What We Shall Be. Valley Center Seventh- day Adventist Church. Written By: Kevin Drath. Delivered On December 27, 2014.

Transcription

1 What We Shall Be Valley Center Seventh- day Adventist Church Written By: Kevin Drath Delivered On December 27, 2014 This Sermon is available in video format for watching or downloading on our Video Sermons web page. What We Shall Be: 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. [Is it not incredible that John, the one who wrote the most about God s character of love/charity/ agape; the one who said of himself that he leaned against Jesus bosom during the last supper; the one who wrote he remained at Jesus trial; the one who was entrusted with Jesus mother Mary; the one who God preserved through trials unknown to us, that he, John, late in his life, still did not know what he would be when Jesus came, but he knew that he would be like Him. Paul, also, did not fully grasp what we shall be, as he expressed this thought, For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Today, we are going to explore a very small piece of what we shall be, for we know that Matthew wrote this, Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Paul also expressed it this way, convinced of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will make it perfect up to the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).] Let us start in the beginning: Genesis 1:29-30 And God said, See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed: to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there life, I have given every green herb for food ; and it was so. [Were the animals to eat the food of the humans and were humans to eat from the food of the animals? Is there mention of eating each other or of drinking liquid, one from another? God designed us to be completely compatible in our dietary instructions. The animals would not eat our food and we would not eat theirs. Harmony and balance is the message we find.] Let us fast forward to the end: Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion

2 shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain. Isaiah 65:17, 25 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain. [So here, we see in the Old Testament, when the earth is made new, Isaiah 65:17, the life we read about from the beginning, is the life that we read about at the new beginning. Now with the Old Testament bearing witness to the state of life when the earth is created new, can we find this same support in the New Testament.] Revelation 21:1, 4 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 4 And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. [Are you seeing the symmetry? Are the Old Testament and New Testament in harmony? Are the end and the beginning in harmony? We shall be restored to the original diet, which is the only way for there to be a fulfillment of nothing, not animal or human or wind or rain or lightning, will destroy in His holy mountain. Complete peace and compatibility will be the rule of life in the life to come.] What will prepare us for the trials ahead? Daniel 1:12-20, Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearances be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants. So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king s delicacies. Thus the steward took away their portion of the delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. [This tells us that because they ate a simple, healthy diet, of things grown and water, they had clear minds and were able to learn and grow in wisdom and knowledge. Do the people living today need wisdom and knowledge? We are living in a day where deception is all around us. The things of this world surround us. Can you go anywhere in a city without hearing the worlds music? If you watch TV, what do you see and hear, is it not the message of the world? Is it no wonder that Paul warns us : But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self- control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form

3 of godliness, but denying its power. And from such turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5) So how are we to gain victory, Daniel gives us a clue, for we see that only those with Daniel who ate the simple, healthy diet of fruits, and grains, and drank water were able to stand in their time of trouble. Is there not a time of trouble, that will be even greater fast approaching us? Is there perhaps wisdom in following Daniel and his friends choice in giving up those things that are harmful to our bodies?] Are we prepared to meet the Lord? [When God brought His people out of Egypt, and gave them great signs and wonders, in the parting of the Red Sea, what did He allow to happen to them?] Exodus 16:3 And the children of Israel said to them, Oh, that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into the wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. [What was their complaint? They were hungry. Could it be that God was helping them fast, to clear their minds from the corrupting influence of the diet they had grown accustom to in Egypt. Notice the flesh pots reference. Meat was a staple of their diet. I believe God was trying to prepare them to meet with Him on the mountain of Sinai. Yet, in His mercy toward His people, what did He provide them at this point? Also Moses said, This shall be seen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to the full; for the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD (Exodus 16:8). God provided them quail that evening and in the morning, Manna began to be found. The Bread from Heaven.] [Question? Were the people, Israel, prepared to meet with the LORD on the mountain called Sinai? No, they were not. Let us see what their response was. Turn to Exodus 20:18-21 and let s read, Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said to the people, Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin. So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. I wonder what the people s experience would have been had they trusted in the God who rescued them from the hand of Pharaoh and in their hunger on their journey to Sinai? Could it be that they would have faired well like Daniel and the three faithful ones? Could it be that their response would have been different than All that the LORD has spoken we will do (Exodus 19:8) was their reply. Should it have not been, we believe that all you have said will be done and that you can accomplish that which we cannot.] [Now, did God continue to provide for the people quail? Let us turn to Numbers 11:1, 4-5, Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. 4-5 Now when the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: Who will give us meat to eat? We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our whole being is dried up: there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes! Then you shall say to the people, Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt. Therefore the LORD will give

