The Abundant Life John 10:10

Well, good morning everyone. Good morning to those that are here and tomorrow good morning and maybe good evening to those that are tuning in online. As we always say we'd love you to be here and there's plenty of room to distance here if you're concerned about that and masking and so on so But we miss you.

Two announcements ladies Bible study is on the 20th. I got shifted a little bit. So 10 o 'clock on the 20th ladies Next Sunday is our business meeting our annual business meeting. We're gonna have it right after our morning service.

So if you can make it, please come it's going to be an important meeting to be a part of and again, I just think if there's lots of plenty of measures here to stay comfortable for you to be comfortable and safe, so Please put that on your calendar and try to make a point.

That's it for announcements I think let's open up in prayer our dear Heavenly Father. We are blessed to be here this morning father. We Come before your throne father and may be in a humble manner that we can acknowledge your majesty your acknowledge your love and your grace and What a magnificent God you are father that the God of the universe we can serve you and may we honor you now Lord as we lift our voices in song as your word is preached and teached taught Lord.

That you would bless pastor John that each of us would be led by the Holy Spirit to Bring honor and glory to you father. So we thank you. We pray for those that aren't here today Lord that you would have your hand upon them that they would be in the word they would be walking with you father and If not, Lord, I just pray that you would challenge each that is that has maybe found it easy to stray Lord.

And that is we are all prone to do that Lord. But may we find rest and peace and hope and assurance in you. So Lord go before us now we commit our time to your care. We pray these things in Jesus name.

Amen. As I was preparing and reading some Sermon notes and pastor John, you know that some people do look at old notes and This was at least ten years ago and is on worship and there were seven points of how we should approach our time and I think it's a good idea to Assess and to consider before we come to this point Of how we should approach God in our worship and I'll rattle these off biblically.

Christ centric Lee Centricet centrality of Christ centrality centrally humbly prayerfully personally. Patiently and confidently and I just want to share a couple verses there the humbly come to him humbly.

Heaven is my throne and Earth thus says the Lord important introduction there. The heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where's the house that you will build me and where's the place of my rest for all those things my hand is made and all.

Those things exist says the Lord but on this one I will look will I look on him who is poor poor spirit and of contrite spirit and who trembles at My word are we trembling before his word this morning and to be approached the throne confidently even in that contrite manner.

With our heads bowed and we can still approach him confidently because of what we are in his kingdom Hebrews 4 14 through 16 seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens.

Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our confession for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. But was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We need our Lord now more than ever. So let's stand together. We're going to sing Oh church arise. For now can't say that we in the strength that God has given. It's shield of felt of truth will stand against the devil's lies and army.

But to rage of the soul Christ we're standing. Let's sing when I sir survey the wondrous cross. Very contemplative song that we shouldn't just think about the words Glory, will you come forward and read scripture?

Good morning I was usually for this morning is Psalm 23. Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not once he maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He is me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.

He is me in the path of paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yay, though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death of a fear new evil for thou art with me. Though Tyrone and I and I staff they come for me that prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Thou thou notice my head with oil my cup when I sober. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow follow me all all days of my life. And I would draw in the house of the Lord forever. In the Lord, I see to rid of his word.

Thank you Jim.

Let's stand again together as we're gonna sing. We will glorify him to him who sits on the throne and to the Lord be praise and honor and glory. We will glorify We will Majesty we will We will. He is Lord He is Lord of universe all praise to him we Hallelujah Hallelujah.

Before John comes we're gonna sing thou art worthy. Indeed he is Mr. John.

Thank you so much Harold and praise the Lord. Hello to those of you at home on the internet. Watching on our YouTube channel and hello to those of you that made it out Amen and I'm so glad there is plenty of room here.

Plenty of room for social distancing as Harold said, so we'd love to see you once in a while. So turn with me in your Bibles to John chapter 10. So you're gonna get a lot of bang for your buck today. Because I could not make this message any shorter than I made it and on top of that Next Sunday, we have a business meeting.

So I have to make it short. So I'm giving you I'm spreading it out. Have you ever heard that term amortized? I'm amortizing this sermon over two Sundays and if you have your notes, you'll see that the message title is today an abundant life an abundant life.

John chapter 10 verse 10 Jesus says The thief does not come except to steal to kill and destroy. I Have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly and This fits where we were last Sunday in Verses six seven eight and nine and I want to finish those verses today.

