Introduction. I. You Have Someone To Claim You. The Best Is Yet To Come # 3 What Then Will We Have Ephesians 1:15-16

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1 The Best Is Yet To Come # 3 What Then Will We Have Ephesians 1:15-16 Introduction What then will we have (Matthew 19:27) For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might (Ephesians 1:15-19) So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, (Matthew 10:24) I. You Have Someone To Claim You Illustrate: My friend B.A. always makes me feel good. Introduces me as My Pastor as if he s proud of the fact. Makes me feel proud to be his Pastor - like a million dollars - not ashamed of me. * When you take Jesus as your Saviour and are not ashamed to confess Him before others, He is not ashamed to own you before the Father. SOMETIMES I EMBARRASS MY WIFE - she s ashamed of me because of the crazy things I do. Illustrate: Regent Mall talking to Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey. People were looking at me. I didn t pay any attention but my wife as disturbed that I was talking with Gordie Howe. She moved away from me and motioned me from behind some dresses to come. I just kept talking to Gordie. Didn t make any difference to me it was a cardboard cut out.. Or the time I talked with the Queen. When You Have Jesus You Have Someone That Will Claim You In Spite Of Who You Are. - He claims you before the Father. SHE S ONE OF MINE. 1. He Paid The Debt Of Sin For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3) Illustrate: Toronto on Vacation (85). Friends father took us to dinner at nice restaurant (11 of us). Get whatever you want - Later stood at cashier and said, That one is mine etc. etc. Add it all up I ll pay. ** Jesus says, He s One Of Mine. Add It All Up. I paid it at the cross. 1

2 2. We Can t Pay The Debt - its too much for you. Illustrate: K.B. Let s go to restaurant I calculated - Burger - Fries - Drink. I just had enough. - When the bill came, I realized she expected me to pay for her too. - Looked at the bill - looked at her. Calculated I couldn t pay. - Looked in her eyes in bewilderment she mistook it for Romance - I said, Kathy, do you have any money? - She said, NO - I said, How fast can you wash dishes? - She said, Why? I said, I don t have enough money. She had to run back to the dorm and get some money. * LIFE IS SUCH THAT WE GET STUFF ON OUR BILL THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO PAY. - We need somebody at the judgement seat to tell the cashier. He s Mine. I ll Pay in Full. Here He Comes with All of His Broken Promises and Sin. He s Not Fit for the Kingdom. He s Fallen So Many Times. But He s Mine Add it All Up. I ve Paid the Bill. I Bled on Calvary. He s Mine. - He says, I ll stand here til the last one who was not ashamed to own me on earth has marched thru the gates of Heaven. Whatever is on her bill, I ve already paid it. ** When you profess Him as your Saviour He is not ashamed to claim you as His own before the Father. He s not ashamed to call us His Own. 3. He Is Not Ashamed Of Us - He Is Not Ashamed To Claim Us Illustrate: When I was about 9 yrs old I was in a boxing match. Mom said to the lady beside her, That s my son. Lady pointed to my opponent and said, That s my son. Could hear those women yelling through the whole fight. * When You Have Jesus You Have Someone At The Right Hand Of The Father Who Will Own You. Someone who is not ashamed to call us His own. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 2:1) * IDENTITY IN CHRIST - In Christ - * That s MY Son (Tim etc) That s MY Daughter. That s MY Son In Law. Those are MY Grand Children. That is MY cousin Tom (like a brother) DON T YOU MESS WITH THEM. My beloved son in whom I am well pleased. * Many opportunity I ve never had. When I was a kid I wanted to be the son of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. BUT I Belong To Jesus. He s Not Ashamed Of Me. Wherever I Go On This Earth And When Someday I Stand Before The Throne Of God. I hear Jesus say, HE S MINE. *** When Satan The Accuser Says, He s not worthy He s a sinner He s had evil thoughts He s failed He s not fit. I hear Jesus say, HE S MINE. I VE PAID THE DEBT. I VE BOUGHT HIM WITH MY OWN BLOOD. LET HIM GO. HE BELONGS TO ME. 2

