1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:06,000 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 2 00:00:06,000 –> 00:00:16,000 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN365 or visit our website open the bible dot org. 3 00:00:16,000 –> 00:00:18,000 Let’s get to the message here is Pastor Colin. 4 00:00:18,000 –> 00:00:24,000 Please open your Bibles at Second Corinthians and Chapter five 5 00:00:24,000 –> 00:00:28,000 is we’re beginning a new series today entitled Don’t Lose Heart. 6 00:00:28,000 –> 00:00:39,000 As we gather for worship today the world is torn with increasingly ominous conflicts. 7 00:00:39,000 –> 00:00:42,000 We watch the news we wonder what will happen next. 8 00:00:42,000 –> 00:00:47,000 It is easy to lose heart. 9 00:00:47,000 –> 00:00:52,000 Huge moral shift taking place in culture from a basis in God and his word, 10 00:00:52,000 –> 00:00:55,000 to a basis in us and our desires, 11 00:00:55,000 –> 00:01:00,000 and as we see it happening so quickly it is easy to lose heart. 12 00:01:00,000 –> 00:01:04,000 As I growing drift in many churches, 13 00:01:04,000 –> 00:01:07,000 Becoming more about us than about God. 14 00:01:07,000 –> 00:01:11,000 More about gathering the crowd than honouring the Lord, 15 00:01:11,000 –> 00:01:16,000 And it is easiest we see that too lose heart. 16 00:01:16,000 –> 00:01:20,000 And on top of all of that there are the personal burdens 17 00:01:20,000 –> 00:01:23,000 that many of us bear and carry, 18 00:01:23,000 –> 00:01:27,000 long struggles over health, 19 00:01:27,000 –> 00:01:30,000 The endless round of treatments 20 00:01:30,000 –> 00:01:32,000 and the draining effects, 21 00:01:32,000 –> 00:01:36,000 and the wondering if you are ever going to get better. 22 00:01:36,000 –> 00:01:40,000 For others the distress over loved ones, 23 00:01:40,000 –> 00:01:45,000 life at home has been soured perhaps by some member of the family 24 00:01:45,000 –> 00:01:49,000 You don’t rest, the place that was once a place of refreshment 25 00:01:49,000 –> 00:01:52,000 and recuperation and restoration 26 00:01:52,000 –> 00:01:55,000 is no longer a place of peace. 27 00:01:55,000 –> 00:01:57,000 And some of you would say today, 28 00:01:57,000 –> 00:02:00,000 You know, my life is not what I want it to be, 29 00:02:00,000 –> 00:02:05,000 this is not what I signed up for at this stage of my life, 30 00:02:05,000 –> 00:02:08,000 I never thought that I would find myself here 31 00:02:08,000 –> 00:02:12,000 and it is easy to lose heart! 32 00:02:13,000 –> 00:02:15,000 Now if you have the Bible open in front of you 33 00:02:15,000 –> 00:02:17,000 you will notice that the title for our series 34 00:02:17,000 –> 00:02:22,000 is taken directly from second Corinthians chapter 4 35 00:02:22,000 –> 00:02:24,000 and verse 16, where Paul says 36 00:02:24,000 –> 00:02:28,000 So we do not lose heart! 37 00:02:28,000 –> 00:02:30,000 And if you are like me 38 00:02:30,000 –> 00:02:32,000 you might read these words and say 39 00:02:32,000 –> 00:02:34,000 Really? We don’t lose heart? 40 00:02:34,000 –> 00:02:36,000 Well please tell me how that is possible, 41 00:02:36,000 –> 00:02:38,000 how I am suppose to live in a world like this 42 00:02:38,000 –> 00:02:40,000 and not lose heart? 43 00:02:40,000 –> 00:02:42,000 How am I suppose to face the pressures 44 00:02:42,000 –> 00:02:44,000 that are around me 45 00:02:44,000 –> 00:02:46,000 that sometimes seem to overwhelm me 46 00:02:46,000 –> 00:02:48,000 with discouragement, how am I to 47 00:02:48,000 –> 00:02:50,000 carry that without 48 00:02:50,000 –> 00:02:52,000 losing heart? 49 00:02:52,000 –> 00:02:54,000 Well the answer to these questions 50 00:02:54,000 –> 00:02:56,000 is in the verses that follow 51 00:02:56,000 –> 00:02:58,000 second Corinthians chapter 4 52 00:02:58,000 –> 00:03:00,000 and verse 16 53 00:03:00,000 –> 00:03:02,000 verse 16 to 18 54 00:03:02,000 –> 00:03:04,000 the end of chapter 4 really gives us 55 00:03:04,000 –> 00:03:06,000 the headline on 56 00:03:06,000 –> 00:03:08,000 how we do not lose heart 57 00:03:08,000 –> 00:03:10,000 why we do not lose heart 58 00:03:10,000 –> 00:03:12,000 and then the answer is delivered 59 00:03:12,000 –> 00:03:14,000 in full in 60 00:03:14,000 –> 00:03:16,000 2 Corinthians chapter 5 61 00:03:16,000 –> 00:03:18,000 which is going to be our focus 62 00:03:18,000 –> 00:03:20,000 So let me just draw your attention very 63 00:03:20,000 –> 00:03:22,000 briefly to the headline 64 00:03:22,000 –> 00:03:24,000 which is in 3 contrasts 65 00:03:24,000 –> 00:03:26,000 at the end of chapter 4 66 00:03:26,000 –> 00:03:28,000 verse 16 Paul speaks 67 00:03:28,000 –> 00:03:30,000 about our outer self 68 00:03:30,000 –> 00:03:32,000 and then our inner self 69 00:03:32,000 –> 00:03:34,000 though our outer 70 00:03:34,000 –> 00:03:36,000 self, the body 71 00:03:36,000 –> 00:03:38,000 is wasting away 72 00:03:38,000 –> 00:03:40,000 our inner self 73 00:03:40,000 –> 00:03:42,000 is being renewed day by day 74 00:03:42,000 –> 00:03:44,000 verse 17 75 00:03:44,000 –> 00:03:46,000 he has a second contrast 76 00:03:46,000 –> 00:03:48,000 between what he calls our present 77 00:03:48,000 –> 00:03:50,000 affliction and then our 78 00:03:50,000 –> 00:03:52,000 eternal glory 79 00:03:52,000 –> 00:03:54,000 this light, momentary 80 00:03:54,000 –> 00:03:56,000 affliction is preparing 81 00:03:56,000 –> 00:03:58,000 for us an eternal weight 82 00:03:58,000 –> 00:04:00,000 of glory beyond all 83 00:04:00,000 –> 00:04:02,000 comparison and then in 84 00:04:02,000 –> 00:04:04,000 verse 18, the third contrast 85 00:04:04,000 –> 00:04:06,000 between what is seen and passing 86 00:04:06,000 –> 00:04:08,000 and what is unseen that 87 00:04:08,000 –> 00:04:10,000 lasts forever. We look 88 00:04:10,000 –> 00:04:12,000 not to the things that are seen 89 00:04:12,000 –> 00:04:14,000 but to the things that are unseen 90 00:04:14,000 –> 00:04:16,000 for the things that are seen 91 00:04:16,000 –> 00:04:18,000 are transient that is they are going 92 00:04:18,000 –> 00:04:20,000 away, but the things that are 93 00:04:20,000 –> 00:04:22,000 unseen are 94 00:04:22,000 –> 00:04:24,000 eternal, so here’s 95 00:04:24,000 –> 00:04:26,000 the headline we’re 96 00:04:26,000 –> 00:04:28,000 dealing with the outer self 97 00:04:28,000 –> 00:04:30,000 that is all the pressures and stressors 98 00:04:30,000 –> 00:04:32,000 that are part of life of the body 99 00:04:32,000 –> 00:04:34,000 we’re enduring this present affliction 100 00:04:34,000 –> 00:04:36,000 that is all the 101 00:04:36,000 –> 00:04:38,000 circumstances of life that may 102 00:04:38,000 –> 00:04:40,000 bring pressure to bear upon you 103 00:04:40,000 –> 00:04:42,000 and we face the raw 104 00:04:42,000 –> 00:04:44,000 discouragement of what is seen 105 00:04:44,000 –> 00:04:46,000 that is the world so often in 106 00:04:46,000 –> 00:04:48,000 conflict and the church so often 107 00:04:48,000 –> 00:04:50,000 in compromise. Put 108 00:04:50,000 –> 00:04:52,000 all of this together and it is 109 00:04:52,000 –> 00:04:54,000 very easy to get discouraged 110 00:04:54,000 –> 00:04:56,000 but Paul 111 00:04:56,000 –> 00:04:58,000 says verse 16, we do not 112 00:04:58,000 –> 00:05:00,000 lose heart 113 00:05:00,000 –> 00:05:02,000 why? how? 114 00:05:02,000 –> 00:05:04,000 well, because our inner self 115 00:05:04,000 –> 00:05:06,000 is being renewed because there is 116 00:05:06,000 –> 00:05:08,000 an eternal weight of glory that far 117 00:05:08,000 –> 00:05:10,000 outweighs all of the afflictions that 118 00:05:10,000 –> 00:05:12,000 are around us and because we fix 119 00:05:12,000 –> 00:05:14,000 our eyes on what is 120 00:05:14,000 –> 00:05:16,000 unseen not what 121 00:05:16,000 –> 00:05:18,000 is seen. now that’s 122 00:05:18,000 –> 00:05:20,000 the headline 123 00:05:20,000 –> 00:05:22,000 and any good 124 00:05:22,000 –> 00:05:24,000 headline in a newspaper or in 125 00:05:24,000 –> 00:05:26,000 a magazine will make you want to 126 00:05:26,000 –> 00:05:28,000 read the articles that is underneath 127 00:05:28,000 –> 00:05:30,000 it. and Second 128 00:05:30,000 –> 00:05:32,000 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 129 00:05:32,000 –> 00:05:34,000 16 through 18 with these 3 130 00:05:34,000 –> 00:05:36,000 contrasts is the headline 131 00:05:36,000 –> 00:05:38,000 