Sermon – “Do You Think about Heaven?” (Part 2)

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This morning i going and going to continue with the messages. Do you think about heaven. This is do you think about heaven part two. I don’t know how many parts are going to be yet. I was going to go step by step until i get there. If i had to give this one of the subtitle. It would be. What’s not there. What’s not going to be in heaven. Colossians three. And. This is the new living translation. I read this and really like the way that it read. You dig it get that on the notes right. Ok. If you don’t get anything different you’d always know it’s new king james if it’s different. Share that. Colossians three verses one through four. Since you have been raised to new life with christ. Set your sights on the realities of heaven. Paul’s set your sights on the realities of heaven. Where christ sits in the place of honor at god’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven. Not the things of earth. For you died to this life and your real life. Is hidden with christ in god. And when christ who is your life. Is revealed to the whole world. You will share. In all his glory. Wow i just love the way that read in the new living translation. Set your sights on that which is reality that which is real for some many people heavens discover an unreal thought. For them. They don’t think about a lot. But it’s more real than what this is here. Than what we have right now i men. Think about the things of heaven. That would you know i asked that question that’s the title. Do you think about have him his word tells us. Think about the things that have a not the things of earth. It should be our main focus. Our real life is hidden. With christ in god. But i really special like that last part. You know there might be a lot of people walking on us or that can do nod. Will deny god. But he’s still god. Where they want to accept it or not or acknowledge him or not. But there’s come one of day. When he will be revealed to the whole world. There will be no denying that. No denying that whatsoever. Because he will reveal himself to the entire world. And all. For those who have the night him and don’t have him with some fictional story. When they realize the reality of it. It is real. Let us pray. While the god we thank you and praise you for your presence we thank you for your presence in our lives every day. We thank you that you are with us through our struggles through our pains we thank you that your spirit come for sustenance. Courage is us and. Guides us in all that we do. And father just pray that your spirit would guide us today as we study your word and just. Just pray your anointed upon my servant or let every word be. From your throne room father may you be glorified in honor and order if there was anything here that is not of you just let it be gone. And just prayed or did your name will be lifted on high praise you would touch all of our hearts for god with your word today in jesus’ name amen. Just to kind of. Refresh our memories a little bit about. Last week and for. Maybe those that weren’t here last week. I focused on the bodies. I talked about the bodies that we now have. And how these bodies that we have or affected by sin that we sow. The. So well. The things we’ve experienced. This past week. These bodies are affected by sin. By pain by suffering. By disease. And that these bodies will someday succumb to death. If the lord tears. But also talked about the new glorified bodies that we will receive when christ returns. How that the dead in christ will rise first. And it we were see the new body and it we know that we will be like him. We know that our bodies will be like the one that he had. After his resurrection. I shared. From luke twenty four. Where the disciples were gathered together. Behind locked doors and jesus disappeared with them. Nobody got up and opened the door. He disappeared with them. In his new glorified body yet. He said come and touch me come and feel my hands put your hand here my side. Feel the scars. He had flesh and bones. You all remember the time where the disciples after the resurrection. They were out fishing. And jesus appeared to them on the shore. And they came in and. Had breakfast there. Prepared for them. So he had a new glorified body but yet you recognized they recognized him. They knew that it was jesus. There are so many things that we can ask about heaven. You know what will the new heaven and a new earth be like. What will they look like will they resemble this earth that we have now. What will we do there. For eternity. Who will be there who won’t be there there are so many questions. But as i said i don’t know how long this is going to take we’re going to take a step by step. Today i’m going to be focusing on what will not be there. In truth. The absence of many things. Is what makes heaven heaven. You know i know that there is probably a lot of things. That we experience or see that are in this earth right now that if they weren’t there would make. Or lives a lot more enjoyable when they. Just to name a couple you know. If we didn’t have drugs. How much better. Our neighborhoods would be. But realizing the things that aren’t going to be in heaven. Gives you a picture of what heaven is going to be like correct. Revelations twenty one. Reveals some of the things that will not be there. It speaks to some things that will be but. We’re going to i’m going to have to i’m sure use the same passage again. Revelations. Twenty one one through five. This is the. Revelator john speaking. He says now i saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And there was no more see. Then i john. Saw the holy city. New jerusalem coming down out of heaven from god. Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and i heard a loud voice from heaven saying behold the tabernacle of god is with men. And he will dwell with them and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them and be their god and god will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death. Nor sorrow. Nor crying. There will be no more pain. For the former things have passed away. Then he has sat on the throne said behold i make all things new. And he said to me write for these words are true and faithful. Amen amen and amen. Now i know that the very first thing mentioned that will not be there. Right now in this present life. If my wife had to think of that it would sadden her. No see. It says there’s no sea on know that would she be going like this because he loves to go to that big body of water whether it be the golf or the ocean or the caribbean sea loves the water. She loves it. So i know that that saddens or but the truth is. She will not be sad there. If there is no see. But why would there be no see. You know the sea is beautiful. You go to the ocean it’s gorgeous the. Golf is gorgeous the blue waters and they’re fun the swim in it spun the boat on why would there be no see. Think about this for a moment. What do the oceans or the seas what do they do. They divide. They men. We knew the answer that they divide. They separate one nation from another. They are a source of division. Now i realize today. That in one way that’s probably a great blessing because if we didn’t have the ocean dividing us. We would have. Multitudes of isis probably in our back door. So in a way today they’re a blessing. But they divide. They are a source of the vision. And in heaven there will be no separation there will be no division. All will be united in christ a man. There will be unity. There will be people there from every nation tribe in tongues. Now will understand one another we won’t be confused. Probably all speak the same language. But all nations all that believed in christ from. Every land from every generation. Will be there. No division whatsoever. Praise the lord that’s a wonderful thing. The see also symbolizes the political tone wants. Tomo to malts. I have a hard time with that word. From which the beast. Will also rise in revelations thirteen one. John says that i stood on the sand of the sea. And i saw a beast rising up out of the sea. So it’s also a symbol of evil that comes up out of the sea. We know that the sea. Played a part in the destruction of all mankind. In the flood. And were source of the death of millions of people. You know if you remember the sea has also been a source of death. In the modern era. Many many times. But i’m sure many remember the tsunami of two thousand and four. The indian ocean earthquake occurred on december the twenty sixth the day after christmas. With the epicenter off the west coast. Coast of sumatra indonesia. The shock at a moment magnitude of nine point one to nine point three. The undersea mega through mega thrust. Earthquake was called when the indian. Plate. Was subducted by the burma plate. And it triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coast of most. Land masses bordering the indian ocean. Killing two hundred and thirty thousand people in fourteen different countries and inundating coastal communities. With waves up to one hundred feet tall. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters recorded in history. It’s still hard to fathom that many people losing their lives. In one day. It’s hard for us to grasp that. And you know that. On all these borders. All these beaches. There’s resort communities. People were out enjoying the beauty beauty of the indian ocean to see. One moment. And the next moment. The water sucked out and then here comes a wall of water. Hard to imagine. But it happened. So the sea. Also symbolize a great source of death. Of course as already mentioned. There was a deadlier disaster. When all of mankind except for eight people were destroyed and the sea is referenced as a source of wickedness in isaiah fifty seven twenty eight. It says but the wicked are like the troubled sea. When it cannot rest. Whose waters. Cast up mire and dirt. So the sea is a type of perpetual. Unrest. A fierce storm or tsunami. Can quickly turn. Relatively calm waters. Into a sort of destruction. So could it be because of its source of death and destruction that is removed. That it will be there in heaven. There may be bodies of water. But that which is associated with the seas and the oceans that we know will not be there. Could it be just a symbolic. Possibly but death and destruction. On the rest will not be their. Term or it will not be there. The very next thing that john mentioned that will not be there. Is tears. Now if you paid attention as i read that passage. It also mentioned crying. Now this is not a mistake. On john’s part. That he mentions tears and crying. As i search this out. I believe it was a mistake in the translation from the original greek to the english versions or the other translations. Because in the greek. It is not crying. When you look in the greek dictionary. It does not say crying it actually says outcry. So it’s. No tears and no outcry