WEBVTT 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:04.320 Titus chapter 2. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:15.519 You can look on there in the Pew Bible if you didn't bring a Bible with you today. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:18.079 Hopefully many of you have scriptures. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:20.399 We've been going through this letter. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:30.640 We're in chapter two as we work through this letter, and the passage for this morning comes from verses 11 through verse 15. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:35.679 Titus 2, 11 through 15. 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:37.920 This is God's word. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:01:06.159 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts, and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:19.040 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:25.040 Proclaim these things, encourage, and rebuke with all authority. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:27.280 Let no one disregard you. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.560 Seek the Lord's help. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:33.439 Again, O God, we come to you. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:37.359 We come with thanksgiving and we come with prayers. 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:49.040 Prayers that this word we so desperately need would be a word that you make effective in us, in us all collectively today. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:50.879 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:51.760 Amen. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:56.079 Hashtag blessed. 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:58.640 Most of you have seen it. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:01.840 Come on, Micah, that was like 10 years ago. 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:03.120 You're way out of it. 00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:05.040 There's no hashtags anymore. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.760 How about feeling blessed? 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:17.280 There's a picture of a sunset by the water, and a calmly reposed person is feeling blessed. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:22.560 There's a family reunion, everyone's together, and they're feeling blessed. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:28.719 There's the coworkers and launching a new product and feeling blessed. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:34.159 There was a song written over 100 years ago. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:41.759 Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:46.080 It's okay to thank God for our blessings, to thank him publicly. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.680 He's the one ultimately who provides for us every good thing. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:52.800 It's not fortune or chance or anything like that. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:03:04.479 We find a blessing right in the middle of the passage I just read, only it's not a blessing that we fully possess right now. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:08.240 Look at verse 13 again in the middle. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:12.800 While we wait for the blessed hope. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:19.280 So we have a blessed hope that we're waiting for. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:31.840 Some of you may have noticed the passage of Scripture this week is the same as the passage of Scripture last week. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:39.280 I'm not trying to test you to see how well you can retain what was said by preaching the same sermon two weeks in a row. 00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:50.800 But I said last week we focused on how the passage points us to look back to God's grace and live in light of God's grace. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:04:01.919 And then I said this week we're going to talk about how the passage tells us to look forward to God's grace and live in light of his coming grace. 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:05.520 So you can see verse 11, the grace of God has appeared. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:07.280 Verse 14, he gave himself. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:08.319 That's looking back. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:09.840 That was last week. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:15.120 But here in verse 13, we're called to wait for the blessed hope. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:18.639 That's looking ahead, and that's our focus for this week. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:23.519 Verse 13 begins with that phrase, while we wait. 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:27.199 Or you might have a Bible that says waiting, same idea. 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:29.920 But we're kind of breaking into the flow of thought. 00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:32.800 So let's track what's going on here. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:37.360 Back in verse 11, God's grace appears and brings salvation. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:47.360 And that same grace instructs us, according to verse 12, to deny godlessness and worldly lust and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:49.600 So that's the present, that's the here and now. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:55.279 We're striving to live in a godly way in the present while we wait. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:05.920 The waiting, the future blessed hope, is connected deeply with how we live in the present age, in the here and now. 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:16.240 I think for most of us, connecting God's past grace with how we live now is more common. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:19.600 We're thankful that God has done so much for us in Christ. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:22.399 He's redeemed us, he's rescued us by his blood. 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:23.040 We love him. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:26.480 That's very common. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:35.519 It's less common to look ahead to God's grace and live in the present. 00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:39.759 It's not unique to Titus II. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:43.839 It's all over the Bible, though, that expectation and connection. 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:46.879 And notice how all-encompassing it is. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:50.879 Paul doesn't merely say here, okay, you're suffering now. 00:05:50.879 --> 00:05:53.120 One day it'll all be over. