Participants:
Series Code: TMC
Program Code: TMC000019A
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00:18 Thank you... thank you very much.
00:21 Maddy Couperus has worked with us for about the last 9 years. 00:26 She'll be singing for those that are watching by television. 00:42 How about your heart? 00:47 Is it right with God? 00:52 That's the thing that counts 00:57 today! 01:02 Is it wracked with sin 01:07 or is it pure within? 01:12 Would you ask Christ in 01:16 to stay? 01:23 People often see you 01:28 as you are outside. 01:33 Jesus really knows you 01:37 for He sees inside you. 01:43 How about your heart? 01:48 Is it right with God? 01:53 That's the thing that counts 01:58 today! 02:03 Friend, if you could see 02:08 all that you can be 02:14 would you ask Christ in 02:18 today? 02:24 He won't let you stray 02:29 if He guides your way. 02:34 He is waiting... 02:37 come today. 02:44 People often see you 02:50 as you are outside. 02:55 Jesus really knows you 03:00 for He sees inside you. 03:06 How about your heart? 03:11 Is it right with God? 03:16 That's the thing 03:18 that counts 03:21 today! 03:35 This weekend it has been our joy and privilege 03:38 to have the twin pianos of Myrna Matthews-Haynes 03:42 and Adrian Westney with us. 03:44 And tonight they're going to play a Negro spiritual: 03:48 John Saw That Number. Let's welcome the twin pianos! 10:51 We're delighted to have Herman and Sonnie Harp with us. 10:57 They're going to sing a beautiful song 11:00 entitled Don't It Make You Want To Go Home? 11:02 They'll be accompanied by Dona Klein at the organ. 11:14 When the things of your life 11:19 that you cherished 11:23 seem almost too heavy 11:28 to bear. 11:33 And you cry through the long 11:37 lonely nights in despair 11:43 and you feel like 11:46 there's no one to care. 11:54 Don't it make you want to 11:58 go home? 12:02 Where no heartaches or tears 12:07 ever come. 12:12 When you think of the place 12:17 He's preparing for you 12:23 don't it make you want to 12:28 go home? 12:33 Out on a lonely 12:38 hilltop 12:42 when you've laid a loved one 12:48 to rest. 12:52 And your heart breaks within you... 12:57 your world's at an end 13:02 lay your head 13:05 on your dear Savior's breast. 13:14 Don't it make you want to 13:18 go home? 13:23 Where no heartaches or tears 13:28 ever come. 13:33 When you think of the place 13:38 He's preparing for you 13:44 don't it make you want to 13:48 go home? 13:56 Don't it make you want to 14:01 go home? 14:26 Heavenly Father, 14:29 we look forward to that day when we can go home. 14:34 Where there won't be any sorrow, 14:36 crying, or pain. 14:39 We pray tonight as we 14:42 look at all the provisions that You've made 14:46 for each one of us 14:48 to have that opportunity no matter who we are 14:51 we thank you. 14:53 We ask that You would give us tonight 14:56 the understanding, the wisdom that we need. 14:59 Pray, Lord, that our hearts may be soft and tender. 15:04 That the Holy Spirit may be able to speak to each of us 15:07 and draw us nearer to You. 15:09 For this we ask in Christ's name, Amen. 15:21 Scripture says that the Word of God is living, 15:24 powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. 15:29 It says that God merely speaks 15:32 and things come into existence. 15:35 Listen: 15:48 I mean, He spoke and the earth was formed, 15:53 came into existence. 15:55 So when God speaks, folks, 15:58 mighty things take place and happen. 16:01 In fact, there on Mt. Sinai 16:04 it says as He spoke the law 16:06 into existence, Deuteronomy 5:22 16:17 He stood there and He spoke the commandments of God. 16:26 He spoke the Word of God into existence. 16:32 So Moses said that "He spoke that, wrote it 16:35 on tables of stone, and gave it to me. " 16:38 The Bible says that when Jesus comes back 16:43 He's going to speak. It doesn't just say 16:46 He's going to speak. Says He's going to SHOUT! 16:49 Listen: 17:05 Says He's going to come; He's going to shout. 