WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.640 real life presents the Jack Kibs podcast with intention and boldness to proclaim 2 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:16.200 truth equip the saints and impact our culture you remember what it feels like 3 00:00:16.200 --> 00:00:18.880 to get kicked right in the middle of the gut and lose your breath and your 4 00:00:18.880 --> 00:00:22.320 gasp and you feel like that spiritually we feel like that spiritually from time to 5 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:27.880 time now more than ever what are we supposed to do don't give up hang in there 6 00:00:27.880 --> 00:00:34.280 sometimes just stand there just stand there and call out to him he'll never 7 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:43.040 fail you you can get the outlines of this podcast by going to Jack Kibs.com 8 00:00:43.040 --> 00:00:49.200 slash podcast today if this podcast lifts you up and encourages you to live a 9 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:52.960 more fulfilled life in Christ then make sure you leave us one of those five 10 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:58.720 star ratings to us that's like saying amen or yes then that rating will 11 00:00:58.720 --> 00:01:03.640 encourage others to listen now open your hearts to what God's word has to say to 12 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:10.240 you here is Jack Kibs. Revelation chapter 4 verse 1 John said after these 13 00:01:10.240 --> 00:01:14.940 things I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven and I say this church 14 00:01:14.940 --> 00:01:20.720 because this is your retirement and the first voice I heard was like a 15 00:01:20.720 --> 00:01:27.200 trumpet speaking to me I want this trumpet to speak to me you wonder I 16 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:31.560 wonder if I know when a Christian dies I wonder if they hear a trumpet say at 17 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:36.680 the last second right they're just Uncle John Uncle John's passing what if 18 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:43.960 Uncle John hears in his head the sound of a trumpet speaking to him come on up 19 00:01:44.520 --> 00:01:54.400 open house can you imagine you don't know you haven't been there yet what if for 20 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:59.100 the believer that it turns out to be true precious in the side of the Lord is the 21 00:01:59.100 --> 00:02:07.580 death of his saints imagine that for a moment John sees heaven he hears this 22 00:02:07.580 --> 00:02:12.040 come up here declaration I will show you things which must take place after 23 00:02:12.040 --> 00:02:16.180 this verse 2 and immediately John says I was in the spirit and behold a 24 00:02:16.180 --> 00:02:20.740 throne said in heaven this is amazing because what we're about to read is 25 00:02:20.740 --> 00:02:28.260 happening right now church and one sat on the throne and he who sat there was 26 00:02:28.260 --> 00:02:33.900 like a jasper like a sardis stone and appearance and there was a rainbow around 27 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:38.380 the throne and appearance like an emerald and around the throne were 24 28 00:02:38.380 --> 00:02:44.500 thrones and on the thrones I saw 24 elders look at verse nine whenever the 29 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:48.020 living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne 30 00:02:48.020 --> 00:02:56.020 who lives forever and ever the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the 31 00:02:56.020 --> 00:03:01.980 throne and worship him who lives forever and ever and they cast their what crowns 32 00:03:01.980 --> 00:03:07.820 before the throne saying you are worthy of Lord to receive glory honor and power 33 00:03:07.820 --> 00:03:12.860 for you were created for you've created all things and by your will they exist 34 00:03:12.860 --> 00:03:19.700 and were created watch this skip over to Revelation 5 verse 6 Revelation chapter 35 00:03:19.700 --> 00:03:23.700 5 verse 6 and I looked and behold and in the midst of the throne and the 36 00:03:23.700 --> 00:03:28.700 four living creatures and in the midst of the elders that's the 24 stood a 37 00:03:28.700 --> 00:03:35.940 lamb as though it had been slain now when he had taken the scroll the four living 38 00:03:35.940 --> 00:03:41.460 creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb each having a harp and 39 00:03:41.460 --> 00:03:47.260 golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints and they 40 00:03:47.260 --> 00:03:53.460 saying a new song saying you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its 41 00:03:53.460 --> 00:04:00.660 seals for you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every 42 00:04:00.660 --> 00:04:10.140 tribe tongue people in nation the 24 elders represent the church every time 43 00:04:10.140 --> 00:04:13.700 worship is offered up in heaven the 24 elders you say how do you know that 44 00:04:13.700 --> 00:04:18.900 because they're the ones who say you redeemed us by your blood from and they 45 00:04:18.900 --> 00:04:23.460 are from every kindred tribe tongue a nation of the earth and they cast their 46 00:04:23.460 --> 00:04:28.140 crowns before the Lord in worship why do you and I listen everybody please don't 47 00:04:28.140 --> 00:04:30.740 forget what I'm about to say you can forget everybody everything else don't 48 00:04:30.740 --> 00:04:37.060 forget this doing deeds and doing good works and treasuring up your treasures in 49 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:45.220 heaven has nothing to do with salvation do you understand that zero zero because 50 00:04:45.220 --> 00:04:50.180 you are