Paul talks of this phrase in 1st Timothy chapter 3, verse  16.  So here I will explain the powerful truth  concerning what is meant by  the Mystery of Godliness.  

This phrase, we will see. involves the ASTOUNDING Truth that God walked this planet in the person of His Son.   The Son of God became truly human, to live a beautiful life amongst us and die to redeem us.  This phrase also contains the truth that Jesus rose again after crucifixion and entered into glory.   However, this phrase also encapsulates the tremendous destiny of the Church ( God’s people), that they too are destined to glory.  The church will rise with Christ to be glorified,  The Church one day will be gloriously perfected and shine in this world!

The Household of God

God has a loving home where He lives, moves and acts!  It is His ‘Church’ to which  we all, (if saved) belong to.  This wonderful family, this household,  His church is precious to God and is being built by Jesus.

Mathew 16: 18 – I will build my Church and the gates of hell will NOT prevail against it.

Christians of all ‘churches’, denominations, as well as those with no denomination really belong to this great household – this ONE Church.  Acts 20:28 informs us that the Church (us collectively as believers) has been purchased by God’s own blood! What a wonderful scripture – proving that Jesus Christ is truly God; it was His blood that purchased the Church.

This Church that Jesus built and also purchased, is described in verse 15 as the custodian of the truth. (The pillar and ground of truth). Let’s look at the TRUTH – The major aspects of the truth, that are held and displayed by God’s household in verse 16.

The Mystery of Godliness

This verse appears to be a fragment of an early church ‘hymn’! It is the setting of the Churches beliefs to poetry and music.

1 Tim 3:16 – And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Let’s look at what the hymn is saying.

God Was Manifested in the Flesh

Who is it then that was manifested ‘in the flesh’? This was none other than God, the eternal creator of all things. This means an astounding thing!   God, became truly human and lived among us; He was the eternal Word of God, (The Son of God).  This is the creator (the Word) spoken about in John 1: 1-2 regarding His existence and power –  prior to His birth at Bethlehem as Jesus.

John 1:1, 2 – In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 

These first two verses speak of the wonderful One who was in the VERY BEGINNING.  Before the world, space or time itself came into existence.  Verse 3 teaches that Jesus (The Word) created ALL things. Each flower, bird, every star, and every planet, angels and men all were created through him.

The Astounding Happening

Then something wonderful happened!  Let’s now look at a wonderful verse: John 1:14.

John 1:14  – And the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us (and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father – full of grace and truth.

ASTOUNDING! This means that one-day something AWESOME happened! The Lord Jesus at a particular time in history, became something He was not before! He became a physical being who was truly human in every way; a human life and human nature! Before that event in history 2000 years ago he was essentially Spirit as the Word with the Father.

The Apostle John’s Testimony

Years later the apostle John casting his memory back said that they had actually seen and touched this eternal and Wonderful One.   This One who had healed the sick, lifted the fallen, loved the sinners, comforted the sad, inspired men and lived and died and rose again for humanity.  Listen to John’s  words:

1 John 1:1 – The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and (actually) touched him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life!

The Life that knows No language

John was trying to describe the “indescribable One” because there is no earthly language capable of describing the beauty of the life he lived among us.  Earthly languages all fail!  This life drew the loyalty of rugged fishermen; tax collectors and children.  All these were utterly drawn to him. Even prostitutes were bathing Jesus feet with tears of repentance as His gracious life drew them to sorrow over past sin,  a new sense of purity and an awareness of God’s love and grace.  As you read through the gospels, you will see that his was also a path of loneliness. Rejection at times by his own family and the most severe persecutions that came from the strict unyielding religion of his day were his lot! God (as Jesus) new human hunger, thirst, tiredness, temptation, temptation to discouragement, (dare I say it – real sexual temptation also). Every battle that we fight was his!    And praise God, every victory he won belongs to us also!

HOW human was Jesus?

According to  the scriptures the very test of whether a teacher is speaking from God actually depends upon whether or not he believes God became truly human!

1 John 4: 2,3 – By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the {spirit} of the antichrist.

So how human was Jesus as he walked amongst us? – How much did he ‘lay aside’ and leave behind when he left heaven? Here are some scriptures to read up if you wish to:

Philippians 2: 6,7 – (The son of God) made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

Luke 2:52 – And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.  This tells us that He left behind His “omniscience”.   As God,  The Son of God knew all things.    However, as Jesus of Nazareth he had to learn and grow in wisdom an understanding as we all do.

