It’s good to be in the Lord’s house. Thank you for being here this morning, excited about what the Lord’s got for us today at the lesson may seem unusual to you. If it does, I apologize. I’m going to take you to three passages of Scripture which does drive some people bonkers. I think sometimes when you have to go to more than one or two passes Scripture, but this morning I want to start in Second Samuel, chapter number twelve. And then the contributing points or the assisting points or the supporting points will be out of two other passages of Scripture and we’ll look at those but right this morning. First I want to focus on this passage of Scripture and then we’ll build up to it, we’ll move to it, we’ll go through it. But if you hang on, I promise you, you’ll get something out of the lesson this morning to encourage you and to help you. The title for this morning’s lesson is I Shall Go to Him. I shall go to him. Let’s pray. Father in heaven, thank you for Jesus mercy, grace and salvation. Father, thank you for the word of God, the encouragement and the hope and the help that it gives. Father, as we gather this morning here in our church house, lord, the hearts are heavy, hearts are discouraged. Father, there are folks that are just discouraged beyond measure, lord, and I pray you would encourage and those listening by a live stream, father, I pray the Holy Spirit of God would minister to their hearts as well. Father, I pray that you would do a work that only you can do. Father, this word, the Bible that we have in front of us feeds us, Lord, and I pray just for a few moments and our hearts will be open to receive what you have for today. Father, the word of God will help us and will encourage us if we’ll listen to it this morning. So I ask your Father to speak to us as only you can. Pray, Father, you bless the next hour. Pray to encourage the man of God. Help him, lord. Bless him, God him, and direct him, father, help our hearts to be attentive and to hear what you’ve already had planned and had in store for us today. Father, thank you again for your many blessings. Be around about each and every one, Lord. Pray, be around about Chris this morning. Help her and she’s not here this morning. Just touch her body, Father. Raise her up, make her well. And Father, again, thank you for what you’ve done. Thank you for what you’re going to do. Lead us guys and direct us in Jesus name. Amen. So Second Samuel, chapter number twelve, verses 15 through 23, the very dark passage of Scripture, but a very encouraging passage of Scripture. So as we read through this, we’re going to eavesdrop and listen in on a conversation between Nathan the prophet and david. We’re going to see what happens in David’s life. And I think from that we’ll be able to draw some encouragement and some help this morning. So beginning verse number 15, the Bible says and Nathan departed unto his house and the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David and it was very sick. David, therefore besought God for the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose and went to him to raise him up from the earth. But he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. And he came to pass on the 7th day that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoken to him and he would not hearken into our voice. How will he then vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw that his servants whispered david perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said of his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, he is dead. Then David arose from the earth, washed anointed himself and changed his apparel and came into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he required, they set bread before him and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him what thing is this that thou hast done? Thou stood, thou didst fast and weep for the child while he was alive. But when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept. For I said, who can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live? But now he is dead. Wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. So though it’s a dark passage of Scripture and it, I’m sure, strikes a chord with many of us, those of us that are parents and those of us that have children. We can relate to this. Those of us have had difficulties early on in our children’s first days when they were born and the uncertainties of the days that would come. I know it strikes true for all of us. And it’s a past description that we look at and our hearts break when we see what David went through because this is a real account. This happened and it’s recorded in the word of God for us. And I think it should remind us that every child has a soul. And it should remind us whether that child, from the point of conception on forward, if that something happens to that child, that child goes to heaven. So I believe that’s where these aborted babies are I believe that the babies that are what we have termed miscarriages. I believe that’s where they are, I believe they’re in heaven. I believe the Bible supports that. It’s not just a pipe dream for me. It’s not just something that I want to make