WEBVTT 00:00:10.410 --> 00:00:15.310 When you think about Christianity and the gospel, 00:00:15.669 --> 00:00:22.469 and you think about your personal faith, we could 00:00:22.469 --> 00:00:27.469 say your personal Christianity, in the scheme 00:00:27.469 --> 00:00:38.170 of that, how significant is being with God to 00:00:38.170 --> 00:00:46.960 you? you are with Him and He is with you. To 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:53.560 have His presence, to know His presence in greater 00:00:53.560 --> 00:01:00.079 ways. How significant is that in your life, brothers 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:07.239 and sisters? To know God more. To be with God 00:01:07.239 --> 00:01:13.810 more. To hear from God. To talk with God more. 00:01:14.989 --> 00:01:20.430 To dwell with Him. And for Him to dwell with 00:01:20.430 --> 00:01:25.430 you. And for you to be conscious and aware of 00:01:25.430 --> 00:01:29.890 that reality in your own life personally more 00:01:29.890 --> 00:01:39.640 and more. This is the essence. Of why Christ 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:47.379 has died on the cross. To bring men to God. And 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:52.459 for God to dwell in the midst of his people. 00:01:53.459 --> 00:01:57.659 Today we will focus on the second half of verse 00:01:57.659 --> 00:02:03.459 6. Where David says these words. I will dwell 00:02:03.459 --> 00:02:12.000 in the house of the Lord. Forever. The first 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:14.500 thing we have to consider in this text is the 00:02:14.500 --> 00:02:20.740 theology contained in them. Now, when we think 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:25.819 about the theology contained in this verse, we 00:02:25.819 --> 00:02:27.900 have to consider and think about and try to wrap 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:31.439 our minds around this. What is the doctrine? 00:02:32.520 --> 00:02:36.009 What is the primary truth? What are the theological 00:02:36.009 --> 00:02:40.509 concepts and realities that David is conveying 00:02:40.509 --> 00:02:46.789 in this statement? To dwell in the house of the 00:02:46.789 --> 00:02:54.090 Lord forever. It's a magnificent statement that 00:02:54.090 --> 00:02:58.449 he is making. It's a grand statement that he 00:02:58.449 --> 00:03:02.729 is making. If we think about the story of the 00:03:02.729 --> 00:03:08.210 Bible. And redemptive history. As we see it throughout 00:03:08.210 --> 00:03:12.030 the scriptures. We can think about the garden 00:03:12.030 --> 00:03:17.629 of Eden. And the fact that God dwelled with Adam 00:03:17.629 --> 00:03:22.509 and Eve. He walked with them. This idea of walking 00:03:22.509 --> 00:03:26.530 with them. Carries the idea that God had continual. 00:03:28.110 --> 00:03:32.409 Unbroken. Ongoing fellowship. And communion. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:38.139 With our first parents. He dwelled with Adam 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:42.639 and Eve. And Adam and Eve dwelled with God. In 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:46.580 unbroken fashion. But then we know the terrible 00:03:46.580 --> 00:03:53.080 news of what takes place. And what separates 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:59.919 man from God. Sin comes into the world. Adam 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:02.849 and Eve are driven out of the garden. They're 00:04:02.849 --> 00:04:05.830 separated from the presence and the person of 00:04:05.830 --> 00:04:09.750 the living God. Brokenness comes into the world. 00:04:10.889 --> 00:04:13.590 Well, we see that the rest of the Scriptures, 00:04:13.810 --> 00:04:17.649 ever since God gives that promise in Genesis 00:04:17.649 --> 00:04:21.629 3 .15, the rest of the Scriptures is God seeking 00:04:21.629 --> 00:04:27.970 and God pursuing fellowship and communion with 00:04:27.970 --> 00:04:32.319 His covenant people. If we think about the Exodus, 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:37.540 and the fact that God brings them out of Egypt, 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.959 the redemption of the old covenant, we could 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:45.639 say. He brings them out, and what does God do? 00:04:45.740 --> 00:04:52.540 He dwells in their midst. How? Through the tabernacle. 00:04:53.139 --> 00:04:56.819 Through the Ark of the Covenant. We see, if we 00:04:56.819 --> 00:05:01.209 move forward, That God would dwell with his people 00:05:01.209 --> 00:05:03.389 and God's people would dwell with him and his 00:05:03.389 --> 00:05:05.410 presence would be among them. He would be in 00:05:05.410 --> 00:05:07.649 their midst, not just through the tabernacle 00:05:07.649 --> 00:05:09.769 and their wilderness wanderings, but think about 00:05:09.769 --> 00:05:15.430 Solomon's great temple. God's presence and glory 00:05:15.430 --> 00:05:19.589 came down and dwelled with his people. He was 00:05:19.589 --> 00:05:24.149 with them. Then we go to the New Testament and 00:05:24.149 --> 00:05:28.319 the arrival of the Messiah. The Lord Jesus Christ 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.680 taking on flesh. And what does the Bible say? 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:36.779 He dwelled among us. He tabernacled among us. 00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:42.399 The Son of God took on flesh and dwelt among 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:47.500 us. And Christ ascends to the right hand of the 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:52.800 Father following His resurrection. And God continues 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:57.620 to dwell with His people. Through the Spirit 00:05:57.620 --> 00:06:02.939 of God. The Holy Spirit indwells the people of 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:08.980 God. And we see that we are together again. We 00:06:08.980 --> 00:06:16.319 find that one day. Perfect fellowship. And perfect 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:23.600 communion. Will be perfectly restored. When Christ 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:28.120 returns. There will be no more discontinuity. 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:32.120 There will be no more brokenness. There will 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:35.100 be no more frustrations and heartaches with regards 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:38.620 to the fellowship and communion that God's people 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:42.439 enjoy and share and experience with Him. It will 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:48.740 be free, uninterrupted, unhindered fellowship 00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:54.100 and communion with God once again. This is the 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:56.779 purpose of redemption, brothers and sisters. 