Three Big Appointments.
Hebrews 9:27AMP
We all realize the need for making appointments in life. Appointments are as much a part of our lives as breathing itself is. There are two kinds of appointments.
Some of these appointments are voluntary appointments and some of them are involuntary appointments But whether they are voluntary or involuntary we recognize appointments are necessary in life.
Hebrews 9:27AMP And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment,
Every Sunday we have a voluntary appointment to be in the house of God.
We have a 10AM appointment for Bible study and fellowship.
We have coffee in every adult class, and a good place to get biscuits.
We have an 11AM appointment for worship and the Word.
We believe for salvations, Revival, complete deliverance, signs and wonders.
Key note—Setting the time for these appointments helps us to arrive at the same time. P.H
• Sometimes we miss appointments because we forget about them.
• Sometimes we miss appointments because of circumstances that come up and prevent us from keeping them.
However, the Bible mentions 3, Appointments that we ‘all’ will keep.
Let’s look at these three appointments:
First—The Appointment with Death:
We are told:
Through out the world approximately 155,000 people die everyday.
• That’s, 6,458 an hour.
• 108 people a minute.
• Every second 2 people die.
For every breath you take approximately seven people have died.
Again, this evenings text—Hebrews 9:27TPT Every human being is appointed to die once, and then to face God’s judgment.
Death is everywhere, and it happens to everyone. However, we do not want to talk about it!
But we must talk about it because one of these days we are going to be one of those numbers.
I think about death frequently:
I drive by cemeteries daily.
• I read the obituary column and I see friends who have past from this life.
• I conduct many funerals as a pastor. Yes, I frequently think about death.
Illustration—I even think about how I will die. If I had my choice I would like to die like a preacher friend of mine. That is, after a busy day of serving the Lord he went to sleep one night and woke up in heaven.
A dentist was asked what the worst thing about being a dentist was. He said, “The worst thing about being a dentist is that you can have a book full of appointments that people don’t keep. You would be surprised how many will call in and cancel the appointment the day before, or just never show up for their appointment.”
But when it comes to having an appointment with death, we are not given any choices. The Lord Jesus Himself makes the appointment, He sets the date, time and place for our appointment with death.
Psalm 23, speaks about walking through the— “Valley of the shadow of death.”
Illustration—Notice, death here is related to a shadow.
Why?
• A shadow is something very close to us.
• A shadow is something we can’t get away from.
Every day we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, death is always near us.
• We are only one heartbeat away from death.
• We are only one breath away from death.
• The Word of God says we are only a step away from death.
Since those things are true, and since death can come at any moment, it pays for us to be prepared.
Amos 4:12NLT Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced. Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!
God say’s—You’re guilty, prepare for judgment.
After, our appointment with death—
II. The Appointment Of Judgment.
Again, from the text, the Bible states in Hebrews 9:27, "But after this the judgment.”
The Greek for God’s judgement, is literally “a court trial.”
We are told in, Romans 14:12NLT Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
Again, God’s Word says every one of us have an appointment with Death, and after this judgment.
That means Saints and Sinners.
There will be two judgments:
A. The Saints:
The Saints will stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Look at 2 Corinthians 5:10, as Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians, we read, 10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
As Saints stand—multiple degrees of rewards they will receive in heaven. P.H
B. The Sinners:
Sinners will stand before the Lord at the “Great White Throne Judgment."
Look at Revelation 20:11-15. We read, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Again, All the lost will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment to give account of all evil— they have done in this life.
Q&A: What makes the sinner so evil? One answer, no salvation.
Notice what verse 15 says will happen once they are judged, we read, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
They were not gently led to hell, the Bible says they will be “Cast into the lake of fire.”
No suffering on the face of the earth will hold a candle on this day. P.H
III. The Appointment With Salvation:
1 Thessalonians 5:9TPT For God has not destined us for wrath but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.
When it comes to salvation, everyone of us has an Open Appointment.
* There is the ‘now’ of salvation:
Look at 2 Corinthians 6:2TPT For he says, I listened to you at the time of my favor. And the day when you needed salvation, I came to your aid. So can’t you see? Now is the time to respond to his favor! Now is the day of salvation! Ref—Isaiah 49:8
Sometimes, when you witness to lost people they will say, “I want to accept the Lord, but I do not feel the time is right.”
*There is the ‘how’ of salvation:
Romans 10:9-10AMP because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.
There is the wow of salvation:
2 Corinthians 5:17TPT Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.
Everything new—Everything. Say, “Everything.” All past behind, all sin behind, history, What history?—Dust In The Wind.
Everything new! “God remembers nothing bad when you become new!”
Listen to these glorious Scriptures that still await us:
Revelation 21:1-7TPT Then in a vision I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, descending out of the heavenly realm from the presence of God, like a pleasing bride that had been prepared for her husband, adorned for her wedding. 3 And I heard a thunderous voice from the throne, saying:
“Look! God’s tabernacle is with human beings. And from now on he will tabernacle with them as their God. Now God himself will have his home with them—‘God-with-them’ will be their God! 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and eliminate death entirely. No one will mourn or weep any longer. The pain of wounds will no longer exist, for the old order has ceased.” 5 And God-Enthroned spoke to me and said, “Consider this! I am making everything to be new and fresh. Write down at once all that I have told you, because each word is trustworthy and dependable.” 6 Then he said to me, “It has been accomplished! For I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to all who are thirsty. As my gracious gift, they will continuously drink from the fountain of living water. 7 The conquering ones will inherit these gifts from Me. I will continue to be their God and they will continue being children for Me.
In closing, these scriptures I’ve just read to you haven’t come forth as of yet, but God’s not through—The best is yet to come!
A Word the Lord gave me—“If you just can’t let go of some of your past hurt, remember this, Jesus was crucified for your sake!’ ‘If you’re still holding on, the verses I just read to you say—“On this day, you will not remember any of your hurtful past, He has made it all new!”
Remember, 3 appointment:
1. The Appointment with Death.
2. The Appointment Of Judgment.
3. The Appointment With Salvation:
You got them covered? Tell others.
Then, live well and sleep well! P.H
Benediction.