that whets 132 00:05:38,000 –> 00:05:40,000 our appetite for 133 00:05:40,000 –> 00:05:42,000 the full explanation 134 00:05:42,000 –> 00:05:44,000 of why as Christians we do 135 00:05:44,000 –> 00:05:46,000 not lose heart, which 136 00:05:46,000 –> 00:05:48,000 is given to us in 2nd 137 00:05:48,000 –> 00:05:50,000 Corinthians chapter 5 138 00:05:50,000 –> 00:05:52,000 and that is why we are going to camp 139 00:05:52,000 –> 00:05:54,000 out in this chapter, 2nd 140 00:05:54,000 –> 00:05:56,000 Corinthians and chapter 5 for the 141 00:05:56,000 –> 00:05:58,000 next 7 weeks, because 142 00:05:58,000 –> 00:06:00,000 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 143 00:06:00,000 –> 00:06:02,000 is the extended answer 144 00:06:02,000 –> 00:06:04,000 to 2nd 145 00:06:04,000 –> 00:06:06,000 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 16 146 00:06:06,000 –> 00:06:08,000 in other words it tells us 147 00:06:08,000 –> 00:06:10,000 how not to 148 00:06:10,000 –> 00:06:12,000 lose heart 149 00:06:12,000 –> 00:06:14,000 now I have 2 headings today as we 150 00:06:14,000 –> 00:06:16,000 take the first step in this new series 151 00:06:16,000 –> 00:06:18,000 that will frame the first part 152 00:06:18,000 –> 00:06:20,000 of our answer as to why 153 00:06:20,000 –> 00:06:22,000 we do not lose heart 154 00:06:22,000 –> 00:06:24,000 and here’s the first 155 00:06:24,000 –> 00:06:26,000 what we have in the first verses 156 00:06:26,000 –> 00:06:28,000 of this chapter is a 157 00:06:28,000 –> 00:06:30,000 healthy dose of realism 158 00:06:30,000 –> 00:06:32,000 about the Christian’s 159 00:06:32,000 –> 00:06:34,000 life on earth 160 00:06:34,000 –> 00:06:36,000 a healthy dose of 161 00:06:36,000 –> 00:06:38,000 realism about 162 00:06:38,000 –> 00:06:40,000 the Christian’s life 163 00:06:40,000 –> 00:06:42,019 on Earth 164 00:06:42,019 –> 00:06:44,019 for we know verse 1 165 00:06:44,019 –> 00:06:46,019 that if the tent 166 00:06:46,019 –> 00:06:48,019 that is our earthly home 167 00:06:48,019 –> 00:06:50,019 is destroyed 168 00:06:50,019 –> 00:06:52,019 we have 169 00:06:52,019 –> 00:06:54,019 a building from God 170 00:06:55,059 –> 00:06:57,160 now earlier this year 171 00:06:57,160 –> 00:06:59,160 we had a whole series 172 00:06:59,160 –> 00:07:01,160 in which we being about the soul 173 00:07:01,160 –> 00:07:03,160 this series begins 174 00:07:03,160 –> 00:07:05,160 with the body 175 00:07:05,160 –> 00:07:07,160 always remember that God 176 00:07:07,160 –> 00:07:09,160 has given you life through the union 177 00:07:09,160 –> 00:07:11,160 of your soul and your body 178 00:07:11,160 –> 00:07:13,160 He knit them together in your 179 00:07:13,160 –> 00:07:15,160 mothers womb 180 00:07:15,160 –> 00:07:17,160 and here God speaks about the body 181 00:07:17,160 –> 00:07:19,160 as a kind of house 182 00:07:19,160 –> 00:07:21,160 for the soul 183 00:07:21,160 –> 00:07:23,160 the body is our 184 00:07:23,160 –> 00:07:25,160 earthly home 185 00:07:25,160 –> 00:07:27,160 In other words the body 186 00:07:27,160 –> 00:07:29,160 is pictured here as 187 00:07:29,160 –> 00:07:31,160 the house in which 188 00:07:31,160 –> 00:07:33,160 your soul lives 189 00:07:33,160 –> 00:07:35,160 now the obvious 190 00:07:35,160 –> 00:07:37,160 question then 191 00:07:37,160 –> 00:07:39,160 is what kind of house is the body 192 00:07:39,160 –> 00:07:41,160 for the soul 193 00:07:41,160 –> 00:07:43,160 the answer is 194 00:07:43,160 –> 00:07:45,160 we live in 195 00:07:45,160 –> 00:07:47,160 a tent 196 00:07:47,160 –> 00:07:49,160 this tent 197 00:07:49,160 –> 00:07:51,160 that is our 198 00:07:51,160 –> 00:07:53,160 earthly home 199 00:07:53,160 –> 00:07:55,160 now think about 200 00:07:55,160 –> 00:07:57,160 this, god does not say that your 201 00:07:57,160 –> 00:07:59,160 body is a fort 202 00:07:59,160 –> 00:08:01,160 he does not say 203 00:08:01,160 –> 00:08:03,160 that your body is an 204 00:08:03,160 –> 00:08:05,160 impregnable castle 205 00:08:05,160 –> 00:08:07,160 he says the very nature 206 00:08:07,160 –> 00:08:09,160 of your body in which your soul 207 00:08:09,160 –> 00:08:11,160 dwells is that it 208 00:08:11,160 –> 00:08:13,160 is like a tent 209 00:08:13,160 –> 00:08:15,160 that is, it is to be 210 00:08:15,160 –> 00:08:17,160 compared with canvas 211 00:08:17,160 –> 00:08:19,160 ropes and pegs 212 00:08:21,160 –> 00:08:23,160 a fragile structure 213 00:08:23,160 –> 00:08:25,160 an adequate housing for the time 214 00:08:25,160 –> 00:08:27,160 being but never intended 215 00:08:27,160 –> 00:08:29,160 to be your final home 216 00:08:31,160 –> 00:08:33,159 now think of this tent that 217 00:08:33,159 –> 00:08:35,159 is your body 218 00:08:35,159 –> 00:08:37,159 it is made of tough 219 00:08:37,159 –> 00:08:39,159 canvas, it has strong ropes 220 00:08:39,159 –> 00:08:41,159 it can endure some heavy weather 221 00:08:41,159 –> 00:08:43,159 even gale force 222 00:08:43,159 –> 00:08:45,159 storms 223 00:08:45,159 –> 00:08:47,159 but it is only canvas 224 00:08:48,159 –> 00:08:50,159 and the ropes can fray 225 00:08:51,159 –> 00:08:53,159 and they do have a breaking point 226 00:08:55,159 –> 00:08:57,159 think of your nerves 227 00:08:57,159 –> 00:08:59,159 as being like these 228 00:08:59,159 –> 00:09:01,159 ropes. There are limits 229 00:09:01,159 –> 00:09:03,159 to what your body can 230 00:09:03,159 –> 00:09:05,159 take 231 00:09:05,159 –> 00:09:07,159 there is a delicate chemical 232 00:09:07,159 –> 00:09:09,159 balance in your brain 233 00:09:09,159 –> 00:09:11,159 that is rather like 234 00:09:11,159 –> 00:09:13,159 canvas that can 235 00:09:13,159 –> 00:09:15,159 repair. Your central 236 00:09:15,159 –> 00:09:17,159 nervous system can carry 237 00:09:17,159 –> 00:09:19,159 a certain load 238 00:09:19,159 –> 00:09:21,159 but it also, like the 239 00:09:21,159 –> 00:09:23,159 ropes, has a 240 00:09:23,159 –> 00:09:25,159 breaking point 241 00:09:25,159 –> 00:09:27,159 so when you see this 242 00:09:27,159 –> 00:09:29,159 and it is very important to grasp it 243 00:09:29,159 –> 00:09:31,159 in the word of God, I live 244 00:09:31,159 –> 00:09:33,159 in this body which is a 245 00:09:33,159 –> 00:09:35,159 tent like structure, not a 246 00:09:35,159 –> 00:09:37,159 fort, not a castle 247 00:09:37,159 –> 00:09:39,159 when you see this 248 00:09:39,159 –> 00:09:41,159 it will not surprise you 249 00:09:41,159 –> 00:09:43,159 if the children 250 00:09:43,159 –> 00:09:45,159 of godly parents 251 00:09:45,159 –> 00:09:47,159 sometimes struggle 252 00:09:47,159 –> 00:09:49,159 with condition and disorders 253 00:09:49,159 –> 00:09:51,159 that are 254 00:09:51,159 –> 00:09:53,159 hard to bail and even 255 00:09:53,159 –> 00:09:55,159 harder to diagnose 256 00:09:55,159 –> 00:09:57,159 their bodies 257 00:09:57,159 –> 00:09:59,159 are only tents 258 00:09:59,159 –> 00:10:01,159 when you see 259 00:10:01,159 –> 00:10:03,159 this it will not surprise you 260 00:10:03,159 –> 00:10:05,159 if you were to find out that 261 00:10:05,159 –> 00:10:07,159 a missionary who is serving God 262 00:10:07,159 –> 00:10:09,159 and is pursuing godly-ness 263 00:10:09,159 –> 00:10:11,159 is also on 264 00:10:11,159 –> 00:10:13,159 antidepressants 265 00:10:13,159 –> 00:10:15,159 well how are these two things 266 00:10:15,159 –> 00:10:17,159 possible? if you think it’s 267 00:10:17,159 –> 00:10:19,159 not possible to hold these two things together 268 00:10:19,159 –> 00:10:21,159 it’s because you’ve not understood 269 00:10:21,159 –> 00:10:23,159 that the body in which we live is like a tent 270 00:10:23,159 –> 00:10:25,159 its a fragile structure 271 00:10:25,159 –> 00:10:27,159 for the best 272 00:10:27,159 –> 00:10:29,159 it will surprise you 273 00:10:29,159 –> 00:10:31,159 if someone respected in christian ministry 274 00:10:31,159 –> 00:10:33,159 has to step back 275 00:10:33,159 –> 00:10:35,159 because of particular pressures 276 00:10:35,159 –> 00:10:37,159 that have perhaps come to bear 277 00:10:37,159 –> 00:10:39,159 in relation to family life 278 00:10:39,159 –> 00:10:41,159 the bodies are only tents 279 00:10:43,159 –> 00:10:45,159 so I am calling this 280 00:10:45,159 –> 00:10:47,159 a healthy dose of 281 00:10:47,159 –> 00:10:49,159 biblical realism 282 00:10:49,159 –> 00:10:51,159 about the Christians life on earth 283 00:10:51,159 –> 00:10:53,159 and