help 33 00:01:27,000 –> 00:01:29,260 to renew your love for that person 34 00:01:29,260 –> 00:01:30,839 and to renew your faith 35 00:01:30,839 –> 00:01:34,900 that he can bring a good outcome in their life. 36 00:01:34,900 –> 00:01:36,300 So when you’re tired of the battle 37 00:01:36,300 –> 00:01:37,320 here’s where to begin. 38 00:01:37,320 –> 00:01:39,639 When you feel like giving up 39 00:01:39,639 –> 00:01:42,080 exercise faith and practise love 40 00:01:42,080 –> 00:01:43,480 and you will persevere. 41 00:01:43,480 –> 00:01:44,559 That’s how it works. 42 00:01:44,559 –> 00:01:46,480 That’s the first strategy. 43 00:01:46,480 –> 00:01:49,800 The second strategy we looked at last weekend 44 00:01:49,800 –> 00:01:50,980 and it’s simply this. 45 00:01:50,980 –> 00:01:55,339 You trust your suffering into the hand of God. 46 00:01:55,339 –> 00:01:56,760 If you’re going to stay the course 47 00:01:56,760 –> 00:01:58,620 you need to learn how to do this. 48 00:01:58,620 –> 00:01:59,739 And remember we saw 49 00:01:59,739 –> 00:02:02,739 that these new Christians in the standard Thessalonica 50 00:02:02,739 –> 00:02:06,739 they had received experienced a relentless onslaught 51 00:02:06,739 –> 00:02:10,020 of difficulty since their conversion to Christ. 52 00:02:10,020 –> 00:02:12,080 They’d suffer violence, 53 00:02:12,080 –> 00:02:13,699 slander, 54 00:02:13,699 –> 00:02:15,339 false accusations, 55 00:02:15,339 –> 00:02:17,279 court cases, 56 00:02:17,279 –> 00:02:19,940 constant aggravation 57 00:02:20,039 –> 00:02:22,979 And it all started when they became followers of Jesus, 58 00:02:22,979 –> 00:02:24,520 well that puts the pressure on people 59 00:02:24,520 –> 00:02:26,059 to turn back doesn’t it? 60 00:02:27,000 –> 00:02:28,679 And of course this is just the point. 61 00:02:28,679 –> 00:02:31,139 It started when they began following Jesus 62 00:02:31,139 –> 00:02:33,580 because this is what Jesus experienced 63 00:02:33,580 –> 00:02:35,580 and He tells us it will be the same for us. 64 00:02:35,580 –> 00:02:39,020 Everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus 65 00:02:39,020 –> 00:02:43,039 will in some way be persecuted the Bible says. 66 00:02:43,039 –> 00:02:45,820 So if we are to endure the kind of suffering 67 00:02:45,820 –> 00:02:48,320 that in some way will come to each of us 68 00:02:48,399 –> 00:02:50,880 in the course of following the Lord Jesus Christ 69 00:02:50,880 –> 00:02:55,139 we need to learn to do what Jesus did when it came to him. 70 00:02:55,139 –> 00:02:59,399 And you have that in one Peter chapter two in verse 23. 71 00:02:59,399 –> 00:03:03,100 When he suffered, he made no threats. 72 00:03:03,100 –> 00:03:04,520 Jesus, how did you do that? 73 00:03:04,520 –> 00:03:08,279 How did you not strike back when you suffered so much? 74 00:03:08,279 –> 00:03:11,979 Here’s the answer, instead he trusted himself 75 00:03:11,979 –> 00:03:14,820 to him who judges justly 76 00:03:14,820 –> 00:03:16,160 and Peter is saying in his letter, 77 00:03:16,160 –> 00:03:17,740 now, you must do the same. 78 00:03:17,740 –> 00:03:19,500 A little later he says those who suffer 79 00:03:19,500 –> 00:03:20,619 according to God’s will. 80 00:03:20,619 –> 00:03:23,759 They should commit themselves to their faithful creator 81 00:03:23,759 –> 00:03:25,759 and continue to do good. 82 00:03:25,759 –> 00:03:28,679 Now that’s the second great strategy 83 00:03:28,679 –> 00:03:31,460 for staying the course when you’re tired of the battle. 84 00:03:31,460 –> 00:03:35,199 The first is you have to exercise faith and practice love. 85 00:03:35,199 –> 00:03:38,360 The second is you have to, when it comes your way, 86 00:03:38,360 –> 00:03:41,100 trust your suffering into the hands of God. 87 00:03:41,100 –> 00:03:42,860 That’s how you persevere. 88 00:03:42,860 –> 00:03:44,440 That’s how Jesus did it. 89 00:03:44,460 –> 00:03:47,059 And that is the point of verses six to nine 90 00:03:47,059 –> 00:03:48,660 that we looked at last week. 91 00:03:48,660 –> 00:03:53,660 God is just and so we are to leave room for God’s wrath. 92 00:03:53,740 –> 00:03:58,080 If you experience injustice, if you experience slander, 93 00:03:59,100 –> 00:04:02,460 if you suffer in any way as a Christian, 94 00:04:02,460 –> 00:04:05,619 then trust it into the hands of God, 95 00:04:05,619 –> 00:04:08,919 take the evil you have suffered and give it to him 96 00:04:09,880 –> 00:04:13,320 and he will do what is right. 97 00:04:13,399 –> 00:04:16,160 So that’s what we’ve covered so far these first two 98 00:04:16,160 –> 00:04:20,799 strategies in chapter one, exercise, faith, practice love 99 00:04:20,799 –> 00:04:25,799 and trust your suffering into the hands of God. 100 00:04:26,160 –> 00:04:28,200 Now today we come to the third strategy 101 00:04:28,200 –> 00:04:32,940 which is in verses 10 through 12 and it’s simply this, 102 00:04:32,940 –> 00:04:37,940 anticipate your glorious future in Jesus Christ. 103 00:04:38,299 –> 00:04:42,380 In Jesus Christ this is the most wonderful part 104 00:04:42,380 –> 00:04:44,940 of this chapter I believe. 105 00:04:44,940 –> 00:04:48,260 Last week we looked at the hardest of all truths 106 00:04:48,260 –> 00:04:51,260 in the Bible, this week we’re looking at the greatest 107 00:04:51,260 –> 00:04:55,459 of all promises in the Bible and here’s 108 00:04:55,459 –> 00:04:58,040 what Paul is saying to us in this third strategy, 109 00:04:58,040 –> 00:05:01,700 when you’re tired of the battle here’s what you need to do. 110 00:05:01,700 –> 00:05:05,619 You need to look up and you need to anticipate 111 00:05:05,619 –> 00:05:09,019 all that will be yours in Jesus Christ, 112 00:05:09,019 –> 00:05:14,019 your glorious future in our lord Jesus. 113 00:05:14,420 –> 00:05:16,820 Now you’ll notice from verse seven that Paul is speaking 114 00:05:16,820 –> 00:05:20,220 about the day when Jesus Christ will be revealed. 115 00:05:20,220 –> 00:05:22,980 None of us has seen Christ, we believe in him 116 00:05:22,980 –> 00:05:26,179 but we’re walking and living by faith, 117 00:05:26,179 –> 00:05:30,380 but it will not always be so, the Bible repeatedly states 118 00:05:30,380 –> 00:05:33,420 and Jesus stated clearly himself that one day 119 00:05:33,440 –> 00:05:37,320 we will see him, faith will be turned to site, 120 00:05:37,320 –> 00:05:42,320 you will see Jesus Christ, and so will everybody else 121 00:05:42,399 –> 00:05:45,200 who has ever lived, and for all who believe, 122 00:05:45,200 –> 00:05:48,519 this day when Jesus Christ appears in glory, 123 00:05:48,519 –> 00:05:52,359 when he is revealed, that’s the phrase that Paul uses, 124 00:05:52,359 –> 00:05:57,019 it will be for all who believe, a day of indescribable joy, 125 00:05:57,019 –> 00:05:59,779 and I want you to see, simply from these verses, 126 00:05:59,859 –> 00:06:03,500 the three things that will happen for you, 127 00:06:03,500 –> 00:06:07,079 if you are a Christian believer on that day. 128 00:06:07,079 –> 00:06:12,079 The first is, that you will see Christ’s glory, you will. 129 00:06:12,540 –> 00:06:17,660 Verse 10, when Jesus Christ is revealed, 130 00:06:17,660 –> 00:06:22,540 he will be marveled at, verse 10, 131 00:06:22,540 –> 00:06:25,940 among all those who have believed. 