17:08 His words are going to roll through this earth 17:10 like thunder and those that are dead in the ground 17:14 are literally going to hear that voice 17:17 and they're going to come up out of the ground. 17:20 They're going to rise... 17:21 resurrection will take place. 17:24 All these people that are going to come forth 17:28 when Jesus speaks... when He shouts 17:31 where are they coming from? 17:35 Are they up in heaven? 17:38 Are they in hell? 17:41 Just exactly where are these people? 17:44 We need to establish that. 17:45 We need to establish what God's Word says. 17:48 Where are these people that when He shouts 17:50 and they're all going to be resurrected 17:53 where are they coming from? 17:56 Well let's see. The Scripture tells us very clearly 17:59 where they come from. 18:12 So it says clearly all these people that are in the graves 18:17 will hear His voice and come forth. 18:29 So the Scripture says clearly 18:30 that all of the dead are going to come up out of the grave. 18:35 Let's look at another one. 18:37 Daniel 12 verse 2. This is Daniel. This is one 18:40 that he said: "Daniel, you are greatly beloved. " 18:44 I mean he... You know that there are only 2 people in the Bible 18:48 that it doesn't say anything bad about. Do you know that? 18:51 That's Daniel and Joseph. 18:53 So he's very much beloved. 18:56 So listen to what the Lord says to Daniel: 19:08 They're in the dust of the earth. OK. 19:15 OK. So it makes it very clear that 19:18 they are asleep in the dust of the ground. 19:22 They're going to come out of that. 19:24 You remember when Jesus was crucified 19:29 the veil in the temple was rent? 19:31 Did you know that the Bible says 19:33 that the graves opened? 19:35 Huh? Listen to this: 19:53 So these people that are dead 19:56 and when Jesus comes and calls 19:59 where are they coming from, folks? 20:01 Graves. They're not coming from heaven. 20:05 They're not coming from some spirit world. 20:09 They're coming from the grave 20:11 is exactly what the Scripture tells us. 20:13 And it says these people that came out of the grave... 20:23 So the Bible makes it very clear where they are. 20:27 I guess the question we need to ask ourselves then tonight is: 20:30 what's their condition? 20:32 You know, if they're in the grave 20:35 then do the dead retain their senses? 20:38 Can they see? Hear? Taste? Touch? Smell? 20:45 Do the dead experience such things as 20:48 joy? Sorrow? Pain? 20:51 What just happens to a person when they die? 20:53 What is their condition? 20:55 Well, let's see if the Scripture will tell us 20:56 what their condition is. 21:15 So the Scripture says when the person's in the grave 21:18 they don't know? "Nothing. " Anything. 21:22 You know, it's always amused me why... 21:25 why people want to think that the people in the grave 21:27 know something, you know. 21:30 Let me ask you a question tonight: 21:33 when you go to cross the street 21:35 which way do you look first? 21:37 To the left or to the right? 21:41 Some of you don't even know, do you? 21:45 OK... all of you since you were children 21:48 have been taught to look to the left 21:50 'cause that's the way the traffic's coming from. 21:52 And that's great as long as you don't travel. 21:56 OK? Because there are places in the world where they 21:58 drive on the other side of the street. 22:00 And I have been there, you know, and looked. 22:03 Nobody coming. Step out in the street 22:06 and boy, right there it was. Just almost got me. 22:08 OK... there's people lose their life every year 22:11 over that one thing. OK? 22:13 So let's say I'm not watching where I'm going. 22:15 All right? And I step out in the street 22:18 and this car hits me, knocks me down. 22:21 Knocks me unconscious. OK? 22:25 Do I know anything? 22:26 No. I'm unconscious... I don't know anything. 22:29 And they call the ambulance. 22:31 They put me in the ambulance and they rush me to the hospital. 22:35 They roll me into the emergency room 22:37 and the doctor comes in and examines me. 22:41 And he says: "This man is hurt internally. 