Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: GMTB
Program Code: GMTB000049
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00:18 Hello and welcome back to
00:20 Give Me The Bible. 00:22 This is a series that is a 00:23 Kenneth Cox production that 00:24 is coming to you live 00:26 from 3ABN's Worship Center. 00:28 And we're so thankful that he is here. 00:31 We are very thankful for this series. 00:34 It's a 5-part series called The Elijah Message. 00:37 And we're just grateful that all of our brothers and sisters 00:41 from around the world are joining us. 00:43 You know, we've had a wonderful time during this series, 00:46 haven't we? We began... Pastor Cox began 00:50 talking about... the message was the coming of Elijah. 00:54 We learned that John the Baptist 00:57 came in the spirit and the power of Elijah. 00:59 And I believe that Pastor Cox is coming with that same spirit 01:04 and power to give us this much-needed message. 01:06 And then his second part was on Abraham's Altar... 01:10 the importance of family worship morning and evening 01:14 and what an impact that makes on the salvation of your family. 01:17 Then we heard Bless This House. 01:19 And what was the take-away from that? 01:22 That God's love is unconditional 01:24 but boy those promises are conditioned on obedience, 01:29 aren't they? You know, Hebrews 10:36 says that 01:31 we have need of endurance so that after we have done 01:34 the will of God we will receive His promise. 01:37 And tonight Kenneth is going to bring us Heaven Is My Home, 01:43 and I'm very anxious to hear that message. 01:45 But before he comes out to speak, 01:47 it's my very distinct honor to introduce to you Dona Klein. 01:53 You usually see Dona behind the organ, but tonight 01:57 we're going to get to hear Dona sing. 01:59 And she's going to be singing a Roy Drusky song 02:02 Roy traveled with Kenneth Cox Ministries for over 10 years. 02:06 And this is a song that says "Lord, Help Me Slow Down 02:10 This Life of Mine. " Thank you, Dona. 02:24 Lord, help me slow down 02:28 this life of mine. 02:32 Help me make better use 02:36 of precious time. 02:40 Let me taste the grapes 02:44 but make me tend the vine. 02:48 Lord, help me slow down 02:52 this life of mine. 02:57 Help me find my purpose 03:00 in this world today. 03:05 Help me help a stranger 03:08 who's lost along the way. 03:12 If someone really needs me 03:16 make me take the time. 03:21 Lord, help me slow down 03:24 this life of mine. 03:29 Lord, help me slow down 03:32 this life of mine. 03:37 Help me make better use 03:41 of precious time. 03:44 Let me taste the grapes 03:49 but make me tend the vine. 03:53 Lord, help me slow down 03:56 this life of mine. 04:09 Lord, help me slow down 04:13 this life of mine. 04:17 Help me make better use 04:21 of precious time. 04:25 Let me taste the grapes 04:29 but make me tend the vine. 04:33 Lord, help me slow down 04:37 this life of mine. 04:41 Lord, help me slow down 04:45 this life of mine. 04:54 Thank you, Dona Klein. 04:58 Slow down this life of mine. 05:00 I guess that's something that all of us need to do 05:03 is slow down our lives just a little bit 05:06 and stop and smell the roses 05:10 and the things that God has to offer. 05:12 Well, good evening. 05:14 Very happy to welcome all of you 05:16 again. Appreciate you being here 05:18 for Give Me The Bible. 05:20 Those of you that are joining us by television 05:22 or listening on the radio, we welcome you also. 05:26 Glad to have you. We hope that as we're going into this 05:30 series on The Elijah Message 05:33 that it's helping you understand what is taking place 05:37 and what we need to be doing. 05:39 That little poem that I try to share with you 05:41 is something that we have to keep our minds focused on. 05:46 What says the Bible, the blessed Bible? 05:49 This my only question be. 05:52 The message of Elijah offers guidance to you and me. 05:57 What says the Word of God to me? 06:00 This is what we have to find out is what does God's Word 06:04 have for us... each one. 06:06 Well, we've looked at several subjects on The Elijah Message 06:10 and we found out that it is dealing with the home. 06:14 And we've looked at some aspects of the home. 06:18 Tonight we're looking at Heaven Is My Home 06:21 because actually that's Elijah's home right now 06:26 is heaven... that's what the scripture says. 06:28 So we're taking a look at Heaven Is My Home. 06:31 Our closing subject on this series is entitled 06:42 Because that's what the scripture says there in Malachi. 