meaning to bring word to call out. It borrows from the meeting to toil. When israel was in bondage for four hundred years and toiled in hard labor. They outcry. They cried out. To god and god heard their cries. So its tears and outcry. There will be no toil in heaven. See that really gives that. Greater meaning when you understand it is outcry. And not cry. Because there will be no toil. There will be no slavery. There will be no. Hard labor. Will get the things that will. We will do there. But i can assure you that we will not tauriel. In hard labor. Whatever it is that we will have to do there which will get into that next couple weeks or so. It will be enjoyable. We won’t cry out the god oh. Why have you give me this hard work to do. Why am i in bondage gear because there will be no bondage. There will be no toil. No outcry. Means those things will not be there. Doesn’t help make sense. And yes there will be no tears. So i will ask. What makes us cry. We’ll start with the little ones what makes you cry. You’ve never cried right. Well i can tell you one thing makes a crowd when you don’t get your way. All right. Big people what makes you cry. Pain and sadness. Pain and sadness joy. Makes you cry. There will be plenty of joy there. Fear. Makes you cry. Pain you know. Her. Make she cries in. Birth of a grandchild. Unfairness. Worries. So many things. You know a young teenage girl a boy whenever their gore girlfriend or boyfriend breaks up know my gosh. The tears will fall they think that’s the end of the world. But a month later they got a new girlfriend or boyfriend right. Found out all is well. There are so many things that will make us cry. Someone hurt our feelings. As you said physical pain. The loss of a loved one. So many things. Well another thing to be said would not be there is no more death. So that helps. Take was two years to. No more death. It will not be there. How late lou you. Can anybody say amen to that. No more death. Now this goes deeper than what we know. We know that death entered into the world. Because of sin. The very moment that adam and eve ate of that tree death and into the world. But it not only affected them. It affected. All of creation. It affected all mankind. And effected all of creation. There is not one aspect of creation that was not affected by their sin. The creatures of the earth. Cattle horses. They get old. And they to die. Are lovely little pets. Cats and dogs. They get old. They die. Birds of the air. Get old. They die. The fish in the sea. They to pass away. Vegetation. Trees. Every single aspect of creation. Was affected by their sin. There will be no more death. It will be made right. All of it. Every aspect. Not just that mankind will live for eternity. But all. See that death is gone. And a man. That’s worth shouting about romans eight twenty two twenty three says. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that but we also who have the first fruits of the spirit. Even we ourselves groan within ourselves. Eagerly waiting for the adoption. The redemption of our body. It’s how to live. We were see those new glorified bodies that will never die. There will never be another funeral service in heaven. Alia. How do you glory to god. There will never be another. There will be no sorrow. Which also means no grief according to the greek definition. The absence of death naturally eliminates sorrow. Jesus experience sorrow. In john eleven thirty five thirty six. He lost a very good friend named lazarus and says it’s short passage jesus wept. Then a jew said. See how he loved him. You see jesus. Felt everything that we feel. He too felt sorrow and grief. You know death is not the only thing that can bring sorrow. See him what are the others go through. Can cause a sorrow. Pastor bill hey bill shared a story. That a friend. Share with him. Wrote to him and gave him permission to share it. This good friend of his had a daughter. That was brain. Damaged. And she said that sometimes the sadness that she feels for her daughter just completely overwhelms her. And she said especially as her daughter approached her sixteenth birthday she was completely overcome with sorrow. When she thought of the so many things that her daughter would never get to experience. So it is not just death. That gives a sorrow. But she said she overcame it. She faced it head on and sought the lord and got through it. He will help us through our sorrows. There will be no sorrow in heaven. Because there will be no brain damage. There will be no disease. And no sickness. No pain no physical pain. No emotional pain. No mental pain. None of these things will be there in heaven. Makes it a wonderful place done. We will not have them. Because there will be no sin there. That is why they will be gone because there will be no sin. It will be done away with it will not be permitted or permitted to enter into heaven. Galatians five thousand nine hundred twenty one says now the works of the flesh or evident. Which are. Adultery fornication uncleanness lewdness idolatry sorcery hatred contention jealousies. Outbursts of wrath. Selfish ambitions. Dissensions heresies. Envy murders drunkenness robberies and the like of which i tell you before hand. Or jest yet which i tell you before hand. Just as i also told you in time past that those who practice sets things. Will not inherit the kingdom of god. Though. Sue practice these things that i just mentioned the things of the flesh will not inherit the things of god they will not