22:43 We're going to have to operate on him. " 22:45 So they roll me into the operating room. 22:48 They call the anesthetist. 22:50 Comes in and they begin to give me the anesthetic. 22:53 They put me to sleep. 22:54 Do I know anything? No. Huh? 22:57 No! I'm asleep... I don't know a thing. 22:59 The doctor starts operating on me 23:02 and while he's operating on me my heart stops beating. 23:06 Now I know everything! 23:11 No, folks... See? 23:13 The Bible just says that when a person dies 23:15 they don't know anything. 23:18 Listen. It goes on further: 23:34 So the Bible makes it clear they don't know anything. 23:37 We've just gone through the Olympics. 23:41 I don't know if you've noticed it, but 23:44 so many times I see this where somebody who has 23:48 participated in one of the sports 23:50 and they win say the gold medal 23:54 and the commentator will be talking to them 23:58 and find out that maybe they lost their mother 24:02 or their father. And the commentator will say 24:05 something to them about "You know your Dad was 24:07 very close to you and helped you all this time 24:10 and it's been so nice if he could have been here" 24:14 and you know they talk about that. 24:15 And then something will be said about 24:17 "Well he's up in heaven looking down on you. " 24:20 I'm sure you've seen that time and time again. 24:22 Would you like to see what the Bible says about that? 24:24 Listen. This is what the Scrip- ture says about that very thing: 24:43 No... he doesn't know that. 24:47 They die. He's not aware of it. 24:48 He dies; he's not aware of what goes on there. 24:51 Makes it very clear. 25:04 Says he dies; breathes his last. 25:07 Where is he? Well, we found out where he is, didn't we? 25:10 He's in the grave; he doesn't know anything. 25:29 The Bible is crystal clear that the dead 25:33 don't know anything. They are asleep 25:36 and they will remain so until the coming of Jesus Christ. 25:48 They don't know anything. They don't praise God. 25:51 Says they just "go down into silence. " 25:54 That's where they are that whole time. 25:58 Well you say: "Well, they're in their grave. 26:00 They don't know anything. " 26:07 Well, I can tell you this, folks: 26:10 if you think that philosophy offers you some hope, 26:13 you missed it. 26:16 You know, I've read the works of atheists, 26:20 agnostics, and infidels 26:21 and when I got through 26:24 it was just nothing there. It was just darkness. 26:27 There was no hope at all. 26:28 I want you to listen to what Christ offers to you: 26:45 Now folks, let's get something clear: 26:47 where is eternal life? In you? 26:52 No... eternal life is in His Son. 26:56 Listen: 27:06 It's simply right there. And if you want life, 27:11 if you want eternal life, 27:12 it's found totally and completely in Jesus Christ. 27:16 No one else. 27:18 See, Christ died. Did He stay in the grave? 27:24 No! He did not stay in the grave. 27:26 He came forth from the grave. Listen to the promise of God, 27:29 what He says He will do for you and for me: 27:55 So it says that same Spirit that gave life 27:58 to Jesus Christ will give your life. 28:02 That's where the hope is. The hope is in Jesus Christ. 28:06 It is not you and I. Nowhere in that Bible, folks, 28:10 does it says that you and I have immortality. 28:15 Just doesn't promise that. 28:17 We get immortality because of Jesus Christ. 28:21 We are mortal. That means we are subject to death. 28:25 We do not have immortality of ourselves. 28:29 OK... the Bible doesn't promise that. 28:32 It promises that we get im- mortality through Jesus Christ. 28:36 He's the One that gives it. 28:38 Well then, we need to ask ourselves a question. 28:40 If this happens at the resurrection, 28:43 when does the resurrection take place? 28:48 Well, let's see if the Scripture will tell us. 29:07 So when is the resurrection going to take place? 29:10 At the last day. If you're not clear on that, 29:12 look at this one: 29:28 Is it getting clearer? 