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October 18, 2018 3:00 pm
Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners to receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org about an 85-year-old couple who had been married for almost 60 years.
Incredibly, died on the same day they been in good health. Actually, for the last 10 years mainly as a result of the wife's interest in health food and exercise so they reach the pearly gray dates and other are no great skates. They come to the pearly gates in the matter course by St. Peter and he takes them to their brand-new mansion waiting for them in heaven, it's equipped with a beautiful kitchen.
The master bath suite in a sauna and Jacuzzi as her moving an online the old man says to Peter how much is this going to cost Peter says the cost anything man. This is evident and then they looked out of their backyard and it's a championship golf course that changes every day resembling one of the great golf courses on planet Earth and the old man says one of the green fees.
Peter says there's no green fees kids have and everything is free. Then they take a couple to this massive buffet lunch and they have all the food that the old man wanted to eat but couldn't meet Mexican food Italian food nachos with lots of cheese pizza, hamburgers, all that good stuff that's.
I like to buy the way and the old guys looking at all of this food and he says well worth the low-fat and low-cholesterol tables. Peter says that's the great thing we don't have low-fat tables.
We don't have low-cholesterol eat whatever you want and you never get fat and you never get sick without the old man takes his hat off throws on on the ground and start stomping on it and Peter and is the man's wife are looking like what is wrong with you. This is what what is happening.
He looks at the wife and he says this is your fault. He says if you hadn't been feeding me those blasted bran muffins for the last 10 years I would've been here sooner is a true story. It's also about to hook but have and of course, is no joke. It's a real place. As I said, for real people to do real things now how many of you believe in heaven. Razor have you believe in heaven right okay well most Americans actually do believe in a place called heaven. 81% of the stocks are a little lower for hell, 69% believe in a place called hell. But I think deep down inside we long for a place we've never been to before.
I've never traveled for a while, especially overseas and found yourself really homesick wanting to get home again, especially those that serve in the Armed Forces are those that do business overseas. They can wait to get back home again. I think deep down inside, God is prewired us to be homesick for a place we've never been to before and that place is heaven. We long for a fact the Bible even tells us over in Ecclesiastes 311 that God has set eternity in our hearts. It was Augustine's said quote you form this for yourself and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you, the great writer CS Lewis.
Speaking of heaven, said it was the secret signature of each soul.
Lewis continues have been times when I think we do not desire heaven, but more often I find myself wondering whether in our heart of hearts if we have ever desired anything else. It's a secret signature of each soul. The incommunicable and on a peaceable want." I love that that it's his longing deep inside of us. The story of a little boy who was flying the sky and I went up higher and higher in soon. You couldn't see that was obscured by the cloud and someone said boy, how do you know that kites still out there.
The little guy said I can still feel it's Todd and I think deep down inside we feel the tug of heaven and goes back to our childhood. I think even our excitement about Christmas in a way, as a longing for heaven. There's something about Christmas. Apart from all the commercialism of it and also apart from the fact that it starts in August. Now that there really is a glimpse of heaven is not all the beautiful lights, the Angels, the beautiful songs like I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus know about those once a beautiful Christmas songs that we sing and it's just like a little glimpse of heaven. Sort of like a promise of court Christmas cannot deliver on the promise, but Christ can in heaven can remember as a little boy to me.
Disneyland was like heaven on earth. I don't feel that way anymore. But I did a long time ago and I think it was due in part to might get a horrible upbringing and I would watch a show on television called the wonderful world Disney and then when color TV came out yes and that old, they change it to the wonderful world of color and we were just amazed to watch us on our screen. The these programs that Disney would do but then Walt Disney told us about this park. He was building and it was going to be the happiest place on earth and and so what I would visit Disneyland. It was like heaven to me because I mean III felt it was just such an incredible place and I was so sad to leave.