06:45 It says that He'll turn the hearts of the fathers 06:48 to the children and the children to the fathers 06:51 "lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. " 06:54 And it says He will do that 06:55 before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 06:59 So we're going to look at that in our next presentation 07:03 what it's talking about. How can I... how can you 07:09 as an individual be prepared 07:12 for that great and dreadful day of the Lord. 07:15 Very important that we look at it and understand what God 07:19 is telling each one of us. 07:22 Tonight: Heaven Is My Home. 07:26 You know, it's hard to comprehend. 07:31 It's hard to imagine all the wonderful things that 07:35 God has prepared for us. 07:37 You know, we have a tendency to think of it just 07:43 concerning the things around us. 07:46 But what God has prepared is so, so much more. 07:51 And so I hope tonight to be able to take your minds 07:57 off this old world 08:00 and really put them on where your home is. 08:03 Because if you're a follower of the Lord and you're His people 08:07 then He has a home for you... a special place... 08:11 and that's what we're going to look at this evening. 08:13 Time's short. It's running out. 08:17 Can't continue on; it's just coming to an end. 08:22 And it's closing up, folks, and Christ is coming back 08:27 and we need to be prepared for that. 08:30 And Dona's going to sing about that tonight 08:32 in a song entitled Almost Home. 08:51 Sometimes life gets so heavy 08:55 and I get so weary 08:59 of fighting the good fight of faith. 09:05 And the world seems to glitter 09:09 with its fake gold and silver 09:13 tempting me to give up the race. 09:20 Close the door, Lord, behind me 09:23 on these things that bind me 09:27 and then, remind me again... 09:34 that I am a sinner, 09:38 a wayfaring stranger, 09:41 in search of a world without end. 09:46 I'm almost home! 09:51 Where Jesus is waiting, 09:55 where angels are singing, 09:58 and where I'll never more roam. 10:06 Hallelujah! 10:08 I'm almost home. 10:20 All the sickness and dying 10:23 with its sadness and crying 10:27 will all be a thing of the past. 10:33 This old world and its sorrow 10:37 makes me long for tomorrow 10:41 when all things will be new at last. 10:48 No more heartaches or grieving, 10:52 for soon I'll be leaving 10:55 for a land where I'll never grow old. 11:02 I hear sweet music playing 11:06 and soon I'll be singing 11:09 up there in that city of gold. 11:15 I'm almost home. 11:20 Where Jesus is waiting, 11:23 where angels are singing, 11:27 and where I'll never more roam. 11:34 Hallelujah! 11:36 I'm almost home. 11:41 Praise God! 11:43 We're almost home. 11:48 Hallelujah! 11:50 I'm almost home! 11:57 Amen! 12:14 Precious Lord, tonight 12:17 we anxiously look forward to that day 12:21 when You're coming back 12:24 and all of us will be at home. 12:29 Grant us understanding, 12:33 wisdom, insight 12:36 that we may see the wondrous things that You have provided 12:43 and that we might purpose in our hearts and in our souls 12:47 to walk with You... to follow You. 12:52 To do Your bidding and Your will. 12:55 Give us, Lord, the insight that we need tonight 13:01 that our minds and our hearts 13:04 may look for a new city... 13:08 a new place where God dwells. 13:11 For this we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 13:20 Christ was talking to His 13:22 disciples, and He made rather a 13:26 startling statement. 13:29 One that really if you're just 13:33 reading through the scripture and you don't follow it 13:36 it seems like something He said that wasn't possible. 13:41 This is what He said: 13:56 Well, He said to His disciples, He said: 14:00 "there's some of you standing here that will 14:05 not see death until you see the kingdom of God. " 14:09 What was He talking about? 14:12 What was He referring to? 14:14 Well the scripture goes on and explains it as it always does. 14:17 If you just pick up the Word of God and you spend enough time 14:23 in it, it will explain it. 14:25 You just have to keep studying. 14:28 And watch as it explains exactly what He was talking about. 14:45 So here we are eight days later 14:47 and He takes Peter and James and John up on the mountain. 14:51 And when He's up there He is transfigured. 14:55 Because it says here: 15:06 They're there on the mountain with Him, and there He is 15:09 praying and all of a sudden 15:12 His appearance begins to change 15:17 and His clothing becomes bright 15:23 and shining. And the whole thing begins to change, 15:26 and all of a sudden two people are with Him. 15:38 This is Elijah that we've been talking about... 15:40 the message. Here he is with Christ on this mountain. 15:44 And by the way, I've had people say: 15:46 "Well, that was a vision. " NO, that's not a vision. 15:48 That isn't what it says here. 15:50 It says that Moses and Elijah were with Him. 15:52 So they're there on the mountain with Him, talking to Christ. 