Participants: Pr. David Klinedinst
Series Code: DPR
Program Code: DPR000023A
|
00:08 A survey was taken just a few years ago
00:12 where they asked people of various ages to describe 00:16 what they think Heaven is like 00:20 I want you to notice this varying responses. When a 00:24 college student was asked the question, he said Heaven 00:36 That was his perception of Heaven, when a middle aged woman was asked 00:40 the same question. she said well "Heaven is a state 00:44 mind It's like an iiner peace; It's a state of 00:48 calm." she wasn't able to picture it as a real place 00:52 When a question like this was asked to successful business 00:56 man he responed by says 01:08 To Him his heaven was right here on this earth, when another person was 01:12 asked this question such as a skeptic he answer was 01:24 and finialy an elderly couple resonded by saying 01:36 Well friends I want to tell you 01:40 we don't have to hope that Heaven is true, we don't have to hope 01:44 Heaven that is a real place because word of God is give us the 01:48 absolute assurance the Jesus is preparing a 01:52 place for for us. Can you says amen? So the question would be 01:56 what is Heaven really like? Not according to the 02:00 tradition of the middle ages, now according to what man thinks 02:04 but according the Bible says and so tonight 02:08 we're just going to open up Isaiah and Revelation 02:12 and different prophetic portions and we are going explore 02:16 How does God describe this place, that we call 02:20 Heaven. Now tonight I have given you a break, because every 02:24 single test that we are going to look up I've actually written out on the 02:28 screen for you all the last 22 nights, I have only given you most 02:32 of the time the references, this time they're all written out 02:36 but if you have your Bible, I would still encourage you to follow along 02:40 with me. So we are going to start in Acts chapter 3 in just a munite. 02:44 But I want to show picture of the US treasurer building 02:49 Now if you have been there, it is in Washington D.C. and I'm told 02:53 there are 1,800 doors in 02:57 this building along. Can you imagine how long it take the janitor 03:01 to clean this place. But the supernatant no dought 03:05 has one master key that can up all 1,800 doors 03:09 But you know God has a master as well 03:13 and that master key is the Bible. Can you say amen? 03:17 And this Book going to describe for us want 03:21 Heaven is like and why God has prepared for 03:25 a people for which He has unconditional love 03:29 Acts chapter 3 gives us a promise that there 03:33 day of restoration coming, i would like you to follow with me. 03:37 Act chapter 3 and verse 20 the Bible says: 04:01 See from the very beginning when sin entered this world 04:05 God had given many prophecies promising 04:09 that He would one day restore all things 04:13 to the perfection of the Garden of Eden an no matter what 04:17 may happen to me in this world, no matter how awful 04:21 and chaotic things maybe I have the promise from the word 04:25 God that there coming when God restore 04:29 all things to be new again. See when you go back 04:33 to the book of Genesis, you read that sad story 04:37 of how sin first entered. I was Adam and Ave 04:41 chose not to trust God and they eat of this 04:45 forbidden fruit, it turn this world over in 04:49 a sense to Satan control, in a sense it open the 04:53 door not only for sin, but everything that comes with it 04:57 suffering, and pain, and sorrow, 05:01 injustices and all kinds of unfair things. Mankind was 05:05 traped in a world of sin, in fact 05:09 it wasn't to long after that if you read Genesis chapter 3 05:13 from the beginning God gave them a promise, God said the seed of 05:17 of the woman would come to restore all thing. Do you who that seed 05:21 of the woman was? That is referring to Jesus Christ 05:25 and even all the back in the book of Genesis God instituted 05:29 a system of sacrifices not as elaborate as 05:33 in the time of the Israelites but Adam and Eve saw 05:37 animal or lamb that would have been slain to them it was 05:41 a reminder of how horrible sin is of what sin 05:45 has sin done to this planet by bring death and woe 05:49 but it was also an encouragement that one day the 05:53 true Lamd of God would come, that seed of the woman 05:57 would pay the price for sin would give us 06:01 His righteousness so that we can live in a perfect 06:05 world ounce again and all that is possible because of what 06:09 Jesus has done for us. Amen? happiness would be restored 06:13 perfection would be restored joy 06:17 would be restored on the face od the earth and no matter what 06:21 happens in my life that is always somethings 06:25 that I have to look forward to. Lets go to the book of 06:29 Hebrews chapter 11 and notice and you notice some 06:33 things that God has written. Now I notice that it is raining rather hard outside 06:37 can you still hear me with mic on here? No problem with sound ok 06:41 Hebrews 11 chapter 10 the Bible says 06:45 Speaking of Abraham 06:57 See Abraham knew this world was not his home 07:01 even though God had promise to make out of him a great 07:05 nation from his descendants, Abraham new even that nation 07:09 would not last for ever on the on this earth because Abraham knew 07:13 there was a time when God would create a city 07:17 when He would be the builder and maker and 07:21 Abraham lived in faith and trusted God for when that 07:25 time would come. But you that promise is not just 07:29 for Abraham that promise is for every person 07:33 who chooses to put their faith in God. in fact 07:37 you can go all through out the Bible and you see these different characters 07:41 men, women, and children who were looking 07:45 forward to a better place, let's take look at Moses 07:49 Hebrews says of Moses, the Bible says: 08:17 Do you understand what that is saying? 