Heaven,What A Wonderful Place

Revelation 22:1-5

 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Wow, who would not want to go here?  One thing I love about the Bahamas is the crystal-clear water.  What is crystal clear here to us is probably dirty water compared to the clear water we will see once we get home.  Any yes, I do mean home.  You see child on God, we are just on a journey through this land in which we live.  We are on a journey home.  A home I am longing to see.  The older we get. Those of you who are older know what I mean, the older we get the more we look forward to it.  Let us look at some of the benefits of heaven we may not always think about.

Heaven is a safe place to for all my valuables

Matthew 6:19-21 – Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

  • Spouse
  • Children
  • Family
  • Friends and neighbors
  • Those we meet in the living of our everyday life.

A place where my name is on record as having a title deed.

Luke 10:19-20 – Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

  • Not like here on earth where you may have a mortgage or pay rent.
  • Here someone can come in and steal what I have.
  • Here all I have can be lost in a moment’s time.
  • Here I have to prove who I am.
  • There I have a clear title marked pain in full by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Hallelujah, amen and amen. When I am done saying amen, then amen again.
  • No one can ever take that home away from me. It is mine for all time and eternity
  • It is still under construction but I have already been given the key.

John 14:1-6 – Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me 2. For in my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.5  Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is the Key and the only Key.  – Do you truly have the key?

Still time to come: Still plenty of room. Jesus will be there, It is not built by man, but all built by God, All the redeemed will be there, It takes the proper paper work to enter in

Praying in the will of God – Harmony with Him

Matthew 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

I John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

WE MUST PRAY IN HARMONY WITH GOD’S WILL

GOD’S WILL AND OUR PRAYERS…

Prayers are answered favorably if we ask “according to His will” – 1John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

     Big reason for unanswered prayer is our own selfishness

    James 4:3 – Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

    HIS WILL BE DONE…

    Jesus taught us to pray – 

    Matthew 6:9-13 – After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11  Give us this day our daily bread. 12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

    He prayed in the garden at Gethsemane – 

    Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

    Such praying is made easier when our will is to do God’s will   

    John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

      [With faith in God and humility toward Him, we will gladly yield to His will for us. Note also…]

      WE MUST PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING

      PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING…

      “giving thanks always for all things to God” – 

      Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

      Trust Him completely with an attitude of thankfulness  –

      Philippians 4:6 – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

      being vigilant in prayer with thanksgiving” – 

      Colossians 4:2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

      Always stay in an attitude of prayer and thanksgiving. –

       1 Thessalonians  5:17-18 – 17  Pray without ceasing. 18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

      HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE…

      God’s people should always to be thankful – 

      Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.; 

      Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

      Ingratitude an indication of apostasy –

        Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.; 

        2 Timothy 3:2-5  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away

          “PRAYER” – The Principles Of Prayer Faith and Humility

          PRAYER REQUIRES FAITH

          Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

          Mark 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

          Cause of unanswered prayer.

           James 1:5-8 – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

          FAITH IN GOD…

          Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

             This faith only comes from the Word of God

          Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

          [With the aid of His Word, we can have the kind of faith that pleases God, and ensures an answer to our prayers.]

          WE MUST PRAY WITH HUMILITY

          James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

          Luke 18:13-14 – And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

          Humility in His people is highly valued by God

          Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.; 

          Isaiah 66:1-2   Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

          The Lord is near, and saves those with contrite spirits

          Psalm 34:18 - The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

          He gives grace to the humble

          Proverbs 3:34 –Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. Psalms 10:17  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

          Proverbs 29:23   A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

          Unity, the key to success: Prayer without unity is nothing but ceiling high words

          Ephesians 4:11-16 –  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

          I Corinthians 12:12-26 – For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.14  For the body is not one member, but many.15  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?16  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?17  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.19  And if they were all one member, where were the body?

          20  But now are they many members, yet but one body.21  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.22  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:23  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.24  For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:25  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.26  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

          • Structure matters. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers
          • It is important that all members do their part. Only one body.
          • Everyone no matter how insignificant they may seem, are of utmost importance. God places each part of the body in place.
          • Unity is of primary importance. Body cannot function with division.
          • If just one member suffers, the whole body suffers. We need to learn to feel the pain and hurt of others.
          • For those who do not belong to the local church, they are cheating themselves and other believers of the gift God has given them. Accountability is part of being in the body.
          • There are many believers who have walked away because they felt they did not fit in. It is sad when believers do not feel they fit in. Let us work to be sure people feel they belong.
          • Let us be vigilant to bring those home who have wandered away. Let us reach out to those who have been hurt or rejected because of their inability to belong.
          • Together, lets move forward for the cause of Christ remembering that it takes everyone of us. – We are all of equal importance in the family of God.
          And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1

          Praying in unity produced the miracle of the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit  

          Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

          The Power of Prayer – Peace and Strength

          Last Week – Forgiveness

          THERE IS PEACE FROM GOD IN PRAYER

          1.  The REAL CURE for anxiety is to pray – 

          Philippians 4:6- Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

          2.  Christians will find peace even during challenging times.

          Philippians 4:7 –And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

               3. Pray for peace during times of fear, loneliness, anxiety, etc.

               4. Full trust is the only path to true peace.

          Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

          Colossians 3:12-16 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

          THERE IS STRENGTH FROM GOD

          1. Real strength comes from within: it is not an outward display all the time. – Ephesians 3:14-16, 20 – For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
          2. When we need to be strong, Christians can likewise pray for themselves!
          3. We are often weak because we do not practice earnest prayer.

          God opens doors of opportunity

          1. Paul realized that God provided him opportunity to teach others    

          1 Corinthians 3:5 – For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

          2. He knew that the Lord often opened doors for such opportunities

          1 Corinthians 16:9 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

            2 Corinthians 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

          3. He therefore requested prayer that such opportunities would continue –

          Colossians 4:3 – Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds

          4. As a church, let us pray for opportunity and a willing heart to allow    His strength to be known through us.

          I Timothy 2: 8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.