1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:03,660 This message is one of the Times Square 2 00:00:03,660 --> 00:00:04,780 pulpit series. 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,600 It was recorded in the sanctuary of Times 4 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,200 Square Church in Manhattan, New York City. 5 00:00:10,860 --> 00:00:13,440 Other tapes are available by writing to World 6 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:18,600 Challenge, P.O. Box 260, Lindale, Texas, 75771, 7 00:00:19,140 --> 00:00:22,940 or calling 214-963-8626. 8 00:00:23,780 --> 00:00:26,480 None of these messages are copyrighted, and you 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,920 are welcome to make copies for free distribution 10 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:29,960 to your friends. 11 00:00:31,479 --> 00:00:33,980 I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou 12 00:00:33,980 --> 00:00:37,360 hast lifted me up, and hast not made 13 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,400 my foes to rejoice over me. 14 00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:42,980 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, 15 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:44,300 and thou hast healed me. 16 00:00:45,500 --> 00:00:47,560 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul 17 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:49,940 from the grave, thou hast kept me alive, 18 00:00:50,260 --> 00:00:52,080 that I should not go down to the 19 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:52,360 pit. 20 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,040 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of 21 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,520 his, and give thanks at the remembrance of 22 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:00,020 his holiness. 23 00:01:01,220 --> 00:01:04,099 For his anger endureth but a moment. 24 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,260 In his favorous life, weeping may endure for 25 00:01:10,260 --> 00:01:14,480 a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 26 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:22,260 Amen. 27 00:01:23,980 --> 00:01:26,880 I think Sister Gwen had an idea of 28 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,960 what my message was tonight, and that's why 29 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:32,420 she had the choir sing that. 30 00:01:34,340 --> 00:01:35,820 Joy cometh in the morning. 31 00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:36,820 Amen. 32 00:01:37,320 --> 00:01:37,600 Amen. 33 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:38,800 Lord, we thank you. 34 00:01:39,420 --> 00:01:41,560 We thank you for the great joy that 35 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:42,240 we have. 36 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,500 Lord, what great joy and victory we feel 37 00:01:44,500 --> 00:01:45,080 here tonight. 38 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:46,460 Hallelujah. 39 00:01:47,380 --> 00:01:47,940 Hallelujah. 40 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:49,160 Glory to God. 41 00:01:49,220 --> 00:01:53,440 Lord, we're just being swept up in the 42 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,300 flow of your Spirit in this meeting. 43 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:57,180 Thank you, Lord. 44 00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:58,480 Hallelujah. 45 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,980 Lord, thank you for the joy that has 46 00:02:02,980 --> 00:02:05,040 come in the morning and will continue to 47 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:05,400 come. 48 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,720 And Lord, tonight you put on my heart 49 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,380 to talk about that morning. 50 00:02:11,820 --> 00:02:12,380 Hallelujah. 51 00:02:12,580 --> 00:02:15,020 A morning like no other morning will ever 52 00:02:15,020 --> 00:02:16,000 be. 53 00:02:17,580 --> 00:02:20,200 That morning when we'll be with you forever. 54 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:20,720 Hallelujah. 55 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:25,160 Lord, all of our joy, all of our 56 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:26,800 mornings point to that morning. 57 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,400 All of our joy points to that joy. 58 00:02:32,140 --> 00:02:33,220 Lord, we thank you. 59 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:34,780 We have a measure of it now, but 60 00:02:34,780 --> 00:02:35,780 it's only in part. 61 00:02:36,260 --> 00:02:38,900 Now we know in part, but then face 62 00:02:38,900 --> 00:02:39,580 to face. 63 00:02:40,300 --> 00:02:41,320 Bless your people. 64 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:42,120 Bless your word. 65 00:02:42,220 --> 00:02:44,560 Lord, touch people's lives here tonight. 66 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,000 Lord, there are some who, while we rejoice, 67 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,680 may not be able to rejoice because they 68 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,120 do not know the source of the joy 69 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:54,160 that you've given us. 70 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,240 And so, Lord, reach out through this auditorium 71 00:02:57,240 --> 00:02:57,740 tonight. 72 00:02:58,540 --> 00:03:00,840 Those that do not know you, those who 73 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:05,560 are backslidden, those who have something that has 74 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,040 robbed them of that joy. 75 00:03:07,580 --> 00:03:10,000 Lord, minister to their hearts, we pray tonight 76 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:11,040 in Jesus' name. 77 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:11,980 Amen. 78 00:03:12,820 --> 00:03:13,760 You may be seated. 79 00:03:19,710 --> 00:03:21,610 Tonight I want to talk to you about 80 00:03:21,610 --> 00:03:25,790 some reasons why there is, for the true 81 00:03:25,790 --> 00:03:28,010 believer, joy that cometh in the morning. 82 00:03:31,430 --> 00:03:34,770 However, what morning are we talking about? 83 00:03:36,550 --> 00:03:38,590 When is that morning? 84 00:03:39,690 --> 00:03:43,410 Now, to understand the biblical meaning of morning, 85 00:03:44,010 --> 00:03:48,670 you have to know that God's day began 86 00:03:48,670 --> 00:03:52,310 or begins with an evening and it ends 87 00:03:52,310 --> 00:03:52,950 with a morning. 88 00:03:52,950 --> 00:03:55,810 Ours starts in the morning and ends in 89 00:03:55,810 --> 00:03:56,270 the evening. 90 00:03:56,630 --> 00:04:00,090 God's arrangement is different. 91 00:04:00,150 --> 00:04:01,370 His calendar is different. 92 00:04:02,390 --> 00:04:05,250 We read all through the creation chapter in 93 00:04:05,250 --> 00:04:05,630 Genesis. 94 00:04:05,870 --> 00:04:07,850 The evening and the morning was the first 95 00:04:07,850 --> 00:04:08,250 day. 96 00:04:09,110 --> 00:04:11,330 The evening and the morning was the second 97 00:04:11,330 --> 00:04:11,630 day. 98 00:04:11,730 --> 00:04:13,890 The evening and the morning were the third 99 00:04:13,890 --> 00:04:14,190 day. 100 00:04:15,790 --> 00:04:18,690 Now all of that has a spiritual application. 101 00:04:18,850 --> 00:04:20,529 There are many ways that that can be 102 00:04:20,529 --> 00:04:20,970 applied. 103 00:04:22,070 --> 00:04:25,470 For example, before we came to Christ, it 104 00:04:25,470 --> 00:04:26,110 was evening. 105 00:04:28,370 --> 00:04:31,750 For the man of the world, the man 106 00:04:31,750 --> 00:04:34,610 that does not know the Lord, his life 107 00:04:34,610 --> 00:04:35,670 begins in the morning. 108 00:04:36,550 --> 00:04:39,050 It begins with a morning of opportunity, but 109 00:04:39,050 --> 00:04:41,190 it always ends in the evening of despair. 