08:21 Even Moses understood 08:25 that he not want to live with this pagan empire of egypt 08:29 a nation that would pull him away from the God of heaven 08:33 he was willing to let go of power 08:37 fame, fortune all kinds of fortune 08:41 to be able to go back to God's people the Hebrews 08:45 to suffer an affliction to live almost in 08:49 slavery, he gave all that up, and of course eventually the time 08:54 came when he kill two egyptian and really he was banished for almost 08:57 40 years but then God used him to set the 09:02 israelites free he gave up everything egypt because 09:06 he want to be with people of God. Hebrews says 09:10 he was looking to the reward that reward 09:14 would have been heaven. in fact Hebrews discribes 09:18 so many people who were looking the 09:22 Heavenly country, in Hebrews 11: 13 the Bible goes on the say 09:59 Do you catch what Hebrews is saying here? 10:03 You go back in this vesre, they all realized they 10:07 were strangers and pilgrims here we realize that we 10:11 are not to live is a sinful 10:15 sorrowful woeful earth forever We ota say amen 10:19 ot that. That was not Gods plan we are strangers to that 10:23 we pilgrims we are not going to be any sinful place 10:27 for eternity and so just like these characters of the Bible 10:31 you and I look forward to a heavenly 10:35 country. See that means when I turn the television 10:39 and I see a terrorist bomb that has gone off in some part 10:43 world I"m reminded this world is not my home 10:47 when I see pictures of children lying in 10:51 a cancer ward dieing of leukemia a seven year 10:55 old it is a reminder this world is not my 10:59 home this is not the way God designed 11:03 to be when stories of teenagers injecting 11:07 heroine into their vines and snorting cocaine up their nostrils 11:11 destroying both mind and body 11:15 ruining the vigour of their youth it's reminder to me 11:19 this world is not my home 11:23 When I picture of young couple lying in the 11:27 maternity ward, sorrowful dejected 11:31 and crying because they lost their baby in child birth 11:35 it is another sad reminder this world 11:39 is not may home. When you here about faithful 11:43 wife and mother of twenty five years, took care of her 11:47 husband, raised her children but after 25 years 11:51 of marriage her husband runs of with the secretary 11:55 it is a reminder this world is not fair, this world 11:59 just and this world is not home When 12:03 I stories of tsunami and natural disasters 12:07 in all corner of the globe it's another reminder to me 12:11 that this world is not my permanent I am 12:15 stranger I am pilgrim here I look forward to a 12:19 heaven place. Can you say amen to that? And that not a promise 12:23 just for me that is promise you and all those who put their in faith 12:27 in Jesus Christ is world is not 12:31 our home. When I see pictures 12:35 of with distended bellies living in poverty 12:39 starving India or Africa some of the third world 12:43 countries it is a stark reminder this is not 12:47 the way God wanted it to be and this world is not 12:51 my home. Hebrews goes on to say 12:55 this Hebrews 11:16 the Bible says: 12:59 Therefore God is not ashamed (what is God 13:03 not?) o be called their God, 13:07 for He has prepared a city for them. I want you think 13:11 about what that says. The world maybe ashamed of God's 13:15 people the world may say well there are too religious 13:19 there are fanatical they bring positive to the plate 13:23 The world may look at single mother and say 13:27 she'll never amount to anything she has never invented anything 13:31 for the good society she doen't have a big bank account she 13:35 hasn't crearted fortune 500 business 13:39 and the world maybe ashamed of her but God says 13:43 when it comes to his people who have suffered affliction who suffered 13:47 sorrow and gone through all sort of thing though the world 13:51 may persecute them in the end God will stand and say 13:55 I am not ashamed of my people I am not ashamed of that 13:59 single mother strugling but has been faithful God I am not 14:03 ashamed of that teenager who grew up in difficult situation 14:07 but they faithful possible can the world may 14:11 reproach them but my God says that He ashamed 14:15 of his people. Amen? And they has prepared a 14:19 city for them. The story is told of 14:23 Marco Polo now in your history classes I going to assume how many 14:27 you ever heard of Marco Polo, can I see your hands he was 14:31 the Italian explorer that spend nearly twenty years 14:35 over in the Orient near China and when He came back home 14:39 He had incredible stories to tell of 14:43 which most people did believe him, when he came back 14:47 he tried to describe for them black rock that burned 14:51 with fire but were not consumed they thought 14:55 He was lying because they never seen coal before 14:59 he describe for them cloth that you could throw in the 15:03 fire but it would burned up and they thought he was 15:07 telling an incredible tale because they had never seen asbestos 15:11 before he tried to describe for them 15:15 serpents 10 paces long with jaws 15:19 big enough to swallow a small man and they 15:23 thought he was making it up because they never seen crocodile's 15:27 He told them about nuts that were a big as 15:31 as man hands hand they thought that Marco Polo was 15:35 a big white lie because they had never seen 15:39 coconut and we told that when Marco Polo was 15:43 on his death bed a devout religious tried to get 15:47 him confess all the tales the told so that could 15:51 right with God when died and Marco Polo and answered him 15:55 and said it is all true every bit of it is 15:59 true in fact the half has not been told 16:03 See people couldn't imagine it because they never saw ti 16:07 and in one reality that is true when it come to the kingdom of heaven 16:11 