3 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16) II. You Have An Audience With The King 1. In This World - Not Everybody Is Somebody * In the eyes of the world - there are some important people. Ie. President - Prime Minister Famous Evangelist etc. * Every one wants to be around important people because they are somebody and they are powerful. * But folks - You may not be somebody in this worlds eyes. You may be a nobody. Nobody knows your name and if you were to die tomorrow hardly anyone would know. Illustrate: Calvary Road - we specialize in ministering to Pastoral families who are unknown to many and in isolated places but are faithful servants of God. * Have you ever felt like a nobody. That you hardly counted for anything in this world? - DEAR FOLKS - WE SERVE AS HUMBLE SERVANTS OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN AND IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE NOBODY. 2. In This World - You Cannot Get Help * Because we are nobodies - those who are important forget about us. * We may be of no reputation - of no importance - from a humble family - not power and no influence. IN THIS WORLD WE CANNOT GET CLOSE TO IMPORTANT PEOPLE. A. March In To PM s Office - I d like to talk to the P.M. please. What s your name? Rick Hayden Sorry the P.M. Cannot see you. * IN THIS WORLD IT SEEMS WE ARE TO INSIGNIFICANT TO HAVE ANYONE IMPORTANT LISTEN TO US. AND THERE ARE THINGS THIS WORLD CANNOT HELP US WITH. Illustrate: Pancreatic Cancer Medical Science can give a few extra months but no answers. Not much to offer. 3. You Have An Audience With The King of Kings * You can go straight to the top to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and talk as friend with friend. We have access to God through Christ. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16) 3

4 There s Not A Friend Like The Lowly Jesus, No not one, no not one! Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide yo til the day is done. ** JESUS KNOWS ALL ABOUT OUR TROUBLES AND AT ANY MOMENT - ANY PLACE - FOR ANY REASON - YOU CAN MARCH RIGHT INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF THE KING OF KINGS AND RECEIVE HELP AND GRACE IN THE TIME OF NEED. * Do you now what its like to wait in line? I hate waiting in line Waited ½ hr in line. When got to front of line, Lady told me I was in the wrong line Waited in another line for 3/4 of an hour. The lady there stamped my licence and told me to go stand in the first line. I stood there for another ½ hr and paid my fee and got my license. ** Chemotherapy Days blood work at 10:30 am have lunch go to 1pm appointment. Wait till 3 or 3:30pm for my 1pm appointment. Takes 2 ½ hours to administer Chemo before I can go home. Ahhh. * I m sure there must be a big sign by the Throne of God that says, NO WAITING - GET THE HELP YOU NEED. AS A CHILD OF GOD YOU HAVE THE REMARKABLE HONOUR THAT AT ANY TIME - FOR ANY REASON YOU CAN WALK RIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE FOR AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4: Jesus Knows Our Needs 2. Come BOLDLY before the Throne of Grace 3. Get MERCY and GRACE - we need it 4. Get HELP - We can get some Help ** When you are confused and don t know what to do. You can step into the presence of The King and get help and direction. ** When your heart aches and those important and powerful in the world cannot help. You have an audience with the King and you can say, KING JESUS MY HEART IS BROKEN And King Jesus puts His arms around you and says MY CHILD I AM WITH YOU. BE NOT DISMAYED. THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS TREMBLE AND THE EARTH QUAKES I AM WITH YOU. ** When You Have Jesus You Have An Audience With The King.