110 00:04:43,070 --> 00:04:45,790 But as a Christian, when you come to 111 00:04:45,790 --> 00:04:47,990 Christ, it was evening, it was dark. 112 00:04:48,790 --> 00:04:50,950 And in fact, some of you were saved 113 00:04:50,950 --> 00:04:52,090 at the midnight hour. 114 00:04:53,470 --> 00:04:55,570 You were near death, you were near destruction 115 00:04:55,570 --> 00:04:57,930 until a light shone into your darkness. 116 00:04:58,570 --> 00:05:01,370 And thereafter, it has been joy that cometh 117 00:05:01,370 --> 00:05:01,990 in the morning. 118 00:05:02,710 --> 00:05:05,370 And morning after morning after morning. 119 00:05:06,710 --> 00:05:09,170 In fact, your morning has been turned to 120 00:05:09,170 --> 00:05:09,530 morning. 121 00:05:13,420 --> 00:05:16,300 In 2 Peter 1.9 says, we have 122 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:19,360 now also a more sure word of prophecy, 123 00:05:19,500 --> 00:05:20,800 meaning the scripture. 124 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,180 Where unto you do well that you take 125 00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:26,520 heed as a light that shineth in a 126 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:28,800 dark place until the day dawn. 127 00:05:29,580 --> 00:05:34,140 And the day star, the day star arise 128 00:05:34,140 --> 00:05:35,040 in your hearts. 129 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:39,440 There's only one way that you can experience 130 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:40,740 joy in the morning. 131 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,620 And that is by having the day star, 132 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,440 which is Jesus, arise in your heart. 133 00:05:50,180 --> 00:05:53,780 Now, not only do we have that experience. 134 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:56,660 We not only pass from the darkness of 135 00:05:56,660 --> 00:05:58,620 sin to the morning of salvation. 136 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,280 But from time to time, we pass through 137 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:04,540 nights of sorrow. 138 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:08,800 Nights of sadness, nights of suffering and pain 139 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:09,480 and sickness. 140 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:14,000 But even in these things, thank God, the 141 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,600 evening of sorrow always is followed by a 142 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:18,620 morning of joy. 143 00:06:21,350 --> 00:06:25,190 A preacher friend loves to quote a verse 144 00:06:25,190 --> 00:06:27,670 which is found from Genesis to Revelation. 145 00:06:27,670 --> 00:06:30,870 I was sharing with him one time a 146 00:06:30,870 --> 00:06:33,370 particular experience, a particular burden. 147 00:06:33,810 --> 00:06:36,250 And he said, Don, he said, don't forget, 148 00:06:36,610 --> 00:06:40,190 you know, whatever has happened, it comes to 149 00:06:40,190 --> 00:06:40,690 pass. 150 00:06:42,860 --> 00:06:43,820 It comes to pass. 151 00:06:46,180 --> 00:06:49,740 And for example, that little phrase is all 152 00:06:49,740 --> 00:06:50,480 through the scripture. 153 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:53,800 It says of Jesus, and it came to 154 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,260 pass that he did this. 155 00:06:55,780 --> 00:06:57,780 It came to pass that he said that. 156 00:06:57,780 --> 00:07:00,020 It came to pass that this happened in 157 00:07:00,020 --> 00:07:00,600 his life. 158 00:07:00,980 --> 00:07:03,400 And as I was sharing with this particular 159 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,460 minister friend about a particular situation I was 160 00:07:07,460 --> 00:07:07,900 going through. 161 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,700 He said, Don, remember that thing you're going 162 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:11,980 through. 163 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,020 It came to pass. 164 00:07:13,980 --> 00:07:16,140 I said, you know, sir, that's very profound. 165 00:07:16,260 --> 00:07:16,760 Thank you. 166 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:17,600 It did. 167 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:18,880 It came to pass. 168 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,120 It came to pass away. 169 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,760 Our evening of sorrow always comes to pass 170 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,440 because God brings us into the joy of 171 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:28,180 a new morning. 172 00:07:30,550 --> 00:07:33,010 But tonight I want to speak about a 173 00:07:33,010 --> 00:07:34,710 joy that cometh in the morning. 174 00:07:35,470 --> 00:07:38,050 I refer to a morning that is coming. 175 00:07:38,830 --> 00:07:41,910 A final morning that will never again be 176 00:07:41,910 --> 00:07:44,550 followed by another evening or another night. 177 00:07:46,190 --> 00:07:50,110 Right now we are hurrying through the nightmare 178 00:07:50,110 --> 00:07:52,930 of our human and earthly experience. 179 00:07:54,370 --> 00:07:57,890 The shadows are dark and ominous. 180 00:07:58,510 --> 00:07:59,730 And they're menacing. 181 00:08:00,690 --> 00:08:03,170 But there is a morning coming that will 182 00:08:03,170 --> 00:08:04,750 surpass all mornings. 183 00:08:05,830 --> 00:08:08,570 And this particular morning will be followed by 184 00:08:08,570 --> 00:08:10,270 a day that will never end. 185 00:08:13,030 --> 00:08:16,050 The night that you are passing through right 186 00:08:16,050 --> 00:08:17,890 now is only temporary. 187 00:08:18,870 --> 00:08:22,030 And when the morning that I'm referring to 188 00:08:22,030 --> 00:08:24,410 comes, there will be no more sorrow. 189 00:08:25,110 --> 00:08:26,810 No more sadness. 190 00:08:27,190 --> 00:08:28,190 No more suffering. 191 00:08:28,570 --> 00:08:29,450 No more pain. 192 00:08:29,730 --> 00:08:30,650 No more sickness. 193 00:08:30,910 --> 00:08:32,090 No more temptation. 194 00:08:32,490 --> 00:08:33,870 No more separations. 195 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,760 It's a time when, as the songwriter has 196 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:44,420 said, one glimpse of his dear face, all 197 00:08:44,420 --> 00:08:46,440 sorrows will erase. 198 00:08:48,060 --> 00:08:51,180 Oh, that's the joy, my friend, that's coming 199 00:08:51,180 --> 00:08:51,820 in the morning. 200 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:56,540 I was driving my car a week or 201 00:08:56,540 --> 00:08:57,140 so ago. 202 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:01,540 And the Holy Spirit came and filled that 203 00:09:01,540 --> 00:09:05,060 glorified piece of junk that I drive. 204 00:09:10,310 --> 00:09:13,590 The Holy Spirit filled that place, filled that 205 00:09:13,590 --> 00:09:14,750 car. 206 00:09:15,530 --> 00:09:18,750 And I started thinking about the things that 207 00:09:18,750 --> 00:09:21,070 are going to be over when we get 208 00:09:21,070 --> 00:09:22,970 to heaven and when we see Jesus. 209 00:09:24,070 --> 00:09:26,550 And I want to tell you, I had 210 00:09:26,550 --> 00:09:27,110 to watch it. 211 00:09:27,190 --> 00:09:30,070 Because when that happens, I forget about the 212 00:09:30,070 --> 00:09:31,310 speed and forget about everything. 213 00:09:31,370 --> 00:09:35,090 It seems like my foot accelerates. 214 00:09:35,330 --> 00:09:38,370 Because, you know, when the presence of God 215 00:09:38,370 --> 00:09:40,230 gets heavy, then my foot gets heavy. 216 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:46,460 Officer, I was just thinking about heaven. 217 00:09:49,900 --> 00:09:51,260 Oh yeah, oh yeah. 218 00:09:56,610 --> 00:10:00,390 I began to think, first of all, the 219 00:10:00,390 --> 00:10:02,450 one thing, the first thing that thrills my 220 00:10:02,450 --> 00:10:06,190 soul about that morning that's coming is that 221 00:10:06,190 --> 00:10:07,510 the battle will be over. 222 00:10:08,530 --> 00:10:10,210 The battle will be over. 223 00:10:10,390 --> 00:10:13,810 Psalm 46.9 says, He maketh wars to 224 00:10:13,810 --> 00:10:14,250 cease. 