132 00:06:25,940 –> 00:06:27,779 And Paul says to the Thessalonians, 133 00:06:27,779 –> 00:06:28,720 now that includes you, 134 00:06:28,720 –> 00:06:30,880 because you have believed our testimony. 135 00:06:30,880 –> 00:06:31,799 So if you’re a Christian, 136 00:06:31,799 –> 00:06:33,640 if you have believed in the Lord, Jesus Christ, 137 00:06:33,640 –> 00:06:35,640 you’re included in this, 138 00:06:35,640 –> 00:06:39,839 you will marvel at Christ’s glory. 139 00:06:39,839 –> 00:06:41,880 You will see it. 140 00:06:41,880 –> 00:06:46,880 Now try to picture with me as best you can. 141 00:06:47,920 –> 00:06:51,720 The whole church marveling at Jesus Christ, 142 00:06:51,720 –> 00:06:53,500 what is this gonna be? 143 00:06:53,500 –> 00:06:56,299 Here we are, Christians from around the world 144 00:06:56,440 –> 00:06:59,040 and across the centuries who have loved Christ. 145 00:06:59,040 –> 00:07:00,160 We have worshiped Christ. 146 00:07:00,160 –> 00:07:01,440 We have served Christ. 147 00:07:01,440 –> 00:07:03,799 We have suffered from Christ. 148 00:07:03,799 –> 00:07:04,799 Here are Christians 149 00:07:04,799 –> 00:07:06,839 and we’ve sat in church, 150 00:07:06,839 –> 00:07:08,679 and we’ve heard about Christ, 151 00:07:08,679 –> 00:07:10,899 and we have believed what we have heard. 152 00:07:10,899 –> 00:07:12,160 We’ve sung about Christ, 153 00:07:12,160 –> 00:07:14,679 sometimes a little lamely, 154 00:07:14,679 –> 00:07:17,720 sometimes with great gusto and heart. 155 00:07:18,799 –> 00:07:20,239 But now, 156 00:07:20,239 –> 00:07:22,079 though it had seemed sometimes 157 00:07:22,079 –> 00:07:25,019 as if he was quite distant from us, 158 00:07:26,000 –> 00:07:26,959 we’re there. 159 00:07:27,959 –> 00:07:30,820 And we see him, all of us, 160 00:07:30,820 –> 00:07:32,420 in his glory. 161 00:07:33,239 –> 00:07:36,359 And Christ is so much more 162 00:07:36,359 –> 00:07:37,640 than the best thought 163 00:07:37,640 –> 00:07:39,760 than any of us in this congregation 164 00:07:39,760 –> 00:07:41,320 have ever had about him. 165 00:07:42,559 –> 00:07:44,040 And we’re saying, 166 00:07:44,040 –> 00:07:47,119 I knew he was great, 167 00:07:47,119 –> 00:07:50,760 but I never knew he was quite like this. 168 00:07:51,700 –> 00:07:55,600 We live in a what’s next world. 169 00:07:56,920 –> 00:07:57,899 How many of us excited 170 00:07:57,899 –> 00:08:00,040 about seeing the Bears this weekend? 171 00:08:01,200 –> 00:08:03,079 And we’ll watch the Bears this weekend, 172 00:08:03,079 –> 00:08:04,239 We’ll enjoy watching the Bears, 173 00:08:04,239 –> 00:08:05,279 and then when the game is over, 174 00:08:05,279 –> 00:08:06,239 the TV goes off, 175 00:08:06,239 –> 00:08:07,079 and we’ll say, 176 00:08:07,079 –> 00:08:07,880 and what next? 177 00:08:07,880 –> 00:08:09,160 What are we going to do now? 178 00:08:09,980 –> 00:08:11,959 Nothing holds us for long. 179 00:08:13,640 –> 00:08:16,019 But no one will be seeing what’s next 180 00:08:16,019 –> 00:08:18,239 when the glory of Jesus is revealed. 181 00:08:19,000 –> 00:08:21,040 We will marvel at him. 182 00:08:21,040 –> 00:08:23,399 That’s the word that the apostle Paul uses. 183 00:08:24,299 –> 00:08:26,920 And that marveling at Jesus 184 00:08:26,920 –> 00:08:31,200 will continue and increase in your soul 185 00:08:31,200 –> 00:08:33,119 for all eternity. 186 00:08:33,119 –> 00:08:35,659 You will see his glory. 187 00:08:37,299 –> 00:08:39,460 Let me ask this question before we move on. 188 00:08:40,440 –> 00:08:43,400 Have you begun to marvel at Jesus Christ? 189 00:08:44,400 –> 00:08:45,799 Is he marvelous to you? 190 00:08:46,440 –> 00:08:49,000 There are thousands of people in this world 191 00:08:49,000 –> 00:08:50,960 who see nothing unique in Jesus, 192 00:08:50,960 –> 00:08:53,960 nothing glorious in the Lord Jesus Christ. 193 00:08:53,960 –> 00:08:57,479 I’m asking, have you begun to marvel at Jesus? 194 00:08:58,919 –> 00:09:02,419 The Son of God who took our flesh 195 00:09:02,419 –> 00:09:05,440 and lived our life and died our death 196 00:09:05,440 –> 00:09:08,320 and bore our sins and rose for our justification 197 00:09:08,320 –> 00:09:10,320 and lives for our sanctification 198 00:09:10,320 –> 00:09:12,900 and will come again for our glorification. 199 00:09:12,900 –> 00:09:15,440 Have you begun to marvel at him? 200 00:09:15,679 –> 00:09:17,640 Is he marvelous to you? 201 00:09:19,299 –> 00:09:21,739 When you believe in the Son of God, 202 00:09:21,739 –> 00:09:24,239 you will begin to marvel at him. 203 00:09:25,159 –> 00:09:27,940 And those who begin to marvel 204 00:09:27,940 –> 00:09:31,940 will marvel forever and forever. 205 00:09:33,200 –> 00:09:35,919 When Christ comes, here’s the first thing, 206 00:09:35,919 –> 00:09:40,580 you will see his glory. 207 00:09:40,580 –> 00:09:45,260 You’ll be marveled at by all his people, forever. 208 00:09:46,419 –> 00:09:48,419 But that’s only the beginning. 209 00:09:48,419 –> 00:09:50,460 Here’s the second thing. 210 00:09:50,460 –> 00:09:53,479 When Jesus Christ is revealed, 211 00:09:53,479 –> 00:09:57,599 you will be glorified in Christ. 212 00:09:57,599 –> 00:10:00,159 Now this is something that is going to happen to you. 213 00:10:01,159 –> 00:10:03,760 If you are a Christian believer, when he comes, 214 00:10:03,760 –> 00:10:05,219 you are going to be changed 215 00:10:05,219 –> 00:10:09,400 and you are going to be glorified in him. 216 00:10:09,400 –> 00:10:12,500 Now notice how Paul states this in verse 12. 217 00:10:12,979 –> 00:10:16,159 He’s praying that the name of the Lord Jesus 218 00:10:16,159 –> 00:10:19,140 may be glorified in you. 219 00:10:19,140 –> 00:10:21,080 We’ll come back to that in a moment, 220 00:10:21,080 –> 00:10:26,059 but notice first, he says and you in him. 221 00:10:26,059 –> 00:10:29,960 You glorified in him, verse 12. 222 00:10:30,960 –> 00:10:32,359 So think about this. 223 00:10:32,359 –> 00:10:35,479 Not only are you going to see Christ’s glory, 224 00:10:35,479 –> 00:10:38,440 you are going to share Christ’s glory. 