Sermon – “But After This”

16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood.  19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.   22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.   27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

17 So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. Because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. 18 Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made. 3 Nevertheless he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.

12 And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the Lord God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father’s household, who were better than yourself, 14 behold, the Lord will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives, and all your possessions; 15 and you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day. 16 Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians.

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 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. 

Do you know I think that is truly the place where we will measure success success as a Christian is whenever we will say that God is truly the desire of our hearts that we long to live for Him that we give him our all that’s where we measure success how much we have surrendered to him this morning before I get to the message I actually hope this will be this part will be a brief message I do want to share a little bit about our experience in Texas and just all of it I won’t bore you too much with it. To begin with when we left here the Saturday before last we traveled all the way we didn’t stop for the night we stopped and we stopped we got fuel we got fuel for the truck and fuel for bodies and ate on the road other than we did stop for breakfast so it was a long journey but I give God the praise and the glory for safety as we travel because there was through the night quite a few times US sings and dear alone the road and God kept him off on the side of the road not in front of us so he did give a safe travel and what a what a joy what a blessing to be able to down and help somebody that needed help but I did have the blessing and the privilege to be able to do a little ministry while there also that probably was the most important part of the week and you know you think about people go through stuff like this sometimes it’s hard to understand. And you know so there was some hurting there and I hope to God use me in a way to bring a little bit of healing so we did accomplish a lot of work you know Bernie told David through the week he says if you ever get because it all right imagine this is only an eight foot wall so everything from four feet down is where we had the work so Bernie says if you ever get flooded again he says could you do it between here and here so it wouldn’t be so hard so we would have to be bending down some. Much. But we did a Praise the Lord they had most of the dry wall up there was just a little bit of dry wall yet to be hung but if you don’t know much about drywalling you’ve got joints you’ve got to mud them you tape it then you put another coat on then another coat on and then there’s just a whole lot of dry wall tape and mud and going on there was a lot of prep work that needed to be done when we landed there Sunday we took a little nap and then got up and got rate to work we had to do some prep along the sheet that was left from the four feet up we had to do some prep for the corners so really all we’ve named Sunday and all day Monday was spent in prep work so Tuesday and Wednesday and then a little bit into Thursday we put a lot of drywall compound on and you know appraisal or forgiveness a strength an ability to do all that we did we got all the dry wall completely mudded and sanded and was ready for paint we got all the interior doors hung We got to the exteriors Doors song so I just give the Lord to praise and glory for all that he allowed us to accomplish but you know more important than that what we did you know when you we arrived there when you looked at these homes from the outside the whole neighborhood. You know their street is down low and their house was actually you know you think everything’s completely flat in Texas where there are street out think is like sixteen feet below their house so you know their house was up on a little bit of an elevated place but they had twenty inches of water in their house because it rained for five days straight five days hard and there was or it is a stream not far from their house so that’s why this entire neighborhood there had water in their homes I mean it may have varied a little bit. But where I was going with this when we arrived when you looked at these all. I’m strong the outside you think wow this looks like a beautiful neighborhood nothing’s happened. To you go inside because everyone has already removed all the the dry wall and the bad the damage doors and all this and put it out in famous they’ve already got all the way so from the outside it looks good but inside there’s damage but look at that spiritually how many people do we know like that from the outside all looks good done but inside they’re hurting just like these homes in Texas they’re hurting. But again then another important thing that I saw all this saw last the week before last that you know. You see God working you see God moving because all the people in that neighborhood you know if they would purchase material with someone bless them or they had a means to go out and purchased a material to start rebuilding if anybody had anything left over they weren’t taking it back to the store to get their money back they’re taking it to their neighbors. To help their neighbors that’s what what really touched me during that week how they’re helping one another you know we see so much bad news