Good morning and welcome again
to our study of the book of Ezra. It's just a blessing to have
you and we look forward to continuing through this wonderful book of
Ezra. I've just got so I'd call it the Gospel According to Ezra. It declares our Savior the Lord
Jesus Christ throughout it. We have been spending a little
time early in this eighth chapter going through the names of these
folks that are listed here, the folks that made the trip between
Babylon and Jerusalem, and they were more the leaders of families,
and the legacy that they have left behind is the name that
has been recorded in the scriptures. And so if you'll turn with me
to the book of Ezra, chapter 8, and I'd like to look at verse
5 this morning, and then we'll begin looking a little farther
down in this book, or in this chapter. In the book of Ezra
chapter 8 and verse 5, we have a couple of names that are mentioned
there that share with us the legacy and also share with us
the blessings that we have in their names. The first one that's
listed there is of the sons of Shekeniah, the son of Jehaziel,
and with him 300 males. The name Shekinah, and if you
look this up and have someone read it to you, that's not the
way it's pronounced, but that's the way I have to pronounce it.
Shekinah means dweller with Jehovah. To dwell with Jehovah, to sit
with Him, to sit with heavenly royalty, is by invitation only
to dwell with him. Now, we find the Lord Jesus in
the 11th chapter of the book of Matthew, verse 28, come unto
me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I'll give you
rest. And then we find, if we compare scripture with scripture,
we have to do that when we're studying the Bible. We just cannot
take one verse of scripture out of context and then say, well,
here is what we're going to be preaching. That's not fair to
the scriptures and it's not honest. So I just need to compare scripture
with scripture. So one verse says, come unto
me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I'll give you
rest. But if you join me over in the book of John, John chapter
6, we have this passage of scripture that must be kept with that passage
of scripture. John chapter 6. And in verse 56, excuse me, verse 65, verse 65
of the sixth chapter of the book of John. And he said, therefore
said I unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given
unto him of my father. So we have, if you're going to
be a dweller with Jehovah, it is by invitation only. And we
are thankful for the invitation that God Almighty gives to His
people to come unto Him. There is rest, the burden is
light, and all the promises are fulfilled, but it is no man can
come unto me except it were given of my father now the second name
in that verse of scripture over there in the book of Ezra Ezra
chapter 8 in Ezra chapter 8 we read there in verse 5 it says Jehaziel now this name
means beheld of God beheld of God to have God notice us because
his people are represented by the Son of God. That's the only
way that God notices us. When God behelds us, when God
beholds us, when God looks upon us, He looks upon us through
the Son of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our advocate. And we can only have this advocate. None other will do. Now we realize
what the scripture says. God looked down from heaven to
see if there were any that did understand or seek after Him,
and there is none. So God only beholds us in Christ
and that is only through the new birth, that is only through
regeneration. So one person's name and it's
a legacy it's brought down to us in our day to dwell with Jehovah,
to be a dweller with Jehovah. That's by invitation only. To
sit down at his feet is by invitation only. And we are thankful that
Christ is the Inviter. Christ is the Invitation. Jehuziel,
beheld of God. To have God notice us, if he
notices us, it is because of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus.
In verse 6 of that chapter, there's the sons of Adin. Adin. His name means dainty or delicate
or gentle. Now we find this characteristic
is one that is listed in Galatians chapter 5 and verse 22 that the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
gentleness. Now that is a quality of the
Lord Jesus also. All of those fruit of the Spirit
are qualities, characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
He gives us those rich blessings in every spiritual blessing that
God gives us is in Christ Jesus. So He gives us that gentleness
like we have Aden. It reminded me of a passage of
scripture over in the book of Genesis when Jacob and Esau meet
now Jacob is scared to death to meet this guy and they meet
and Jacob said if and if men should overdrive them one day
all the flock will die So he's sharing with be gentle with the
flock be gentle with the flock We're gonna be gentle with the
flock and that is truly the characteristic of the Lord. I He is gentle with
his flock and we may say well How could he bring all of these
things upon his people upon the trials upon them the tests upon
them? He is gentle with his flock and
he says with everything he gives us grace to endure it. So he's
gentle with his flock and Also, we found in verse 6 of that chapter
8 verse 6. There's an Elliot and which means
servant, and all we can hope to be is to be a servant. And yet we're
declared a child. I'm reminded of the lost son.