00:06:57.939 --> 00:07:01.019 We see this clearly throughout the scripture. 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:07.759 If we were to look at Exodus chapter 15, we could 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:11.959 read in verse 13, In your loving kindness you 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:15.560 have led the people whom you have redeemed. In 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.560 your strength you have guided them to your holy 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:23.800 habitation. Your dwelling. Then we could look 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:28.779 at verse 17. You will bring them and plant them 00:07:28.779 --> 00:07:32.240 in the mountain of your inheritance, the place, 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:35.100 O Lord, which you have made for your dwelling, 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:39.160 the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:43.699 established. God brings his people out to be 00:07:43.699 --> 00:07:47.560 with them, to dwell with them. We could look 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:53.529 at Exodus chapter 25, verse 8. Let them construct 00:07:53.529 --> 00:07:59.110 a sanctuary for me that I may dwell among them. 00:08:00.449 --> 00:08:03.589 That God might dwell among His people and be 00:08:03.589 --> 00:08:07.250 in their midst. We could look at Exodus chapter 00:08:07.250 --> 00:08:17.470 29. Verses 45 and 46. I will dwell among the 00:08:17.470 --> 00:08:22.800 sons of Israel and will be their God. They shall 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:25.160 know that I am the Lord their God, who brought 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:28.259 them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:34.080 among them. I am the Lord their God. There's 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:36.179 many other texts we could look at in the Old 00:08:36.179 --> 00:08:39.360 Covenant. But what does the New Testament say 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:43.000 about God dwelling among his people? And this 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:46.139 being the purpose and the end for which redemption 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:50.899 is accomplished? Well, 1 Peter tells us, And 00:08:50.899 --> 00:09:01.659 let's go ahead and turn there. 1 Peter 3, verse 00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:08.700 18 says this, For Christ also died for sins once 00:09:08.700 --> 00:09:14.320 for all, the just for the unjust, so that he 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:20.860 might bring us to God. Having been put to death 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:25.480 in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. Why 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:30.600 did Christ die? Why did Christ give himself on 00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:33.720 the cross and accomplish redemption? To bring 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:41.620 his people to God. To bring them into fellowship 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:47.559 and communion with the living God. To restore. 00:09:49.370 --> 00:09:54.830 Rebels. Back to the Lord they have rebelled against 00:09:54.830 --> 00:09:58.669 to make them sons and daughters of God. This 00:09:58.669 --> 00:10:01.970 is the very purpose of redemption, brothers and 00:10:01.970 --> 00:10:06.409 sisters. There's nothing further beyond this 00:10:06.409 --> 00:10:10.690 purpose in the Bible. For God to dwell with his 00:10:10.690 --> 00:10:13.129 people and his people to dwell with them. So 00:10:13.129 --> 00:10:15.710 when David says, I will dwell in the house of 00:10:15.710 --> 00:10:19.610 the Lord forever. He's speaking of peace. A grand 00:10:19.610 --> 00:10:24.889 reality that he knows. He is caught up in. He 00:10:24.889 --> 00:10:27.870 is speaking of a glorious reality. That he knows 00:10:27.870 --> 00:10:30.970 in his heart. He has assurance. And he is persuaded 00:10:30.970 --> 00:10:38.309 of. That he is partaking of. That he will enjoy. 00:10:38.830 --> 00:10:44.669 That he is enjoying. In that moment. In this 00:10:44.669 --> 00:10:50.799 text David. Presents. to this idea of dwelling 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:53.200 in the house of the Lord forever in two ways. 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:56.720 So the second thing we have to consider this 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:02.480 morning is this. The fact that he presents this 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:07.220 idea or this concept as the end and culmination 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:13.500 of his earthly life. So when David says, and 00:11:13.500 --> 00:11:15.860 I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:19.159 We have to remember that it's at the end of Psalm 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:25.220 23, and it's the result of the Lord being a good 00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:31.200 shepherd king to him. God has been gracious to 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:34.159 him. God has been merciful to him. God has provided 00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:37.960 for him. God is with him. God has brought him 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:40.399 through the valleys and the shadows. God has 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:43.480 abundantly bestowed blessings. God is benevolent 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:46.940 and kind towards him. And he knows that goodness 00:11:46.940 --> 00:11:49.500 and loving kindness will follow him all the days 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:51.440 of his life. And what about the end of his life? 00:11:53.700 --> 00:11:58.059 And I will dwell eternally with the Lord. I will 00:11:58.059 --> 00:12:01.179 dwell in the house of the Lord forever. His life, 00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:04.899 his journey, his earthly pilgrimage is working 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:11.740 toward this dwelling with God. It's progressing 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:17.299 towards this. Now, when we think about this for 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:22.279 David, to dwell in the house of the Lord is something 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:26.799 that he is presently enjoying, but it's also 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:32.139 something that he is gradually nearing in his 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:39.259 life and will enjoy more fully in his life. Now, 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:42.179 we know this, that he's already enjoying this 00:12:42.179 --> 00:12:44.450 and experiencing this. Because of the rest of 00:12:44.450 --> 00:12:48.070 the Bible. Because of the rest of the Psalms. 