15:58 And there the glory of God shone forth in all of its beauty. 16:03 And those disciples were frightened and afraid 16:07 because of the glory that was involved there. 16:10 Why would Moses and Elijah 16:14 come and meet with Him? 16:17 Why were they there? 16:18 Well, it says this about Moses: 16:30 You remember the Lord told Moses... He said: 16:33 "Moses, you're not going to go into the land of Canaan 16:35 but come up here on top of the mountain, Mount Nebo, 16:39 and I will show you the land of Canaan. " 16:41 Which God showed him the whole land of Canaan. 16:45 And then it says He told Moses: "You're going to rest now. 16:50 You're going to die. " 16:52 And he died, and where was he buried? 16:57 Now listen... it tells you where he was buried. 17:00 OK? 17:06 Where? Not on Mount Nebo, folks. 17:19 So it says that He took Moses and buried him here 17:23 in a valley opposite of Beth Peor. 17:27 And nobody knows where his grave is to this day. 17:32 So Moses died. 17:34 Elijah... and it says concerning Moses: 17:43 Now this is in Jude... 17:57 He said that Michael came... 18:00 What's he disputing with the devil about? 18:03 Over the body of Moses. 18:07 And what is happening here as we have just found 18:10 is that Moses is on the Mount of Transfiguration with Christ. 18:16 So this dispute has to be over the resurrection of Moses. 18:22 You know I've thought about that. 18:24 What a wonderful thing that is. 18:26 You see, God said: "OK, Moses. 18:28 Because you lost your temper and because you did things 18:32 you shouldn't, you can't go over into the land of Canaan. " 18:36 And this is... he has spent 40 years, 18:39 folks, getting these people there. 18:41 And to say "Now you can't go over" - which He told him 18:44 he couldn't - and he died. 18:47 But you see God had something much better in mind. 18:50 He said: "Listen, Moses, we're going to resurrect you, 18:55 take you to heavenly Canaan. " See? 18:57 So this was what the dispute was... 18:59 about the resurrection of Moses 19:02 and brought back... taken to heaven. 19:06 Elijah we read: 19:22 So it says that Elijah didn't die. 19:26 That he was taken to heaven without seeing death. 19:31 And so you have Moses and Elijah 19:34 there with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. 19:38 What did it represent? Well listen: 20:00 OK. Two groups here... watch: 20:15 So you have Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration. 20:21 Elijah represents all those that are living when Jesus comes. 20:27 Moses represents all those who have died 20:30 that will be resurrected. 20:32 And thus Christ could tell the disciples 20:35 "there are some of you who will not see death 20:37 until you see the Son of Man coming. " 20:39 So in miniature Peter, James, and John 20:43 saw the coming of the Lord 20:46 and those of the righteous who have been resurrected 20:49 and those who were translated. 20:53 So you have both of them there. 20:55 And Moses and Elijah have spent now 21:01 two thousand years or better in heaven... 21:06 enjoying all the wonders of heaven. 21:09 What has God prepared for you? 21:14 What's it like? 21:16 What's this place that God has made... what's it like 21:21 for each one of us? 21:22 Well, let's take a look at what the scripture says. 21:39 It says... the most beautiful scene 21:44 you have ever seen will not compare to heaven. 21:50 The most beautiful music you have ever heard 21:56 will not compare to the music of heaven. 22:00 In fact, it says that you can't imagine 22:06 what it will be like. 22:08 Now folks, you know, that's kind of different 22:12 because when I was a kid I can remember... 22:14 I went to school way out in the country 22:17 in a little brick schoolhouse that had four grades 22:21 in each room and, I mean, way out on a dirt road. 22:26 Way out there. And I don't know what happened, 22:29 but somehow, some way this circus got lost 22:34 and it wound up on this dirt road coming by our school, 22:38 you know. And... and of course all of us kids 22:42 were looking at these trucks as they went by 22:45 because they had all these animals and all these things 22:47 on it. And then when we went to town 22:50 here were signs plastered up all over 22:52 saying the circus was coming to town. 22:54 Well, man, for the next two weeks in school 22:58 that's what we played every recess was circus. 23:01 And I mean we had all kinds of things. 23:04 We had people swinging from trapezes 23:07 and doing flips like you couldn't believe. 23:09 I mean our imaginations went way, way there. 23:13 And then when the two weeks was up the circus came to town. 23:16 We went to the circus... 23:18 It wasn't near as good as our imagination. 23:21 See? But the scripture says you can't do that with heaven. 