Present With the Lord
(Philippians 1:23)

I. Jesus is in heaven right now.
A. Jesus ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God (Luke 24:51; Colossians 3:1; 1 Peter 3:22)
B. Jesus goes before you to prepare a place for you. (John 14:1-2)
C. Jesus will take you to be with him so that you may be where he is. (John 14:3)

II. When we die, we will go to be with Jesus.
A. To be absent from the body is to be present with Christ. (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
B. Our bodies sleep, but our spirits are alive with Christ (Matthew 27:52; John 11:11-13; Acts 7:59; Hebrews 12:23)
C. Being present with Christ is better by far! (Philippians 1:21-24; Revelation 14:13)

III. We still await the resurrection.
A. This first stage of heaven is temporary (intermediate state). (Revelation 6:9-11)
B. When Christ returns, He will raise our bodies and bring us with Him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14,16)
C. We will live with Christ forever in the new heaven and earth. (Psalm 23:6; John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)

APPLICATION:
Great Confidence (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
Great Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
Great Comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18)