Service for October 4th. 2020. Continuing a series entitled “Lift Up Your Eyes” on the topic of heaven.
Video
This week’s service stream recording is at https://youtu.be/Jlp-afnN72E
Sermon Audio
MP3 file here.
Notes
(Printable Sermon Notes: 3-Heaven-Defined.pdf )
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)
HEAVEN IS a ____________ and a sphere, both far and __________, where the Lord and those who __________ Him live together forever.
1. A___________________ Heaven (Isaiah 55:9,10, Psalm 147:8)
2. C______________ Heaven (Genesis 1:14-16, Psalm 33:6; 147:4; 148:1-3)
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth (Ps. 33:6)
…Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above…Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. (Psalm 148:1b, 3)
3. D_________________ Heaven (Deuteronomy 10:14, Job 22:12, Psalm 2:4; 115:16, Isaiah 66:1, Acts 7:49, 2 Corinthians 12:2, Eph.1:20,21)
1. HEAVEN IS A PLACE AND A SPHERE (Isaiah 57:15)
The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. (Psalm 33:13,14) (Is.63:15, Psalm 102:19)
But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! (1 Kings 8:27)
John 6:32, 33, 38, 51, 57-58, 14:1-4 Matt 3:2, 4:17
For we know that if this earthly tend we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands… Now the One who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Cor. 5:1,5)
2. BOTH FAR AND NEAR (Psalm 53:2,2 Cor. 12:2, Eph. 4:8-10, Acts 1:9,10, Lk. 23:43, Rev. 21:2)
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 HEAVEN IS _________!
3. WHERE THE LORD AND THOSE WHO LOVE HIM LIVE TOGETHER FOREVER (John 14:3; 17:24, 1 Thess. 4:16-17)
“Dear Heavenly Father. I know that I’m a sinner. And I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead. I repent of my sins. I turn from my sins. I invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to follow You as my Lord and Saviour. In Jesus name, AMEN!”
Digging Deeper
(For personal study, family devotions or Care group use)
Q1: When you gaze into the night sky and consider God’s celestial creation (moon, stars, planets) what kinds of emotions or questions fill your mind and heart?
Q2: Pastor David defined heaven as being a real place. How does the concept of “place” shape your understanding or expectation of heaven?
Q3: Read 2 Timothy 4:6-18. What challenges was Paul facing. How did his heavenly perspective help him as he continued his earthly journey?
Q4: One of the ways we can describe heaven is to say that it is a “with” place. What fond memories or longings fill your heart when you think of being “with” those you love and those who love you?
Q5: How would you respond to someone that believes that everyone will go to heaven? Consider Jesus’ words in John 14:6 and Matthew 7:13-14. What does Jesus have to say about this subject?
Q6: Read Hebrews 12:14-28. How is heaven described? How are we to live in light of our heavenly home?
Q7: Fanny Crosby wrote: Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
In what sense is your salvation a foretaste of glory divine?