23:25 You can't imagine anything that will be greater 23:28 than what heaven will be. 23:30 So God has wonderful things - marvelous things - 23:34 in store for you and for me. 23:50 So this city up in heaven is going to come back 23:54 to this old earth. 23:59 OK. Very clear: it's laid out as a square. 24:16 Meaning in proportion. 24:18 So the city is laid out in a square. 24:22 It's in proportion, 24:24 and it says that it is 12,000 furlongs 24:29 around the city. 24:32 There are eight furlongs in a mile. 24:35 So if you divide 8 into 12,000 what have you got? 24:41 You've got 1,500 miles around that city. 24:49 375 miles on a side 24:52 because it's laid out in a square. 24:55 You see, we don't have any cities like that. 24:58 We do have a state that's almost exactly that size... 25:03 the state of Colorado. 25:05 The state of Colorado is almost exactly 375 miles on each side. 25:11 And so if you look at the state of Colorado 25:14 you can just put the New Jerusalem in there. 25:16 You see, we don't have anything like that. 25:20 I mean, have you ever been to New York? 25:25 Uh, you can walk across the city of New York 25:28 the short way without any trouble. 25:31 And in the city of New York 25:34 how many people are there? 25:38 Huh? 25:40 Well about 23,000,000. 25:42 That's how many are in New York. 25:44 And it doesn't even start to be that size. 25:48 So when we've got a city that's 375 miles on a side 25:54 I mean that holds lots of people. 25:59 A lot of people. 26:01 OK. In fact, there's room in that city 26:04 for every man, woman, and child that has ever lived. 26:11 So don't let me hear you say there's not room for you 26:14 'cause there is room for you there in that city 26:18 that He's made for us. 26:34 So around this city is this wall 26:37 375 miles on a side. 26:42 OK. And in it... in that wall are three gates. 26:48 OK. And it goes on and says: 26:57 So there's three gates on each side of the city. 27:01 And over the top of each gate is one of the names of the 27:05 tribes of Israel. 27:07 Have you ever thought about that? 27:09 Why? Why over each gate 27:13 is there one of the names of the tribes of Israel? 27:19 Now you know you've got to go through one of the gates. 27:22 You can't crawl over the wall. 27:24 See? You've got to go through one of those gates. 27:26 What gate are you going to go through? 27:28 Well, I don't have time to go into it tonight, 27:31 but if you went back and did some study 27:34 you'll find in the last chapter of Genesis 27:36 Jacob tells the characteristics of the sons. 27:41 And all of us fit into one of those tribes 27:45 by our personalities. 27:48 And according to your character and your personality 27:51 you will go in through that gate into the city. 27:55 That's the reason you have the name of each tribe 27:59 over one of those gates and all. 28:01 Because it's a city for all nations... 28:04 not just the twelve tribes. 28:06 But we will go in according to our personality. 28:10 And it says: 28:21 So it says he measured the wall of the city 28:24 and the wall is 144 cubits high 28:29 according to a man or an angel. 28:32 How much is a cubit? 28:34 Well I'll tell you how much a cubit is. 28:36 A cubit is this: from here to there. 28:39 That's a cubit. 28:41 OK. About 20 inches. 28:44 So it tells you that that wall 28:47 is over 200 feet high. 28:53 Over 200 feet high. 28:55 375 miles long on each side, 29:00 and in each side there are three gates. 29:06 Listen to what it says about these gates: 29:21 Now folks, you don't have walls over 200 feet high 29:26 and 375 miles long 29:30 and have little teeny gates. 29:33 I mean, it just doesn't fit! 29:35 Architecturally it doesn't fit. 29:38 Those have to be huge gates... 29:41 and each gate is made out of one pearl. 29:46 And standing at each gate is an angel. 29:52 OK? 29:54 So that's the walls around the city. 29:57 Not only the walls around the city, but it also tells us 30:00 about the foundations. 30:11 On those twelve foundations... 30:13 on them were the names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb. 30:16 So on each foundation is the name of one of the apostles. 30:22 And it tells you that those foundations are made out of 30:27 twelve precious stones... 30:30 what they're made out of. 30:32 And it says: 30:51 And it tells each one. 30:53 You want to have an interesting study? 30:54 Go home tonight; get your Bible and turn over here to 30:58 Revelation 21 and then get your dictionary 31:02 and look up each one of those stones 31:05 and you'll find those 12 stones 31:07 make up the color of the rainbow. 31:10 That's what they make up: the color of the rainbow. 31:13 And so the city has this foundation of 12 stones 31:16 that make up the color of the rainbow. 