4 you meat, and you shall eat. You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have despised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, Why did we ever come up out of Egypt? No, God gave them quail in His mercy when they complained on their way to Sinai, but it must have been a one time thing or limited, for here a year later, the people are complaining that they have no meat, only manna. Was the manna sufficient for all their needs? Did they need the protein from meat to be healthy? No, this story tells us that the month of eating meat consumed many with a plague and they died eating that which was not good for them.] Is there a parallel here for us? [I believe there is a parallel. Israel: 1. Was not the Exodus out of Egypt their deliverance from bondage in sin? 2. Were their situations that made them fearful that they might loose their life along the way? Being chased by the Egyptians through the Red Sea and hunger on the other side, would seem to indicate yes. 3. Were they on their way to meet the LORD in awesome wonder and glory? God s Last Day People: 1. Are we to be on our Exodus out of the world and to be given deliverance from every besetting sin? 2. Are we not on our journey through much travail and terrible times, a time of tribulation that has never been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, or ever shall be (Matthew 24:21)? 3. Are we on our way to meet the LORD in greater glory and wonder and splendor than even the Israelites or Moses? For we shall see the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, not hidden in a cloud, or a pillar of fire, or to be shielded by His hand and see His hinder parts, but we are destined to see Him face to face, no veil between us and Him. What is to be our experience in this journey to one of two ends? Will we continue to resist what God is trying to accomplish in our lives with our desires for the things of this world, or are we going to humble ourselves, submit to His will, no matter where that leads us, the dungeon, the stocks, the cross, the grave? Will we stand firm, with wisdom of Scripture and the power of God, not knowing for certain whether we will go through to the end or die the martyr s death? What are we purposing in our hearts today by our response to His Spirit s call for us to repent and afflict our souls, to humble ourselves. Are we ready to fast and pray more earnestly than ever before, for the evils in this world will be greater than ever before? Will we allow God to transform our lives to be heaven principled or will we cry out against what the Lord wants us to be and cling to those things we know to be bad for us. The evidence, in the Bible, and if anyone has an interest in what Spirit of Prophecy has to say on this topic, come see me after and I will share two relevant quotes, confirms the importance of our

5 diet for any who will cling to God, no matter what may come: prison, torture, death, or to come through everything the devil can throw at us, and see God as He is, face to face, as He comes to awaken the dead in Christ and to transform those who will not experience the first death. Can we be anything less than perfect when Jesus leaves the Most Holy Place and the time of Jacob s trouble begins? God has given us promises that He is able to make us perfect before that day. The only way to have that experience is if we die to self and let Him live in us. Are there besetting sins that you fall into again and again? I know I have them, but I have found that allowing God to make changes in my diet, have made the battle less fierce. And staying in His Word daily has made the victory possible, for what we behold, we become like, and we can only see Jesus if we drink from the Water of this Good Book and eat the Bread from heaven called the Bible. And pray ceaselessly for His power to flow over you and give you the strength to stand in each trial the devil will throw your way, being quick to repent, when we stumble and fall and continue to cling to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of the work He wants to do in and through us. Do you hear God calling you to make changes in your life today? If so, let us pray together, for we know without Him, we can do nothing, but He is able to do all that He asks of us and more, if we are willing to submit to His wisdom, even though we may not see clearly today the reasons for the things He convicts us of. We are asked to simply believe that He knows best and that He can do for us, that which we cannot do for ourselves. He only wants our hearts and minds to be submitted to His will for us, as Jesus was submitted all His life, He is the example of perfection for us. Let us invite Him into our lives again today that He might live in us so that we can die to self. He is coming soon, He is leading us through the desert preparing us to meet Him face to face, and we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).] God bless you!