some of us 284 00:10:53,159 –> 00:10:55,159 have gone into difficulties and confusion 285 00:10:55,159 –> 00:10:57,159 and found it difficult 286 00:10:57,159 –> 00:10:59,159 to make any sense of our own experience 287 00:10:59,159 –> 00:11:01,159 because we’ve got the idea 288 00:11:01,159 –> 00:11:03,159 that somehow these bodies are like 289 00:11:03,159 –> 00:11:05,159 forts or battleships 290 00:11:05,159 –> 00:11:07,159 but God says that is not the case 291 00:11:07,159 –> 00:11:09,159 your body is 292 00:11:09,159 –> 00:11:11,159 like a tent 293 00:11:11,159 –> 00:11:13,159 second 294 00:11:13,159 –> 00:11:15,159 in this tent 295 00:11:15,159 –> 00:11:17,159 which we live 296 00:11:17,159 –> 00:11:19,159 this body 297 00:11:19,159 –> 00:11:21,159 Paul says we groan 298 00:11:21,159 –> 00:11:23,159 look at verse 2 299 00:11:23,159 –> 00:11:25,159 In this tent we groan 300 00:11:25,159 –> 00:11:27,159 verse 4 he says it again 301 00:11:27,159 –> 00:11:29,159 for while we are still 302 00:11:29,159 –> 00:11:31,159 in the tent 303 00:11:31,159 –> 00:11:33,159 we groan 304 00:11:33,159 –> 00:11:35,159 even 305 00:11:35,159 –> 00:11:37,159 being burdened 306 00:11:37,159 –> 00:11:39,159 now I know 307 00:11:39,159 –> 00:11:41,159 that some of you are enthusiastic 308 00:11:41,159 –> 00:11:43,159 campers I mean canvas 309 00:11:43,159 –> 00:11:45,159 just sounds wonderful to you 310 00:11:45,159 –> 00:11:47,159 you are the kind of folks that say forget your 311 00:11:47,159 –> 00:11:49,159 fancy hotel I am not 312 00:11:49,159 –> 00:11:51,159 even interested in renting an RV 313 00:11:51,159 –> 00:11:53,159 I like the canvas and the ropes 314 00:11:53,159 –> 00:11:55,159 and the pegs and I like my 315 00:11:55,159 –> 00:11:57,159 fire right out there and cooking my bacon 316 00:11:57,159 –> 00:11:59,159 and my s’mores and all of this kind of thing 317 00:11:59,159 –> 00:12:01,159 and all the rest of it 318 00:12:01,159 –> 00:12:03,159 now I expect Paul thought very 319 00:12:03,159 –> 00:12:05,159 well of tents too because you remember that 320 00:12:05,159 –> 00:12:07,159 he was a tent maker 321 00:12:07,159 –> 00:12:09,159 but listen none of you are 322 00:12:09,159 –> 00:12:11,159 such enthusiastic campers are doing it 323 00:12:11,159 –> 00:12:13,159 year round right 324 00:12:13,159 –> 00:12:15,159 and if you were 325 00:12:15,159 –> 00:12:17,159 you would soon be groaning 326 00:12:17,159 –> 00:12:19,159 groaning 327 00:12:19,159 –> 00:12:21,159 because of the difficulties of life 328 00:12:21,159 –> 00:12:23,159 in the body is part 329 00:12:23,159 –> 00:12:25,159 of the Christian life and here is what 330 00:12:25,159 –> 00:12:27,159 I want you to get today 331 00:12:27,159 –> 00:12:29,159 being more godly doesn’t 332 00:12:29,159 –> 00:12:31,159 change this 333 00:12:31,159 –> 00:12:33,159 you see some 334 00:12:33,159 –> 00:12:35,159 of you know what it is to groan 335 00:12:35,159 –> 00:12:37,159 because of a particular 336 00:12:37,159 –> 00:12:39,159 fragility 337 00:12:39,159 –> 00:12:41,159 of your body 338 00:12:41,159 –> 00:12:43,159 or of your mind 339 00:12:45,159 –> 00:12:47,159 but here is what happens 340 00:12:47,159 –> 00:12:49,159 oh if I prayed more I wouldn’t be 341 00:12:49,159 –> 00:12:51,159 like this 342 00:12:51,159 –> 00:12:53,159 oh if I was a better Christian I wouldn’t 343 00:12:53,159 –> 00:12:55,159 be in this condition 344 00:12:55,159 –> 00:12:57,159 oh if I had more faith 345 00:12:57,159 –> 00:12:59,159 I wouldn’t be struggling in the way 346 00:12:59,159 –> 00:13:01,159 that I am right now 347 00:13:03,159 –> 00:13:05,159 well let me submit this to you 348 00:13:05,159 –> 00:13:07,159 I don’t think many 349 00:13:07,159 –> 00:13:09,159 people have ever prayed more 350 00:13:09,159 –> 00:13:11,159 or been more godly or had more faith 351 00:13:11,159 –> 00:13:13,159 then the apostle Paul 352 00:13:13,159 –> 00:13:15,159 and if 353 00:13:15,159 –> 00:13:17,159 he groaned in his tent 354 00:13:17,159 –> 00:13:19,159 then none of us should be surprised 355 00:13:19,159 –> 00:13:21,159 when we find ourselves groaning 356 00:13:21,159 –> 00:13:23,159 in ours 357 00:13:23,159 –> 00:13:25,159 all Christians grow 358 00:13:25,159 –> 00:13:27,159 under some frailty 359 00:13:27,159 –> 00:13:29,159 arises from the body 360 00:13:29,159 –> 00:13:31,159 this is part of the nature 361 00:13:31,159 –> 00:13:33,159 the Christian life on earth 362 00:13:33,159 –> 00:13:35,159 and becoming more godly 363 00:13:35,159 –> 00:13:37,159 does not make this experience 364 00:13:37,159 –> 00:13:39,159 less, it doesn’t take it away 365 00:13:39,159 –> 00:13:41,159 we carry that burden 366 00:13:41,159 –> 00:13:43,159 we do, Paul says 367 00:13:43,159 –> 00:13:45,159 now as if this 368 00:13:45,159 –> 00:13:47,159 weren’t humbling enough 369 00:13:47,159 –> 00:13:49,159 that our body is compared to something 370 00:13:49,159 –> 00:13:51,159 lawly and as fragile as a tent 371 00:13:51,159 –> 00:13:53,159 that we’re reminded here by the apostle 372 00:13:53,159 –> 00:13:55,159 this great spiritual leader 373 00:13:55,159 –> 00:13:57,159 that the best of us are 374 00:13:57,159 –> 00:13:59,159 most godly are going to experience groaning 375 00:13:59,159 –> 00:14:01,159 in the tent, here’s another dose 376 00:14:01,159 –> 00:14:03,159 of healthy medicine that the tent 377 00:14:03,159 –> 00:14:05,159 itself will eventually be 378 00:14:05,159 –> 00:14:07,159 taken down 379 00:14:07,159 –> 00:14:09,159 we know 380 00:14:09,159 –> 00:14:11,159 that if the tent 381 00:14:11,159 –> 00:14:13,159 that is our earthly 382 00:14:13,159 –> 00:14:15,159 home is 383 00:14:15,159 –> 00:14:17,159 destroyed 384 00:14:17,159 –> 00:14:19,159 literally taken, down 385 00:14:19,159 –> 00:14:21,159 down 386 00:14:21,159 –> 00:14:23,159 now friends think how easy it is 387 00:14:23,159 –> 00:14:25,159 to take down a tent 388 00:14:25,159 –> 00:14:27,159 if you want to take down 389 00:14:27,159 –> 00:14:29,159 a house you have to bring a bulldozer 390 00:14:29,159 –> 00:14:31,159 and it’ll take a bit of time 391 00:14:31,159 –> 00:14:33,159 but to take down 392 00:14:33,159 –> 00:14:35,159 a tent all you need to do 393 00:14:35,159 –> 00:14:37,159 is loosen a few ropes 394 00:14:37,159 –> 00:14:39,159 and you pull up 395 00:14:39,159 –> 00:14:41,159 the pegs 396 00:14:41,159 –> 00:14:43,159 and there it is 397 00:14:43,159 –> 00:14:45,159 lying in a heap on 398 00:14:45,159 –> 00:14:47,159 the ground 399 00:14:47,159 –> 00:14:49,159 one day 400 00:14:49,159 –> 00:14:51,159 the tent of your body 401 00:14:51,159 –> 00:14:53,159 will be taken down 402 00:14:53,159 –> 00:14:55,159 and this is a very apt picture 403 00:14:55,159 –> 00:14:57,159 God himself 404 00:14:57,159 –> 00:14:59,159 will slacken the ropes 405 00:14:59,159 –> 00:15:01,159 God will pull up 406 00:15:01,159 –> 00:15:03,159 the tent pegs 407 00:15:03,159 –> 00:15:05,159 and there will be 408 00:15:05,159 –> 00:15:07,159 the tent that is your body 409 00:15:07,159 –> 00:15:09,159 and it will be as it were 410 00:15:09,159 –> 00:15:11,159 there in a heap 411 00:15:11,159 –> 00:15:13,159 on the ground 412 00:15:13,159 –> 00:15:15,159 now Thomas Boston says 413 00:15:15,159 –> 00:15:17,159 I think rather 414 00:15:17,159 –> 00:15:19,159 beautifully 415 00:15:19,159 –> 00:15:21,159 He says always remember you have no security 416 00:15:21,159 –> 00:15:23,159 in this house 417 00:15:23,159 –> 00:15:25,159 one day you’re gonna be moved out of it 418 00:15:25,159 –> 00:15:27,159 one day the tent is going to be taken down 419 00:15:27,159 –> 00:15:29,159 and you’re going to be forced out 420 00:15:29,159 –> 00:15:31,159 of doors 421 00:15:31,159 –> 00:15:33,159 now I want you just to notice 422 00:15:33,159 –> 00:15:35,159 before we move on here that Paul says 423 00:15:35,159 –> 00:15:37,159 if the tent that is 424 00:15:37,159 –> 00:15:39,159 our earthly home is destroyed 425 00:15:39,159 –> 00:15:41,159 and I think 426 00:15:41,159 –> 00:15:43,159 that he says if 427 00:15:43,159 –> 00:15:45,159 because another 428 00:15:45,159 –> 00:15:47,159 possibility was always 429 00:15:47,159 –> 00:15:49,159 in the mind of the apostle 430 00:15:49,159 –> 00:15:51,159 and that was 431 00:15:51,159 –> 00:15:53,159 that the Lord Jesus himself 432 00:15:53,159 –> 00:15:55,159 might return in glory 