The Bible does it best to describe it for us in 16:15 human language but true is the half of it has 16:19 not been told. In 1st Corinthians chapter 2 16:23 notice what Paul says when kinda introduces this subject 16:27 The Bible says: But as 16:31 it is written: "EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR 16:35 NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN 16:39 THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR (who?) 16:43 FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." see even the Bible warns 16:47 us our eyes have never laid eyes on the things 16:51 of heaven we have never truely what God has 16:55 prepared for us we can't even begin imagine it 16:59 even as we read John's description in Revelation 17:03 in just a few minutes you find very clearly that sometimes 17:08 John was lost words I mean he tried his 17:12 best in his human limations to try 17:16 to put on paper things he saw things he 17:20 that never saw and he tying to describe it can you imagine that 17:24 I mean the limitations of human language and capability 17:28 John and Isaiah and others in the Bible 17:32 did the absolute best they could but we to understand 17:36 the half as truly not been told just yet 17:40 we won't fully understand until we see with our 17:44 own eyes in the kingdom of heaven so let's 17:48 begin with something John said in Revelation 21 17:52 let's start in verse 1 The Bible says; 18:16 Now let me ask you 18:20 a question the best that John could seemingly 18:24 describe the gloires of heaven is by comparing 18:28 it to a woman a bride on her wedding day 18:32 now you when think back to the days we were 18:36 married for some that might recent you know for some that might a little 18:40 future back but I we were married about 19 18:44 ago and you know if there is any day 18:48 in a woman existence when she wants to look her 18:52 absolute best when she wants look as 18:56 perfect as is humanly possible, what day to suppose that going to be 19:00 That going to be her wedding day 19:04 because that is a special day for the woman now I know is a special for 19:08 groom too, but know the old adage they say this the 19:12 this the day for the bride, you know you think about it 19:16 how much time do you bride spends preparing for her 19:20 wedding day picking out the dress and everything that is going to wear 19:24 do you they do that in just an hour? probably not 19:28 she gathers together maybe mother maybe all of her friends and bridesmaid 19:32 and they go shopping together and then on the day 19:36 of the wedding who do think gets up first? the bride or groom what 19:40 you think? Oh it is going to be the bride. The bride probable gets 19:44 up early in the morning has all her girl friends come along with her 19:48 and for hours they will spend time making the dress 19:52 just right ah primping the hair, maybe putting on a little 19:56 makeup everything they can do to get her as perfect 20:00 beautiful as posable and what do you think the groom 20:04 does? Well I can assure you he doen't get his guy friends 20:08 coming into the room and help him get his hair ready and helping him get dressed 20:12 I certainly wouldn't that now us guys sure we what look our best 20:16 we don't quite bring everyone into the room help us 20:20 can you guys say amen you know God made man a little bit different we let 20:24 women have their fun so really the woman the bride 20:28 the whole day is the experience but if we are honest 20:32 what part of the day is the groom looking forward to 20:36 you don't says it, he is looking forward the honeymoon 20:40 but know thats OK because they're married and there're husband and wife, can you say 20:44 amen? A bribe beautiful adorned for 20:48 husband that's how heaven is described 20:52 to you and me and so if a bribe goes through such 20:56 effort to prepare herself for her husband 21:00 how much effort is our prefect creator 21:04 God putting forth to prepare a place 21:08 that is for you and me, that tells me how much 21:12 He must love us. See as the Holy City 21:16 descends to the remade earth it's really ment to be most 21:20 festive event in the universe God is coming 21:24 to remake this earth to live with us 21:28 God has been separated from us long enough He wants to be 21:32 us forever Revelation 21:14 21:36 John continues to describe this Holy City 21:40 and he says: Now the wall of the city 21:44 had twelve foundations, and on them were 21:48 the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 21:52 Now I don't if have ever thought about this just think about for minute 21:56 why of are names of twelve disciples 22:00 one the foundations of this city? 22:04 What is that trying to communicate to you and I 22:08 I mean think it through here, were the disciples 22:12 prefect people? Far from it 22:16 but why are their names on that city? Are they the super 22:20 spiritually elite? I mean these are men that 22:24 made serious mistakes I mean Peter had a 22:28 terrible tempter he denied Jesus three times 22:32 one time with curse words, James and John were 22:36 known as sons of thunder Thomas was doubting 22:40 didn't much faith sometimes Matthew used to be 22:44 a dishonest tax collector none of them except Judas 22:48 was highly educated most of them were fisherman or 22:52 common labors but yet the grace of Christ 22:56 transformer them. You the fact these faulty 23:00 men are on the foundations of this city God is saying 23:04 if they can make it, so can we. See heaven is not for 23:08 in a sense perfect people on our own, we are only perfect through Jesus 23:12 heaven is for sinners who have given their lives to Jesus Christ 23:16 who have been changed. The common ordinary person 23:20 people who are struggling people who have 23:24 not been perfect throughout their live but wise enough to 23:28 hand their lives to Jesus Christ to cleansed