29:29 The resurrection takes place at the last day. 29:33 One more: 29:36 "No one can come to Me 29:38 unless the Father who sent Me draws him... " 29:45 So the Scripture is crystal clear 29:47 that the resurrection is going to take place at the last day. 29:50 It says you and I as individuals are mortal. 29:54 It says that we're subject to death 29:56 and that when we die we are in the grave. 29:59 We don't know anything until the resurrection. 30:03 At the last day: that's when the resurrection will take place. 30:07 Now this idea... You know, this idea that 30:11 when you die, if you're good you go to heaven 30:14 and if you're bad you go to hell... 30:17 that really causes some major problems 30:20 in understanding God's Word. 30:22 Let me show you a few of them. 30:24 If it's true that when you die 30:28 if you're good you go to heaven 30:29 and if you're bad you go to hell, 30:31 then what need is there of a resurrection? 30:35 Why have one if all the righteous are up in heaven? See? 30:40 Why not just gather the live and take them to heaven? 30:43 All the rest are there. 30:45 If this is true that when you die 30:49 if you're good you go to heaven; if you're bad you go 30:51 to hell, then what need is there of the coming of Jesus? 30:57 Why does Jesus need to come back 30:59 if when you die you go to heaven? 31:02 Not really any reason. 31:04 Or if it's true, then what need is there of a judgment? 31:10 You talk about getting in trouble 31:12 have someone go to heaven and be there for a few hundred years 31:15 and then have the judgment and find out 31:17 they didn't belong there. That won't work, see. 31:22 So what I'm trying to say 31:23 that does away with some of the great teachings of God's Word. 31:28 I have a friend 31:30 when her daughter was about, oh, I don't know, 31:34 five years old or so 31:36 they went out to the cemetery to put some flowers 31:39 on the aunt's grave. And they got out there 31:44 and laid the flowers on the grave there. 31:46 And this little girl... the wheels were turning. 31:49 And she reached over and tugged on her mother's skirt 31:53 and she said: "Is Aunt Polly in there? " 31:57 Her mother said: "Oh, no. Aunt Polly's not there. 32:00 She's up in heaven. " 32:02 And the little girl thought that through for a little bit 32:05 and she tugged on her mother's skirt and she said: 32:07 "Why are we putting the flowers there? " 32:12 And of course this really threw the mother into confusion 32:15 you know. She didn't know exactly what to say. 32:18 And so she said: "Well, Aunt Polly's up in heaven 32:22 but her body's here. " 32:25 And the little girl thought a little bit 32:27 and tugged on her mother's skirt and said: 32:30 "Aunt Polly's up in heaven run- ning around without a body? " 32:33 You see, you get into all kinds of difficulty 32:37 when you depart from the Word of God, folks. 32:40 God has made it very very clear - very simple - 32:45 that when a person dies he's asleep. 32:49 He doesn't know anything 32:50 and will not until the resurrection morning. 32:54 THEN he'll come forth from the grave. 33:09 So that makes it clear where they're coming from: the grave. 33:12 God promises that they'll be resurrected 33:16 from the grave. I Corinthians 5:12... 33:19 Excuse me, 15 verse 20. 33:22 One of the great, great scriptures, folks. 33:26 Promises to you and I change. 33:29 Promises to us immortality. Listen: 33:49 So it says He's going to gather them all. 33:51 Take them to heaven at His coming. 33:54 Well, when the people are all resurrected from the grave 33:57 what are they going to be like? Hmm? 34:03 Going to be an invisible spirit just kind of flitting around? 34:06 Is that what they're going to be like? 34:08 What does the Scripture tell us that we will be like 34:11 at the resurrection? 34:33 Let me tell you something, dear friend: 34:35 you'll be just as real as you are today. 34:39 There'll be some changes. 34:41 You know? You won't be sick. 34:45 You won't ever get tired. 