31:19 And on each one is one of the names of the apostles. 31:23 So we have the city... begins to give us what it's like. 31:27 And it says: 31:37 Now folks, it goes on here and says: 31:46 Now it doesn't say that there won't be a sun 31:50 or there won't be a moon. That isn't what that says. 31:54 It says there was no need of it 31:57 because He's the light of it. 32:00 Christ is there. He's the light of that city. 32:03 And it says there's no night there, therefore the gates 32:06 of the city are never shut... 32:12 because there's no night there 32:13 so the gates of the city are open and all. 32:17 No, Peter doesn't have the keys to the gates 32:21 and he's not going to be standing there. 32:23 It says the gates will all be open 32:26 and all the righteous will come and go 32:29 because there will be no sin there. 32:32 There will be nothing that would hurt nor destroy 32:35 in all of God's kingdom. 32:37 So there's no reason for the gates not to be open. 32:40 Open to all mankind. 32:50 And so out of God's throne flows this river 32:54 as clear as crystal. 32:57 Now can you just imagine when John wrote this 33:00 he said it was "pure river of water of life 33:03 clear as crystal. " 33:06 Now folks, if John is emphasizing it's clear as 33:10 crystal, you know, we understand that 33:14 because everything we have is polluted. 33:16 But it wasn't in John's day. 33:18 And so when he's saying it's clear as crystal 33:21 you better believe it is really clear as crystal. 33:26 And can you just imagine water that has never... 33:30 not even the least bit of tint of pollution in it... 33:34 how wonderful it must taste. 33:37 No chemicals in it. 33:40 Just as it flows from the throne of God: 33:42 the water of life that all of us will be able to drink of. 33:47 And it tells us that on each side of that river 34:00 OK. 34:08 So it says this Tree of Life 34:10 spans the River of Life and it grows and it bears 34:14 its fruit how often? 34:18 Every month. 34:21 Bears its fruit every month. 34:23 I had one person tell me that that was 12 varieties of 34:28 mangoes. But I really don't know that that's true, folks. 34:33 It just says that it bears this fruit every month. 34:37 And so the righteous will come and eat of the Tree of Life 34:43 every month, OK? 34:45 This is the Tree of Life. 34:46 I don't have time to talk about it tonight, but 34:49 this is the one that was in the Garden of Eden. 34:52 You remember that? 34:54 Coming back in the New Jerusalem; it will be there. 34:57 This is the tree that perpetuates immortality 35:04 that you and I will have the privilege of eating of. 35:19 So it says those people that keep God's commandments 35:23 they will have right to the Tree of Life 35:26 and be able to eat of that tree. 35:29 All right. 35:45 I've talked about this several times during these series 35:49 how that God wants to make a covenant with you. 35:53 And the covenant that He wants to make with you is 35:56 He says: "I will be your God; you shall be My people. " 36:02 And He says as we talked about in our last presentation 36:06 that "if you will keep My commandments and do My will, 36:10 then it will be well with you. " OK. 36:15 And not only will it be well with you, friend, 36:19 but it won't be well with you for a day. 36:23 It will not be well with you for a week or for a year, 36:28 but it will be well with you for eternity. 36:34 Because why? 36:37 Because you are His people and He is your God. 36:43 And so I walk with Him and I follow Him 36:45 and He says: "I will give this to you. " 36:51 We die; we return back to the dust. 37:05 Wonderful text. 37:06 Jesus said: "If you believe this 37:11 even though a man may die 37:16 he shall live. " 37:19 You see, even though my flesh 37:24 is destroyed... even though it decays... 37:28 then it says that He's going to come and He's going to shout 37:34 and all the dead in the grave are going to hear His voice 37:38 and they're going to come forth. 37:40 And they're going to come forth, folks, with bodies. 37:43 With real bodies! 37:46 Just be a great difference. 37:49 Those bodies will be perfect. 37:53 It says "this mortal shall put on immortality, 37:57 this corruptible shall put on incorruption. " 38:01 They will be perfect as we come forth from the grave. 38:04 OK? 38:16 Job is saying "Oh, I long for that day when that's going to 38:20 happen. When the Lord is going to come. " 38:31 So it makes it clear 38:33 that this body of ours is going to be transformed 38:36 into His... like His glorious body. 38:40 What was Christ like when He came forth from the grave? 38:46 Was He a spirit just floating around? 38:48 Huh? No... listen to what it says: 38:59 Christ all of a sudden here appeared before the disciples 39:03 after the resurrection, and they were afraid. 