ARE YOU PLANNING ON GOING TO HEAVEN? 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-11 – TEXT INTRODUCTION – If I asked you if you were planning on going to heaven I am sure most of us would answer in the affirmative. Yes, I want to go to heaven! That is not the correct answer to the question - are you planning on going to heaven? You see I can want to go to heaven and never make any plans to go to heaven there is a distinctive difference. I want to some day go and see the Grand Canyon, but until I really begin to make plans to go and see the Grand Canyon it will never happen. Those plans are going to include travel arrangements – car, bus, RV, plane; lodging arrangements – hotel, relatives, brethren, tent; financial arrangements – cash, VISA, American Express traveler checks. I must also think about the time of year to visit, clothes suitable for that time to travel, how long will this trip last etc. If I do not make these and many more plans I will never get to take this trip to the Grand Canyon. 2 COR 5:1-11 – TEXT - NKJV For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. PLANNING FOR HEAVEN: 1. WE KNOW FOR SURE – Vs. 1 – We must not doubt or waver in our belief in God or our conviction of heaven. a. JAMES 1:5-8 – As we pray to God we must have true faith in God and his power and love. b. JN. 14:1-3 – Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Jesus said if you believe in God then believe in me and what I say to you about heaven. 2. EARNEST DESIRE AND GROANING – Vs. 2 – Heaven is so pleasant and desirable that we will seriously and sincerely live our lives carefully and faithfully each day as if it were our last on earth. a. JAMES 4:13-17 – We must strive to live in such a way that puts the Lord’s will first in our lives. b. PHIL. 1:21-23 – The example of the apostle Paul he groaned in the flesh because of the things he suffered for Christ but his true desire was to be with him in heaven. c. MATT. 6:33 – We cannot go to heaven if we do not seek the reign and rule of Christ in our lives. Does he have first place in your life? If not then you are not planning on going to heaven. 3. CLOTHED FULLY / NOT NAKED – Vs. 3 – We must wear the clothing prescribed by the word of God if we want to go to heaven! a. 2 PET. 3:10-15 – The clothing we will wear daily in Christ are the garments of obedience and holiness. b. EPH. 4:22-32 – I must put off the old man and put on the new man if I plan on going to heaven. Am I fully clothed as the new man or am I naked? 4. MORTALITY SWALLOWED BY IMMORTALITY – Vs. 4 – How is mortality swallowed up by life? It is only thru obedience to the gospel of Christ. a. 2 TIM. 1:10-11 – Salvation is only in Christ – Are you truly availing yourself of the spiritual blessings available in Christ? Are you obtaining the victory available only in Christ? b. 1 COR. 15:50-58 – The only way we can have victory is in Christ and to obtain it we must be steadfast and unmovable and abound in the work of the Lord. c. REV. 2:10 – Only by being faithful to death will we gain victory. If you died today could you truly say you had been faithful unto death? If your answer is no, then you are not planning on going to heaven! 5. INDWELLING SPIRIT IS OUR GUARANTEE – Vs. 5 – If we do not have the Spirit of Christ in us we will not go to heaven a. ROM. 8:5-11 – Paul states if we do not have the Spirit of Christ we do not belong to him. How does the Spirit and Christ indwell in us? b. EPH. 3:16-19 – Christ dwells in our hearts by faith and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God – ROM.10:17 and it no coincidence that the word of God was revealed by the Holy Spirit. So Christ and the Holy Spirit abide in us the same way thru the word. c. COL. 3:16-17 – The word of Christ is to dwell in us richly and it does so when we do everything in our life with the authority of that word of Christ. d. JN. 15:5-7 – Do you bear any fruit for Christ? Does his words abide in you? If the answer is no then you are not planning on going to heaven. 6. CONFIDENTLY WALK IN FAITH – Vs. 6-7 – If we walk by human insight and worldly wisdom we will not go to heaven. a. 1 COR. 1:18-24 – The world in its wisdom thinks to walk by the word of God is foolishness. b. EPH. 5:1-2 – Is your walk guided by faith in God or the wisdom of man? If we walk in the wisdom of the world we will not go to heaven – vs. 3-5 Vs. 6-8 – Tells us to not be deceived but rather walk as children of light. 7. PLEASING TO THE LORD – Vs. 8-9 – Is this your aim in life everyday. a. GAL. 2:20 – How could Paul say this? He wanted to please Christ and so the life he now lives he lives for Christ – Do you truly live for Christ? b. HEB. 11:6 – Are you living a life of faith that is pleasing to God? 8. JUDGMENT LOOMS IN THE FUTURE – Vs. 10-11 – Everyone will be there and no one will be too busy to appear. a. ECCL. 12:13-14 – We will be judged by the things done in the body whether good or evil. b. MATT. 25:34 – The blessings of eternal life to the faithful and obedient. c. MATT. 25:41 – Horrible punishment beyond our comprehension for the wicked. CONCLUSION – Are you ready for the Judgment Day? Knowing the terror of the Lord will you make your life right with Jesus today? Obey the gospel if you are not a Christian – Right now do not delay any longer – Do not put yourself in jeopardy of missing heaven!
Posted on: Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:31:01 +0000
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