In fact, you know you're a kid when you go to Disneyland in your favorite part is when you arrive and you know you're an adult when you go to Disneyland because your favorite time is when you leave right that true so that's all I used to feel about Disneyland and I think it just sort of a glimpse of something much greater. That is coming. We long for heaven and the Bible teaches that when a Christian dies they go immediately to heaven to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So if you've loved ones who have died in faith, they are in heaven right now. Do they see us down here.
Are they watching this up there. They know what were going to down here. We'll talk about that in our next message because those are very important questions, and some of my answers may surprise you a little bit actually.
But yes it is true. The Bible teaches we will go straight to heaven. Now I came across an atheist website a while ago.
I don't usually read that many atheist websites, but from time to time of check-in and what other people are saying and it turns out that they were quoting something I said on their atheist website and here's what it said they quoted me rightly with these words, they said that I said quote when a Christian dies.
It's a direct flight to heaven. There are no stopovers. The moment we take our last breath on earth. We take our first breath. In heaven we go into the presence of God exactly what I said they were outraged by this and here was their response. Going to heaven after death is assumed not only does he start with this unsubstantiated and onerous assumption, but he goes on the more detail about the precise state of affairs that take place in heaven.
Once you arrive and what evidence does Greg Laurie have both of these claims.
Nothing at all just a bunch of Bible quotes that's right, just a bunch of tribal glow. By the way, I love that I stand by that. That's right, just a bunch of Bible quote I'm building everything I believe I just a bunch of Bible quotes I'm building my hope on Jesus Christ.
What he tells me in his word, no listen I don't expect EPS to understand the hope of a Christian it's hard for them to wrap your mind around the fact that we have such a strong hope that this is something that God gives to us isn't it it's required confidence. It's a supernatural certainty and where we find this hope we find it from Scripture or is he atheist website, said a bunch of Bible quote that's why it's a good thing to memorize the Bible and fill your mind with what the Bible says in the Bible actually has a lot to say about heaven that someone 19 says you are my refuge, my shield, your word is my only source of hope.
That's one of the reasons the Scripture was given to us to begin with, to give us hope. Romans 15 for says such things were written in the Scriptures long ago did teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises by the way, the word that is used there for hope is a word that can be translated a strong and confident expectation. We all have that I have the hope that one day I will go to heaven and it's something I actually like to talk about. I was asked in a TV interview a while ago by the interviewer what you talk about heaven all the times that I noticed in your sermons. I'll see you on TV or hear you on the radio and you're always talking about heaven and I thought really well. It's good thing to be always talking about. I wasn't aware that but I'm not embarrassed by that are ashamed of that because Lily wanted said and done. What's more important than that, the more we spend our eternal destiny and I want to do everything to help you come into a relationship with God and find that beautiful and meaningful relationship he has for you on this earth. But when it's all said and done the statistics on death are quite impressive. One out of every one persons will die. And then there's the afterlife in the afterlife last a lot longer than this life on earth that we should call our time on earth. The before life. We put so much focus on the afterlife know the before life is short, the afterlife is forever.
Yes, it's true, I admitted I wanted to get as many people to heaven with me as I possibly can. And so we need to know about half of always studied haven't always been fascinated by. I wouldn't say I'm an expert on it at all, but I would say am a student of it and I probably became greater student of it.
No doubt in 2008 when my son went to heaven he beat me to heaven.
My son Christopher was 33 at the time. Now Christopher and I used to race each other on the beach and he was a runner. He was out in track and field is very good but I was okay as a runner in high school and so I was a bit younger and so we be on the beach and I braced him all the time, I'd say let's raise to that mark down there and you know what I was better at short distance and he was better long distance so I always pick a distance. It favored me right because I would run out of steam quicker than he would.
Let's render that markets up, ready doughnut, you would run an ad I get ahead of him and IBG again. You and Mimi had one day will walk along the beach. Is it okay I picked a spot. Let's go. New markets are going off we went in.
He beat me finally happened that happen in life to it. I expected that I would go way before him to heaven.
