Sunday, May 15, 2022 AM

Sunnyside Baptist Church

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I hope you've had a wonderful week reflecting on the blessing of your mother.

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At a moment of great despair, in the context of the judgment of death,

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God said, I'm going to give you life. And Eve was named this because she was the mother of the living, the promise of life.

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What a great gift that God has given to each one of us in our mother. In a time where people embrace death and celebrate the destruction of life and the denigration of motherhood, what a great gift

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God has given to us. I hope this last week has been one full of thankful and grateful reflection.

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And also a proud moment for a and a father is the graduation of one of their children.

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So Caitlin, is Caitlin here? Caitlin, could you come down here just real quick?

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I know. You look prepared. Your father said something about a speech that you were supposed to give, but I will not,

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I'm not do that. But we are very proud of you. And I know that you're very grateful for your parents and all that they've done for you.

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But I want to say congratulations to you. And Caitlin has been homeschooled for all of her school years, except for one year.

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And while in high school, she was also enrolled in courses through Echo, Epic Charter Schools.

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She took concurrent classes through ORU and Rose State. And you're graduating with 39 concurrent credits.

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So wow, that's what you call a head start. That's well done. And Caitlin has a love for biology and believes that God is leading her to attend the

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University of Central Oklahoma this fall to pursue degrees in biomedical science and forensics.

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So you're setting the bar high for yourself. That's great. This is Caitlin's favorite current verse,

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Proverbs 19, 20 through 21. Listen to counsel and receive instruction that you may be wise in your latter days.

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There are many plans in a man's heart. Nevertheless, the Lord's counsel, nevertheless, the

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Lord's counsel is that which will stand. Well, we thank the Lord for you and want to give you a gift.

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And church, I know you're proud of her as well. So congratulations. Well done. It's already been a good morning this morning.

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We'll pray that it gets even better. As we have a time preparing for worship, a few announcements as we get started this morning.

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Come back this evening for our evening service here at the church. Truth Group is going to follow this evening service for the young adults in attendance.

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So come for that. Looking ahead to Wednesday, we'll have our regular meal at 545 and then prayer and tag for the kids at 630.

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Looking ahead in the coming Sundays, May 22nd, in the evening service, after the evening service, we're going to have a tag fellowship.

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And that's when our kids tag program kind of shares what they've been working on. On Wednesdays, you are welcome to invite any family and friends that you would like to attend.

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There'll be food and fellowship after the evening service that night. And then looking ahead to May 29th, communion,

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Lord's supper in the morning, and then flock groups that evening. So flock groups, if you're unfamiliar with what those are, our elders have certain flocks of our members assigned to them.

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So we typically will meet in homes or sometimes if it's a big flock, sometimes they will meet here at the church in the fellowship hall.

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So get in touch with your elder. If you're not sure about that, I believe there are flock group lists on the bulletin board out in the hallway.

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So you can check those as well. All right. Brief announcement in the bulletin about the upcoming

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Oklahoma City Dodgers baseball game. Those tickets are going fast. They're $5 a piece. If you are interested in going to that, you will need to get your cell phone number to the church office.

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The church secretaries will send out those tickets via cell phone. They'll come to your mobile phone there.

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I believe the ballpark is almost completely cashless at this point. So just know that if you want to go to that baseball game, that's always been a fun time for us as a church family to come together and enjoy a game of baseball in the summer.

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Another thing regarding summer, Dwight mentioned to me this morning, summer Sunday school is right around the corner.

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We usually do that during the month, months of June, July, and August. We'll kind of have a break from our regular

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Sunday school classes. But to give you a little bit of a heads up, in order to give a break to some of the teachers for our kids, at least

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Jenny Bender, Holly Smith, and myself, and then the Barnett's, if you would be willing to maybe substitute for those kids' classes.

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Their age ranges from about four all the way up to 14. You don't have to do all of those at once.

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That's across three different classes. But if you could talk to those people or see Dwight, if you're willing to volunteer for those.

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And he tells me that the session choices should be out next week. So you are anticipating that greatly,

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I can tell right now. Our ladies ministry announcement regarding that,

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Words of Life Women's Retreat, that's going to be on Saturday, July 9th. If you need more details or would like to RSVP for that, please see

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Haley Mounts. Raise your hand so they know who you are. There we go. And that is coming up as well.

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Any other announcements before I read our fighter verse for the week? All right.

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This week, our fighter verse comes from Galatians 5, verses 24 and 25.

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It reads, and those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

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If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. We're going to have a time to prepare our hearts for worship.

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And then at the conclusion of that, Dad will come up and open us in prayer. Gracious and merciful

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Heavenly Father, what a blessing it is for us to be able to come together this morning.

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Thank you for bringing us together to this place.