225 00:10:38,460 –> 00:10:42,640 Not only are you going to be in the glory of Christ, 226 00:10:42,640 –> 00:10:46,219 but the glory of Christ is going to be in you. 227 00:10:46,219 –> 00:10:49,760 You will be glorified in him, that is what it is saying, 228 00:10:49,760 –> 00:10:52,260 and you will recognize if you know the New Testament 229 00:10:52,260 –> 00:10:55,820 that this is stated many times in different ways. 230 00:10:55,820 –> 00:10:57,539 Paul says in Romans, for example, 231 00:10:57,539 –> 00:10:59,780 that our present sufferings are not worthy 232 00:10:59,780 –> 00:11:04,780 to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us, 233 00:11:05,679 –> 00:11:07,979 Romans 8 and verse 18. 234 00:11:07,979 –> 00:11:10,919 In us, not just the glory revealed to us, 235 00:11:10,919 –> 00:11:14,280 not just something that we see that remains external, 236 00:11:14,280 –> 00:11:16,340 but something that happens within 237 00:11:16,340 –> 00:11:19,400 that involves a transformation of you. 238 00:11:19,400 –> 00:11:22,380 So that, as John puts it in his letter, 239 00:11:22,380 –> 00:11:27,260 when we see him, we will be like him. 240 00:11:27,260 –> 00:11:30,640 This is the great promise of the New Testament. 241 00:11:31,520 –> 00:11:33,640 Not only will you be in glory, 242 00:11:34,640 –> 00:11:37,719 but this glory will be in you. 243 00:11:39,520 –> 00:11:41,099 Now you say, what does that mean? 244 00:11:41,099 –> 00:11:46,099 What does it mean that I will be glorified in Christ, 245 00:11:46,479 –> 00:11:48,320 that his glory will be in me? 246 00:11:50,000 –> 00:11:52,340 Well it means you will have a body like Christ, 247 00:11:52,340 –> 00:11:53,880 like his resurrection body. 248 00:11:53,880 –> 00:11:55,159 Think of what that means 249 00:11:55,159 –> 00:11:58,640 and let it be an encouragement to you today, 250 00:11:58,640 –> 00:12:02,039 no pain, no sickness, 251 00:12:02,039 –> 00:12:06,219 no disability, no weariness, all of that gone. 252 00:12:07,359 –> 00:12:11,080 You will have a body that is suited to eternal life 253 00:12:11,080 –> 00:12:13,559 which is the gift of God to you. 254 00:12:13,559 –> 00:12:15,440 And not only will you have a body 255 00:12:15,440 –> 00:12:17,239 like the Lord Jesus Christ, 256 00:12:17,239 –> 00:12:21,760 you will have a soul like the Lord Jesus Christ. 257 00:12:21,760 –> 00:12:23,820 You will be like him, 258 00:12:23,820 –> 00:12:28,159 that’s internal as well as it is external. 259 00:12:28,200 –> 00:12:31,280 In other words, you will love what Christ loves, 260 00:12:31,280 –> 00:12:35,059 you really will and you will love as Christ loves. 261 00:12:35,059 –> 00:12:38,900 You will be free not only from all sin in your soul, 262 00:12:38,900 –> 00:12:41,599 but you will be free from all inclination 263 00:12:41,599 –> 00:12:42,700 to sin in your soul. 264 00:12:42,700 –> 00:12:44,239 Will that not be marvelous? 265 00:12:44,239 –> 00:12:46,960 This long battle against temptation 266 00:12:46,960 –> 00:12:49,280 that goes on in the experience of every believer 267 00:12:49,280 –> 00:12:50,219 will be over. 268 00:12:50,219 –> 00:12:51,260 It will be done. 269 00:12:52,840 –> 00:12:55,440 And you will share Christ’s joy 270 00:12:55,479 –> 00:13:00,479 and you will contribute to the joy of heaven itself. 271 00:13:02,080 –> 00:13:04,400 I’ve been greatly helped this week 272 00:13:04,400 –> 00:13:08,919 by reading a sermon preached by C. H. Spurgeon 273 00:13:08,919 –> 00:13:12,919 on these verses way back in 1879. 274 00:13:12,919 –> 00:13:16,119 The language is old, but the truth is always new. 275 00:13:17,080 –> 00:13:20,640 And I’ll give you one or two samples of what he says today, 276 00:13:20,640 –> 00:13:22,179 but I love this. 277 00:13:22,179 –> 00:13:24,559 He’s talking about how, as Christians, 278 00:13:24,599 –> 00:13:27,900 we so often grieve the Holy Spirit. 279 00:13:27,900 –> 00:13:30,739 We love Christ, and yet we know that we do things 280 00:13:30,739 –> 00:13:33,400 and say things and think things 281 00:13:33,400 –> 00:13:34,919 that grieve the Spirit of God. 282 00:13:34,919 –> 00:13:36,359 And we hate it when we do it. 283 00:13:37,440 –> 00:13:39,640 Spurgeon says this, 284 00:13:39,640 –> 00:13:44,640 by our lack of zeal and by our many sins, 285 00:13:45,580 –> 00:13:49,539 we are often guilty of discrediting the gospel 286 00:13:49,539 –> 00:13:52,659 and dishonoring the name of Jesus Christ. 287 00:13:53,559 –> 00:13:55,200 And then he says, 288 00:13:55,200 –> 00:13:59,919 oh, happy, happy, happy day 289 00:13:59,919 –> 00:14:03,039 when this shall no longer be possible. 290 00:14:03,039 –> 00:14:03,900 Do you get that? 291 00:14:03,900 –> 00:14:05,919 Oh, what a happy day 292 00:14:05,919 –> 00:14:07,659 when it will not even be possible, 293 00:14:07,659 –> 00:14:08,640 for you or for me, 294 00:14:08,640 –> 00:14:11,880 to dishonor the name of Christ in any way. 295 00:14:11,880 –> 00:14:15,479 We shall be rid, then, of the inward corruption 296 00:14:15,479 –> 00:14:18,979 which now works itself into outward sin, 297 00:14:18,979 –> 00:14:23,979 and we shall never, never, never dishonor Christ again. 298 00:14:25,640 –> 00:14:27,039 What a day that’s gonna be. 299 00:14:28,140 –> 00:14:30,400 Not only will you see His glory, 300 00:14:30,400 –> 00:14:32,280 you will share His glory 301 00:14:32,280 –> 00:14:36,619 because you will be transformed into His likeness. 302 00:14:37,559 –> 00:14:42,239 And can I indulge another couple of Spurgeon quotes today? 303 00:14:42,239 –> 00:14:43,659 He makes these two points, 304 00:14:43,659 –> 00:14:46,140 and they just lived for me this week. 305 00:14:46,140 –> 00:14:48,659 He says first, think about this, 306 00:14:48,679 –> 00:14:53,520 you are going to see the likeness of Christ in yourself. 307 00:14:55,179 –> 00:15:00,179 He says, every saint will be a wonder to himself. 308 00:15:02,179 –> 00:15:05,219 You’ll be going, is this really me? 309 00:15:07,500 –> 00:15:09,000 You will be so like Christ, 310 00:15:09,000 –> 00:15:10,739 you will be so full of glory, 311 00:15:10,739 –> 00:15:12,599 you will be so without sin, 312 00:15:12,599 –> 00:15:14,900 you will find it hard to believe that it is really you, 313 00:15:14,900 –> 00:15:16,099 but you will know that it is you, 314 00:15:16,099 –> 00:15:18,380 you will say, this is me, 315 00:15:18,380 –> 00:15:20,460 I never imagined that it’s to be possible. 316 00:15:21,419 –> 00:15:23,299 And then he says secondary, 317 00:15:23,299 –> 00:15:26,200 we will see the likeness of Christ in each other. 