433 00:15:55,159 –> 00:15:57,159 while he was still 434 00:15:57,159 –> 00:15:59,159 alive 435 00:15:59,159 –> 00:16:01,159 and indeed Jesus Christ 436 00:16:01,159 –> 00:16:03,159 may come before 437 00:16:03,159 –> 00:16:05,159 your tent is taken 438 00:16:05,159 –> 00:16:07,159 down, that’s a wonderful thought 439 00:16:07,159 –> 00:16:09,159 but that does 440 00:16:09,159 –> 00:16:11,159 not keep Paul from facing 441 00:16:11,159 –> 00:16:13,159 the reality that has been 442 00:16:13,159 –> 00:16:15,159 the experience of every Christian 443 00:16:15,159 –> 00:16:17,159 for more than 2,000 444 00:16:17,159 –> 00:16:19,159 years at some point 445 00:16:19,159 –> 00:16:21,159 the tent gets 446 00:16:21,159 –> 00:16:23,159 taken down 447 00:16:23,159 –> 00:16:25,159 I 448 00:16:25,159 –> 00:16:27,159 pause there for a moment 449 00:16:27,159 –> 00:16:29,159 I wonder how you are getting along with this 450 00:16:29,159 –> 00:16:31,159 wonderfully inspiring 451 00:16:31,159 –> 00:16:33,159 and uplifting 452 00:16:33,159 –> 00:16:35,159 message 453 00:16:35,159 –> 00:16:37,159 that we are sharing 454 00:16:37,159 –> 00:16:39,159 here together today. Actually 455 00:16:39,159 –> 00:16:41,159 it is really important 456 00:16:41,159 –> 00:16:43,159 Really important 457 00:16:43,159 –> 00:16:45,159 we desperately 458 00:16:45,159 –> 00:16:47,159 need a healthy dose of 459 00:16:47,159 –> 00:16:49,159 realism about the Christians 460 00:16:49,159 –> 00:16:51,159 life on earth. And here is 461 00:16:51,159 –> 00:16:53,159 why. If you 462 00:16:53,159 –> 00:16:55,159 start out thinking that 463 00:16:55,159 –> 00:16:57,159 the Christian life is going to be like 464 00:16:57,159 –> 00:16:59,159 heaven on earth you will not 465 00:16:59,159 –> 00:17:01,159 follow Jesus Christ for long 466 00:17:01,159 –> 00:17:03,159 You wont 467 00:17:03,159 –> 00:17:05,160 you will become the kind of person who often 468 00:17:05,160 –> 00:17:07,160 hangs out in church, who spends years and years 469 00:17:07,160 –> 00:17:09,160 going round and round and round and circles 470 00:17:09,160 –> 00:17:11,160 saying why am I 471 00:17:11,160 –> 00:17:13,160 suffering? Why is there 472 00:17:13,160 –> 00:17:15,160 so much evil in the world? 473 00:17:15,160 –> 00:17:17,160 Why is my life so hard? 474 00:17:17,160 –> 00:17:19,160 you will become like the 475 00:17:19,160 –> 00:17:21,160 rocky ground that does receive 476 00:17:21,160 –> 00:17:23,160 the seed but the soil is very 477 00:17:23,160 –> 00:17:25,160 very shallow and so when the seed 478 00:17:25,160 –> 00:17:27,160 grows up and then the sun begins 479 00:17:27,160 –> 00:17:29,160 to beat down on it. What has 480 00:17:29,160 –> 00:17:31,160 grown becomes scorched. It doesn’t 481 00:17:31,160 –> 00:17:33,160 last. Because it 482 00:17:33,160 –> 00:17:35,160 does not have a adequate root 483 00:17:35,160 –> 00:17:37,160 listen to how Jesus 484 00:17:37,160 –> 00:17:39,160 describes the Christian life 485 00:17:39,160 –> 00:17:41,160 on Earth. 486 00:17:41,160 –> 00:17:43,160 If anyone would come after me 487 00:17:43,160 –> 00:17:45,160 He says. Let 488 00:17:45,160 –> 00:17:47,160 Him deny Himself 489 00:17:47,160 –> 00:17:49,160 and take 490 00:17:49,160 –> 00:17:51,160 up His cross and follow 491 00:17:51,160 –> 00:17:53,160 Me. 492 00:17:53,160 –> 00:17:55,160 Deny Yourself. You are not going to get everything 493 00:17:55,160 –> 00:17:57,160 that you want here on earth. 494 00:17:57,160 –> 00:17:59,160 And take up your cross 495 00:17:59,160 –> 00:18:01,160 you are going to have to carry some things that will 496 00:18:01,160 –> 00:18:03,160 very very difficult and that is 497 00:18:03,160 –> 00:18:05,160 part of what’s it’s like to follow Me. 498 00:18:05,160 –> 00:18:07,160 That does 499 00:18:07,160 –> 00:18:09,160 not sound to me like the Lord Jesus 500 00:18:09,160 –> 00:18:11,160 Christ promising a wonderful 501 00:18:11,160 –> 00:18:13,160 life on earth. He is not 502 00:18:13,160 –> 00:18:15,160 saying follow Me and I’ll give you 503 00:18:15,160 –> 00:18:17,160 everything you ever wanted. 504 00:18:17,160 –> 00:18:19,160 Here’s 505 00:18:19,160 –> 00:18:21,160 the problem that we are facing folks. 506 00:18:21,160 –> 00:18:23,160 It is 507 00:18:23,160 –> 00:18:25,160 really hard to be a 508 00:18:25,160 –> 00:18:27,160 Christian if you get 509 00:18:27,160 –> 00:18:29,160 following Jesus mixed up 510 00:18:29,160 –> 00:18:31,160 with the American dream. 511 00:18:31,160 –> 00:18:33,160 And that is what has happened 512 00:18:33,160 –> 00:18:35,160 so widely in our culture. 513 00:18:35,160 –> 00:18:37,160 People have confused these 514 00:18:37,160 –> 00:18:39,160 2 things. And so 515 00:18:39,160 –> 00:18:41,160 when life does not work out in 516 00:18:41,160 –> 00:18:43,160 the way that the dream has been 517 00:18:43,160 –> 00:18:45,160 cast you are 518 00:18:45,160 –> 00:18:47,160 perpetually disappointed. 519 00:18:47,160 –> 00:18:49,160 And you are always losing 520 00:18:49,160 –> 00:18:51,160 heart. 521 00:18:51,160 –> 00:18:53,160 So, please take on board 522 00:18:53,160 –> 00:18:55,160 this word 523 00:18:55,160 –> 00:18:57,160 of Biblical 524 00:18:57,160 –> 00:18:59,160 Realism. This healthy 525 00:19:00,160 –> 00:19:02,160 medicine that God gives to us to enable us 526 00:19:02,160 –> 00:19:04,160 to endure in life in this world 527 00:19:04,160 –> 00:19:06,160 so that we will not lose heart. 528 00:19:06,160 –> 00:19:08,160 Please don’t make the mistake 529 00:19:08,160 –> 00:19:10,160 of thinking that following 530 00:19:10,160 –> 00:19:12,160 Jesus in this world will be like 531 00:19:12,160 –> 00:19:14,160 life in a palace. 532 00:19:14,160 –> 00:19:16,160 The life of a Christian in 533 00:19:16,160 –> 00:19:18,160 this world is like life in 534 00:19:18,160 –> 00:19:20,160 a tent. 535 00:19:20,160 –> 00:19:22,160 It’s a fragile structure 536 00:19:24,160 –> 00:19:26,160 that will one day be taken down. 537 00:19:26,160 –> 00:19:28,160 And the experience 538 00:19:28,160 –> 00:19:30,160 of a Christian in it 539 00:19:31,160 –> 00:19:33,160 includes a great deal 540 00:19:33,160 –> 00:19:35,160 of groaning. 541 00:19:35,160 –> 00:19:37,160 Now I say to you that 542 00:19:37,160 –> 00:19:39,160 if you believe this 543 00:19:39,160 –> 00:19:41,160 what God is saying 544 00:19:41,160 –> 00:19:43,160 in 2 Corinthians 5 545 00:19:43,160 –> 00:19:45,160 1. If you believe this 546 00:19:45,160 –> 00:19:47,160 this healthy dose 547 00:19:47,160 –> 00:19:49,160 of biblical realism 548 00:19:49,160 –> 00:19:51,160 will greatly help you 549 00:19:51,160 –> 00:19:53,160 so that you 550 00:19:53,160 –> 00:19:55,160 do not lose heart. 551 00:19:55,160 –> 00:19:57,160 We need it. We need every part 552 00:19:57,160 –> 00:19:59,160 of the word of God and we desperately 553 00:19:59,160 –> 00:20:01,160 need what is before us in 554 00:20:01,160 –> 00:20:03,160 the Scriptures 555 00:20:03,160 –> 00:20:05,160 today. 556 00:20:05,160 –> 00:20:07,160 Now that’s the first point. Here’s the second. 557 00:20:07,160 –> 00:20:09,160 First, a healthy dose 558 00:20:09,160 –> 00:20:11,160 of realism about the 559 00:20:11,160 –> 00:20:13,160 Christian’s life on earth. The second 560 00:20:13,160 –> 00:20:15,160 a marvelous gift 561 00:20:15,160 –> 00:20:17,160 of revelation 562 00:20:17,160 –> 00:20:19,160 about the Christian’s life 563 00:20:19,160 –> 00:20:21,160 in heaven. 564 00:20:21,160 –> 00:20:23,160 A marvellous gift of revelation 565 00:20:23,160 –> 00:20:25,160 about the Christian’s life 566 00:20:25,160 –> 00:20:27,160 in heaven. Verse one again. 567 00:20:27,160 –> 00:20:29,160 We know that if 568 00:20:29,160 –> 00:20:31,160 the tent 569 00:20:31,160 –> 00:20:33,160 that is our earthly 570 00:20:33,160 –> 00:20:35,160 home, our earthly home 571 00:20:35,160 –> 00:20:37,160 is destroyed 572 00:20:37,160 –> 00:20:39,160 we have a building from God 573 00:20:39,160 –> 00:20:41,160 a house not made 574 00:20:41,160 –> 00:20:43,160 with hands eternal 575 00:20:43,160 –> 00:20:46,160 in the heavens. 576 00:20:46,160 –> 00:20:48,160 Now 577 00:20:48,160 –> 00:20:50,160 Paul is using here a very simple 578 00:20:50,160 –> 00:20:52,160 picture and it is a very wonderful one. 579 00:20:52,160 –> 00:20:54,160 You can teach this to your 580 00:20:54,160 –> 00:20:56,160 children. You can teach this to your grandchildren 581 00:20:56,160 –> 00:20:58,160 wonderfully simple. 