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We ask Lord that you would help us to be of one heart and one mind, that we might glorify your name and exalt

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Christ our Savior. So Lord, we come here this morning humbly, knowing that there is nothing good in us.

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There is no thing we can do, no thing we can bring that would cause you to be pleased with us, and that it's only by faith in Christ alone that we can come with boldness before your throne of grace.

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So thank you for receiving us and accepting us in Christ today.

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Lord, we come here joyfully because of your mercies that are new every morning, because of your great faithfulness, because of the kindness that you have shown us in Christ.

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Lord, may we express that joy in Christ today as we sing, as we pray, as we fellowship with one another.

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May the joy that is ours in Christ be evident in all that we say and do.

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And Lord, we come into your presence today gratefully, thankful for all that we have in Jesus.

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Our adoption as sons and daughters, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, in Christ the forgiveness of our sins, all that and more.

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So Lord, we come into your presence this morning with thankful hearts. Lord, may

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Jesus Christ be praised. May our voices together exalt your name and give you glory, honor, and blessing.

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In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Would you stand with me for our call to worship this morning?

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Continuing on in Psalm chapter 78, we'll be reading verses 13 to 16. Read with me together.

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He divided the sea and let them pass through it and made the waters stand like a heap.

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In the daytime he led them with a cloud and all the night with a fiery light.

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He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.

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He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

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So if you would turn your Psalms for Worship hymnal, page 78c, and we'll sing these very verses that we just read.

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Verses 6 and 7 in your hymnal. He split the sea to let them pass, the waters stood aside.

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By day he led them with a cloud and fire that night to guide.

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He split the rocks and gave them drink as from the great deep below.

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He from the rock brought running streams like rivers waters flow.

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And then our regular hymnal, page 6, sing praise to God who reigns above.

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Sing praise to God who reigns above, the

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God of all creation, the

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God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.

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With him of all my soul he fills, and every faithless lover stills, to God all praise and glory.

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What God's almighty power and faith, his gracious mercy he keepeth.

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My mourning love for him in shame, his watchful heart never sleepeth.

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Within the kingdom of his might, love all is just and all is right, to God all praise and glory.

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The Lord is never far away, but through all grief distressing.

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Have ever -present health and stay, our peace and joy and blessing.

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As with a mother's tender hand, he feeds his own, his chosen band, to God all praise and glory.

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Thus on my chosen way along,

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I sing aloud his praises, that men may hear the grateful song, my voice and weary praises.

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Be joyful in the Lord my heart, both soul and body, beg according to God all praise and glory.

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Let's go to God's word. We'll be reading out of Isaiah chapter 24, reading the first 13 verses.

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Behold the Lord lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants.

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And the people will be like the priests, the servant like his master, the maid like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor.

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The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for the Lord has spoken this word.

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The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.

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The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.

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Therefore, a curse devours the earth and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men are left.

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The new wine mourns, the vine decays, all the merry hearted sigh, the gaiety of the tambourine ceases, the noise of the reveler stops, the gaiety of the harp ceases, they do not drink wine with song.

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Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of chaos is broken down, every house is shut up so that none may enter.

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There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine. All joy turns to gloom.

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The gaiety of the earth is banished, the desolation is left in the city, and the gate is battered to ruins.

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For thus it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples as the shaking of the olive tree, as the gleanings when the great harvest is over.

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Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, I just thank you for today, for the privilege of being here with your people.

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I pray, Lord, that you will be in the midst of our worship. Just give us ears to hear the things that Michael brings to us.

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Just pray that you will be with him and strengthen him as he delivers the message that you've given him. And I pray,

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Lord, that you would help us to apply correctly the things that come from that.

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I just thank you for the privilege of being in your family. Just pray,

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Lord, that we will always keep that in mind and do what we can to spread the gospel to others.

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In Christ's name, amen. You may be seated.

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It's returning to our next song on page 170. Christ, the promised

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Messiah, came to seek and to save that which was lost. He lived as the

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Lamb of God. He was the perfect, sinless Lamb of God, suffered unspeakable beatings and crucifixion on a cruel

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Roman cross, was buried the third day, rose victorious, and ascended into heaven, and with the promise that he would return in like manner.

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Let's sing together, One Day. One day they met

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Him. He loved me.

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Died, He saved me.

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Christ is born again. Christ is justified.

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Redeemed forever. One more fall.

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We all conceal

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Him no longer. One day the storm rolled away from the doors.

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Over death He had ascended.

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Loved me. Dying, He saved me.

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Justified freely forever. One day, one day,

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Christ is born again. Christ is justified.

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He saved me.

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Then our last song is Come, Behold the Wondrous Mystery. Wondrous mystery.

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In the dawning of the King. He the

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King of Heaven's praises. Who is in humanity.

