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Confidence in suffering… (2 things)
- 1st – The problem Paul faced… vs. 22-26 (4 things)
God has something far more amazing planned for us – home is heaven!
1st – Paul was facing a dilemma – he had to make a choice… vs. 22
All of us have choices we have to make in life – in fact life is full of choices…
What to eat for breakfast / do we take the new job / who should we marry…
Some of these decisions we make without even thinking about it …
But others can cause us stress – because we afraid we will make the wrong choice…
The Bible gives us guidelines – but it does not give us the details…
The Bible tells us to marry a Godly woman – but it does not give us her name…
We can ask other people – we only end up with their opinion / no better than ours!
The answers often come from looking at our motivation – is our heart right…
If our desire is not selfish / if it is not motived by sin or pride…
If instead it comes from a desire to serve the Lord – be a blessing to others…
Than chances are we should just go for it – trusting the Lord will work it all out…
We worry about whether to go right or go left – God says go either way…
Just make sure your looking to the Lord – and He will take care of the rest!
In fact I do not think we can make the wrong decision with the right heart!
2nd – So long as Paul was breathing – he wanted his life to count for Jesus…
Life is a gift – and we are only given so many hours / so many days…
The question is what do we do with the time the Lord has given to us…
Ever spent a day doing nothing – when the day is over is feels like a lost day…
A lot of people do nothing their whole lives – and in essence have a ‘lost life’…
Too often people waste their time investing in things that do not last…
We have the opportunity to live our lives to the fullest – making a difference for God…
The only thing we can take from this life – is the fruit that we bear for Jesus Christ!
3rd – Paul was undecided – he wanted to go to heaven… vs. 23
The decision where we spend our eternity is limited to our time here on earth…
The moment we die our fate is sealed – there are no second chances…
There is no purgatory – the prayers of saints/priests/family cannot help you…
Hebrews 9:27 – “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”
Either we have received Jesus and have the hope of eternity with God…
Or we reject the Gospel – and have sentenced ourselves to eternity in hell…
Paul knew were he was going – and he was ready to see Jesus…
While we are in this body – we are absent from the presence of the Lord…
But When we take our last breath here – we will open our eyes and see Jesus!
II Corinthians 5:8 – “To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord…”
And it is FAR better to be in heaven – than stay here on earth…
Paul had authority on this – he had been to heaven – II Corinthians 12:4…
There in ‘Paradise’ Paul heard things he was forbidden to repeat…
The suggestion is that what Paul heard was too wonderful to put into words!
Life is hard – every day we have to deal with sin and other sinners…
These bodies we live get old – and start to betray us – wear out…
Life here is not what God intended – it is hard / and full of tears and heartaches…
Yet in heaven there will be no more pain / sickness / or tears – Revelation 21:4
I Corinthians 2:9 – “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Heaven is not the most amazing place we can imagine – beyond our imagination!
It will take ages – literally 1000s of years – in heaven for God to reveal it all to us!
No wonder Paul was ready – makes you wonder why we insist on staying!
Just before getting married – Jen and I would pray – Lord do not come yet…
But in truth – what does this world have to offer compared to heaven…
We need to keep a light touch here – so we are ready to go there!
Paul was saying he wanted to ‘speed up’ his departure – ‘commit suicide’…
Just that if Jesus came back / or his time was up – Paul was ready to go!
There can come a time in life when things are so hard – we consider ending it…
But the problem is – it is not our life – we belong to God – I Corinthians 6:19
God and God alone has the right to decide when our time here is over!
Suicide is a completely selfish act – it is the ‘easy way’ out of difficult times…
Leaving behind everyone else – loved ones – to suffer through the consequences…
But do not think that those who commit suicide go to hell…
Sin does not keep us out of heaven – it is rejecting Jesus that sends us to hell…
A momentary foolish decision – made in desperation – cannot undo God’s Grace!
4th – Paul realized it was better for the church if he stayed… vs. 24-26
Paul realized there was still a HUGE opportunity for him here on earth…
Paul knew where he was going when he died – but many people did not…
So better for Paul to ‘delay’ his home coming for their sake!
I wake up every morning thinking – today would be a good day to see Jesus…
Yet I know there is still work to be done – people who need to hear the Gospel…
It might be better to go home – but not until God says our work here is done!
Paul would stay – so the church would continue to grow in Jesus…
Not only do people need to hear about Jesus – they need to grow in Jesus…
We are called to invest in the lives of others – help them mature in their faith!