5 Illustrate: KEEP YOUR FORK Martha was a dear old saintly lady at Central church. She knew she didn t have long to live and so called the Pastor over to talk about funeral arrangements. She called her Pastor to come for a visit so she could talk to him about the funeral arrangement. The picked her favourite hymns, the passages of Scripture to be used and the many memories that could be shared. When it seemed that they had covered just about everything, Aunt Martie paused, looked up at the Pastor and with a twinkle in her eye, and then added, "One more thing, Pastor.. When they bury me, I want my old Bible in one hand and a fork in the other." "A fork?" The Pastor thought he had heard everything but this was a surprise. "Why do you want to be buried with a fork?" he asked. "I have been thinking about all of the church dinners and banquets that I attended through the years," she explained. "I couldn t begin to count them all. But one thing sticks in my mind. At those really nice get-togethers, when the meal was almost finished, a server or maybe the hostess would come by to collect the dirty dishes. I can hear the words now. Sometimes, at the best ones, somebody would lean over my shoulder and whisper, `You can keep your fork. And do you know what that meant? Dessert was coming! " It didn t mean a cup of Jell- O or pudding or even a dish of ice cream. You don t need a fork for that. It meant the good stuff, like chocolate cake or cherry pie! When they told me I could keep my fork, I knew the best was yet to come! " That s exactly what I want people to talk about at my funeral. Oh, they can talk about all the good times we had together. That would be nice. "But when they walk by my casket and look at my pretty blue dress, I want them to turn to one another and say, `Why the fork? "This is what I want you to say. I want you to tell them that I kept my fork because the best is yet to come." Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.... The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Tim 4:8; 18) * Pick Up Your Forks -- III. The Best Is Yet To Come * My children used to have a habit - when eating - they save their favourite food til the last. SAVE THE BEST TIL THE LAST. 1. We Have A Good Life On Earth Under The Good Hand Of God * I enjoy life all the blessings and opportunities and challenges we have * I don t think there is anything in my life I would change except maybe some of the stupid stuff I ve done. 2. But The Best Is Yet To Come * In the midst of your struggle and suffering my friends you ve got to have the Eternal Perspective. * When You Have Jesus Heaven Awaits You. There is Pie in the Sky ---- SWEET HEAVEN

6 Some laugh at us because we say someday up in heaven everything will be OK. They laugh when we suggest all the social injustice will be made right. They think we are dreaming. Folks - I want To Tell You I m Glad There Is Pie In The Sky. - it gives me strength to carry on. ** I don t care what they say or how hard they laugh. Jesus has promised us an inheritance in Heaven. 1. We All Die Someday - Even when it comes to getting out of this old world It pays to have Jesus. Even 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. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psakn 23:4-6) 2. God Says THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME * I m not sure all that God has laid up for me. But the Best Is Yet To Come. ** I love serving Jesus I love being your Pastor I love being with my family I enjoy football I like a good laugh But The Best Is Yet To Come 3. God Has Promised Us - New Heaven And A New Earth (Rev. 21) - Devil thrown into the Lake of Fire - We ll have a new body. (Some thing 30 ish) - Never grow old walk together in heaven - Never grow weary not pain - never broken hearted etc. ** I ENJOY LIFE - LOVE SERVING JESUS God has been good to me. I Have A Home It s Not the Best I Have A Family - Not the Best I Have A Church - Not The Best 3. The Best Will Be When I See King Jesus Face To Face They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (Revelation 22:4) Aren t you looking forward to seeing Him Face to Face? - All these years, though you ve never seen Him, you ve been following Him by faith. And one day one sweet day - you re going to lay your burden down - cross the threshold and you re going to see Jesus Face To Face. * WE SHALL SEE JESUS - This is heaven I don t care about the golden streets I WANT TO SEE JESUS. - I don t care about the pearly gates I WANT TO SEE JESUS - I don t care about golden crows I WANT TO SEE JESUS

7 ** This is what it is to be in Heaven. To look upon the Face of God To See The Face of the Saviour the one who redeemed you by His blood. This is Heaven. - incidently - Pearly Gates - incidently - streets of gold - incidently - mansions - crowns and robes THE BEST IS YET TO COME. Conclusion * I can hear the Lord say; On what street would you like to live in glory, and what mansion would you like to call your home? ** And my friend - our response may well be, Dear Lord, - any street - any mansion - as long as the windows open on the Palace or my King that I might see Him come and go. Oh Lord any street any house just so I can see your blessed and precious face and that we might be together. Song: Not just to kneel with the angels Not to see loved ones who have gone Not just to drink from the fountain Under the Great White Throne Not the crown that He gives That I am running the race Twill be all I want up in Heaven Just to behold His face. I ll bless the hand that guides I ll bless the hand that saves I shall not rest til I see Jesus And take Him by the hand. ** WHEN YOU HAVE JESUS THE BEST IS YET TO COME When all of the trials of life are past When all the sorrow is gone When all the heartache is taken away WE SHALL SEE JESUS! WE SHALL SEE JESUS!! WE SHALL SEE JESUS!!!