and be 23:32 changed and so if those disciples can be changed by the love of Jesus 23:36 that gives you and I hope that we cannot 23:40 so low that Jesus can't change you and I 23:44 heaven is a place for you and me not just super 23:48 spiritually elite can you say amen?That is why their names on that 23:52 foundation. In verse 16 nor it describes the 23:56 size of this city, it says 24:00 The city is laid out (in what kind of 24:04 a shape?) as a square; its length is as 24:08 great as its breadth. Now I want you to thinks about this 24:12 if it is laid out in a square is has how many side 24:16 four side Revelation goes on to describe 24:20 that three gate on each side of the city 24:24 now if there four side you do the computation, how many 24:28 gates is that? 12 gates now I want youconsider 24:32 this. In the ancient world 24:36 how many gates do you think most cities had? not many 24:40 it was not 12 see most cities did not want to 24:44 have many gates, do you know why? Because that is how they wanted to keek 24:48 the enemy out and more gates you have the more 24:52 have to guard especially times of war and control 24:56 who is going in and who is coming out and if you 25:00 have 12 gates you're going to have be doing alot watching 25:04 most cities have 2 gates, but here in the first century 25:08 when John describes this 25:12 cities has having 12 gates so what's point of 25:16 that? See what God telling us is heaven goal is 25:20 not keep people out heavens goal is to get as many 25:24 people in as possible that is why there are 12 gates 25:28 Can you say amen to that? See churches sometime 25:32 may try to shut people out, us as individuals sometimes 25:36 shut people because maybe they are not the right color 25:40 according to some people maybe they speak a different language 25:44 maybe they are a difficult person maybe they are 25:48 not of the right class of people and history has shown 25:52 where many churches have people out but God wants 25:56 his to be opening the doors for people so they can 26:01 have a relationship with Jesus Christ and it is heaven goal is to get in as 26:05 many people possible that means that's the goal for the church of 26:09 Jesus Christ as well. amen? That doesn't mean we lower out standards 26:13 of we don't the truth but we have to understand our 26:17 goal our mission is to bring people to Jesus Christ 26:21 not to keep them away like the pharisees 26:25 of Jesus Day. This city has 12 26:29 gates. It goes on to say in verse 16 26:33 And he measured the city with the reed: 26:37 twelve thousand furlongs. 26:41 (you say great 12,000 furlongs how long is that 26:45 not a measurement that we use today but you know you the 26:49 computation do know what that equals up to? About 26:53 1500 miles in circumference all four together so if it is 26:57 square equal on all four side that's about 27:01 375 miles per side 27:05 this is not a small city God is 27:09 obviously is not trying to keep out if anyone miss out 27:13 on the kingdom of heaven it will not be because God doesn't want 27:17 them there. It will be simply because they rejected 27:21 the free gift of salvation.) Its length, 27:25 breadth, and height are equal. Now you 27:29 know a mathematician took this description and he 27:33 was able to somehow estimate that the New Jerusalem 27:37 could house 2 billon people just on the ground floor 27:41 and if was multi-story city the possibilities 27:45 and endless. Now I'm not a mathematician I'm not sure how 27:49 can up that, but obviously point is God 27:53 desperately desires for people to there 27:57 some won't because of their chose but God 28:01 open has open that anyone has that opportunity 28:05 through Jesus Christ, Amen. in fact they 28:09 estimated it, it about as big as the size of the state 28:13 colorado. I don't know if you have ever been to colorado I've driven 28:17 through there it is a beautiful state, that about how large 28:21 the New Jerusalem is according the measurements of the 28:25 the book of Revelation, what a glorious city 28:29 that is going to be. John continues in Revelation 28:33 chapter 21 and now in verse 21 he descibres 28:37 the gate I don't want you to miss this. The Bible says 28:41 The twelve gates were (what) 28:45 twelve pearls: each individual gate was 28:49 of one pearl.(now is there any 28:53 significance to the fact that each gate made one 28:57 big pearl. I want you to think about this 29:01 In the gospels 29:05 who is symbolized as the pearl of great price? 29:09 Jesus is so these pearls 29:13 symbolize Jesus Christ these gates and see what it's 29:17 reminding me if want to get into that city is only going to be 29:21 through the blood of Jesus, amen. Is not going to be by my righteousness 29:25 which I don't have it's not going to be by superior 29:29 wisdom or your superior looks it's not going be because 29:33 I lived in perfect obedience it's going to be 29:37 because I have given my life to Jesus, His perfect 29:41 righteousness now covers my sins His perfect 29:45 live is written in my record book up 29:49 in heaven, Jesus is the pearl, Jesus is 29:53 the way, Jesus is the truth, the light, He 29:57 is the gate He is the door. Can you say amen? 30:01 It is reminding us it's only going to happen through Jesus not through your good 30:05 works not through what you wear or don't wear, through what you 30:09 eat or don't eat. Those things may be all well and good and good teaching 30:13 from the bible that we should follow, but that is not gain us 30:17 access into heaven it is only the cross of 30:21 Jesus Christ in fact I don't have the verse 30:25 here but you know Jesus once told a story or a parable 30:29 about a man who went into a field and 30:33 in that he notice that there was a great pearl hidden 30:37 in the ground and what did that man go and do 30:41 he sold everything he had in order to 30:45 to purchase that field because he wanted the pearl of great price 30:49 you know what that tells me? 30:53 Jesus is telling you through that parable there is 30:57 nothing in this world that is worth missing out on 31:01 the glories of heaven there is nothing in this world 31:05 no person no thing no 31:09 cherished sin that worth missing out on the paradise 31:13 that God has prepared for you and me if there 31:17 something that stand between you and Jesus 31:21 the Bible implores us let it go 31:25 it is not worth it it would be foolish thing 31:29 to trade for internal life in God's 31:33 kingdom we should be willing to give everything up 31:37 in order to spend eternity with Jesus 31:41 in this Heavenly country. John goes on to say 31:45 And the street of the city was 31:49 pure gold, like transparent glass. 