225 00:10:15,150 --> 00:10:17,070 And what a day that will be when 226 00:10:17,070 --> 00:10:20,810 our battles, your battle with temptation, your battle 227 00:10:20,810 --> 00:10:23,910 with sin, your battle with trials, your battles 228 00:10:23,910 --> 00:10:26,890 of your marriage, your battles of whatever, they're 229 00:10:26,890 --> 00:10:27,950 all going to be over. 230 00:10:29,050 --> 00:10:30,690 What a day that will be. 231 00:10:32,650 --> 00:10:35,310 A second reason why there will be such 232 00:10:35,310 --> 00:10:37,510 joy in the morning that will never again 233 00:10:37,510 --> 00:10:41,390 be followed by darkness is because, like Apostle 234 00:10:41,390 --> 00:10:43,790 Paul, I'm no longer going to be in 235 00:10:43,790 --> 00:10:46,030 a strait or be in a fix. 236 00:10:47,130 --> 00:10:49,190 And I'll explain that to you in a 237 00:10:49,190 --> 00:10:49,690 few moments. 238 00:10:49,690 --> 00:10:53,710 Because Paul talked about a strait, a dilemma, 239 00:10:54,290 --> 00:10:56,190 a conflict that he was in. 240 00:10:57,210 --> 00:10:58,870 And I want you to see tonight, I'm 241 00:10:58,870 --> 00:11:00,630 going to prove to you that you're in 242 00:11:00,630 --> 00:11:02,030 that same kind of conflict. 243 00:11:02,390 --> 00:11:04,490 And that one day, that conflict is going 244 00:11:04,490 --> 00:11:04,990 to be over. 245 00:11:05,090 --> 00:11:05,410 Hallelujah. 246 00:11:06,470 --> 00:11:09,090 And then finally, a part of the reason 247 00:11:09,090 --> 00:11:11,290 there will be such joy in the morning 248 00:11:11,290 --> 00:11:14,510 of the day we're forever with Christ is 249 00:11:14,510 --> 00:11:18,290 because that which is perfect, that which is 250 00:11:18,290 --> 00:11:19,570 perfect will have come. 251 00:11:20,650 --> 00:11:24,130 These are three things or three reasons why 252 00:11:24,130 --> 00:11:26,990 we ought to have heaven on our mind 253 00:11:27,570 --> 00:11:31,850 and be always looking up because our redemption 254 00:11:31,850 --> 00:11:34,310 and our Redeemer draweth nigh. 255 00:11:34,690 --> 00:11:37,050 Let me go through these things tonight. 256 00:11:38,310 --> 00:11:40,590 First of all, I look forward to the 257 00:11:40,590 --> 00:11:43,450 day when all our battles will be over 258 00:11:43,450 --> 00:11:45,510 and there will be no more wars. 259 00:11:47,170 --> 00:11:50,170 Now, I take you to Psalms 30 because 260 00:11:50,170 --> 00:11:54,510 David wrote Psalms 30 at a time when 261 00:11:54,510 --> 00:11:59,110 a morning of joy followed a long period 262 00:11:59,110 --> 00:11:59,770 of night. 263 00:12:00,970 --> 00:12:05,030 It is believed that Psalms 30 was sung 264 00:12:05,030 --> 00:12:09,830 and was introduced at the occasion of the 265 00:12:09,830 --> 00:12:13,090 dedication of David's house or residence. 266 00:12:13,890 --> 00:12:15,890 The residence of the king. 267 00:12:17,350 --> 00:12:20,970 Now, why would David be so joyful over 268 00:12:20,970 --> 00:12:22,010 building a house? 269 00:12:23,850 --> 00:12:26,650 Doesn't it sound carnal to have the scriptures 270 00:12:26,650 --> 00:12:29,710 record and for David to make such a 271 00:12:29,710 --> 00:12:33,030 big thing and to have such high praise 272 00:12:33,030 --> 00:12:35,590 in his heart because he was building a 273 00:12:35,590 --> 00:12:37,510 house, a palace in Zion. 274 00:12:37,630 --> 00:12:40,910 But that's what many believe that that's the 275 00:12:40,910 --> 00:12:41,450 occasion. 276 00:12:41,690 --> 00:12:43,890 That's what motivated this psalm. 277 00:12:44,550 --> 00:12:46,250 That's why he had joy in the morning. 278 00:12:47,470 --> 00:12:51,150 Now, the reason when you understand what was 279 00:12:51,150 --> 00:12:53,510 going on, the reason he says in verse 280 00:12:53,510 --> 00:12:57,230 1, I will extol thee, O Lord, for 281 00:12:57,230 --> 00:13:00,130 thou hast lifted me up and hast not 282 00:13:00,130 --> 00:13:03,430 made my foes to rejoice over me. 283 00:13:05,030 --> 00:13:08,450 You see, David had made that house of 284 00:13:08,450 --> 00:13:11,930 cedar to live in, but it was not 285 00:13:11,930 --> 00:13:14,430 just a house, it was what it represented. 286 00:13:15,290 --> 00:13:19,010 He was now safely set on the throne 287 00:13:19,010 --> 00:13:19,950 as a king. 288 00:13:21,010 --> 00:13:23,450 He no longer lived in the cave of 289 00:13:23,450 --> 00:13:26,330 Dulem or was going from cave to cave 290 00:13:26,330 --> 00:13:29,430 or mountain to mountain or wilderness to wilderness. 291 00:13:30,350 --> 00:13:32,990 He no longer had to battle against Saul. 292 00:13:33,910 --> 00:13:36,050 He no longer had to go through nights 293 00:13:36,050 --> 00:13:38,630 of being a fugitive and he was hunted 294 00:13:38,630 --> 00:13:40,030 like a common criminal. 295 00:13:42,990 --> 00:13:45,750 And furthermore, he had done nothing to deserve 296 00:13:45,750 --> 00:13:47,730 it except the fact that he had been 297 00:13:47,730 --> 00:13:49,330 God's chosen servant. 298 00:13:51,370 --> 00:13:53,870 And so when he says, I will extol 299 00:13:53,870 --> 00:13:55,830 thee for thou hast lifted me up and 300 00:13:55,830 --> 00:13:58,350 hast not made my foes to rejoice over 301 00:13:58,350 --> 00:13:58,590 me. 302 00:13:58,890 --> 00:14:01,330 David, you see, had had plenty of enemies. 303 00:14:02,190 --> 00:14:05,110 He had enemies during those days when he 304 00:14:05,110 --> 00:14:06,150 fled from Saul. 305 00:14:07,010 --> 00:14:09,690 He even had hidden enemies in his own 306 00:14:09,690 --> 00:14:10,230 camp. 307 00:14:10,810 --> 00:14:13,710 He had enemies in his own household, his 308 00:14:13,710 --> 00:14:14,110 son. 309 00:14:15,370 --> 00:14:17,970 And they had succeeded for a while in 310 00:14:17,970 --> 00:14:19,870 driving him off his throne. 311 00:14:20,850 --> 00:14:24,710 But there came a day for David when 312 00:14:24,710 --> 00:14:28,350 the war ceased and God gave him rest. 313 00:14:29,250 --> 00:14:31,550 Let me give you a little historical background 314 00:14:31,550 --> 00:14:31,910 on it. 315 00:14:32,010 --> 00:14:33,230 You don't need to turn to it, I'll 316 00:14:33,230 --> 00:14:33,670 read it. 317 00:14:33,670 --> 00:14:36,650 2 Samuel 5, 11 and 12, it says, 318 00:14:36,750 --> 00:14:40,590 And Hiram, king of Ira, sent messengers to 319 00:14:40,590 --> 00:14:44,770 David and cedar trees and carpenters and maces 320 00:14:44,770 --> 00:14:46,850 and built David a house. 321 00:14:47,690 --> 00:14:50,610 And David perceived that the Lord had established 322 00:14:50,610 --> 00:14:53,730 him king over Israel and that he had 323 00:14:53,730 --> 00:14:56,890 exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 324 00:14:58,430 --> 00:15:01,670 Two chapters later, verse 1, listen to what 325 00:15:01,670 --> 00:15:02,290 it says. 326 00:15:02,290 --> 00:15:04,870 And it came to pass. 327 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:08,720 And it came to pass. 328 00:15:08,820 --> 00:15:10,040 What came to pass? 329 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,280 David's dark night and evening of warfare with 330 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,360 Saul had passed away. 331 00:15:17,300 --> 00:15:19,660 It came to pass when the king sat 332 00:15:19,660 --> 00:15:22,820 in his house and the Lord had given 333 00:15:22,820 --> 00:15:25,700 him rest round about from all his enemies. 334 00:15:27,060 --> 00:15:30,240 No wonder we hear him extolling the Lord 335 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:31,320 in Psalms 30. 336 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:35,960 He's rejoicing because, you see, the battle is 337 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:36,380 over. 338 00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:40,720 He is set now on the throne. 339 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,400 He's finally come into his rightful inheritance. 