Summary:

What will we be like in heaven?  What will I look like in Heaven?  This answer might surprise you!  Consider what the Apostle John said he knew about Heaven.

Scripture:

1 John 3:2-3

Transcript:

And now, Admonition.

Can I tell you what my favorite passage in all of scripture is? I hope your answer is yes, ’cause I’m going to tell you anyway. First John Chapter Three Verse Two: Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is.

This old apostle reaching the end of his life, writing to the church he had served for most of his life, writes to them and says, I don’t know… I don’t know what w e will be like in eternity, but I know this, we will be like him. Are you ready to go there? I hope you are today. If not, I hope you’ll get ready today. Get ready to go be like Christ.

Summary:

The rich buy things, but the Bible gives us an insight into what the rich ought to buy if they want to be successful beyond this life.  Failure to purchase this one asset has been the downfall of more rich people than any failure.  It has brought about millions of dollars in losses, and tanked whole companies.    
No cashflow analysis will show you this… the one thing that matters most for a rich person to possess.

Scripture:

James 1:9-11 – Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Transcript:

And now, Admonition.

Riches in this life can buy you a lot of things. It can buy you position; it can buy you prominence. But friend, if you’re rich and you’re a member of the body of Christ, may I encourage you to allow your riches to buy you humility? James chapter one, James writes, let the lowly brother (physically)… the lowly brother glory in his exaltation… Those who are poor, those who are lowly in this life, God exalts them. …But the rich in his humiliation. If you’re going to be happy about something and you’re rich, if you’re going to be happy about something today, may I encourage you, be happy if you’re humbled. Be happy if you’re lowered; be blessed in humiliation. It’s hard to be rich and serve God.

Scripture: 

1 Timothy 6:18 – That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate

Transcript:

And now, Admonition.

I heard a phrase growing up that I don’t hear much anymore, maybe it’s being said just not around me, but it was someone’s “filthy rich.” We should never be filthy rich. We should never be so rich that it destroys our purity. But Paul writes to Timothy and he says, command those who are rich in this present age, not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them… All right, if you’re rich, this applies to you. …Let them do good, that they may be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.

If you’re rich today, there’s your call. Be ready to give, ready to share, and rich, not in money, but in good works.

Summary:

Where does God dwell?  Will you go there?  Does He dwell on a high mountain?  Does He dwell in a mythical place?  Can you walk up to Him and talk to Him as you are right now?

What must you do to be ready to go into the presence of God?

Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:15-16 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Transcript:

And now, Admonition.

Where does God dwell? Where is the home of God? What would it be like to be near the home of God? There’s a lot of things in scripture that we could read on this idea, but Paul writes to Timothy, his son in the faith, and first Timothy Chapter six and he says this: Concerning the king of kings and Lord of Lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light. The light of God is such that we in flesh, in human form, cannot be in his presence. God dwells in a place where we have to be changed to go. First Corinthians 15 says, that’s the resurrection, and if you’re faithful, you can go.

Summary:

Paul calls upon Timothy to share with him in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. 

Scripture:

2 Timothy 1:8 – Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

Transcript:

And now, Admonition.

We love it when people share that way. We love it when someone shares the last piece of cake, last biscuit on the plate. Some of us are better at sharing than others. Some of us, it just comes naturally. It’s just something we do. We share with people. Some of us, it doesn’t come naturally. We have to give thought to it and we have to desire to share and we don’t like it when somebody forces us to share.

But Paul encourages Timothy to share something with him, not what you’d expect. Verse Eight of Second Timothy Chapter One, he says, therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel. Are you sharing in those sufferings? Are you suffering for the cause of Christ? Share with me, won’t you.

Summary:

Man of God – Pursue Righteousness.  Paul told Timothy to run after righteousness. 

Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:11 – But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Transcript:

And now, Admonition,

I am not a runner. I am not a person who likes running or enjoys running, but the Bible tells me to be pursuing. In First Timothy Chapter six verse 11 Paul says, But you, O man of God, flee these things, the less of the world and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. If you’re a preacher, if you’re a teacher, if you’re an elder, if you’re a deacon, if you’re a leader in the Lord’s body, may I encourage you? Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, purity, peace, all the days of your life as a man of God.

Summary:

Timothy is instructed to pray for a number of different groups of people.  Among them are the household of faith, but also the King. 

Scripture:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Transcript:

And now, Admonition.

Who’s on your prayer list? I hope you have one and I hope you’re praying for them, but may I encourage you to add a few more if you don’t already have them on your prayer list. Paul writes to Timothy and he says, Therefore, I exhort first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of things be made for all men pray for the world and all who live in it.

But he also says for kings and all who are in authority, if your prayer list doesn’t include your president, King, queen, or whatever you have, may I encourage you to put them on that list?

Pray for the king, prayed for the rulers they needed. Pray and respect the power of prayer. Pray for those who need it. Pray for those you love. Pray today.

Summary:

Paul asked to have the thorn in his flesh removed.  God said “No” because God gives power to the weak. 

Scripture:

Isaiah 40:29 – He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Transcript:

And now, Admonition.

Paul had a problem. He didn’t like the fact that he had a problem, but he had a problem and he wanted to get rid of it. So he went to the only person that he could actually get to fix the problem. He went to God. And he asked God to take away the thorn of his flesh. God said, no. God said, my grace is sufficient. In Isaiah chapter 40, this is what we read. He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might, he increases strength. God told Paul, when you’re weak, I’m strong. Do you have weaknesses? Do you have difficulties? Do you have things problems you wish would just go away? May I encourage you to find God’s strength in your weaknesses? Do that today.

Summary:

The king is coming, but are you prepared?

Scripture:

Isaiah 40:1-3 NKJV 1 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. 2 “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.” 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.

Transcript:

And now, Admonition.

A cry goes out in the city. “The king is coming! The King is Coming! And it’s great news. King’s passing through. Everything in the village changes. Everybody picks up. It’s like mom coming home and your room’s a mess. You pick it up. You make sure everything’s right.

The king is coming. Isaiah chapter 40 verse one, comfort. Yes. Comfort my people says God, speak comfort to Jerusalem and cry out to her that her warfare is ended and her iniquity is pardoned. For she has received from the Lord’s hand, double for all her sins. The Voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Take the twisted road and make it straight. Take the hills and level ’em out. The king is coming. Prepare the way. That was John’s message. John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord. He made hearts ready to repent. Have you repented?