Show Me Your Passport, Please! - Part B

Our hope is not in the coming of the Lord. Our hope is in the Lord who is coming when awaiting for an event to bail me out. I'm waiting for a person that I know and love.

He's coming back. He's my Lord he's my Savior that it is he will be fully realizes that by the way, one of the ways to tell a person is really a citizen of the kingdom is here. She wants to see the king. They can't wait to see the king. Jesus doesn't change in order to love.

He loves you. In order to change you into everything you were created to be today on connect with Skip Skip shares what will happen the moment you are changed completely and perfectly reflect the beauty of Christ.

We want to tell you about a recent that shines important life to what's happening in the Middle East.

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Enemies and allies includes exclusive never before published quotes insight and analysis from the authors conversations with some of the world's most controversial leaders your hardcover copy enemies and allies is our thanks for your generous gift of $35 or more today to give call 892 to 1888 or visit connectwithskip.com with Skip Heitzigs exposed to the infill. If I like just about everywhere else in the New Testament early church there were two groups that were on the opposite end of the spectrum. Both were problematic.

One we've Artie noted with the Judaizers. These were people who said you have to keep Jewish law go to Jewish ritual in order to be saved. Keep circumcision. There were the legalists on the other hand, there were the Gnostics and the Gnostics were not legalistic. They were anti-know me and that is having no law at all in the Gnostics believed that all matter was evil, only the spirit is good and that you can be saved by aligning your spirit and surrender to God, but you do anything you want with your body because your body is a redeemable so in effect, the Gnostics said as long as in your heart you believe in God and follow Christ. You can live anywhere you want with your body. That was problematic. So we do know if he is referring to the legalistic group or the antinomian group the Judaizers or the Gnostics. Either way both groups being problematic would fit the description enemies of the cross of Christ. They are a menace. I just want you to look at this for a moment from a little different angle. Those who may be among us and are not true citizens of the kingdom of God. Churchgoers yes well-meaning yes sincere yes will go along to come to church so sing the songs with her not part of the kingdom.

Yet, instead of saying getaway habits and come closer about saying don't just believe with your mouth probable really believe in your heart about having a true conversion about coming to Christ and truly believing him. So instead of seeing them as a menace.

We could start to see them as a mission to focus my attention and you know what Dr. Elson true blood noted this, our main mission field today. As far as America is concerned is within church membership itself, even the Billy Graham Association Billy Graham said a while back. Our crusades find the greatest challenge and the greatest response from among church members.

That's why he would always invite different churches to his Crusades because he knew a lot of people who came work really save people, but he wanted them to hear the gospel. So the question you need to ask yourself is, are you an imitation citizen or are you a true citizen is your passport so to speak, been stamped by the blood of Jesus Christ. Have you applied that personally, authentically, really, to your own life or you hiding behind the mask of some religious group or system so citizens walk with partners. Watch for pretenders.

Here's 1/3 citizens wait for a place verse 20 tells us about that for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ and you notice the contrast between verse 19 in verse 20 verse 18 to 19. He describes a pretenders and the last thing he says in verse 19 is who set their mind on earthly things.

In contrast to that, but our or for our citizenship is in heaven. Let me refresh your memory with Paul open this letter. He noted that the Philippian believers had two addresses physical address spiritual address to the saints who are in Philippi, in Christ Jesus you have a physical address Philippi or Albuquerque. You have a spiritual address in Christ Jesus. And because you have a spiritual address.

You have an eventual address mentioned here. Your eventual address is in heaven. Why do I bring this up because this helps answer why we as believers get so excited and preoccupied with heaven and I've been accused by unbelievers.

The odds I went heaven is like the great escape. You're so heavenly minded you're no earthly good. Let me tell you why were so focused on heaven because were citizens of heaven to be our eventual home. He says our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Look at the word citizenship or just a moment I'm having you look at it because it's the only place in the New Testament. Paul uses this word in this manner, the word citizenship is the word in Greek. Paul led to Ma. Paul led to much is the Greek word from which we derive our word politics or political affiliation for our politics are in heaven for our political affiliation is in heaven and I noticed something about politics. It always divides people you can have a conversation even even among believers.

If we started loving on each other and singing together and stuff like were doing or if I brought up a political issue I would divide this nice happy gathering always happens divides families divides believers and as I grow in the Lord. I am becoming less political and hopefully more spiritual in my Outlook. I am much less a Republican, much less a Democrat on today when people say what are you I'm a theocrat.

I believe the only hope for this place is when Jesus comes back and rules everything and everyone. Speaking of which, he says, from which verse 20 we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Another something. Our hope is not in the coming of the Lord. Our hope is in the Lord who is coming. I know waiting for an event to bail me out. I'm waiting for a person that I know and love. He's coming back.