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In our longing, in our darkness. Now the light has come.

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Look to Christ who on His head ascended.

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Took on flesh to ransom us.

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Come, behold the wondrous mystery.

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He the perfect Son of Man. In His living, in His suffering.

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Never trace or state of sin. See the true and better Adam.

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Come to save the hell -bound man. Christ the great and sure fulfillment.

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Of the law in Him we stand. Christ the root of sin of ruined sinners.

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Hangs the Lamb in victory. See the price of our redemption.

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See the fall of His plan unfold. Bringing many souls to glory.

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Praise the measure of untold. Come, behold the wondrous mystery.

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Slain by death the God of life. But no grave could ever restrain

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Him. Praise the Lord, He is alive. What a foretaste of deliverance.

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How unwavering our hope. Christ in power resurrected.

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As we will be when He comes.

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What a foretaste of deliverance.

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How unwavering our hope.

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Christ in power resurrected. As we will be when

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He comes. Let's go to the

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Lord together in prayer. Father, I thank you for this day.

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Thank you. Thank you from your creatures. You are our creator.

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Giving us breath to breathe. Gift of life. You are our

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Ebenezer. Our rock of help. Thus far you have helped us.

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So we give you praise and thanks for that. You have given us your

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Son, Jesus Christ. Who deserves all the praise and all the glory.

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You have made Him to have the preeminence in all things. So we give you praise.

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For giving us our Savior and our sovereign. Our redeeming and reigning

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Christ. We pray that today as we turn our attention to the truths of your word.

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That as those that you have made in your image. And breathed the breath of life into. That you would give us your word.

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That we would be nourished. That we would be sustained. That we would know what it means to live.

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But we do not live by bread alone. We live by the words you have given to us.

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These very words that have proceeded from you. So now Lord we look to you for these graces.

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And these mercies. Confess that we are not here because we are deserving. Because we are not gathered to worship.

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Because we are really good at it. Because we have skills. And we have abilities. And that we have merits of our own.

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But Father you have gathered us as your children. Adopted in Christ. Given your

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Holy Spirit. So we come as those who are needy. To a Heavenly Father who provides.

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And ask you to provide in this time. What you would. We ask for a bounty of your grace.

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And mercy. As we consider your word. We pray these things in the name of Jesus.

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Amen. I invite you to open your

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Bibles. And turn with me to the book of Daniel. We are going to be in chapter 12 of Daniel.

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And we are going to continue our consideration. Consideration of this last vision.

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The last vision in the book of Daniel. That spans from chapters 10 through 12. A good title for this last vision.

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Is afforded us in chapter 10 verse 14.

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As Christ speaks to Daniel his prophet. And he says in chapter 10 verse 14.

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Now I have come to make you understand. What will happen to your people in the latter days.

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For the vision refers to many days yet to come. And when

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Daniel hears the phrase the latter days. He knows immediately.

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What the Lord is talking about. Because in the previous chapter. Just a few verses earlier.

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The Lord had given to him. A calendar to follow. And so he knows what days.

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These are. In this final vision of Daniel.

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Chapter 10 focuses in on the encounter. That Daniel has. With the pre -incarnate.

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All glorious. God the Son. Christ himself. Where in Daniel is.

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Prostrate before the Lord. And knows deeply the fear of the Lord. As Christ begins to lay out.

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All of history. And how it centers around. The coming. Manifestation of the new covenant.

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The arrival of Jesus. As the Christ. Chapter 11 details great enmity.

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World history in light. Of Messiah. And so we see the enmity.

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Between empires. The Persian and the Greek Empire. The Greek and the Roman Empire. There's enmity within the nations.

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As the Greek Empire goes to war. Against itself in a civil war. As the

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Jews themselves. Have conflict. In their own people group. We find.

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There's enmity between. Those who rebel against God. And as God brings judgment upon them.

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We see spiritual conflict. Between the forces of darkness. And Christ.

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So chapter 11 is filled with enmity. But there's a point to the history.

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There's a direction to it all. And it is. The end.

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As we find it in chapter 12 of Daniel. In chapter 12 of Daniel.

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We hear about the end. Of the latter days. The prophetic calendar. The 70 weeks.

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Which concludes with the end. Of the old covenant. We also hear about the end.

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Of Daniel's own life. That he is going to die. And enter into his rest. We also hear about the end of everything.

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As there's the promise. Of the resurrection from the dead. Now why does

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God give us. Passages in the Bible. To tell us about the end.

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The end of an era. The end of our lives.

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The end of the world. Why would God give us passages in the Bible. To tell us about the end.

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Not to confuse us. Not to spark.

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Extra speculation. But for clarity's sake.

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To make it clear. Who belongs to him. To make it clear. What really matters.

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To make it clear. How we are to live in the here and now. And with that.

