Longing For That New Body
One of the strongest passions in a godly saint is their desire for their glorified body. A true saint has their feet on this earth but their head is in the sky. When you get a taste of the resurrection life of Jesus Christ, you will hunger for more and more. It will be complete only when we receive our glorified bodies that are made in His likeness. When Apostle Paul wrote his Holy Ghost directed letter to the Philippians, he included these words, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
Someone may ask, “Where is this level of spiritual living in today’s church?” It has been lost in our failure to have an altar in our lives. The word altar means “a place of slaughter or death.” There is no Biblical altar until something or someone dies. In the First Testament a sacrificial animal died. In the New Testament a surrendered believer dies. Through the pen of the writer the Spirit said, “I am crucified (There is not any person who is crucified without death to the old man.) with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). That’s the resurrection life we are missing and why we are spiritually empty in the process.
The majority of religious life in our present churches is “letter religion” instead of “spiritual life.” Much of the preaching in our churches, on radio, and on television warns people not to seek experiences because of the great amount of false emotions and false experiences. I understand the need to be biblically discerning because of the false, but Satan never produces a false that does not imitate the genuine. The “false anointing” that grips so much of the Church World is nothing but an attack on the spiritual reality with which the Lord Jesus wants to flood your life.
I will not allow Satan’s esoteric and paranormal spiritism to rob my soul of the mighty works of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God speaks expressly to all of us, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:11-14).
There is nothing any deader than an unspiritual believer. The life of a crucified saint is beautiful and powerful. Saul of Tarsus saw the face of Stephen and later found himself transformed by the same Christ. “And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). The resurrection life of Jesus Christ is not only an idea to fill poetry or a stanza for a song; it is a supernatural life to turn a repentant sinner into a vibrant saint. One man in Acts chapter three, who had never been in a sanctuary, went into the temple walking and leaping and praising God after encountering resurrection life. That would mess up Sunday morning services at most churches.
All of this resurrection life is just a small taste of what awaits the real saints of God. The Holy Ghost said, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:18-21). As great as it is to be a saint of God, it is only the down payment on our future. No wonder Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
The great lesson of I Corinthians chapter fifteen should be fixed in the memory bank of our mind. Let’s read it slowly, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.” “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.” “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (I Corinthians 15:42, 46, 49, 51-52). What a picture of the ending/beginning of a godly life!
Occasionally, I meditate on that which is right before us. What glory it will be to quickly be transformed and glorified with a resurrected body and — at the same moment — caught up to the presence of the Father and the Son. To climb the steppe of the sky and see the city of Heavenly Jerusalem gleaming in the distance will be majestic in itself. But, to enter into the city that Apostle Paul dared not to describe is beyond words. The city will already be primed for the wedding celebration. Saints of old, whom we have celebrated in our singing and preaching, will be milling about in a grand homecoming fashion. Loved ones that have already arrived will be running to meet us. Angels will be singing our welcome chorus. In some indescribable fashion, the Lord of Lords will be welcoming every one of us.
The Bible has promised if we confess Him to a hostile world, He will confess us to His Father. How all of this can be I will not try to figure out, but it will be as He promised. The future of God’s saints is so grand that our words almost sound like daydreaming. The half has never been told, but what I know has me so excited that I’m longing to go home.
Brenda Williams
Dear Pastor,
I don’t know how I got on your list, but thank GOD! I am! I enjoy reading your awesome words of praise and wisdom to and about our Lord and Savior!
May God continue to bless and keep you!
Blessings and Favor!
Always,
Your sister in Christ
Brenda
ARTHUR
ONE OF THE GREATEST PROMISES MADE IN THE DAYS OF ISAIAH TO THE FUTURE BELIEVERS OF THE CHURCH AGE IS FOUND IN ISA. 26 V19….AWAKE AND SING, YE THAT DWELL IN THE DUST….OVER 2600 YRS PAST AND ABOUT TO HAPPEN IN THIS GENERATION…..WHAT A PROMISE…
Ed Wood
Hello Brother Joseph.
I really enjoyed your depiction of what’s ahead just “Over the Next Hill” as the Johnny Cash song goes. As we watch the world including much of the church itself headed into the darkness, it is good to be reminded that this is not the end of the story for believers.
