John 14:2-3

John 14:2-3 In 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. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Three points:

1. House

The Father must have a huge house, for in it are many, many staying places. Many think this is heaven itself instead of a separate house. These "mansions" may be like apartments, rooms, or mansions. Whatever they are, there is plenty of room for all.

2. I go...and prepare

The Lord Jesus isn't sitting around. He is working--preparing, getting things ready for us.

3. I will come...you

Even though it has been close to 2000 years, since he left, he will come back. It would a waste of his time, it he left and prepared these living quarters but didn't come back for the people who would live in them. Let us comfort ourselves.

Revelation 22:20

Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Three points:

1. He

Jesus is speaking here. He is a truthful witness. Our definition of quick is surely different than His, but time's definition is by His dictionary, not ours. His coming is not far away; we must always be ready.

2. Amen

John says, "I agree, Lord." Do we have the attitude, "Your will be done?"

3. Even

No matter how soon he comes; no matter that He says that He is coming soon; it is never soon enough. Our world is a wreck--difficult problems--and the world's leaders and scientists are not and cannot solve them. These will be solved when Jesus returns. Are we doing things His way now? He has given us His rules. Let us encourage one another.

Romans 8:35

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Three points:

1. Love of Christ

Love--a love of giving, looking out for the best of others, caring for others perhaps more than yourself.

2. Separate

Separating--a pulling apart. Can any person separate us from God's love? Things might be rough. People may abuse us, use us, or hurt us. We might have a horrible accident or some other catastrophe. Remember God has not forsaken you.

3. Things

Things cannot separate us from God's love either, not tribulation (affliction, pressure, or hardship), distress (calamity)persecution, famine (hunger), nakedness (poverty), peril (danger), or sword (death).

Psalm 138:2

Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

Three points:

1. Worship

Worship and humility are kissing cousins. Worship is an acknowledgment of God's authority, power, wisdom, sovereignty, and love. Do we really worship God?

2. Praise

Thanking God for what He is doing and will do. A very hard thing to do if things are difficult, but we never know what good will come out of our difficulty.

3. Magnified

The Bible is maligned by most, yet God, the author, has elevated this book even above His name. Do we read it in its plain, normal sense and live it?

Jude 1:21

Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Three points:

1. Keep

We need the attitude and desire to remain in the love of God. Out of the love of God would be a mocker, following our own ungodly lusts, separators from truth, and sensual as it is written in verse 19.

2. Waiting

This is the idea of expecting something. We are to expect the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. Waiting is one of the hardest things in the world, but we gain strength by waiting.

3. Leading to eternal life

We do not get to heaven by what WE do; it is what HE does. God created; He wants life. Why should we remain against Him? Thank God today for what He has given.

Luke 10:2

Luke 10:2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Three points:

1. Harvest

The harvest is the souls of men. Many are waiting to hear the gospel. Most will not respond, but it is our work to be at the harvest.

2. Few

Why are there only a few? Maybe motivation, maybe things are more important than working in the harvest, whatever, we need to pray to the Lord to send laborers.

3. His

It is His harvest. We are His servants; that is the hardest thing in life--to submit to Him, but once you do, you will find that His yoke is easy, His burden light.

Isaiah 45:23

Isaiah 45:23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'

Three points:

1. What God says is true

He makes a promise here--repeated in the New Testament twice. What He says He will do; He does not take back, retract, what He says. His promises are true. Some promises are for blessing; some are in judgment.

2. Bow

Bowing is an act of submission. Today people are working hard to remove all traces of God and his ways from life and culture. It won't work. Even these proud, arrogant people will have to acknowledge that He is King of Kings and Lord of lords.

3. Tongue

Every person will acknowledge him verbally. Inside they may be refusing, but they will have to acknowledge their defeat and His victory. They will have to acknowledge His sovereignty; something most refuse to do today.

Philippians 2:9-10 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,