In fact, written on his tombstone are the words I fought the good fight, I kept the faith.
I finish the course and that is what were all going to do when we don't know how long the course will be some of us may run that course for 8595 years. Some of us may run that course for 45 years. Some of us may run the course for 18 years. Some of us may run it for 64 years. Some may run it for 33 years. Likewise, and we don't know none of us know. That's why we want to run as well as we can and as hard as we can while we can, because one day will be our last day and there were an eternity and then were standing before the Lord. So what is heaven like let's talk about that a little bit here in Colossians chapter 3 and read two verses. Since then, you've been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. There so we are to set our hearts. We are to set our minds on things above.
This phrase set your mind to be translated. Think, or more thoroughly, have this inner disposition. Let me put it another way versus actually saying simply think heaven think heaven that something were all supposed to do as Christians and by the way, the verb is that using this verse is in the present tense. So to be translated. Keep thinking heaven, or keep thinking about heaven, or keep seeking heaven put it all together and think constantly be seeking and thinking about heaven.
You see, our feet must be on earth, but our minds and our hearts can be in heaven but if were honest many of us have gone an entire day without a single thought about heaven. That's not a good thing we should always be thinking about it. Warren wears be a great Bible commentator said, quote for the Christian heaven isn't simply a destination. It's a motivation is a okay will bet that's fine but you know how to weigh think about a place I've never been to before.
Otto I wrap my mind around the place. I know so little about what you need to learn about heaven and see what the Bible says about Scripture because when you're thinking about heaven and you're seeking heaven.
You will be a heavenly minded person in the best sense of that phrase. I know it's used to critique people all there so heavenly minded. There are no earthly good and I know a lot of people are so overtly minor there no heavenly good and I think of your heavenly minded in the right way, you'll be of the greatest earthly good fact of the matter is those that think the most of the do the most in this one because of I believe there's an afterlife, and I believe there's a reward waiting for me for my faithfulness want to make me want to serve the Lord, and of I believe in an afterlife and I believe there's a potential judgment for me. Won't that make me want to fear God and avoid sin. So you see him. I believe in the afterlife affects me in this life, but if on the other. Again, I don't believe there's a reward waiting.
Why do anything for anyone but me and I don't think there's a future judgment out there, why can't I do whatever the heck I want to do to whoever I want to do it to because know me know. Eternal repercussion so as you can see your thinking about the afterlife, has a dramatic effect on you in this life. So let's just start with what is heaven.
What is while it's the dwelling place of God. All right where is heaven well we know it's up. We know that there is 1/3 heaven.
The Bible talks about three heavens and the first heaven would just be basically walked outside to look up to see the sky. The second heaven would be the solar system and the third heaven is that supernatural room, but it may be closer than we think. We think it's so far away you know and maybe it's just right next to us in a way it's really another dimension.
You see, right now we live in the physical dimension but at the same time we coexist within eternal dimension.
It's a dimension of God and the devil of angels and demons of the supernatural world. Great illustration of this is found in the book of Kings with the prophet Elisha and his servant to his side, they were surrounded by their enemies and were closing in which chariots and harm soldiers in gaze.
I started to freak out in panic is that when we do mastery actually woke Elisha alleges whatever okay Lord just opened his eyes and his eyes were open and he saw the supernatural forces of God all around him, and he discovered that they had more on their side than the enemy had on their side right now were surrounded by the supernatural world. The Bible says that the angel of the Lord encamps around those in fear and we may even have guardian angels are not sure of this, but I think you could make a fairly good case for at least maybe children have them because Jesus talks about how our little children have their angels, so it may be that we are personal angels in the maybe we just have angels that just do God's bidding, but there working around us every single day God that works of the supernatural realm this place called heaven. We don't know where it is but it is where God is and that is the most important thing of all, because really the greatest thing about heaven is going to be seen God then that's it. It's seeing God that's more important than anything else. My friend Randy Alcorn is written the definitive book on heaven and I often quote from it when I teach on this topic, I was just texting with Randy this morning but Randy writes in his book Kevin quote we may imagine, we want a thousand different things, but God is the one we really long for his presence brings satisfaction is absence brings thirst and longing are longing for heaven as a longing for God being with God is the heart and soul of heaven. Every other heavenly pleasure will derive from it and be secondary to his presence, which is God's greatest gift to us himself and that's just a great thing to remember that that's why heaven is so appealing all its answer some questions about heaven. What is heaven like what is heaven like if we try to understand it and compare it to something well short answer. Heaven is amazing. Heaven is awesome.