318 00:15:26,200 –> 00:15:29,619 It won’t just be that you see it in yourself, 319 00:15:29,619 –> 00:15:31,580 you’ll look around and you’ll say, 320 00:15:31,580 –> 00:15:33,520 my goodness, is this really you? 321 00:15:35,739 –> 00:15:38,059 So full of the glory of Christ, 322 00:15:38,059 –> 00:15:41,059 so made perfect in his presence. 323 00:15:41,059 –> 00:15:42,280 I quote Spurgeon again, 324 00:15:42,280 –> 00:15:46,900 the saints will also admire Christ in one another. 325 00:15:46,900 –> 00:15:49,580 You will be free from all envy there 326 00:15:49,580 –> 00:15:51,260 and therefore you will rejoice 327 00:15:51,260 –> 00:15:54,460 in the beauty of your fellow saints. 328 00:15:54,460 –> 00:15:57,679 You will see the Lord in all your brothers 329 00:15:57,679 –> 00:16:01,700 and this will make you praise and adore him without end 330 00:16:01,700 –> 00:16:06,359 with a perpetual amazement and an ever-growing delight. 331 00:16:08,340 –> 00:16:12,340 You get the sense of the wonder of this promise. 332 00:16:12,340 –> 00:16:15,159 When Jesus Christ is revealed, 333 00:16:15,179 –> 00:16:17,200 you’re going to see his glory 334 00:16:18,559 –> 00:16:21,719 and more than that, you are going to share his glory 335 00:16:21,719 –> 00:16:23,900 because the New Testament says, 336 00:16:23,900 –> 00:16:26,059 you will be glorified in him. 337 00:16:26,059 –> 00:16:28,619 You will be glorified in him 338 00:16:29,559 –> 00:16:31,799 if you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. 339 00:16:31,799 –> 00:16:35,559 This is your glorious future and Paul’s telling us this 340 00:16:35,559 –> 00:16:37,299 because we need to be sustained 341 00:16:37,299 –> 00:16:39,099 when we get tired in the battle 342 00:16:39,719 –> 00:16:42,739 and then there’s something else that, 343 00:16:47,140 –> 00:16:49,059 if it were possible seems to me 344 00:16:49,059 –> 00:16:50,799 that it’s even greater still 345 00:16:51,960 –> 00:16:56,960 and it’s this, not only will you see Christ’s glory 346 00:16:57,739 –> 00:17:01,179 and not only will you be glorified in him 347 00:17:01,179 –> 00:17:06,180 but he Jesus Christ will be glorified in you. 348 00:17:10,000 –> 00:17:13,280 Now, if this was not stated so clearly or so plainly, 349 00:17:13,280 –> 00:17:17,180 we would never even begin to imagine it to be possible. 350 00:17:17,180 –> 00:17:18,540 So I want you to see it right there 351 00:17:18,540 –> 00:17:19,979 in your Bible in front of you. 352 00:17:19,979 –> 00:17:22,619 Verse 10, when Christ comes, 353 00:17:22,619 –> 00:17:24,239 he comes quote, 354 00:17:24,239 –> 00:17:29,239 to be glorified in his most holy people. 355 00:17:31,040 –> 00:17:35,140 So it’s not only that we are going to be glorified in him. 356 00:17:35,140 –> 00:17:37,800 Now, Paul is saying that he in some sense 357 00:17:37,839 –> 00:17:41,939 is going to be glorified in us or through us. 358 00:17:42,859 –> 00:17:45,260 And you have the same statement again in verse 12. 359 00:17:45,260 –> 00:17:46,459 He repeats it a second time. 360 00:17:46,459 –> 00:17:47,839 It’s exactly the same. 361 00:17:47,839 –> 00:17:50,380 Paul prays that the name of the Lord Jesus 362 00:17:50,380 –> 00:17:52,380 may be glorified in you, 363 00:17:52,380 –> 00:17:56,180 that Jesus will be glorified in you. 364 00:17:57,140 –> 00:17:59,040 You say well now, what does that mean? 365 00:18:00,119 –> 00:18:01,819 How is it possible 366 00:18:02,979 –> 00:18:06,140 for Jesus Christ to be glorified in us? 367 00:18:06,140 –> 00:18:09,260 If I can see and begin to imagine 368 00:18:09,260 –> 00:18:11,099 how I could be glorified in him 369 00:18:11,099 –> 00:18:13,319 as what is his becomes mine, 370 00:18:13,319 –> 00:18:18,079 how in the world can he be glorified in me and us? 371 00:18:20,900 –> 00:18:23,760 At the end of the Bible 372 00:18:25,420 –> 00:18:28,060 the Apostle John, as most of you know, 373 00:18:28,060 –> 00:18:31,339 was given a marvelous vision of things to come 374 00:18:31,339 –> 00:18:35,140 recorded in the book that we call Revelation, 375 00:18:36,619 –> 00:18:39,180 John saw in that vision what it will be like 376 00:18:39,180 –> 00:18:42,500 when God’s people, his redeemed people, 377 00:18:42,500 –> 00:18:43,900 those who are in Christ 378 00:18:43,900 –> 00:18:46,540 are gathered in the presence of Jesus. 379 00:18:48,219 –> 00:18:51,380 And in chapter seven, John noted 380 00:18:51,380 –> 00:18:54,540 what was most striking to him 381 00:18:56,300 –> 00:18:58,420 and there are three things. 382 00:18:58,420 –> 00:19:00,219 And I think they explain well 383 00:19:00,219 –> 00:19:02,619 how it is that the Lord Jesus Christ 384 00:19:02,619 –> 00:19:05,959 is glorified in his holy people. 385 00:19:07,140 –> 00:19:09,859 How will Jesus Christ be glorified in us? 386 00:19:09,859 –> 00:19:13,959 First answer, Christ will be glorified 387 00:19:14,920 –> 00:19:19,839 by the vast number of the redeemed. 388 00:19:19,839 –> 00:19:24,140 The vast number of the redeemed. 389 00:19:24,140 –> 00:19:26,699 I’m quoting now from Revelation, in chapter seven, 390 00:19:26,699 –> 00:19:28,619 which I think sheds light on the passage 391 00:19:28,619 –> 00:19:30,000 that we’re looking at here. 392 00:19:30,959 –> 00:19:34,459 John says, I looked and there before me 393 00:19:34,459 –> 00:19:38,540 was a great multitude that no one could count. 394 00:19:39,680 –> 00:19:42,640 They’re from every nation, they’re from every tribe, 395 00:19:42,640 –> 00:19:45,780 they’re from every people, and they’re from every language. 396 00:19:47,219 –> 00:19:49,199 And as John sees this vision you see, 397 00:19:49,199 –> 00:19:51,180 the first thing that strikes him 398 00:19:51,180 –> 00:19:54,119 is the sheer number of these people, 399 00:19:54,119 –> 00:19:55,699 it’s the first thing he writes. 400 00:19:56,739 –> 00:19:58,479 Christ has redeemed people 401 00:19:58,479 –> 00:20:01,540 from every corner of the planet, 402 00:20:02,540 –> 00:20:06,380 and they have been drawn from every generation in history. 403 00:20:07,219 –> 00:20:09,140 And John is given, in this vision, 404 00:20:09,140 –> 00:20:12,540 a glimpse of what that day of their gathering looks like, 405 00:20:12,540 –> 00:20:14,280 and the first thing he says is, 406 00:20:14,280 –> 00:20:17,800 nobody could possibly count them, nobody could count them. 407 00:20:19,520 –> 00:20:21,079 And I’m suggesting to you 408 00:20:21,079 –> 00:20:25,020 that this brings great glory to Christ. 