myself feel better. It’s a reality based upon what I believe the word of God teaches us. Amen. So what I want to draw your attention to this morning is that phrase right there that David says, I shall go to him. And that’s where I think we’ll find some hope this morning, some help and some encouragement in this passage of Scripture. There’s so much to unpack and examine for the child of God, but the one truth that I believe the Lord would have us to focus on this morning is that truth. I shall go to him. Through this series of blessings on heaven, we’ve gained, I think, a better understanding of what heaven is, what’s going on there. We’ve been reminded of our loved ones on the other side. We’ve been reminded that we see ourselves in the Scripture. We see ourselves there at the throne of God over in the Book of Revelation as John’s looking into the future, we see ourselves there, but most importantly, we see Jesus Christ. Amen. The one who saved us by his grace, the one who loved us, the one who goes with us day in and day out, the one who’s by our side. We’re reminded of those wonderful things we know as children of God this morning, that heaven is our destination. Amen. We know that heaven is our future home, and it is our hope. Amen. We know that. So this morning, I want us to look at some truths that I think will encourage our hearts. First of all, I want to draw your attention back to you don’t have to turn there with me if you don’t want to, but it’s something our pastor alluded to in the last couple of messages. I don’t remember exactly when it was, but it struck a chord with me, was back in Hebrews, chapter eleven. And we studied that chapter, I think, not at great lengths, but we looked at a lot of things, and it helped us. Amen. So in Hebrews chapter number eleven and verse number eight, we saw that the Bible says, by faith, abraham, when he was called to go out into place, which he should have received for inheritance, he obeyed and he went, not knowing whether he went by faith. He sojourned in the land of promise as in a country dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. Four, he looked for a city. Amen. He was looking for a city. I think what amazes me about that, when I think about that and I know we’ve talked about it at great length, but three quarters of what we know about heaven comes from the New Testament. But yet Abraham, over in the Book of genesis, chapter number twelve. Only twelve chapters into the recording of the Word of God do we see him looking for a city. Well, now, he didn’t have the King James Bible, he didn’t have all the scripture that we have today about heaven. But yet when he was called out over in Hebrews over in Genesis chapter number twelve in verse one when the Lord said UNT thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, from thy father’s house unto a land that I will show thee. I will make of thee a great nation. He knew that there was a city that he was looking for. Amen. Whose builder and maker the Bible tells the book of Hebrews, is not God. Right? So here he is with very little scripture, looking for a city. Amen. And here we are with the entire word of God and many, many more truths from the scripture, many more words from God Almighty to us about Heaven. And God wants us to be encouraged about heaven. Amen. He wants us to be reminded of Heaven. I’ve often said this. I don’t want us to ever get to the point where we’re so heavily minded, we’re no earthly good. But I do believe this. If we’re not heavenly minded, we won’t be any earthly good. Amen. We’ve got to think about heaven. We’ve got to be reminded of Heaven. That’s our home. That’s where our savior is. Amen. And so that should encourage us this morning, much like Abraham, who was looking for a city, so are we. Amen. We’re looking for a city. Let me say this to you this morning, Abraham. I’ve kind of wrote this in my notes. It’s just someone to give this to you. The Bible says, now, Lord, send the Abraham, get thee out thy country from thy kindred, from thy Father’s house unto land I will show thee. I’ll makethe thee a great nation. I’ll bless them that bless thee. I’ll curse them to curse thee and thee all the famous earth should be blessed. So abram the party. You know what he did? He walked by faith. You know what he was doing? He was looking for a city. Day after day, mile after mile, he was looking for a city. He’d put down his tents. It wouldn’t be long, he’d pull those stakes up and he’d move again. He was looking for that city. He wasn’t looking for a city that was built by mankind on this earth. He was looking for God’s city. Amen. He was looking for heaven. So this morning, I think it’s important that we be reminded that we should be looking for a city. Now think about this for a moment. That’s where Jesus is. That’s where our loved ones are that are saved. That’s where we’re headed. Amen. That’s our destination. So if we’re looking for that city, our eyes are pointed. Which direction? Upward. Heavenward, right? When you’re appointing heavenward and when you’re looking upwardly, you’re not looking at everything else around you. A lot of trials, lot of heavy hearts in here this morning. People are going