00:12:49.169 --> 00:12:53.269 David is, we could say, dwelling in the house 00:12:53.269 --> 00:13:00.409 of the Lord as he writes Psalm 23. How do we 00:13:00.409 --> 00:13:03.029 know this and how is this possible? Well, we 00:13:03.029 --> 00:13:06.929 think about this idea, this word house. He's 00:13:06.929 --> 00:13:10.830 not speaking about a home. He's not speaking 00:13:10.830 --> 00:13:14.909 about a household. He's talking about the house 00:13:14.909 --> 00:13:21.789 of the Lord. The tabernacle. The temple. The 00:13:21.789 --> 00:13:25.110 place of corporate public worship. The place 00:13:25.110 --> 00:13:27.990 where God meets with His people and His people 00:13:27.990 --> 00:13:33.950 meet with God. He's talking about the place where 00:13:33.950 --> 00:13:37.730 the people of God worship and serve the living 00:13:37.730 --> 00:13:43.320 God. We could look at Psalm 26 .8. Just a few 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:48.100 Psalms over. Which says this. Oh Lord. I love 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:52.440 the habitation of your house. And the place where 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:59.259 your glory dwells. He's talking about. The tabernacle. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:04.159 Or the temple. That he longs to build for God. 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:08.120 That he might dwell among men. We can't think 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:14.679 of this concept without going. To Psalm 84. Psalm 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:21.679 84 says this. In verses 1 -4. How lovely are 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:25.779 your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts. My soul 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:29.740 longed and even yearned for the courts of the 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:34.620 Lord. My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:37.860 living God. The bird also has found a house. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:41.279 and to swallow a nest for herself, where she 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:45.100 may lay her young. Even your altars, O Lord of 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:48.779 hosts, my King and my God, how blessed are those 00:14:48.779 --> 00:14:54.240 who dwell in your house. They are ever praising 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:59.360 you. David is enjoying, David is partaking of 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:02.539 the Lord's presence. He is dwelling with God 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:04.840 in one of the ways that he is doing this. Is 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:07.620 by worshiping God corporately with the people 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:13.019 of God. Brothers and sisters. For David to say 00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:19.559 this. He necessarily involves a corporate aspect 00:15:19.559 --> 00:15:28.080 to it. He could not say. Absolutely. In an absolute 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:33.399 sense. He could not say. I will dwell. and the 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:37.860 house of the Lord forever. And then disregard 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:44.039 the people of God. The two are antithetical to 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:49.000 one another. One necessarily requires the other. 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:53.360 Now we'll see that it's not simply corporate. 00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:58.779 It's not simply public. There is a private, personal 00:15:58.779 --> 00:16:02.649 aspect to this as well. But brothers and sisters, 00:16:02.850 --> 00:16:06.950 David knows that if he is to enjoy the presence 00:16:06.950 --> 00:16:10.490 of God in this world, in his life, as he progresses 00:16:10.490 --> 00:16:12.950 and gradually nears his death and the glory of 00:16:12.950 --> 00:16:15.210 God, he has to give himself to the people of 00:16:15.210 --> 00:16:19.509 God and the temple of God. That's the only way 00:16:19.509 --> 00:16:22.730 he'll enjoy the Lord's presence in this life 00:16:22.730 --> 00:16:27.809 in that manner. You can't disregard it and still 00:16:27.809 --> 00:16:31.669 be able to say this as... David is saying this. 00:16:32.289 --> 00:16:36.889 But it is important that we recognize there is 00:16:36.889 --> 00:16:40.850 a private and personal aspect to this as well. 00:16:41.350 --> 00:16:45.070 So oftentimes, and I'm sure that many of you 00:16:45.070 --> 00:16:47.350 have recognized this as you read the Psalms, 00:16:47.389 --> 00:16:51.990 it's as though the author of the Psalm or the 00:16:51.990 --> 00:16:58.769 Psalms is using this word of habitation, tabernacle. 00:16:59.289 --> 00:17:05.829 Temple. In a metaphorical sense. To express the 00:17:05.829 --> 00:17:08.650 reality of dwelling with God in his presence 00:17:08.650 --> 00:17:13.529 being with you. We see this throughout the scriptures 00:17:13.529 --> 00:17:16.529 as well. We could look at Psalm 27 for this. 00:17:17.730 --> 00:17:23.809 Psalm 27. This beautiful text. We'll look at 00:17:23.809 --> 00:17:28.430 verses 4 and 5. One thing I have asked from the 00:17:28.430 --> 00:17:32.329 Lord. that I shall seek. So even in this psalm, 00:17:32.329 --> 00:17:35.769 David is saying, I've asked God for it now, and 00:17:35.769 --> 00:17:40.910 I'm seeking it now in my life. One thing I've 00:17:40.910 --> 00:17:45.490 asked from the Lord, that I shall seek, that 00:17:45.490 --> 00:17:49.710 I may dwell in the house of the Lord all my life. 00:17:50.430 --> 00:17:52.950 Now he's not saying forever in that sense, but 00:17:52.950 --> 00:17:58.880 all my life, all my days. To behold the beauty 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:04.099 of the Lord. To meditate in his temple. For in 00:18:04.099 --> 00:18:07.900 the day of trouble, he will conceal me in his 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:11.599 tabernacle. In the secret place of his tent, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:16.079 he will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock. 00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:19.759 Now, brothers and sisters, David was often on 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:24.549 the move. He was often traveling. He was often 00:18:24.549 --> 00:18:26.990 at war. He was often in the midst of battle. 