31:53 See our Create God our Heavenly Father He is so rich 31:57 he has so many resources He makes the street of gold 32:01 How much money do you think that is worth, I have no 32:05 idea all I know is if they made all street of Nixa 32:09 or Springfield of gold how much money do you think that would take? 32:13 millions maybe billons of dollars I'm 32:17 sure you probably wouldn't like the tax bill when it came out because you know who would be paying 32:21 for that, but God the street of heaven are like gold 32:25 it is a valuable place, why does God make it so 32:29 beautiful and glorious? Have you ever considered that? 32:33 Why does God leave no expense and effort undone 32:37 You know why? The city is so 32:41 valuable because you are valuable to God 32:45 See we live in a world where sometimes there will be 32:49 people who will tell that you are not worth anything 32:53 sometimes it is our families sometimes it is our friends 32:57 they will us that you will never amount to anything 33:01 they'll you that you're inferior that you're not special 33:05 but you what, my Bible tells me that God is not ashamed 33:09 that He has prepared a place for me that heaven is so valuable 33:13 because Jesus thinks that you and I are valuable, if He can give His life 33:17 He if can lay His down on the cross, it doesn't matter what the people 33:21 of the world say, my saviour says I am 33:25 valuable you are valuable 33:29 See my dad kinda grew up in a family 33:33 where he wasn't always valued 33:37 by his father always told him he 33:41 wouldn't amount to anything that his sibling were 33:45 better he was cause my dad didn't have ceratin skills 33:49 that his father and because of that even today 33:53 my dad has a bit of inferiority complex at times 33:57 but you what gives me courage my 34:02 dad who quit school in 10th grade to go into the army 34:06 just barely got his GED when he gave his 34:10 live over to Jesus, Jesus said he is valuable 34:14 when he decided to follow Jesus with all his heart all his mind 34:18 all his soul he worked place called christian record 34:22 service you heard that ministries to the blind I used to work 34:26 there myself this man with barely high school 34:30 eduction never been to college a day in his life he raised 34:34 more money to help the blind than anybody in the history 34:38 of 115 years of that organization, he two million 34:42 dollars never had fund raising class in his life 34:46 why because when we give our capabilities to Jesus he 34:50 multiplies them when someone says worth it when someone says your not 34:54 valuable don't you listen to them because your God and your Creator 34:58 says you are valuable and your are worth something that why 35:02 He prepared the kingdom of heaven for you if that is not a reason 35:06 to say amen I don't know what is. People want to know 35:10 what will our physical condition be in the new earth I mean 35:14 are we just float around like spirits on a 35:18 cloud and just strum a harp I certainly hope not cause 35:22 that sound awful boring to me I want to do more than be 35:26 setting on a cloud for eternity you know the Bible answer 35:30 that question notice what is say in Philippians 3:20 35:34 when it describe resurrected body 35:38 The Bible says: For our citizenship is in heaven, 35:42 from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, 35:46 the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform 35:50 our lowly body that it may be conformed to His 35:54 glorious body, (now what was Jesus like when He 35:58 was resurrect was he a spirit that floated around? 36:02 No according to the Bible, it says that His disciples eventually 36:06 recognized him, when He appeared to them in the in upper room 36:10 what was it he told Thamas to do? He said here touch the 36:14 nail print in my hand see the scars on my side 36:18 and in my feet he real body flesh and bones. 36:22 The difference is was no longer 36:26 a human nature body but now it was a glorified and a resurrected body 36:30 after the cross, but they saw him they could touch him 36:34 in fact it even describes it He actually ate some fish with them along the sea shore 36:38 one day after they were done fishing so 36:42 very clearly we're not going be a spirit floating around but we have a body of 36:46 flesh and bones but this time it is not tainted by sin 36:50 and by the blemish this earth. See that 36:54 tells me in heaven we're going to recognize each other 36:58 I am sure glad, I recognize Marquita 37:02 tells me still me we are going still have our unique mannerism 37:06 you know our different voice inflects even our individual 37:10 personalities but see the difference is this time 37:14 there are not going to be tainted with sinfulness 37:18 it is not going to have the blemish of all our mistakes on this 37:22 earth we have glorified body and character as well 37:26 we will recognize each other and I should hope because I want 37:30 remember my family I want to remember friends I friends I have know who have 37:34 chosen to follow Jesus if the disciples recognized Him 37:38 then we're going to recognize each other 37:42 In Isaiah 33:34 you know John the revelator 37:46 is not the only on who was given glimpses of Heaven 37:50 even Isaiah in the Old Testament was given some picture 37:54 and description notice how he discribres 37:58 the kingdom of God Isaiah 33:24 38:02 The Bible says: And the inhabitant will 38:06 not say, (what?) "I am sick"; The people 38:10 who dwell in it will be forgiven their iniquity. 