The Cure For Troubled Hearts Part 2

John 14:1-3

 

We noted in our study last time – Jesus gave his disciples some troubling News / Betrayal/ All forsake / Peter deny / Leaving – they couldn’t come

A)Hearts were visibly troubled – Then he looked at them and said – Let not your hearts be troubled ……..

 

14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also

 

B) Jesus was saying The Cure for their troubled hearts was heaven – Last time We talked about our need to keep heaven in view –

1)Also why heaven can seem so dim

 

C) But there are those who might ask – Is heaven really going to be that great – the Bible seems a bit vague –

1)   Eating / feasting – Movies clouds and harps – what is going to be so great about heaven ?

 

Tonight – Begin looking at 9 reasons why we should want to go to heaven & why we should be living for heaven 3 tonight – rest tomorrow

A)Reason#1 – Because Jesus is there and we will see Him in his glory

Turn to Rev. 1:13-16

 

B)  1st John sees Jesus wearing this Long flowing Robe – This Robe speaks

       of His MAJESTY & GREATNESS

 

6:1  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

3       And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"

C) Now as a Pastor I have conducted quite a few weddings & I have seen some good size Trains on a Wedding Dress

1)   But Never one that filled the Sanctuary

 

D)John & Isa. See the Lord – in this Long flowing robe – Isa. Said His train filled the temple –

1)   Where ever He went – His glory was Felt / Majesty was seen

 

 

2nd HAIR WHITE LIKE WOOL – SPEAKS OF PURITY & Righteousness

 

 

3rd HIS EYES WERE A FLAME OF FIRE

A)   Eyes that are piercing and penetrating

 

Heb.4: 13  And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

 

B)   Eyes that can see every thought / every motive & Intent of the heart

1)   But eyes that could also be as warm & inviting as a fire on a beach on a cold winter night

 

4th FEET WERE LIKE FINE BRASS – refined in Furnace

A)   This suggest an image of Strength – He is able to w/ stand the fiery furnace

 

B)   Jesus w/ stood the fires of hell so that you & I could stand in heaven w/ Him

1) He w/ stood the fiery trials of this Life / so that we could walk thru them leaning on Him !!!

 

C)   Remember -  Shad. Meschech / Abendego- in the fire - …..

       4th one in the Furnace who Looks like the Son of  God

1)      They came out not a hair on their heads was even singed       

4th Voice like the sound of many waters / RUSHING WATERS

Speaks of His voice being a Consuming Voice

A)   This isn’t the sound of a little stream – this is the sound of raging River this is a Niagara Falls Kind of sound

 

B)    If you have ever been to Niagara falls – or some similar body of water – rushing – Consuming – All you hear

1) Talk – Hey what do you think of the FALLS ?   It is great !!!!!

 

Psa.29: 3  The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters.

4  The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

 

 

5th  Out of His Mouth came a sharp two edged sword / He is a Warrior

A)His word is Powerful & Strong it was a means for battling the enemy !!!!

 

6th   His Countenance was Like the Sun Shinning in all It’s Strength

A)    This speaks of His Glory & Brilliance  

 

B) Paul recounting His Conversion to Agrippa

Acts 26: 13  "at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.

 

C)A light Brighter than the Sun at Midday !!!

            1) Moses face shinning / Angels can’t Look

 

 

So we put all of this together to see Our First Motivation for Wanting to go to Heaven & Live for Heaven – We will see Jesus{ Be Like Him

 

 

 

2nd Reason: We are going to be rewarded – Crowns from the Lord

Now maybe you have never stood in the winners circle before

A)Never won the race at the track meet – never won the spelling bee / you didn’t win the beauty contest or the talent show / Chili cook off

 

B) Your little sister beats you at Checkers { A-1 loser } Hands

 

C) Listen you will stand in the winners circle in heaven

1)   Your day is coming – what the world has over looked { Your father in heaven has seen

 

D) What the world has forgotten Your father in heaven has remembered

 