and hear of all the bad things are going on but we don’t often hear of the good things people help and other people and you know he even had some stuff left so we can take a back oh no no no way take nothing back we take it to the neighbor down the street did they still need that and that’s just the generosity of the people so there was a gentleman a command. Towards the end of the week that was a brother in law used to work with and he seen what happened to them on Facebook and good technology and. Said for saying to help. Just give him a call so they called him his name was Homer. He comes in and he’s going all through the house course we’re workin and they’re talking with him and they went outside and they come back in in tears. Because a man’s name was Homer a thing I said. He said. You guys could supply the material he was going to do the painting. Because the walls are all textured so they need to be textured primed and painted he says but if you can supply the material he says I won’t charge you anything for the labor I’ll do it all free just to see people’s willingness to help and their love and care for one another to me was just moving and I think just you know to glorify God for those that are faithful to him faithful to him that’s what a blessing thank the Lord for the opportunity to go and they send their appreciation and our thanks because we was able to leave them with a good day and donation also to help finish the the work that have to do because there’s still a lot to do so they Center thanks and I thank you church for sending us and this give God the glory a man Amen OK now will proceed the message just morning titled But after this. OK but what is the after this but after this but after this life but after death is what I’m going to talk about this morning you know one of the most famous quotes by Benjamin Franklin. Is Does anybody know and nothing is certain except death and taxes. But is commonly heard as nothing is certain but death and taxes and I’ll tell you how true the taxes you will not avoid paying taxes now you you know there are some people out there that are very. Creative that was. My goodness speaker some people are very creative man they’ll find ways to get out of paying your income tax they might find ways to get out of paying this or that tax but they’re going to pay some tax you go to the store and buy something you go buy clothing you’re going to pay tax now I know that the girls will try to help travel hundreds of miles to go and shop where they don’t have to pay tax on clothing right girls and you know so we tried to get out of paying taxes but I’ll guarantee you will never get out of paying all the taxes because whether it be tax on clothing or whether it will be the income tax that they take out of your check when you work whether it’s going to be the property tax you pay when your home and your property your cars one thing is certain is taxes. Well the source of this often cited quote is actually a letter that Franklin wrote to friends scientist scientists in friend Gene papped Baptist Leroy on the thirteenth seventeen eighty nine. Now after not hearing from his friendly Roy for almost a year Franklin wrote this letter are you still living or has the mob of pairs taking the head of a monopolize or of knowledge for a monopolize or of corn and paraded about the streets upon a pole great part of the news we have heard from Paris for near a year past has been very. Afflicting I sincerely wish and pray may all and well and happy both for the king and the nation the voice of philosophy I apprehend can hardly be heard among those tome once if anything material in that way had could occurred I am persuaded you would have acquainted me with it however pray let me hear from you a your silence beats between friends must needs give uneasiness then the next sentence which ments mentions the relatively new U.S. Constitution contains the famous quote he says our new constitution is now established everything seems to promise that it will be durable and praise the Lord that it has has been durable it has sustained he says but in this world nothing is certain except death and taxes the Constitution has survived and prayed that it still continues to survive a man so now let’s However scripture reading this morning Hebrews Chapter nine versus sixteen through twenty eight. For word there is a testament there must also of necessity be the death of the testator’s for a testament is in force after man are dead since it has no power at all while the testator’s lives therefore not even the first to first covenant was dedicated without blood for when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law he took the blood of calves and goats with water scarlet wool and this up and sprinkle both the book itself and all the people saying this is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry and according to the law almost all things are purified with blood and without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in heavens should be purified with these but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these for Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands which are a copy of the True but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us not that he should not that he should offer himself often as I priest enters the most holy place every year with blood of another he then would have to have to suffer often since the foundation of the world but now once at the end of the age he has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Amen and he has and as it is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment that arrives the after this is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment So Christ was offered wants to bear the sins of many to those who eagerly wait for him he will appear