38:14 I got to pause there, there is a couple in that verse 38:21 I absolutely love #1 you or I never again say 38:25 I'm sick no more doctor offices no more 38:29 copay no more crazy insurance premiums 38:33 no more emergency rooms no more have to dial 38:37 911 we will have a perfect body in perfect 38:41 health never again an ache or pain never 38:45 again a sickness I tell you what ought to make you jump out of your seats 38:49 because I hat being sick and you ask my 38:53 wife I can deal with it for two days after 38:57 two days I get mad after two days of being 39:01 sick I get mad I refuse to believe I'm sick I just go about my 39:05 about my business I don't know if that is good idea or not maybe it just me 39:09 work that is just my stubborn German attuite I don't like to sick 39:13 in fact I remember a couple of years actually year and half ago 39:17 I was at a pastor conference in Des Moines 39:21 Iowa actually you were there two I remember at that conference 39:25 is was about a half week long and one the presenters 39:29 who can had just gotten over or I think actually still had 39:33 sickness and part of the flue and of course 39:37 when are in small rooms for hours upon hours meeting 39:41 your shaking hands your sharing your're eating food 39:45 together, if somebody is sick what's probably go to 39:49 happen some other people are going to get sick and happen 39:53 one after this minister go sick and then another 39:57 and some of them had to leave and by Wednesday when it was 40:01 supposed over I sitting in the morning meetings 40:05 and I'm realizing yon know what, I don't feel very good 40:09 I start leaning the back wall realizing man if I'm ever 40:13 drive home I better get some rest so I went back to may 40:17 hotel room and I remember as I laid down 40:21 I started realizing man, I have 40:25 got the flue and you know what 40:29 about an half an hour later my colleague Pastor 40:33 Plohocky who I was rooming with Joshua he comes in the room 40:37 You what he says? I don't feel so good either 40:41 and we thought lets lay down for an hour and then we are getting out of here 40:45 so layed down for and hour and once we got we worse and we 40:49 realized there is no way that we can drive six hours back to St Louis 40:53 oh my what do I do, and so I went to the supervisor 40:57 and it was hard to get out bed let me tell,I went to the supervisor and said 41:01 sir please is there anyway we could just 41:05 in this room and extra night just let sleep and he said 41:09 Yes and so I remember for next 16 hours from 1 o'clock 41:13 to early the next morning I just felt like death warmed over 41:17 you know how that feels you got a fever your skin is burning 41:21 hot but your still shivering with shakes like your cold 41:25 you can't get comfortable no matter which way you lay and turnover 41:29 and the problem was, Marquita was worried and wondering we are 41:33 and so I had left my cell phone on the dresser just on the side 41:37 room because I felt so absolutely horrible 41:41 I could not even get out of bed to go over and answer that cell 41:45 phone and so she called everybody on the planet to come check on us 41:49 so see where we were and what happen to us, and I tell you what I never 41:53 forget that night Josha was in his bed I'm in my bed 41:57 it was was like a sick ward, finally the next morning we felt good enough 42:01 to drive home and we just barely made that 6 hour 42:05 and when we each went into our homes our wifes did the somthing 42:09 they saw us quarantine us to the bed rooms said don't teach 42:14 the kids don't kiss them don't hold them in fact Marquita even sleep on the couch for a couple 42:17 of days I was so sick she didn't want to catch it her self, I will never forget 42:21 that and I tell you when I get heaven never again am I going to have flue again. 42:25 Can you say amen? But you know what the best part of that verse is? 42:29 it is the last part. Not only well we be physically 42:33 whole. we will be spiritually whole. 42:37 Because those who dwell in it, have 42:42 all their totally iniquities forgiven and wiped away 42:46 because that is what Jesus has 42:50 done for us. To me that is one of the best parts of heaven 42:54 Isaiah 35 verse 5 says 42:58 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 43:02 and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 43:06 (it goes on to describe) Then the lame shalt leap like a deer 43:10 and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. No more disabilities 43:14 or infirmities. You think, there will be children who perhaps 43:18 who perhaps of been crippled for live. They are going to be out in the field 43:22 playing together Amen. They going to be claiming up trees maybe they be playing 43:26 hide and seek because there will no longer anything deformed 43:30 about their limbs. why? Because Jesus has healed them 43:34 Not just physically, but also spiritually 43:38 I will never see another child in a wheelchair 43:42 you will never see a sick child laying bed, you never see 43:46 an adult needing a mobile scooter any more all that 43:50 is going to be done away with. I never is a child with 43:54 down's syndrome or some kind of mental illness, because even 43:58 mental and emotionally all of us will be made whole. 