NOT MY HOME John Chapman June 26, 2005

Abraham, Noah, Moses, Isaac, Jacob, Enoch, Rahab…all people of faith…that acted on their trust in God.

Abraham was obedient in offering his only son Isaac and would have killed him in obedience to God….Why?....Because he had faith, he believed, he knew God would keep his promise that he would have

as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. Heb. 11:12

Moses was obedient in leading the Israelites out of Egypt…Why?...Because he had faith, he believed, he knew God would lead them to the “land flowing with milk and honey.” Ex 3:8

Noah built a boat in the middle of the desert not because he could see the storm clouds moving in, but because he believed God when He said it was going to rain.

Read Hebrews 11:13-16 Pray

¹³All these died in faith, without receiving the promises,

THEY DIDN’T SEE THE END RESULT. For example, Abraham did not see the millions of descendants that would come from “his seed.” But, he believed that God would do what he said and lived his life in obedience to him. He had “spiritual vision.”

WHAT PROMISES DO WE HAVE…

The Promise of Eternal life

Have you seen the end result of that promise? No, not yet, but hopefully you are living your life as if you possessed it now. Living your life in obedience to the One who so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him might not perish but have eternal, everlasting life. (Jn 3:16) If you believe in Jesus Christ as God’s solution to sin in this world; as the one who died on the cross to pay the price for your sin; as the one who rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of God the Father….He promises that you will have eternal life with Him in heaven. Can you picture that?

He promises us a Mansion

In John 14:6 Jesus tells his disciples,

¹Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ²In 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. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Do you already live in your mansion? Somehow I pictured mine as not needing the shingles to be put back down after a wind and no leaks in the skylight! I KNOW I’m not in my mansion yet.

But, as those people of faith that God points out in Hebrews, we are to live believing that our mansion awaits us. We are to live in such a way that God will say “well done thou good and faithful servant” – Here’s your mansion…

§ No rent, no mortgage

§ No maintenance, no upkeep

§ No leaky pipes or broken water heaters

§ No weeds…No property taxes!

Here’s your heavenly mansion – because I love you – because you trusted me!

How’s your spiritual vision doing now?

We’re Promised Rewards for our service to God

· ¹¹For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. ¹⁴If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Cor 3:11-15

· ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ⁸in the future 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. 2 Timothy 4:7

· ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory 1 Peter 5:4

and the greatest reward of all….THE CROWN OF LIFE

· ¹²Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  James 1:12

Have you received your rewards yet…or are you “suffering for a little while.”

He doesn’t promise us a life without problems on this earth. He says we WILL have trials, tribulations and temptations. But He also tells us He won’t give us more than we can bear.

Paul fought the good fight because he knew what was waiting for him. We have to constantly keep in front of us the rewards that God has promised to those who endure; to those who remain faithful to him. Do you need more strength to keep going? Ask Him. Do you think He’ll say no? Never!

⁷“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? ¹⁰“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? ¹¹“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Matthew 7:7-11

Is your spiritual vision coming more into focus now!

¹³All these died in faith, without receiving the promises,

but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance,

The King James says “embraced them from afar.”

WE “SEE” THESE PROMISES IN OUR FUTURE and LOOK FORWARD TO THEM. WE BELIEVE GOD. WE HAVE FAITH IN GOD and

we live in anticipation of receiving those promises;

of seeing them fulfilled.

· We embrace the promise of rewards to get past the lack of rewards here on earth.

· We embrace the promise of a Crown of Righteousness to get past the fact that we still blow it sometimes here on earth.

· We embrace the promise of a Crown of Glory to get past our disappointments and lack of recognition in this life.

· And we embrace the promise of a Crown of Life in order to endure the trials and pains of this earthly life.

Ø We’ve seen the promises come true that Abraham didn’t….his seed into many, many peoples and nations.

Ø We’ve seen archaeological evidence of the flood that Noah experienced

We KNOW God keeps His promises.

Are you getting excited yet!

and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 

CONFESSED – TOLD PEOPLE…OUT LOUD!

God is my master. Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Redeemer. Heaven is my home! Have you done that?