34:47 OK? There won't be any sorrow. 34:50 There won't be any pain. 34:51 All that will be gone 34:53 but you'll be a very real person. 34:57 How real? 35:06 So he's a very real person. 35:12 Oh for that day when He's coming back! 35:15 Coming back in which there will be no more sin. 35:21 Ever thought about that? What would this world be like 35:24 if there was no sin? 35:27 Huh? What would it be like? 35:32 No crime... no death. 35:38 No heartache... no sorrow. 35:41 Marvelous! "How my heart yearns 35:45 for that day! " Promises this. 35:58 They're going to do what? All that are in the grave 36:01 are going to what? Hear His voice. 36:03 So we found out that they've got flesh. 36:06 We found out that they can see. 36:08 We found out now that they can what? Hear. 36:11 They'll hear His voice. 36:22 Now folks, this is one of the great scriptures 36:25 as far as I'm concerned that tells you exactly 36:27 what you're going to be like. So here is Jesus. 36:29 This is after the resurrection 36:30 and He's walked into the room there and He's said to them: 36:33 "Peace be to you. " 36:35 Watch what happens here: 36:42 They think they're seeing a what? A ghost. 36:46 What they think they're seeing is a ghost. 36:48 Let's see if it's a ghost. 36:50 Let's see if it's a spirit, OK? 37:12 Said: "Come here... touch Me... 37:15 feel Me. I'm not a spirit; I'm not a ghost. " 37:19 "Thomas, put your finger in the handprints. " 37:23 Not something that's ethereal... a real, real person. 37:28 Do you know how real He was? 37:31 Listen: 37:38 He said: "I'm not a spirit; I'm not a ghost... 37:41 I'm a real person. " 37:45 "And when He had said this 37:46 He showed them His hands and His feet. " 37:49 Now listen to this, folks: 38:01 Said: "Got anything to eat? 38:03 I'm hungry! " That's not a spirit; that's not a ghost, 38:07 folks. "Have you got something to eat? " 38:10 We'll be real people; we'll do real things. 38:16 Heaven will be a very, very real place, folks! 38:22 God promises that to you and to me. 38:26 What's our bodies going to be like? 38:29 Listen... Philippians 3:21: 38:37 Oh, it's going to be conformed to His glorious body. 38:40 Glorious body is referring to His body after the resurrection. 38:44 After the resurrection what kind of a body did He have? 38:47 Flesh and bones. He saw, He ate, tasted. 38:51 Real body. Ours will be like His body. 38:54 Glorious body! 39:01 So He has a very, very real body. 39:10 I mean, if all the dead are asleep in the grave 39:13 is there anybody in heaven now? 39:14 Yes, there are some people in heaven now. 39:17 The Bible tells us that Enoch... 39:19 Enoch, the 7th from Adam, the Scripture says, 39:22 was taken to heaven without seeing death. 39:25 That's what it says. So he's up in heaven. 39:27 The Scripture tells us that Elijah 39:30 was taken to heaven without seeing death. 39:33 Fiery chariot took him to heaven. 39:35 Elisha saw him go up into heaven. 39:38 The Bible tells us that Moses 39:41 died and in the book of Jude it says he 39:45 was resurrected and taken to heaven. 39:47 And you remember he's one of those people that appeared 39:49 to Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. 39:54 I have people ask me and say: 39:58 "Do you think fasting is of any benefit? " 40:02 Huh? Do you think it is? 40:06 Fasting? There's only three people 40:10 in the Bible that fasted for 40 days. 40:15 Do you know who they were? 40:18 Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. 40:22 And those are the three on the Mount of Transfiguration. 40:26 Evidently has some value, right? 40:28 OK. But listen, it talks about some other people 40:32 that were taken to heaven. We read about them already 40:33 but we'll read it again. 40:51 These people were resurrected at the time Jesus died 40:55 and they were taken to heaven with Jesus because they are 40:58 the firstfruits of the resurrection. 41:00 He took them back with Him to heaven as living proof 41:03 of the resurrection. So they came up out of the grave. 