44:02 Amen? Revelation 21:4 God 44:06 contenues He says: And God will wipe away every 44:10 tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, 44:14 nor sorrow nor crying,and there shall no 44:18 more pain Why? Because the former things the 44:22 former way life that we had known, it will be all 44:26 passed away. Pastor Mark you'll never have to do a eulogy 44:30 at a funeral again, and I can tell you all ministers will says amen 44:34 to that no more death. Do you know what that means? 44:38 No more will you every get one of those 44:42 phone calls in the middle of the night, How many of you ever 44:46 experience that? A phone call in the middle of night delivering 44:50 tragic news. How many have ever had to deal with that? Many of 44:54 use, you know I remember my 44:58 grandmother my moms mom we call her gram 45:02 she basic grew up with 45:06 us or I grew up with her she lived with us 45:10 from the time I was a baby and if can just picture this 45:14 96 year old women of course she wasn't always 96 45:18 this short, spunky, fiery women 45:22 that was my grandma gran 45:26 I just remember she helped to raise me a little child and I tell 45:30 what when she get excited about something she would let you know it. Now 45:34 when I meet Marquata, she loved Marquata let me tell you 45:38 and when dating she would regularly come up me that is my 45:42 grandma with a twenty dollar bill and she would say you go take Marqauta 45:46 out to eat on a date, and gram is not someone you could 45:50 easily say no to let me tell you and alot times I did not want to take it 45:54 because you know she lived on a fixed income 45:58 social security, she didn't have a lot money and I would say no gram I got a job 46:02 I'll use my money, but boy you said that to gram you know what she would do 46:06 me, you may think I'm exaggerating, but you can ask Marquata, man she make 46:10 a fist and put it in my face and she say you take that money 46:14 I and I had to take it and now she hit me or anything but she say you take that money 46:18 and I if I didn't take it no what she did next, she grab my shirt and stuff it down my shirt 46:22 Marquata do I exaggerate? She has seen that happen that was 46:26 her way of showing she would never hurt me in the world 46:30 but you know I remember when she got to be about 46:34 95 or 96 her diabetes cought up with her 46:38 she had to go to the hospital 46:42 and I remember that she was given the news by doctors that if she is going to 46:46 survive if she has to have one of her legs amputated 46:50 and that just took the life out of her 46:54 I can remember watching her just bury head in her hand and 46:58 watching this 96 year old women cry 47:02 because she knew she was nearing the end 47:06 I remember we back to western pennsylvania and one morning the phone rang about 47:10 4 o'clock in the morning and I don't know how to describe it 47:14 but when the phone rang I just knew, I just knew somebody 47:18 was going to tell me that gram had died 47:22 and that is what happen. I can remember just 47:26 hanging up the phone; it was my ant who told me I can remember 47:30 hanging up the phone and just burying my head on the couch down stairs 47:34 just started cry and weeping. this was someone 47:38 who had been part of my life for all of my life 47:42 and now she was gone. But the thing I'm thankful for 47:46 before she died, before she went to the hospital 47:50 I had a couple opportunities to tell her about Jesus 47:54 and even though she lived a ruff live she 47:58 made some mistakes she wish she had never chosen, when I 48:02 said gram would you like to have Jesus be your savior 48:06 would like to ask Him to forgive you to just come into your life 48:10 and wipe away your sins, i remember she said yes I want 48:14 you to pray that for me and as I graped her hand and prayed 48:18 during that prayer i just could feel her hand squeezing 48:22 mine and without words she was says that meant something 48:26 to her. I look forward my gram one day 48:30 I bet there is people your looking forward seeing to. 48:34 I'll never have phone call like that again in heaven. In 48:38 last chapter of the Bible John goes on and he says: 48:42 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, 48:46 clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of 48:50 and of the Lamb.and In the middle of its street. 48:54 and on either side of the river,was (what?) the tree of life, 48:58 which bore twelve fruits each tree yielding its fruit every 49:02 month. (and get this) the leaves of the tree were for healing 49:06 of the nations. That tell me there is something about 49:10 the fruit from the tree of life that heals us from 49:14 sin, heals us physically, metally, 49:18 emotionally and spiritually see the prevision that 49:23 God has made for you and me to be total healed 49:27 of sin. See in heaven I'm going to be loved by God 49:31 you are going to cherished by God, embraced by God 49:35 and satisfied by him. Can you think of a better place 49:39 here on this earth we are not always loved and we're not always cherished 49:43 and we're definitely always satisfied. 