WELCOME TO THE JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF

CHRIST

PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES

Philippians 3:12-15 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press

on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I

press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think

otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

OUR LIFE VS

ETERNITY

OUR LIFE VS ETERNITY?

A.Ecclesiastes 3:11 …He has put eternity in their hearts…

B.Something within us wants to live eternally.

C.A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

D.Are we satisfied with this life without thinking about eternity?

E. Is living our life here on earth to please ourselves worth losing eternal life in heaven?

I. OUR LIFE HERE IS VERY

SHORT COMPARED TO

ETERNITY.

I. OUR LIFE HERE IS VERY SHORT COMPARED TO ETERNITY.

A. Job 14:1-2 "Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

B. James 4:13-14 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

II. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON

ETERNITY AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT

OUR HAPPINESS THERE AND FORGET ABOUT THE SMALL SEGMENT HERE.

II. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON ETERNITY

A. Colossians 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

B. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

II. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYES ON ETERNITY

C. Hebrews 13:14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

D. Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14

For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

III. HAD YOU RATHER BE HAPPY

DURING THIS SMALL SEGMENT

HERE OR FOR ETERNITY?

III. BE HAPPY DURING THIS SMALL SEGMENT HERE?

A. Are you willing to sacrifice some happiness here to assure your happiness there?

B. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

C. Mt 16:26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

D. Jn 12:25 "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

IV. IT IS BETTER TO DENY YOURSELF

PLEASURES HERE AND HAVE LIFE

ETERNAL IN HEAVEN.

IV. IT IS BETTER TO DENY YOURSELF PLEASURES HERE

A. Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

B. Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

V. IT IS BETTER TO SUFFER FOR A

SHORT TIME HERE THAN FOR AN ETERNITY IN

HELL.

V. IT IS BETTER TO SUFFER FOR A SHORT TIME HERE

A. Mark 9:43-48 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 44 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- 46

where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-- 48 where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.'

V. IT IS BETTER TO SUFFER FOR A SHORT TIME HERE

B. Matthew 16:26-27 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

THIS LIFE OR ETERNITY?

A. WE ARE ALL GOING TO LIVE ETERNALLY – EITHER IN HEAVEN OR IN HELL.

B. ARE YOU FOCUSING ON THE VERY SMALL SEGMENT OF THIS LIFE ON EARTH OR ON ETERNTIY?

TONIGHT’S SERMON:THE ABUNDANT LIFE - CHEERFULNESS