through a lot. You don’t believe me, look at the prayer list. If you don’t believe me, look at the ones who have to attend church this morning. The only way they can be here is by way of livestream. There’s a lot of heartache. Amen. We see that, boy. I tell you, it gets discouraging sometimes. But you know what we need to do? We need to start looking for a city where we’ll never die. Amen. That’s what we need to be doing. That’s what we need to get our encouragement from. You say, I know we still got to live in this world, Brother Gary. I know that. I understand that. Trust me. At 02:00, that becomes a reality to me. You say how so, brother Mark? Because I’ll be among the masses of people that find it important to find a screw that doesn’t exist at Lowes. I’ll be among the masses. So I understand. But I can tell you this if we’re looking for that city, it sure makes the ride a whole lot easier. Amen. And that’s what Abraham was doing. That’s what we find Abraham doing. He had a promise. He walked by faith, so he got up. God called him to go and he went. He took that journey walking towards that city, the destination where we’re headed. By his marvelous grace, let me give you this this morning so we have the hope of heaven, the promise of heaven. And we too, like Abraham, are looking for a city. So always remember this. Always remember this. Let this be a talking point. No matter what comes your way, no matter what today brings and no matter what your future holds and no matter what has happened in your life and what will happen you still have the eternal promise of heaven as your home days will get dark. But we’re looking for a city where we’ll never die. Amen. That’s what we’re looking for. And we bless the Lord for that, don’t we? It gives us help. It gives us hope. The second word of encouragement, I think, for us this morning comes out of second Samuel, chapter twelve, where we were reading it today. And we find a lot going on here. Like I said, there’s a lot here, things we can look at. I’ll give you some highlights just just to kind of remind us. David has transgressed against Lord. He sinned against the Lord. He’s not where he’s supposed to be. He’s not out fighting the battle with his men. David looks upon another man’s wife. He commits adultery, tries to cover it up. Then he orders her husband to be killed in the battle. And I’ll be honest with you. You can look at all four or five of those events. And I will tell you this morning, I don’t believe any one of them are greater than any other. Sin is sin. Whether you looked, you lusted, you committed, whether you weren’t fighting in the battle with the men, whether you were backslided on the Lord or whether you killed some. Sin is sin. I mean, God doesn’t differentiate. Amen. Sin is sin. So he’s living away from the Lord. He’s not where he’s supposed to be. We understand that. We see that. That leads up to where we read this morning. You might think, well, what in the world does this have to do with heaven? Well, I’m going to show you. You see, Nathan departs. There’s a child involved and the child is healthy, as far as we know, up to a point. And then overnight, it seems the child gets extremely sick. There’s no Med Express, there’s no CAMPC, women’s and children, which is a wonderful place. Amen, sister Tina. It’s where Jacob was for 45 days. There’s no way to pick this child up and get this child any medical help. You see, this child’s life was in God’s hands. And unfortunately, this child was not able to live to see its 8th day on earth. So there was a plan, there was a purpose and all those things, and I understand that. So the Lord strikes the child and the child becomes very sick. So David Beseeches. The Lord falls upon his face, prays and seeks God’s face, as many of us would. If you’re a good parent in here this morning, I know you would turn to the Lord and seek God’s face for that child. Amen. For your child. Hold God, raise his child up. You would fast, you would pray, you would seek the Lord’s face. You would be on your hands and knees as we’ve been before, many of us, for our loved ones and for our family members. Praying, seeking God’s face. David beseeches as a child, praying as an ancestor for the child. On the child’s behalf, David fast and lays all night upon the earth. He would not eat bread. He would not leave the place of prayer for this child. Then on the 7th day, the child passes you and I as parents. It’s heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking how difficult a day that must have been. Most likely a life changing moment for David, one that he’ll never forget. But I think what happens next is what should encourage our hearts. Even though there was a day of grieving, there was a day of mourning, even though there was a day of sorrow. The Bible says that on that 7th day that the child died. The servants of David feared to tell David. I said, Behold, when the child was yet alive, we spoken to him. He would not hearken in our voice how much more? How will he then vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead? But when David saw his servants whispering, perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said under the servant