And before we go any further, let's pray Father we're so thankful for this day this time that we can be in your word Father in many many challenging days in which we live. We're thankful the Supreme Court found that What's been going on in terms of closing churches is unconstitutional and Lord we now across the country can now worship freely once again.

And we're thankful for that. I don't totally understand all the language of the decision, but we're thankful for that. We're thankful God for the way that you work The way that you cause all things to work together for our good.

We thank you God that the promise of this verse is that Jesus came to give us life and to give it abundantly. So Lord, we're grateful for that father whether we're a Christian in North Korea Somalia Iran.

Whether we're a Christian in South Africa the United States or Canada. If we are truly born again we have an abundant life God and we're thankful for that and So we pray now that the Holy Spirit would be our teacher this morning that his our hearts would be open in our eyes to See your word Understand your word God that it might be planted in our heart.

We pray in Jesus name. Amen. So this verse if you've been in church for any length of time is Very often quoted. It's it's well known and It's very often quoted in the context in our country at least of material prosperity abundant life Overflowing and in these verses Jesus is in this middle of a very long discourse.

It ends in verse 21 of this chapter Presenting himself as the Good Shepherd and What verse 10 does is it? Contrasts the Good Shepherd's ministry with Those that are not good those that are thieves. So he presents this stark contrast that serves as a rebuke To the law-based righteousness that was being taught by the Pharisees and the faith based righteousness That is taught by the Good Shepherd.

See the thief Does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I Have come that they may have life and that they may have it more Abundantly. Now what a vivid contrast the thief who only comes Whose only mission is to steal and to kill and to destroy referring to the Pharisees Contrasted with the Good Shepherd.

Verse 11 that lays down his life for the sheep the Good Shepherd verse 14 that knows his sheep and Who is sheep know the Good Shepherd that calls his sheep and they hear and the Good Shepherd that comes That the sheep may have life more abundantly now.

Let me ask a question Why did Jesus Christ come into the world? What does scripture say in answer to this question over in Mark chapter 1 verse 38. He said to the disciples let us go to the next towns that I may preach there also because for this purpose I Have come forth.

Luke 19 verse 10. Luke 19 verse 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost over in Matthew 20. Verse 28. Jesus emphasized his death on the cross. Matthew 20 verse 28 just as the Son of Man Did not come to be served But to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

So to sum up the reason for Jesus's first advent. He came to fulfill prophecy. Jesus came to fulfill God's promise that he would send a Messiah. He came to glorify his father and to preach the good news of the gospel to a lost and dying world.

He came to seek and save the lost. He came to live a sinless life and to die a cruel and horrible death on the cross of Calvary to be buried and rose. It rise again after three days and he came that all men might not have death But have abundant life.

Now as try as we might. We are not going to find in Scripture giving people big houses or big cars or big bank accounts or big retirement accounts in the list of reasons why Jesus Christ came to the earth.

You're not going to find that. So here in verse 10 in the midst of this ongoing attack by the Pharisees and in the context of him teaching about the Good Shepherd How he is the Good Shepherd we come to another aspect of Jesus's coming namely this idea of an abundant life.

Now if you look carefully at verse 10 in the English and in the Greek The word life and the worth abundantly or more abundantly they're linked grammatically and they're linked Contextually, so they have to be put together.

They relate to one another they modify and Properly understand this statement and see how they're related we need to see What Jesus says in verse 10? Listen to me is the conclusion To what he says in verse 9, what does he say in verse 9 that we covered last week?

I am the door if anyone enters by me He will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. Now is the Lord Jesus in verse 9 talking about material prosperity? No. He's talking about salvation. He's talking about those who trust in him and enter through him will be saved and they would be safe.

Going in and out and they would be satisfied finding pasture. Now to drive home this point that he makes in verse 9 He gives this contrast. The thief does not come except To steal and to kill and to destroy.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly so life not death. A New life in Christ by faith not more wealth. The context of what Jesus is saying here is salvation and eternal life. And it was to give eternal life that Jesus came and then he adds that those who receive that life will have it.

How? Abundantly. So we must keep the context and the flow of the passage all the way back to chapter 9 all the way through the rest Of the chapter to really understand what he's saying. Jesus is saying these things in the midst of this ongoing dispute with the Pharisees everything that Jesus says about himself in chapter 10 is to is Intended to contrast with the attitude of the false religious leaders that were confronting him and That's why he begins verse 10 with the thief.

