Are You Looking Forward? - Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ feel guilty for the judgment seat of Christ is not designed to make you when I feel guilty a few weeks ago I said there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ is this is I didn't do what you should have done this is not just about this is to offer you reward these and I will make a distinction some of the great things you did for me. I would hang strong. Those things don't destroy others, or goals, precious stone on joining us today on this additional fellowship of the word pastor Bill Gebhart Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhart now again he shows us how God's word meets our work, but Lazarus never told the story a poor man named Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom. There was a rich man in Luke and he said the rich man said no could go back and tell my brothers and all that and it says in Luke in that passage.

Now the poor man died and was carried away my angels and Abraham was, that's okay. I might complain about, but I don't think that's the truth I don't think angels when you die going to carry you to Abraham's bosom back Abraham's bosom was in paradise. Paradise doesn't exist anymore. Jesus said that it is in heaven right and so consequently it's not that angels are. Anyway, it's something much, much better than that. Turn with me to John chapter 14, Gospel of John chapter 14 in the context here is wonderful. It's death. This is the night before Jesus dies.

Guess I was disciples horrible, awful, and therefore fear you see in Jesus wants to address it with, so he says do not your heart be troubled. Apparently it is.

He said do not let your heart be troubled, what's the solution believe in God believe also in me. If you believe me then you believe what I'm telling you, let me tell you what I'm going to tell you and ask yourself do I believe it in my father's house are many dwelling places.

Okay, there are many dwelling places in God's house and have if it were not so I would've told you, then this phrase I go and prepare a place for you. Interestingly you there is singular or plural that you all you have told you in the past.

How overwhelming that is that right now in heaven.

There's a dwelling place. There will put a door on it. I don't know if we need doors in heaven, but knew it says on the door Bill 1 Out My My Pl. you made for me my Lord. He did the same thing for you is that I go and prepare a place for you while that is not a generically always just a nice place now there's a place for you as a place for me. He said I will go and prepare a place for you. Then he said if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

While so what I believe the moment I leave this life or walking to the next Lord receives me and I believe you received my letter with middlemen doing the Lord Jesus Christ welcome. Imagine how overwhelming that would be. I mean just absolutely overwhelming. And by the way, not in all cases but I can tell you something, and I experienced a lot as a pastor, I've experienced a lot of it is a pastor of people believers I know who have died in their family describing to me what happened in the last minute they got I just had one not long ago. It is the same thing. All of a sudden there was a change in the breathing changed and it was just like a look eyes open Outlook and it was a piece I can explain it.

Why think I could. You see, it's not like I died a minute Garth and I think all know what happens I believe is some dying and dying grace of God. Jesus is not reassuring that should be to us who have the fear that is reassuring.

Jesus says look I'll receive you to myself, that's an amazing thing when you think about it from that point of view. Secondly, this go to Luke six, Luke 622.

Not only do we get a reassuring welcome when you get there, but I want to understand something for all of us you be richly rewarded magnate not reported by each other. Not some little club rewarded by God himself by Jesus Christ.

He's going to reward you. And those rewards will last you forever. It's an amazing thing when you think about you will be rewarded by the Lord now happens a great reward and of itself, but watch what Luke writes in verse 22, he said, Blessed are you when men hate you and ostracize you and so you and scorned your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man, for my sake. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great as a reward verse 35 but love your enemies, do good and land, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the most high. You start studying this on your own rewards all through the New Testament.

You see them everywhere.

Paul wrote this.

Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, not to men, knowing that from the Lord, your receive the reward of an inheritance in first Corinthians 9. He said looking for going to run your race now. He said run in such a way that you will receive the imperishable crown of your reward. There's a crown of rejoicing the crown of righteousness crown of life. Fact in second Corinthians chapter 5, Paul wrote this we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

Everyone of us will every believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ ever some believers that terrified.

Oh boy's gonna be rough. I've even heard preachers tell you people that I'm ashamed they would.

The judgment seat of Christ. We all know ourselves and God knows us better than we do. So you think this is going to be really bad.