49:47 Then comes Isaiah 11:9 49:51 This was other grandma's favorite verse it says: 49:55 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy 49:59 mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the 50:03 LORD, as the waters cover the sea. now my other 50:07 grandma, grandma Esther, she is the most godly women I ever meet 50:11 never saw her lose her temper, that dad's mom 50:15 every thursday night was grocery night and so mom and dad 50:19 would drop me off at grandma Esther while they went shopping 50:23 so such fun, she had two cats I played with calico the 50:27 cat and pumpkin the cat and even spottie the dog 50:31 I loved them and what grandma Esther would do is 50:35 across there was Jim and Nina pizzeria 50:39 and so we would go over and home made pizza we would eat it 50:43 together at the table and she would give me ice cream and 50:47 I know for those us that really health conscious you got to remember 50:51 you don't go grandma house to be health conscious when you are a kid,you know 50:55 pizza and ice cream sounds good 10 or 11 years. Amem and I 50:59 remember we sit at the table and then we would read the bible together 51:03 and whenever she would read this verse she would aways look at me and she oh 51:07 david how wonderful that will be 51:11 a day when there is no violence anymore 51:15 in the world or even in our homes 51:19 Isaiah 65 describes what are some things we're 51:23 do there 65:21 the Bible says: 51:47 do you think you are going be bored build 51:51 house, plant vanguards and gardens 51:55 I mean I love this because you know what? there is one gift that God 51:59 has not given me. Well there is more than on gift He hasn't given me, but the one stands 52:03 out the most, I'm not a mechanical person not naturally 52:07 I am not good at building things my wife knows that 52:11 now give me instructions I'll make my way through it but I probably won't do it very fast 52:15 well apparently in heaven, God is going to give me that gift 52:19 I can build house, so honey I'm going to build you 52:23 the best house you ever had, because that is what the Bible says I'm going to do. Can you say 52:27 Amen? now people wonder what about fellowship and friends 52:31 what are we going to do with people there? Is it going stiff 52:35 stilled conversations? I don't think so 52:39 Jesus answer this question. Matthew 8:11 52:43 Jesus says: And I say to you that many will 52:47 come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, 52:51 Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven 52:55 now think about what that means, people who 52:59 have saved from all the ages, all different centuries all 53:03 culture we are going to have eternity to hear 53:07 their testimonies even people I grew 53:11 up with even people whose names aren't in the Bible, that just not limited 53:15 to the character of Bible and were are going to have great fun 53:19 together and fellowship. Now one of the things I love to do 53:23 I hope you wouldn't take this the wrong way, I love to play basketball and so I have determined 53:27 in heaven I already know heavenly basketball team is going to be 53:31 and the great heaven and basketball there nobody is going to fight 53:35 nobody going curse, nobody is going get upset, we are truly going to have fun. 53:39 Amen? so I'm going to reveal to you in Nixa who my heavenly basketball team 53:43 is going be, I wrote it down this afternoon, Ok? These are the five people on my 53:47 team so got these folks your're just going have to pick somebody else, here is who I want 53:51 I want sampson because he's a strong guy 53:56 I want jehu, cause he is quick, I want 54:00 david because he is full of courage and tenacity 54:04 I want adam because he tall and I want paul because he 54:08 never quits and he never gives up so that is going to be my heavenly basketball 54:12 team you got some others to chose from as well but 54:16 think what else this means. I can got to Moses 54:20 Moses what was it like to cross the Red Sea? 54:24 What was it like to up there and see hundreds of feet of a wall of 54:28 water? Where you scared? What was it like 54:32 Moses to get the Ten Commandments from God? 54:36 I can ask Daniel, what was it like to be thrown in that den 54:40 not knowing that your life would be spared? What is like 54:44 to look into the the eyes of lion? I can ask Peter 54:48 and Paul what was like to take the gospel to world, even to heal people 54:52 I what was it like when you guys where the center of a riot 54:56 What where you experiencing? But you know best of all? 55:00 I can see Jesus, and for the first 55:04 time in our live, we can go to Jesus 55:08 not superated by a wall 55:12 not having to get out knees in a bedroom and pray to something we can 55:16 see. I'll be able to Jesus face to face 55:20 and say thank you 55:24 thank you for what you have done for me 55:28 thank You for saving me, than for allowing Your perfect 55:32 hand to be nailed to the the cross and I'll 55:36 be able to Jesus a hug and I'll be satisfied 55:40 and he will be able to recieve my appreciation 55:44 for the time face to face. that is the 55:48 absolute best part of heaven and then lastly 55:52 Did you know that we still go to church in heaven? 55:56 thinks about it, we're still going to worship Him, thats why Isaiah 66 says: 56:09 and that make sense is God still our creator in heaven? Yes! 56:13 Is he still our redeemer? Indeed! So whatever worship is going 56:17 be like there, I'm telling you I want a front row set. Amen 56:21 So if you want a front row seat you better get there before I do. On the the first 56:25 Sabbath service or whatever it is that we're going to do in the 56:29 kingdom of heaven. Lastly John start to 56:33 wind down and he says in Revelation 21 56:37 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, 56:41 the tabernacle of God is with men, and He 56:45 will dwell with them, and they shall be His people 56:49 God Himself will be with them and be 56:53 their God. 56:57 You see friends when you realize what Jesus has done for you 57:01 there is nothing in this world worth missing out on the glories of heaven 57:05 You're so valuable He created that place 57:09 for you I'm so valuable He caried 57:13 the cross to calvary. We mean so much 57:17 to Him that he opens up the door of eternity 57:21 to you and me and so that 57:25 cause us to say in our minds, Lord Jesus 57:29 may be nothing that stands between you and me 57:33 may it be our prayer night to says Lord 57:37 I asking you to save me in your kindgom 57:41 Lord help me to follow you with all of may heart 57:45 Lord help me to make the decessions that I know 57:49 that I need to make, heaven is not a place 57:53 that any of us want to miss. |
Revised 2015-12-24