R1685 One Life

We all could use some encouragement and will find it together today in the Bible based Dr. Don Wilton on the message: one life as we study the word of God together. Let's connect on our website as well as DEW online.org. Many are asking about the resource with Dr. Wilson and Chuck Colson find DEW online.org now.

Today's great teaching load tomorrow.

Live your house. We have one short with one slave you we have one life. Jesus Taddeo God, we lift the name of Jesus as we gather together as we worship as we celebrate remake the most important decision we could ever might one choice one the Savior one life you Jesus we worship you in Jesus name, amen. Welcome welcome friends, loved ones, welcome those who worship by way of television on online welcome God is on his throat and we got so much for which to thank the Lord Jesus done. You'll notice the choice is the choice that God gives to us invites us to give our hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus, if you were to say to me today foster what is your one prayer to the it would be that you would know Jesus, our Savior, who came in, gave his life for us upon the cross took our sins upon himself, was buried, but all that glorious day of the power of God. He was raised from the date I want you to open your Bibles we going to be in a number of passages today and I want to say something very exciting with you for the next few months late starting. First Corinthians chapter 50. First Corinthians chapter 50 beautiful passage of Scripture and I there is so much in this passage, but I I want to just read to you ace few versus just to sit the time today to set the scene for all of us as we gather together and worship the Lord is believers all all across the world today.

First Corinthians 15 verse 20. Listen to what the Bible says, but in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died for by a man came day so so by a man is come resurrection of the dead in all thy soul. Also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each to his own order Christ, the firstfruits being at ease coming. Those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the father often destroy every power, every room, every authority want to speak to you today on an amazing subject. It's a it's complex. This is a complex subject, but I'm going to speak to you about one life today. Essentially this is one choice one Savior one life, but I want to begin with the subject.

Perhaps none of us want to talk about. Would that be a fair thing to say this, I want to say to you, my friends and I want you to listen carefully today. According to the Bible, not one person who has ever died is dead. According to the Bible.

I want that to just that's a shocking statement because all of us have experienced most of us have gone through the sadness of day.

This is one of the things that we struggle with so much we really do because some final what happens when you go what does a person go through and the grief that we have in our hearts their people today worshiping together it's your mother it's your son at your door. You brother. It's that person then and you never get over that country generally according to the Bible, not one single person who has ever died is dead or people who die are alive. Now they not alive on the surface they not around us.

They've gone but they've gone to a place and they are totally alive. The Bible says that because Jesus died upon the cross and on the third day he was raised by the power of God that we are made alive in the Bible shows us very clearly that there all only two groups of living people there all those who die and live in Christ, and there are those who die and live separated from Christ.

The Bible uses two terms. Those who die in Christ when you've given your heart and life to Jesus you live with God in heaven all believers. And if you've got a loved one who is died. Jim Ballou went straight to heaven. I can prove that to you in the Bible and every person who dies.

That does not know Jesus as their personal savior goes to a place called hell that spelled HELL if it's not a nice place to talk about its it's the least favorite subject for many of us who are preachers. I don't block talking about it. It's not a weapon or a something that God gives to us to give us something to say it's not a reason to get up and shake your finger at somebody you will to prove something the Bible says you either belong to Jesus and go to heaven or you don't belong to Jesus and you go to hell. In both cases, both groups those in hell are completely alive and the Bible shows us this. Those who are in heaven are completely alive.

There is not one person who has ever died or who ever will die. That is dead. How did Jesus carry us to life.

Well, he came to this earth. The first thing he did. He died upon the cross, by the power of God. He rose from the grave, hunkered sin did in the grave. He gained the victory over then he ascended, he went back into heaven, and he promised us that he's going to come back and receive us to himself so that way he is there. We will be also. So the question is this how do we know that we have life.

How do believers I'm a Christian man. I'm very grateful that you see me in my role. I have a role very blessed on the bed, grandpa on the frame. I'm a football fan on the barbecue eater, and I don't eat boiled okra. I'm also privileged to be pasta and I'm preaching the word of God, but the thing that's most significant to me is that I'm a Christian man.

I've given my heart to the Lord Jesus.

Not because I deserve it. I still think they people all around the world that have heart attacks when they find out that I'm a it every now and again all I'll get a word from someone overseas who knew me back in the day and slack. I'm sitting here having a car on the thrombosis on the spot. Are you Don Wilton are you a preacher.

There is no way by the way, that's why I moved to America is over.

Then nobody would believe me right on the Christian man and because I gave my life to Jesus. Yeah, one choice, one Savior, one life I made that one choice to one Savior, Jesus, and I have that one life, which is the life of Christ. So how do we know that we have life. I'm going to take you for a very quick journey. You ready for this. This and you can mark this down. First of all, turn to Matthew chapter 17.

So I'm going to do the same thing as I want to actually read all of the Bible to tell you this, Matthew chapter 17 first. The first way that you and I know that we will have life is because the Transfiguration of Jesus demonstrated son Matthew chapter 17 and I'll read perhaps just the first three verses are on first three verses of Matthew 17.

This is about Jesus, but he had some people with them and by the way he had some people who joined him excuse me, the people who joined him in my book with stone graveyard dated people, by the way, the people who joined Jesus okay had been dead a long time. Watch this off the six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and laid them up a high mountain by themselves and he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light and behold, there appeared to them.

Moses and Elijah talking with them. You can read the rest of this account for yourself. How do we know that we will have the Jesus was on this earth, ministering amongst us and Jesus went up onto the high mountain, and he was changed into his off to life appearance. That's the word tolerance figuration. He was changed before them. He was changed into his resurrected.