You Pharisees you whitewashed sepulchers. They do not come except to steal and kill and destroy. So he's identifying the Pharisees as thieves and robbers. But the larger application in context is also applies to false religious leaders or teachers any.

The clear idea is that those who preach the way of salvation based on good works or Ritual performance or doing what the Pharisees said paying money. Anyway, other than by faith in Christ alone other than how through that door.

Narrow path, right? They are wolves among sheep's wolves in sheepskin clothing in our day in the form of false religious leaders false teachers. Including those who preach having a tolerance for sin. That is the big thing right now going on.

You may not realize it, but it's it's big right now in churches the last year or two. Those who preach a tolerance for sin, but who will not tolerate the clear meaning of Scripture. Thieves and robbers and wolves also include those who minister for personal gain and and twist the gospel to attract followers.

Jesus by his atoning death on the cross is The one and only door to true life and faith alone is the one and only way to enter By him. All right all others who try to enter themselves and would lead others over the wall are thieves and robbers and Jesus says that These only come to what?

Steal kill destroy. So look at verse 10 and think about it for a moment. Salvation eternal life a New life in Christ. This is what Jesus is talking about it but see when we think about eternal life very often we tend to think in Quantity listen to me quantity not what quality very often when we think of eternal life.

We're thinking about quantity. Oh eternal eternity lasts forever, right? We tend to think about quantity not quality. We would say the phrase eternal life or everlasting life refers to eternity in heaven.

But notice that Jesus emphasizes the quality of life I've come that they might have life and we know that it's eternal life and That they might have it more abundantly that Word abundantly in the Greek is a very strong word it means Extraordinary in the amount.

Extraordinary in the amount it's it's like, you know, you're gonna have a pizza for lunch, but not one but 50 and or profuse. And the reason I picked this title is because verse 10 is talking about the assurance of eternal life and that life is coupled with the assurance of the life that we have in Christ listen being abundant under the care and the protection of the Good Shepherd.

Who what? Lays his life down for the sheep. Now if you can think back to last week, you remember I meant made mention you might. In verses 1 through 5 the kind of sheepfold that Jesus is talking about there were the bigger Sheepfolds that were more secure with tall walls actually had a door that were near the bigger towns and cities of that day.

Then he turns his attention To verses 7 8 and 9 and he changes to the sheepfolds that were more less permanent in nature out in the wilderness lower wall and in those Sheepfolds the Shepherd himself would be the door.

Remember we talked about that. He would lay across the door. So inside the sheepfolds is what? Eternal life, that's the picture, right? So clearly there is some application to the word abundantly to our present life, but the specific application is The new life that believers have in Jesus Christ now.

Mark your place here if you would and go to psalm 23. And we're going to go to psalm 23. Because psalm 23 is a vivid testimony by David King David the third king of Israel of what it's like to live under the shepherding care of the Lord and Listen to me the assurances the sheep of the Lord's fold have in him.

See verse 10 has to be taken in the context of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. That by faith gives new life to those who are dead in their trespasses and sin. So what better place than psalm 23 to learn about what the Good Shepherd does for his sheep in?

Psalm 23. There's at least three Encouraging truths about what it means to have an abundant life that the gospel of Jesus Christ under the Lordship of King Jesus. The Good Shepherd offers there is the assurance.

There is in psalm 23 the assurance that the Good Shepherd will provide. There is the assurance that the Good Shepherd will protect and there is the Good Shepherd. There is the assurance of the of physical and spiritual comfort and I want to begin With the assurance of the Good Shepherd's providing care.

Notice verse 1 of psalm 23. Jim. Thank you, by the way. Good job reading it. Verse 1 the Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. What is he saying? What is David saying he has the assurance of the shepherds providing care.

Psalm 23 Poetically describes the life provided to those who trust the Lord as their shepherd if you've been around church for any length of time. You might have heard of the book the Shepherd's psalm by a gentleman by the name of Philip Keller.

Philip Keller worked as a shepherd for many years and He writes a book about this psalm based on his own experience as a shepherd and He points out The importance of the shepherds care in the sheep's well-being.

I want to quote just quickly from that book the welfare of any flock is Entirely dependent upon the management afforded them by their owner. For him there is no greater reward no deeper satisfaction Than that of seeing his sheep well-contented well-fed safe and flourishing under his call.

