James Richards

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Sunday Morning Service

Jeremy Richards

Copalis Community Church

29 June 2025

Bible References

• Philippians 3:11
• Matthew 19:20-33

Audio MP3 PDF

Philippians chapter three. And we're in verse 11, Philippians chapter three, verse 11. So we've been talking about those several and different benefits that come to believers as a result of their association with Jesus Christ. There are many different things that pass on to an individual when they have a relationship with another individual.

Sometimes it's good, other times not so much. Right. Everyone's had a relationship with individuals, and as a result, you are brought to a different level as a result, there are other individuals that we have a relationship that drag us down even deeper than we were before. Well, that relationship that we have the opportunity to have with Christ has certain benefits as a result. We've been talking about this in chapter three of Philippians.

We see that Paul was willing to lose all for the sake of Christ. He was willing to lay down those things which he valued before for the benefit of serving Christ. There is a benefit in our relationship with Jesus Christ as the result of being able to lay those things down which we leaned on previously. If everyone's been hiking before, right? You've had the experience of carrying a pack, right?

As a result of carrying the pack, your body becomes accustomed to the weight that you're carrying, right? And when you lay off of that pack, you were slugging up the hills and down the hills. You were carrying a burden before, but when you took that burden off, you felt a certain way as a result of that burden being left off. You had spring in your step, you could move, you felt light, There was a joy. Ah, that burden that I was carrying.

Now I am not. What a blessing to be involved with Jesus Christ, the one who takes our burden. One of the things that I notice so often about people who come into the nearness of the relationship with Jesus Christ is their countenance changes, right? There's a difference. There's an aurora about them that is different than that which they had before.

When they lay down their anger, their face changes. When they lay down the pride, the spirituality that they used to have, there's a difference in their face, in their demeanor and how they talk. When that which they depended on for sustenance, when the drug abuse and the alcoholism and the things that they once depended, depended on to go through life are removed, there's a change in people. Jesus affects people when he takes the burdens that we used to bear.

I love to see people's face start to shine their eyes, communicate something real again, to see something in them beyond the falseness of what they put into it, because of that one who loved to steal from us, accuse us and hammer us consistently. When they begin to have an interaction with someone who loves them and wants to give them life, it affects them. Praise God that an association with Jesus Christ gives us the opportunity to lay down our loads.

All the things I used to carry. I'm glad I don't have to haul around anymore.

People sometimes ask and wonder why I don't want to watch and listen and take part of the things that I once did. Because I don't want to carry the same burden that I used to walk with. I don't want my mind to be as confused as it once was. I don't want to be under the same cloud of shame that I used to continually dwell under. I want to be free to walk with Christ in the freedom for which he has set me free.

He takes our load. What a blessing to live in association with Jesus Christ, who carries a load for us. But there is also a certain fiduciary blessing that comes because of the legal activities between Jesus Christ and the Father that are a blessing to to those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Sandra was speaking to me Saturday that Jerriann, I don't think Jerriann is here, called her because of certain legal challenges that she was facing.

Sandra, being a lawyer, received a call from an individual in our church just because of a relationship they had. And as a result, what I understand is Sandra was able to help Jerriann with a legal load that she neither understood nor could handle. There is a certain fiduciary, a legal benefit that comes as a result because our relationship with that lawyer who pleads our case before the Father. The Father pleads there are certain. He, as an individual, desired to bless humankind.

But there are legal challenges that must be overcome before he can pass on a spiritual blessing to humankind. He wanted to create mankind. He wanted to elect them. But he knew that as a result of bringing mankind into the world, that there would be an outcry in the streets. They would sin, they would fight against Him.

They would live in rebellion. And so, even though he wanted to bring individuals into this relationship with him, he could not because of sin. Jesus came and he said, I will be their surety. I will be that for them which covers the cost, which bears responsibility for anything they might do against you. And he claimed to be, and he was willing to be our surety.

Father then gave him a name which is above every name he wanted. The Father wanted to pass on his inheritance to humankind. He wanted them as members of his family. But he Recognized that because they were outcast and rebellious by nature, there was no way they could live in the house. Him, just as some wise parents have found at times that at certain points in our lives that our children cannot live in the house any longer with us.

Listen, rules are rules. You've chosen. You've made your decision. You've went the way you want to go. Now go.