Heb 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

 

E) He doesn’t forget and He is going to reward you – What was done in Secret shall be rewarded openly

 

In 1 Cor 4:5 Paul puts it this way: 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

 

A)This is awesome to me – that when it comes to giving Praise & honor and Recognition – God doesn’t delegate the Job

 

B) Pres Bush might Send VP Cheney or Colin Powel or one of his aids to congratulate someone on a great achievement –

1)   But God doesn’t send an Angel / Doesn’t send Gabriel { He doesn’t have an angelic spokes person

 

C) No according to Paul – God Himself is going to praise His Children

1)   Jesus will say – Well done .. Good & faithful servant – enter into rest

Another thing to note is that the Praise is personal Paul says God will praise each one

A)Not Praise the team / Jr High VP 4th Place –

 

B) God is going to honor each one / Crown is going to be given to each one – What kind of Crowns –

1)   The Bible mentions 3

 

1st is the Crown of righteousness = Righteousness put simply means Rightness w/ God

A)Now some might wonder – How does this crown of righteousness differ from the Righteousness that a Christian has now w/ God

 

B) We have been declared righteous  by the blood of Jesus Christ – but the Righteousness we enjoy now is Positional { God sees me in JC

1)   It is By Faith in Christ – and it is thru faith that I believe that is the way God sees me – Sees me in His Son

 

C) But that is not the way I see myself – { Get up & look in the mirror{ You are RIGHTEOUS – no You are Ugly

1)   God says that I am righteous – but I sure don’t’ feel righteous

 

 

In fact everyday I am reminded of the fact that I am a sinner – I sin

A)I have bad thoughts / I am insensitive / I get angry / Impatient

 

B) Everyday I thank the Lord that He sees me in His Son – righteous

1)   When I get to heaven – Crown is given to me – then I will see myself as righteous 

 

C) I will see myself the way the Lord see me – I will be Righteous not just Positionally but Practically

1)   See in heaven there will be no more sin

 

 

Imagine a world where there is no Sin – No grumbling / complaining / no worry/ No Lies / No Guilt from sin / No Shame / Bitterness

A) All of those things will be missing in heaven-No crime / No war / no Strife / No gossip/ No drugs / No babies w/out daddies { result of sin

 

B) But those things will be missing in heaven – we will be people perfectly righteous living in a righteous environment

 

C) Notice who this crown is for  - those who love his appearing { Those who will be excited to see him

1)   Those who are excited to see him come back –

 

D) Vista – Rec – Prize for everything – Just Show up / Shoes on the right feet –{ any effort –

1)   The Lord says – just be glad I am coming again

 

2nd Crown is the Crown of Life James 1:12-13

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

 

A)Listen heaven is going to be wonderful not only because or what is there – but also because of what is not there!

 

B.) No more sin – but also – no more tears, sadness, pain. Big one – no more death!

1)in this life we experience all of those things – because we are frail -   dust not steel

 

C.)    This life is not crowned with life – but with death

          1.)     but the next life is different -

 

D.)    Death is missing – no aging – no time – crowned with life

          1.)     we experience the ultimate in living

                                          So Crown of Righteousness / Crown of Life -  

3rd:  Crown of Glory  - 1 Peter 5:4  Crown for those faithful in ministry to love & feed the Flock of God  -  1 Thess 2:19-20

 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

 

Crown of seeing all the lives we influenced for the Lord – many we never knew about!