409 00:20:26,339 –> 00:20:28,020 Isaiah puts it this way, he says, 410 00:20:28,180 –> 00:20:30,040 there’ll be a day when Jesus will see 411 00:20:30,040 –> 00:20:31,760 the fruit of his suffering, 412 00:20:31,760 –> 00:20:35,180 he’ll see what came from the agony of his own soul. 413 00:20:35,180 –> 00:20:37,339 And when he sees what came from it, 414 00:20:37,339 –> 00:20:42,339 the vast multitude, he will be satisfied. 415 00:20:42,699 –> 00:20:45,619 Not disappointed, satisfied. 416 00:20:47,900 –> 00:20:49,900 I’d been a pastor for two years 417 00:20:51,699 –> 00:20:56,280 when I received the letter inviting me to speak 418 00:20:57,239 –> 00:21:00,459 at the Greater Clacton Convention 419 00:21:00,459 –> 00:21:03,040 for the Deepening of Spiritual Life. 420 00:21:04,439 –> 00:21:07,280 I got this letter, showed it to my wife. 421 00:21:07,280 –> 00:21:10,079 I said, this sounds like quite something. 422 00:21:11,119 –> 00:21:12,119 I think we should go. 423 00:21:13,520 –> 00:21:16,160 So we drove on a Friday afternoon, 100 miles, 424 00:21:16,160 –> 00:21:21,160 and arrived at a rather grand-looking church in this town, 425 00:21:21,180 –> 00:21:22,599 and it was closed. 426 00:21:23,719 –> 00:21:24,619 Not encouraging. 427 00:21:25,599 –> 00:21:27,339 We checked the address. 428 00:21:27,339 –> 00:21:28,640 We had the street right. 429 00:21:29,719 –> 00:21:32,599 We drove up and down the street two times, 430 00:21:33,560 –> 00:21:35,780 and then spotted a narrow lane 431 00:21:35,780 –> 00:21:37,640 that was going off the main street, 432 00:21:39,380 –> 00:21:43,199 and at the end of the lane was a little wooden hut, 433 00:21:45,040 –> 00:21:49,420 and on the door of the hut, a poster, 434 00:21:49,420 –> 00:21:52,380 announcing that this was the venue 435 00:21:52,380 –> 00:21:55,780 for the Greater Clacton Area Convention 436 00:21:55,780 –> 00:21:58,219 for the Deepening of Spiritual Life. 437 00:21:58,219 –> 00:22:00,219 We went into the hut 438 00:22:00,219 –> 00:22:03,160 and met with a grand total of five people. 439 00:22:03,160 –> 00:22:06,819 My wife reminds me of that story often. 440 00:22:06,819 –> 00:22:10,199 She says, for the purpose of promoting humility. 441 00:22:10,199 –> 00:22:11,479 I think that’s very good, 442 00:22:12,420 –> 00:22:16,260 but, folks, honestly, we have all been at events 443 00:22:17,140 –> 00:22:20,140 when only a few people turned up, 444 00:22:21,000 –> 00:22:24,079 and you’ve said to someone else who’s with you, 445 00:22:24,079 –> 00:22:25,300 is this it? 446 00:22:27,780 –> 00:22:30,000 On the authority of the word of God, 447 00:22:30,000 –> 00:22:32,260 I promise you today, 448 00:22:32,260 –> 00:22:34,699 that in the presence of Jesus, 449 00:22:34,699 –> 00:22:37,260 nobody will be saying, is this it? 450 00:22:38,739 –> 00:22:41,900 This will be larger than any gathering 451 00:22:41,900 –> 00:22:44,319 that you have ever seen or ever imagined 452 00:22:44,319 –> 00:22:46,819 in all of your life, and think of this, 453 00:22:46,979 –> 00:22:50,239 Every person there will be there 454 00:22:50,239 –> 00:22:54,199 redeemed because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 455 00:22:54,199 –> 00:22:56,140 That brings glory to him. 456 00:22:56,140 –> 00:22:58,500 He is glorified in the redeeming 457 00:22:58,500 –> 00:23:01,579 of this vast company of people. 458 00:23:03,800 –> 00:23:07,300 And then as John looks at that vision, 459 00:23:09,060 –> 00:23:11,739 there’s something else that comes to him. 460 00:23:13,680 –> 00:23:16,699 He’s asked a question and he gets an answer 461 00:23:16,719 –> 00:23:18,439 about who these people are. 462 00:23:20,119 –> 00:23:23,300 And he discovers that they are people 463 00:23:23,300 –> 00:23:27,219 who have come through or out of great tribulation, 464 00:23:27,219 –> 00:23:28,239 great trouble. 465 00:23:29,579 –> 00:23:31,459 And I want to suggest to you, secondly, 466 00:23:31,459 –> 00:23:36,260 that Christ is glorified here by the unique difficulties 467 00:23:36,260 –> 00:23:38,260 that his people have endured. 468 00:23:39,900 –> 00:23:43,420 See, here’s this vast, vast crowd, 469 00:23:43,420 –> 00:23:48,079 but if you move closer and you begin to get to know 470 00:23:48,079 –> 00:23:51,540 the individuals that make up this marvelous company 471 00:23:51,540 –> 00:23:53,800 of redeemed people, you will discover 472 00:23:53,800 –> 00:23:55,780 that each of them has endured 473 00:23:55,780 –> 00:23:57,939 some special difficulty in life. 474 00:23:57,939 –> 00:23:59,739 That’s true of all of us here today. 475 00:24:01,219 –> 00:24:02,560 Come through great trouble. 476 00:24:04,020 –> 00:24:08,780 Here’s someone in the crowd, in the presence of Jesus, 477 00:24:08,780 –> 00:24:13,780 who has struggled with depression all her life. 478 00:24:14,920 –> 00:24:15,780 All our life. 479 00:24:17,420 –> 00:24:18,380 But not now. 480 00:24:19,500 –> 00:24:20,339 Not now. 481 00:24:22,060 –> 00:24:25,479 There’s a light, there’s a joy in her 482 00:24:25,479 –> 00:24:27,939 that she has never known in one of her days 483 00:24:27,939 –> 00:24:29,239 in her life in this world. 484 00:24:31,459 –> 00:24:33,839 Here’s someone else who’s lack confidence. 485 00:24:34,699 –> 00:24:37,619 He’s battled with fear all his days. 486 00:24:38,819 –> 00:24:41,040 But here he is in this great crowd now 487 00:24:41,040 –> 00:24:42,819 and there’s no fear in him. 488 00:24:44,020 –> 00:24:45,920 He stands there sure and certain 489 00:24:45,920 –> 00:24:48,020 and confident in Jesus Christ. 490 00:24:50,739 –> 00:24:53,060 You look further and you see that there is someone 491 00:24:53,060 –> 00:24:56,859 in this crowd and they’ve been scarred 492 00:24:56,859 –> 00:24:59,979 by a great evil that was done to them, 493 00:24:59,979 –> 00:25:01,160 by another person. 494 00:25:02,579 –> 00:25:04,459 And it troubled them, it haunted them, 495 00:25:04,459 –> 00:25:07,260 it dogged them all the days of their life 496 00:25:08,859 –> 00:25:10,380 But it’s not dogging them now. 497 00:25:11,459 –> 00:25:13,380 Folks, it’s not dogging them now. 498 00:25:15,099 –> 00:25:17,099 There they stand in the presence of Jesus 499 00:25:17,099 –> 00:25:20,020 and every tear that has been wept over that 500 00:25:20,020 –> 00:25:21,780 has been wiped from their eyes. 501 00:25:23,739 –> 00:25:26,219 Each of these people in this vast crowd 502 00:25:26,219 –> 00:25:28,500 has faced unique difficulties in life. 503 00:25:28,500 –> 00:25:31,260 Some of them have endured lifelong struggles 504 00:25:31,260 –> 00:25:33,180 that arose from their temperament 505 00:25:33,180 –> 00:25:35,339 or arose from their own background, 506 00:25:35,380 –> 00:25:39,699 but in every case Jesus Christ has brought them through 507 00:25:39,699 –> 00:25:41,339 and now here they are. 508 00:25:41,339 –> 00:25:42,819 You see, this is what we’re to think about, 509 00:25:42,819 –> 00:25:45,140 your glorious future in Jesus Christ 510 00:25:45,140 –> 00:25:46,859 because that will sustain you 511 00:25:46,859 –> 00:25:48,420 when you’re right in the middle of the battle. 