Heaven will exceed your wildest dreams. Let me begin by simply saying heaven is a real place. Jesus said in John 14. I've gone to prepare a place for you. I think the problem is we form our view of heaven from well movies, TV shows, songs, images we've seen in art and usually those are not biblically accurate images.
It really does kind of look like boring place big billowy clouds people does laying around plucking harps, little fat babies with wings hovering over us. I guess her little baby angels. I'm not sure what they are and that it started almost presented as a long nap which are some people may sound appealing, I don't know about you but I like to be active. I like to do thinks I like to go out and see things and experience life in trust me when I tell you will get into this next time morbid is going to be so much that we will do in heaven, but it's a real place. It's not a boring place science fiction writer Isaac Asimov once wrote, quote I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life. Fearing Heller, fearing heaven even more for whatever the tortures of hell. I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse." Well, well, I know that he is now on the other side, and I guarantee he knows there's an afterlife of Stephen Hawking, the great scientists died a while ago and they've just released his final book that he had been writing when he died in one of the great revelations in the book there was a headline a lot of new sites today is Stephen Hawking says there is no God. No one rules the universe really well.
I think these changes opinion, quite frankly, I don't need Stephen Hawking or anybody else to tell me if there's a God or not. I know there's a God and he's me that so clear and so obvious and you know it as well. But yes, heaven is amazing and it's certainly not boring begin a real place real people to do real things. Again, the quote from Randy Alcorn's book, Kevin. I love this picture that he gives in and Alcorn with the great about him is him. He's a theologian, but he writes creatively. He writes novels so is a great way of painting the picture but with theological accuracy. In other words it's accurate with the Scripture says, and so here's something Randy writes in his book.
Think of friends or family members who love Jesus and are with him right now picture them with you walking together in this place, all of you are powerful body stronger than those of an Olympic Olympic to Catholic your laughing, playing, talking and reminiscing you reach up to a tree to pick an apple or an orange and take a bite. It's so sweet it's startling. You've never tasted anything so good.
Now you see someone coming toward you. It's Jesus with a big smile on his face you fall to your knees and worship and he pulls you up and embraces you."
A beautiful that's accurate that's accurate because that fits the biblical descriptions of heaven, a real place real things real people recognizing one another, not floating around in clouds with babies with wings were active were doing things, were experiencing things or even learning new things in heaven, so heaven is a place also. Heaven is described in the Bible is a paradise, a paradise. Remember when Jesus hung on the cross next to the thief who came to her senses he said, Lord, remember me when you come in your kingdom and what did Jesus say, truly, truly, I say to you to D today you will be with me where paradise he was describing heaven and it's funny because after Paul died. For a time he went to heaven and he called a paradise.
A lot of people know that the apostle Paul died and we don't know when exactly it happened, but it may have been one of his preaching adventures when he was stoned and thought dead and in that me up in the moment when he went to the third heaven, wrote briefly about in second Corinthians about reach you in just a moment and he came back again and I just wonder what happened on the other side. So here's called the stone back in the stone and he's in heaven and it's amazing and there's Jesus and he so excited to be there. And the Lord might've said so. Paul, I have some good news and some bad news, good news and bad news. What you will. First the good news. This is heaven and you will be coming back here again again. The bad news down on earth or some believers praying for you to be resurrected Lord Almighty said don't listen to their prayers, their sinners, I don't want to go back.