41:06 They're in heaven. 41:08 So, yes, there's people in heaven. 41:09 But the vast majority of people 41:13 are waiting... waiting for Jesus to come back. 41:17 And when He comes back He's going to shout 41:21 and all the graves are going to open 41:25 and Jesus is going to call them forth from the grave. 41:31 You say: "Well Brother Cox... 41:34 what about the thief on the cross? " 41:37 "What about him? " 41:39 "Didn't he go to heaven that day? " 41:42 Well, let's see what the Scripture says to us. Luke 23:42 41:47 you remember? Speaking to Jesus he said to Jesus: "Lord, 41:51 remember me when you come into Your kingdom. " 42:06 You say: "Well that sounds like he went to heaven that day. 42:10 That's what that text says. " 42:13 That's what that text says. 42:15 "I say to you today, you will be with Me in paradise. " 42:19 That is what that text says. 42:22 The problem with that text is the comma is out of place. 42:27 Now folks, there is nothing inspired about punctuation. 42:32 Punctuation was put into the Scripture by the Medieval 42:35 church. It was not something that was in the original 42:37 language. OK? 42:39 The problem is here: 42:45 That sounds like He went to paradise that day. 42:48 If that's the way that text was, that would be right. 42:51 But the problem is that comma after you 42:55 belongs after today. 42:58 OK? If you put it there, it reads completely different. 43:02 So... let's put it there and see how it reads. 43:06 So you want to watch this very carefully. 43:08 This is what happens. 43:14 OK... we just moved it... 43:16 simply moved it over there to after today. 43:19 Now let's read it: 43:26 See, totally different meaning. 43:29 That first text saying he went to heaven that day. 43:32 This text is saying: "On this day that it doesn't look like 43:34 I have a kingdom. On this day that they plucked My beard; 43:37 on this day that they have put a crown of thorns 43:40 upon My head; on this day that it doesn't look like 43:43 I have a kingdom; on this day I'm promising you 43:46 you will be with Me in heaven. " 43:48 THAT's what that text actually should read. 43:51 You say: "Brother Cox, that's pretty weak. " 43:55 I believe it's true but I believe it's weak also. 43:58 So if you just hang on we'll make it much stronger. 44:01 All right? 44:03 You remember He was crucified between two thieves. 44:09 You remember they've gone out there... 44:13 they found that Jesus was dead. 44:15 Listen carefully: 44:25 Now folks, this Sabbath as it says is a high day. 44:39 So this is a high day. 44:42 It's a high day because the weekly Sabbath 44:46 and the annual Sabbath are falling on the same day. 44:50 That's what makes it a high day, OK? 44:53 So it's a high day, and they don't want their bodies 44:56 out there over the Sabbath. 44:58 So they've asked that their legs might be broken 45:02 that they might be taken away. 45:04 Now I told you, crucifixion 45:07 puts the person's body in a place that the only way 45:11 they can inhale 45:13 is by pushing up with their legs 45:16 and that way gets enough there because when 45:19 all this weight is thrown on their arms 45:21 they can exhale but they can't inhale. 45:23 The only way they can inhale is by pushing up with their legs. 45:26 So to break their legs puts them in a place 45:29 that they can't push up with it 45:31 and thus they'll suffocate. 45:33 Although this takes some time; this doesn't happen quickly. 45:37 This is not like a lethal injection 45:40 or it's not like the electric chair. 45:41 Understand that. This takes a period of time 45:45 for this to happen. So it says: 45:47 "that their legs might be broken they might be taken away. " 45:56 They broke their legs. 45:57 Of course, when they came to Jesus He was dead already. 46:02 What I'm trying to get across to you: 46:04 this is happening late... late Friday afternoon. 46:09 The sun's about to set. 46:11 I'm trying to tell you the thief didn't die that day. 46:16 See? Didn't die that day 'cause the sun was setting. 