Let's Talk About Heaven

Notes: Let’s Talk About Heaven!

Pastor Greg Laurie - July 24, 2014

In Colossians 3

Talking about using his GPS and how it will nag if you don't follow it. Then he spoke about how GPS is naturally in birds.

He says he thinks God has built in us a little homing instinct that is heading us towards Heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

[11] Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

1 Chronicles 29:15 NLT

[15] We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.

We are citizens of a different place, and we seem to feel it.

Today is the 6th anniversary of the day Greg lost his son in a car accident.

Philippians 3:20 NLT

[20] But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

“You formed us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in You.” —Augustine

A Christian never says, “goodbye,” but rather, “see you later.” That is the hope of a Christian.

Your depth of sorrow is an indicator of your depth of love.

Heaven becomes much more real to you when you have a loved one there.

Colossians 3:1-2 NLT

[1] 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.

Set your minds speaks of a diligent, active, single-minded investigation. Think Heaven and keep thinking about Heaven. Keep your feet on the ground and your mind in Heaven.

How can we be thinking about and seeking heaven?

Answer: From careful study of Scripture.

The Bible is the only source on Heaven.

Those who think the most of the next life, accomplish the most in this life.

Psalm 139:7-8 NLT

[7] I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! [8] If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.

Heaven is the dwelling place of God.

Our longing for heaven is really a longing for God Himself.

(Psalm 63:1)

Being with God is the heart and soul of Heaven.

Matthew 5:8 NLT

[8] God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

When you get to Heaven everything will make sense to you. You will know more in Heaven, not less. We will have a divine perspective.

1. What is heaven like?

John 14:2 NLT

[2] There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

Heaven is a real place, for real people, to do real things.

Heaven is described as a paradise.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 NLT

[2] I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don't know-only God knows. [3] Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know [4] that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

Heaven is described as a city.

(Hebrews 11:10 NLT

[10] Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. & Hebrews 13:14 NLT

[14] For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.)

Heaven is described as a country.

(Hebrews 11:16 NLT

[16] But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.)

We tend to think of earth as the real thing and Heaven is the surreal thing. That is not in the Bible.

Romans 1:20 NLT

[20] For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Psalm 24:1 NLT

[1] The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

No one can appreciate the creations of God more than the one who knows the creator.

For a Christian this is as bad as it will get and for the non-believer this is as good as it will be.

Matthew 6:28-29 NLT

[28] "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, [29] yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

1 Timothy 6:17 NLT

[17] Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

Hebrews 8:5 NLT

[5] They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: "Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain."

What will our new heavenly bodies be like?

1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT

[43] Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. [44] They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

Our resurrection bodies will resemble His.

(1 John 3:2 NLT

[2] Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.)

2 Corinthians 5:1-2 NLT

[1] For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. [2] We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.

2. What will we do in heaven?

In heaven, and on the new earth, we will be busy!

In heaven, we will eat together!

(Revelation 19:9 NLT

[9] And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he added, "These are true words that come from God.")

Matthew 8:11 NLT

[11] And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world-from east and west-and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.

You will get to spend time with all the prophets of the Bible and ask them questions!

Colossians 3:5-10 NLT

[5] So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. [6] Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. [7] You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. [8] But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty [9] Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. [10] Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

1. Sexual sin will keep us earthbound.

(Colossians 3:5 NLT

[5] So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.)

The battle against any sin, especially sexual sin, begins in the mind.

2. Idolatry keeps us earthbound.

Anything that takes the place of God in your life.

To have More, when possessions posses you. Not just having something, but wanting even more.

3. Anger, meanness, and slander keep us earthbound.

(Colossians 3:8 NLT

[8] But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.)

Gossip is all around us.

The explosive power of a new affection. If you are seeking The Lord it will transform you.

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth, and you’ll get neither.” —C.S. Lewis

John 3:16 NLT

[16] "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Who gets to go to Heaven? Forgiven people!

You don’t go to heaven to find Christ; you go to Christ to find heaven!