Trust me when I tell you, no one who is in heaven would ever want to come back to earth, even if given the choice, so using words is in the Bible it is and I making this all up and say maybe it happened. Meanwhile, back in the Lord raised Paul up all Lord bring Paul back to us. Oh Lord, we need both. Suddenly the color returns to his face, his hand against the move.
The clenches of if I were to get someone whose idea was it a break for me to be raised from the dead. Listen, however it happened, or whenever it happened. We know this much, Paul thy he went to heaven and he came back and he did write a book about so what about all those books about heaven. Can we trust them. I don't know generally there's only one book, I trust that's the Bible now look at some of these books and I find it interesting writing on unicorns over rainbows and all these things they say they see in this either making it up though.
I think some of them are.
I'm not going to say that none of this happened. Maybe something happened to them. I'm not really sure but I'll say this much. I would never base my belief about heaven on the basis of someone who wrote a book about it.
But I do believe that the Bible says and it's interesting because one minute. Lexi did go to heaven and return of your head actually very little to say about it. Here's what Paul writes in second Corinthians 12 I'm reading from a modern translation justice and he says I knew a man 14 years ago was seized by Christ and he was swept into ecstasy to the heights of heaven.
I don't know if this took place in the body or out of it. Only God knows I also know that this man was hijacked in the paradise is outward paradise again whether he is in the body or out of the body I do know God knows and then he says there he heard the unspeakable spoken, but he was forbidden to tell Woody her and interesting. He says it all to you this much. It was paradise in the rate word that he uses for paradise is a word that speaks of a royal garden, and I don't know if there's anything we can think of that compares to what Paul is referring to is referring to the kind of garden you would see on a royal estate, you know what is the closest thing we could point to what Rogers garden soon else about it just something amazing, something awe-inspiring, something that makes your jaw drop. While the beauty of it. He says it was like paradise at the word he uses a heaven's apparent number two heaven to city heaven just to the Hebrews 1314 says here we do not have an enduring city but were looking for a city that is, he was 1110 says of heaven that the city has an architect and a builder know cities are real places you go to different cities in the world and they all have unique features. I have the opportunity to visit a lot of amazing cities, Jerusalem, Rome, Paris, Alisa Viejo so there might be a I don't know. I picked only Sophie had said some local city but you go to some cities and you remember a certain thing about right. Paris is called the city of lights.
Jerusalem is called the city of gold. You know, so cities are real places there's neighborhoods are streets there's activities as places to get food there as places to get good coffee.
There's beautiful parts to walk in so think of the best city you've ever been to, but without all the bad stuff. No crime, no urban decay, nothing that would be threatening to you in any way shape or form, not cars trying to run you down like New York City, but the best you've ever experienced in the city is fingering her Yorky telling me that we were in heaven we might go and sit down and have a meal. Why not Bible talks about eating in heaven. Are you actually saying that we could be in heaven we would go to a concert, why not this can be some pretty awesome singers up there. Are you telling me like when were in heaven we we we might talk is going to fund several course you do fun stuff on earth know that your fault but you can do it in heaven heaven is better than her.
Heaven is is this just sort of a glimpse of greater things to come highly when they go. This is that this is and I just go to the clouds and float with the fat babies.
No, no, this is just a glimpse of greater things to come.
Earth is the imitation heaven is the real thing, not the other way around. Heaven is a paradise heaven is a city and it appears from Revelation 21 and 22 that there is a translucent quality to have says are the foundations of city walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable.
The main street of the city was pure gold translucent as glass. There was no sign of a temple for the Lord God and his lamb of the temple. The city doesn't need the sun or moon or light. Heaven is also described as a country, a country Hebrews 11 six says now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he is prepared city for them. So there it is heaven a country city garden, a paradise, a real place that we will go to the listen. Earth is great. Enjoy the beauties of birthing it's created for us by God.