582 00:20:58,160 –> 00:21:00,160 A Christian 583 00:21:00,160 –> 00:21:02,160 is the owner 584 00:21:02,160 –> 00:21:04,160 of 2 homes. That’s true of 585 00:21:04,160 –> 00:21:06,160 every Christian. The Christian is 586 00:21:06,160 –> 00:21:08,160 the owner of 2 homes. 587 00:21:08,160 –> 00:21:10,160 The home that you are living in now 588 00:21:10,160 –> 00:21:12,160 the body, is the temporary 589 00:21:12,160 –> 00:21:14,160 one. It is canvas, it is ropes 590 00:21:14,160 –> 00:21:16,160 it is pegs. 591 00:21:16,160 –> 00:21:18,160 But you have another home 592 00:21:18,160 –> 00:21:20,160 that is more enduring 593 00:21:20,160 –> 00:21:22,160 and more substantial. 594 00:21:22,160 –> 00:21:24,160 It doesn’t say you will have another 595 00:21:24,160 –> 00:21:26,160 home, it says you do have another home. 596 00:21:26,160 –> 00:21:28,160 We have this. It’s already there for us. 597 00:21:28,160 –> 00:21:30,160 The date of your moving 598 00:21:30,160 –> 00:21:32,160 to the new home has not yet been given 599 00:21:32,160 –> 00:21:34,160 but it is already 600 00:21:34,160 –> 00:21:36,160 known to god 601 00:21:36,160 –> 00:21:38,160 Now what 602 00:21:38,160 –> 00:21:40,160 exactly is this new home 603 00:21:40,160 –> 00:21:42,160 that the Christian 604 00:21:42,160 –> 00:21:44,160 has? That’s a very 605 00:21:44,160 –> 00:21:46,160 important question. 606 00:21:46,160 –> 00:21:48,160 Nobody that I have read 607 00:21:48,160 –> 00:21:50,160 on this question 608 00:21:50,160 –> 00:21:52,160 deal with it or answers it 609 00:21:52,160 –> 00:21:54,160 better than Charles Hodge 610 00:21:54,160 –> 00:21:56,160 the great teacher 611 00:21:56,160 –> 00:21:58,160 from Princeton in 612 00:21:58,160 –> 00:22:00,160 an earlier century. 613 00:22:00,160 –> 00:22:02,160 He asks in his book on 2 614 00:22:02,160 –> 00:22:04,160 Corinthians, what is the building 615 00:22:04,160 –> 00:22:06,160 into which the 616 00:22:06,160 –> 00:22:08,160 enters when the present 617 00:22:08,160 –> 00:22:10,160 body is taken 618 00:22:10,160 –> 00:22:12,160 down? What is the building 619 00:22:12,160 –> 00:22:14,160 that Paul is referring to here 620 00:22:14,160 –> 00:22:16,160 into which the soul enters 621 00:22:16,160 –> 00:22:18,160 when the present 622 00:22:18,160 –> 00:22:20,160 body, the tent, is 623 00:22:20,160 –> 00:22:22,160 taken down? And he gives 624 00:22:22,160 –> 00:22:24,160 three possibilities that have been put 625 00:22:24,160 –> 00:22:26,160 forward by various writers 626 00:22:26,160 –> 00:22:28,160 over the years. 627 00:22:28,160 –> 00:22:30,160 The first is Heaven itself, 628 00:22:30,160 –> 00:22:32,160 the second is the resurrection 629 00:22:32,160 –> 00:22:34,160 body, and the third 630 00:22:34,160 –> 00:22:36,160 is some kind of temporary 631 00:22:36,160 –> 00:22:38,160 body, an intermediate 632 00:22:38,160 –> 00:22:40,160 body so that, as 633 00:22:40,160 –> 00:22:42,160 Paul says, we are not found naked 634 00:22:42,160 –> 00:22:44,160 between death and 635 00:22:44,160 –> 00:22:46,160 resurrection when Christ returns 636 00:22:46,160 –> 00:22:48,160 in glory. 637 00:22:48,160 –> 00:22:50,160 Now having laid out these three very quickly, 638 00:22:50,160 –> 00:22:52,160 Charles Hodge unsurely rightly 639 00:22:52,160 –> 00:22:54,160 dismisses the third one, an interim 640 00:22:54,160 –> 00:22:56,160 or temporary body. The Bible nowhere 641 00:22:56,160 –> 00:22:58,160 teaches that and besides 642 00:22:58,160 –> 00:23:00,160 in this passage, 643 00:23:00,160 –> 00:23:02,160 Paul says that the new house is 644 00:23:02,160 –> 00:23:04,160 eternal, so if the new house is eternal 645 00:23:04,160 –> 00:23:06,160 it could hardly be something that is interim 646 00:23:06,160 –> 00:23:08,160 or temporary. 647 00:23:08,160 –> 00:23:10,160 And so that leaves two serious contenders 648 00:23:10,160 –> 00:23:12,160 here of how we are to understand 649 00:23:12,160 –> 00:23:14,160 this. Is it the resurrection 650 00:23:14,160 –> 00:23:16,160 body that is being spoken of, or is it 651 00:23:16,160 –> 00:23:18,160 heaven itself? 652 00:23:18,160 –> 00:23:20,160 With regard to the resurrection body, 653 00:23:20,160 –> 00:23:22,160 he points out 654 00:23:22,160 –> 00:23:24,160 that the resurrection body 655 00:23:24,160 –> 00:23:26,160 is the gift of Christ to all 656 00:23:26,160 –> 00:23:28,160 the believers when Christ returns in glory. 657 00:23:28,160 –> 00:23:30,160 In other words, 658 00:23:30,160 –> 00:23:32,160 Christians who die have to wait 659 00:23:32,160 –> 00:23:34,160 for it. Always 660 00:23:34,160 –> 00:23:36,160 remember that 661 00:23:36,160 –> 00:23:38,160 only one person 662 00:23:38,160 –> 00:23:40,160 has the resurrection body right now. 663 00:23:40,160 –> 00:23:42,160 The only 664 00:23:42,160 –> 00:23:44,160 person who has the resurrection 665 00:23:44,160 –> 00:23:46,160 body right now is 666 00:23:46,160 –> 00:23:48,160 Jesus Christ. 667 00:23:48,160 –> 00:23:49,160 Peter, James, John 668 00:23:49,160 –> 00:23:50,160 don’t have it. They’re still 669 00:23:50,160 –> 00:23:52,160 waiting for the timewhen 670 00:23:52,160 –> 00:23:54,160 Christ returns in glory, 671 00:23:54,160 –> 00:23:56,160 and all of his church will be brought together. 672 00:23:56,160 –> 00:23:58,160 The whole family will get this marvelous 673 00:23:58,160 –> 00:24:00,160 gift on that great day. 674 00:24:00,160 –> 00:24:02,160 Our believing loved ones 675 00:24:02,160 –> 00:24:04,160 who have died and are with Christ 676 00:24:04,160 –> 00:24:06,160 do not yet have the resurrection body. 677 00:24:06,160 –> 00:24:08,160 They are waiting 678 00:24:08,160 –> 00:24:10,160 that further joy 679 00:24:10,160 –> 00:24:12,160 that yet lies ahead. 680 00:24:12,160 –> 00:24:14,160 Now I take a moment on that 681 00:24:14,160 –> 00:24:15,160 for this reason. 682 00:24:15,160 –> 00:24:17,160 In 2 Corinthians 683 00:24:17,160 –> 00:24:19,160 chapter 5, Paul 684 00:24:19,160 –> 00:24:21,160 is answering the question 685 00:24:21,160 –> 00:24:23,160 what 686 00:24:23,160 –> 00:24:25,160 happens when 687 00:24:25,160 –> 00:24:27,160 a Christian dies? 688 00:24:27,160 –> 00:24:29,160 What happens 689 00:24:29,160 –> 00:24:31,160 when the tent 690 00:24:31,160 –> 00:24:33,160 is taken down? 691 00:24:33,160 –> 00:24:35,160 When the tent is taken 692 00:24:35,160 –> 00:24:37,160 down what in the next 693 00:24:37,160 –> 00:24:39,160 moment is the experience 694 00:24:39,160 –> 00:24:41,160 of the Christian believer? 695 00:24:41,160 –> 00:24:43,160 What happens to your 696 00:24:43,160 –> 00:24:45,160 loved one? What will happen to you as a 697 00:24:45,160 –> 00:24:47,160 Christian the moment after 698 00:24:47,160 –> 00:24:49,160 your close your eyes 699 00:24:49,160 –> 00:24:51,160 in death? 700 00:24:51,160 –> 00:24:53,160 Now obviously the answer to that question 701 00:24:53,160 –> 00:24:55,160 what happens next, is not 702 00:24:55,160 –> 00:24:57,160 the resurrection body? 703 00:24:57,160 –> 00:24:59,160 That awaits the time when the lord 704 00:24:59,160 –> 00:25:01,160 Jesus Christ will return in 705 00:25:01,160 –> 00:25:03,160 glory. 