I'm sorry under his care He will go to no end of trouble and labor to supply them with the finest grazing the rich the richest Pasturage ample winter feed and clean water listen From early dawn until late at night.

This utterly selfless shepherd is Alert to the welfare of his flock. Can we say amen in the midst of kovat? Night and day the Good Shepherd is watching over his flock and See based on this analogy when Jesus says that he came to give abundant life this doubtless involves providing care.

Meeting the needs of his sheep Absorbs the shepherds time energy mental faculty and because of those who belong to Jesus They can say the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want so we have the shepherds providing care and When psalm 23 says I shall not want what sort of provision is promised.

Now this is very important to answer because Understanding what is meant by the Good Shepherds providing care is important because of the spread. Many many years in this country of the so-called prosperity gospel see one reason that understanding what is meant by Jesus saying abundant life and The Good Shepherding providing or I'm sorry The Good Shepherds providing care is important because of the spread of the so-called prosperity gospel.

Time magazine not too long ago ran a cover story Not person of the year or did they recently have one object of the year or thing of the year? I don't know, but they recently ran a cover story. Does God want you to be rich and.

And one example of the false of a false prosperity teacher that is named in the article is the popular prosperity teacher Joel Osteen. Osteen's Inspirational bestseller one of the best-selling books in recent history is called your best life now.

This book is widely credited for taking the prosperity gospel of the Pentecostal movement and moving it into the evangelical mainstream. He preaches a Christian faith that I'm not only provides blessings in heaven, but also consists of happiness success and fulfillment here on earth.

This man is so popular in Christian circles That this last year with the live stream services that churches are doing where they're not meeting in person. Are you ready for this? One Sunday 4 .3 million people tuned in to hear his false gospel on a Sunday 4 .3 million people That say I'm a Christian.

Over 40 million a week watch him on TV. Osteen expresses his version of the prosperity gospel. Listen carefully. Listen carefully. I'm quoting him. I Think God wants us to be prosperous. I Think he wants us to be happy.

I Think he wants us to enjoy our lives and Then he unabashedly with no shame defines them in materialistic terms. Tell that to the Christian in a concentration camp in China preach that gospel to a Christian in North Korea that can't even tell his own wife that he's a Christian because she will report him and He will be arrested and most likely put to death.

See, let me be clear Osteen and others like him are false teachers. They are false teachers preaching false gospels that Jesus Christ compares to what thieves and robbers and there's so many examples.

I don't have time to go down the list but if you want to know some more just turn on any so-called Christian TV network and 90 of them are exactly like that. They're flying around in private jets they raise money for a second private jet and People are sending this money in so this word abundance.

David says in verse 1 I shall not want and he says that in the context of Jesus saying give us what. Give us this day our daily 401k it deposit. Give us this day our new BMW. No, he says give us this day our daily bread.

Going all the way back to Israel's wandering in the wilderness where God said take only enough for what? Today and he says if you happen to think that I'm not going to provide for you tomorrow and you take more.

It's gonna rot and the Israelites did it anyway, and you know what happened when they got up the next morning? It was rancid and stank up their tent. But on Saturday or a Friday you could gather enough for the Sabbath because you don't work on the Sabbath, right?

Now. Quickly like I told you you're gonna get your money's worth today. There is a positive side to this idea of posterity, right? Prosperity teachers often point out that many people feel dawn trodden and hopeless.

They're inhibited by poor self-esteem. They frequently point out that Christians should not approach life Pessimistically or or doubtful of God's favor and in their right in this right when they emphasize that changes in our life.

Demand or require changes on our thinking. Listen to me. They are right in in one sense of the word after all. Paul says in Philippians chapter 4 verse 8. Finally brethren, whatever is true. Whatever is honorable.

Whatever is right. Whatever is pure. Whatever is lovely. Whatever is of good. Report you ready if there's any excellence in them. Think on these things. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. Paul says we are taking captive every thought.

We are taking captive every thought. We are destroying Speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. Listen, and we are taking every thought captive and bringing it obedience to Christ.

So does our mind play a role in living under the Good Shepherd's care? Yes, it does. But it has to be the kind of right thinking that is what. Filtered through the Word of God and Given the widespread depression in our society today.

I don't know if you know or if you've been following how many suicides there are how many drug overdoses alcohol. I mean, do you have any idea this last year what it's done to families and people's lives?