00:18:27.210 --> 00:18:30.529 He was often part of a convoy and they were going 00:18:30.529 --> 00:18:34.049 somewhere. He was not always in an accessible 00:18:34.049 --> 00:18:39.549 place to the tabernacle of David. So what does 00:18:39.549 --> 00:18:42.829 he mean? What does he mean when he says in the 00:18:42.829 --> 00:18:47.049 secret place of his tent? Well, he means the 00:18:47.049 --> 00:18:51.480 presence of God. He means the presence of God 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:54.160 as he enjoys and experiences the presence of 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:59.119 God in prayer. In the law of God as he seeks 00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:03.640 the face of God through prayer. And through the 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:08.039 law of God as David had it. I believe that he's 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:11.180 using it in a metaphorical sense in this way. 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:14.759 Though it's often very hard to separate the two. 00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:18.480 Because sometimes he is referring to the... temple 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.119 or the tabernacle and other times he seems to 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:24.940 be using it in a metaphorical sense. So there 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:28.200 is this corporate public aspect of it but brothers 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:33.279 and sisters there is a private and personal aspect 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:40.220 of dwelling in the house of the Lord. To enjoy 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:44.839 the presence of God in this life no matter the 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:50.759 capacity in which you are enjoying it. Whether 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:53.220 it be the fact that the Spirit of God dwells 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:56.380 within you as the people of God in this gospel 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:59.500 age, whether it be the fact that you're studying 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:01.720 the Scriptures or you're seeking to pray and 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:04.119 seeking the face of God, or whether it be that 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:06.339 you're worshipping the living God in corporate 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:11.200 worship. The presence of God and enjoying and 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:14.829 experiencing that in this life. is going to be 00:20:14.829 --> 00:20:18.529 fraught with hardship, difficulties, and struggles. 00:20:20.569 --> 00:20:22.829 It's just going to be, brothers and sisters, 00:20:22.930 --> 00:20:28.470 because we have sin within us. We have a wayward 00:20:28.470 --> 00:20:32.470 heart within ourselves. We have a remnant of 00:20:32.470 --> 00:20:37.349 sin within us that causes doubt, that causes 00:20:37.349 --> 00:20:41.289 frustration, that pulls us this way when we want 00:20:41.289 --> 00:20:46.500 to go this way. The trouble comes from within 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:49.019 us, but it also comes from the reality and the 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:53.759 fact that we live in a fallen world that is still 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:57.099 under the judgment and the curse of God, that 00:20:57.099 --> 00:21:00.079 we're not the only troubled sinner that exists 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:04.680 and lives in this fallen world. So, our enjoyment 00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:09.000 of God and His presence to dwell in the house 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:11.799 of the Lord in this life, in our earthly days, 00:21:12.019 --> 00:21:17.200 as we progress, Toward glory. Will always be 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:23.960 fraught. With hardships. Frustrations. Difficulties. 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:30.859 And trials. Normally and typically. Because of 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:34.839 our own hearts. Brothers and sisters. Because 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:37.519 of our own struggles. And our own issues. And 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:40.559 the consequence of our own sin. In our life. 00:21:43.730 --> 00:21:48.329 Yet, that does not mean that these things are 00:21:48.329 --> 00:21:52.609 insignificant. That does not mean that these 00:21:52.609 --> 00:21:56.690 are not real ways that we experience the real 00:21:56.690 --> 00:22:02.930 presence of God in this world. What we do, or 00:22:02.930 --> 00:22:07.869 what the saints do in this life, whether it be 00:22:07.869 --> 00:22:12.150 corporate and public or private and personal, 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:17.880 They are real means, and David knew this, by 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:21.420 which they experience and enjoy the presence 00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:26.359 of God and they have a purpose in the life of 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:33.519 the believer. It's the experience and the enjoyment 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:38.140 of the Lord's presence in this life leading up 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:44.559 to glory that prepares the heart. for the presence 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:48.920 of God as we will enjoy it in the life to come, 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:53.859 brothers and sisters. So for those who are reconciled 00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:59.180 to God through Christ Jesus and His death, for 00:22:59.180 --> 00:23:01.539 those who know Him by faith and those who have 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:03.559 turned from their sins and those who have been 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:05.859 transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:09.599 know that the Spirit of God dwells within you 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:14.279 today. God is dwelling with you. If you know 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:19.279 Christ. He is with you. He will never leave you. 