39:07 I mean they thought they had seen a ghost. 39:11 He said: "Why... why are you having these doubts? " 39:29 He said, you know: "Why are you afraid? 39:33 A spirit doesn't have flesh and bones as you see I have. " 39:48 He was hungry. 39:50 Said: "Have you got something to eat? " 39:53 You see, Christ was very, very real, folks. 39:57 It says that we will have bodies like His glorious body. 40:04 So we're going to be real people... 40:06 just as real as we are here... 40:08 except we will not be encumbered with disease 40:12 or pain or any of those things. 40:16 That will all be gone. 40:18 See? 40:20 He promises. 40:27 Be wonderful. Have you ever thought about 40:30 what it's going to be to be in heaven 40:35 and reach out and take somebody's hand 40:37 and find it to be God's hand? 40:40 Oh, to look... to look in His face 40:45 and to see Him. I think of that song we sing... 40:49 Face to face with Christ my Savior, 40:52 face to face... what will it be? 40:55 When in rapture I behold Him: 40:59 Jesus Christ who died for me. 41:02 What a wonderful day that will be 41:04 when I can look and see my Savior 41:08 and what He has done for you and for me. 41:12 Well, this can be your home, folks. 41:15 That's a decision that you can make. 41:19 You can decide... this is going to be my home. 41:23 This is where I'm going to be. 41:24 What will it be like? Well, it says this: 41:50 So He promises that He's gone to heaven 41:54 and He's prepared a place for each one of you. 41:58 For each one of us. 42:01 A place that Christ Himself has prepared. 42:05 So, you know, you have a home in heaven. 42:10 That's just as real as anything there is. 42:13 You know, the Bible says that we are to become like 42:16 little children or you won't get into the kingdom of heaven. 42:21 Now those of you that have had children... 42:24 Have you ever had the experience where you promised a kid 42:28 something, that you'd get them something 42:30 and they start claiming it 42:33 before you've ever had a chance to go buy it? 42:35 Have you ever had that problem? 42:37 Boy, my kids were that way. I mean, if I told them 42:40 I was going to get them a bicycle, you'd better believe 42:43 that they had it as far as they were concerned. 42:45 There was no question about it. They had it. 42:48 Well, the same thing is true with the Lord. 42:50 If He promises you a home, you can claim it... 42:53 because it says that He will not fail. 42:57 God cannot lie... so if He says I've prepared a place for you, 43:02 claim it, dear friends. 43:04 It belongs to you. God promised it; you can have it. 43:07 But He goes on and He makes another statement. 43:10 And He says this: 43:28 So it says that we're going to be able to build a home. 43:32 Are you catching what that's saying? 43:35 Huh? Are you getting what that's saying? 43:38 Because it just got through saying that Jesus 43:41 is preparing a place for you. 43:43 This is saying you're going to build a home. 43:45 So what it's telling you is you're going to have two homes. 43:48 You're going to have a home inside the New Jerusalem 43:51 that Christ has made with His own hands. 43:54 But then in the earth made new 43:57 you're going to have a home out in the country 44:00 that you will build. 44:02 Listen as it goes on: 44:14 So you're going to build houses and inhabit them. 44:17 You're going to plant vineyards; eat the fruit of them. 44:20 You're not going to be there in inactivity, friends. 44:25 You know, can't be like the fellow that woke up in heaven 44:31 you know and looked around and everything was beautiful. 44:36 I mean, gorgeous. 44:38 And walked around and took in all the scenery and all. 44:42 And after a while somebody came by. 44:43 Said: "Are you OK? " And he said: "Yes. " 44:48 Said: "Would you like anything? " 44:49 He said: "I'm a little hungry. " They said: "Just a minute. " 44:51 They went and got him something to eat. Ate it. 44:55 A few hours passed, and he was just sitting there. 45:00 Somebody came by and said: "Are you doing OK? " 45:03 He said: "Yeah, I'm doing fine. " 45:04 They said: "Anything you need? " He said: "No. " 45:07 And after a while they brought him some more food. 45:10 He ate it. This went on for two or three days. 45:14 And finally he went to one of them. He said: "Listen, 45:17 I'd like something to do. 45:20 You got something I can do? I want to do something. " 45:25 They said: "No, there's nothing you can do here. " 45:29 Said: "Just enjoy it. " 45:31 Walked around. After a while he went to them and he said: 45:34 "Listen, I enjoy this and it's beautiful and all, 45:38 but I really would like to do something. 