Sunday, June 03, 2012

What's Up With Heaven?


In Turning Point's 30th Anniversary "best of" sermons, Dr. David Jeremiah asks the question, What's Up With Heaven?

From David Jeremiah.org:
30th Anniversary Collection

ABOUT THE CURRENT TELEVISION SERIES

Watch the "best of" Dr. Jeremiah's teaching from the past three decades of ministry!

During the thirty years of ministry through Turning Point, Dr. David Jeremiah has taught hundreds of messages on a variety of topics. As we commemorate this special anniversary year, we created this distinctive compilation by researching the messages that our listeners have most often requested. The result is this thirty-message collection that covers a variety of biblical topics that have blessed and encouraged our listeners in the past. The Most Requested Messages of David Jeremiah is a 30th Anniversary Collection of Bible Strong teaching that has powerfully impacted lives around the world.

Tune in to Turning Point Television during the month of June and enjoy The Most Requested Messages of David Jeremiah. Hear answers from God's Word as Dr. Jeremiah addresses crucial life issues in four key messages from the collection, including "What's Up With Heaven?", "Praying Always With All Prayer," "The Captivating Presence of Grace," and "Identifying the Enemy." It is our hope that you will be inspired once again by The Most Requested Messages of David Jeremiah.
Week of June 3, 2012 Heaven is mentioned more than 500 times in Scripture, so we know it is of vital importance in the plan of God. Dr. Jeremiah offers seven reasons why heaven is a precious place for believers in “What’s Up With Heaven?”
Whenever I do not get to church on Sunday morning, I still get blessed when I tune into Dr. David Jeremiah's Turning Point television broadcast. He is an excellent Bible-based preacher (who happens to be Baptist) and I recommend all of his sermons wholeheartedly! The 30th Anniversary television series includes the best and most requested sermons. Today's message will not disappoint!

Who doesn't have questions about heaven? We all do!  Dr. Jeremiah masterfully utilizes Scripture to help explain many details that you may not have previously known or realized about heaven.  Most importantly, it is the place where Jesus is! It is where God the Father resides and where Christ is "preparing a place for you" when you trust him as Lord and Savior of your life!

In Christ,

~ Christine

Hat tip: David Jeremiah.org

9 comments:

Susan Smith said...

Christine said: “Dr. Jeremiah utilizes Scripture to help explain what heaven is all about.”

The ONE body of Christ needs men and women of God who will teach the truth from Scripture. The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14).

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

The Law is holy (Romans 7:12). The Law is spiritual (Romans 7:14). Christians are in bondage to sin.

"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Christine I heard a tragic story from a family member in Florida last night. An only child (a female) has “married” her lesbian lover and moved to Tennessee. The child’s parents believe and are speaking the words out loud that she is going to hell, because of the path she has chosen.

Why is this tragic? The biological parents are believers who are judging and condemning their only baby as though there is no hope for her deliverance. I spent more than 20 years in what the world calls a lifestyle. I call it a death style. Jesus the Son of the living God set me free.

My prayer this hour is for Christians to read the written Word of God and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to speak to their hearts and minds. Our minds can be transformed by the Living Word of God (Romans 12:2). There is no other way.

Jesus is the way! (John 14:6).

God bless you this day Christine as we as believers in the ONE Church Body continue to fight the good fight of faith and believe in the ONE G-D of ISRAEL. ~ Susan Smith

Christinewjc said...

Well said Susan! Yes! We ALL are in bondage to sin until the Lord and Savior of the universe - Jesus Christ - sets us free!

It is a shame that the parents missed an opportunity to tell others that their daughter could be redeemed from ANY sin - including the sin of homosexual behavior - through the power of Christ's forgiveness, grace and mercy when such an individual REPENTS of their sin.

I have noticed that people often consider even that biblical truth to be "discriminatory, judgmental, hurtful"....yada yada yada!! But we cannot sit by and allow the ways of the world to dictate against what is written in God's Word without speaking up boldly with the truth - as we should.

Sometimes I think that people don't understand what it means to repent of their sins. There are (unfortunately) Christian denominations that teach being "gay" is O.K. Well, that's not what the Bible tells us about such behavior.

The world has swallowed so many lies that it can no longer be truly discerning about God's plan, will for our lives, and the ultimate purpose for living.

Ah! I'm getting off on a tangent!

You are correct when you wrote that "our minds can be tranformed by the Living Word of God." Those who miss out on such an opportunity usually do so because they are "of this world" and don't want to give up the things that please them. It doesn't matter to them that such things displease God.

Christians are "not of this world" because we take Jesus at his word, literally, and keep our focus on him while sharing the gospel with others. I doubt that there is one person who has come to Christ that didn't "feel" bad, insulted, upset, sad, guilty, depressed - you name the carnal reaction - when confronted by the need for repentance through the gospel of Christ. Been there...felt that! But the momentary "bad" feelings are turned to utter joy when we realize what is gained at conversion and the subsequent "rehab" of the spirit that happens over the lifetime of the Christian! We really have never "arrived" because no one is perfect. But Jesus, our advocate before God the Father is perfect and following him all the days of our lives helps us to become more and more adhered to his will for us.