I second time apart from sin for selves. Nation may god add his blessings to the hear it in the reading of His Holy Word let us pray Heavenly Father we do thank you and praise you for your presence in our lives we thank you for your spirit guides us to comforts us that strengthens us that enables us to do what you’ve called us to do and father may your spirit be present today may speak to our hearts and our minds and or May every word be spoken before your glory and Your Honor may it edify the church or God made edify your people and maybe for your love your glory and your honor in Jesus’ name amen Now don’t get all down in the mouth in the press thing boy this is going to be some awful gloomy message because he’s talking about death. Please just bear with me a little bit. Now I know that I’ve heard that famous quote a number of times over the years that in this world we are certain that we will pay taxes and we are certain that we will face death and you know when it comes to the thought of death. To do there are many people in the world that have a great fear of death they have a great fear of it because in their understanding of death it is so fine. It is final it is it’s an end it signifies the end of the life that they know the life that has they know it I know that not all fear death some say I’ve heard people say I’m not afraid of death I’m just afraid to die I’m afraid of the process to get you there because it can be painful you know it can be long suffering it can be no this isn’t a wonderful topic but our scripture from Hebrews reveals the certainty of death it is says it is appointed for men to die once and as I was pondering this message I mean I was actually the Lord gave me some of this while we was on vacation I mean it’s been working in my mind even going to Texas and a lot of travelling time to think and I thought you know I thought I could get up and say well you know I only know of two men and never die. And one being a knock it says he was he walked with God then he was no more so who’s the other. The logic it I just want to thought but you know what after I did a little study and research and I’m not so sure. That we had a knackered assumption of what happened to logic. So I’m going to share some scriptures to reveal this we know that the scripture tells us that a lodger was caught up in a whirlwind in a chariot right he was removed from the law and so in our minds we think. He’s transported in heaven but I’m a sheriff in Scripture you might go wow I don’t know I didn’t see that before in Second Kings Chapter one Verse seventeen and eighteen so it has a died according to the word of the Lord Most would say a has a has died according to the word of the Lord which the logic had spoken because he had no son. Johore am became king in his place in the second year of Johor am the son of Joseph at king of Judah now the rest of the acts of say a has which he did are they not written in the books of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel so the king A has. Passes away illogical was the prophet of God during a has his reign as King So if you turn then to the next chapter the very next chapter Chapter two verse three says now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Eli Shah and said to him Do you know that the Lord will take away from you take away your master from over you today and he said yes I know keep silent not know that most have read that story and you know that the Lord revealed to lodge that if he saw a light to take an up and receive that man all that mantle that mantle being the prophet a god would fall from a lodger to the live show so it was a change of the gift of God the gift of prophecy from one man to another a man so we agree on that so at the end of A has rain that marks the end of the lodges work as God’s prophet over the people at that time so God then intended that he lies it would take over that he would be the prophet during the time of Johore am the time that he would serve that is very clear through the scripture so if we jump forward just one more chapter Second Kings Chapter three verses. One and three it says now Johor I am the son of a had became king over Israel at some area in eighteenth year of Joseph that king of Juda and reigned twelve years imagine this and he did evil in the sight of the Lord how many kings did that right. All of them heard from the corner and he did evil in the sight of the Lord but did but not like his father and mother for he put away the sacred pillars of pillars of bail that his father had made Nevertheless he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam the son of the bat who had made Israel sin he did not depart from them so he as a has continued to sin so again a has has passed away he lodges was carried away in the wind correct at the end of his reign as prophet Johore M. is now reigning as King So that’s very understandable from the scripture so if you would look in your Bibles the Second Chronicles or look on the screen Chapter twenty one vs twelve through sixteen we would find this very interesting and a letter came to him you’ll see as a read on that as him is Johore around the king from Iraq Joe the prophet saying Thus says the Lord God of your father David because you have not walked in the ways of just host of fat your father so that clarifies that it is Johor am king or in the way of king of Juda but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have not made Judah and habitants of Jerusalem and have made Judah and it happens of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of a habit and also have killed your brothers those of your fathers household who were better than yourself behold the Lord will strike your people with a serious affliction your children your wives and all your possessions and you become very sick with a