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In the House of the Lord
by Leith Anderson
Text: Psalm 23
Topic: What God's promises about heaven are
Big Idea: Believers are assured of heaven's reality, relationship, and joy.
Keywords: Christ, as Shepherd; Contentment; Eternal life; Heaven; Hell; Hope; Optimism; Paradise; Promises; Security in God; Trust
Introduction:
- Psalm 23 may not seem very connected to Jesus, but David well understood the relationship between sheep and shepherd.
- John 10:11
- Jesus described himself as a shepherd.
- It is because of Jesus that Christians are able to confess the promises of Psalm 23.
His sheep are assured of the reality of heaven.
- Psalm 23 is not talking about sheep; it's talking about us and the life to come.
- Psalm 23 makes the connection between this life and forever.
- Those who belong to the Lord are the ones who will live forever in his house.
- Those who do not belong to the Lord will not dwell with the Lord.
- Our life on earth is not independent of the next life.
- Illustration: Though more than 90% of Americans believe in God and the Bible, far fewer say they believe in hell.
- John 3:36
- If there is a heaven, there must be a hell, though we seem to have forgotten hell's reality.
- It is God who decides who can live with him forever and who cannot.
- Only the Christian can profess to live forever in the Lord's house.
His sheep are assured they will enter heaven.
- Our confidence of heaven is based not on ourselves, but on God's character.
- On the basis of who our shepherd is, we can say with confidence that we will dwell with him forever.
- Doubt is inappropriate because it questions the character of the shepherd.
- John 10:11
- John 10:27–29
- Jesus absolutely promises that anyone who is a Christian has eternal life, and it will never be snatched away.
- Romans 8:38–39
- When our relationship with God is right, we have a stable and strong confidence in his promises and in all of life.
His sheep are assured they will be content in heaven.
- The "house" of the Lord does not mean a physical house, but rather a family or set of relationships.
- David surely imagined heaven as an actual place, but surely had in mind that he would be there with God.
- What makes a house a home is the people who live there; what makes heaven truly heaven is being with God.
- Our hope for the future affects our lives on Earth, giving us greater contentment even now.
- Illustration: Many martyrs have made converts of their executioners by the sheer joy they expressed at the thought of heaven, despite facing suffering and death.
- Illustration: Shepherds report that sheep express excitement, regardless of their circumstances, when returning to their shepherd's fold.
Conclusion
- Do you know for sure that, were you to die today, you would begin to dwell forever in the presence of the Lord?
- The decision to make the Lord your shepherd is simple, but very important.
- The first step to accepting Christ is admitting you need him.
- You must also believe, in your mind and with your life, in the love of Jesus Christ.
- Finally, tell God you want to dwell in the house of the Lord forever—and you will.
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