He's often day body and he's whole purpose was to demonstrate to us the truth of our not being alive often day and blow me down here comes Moses and Elijah, and by the way, by name and excuse me for a minute talking is not a single person who's ever died. That is dead. Now that's a powerful truth. I pray that we realize God has built us for eternity but eternity with him. If you have questions forgive the interruption will be back with Dr. Wilson and moments, but he want you to know you can call us and pray with us at 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673 or connect with us on our website TW online.org that's TW online.org. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton, the Transfiguration demonstrates an when you begin to see this is Jesus folks you might say well I'm a Catholic, and Episcopalian on the Methodist, Presbyterian, even all denominations.

Nobody is going to argue with the fact this is Jesus. This is not a Baptist. This is not the Methodist's not the Senate it's not the decree. It's not the eldership or the deacons or the price the tree. This is Jesus, the Transfiguration demonstrates abets go to Luke chapter 16 you ready go all the way across to Luke chapter 16. This is powerful stuff.

Luke chapter 16 the story illustrates it. Let me read your few verses. I'm just going to pick up Luke chapter 16 and I'm gonna pick up adverse 19 Biot just say this to you. This is Jesus talking this is not Billy Graham sign this month. Don Wilton's not the treatment of deacons is not your church. This is not a Democrat or Republican.

This is Jesus one choice, one Savior, one life. Jesus said there was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, who feasted sumptuously every day and that he's gate was laid a poor man by the name of Lazarus, covered with sores who desired to be fêted with that which fell from the rich man's table.

Moreover the dogs came by and licked the sores now listen to this. The poor man died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's side, Abraham's bosom.

This is Jesus speaking to a Jewish audience.

They believed in the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. There was no doubt in the Jewish audience that no matter where Abraham was, that's where God wants the rich man also died and he was very the picture here is one man when he died, went up the other man when he died, went down and inhale being entitlement. He lifted up his eyes. Everybody touch your eyes. This is not a figure of speech. One would think that off to someone died that they could no longer see, not according to Jesus, and he saw Abraham excuse me Abraham.

He saw Abraham in heaven.

On the other side. Why did he have to lift up his eyes because he went down. He didn't look out.

He looked up. By the way, where is heaven heaven is up.

How do we know that because when Jesus rose from the dead and then he appeared for over 40 days and then he went to the Mount of olives and he went up into heaven and the people.

The disciples that were there. They looked up and they were struggling just like you and me.

So just to make sure they didn't think I had seen incorrectly broad sinking angel who came and said why you're looking up the same Jesus that went up is going to come back down and this incredible story here illustrates the fact that not one person who's ever died and Jesus incorporated both those who die in Christ and those who die. Having said no to Jesus. Jesus wanted us to know that I've had numerous people some people I know and love very much frames relatives use statements like that's just all such you know you Christians will let you know as long as you live a good life. You can live the best life in the world you have to make one choice I've heard people say to me for many years. Well I guess we'll just find out one day you don't have to.

You can know today how do we know we would have locked the Transfiguration of Jesus demonstrates it in the story of Lazarus and the rich man illustrates it. Now let's go to John chapter 11 RI go back go to John chapter 11 turning your Bibles to John chapter 11 verse 38. How do we know that we will have life off today because the miracle amazes it. So in chapter 11 of John's Gospel. We got the story of who Lazarus of Bethany. So the Bible says in verse one certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany in the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment. So now let's go to verse 38 show you what happened here because this man was so ill and the two sisters who loved him very much and they also Jesus please hurry and come as they believed in Jesus and he needs healing power but Lazarus died. He was dead.

I mean the I've been actually into his two. The actual one and by the way… Do you know where this took place. It's right there on the Mount of Ascension. It's that big mountain on the Mount of olives that looks down over Jerusalem. It's the same place where Jesus ascended to go back into heaven. It's the same place that Jesus is going to come back when he comes back to this earth. There's the town of Bethany Village and this is where Lazarus died. He was dead right.

Let's pick up John chapter 11 verse 38 and Jesus deeply moved again came to the tomb.

It was a cave and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, take away that started Martha, the sister of the didn't man said to him, Lord, by this time they will be an Buddha because he's been dating for four days already. I've often wondered why did Jesus leave him daily for four days I think. To prove a point and not any that, but to the Jewish audience because the Jewish people back in their day. Believe that there was a life-giving spirit that was still present up to the third day of did so Jesus said well I'll just take him to the fourth day. I'll even address the most skeptic of skeptics about life off today and in verse 40 Jesus. He did not tell you that if you believe you would see the glory of God. So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father I thank you. You always hear me, and we find this amazing Jesus looks into the cave and he stands in the cave and nieces Lazarus.

I remember this man's being. Then, for how long Lazarus by name. These things are not easy to understand and you may struggle to understand these things but that's the beauty about knowing Jesus because when you give your heart to Jesus the spirit of God takes hold any guides you you been listening to Dr. Don Wilton preaching and teaching from the pulpit.

Now, as he steps into the studio.

Open your heart to what he wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now they're gone. I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me today. I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my phone in Jesus name, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God.

This is exciting news.

If you just gave your life to Christ. Welcome to the family of God, or perhaps rededicate your life. Dr. Wilton wants to pray for you and he has free resources to help you grow. 866-899-WORD is the phone number to call for your free resources. That's 866-899-9673 leaders on our website as well. At tewonline.org that's DEW online.org did you know The Encouraging Word has a YouTube channel on this channel you can watch over 100. Dr. Wilton sermons.

He can also listen to the weekly words of encouragement and devotional series written by Dr. Wilton.

Visit us on our YouTube channel. Today, that's our time today, but be sure to join us tomorrow for incredible women, a powerful message of Dr. Don Wilton of an exhibition of The Encouraging Word