He's my Lord he's my Savior and that intimacy will be fully realized at that point.

By the way, one of the ways to tell a person is really a citizen of the kingdom is here. She wants to see the king. They can't wait to see the king.

If you're not a citizen of the kingdom of God and you hear a believer say Jesus is coming soon. That doesn't excite you first about you think you're wacky but if you would actually believe in what they said, Jesus, you would go.

Oh great you got all know he is all that's not good news to you but if you are a citizen of the kingdom site. Yes. Can't wait to see my king now brings up a question.

If you are a citizen of the kingdom. However, you waiting for the king it says we eagerly wait for him without describe you.

Are you eagerly waiting for him or would you say well why waiting for him is sort of like a passive resignation. You know I've heard Jesus, and for years. My grandma used to say that so uses is coming again or give aboard this interest in his coming in a citizen once that person is a citizen when they're away from their homeland. They get homesick. First time I traveled overseas I was so excited to get on an airplane have my own passport I see I got a passport and I was in that country and I love try in the food and all the customs but I was there for like a few months and the first week I was all getting excited try everything but you know after a couple weeks didn't take long. I started like having dreams of hamburgers and stuff like American things have gotten better as time is going on but I just got sort of homesick.

I wanted to have my friends around me again in the things that I was used to. So it is with us in the kingdom of God. We get homesick of the great promises. Jesus ever made was in my father's house there are many mansions if it were not so I would've told you I'm going to prepare a place surreal place for you and if I go I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, you may be with me always.

So we look forward to that sort of feel like especially the older I get and I know that heaven is a lot closer now than it used to be, and that the road ahead of me is shorter than the road behind me. I sort of feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz membership quicker healed no place like home is no place like I really think there's no place like heaven.

There's no place like heaven is our home question how do we become heavenly citizens easy answer you trust in Jesus Christ, who didn't do works for you on the cross and he writes your name down so to speak in the registry of heaven want to Skip ahead a couple verses go to chapter 4 verse three and just notice the language. He says I urge you also true companion help these women who labored with me in the gospel with climate also and the rest of my fellow workers now notice this phrase whose names are in the book of life. By the time you get to Revelation, the book of life is called the Lamb's book of life or the book of life of the Lamb. Given either way. Jesus said to his disciples. Luke chapter 10 rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. You trust him and he put your name down on the logbook. So by the time you die, you show up and have we been expecting you. Your names here and you're right on time. By the way, then a few years ago I had a very distinct opportunity. A friend that I know arranged when we were in Israel wants three of us to meet with the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin that Yahoo in his office at the Knesset. Now he's the one that put our names down on the registry.

He was sort of like the one who was the go-between, but he arranged it. We were given instructions be at the Knesset gate the certain gate at the Knesset at exactly 2 PM on a certain day, we showed up.

They looked at the registry. Our names had been written down. They asked for our passport to make sure wasn't altered or mutilated, that it was I was the person whose name is on the list and then they said please come in welcome. Now I was there in the Prime Minister of Israel's office.

Bibi Netanyahu not because I decided I wanted to go because I was really sincere and I think I deserve. I was there solely on the intercession of another person who put my name down in the registry so I get to heaven.

I'm thereby the merits of another. The intercession of another who put my name down in the book of life.

So when you say why are Christians so interested in heaven well. Our name is written there are Savior lives there.

He will return from there he will take us back to their are fellow believers who have died before us are already there in our inheritance and reward. Is there or should we look forward to our citizenship is in heaven. However, please see that heaven is much more than the destination. It's a motivation.

It should motivate us, knowing that our names are written in the Lamb's book of life is a motivation for a pure life and a gospel preaching life. John writes this we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, and everyone who has this hope purifies himself, even as he is pure is nothing more pure than believing Jesus Christ could come at any moment when you believe that when you live with that in mind, it's a motivation because you're about to get involved in some enterprise with another person you have this thought. What if Jesus comes now that will keep you from doing a lot of stuff will get you involved in doing good stuff there, motivate you to see you know these people don't know the Lord.

I want to make sure they get to heaven, so it's a motivation not just a destination. So there are descriptions of our heavenly citizens. Citizens walk with partners.

Watch for pretenders and wait for a place may close on a final note, citizens will get a promotion. I love Paul I love the fact that he says you know what. Not only were going to have a but let me just put the icing on the cake by saying this, who, speaking of Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it might be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things DNS to be the new Skip version when you get to heaven.

This is get an upgrade to get upgraded not only to change location to the change looks people. So how might a look and have an easy answer that are much better to get the body you always dreamed of Paul's words will be transformed.

Poll after poll that I've read has asked people this question if you could change one thing about your life over to be the typical answer is something to do with bodily appearance, but could change one thing about my life. I want to be shorter or taller than this or that it's a haircolor, but you can change that five times before the end of the day. They want to change something about their outward appearance and this body image consciousness is even leaked into the young people. Our kids are worried about.