When it came to himself, he said that my father's servants are
better off than I am. And if I could just go be a servant,
if i could just go back and tell him that i'll be a servant well
we know the account over there uh... he said my son who was
lost is now found and he's he's more than a servant he's a son
jonathan the last one in verse uh... six jehovah has given and
it's interesting when we look into the scriptures what jehovah
has given first of all would you turn with me to the book
of galatians chapter one Galatians chapter 1. In Galatians chapter
1 and verse 4, we find these words, who gave himself for our
sins Jehovah has given he has given so much as this man's name
reminds us of what Jehovah has given has given for his sheep
has given for his bride who gave himself for our sins that he
might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will
of God and our Father looking into another book here in the
book of Ephesians Ephesians chapter 5 and there in verse 6, excuse
me, verse 25. Ephesians chapter 5 and verse
25, husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the
church and gave himself for it. Jehovah has given immeasurable
grace. Jehovah has given himself. Jehovah
has given himself for the church. Jehovah has given himself for
the bride. Jehovah has given himself for
his sheep. And then finally, in this light,
would you turn with me to 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy, there in chapter 2. 1 Timothy, chapter 2. In 1 Timothy, chapter 2, in verse
6, we read these words. As we think about Jonathan, his
name means Jehovah has given. Jehovah has given so much. Jehovah has given himself. For
our redemption and in first timothy chapter 2 and verse 6 who gave
himself a ransom For all to be testified in due time. He gave
himself for a ransom. He's the purchase price For his
people and in that same chapter in verse 14 That's not correct And adam was
not deceived, but the woman was deceived. Oh Well, we've written down a wrong
verse of scripture. Would you forgive me? And we'll
go on to Ezra chapter 8 a little further. But we must say, in
conclusion to this name, Jehovah has given. Jehovah has given
himself. Jehovah has given his blood.
Jehovah has given himself as a ransom. And that just covers
so much. Grace is so important. And without grace, there is no
hope. Well, turn with me to Ezra chapter 7 for just a moment.
I want to read one verse in Ezra chapter 7 in preparation for
our review of some verses in Ezra chapter 8. Ezra chapter
7. In Ezra chapter 7 verse 9, let's
read these words. As the children of Israel are
leaving Babylon, the children of Judah, the children of Benjamin
are leaving Babylon, in the second way, the second group of people
that leave Babylon to go to Jerusalem. It says in Ezra chapter 7 and
verse 9, for upon the first day of the first month began he to
go up from Babylon and on the first day of the fifth month
came he to Jerusalem according to the good hand of his God upon
him. In this seventh chapter we have
that Ezra and his folks start their travels on the first day
of the first month and he began to go up to Babylon well there
seems to be about a 12 day wait at Ahava so would you turn with
me to Ezra chapter 8 Ezra chapter 8 and there in verse 31 Ezra
chapter 8 in verse 31 remember what needed to be done There,
during this period of time, during this very short period of time,
Ezra realized that not all the folks were with him. And it took
some time for them to go back and to get these folks and bring
them in. God is not going to leave any
of his elect on this earth. He's going to take them all out
just as he promised. So in Ezra chapter 8 and verse
31, and then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth
day of the first month. So there appears to have been
twelve days between the time they left Babylon and they Now
leave Ahava, so they're taking care of the business. They had
their fast they prayed. They're waiting on the Lord They're
confessing as we read last week Ezra said we just can't go to
the king for help because we have been bragging on our God
We've been boasting in the Lord that he will take us through
so there seems to be that period of time But now on the twelfth
day of the first month to go unto Jerusalem and the hand of
our God was upon us and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy,
and of such as lay in wait by the way." So if they had known
the danger they were in, it would probably have surprised them.