340 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:48,100 And let me tell you something, you'd extol 341 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:50,740 the Lord too if you were sitting in 342 00:15:50,740 --> 00:15:53,760 your apartment or your house instead of sitting 343 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,120 in a cave and having the whole nation 344 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:57,260 looking for you. 345 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,120 And to see who would be the first 346 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:05,320 one to spot David and go and squeal 347 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:07,320 on him and tell Saul so Saul could 348 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:07,960 find him. 349 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,480 And David's dark night as an enemy of 350 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:13,460 Saul was over. 351 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,540 And now he has a morning of joy. 352 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:18,140 He sits in his house. 353 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:20,940 And all I want to tell you, my 354 00:16:20,940 --> 00:16:23,360 friend, one of these days you and I 355 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:24,780 are going to sit in our house. 356 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:25,220 Hallelujah. 357 00:16:25,780 --> 00:16:28,520 And the battle's going to be over. 358 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:29,880 Glory to God. 359 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:32,080 The battle's going to be over. 360 00:16:33,700 --> 00:16:35,980 David goes on and he talks about two 361 00:16:35,980 --> 00:16:36,940 other things here. 362 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,020 Verse 2, he said, Oh Lord my God, 363 00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:42,080 I cried unto thee and thou hast healed 364 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:42,500 me. 365 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,640 He does also believe that because David was 366 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,460 living as he was as a fugitive that 367 00:16:50,460 --> 00:16:52,380 he wasn't eating proper. 368 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,280 He got sick and in fact it is 369 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,620 believed that he may have been even right 370 00:16:58,620 --> 00:16:59,400 near death. 371 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:03,500 And in his sickness David cries to the 372 00:17:03,500 --> 00:17:06,520 Lord and he thanks God for healing him 373 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:06,980 physically. 374 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:10,339 And even emotionally he was at the point 375 00:17:10,339 --> 00:17:10,839 of despair. 376 00:17:11,099 --> 00:17:13,420 Verse 3, Oh Lord thou hast brought up 377 00:17:13,420 --> 00:17:14,780 my soul from the grave. 378 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:16,520 Thou hast kept me alive that I should 379 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:17,800 not go down to the pit. 380 00:17:19,900 --> 00:17:22,920 But you see all of David's experiences are 381 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:26,140 a reminder of the battles that believers, you 382 00:17:26,140 --> 00:17:28,360 and I, are continually engaged in. 383 00:17:29,420 --> 00:17:31,940 And in verse 5, if you have Psalms 384 00:17:31,940 --> 00:17:35,740 30 open, let me read it to you 385 00:17:35,740 --> 00:17:36,100 again. 386 00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:39,360 And David states this wonderful truth about the 387 00:17:39,360 --> 00:17:42,200 evening and the night of his trials and 388 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:42,820 tribulation. 389 00:17:42,940 --> 00:17:46,220 He says for his anger endureth for a 390 00:17:46,220 --> 00:17:46,500 moment. 391 00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:51,360 You see David during this time has moments 392 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:52,580 of self-doubt. 393 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,600 He has moments when he wonders even does 394 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,760 God love him because of all that he's 395 00:17:58,760 --> 00:17:59,640 going through. 396 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,720 And so he says that it appeared even 397 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:05,800 that God was angry with him for a 398 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:06,140 moment. 399 00:18:06,380 --> 00:18:09,600 But he said there's only a moment because 400 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:11,440 in his favor is life. 401 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,440 Weeping may endure for a night but joy 402 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:15,500 comes in the morning. 403 00:18:17,140 --> 00:18:19,120 And my friend this has a lot of 404 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:21,340 applications but one of them I make to 405 00:18:21,340 --> 00:18:24,100 you tonight is that it speaks to me 406 00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:26,820 of the morning of the day of the 407 00:18:26,820 --> 00:18:27,240 Lord. 408 00:18:28,020 --> 00:18:30,800 And that day when all of our battle, 409 00:18:30,940 --> 00:18:33,240 I look forward to that day my friend 410 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,300 because all our battles are going to be 411 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:37,340 over, hallelujah. 412 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,080 There will be no more souls, there will 413 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:43,980 be no more sickness, there will be no 414 00:18:43,980 --> 00:18:44,740 more weeping. 415 00:18:48,030 --> 00:18:52,590 Paul said it well, 2 Corinthians 7.5 416 00:18:52,590 --> 00:18:57,250 he says for when we were coming to 417 00:18:57,250 --> 00:18:59,730 Macedonia our flesh had no rest. 418 00:19:00,470 --> 00:19:03,770 We were troubled on every side, there was 419 00:19:03,770 --> 00:19:06,540 fighting within and fighting and fears without. 420 00:19:09,290 --> 00:19:11,550 No wonder when you read some of the 421 00:19:11,550 --> 00:19:13,850 things that Paul went through, turn with me 422 00:19:13,850 --> 00:19:16,290 to 2 Timothy chapter 4. 423 00:19:16,290 --> 00:19:22,710 No wonder when his journeys, after all of 424 00:19:22,710 --> 00:19:27,330 his journeys, he writes this to us in 425 00:19:27,330 --> 00:19:29,810 2 Timothy the 4th chapter. 426 00:19:29,950 --> 00:19:33,790 It's a familiar passage but you have to 427 00:19:33,790 --> 00:19:36,830 understand it in the context of what was 428 00:19:36,830 --> 00:19:38,070 going on in his life. 429 00:19:40,590 --> 00:19:43,590 He teaches us what our attitude should be 430 00:19:43,590 --> 00:19:45,850 when it comes time for our departure to 431 00:19:45,850 --> 00:19:46,730 be with Christ. 432 00:19:48,970 --> 00:19:51,810 2 Timothy 4.6 he says for I 433 00:19:51,810 --> 00:19:54,270 am ready, for I am ready to be 434 00:19:54,270 --> 00:19:57,370 offered and the time of my departure is 435 00:19:57,370 --> 00:19:58,070 at hand. 436 00:19:59,730 --> 00:20:01,910 And you know the tone of his letter 437 00:20:01,910 --> 00:20:04,230 is such that Paul is not asking for 438 00:20:04,230 --> 00:20:06,030 comfort or condolence. 439 00:20:07,410 --> 00:20:11,870 He didn't need a sympathy card at that 440 00:20:11,870 --> 00:20:13,070 moment in his life. 441 00:20:14,050 --> 00:20:16,670 Neither did he need some hyper faith person 442 00:20:16,670 --> 00:20:18,490 to come along and say Paul you know 443 00:20:18,490 --> 00:20:21,750 if you just trust God you shouldn't have 444 00:20:21,750 --> 00:20:22,870 those negative thoughts. 445 00:20:25,180 --> 00:20:27,720 You need to rebuke those negative thoughts. 446 00:20:28,740 --> 00:20:31,060 Oh no Paul wasn't thinking about that. 447 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,480 Paul was thinking about the joy that was 448 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:36,080 going to come in the morning and so 449 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,020 he said I'm ready to depart. 450 00:20:40,650 --> 00:20:43,630 And I was studying that word depart because 451 00:20:43,630 --> 00:20:46,710 it's a very interesting word in the Greek 452 00:20:46,710 --> 00:20:49,610 language. 