inherit the kingdom of god. They will not be there. So there will be no murder or is there. There may have been those that were murdered but repented and accept jesus christ as our lord and savior. But they are no longer martyrs because they are made new in christ. But there will be none there that we’re currently practicing that will not be there. It will be absent. So that just makes the list. So long with the things that won’t be there. We will not need police officers in heaven. Because there will be no crime. There will be no war. So therefore we need no weapons. There will need to be no first aid kits. Because we will get hurt. They’ll be no false prophets no false doctrine no political debates hallelujah. No social anxiety. There will be no depression in heaven. There will be no worry no fear. No pride. No hospitals. We won’t need any medicine. We won’t need antibiotics or steroids or. Cancer drugs or. Heart medicine we won’t need any of that. No medicine period there will be no cavities kids. Be no divorce. They’ll be no car accidents. I don’t think will be cars. I pray that it won’t be any cars or. They’ll be no jealousy. No temptation. Will be no prostitution of suicide. They’ll be no eating disorders will be no school shootings. They’ll be no bullying. It will be no hunger. There to bed never be another little child to hungry again. They’ll be no thirst. They’ll be no bills or credit cards. How little you know debt collectors will be no demons. And no. Satan. And no taxes. That would know my list but you’re right. The be no denominations. It just be sons and daughters of god to be no. Drunkenness. No boredom. There will be no discontentment will be no scars no shame. There will be no loneliness. There will be no locks. You won’t have to lock your doors. There won’t be any locks on your doors. And guess what god door won’t be locked and. The gates will be left open. We’ll get into that will be able to come and go walk right in and visit god then it sounds like an absolutely wonderful place. To spend eternity. Because of the things that won’t be there i promise next week i’ll get into some of things that will be there. But truthfully the absence of those things. Is going to make that a wonderful place. A glorious place. It’s shows us what it will be like first corinthians nine. No. Sorry first corinthians two nine through ten. Says but as it is written. I has not seen nor ear heard. Nor have entered into the heart of man. The things which god has prepared for those who love him. But god has revealed them. To us through his spirit. For the spirit searches all things yes the deep things of god. Man the things that god has prepared force are more glorious than we can imagine. But we need to imagine. Are you thinking about heaven yet. Oh right amen. Are you. Longing for heaven. Are you. Longing for allah louis in a day when. All those things will be gone. A man. The most important thing. Do we do we have the assurance that we have our place there. That is the absolute most important thing. Because you won’t want to miss it. And i think that’s one of the most important things. Why it makes it so important should say that we understand heaven. Because when we understand how great it is. How wonderful it is and we are eager for. That we will want all that we know to go and experience it also. Amen. Here’s how we get to. Acts chapter. I had a lot of scripture at the end that i know that. They didn’t have. Because i was. I had a lot. X. sixteen. Versus twenty five to thirty one. But at midnight paul and solace were praying and singing hymns to god. And the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake. So that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately. All the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison. Awaking from sleep and seen the prison doors open. Supposing that the prisoners had fled. Drew his sword and was about to kill himself. Because paul called out with a voice. Saying do yourself no harm. For we are all here. Imagine that the doors flew open the chains flew off. They were having a good time praising the lord they didn’t even leave. Then he called for a light and he ran in and fell down trembling before paul and silas. And he brought them out and said to them. Sirs what must i do. To be saved. So they said to them. Believe on the lord jesus christ. And you will be saved you and your household. What must i do. You must believe in the lord jesus christ. Believe in the sacrifice that he made for us. Say lord forgive me i’m a since come into my heart. Be a mild lord. And your names will be written in that land’s book of life. That’s how you reserve your spot in heaven. That’s how you can be assured that you can enjoy that place where all those things will be absent. By believing in god’s only son. For god so loved the world. Bruce favorites. Purse. For god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. The friends that’s the message that’s the word. Maybe next week we’ll get into things that will be there but i think we can rejoice because of what won’t be there. And we can rejoice because we know that he will be there. You know it doesn’t matter to me what else. What else is there. I’m going to get into it anyway but. This the fact that he will be there. And we will be with our loved ones. There will be no suffering no death and sorrow. That makes it to me. Wonderful place to be. And i don’t want to miss it. And i pray that we will. Courage others. To know that also. Amen.