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:23.400 And he will never forsake you. And you are dwelling 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:28.759 with him. But don't forget. Ever. That the spirit 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:33.920 of God that dwells within us. Intimates. And 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:41.579 gives us a more. Personal. And conscious. Understanding 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:47.609 and knowledge. of the reality of His presence 00:23:47.609 --> 00:23:54.190 in our life through means in this world. Hence, 00:23:54.289 --> 00:24:01.269 public and corporate worship and the private 00:24:01.269 --> 00:24:05.650 and personal use of means that God has given 00:24:05.650 --> 00:24:10.829 to us. Meaning, believer, if you want to be with 00:24:10.829 --> 00:24:16.029 God, If you want to know His presence personally 00:24:16.029 --> 00:24:20.390 more, then you have to be where He has promised 00:24:20.390 --> 00:24:25.430 to be found in this world. Where has God promised 00:24:25.430 --> 00:24:30.289 to be found? Corporate worship, brothers and 00:24:30.289 --> 00:24:36.089 sisters. God has promised to give His unique, 00:24:36.109 --> 00:24:40.789 precious presence to us as we gather as the saints. 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:44.359 If you want to know the presence and the power 00:24:44.359 --> 00:24:48.599 of God and enjoy it, then you must give yourself 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:52.980 corporately to the people of God. But it also 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.940 means, brothers and sisters, that we must give 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:59.140 ourselves to the Word of God. He has promised 00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:03.519 to speak to us through His Word. If we want to 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:06.680 be with Him, we must be where He has promised 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:09.019 to be found. And where has He promised to be 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:16.690 found? His holy, inerrant, inspired word that 00:25:16.690 --> 00:25:20.990 He has spoken. If you want to be close to God, 00:25:21.210 --> 00:25:26.029 be close to your Bibles, brothers and sisters. 00:25:27.369 --> 00:25:31.549 If you want to have the Lord near to your heart, 00:25:31.750 --> 00:25:35.710 if you want to hear His voice loud and clear, 00:25:36.150 --> 00:25:40.349 then have His word ever present on your heart. 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:47.059 Have Him close to you through the Word of God. 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:51.180 Where else is He promised to be found, brothers 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:55.519 and sisters? He is promised to be found in prayer. 00:25:57.819 --> 00:26:00.539 Do you want to know and enjoy and experience 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:03.740 God more in your life and know the depths of 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:06.319 His grace? Then give yourself to pursuing His 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:10.579 presence in prayer, brothers and sisters. He 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:14.079 is promised. To be with his people in this life. 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:18.359 And he has promised to be in his word in this 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:20.960 world. And he has promised to be found in prayer. 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:26.220 In this life and in this world for his saints. 00:26:27.880 --> 00:26:33.299 As we give ourselves to these things. What is 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:39.079 happening to us? Our hearts are being prepared. 00:26:41.069 --> 00:26:46.809 For what is to come. So what we are doing today. 00:26:47.950 --> 00:26:55.329 Is practice. And preparation. For our future 00:26:55.329 --> 00:26:59.910 in glory. Do you understand the significance. 00:27:00.490 --> 00:27:05.089 Of what is happening right now brothers and sisters. 00:27:05.589 --> 00:27:10.250 You are getting a trial run. Of the enjoyment. 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:13.960 Of God's glorious presence in your own soul. 00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:17.539 So that you will long and desire for it in greater 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:20.259 measures and greater degrees. In the glory that 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:25.740 is to come. It's practice. And it's preparation. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:32.319 For further enjoyment. Following our death. When 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:36.920 we fellowship. And we have communion with God 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:42.539 in a sweeter. Greater. better way than we even 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:48.740 do now. Our hearts are being prepared. Do you 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:57.440 enjoy the worship of God? Do you desire the Word 00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:02.700 of God? Do you long to know God in prayer more? 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:08.160 Do you have a yearning for the courts of the 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:14.430 Lord as David did? Is there a distinct longing 00:28:14.430 --> 00:28:20.509 in your heart to hear from God in His Word and 00:28:20.509 --> 00:28:24.569 to take part in corporate prayer? Because if 00:28:24.569 --> 00:28:31.630 you do, you are going to love glory. You are 00:28:31.630 --> 00:28:36.230 going to love eternity. Because that is what 00:28:36.230 --> 00:28:38.990 we will give ourselves to. Worshipping the living 00:28:38.990 --> 00:28:41.740 God through Jesus Christ. and serving Him for 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:43.960 all eternity, and learning about the greatness 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:46.440 and the glory of who He is, and our great Teacher 00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:52.140 will be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Do you love 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:54.380 it here? Because you will then love it there. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:29:02.859 But if you don't love it here, if you don't long 00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:10.599 for it here, what does that say? enjoyment of 00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:15.740 what is to come. Will you enjoy the new heavens 00:29:15.740 --> 00:29:21.460 and the new earth? Do you love the Word of God 00:29:21.460 --> 00:29:25.400 because you hear Christ's voice in it? Brothers 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:30.759 and sisters, it's preparation and readiness for 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:35.539 the glory and the presence that is to come following 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:38.990 our death and to be fully enjoyed at the return 00:29:38.990 --> 00:29:41.730 of Christ, at the consummation of all things. 