It doesn't mean I'm not going to love you and care for you in sport, but you cannot act that way in my house.

And so the Father, knowing that his people he wanted as his children would rebel against him, Jesus said, I will go and I will become like them. I will take their sin upon my own self. I will take that so that they may have my nature. I will be that which is the cause of their adoption. I will be that no matter how they rebel against you, no matter how they curse you, I will be that which causes them to be adopted.

And so the Father was willing to adopt us for Jesus sake. He was willing to redeem us that you and I, that He wanted you and I as part of his ministry. He wanted to send us out to be a part of his work. But he knew that you and I would make our lives futile by engaging and identifying with that satanic work which he, Satan does in our lives. We would break the authority.

We would fight against God. But Jesus Christ said, I will come and redeem them from their past. I will take on the responsibility. And so he redeemed us, he purchased us, and now he sits at the right hand of God having all authority. There were several things that Jesus Christ did for our behalf of which we had no part.

He did for us. That's a very big blessing of being part in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Having that lawyer, that great shepherd of the sheep fight for us legally, that's a blessing. And as we begin to understand what Christ does for us, we begin to appreciate that legal work which he does on our behalf. And there is also a benefit that comes from following Jesus Christ of being able to walk with him.

There is a blessing that comes that is more important than any physical thing that you and I might desire. Some of us want certain things, right? We have our eye on things. I've been looking for a new tractor. I didn't just want any tractor.

I wanted a tractor with a cab. It needed to be about a 80 to 100 horsepower. I wanted something that when I go out to feed the cows in the middle of the winter and you are all sitting by the fireplace I am getting absolutely soaked. No cab, nothing to protect me. I'm just taking those bales out and just the rain's hammering me.

But they gotta be fed. I wanted something with heat and air conditioning.

It needed to be new. I didn't want to struggle with a clunker tractor the rest of my life. I have enough of those, right? But.

And some of you want things too. And all of those are benefit. But all those benefits that may come from a, you know, a ease in this life, they do not compare with the relationships we get to have with people in this life. I may want a nice car, but that nice car really has no comparison with the relationship I have with my wife. That relationship is of more value than any physical thing that I could attain.

Relationships are of more value. And so one benefit we have in being associated with Christ is we get to walk with Him. We get to be near Him. It's not a religion. It's a relationship in which we get to partake of the most influential entity in the universe.

We get to walk with Him. That walking, it says in verse 10 of chapter three that I may know him and the power of his resurrection. We get to experience a power that enables us to live a lifestyle that is not possible, except we know Him. It may mean that, like it says hair, that it is one of suffering. When I met Stacy, I told her, stacy, we are going to be poor the rest of our life.

We're never going to have anything.

But she valued a relationship more than possessions and she wanted to walk with me. And poor, poor women who. Who learn to trust or say they want to trust a man. We recognize, oh, my, there's a lot of suffering involved. Gear up.

Right. But there is a blessing of walking with Christ, even though the path that he walks on is difficult.

I wish I could have been more faithful and not have drug my family through so much pain needlessly. But Jesus invites us to walk with him, even though it's suffering. And he invites us, as a result of this interaction we have with him, to die with Him. He gives us the greatest opportunity of this relationship to take part in his death. There is nothing so valuable in life.

There is nothing more substantial in all that you do. All your accolades and the ribbons you won from your junior high track meet do not compare with that one event that you and I will experience, which no one is exempt from. Everyone must walk through that one that he wants to walk through with us, which is your death, and he wants to die with you. Some people at the very End. Abandon that relationship out of fear of physical torment and leave the one who claims to walk through you in your deathbed, whatever pain it might experience, whether you might be like Peter, crucified upside down or right side up or beheaded.

My only encouragement that the relationship that Jesus Christ has is of more benefit to walk with him in his death. To die with Jesus is the best thing, the surest opportunity, the most a faithful part of that relationship. There's a lot of good things about being religious, but there's nothing so powerful as dying with Jesus.

But that's not what we're going to talk about today. We're in chapter three, verse 11. There is one more benefit that leaves these others behind. Chapter 3, verse 11. If by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead, let's pray.

O Father, Lord, we thank you for the several and unique, the powerful benefits that come from that relationship which you offer us. We were not worthy. We didn't deserve them, Lord. But you came close to us. We appreciate it.