A.)In the story of Oscar Schindler – a member of the German Party who had compassion for the Jews of Krakow Poland

 

B.)The ones Hitler sought to kill, Schindler sought to saves

1.)     but he couldn’t save them all – so he did what he could – saved a few – movie  Schindler List – saw edited version on a plane

 

C.)In the movie – war is over – now the roles will be reversed – Schindler will be hunted

 

As Schindler prepares to slip off into the night – He walks to his car – his factory workers line both sides of the street

A.)They have come to thank the man who saved them.  One of the Jews presents Schindler with a card signed by each person documenting his deed

 

B.)    He is also given a ring, formed out of solid extracted from a workers tooth

          1.)on it is carved a verse from the Talmud  “He who saves a single life

                 – saves the world entire”

 

C.)On that memorable night, Schindler is surrounded by those he helped set free!  He stares into the faces of husbands and wives – parents and children 

 

D.)    I wonder what he was thinking – what was going through his mind

          1.)     what emotions surface in the heart when someone finds

                  themselves face to face with lives they have helped change

          2.)     you will find out – lives you have impacted for God’s glory

So Reason #1 See Jesus [Glory] #2 Crowns awaiting –

 

Reason #3 The Joy that Awaits us{ CS Lewis called Joy the serious Business of Heaven 

A)1 Peter 1:8 Talking about the Joy of heaven & seeing the Lord he described it as a Joy that is inexpressible & full of Glory

 

B)    Psalm 16:11 In his Presence is fullness of Joy

1)   Joy is different from Happiness / Happiness is based on Happenings – What is Happening –

 

C)    Joy is an inner Peace / A Satisfaction/ A Fulfillment

1) I can experience Happiness in a situation but be lacking in Joy – because although the situation worked out of me{ Still not Fulfilled / Fully Satisfied

 

D)   I can get the raise / therefore I am happy – But I am not experiencing Joy because something is still lacking in my heart

1)   Something the raise / the new House / the Car / the wife / the Hubby / the ministry cannot fully fulfill

 

Joy: That true & lasting Fulfillment comes only from Living in a Relationship w/ the Lord

A)But even in that – it is not complete on earth because we know that it is going to be better in Heaven

 

B)This earth is as bad as it gets for us – all upward & Onward from here

1)   But in heaven we are going to experience a fullness of Joy

 

C)    Joy that is inexpressible & full of Glory – A joy that is beyond our Human Capacities to Comprehend & enjoy

 

Reason#4 It means that we are not going to Hell – Note 5 things the Bible tells us about Hell / about what we have been saved from !

A)1st  The Bible describes Hell as a place of torment ! We get this picture  

     displayed for us in Luke Ch. 16 story of Lazarus & the rich man

 

B) The rich man finds himself in hell before an eternal fire ! It was so hot there that he longed for one drop of water for his tongue

1)  in hopes of finding some relief for the anguish he was in !

 

C) I read this article from a Christian who was in NY On September 11th

 

But there is one thing that is hard to fathom in the World Trade Center attack. After the planes hit the towers in New York the people in the floors above the fire where trapped. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures of people jumping out of the upper floors to escape the fire and smoke. The thing that really shakes me up about this is the height from which they jumped. I’ve been to the top floor of the World Trade Center, and I’m not afraid of heights, but it made me feel weak in the knees when I went up to window and looked down. I can’t imagine anyone jumping from such heights but the alternative was burning to death. Jesus describes hell as a place where people burn but never burn up.

Mark 9:48
where "`their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

 

D) There is burning but you don’t Burn up – Described else where as a place of intense Torment

 

E) The word used for torment means : a place of pain, anguish, suffering & agony /   Place of suffering & agony - sounds serious !

 

F)  Doesn’t sound like he is playing cards w/ his buddies does it !  But so often that is how we hear those in the world talking about Hell

1)  Yea I’ll go to hell - skiing on the Lake of fire w/ my buddies / we will open a few cold ones / going to be one big party !

 

 

2nd thing the Bible teaches us about Hell is it is a place of full memory use !

A)Lk 16:25 – the rich man is told - remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

 

B) In other words it is a place where you are going to be able to remember what your life was like here !  Parties / selfishness/ everything

 

C) In fact scripture seems to imply that you are going to back on your life here & be reminded of every opportunity you had to receive Christ !  Gift / & refused !

1)  Those people will throughout eternity be thinking  I don’t have to be here I should have listened ! 