512 00:25:48,420 –> 00:25:49,739 That’s the whole point. 513 00:25:51,859 –> 00:25:54,660 So I’m saying that the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified 514 00:25:54,660 –> 00:25:57,060 not only by the vast number who are brought 515 00:25:57,060 –> 00:26:00,540 into his presence, but by the unique difficulties 516 00:26:00,540 –> 00:26:02,660 that every one of them have endured 517 00:26:02,660 –> 00:26:05,099 and yet he’s brought everyone of them safe home. 518 00:26:05,819 –> 00:26:07,380 Delivered them completely. 519 00:26:07,380 –> 00:26:09,939 That’s your future in Jesus Christ. 520 00:26:10,900 –> 00:26:13,780 Remember it when you feel the struggle right now. 521 00:26:17,140 –> 00:26:20,660 And then let me suggest that Christ will be glorified 522 00:26:20,660 –> 00:26:25,660 by the complete transformation of inveterate sinners. 523 00:26:27,660 –> 00:26:30,619 Now I’m using the word inveterate 524 00:26:30,619 –> 00:26:32,540 not only because I like the sound of it, 525 00:26:32,540 –> 00:26:33,780 which I have to admit, I do. 526 00:26:33,900 –> 00:26:36,699 I like the sound of that word, 527 00:26:36,699 –> 00:26:40,140 but I’m using it because I want you to remember today 528 00:26:40,140 –> 00:26:42,339 that your sin is not a small thing. 529 00:26:43,619 –> 00:26:47,540 The word inveterate means, here’s the definition, 530 00:26:47,540 –> 00:26:52,540 long-established, deep-rooted or habitual. 531 00:26:52,739 –> 00:26:55,459 So the word inveterate is a good word 532 00:26:55,459 –> 00:26:57,900 to describe the human condition. 533 00:26:57,900 –> 00:27:02,459 By nature we are inveterate sinners. 534 00:27:03,219 –> 00:27:04,579 And think about it. 535 00:27:05,640 –> 00:27:09,459 Last week we saw clearly from 2 Thessalonians 536 00:27:09,459 –> 00:27:13,280 that sinners are shut out from the presence of the Lord. 537 00:27:14,459 –> 00:27:17,979 And here are all these people in the presence of Jesus. 538 00:27:19,140 –> 00:27:21,180 And they were sinners too. 539 00:27:22,780 –> 00:27:24,280 So how are they here? 540 00:27:25,219 –> 00:27:27,300 What are these folks, this vast multitude, 541 00:27:27,300 –> 00:27:29,400 doing in the presence of the Lord? 542 00:27:29,400 –> 00:27:32,099 And why in the world are they all dressed in white 543 00:27:32,160 –> 00:27:34,060 as John saw them in this vision? 544 00:27:34,060 –> 00:27:37,239 John is given this answer, 545 00:27:37,239 –> 00:27:40,119 they have washed their robes 546 00:27:41,079 –> 00:27:45,800 and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 547 00:27:46,859 –> 00:27:48,760 That’s why these people are here. 548 00:27:48,760 –> 00:27:51,560 Not because they’ve lived some kind of perfect life, 549 00:27:51,560 –> 00:27:55,439 but because they have been washed by Jesus Christ 550 00:27:55,439 –> 00:27:57,719 and, therefore, Christ is glorified 551 00:27:57,719 –> 00:27:59,680 by the very fact that they are there. 552 00:28:00,619 –> 00:28:04,239 So, you see, if you were to look into this crowd 553 00:28:04,239 –> 00:28:07,199 and to learn everybody’s story, 554 00:28:08,119 –> 00:28:10,140 let’s just take some stories that we know, 555 00:28:10,140 –> 00:28:12,020 who’s in this crowd? 556 00:28:12,020 –> 00:28:14,599 This vast crowd in the presence of Jesus? 557 00:28:14,599 –> 00:28:17,119 Well, there’s a man called David, who was an adultery. 558 00:28:18,979 –> 00:28:21,300 There’s a man called Moses, who was a murderer. 559 00:28:22,739 –> 00:28:26,319 There’s a man called Peter, who once denied Jesus Christ. 560 00:28:27,260 –> 00:28:31,260 There’s a man called Paul, who was once a persecutor 561 00:28:31,260 –> 00:28:33,099 of the church and a violent man. 562 00:28:33,099 –> 00:28:35,500 And then, if you’re in Christ, there’ll be you 563 00:28:35,500 –> 00:28:38,900 and there’ll be me and all the stuff that we have done. 564 00:28:41,280 –> 00:28:43,939 And this great crowd of people, they’re all there, 565 00:28:43,939 –> 00:28:47,839 every one of them there, because we have been washed 566 00:28:47,839 –> 00:28:50,260 in the blood of the lamb, that is, 567 00:28:50,260 –> 00:28:53,180 in the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. 568 00:28:53,180 –> 00:28:56,699 Christ has cleansed us and now look at us now. 569 00:28:57,880 –> 00:28:59,780 There we are, dressed in white robes. 570 00:28:59,780 –> 00:29:00,719 We’re righteous, 571 00:29:00,719 –> 00:29:03,660 not because we’ve lived that marvellous, perfect life, 572 00:29:03,660 –> 00:29:06,160 but because he has and his righteousness 573 00:29:06,160 –> 00:29:08,680 has been given to us. 574 00:29:08,680 –> 00:29:12,660 We become holy as God is holy, we have become like him. 575 00:29:12,660 –> 00:29:15,359 We’re in his presence and we’re there without fault, 576 00:29:15,359 –> 00:29:17,180 that’s why the tears are wiped from our eyes. 577 00:29:17,180 –> 00:29:19,500 We’re not living eternity with regret, 578 00:29:19,500 –> 00:29:21,439 we’re there with great joy. 579 00:29:22,359 –> 00:29:25,780 So this transformation of inveterate sinners 580 00:29:25,780 –> 00:29:28,239 brings glory to Jesus Christ 581 00:29:28,239 –> 00:29:31,060 because clearly only Christ could accomplish 582 00:29:31,060 –> 00:29:33,859 such an amazing transformation. 583 00:29:35,560 –> 00:29:38,119 Let me give you one more quote from Spurgeon. 584 00:29:39,040 –> 00:29:41,640 He was a wonderful evangelist 585 00:29:41,640 –> 00:29:44,619 and he had a great heart to appeal to people 586 00:29:44,619 –> 00:29:47,459 who feel very far from God. 587 00:29:47,939 –> 00:29:51,719 He says, and if you feel very far from God, 588 00:29:51,719 –> 00:29:54,520 maybe this will be a word of encouragement 589 00:29:54,520 –> 00:29:57,280 and hope and help for you. 590 00:29:58,579 –> 00:30:00,040 Spurgeon says this. 591 00:30:01,439 –> 00:30:03,800 To a person who feels, 592 00:30:03,800 –> 00:30:06,140 boy, I’m so bad there’s no hope for me. 593 00:30:07,800 –> 00:30:09,760 He says, Let me put it to you. 594 00:30:11,619 –> 00:30:16,479 If Jesus Christ is glorified in saved sinners, 595 00:30:17,420 –> 00:30:20,939 would he not be glorified indeed if he saved you? 596 00:30:22,119 –> 00:30:23,020 You see the point. 