706 00:25:03,160 –> 00:25:05,160 The answer to the question what happens next when 707 00:25:05,160 –> 00:25:07,160 the tent is taken down is 708 00:25:07,160 –> 00:25:09,160 laid out in full in verse 8 709 00:25:09,160 –> 00:25:11,160 away from the body is 710 00:25:11,160 –> 00:25:13,160 to be at, notice the word 711 00:25:13,160 –> 00:25:15,160 home 712 00:25:15,160 –> 00:25:17,160 with the lord 713 00:25:17,160 –> 00:25:19,160 so I am convinced 714 00:25:19,160 –> 00:25:21,160 with Hodge and with many others 715 00:25:21,160 –> 00:25:23,160 that the home that is being 716 00:25:23,160 –> 00:25:25,160 referred to here, the building 717 00:25:25,160 –> 00:25:27,160 relates to 718 00:25:27,160 –> 00:25:29,160 heaven itself and he’s 719 00:25:29,160 –> 00:25:31,160 using the same language as the 720 00:25:31,160 –> 00:25:33,160 Lord Jesus himself did when he said 721 00:25:33,160 –> 00:25:35,160 in my father’s 722 00:25:35,160 –> 00:25:37,160 what’s the next word 723 00:25:37,160 –> 00:25:39,160 house are many 724 00:25:39,160 –> 00:25:41,160 rooms and if it were not so 725 00:25:41,160 –> 00:25:43,160 I would have told you 726 00:25:43,160 –> 00:25:45,160 but I go to prepare a place for you 727 00:25:45,160 –> 00:25:47,160 Jesus speaks about this as the 728 00:25:47,160 –> 00:25:49,160 house, that when the soul 729 00:25:49,160 –> 00:25:51,160 leavers the tent which is the temporary 730 00:25:51,160 –> 00:25:53,160 house, it goes 731 00:25:53,160 –> 00:25:55,160 into the father’s house 732 00:25:55,160 –> 00:25:57,160 and Paul is using 733 00:25:57,160 –> 00:25:59,160 the same language here 734 00:25:59,160 –> 00:26:01,160 he’s saying we know that when the tent 735 00:26:01,160 –> 00:26:03,160 that is our earthly home is destroyed 736 00:26:03,160 –> 00:26:05,160 we should have a building from God 737 00:26:05,160 –> 00:26:07,160 a house not with 738 00:26:07,160 –> 00:26:09,160 made with hands which is eternal 739 00:26:09,160 –> 00:26:11,160 in the heavens 740 00:26:11,160 –> 00:26:13,160 so the christian then is a person 741 00:26:13,160 –> 00:26:15,160 with two houses 742 00:26:15,160 –> 00:26:17,160 the first house 743 00:26:17,160 –> 00:26:19,160 for your soul is the body 744 00:26:19,160 –> 00:26:21,160 which is like a tent 745 00:26:21,160 –> 00:26:23,160 and when that house 746 00:26:23,160 –> 00:26:25,160 is pulled down you will move 747 00:26:25,160 –> 00:26:27,160 into the other house 748 00:26:27,160 –> 00:26:29,160 which is in heaven 749 00:26:29,160 –> 00:26:31,160 the house that Jesus has 750 00:26:31,160 –> 00:26:33,160 prepared for you. Heaven is the house 751 00:26:33,160 –> 00:26:35,160 into which your soul will 752 00:26:35,160 –> 00:26:37,160 enter when your 753 00:26:37,160 –> 00:26:39,160 present house, the tent, is 754 00:26:39,160 –> 00:26:41,160 taken down 755 00:26:41,160 –> 00:26:43,160 now the contrast which is 756 00:26:43,160 –> 00:26:45,160 what Paul is getting at 757 00:26:45,160 –> 00:26:47,160 between these two houses could hardly be greater 758 00:26:47,160 –> 00:26:49,160 the tent is a 759 00:26:49,160 –> 00:26:51,160 house to lodge in 760 00:26:51,160 –> 00:26:53,160 but the building 761 00:26:53,160 –> 00:26:55,160 is a home to live 762 00:26:55,160 –> 00:26:57,160 in 763 00:26:57,160 –> 00:26:59,160 The tent is a fragile 764 00:26:59,160 –> 00:27:01,160 structure with many difficulties 765 00:27:01,160 –> 00:27:03,160 and limitations and it will 766 00:27:03,160 –> 00:27:05,160 eventually be destroyed 767 00:27:05,160 –> 00:27:07,160 the building is an enduring 768 00:27:07,160 –> 00:27:09,160 structure that Paul says here will be 769 00:27:09,160 –> 00:27:11,160 eternal 770 00:27:11,160 –> 00:27:13,160 In this earthly tent 771 00:27:13,160 –> 00:27:15,160 there is a great deal of 772 00:27:15,160 –> 00:27:17,160 groaning 773 00:27:17,160 –> 00:27:19,160 but in the house that is not 774 00:27:19,160 –> 00:27:21,160 made with hands, verse 4 775 00:27:21,160 –> 00:27:23,160 he tells us what is mortal 776 00:27:23,160 –> 00:27:25,160 will be swallowed 777 00:27:25,160 –> 00:27:27,160 up in life 778 00:27:27,160 –> 00:27:29,160 beautiful 779 00:27:29,160 –> 00:27:31,160 marvelous 780 00:27:31,160 –> 00:27:33,160 now understand this 781 00:27:33,160 –> 00:27:35,160 that God is using 782 00:27:35,160 –> 00:27:37,160 language that we can grasp 783 00:27:37,160 –> 00:27:39,160 to help us 784 00:27:39,160 –> 00:27:41,160 begin to understand 785 00:27:41,160 –> 00:27:43,160 something of what 786 00:27:43,160 –> 00:27:45,160 otherwise would be completely beyond us 787 00:27:45,160 –> 00:27:47,160 And so, try to 788 00:27:47,160 –> 00:27:49,160 take in this picture by which God 789 00:27:49,160 –> 00:27:51,160 is speaking to us, two things happen 790 00:27:51,160 –> 00:27:53,160 when a Christian dies, it is like 791 00:27:53,160 –> 00:27:55,160 moving house 792 00:27:55,160 –> 00:27:57,160 there is a leaving 793 00:27:57,160 –> 00:27:59,160 and there is an arriving 794 00:27:59,160 –> 00:28:01,160 and there is an arriving 795 00:28:01,160 –> 00:28:03,160 think about the leaving 796 00:28:03,160 –> 00:28:05,160 in the leaving 797 00:28:05,160 –> 00:28:07,160 your soul is separated from your body 798 00:28:07,160 –> 00:28:09,160 nobody likes to think 799 00:28:09,160 –> 00:28:11,160 about such a thing 800 00:28:11,160 –> 00:28:13,160 nobody likes the thought of leaving 801 00:28:13,160 –> 00:28:15,160 that is why 802 00:28:15,160 –> 00:28:17,160 death is an enemy 803 00:28:17,160 –> 00:28:19,160 that is why it is spoken of 804 00:28:19,160 –> 00:28:21,160 the last enemy 805 00:28:21,160 –> 00:28:23,160 even the last enemy of the Christian 806 00:28:23,160 –> 00:28:25,160 is the living of our nature 807 00:28:25,160 –> 00:28:27,160 it’s the tearing apart of what God has joined together 808 00:28:27,160 –> 00:28:29,160 He made your body, soul, unity 809 00:28:29,160 –> 00:28:31,160 the interface between your soul 810 00:28:31,160 –> 00:28:33,160 and your body is so complex 811 00:28:33,160 –> 00:28:35,160 as to be almost unfathomable 812 00:28:35,160 –> 00:28:37,160 to separate your soul from your body 813 00:28:37,160 –> 00:28:39,160 it feels like it is the undoing 814 00:28:39,160 –> 00:28:41,160 to take the soul out of his house 815 00:28:41,160 –> 00:28:43,160 and it is 816 00:28:43,160 –> 00:28:45,160 and that is why 817 00:28:45,160 –> 00:28:47,160 Paul speaks of longing 818 00:28:47,160 –> 00:28:49,160 to put on our heavenly dwelling 819 00:28:49,160 –> 00:28:51,160 that we may not 820 00:28:51,160 –> 00:28:53,160 that we may not be found naked 821 00:28:53,160 –> 00:28:55,160 verse three 822 00:28:55,160 –> 00:28:57,160 or in verse four 823 00:28:57,160 –> 00:28:59,160 we groan and are burdened 824 00:28:59,160 –> 00:29:01,160 not that we would be 825 00:29:01,160 –> 00:29:03,160 unclothed the thought of simply being 826 00:29:03,160 –> 00:29:05,160 a sort of lost spirit 827 00:29:05,160 –> 00:29:07,160 without a home 828 00:29:07,160 –> 00:29:09,160 is an appalling thought 829 00:29:09,160 –> 00:29:11,160 nobody in their right mind 830 00:29:11,160 –> 00:29:13,160 would want their soul 831 00:29:13,160 –> 00:29:15,160 to be separated from their body 832 00:29:16,160 –> 00:29:18,160 and if death 833 00:29:18,160 –> 00:29:20,160 was only 834 00:29:20,160 –> 00:29:22,160 the leaving of the soul from the body 835 00:29:22,160 –> 00:29:25,160 it would be terrifying indeed 836 00:29:25,160 –> 00:29:27,160 but the whole point here 837 00:29:27,160 –> 00:29:29,160 is that the apostle is saying 838 00:29:29,160 –> 00:29:31,160 when your soul leaves the tent 839 00:29:31,160 –> 00:29:33,160 when your soul leaves the body 840 00:29:33,160 –> 00:29:35,160 the leaving is immediately 841 00:29:35,160 –> 00:29:37,160 matched to an arriving 842 00:29:37,160 –> 00:29:39,160 your soul moves into 843 00:29:39,160 –> 00:29:41,160 the new home 844 00:29:41,160 –> 00:29:43,160 that he’s describing for us here 845 00:29:43,160 –> 00:29:45,160 Christian brother and sister 846 00:29:45,160 –> 00:29:47,160 when God takes down your tent 847 00:29:47,160 –> 00:29:49,160 your soul 848 00:29:49,160 –> 00:29:51,160 will not be lost 849 00:29:51,160 –> 00:29:53,160 in space without a resting 850 00:29:53,160 –> 00:29:55,160 place 851 00:29:55,160 –> 00:29:57,160 the moment your soul leaves 852 00:29:57,160 –> 00:29:59,160 the tent of your body 853 00:29:59,160 –> 00:30:01,160 it will be at home in the building 854 00:30:01,160 –> 00:30:03,160 the place that Jesus Christ has 855 00:30:03,160 –> 00:30:05,160 already prepared for you 856 00:30:05,160 –> 00:30:07,160 to be absent from the body 857 00:30:07,160 –> 00:30:09,160 verse 8 is 858 00:30:09,160 –> 00:30:11,160 to be present with 859 00:30:11,160 –> 00:30:13,160 the Lord 860 00:30:13,160 –> 00:30:15,160 I expect 861 00:30:15,160 –> 00:30:17,160 everybody’s got 862 00:30:17,160 –> 00:30:19,160 some story of moving house 863 00:30:19,160 –> 00:30:21,160 and 864 00:30:21,160 –> 00:30:23,160 might enjoy swapping some of these stories 865 00:30:23,160 –> 00:30:25,160 in the next week. Karna and I have only done that 866 00:30:25,160 –> 00:30:27,160 once in all of our married 867 00:30:27,160 –> 00:30:29,160 lives. 