Upward– Living with a Heavenly Perspective – May 22, 2024
Pastor Jim Bryant
Acts 1:9-11 (NKJV)
9Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11
11God has set eternity in the human heart.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
9No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.
What will heaven be like?
- Heaven is a real place.
John 14:1-3 (NIV)
1Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Revelation 21:15-16 (NLT)
15The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.
16When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles.
- Heaven is a perfect place.
Revelation 21:1-4 (NLT)
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared.
2And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
4He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21:10-11 (NLT)
10So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
11It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal.
Revelation 21:18-19 (NLT)
18The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.
19The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones…
Revelation 21:27 (NLT)
27 “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter…”
Revelation 22:1-3a (NLT)
1Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
3No longer will there be a curse upon anything.
Revelation 22:3b-5 (NLT)
3For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.
4And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.
5And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.
- Heaven is a permanent place.
2 Corinthians 5:1 (NCV)
1We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NLT)
16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
17Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
The reality of Heaven…
1. Causes me to think differently.
- Heaven causes us to think differently about death.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NKJV)
55O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?
56The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Heaven helps me see past the struggles of today.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)
18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
The reality of Heaven also…
2. Causes me to live differently.
Titus 2:11-13 (NLT)
11For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
12And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,
13while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
- Heaven causes me to refocus my energy.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)
19Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
21Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
- Heaven reminds me to tell people about Jesus.
John 3:16 (NIV)
16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jude 22-23 (NIV)
22Be merciful to those who doubt;
23save others by snatching them from the fire…
Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
Finally, the reality of Heaven…
3. Requires me to make a decision.
2 Peter 3:13-14 (NIV)
13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
Romans 5:1-2 (NLT)
1Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
2Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
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