HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
Answering Common Questions about Up There
Pastor Mike Bailey
mike@cityunited.church
INTRODUCTION
Heaven is for real! It seems nowadays everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go now. Eternity is an uncertainty for many people, and the fear of death can be overwhelming. “What happens when I die?” is a common question in our culture today because many people don’t know their eternal destination.
On a positive note, the subject of Heaven has so many questions that the Bible answers.
But as it is written: ‘Eye 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.’ 10But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” —I Corinthians 2:9-10
This teaching series will focus on answering the common questions people ask when it comes to Heaven, the destination they desire to go to.
October 6 What Is Heaven?
October 13 How Do We Get to Heaven?
October 20 Does Heaven Immediately Follow Death?
October 27 How Do We Prepare Now for Heaven?
November 3 What Will Heaven Be Like?
November 10 Can People in Heaven Observe Life on Earth?
November 17 What Will Our Relationships Be Like in Heaven?
November 24 Will Animals Be in Heaven?
TEXT: Matthew 6:26 (New Testament)
TODAY’S TAKEAWAY:
We will have everything we need for a perfect eternity.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL WEEK 8:
WILL ANIMALS BE IN HEAVEN?
I. WHAT IS THE
BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS?
A. We were
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” —Genesis 1:26-27
B. We were
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” —Genesis 2:7
C. However, all creation
“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” —John 1:3
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” —Romans 1:20
“O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. 25Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small. 26See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.” —Psalm 104:24-26 (NLT)
II. WHY DID GOD CREATE
ON EARTH?
A. To help fulfill His
“And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. 6The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.” —1 Kings 17:4, 6
“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. —Jonah 1:17
“Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’” —Numbers 22:28
B. As teaching
“Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?” —Proverbs 6:6-9
“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;” —Job 12:7
C. As
“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.” —Genesis 2:19-20
D. For God’s
“Praise the Lord from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; 10Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl;” —Psalm 148:7, 10
“For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.” —Psalm 50:10-11
III. WHAT WILL ANIMALS
IN HEAVEN?
A. They will
“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” —Revelation 5:13
B. They will
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.” —Isaiah 11:6-9
C. They will
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” —Revelation 19:11, 14
Conclusion: Trust God now and forever to provide for your needs.
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” —Matthew 6:26
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