16 868 00:30:29,160 –> 00:30:31,160 years serving 869 00:30:31,160 –> 00:30:33,160 church in London and 18 years 870 00:30:33,160 –> 00:30:35,160 being blessed to be here 871 00:30:35,160 –> 00:30:37,160 and so that was our one move we 872 00:30:37,160 –> 00:30:39,160 left a house that was 873 00:30:39,160 –> 00:30:41,160 and still is owned by the church 874 00:30:41,160 –> 00:30:43,160 that we served and love 875 00:30:43,160 –> 00:30:45,160 in London and came 876 00:30:45,160 –> 00:30:47,160 and bought the house 877 00:30:47,160 –> 00:30:49,160 that we have here and that we’ve been there 878 00:30:49,160 –> 00:30:51,160 18 years and are so grateful 879 00:30:51,160 –> 00:30:53,160 for it today 880 00:30:53,160 –> 00:30:55,160 and you know what it’s like 881 00:30:55,160 –> 00:30:57,160 leaving is never fun 882 00:30:57,160 –> 00:30:59,160 here were 883 00:30:59,160 –> 00:31:01,160 a congregation of people we really 884 00:31:01,160 –> 00:31:03,160 loved 885 00:31:03,160 –> 00:31:05,160 and a home 886 00:31:05,160 –> 00:31:07,160 to which we brought home our 887 00:31:07,160 –> 00:31:09,160 two boys when they were born 888 00:31:09,160 –> 00:31:11,160 and full of memories and 889 00:31:11,160 –> 00:31:13,160 leaving that house wasn’t easy 890 00:31:13,160 –> 00:31:15,160 and it was made worse 891 00:31:15,160 –> 00:31:17,160 by the last 892 00:31:17,160 –> 00:31:19,160 time that we were there 893 00:31:19,160 –> 00:31:21,160 it all came back to me just thinking about it 894 00:31:21,160 –> 00:31:23,160 this morning 895 00:31:23,160 –> 00:31:25,160 6 months before we left 896 00:31:25,160 –> 00:31:27,160 our house was flooded 897 00:31:27,160 –> 00:31:29,160 and so we lived 898 00:31:29,160 –> 00:31:31,160 some months really 899 00:31:31,160 –> 00:31:33,160 effectively in what was 900 00:31:33,160 –> 00:31:35,160 a rebuilding job that was 901 00:31:35,160 –> 00:31:37,160 going on there. We felt that it was right to 902 00:31:37,160 –> 00:31:39,160 stay rather than to move 903 00:31:39,160 –> 00:31:41,160 out but I’m just saying this 904 00:31:41,160 –> 00:31:43,160 you know the process of leaving 905 00:31:43,160 –> 00:31:45,160 as we’re thinking about what this end of life 906 00:31:45,160 –> 00:31:47,160 can be like is sometimes very difficult 907 00:31:49,160 –> 00:31:51,160 and I remember 908 00:31:51,160 –> 00:31:53,160 the last day I closed the door 909 00:31:53,160 –> 00:31:55,160 it imprinted on my mind 910 00:31:55,160 –> 00:31:57,160 Karne and the boys had gone ahead 911 00:31:57,160 –> 00:31:59,160 with the car and they had gone down to her 912 00:31:59,160 –> 00:32:01,160 folks and our stuff was all on 913 00:32:01,160 –> 00:32:03,160 the high seas some where and we hoped that we might 914 00:32:03,160 –> 00:32:05,160 one day see it again and 915 00:32:05,160 –> 00:32:07,160 having said goodbye 916 00:32:07,160 –> 00:32:09,160 to everyone and finished up everything 917 00:32:09,160 –> 00:32:11,160 that we wanted to leave the place as best we could 918 00:32:11,160 –> 00:32:13,160 and 919 00:32:13,160 –> 00:32:15,160 I came out the door and 920 00:32:15,160 –> 00:32:17,160 there I am with my suitcase 921 00:32:17,160 –> 00:32:19,160 and got on the train 922 00:32:19,160 –> 00:32:21,160 and it was raining 923 00:32:21,160 –> 00:32:23,160 it always rains in 924 00:32:23,160 –> 00:32:25,160 London but it was 925 00:32:25,160 –> 00:32:27,160 just a great day and I thought 926 00:32:27,160 –> 00:32:29,160 you know that’s exactly what it feels 927 00:32:29,160 –> 00:32:31,160 Leaving’s 928 00:32:31,160 –> 00:32:33,160 no fun 929 00:32:33,160 –> 00:32:35,160 no fun 930 00:32:35,160 –> 00:32:38,160 Arriving was a different matter 931 00:32:38,160 –> 00:32:40,160 very different 932 00:32:40,160 –> 00:32:42,160 wonderful 933 00:32:42,160 –> 00:32:44,160 now let me just give this personal caveat for 934 00:32:44,160 –> 00:32:46,160 a moment The problem for 935 00:32:46,160 –> 00:32:48,160 us was that there was some distance 936 00:32:48,160 –> 00:32:50,160 in between 937 00:32:50,160 –> 00:32:52,160 We found and folks here 938 00:32:52,160 –> 00:32:54,160 who were involved at the time and some of you 939 00:32:54,160 –> 00:32:56,160 prayed at this time I’ve always been grateful for that 940 00:32:56,160 –> 00:32:58,160 for that there had been a delay 941 00:32:58,160 –> 00:33:00,160 and a glitch in the process of 942 00:33:00,160 –> 00:33:02,160 our application or the church’s application 943 00:33:02,160 –> 00:33:04,160 for a green card 944 00:33:04,160 –> 00:33:06,160 for us and 945 00:33:06,160 –> 00:33:08,160 we were stranded 946 00:33:08,160 –> 00:33:10,160 I mean stuff was gone we were out of our 947 00:33:10,160 –> 00:33:12,160 house We’d ended 948 00:33:12,160 –> 00:33:14,160 with one church we had not 949 00:33:14,160 –> 00:33:16,160 legal permission now to begin here 950 00:33:16,160 –> 00:33:18,160 and that 951 00:33:18,160 –> 00:33:20,160 was our position in no 952 00:33:20,160 –> 00:33:22,160 man’s land for ten weeks 953 00:33:22,160 –> 00:33:24,160 and that was not an easy 954 00:33:24,160 –> 00:33:26,160 time as you can imagine and moved in with 955 00:33:26,160 –> 00:33:28,160 my folks but 956 00:33:28,160 –> 00:33:30,160 grateful for their kindness 957 00:33:30,160 –> 00:33:32,160 we had a sense of 958 00:33:32,160 –> 00:33:34,160 we have no home we’ve left one and we 959 00:33:34,160 –> 00:33:36,160 can’t get to the other 960 00:33:36,160 –> 00:33:38,160 and eventually 961 00:33:38,160 –> 00:33:40,160 the great day came and with great 962 00:33:40,160 –> 00:33:42,160 thankfulness to God we made this long journey 963 00:33:42,160 –> 00:33:44,160 took a while, four thousand 964 00:33:44,160 –> 00:33:46,160 miles it’s a long way to go 965 00:33:46,160 –> 00:33:48,160 and I say that for 966 00:33:48,160 –> 00:33:50,160 this reason 967 00:33:50,160 –> 00:33:52,160 that in great contrast to that experience 968 00:33:52,160 –> 00:33:54,160 I want you to take 969 00:33:54,160 –> 00:33:56,160 this in however 970 00:33:56,160 –> 00:33:58,160 difficult the last days 971 00:33:58,160 –> 00:34:00,160 in the tent may be 972 00:34:00,160 –> 00:34:02,160 for you and sometimes 973 00:34:02,160 –> 00:34:04,160 the leaving is hard 974 00:34:04,160 –> 00:34:06,160 however difficult 975 00:34:06,160 –> 00:34:08,159 the last days in the tent may be for you 976 00:34:08,159 –> 00:34:10,159 the moment 977 00:34:10,159 –> 00:34:12,159 you leave will be the 978 00:34:12,159 –> 00:34:14,159 moment you arrive. 979 00:34:14,159 –> 00:34:16,159 The moment you close your eyes 980 00:34:16,159 –> 00:34:18,159 will be the moment that 981 00:34:18,159 –> 00:34:20,159 you see the full glory 982 00:34:20,159 –> 00:34:22,159 of the savior you have loved and trusted 983 00:34:22,159 –> 00:34:24,159 all these years 984 00:34:24,159 –> 00:34:26,159 to be absent from the body 985 00:34:26,159 –> 00:34:28,159 is to be present with the Lord 986 00:34:28,159 –> 00:34:30,159 you will never be stranded in no man’s 987 00:34:30,159 –> 00:34:32,159 land when you’re out of the one 988 00:34:32,159 –> 00:34:34,159 house you’re into the other 989 00:34:34,159 –> 00:34:36,159 it is an instant house 990 00:34:36,159 –> 00:34:38,159 move of think about your story 991 00:34:38,159 –> 00:34:40,159 of moving house. How many people would have liked to 992 00:34:40,159 –> 00:34:42,159 experience an instant house 993 00:34:42,159 –> 00:34:44,159 move, like that 994 00:34:44,159 –> 00:34:46,159 and that’s exactly what he’s 995 00:34:46,159 –> 00:34:48,159 describing here 996 00:34:48,159 –> 00:34:50,159 and out of the tent with all of its 997 00:34:50,159 –> 00:34:52,159 sagging structure and all of the difficulties 998 00:34:52,159 –> 00:34:54,159 as it’s been taken 999 00:34:54,159 –> 00:34:56,159 down and into 1000 00:34:56,159 –> 00:34:58,159 the glory of the home that Jesus Christ 1001 00:34:58,159 –> 00:35:00,159 has already prepared for 1002 00:35:00,159 –> 00:35:02,159 you and has it ready 1003 00:35:02,159 –> 00:35:04,159 it’s yours, and it’s 1004 00:35:04,159 –> 00:35:06,159 there in the heavens 1005 00:35:06,159 –> 00:35:08,159 Matthew Henry just grasps 1006 00:35:08,159 –> 00:35:10,159 this so helpfully. He says 1007 00:35:10,159 –> 00:35:12,159 death considered merely 1008 00:35:12,159 –> 00:35:14,159 as a separation of soul and body 1009 00:35:14,159 –> 00:35:16,159 is not to be desired but rather 1010 00:35:16,159 –> 00:35:18,159 dreaded but 1011 00:35:18,159 –> 00:35:20,159 considered as a passage 1012 00:35:20,159 –> 00:35:22,159 to glory 1013 00:35:22,159 –> 00:35:24,159 the believer is willing to die rather than 1014 00:35:24,159 –> 00:35:26,159 to live to