Even it's in its diminished state and even with the entrance of sin and the curse and all that there are still many beautiful things to see here on planet Earth that we can enjoy the been given to us by the Lord, even Jesus took time to admire a simple flower that me to pick up a flower in a civil look at these flowers, how they grow, they don't work or make their own clothing. Yet Solomon all of Solomon in all his glory was addresses beautifully is one of these.
So I think we should enjoy the creation God has given us. But understand, there are greater things coming alright so we'll talk more about heaven on next Thursday night, but let's come back to Colossians chapter 3 because were talking about heaven, how should that affect this in the way that we live on earth. So first we read set your mind and your heart on things above. Think about heaven.
See Kevin now back in Colossians 3, Paul starts with the word therefore put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. Don't be greedy for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life is still part of this world now is a time to get rid of rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other for you stripped up your old sinful nature and all of its wicked deeds put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your creator and become like a lot whenever you read the word therefore in the Bible.
Find out what it's there for. In other words, when a phrase starts with the word therefore these drawing on what is been previously set. So again, what was previously said a set your mind on heaven. Set your heart on heaven think a lot about heaven. So with that in mind.
Therefore now he tells us about three categories of sin that can will keep us earthbound. Instead of being heavenly minded were earthbound, number one, if you're taking notes. Sexual sin can keep you earthbound sexual sin.
Verse five Paul mentions sexual immorality and impurity word that he uses the Greek word for neon.
Guess what English word we got from that how we normalize the word poor right we normalize the word. Oh she's a porn star. Oh yeah, looking at porn we make a joke got a big white sitcoms, mainstream sitcoms on television and they joke openly and consistently about looking at porn we so normalize that and made it sort of acceptable in the Bible warns us against Cornelia is a root word that just speaks up all kinds of immorality it's premarital sex tissue.
None of that is that's having sexist with someone you're not married to extramarital sex. That's also having sex with someone you're not married to all kinds of sex outside of God's natural order and so when the word Cornelia is used. It's talking about a person that fills your mind with sexual imagery and talks about it constantly, and ultimately acts on it so the Bible is warning you to not do that. Don't fill your mind with those things because if you do it's like you of a fire in your pouring fuel on your fire. It's dangerous and it's one day going to get out of control and what will happen is that a person can only take that step in for so long and then they want to start acting on those impulses and get into all kinds of trouble me about do I need to actually say it's a really bad idea to sext someone ascend the sexual image of yourself via text or Snapchat or something else.
These are things that are destructive in your life and are not God's plan for your life and things that can ultimately destroy your life and that's where the Bible warns you about these things. Listen, God invented sex. Sex is amazing sex can be blessed. But in one place and that's when you're married to a person in a monogamous relationship. The end. Process it is no exception. So people come up to me and say will the Lord spoke to us and said it's cool know you didn't say that he dreamt that you way too much pizza. God will never contradict his word and he says that for your own good. He says are for your protection, so don't let that dominate your life. Idolatry can keep us earthbound.
You will be heavenly minded if you're worshiping an idol and he mentions that as well. Here in Colossians.
Don't let idolatry, which is green. An idol is anyone or to anyone that takes anyone or anything that takes the place of God in your life, and specifically it says to be a greedy person is idolatry.
By the way, is to root words here to have and more.
So what is it mean to be a greedy person that someone that wants to have more. It's a sin of always wanting more more more more more.
It's never enough.
The Bible says Hell and destruction is never full and so is the heart of a man never satisfied and it's not just that I want more but I want what I have no I want what you have. I want yours. I don't just want when I want yours to. That's coveting by the way, that's when the Bible says don't covet your neighbor's wife, or the possessions that that's coveting something that does not belong to you and so this is what this is a nuts, idolatry, and it can preoccupy your mind. And then thirdly, rage, slander, and dirty language keep us earthbound verse eight rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. By the way, the word Rager speaks of a settled in habitual anger with the thought of revenge.