45:41 Do you have something... do you have something I can do? " 45:43 And they said: "No, there's nothing here to do. 45:46 You... nothing you can do. " 45:48 He said: "I'd rather be in hell! " 45:52 They said: "Where do you think you are? " 45:54 See? Well heaven's not that way. 45:57 See. We're not going to be inactive. 46:02 It says we'll build houses; we'll inhabit them. 46:04 We'll plant vineyards; eat the fruit of them. 46:16 Marvelous! We'll build houses; inhabit them. 46:20 Man, I've already started. 46:23 I've already started making plans. 46:26 I'm planning on going, you know. 46:30 Just think. When you're not limited... 46:35 you're not limited by time. 46:37 You can, you know, as long as you want. 46:39 Take as long as you want to build it. 46:41 You're not limited by resources 46:43 because you can make it out of anything. 46:45 OK. The city's made out of pure gold. 46:48 So you can build it out of anything you want to. 46:52 And you can have anything you want to. 46:55 So man, I've already started. 46:59 In my living room I'm going to have one whole wall 47:02 that's solid diamonds. 47:04 A whole wall. 47:06 And the wall on the other side 47:07 is going to be made out of living roses. 47:10 Just think how that will look and 47:12 reflect in that diamond wall. 47:14 And how nice it will smell. 47:16 Anything you want to think of you can do. 47:20 There's no limit. It says: 47:41 Wonderful will be the things that He's prepared 47:44 for His people. 47:51 Folks, heartache, sorrow, 47:55 crying will be no more. 47:58 He'll wipe away every tear from your eyes. 48:11 All that gone. 48:14 Never happen again. 48:15 This will become the home of God's people. 48:32 See, anything will be there. 48:35 Everything will be in harmony. 48:38 Nothing will hurt nor destroy in all of God's kingdom. 48:42 The animals won't be vicious. 48:46 Animals will be tame. You and I can pet them. 48:52 Be kind. I can remember when 48:57 the first church I ever pastored. 49:00 I took my family and we drove into this little town 49:03 of Dalhart, Texas. 49:05 And as we drove into the town my daughter said to me... 49:08 We went by a little... a little private zoo and she said: 49:12 "Daddy, take me to the zoo. " 49:13 And I said: "Honey, when we get home and we get all settled 49:17 and everything, I'll take you to the zoo. " 49:19 So - I don't remember, several weeks later - 49:23 we had gotten our house all settled and everything. 49:26 One day I said to her, I said: 49:28 "Would you like to go to the zoo? " 49:29 She said: "Oh, yes. " And so we went to the zoo. 49:32 Well, we got there and for a little private zoo 49:36 it was really quite nice. I mean, this man that owned it 49:39 took us... gave us a private tour through his little zoo. 49:43 And he showed us his 'possums and his 'coons 49:45 and his snakes and all the things that the little zoo had. 49:49 And we enjoyed it very much. 49:52 And when he got through and we were about to leave 49:56 he said: "Oh, one other thing I must show you. " 49:58 And so he took us and walked us back across the grounds 50:03 over to a large tin building. 50:06 And we walked in the front door of that building 50:09 and there in the far end were two large cages. 50:14 And in one of them was a male lion 50:16 and the other was a female lion. 50:18 And didn't excite me. 50:21 I've been to zoos and seen lions - you know - 50:24 lots of times. And so, didn't particularly bother me. 50:28 He just kind of quickened his pace and walked off and left us 50:32 and walked over to that cage where that great big old male 50:36 lion was. And he pulled the pin on the door and opened it. 50:40 And that lion come walking out of there... 50:42 and that excited me. 50:44 You know? And he said now... he said: 50:47 "Don't let it bother you. " He said: "He's just 50:49 as tame as a kitten. " 50:51 And sure enough, the old lion was. 50:53 He just walked up to you and rub against you 50:55 and you could pull on its mane. 50:57 Just as tame as could be, folks. 50:59 This is the way the animals will be in heaven. 51:02 There won't be any that will be vicious. 51:05 They'll be tame, and you and I can enjoy what God has created. 51:10 All the wonderful things that will be there. 51:12 And our children will enjoy them. 51:15 This will be heaven to God's people down through the ages. 51:20 A place that God has prepared for you and for me. 51:25 And it says: 51:40 So, there in that city... 51:44 God will be there. 51:48 In fact it says that He will make His home with us. 51:53 Think about it. This little old planet 51:57 that for centuries has been desecrated by sin 52:03 will be cleansed and will become the home... 52:07 the home of God. Actually will become the center 52:12 of the universe. And all these people... 