46:21 That became the end of the day. All right? 46:24 Secondly, Jesus did. 46:26 They buried Him. 46:28 Mary Magdalene has gotten to the tomb before anybody else. 46:33 In fact, the Scripture says she's gotten there 46:35 while it's still dark. Right? 46:38 When she gets there the stone's rolled away. 46:42 And she looks in and the body of Jesus is gone. 46:45 And as she turns around it's dark, folks. 46:48 It's not... the sun hasn't come up. It says she got there 46:51 while it was still dark. The sun hadn't come up yet. 46:53 And in the twilight of dawn 46:57 she can see the figure of somebody over there. 47:00 But not only is it dark 47:02 she's crying... so she can't see very well. 47:05 And she thinks that that individual she sees there 47:08 is the gardener. 47:09 And so she speaks to Him and says: 47:12 "If you've taken my Lord's body somewhere, 47:14 tell me what you've done with it 47:15 and I'll take care of it. " 47:18 And Jesus speaks to her... calls her by name. 47:22 And when He calls her by name she recognizes Him. 47:26 And she runs and she's going to hug Him. 47:30 Watch what happens: 47:59 What I'm telling you is Jesus didn't go to heaven that day. 48:03 He didn't go to heaven that day. 48:04 What he was telling that thief is He was saying: "Listen, 48:07 on this day that it doesn't look like I have a kingdom 48:11 I am promising you you'll have a place in My kingdom. " 48:14 That's what Jesus was saying to him. 48:17 Well you say: "But Brother Cox, 48:19 didn't Paul say some- thing about going to heaven? " 48:26 I have a lot of people that read that. 48:30 Let's read the text, folks. This is what it says: 48:44 So they say: "Oh, that just simply means 48:47 that when you die you're immediately present 48:50 with the Lord. " Now folks, 48:52 I have mentioned night after night 48:56 this Bible will be consistent. 48:59 OK? Do you understand the basis of inspiration? 49:04 The first five books of your Bible were written by Moses. 49:08 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 49:12 That was all written by Moses. 49:13 That's called the Pentateuch. 49:15 That became the basis of inspiration. 49:19 And so when the book of Joshua came along 49:22 it had to agree with what Moses said. 49:25 OK? And every book thereafter 49:29 had to agree with the other ones. 49:31 That's the basis of inspiration. 49:33 So what I'm trying to tell you is 49:35 that Moses and Paul won't disagree. 49:40 OK? And Paul and Jeremiah won't disagree. 49:44 And Jeremiah and John won't disagree. 49:47 It'll harmonize all the way through, 49:50 and Paul will not speak out of two sides of his mouth. 49:57 Understand... Paul will not do that. 50:00 Paul will not say one thing one place 50:02 and something else some other place. 50:06 So listen to what Paul has to say. 50:09 He says: "To be absent from the body 50:13 is to be present with the Lord. " 50:16 Did he in his mind think that that meant when he died 50:19 he was going to go straight to heaven? 50:21 Is that what he thought? 50:23 Well, let's see if he thinks that. 50:40 Is he confident? 50:42 Absolutely! Said: "I have fought a good fight, 50:44 I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. " 51:05 He's gonna give me on that Day... 51:07 When is that Day? 51:15 Paul understood clearly that when he died 51:19 there was no such thing as time. 51:24 You understand what I mean by that? 51:26 To that person who died 6,000 years ago 51:31 and that person who died today 51:33 it will seem only like "that" and Jesus will come. 51:37 There is no time in death. 51:41 And Paul understood that clearly. 51:43 He knew close his eyes in sleep 51:46 and the very next moment to him 51:48 Jesus'll be here. 51:51 That's the marvelous thing. 51:52 To your loved ones, my loved ones who have died - 51:57 closed their eyes in death - 51:59 it will seem to them only like a moment 52:03 and they'll open their eyes and see Jesus come. 52:07 That's what Paul understood; that's what Paul believed. 