453 00:20:50,750 --> 00:20:53,650 The word depart is very picturesque and it's 454 00:20:53,650 --> 00:20:57,890 applied in their everyday language in various ways. 455 00:20:58,890 --> 00:21:04,910 For example the word depart was used to 456 00:21:04,910 --> 00:21:09,910 refer to the unyoking of an animal from 457 00:21:09,910 --> 00:21:13,090 the shafts of a cart or a plow. 458 00:21:14,470 --> 00:21:18,450 And what David was saying, excuse me what 459 00:21:18,450 --> 00:21:24,110 Paul was saying is that death or departure 460 00:21:24,110 --> 00:21:29,190 or being with Christ was an unyoking from 461 00:21:29,190 --> 00:21:31,470 all of the burdens that he had carried. 462 00:21:32,650 --> 00:21:34,910 And he was saying I'm ready to depart, 463 00:21:35,150 --> 00:21:37,310 I'm ready to be unyoked from all of 464 00:21:37,310 --> 00:21:39,450 this and going to be with Jesus. 465 00:21:41,780 --> 00:21:44,720 I don't know about you but I'm ready 466 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:45,720 to get unyoked. 467 00:21:48,270 --> 00:21:50,710 Do you ever get weary of the heavy 468 00:21:50,710 --> 00:21:51,710 load that you're carrying? 469 00:21:51,770 --> 00:21:53,430 Do you ever feel like an ox that's 470 00:21:53,430 --> 00:21:56,250 carrying a cart of heavy problems and heavy 471 00:21:56,250 --> 00:21:58,370 debts and other problems? 472 00:21:59,330 --> 00:22:02,030 Well listen God will give you strength now 473 00:22:02,030 --> 00:22:04,250 to carry it but also remember one of 474 00:22:04,250 --> 00:22:06,010 these days we're going to be unyoked. 475 00:22:06,650 --> 00:22:08,870 And we're going to exchange a spirit of 476 00:22:08,870 --> 00:22:11,130 heaviness for a garment of praise. 477 00:22:11,890 --> 00:22:13,990 In that morning over there. 478 00:22:16,180 --> 00:22:19,460 But the word for departure in its original 479 00:22:19,460 --> 00:22:22,580 language also is used as a word for 480 00:22:22,580 --> 00:22:24,320 loosening the ropes of a tent. 481 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:28,440 And for Paul you see he was saying 482 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,720 it's time to pull up the stakes and 483 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:34,080 to strike camp again, I'm moving on. 484 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,500 Now he had made many of a journey 485 00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:40,680 across Asia Minor and Europe. 486 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:43,760 And as he did listen to what he 487 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:44,660 had to endure. 488 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:47,760 He said in my travels I have been 489 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,400 in constant danger from rivers and floods. 490 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:56,060 From bandits, from my own countrymen, danger in 491 00:22:56,060 --> 00:22:59,440 high places, danger among false Christians. 492 00:23:00,460 --> 00:23:02,760 I have been through toil and hardship. 493 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,580 I have passed many a sleepless night. 494 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,240 I have endured hunger and thirst. 495 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:10,480 I have often been without food. 496 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,760 I have been cold and I have experienced 497 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:14,540 nakedness. 498 00:23:15,540 --> 00:23:18,660 But besides these things that are without. 499 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:22,740 That which cometh upon me daily the care 500 00:23:22,740 --> 00:23:23,740 of all the churches. 501 00:23:25,180 --> 00:23:28,660 And Paul reflecting back over the perils of 502 00:23:28,660 --> 00:23:29,340 his journey. 503 00:23:29,940 --> 00:23:32,520 He says and when he says now I'm 504 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:32,860 ready. 505 00:23:33,500 --> 00:23:34,840 I'm ready to depart. 506 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:37,020 I'm ready to pull up stakes. 507 00:23:37,020 --> 00:23:40,100 And my friend I don't know about you 508 00:23:40,100 --> 00:23:41,760 but I identify with that. 509 00:23:42,620 --> 00:23:44,860 I'm ready to exchange, I'm ready to pull 510 00:23:44,860 --> 00:23:45,540 up stakes. 511 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,940 There's nothing that's got me held down on 512 00:23:48,940 --> 00:23:49,600 this earth. 513 00:23:50,060 --> 00:23:52,120 I'm ready to pull up stakes for the 514 00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:52,980 last time. 515 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,840 To experience that final joy in the morning. 516 00:24:02,730 --> 00:24:04,650 Now there's another reason. 517 00:24:04,810 --> 00:24:07,390 Go with me to first, excuse me. 518 00:24:07,470 --> 00:24:09,070 Go with me to Philippians. 519 00:24:09,070 --> 00:24:10,930 Go to Philippians chapter 1. 520 00:24:12,730 --> 00:24:14,630 I want you to see something else. 521 00:24:14,830 --> 00:24:16,070 Philippians chapter 1. 522 00:24:18,710 --> 00:24:21,490 Another reason that it will be joy that 523 00:24:21,490 --> 00:24:22,530 cometh in the morning. 524 00:24:23,230 --> 00:24:25,150 When we go to be with the Lord. 525 00:24:25,850 --> 00:24:29,070 Is that never again will we be betwixt. 526 00:24:32,540 --> 00:24:33,760 Have you ever been betwixt? 527 00:24:34,780 --> 00:24:36,640 I'm going to explain it to you. 528 00:24:36,660 --> 00:24:38,280 You don't know it but you are. 529 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:45,540 Listen to Philippians 1.23. He said for 530 00:24:45,540 --> 00:24:47,700 I am in a strait. 531 00:24:49,060 --> 00:24:50,080 I'm in a fix. 532 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,800 I am in a strait and then there's 533 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:55,220 this word. 534 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:56,500 I think the word is not in the 535 00:24:56,500 --> 00:24:56,820 original. 536 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:02,360 I believe it was added by the translators. 537 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:05,940 He said I am in a strait betwixt 538 00:25:05,940 --> 00:25:06,380 two. 539 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:11,420 Having a desire to depart and be with 540 00:25:11,420 --> 00:25:11,900 Christ. 541 00:25:11,900 --> 00:25:13,160 Which is far better. 542 00:25:14,020 --> 00:25:17,060 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more 543 00:25:17,060 --> 00:25:18,000 needful for you. 544 00:25:19,700 --> 00:25:23,160 Now I don't know if you're conscious of 545 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:23,280 it. 546 00:25:24,100 --> 00:25:26,060 I don't know if like Paul you have 547 00:25:26,060 --> 00:25:28,040 ever felt betwixt in this manner. 548 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:35,000 You see betwixt means to be in an 549 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:36,400 intermediate position. 550 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:41,620 Neither altogether one nor altogether another. 551 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:44,500 Let me give it to you again. 552 00:25:45,060 --> 00:25:49,880 Betwixt means to be in an intermediate position. 553 00:25:50,100 --> 00:25:53,720 Neither altogether one nor altogether another. 554 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:58,040 You see Paul had two worlds that are 555 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:00,940 pulling him at him at the same time. 556 00:26:00,940 --> 00:26:05,060 The one from above and the one from 557 00:26:05,060 --> 00:26:07,880 below in which he was involved not in 558 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,560 the world but in ministering to the world. 559 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,020 And so Paul said I'm in a fix. 560 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:16,140 I'm in a dilemma. 