“WHILE WE ARE AT HOME IN THE BODY WE ARE ABSENT FROM THE LORD”

INTRODUCTION
A. 2nd Corinthians 5:6-8
Has the world got you down? Just remember these problems are all temporary. What God has in store for His faithful, when we are present with Him, far excels whatever transpires on earth, where we are present in the body.
B. 1st John 2:15-17
Because the world is passing away, our love should not be fixed here.

I. ARE YOU FRUSTRATED BY CORRUPT GOVERNMENT?
A. Proverbs 29:2; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Acts 16:35-39
The people groan while the wicked reign. An overgrown bureaucracy breeds violence and injustice, so it should not surprise us. The civil rights of the innocent are overlooked.
B. Romans 13:1-7; 1st Peter 2:13-14; Proverbs 14:34
Corrupt government is the antithesis of God’s grand design. If we want what He intended we must be the good people who elect good leaders.
C. Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 12:28; 1st Timothy 6:11-16; John 3:3, 5
Regardless of the flaws in the bodies politick on earth, the Christian is reminded of heavenly citizenship! Our kingdom is unshakeable. We submit to the only Sovereign, who is King of all kings, and Lord over every lord. Entrance into His kingdom occurs through watery, spiritual rebirth.

II. ARE YOU WEARY OF POOR HEALTH?
A. Deuteronomy 7:15
Ancient Israel was promised that, if they remained faithful to God, He would immunize them from all disease. They did not remain steadfast, and so they did suffer from common ailments. It remains so, however, that the godly are often spared the maladies that befall the godless; there are diseases that are directly attributable to illicit drug use, drinking alcohol, smoking, sexual immorality, and other sins, which all have a far lower rate of occurrence among those who abstain. Regardless, what God told Israel, He did not tell the church, and even those whom He promised did not fulfill the prerequisites, so sickness remains a reality for humankind.
B. Luke 5:31-32
Jesus, as the great Physician, is much more interested in healing the plagues of the soul, than of the body.
C. 1st Corinthians 15:50-58; Revelation 21:4
Pain, sorrow, and death will be terminated by God when we enter heaven, where corruptible bodies are replaced with immortality.
D. Psalm 103:1-3
May we ever bless the God who forgives and heals!

III. ARE YOU UPSET BY DOMESTIC DYSFUNCTION?
A. Proverbs 11:29; 17:1; 19:26; 28:7; 21:9; 27:15
Family strife is a realistic problem for many that is acknowledged by inspiration. Children, spouses, and others have the very real potential to disrupt the harmony of the home.
B. Colossians 3:18-21
Of course, those who are raised with Jesus (1-3), having first been buried with Him in baptism (2:12), consequently obey His word about being the right wives, husbands, children, and fathers they can be.
C. Ephesians 3:14-15; 1st Timothy 5:1-2
Ultimately, it is a relief to know we have a whole family in Christ. Just as a woman, when she marries, assumes the surname of her husband, likewise those who are united with Christ bear His name; we are Christians. In this family, we consider one another fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers.
D. John 14:18; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 4:4-5
We aren’t orphans because God adopted us.
E. Galatians 4:26; Revelation 12:1-6
The saved have the church, in a sense, as our mother.
F. Romans 8:29; Hebrews 2:11-15
Christ is our brother!

IV. ARE YOU BURDENED BY ECONOMIC HARDSHIP?
A. Proverbs 23:4-5; 1st Timothy 6:17-19
Wealth, being “uncertain”, has a tendency not to last.
B. 2nd Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 16:26
Of course, there is an ever present need to work in order to provide for basic necessities.
C. Proverbs 11:15; 22:7; Ecclesiastes 11:6
Solomon, in his grand wisdom, and his vast experience with wealth, does offer up very sound financial advice, teaching his readers to avoid debt, and the debt of others’ by way of cosigning, and encouraging diversification.
D. John 6:27; Matthew 6:19-21
Ultimately our work should be toward heaven and our treasure should be deposited above!

By Bryan Matthew Dockens

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