But the Lord prevented anybody from harming them as they traveled
all this way. There was about four months of
travel that they wandered. Yes, four months, because they
got to Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. Now,
verse 32 says, and we came to Jerusalem and abode there three
days. They rested three days before
they went about any business. It was proper that they should
rest after such an arduous journey. Let us notice the first five
words of this verse though. That's the verse of the part
of this verse It's so valuable so important and we came to Jerusalem
for nearly four months these folks were in had traveled from
Babylon across the great desert. If you just take a globe or an
atlas and look at this journey that they took, and probably
most of it was on foot. Most of the people were walking.
They traveled for four months across this great desert to arrive
at Jerusalem a straight line distance. Now I cannot tell you
that they traveled a straight line. Probably there were things
in the road and they had to go around them, just like building
a road today. But they traveled, if it was
a straight line journey, they traveled 1,678 miles on foot
from Babylon to Jerusalem. It reminds me of the account
that we could read about the Oregon Trail. the travel of those
folks to leave the East and come out to Oregon on the Oregon Trail.
And it was a difficult, arduous journey. These folks are coming
to Jerusalem. And we came to Jerusalem, the
end of the journey, the goal of every day's breakfast conversation,
when will we get there? And you can just hear the kids
saying, are we there yet? Well, the conversation of the
evening, every evening's prayer, take us safely to Jerusalem.
The goal set by God for each one of his children. The hymn
writer put it this way, some through the waters, now we don't
know what it was like for them to travel. We have very little
record about them traveling from Babylon. to Jerusalem but the
hymn writer put it this way about the journey of God's people from
Babylon to Jerusalem from where he found us in that horrible
pit to the time we approach him in glory some through the waters
some through the flood some it only reaches up to the ankle
or some to the knees or some to the waist and some it is a
flood some through the fire He makes this comment, but all through
the blood Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song
in the night seasons and all the day long what a statement
we read in this verse of scripture here in the book of Ezra and
we came to Jerusalem the plan the purpose and the predestination
of God is for all of his people to come to Jerusalem and Turn
with me if you would over to the book of Hebrews chapter 12
as we look at this for a while this morning Hebrews chapter
12 What a promise is made over here what glorious things are
revealed to us here in the book of Hebrews chapter 12 Hebrews
chapter 12 and verse 18 in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 18 For ye
are not come Unto the mount that might be touched Now, we know
in the Old Testament it says that if anybody or an ox touched
it, they were run through with a lance. I mean, you were not
supposed to touch this. But here in the New Testament,
in the book of Hebrews, here in chapter 12 and verse 18, through
the mount that might be touched, this is a physical mountain.
This is a physical place. These are physical tables of
stone that Moses brought down from the mountain. This is a
physical place. They were physical people standing
here in front of Mount Sinai. You're not come unto the mount
that might be touched and that burned with fire nor unto blackness
and darkness and tempest what they're saying is The writer
here saying you're not saved by coming to Mount Sinai that
it is a physical place and it has a physical law and keeping
a keeping it is impossible, but those who do is just a physical
thing. The Lord Jesus gets much more serious when he begins to
preach on the subject, and he said, it's not with your hands,
it's with your heart. It's not what you do with your
hands, it's with your heart. And I remember the preacher that
brought me the gospel astonished me when he said, a bank robber
is not someone who robs a bank, a bank robber is someone who's
already robbed it in his heart and then fulfills that. And he
just went on to talk about how The heart is where these preparations
come from and then we go ahead and do that stuff. Well, this
is a physical thing. Most people just want to keep
it in a physical sense and I'll keep the law and I'll be obedient
and eventually I'll trade that to God. Well, we're not come
to that place. Saved people are not brought
to that place. That is not Jerusalem. That is
not where God brings his people. It goes on to tell us here in
verse 19, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which
voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken
to them any more. Here they are scared to death,
and rightly so. The law has no help or hope in
it. for they could not endure that
which was commanded, and if so much as a beast touched a mountain,
it was stoned, or thrust through with a dart, or a javelin, or
a spear. Coming to that physical place
and he says you have not come to that place So many people
want to gather around Mount Sinai. They want to gather around that
physical place. They want to gather around the the observations
the observances that the the sacrifices that Feeling that
I'm doing everything I can to deal with my sin because I'm
keeping the law well In verse 21, And so terrible was the sight
that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake. God does not
bring us to that place for our salvation, and it is not an indication
that we've been saved when we get there. If we're going to
spend some time there, we're not telling people, I know the
Lord. Verse 22, but ye are come unto Mount Zion and unto the
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Now for a moment this
morning, let's just think about those folks representing everybody
that God has ever saved and plucked out of Babylon, out of a horrible
pit, out of the sin of sin, the very desperateness of our wretched
condition because of the fall. And we may stop at Sinai, but
God does not leave his people there. God takes them to Jerusalem. Those folks arrived at Jerusalem. And I can just hear the folks
that were already there. Now, not one of them. I just
cannot think that one of them says, what took you so long?