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Perspective. We look again at Daniel chapter 12. I invite you to stand with me. As I read.

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This chapter. From God's holy word. Daniel chapter 12. This is the word of the Lord. Those who turn many to righteousness.

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Like the stars forever and ever. But you Daniel. Shut up the words.

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And seal the book. Until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro. And knowledge shall increase.

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Then I Daniel looked. And there stood two others. One on this river bank. And the other on that river bank.

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And one said to the man clothed in linen. Who was above the waters of the river. How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?

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Then I heard the man clothed in linen. Who was above the waters of the river. When he held up his right hand.

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And his left hand to heaven. And swore by him who lives forever. That it shall be for a time. Times and half a time.

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And when the power of the holy people. Has been completely shattered. All these things shall be finished.

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Although I heard. I did not understand. Then I said my Lord. What shall be the end of these things?

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And he said. Go your way Daniel. For the words are closed up and sealed. To the time of the end.

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Many shall be purified. Made white and refined. But the wicked shall do wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand.

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But the wise shall understand. And from the time. That the daily sacrifice is taken away.

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And the abomination of desolation is set up. There shall be 1290 days.

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Blessed is he who waits. And comes to the 1335 days. But you. Go your way to the end.

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For you shall rest. And will arise to your inheritance. At the end of the days. This is the word of the

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Lord. Thanks be to God. You may be seated. So if your house is on fire.

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And you can only grab one thing. All the mothers say.

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Oh I'm grabbing my children. Yes, yes, yes. All the families safe outside. You have time to grab one thing.

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Now some of you know pretty well. So I know what you're grabbing. But if you can only grab one thing.

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And the house is on fire. What are you grabbing? Do you see how.

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In light of the end. Okay. In the end of. The possession of your home.

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And the contents within. This is the end. What you. Will go grab.

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Clarifies. What you value. And you may say.

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Well that's not fair. That I can only grab one thing. But that kind of pressure.

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Is what brings the clarity. And as we look at.

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The end. As God reveals it. Here in Daniel chapter 12.

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Clarity. Is being brought to what. Christ.

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Values. What he sees as. Most important.

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Daniel is burdened. Remember that. Daniel is living in a foreign nation.

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When he was a young man. He was taken. By force. From Jerusalem.

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In one of the three different. Exiles. Brought about by the empire of Babylon.

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And Daniel is whisked away. And. Taken to this foreign land. And pressed into the service.

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Of King Nebuchadnezzar. He's not seen his home. In well over 70 years.

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And now. He has been praying to the Lord. And he is burdened about the condition of his homeland.

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In chapter 9. We find him fasting and burdened. And praying to the Lord. About the state. Of the covenant signs.

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Back in the promised land. The covenant. Topography.

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The holy mountain. It's a mess. Covenant geography. The holy city.

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It's walls are torn down. No one lives there. Covenant architecture.

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The holy temple. Is completely destroyed. But the

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Lord had made a promise. To prophet Jeremiah. 70 years. And then he's going to restore all these things.

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Daniel's been doing the math. The Lord doesn't lie. He always keeps his promises. And he's praying to the Lord saying.

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Is it now? Is it now? And the Lord assures him. That the time had come to pass.

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That the 70 years were just about up. And he was going to keep his promises. But he turns Daniel's attention.

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Away from the shadows. Of Christ. Evident in the old covenant.

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The mountain. The city. The temple. He says what you need to pay attention to.

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Is not the 70 years. After which the shadows are rebuilt. And restored. But you need to think about the 70 weeks of years.

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In which. Not the shadows of Messiah. But the substance. The Messiah himself will arrive.

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Daniel that's where your hope needs to be. That's where your attention needs to be. In fact not just you. But all of your people. You need to be counting down this prophetic calendar.

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And in the latter days of this calendar. Very important things are going to happen. In that last week. And so we receive all kinds of instruction.

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In the book of Daniel. From Daniel chapter 2. And Daniel chapter 7. And Daniel chapter 9. Even here in Daniel chapter 11.

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And in Daniel chapter 12. About that last week. The critical moment in which Christ arrives.

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In the days of the kings of Rome. And we find.

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In verse 1 of Daniel chapter 12. That it is a time of great tribulation. The same great tribulation.

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That Jesus talks about. In Matthew chapter 24. As he unseals.

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The meaning of the book of Daniel. And warns his followers. That when they see the abomination of desolation.

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Which he interprets as the Roman army. Surrounding Jerusalem. That's what he says it is. He says when you see that.

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You need to flee the great tribulation as fast as you can. Here's how you do it. You leave Judea. Those are his specific instructions.

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Leave Judea and you will escape the great tribulation. Now don't delay. He says. Don't take anything.