Sorry if I'm rambling but this subject has come up a lot lately. With all of the temporal "gains" that the gay "rights" movement now enjoys; the more hatred, ridicule, anger, and lies are spewed against Christians who just want to follow God, Jesus and the Bible. It is as if the tables have been turned! The scorn that was once directed at homosexuals has turned to acceptance; yet such scorn is spewed at Christians and their views are considered unacceptable. Tolerance is now a one-way street on this issue!

But Jesus prepared us for such scorn. He told us that they would "hate you (us) because they first hated me (him)."

(con't)

Christinewjc said...

Personally, I don't think that the gay rights movement will stop until they completely halt Christians from telling the truth via the Bible about why homosexual behavior is wrong, is a sin, and needs to be repented of before the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ! It is like oil and water - the two cannot mix! One needs to win out over the other. That is the battle that is going on here on this earth and as the years go by, it gets more and more hostile!

A lot of Christians are afraid to speak out about what God's Word says about homosexuality; so they either remain silent or cowed in fear of being called a "bigot," "intolerant," "hateful," "discriminatory," etc.

Well, Jesus discriminated between the choices of godliness and sin. That term is being misused today in order for human beings to get their way and continue in sinful lifestyles.

Susan, you have opened up a great discussion here in the comment section. I hope more readers see this. I was wondering, would you mind if I make you comment and my response into a new blog post?

There is so much more to be said about this subject. I have a brief story to tell about an encounter I had with two people in a grocery store line. A discussion came up about the horrid advance of the gay agenda in public schools here in California. Perhaps I can include that in my new post.

Anyway, Susan, you are in a very unique position to place lots of insight into this topic. I know that the hatred often spewed against you for leaving the lesbian lifestyle is even worse than what I have experienced trying to educate people about God's Word on the subject. People seem to be able to accept a former heterosexual "coming out" as gay or lesbian (like Meredith Baxter); but when a former lesbian announces that she has been freed from the behavior and identity through the spiritual power of Jesus Christ in her life, that is not acceptable to the worldly minded.

Thanks, as always, for your excellent comment on why it matters to be free from sin! Jesus is the only One who can save us from eternity in hell - and that goes for EVERYONE - no matter what kind of sin has been committed!

Jesus' promise is in the verse you shared:

"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

At the moment of conversion, our sins are "as far as the east is from the west." And, we spend our lives pursuing holiness - because God is holy and righteous - and we want to please Him!

Thank you for your words of wisdom this morning! May God continue to bless you! Your life of dedication to Him helps thousands of people through your newsletters and comments here at this blog! I appreciate you my sister in Christ!

Love in the Lord,
Christine

Susan Smith said...

Hi Christine,

All believers feel persecuted who chose to follow Jesus, the Messiah (Matthew 5:10). In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted… (2 Timothy 3:12).

Hatred is hatred no matter the color, nation or tribe.

You are free to do with my words whatever you please at Talk Wisdom. You, my friend, are shining bright this day. Keep being the LIGHT of the world! Simply SPEAK TRUTH as the Holy Spirit reveals the truth.

I feel privileged to call you friend. (ss)

Christinewjc said...

GM,

You have made the same claims over and over again. I have addressed them many times before. Your intent in writing hate-filled comments is to "steal, kill, and destroy" the faith of Christians due to your hatred towards the Scriptures. Like I told you a while back when you were banned for while, I can choose which comments to post and which ones to delete. Your recent one was deleted.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for all sinners. Those who confess and repent of any (including murder) type of sinful behavior and humbly ask Christ to indwell their hearts as Lord and Savior of their lives are forgiven and reconciled back unto God. Those who reject the offer for forgiveness - through the mercy and the grace of God afforded to mankind through Jesus Christ will die with their own sins upon their own souls and will end up in hell.

Attempting to rescue a sinner from such a fate isn't "bigoted," "hateful," discriminatory," or any other negative word that you would like to apply.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?

So you see, GM, spiritual death is the end game in rejecting God's only provision for salvation. You continue to spew hatred at the God of the Bible and you continue to attempt to discredit Christ's saving work on the Cross of Calvary through your twisted secular ideas and thoughts. You do not come here to learn or carry on thoughtful conversation. You clearly come here to destroy God's wisdom with your own flawed mindset. So be it. One day you will stand before God and have to answer for your own sins. Good luck with that if you continue to reject Jesus .... who is the way, the truth and the life.

steve said...

Hey Christine! Good job rebuking good ol' GM!
Remind me not to make the little lady angry! ;)
just kidding!

Christinewjc said...

Steve,

Just telling it like it is regarding GM.

Being "kind" to him doesn't work. Been there, tried that.

He obviously doesn't respect anything about God, Jesus or the Bible. In fact, he only shows contempt. Why should I show him any respect? Like I said, he is only here to create drama and havoc - not to seek the truth and/or debate in a polite way.

I'm just done with it all.

Susan Smith said...

Would you TWO please stooooop it! The LION is roaring on my insides… again!!

I’m beginning to like this verbal duo between you two… a man and a women.

Yep, reckon i might just love you both somehow; someway… it’s simply a mystery to me. (ss)

Susan Smith said...

Opps! My previous comment should have read a man and a “woman” (i.e. ONE man and ONE woman)… both singular. (ss)