I've heard a preacher say that you all stand before the judgment seat, he'll tell me what it crappy life I lived. And then I just walk away from any and all the other guys look at that guy in the pudding. Don't you realize that in heaven there is no sorrow, no tears, no guilt. I'm not going to feel guilty forever. The judgment seat of Christ is not designed to make you when I feel guilty a few weeks ago I said look, there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus. This is my call. I didn't do what you should've done this, that is not what this is about this is to offer you reward.

He said I will make a distinction some of the great things you did for me are wood, hay and straw. Those things don't matter have been there destroying others a gold, silver, precious stone. I will honor those you be rewarded richly rewarded and think who reward you. God incarnate reward you. How long does he appreciate what you've done for ever for ever to be a trophy on a shelf skin reaffirming word from the Lord Jesus Christ. It does is for all of us. It's an amazing and wonderful thing.

Thirdly, go with me to Philippians chapter 3 in verse 20 I got a reassuring welcome from my Lord and Savior.

I'm going to be richly rewarded. So are you. Thirdly, verse 20 chapter 3, Paul reminds Mrs. for our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. There it is again. I'm not waiting for the Lord eagerly waiting 70 if we feel that way or not.

You eagerly await to be in the presence of the Lord. I know you all want to go to heaven but none of you want to go tonight is see, I mean that. Think about be honest, but Paul wanted to go tonight. He believed these things, so for me, said look you give me a choice of staying here being in his presence I might be in his presence. Why when we think that way.

How wonderful was that you see it's not just the sidebar. I don't think I don't get the judge that I don't have to go to eternal punishment. That's not it. I going to the presence of God. It's interesting he goes on and says this then who will transform the body of your humble state into conformity with the body of his glory by the exertion of the power that he has even to subject all things to himself to see that transform our body of this humble state into conformity with the body of his glory. This is being conformed in the perfection so you conformed and absolute perfection. The glory of his body. Do you think how wonderful that would be just imagine what that's like. It's not like well that's just a better version of me. Hey Bill, you lost like 10 pounds into guy that I was not like that. This is complete perfection always grace and his power in that way. My body is going to be just like his.

So is yours Kyle Lee and others maybe maybe a sidebar for if any of you are considering some more cosmetic surgery okay might want to just wait on because it can only do so much and I will.

But what's going to happen with the Lord is going to be phenomenal. It's gonna be wonderful.

It's going to be forever you ceases.

I'm going to take that humble body of yours would turn into one just like mine while that is such a tremendously wonderful thing. First Corinthians 15 in the moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet we will all be changed, the twinkling of an eye instantly changed. While so we have a reassuring welcome Rich rewards a resurrected body and go to the end of the pie with me. Revelation 22 Revelation 22. The last book of the Bible verse three. Guess what happened by now you have a new earth, the great white throne judgment over everything is over now. Now this is the eternal state.

And here's what John writes verse three. There will no longer be any curse. None in the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it. Okay.

And then this phrase and his bond servants will serve while a renewed assignment for all of us.

You know we have such wacky views of heaven only home I can some of the worst you heaven can be for you and eternal crawfish boil going to be so wonderful. There really that's what you came up with.

You thought about it, you thought that's what heaven will be like. I mean the limits of what heaven is going to be like is simply this, what is the imagination and power of God. You think you have an imagination what you think God's imagination in his power to make everything he imagines come true. Just it's an amazing thing and we will serve him.

You see we get a renewed assignment. It's it's not that place working. I remember when I was really young. I kept thinking who in the world would ever want to go there if it's an eternal worship service. I mean really something your thinking how long now you know an hour. I can give an hour now, but much over that. I'm kind of worn out. Now there is tremendous worship. I don't deny that. But there's tremendous service. It's such an incredible place.