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Don't go back for anything. Just leave. The house is on fire. Get out. And so when we read in chapter 12 in verse 1.

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We have. Many different. Passages of scripture.

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Which tell us that verse 1. Is about this time of tribulation. Though a promise.

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That there is help. That Jesus Christ. As Lord and Savior of his people.

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Are going to deliver them. And protect them. And that they should not despair. When we look.

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At this time of judgment. A judgment which occurred in. The years between 67 and 70

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AD. A judgment comes. In which the old covenant. Ends.

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And everything that God said. In Deuteronomy chapter 28 and 29. About what he's going to do to covenant breakers.

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Those who are unfaithful to the covenant. He does to the Jews. In Jerusalem during those years. He keeps his promises.

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He brings an end to the old covenant. Since AD 70. Do you realize that biblical Judaism. Has ceased upon the face of the planet.

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There is no ark of the covenant. There is no high priest. Offering sacrifices. There is no altar.

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There are no feasts being observed. According to the scriptures. The old covenant has ended.

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Hebrews said it was going to end. It was obsolete. Obsolete and ready to pass away. And so God has kept his promises.

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In that sense. And this judgment has been promised time and again. In chapter 12 of Daniel 1.

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Is no exception. But now we turn our attention. To verse 2. And let's read verses 2 and 3 again.

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And many of those. Who sleep in the dust of the earth. Shall awake. Some to everlasting life.

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Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise. Shall shine like the brightness of the firmament.

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And those who turn many to righteousness. Like the stars forever and ever. Well that doesn't sound like AD 70.

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Because it's not. Verse 2 is talking about the resurrection of the dead.

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Our great hope. That which lies ahead of us. Now let's be clear on the doctrine.

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Of the resurrection from the dead. Let's understand what that is. Let's confirm that indeed. It is in this text.

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And then let's consider why the Lord. In his wisdom. Connects.

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These two momentous. Occasions of judgment. Together for our edification.

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So first of all. The doctrine of the resurrection. What is the resurrection. From the dead.

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Let's turn our Bibles to. John chapter 5. John chapter 5.

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And let's look at verses. 24, 25 and following. I find that the.

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Doctrine. Of the resurrection from the dead. Which is spoken about. In great detail.

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In many different times in the Bible. Is not something that most people. Are hoping for today.

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That many people have a sense. That they would like to go to heaven when they die. But they have no idea.

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What that really means. Or what happens next. But the Bible keeps on putting before our attention.

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This great hope of the resurrection of the dead. And we need to be clear. On what that means.

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So in John chapter 5. Jesus is. Speaking to his critics. Those who are always suspicious.

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About what he does and what he says. They're not interested in. Worshipping him and loving him.

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And following him. They're just interested in trying to. Prove him wrong. He's speaking to these.

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Critics of his. The credentialed religious leaders. Of his day. And he begins to prove his.

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Divinity. That he is as much God as God is God. God the son in human flesh. Fully man and fully

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God. And he begins to declare this. To his critics. The religious leaders of the

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Jews. Let's listen to verse 24. And read down through.

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Verse 29. Most assuredly. I say to you. He who hears my word.

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And believes in him who sent me. Has everlasting life. And shall not come into judgment.

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But has passed from death. Into life. Before we go a step further.

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I want you to think about that verse. Have you heard.

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The word of Jesus Christ. The good news of Jesus Christ. That he is king of kings.

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And lord of lords. That he comes as the son of God. And the son of man. That he has come to bring.

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The forgiveness of sins. At the cost of his own blood and death. Upon the cross. That he has died in our place.

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And for our sake. That God made him who knew no sin. To be sin on our behalf.

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That we might become the righteousness of God in him. That God would look upon us. With the kind of favor.

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That only Jesus Christ deserves. And that God treated Christ upon the cross. As we deserve in all of our sin.

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And guilt and transgressions. Do we know the good story. The good news of Jesus Christ.

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That after he was. Killed upon the cross. Died upon the cross. That he was raised from the dead.

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To die no more. And that he is ascended to the right hand of the father. Having been accorded all authority.

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In heaven and on earth. And he reigns from the right hand of the father. And will come again. Do we know that word.

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That story. Do we believe in Christ. And God who has sent him.

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If you do. You have everlasting life. You will not come into judgment.

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But you have passed out of death. Into life. Remember what we talked about last week.

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That God's judgment. Always. God's judgment always.

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Sifts people. Into two groups. Showing who are his and who are not.

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And in light of the judgment to come. Isn't that the case. The only thing that matters.

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In terms of who is who. Is who belongs to Christ and who doesn't. Let's continue on in John 5.

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Most assuredly I say to you. The hour is coming and now is. When the dead will hear. The voice of the son of God and those who hear will live.

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Now look at what Jesus says. The hour is coming and now is. And he says.