 

D) The rich man wanted so badly to go back & tell his family not to make the same mistake that he did –

1)   He was told it wouldn’t matter – they wouldn’t listen – even if one rose from the dead – not long after that another Laz was raised

 

E) The Jews didn’t listen but instead wanted to kill him to destroy the evidence

1) The greatest prayer meeting in existence is probably happening in hell tonight  - Lord let me warn my Family

 

F)  if you are here today & you haven’t received Christ / been wrestling w/ that decision / stop / respond today !

1)   Families members who were saved & have died – would say – You don’t want to miss this –

 

G) Those not saved – say You don’t want to end up here

 

 

3rd thing the Bible tells us about Hell is it will be a place of weeping & gnashing of teeth !   Matt 13:50

A) Gnashing that is a great word ! Thought of it hurts ! What mean ? Webster defines gnashing as when our teeth meet our teeth & there is constant grinding

 

B) Boy That sounds good ! /  But I understand this / In this place of constant memory / looking back on every chance you had to receive JC & didn’t

C)Filled w/ anguish - weeping / and Anger at yourself - Gnashing your teeth thinking I don’t have to be here if I would have just listened !

 

4th thing about How / we are told in the book of Rev. Hell is a place of burning sulfur ! Ever smell sulfur ? Rev. 9:17 Brimstone – sulfur smell

A) Webster says concerning sulfur that when it burns it has a stifling odor !

 

B) Stifling is too nice of a word ! Sulfur smells like rotten eggs !

1)  So Hell is going to be this place of incredible torment / before an eternal fire

 

C) It is going to stink like rotten eggs / constant weeping & gnashing of teeth

 

 

5th thing A place of outer Darkness ! Matt 8:12

A) Now I’m not sure how the Lord is going to do this / where there will be an eternal fire /  outer darkness /

 

B)Outer darkness speaks of being very dark !

1)  Some of those rides at Disneyland / can’t see hand in front of face !

 

C) So Picture this : Hell is this place of intense heat tormenting heat / so hot a person is longing for just one drop of water

1)  Place that is completely dark where you can’t see anything but you hear constant screaming weeping & gnashing of teeth !

 

C) Man I am glad that I am not going there ! If I wasn’t saved I sure wouldn’t want to go there !

 

 

 

But there are those who say – You Know I understand what you are saying Pastor – But it just seems so far away{ Living for the moment

 

Suppose you’re waiting to board a flight to Hawaii , & the pilot walks in, saying, ‘You are going to have the flight of your life. Smooth sailing all the way!

 

I guarantee we won’t hit one pocket of turbulence. You will have quadraphonic earphones, an Epicurean experience with a seven-course meal, your choice of first-run movies. There’s only one problem: we haven’t figured out how to land.

 

We’ve tried it a thousand times, and everybody dies — but while you’re in the air, I promise your flight will be smooth and your experience fulfilling.’

 

Well At this point, a second pilot enters the boarding area, saying, ‘I can’t promise smooth sailing.

In fact, from here to Hawaii  you’ll no doubt hit some bumps and some turbelence  However, we have a perfect landing record We haven’t lost a plane yet/  we will get you to your destination safely. Guaranteed.’ 

 

Which plane would you board? 

A)You would be foolish to Board the first Plane – But some are doing that today – saying – we want smooth sailing Now

 

B) I worry about The Future Later – I am not concerned about the fiery crash – that is coming – I am just enjoying the ride now

1)   Listen this life is short – it is like a 3 hr plane ride in comparison to what eternity is going to be like

 

C) Tormented forever – { 3 hrs of pleasure 3 hrs of smooth sailing – Eternity of Pain

 

The Oakland-Berkeley fire consumed million-dollar homes, leaving nothing. ‘I not only lost my house, I lost everything,’ said an elderly man to a reporter. ‘My life’s savings were in cash which I kept in my home. My wife and I were very careful all of our years to save our money. We were saving for a rainy day, never counting on a fiery night.’