They were glad to see these relatives. They were glad to see these folks.
They were glad that they had made it across the desert. I
don't know how many of them heard that some more people were coming,
but the surprise to look out one morning and see this whole
host of six or seven thousand folks that had traveled across
the desert for four months approaching Jerusalem. And they had the banner
of the Lord over them. They had a leader that knew the
gospel. So you have come to Mount Zion
and to the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to innumerable company of angels, to the General Assembly
and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven.
To the God to God the judge of all through the spirits of just
men made perfect. There's where you come That's
what this was representing over there in the book of Ezra They
travel all that arduous journey and we don't know exactly what
all of them went through Just like I don't know what you've
gone through But my friend, if you've been saved by the grace
of God, and God has brought these things upon you, it hasn't deterred
us from going on to Jerusalem. It hasn't stymied us. God has
a time that we will get there. And we're approaching it every
day, but we will get there. None of these things will detain
God's people. To the spirits of just men made
perfect in verse 24, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant,
and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than
that of Abel, we have come to Jerusalem. We have come to Jesus
Christ. That's where he is bringing all
his people. You're not come to this physical
place, but you're brought to a spiritual place. You're brought
to heavenly Jerusalem. Not come to Mount Sinai, but
you come to the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. And my friends, that is God's
goal for all His people, is to come to Jerusalem. We come there
through the new birth, but there is a day that is appointed by
the Lord that we will come and see him as he is. We shall be
like him and we shall see him as he is. In Psalm 87, would
you turn there with me in Psalm 87? In Psalm 87 verse two. Psalm 87, verse 2, the psalmist
writes these words, the Lord loveth the gates of Zion more
than all the dwellings of Jacob. He loves the church. more than
anything else. He loves the gates of Zion. He
loves Zion. He loves heavenly Jerusalem,
the Lord. And verse three, glorious things
are spoken of the old city of God, Sila. Stop and think about
that. New Jerusalem, God has promised,
He has predestined that every one of His people will arrive
at Jerusalem, just like these folks did. Not one was lost.
Do you remember with me the spiritual blessings God gave to Israel
their entire time while in the wilderness? God gave them manna,
the bread. The manna lasted through the
wilderness march all the way every day and nothing else besides
some quail. Turn with me to the book of Exodus
here. Again, all the way until they reached the goal. In the
book of Exodus, we read these words. Exodus chapter 16. Exodus 16 and verse 35. It says, And the children of
Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited. They did eat manna until they
came into the borders of the land of Canaan. For 40 years
God provided for them until they came into the promised land once
again a picture now I've had people say that's not a picture
of of heaven. That's a picture of the Christian
walk. I'm going to use it as a picture
of The promised land God has promised every one of his children.
They'll arrive They'll arrive at Jerusalem that whole host
of folks that travel from Babylon four months step-by-step headed
towards Babylon every day, every night. There was prayers to arrive
safely every day and every night. There was arduous journey, footsteps
to be made, heavy loads to be carried, and they came to Jerusalem,
every one of them. But I also notice here, as we
think about manna, that the Lord gave them manna all the way.