It's beyond our imagination. I member Dwight Pentecost many years ago I read in the book are his class and he said of God actually told us what we would experience in heaven forever. He said I'm afraid that most believers would jump off of buildings. You know there's probably some truth, it's so wholly other. It's so far beyond what you can ever even imagine how wonderful it's going to be Bill Bright was the founder of campus Crusade for Christ and on the bright died of pulmonary fibrosis in 2003 and my father died of pulmonary fibrosis, just a year or two before he did and so he wrote this before he died he said no reunion in history can even foreshadow what joy we will experience when we see Christ face-to-face. He said brought together in the all surrounding presence of the Lord, our faces will beam what full throated glad hearted welcomes. He said these blood wash sinners that we have the love we have for him and for each other how we will adore our Lord Jesus together forever. That's at least anticipating in his right, he's right. That's what were all anticipating. We can't wait for this. You see it. The whole idea that it simply, you know, it's just going to be an extended forever worship service and it is just little angels on plane harps on clock that's nonsense. There's nothing remotely like that in the word of God. This is God's plan for us forever. There are no bad days never have one tear forever me just imagine how good this is going to be and then the last one I want to seek occurs in next and they will see his face and his name will be on.

Therefore, while the son of God, the creator of all things. The sovereign God himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate and new we won't see him from a distance, so I hope he moves way up on that mountain using face-to-face and you look and see I don't deserve any of this. He was see you have it all because I love you. I did the work for you.

How would that make you feel mean eternally grateful.

You realize seek. This is the reason you were born. This is the purpose of your life. This is the fruition of all this I am going to be welcome into heaven by the Lord. I am going to get rich rewards from the Lord.

I'm going to get the wards resurrected glorified body.

I'm going to get a renewed assignment. How the Lord wants me to serve him and I'm going to see the risen Savior face-to-face while just imagine if you own those true statements I made as your convictions. This is what you believe. I really believe this, you see, the best is yet to come. The bet it's so much better. Life can be good here.

We have good circumstances and moments of times but they can't even compare in any way with what what the future is for all of us and it's a forever future and it's all because of the grace and love of God for us, meaning that should affect us. You see, that's why I want to live holy and godly. That's why want to externally and internally walk with the Lord because I now realize just how wonderful that position is not just have a better life now, but the let him know how appreciative I am of what he did for me.

Are you looking forward as Peter said this, or have you not really thought about your too busy with life. I think the best example I can give how you should live your life.

How does an eight-year-old little boy.

How does he look forward to Christmas morning. If you've ever had of you know what I'm talking about 430 and the time hit to get up there.

They can't sleep right one is that that's anticipation. I just can't wait for Christmas and they start talking about what two weeks before how much longer 13 days, nine days, seven days. I look that should be us see that should be yes were full of this eager idea of how wonderful God is provided for us for the future.

Now, without Christ.

What I said in beginning the markers is not coming is not coming things of them to be the way they've always been a big you to reconsider. There's something coming in the future and if you don't have Jesus Christ. It's worse than anything mankind can ever imagine you're going to stand before the Lord and be judged by a need to spend eternity separated from that so much is at stake. God is patient, he has waited 2000 years is given you an opportunity to repent and trust him as your Savior would do that. Just the simple act of faith, but do that because were talking about polar opposites here. One group of people to heavenly bliss and the other group of people to heavenly separation from this for us. We should look forward to this. You see, we should go forward.

It's an interesting thing that when you read about it.

Look at the end of the chapter 1st 20 he who testifies to these things says yes I am coming quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus, you know, that should be part of our prayer life every day countries I want to become the Wendy's common, but I would hope would be today.

The spring father. I just pray that we take these truths that we understand as we transition from this life to the next that our Lord will receive.

It seems to himself, he will richly reward us to give us a resurrected body gives us all new assignments and we get to see the face of our Savior, who loves us positive view. Father, we know each and every one of us, convict us in spring give us the pastor broke apart on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever missed one of our broadcast or maybe you disciple to smooth the method one more time. Remember the good a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible with all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help with radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service of fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC and oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds pastor Bill sermon you can browse through our sermon archives defined sensors are looking for.

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