disease of your intense intestines until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness day by day more of the Lord stirred up again stirred up against the horror am the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were near the Ethiopians. And they came up into Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house and also his sons and his wives so that there was not a son left to him except to hold has the youngest of his sons so I give you the question do you think a lodger wrote a letter from heaven and it just floated down to the heavens. To get that the horror and the king. Because we know that it in between the two of the transfer of the kingship from a has to Johore is when a lodger was taken up so how could he have possibly written this letter to Johore. If he was not on this earth how could he have do you know the answer he may have he very well may have Yeah he may have. God may have revealed that to him ahead of time but there’s also the possibility that God may have just. Transported him to another place we know that Philip minister to the Ethiopian and then. He was in another place but I know that we don’t hear any more of the lodges doings after that but it could just could be just because God was now working with a large ship. So with all that said you know even if he did live on it was transferred into heaven and he not was transferred into heaven I will say this that’s still only two people out of the billions and billions and billions that have lived so the chances that we are going to dive still. Ninety nine point nine hundred ninety nine nine nine nine nine nine nine are you knobs Danaher all day and say that it’s about one hundred percent that we are still going to die right. Unless Jesus Terese how amazing what led you brought that up How amazing would that be that if we are to be able to be part of that generation to see the Lord Jesus Christ return the clouds within that be awesome that would be so amazing really to be part of that generation and I know for the church that’s going to be a wonderful day an exciting day but for those that don’t know the Lord that’s going to be their most horrible day. But what amazing thing that would be a wonderful thing to do so I’ll get back to my point about many people look at death as permanent. And they look at life as temporary. There’s the there’s the main point today so many people look at death as permanent and they think that this life is temporary and I know that I have myself said this passage many times James four thirteen and fourteen it says Come now you say today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city we’re going to spend a year there buy and sell and make a profit we’re as you do not know what will happen tomorrow for what is your life it is even a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away my friends that that Scripture is brutally honest isn’t it it basically says here today gone tomorrow that life is very limited it is just going to vanish away. Dear friend of ours rich Samar used to say a couple summers couple winners and that’s about it Karen and I have gotten to the place where we’re trying to think back well how many years ago did that happen I’m like oh I don’t know yesterday yesterday if it was twenty five years ago we just say yesterday if it was last year it yesterday because it was yesterday we can’t go back and get it right it’s in the past it is yesterday and I am here to tell you it goes quickly so that our life as we know it here is short it is a vapor rather we live to be fifty seventy or a hundred it is short it is like a vapor but the good news here’s some good news the Hebrew word for death is my vet and maybe vet and the word the vet is a singular word it has a singular meaning. But the word for life in Hebrew is. This is a plural word it is the opposite of death so you see here’s the point in God Those who believe in God Those who believe in Jesus Christ it is not death it’s not life that is limited it’s not life that is singular but it is death that is limited. So in God It’s death that is a vapor or. Not life yes maybe this life but not life as a whole not life as incomplete not life as an eternal life. Is poor old life is eternal death is limited. Death can be like a vapor a. Then I heard a now Alan Nguyen that those who are in God can have a life beyond this life. Beyond this life that we experience on this earth. That’s why God sent His Son Amen in John Chapter eleven verses twenty five and twenty six Jesus said to her I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in me. Will live even if he dies and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die do you believe this Jesus asked them that quote Jasc her that question I’m asking you Do you believe this I pray that you believe this today because he says. Will live even if he dies. So that speaks of the temporal in this of deaf. So that we know that the body goes to the grave but he says that you will live so even if this body dies that means to me that the spear lives on the spirit goes to be with the Lord Amen. You will never die he’s speaking of eternal life he’s looking to that life beyond this life that we now live. The life in which we live in Him. Daniel Chapter twelve verse three Daniel said those who have been sight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanses of heaven and those who lead the many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever and in Romans Chapter six verse five for if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death certainly we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection how illusia how to you because as the certainty that yes if he does Terry and if he does not come back in our lifetime even though we die we will also be like him and his resurrection we know that he has