00:29:44.769 --> 00:29:51.230 David presents this idea of dwelling in the house 00:29:51.230 --> 00:29:55.509 of the Lord forever as the end and culmination 00:29:55.509 --> 00:29:59.509 of our earthly life. But there's also another 00:29:59.509 --> 00:30:04.069 aspect that he presents it as. He presents it 00:30:04.069 --> 00:30:10.980 as the beginning. Of eternal glory. He says I 00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:13.039 will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:15.839 So it's not something he's just progressing towards. 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:20.700 But it's something. That is the beginning. Something 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:24.420 that he enters into. And something that begins. 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:32.119 Following. His death. For David. To dwell in 00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:35.420 the house of the Lord forever. Was something. 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:42.799 To enter into. Following the completion. Of his 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:51.880 earthly life. It's a greater. Experience. It's 00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:58.420 a better. More sweet. Enjoyment. Of the presence. 00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:03.240 And the person. Of the living God. Scripture 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:08.220 teaches. That when a believer dies. Their soul 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:14.539 goes to be with God. Their body goes into the 00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:18.500 ground and their soul immediately enters into 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:22.559 the presence of God. Historically, this teaching 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:26.160 has been called the doctrine of the intermediate 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:32.579 state of the believer. Meaning they're between 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:35.980 the time of Christ's return and the culmination 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:41.009 of all things. And their life they lived when 00:31:41.009 --> 00:31:47.730 they came to know Christ in this world. So in 00:31:47.730 --> 00:31:51.269 this intermediate state that the believer enters 00:31:51.269 --> 00:31:57.170 into following their death, we have to recognize 00:31:57.170 --> 00:32:04.410 that it is a better, more grand reality. To such 00:32:04.410 --> 00:32:08.150 a degree that Paul could say, In Philippians 00:32:08.150 --> 00:32:16.230 1, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Meaning, 00:32:16.369 --> 00:32:18.470 if I'm going to live, it's going to be Christ 00:32:18.470 --> 00:32:20.450 and it's going to be for Christ and I'm going 00:32:20.450 --> 00:32:25.789 to be serving Christ. But if I die, it's all 00:32:25.789 --> 00:32:31.150 gain for me. It's better for me to die and go 00:32:31.150 --> 00:32:34.210 and be with the Lord even if I'm separated from 00:32:34.210 --> 00:32:39.250 my body. It's better for me to go and be with 00:32:39.250 --> 00:32:42.410 the Lord. This is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 00:32:42.410 --> 00:32:47.390 5, For we know that if the earthly tent, which 00:32:47.390 --> 00:32:51.250 is our house, is torn down, we have a building 00:32:51.250 --> 00:32:54.410 from God, a house not made with hands eternal 00:32:54.410 --> 00:32:58.910 in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, 00:32:58.950 --> 00:33:01.630 longing to be clothed with our dwelling from 00:33:01.630 --> 00:33:06.460 heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will 00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:10.319 not be found naked. For indeed, while we are 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:14.579 in this tent, we groan, being burdened because 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:18.359 we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:21.599 so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:26.240 life. Now he who prepared us for this very purpose 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:30.460 is the God who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:36.359 Therefore, being always of good courage, And 00:33:36.359 --> 00:33:39.180 knowing that while we are at home in the body, 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:43.660 we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:46.500 not by sight. And then here it is in verse 8. 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:50.819 For we are of good courage, I say, and prefer 00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:55.140 rather to be absent from the body and to be at 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:59.079 home with the Lord. What is Paul's preference? 00:34:00.940 --> 00:34:06.250 Where is Paul's home? He prefers to be separated 00:34:06.250 --> 00:34:11.309 from his body. And to be in the presence of his 00:34:11.309 --> 00:34:18.130 glorious God. To enter in to eternal life. And 00:34:18.130 --> 00:34:24.090 to be with his great God. We also read in Hebrews. 00:34:25.590 --> 00:34:32.849 Chapter 12. Starting in verse 22. This speaking 00:34:32.849 --> 00:34:36.909 preeminently of the intermediate state, I believe. 00:34:39.449 --> 00:34:43.469 For you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city 00:34:43.469 --> 00:34:48.250 of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and 00:34:48.250 --> 00:34:52.130 to myriads of angels, and to the general assembly 00:34:52.130 --> 00:34:55.170 in the church of the firstborn, who are enrolled 00:34:55.170 --> 00:34:59.829 in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and 00:34:59.829 --> 00:35:02.739 to the spirits of the righteous, Made perfect. 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:05.860 And to Jesus. The mediator of a new covenant. 