³²“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. ³³“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32

Alrighty then. There you go. I’ve said it. I confessed it.

Unfortunately, many times, we stop right there.

We confess it with our mouth but do we

CONFESS IT WITH OUR LIVES; THE WAY WE LIVE?

In 2 Corinthians chapter 9, Paul is talking about helping the poor, about giving from our resources…

¹³Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality.

2 Corinthians 9:13

You’ve heard the saying, If you “talk the talk” you need to “walk the walk.” We’ve all heard people that said “Oh yes, I’m a Christian.” But then we observe how they live and we find it difficult to believe. Why? Because Jesus said,

¹⁶“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? ¹⁷“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰“So then, you will know them by their fruits.

²¹“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:16-21

They will know US by our fruits. Does your life confess that Jesus is Lord and this earth is not your home? Does it confess that

YOU’RE NOT OF THIS EARTH, THAT YOUR DADDY LIVES IN HEAVEN and,

AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE CREATED IT!

¹⁴For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 

IS IT CLEAR TO OTHERS THAT YOU ARE SEEKING A “DIFFERENT” COUNTRY, HEAVEN TO BE SPECIFIC.

Ø Do they see you being offended by language that dishonors God?

Ø Do they see you refusing alcohol at parties?

Ø Do they see you refusing to laugh at “dirty” jokes?

Ø Do they see you helping others, helping widows, helping the poor?

Ø Do they see you laying up for yourself treasures in heaven……

OR

v Do they see you merely concerned with “what you will eat, what you will drink, what you will wear”?

v Do they see you desperately trying to “fit in” so you’ll be one of the “popular people?”

HOW DO OTHERS SEE YOU?

Earlier in Hebrews 11:6 we read

⁶And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 

GOD IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.

The words translated “earnestly seek” here, has in the original Greek, the idea of “searching out, of investigating AND of worship!

In other words, God rewards those who sincerely want to know him and acknowledge His greatness. He is the God of gods, King of kings, Lord of lords, the Most High God; holy, holy, holy….He deserves our utmost devotion & attention.

DOES HE HAVE IT?

WILL THEY KNOW BY YOUR LIFESTYLE THAT YOU ARE NOT CONTENT WITH THIS EARTHLY COUNTRY…AND SEE YOU SEEKING THE HEAVENLY ONE?

¹⁵And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

WE SEE MANY THAT LIVE FOR THIS AGE, THAT MERELY ACCUMULATE “THINGS” and “EVENTS” and EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES….all short-lived.

We all have opportunities to get “caught up” in the ways of “that country” or of this present world and to “return” to living the way we used to BUT

WE ARE NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST…He desires better for us. And we should desire better for us…because of His sacrifice…because of His great love for us. If you love me, Jesus said, you will obey my commandments.

¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

WE DESIRE a BETTER PLACE….

NOT ONE FULL OF SIN, DISAPPOINTMENT, SORROW, HEARTACHE, POVERTY, STRUGGLE AND STRIFE. DON’T YOU?

….AND HE HAS ONE WAITING FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO CONFESS WITH THEIR LIVES THAT HE IS THEIR LORD…

HE HAS PREPARED A PLACE FOR US.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

THEREFORE, THE GOD OF CREATION

THE GOD OF SALVATION

THE ALL KNOWING GOD (KNOWS OUR HEARTS AND OUR PAST)

HAS PREPARED, NOT JUST A MANSION, BUT A CITY…

Read Revelation Chapter 21…wow!

Are you ready for that city? Are you embracing it from afar?

Are you living your life in expectation of God’s promises?

Of eternal life? Of a heavenly home? Of rewards for a faithful life?

Have you confessed with your mouth and do you confess with your life

That this earth and what it has to offer is NOT your priority anymore?

And that your “new country”, heaven, IS?

Are you sincerely seeking God and His will in your life on a DAY TO DAY BASIS so that He is “not ashamed to be called your God”?

Pray

CLOSING HYMN

#336 – There’s A Great Day Coming!

Or sheet with “This World Is Not My Home”