Preached May 31, 1998 at Faith Baptist Church
By Pastor Steven Mays

"CITY LIFE, IS IT FOR YOU?"

TEXT HEBREWS 11:10, 16 / HEB. 12:22 / REV. 21:2, 10 & 11

10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
16. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
HEB. 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,


REV. 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

SOMETIMES THE MORE YOU STUDY SOMETHING, THE MORE YOU REALIZE HOW LITTLE YOU KNOW ABOUT IT. I WAS SAVED IN MARCH OF 1985, AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF BEING SAVED I HAD READ THE BIBLE THROUGH. I ANSWERED THE CALL TO PREACH IN JULY OF 1985 AND PREACHED TO MY FIRST CONGREGATION IN AUGUST. MY PLANS FOR COLLEGE CHANGED. NOW I NEEDED TO GO TO A CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AND PREPARE FOR THE MINISTRY. SHORTLY BEFORE I LEFT, HOWEVER, I VERY PLAINLY REMEMBER HAVING THIS COGNITION…… "I HAVE READ THE BIBLE THROUGH, I HAVE PREACHED… WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO LEARN?" UNBELIEVEABLY, I THOUGHT I HAD LEARNED ABOUT ALL THERE WAS TO LEARN ABOUT THE BIBLE. I'M SURE THAT A MORE INACCURATE TRAIN OF THOUGHT HAS NEVER CROSSED MY MIND.

THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK AT A SUBJECT THAT IS EXTREMELY EXCITING TO THE BELIEVER. IT IS THE SUBJECT OF HEAVEN. IT IS A SUBJECT THAT CLEARLY ON THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY WE WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO EVER GET A REAL THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING. SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO ONLY LOOK AT A COUPLE ASPECTS.

IF I UNDERSTAND ETERNITY RIGHT, GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THE BELIEVER A CITY, IT IS SO LARGE THAT WE SAW IT REFERED TO AS A COUNTRY YET IT IS A CITY.

I.) WE KNOW THAT IT IS A DESIRED CITY -- HEB. 11: 10

II.) WE KNOW THAT IT IS A DEVELOPED CITY -- HEB. 11:16

III.) WE KNOW THAT IT IS A DESCENDING CITY -- REV. 21:2

IV.) WE KNOW THAT IT IS A DESCRIBED CITY -- REV. 21: 10

  • BUT THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK A LOT CLOSER AT THE CITY, BECAUSE I'M NOT SO SURE CITY LIFE IS FOR EVERYONE….

    WHEN I LEFT MADISON ALABAMA AN ACQUAINTANCE NAMED JIM BARR SAID, "BRO. MAYS, I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE YOU GOING TO KENTUCKY, I CAN'T PICTURE YOU OUT IN THE COUNTRY." IN HIS MIND I WAS A CITY BOY, NOW, THE TRUTH BE KNOWN, I'VE LIVED IN TOWNS AS SMALL AS, LESS THAN 3000, TO TOWNS AS LARGE AS SEVERAL MILLION, WITH SEVERAL IN THE MIDDLE!

    LET'S LOOK AT THIS CITY… AND SEE IF WE'LL LIKE IT…



    I.) THE CITIZENS OF THAT CITY

    IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE PLACE…. LET'S NEVER FORGET THAT…

    1. BLOOD WASHED REV. 1:5

    5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

    NOTE, NOT CHURCH WASHED…

    2. BLOOD REDEEMED REV. 5:9

    9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

    NO ONE BUYS THERE WAY IN HERE, LIKE THE DRAFT DODGER WHO BOUGHT HIS WAY INTO ARLINGTON CEMETARY

    3. OVER COMERS – OVER ACHIEVERS REV. 2:7,11,17,26

    V. 7 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
    11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
    17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
    26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

    1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

    IF YOU PREFER TO HANG AROUND LOSERS AND FAILURES… CITY LIFE WON'T BE FOR YOU…

    4. THEY ARE ON A ROLL REV. 21:27

    27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

    I'M SURE THEY WERE ALL ON CHURCH ROLLS, LIKE GOOD CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO BE, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THEY GOT IN, AMEN.

    FOLKS, HEAVEN IS A CROWDED PLACE… THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THERE. THAT IS KIND OF FUNNY, BECAUSE I MEET PEOPLE WHO SAY I DON'T LIKE TO GO WHERE THE CROWDS ARE, THEY MAKE ME NERVOUS… IF THE CITY IS 1500 MILES SQUARE AND 2 BILLION GO THERE, EVERYONE WILL HAVE ABOUT 100 ACRES IF IT MEASURED OUT THE SAME.. (NO DOUBT SOME WILL HAVE MORE THAN OTHERS)

  • REV. 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

    THANK GOD, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CARNAL CROWD, OR A LOST CROWD, OR A WORLDLY CROWD TO RUN WITH, CITY LIFE WON'T BE FOR YOU!!

    II.) CONDUCT OF THAT CITY

    WHAT GOES ON IN HEAVEN WILL SIMPLY BE A PERFECT FORM OF WHAT GOES ON RIGHT HERE!

      1. WORSHIP

      Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
      Revelation 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
      Revelation 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
      Revelation 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
      Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

      2. PRAISE

      Revelation 19:5 ¶ And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

      3. SINGING

      Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
      Revelation 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
      Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

      4. SHOUTING -- LOUD VOICES

    • 12 TIMES YOU READ THE PHRASE LOUD VOICE IN REVELATION…

      Revelation 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

      5. SERVING

      Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

      IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT NOW,
      CITY LIFE MAY NOT BE FOR YOU!!!

    III.) CONTROLS OF THAT CITY

    NO NIGHT LIFE, NO WORLDLY AMUSEMENT. OH NO

    REV. 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

    REV. 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

    NO MORE WORLD

    1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
    17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

    IV.) CLOTHING OF THAT CITY


    REV. 1:13 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

    WON'T YOU BE GLAD FOR A DAY WHEN FOLKS ARE ALL DRESSED RIGHT. THE MEN LOOK LIKE MEN AND WOMEN LOOK LIKE WOMAN,

  • NO IMMODESTY
  • NO SHORT SKIRTS AND DRESSES
  • NO TIGHT GARMENTS TO SHOW OFF OUR FLESH

    I'M AFRAID, A LOT OF FOLKS WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS WON'T LIKE THIS….
    HONESTLY CITY LIFE PROBABLY JUST ISN'T FOR THEM!!
    IS IT FOR YOU?





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