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The dead will hear my voice. He identifies himself as the son of God. And he says those who hear will live.

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Didn't he just say that in verse 24. Those who hear the word of God and believe they will live. They have everlasting life. So he's saying the exact same thing that the apostle

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Paul says. In Ephesians 2. That though we are dead. And trespasses in sins. When the gospel is preached to us by the grace of God.

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We believe and we live. Where once we were dead. And this is called the new birth.

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As Jesus says to Nicodemus. A spiritual resurrection. A resurrection from the death of trespasses and sins.

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Moving further. Verse 26. For as the father has life in himself. So he has granted the son to have life in himself.

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And has given him authority. To execute judgment also. Because he is the son of man. Daniel chapter 7.

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The son of man. Who is given a kingdom and an empire which has no end. Verse 28.

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Do not marvel at this. For the hour is coming. Note he doesn't say and now is.

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An hour is coming. He doesn't say and now is. Something is ahead of us. In which all.

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Mark it. All who are in the graves. Will hear his voice and come forth.

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Those who have done good. To the resurrection of life. And those who have done evil. To the resurrection of condemnation. So those who are characterized.

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By the grace of God. Who have been saved by the grace of God. And thus live according to the good works.

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That God has prepared beforehand. For them to walk in. Those are going to be easily identified. As those who belong to Christ.

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They are the sheep on the right hand of Christ. In Matthew 25. But others are also going to be raised from the dead.

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Because everybody in the graves are going to come forth. And these are those who are without the grace of God. And their lives are characterized by the deeds of the flesh.

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And these are the goats on the left hand of Christ. In the picture we have in Matthew 25. So mark it. When the resurrection occurs.

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What happens? All in the graves come forth. At the same time. And you have the goats on one side.

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The sheep on the other side. Do you see it? Jesus tells many parables in the gospel of Matthew.

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In which he says the very same thing. That at the end of his reign. As king of the kingdom.

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The culminating event. Is the resurrection of the dead. And on. There is always a sifting.

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Because there is a judgment. That is in accordance. With the resurrection from the dead. And the tares will be separated from the wheat.

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And the bad fish are separated from the good fish. Do you remember those stories? The wicked servants are separated from the good servants.

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And so the story is told again and again. Now when will this resurrection take place?

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At the culmination of Christ's kingdom. This is what he says. In many, many parables and statements.

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That at the culmination of his kingdom. Over which he rules and reigns. There will be a resurrection from the dead.

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And a sifting of all mankind. In that last great day of judgment.

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This is also stated in another fashion. In 1 Corinthians 15. A passage.

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A chapter which is all about defending. The resurrection from the dead. Not the spiritual resurrection from the dead.

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That there is new life in Christ. Oh that's fine. The contested point. Are those who are denying.

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That anybody could be physically raised from the dead. And Paul goes to war. Against such a false claim.

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Proving that Jesus Christ. Was bodily raised from the dead. And he's the first fruits of the resurrection. So everybody else who believes in him.

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They also will be raised. In the same way that Christ was raised. And 1 John says.

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That everyone who has this hope. Purifies themselves. Just as he is pure.

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What is that hope? That when he appears we will be like him. For we will see him just as he is.

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Now what's the timing of it all? Verse 20 and following. But now Christ is risen from the dead.

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Church. He is risen. And has become the first fruits of those.

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Who have fallen asleep. Mark that word asleep. We're going to come back to it. For since by a man came death.

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By a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die. Even so in Christ. All shall be made alive.

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But each one in his own order. Christ the first fruits. Afterward those who are Christed is coming. Then comes the end.

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So after the resurrection. Of the dead. Then comes the end. When he delivers the kingdom.

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The kingdom that he has been faithfully and righteously. Reigning over perfectly. As the unique and excellent.

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Servant of God. He delivers the kingdom to God the Father. He says to the Father look what

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I have done. And the Father is very pleased. And he puts an end to all rule and authority and power.

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Watch this. Verse 25. He must reign. Christ must reign. Until he has put all enemies. Under his feet.

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The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. Well when is death defeated?

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When is death undone? When does death go away? At the resurrection. Because all who are in the graves.

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Are raised from the dead. By the power of the voice of Christ himself. And death shall be no more.

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So Christ reigns. At the right hand of the Father. Until all his enemies are placed as a footstool for his feet. And the last enemy defeated is death.

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That's the resurrection. And then he hands the kingdom over to the Father. The doctrine of the resurrection.

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Now let's go back and look at Daniel. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth.

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Shall awake. Verse 2. Some to everlasting life. Some to shame and everlasting contempt. The word many here.

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Is not the fractional many. Many out of the whole. It's many in terms of magnitude and greatness. So many you can't count them.

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The word is often used in the Old Testament. For a number beyond reckoning. So those who sleep in the dust of the earth.