This is a person was the bumper sticker on their car. I don't get mad I get even. Don't cut that person off just give them wide birthright on the road because it in the of gun racks in the back of their car Smith & Wesson bumper stickers and no it's not you believe you want to mess with that person because there are people out there that are just waiting to get angry about something. Malicious behavior speaks of a boiling agitation of your feelings. A sudden and violent anger.
Don't be that person. Slander speaks of speaking ill of others and people slander so much, especially online, because you do it anonymously right. You don't have to face the person you can take on a different name and say complete lies about a person and destroy a person's reputation is spread gossip about a person. Even the word gossip kisses like a snake. Have you ever notice that its costs there's something very appealing about I just heard something and I don't know if it's true, but I just wanted to share it with you so you can pray, so you can pray when you just heard something you don't know if it's true in English or about someone and I notes to be critical or demeaning or degrading.
So why would I share something about someone that I don't know is true, the get hurt that person wanted the person is standing over there right now. Here's a thought walkover than that, I heard the craziest thing I know it's not true and they can tell you the truth, but see will embrace these things and internalize these things and even worse worse spread these things don't go let that happen to you.
These are not the things a Christian should be doing, especially a heavenly minded. One.
Listen, if you put your faith in Christ you're a child of God. You are a citizen of heaven and it's time to start living like one child of God or not known for slander were known for love were not known for condemnation were known for forgiveness and restoration that so you want to be you want to be that guy that girl that people go to and say you know you're always fair-minded about these things. You're always compassionate you're always carried don't be known is that mean-spirited judge mental parts personal talk more about that on Sunday be heavenly minded person because one day this life that we love so much will possible enter into the after life. I think when it is all said and done we really need. We need something greater to move us through this life and the things that distract us so often old minister. Put it this way. I love this phrase used the explosive power of a new affection. That's good. The explosive power of a new affection so the ideas I have something that I am so committed to and so enthralled with and so filled with that.
I don't even want to look at these other things. It's the explosive power it.
It drives out those other things. It's a new affection.
What is the new affection it's Jesus when I love Jesus with all of my heart, with all of my soul and with all of my mind. It's going to change the way I look at everything in life. So here's what this is really saying put the Lord first and Erin every part of your life and the thoughts you think in the friends you choose in the way you use your time and it will transform you make every year, every month, every week every day and every hour count. May God give to each of us the explosive power of a new affection and when we begin like never before to think about and see As you know the great thing is, is when your focus on heaven you live the most fulfilling life on earth. The quote CS Lewis one last time. He said even heaven and you get thrown in.
Even earth and you will get neither." That's true even heaven and you get are thrown into the ideas. I'm so focused on heaven that I'm living the fullest life on earth, but some people I don't want to think about the afterlife. Someone just get the most out of this life, you end up not living a full life in this birth and then you end up not being prepared for the afterlife.
So how can you know for sure that you get to heaven some people to well live a good life.
Okay that's not true, but let's just say it is true for the sake of a point live a good life.
How good. Well, as good as I choose to live pricey so you're making the rules will, of course, I am. That's not the way it works because even if you were to live a good life and granted some people live better lives.
Another solid minute you still not good enough to get you to heaven because one sends enough to keep you out. The Bible says if you offend in one part of the law, you're guilty of all of it. So if you've ever seen in any time in your life, that's enough sin to keep you out of heaven go well that that's pretty harsh out. That is, is not for there's only one way to get to heaven and through Jesus who died on the cross for our sin and paid the price for our sin and rose again and now we offers us this gift of eternal life. Going back to dissing them one last time. Years ago I was given I think I can remember three or four tickets to Disneyland and so we went into the park. It was very nice because it's very expensive.