561 00:26:16,460 --> 00:26:20,900 I'm betwixt because when I look up I 562 00:26:20,900 --> 00:26:22,060 want to be with the Lord. 563 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:25,320 When I look out on the congregation I 564 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:26,300 want to be with you. 565 00:26:27,020 --> 00:26:28,320 And so here is Paul. 566 00:26:36,550 --> 00:26:38,810 That's what it means to be betwixt. 567 00:26:40,550 --> 00:26:43,890 And he uses the word straight which is 568 00:26:43,890 --> 00:26:44,890 a very heavy word. 569 00:26:44,970 --> 00:26:45,890 It's a strong word. 570 00:26:45,970 --> 00:26:48,070 It's a word that would be used if 571 00:26:48,070 --> 00:26:49,910 you were in prison and they put you 572 00:26:49,910 --> 00:26:51,170 between two prisoners. 573 00:26:51,870 --> 00:26:53,130 You would be in a straight. 574 00:26:54,070 --> 00:26:55,530 You would be in a dilemma. 575 00:26:55,710 --> 00:26:57,830 You would be right and you couldn't move. 576 00:26:59,390 --> 00:27:03,410 And so Paul applies this dilemma and he 577 00:27:03,410 --> 00:27:05,930 feels caught in between this. 578 00:27:07,910 --> 00:27:10,790 Now most of us, many of us experience 579 00:27:10,790 --> 00:27:12,470 the same thing but you don't know it. 580 00:27:12,510 --> 00:27:13,470 Let me prove it to you. 581 00:27:14,210 --> 00:27:15,050 Let me prove it to you. 582 00:27:15,110 --> 00:27:16,910 I want to do a little experiment now 583 00:27:16,910 --> 00:27:20,230 and you got to follow me and you 584 00:27:20,230 --> 00:27:20,930 got to do it. 585 00:27:21,770 --> 00:27:23,850 And I'm not trying to treat you like 586 00:27:23,850 --> 00:27:25,730 students or whatever and this is not a 587 00:27:25,730 --> 00:27:26,010 trick. 588 00:27:26,010 --> 00:27:28,610 I'm not setting you up for anything but 589 00:27:28,610 --> 00:27:30,750 I want to prove to you that you're 590 00:27:30,750 --> 00:27:31,550 just like Paul. 591 00:27:31,630 --> 00:27:32,690 We're just like Paul. 592 00:27:33,950 --> 00:27:35,070 Let me ask you this question. 593 00:27:35,170 --> 00:27:36,610 How many of you want to go to 594 00:27:36,610 --> 00:27:36,850 heaven? 595 00:27:37,850 --> 00:27:39,590 How many of you want to go to 596 00:27:39,590 --> 00:27:39,770 heaven? 597 00:27:39,890 --> 00:27:40,810 Please raise your hand. 598 00:27:42,990 --> 00:27:45,350 Alright, how many of you are ready and 599 00:27:45,350 --> 00:27:48,330 willing now or tomorrow and the near future 600 00:27:48,330 --> 00:27:49,810 to die to get there? 601 00:27:53,250 --> 00:27:55,710 I didn't see as many hands and the 602 00:27:55,710 --> 00:27:58,070 hands that I saw went up very, very 603 00:27:58,070 --> 00:27:58,570 slow. 604 00:28:01,750 --> 00:28:03,990 Now you understand Paul. 605 00:28:04,750 --> 00:28:09,910 Now you understand Philippians 1.23. You see, 606 00:28:10,030 --> 00:28:13,390 you've got yourself in Paul's same straight or 607 00:28:13,390 --> 00:28:13,790 fix. 608 00:28:14,150 --> 00:28:15,650 You want to go to heaven but you 609 00:28:15,650 --> 00:28:17,130 don't want to die to get there. 610 00:28:21,230 --> 00:28:23,830 And one of these days we're no longer 611 00:28:23,830 --> 00:28:26,130 going to be in such a straight, we're 612 00:28:26,130 --> 00:28:27,970 no longer going to be betwixt. 613 00:28:29,150 --> 00:28:32,050 And the reason we're betwixt is that it 614 00:28:32,050 --> 00:28:35,370 doth not yet appear what we shall be. 615 00:28:36,010 --> 00:28:38,410 And oh thank God because if it did 616 00:28:38,410 --> 00:28:40,650 appear what we shall be, none of us 617 00:28:40,650 --> 00:28:41,830 would want to be here. 618 00:28:43,150 --> 00:28:45,210 None of us would want to be here. 619 00:28:45,210 --> 00:28:48,210 And the world would not be evangelized. 620 00:28:50,670 --> 00:28:53,810 Yet we don't belong to this world except 621 00:28:53,810 --> 00:28:56,810 for one reason and that is to sign 622 00:28:56,810 --> 00:28:59,510 up as many people as possible to go 623 00:28:59,510 --> 00:29:00,090 with us. 624 00:29:00,190 --> 00:29:00,490 Hallelujah. 625 00:29:03,550 --> 00:29:07,750 Otherwise only fools and sinners and kingdom now 626 00:29:07,750 --> 00:29:09,430 people would want to stay here. 627 00:29:12,210 --> 00:29:15,210 I'll let Gary North and Earl Polk and 628 00:29:15,210 --> 00:29:16,610 all the rest of them, they can have 629 00:29:16,610 --> 00:29:19,670 it, I'm betwixt, I'm ready to go, hallelujah. 630 00:29:19,930 --> 00:29:22,290 And the only reason I want to stay, 631 00:29:22,530 --> 00:29:24,830 I don't want to run Washington, I want 632 00:29:24,830 --> 00:29:26,830 to save the world, we want to evangelize 633 00:29:26,830 --> 00:29:27,250 the world. 634 00:29:27,410 --> 00:29:29,110 That's the only reason we're here. 635 00:29:30,790 --> 00:29:33,270 You see Paul was in a blessed straight. 636 00:29:34,110 --> 00:29:37,270 Not between two evil things but between two 637 00:29:37,270 --> 00:29:38,110 good things. 638 00:29:38,110 --> 00:29:42,410 Between living for Christ and going to be 639 00:29:42,410 --> 00:29:42,970 with him. 640 00:29:43,530 --> 00:29:47,070 His desire, his inclination was for death. 641 00:29:47,890 --> 00:29:50,550 Now most of us have an aversion to 642 00:29:50,550 --> 00:29:53,530 death but Paul had a preference for death. 643 00:29:53,990 --> 00:29:57,050 He said having a desire to depart and 644 00:29:57,050 --> 00:29:58,150 to be with Christ. 645 00:29:59,610 --> 00:30:04,610 You see Paul's straight was not between living 646 00:30:04,610 --> 00:30:06,490 in this world and living in heaven. 647 00:30:07,650 --> 00:30:10,910 Because between these two there can be no 648 00:30:10,910 --> 00:30:11,670 comparison. 649 00:30:12,630 --> 00:30:16,070 But his straight or his being betwixt was 650 00:30:16,070 --> 00:30:19,690 between serving Christ in this world or enjoying 651 00:30:19,690 --> 00:30:21,010 him in another world. 652 00:30:22,170 --> 00:30:24,070 And yet it was Christ that was in 653 00:30:24,070 --> 00:30:24,630 his heart. 654 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:29,100 And you see we ought to examine our 655 00:30:29,100 --> 00:30:29,560 hearts. 656 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:34,240 Do you feel yourself in such a straight? 657 00:30:35,340 --> 00:30:38,100 Do you know such a state of being 658 00:30:38,100 --> 00:30:41,120 betwixt and between as the expression goes? 659 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,720 There should be only one reason for wanting 660 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:47,120 to abide in the flesh. 661 00:30:48,060 --> 00:30:49,980 And that is to reach the lost and 662 00:30:49,980 --> 00:30:52,380 to minister to others who are not yet 663 00:30:52,380 --> 00:30:52,920 reached. 664 00:30:54,060 --> 00:30:56,280 Otherwise there ought to be something in our 665 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:56,620 heart. 666 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:59,220 And oh if there's anything that I keep 667 00:30:59,220 --> 00:31:02,180 coming back to in messages so often is 668 00:31:02,180 --> 00:31:02,660 this. 669 00:31:02,660 --> 00:31:05,560 Is that the church today has lost its 670 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:08,920 sense of eternity and having eternal values. 671 00:31:09,860 --> 00:31:12,060 And the nearness of the coming of the 672 00:31:12,060 --> 00:31:13,960 Lord and the desire to be with him. 673 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:19,440 The whole me generation concept has infiltrated into 674 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:19,980 the church. 675 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:22,940 And you just don't hear preaching or people 676 00:31:22,940 --> 00:31:25,340 talk so much about wanting to go and 677 00:31:25,340 --> 00:31:26,180 be with the Lord. 678 00:31:31,390 --> 00:31:35,650 The only reason I want to Paul said 679 00:31:35,650 --> 00:31:38,850 it's more needful for you to abide in 680 00:31:38,850 --> 00:31:40,730 the flesh is more needful for you. 681 00:31:41,030 --> 00:31:43,030 That's the only reason that I want to 682 00:31:43,030 --> 00:31:44,610 say otherwise I'm ready to go. 683 00:31:44,830 --> 00:31:46,190 I have nothing holding me. 684 00:31:46,690 --> 00:31:47,690 Nothing holding me. 685 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:55,300 The life principle of a Christian can hardly 686 00:31:55,300 --> 00:31:56,400 be put better. 