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:59.759 But he's not limiting that connection of future hope and living now. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.319 He's not limiting it to just suffering now. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:06.639 Saying yes to godliness, that's all-encompassing. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:07.759 That's all of life. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:09.600 That's getting out of bed in the morning. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:15.279 That's stepping out your front door each day while you wait for the blessed hope. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:26.560 So if last week was looking back and living now, this week is looking ahead and living now. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:31.279 And I've got two encouragements for us this morning, two big encouragements. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:38.399 Wait for the blessed hope and live in light of the blessed hope. 00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:44.800 Wait for the blessed hope and live in light of the blessed hope. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:52.480 First, brothers and sisters, we wait for the blessed hope. 00:06:52.480 --> 00:07:01.680 Verse 13 tells us what it is: it's the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:10.480 That's a reference to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ when he appears for a final time to bring his own to himself. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:18.480 We'll get to that in a few minutes, but first let's think about this concept of hope. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:30.000 In the Bible, Christian hope is a confident and certain expectation based on God's promises. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:31.360 I'll say that again. 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:38.240 Hope in the Bible, Christian hope, is a certain and confident expectation based on God's promises. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:47.439 So when Paul's on trial in the book of Acts, he says he's on trial because of the hope in what God promised to our ancestors. 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:49.120 Acts 26, 6. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:53.680 When God makes a promise, there's no uncertainty about it. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:55.439 It's going to happen. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:02.959 Acts 23, 6, Paul speaks of the hope of the resurrection of the dead. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:07.199 Paul's not saying, I wish there could be a resurrection of the dead. 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:11.839 He's expressing confidence that there will be a resurrection from the dead. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:14.160 Romans 5, verses 2 to 5. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:23.759 We have obtained access through Christ by faith into the grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:32.799 Not only that, we boast in afflictions, because affliction produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:42.480 This hope, Romans says, will not disappoint us because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:46.240 Christian hope, friends, never disappoints. 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:52.080 Here in Titus 2, we're waiting for something. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:54.159 We haven't received it yet. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:56.159 That's why it's hope. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:58.720 We're waiting for someone. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.440 He hasn't returned in person yet. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:02.720 That's why it's hope. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:04.799 Hope looks ahead. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:11.600 But it's a blessed hope because it will certainly come to pass. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:23.679 Imagine you had a friend and you saw that she posted a picture of a diamond ring and said, feeling blessed. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:27.360 And you called her and said, You're engaged, congratulations. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:30.320 And she says, Oh no, I'm not engaged. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:37.679 I happen to be in the jewelry store and I saw the diamond, and I was, I hope I get married one day, and that just made me feel really blessed. 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:41.519 Like, okay, um, wonderful for you. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:43.440 I'll be praying for you about that. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:51.440 We tend to express the blessings we have now, and our hopes are kind of wished-for hopes. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:55.279 Let me give you another example. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:58.320 I hesitate to use this example. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:06.080 You hope, you hope the Knicks win the NBA finals. 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:13.039 Now, I'm afraid I might have just lost 20% of you for the rest of the sermon. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:17.679 That's why I said I hesitate to use the example. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:20.799 But it does work so well. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:27.759 So even if I lost some of you, at least keep in mind, if nothing else, Christian hope is certain. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.320 And that's the point of the example. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:35.039 We hope for things that we want to happen, but we can't be certain. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:44.879 You might have more hope now after two games than you had to start the series, but you still can't be certain. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:48.879 That's not the case with Christian hope. 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:56.960 Christian hope is always going to come to pass because God inevitably will be victorious. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:06.559 So, what is the hope that we can be so certain about? 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:10.000 What is this blessed hope that we're waiting for? 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:16.240 Verse 13 again tells us it's the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:18.639 A lot packed into that description. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:23.759 One of the things it shows us is that Jesus Christ is truly and fully God. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:26.240 You hear the connection there, he's not a mere man. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:33.679 So again, when he promises something, it's certainly going to come to pass because he has all the power of Almighty God to bring it to pass. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:37.519 He's the eternal Son who in time took on human nature. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:40.879 He is not a mere man, he is the blessed and only God. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:48.559 Notice also, though, when Paul speaks here, he doesn't speak of Christ's return. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:52.399 He speaks of the glorious appearing. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:58.240 Yes, that's going to take place when Jesus returns from heaven. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:08.000 But his focus here is not just on an event that will take place, it's about the glory of that event. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:14.480 We're waiting for something awe-inspiring. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:28.240 2 Thessalonians 1:10 speaks of the day when Jesus comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at by all those who have believed. 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:30.399 The same idea here. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:42.799 People don't eagerly wait for Halley's Comet merely because it's rare once every seventy-six years. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:47.919 I mean, the Knicks winning a championship is rare. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:56.639 They wait for Haley's Comet because it's special and to some degree spectacular. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:13:04.639 The appearing of the glory of Christ is going to be spectacular. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:16.799 Long beach sunsets, northern lights, Grand Canyon, none of those spectacular things will compare with the glory of Christ when he returns. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:31.919 We're going to see God in theological terms, it's called the beatific vision, the sight that makes one happy, or you could even say the sight that makes one blessed. 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:35.840 This is the hope of the saints throughout the years. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:37.279 You see this in scripture. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:40.320 We read about it in the scripture passage this morning. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:45.200 Moses prays, God, show me your glory. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:47.279 Psalm 27, 4. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.759 I have asked one thing from the Lord. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:57.039 It's what I desire to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:58.480 Matthew 5, 8. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.159 Blessed are the pure in heart. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:01.840 Blessed are the pure in heart. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:02.559 Why? 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.559 Because they will see God. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:07.600 1 Corinthians 13, 12. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:13.759 Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:19.440 Now I know in part, then I will know fully as I am fully known. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:24.799 Revelation 22, 4 summarizes the future hope. 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:26.480 They will see his face. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.559 R.C. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:36.799 Sproul says, This is the ultimate prize, the ultimate goal for every Christian. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:48.480 Yes, we're called to live godly while we wait, because the ultimate goal and hope is this experience of God that is still in some ways yet future. 00:14:48.480 --> 00:15:11.039 Another person from church history says, This vision of the glory of God in Christ surpasses all earthly beauty of gold, of silver, of groves and field, the beauty of sea and air, the beauty of the sun and moon, the beauty of stars, of angels, surpassing all things, because from it all things are beautiful. 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:19.759 Jonathan Edwards, this will be the most glorious sight that the saints will ever see with their bodily eyes. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:26.080 There will be more happiness and pleasure from this sight than any other. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:35.039 He says this the eyes of the resurrection body will be given to us chiefly to behold this sight. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:47.120 The disciples got just a small taste of this beatific vision, this blessed hope of the appearing of the glory of Christ. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:51.919 They got a small taste of that on the Mount of Transfiguration, those three. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:53.919 And what do they say? 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:56.480 Lord, it's good for us to be here. 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:58.720 Let's set up some tabernacles right here. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:01.600 Let's just, let's just never let's just worship here. 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:05.279 And that is our hope for eternity. 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:22.639 The glory that we're going to encounter when he appears, it it ranges beyond not just visible beauty and splendor, it includes that, but there's another vantage point of this glory. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:27.919 Verse 13 says, His glory will appear. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:34.080 Verse 11 already told us his glory has appeared. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:36.559 Look at the connection there, same word. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:41.919 When Christ came into the world, we saw God's glory. 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:49.840 Only then it wasn't visibly awe-inspiring. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:56.240 I know you see the medieval artwork, and Mary's holding baby Jesus like a halo and is radiant and light. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:58.320 He probably just looked like a baby. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:06.079 The scripture says there was no, to use the King James lines, there's no form or comeliness that we should desire him. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:22.319 But there was still a glory, the glory of his character, showcasing the humility of God with the power of God brought together in one. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:27.680 Righteousness and mercy meeting together in one. 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:31.519 The harmony of all of God's perfections. 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:36.880 And when Christ returns, it will be all these glories wrapped into one. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:48.559 The visible beauty combined with the harmony of beautiful perfections all together in our Savior. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:56.400 Brothers and sisters in Christ, wait for the blessed hope. 00:17:56.400 --> 00:18:04.160 And if you don't have that hope in Christ, come to Him now, and you can have that blessed hope. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:08.160 So that's the first big encouragement for us today. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:10.480 Wait for the blessed hope. 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:13.440 And here's our second encouragement. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:18.160 Now, live in light of the blessed hope. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:23.359 Verse 12 tells us to do something while we're waiting. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:34.160 We should deny godlessness and worldly lusts and live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:39.200 These are not two separate and unrelated things. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:44.960 Like, wait for the hope, and while you're at it, you might as well try to do some godly things. 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:51.279 Like I'm waiting for my Uber driver, so I might as well play Candy Crush for a while while I wait for the Uber driver. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:53.440 That's not what God is saying here. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:19:05.839 He's connecting those two things intimately so that the gaze of our souls is fixed on this future hope, and that's gonna move us to live in a godly way in the present age. 00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:11.519 Last week I gave you a little homework. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:26.480 I said, why don't you take this passage and go home and think about how the past grace of God helps you to say no to ungodliness and yes to godliness? 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:37.359 How does it help me say no to the things God doesn't care for and doesn't live out, and say yes to the things that God loves and desires and lives out. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:47.200 This week I'm gonna give us several specific illustrations of what it looks like to live in light of the blessed hope. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:54.880 This is not an exhaustive list by any means whatsoever, but want to give you some handholds to think about and to try to show that connection for us. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:56.640 So several applications. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:58.400 Here's one application. 00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:10.880 Remember that everyone you encounter has a destiny of eternal glory or a destiny of eternal judgment. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:21.200 The blessed hope for believers means that when he comes, we'll be like him because we'll see him as he is. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:34.480 The most annoying Christian in your life right now, one day will be revealed in such glory that you will stand amazed. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:42.079 So treat them now like what they will be, not what they are. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:49.039 The waitress that seems a little slow in getting to your table. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:57.279 If she's not a believer, that appearing of Christ is an appearance of judgment and everlasting shame. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:03.359 You don't need to add on your ungodly berating words in the here and now. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:05.200 Leave that for Christ. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:08.799 Here's another application. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.559 This relates to the first one. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:14.000 Be wary of a judgmental spirit. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:16.480 First Corinthians 4 5. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:29.359 So don't judge anything prematurely before the Lord comes, who will bring to light what's hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:35.200 The appearing of the glory of Christ means that he will set everything right. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:38.559 That's part of the confident hope that we have. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:45.440 But we don't have his infallible wisdom, so we should be slow to judge. 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:49.119 It doesn't mean we should never make judgments in any sense. 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:54.400 The Bible calls churches in some cases to make judgments. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:57.759 But a judgmental spirit is different. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:04.079 That's when we're just regularly Looking to picket people and find the worst in them and assume the worst in them. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:08.000 Don't judge anything prematurely before the Lord comes. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:10.480 Here's another application. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:17.359 Be excited about worshiping God together as a church right now. 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:25.200 When Jesus appears, he's not going to appear for this believer or that believer. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:31.039 In the Old Testament, he sometimes appeared to Moses or to others individually. 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:35.599 He's appearing for all of his people together to be gathered to him. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:38.319 We get a little foretaste of that each week. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:42.240 It's not visibly here, but he's present among his saints. 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:48.640 So in light of the future, great gathering at his appearing, we can worship now in the meantime. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:58.880 Help one another, say no to ungodliness and yes to godliness. 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:02.720 This is kind of a throughout the week application of that last idea. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:11.599 The grace of God in Titus 2.12 instructs us to say no and yes. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:13.920 You hear that language. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:25.200 The grace of God doesn't just instruct Bob or Jen or Janet or David to say no and yes, but us to say no and yes. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:30.319 It instructs us while we wait. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:32.720 We're all in this together. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.559 So help one another. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:47.599 Part of our church covenant for the members of this church is our desire to demonstrate a Christian lifestyle as evidenced by holiness, the fruit of the Spirit, and obedience to all of Christ's commands. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:50.640 That's what we strive together to do. 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:54.000 Another application. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.839 I told you I had several here. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:24:00.480 Live as citizens of another place. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:05.200 Live as citizens of another place. 00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:17.119 Next week, Pastor Doug's going to lead us into Titus chapter three, where we're told to submit to earthly rulers and authorities. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:22.880 We can do that because we're waiting for the king of beauty. 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:27.599 We don't have ultimate certainty in earthly political leaders. 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:34.799 They're going to disappoint us, but we can submit to them because we're submitting to a greater king. 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:38.000 Philippians 3, verse 20. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:44.480 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a savior from there. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:52.880 The same language of eagerly waiting for Christ appearing, knowing our citizenship ultimately is there. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:56.160 We're New Jerusalem people, first and foremost. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:25:04.000 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:11.359 No earthly political transformation can have that kind of ultimate effect. 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:14.960 So we're living as citizens of another place. 00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:20.000 I'm not saying you shouldn't be patriotic. 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:22.720 Some of you are looking at me very suspiciously. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:26.880 It's great to be patriotic for your country. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:31.119 We're coming up on the 250th anniversary of this particular country. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:33.119 The World Cup is coming up. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:38.720 I mean, I'm going to be flying a flag more hardly than anyone during those World Cup soccer games. 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:43.519 If you come to my house, don't come with another country's flag for a World Cup match. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:26:01.599 But whatever countries you might be from, as much as you can love and enjoy and be thankful for those countries, our ultimate, I'm using that word intentionally, our ultimate citizenship, far and above those earthly loyalties and allegiances, is the kingdom of heaven. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:06.960 Another example in application. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:11.759 Preach as a dying man to dying men. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:14.160 It's a quote from Richard Baxter. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:20.799 I throw it in for myself a little selfishly, but listen to the connection Paul makes in 2 Timothy 4. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:41.119 I solemnly charge you, Paul's writing to Timothy, before God in Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing, same connection as we see in this passage, because of his appearing in his kingdom, preach the word. 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:44.640 Be ready in season and out of season. 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:49.519 Correct, rebuke, encourage with great patience and teaching. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:56.720 When you preach, it can be tempting to think you're not really doing anything. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:27:03.920 Some of you go to work, and at the end of two days, an entire house has electricity. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:06.559 You can flip on the light and boom, there it is. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.400 It's amazing. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:18.319 Some of you go to work and you make a meal, and people eat the meal and they say that was delicious, and they walk out the door and they have the rest of their day. 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:27.279 Sometimes when you preach, people say thanks, great sermon, and they come back the next week and it can seem like nothing really happened. 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:29.839 That's not very godly thinking. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.119 You're right, it's not. 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:46.480 That's why I need this encouragement to preach, not merely because of any human response or lack of a response, but to preach because the judge of all people is going to appear. 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:50.480 And I'm I'm have to speak on his behalf. 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:53.680 That's overwhelming but urgently necessary. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:59.200 Just a couple more here for us. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:07.680 Grow in your spiritual gifts by eagerly waiting for the blessed hope. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:13.440 You might think, I just I'm not that useful in the body. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:15.200 I'm not preaching. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:17.680 You are hopefully giving the word to people. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:19.119 You can have the hope there. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:22.400 But I I don't know what my spiritual gifts are. 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:27.839 Are you eagerly waiting for the blessed hope of the appearing of Christ? 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:31.680 What does that have to do with it? 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:33.759 Yeah, yes, I I I'm doing that. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:34.960 I should do that. 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:39.119 How does that help my spiritual gifts? 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:42.559 Listen to 1 Corinthians 1:7. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:54.160 So that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:57.440 I I told you this connection is all over the Bible. 00:28:57.440 --> 00:29:00.400 It's not just here in Titus chapter 2. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:09.839 If you're eagerly waiting for the Lord to come back, you want to see him. 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:15.440 And the more you think about that, the more you'll want to serve him. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:22.640 And the more you jump in and serve, the Lord will sort out your gifts. 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:29.039 You don't have to have an angel come and tell you precisely what your spiritual gifts are. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:32.079 Look for needs. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:37.440 And because you love the Lord and you love his body, see a need and jump in and seek to serve. 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:42.240 And the Lord will start sorting out your gifts and your passions, and others can help you in those things. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:44.240 And there's a lot more we could say about it. 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:51.440 But wait for the blessed hope and step in now in light of that blessed hope. 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:55.759 Last one for us today. 00:29:55.759 --> 00:30:05.599 View all your relationships in light of your eternal relationship to Jesus. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:18.640 We have hit on that in other ways here in these applications, but all the best you have, or wish you could have, or wish was different. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:30.640 There is someone coming who's described in Revelation as a rider on a white horse who is faithful and true. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:36.319 It's described as the marriage supper of the Lamb. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:43.279 That's why Paul can say in 2 Corinthians 11, 2 to the Church of Corinth, I'm jealous for you. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:55.359 I'm jealous with a godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:31:01.920 Then the skies will part as the trumpet sounds. 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:09.839 We sing that song, hope of heaven or the fear of hell, and the bride will run to her lover's arms, giving glory to Emmanuel. 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:12.640 That day is coming. 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:15.119 That relationship is already secure. 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:22.160 We can begin to experience it now, but one day it will be even more glorious. 00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:26.960 So thank God for those echoes of that relationship. 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:33.519 Be patient in the uncertainties or pains that fall far short of that relationship. 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:38.400 But we all share this glorious destiny as the bride of Christ. 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:54.000 That's just a small, I know I gave you a lot, that's just a small sampling of the many ways Scripture says, live now in light of the blessed hope to come. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:58.799 Dear friends, John echoes what Paul says here. 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:02.480 When he appears, we'll be like him because we'll see him as he is. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:04.880 That takes time. 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:10.480 Waiting takes purposed attention and focus of heart. 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:21.440 John Owen said, No one will ever behold the glory of Christ by sight in heaven who doesn't behold it by faith in this world. 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:27.759 So come to the Lord, say, Lord, I believe. 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:29.519 Help my unbelief. 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:33.920 I have that spiritual sight, but I want, I want more of that spiritual sight. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:36.799 I have that hope, but I want more of it. 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:54.480 Take time daily to just lay aside the cares of this world, sometimes legitimate cares, but to lay those aside and say, Lord Jesus, come quickly. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:33:00.480 And be assured, have the confident expectation, the blessing that He'll come quickly. 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.839 Let's pray. 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:09.680 Oh Lord, we want to spend our days in prayer. 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:16.720 We want to spend our days in patient labor, in a blessed hope. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:20.079 Thank you for the assurance that we have. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:25.279 Thank you for the freedom it gives our hearts, the freedom we have to live in the world. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:29.039 Because the end of all things is certain and it's near. 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:36.160 And we're not merely waiting for an event, we're waiting for the sun from heaven. 00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:41.200 Christ, we long for your return. 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:44.480 We long to see you face to face. 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:48.880 We long to be fully transformed. 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:52.400 We want to see the King and his beauty. 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:55.759 Lord, open the eyes of our hearts more now. 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:58.400 Open the eyes of our hearts this week. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:06.720 Open our hearts as we as we, with spiritual eyes, gaze on these visible elements you've left for us. 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:22.480 Not glorious in comparison to the visible coming of our King, but glorious because they visibly teach us and show us much about our good and gracious King. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:34.320 Give us glorious joy and peace of mind and heart as we participate together now in singing and in your supper. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:36.320 In Jesus' name, Amen.