Where people it's what a I don't even want to give you the statistics. However, listen their brand of prosperity is promised by the sheer power of believing as though our faith exercised its own divine power on its own.

Moreover one does not receive God's favor merely by believing or declaring it to be so as prosperity teachers emphasize now. What about this claim that the abundant life means That God wants his children to enjoy earthly wealth perfect health and worldly success.

Is This biblical No. Hey. You get a prize on the way out. If you're watching by video somebody said no and they were right. See prosperity. Gospels Preachers typically teach that trials such as illness the loss of a job relationship problems are the result of a lack of faith.

Again, not true. The Bible says that trials are part of God's fatherly plan for growing believers into maturity. James says count it all joy when you face various trials knowing. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience and let patience have its perfect work that you will be perfect and entire.

Lacking nothing mature is the idea over in Matthew 6. Moreover prosperity teachers define salvation almost exclusively in terms of houses ponds stables and other possessions and Jesus says in Matthew 6 19 do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth.

Does that include jet planes and big houses? I guess so. Isn't that a treasure on earth? Where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal? He concludes this stinging rebuke in verse 21.

This is all we need for where your treasure is There your heart will be also. This means that those whose treasures are on earth do not have a heart set on God. Jesus called his followers to self-denial.

Luke 9. Luke 9. Luke 9 23 then he said of them all if anyone desires to come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. John 10 10 is frequently quoted by prosperity teachers because Jesus states he came to give abundant life, but Jesus did not say that he Came to give life the way they say they say look at Luke 12 15.

He said to them take heed and beware of covetousness for one's life. Does not consist. There's our word in the abundance of the things he possesses. See the Lord is my shepherd. I Shall not want needs not wants.

Jesus promises a satisfied soul and needs not wants. See the sheep go in and out and Pasture as they feed on the plentiful pastures of his life. Giving word. They don't head out of the sheepfold for a vacation in Jamaica.

Not that that's bad. Don't don't don't email the church and say well, he said I can't go on vacation. That's not what I'm saying. You see the truth. It's true. Some Christians will often enjoy worldly success.

There are those who are blessed with material riches and they need to understand that God's blessing on them financially. With that wealth is a very high calling and those with excess wealth are to give.

Often to the the ministry of the gospel because that's why God has blessed in that way. Luke 6. Jesus warned that money is a spiritual snare. Luke 6 20. Blessed are you poor? For theirs is the kingdom of God.

God does not spoil his children, but trains them in righteousness. Philippians. He promises to meet all the genuine needs. Philippians. Philippians 4. He promises to meet all the genuine needs of his people but not to gratify our earthly cravings.

Philippians 4 and my God shall supply all your need. A 2021 BMW. Yeah, right. When you only have money for a 2003 Camry. My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory. See our main needs are spiritual and God especially delights to cause us to prosper spiritually in the midst of earthly difficulties.

And by the way, that is the whole point of the book of Job. Read it sometime. Satan argued that Job trusted God only because God had blessed him. So abundantly financially he had so much earthly prosperity.

But when God but when Job continued to praise God in the midst of suffering God was greatly glorified. The believers true wealth is that his or her joy does not depend on earthly prosperity. Amen. Jesus supplies us with abundant spiritual life in any circumstances so that Christians can content contentedly praise him.

Go back to Psalm 23. Just amazing. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want those who pursue worldly happiness. Will ever be restless always needing more. But those who find their contentment in Christ can say with the psalmist look what he says.

He goes on he makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters. Second in The abundant life that Jesus promises there is the assurance of guidance. There is the assurance of his provision.

Now there is the assurance of guidance. Look what he says verse 2. He leads me. That's guidance. Beside the still waters verse 3 He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. See another aspect of the abundant life that Jesus gives is guidance for our journey through the pastures of life.

See the comparison between Christians and sheep is not a compliment. Ask any real-life shepherd. Sheep are stupid creatures. They are known to be the hardest livestock to maintain. Now don't be offended.

One aspect of Sheep's stupidity is seen in the fact that they so easily wander away. Sheep like to eat foods that poison themselves and They like to do things that cost them their life. Sound familiar.

I was about to tell you the story when I first got my driver's license, but if my mom watches this she'll be really mad. First time she gave me the keys to the car. They like to eat foods that poisoned them.