52:16 all these people that have said "Yes, you're my God; 52:22 I will be Your people"... 52:24 all of those people will become witnesses 52:29 to the entire universe 52:33 of what the grace of God can do on the human heart. 52:37 Never again... never again 52:40 throughout eternity will there ever be a question 52:45 as to what the grace of God can do 52:48 and the sacrifice that God would make 52:51 for any individual. He had done that for you. 52:55 He's done that for me. 52:57 We can have life. We can have eternal life. 53:01 Not because we deserve it... 53:04 not because of something we have done 53:08 but because Jesus Christ came, made it available 53:14 to you and to me. Oh dear friend, tonight 53:18 I hope and I pray that you will make this your home. 53:24 Let us pray. 53:26 Father in Heaven, 53:27 we thank you. We thank you so much 53:32 for all that You have done. 53:35 As we have taken a look at what Your Word 53:39 has described heaven for us, 53:42 Lord, take our minds off this old world. 53:49 Help us to get our minds and our attention 53:53 away from these things and put them on You. 53:57 That we might prepare our hearts 54:01 and our lives to walk with You and to follow You. 54:06 To be there in Your kingdom. 54:10 Thank you, Lord, for the promise that it won't be for a day 54:15 or for two or for a year... 54:20 but throughout eternity we will be able to enjoy 54:25 all the wonderful things that You have made for Your people. 54:31 For this we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 54:35 Well, we finish up our next presentation 54:41 this on the Elijah message: 54:44 The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord. 54:47 There is coming a day soon, friends - 54:50 very soon - in which Jesus is coming back. 54:54 What am I to expect? 54:57 How can I be prepared for that day? 55:01 That's what we'll look at in our next presentation. 55:03 We hope each of you can be there for it. 55:06 Thank you very much for being here, 55:09 for watching by television or listening on the radio. 55:12 Good night. God bless you. 55:15 Although they're small and seemingly insignificant, 55:19 soybean pods fill the farm fields of the United States. 55:23 What a treasure they are for the farmer at harvest time. 55:27 Nearly all soybeans in this country 55:30 are processed for their oil which is then refined for 55:33 cooking or sold for biodiesel production 55:37 as well as for many other industrial uses. 55:40 Because of the high demand for soybeans, 55:43 a farmer must be able to harvest large quantities 55:46 in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. 55:49 One of the best ways to do this 55:51 is to use a combine harvester. 55:54 These massive machines give the farmer 55:57 the ability to quickly harvest and haul 56:00 the beans at an incredible rate. 56:03 Have you ever considered what one farmer can do today 56:06 with the help of modern tools? 56:08 The farmer of the past could hardly imagine it. 56:11 Within hours, one man and a machine can harvest 56:15 and deliver untold bushels of soybeans to the market. 56:19 His goal is to obtain the largest yield possible 56:22 at harvest time. 56:24 Like the farmer today, we must do the same. 56:27 In Luke 10 and verse 2 56:29 Jesus said: "The harvest truly is great 56:32 but the laborers are few. " 56:35 And in John 4:35 He looked over the wheat fields 56:38 and said to His disciples: 56:40 "Lift up your eyes and look at the fields 56:43 for they are already white for harvest. " 56:46 In both passages, Jesus referred to men and women 56:49 of this world as He proclaimed that the harvest is here 56:53 and the work must be done. 56:56 When I was a boy, 56:57 the corn harvest was all done by hand. 57:00 We literally had a horse-drawn wagon, 57:03 and we would walk along beside it and pull the corn 57:06 off the stalk and throw it onto the wagon. 57:09 But folks, the time is short, 57:11 so the Lord has provided the most marvelous technology 57:15 to enable us to harvest more souls through television, 57:19 radio, and other media. 57:21 Today we can take the message 57:23 to the multitudes around the world at the speed of light. 57:27 Such ability was far beyond the imagination 57:31 of the evangelists of the past. 57:34 The harvest is here, but we can't do it without you. 57:39 Won't you help us? 57:41 Please consider what you can do 57:42 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 57:45 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 57:47 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 58:01 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 58:03 through television and radio. 58:05 Your gifts help bring the blessed hope of salvation 58:08 to millions around the world. |
Revised 2014-12-17