HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
Answering Common Questions about Up There
Pastor Gary Moritz
pastor@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 6:33; Colossians 3:2 (New Testament)
TODAY’S TAKEAWAY:
Prepare Today and Enjoy Tomorrow
-or-
Play Today and Regret Tomorrow
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL WEEK 4:
HOW DO WE PREPARE NOW FOR HEAVEN?
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” —Matthew 6:33
The Kingdom of God – Jesus’ sovereignty over everything in the created universe. It is the restoration of what was lost due to sin’s curse. The Kingdom of God is expressed through believers’ bearing witness of the Lordship of Jesus Christ through their everyday lives which reflects their citizenship in heaven.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” —Philippians 3:20
God created the world to be perfect (Genesis 1-2)
Man sinned and broke God’s perfect world and our relationship with Him. (Genesis 3)
God established a plan to restore the world and our relationship through His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. (Genesis 3:15)
One day, God will restore The Kingdom, and we will rule and reign with Him forever. (Revelation 22:1-5)
I. PRIORITIZE THE KINGDOM – “But seek first … “
A. You should give God first place in your worship.
Worship is giving God worth
By your actions (what you do)
Through your physical assets (what you have)
With your mind (how you think)
In your emotions (how you feel)
B. However, we often worship the pleasures of this world.
Even the best of pleasures has a shelf - life. Ex: Solomon had anything and everything anyone could ever want and still came up empty (Ecclesiastes 2:9-11).
C. God doesn’t want our time on earth to be without pleasure.
Tests of a legitimate pleasure
Anything that refreshes you without distracting you from true worship of God. Pleasure should only be a means - it should never be an end in itself.
Any pleasure that harms another’s well-being is an illegitimate pleasure.
(Ex. David and Bathsheba – II Samuel 11)Legitimate pleasures should keep your life in balance.
“Have you found honey?
Eat only as much as you need,
Lest you be filled with it and vomit.” —Proverbs 25:16
II.
THE KINGDOM – “ … the kingdom of God and His righteousness … “
A.
B.
C.
D.
“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” – St. Augustine
III. ENJOY THE
OF THE KINGDOM – “ … and all these things shall be added to you … “
A.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” —John 3:16-18
B.
“And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.” —Malachi 3:10
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” —Luke 6:38
C. Expectation of your
“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. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:2-3
CONCLUSION:
HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR HEAVEN?
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