We're thankful for it, Lord. And we do. Look at this last benefit, Lord. Help us to understand it. In Jesus name, Amen.

It says, if by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead. Even though these things which we are talking about have extreme spiritual value, they pale in comparison to that last benefit which comes as a result of our relationship with Jesus Christ. The resurrection from the dead, that opportunity to inhabit eternity with Jesus. There are benefits that come from walking with him. There is benefits that come from him being our lawyer, from taking our load.

But there is much more benefit to that blessing which comes with spending eternity with him. When those things which prevent us currently from experiencing the fullness of that benefit, our carnal flesh, our sin, the responsibilities of this world, all hinder that relationship which Jesus Christ wants to have with us. But there in eternity, those things will not hinder us. We will see him as we are seen. Those glasses, that dark mirror which we see him now in, will be removed and.

And we'll be able to experience the fullness of that relationship entirely, forever. It says if by any means this is a picture, a saying, that if it could be possible to dwell with the King of Kings forever, how could it be that an individual who has only experienced rebellion and enmity towards God could live with him in harmony forever?

Jim was telling yesterday. Now I hope it's not true right now, Jim, but he was saying that even in church, even in church his mind would wander. Now, I pray that's not happening right now, Jim. That's why I'm bringing you to the carpet here. That even in church, his mind would begin to dwell on ideas that are in essence not compatible with the things of God.

Has anyone been there before that? Your mind begins to wander and focus on things that if God were present, would have an issue with.

If how could an individual like you and I spend forever with God to go to Matthew 20 and if you remember, Jesus had come into an interaction with a young man who, to the outward appearance, would have been the most suitable for the kingdom of God. You know, the cleanest outward lifestyle, the straightest physical walk, the most apparent person in. In Matthew, chapter 19.

And in verse 21, this young man said, in chapter 19, verse 20, the young man said to him, all these things I have kept from my youth, what do I still lack?

This young man recognized that a coming into heaven was still out of reach of what he had experienced so far. Jesus said to him in verse 21, if you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me. Throw off the load that you've been carrying. Throw off your own righteousness, throw off your own desires, throw off everything you want for your own flesh, and come and follow me.

It's still the same message today. Lay it down. Jesus says, take up your cross. Join with me in the path that I am going, and I will guide you safely to eternity. Come and follow me.

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Those things that he had were something that kept him from true riches. He thought that when the scale was weighed, his witches were compared more highly with that which God offered. Earthenware covered with silver dross weighed more highly than pure gold. That looks dusty in this world.

Chamber pots of no value. Things used for dishonor, valued more than the ones used for honor. The things of God, despised for the things of this world. Relationships that are temporary, that bring bitterness, that bring hurt. Chosen over one that loves us as his own soul and gave himself for us.

You and I are in the same place. He went away sorrowful. He lost the opportunity. Some people are still wishing they would have gotten involved in Boeing or Microsoft in the early days. How much more so you as a young man, you missed the opportunity to serve Christ in your youth.

So sorry that you had to live a life full of your own chamber pots. Forgive us that we had to walk in our own slime. Oh, if only we would have chosen Christ when he called us early.

Then we wouldn't have to bear what we currently do. But Christ calls us today. Thank God for parents who are willing to introduce their children to spiritual things early. It was such a blessing to watch Cash share in front of a group of rough people, speak confidently and with courage. And a man came up to us afterwards and said, you know, sometimes I listen more to a young person than an old person.

What a blessing to see people because their parents were willing to exercise some biblical authority in their home because they were willing to take a stand against an ungodly generation, giving their children the opportunity to serve Christ from their youth. Paul had something to say about Timothy and his mother and grandmother, in whom sincere faith dwelt, that they gave their grandson and son the opportunity by introducing the word of God to them. Thank God.

But these people went away sorrowful, missing the greatest opportunity of their lives because they value the things of this world. Verse 23. Then Jesus said to his disciples, assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. God.

Then his disciples heard it. They were greatly astonished, saying, who then can be saved? Paul expresses his marvel. I don't even know if it's a word, marvelity, his surprise. How can it be possible that a person could be saved and spend eternity with God?

The disciples here are wondering, if this person couldn't be saved, then who can? And the answer is given by Jesus in verse 26. But Jesus looked at them and said to them, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. That work of bringing us to heaven is impossible from human perspective. You could climb for your whole life.