going to heaven because you are a child of God because you are saved 51 00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:56.220 because you are a Christian you want to be fervently committed to doing as much 52 00:04:56.220 --> 00:05:03.540 good as possible because listen we can send it up ahead and what are we sending 53 00:05:03.540 --> 00:05:12.180 we're sending rewards what do those look like crowns what do I want a crown for you 54 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:18.780 want to pass your check I'm very humble and I don't want a crown in heaven that's 55 00:05:18.780 --> 00:05:25.980 for Jesus and not for me listen read the Bible you want crowns you want you 56 00:05:25.980 --> 00:05:33.860 want you want big ones you want to know why because it ain't about you don't 57 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:43.180 think I see what you're thinking you're thinking it's your crown hey how do you 58 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:53.500 like it I work so hard in heaven to get this what do you guys think are you 59 00:05:53.500 --> 00:06:00.500 thinking that it's not going to be like that you want to have a crown and we'll 60 00:06:00.500 --> 00:06:05.740 see in a moment crowns because when it comes time to worship the lamb who is 61 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:15.860 slaying Jesus you want to do a lot of casting crowns because listen the more you do good 62 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:23.300 for him the more you cast before him in worship it's not about us I'm going to give you 63 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:27.740 some crown verses are you ready ready to write them down there's a one crown that's 64 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:35.140 called the imperishable crown incredible crown first Corinthians chapter 9 verse 24 do 65 00:06:35.140 --> 00:06:39.900 you not know that those who run in a in a race all run but one receives the 66 00:06:39.900 --> 00:06:44.700 prize run in such way that you may obtain an imperishable crown who do you think 67 00:06:44.700 --> 00:06:51.260 that's written to yeah every single one of us nobody goes to run a race is like 68 00:06:51.260 --> 00:06:56.860 what are you doing you show up to win man right I know does that kind of like is 69 00:06:56.860 --> 00:07:03.340 that is that still legal to say in according to the Bible in this race there's 70 00:07:03.340 --> 00:07:09.380 only one trophy you mean you mean there's only one trophy and ten participants yep 71 00:07:09.380 --> 00:07:19.860 what are the other nine gonna feel loss what about a second place trophy first 72 00:07:19.860 --> 00:07:26.060 loser that's what second place means did you know that I got second place you're 73 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:33.060 the first loser I'm sure you two just I'm sure we just got pulled from Facebook 74 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:41.260 for saying that concerning your life got a saying run your life's race to get the 75 00:07:41.260 --> 00:07:48.300 crown crown number two rejoicing a crown of rejoicing that sounds cool that 76 00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:52.300 sounds cool first the salonians to nineteen for what is our hope or joy or 77 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:56.620 crown of rejoicing isn't not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ 78 00:07:56.620 --> 00:08:00.980 at his coming by the way that's a theme of pastoral ministry that is our joy 79 00:08:00.980 --> 00:08:05.420 right there that's my joy what's my joy that when Jesus shows up you guys are 80 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:10.620 all ready to go and it's just like you know like somebody cooks and they they 81 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:14.780 not happen until they see if you like the food we don't care about those people 82 00:08:14.780 --> 00:08:21.020 we just want to eat the food that person cares if you like the food okay pastors 83 00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:24.860 are like that we don't care much about anything else but if you're ready to 84 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:28.660 meet Jesus either at the moment that you die or the rapture happens we're 85 00:08:28.660 --> 00:08:35.220 like going yes I mean I mean I'm not looking up yes but going with you up yes 86 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:49.940 yes that's that would be a bomber if you watch people go up that would be bad 87 00:08:49.940 --> 00:08:57.420 third crown is the crown of righteousness in second Timothy 4.8 this is 88 00:08:57.420 --> 00:09:00.980 precious finally there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness Paul said which 89 00:09:00.980 --> 00:09:06.140 is awesome because they just had walked into his cell and said we're going to be 90 00:09:06.140 --> 00:09:14.980 head you Paul you're dying here in Rome head off your shoulders pulses okay well 91 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:21.220 finally there's laid up for me a crown that God's gonna give me Paul did you 92 00:09:21.220 --> 00:09:26.020 not hear what we said we're cutting your head off how do you put a crown on a 93 00:09:26.020 --> 00:09:32.100 headless body you see the difference you and I live in this world and we 94 00:09:32.100 --> 00:09:36.220 don't think often beyond the world that is you're not going to be headless in 95 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:40.980 the world that is and you're not going to be crownless either everyone at God's 96 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:48.020 kids will be called through a place in life where you'll be crowned