be absent from the body 1015 00:35:26,159 –> 00:35:28,159 that he or she may be 1016 00:35:28,159 –> 00:35:30,159 present with 1017 00:35:30,159 –> 00:35:32,159 the Lord 1018 00:35:32,159 –> 00:35:34,159 an immediate translation 1019 00:35:34,159 –> 00:35:36,159 in which 1020 00:35:36,159 –> 00:35:38,159 you change the tent 1021 00:35:38,159 –> 00:35:40,159 for the building 1022 00:35:40,159 –> 00:35:42,159 earth for heaven 1023 00:35:42,159 –> 00:35:44,159 the temporary for the eternal 1024 00:35:44,159 –> 00:35:46,159 and the pain 1025 00:35:46,159 –> 00:35:48,159 of groaning 1026 00:35:48,159 –> 00:35:50,159 for the joy 1027 00:35:50,159 –> 00:35:52,159 of glory 1028 00:35:52,159 –> 00:35:54,159 and then the Apostle Paul 1029 00:35:54,159 –> 00:35:56,159 just caps it 1030 00:35:56,159 –> 00:35:58,159 under the inspiration of the spirit 1031 00:35:58,159 –> 00:36:00,159 he says this in verse 5 1032 00:36:00,159 –> 00:36:02,159 and he who has 1033 00:36:02,159 –> 00:36:04,159 prepared us 1034 00:36:04,159 –> 00:36:06,159 for this very thing 1035 00:36:06,159 –> 00:36:08,159 that is he who has 1036 00:36:08,159 –> 00:36:10,159 prepared us for this 1037 00:36:10,159 –> 00:36:12,159 marvellous and instantaneous 1038 00:36:12,159 –> 00:36:14,159 translation 1039 00:36:14,159 –> 00:36:16,159 and the tent is taken down 1040 00:36:16,159 –> 00:36:18,159 and you enter into the building 1041 00:36:18,159 –> 00:36:20,159 he who has prepared 1042 00:36:20,159 –> 00:36:22,159 us for this very thing 1043 00:36:22,159 –> 00:36:24,159 and pray point with me 1044 00:36:24,159 –> 00:36:26,159 God oh don’t you 1045 00:36:26,159 –> 00:36:28,159 thank God for that 1046 00:36:28,159 –> 00:36:30,159 he has prepared 1047 00:36:30,159 –> 00:36:32,159 he is not just preparing us 1048 00:36:32,159 –> 00:36:34,159 he has prepared us 1049 00:36:34,159 –> 00:36:36,159 jesus says I go to 1050 00:36:36,159 –> 00:36:38,159 prepare a place for you it’s done 1051 00:36:38,159 –> 00:36:40,159 it was accomplished on the cross 1052 00:36:40,159 –> 00:36:42,159 how has god prepared 1053 00:36:42,159 –> 00:36:44,159 us for this he sent his son 1054 00:36:44,159 –> 00:36:46,159 into the world to prepare 1055 00:36:46,159 –> 00:36:48,159 the place for us he sent 1056 00:36:48,159 –> 00:36:50,159 the spirit into our hearts 1057 00:36:50,159 –> 00:36:52,159 us for the place 1058 00:36:52,159 –> 00:36:54,159 the one who has prepared 1059 00:36:54,159 –> 00:36:56,159 us for this is god 1060 00:36:56,159 –> 00:36:58,159 that’s why he says 1061 00:36:58,159 –> 00:37:00,159 here that he has given us 1062 00:37:00,159 –> 00:37:02,159 the spirit in our hearts 1063 00:37:02,159 –> 00:37:04,159 as a guarantee 1064 00:37:04,159 –> 00:37:06,159 of what it is 1065 00:37:06,159 –> 00:37:08,159 to come isn’t this 1066 00:37:08,159 –> 00:37:10,159 amazing 1067 00:37:10,159 –> 00:37:12,159 in the old testament they had this tabernacle 1068 00:37:12,159 –> 00:37:14,159 which was a tent 1069 00:37:14,159 –> 00:37:16,159 and you remember 1070 00:37:16,159 –> 00:37:18,159 that the glory of God 1071 00:37:18,159 –> 00:37:20,159 his own presence 1072 00:37:20,159 –> 00:37:22,159 came down into the 1073 00:37:22,159 –> 00:37:24,159 tent 1074 00:37:24,159 –> 00:37:26,159 and you say why in all 1075 00:37:26,159 –> 00:37:28,159 the world 1076 00:37:28,159 –> 00:37:30,159 would God who made the earth 1077 00:37:30,159 –> 00:37:32,159 and the heavens and all things 1078 00:37:32,159 –> 00:37:34,159 why would this great and glorious 1079 00:37:34,159 –> 00:37:36,159 god want to live in a tent 1080 00:37:36,159 –> 00:37:38,159 and yet 1081 00:37:38,159 –> 00:37:40,159 the old testament tells us that was where 1082 00:37:40,159 –> 00:37:42,159 his presence was found 1083 00:37:42,159 –> 00:37:44,159 and you see how that goes through to 1084 00:37:44,159 –> 00:37:46,159 the new testament in this very verse 1085 00:37:46,159 –> 00:37:48,159 ok what’s your body like 1086 00:37:48,159 –> 00:37:50,159 its like a tent 1087 00:37:50,159 –> 00:37:52,159 and the spirit of god 1088 00:37:52,159 –> 00:37:54,159 the spirit of the almighty 1089 00:37:54,159 –> 00:37:56,159 sovereign god 1090 00:37:56,159 –> 00:37:58,159 god himself by the spirit 1091 00:37:58,159 –> 00:38:00,159 has come down to live 1092 00:38:00,159 –> 00:38:02,159 in the tent 1093 00:38:02,159 –> 00:38:04,159 of your body 1094 00:38:04,159 –> 00:38:06,159 Christ in 1095 00:38:06,159 –> 00:38:08,159 you 1096 00:38:08,159 –> 00:38:10,159 the hope 1097 00:38:10,159 –> 00:38:12,159 of glory 1098 00:38:12,159 –> 00:38:14,159 God with you 1099 00:38:14,159 –> 00:38:16,159 of all the groaning 1100 00:38:16,159 –> 00:38:18,159 and difficulty and pressure 1101 00:38:18,159 –> 00:38:20,159 of life 1102 00:38:20,159 –> 00:38:22,159 in the tent 1103 00:38:22,159 –> 00:38:24,159 god make’s his home with you 1104 00:38:24,159 –> 00:38:26,159 in the tent, until the day 1105 00:38:26,159 –> 00:38:28,159 when you make your home with him 1106 00:38:28,159 –> 00:38:30,159 in the house 1107 00:38:30,159 –> 00:38:32,159 and I call this a 1108 00:38:32,159 –> 00:38:34,159 marvelous gift of revelation 1109 00:38:34,159 –> 00:38:36,159 of Christians’ life in heaven 1110 00:38:36,159 –> 00:38:38,159 because god didn’t need to tell us 1111 00:38:38,159 –> 00:38:40,159 anything 1112 00:38:40,159 –> 00:38:42,159 about what lies beyond death 1113 00:38:42,159 –> 00:38:44,159 you trust me, you trust me in the Christian life 1114 00:38:44,159 –> 00:38:46,159 and as far as what lies beyond, I’m not telling you 1115 00:38:46,159 –> 00:38:48,159 anything, you just need to trust me on it 1116 00:38:48,159 –> 00:38:50,159 but he doesn’t do 1117 00:38:50,159 –> 00:38:52,159 that 1118 00:38:52,159 –> 00:38:54,159 he pulls back the curtain 1119 00:38:54,159 –> 00:38:56,159 just a little 1120 00:38:56,159 –> 00:38:58,159 So that we may be 1121 00:38:58,159 –> 00:39:00,159 given a glimpse of what is yet to 1122 00:39:00,159 –> 00:39:02,159 come 1123 00:39:02,159 –> 00:39:04,159 and why does he do it? 1124 00:39:04,159 –> 00:39:06,159 So that we 1125 00:39:06,159 –> 00:39:08,159 will not 1126 00:39:08,159 –> 00:39:10,159 lose 1127 00:39:10,159 –> 00:39:12,159 his heart 1128 00:39:12,159 –> 00:39:14,159 Let’s pray together 1129 00:39:16,159 –> 00:39:18,159 Father, I pray 1130 00:39:18,159 –> 00:39:20,159 for the person 1131 00:39:20,159 –> 00:39:22,159 who has come here 1132 00:39:22,159 –> 00:39:24,159 deeply discouraged today 1133 00:39:24,159 –> 00:39:26,159 wondering 1134 00:39:26,159 –> 00:39:28,159 what you are doing 1135 00:39:28,159 –> 00:39:30,159 and wondering why things are happening in life 1136 00:39:30,159 –> 00:39:32,159 that your 1137 00:39:32,159 –> 00:39:34,159 word may find a resting 1138 00:39:34,159 –> 00:39:36,159 place and may 1139 00:39:36,159 –> 00:39:38,159 prove the means 1140 00:39:38,159 –> 00:39:40,159 of the Holy Spirit bring strength 1141 00:39:40,159 –> 00:39:42,159 and help and comfort 1142 00:39:42,159 –> 00:39:44,159 and hope and patience 1143 00:39:44,159 –> 00:39:46,159 and perseverance 1144 00:39:46,159 –> 00:39:48,159 in all that is faced 1145 00:39:48,159 –> 00:39:50,159 life in this world 1146 00:39:50,159 –> 00:39:52,159 We thank you 1147 00:39:52,159 –> 00:39:54,159 for this miracle of grace 1148 00:39:54,159 –> 00:39:56,159 in which 1149 00:39:56,159 –> 00:39:58,159 by your Son and your spirit 1150 00:39:58,159 –> 00:40:00,159 you have prepared your people 1151 00:40:00,159 –> 00:40:02,159 for what is yet 1152 00:40:02,159 –> 00:40:04,159 to be 1153 00:40:04,159 –> 00:40:06,159 and that we are able in all 1154 00:40:06,159 –> 00:40:08,159 of our struggles here to look up to you 1155 00:40:08,159 –> 00:40:10,159 and to find 1156 00:40:10,159 –> 00:40:12,159 our hope and our strength 1157 00:40:12,159 –> 00:40:14,159 in you. Hear our prayers 1158 00:40:14,159 –> 00:40:16,159 in Jesus’ name 1159 00:40:16,159 –> 00:40:18,159 Amen 1160 00:40:20,159 –> 00:40:22,159 You’ve been listening to a sermon with 1161 00:40:22,159 –> 00:40:24,159 Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible 1162 00:40:24,159 –> 00:40:26,159 To contact us, call us at 1163 00:40:26,159 –> 00:40:28,159 1-877-OPEN-365 1164 00:40:28,159 –> 00:40:30,159 or visit our web site 1165 00:40:30,159 –> 00:40:32,159 OpenTheBible.org 1166 00:40:36,159 –> 00:40:38,159 Open the Bible