said, is the child dead. And they said, he is dead. So here comes the encouragement for us this morning. When David arose from the earth, he washed, he anointed himself, changed his apparel, came into the house of the Lord worshiped, then came to his own house, and they set bread before him. And the service didn’t quite understand it, but he said this in verse 22. He said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted and I wept, for I said, who can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live? May I say this right here, interject this right here. At this point, whether the child lived or not, god was still gracious. God was still gracious. God did what was right. Even though I didn’t understand it, even though it’s really hard to accept and even though it’s really hard to see, god still did what was right. But Gary, God still was gracious. Amen. Let’s move on, he says, but now he is dead. Wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him. So the second word of encouragement this morning is number one. Abraham said, I’m looking for a city where we’ll never die. Abraham david says I can’t have him back to me, but I shall go to him. The second word of encouragement for you this morning is this we may have loved ones on the other side, and they will not return with us unless they’re in the presence of Jesus Christ in the moment of the rapture. But you can rest assured you’re going to them. You’re saved by the grace of God, you are going to them. You see, death will bring a heartache. Death will bring grief. Death will bring brokenness. It’ll break you in many ways. We’ve all been there. We all understand it. And we may never, ever truly get over it on this side of eternity. And if the Lord were to leave us in that position, how miserable would we be? Think about that. How miserable would we be? If our loved ones passed on and we had no hope that we would ever see them again, how miserable would we be? I mean, I think about poor Abraham. Abraham went on a promise. A promise. But yet we have stags of promises. We have many promises. A blessed hope. Amen. No, our loved ones won’t return to us unless they return to us during the rapture of the Church with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That would be the only time they would return. But we have a blessed promise. We shall go to them. If you’re saved by the grace of God, the moment that heart stops beating, those lungs stop breathing, you are in the presence of the Lord at the moment. To be absent from the body is to be present from the Lord. The second word of encouragement is that it reminds me of a song that not only do we sing about heaven, not only looking for a city, but a glad day, a wonderful day amen. That encourages us, a glad day, a glorious day. Amen. That gives us hope. Amen. Cause us to shout, this is not the end. Amen. It’s not for us, and it’s not for them. So as I encourage your heart this morning or as I attempt to give you scripture to allow the word of God to encourage your heart this morning, I would report to you number one, there’s a city that we’re all looking for, we should be looking for. Number two, we shall go to him. We shall. So the third note of encouragement I’ll give to you, and I’ll be done. It may be early, and I apologize to you for that. But the third hope of encouragement I would give to you is found over in the Book of Acts, chapter one and verse nine. Our pastors, again, alluded to this. Over the last couple of weeks, two or three weeks we’ve talked about this, but the Bible says in chapter one and verse nine, and when he had spoken these things, while they beheld he speaking of Jesus was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand to you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven. So as I was reading that and I was thinking about the thoughts that the Lord had spoke to me about and encouraged me a little bit, I was really drawn to that phrase right there. It says this same Jesus. Same Jesus. What did that mean to those disciples? What did that mean to those apostles? Let’s dig into that a little bit. This same Jesus got to remember, they’ve probably spent the last three and a half years with him. Right from the time they were called to be disciples and serve Lord, they probably saw a lot of things. And so the angel reminded them, that the same Jesus you see going, that’s the same Jesus that’s coming back. Which Jesus? The same Jesus, you say? Why is that such a big deal? Well, let’s think about let’s think like the apostles would think for a moment. Let’s think like the apostles would think. The apostles might say, well, this is the one who found me when I was lost and undone without Jesus Christ. Which Jesus? That Jesus. Which Jesus? The one who took me from my old life and gave me a new life. That Jesus. The same Jesus. Amen. Which Jesus? They might say, the one who they saw turned the water into wine. Which Jesus? The same Jesus. Not only the one that turned the water into wine. But the one who you saw Fed feed the 5000? That same Jesus. Which Jesus? The one you saw that day when the crippled man was healed. That same Jesus. Remember that Jesus? That Jesus. Which Jesus is coming