Evangelism, Jesus Style

Notes: Evangelism, Jesus Style

Pastor Greg Laurie

Harvest July 20, 2014

John 4

Jesus was the greatest speaker.

Public speaking is the greatest fear among Americans. So evangelism scares most people.

Evangelism is not an option for the follower of Christ.

Evangelistic Christians are the happiest Christians that Greg knows.

Nit picky Christians are the most miserable people Greg says he knows.

There is a joy in telling people about Jesus.

We are commanded to preach the Gospel by Jesus Christ.

If I am His disciple, then I am commanded to go and make disciples of others.

The happiest Christians are evangelistic ones.

1 John 1:4 NIV

[4] We write this to make our joy complete.

Greg likes to preach, yet we thank him for it. It fills him when he preaches, it fills him with joy.

“Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

(Proverbs 11:25)

"We are the Bibles the world is reading."

We are to be a stepping stone, not a stumbling block for others coming to Christ.

How do you help an ungodly person become a Godly person if you don't talk to them.

John 4:3-10 NLT

[3] So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. [4] He had to go through Samaria on the way. [5] Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. [6] Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. [7] Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." [8] He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. [9] The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?" [10] Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."

1. Evangelism, Jesus style, begins with a burden.

Winners of souls must first be weepers of souls.

A note about the text, Samaritans and Jews did not like each other. Yet Jesus went there because there was a woman in need.

John 3:16 NLT

[16] "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

We need to go wherever, to whosoever, whenever God directs us.

Jesus went into enemy territory to share the gospel.

There is no room for prejudice or bigotry when sharing the gospel, we are to go wherever.

2. If we want to evangelize Jesus style, we need to use tact!

Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.

There is a right time and a wrong time to share things. We do not need to be evangelism machines.

It not about winning an argument, it's about winning a soul.

John 4:13-14 NLT

[13] Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. [14] But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

Jesus gave her just a little truth, it's not always the right time to pour on all the info. The Lord of glory shows vulnerability when sharing.

John 4:13 NLT

[13] Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.

3. To share the gospel Jesus style, we must adapt to the situation.

John 4:16-19 NLT

[16] "Go and get your husband," Jesus told her. [17] "I don't have a husband," the woman replied. Jesus said, "You're right! You don't have a husband- [18] for you have had five husbands, and you aren't even married to the man you're living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!" [19] "Sir," the woman said, "you must be a prophet.

To get her attention, Jesus showed a little bit of His power by telling her about herself.

Acts 3:19 NLT

[19] Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

If you fess up to your mess up, God will clean up.

4. If you want to evangelize the Jesus way, don’t deal with everyone the same way.

In John 3 and John 4 there are two different people and Jesus handles them both differently.

A great way to start the conversation is to start "chumming" a little bit.

How do we chum? You make small statements referencing your faith.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NLT

[19] Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. [20] When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. [21] When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. [22] When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. [23] I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

5. Evangelism, Jesus style, means we stay focused.

John 4:20 NLT

[20] So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"

Talk about the person you are talking to, don't let them change the subject. Address what they say and go back to the subject.

Your best subject and tool is your own testimony.

We all don't have an amazing story to our conversion, but your story may relate perfectly to the person you are talking to. How you were before Christ and how you are now, maybe all you need to share.

Paul the Apostle always started with his testimony.

John 4:25-26 NLT

[25] The woman said, "I know the Messiah is coming-the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." [26] Then Jesus told her, "I Am the Messiah!"

John 4:28-29 NLT

[28] The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, [29] "Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?"

John 4:39 NLT

[39] Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!"

Don’t glorify or exaggerate your past.

Don’t boast about what you gave up for Him, but what He gave up for you.

When you tell your story, it’s not about you, but Him!

6. Telling your story is a powerful bridge for the gospel message.

Romans 3:23 NLT

[23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.

1 John 1:8 NLT

[8] If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

James 2:10 NLT

[10] For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws.

Romans 5:6-8 NLT

[6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

John 3:16 NLT

[16] "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Acts 5:41-42 NLT

[41] The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. [42] And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: "Jesus is the Messiah."

Jesus died for me! That is the message.

If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?