Driven By Eternity-2-Driven By Eternity

This morning we continue our series with a self titled message called  Driven By Eternity.

Pastors Notes:

TEXT
2 Corinthians 5:1-11 NKJV

For we know that if our earthly [a]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [b]habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as [c]a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, everyone!
We’re so very glad that all of you are here today! If you missed last week, I preached a passionate message entitled “People Of The Spirit”. I shared with you the history of our church and movement, and endeavored to show you we have a long history of passionately proclaiming the Gospel.
Today, I want to talk with you from the title of our series, “Driven By Eternity”.
ILLUSTRATION
To full understand the concept of a people being “Driven By Eternity”, I feel like we need to understand the definition as a whole.
Look at what Websters Online says:
1. operated, moved, or controlled by a specified person or source of power."a chauffeur-driven limousine"motivated or determined by a specified factor or feeling."a market-driven response to customer needs"2. (of a person) relentlessly compelled by the need to accomplish a goal; very hard-working and ambitious.
Both of these words describe what it means to be driven. To have a drive toward something means to be passionate about something.
TRANSITION
I’d submit to you this morning that we need to have a passion for souls!
At the end of the day, all that really matters is reaching people for Jesus Christ.
It needs to drive us when we get up in the morning. It should drive us when we are about our day. It should consume our thoughts upon our laying down. BACKGROUND
This very thing is precisely what Paul gave his life for. After his conversion, Paul tried to right some wrongs that he had done in his previously life.
That’s why he made the statement in Romans 1:14 NKJV “I am a debtor…..”
In this particular passage, he is showing us that urgency in which we should share the good news.
Look with me and let’s study this together. APPLICATION

The Frailty of Life (vs. 1-3)

- In the context of this verse, Paul calls this earthy body a “tent”.
- A tent is a temporary structure that usually doesn’t have the appearance of something glorious.
- That’s the way our bodies are. They are meant to be temporal.
- It truly gives us the reality that death is imminent.
2.   The Anticipation of Eternity (vs. 4-8)
- The book of Ecclesiastes says that God has placed eternity in our hearts.
- Some may deny it, but I truly believe we long for eternity!
- Paul writes and says “God has prepared us for this.”
- As believers for sure, this world is not our home. We are longing for Heaven!
- Whether we like it or not, we are leaving!
3.   Certainty of Judgment (vs. 9-11)
- As a believer, we have an appearance to make!
- Where? It will be before the judgement seat of Christ!
- This my dear friends is why we persuade men!
- We must be driven by an eternity focus!
CONCLUSION
In light of this, how does that make you feel like? I’m telling you that we must get busy doing the Master’s work!
In the words of the late Leonard Ravenhill, “Are the things you’re living for worth Christ dying for?”