You could attempt the very best of exercises and you could not enter in. But Christ can do a work that you can't on your behalf. He can exercise things that you don't possess. He can do a mighty work in defeating the devil that you can never attain to. But Jesus Christ can do it for you.

Back to Philippians, if by any means, how it is possible, we don't know only that Christ can do it. If by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead. First of all, we have to understand that being a part of Jesus Christ in his eternity is a high calling. There is no higher calling. If you remember the parable, and there was a man and he had a feast, and it was a wedding feast, and he Put all that he had into this feast.

He prepared it. Everything was slaughtered. The meat was ready, the wine was ready. And he called people, you know, I want something more than anything. I want to share my bounty with others.

And so he said, come, come to my wedding feast. I want to share with you the greatness of my glory. I want you to participate with me in all that I have. But they were not willing.

They didn't think that that sharing with the Father was worth what they currently have. We have to understand in heaven that being a part of that wedding feast is something to attain to. We have to value it more than we currently have. Paul says, eye has not seen nor ear heard. A little mixed up.

But the great things which God has prepared for those who love him back in it's repeated in Isaiah in verse 17, and this is repeated in Revelations. For behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I created. For behold, I create Jerusalem as rejoicing and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and joy in my people.

The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. That this feast which God has prepared for people is one to be attained to.

There are people who want to go to a party and will do a lot to try to get invited. Especially if the party is held by a person of some significance. They will do a lot to get their name on a list because they feel that association with that individual will bring them some benefit. Well, there is a party that you and I should attain to that we want to be a part of, in which there will be bliss and joy forever. All the ugly things will be washed away and we will get to participate with the Father because of the Son.

Jesus describes that. I like the thing in Matthew 25. And he is sitting on his throne of judgment and all people are brought before him. And he says something to those individuals who take place. Let me just see where we're at in verse 33 of chapter 25.

And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the king will say to those on his right hand, come, you blessed of the Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. You know, this world is beautiful on a today day like today, it is gorgeous. It's a good thing to be alive. There's no question that we should not enjoy the beauty of being around people.

We love experience the fruitfulness of the possibilities that we have. But God created this world in six days and rested on the seven. But he has been preparing a mansion, a place of rest and security and fruitfulness and joy. He has been working on it. He is involved, even currently, of drawing people to experience something that eclipses what we are currently experiencing.

That is so much better. That is so much more wonderful.

Heaven is a wonderful place filled with glory and grace. I want to see my Savior's face. Because heaven is a wonderful place. It is something we should earnestly seek for. When Jesus sent out those 12 disciples and gave them authority over demons, to cast them out and to heal people, they came back and they expressed their gratefulness at being part of Christ's ministry.

Walking with Jesus had an amazing reward associated with it. Amen. That's where you say, yes. That's where you say, thank God that though I was the kind of person that I was, that Jesus called me to walk beside him. Amen.

I left the things that I once valued, but picked up what he wanted. Thank God. But even though they were thankful, even though Jesus said, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven as a result of being associated with me on this earth, but don't be thankful for that. Jesus said, yeah, you might appreciate it, but don't rest on those laurels too much, because be thankful for this, that your name is written in heaven, that you're included in the Lamb's Book of life. If you want to rejoice, if you want to see things from a spiritual perspective, then don't focus too much on what you're experiencing with me here, because what you're experiencing with me here pales in comparison for that which I am able to do for you in heaven.

Amen. Jeremy, we're going to go down back to Philippians.

If by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead, go back to Matthew. In around 2024, Jesus talked about certain signs. And he said to this group of people that when you see the fig tree begin to sprout, to begin to put forth leaves. No. In chapter 24, verse 32, it says, now learn this parable from the fig tree.

When its branch has already become tender and put forth leaves, you know that the summer is near. We're all that kind of person, whether you like to garden or not, that when certain plants begin to sprout, the alder tree begins to bud, or the willow tree begins to put forth leaves. You know, finally the rain might come to an end, right? And you begin to look forward to it. But there's also a spiritual perception that is given to us so that when we see these things happen.

Verse 33. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near at the very doors. Assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

There comes a time in which Jesus fulfills his promise to us, honors the deposit that rests in the hearts of every believer, recognizes the sign that is on our foreheads, and comes back. Even though the times are such, the tribulation is such, that it has never been experienced on earth up until that time. He will come back again. He will come for that which he purchased with his blood, and he will bring them back into an inheritance that he has prepared for them. We have to understand that we should not be weighed down with the cares and concerns of this world.