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:08.760 And to the sprinkled blood. Which speaks better 00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:15.059 than the blood of Abel. Yes. The intermediate 00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:20.099 state. Is still incomplete. Because there is 00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:24.860 separation. From the soul and the body. Yes, 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:26.980 in the intermediate state, believers to some 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:29.800 degree, in some way, I believe, will still be 00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:32.320 living by faith because they'll be longing for 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:34.739 the redemption of their bodies and the union 00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:37.179 of their bodies with their souls. But listen, 00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:42.260 according to the Word of God, when the believer 00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:45.699 dies, the glory and the ability they have to 00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:49.159 enjoy the presence of God is heightened and strengthened 00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:54.920 all the more. It is a greater, grander, stronger, 00:35:55.239 --> 00:36:00.920 bigger experience and reality of God's presence 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:08.179 and God's person. It will be a time of sweet 00:36:08.179 --> 00:36:13.800 fellowship with all the saints of old. Sweet 00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:17.739 fellowship with God Himself. Sweet fellowship 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:24.369 with angels and men. As we worship and serve 00:36:24.369 --> 00:36:32.030 the living God. In our new found capacity. In 00:36:32.030 --> 00:36:36.230 that place. One might think. Well that's it. 00:36:38.329 --> 00:36:42.349 There's nothing further. There's nothing beyond 00:36:42.349 --> 00:36:46.369 that. That is greater for the believer. Than 00:36:46.369 --> 00:36:50.079 to go and be with the Lord. To be at home. With 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:52.480 him. And to enter into this intermediate state. 00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:57.239 But for the believer. That is not it. Brothers 00:36:57.239 --> 00:37:03.539 and sisters. There is still more. To come. What 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:08.480 is the ultimate. Reality. And the ultimate fulfillment. 00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:14.099 Of David's words. When he says. And I will dwell 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:17.960 in the house of the Lord. Forever. The ultimate 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:21.219 sense in which these words are fulfilled is in 00:37:21.219 --> 00:37:24.199 the eschatological sense, meaning when Christ 00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:28.099 returns and the consummation of all things is 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:32.079 brought about, the saints are given resurrected 00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:38.079 and glorified bodies, and the curse is lifted 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:44.380 from this groaning world. All things are made 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:47.159 new and the saints are given their inheritance 00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:50.760 as Israel was given their inheritance like Joshua 00:37:50.760 --> 00:37:55.699 divvied it up. God will give His people their 00:37:55.699 --> 00:37:59.239 inheritance and their possession. The new heavens 00:37:59.239 --> 00:38:05.340 and the new earth. The tabernacle of God. We 00:38:05.340 --> 00:38:09.280 read in Revelation 21 of this glorious reality. 00:38:11.630 --> 00:38:16.090 It says this in Revelation 21, 3. And I heard 00:38:16.090 --> 00:38:20.369 a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, 00:38:20.369 --> 00:38:25.929 the tabernacle, the house, the tabernacle of 00:38:25.929 --> 00:38:30.309 God is among men. And He will dwell among them. 00:38:31.050 --> 00:38:37.050 And they shall be His people. And God Himself 00:38:37.050 --> 00:38:43.820 will be among them. The day is coming when Christ 00:38:43.820 --> 00:38:51.480 returns that the people of God will fully enjoy 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:57.599 the presence of God as they ought to have in 00:38:57.599 --> 00:39:04.980 the garden if Adam had obeyed. They will enjoy 00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:07.880 the new heavens and the new earth, the garden 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:11.900 on steroids, brothers and sisters. because of 00:39:11.900 --> 00:39:17.880 the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The day of 00:39:17.880 --> 00:39:23.880 unhindered, uninterrupted fellowship and communion 00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:30.139 with the living God. Notice, as we consider everything 00:39:30.139 --> 00:39:33.159 we've walked through today, that David is presented 00:39:33.159 --> 00:39:37.420 to us. Notice that the believer is always in 00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:42.740 fellowship and communion with the Lord. Always. 00:39:42.740 --> 00:39:46.119 It's just that changes and transitions as they 00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:49.320 progress and near the culmination of all things. 00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:52.760 We go from one phase or one stage of fellowship 00:39:52.760 --> 00:39:55.360 and communion with the Lord to the next until 00:39:55.360 --> 00:40:00.280 ultimately we enjoy it in its fullest and eternal 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:07.659 sense. No matter how you look at the believer's 00:40:07.659 --> 00:40:11.590 life. The one in Christ that Christ died for. 00:40:11.750 --> 00:40:14.550 The one that believes in the Lord Jesus. The 00:40:14.550 --> 00:40:17.210 one who is the recipient of God's covenant blessings. 00:40:18.070 --> 00:40:20.530 No matter how you look at the believer's life, 00:40:20.670 --> 00:40:26.869 better things are to come. Do you understand 00:40:26.869 --> 00:40:31.630 that, brothers and sisters? Things only get better 00:40:31.630 --> 00:40:37.400 from here on out for you as a believer. Things 00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:42.119 only get more glorious in your future. Things 00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:45.239 only get grander when you pass through the grave. 00:40:46.900 --> 00:40:50.980 You get more of God. You experience Him and enjoy 00:40:50.980 --> 00:40:54.480 Him in ways that you could not hear because sin 00:40:54.480 --> 00:40:59.579 is so present in your life. Every which way you 00:40:59.579 --> 00:41:03.679 look at it, the believer's life gets better following 00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:06.869 their death. as they come into the experience 00:41:06.869 --> 00:41:10.750 and enjoyment of God's presence and person in 00:41:10.750 --> 00:41:13.949 greater measure and greater degree, all because 00:41:13.949 --> 00:41:19.449 we have a faithful shepherd king who has been 00:41:19.449 --> 00:41:25.190 gracious to us. He's the one that carries us 00:41:25.190 --> 00:41:28.619 to glory, brothers and sisters. He's the one 00:41:28.619 --> 00:41:31.280 that brings us along in this life and brings 00:41:31.280 --> 00:41:33.900 us through the grave. He's the one that brings 00:41:33.900 --> 00:41:36.420 us into the intermediate state and to his throne 00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:39.039 following our death. He's the one that will redeem 00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:42.860 our bodies by the power of God. And he's the 00:41:42.860 --> 00:41:46.239 one that will sustain us through all eternity 00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:50.920 by his divine power and because of his divine 00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:57.070 grace and divine mercy. This is the glorious 00:41:57.070 --> 00:42:01.690 hope and reality and future of the believer. 