597 00:30:24,439 –> 00:30:27,699 If he were to save such a rebel, as you have been, 598 00:30:28,780 –> 00:30:32,459 would it not be the astonishment of eternity? 599 00:30:32,459 –> 00:30:35,579 You’d be amazed if you were saved, wouldn’t you? 600 00:30:35,579 –> 00:30:37,920 And it would be for the great glory of Christ. 601 00:30:39,020 –> 00:30:44,020 What if my master said Spurgeon were to make a saint of you? 602 00:30:44,219 –> 00:30:46,239 What would this make you? 603 00:30:46,239 –> 00:30:49,560 Now, to someone who feels today that you have been so bad, 604 00:30:49,560 –> 00:30:50,959 what you have done is so wrong, 605 00:30:50,959 –> 00:30:52,439 that there is no hope for you, 606 00:30:52,439 –> 00:30:56,339 I extend this hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ today. 607 00:30:57,680 –> 00:31:00,140 You put your trust in him, 608 00:31:01,540 –> 00:31:05,339 and his salvation in your life 609 00:31:05,339 –> 00:31:08,280 will be for his glory 610 00:31:08,280 –> 00:31:10,719 forever and forever. 611 00:31:10,719 –> 00:31:15,719 You have every reason to come to Jesus Christ right now 612 00:31:16,400 –> 00:31:18,599 and to put your faith in him 613 00:31:18,599 –> 00:31:22,040 and to trust him as your Redeemer, 614 00:31:22,040 –> 00:31:24,800 your saviour and your Lord. 615 00:31:26,079 –> 00:31:27,880 It’s a marvellous thing. 616 00:31:27,880 –> 00:31:31,380 The open arms of Jesus Christ. 617 00:31:32,319 –> 00:31:34,599 So here’s what we’ve seen. 618 00:31:34,599 –> 00:31:38,319 When Jesus Christ comes, three things will happen. 619 00:31:39,319 –> 00:31:40,839 You’re going to see his glory. 620 00:31:40,839 –> 00:31:44,239 We’re all, all who believe are going to marvel at him, 621 00:31:44,239 –> 00:31:45,219 marvel at him. 622 00:31:46,859 –> 00:31:49,199 You’re going to be glorified in Christ. 623 00:31:49,199 –> 00:31:51,319 There’s going to be a change in you 624 00:31:53,479 –> 00:31:56,339 and Christ will be glorified in you. 625 00:31:56,339 –> 00:31:58,160 The completion of your salvation, 626 00:31:58,160 –> 00:32:00,640 the gathering of this vast company of the redeemed, 627 00:32:00,640 –> 00:32:03,339 his keeping power through all that we’ve faced, 628 00:32:03,339 –> 00:32:06,079 what you endure in your life will turn out to be 629 00:32:06,540 –> 00:32:11,540 for the glory of Christ forever and forever and forever. 630 00:32:12,339 –> 00:32:13,199 Now you see what he’s saying? 631 00:32:13,199 –> 00:32:14,739 You see the force of this. 632 00:32:16,880 –> 00:32:18,979 If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, 633 00:32:18,979 –> 00:32:20,719 this is your future, it is, 634 00:32:20,719 –> 00:32:22,040 whatever you face right now, 635 00:32:22,040 –> 00:32:24,180 however difficult it is. 636 00:32:26,119 –> 00:32:29,140 So this will help you to stay the course 637 00:32:29,140 –> 00:32:31,800 when you are tired of the battle, 638 00:32:31,800 –> 00:32:35,459 lift your mind up and see what is yours. 639 00:32:36,099 –> 00:32:37,359 In Jesus Christ. 640 00:32:39,439 –> 00:32:40,719 Now I’ve got a couple of minutes left 641 00:32:40,719 –> 00:32:44,079 and so just one more thing that is very important 642 00:32:44,079 –> 00:32:45,900 and it’s this. 643 00:32:45,900 –> 00:32:49,579 In the middle of these massive truths 644 00:32:50,719 –> 00:32:53,439 in verses 10 and 12 about the glorious future 645 00:32:53,439 –> 00:32:55,719 of every believer in Jesus Christ, 646 00:32:55,719 –> 00:32:59,439 Paul prays for believers in verse 11. 647 00:33:00,439 –> 00:33:02,359 And what he asks of God, 648 00:33:02,359 –> 00:33:05,920 in the light of our glorious future is very significant. 649 00:33:05,920 –> 00:33:07,479 Notice what he says, verse 11, 650 00:33:07,479 –> 00:33:08,920 with this in mind, in other words, 651 00:33:08,920 –> 00:33:11,199 with your glorious future in Christ in mind, 652 00:33:11,199 –> 00:33:13,140 we’re constantly praying for you. 653 00:33:13,140 –> 00:33:15,660 Now what should we pray in the light 654 00:33:15,660 –> 00:33:18,579 of our glorious future in Jesus Christ? 655 00:33:20,280 –> 00:33:23,640 And I end with this because it surprised me 656 00:33:24,719 –> 00:33:27,699 and therefore challenged me. 657 00:33:29,099 –> 00:33:30,359 Three things. 658 00:33:30,359 –> 00:33:31,199 Planning, 659 00:33:32,239 –> 00:33:33,079 acting, 660 00:33:34,140 –> 00:33:34,979 persevering. 661 00:33:36,319 –> 00:33:39,540 Persevering, we’ve seen that the whole of this chapter 662 00:33:39,540 –> 00:33:41,359 is about that subject really. 663 00:33:41,359 –> 00:33:42,640 It’s that again in the words 664 00:33:42,640 –> 00:33:45,560 that God may count you worthy of His calling. 665 00:33:45,560 –> 00:33:49,319 Calvin says he speaks here of the end or completion, 666 00:33:49,319 –> 00:33:51,099 which depends on perseverance 667 00:33:51,099 –> 00:33:52,540 and so really what he’s saying here, 668 00:33:52,540 –> 00:33:55,900 Lucas, in the light of your glorious future in Christ, 669 00:33:55,900 –> 00:33:57,199 I’m praying that you’ll persevere. 670 00:33:57,199 –> 00:33:59,420 I’m praying for you that you will persevere. 671 00:34:00,599 –> 00:34:02,260 And then he says something about planning. 672 00:34:02,260 –> 00:34:03,160 Isn’t that astonishing? 673 00:34:03,160 –> 00:34:04,859 Would you expect that here? 674 00:34:06,619 –> 00:34:09,179 That by his power, he may fulfill 675 00:34:09,179 –> 00:34:13,139 every good purpose of yours. 676 00:34:14,800 –> 00:34:16,639 This is an astonishing statement. 677 00:34:16,639 –> 00:34:19,300 I would expect it to say 678 00:34:19,300 –> 00:34:21,280 in the light of your glorious future, 679 00:34:21,280 –> 00:34:25,959 I’m praying that God will fulfill every good purpose of His 680 00:34:25,959 –> 00:34:28,479 but it doesn’t say every good purpose of His, 681 00:34:28,479 –> 00:34:31,300 it says every good purpose of yours. 682 00:34:32,239 –> 00:34:33,919 Don Carson has this comment. 683 00:34:33,919 –> 00:34:35,500 It’s so important. 684 00:34:36,540 –> 00:34:39,340 God’s people have been so transformed, he says, 685 00:34:39,340 –> 00:34:41,580 that through their conversion to Jesus Christ, 686 00:34:41,580 –> 00:34:45,139 they now come to develop a new set of goals. 687 00:34:45,139 –> 00:34:47,600 Prompted and shaped by goodness and faith, 688 00:34:47,600 –> 00:34:50,139 they inevitably formulate new purposes, 689 00:34:50,139 –> 00:34:54,280 decidedly Christian plans, Christian goals. 