number four 97 00:09:48.020 --> 00:09:53.020 the crown of glory first Peter 5.4 and when the chief shepherd appears please 98 00:09:53.020 --> 00:10:01.820 today you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away that good news 99 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:06.420 Revelation chapter 2 verse 10 think of all the brothers and sisters now in heaven 100 00:10:06.420 --> 00:10:14.460 who are now living this who went from Afghanistan in the last few weeks into 101 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:20.780 heaven this is I'm reading this verse on earth and they know about it in heaven 102 00:10:20.780 --> 00:10:27.460 right now Revelation 2 10 be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of 103 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:38.420 life wow that's awesome he says to us in verse 7 eternal life to those who by 104 00:10:38.420 --> 00:10:44.620 patient continuance and doing good seek for glory honor and immortality dear 105 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:49.980 church family you are doing a good work don't stop don't give up we're all 106 00:10:49.980 --> 00:10:53.740 listen we got to talk together and share more because we're all feeling it 107 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:58.380 together is it weighty do you feel like you're being crushed is it feels like 108 00:10:58.380 --> 00:11:02.860 it's hard sometimes to feel your lungs up with air feel attention the pressure 109 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:06.500 you remember what it feels like to get kicked right in the middle of the 110 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:09.760 gut and lose your breath and your gasping do you feel like that spiritually we 111 00:11:09.760 --> 00:11:13.860 feel like that spiritually from time to time now more than ever what are we 112 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:21.460 supposed to do don't give up hang in there sometimes just stand there just stand 113 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:29.500 there and call out to him he'll never fail you every true believer I know is 114 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:34.140 going through a tremendous stretch right now that is great evidence to me that 115 00:11:34.140 --> 00:11:40.580 Christ is coming he's getting us ready he's coming and then finally church will 116 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:45.380 have to end verses 10 through 11 it's all about new life it's all about new 117 00:11:45.380 --> 00:11:53.300 life we've been given a new life this is what we think about us by his grace 118 00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:59.220 we've been given new life but glory honor and peace to everyone who who works 119 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:05.260 what is good who does righteousness the good thing for the Jew first and also for 120 00:12:05.260 --> 00:12:09.860 the Greek for there is no partiality with God boy let me end with this and this 121 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:14.580 is kind of a fun ending I love this ending so Paul starts out by saying this 122 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:20.060 church that I have your attention listen Paul starts out first by saying this to 123 00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:27.060 the Jew first and also to the Greek or Gentile non Jew so God gives the 124 00:12:27.060 --> 00:12:34.180 word to the Jew first then to the Gentile so God declares his gospel to the 125 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:40.340 Jew first then to the Gentile God announces condemnation to the Jew first then 126 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:46.900 to the Gentile listen God says there's immortality and glory and forgiveness and 127 00:12:46.900 --> 00:12:51.180 joy and heaven forever to the Jew first and to the Gentile you notice the 128 00:12:51.180 --> 00:12:57.740 pattern always the same in the Bible God's word says that he gave his word to 129 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:03.340 the Jew as a custodian to dispense it to the entire world he could have picked 130 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:09.340 Canadians he could have picked Americans he could have picked Peruvians he picked 131 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:17.780 Jews and he says your job is to announce everything I say you're the vehicle by 132 00:13:17.780 --> 00:13:23.180 which you are to fulfill this this is my plan this is my word you are my people 133 00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:33.100 do it and they said no and God prophesied in the Old Testament if you're 134 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:35.900 Jewish right now and you're turning off the TV or you're getting ready to walk 135 00:13:35.900 --> 00:13:41.780 out of here just listen God prophesied by the Hebrew prophets to the Jewish 136 00:13:41.780 --> 00:13:46.340 people I'm gonna give you the job first and you are not gonna want to do it and 137 00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:51.380 you are gonna throw it back in my face and so I'm gonna take that job and I'm 138 00:13:51.380 --> 00:13:56.780 gonna give it to the nations of the world but in the end in the end I will 139 00:13:56.780 --> 00:14:04.060 find a remnant from my people who will want to do it that's why the 140 00:14:04.060 --> 00:14:10.660 tribulation period is how long it has to be seven years God made a promise to 141 00:14:10.660 --> 00:14:14.660 the Jewish people in the Old Testament that for that seven-year tribulation 142 00:14:14.660 --> 00:14:19.140 period of time that they would become his