687 00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:58,520 He said in verse 21 of that first 688 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:00,540 chapter for me to live is Christ and 689 00:32:00,540 --> 00:32:01,660 to die is gain. 690 00:32:01,660 --> 00:32:04,820 In other words you can have your cake 691 00:32:04,820 --> 00:32:05,540 and eat it too. 692 00:32:07,520 --> 00:32:09,660 You got it made no matter what happens. 693 00:32:09,780 --> 00:32:12,160 So we stay, we're staying here for the 694 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:13,020 call of God. 695 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:15,240 But if it wasn't for that I want 696 00:32:15,240 --> 00:32:16,320 to go and be with the Lord. 697 00:32:16,460 --> 00:32:17,160 Praise the Lord. 698 00:32:18,900 --> 00:32:20,860 Don't worry honey the Lord hasn't shown me 699 00:32:20,860 --> 00:32:21,160 anything. 700 00:32:22,900 --> 00:32:23,800 Don't get worried. 701 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:30,460 But if he wants to take me I'm 702 00:32:30,460 --> 00:32:31,100 ready to go. 703 00:32:31,180 --> 00:32:31,520 Hallelujah. 704 00:32:33,020 --> 00:32:34,100 I'm ready to go. 705 00:32:36,610 --> 00:32:39,670 The final reason why it will be joy 706 00:32:39,670 --> 00:32:42,890 in the morning when we depart to be 707 00:32:42,890 --> 00:32:45,250 with Christ is that the perfect will have 708 00:32:45,250 --> 00:32:45,530 come. 709 00:32:46,370 --> 00:32:47,830 The perfect will have come. 710 00:32:47,970 --> 00:32:49,930 Turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 13. 711 00:32:51,430 --> 00:32:52,830 1 Corinthians 13. 712 00:32:54,890 --> 00:32:57,310 This is the end of side one. 713 00:32:57,790 --> 00:33:01,690 Scriptures to those of you that know the 714 00:33:01,690 --> 00:33:02,750 know the word. 715 00:33:03,570 --> 00:33:11,060 1 Corinthians 13 says for we know in 716 00:33:11,060 --> 00:33:14,680 part and we prophesy in part. 717 00:33:15,980 --> 00:33:21,180 Ah but when the perfect comes the partial 718 00:33:21,180 --> 00:33:25,920 that which is in part shall be done 719 00:33:25,920 --> 00:33:26,280 away. 720 00:33:28,420 --> 00:33:32,460 You see the joy that comes in the 721 00:33:32,460 --> 00:33:32,880 morning. 722 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:37,080 That joy that is never followed by an 723 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:37,380 evening. 724 00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:42,500 That joy will be because the perfect will 725 00:33:42,500 --> 00:33:42,980 have come. 726 00:33:44,380 --> 00:33:47,220 1 John 3.2 is a description of 727 00:33:47,220 --> 00:33:47,900 this perfection. 728 00:33:48,780 --> 00:33:51,820 Dear friends we are God's children now. 729 00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:53,800 What shall we be? 730 00:33:54,460 --> 00:33:56,980 What we shall be has not been revealed. 731 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:00,320 But we know but what we know is 732 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:03,260 that when it is revealed we shall be 733 00:34:03,260 --> 00:34:04,100 like him. 734 00:34:05,540 --> 00:34:09,679 The word perfection means completeness and wholeness. 735 00:34:10,659 --> 00:34:13,600 Now I thank God that we have a 736 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:16,219 Christ that is revealed to us now. 737 00:34:17,060 --> 00:34:20,719 A Christ that is sufficient for our redemption. 738 00:34:21,679 --> 00:34:25,139 He's sufficient for everything that we face. 739 00:34:25,139 --> 00:34:28,020 Every evening that we go through every trial 740 00:34:28,020 --> 00:34:30,139 that we go through Christ is sufficient. 741 00:34:32,179 --> 00:34:35,520 Matthew 13.11 Jesus said the secrets of 742 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:37,699 the kingdom of heaven have been given to 743 00:34:37,699 --> 00:34:38,080 you. 744 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:42,239 We have truth that has set us free. 745 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:45,480 And I thank God for that. 746 00:34:46,199 --> 00:34:49,560 Because you see some people are always looking 747 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:53,679 for some new exotic revelation or truth. 748 00:34:54,679 --> 00:34:56,540 But I want to tell you I'm not. 749 00:34:57,160 --> 00:35:00,860 I have everything I need now for righteousness 750 00:35:00,860 --> 00:35:01,940 and holiness. 751 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:06,400 I have Jesus now it says ye are 752 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:07,580 complete in him. 753 00:35:08,760 --> 00:35:11,700 But you see I want more of what 754 00:35:11,700 --> 00:35:12,900 I already have. 755 00:35:13,660 --> 00:35:16,520 And as wonderful as what I have and 756 00:35:16,520 --> 00:35:19,520 know is still it's only in part. 757 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:22,640 And I long for a day when the 758 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:23,700 perfect comes. 759 00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:27,700 You see so many Christians go off track. 760 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:30,740 Or the reason so many go off track 761 00:35:30,740 --> 00:35:32,800 is that they do not search the scriptures. 762 00:35:33,900 --> 00:35:37,980 They're not satisfied with a present revelation of 763 00:35:37,980 --> 00:35:38,500 Christ. 764 00:35:39,260 --> 00:35:41,680 Or they're not willing to wait for when 765 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:42,900 the perfect has come. 766 00:35:43,220 --> 00:35:45,460 And so they keep looking for some new 767 00:35:45,460 --> 00:35:47,580 some mystical revelation. 768 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:50,720 And this is how the enemy traps them. 769 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:54,060 And instead of going towards Christ all of 770 00:35:54,060 --> 00:35:57,240 these mysticisms all of these so-called new 771 00:35:57,240 --> 00:35:57,780 revelation. 772 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:00,380 Simply take them away from Christ. 773 00:36:02,340 --> 00:36:04,920 But my friend I'm looking for a day 774 00:36:04,920 --> 00:36:06,460 not down here on earth. 775 00:36:06,620 --> 00:36:09,140 But I'm looking for a future day when 776 00:36:09,140 --> 00:36:11,000 that which is perfect will come. 777 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:13,100 So that what that which is in part 778 00:36:13,100 --> 00:36:14,380 will be done away with. 779 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:18,420 And when the end is once attained the 780 00:36:18,420 --> 00:36:20,920 means to the end of course will be 781 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:21,620 abolished. 782 00:36:21,780 --> 00:36:23,540 There will be no need of tongues no 783 00:36:23,540 --> 00:36:24,460 need of prophecy. 784 00:36:26,860 --> 00:36:29,540 For you shall see him as he is. 785 00:36:31,860 --> 00:36:34,700 That's why that's why we sing oh what 786 00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:36,020 a day that will be. 787 00:36:37,660 --> 00:36:40,860 And you see our present state in comparison 788 00:36:40,860 --> 00:36:43,240 to what it will be is referred to 789 00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:44,000 by Paul. 790 00:36:44,380 --> 00:36:46,580 As a state of childhood look at it. 791 00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:50,100 He said he follows it up he said 792 00:36:50,100 --> 00:36:52,080 when I was a child I speak as 793 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:52,640 a child. 794 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:55,220 I understood as a child but when I 795 00:36:55,220 --> 00:36:57,540 became a man I put away childish things. 796 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:01,860 Do you know something we you see what 797 00:37:01,860 --> 00:37:03,960 Paul was saying is that right now we're 798 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:04,720 as a child. 