690 00:34:56,340 –> 00:34:58,120 Now you see what Paul is saying then, 691 00:34:58,939 –> 00:35:01,659 I want you to look at the glorious future 692 00:35:01,659 –> 00:35:03,199 that is yours in Christ. 693 00:35:04,360 –> 00:35:05,679 And as we saw last week, 694 00:35:05,679 –> 00:35:08,000 take a look at the eternal future 695 00:35:08,000 –> 00:35:09,899 for those who are without Christ, 696 00:35:10,840 –> 00:35:13,439 put these two things together. 697 00:35:13,439 –> 00:35:16,280 And I want you to live in the light of that 698 00:35:16,280 –> 00:35:17,919 and I’m praying that the church 699 00:35:17,919 –> 00:35:19,879 will live in the light of that eternal reality, 700 00:35:19,879 –> 00:35:21,100 that’s what he’s saying. 701 00:35:22,760 –> 00:35:25,360 It is not enough folks, 702 00:35:26,000 –> 00:35:29,760 for you or for me to drift through life saying, 703 00:35:29,760 –> 00:35:33,199 I am open to whatever the Lord wants me to do. 704 00:35:33,199 –> 00:35:35,879 That sounds much more spiritual than it is. 705 00:35:37,040 –> 00:35:38,280 Because candidly, 706 00:35:38,280 –> 00:35:41,479 if it becomes the pattern of life over years, 707 00:35:41,479 –> 00:35:42,300 you know what? 708 00:35:42,300 –> 00:35:45,399 It becomes a spiritualized cover for doing nothing. 709 00:35:47,379 –> 00:35:48,320 What will you do? 710 00:35:48,320 –> 00:35:49,159 That’s the question, 711 00:35:49,159 –> 00:35:50,280 what is your purpose? 712 00:35:50,280 –> 00:35:51,979 What is your good purpose? 713 00:35:53,040 –> 00:35:53,939 What will you do? 714 00:35:55,800 –> 00:35:57,320 That’s the question. 715 00:35:57,320 –> 00:35:58,399 What’s your plan? 716 00:36:00,000 –> 00:36:02,879 How are you in the light of your glorious eternity 717 00:36:02,879 –> 00:36:05,899 and in the light of others lost eternity, 718 00:36:05,899 –> 00:36:07,159 what are you going to do? 719 00:36:08,080 –> 00:36:10,479 Paul says, I’m praying 720 00:36:10,479 –> 00:36:11,919 because he knows that these believers 721 00:36:11,919 –> 00:36:14,399 have good purposes in the light of eternity 722 00:36:14,399 –> 00:36:16,199 that they’ve come up with some plans and ideas 723 00:36:16,199 –> 00:36:19,620 for reaching out to this wretched town of Thessalonica 724 00:36:19,620 –> 00:36:22,120 that’s persecuting them so vigorously. 725 00:36:22,459 –> 00:36:25,800 And Paul is saying, I’m praying that every purpose of yours 726 00:36:25,800 –> 00:36:27,739 every good purpose that you have, 727 00:36:28,959 –> 00:36:31,000 that God will fulfill it. 728 00:36:32,360 –> 00:36:34,479 The Christian life is not passive 729 00:36:34,479 –> 00:36:36,479 God invites us to take the initiative 730 00:36:36,479 –> 00:36:39,520 to formulate plans and to act in faith. 731 00:36:40,479 –> 00:36:42,419 It’s very important to understand it. 732 00:36:43,639 –> 00:36:46,239 Otherwise we are mired in passivity 733 00:36:46,239 –> 00:36:48,040 by a false spirituality. 734 00:36:48,879 –> 00:36:53,500 That is why folks, we have a ministry plan 735 00:36:55,320 –> 00:36:56,879 for the church. 736 00:36:56,879 –> 00:36:58,320 Maybe some folks will come along and say, 737 00:36:58,320 –> 00:37:01,419 Oh yes, well, that was just written by humans, wasn’t it? 738 00:37:02,399 –> 00:37:04,239 Exactly. 739 00:37:04,239 –> 00:37:05,520 That’s what we’re being called to do 740 00:37:05,520 –> 00:37:07,479 for us to have some plans. 741 00:37:07,479 –> 00:37:08,320 We pray about them 742 00:37:08,320 –> 00:37:11,800 but we make in discussion and in thinking 743 00:37:11,800 –> 00:37:13,959 the best plans we can to reach out 744 00:37:13,959 –> 00:37:14,979 and to do the work of Christ 745 00:37:14,979 –> 00:37:16,000 in the short time we have 746 00:37:16,520 –> 00:37:21,520 in the light of eternity we have good purposes. 747 00:37:22,439 –> 00:37:24,939 We’re to take action that’s prompted by faith. 748 00:37:26,199 –> 00:37:28,320 Every church should have a plan for ministry. 749 00:37:28,320 –> 00:37:30,780 Every church should have goals for the future. 750 00:37:30,780 –> 00:37:33,679 Every church should pursue ventures of faith. 751 00:37:33,679 –> 00:37:35,739 Every good purpose of yours. 752 00:37:35,739 –> 00:37:37,459 Here’s the Biblical basis for it. 753 00:37:39,479 –> 00:37:41,159 Now I simply ask it a personal level. 754 00:37:41,159 –> 00:37:43,000 What good purpose can you pursue 755 00:37:43,000 –> 00:37:44,479 in the light of eternity this week? 756 00:37:44,479 –> 00:37:46,459 Who can you reach out to? 757 00:37:46,459 –> 00:37:48,459 Who can you speak to, who can you visit? 758 00:37:49,560 –> 00:37:50,399 Do something. 759 00:37:52,199 –> 00:37:55,860 Planning, acting, persevering, 760 00:37:55,860 –> 00:37:58,000 every act prompted by faith. 761 00:37:58,000 –> 00:38:00,020 Here, one more quote and we’re done. 762 00:38:01,239 –> 00:38:03,580 You want to know how Spurgeon ended his sermon? 763 00:38:05,080 –> 00:38:06,320 I wouldn’t have had the nerve, 764 00:38:06,320 –> 00:38:08,419 so I’m just gonna quote him, you understand? 765 00:38:11,239 –> 00:38:12,739 Here’s how he ends his sermon. 766 00:38:13,639 –> 00:38:15,719 Now get at it, all of you. 767 00:38:16,919 –> 00:38:18,219 I love that, I love that. 768 00:38:18,219 –> 00:38:20,979 You see, he’s been preaching about eternity, 769 00:38:20,979 –> 00:38:23,419 your future, the lost future. 770 00:38:23,419 –> 00:38:25,419 Now get at it, all of you. 771 00:38:26,620 –> 00:38:29,500 And you who have been doing nothing for Jesus, 772 00:38:29,500 –> 00:38:31,300 be ashamed of yourselves 773 00:38:32,739 –> 00:38:34,439 and ask Him to work in you 774 00:38:34,439 –> 00:38:37,560 so that you may begin a work for Him. 775 00:38:38,540 –> 00:38:40,159 Amen? 776 00:38:40,159 –> 00:38:41,659 Let’s pray together, shall we? 777 00:38:43,699 –> 00:38:44,540 Amen. 778 00:38:46,719 –> 00:38:50,179 Father, with our glorious future in mind, 779 00:38:52,379 –> 00:38:57,379 we ask that You will count us worthy of your calling, 780 00:39:00,360 –> 00:39:01,560 that by Your power 781 00:39:01,560 –> 00:39:04,939 You will fulfill every good purpose of ours 782 00:39:06,639 –> 00:39:10,699 and enable every act prompted by faith. 783 00:39:13,300 –> 00:39:14,199 We pray this 784 00:39:14,199 –> 00:39:16,879 so that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 785 00:39:16,879 –> 00:39:19,560 may be glorified in us 786 00:39:21,520 –> 00:39:23,780 and us in Him, 787 00:39:25,959 –> 00:39:30,040 according to Your grace that flows to us so fully 788 00:39:31,060 –> 00:39:34,060 in Jesus Christ our Lord and everyone together said. 789 00:39:35,000 –> 00:39:35,820 Amen.