What is it like $5000 a ticket nine metrics really a lot, that's just one part double side tried to tell you why I have these tickets we got in were WordStar and have a good time and I felt guilty because one of the people didn't show up and I had a free ticket to Disneyland and I thought that I can't walk around with a free ticket to dissing the one up there somebody outside that would love the commitment that can afford it. I can give him this ticket and I said to my wife. I'll be back in like literally four minutes. How long is it going to take me to get rid of a free ticket to Disneyland. I came back like 30 minutes later she said what happened you I said I can get anyone to take it because I walked up to strangers hi would you like a free ticket to Disneyland. They certainly backing away.
What is this is this occult knowledge free ticket. He wanted no wanted okay hey would you like agreed to give it a good thing. I want to catch his hair probably give it to.
I just have an extra the pertinent know no one would take it.
I really had to assault a person know I didn't. But I finally found someone. It's an opening. You're welcome. I just want to have an hour of my time to Disneyland and that's how it is, and we offer this gift you can go to heaven by believing in Jesus notes good works is not good works. It's his work on the cross you just accepted your will to catch water with the catches and just telling you it's a gift you could never afford it so wanted to just take it the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And then you can know you go to heaven to look do you know right now that if you died you would go to heaven if you don't don't you want to get that resolved. Why would you want to go on for another minute without being sure you're prepared for the afterlife. So you pray in a moment I'm going to extend an invitation enclosing for you to ask Christ to come in your life and forgive you all of your sin so you can know you go to heaven when you die if you don't know this for sure respond to this invitation because 2000 years ago God sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place. The pay the price for all the wrongs we've done all the sins we committed in three days later he rose again from the dead and here he is now alive with us in this place, standing at the door of your life and knocking and he says if you hear my voice, and open the door, I will commit if you've never asked them to come in your life. Do it now. As we pray atop our heads.
Father think you know for your word to us.
Thank you for sending Jesus Lord Jesus, thank you for coming and laying your life down for us. Now we pray for any hear that you not yet know you hope them to come to you.
Help them to believe in you. Help them to receive the hope of heaven tonight.
We would ask Elinor heads about her eyes are closed or praying together.
How many of you would say this evening Greg, I need Jesus in my life. I want him to forgive me of my sin.
I want to know a certainty that I'll go to heaven when I die I want this free gift he's offering to me. Pray for me. If that's your desire.
If you want Jesus to come in your life and you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die you raise your hand up right now. Wherever you are. I'll pray for you. God bless you lift your hand upon wreck and see it please God bless you and bless you. God bless you. God bless you raise it up Iraq and see it please you're saying I need Jesus tonight. Pray for me. I want to go to heaven. Pray for me raise her hand up Iraq and see it please God bless you. Anybody else might be a few more God bless you to bless you. Anybody else heaven raise her hand yet but you want to be right with God you want to know you'll go to heaven when you die, let me pray for you raise your hand up everywhere. God bless you. I went one more moment anybody else if you haven't raise your hand yet lifted now anybody else raise your hand.
Now right now all of you that are raise your hand if you would please I want you to stand your feet and on the lead you in a prayer stand your feet nominally join a prayer right now the Ranger again. Even if you did not, but you want Jesus Christ to come in your life you want him to forgive you of your sin, you want to go to heaven when you die.
Just stand your feet will pray together, stand up, you heard me right about you that are standing is a few more that need to stand. I think when it's your stand now, I'll lead you in this prayer of asking Christ to come in your life.
Anybody else then now let me pray with you.
You will not regret this. God bless you, that are standing away one more moment, bless you. Anybody else stand up will pray together.
All right all of you that are standing on the prayer prayer out loud and I would ask you to pray it out loud after me. This is where you're asking Jesus to forgive you of your sin and come in your life give you the hope of heaven.
So as I pray pray this out loud right where you stand just pray these words. If you would, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I know you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I turn from my sin. Now Jesus I choose to follow you from this moment forward as my Savior and Lord is my God and friend in Jesus name I pray, amen. God bless each one of you that pray that prayer