00:42:05.409 --> 00:42:09.710 This is where we're headed. This is what we're 00:42:09.710 --> 00:42:14.429 caught up in as children of God. This is your 00:42:14.429 --> 00:42:20.949 fate and your future. All glory be to God. But 00:42:20.949 --> 00:42:25.730 what about the man? the woman, or the young person 00:42:25.730 --> 00:42:32.949 who does not know the Lord Jesus Christ? Who 00:42:32.949 --> 00:42:35.329 is not the recipient of God's covenant blessings? 00:42:39.769 --> 00:42:42.289 What does your future and your fate look like? 00:42:46.429 --> 00:42:48.989 What is the hope of your life? What is to come 00:42:48.989 --> 00:42:53.429 for you? Does it progressively and increasingly 00:42:53.429 --> 00:42:59.929 get better? Do you come into further and greater 00:42:59.929 --> 00:43:02.929 enjoyment and experience of God himself and his 00:43:02.929 --> 00:43:10.349 presence? No. This is why there's urgency about 00:43:10.349 --> 00:43:15.690 the gospel, brothers and sisters. Because this 00:43:15.690 --> 00:43:21.920 is not everybody's future. This is not where 00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:26.880 everybody is headed. Yes, the unbeliever has 00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:32.099 a future ahead of them. But listen, this is the 00:43:32.099 --> 00:43:38.340 best it will ever be for you as a believer. Because 00:43:38.340 --> 00:43:42.360 God's common grace is upon you in this life. 00:43:42.750 --> 00:43:45.650 The gospel is being proclaimed. There are saints 00:43:45.650 --> 00:43:48.750 and elect sinners to be called in still. So God 00:43:48.750 --> 00:43:51.849 still fulfills His common grace, blessings, and 00:43:51.849 --> 00:43:56.150 promises to the world. But it will not get better 00:43:56.150 --> 00:44:00.710 for you following your death. You enter into 00:44:00.710 --> 00:44:03.170 an intermediate state, yes, but it is Hades, 00:44:03.250 --> 00:44:07.050 a place of suffering, separation, and torment 00:44:07.050 --> 00:44:13.280 that is conscious. Unending expectation and suspense 00:44:13.280 --> 00:44:16.599 that judgment is coming when Christ returns. 00:44:20.280 --> 00:44:23.780 You're in jail waiting to go to eternal prison. 00:44:25.219 --> 00:44:28.039 And you are conscious and aware of this reality 00:44:28.039 --> 00:44:31.420 and this fact. And then one day, yes, you will 00:44:31.420 --> 00:44:34.260 be raised. You will be given a body. But it is 00:44:34.260 --> 00:44:37.139 so that you can answer for the deeds done in 00:44:37.139 --> 00:44:40.400 the body, in this life. As you have rejected 00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:45.000 the Son of God. And then sentence will be passed. 00:44:45.199 --> 00:44:48.440 And you will be condemned by men and angels and 00:44:48.440 --> 00:44:54.440 Jesus Christ. And he will send you to hell. Because 00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:58.079 you have transgressed an eternal and infinite 00:44:58.079 --> 00:45:06.239 and a holy God. This is just as much a reality. 00:45:07.599 --> 00:45:12.139 and truth as the grand redemption that Christ 00:45:12.139 --> 00:45:16.880 has accomplished for His people. We can't say, 00:45:16.940 --> 00:45:18.980 yes, this is glorious and this is great and this 00:45:18.980 --> 00:45:21.659 is real and this is true, but this is insignificant 00:45:21.659 --> 00:45:26.699 over here. This is just as true as the glorious 00:45:26.699 --> 00:45:30.139 redemption that Christ has accomplished in the 00:45:30.139 --> 00:45:35.280 future dwelling of God in man in the new heavens 00:45:35.280 --> 00:45:41.070 and the new earth. I think sometimes when we 00:45:41.070 --> 00:45:44.329 think about these concepts and these ideas in 00:45:44.329 --> 00:45:51.789 the Bible, I think sometimes we think about them 00:45:51.789 --> 00:45:54.730 as though they are kind of bedtime stories and 00:45:54.730 --> 00:46:00.510 fairy tales. These grandiose ideas and thoughts 00:46:00.510 --> 00:46:03.449 and concepts, and we even talk about them like 00:46:03.449 --> 00:46:08.639 that sometimes, but these are not. bedtime stories, 00:46:08.900 --> 00:46:11.400 and these are not fairy tales, brothers and sisters. 00:46:13.219 --> 00:46:19.300 This is real, true life. You are either going 00:46:19.300 --> 00:46:22.099 to take part in the glorious redemption, and 00:46:22.099 --> 00:46:24.300 you will dwell with God forever in the new heavens 00:46:24.300 --> 00:46:26.500 and the new earth, or you will spend eternity 00:46:26.500 --> 00:46:29.400 in hell under the judgment of God, separated 00:46:29.400 --> 00:46:33.920 from His good and kind presence. That is the 00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:37.519 fate of every single human being on this planet. 00:46:40.340 --> 00:46:43.679 What do these realities that we have examined 00:46:43.679 --> 00:46:50.500 today do to your heart? Believer, why are we 00:46:50.500 --> 00:46:53.760 not melted before the living God by His grace 00:46:53.760 --> 00:46:58.039 and His mercy? Unbeliever, why are you not shaking 00:46:58.039 --> 00:47:01.579 in your chair right now knowing the reality that 00:47:01.579 --> 00:47:09.829 is ahead of you? God will be faithful to bring 00:47:09.829 --> 00:47:13.670 about every single promise He has made to His 00:47:13.670 --> 00:47:16.590 people. But hear me well, God will be faithful 00:47:16.590 --> 00:47:20.409 to bring about every righteous and just judgment 00:47:20.409 --> 00:47:24.849 upon your head if you do not know Jesus Christ. 00:47:26.349 --> 00:47:33.389 He is a holy, a righteous, and a just God. Put 00:47:33.389 --> 00:47:36.110 your faith in Jesus Christ today. And if you 00:47:36.110 --> 00:47:39.150 have put your faith in Jesus Christ today, rejoice 00:47:39.150 --> 00:47:43.030 and give Him praise and adoration and glory for 00:47:43.030 --> 00:47:46.070 what He has done and live a life unto God for 00:47:46.070 --> 00:47:50.510 His glory. Looking forward to the future with 00:47:50.510 --> 00:47:55.150 great hope and great confidence and great boldness 00:47:55.150 --> 00:47:59.489 knowing what is ahead of you as God's covenant 00:47:59.489 --> 00:48:02.190 people in this world.