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Shall awake. This is. These are the metaphors of the resurrection of the dead.

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From dust we have been made. To dust we return. That is the curse of death. That God declared as the punishment of Adam's sin.

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And how does Jesus talk about death. And resurrection. In. John chapter 11 verse 9.

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Speaking about his dear friend Lazarus. He says of Lazarus. Lazarus he has fallen asleep.

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And we're going to go. Wake him up. That's how Jesus thinks of death.

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And resurrection. Jesus is not daunted.

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By death. Raising. His people from the dead.

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Is as simple for Jesus. As you waking somebody up. From their sleep. So there's a promise of resurrection.

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Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth. Shall awake. Some to everlasting life.

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And some to shame and everlasting contempt. So at the resurrection. Some will be on the right hand of Jesus.

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The sheep. Some will be on the left hand of Jesus. The goats. In judgment.

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All the people are sifted. And shown who belong to God. And who does not belong to God.

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Those who are of Christ. And those who are not of Christ. So we see that this passage is about.

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The resurrection. Verse 3. Where we read that those who are wise.

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Shall shine at the brightness of the firmament. And those who turn many to righteousness. Like the stars forever and ever. Jesus quotes that verse.

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In Matthew 13. When he's explaining the parable. Of the wheat and the tares. And at the end.

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At the culmination of his kingdom. He says. Everyone is separated. And those who are his are like this.

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Daniel 12. So there's no doubt at all. That Daniel chapter 12.

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Verses 2 and 3. Is talking about the resurrection. From the dead. Even as there's no doubt at all.

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That verse 1 of Daniel chapter 12. Is talking about a particular time. In history.

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Where there was a great tribulation and judgment. The question is. Why in the wisdom of God.

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Are these two themes. Being brought together. For teaching us.

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Correcting us. Instructing us. We find these themes connected.

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Many places in the bible. Matthew 24. Which specifically says that all these things.

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Take place within this generation. And then chapter 25. Of Matthew following it.

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Which has similar imagery. But talks about the culmination of the kingdom of heaven. 1

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Thessalonians 4. Ends with a description. Of the resurrection from the dead. When even those who are left alive.

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And believers in Christ will be caught up. With those who are raised from the dead. And we have a victory. Ascension and rapture with Christ.

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But then chapter 5. Looks at the coming judgment. Upon Jerusalem.

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And the end of the old covenant. Another story in Matthew 22. A parable that Jesus tells.

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He tells a parable about a wedding feast. That has been prepared. For the king's son. We don't have to guess who that is.

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And all the most noble. And qualified people. Are invited to come to the wedding. Of the king's son.

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But they make ludicrous excuses. And in rebellion to the king. Refuse to come. So what does he say?

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He says. I'm going to destroy their city. And indeed

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God does destroy. The city of those. Who were privileged by the oracles.

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By the scriptures. By the promises. He does destroy Jerusalem. Where they rejected

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Christ. And murdered Christ. But the story continues.

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After their city is destroyed. The wedding feast is still prepared. So who is going to be brought into the wedding feast?

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Anybody you can find. Go out to the highways. And the byways. It doesn't matter what their qualifications are.

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It doesn't matter what their background is. Just go find them and bring them in. But you know what happens.

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At the end of this wonderful story. You think it would be. And they lived happily ever after. But no. There's another judgment in the story.

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The story ends with a man who has arrived there. But he's not wearing the wedding garments. That were provided for them.

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He is not wearing the garment. That would be provided to him. By the king himself. And he is judged.

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And in judgment there's a sifting. And he's cast out into outer darkness. Where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth. So in the scriptures time and again.

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We see. A combination of. The judgment which brought an end to the old covenant.

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Which clarified who the people of God are. They are the ones in Christ. Jew, Gentile, whoever. And then.

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The judgment of God. Which comes after the resurrection. The culmination of the kingdom of Christ. And these are brought together time and again.

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Why? Well we are reminded are we not. That every time

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God judges there's a sifting. We're reminded are we not. That in judgment. Only that which pleases

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God. Remains. Only that which he finds. Eternally valuable and significant.

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Remains. Thus Hebrews 12 says. The mountain and the city and the shadows of the old covenant.

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Were all shaken and broken. But that which remains. Is a mountain you cannot touch. And a city you cannot touch.

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But that has foundations. And a temple which cannot be destroyed or shaken. And that's what remains.

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And clarified after the judgment. But look in our text. Look at what remains. What is most important to God.

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In the judgment. Look at this picture of glorification. That which is coming ahead of us.

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Those who are wise. Verse 3. Shall shine. Like the brightness of the firmament. And those who turn many to righteousness.

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Like the stars forever and ever. How were

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Abraham's seed described by the way? Like the stars.