I heard a preacher once say that for those people who reject Jesus this life is as good as it will ever get. For those who accept him, this life is as bad as it will ever get.
So keep looking up!
Mrs Thomasina La-Vita
Yes Pastor I will have that new body,And behold JESUS my LORD SAVIOR FACE,PRAISE THE LORD.THANK YOU JESUS.
Jean Hynes
Here are quotes from two old saints of God on aging:
Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal- a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body. I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit will live forever.
American President John Quincy Adams was 80 years of age when a friend asked how he was. He said, “Thank you, John Quincy Adams is quite well. But the house where he lives is becoming dilapidated. It is tottering. Time and the season have nearly destroyed it, and it is becoming quite uninhabitable. I shall have to move out soon, But John Quincy Adams is quite well thank you.”
Jim
I think that our future glorified body is a wonderful analogy of the sanctified life but is rarely used, especially among Protestants. I think we are afraid of getting too “mystical” and comparing ourselves to “saints” (or hagiography). The bodies of these blessed persons, Catholic and Orthodox believe, are glorified even in this life and often free from the corruption of death and can have a transcendent aura about them here and now.
While not personally following that teaching, I do think that glorification can occur in this present world spiritually. So the glorfied body can be a great comparison and inspiration for our spiritual quest. For instance, our future transcendence and eternality can lead me to want to pray more fervently or be more pure in heart.
Thanks, Pastor Chambers, for bringing up this neglected teaching and may we use it to achieve more heights of spiritual blessing!
Ray Walker
I have never believed that what we currently have is all that was promised for this side. The world needs us to be the best that we can be and I have never been satisfied that we are 100% our best on this side yet. I cannot believe that all of the promises are for the other side. It will do mankind no good if all the promises are over there beyond reach. I am still believing I can operate just like my Lord told me to and showed us. I have seen things and tasted of more and want more for me as well as everyone I can touch. There has to be more and I am still pursuing it. Thanks for the encouragement. The Alaskan Assistant to the KING.
richard
Godly Saints? I think that is the desire of every christian who looks forward to the rapture of the church? Do you have to be a godly saint to want a new body?
kim
All of us believer’s like you are feeling the same longing to go home and see our L-rd face to face and our loved ones too. I think I have thot of mama and dad more lately tho I never got over it when I lost them. we know we are in the days before we leave. tho the signs were for the Jews to come to belief. as Paul said, we don’t need signs, we know !! G-d set up the church in Acts 2:4, and HE followed all the feast and festivals and Holy Days. but the church doesn’t look much like it today..how sad…but we all know G-d set up and fulfilled the Spring feasts..now He is fulfilling the Fall feasts and told us we would be anxious for that day..When He says, come up hither. In the fall feasts..he gives a day of atonement, to repent, and then we go..the 2000 yrs is up we are leaving. we have heard it for years..but WE KNOW now..He said He was going away to prepare a ROOM,(Sukkot) for us..this is coming..which day we do not know or the hour. but He told us darkness would be for 2 hours and then joy will come in the morning. as we see the great Apostasy and the Hate of Israel..those are the last signs plus the gospel has been preached around the world. He said He would be with us till the end, and not to worry about who can kill the body, but who could kill the body and the soul..HE IS coming for HIS BRide and I am ready…G-d bless all..Pray for the peace of Jerusalem Genesis 12:3…
Bill Andrews
Dear Pastor Chambers,
Every now and then your articles bring me to tears. This was definately one of them.
I simply can’t wait to go home with you !
Keep the great articles of truth flowing !
In Christ,
Bill
Chris
“You’re nobody till somebody loves you” goes the song by the Mills Brothers, Dean Martin, etc.
God sent us Somebody in His Son’s Body to love us. Now we are somebody too. It will be great to turn in this body suit of burlap for silk!
ken switzer
Encouragement. No more pain, suffering, crying or dying. I’m waiting for the ride there to our heavenly home — by rapture — soon — I am waiting, watching, encouraging the brethren, praying, and trying to tell others of that in which all believers in Jesus/Yeshua wait for. What an awesome time to be alive – keep looking up, be a watchmen for the others who yet do no know the truth.