There was a little boy named Johnny always sucked his thumb and his mom wanted to break him of the habit. So one day he was sucking his thumb and she said Johnny what good thing could possibly be gotten from you doing that and he took his thumb out and held it up and is a well.

It is not fattening. I suppose that's an upside one day your dream will come true.

Every citizen of the kingdom of heaven will get a resurrected glorified body that is better than any facelift any skin cream any Botox any diet program. Any facial reconstruction, stretching, and it's all free.

You be transformed he will transform now notice what he says our lowly body for this.

Think about this for moment, especially you were younger, working really hard looking really good and you work out your personal trainer you want to show the world how to do it right.

I applied you for that.

Please keep us all in line, but you have but a moment to really enjoy that. The truth is, your body is a nobody body, you know, believe me, just wait.

It won't take long to convince you. Trust me, the King James is even stronger. Who will change our vile body or the NASB says our body of humility or body of humiliation. So enjoy it for now, but it is a lowly body but notice verse 21. The word transformed and draw your attention to that because there's a word in Greek that he uses here and we get another English word from it, to say the Greek word, and then you'll go here. The English meta-scheme match SI is the word transformed meta-scheme at a site we get the word schematic. Did you hear it meta-scheme Madison we get the word schematic. So when you get to heaven. It's as if the upgrade you get will be a whole new schematic that affects inward and outward Constitution as a whole, renewed physical structure at the resurrection which will occur at the rapture of the church you will get a resurrected body and it will be like Jesus own resurrected body.

Notice what he says, that will be conformed to his glorious body now in Jesus rose from the dead. He had new capabilities, we discover that when the disciples are in a room. The doors are locked and Jesus just appears in front of the distant disciples locked doors even crawl through the window. He did knock on the door let me and I can't get in. He just showed up.

I how did he do that will he had a whole new capability that he didn't have before. This resurrected body was able to do that and one day he was walking on the road to Emmaus and walking out several miles from Jerusalem suddenly shows up in that upper room and then he's in Jerusalem. Suddenly he shows up in Galilee so you're going to have new capabilities in this new body. I did a whole series of messages on this. I won't rehash all that. But imagine having a body that will never wear out. Imagine having a body that never gets tired, never gets exhausted. Imagine having a body that is not susceptible to disease handicaps atrophy and aches and pains.

Imagine having a body that never gains weight never loses their never gets wrinkled. Hallelujah never sags her stoops that glorified upgraded body is a guaranteed perk for every citizen of heaven Benjamin Franklin when he died. He was buried in Boston, Massachusetts.

But interestingly, Benjamin Franklin wrote his own epitaph for when he died years before he died that he revised it several times, so he must've thought a lot about this is not on his gravestone, but it is on a plaque at a wall nearby.

His words, the body of Ben Franklin printer like the cover of an old book, its contents, torn out and stripped of its lettering and building lies here food for worms. Yet the work itself shall not be lost for it will appear once more in a new and more elegant addition corrected and improved by the author. What a beautiful way of saying this body. Lowly body is going to get an upgrade be revised and improved by the author. So, summing it all up, look around for good examples to follow lookout for imitations to avoid and look up for Jesus to return final question, are you sure you're a citizen.

Are you sure your faith is personally in Jesus Christ alone. Have you trusted in him. Is there a better time in your life or you made that place that trust in him is your name written in the Lamb's book of life that conclusive message for now we want to share about an exciting opportunity trip to Israel is a life changing your Bible study will never be the same Skip has lived in Israel, and lead tours. Many many times used to invite you one is next to her. You know there's always something new to see and experience in Israel and I'm so excited to let you know that I'm taking another tour group to Israel next spring. In 2022 urine for an incredible time as we traveled throughout Israel and experience the culture that's so unique to that country will start on the Mediterranean Sea and head north.

Seeing places like Caesarea and Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River will spend several days in and around Jerusalem and see the temple mount Calvary, the garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of olives and much more.

This remarkable itinerary is made richer with times of worship, Bible study, and lots of fellowship. Now I've been to Israel a number of times over the years and I can honestly say that visiting the places where the events of the Scriptures unfolded where Jesus lived taught and healed. It just never gets old. I can't wait to see you start planning and saving now to tour Israel with Skip pricing information and inspiration. Cruises.com/C a VQ that's inspiration cruises.com/C a VQ tomorrow as we approach the 20th anniversary of the tragedies of 9/11 joint Skip Heitzig as he discusses his experience at Ground Zero as a chaplain and what he has observed in the Middle East. As a result of that world shaking that's tomorrow. Connect with so Skip Heitzig presentation of connection communications to God's never changing truth