But notice with me in the book of Numbers. The book of Numbers. Here in the book of Numbers is
an interesting verse of scripture about manna. You know, what sustained
those folks was God's presence as he led them along. That's
what they said. God protected them all the steps. that no enemy came upon them.
There was no threat. There was no bow or arrow. There
was no spear. There was no sword. There was
no horses. There was nothing that interfered with the travel
of these people because God kept them away. He had promised to
do that and He fulfilled His promise to these people. There
is not a thing in this world that can prevent the entering
in of God's people into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Will
he has purpose predestined and they are on their way right now
All will enter but here there is an interesting verse here
in the book of Numbers chapter 11 That tells us about there
were some that journeyed along You know their hangers-on they're
walking the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting
and And the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who
shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish which we
did eat in Egypt. You know, as we look at this,
we find out there's a whole bunch of those folks that just were
not satisfied with Christ. They were not satisfied with
the bread of heaven. They were not satisfied. It goes
on to tell us that very thing. They're only satisfied with their
own selves and their own activities. They're not satisfied with Christ. He is not enough. The sustaining
power of that manna was it provided every nutrition that those folks
needed, and Jesus Christ provides everything that a believer needs. Every spiritual nutritional value
is fulfilled in Him. Here in the book of Numbers chapter
11 and verse 5, we remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt. Notice where that is. That is
in Egypt. That is like going and saying,
we remember the food that was back in Babylon. We got that
gruel. We got that gruel that we got
in Babylon. And we like it better. We like
that message of works, we like that message of religion, we
like that, well, here we go. He says, we remember the fish
that we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers, the melons, the
leeks, and the onions, and the garlic. Now my friend, if these
folks did not have a change of heart by Almighty God, They never
made it to the promised land. These are the ones who died in
unbelief. These are the ones who were left
littered in the desert. Because it goes on to say, But
now our soul is dried away. There is nothing at all besides
this manna before our eyes. There's nothing but Christ and
we're tired of it. These are the folks that didn't
make it. These are the folks that were
left behind because they never had any interest in it to begin
with. They are just followers along.
They just had a change of religion. They just changed from Egyptian
religion to out here in the desert, following along these folks,
or Babylonian religion. Now when it comes to that group
that left Babylon, the Lord said these folks in a picture way,
they represent my folks and I will lose none of them. There's no
record of any death, there's no record of anybody turning
around, no record of anybody saying, you know, this looks
like a pretty good piece of ground. I think my wife and the kids
will settle down right here. We have places in eastern Oregon
where there's still old homesteads and there are trees, not indigenous
to Oregon, but trees that were brought out by those pioneers
and a house was built out in nowhere's land and nobody, they
gave it up. They quit. They couldn't make
it there. Hal represents these folks out
of Egypt that didn't make it. They didn't make it. Well, there
was nobody that came out of Babylon that didn't make it to Jerusalem. In the book of John chapter 6,
the Lord speaks about this manna. John chapter 6 and verse 30.
Would you turn there with me? John chapter 6 and verse 30.
We've been spending quite a bit of time here in the book of John
and particularly in the book of John chapter 6 because It
helps us with so much that is contained in the Old Testament.
John chapter 6 here in verse 30, it says, And they said therefore
unto him, What sign showest thou then that we may see and believe
thee? What dost thou work? Our fathers
did eat manna in the wilderness, as it is written, He gave them
bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from
heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and
giveth life unto the world. And they said unto him, Lord,
evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, Unto
them I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never
hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But
I said unto you that ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out. They're going to make it to Jerusalem.
They're going to make it to glory They're going to make it to the
presence of the Lord all the father giveth me. I will no wise
cast out, but you are unbelievers You're looking for physical things.
You're looking for you're looking for Mount Sinai. You're looking
for a legalistic application here, but God's people have come
to Mount Zion to new heavenly Jerusalem Verse 38 For I came
down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him
that sent me. And this is the Father's will
which hath sent me, that all which he hath given me I should
lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that
sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth
on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up
at the last day. And the Jews then murmured at
him. Him, because he saith, I am the
bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus
the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it,
then, that he saith, I came down from heaven? Well, they said,
You're not enough. You're not enough. We're looking
for something better. We're looking for something else.