52:11 Nowhere in the Scripture... 52:18 Just doesn't say that, folks. 52:20 In fact, it says the opposite. 52:39 No... we're not immortal. 52:42 We don't have an immortal soul. 52:44 Says the soul that sin's gonna die. 52:47 Part of the consequence of sin. 52:50 Jesus gave us marvelous hope in the resurrection. 53:09 OK? 53:11 Daniel... Daniel that God gave that promise to 53:16 and you know said: "All those that are asleep in the dust 53:18 shall awake and come forth. " 53:20 Talking to Daniel himself - God is talking to Daniel. 53:23 Listen to what He says to this ancient man, 53:27 marvelous individual: 53:29 "But you, Daniel, 53:32 go your way till the end... " 53:46 He said: "Daniel, you're going to close your eyes 53:49 in death. Go to sleep, Daniel, and rest. 53:53 And at the end you're going to arise... come forth. " 53:58 That's promised to every one of us here. 54:00 I have people say to me: "Oh, Brother Cox, 54:02 I hope I can live to see Jesus come. " 54:07 "Really like to live to see Jesus come. " 54:09 I'm not so sure I want to. 54:12 I'm not so sure, folks, 54:15 that I want to miss the experience of the resurrection. 54:19 You know, that's bound to be a marvelous experience 54:23 when He's going to shout. 54:25 His words are going to roll through this earth 54:29 and the ground is going to open up. 54:31 And as it describes the body... the bones 54:34 are going to form back. You ever read about "them bones, 54:37 them bones, them dry bones" in Ezekiel? 54:40 Says they're all going to form back 54:42 and it says the flesh is going to come on those bones 54:44 and then the sinew and then the skin. 54:47 And then it says the Spirit of God is going to enter 54:49 into that person and they're going to live. 54:52 They're going to come back to life! 54:53 That must be a marvelous experience! 54:56 Not sure I want to miss that 54:58 when He's going to call all... all of His people forth 55:01 from the grave. They'll come forth new in Christ Jesus! 55:19 That's marvelous! Going to be changed. 55:42 All of us going to be changed. 55:44 This mortal shall put on immortality. 55:46 Did you know? Did you know that the Scripture not only 55:50 tells you that the dead are going to come out of the grave 55:53 but did you know that the Scripture tells you 55:56 exactly what Jesus is going to say? 55:59 Did you know that? 56:01 It tells you exactly what He's going to say when He comes. 56:03 This is what He'll say here in Isaiah 26:19. 56:22 Jesus is going to come back and He's going to shout out 56:24 across this whole earth: "Awake and sing! " 56:27 And boy, all those people that are in the ground 56:30 they're going to come out of that grave singing! 56:32 They're going to come out of there singing the praises 56:35 of God! Not only are they going to come out singing 56:38 it says the earth shall cast out her... what? 56:42 Dead. You'd better believe they're going to come out of the 56:44 ground singing. Do you know what they're going to be singing? 56:47 Hmm? Oh, they're going to sing those words in Corinthians 56:51 "O death, where is thy sting? 56:53 O death, where is thy victory? " 56:57 Singing! Coming forth from the grave. 57:00 That is promised to every individual 57:03 that has given their heart to Jesus Christ. 57:07 You tonight can have eternal life in Christ Jesus 57:11 simply by reaching out in faith and accepting Him. 57:15 Oh... oh what a glorious day 57:19 that will be when Jesus comes! 57:22 Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer. 57:23 Heavenly Father, we thank you 57:27 that You promised to each of us life. 57:31 That it's found only in You. 57:35 And we pray, Lord, that we may seek You 57:38 with all of our hearts. 57:40 And that as we do that You will give to us 57:44 all the wonderful things that You have promised. 57:47 Not because we have done anything 57:51 or because we deserve anything 57:54 but simply because of what Your Son has done for us. 57:58 For this we pray in Christ's name, Amen. |
Revised 2019-05-22