ministers to finally fulfill that 143 00:14:19.140 --> 00:14:24.060 calling their days coming to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth after 144 00:14:24.060 --> 00:14:28.860 the church is gone it's gonna be their time to check this out to the Jew first 145 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:33.620 and then the Gentile and then verse 11 seems to end with a contradiction if the 146 00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:37.760 Jew is first in the Gentile the second and then verse 11 says God has no 147 00:14:37.760 --> 00:14:42.260 favorites that's what it means God has he's impartial is there something wrong 148 00:14:42.260 --> 00:14:53.220 here not at all you want to know why because the order in which what is given 149 00:14:53.220 --> 00:15:01.220 has no bearing on what's decided on what is given do you accept it and we have a 150 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:07.580 beautiful picture in this in fact you can stand really we're done check this 151 00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:16.140 out people today there's books on this don't buy them save your money there are 152 00:15:16.140 --> 00:15:24.540 books written about this is how Gentiles get saved but this is how a Jew get 153 00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:31.060 saved there are famous people on TV who say Gentiles all non Jews get saved 154 00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:42.420 this way Jews they get saved the other way guess what that's not true no no the 155 00:15:42.420 --> 00:15:47.260 Jews their salvation is the keeping of the law and the sacraments that were 156 00:15:47.260 --> 00:15:51.660 given to them in the Old Testament God says if you'd keep these you'll be saved 157 00:15:51.660 --> 00:15:56.900 that's true all that is true but he also said in the day that you can't keep 158 00:15:56.900 --> 00:16:05.980 them you need blood so well people for 2000 years have had this debate it's 159 00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:13.380 cracked me up for here for this reason Jesus at home somebody's home minus 160 00:16:13.380 --> 00:16:21.700 own business door opens up in fact listen to this I'll read it so there's no 161 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:27.220 confusion door opens up and I don't know who was there you know I don't think 162 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:35.900 Jesus was alone he just appears to hardly ever be alone so what were the 163 00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:42.220 others thinking don't know it doesn't say but a man comes to Jesus and it says 164 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:57.020 there was a man of the Pharisees wow whose name was Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews 165 00:16:57.020 --> 00:17:08.020 he's the top teacher and this man came to Jesus by night Jesus can I talk to you 166 00:17:08.020 --> 00:17:12.380 because I'm a Pharisee I don't want to be seen by you think I can't be seen talking 167 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:22.660 to you I'll be in big trouble rabbi we know that your teacher come from God for 168 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:27.620 no one can do the signs or miracles that you do unless God is with him watch 169 00:17:27.620 --> 00:17:33.300 this so after Nicodemus gives his glowing assessment of Jesus Jesus answers 170 00:17:33.300 --> 00:17:39.820 and says to him most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again he cannot 171 00:17:39.820 --> 00:17:47.300 see the kingdom of God Jesus doesn't acknowledge Nicodemus he doesn't he just 172 00:17:47.300 --> 00:17:52.020 completely ignores Nicodemus's question completely this is a lesson for us 173 00:17:52.020 --> 00:17:57.460 in life hey so how's it going notice that there's quite a thing happening 174 00:17:57.460 --> 00:18:02.940 what's the deal oh unless you're born again you're not going to see the kingdom 175 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:11.700 of heaven Jesus said Nicodemus unless it's a change in your life you're 176 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:18.500 on your way to hell can you believe this just didn't you say thank you well 177 00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:23.620 thank you thank you for noticing the miracles he says I'm telling you unless one 178 00:18:23.620 --> 00:18:31.780 is born from above you'll not see the kingdom of heaven you need not 179 00:18:31.780 --> 00:18:38.700 answer that question because to be born from above is to agree with Jesus I'm a 180 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:44.660 sinner I need his blood and I want to appear before him someday because I 181 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:48.820 will appear before him one way or another but I want to appear before him 182 00:18:48.820 --> 00:18:53.460 having received him as my lord and savior and then I want to then once that 183 00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:58.540 settled I want to go about the rest of my life the days I got left doing good for 184 00:18:58.540 --> 00:19:05.060 him why because I want to get a whopper of a crown why because I want to cast 185 00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:09.300 that baby right back at his feet and give him all the glory that's what we want to 186 00:19:09.300 --> 00:19:18.860 do this Jack Hibbs podcast as well as all the broadcast outreach opportunities 187 00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:23.340 are listener supported will you consider partnering with us through a special 188 00:19:23.340 --> 00:19:28.940 gift go to jackhibbs.com to learn more and stay connected