the glorified body we know that we too shall live. Amen In John six thirty nine this is the will of Him who sent me that of all that he has given me I lose nothing but raise it up on the last day so not only in this life do we face the certainty of death. But we must be faced with the certainty of what follows that our scripture said as it is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment after this to judgment is this contradicting know believe or need not fear a judgment of condemnation for sin we must understand that we will never have peace in our life we must understand that we will not have condemnation for sin when we are in Christ for every Christian this judgment has already passed. The judgment for our sins when we believe on Jesus Christ when we say Lord I am a sinner forgive me of my sins come into my heart be the lord of my life at that moment the condemnation for sin has passed Jesus’ board on the cross he bore on the cross when he died that’s what it means when it says he took our sins upon himself he bore our condemnation so there is no condemnation for those who believe in Jesus Christ when He comes back he will bear the scars of our condemnation we know. That Thomas seen no scars didn’t he doubt it but the Lord showed in the scars on his hands said Here put your hand to my side he bore the scores for condemnation. How do you. The Lord reassures us with his own words in John five twenty four and twenty five he says Truly truly I say to you he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has everlasting he has eternal life and does not come into judgment. Jesus Himself says that. That if we believe in Him who sent him we have eternal life and do not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life truly truly I say to you and Arras coming in now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live my friends we have passed from death into life we have we do not come into judgment but we come into life when we believe in Jesus Christ the Apostle Paul adds to this. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which in which are in Christ Jesus Romans eight one or souls can rest forever upon the Word of God because we know that God’s Word is true we know that it is faithful if Jesus says it we can count on it he cannot lie or are you ready for the after this or are you ready for the after this to ask the question and asked a question for the for the world just a question that the world must ask in selves or are you ready for the after this the said thing is many don’t believe that there is an after this. But if they think there is no after this that doesn’t mean that there is not going to be there and after this just because they don’t believe it. Because it is true there is a verse twenty eight of our passage said to those who eagerly wait for him he will appear a second time apart from sin for salvation are you eagerly awaiting for him today I think that Taz well with our Sabbath school thought this morning or you eagerly waiting for him. Have you given him your whole heart have you given him your life. Or are you seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. That’s what he desires of us that relationship just this morning I came across the psalm you won’t have it on the screen because I just this morning I thought wow that would be a wonderful passage to close with actually be a wonderful passage to begin our day with every day Psalm ninety six so I remember that and look it up again after I read it this coming week as saying to the Lord a new song same to the Lord all the earth saying to the Lord bless his name proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day declare his glory among the nations His wonders among all peoples for the Lord is GREAT and greatly to be praised he used to be feared above all gods for all the gods of the peoples are idols but the Lord made the heavens honor and majesty or before him strength and beauty are in his sanctuary give to the Lord of families of the people give to the Lord glory and strength give to the Lord the glory do is name bring an offering and come into his courts worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness trouble before him all the earth say among the nations the Lord reigns the world also is firmly established it shall not be moved he shall judge the people’s right to slee. See that’s the wonderful thing about judgment and after this to judgment God will judge the people righteously verse eleven let the heavens rejoice and that the earth be glad let the sea roar in all its fullness let the field be joyful and all that is in it then all the streets of the woods trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord for He is coming Hallelujah for he is coming to judge the earth he sell judge the world with righteousness and all the people with his truth see that that goes so well with and in this passage this message is small earnings he will judge the world with righteousness brothers and sisters when Christ comes back. And we stand before the Lord. He will look at us. And he will say. I see that you believe that my son and I see that he has paid your debt See that’s that’s our judgement when we stand before the Lord our debt has been paid and we believe in Jesus Christ you don’t want to stand before God and those who may be watching you don’t want to stand before God without the covering of the blood of Christ. Because nothing will be hidden before God no idle word that we ever spoke no evil deed that we may have done will we be able to hide from God because we will be judged in righteousness and truth for his truth so any that may be watching if you don’t know Jesus Christ please allow him into your heart today and asked for forgiveness for your sins so that you can have life eternal and be ready for the after this a man.