Paul would stay – for the joy of the church…
The saints were going to have bad days – and need someone to encourage them…
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two are better than one… if one person falls, the other can reach out and help, but people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.”
If we see people struggling with trials – they do not have to face them alone…
We are called to come along side them – and bring them joy…
Pointing them back to Jesus when they get lost and forget their way!
Paul would stay – so the church could see Jesus…
Paul knew the church would rejoice if they got to see him – delivered from prison…
But Paul did not want the church excited about him – but instead about Jesus…
People tend to put spiritual leaders / pastors up on a pedestal…
There is the impression they are somehow bigger / more holy – than others…
The danger in men looking to a person/pastor – is that they will fail…
We need to point people to a perfect Lord – rather than to an imperfect men!
2nd – Paul’s desire for the chruch… vs. 27-30 (3 things)
1st – No matter what happened to Paul – whether he was there or absent…vs. 27
- The church was to let their actions be worthy as ‘citizens’ of the Gospel of Christ…
- We can only be citizens of one of two kingdoms…
- We either belong to the Kingdom of God – or the kingdom of this world…
- How do you know where your citizenship lies – by the actions from your life…
- The person who refuses to listen to the Word / come to church…
- Shows their true colors – they are not a citizen of the Kingdom of God…
- When we light up because someone is teaching a Bible study…
- Looking forward to those moments when we get a chance to read the Word…
- It is because we are citizens of heaven – and we love to hear from our God!
- Psalms 119:97 – “Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long…”
They were to strive to have one spirit / one mind / and one faith…
People in the world love to divide – they have their groups / barkada…
In the world it is all about who is your family / town / county…
Men have fight and kill each other just because they are rival sports teams…
Just because someone does not go to the same church – or is not in our group…
Does not mean they are not saved – a Christian – going to heaven…
‘The Church’ is HUGE and diverse – but it has one thing in common – Jesus!
Believers are to agree on the essential doctrines of the Bible – salvation in Jesus!
On non-essential issues – all believers are to agree – to disagree / not cause division…
Focus on the major issues – overlook the minor less important ones!
The triune nature of God / salvation only through the cross of Jesus – absolute!
Church on Sundays / praise songs or hymns / shoes or slippers – agree to disagree…
When we divide the church over denomination – we show we are like the world!
But it should not be the same in the church – we are to be united by love!
John 13:35 – “All will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
There is only One Body – and all who believe in Jesus become a part of it!
The church of God is not a building – it is not a particular denomination…
There is only one church of God – the Body of Christ…
No matter what name – no matter what traditions – we are all part of God’s church…
We need to be unified in Christ – because that shows we are citizens of heaven!
2nd – The church was not to be afraid/intimidated of their enemies… vs. 28
Because it will be a sign to them – that they are going to be destroyed…
Paul understood – he was in prison – perhaps facing a death sentence…
But he was not afraid of these men – instead he feared for them!
Matthew 10:28 –“Do not be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body… Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
There are parts of the world – muslims – where preaching Jesus can mean death…
But the worst they can do is kill you – then you go to heaven (not a bad thing)…
In most cases the worst thing that happens if we preach Jesus – we are made fun of…
People might accuse us of having ‘changed our religion’ – they miss the point…
More often they are just trying to change the subject to avoid conviction!
When we truly understand the fate of those who do not have Jesus…
We do not fear them – we fear for them…
We preach Jesus because we have the answer – the solution for the problem of sin!
Because it will be a sign to you – that you are going to be saved…
You and I know the trials are going to come – but we are not afraid…
Because we know how the story ends – we know that God will save us!
II Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear -power, love, and sound mind.”
3rd – The church was to have the same dilemma as Paul… vs. 29-30
To depart and be with Jesus Christ – or to remain here and serve Christ…
Where are we – is there a dilemma in our hearts – are we ready to see Jesus…
We do not choose where are heart is – we do choose where we put our treasures…
Wherever we put our time – is where our heart will also be – Luke 12:34!
Are we focused on the Lord – or caught up in the concerns of this world!
If we store up all our treasures here on earth – then we will not be seeking Jesus…
Are our treasures stored up in heaven – or is our heart focused on something else…
If we are focused on the Lord – then we will be anxious to see Him!
To help them in their dilemma – God had given them two gifts…
They were given faith – so they had confidence Jesus Christ saved them…
Given trials – so they would not hold on to this world – but want to go home!
God allows us to face challenges to remind us – this is not our home…
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