They like to do things that cost them their life. Therefore sheep require a shepherd to survive and the same is true for us spiritually when Jesus Says that he came to give life to his sheep. The new life in him involves his ongoing guidance.

This is why we have the Bible. The abundant life that Jesus gives is one that is lived under the guidance of his word. Right because John 1 tells us that he is the word. Amen, the word became flesh. John 1 14 and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory.

In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and The word was God and the Jehovah Witnesses changed that verse we don't and the word dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.

This is why we have the Bible. He provides leaders in the church like Victor and Harold. He provides fellowship among believers, which is why this whole thing is so anti God. This has been an attack on the church.

This has been an attack on believers. Not allowing us saying we can't join together. Thank God for the Supreme Court. Amen. Come back to church if you're nervous, there's all kinds of room. When needed he is willing to extend his staff to pull us back in a line.

By all these means Jesus promised life-giving guidance to host follow him. So what do we have the abundant life, right? First of all, we have the assurance of his provision. Then we have the assurance of his guidance and Third there is the assurance of spiritual comfort.

Psalm 23 begins with the assurance of Spiritual comfort which the Good Shepherd gives to his flock. Jesus promises abundant life. But we still live in this world shadowed by death and notice what he says.

It says in verse 4 and by the way, please note that this is in the middle of the psalm six verses. Verse 4 is in the middle. Yay. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I Will fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me.

See the shadow of death deprives many people of the joy of life. But not so the Christian who knows the Lord's promises we must face death, but we don't have to fear it. Why. Because the Lord promises to be with us and his sin atoning crossed Has removed everything that the Christian has to fear about death.

There was a Christian man. He was facing the rapid approach of death and he shared how Psalm 23 Comforted him with his message that the valley of the shadow of death is not the end. And that's why I emphasize that this is in the middle the shadow of death is not the end.

He goes on with his testimony that for the believer and I'm quoting death is now but a shadow. The substance of death having been conquered on the cross. The Lord has promised to be with his children for comfort no matter what the circumstances and that's why David says in this psalm your wad.

And your staff they comfort me. So even more Christians have every reason to look forward to the life that awaits us beyond the grave. Now if you look carefully at verse 5 There are three comforting promises.

About the life to come look at verse 5 first. He begins with the Good Shepherd prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Now if you've ever read the Psalms, you know that David is constantly talking about his enemies that surround him.

They encompassed me my enemies encompassed me all around him right. And what was comforting to David. Should be comforting to believers that in spite of the impending danger the Lord spread out a table for him.

God provided for him and There is more because there is this great banquet coming for believers in heaven. And there are a number of scholars that I read this past week. Where David speaks here of this table?

That that suggests that this is talking about the believers acceptance into God's glorious present see despite of the accusation of sin despite of the accusations of the devil, right. A Place has been prepared for every believer in Christ.

Whatever famine lies before us here a table of feasting awaits us above. That's why Jesus said in John 14 in my father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you the tables waiting and Then he says you anoint my head with oil.

Ancient hosts in the Middle East provided when a when a guest would come well. They remember you didn't hop in your BMW with air conditioning, right. Or your Corolla or your Camry. What did you do you walked or rode a donkey?

Right. It was dusty. They didn't have asphalt paved roads so when you went to somebody's house, you were generally covered in dust and you were generally thirsty, so Your your host would anoint your head with oil.

The oil was used to soothe the skin from the harsh Sun or the cold. Wine was given to cleanse the dusty throat. Psalm 104 verse 15 and The wine that makes glad the heart of man oil to make his face face shine and bread which strengthens man's heart.

So here we have a vision of Christ welcoming them us back in psalm 23 into heaven. With oil to soothe the hurts of our passage through life into death and then we come to the third promise. Which is my cup overflows.

See whatever We hope for in heaven. Holding out our longings as a cup to the Lord what we actually experience will cause that cup to over flow. You know, I had to preach a sermon once for a young man who?

Was autistic and he he died and His mother asked me to preach a sermon on heaven. So being a new pastor, you know, I all hours of the night I was studying heaven and I got a book on heaven an entire book and One of the things that the author says at the beginning of the book is he says, you know This is a big book on heaven.

I go. Yeah, it is like 410 I don't remember 375 pages. It's been a while since I looked at it. But anyway, he said at the beginning he says there is no way even as big as this book is that I can adequately describe all That God's Word tells us about the glories of heaven.