Our focus should be on that moment that Jesus is coming back. That Jesus is coming back. One thing I would like to do before we close is what to do if that is our expectation. If you're concerned about the direction of your life or that which you value highly over the things of God, what should we do? In my mind, I believe what the scripture teaches, that we should make a verbal expression of our desire.

If heaven interests you, if you want to be part of that beautiful kingdom, if you want to experience a freedom offered in that life which is not in this, that you need to tell him that you need to make a vocal choice. I want to be in heaven with you. That is my desire. Some people have made that confession early on and said, you know, I want to walk with you with another individual. Some people, when they get married, they make a confession, no matter what.

I want to walk with you. And they hopefully, to the best of their ability, sometimes maybe not so much walk with that person. Well, if there is an expression to be with Jesus Christ, there needs to be communication that Jesus, I want to walk with you.

He puts the seal in our heart of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to walk with Jesus until the end. I'm going to. In finishing, I'm going to go to Revelation, Revelations, you and I communicating that we want to walk with Jesus.

In chapter 22, verse 6, John, who was one who walked with Jesus, who was described as the one who Jesus loved, who had an intimate relationship with Jesus, wrote this in chapter 22, verse 6. Then he said to me, these words are faithful and true. And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show his servants the things which must shortly take place. And a quotation from Jesus. Behold, I am coming quickly.

Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. And then in verse 10, and he said to me, do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him be righteous still.

He who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly. And my reward is with me to give everyone according to his work. I am the alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are those who do his commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life and to enter through the gates of the city.

But outside are dogs, sorcerers, and sexually immoral murderers and idolaters. Whoever loves and practices a lie, we need to make a confession. First, I want to follow Jesus to heaven. But second thing we have to do is we have to give up the legal responsibility for our sins. You cannot enter into heaven carrying your sins on your back.

It does not say that murderers or those who have murdered are not going to enter heaven. It does not say that those who have been sexually immoral will not get to heaven. It does not say that those who have in the past practiced and loved a lie. It only says that those who still bear the legal burden for their sin cannot enter into a pure and undefiled place.

Impossible. It can't happen. Without a doubt, you cannot come into a person's home carrying the sin of that which is not allowed in their home. You have to be willing to bring the full burden of your sin to that lawyer who can handle your case. You have murdered, you have committed adultery.

You have sinned. And currently, if you have not approached your lawyer for forgiveness, you still bear the responsibility for it. But there is one who will take up the case of your behalf, no matter how ugly that murder might have been.

That he stands at the right hand of God, ready to make intercession for the saints. That he is fully able. He's got the telephone in his hand, just waiting for the call. There's no need to put it on hold because he's right there, ready. He's standing, he's active, and he wants your burden because that's what he came for.

If someone would say in their heart, I don't want to carry that burden anymore, they would experience A life of walking with Christ if they would confess in their heart. I want to go to heaven more than anything. I value that more than the trinkets and dross, the little attendants I get for winning the first grade potato sack race.

Some of us are still holding on to some things that need to be let go and sin. I value more that which I gain from walking with Christ. I value that sacrifice you made on my behalf. And I will give you the legal responsibility for my sin. I want to walk with you no matter where you take me.

Jesus isn't like your mama.

Some of us have had coaches that are so soft that we don't do nothing. You don't have anything. You go fight against this one in whatever sport and they're just soft, they roll over because no one trained you to be hard. Jesus is a man of war and if you walk with him, just know he's going to bring you into that war. But he's going to harden and endure you and bless you through that.

Some of us look back at coaches that we were under and we thank God that they brought something out of us that we didn't know we possessed. Jesus is a man of war and he will bring something out of your nature that you don't think you have, but he knows can be taught there. And the third thing is that he will bring us to heaven and he will celebrate life with us forever. It's my desire in my heart to lose what's of this life, to gain what's in the life to come. And I pray that's in your heart today.

I pray that you would express that to the Holy Spirit who is with us and he will take and seal that promise in our hearts. Father, we do just give this time for you. Thanking you for your real work in our lives. Thank you. That it is not a religion or something else but as relationship, several and different kinds of relationship that you operate on our behalf.

Thank you in Jesus name, amen.