But all that the Father giveth him shall make it. All that the
Father giveth shall have eternal life. They will travel through
this life. It will be an arduous journey.
It is only known to God what lies ahead. It only known to
God lies around that next hill, or over that next valley, or
over that next mountain. God alone knows what lies ahead,
but He has promised that everyone that he begins the journey, will
end the journey and will arrive safely in the presence of the
Lord himself. It is told us over in the book
of Joshua when the children of Israel, Moses had died off and
that whole host of unbelievers had died off and they died there
in the wilderness. They died in unbelief. It tells
us that when they came to the Jordan River that All the people
pass clean over Jordan. All the people that were there,
a whole bunch didn't make it. They didn't start right, they
didn't have right in the middle, and they never ended right, just
like it's going to be today. Some people are never going to
start right because they don't have Christ in them. The journey
from Babylon to Jerusalem was difficult. It was hard and tiring,
time-consuming. My goodness, four months of walking,
yet all arrived safely. Not one is recorded as turning
around, and not one is recorded as dying in the wilderness, or
saying, this looks like a good place, we'll stay here. And we
came to Jerusalem. We read so often in the New Testament
for those whose road was difficult and came to an abrupt end. Stephen,
he had a difficult road and it came to an immediate abrupt end. He was ushered into glory immediately. We would say, well, his life
was cut short. No, his life went as far as God
intended it. But guess what? He arrived at
Jerusalem. And James, they slew him with
a sword. Oh, his life was cut short. No,
it went just as long as God intended it. And he was ushered into glory. He arrived safely. There's one
over in the book of Revelation chapter 2 verses 12 and 13. His
name was Antipas. He was a martyr Some would say
his life was cut short. No, his life was not cut short
It ended exactly when God said it would end and he was ushered
into glory Paul Paul Anticipated he knew what was going to happen
to him and from history we read that he was a martyr He was slain
by the Romans And yet he said, I'm ready to be offered. He was
ready to leave this life. Some would say, well, just think
if the Lord had left him, how much further he could have spread
the gospel and how much more preaching he could have done.
He did exactly what God intended for him to do. And then the Lord
took him into his presence. He made it to Jerusalem on the
promise and predestination of almighty God. For I reckon that
the suffering of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us." That's what
Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans chapter 8 and verse 18. Would
you turn with me to 1 John chapter 3 as we think about coming to
Jerusalem, coming to the end, traveling the entire length that
God gives us. Some may travel for a long time.
After the Lord saves him, after he brings him to heavenly Jerusalem,
after he saves him by his grace, after he gives him the new birth,
some may not travel as long, but all of God's people are going
to be able to say, I made it to Jerusalem. God prospered me
to come to this place, to heaven. Excuse me. John chapter, 1 John,
1 John chapter 3, 1 John chapter 3. Turn there with me if you
would. I just want to read verse 2.
Verse 2, this wonderful book. It says here, Beloved, now are
we the sons of God. Now are we the children of God. Now are we the children of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that
when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see
him as he is. Now there's a lot of questions
answered in that verse of scripture, a lot of questions brought up,
but a lot of questions answered. We don't know exactly what all
that's going to mean, but we know this, we shall see him as
he is. All of the church all of those
whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. It is absolutely
impossible for them to fall away. It is impossible for them to
send away their day of grace. It is impossible for them to
do something that is so critical that they would never see Jesus. God has promised that everyone
in the church will come to Jerusalem In Matthew chapter 25 and verse
34, would you turn there with me? We've been spending a few
of our messages have had this passage of scripture in them,
but we want to look at it one more time. Here in the book of
Matthew, chapter 25 and verse 34. Matthew chapter 25 and verse
34. Look at that with me. Thank you for forgiving me for
calling out incorrect passages at time. It just proves to me
how human I am and how old I'm getting here in the book of 1st
John chapter 3 and verse 2 Excuse me Matthew chapter 25 and verse
34 Then shall the king say unto
them on his right hand I Then shall the king say unto them
on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Now all shall say,
We came to Jerusalem. Not one was lost, not one forgotten,
not one unhappy, but bursting with joy. Welcome. What a welcoming committee.