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In the heavens. Galatians tells us. Who the seed of Abraham is. And if we are in him.

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We are counted among those who have received the promises of Abraham. And those who are wise.

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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And all the treasures of wisdom. Are hidden in Christ.

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Let me tell you. If you are wise. You are one who fears the Lord. You think of him first.

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You think of him most. Your life is in orbit around him. That you are humble before his glory.

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That's what it means to be wise. What about those who turn many to righteousness? Well Jesus Christ is

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King of kings. And Lord of lords. And he says he has all authority. And he says everybody needs to pay attention to him.

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And live according to his way. Do you turn any to righteousness?

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Do you compel those in your life to consider the qualities and the beauty and the goodness and the truth of Jesus Christ?

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Do you call them to faith in Jesus Christ? That they may know the imputed righteousness of Christ.

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That the righteousness of Christ would clothe them like a white robe. Do you call them to follow the

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Lamb wherever he goes? That they may know what it's like to live a life of righteousness by the grace of God.

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Do you turn many to righteousness? This is what matters at the end of everything. Not only does the judgment of God shift people into who are his and who are not his.

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But the judgment of God clarifies what is valuable eternally. What matters.

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What matters in the end. And since Jesus Christ has all authority over everything, then everything that we do needs to be in the context of his worthiness and his glory.

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What are we told in the book of Colossians chapter 3 and verse 17?

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Hear it again. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the

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Lord Jesus. Giving thanks to God the Father through him. He's that worthy. He's that glorious.

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And that's the only thing that matters when it's all said and done. Now what about our expectations?

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What about how we live now in light of the end? What does God tell Daniel? What does Christ say to Daniel?

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But you Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book to the time of the end. You've looked at what time that is.

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At the end of the latter days, Christ himself sits upon the Mount of Olives and unseals the book of Daniel and explains what it all means.

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Notice what happens at the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase.

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But you, okay Daniel, look, here's what's going to happen. There's a judgment coming, verse 1.

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There's a resurrection coming, verses 2 and 3. But here's how you live now, Daniel. Here's what you're supposed to do.

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What are our expectations? Jesus is speaking to his disciples on the

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Mount of Olives. He says, great tribulation is coming like you've never heard before.

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when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not, let the reader of Daniel understand. You all get out of Judea.

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Those weren't all his only instructions though. You know within the very same, within a week he died on the cross after he said those things.

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He had died on the cross and he had been raised from the dead and he had come to his disciples and you know what he said?

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He said to his disciples all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and run to and fro.

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Go there and run to and fro. All the nations need to know the truth and knowledge.

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Fear of the Lord is also the beginning of knowledge. Everyone needs to know the truth that Jesus Christ has come.

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He has lived and he has died. He has risen from the dead. He has ascended to the right hand of the Father. The good news, the gospel of the kingdom.

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Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase. Don't read that verse in terms of the day's newspapers.

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Don't read that and say, oh yes increase in travel technology and the information age.

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Jesus is talking to Daniel. He's talking to Daniel about the time that Daniel the book is going to be unsealed and what's going to happen at that time.

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Well that's what we're supposed to be about isn't it? The world by God's word belongs to Christ and we are to follow his instructions and his priorities.

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What matters to Jesus is that we would be wise that we would turn many to righteousness and thus we would shine like the stars forever and ever and how would we do that except by running to and fro?

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Spreading the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and to the glory of the to the knowledge of the glory of God covers the earth like the waters cover the sea.

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That's our focus. That's what we do. That's what we're involved with in the here and now in light of the end.

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Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Father we thank you for the time you've given to us in your word. I pray that it's been helpful in clarifying to what matters to you when everything is said and done.

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That it matters who we belong to. That it matters who we fear.

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That it matters what we invest our lives in. And I pray that as you have given us these anchoring thoughts about what really matters that we would live in the hope of the resurrection knowing that you always keep your word.

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You always keep your promises. And that we have much to look forward to in the reign of Jesus Christ who puts all of his enemies under his feet.

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We pray these things in his name. Amen. Would you stand with me for our song of benediction?

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Christ reigns as king of kings and lord of lords. Let's sing out our

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HMA page 119. There is a higher throne. Take compassion and call.

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There come the sand dreams and skies.

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There spring thanks and honor all we belong.

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You wipe each tears they die. As thirst and hunger die.

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The land becomes our shepherd king. We'll reign with him.

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There come the sand dreams and skies.

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There praises rise. Spring thanks and honor all.

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To God our king who reigns on high forevermore.

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Hear heaven's voices sing. There come the sand dreams through emerald courts and sapphire skies.

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There praises rise. All glory we surprise.

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Spring thanks and honor all to God our king who reigns on high forevermore.

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Amen. May the love of the Father and the grace of the