799 00:37:06,060 --> 00:37:08,060 But we will be as a man in 800 00:37:08,060 --> 00:37:08,600 eternity. 801 00:37:09,940 --> 00:37:12,280 And what Paul really is saying is very 802 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:12,760 humbling. 803 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:16,140 He says referring to our present spiritual state 804 00:37:16,140 --> 00:37:18,000 he said that even if I prophesy. 805 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:21,460 Even if I was taught the mysteries of 806 00:37:21,460 --> 00:37:23,920 the kingdom of heaven in such an extraordinary 807 00:37:23,920 --> 00:37:24,560 way. 808 00:37:24,680 --> 00:37:27,280 Still I am not out of my childish 809 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:27,700 state. 810 00:37:29,140 --> 00:37:31,800 For all the knowledge of the word that 811 00:37:31,800 --> 00:37:32,700 we may have. 812 00:37:34,060 --> 00:37:36,320 And for all of the books that line 813 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:36,940 my walls. 814 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,900 That my wife feels in an undated with 815 00:37:40,900 --> 00:37:42,920 sometimes I have to sneak books into the 816 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:43,300 house. 817 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:47,360 She says oh no another book. 818 00:37:50,740 --> 00:37:53,960 For all of that and for all of 819 00:37:53,960 --> 00:37:56,220 the years I've been working with walking with 820 00:37:56,220 --> 00:37:58,500 a lot still I only understand as a 821 00:37:58,500 --> 00:37:59,060 child. 822 00:37:59,680 --> 00:38:01,600 I still only speak as a child. 823 00:38:02,940 --> 00:38:06,540 Because that is such the difference between that's 824 00:38:06,540 --> 00:38:09,520 what Paul is stating the difference between our 825 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:11,600 present state and the state which is to 826 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:11,960 come. 827 00:38:13,220 --> 00:38:15,060 And let me tell you if we're ever 828 00:38:15,060 --> 00:38:18,520 tempted to get puffed up by our spiritual 829 00:38:18,520 --> 00:38:18,780 experiences. 830 00:38:19,300 --> 00:38:21,580 If we're ever tempted to get puffed up 831 00:38:21,580 --> 00:38:24,260 by all of the God-given gifts. 832 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:27,420 Or the revelations that he gives us or 833 00:38:27,420 --> 00:38:29,320 the prophetic flow in our lives. 834 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:31,940 Remember we're only into kids stuff. 835 00:38:35,870 --> 00:38:39,070 Spiritually speaking I'm not yet a man. 836 00:38:39,830 --> 00:38:42,410 I still understand as a child I think 837 00:38:42,410 --> 00:38:43,170 as a child. 838 00:38:43,430 --> 00:38:45,790 And as a church bless your heart we 839 00:38:45,790 --> 00:38:48,070 could put over the door Toys R Us. 840 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:55,860 I mean anytime we think we arrived. 841 00:38:56,940 --> 00:38:59,580 Anytime we think we've got it we better 842 00:38:59,580 --> 00:39:00,440 put that up there. 843 00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:03,640 Because Paul said in comparison to what's going 844 00:39:03,640 --> 00:39:04,100 to come. 845 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:06,060 This is only a part of it. 846 00:39:06,460 --> 00:39:07,020 Hallelujah. 847 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:09,320 Until that which is perfect is come. 848 00:39:10,940 --> 00:39:13,900 It is written I have not seen nor 849 00:39:13,900 --> 00:39:16,120 ear heard neither hath it entered into the 850 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:16,740 heart of man. 851 00:39:16,780 --> 00:39:18,920 The things that God has prepared for them 852 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:19,680 that love him. 853 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,180 Oh yes they are revealed by his spirit. 854 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:25,820 But still we're in a state of childhood. 855 00:39:26,980 --> 00:39:30,620 I want to see Jesus because I'll be 856 00:39:30,620 --> 00:39:31,240 a man. 857 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:34,940 Because that which is perfect will have come. 858 00:39:36,140 --> 00:39:39,060 First Corinthians 13 12 says for now we 859 00:39:39,060 --> 00:39:42,040 see through a glass darkly but then face 860 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:42,720 to face. 861 00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:45,060 Now I know in part but then shall 862 00:39:45,060 --> 00:39:47,280 I know even as I'm known. 863 00:39:49,140 --> 00:39:50,120 Think of it. 864 00:39:50,420 --> 00:39:51,820 That's a wonderful thought. 865 00:39:51,820 --> 00:39:55,360 I will recognize Jesus even as he now 866 00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:56,660 recognizes me. 867 00:39:57,160 --> 00:40:00,780 I will understand this completely then as I 868 00:40:00,780 --> 00:40:02,340 am understood by him now. 869 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:07,160 And these are just some reasons tonight. 870 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:08,740 Very simple reasons. 871 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:10,100 Simple message tonight. 872 00:40:10,740 --> 00:40:13,000 Why there's going to be joy in the 873 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:13,520 morning. 874 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:16,140 Our battles will be over. 875 00:40:16,260 --> 00:40:16,580 Hallelujah. 876 00:40:18,860 --> 00:40:20,740 Our battles will be over. 877 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:22,660 We'll no longer be in a straight. 878 00:40:22,660 --> 00:40:25,680 We'll no longer be fixed in that betwixt 879 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:28,420 state that Paul was talking about. 880 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:31,860 And that which is perfect will have come. 881 00:40:32,420 --> 00:40:33,380 Praise his name. 882 00:40:34,220 --> 00:40:36,760 Oh God put eternity in our hearts. 883 00:40:37,460 --> 00:40:40,800 Put the love of his soon coming in 884 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:41,280 our hearts. 885 00:40:41,380 --> 00:40:42,820 Put a love to see him in our 886 00:40:42,820 --> 00:40:43,220 hearts. 887 00:40:43,580 --> 00:40:45,820 May it prevail over our thoughts. 888 00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:48,020 May it be in our minds every single 889 00:40:48,020 --> 00:40:49,280 day that we live. 890 00:40:50,820 --> 00:40:52,060 May we live that way. 891 00:40:53,860 --> 00:40:56,600 These are also some good reasons why you 892 00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:58,120 ought to be ready to meet the Lord. 893 00:40:58,740 --> 00:41:00,500 If you're not ready to meet him. 894 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:02,120 Will you stand with me? 895 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:03,480 Will you stand? 896 00:41:05,500 --> 00:41:08,660 Qualified than those who are less intelligent or 897 00:41:08,660 --> 00:41:09,480 less capable. 898 00:41:09,840 --> 00:41:13,060 But if they have a teachable spirit God 899 00:41:13,060 --> 00:41:14,180 can use them. 900 00:41:14,560 --> 00:41:16,380 And I'll take them any day. 901 00:41:16,480 --> 00:41:17,820 I'll take them any day. 902 00:41:19,700 --> 00:41:22,360 It's easier to mold clay than to chisel 903 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:23,000 a stone. 904 00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:29,260 And when Jesus said to some of his 905 00:41:29,260 --> 00:41:29,820 listeners. 906 00:41:29,940 --> 00:41:31,740 Or what he said to them applies here 907 00:41:31,740 --> 00:41:32,100 tonight. 908 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:32,480 Listen. 909 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:36,480 Matthew 18.3. And he, Jesus said, I 910 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:37,240 tell you the truth.