Here, God is the welcoming committee. Welcome, welcome, welcome. I
just can't imagine how it was for all these 6 or 7,000 folks
that had traveled that distance across that desert, 1,600 plus
miles over almost four months to arrive there and have the
reunion that they had when they got there. There was not an ill
word said to anyone. There was no guilt trips. There was none of that stuff
that we think about. We hear Job say, oh, in the book
of Job, we have him saying there in Job, Scholars say it's the
oldest written book in the Bible and yet it's the gospel according
to Job Job chapter 19 and verse 26 Says for I know that my Redeemer
liveth Job is writing this all so long ago and he knew about
a Redeemer and he knew his Redeemer was alive and I know that my
Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day
upon the earth. And notice verse 26, Job understood
that he is going to die. And though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I seek God. whom
I shall see for myself mine and mine I shall behold and not another
though my reigns be consumed within me there will be a day
he said that I will appear before him in my new body I will completely
arrive at Jerusalem I will arrive in the presence of the Lord God
Almighty he is the welcoming committee on that end John 17
verse 24 father. I will that they also whom thou
hast given me be with me where I am That they might behold my
glory which thou has given me for thou Loves me before the
foundation of the world Will that they also whom thou
has given me be with me where I am so the the invitation is
given and the promise of of Grace is given and then not one will
be lost Everyone just as we read over there and we came to Jerusalem
we came to the end of the journey now I Physically speaking, we
come to the end of journeys. I'm so thankful that this coming
Sunday I'm going to come to the end of a journey and end up at
our building, and we're going to have services in our building
for the first time for quite a while. It's going to be a glorious
time. I believe it's just going to
be a glorious time that we're going to have. We're going to
meet there. We're going to arrive there.
But the real arrival will be when God calls us out of this
life unto Himself. A promotion to be in His presence. Turn with me if you would over
to the book of 2nd Corinthians. 2nd Corinthians. 2nd Corinthians
chapter 5 and verse 6. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 and
verse 6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst
we are at home in this body, we are absent from the Lord.
Now we have him by faith. We walk not by sight, but by
faith. We have him by faith. He is given
to us by faith. We know Him, we love Him, but
it goes on, it says there in verse 7, for we walk by faith,
not by sight. We are confident, I say, and
willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with
the Lord. no eons in between, nothing,
no soul sleep, none of that stuff that religion has, but God has
promised that every one of his children will go across that
desert, they will leave Babylon by his grace, they will walk
across the desert by his grace, they will labor for the Lord
by his grace, and they will safely arrive in his presence by his
grace. We and we come to Jerusalem. The journey is over. The end
of a long, arduous journey. And we hear those who have walked
with the Lord for a long, long time, years and years. We hear
them say, it's been a long, arduous journey. Many trials, temptations,
and tests have come along. But God has blessed me. Thus
far, he will bless me as we go on. Now, I have to say this as
I close. Many are not prepared to arrive
at the end of the journey. Many are expecting a trade with
God. Good works for Jerusalem. I have to say, there's only one
word for that. No, no, no. Only by the blood
of Christ can we come to Jerusalem. Only by the blood of Christ.
As that hymn writer said, once again, we read that at the beginning.
Psalm through the waters. Some through the flood some through
the fire, but all through the blood all of them are through
the blood of Christ and No way else will we ever arrive at Jerusalem? You're not come to that that
mount that burned with fire that physical mount that could be
touched But you are come to Mount Zion to new Jerusalem spiritual
Jerusalem heavenly Jerusalem And that's in the presence of
the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And that's where all His people
will arrive. They will all, we will all arrive,
will come to Jerusalem. Well, may God bless you. May
this message be a blessing to you. May you think about the
journey that God has given you. And if it is your intentions,
to trade with God. May He be merciful and show you
the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that you might begin, by His
grace, you might begin that journey towards Jerusalem.