again. The one who you saw raised Lazarus from the dead. That same jesus. The same Jesus that you saw on Calvary’s cross, shedding his blood for your sins, is the same Jesus that will come again. The same Jesus that you saw resurrected from the tomb on that third morning, on that third day. It’s the same Jesus you’ll see again. So this is the third word of encouragement. When the long night is hard, when the days are full of trouble. And think about these apostles. They spent three and a half years with him. They thought he was gone. He resurrected. He’s been walking with them. He’s been speaking to them. He’s been encouraging them. Right? We saw him on the sea with Peter. As Peter was out fishing, we saw Jesus ministering to them. Well, now he leaves again. So the angels leave them with a word of hope that says this same Jesus which let me read it again. This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven. So let us be encouraged by this. This morning, when the long night’s hard, the days are full of trouble. Our hearts are broken beyond measure. We should bless the Lord for those that are left on this side of eternity for this reason. That same Jesus is coming again. The same one. Hey, Peter. This same Jesus is coming again. Hey, John. That one that laid his head upon the breast of Jesus Christ, he’s coming again, Luke. He’s coming again. This same Jesus, the one that comforted your heart. Think about this, children. Think about this this morning. The one who comforted their hearts, the one who calmed the sea when they were out and the boat was rocking back and forth, that same Jesus said, what’s that got to do a thing, brother Mark? Think about the day you were saved. Think about those heartaches and troubles you’ve been through. Think about how your life’s had disappointments and heartbreaks. Who’s been there every step of the way. Who’s helped you. Who’s encouraged you. Who’s lifted you up when you didn’t feel like you could be lifted up anymore. Who’s given you grace to face another day? Jesus. So those disciples, their hearts are heavy. Their hearts are broken. They’re seeing their savior go. But the angel says, hey. Let me give you a word of encouragement. This same Jesus, the same one that’s been with you the last three and a half years this same Jesus is coming again after you. It’s coming in like manner. He says, It’s coming in like manner. So encourage you this morning in this, let’s keep our hearts and our heads upward. Looking like Abraham. Amen. Looking for that city. Let’s keep our hearts moving forward, like David after death had struck his home. Let’s be encouraged. This is not the end. This is not the end. You may take one step here and the next could be an eternity. But if you’re saved, you’ll take that step into heaven. Amen. Let’s keep working till that time. He comes for us. It may be by the way of the grave, but I believe many of us that are here this morning will go by the way of the Rapture. Well, one way or the other, Jesus is coming again for you. So let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in me. Because in my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself. That where I am, there you may be also. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be heavy hearted. Heaven’s real. Our loved ones who have gone on, that are saved, are there. We’ve looked over in the Book of Revelation. We’ve looked through a glass darkly. We’ve not been able to see clearly. But we can see the saints of God there in heaven. And among those saints of God, we find not only our loved one, but we find those of us that are born again, saved by the grace of God as well, all around the throne, worshiping the Lord. That’s a God that loves you. That’s a God that cares about you. That’s a God that’s never forgotten about you. He left us his word. Abraham went on a promise, one promise. And we’ve got a book, a Bible full of them. Amen. Let’s pray. Our Father in heaven, thank you for the opportunity to be back in your house this morning. Thank you, Lord, for your mercy, your grace, your salvation. Thank you for loving us. We were unlovable. Father, thank you for the promise of heaven. Lord, our hearts break as we read Scripture and we see the difficult things that your saints went through. But, Father, our hearts are encouraged. Knowing and believing and grasping by faith the promises that you’ve given us. Father, thank you for never leaving us, never forsaking us. Thank you for loving us when we run. Love. Thank you for caring for us, Lord. But most of all, thank you for the promise of eternal life, of salvation, of heaven. Father, thank you for this blessed book that gives us hope and help. Father, I pray those are listening by way of livestreaming this morning. Their hearts are encouraged. I pray they’re helped. I pray they’re lifted up. Father, I pray the Holy Spirit of God has ministered through the pages of your word. Those of us that are here, Lord, this morning that will continue to keep our hearts open and. Ready for what’s about to take place in the next hour. Thank you for what you’ve done. Thank you for what you’re going to do. God and direct us, Lord, as only you can. In Jesus name, amen. Amen.