Acts 10:38 –  God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.   As God, prior to his birth at Bethlehem,  The Son of God  was ALL POWERFUL.   After being born as a man and given the human name of Jesus he was totally dependent on God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Hebrews 2; 18  – For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.  The apostle James ( the Lord’s human brother) tells us clearly that God cannot be tempted, (James 1:13 ).   However. once the Son of God had taken humanity he knew the full force and blast of every human temptation we all endure.

Vindicated In the Spirit

This means that all through the earthly life of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the time of his ascension into glory, the Holy Spirit both preserved and bore testimony and attested to Christ’s worth and righteousness.

Jesus Vindicated at His Baptism and On The “Mount of Transfiguration”

Matthew 3: 16. 16 – When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  At Jesus Baptism – The Father and the Holy Spirit both attested to Jesus ‘Sonship’ .

In the gospel of Matthew chapter 17 we read that Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.    We are told that as they watched Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun.  His clothes also became as white as light.   Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.  Peter was so awe-struck with all that was happening that he exclaimed, “ Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials^[a]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”   Then God spoke from heaven…..

Matt 17:5 – While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him”.

Jesus Was Offered Through The Eternal Spirit

As Jesus hung upon the cross bearing our sins and the curse of the whole universe, the Holy Spirit as very active.  Jesus Offering of Himself at the Cross was actually through the ‘eternal Spirit’   Hebrews 9:14–   how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?   This is a glorious truth!   Among other things, this means that although the crucifixion was a historical event in time it had an eternal consequence.   Because it was such a mighty  ETERNAL EVENT it was planned and actually took place before the earth ever existed.

 Rev 13:8 says – all those dwelling on the earth will worship him, every one whose name is not written in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.

My Christian brother and sister, your salvation is  SECURE.   When Jesus poured out His holy blood he purchased an  ETERNAL SALVATION  for you.   Not only are your past and present sins dealt with, bit also every sin you will commit in the future!

Jesus was Vindicated in The Spirit By His Glorious Resurrection

The resurrection designated and vindicated Jesus as the Son of God with power ( according to the Spirit of holiness).

Romans 1: 3-4 – His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus – Becoming the ‘Life Giving Spirit’ in His Resurrection

It goes far deeper in truth than this..  Jesus, in His resurrection, even became the Life Giving Spirit, (1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 3:17. Bless God, He now comes to us to dwell and live in us. (Romans 8: 9-10, Ephesians 3:17).

1 Cor 15:45 – And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Even while our Lord was on this earth the ‘Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Jesus was not available to man. Let’s look at a portion from the gospel of John together!

John 7:39 – But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Now that our Lord has ascended,  He comes to us as the Life Giving Spirit. He said – “ I will come to you!”, ( John 14:18). His Spirit is now available to us to breath into our lives.   When he comes to us he brings all the victories He has accomplished for us through His incarnation (coming to earth), human life, crucifixion, resurrection and enthronement. He said before he left the earth – ‘Be of GOOD OF CHEER, I HAVE OVERCOME the world. All His NOW victories are available to us in the power of His life Giving Spirit.

Seen By Angels

Angels saw the incarnation, human living and ascension of Christ. ( Luke 2: 9-14; Matt 4:11; Revelation 5:6, 11-12). They worshipped him in heaven before He came to earth; they worshipped him at Bethlehem. All angels and all creation will forever more worship Jesus.

Rev 5:11 to End – And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power.  And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Singing, loud praise, with prostration! All is falling down before the lamb! (Jesus) – What a worship service!
Let’s join with the heavenly ‘choir’ Monday evening praising the lord Jesus!

Preached Among The Nations – Believed on In The World

Here we see that Jesus is not the exclusive property of any race or nation. He was not just the Messiah who had come to raise the Jews to earthly greatness. He was and is, the saviour of ALL nations; of the whole wide world.
Let’s pray as we gather that His word may go forth to the whole earth. Let’s praise Him that His love and grace is reaching out to all men today. Freeing, healing, saving, liberating, blessing! AMEN.

Taken Up Into Glory

This refers to Christ’s ascension into glory, (Mark 16:19; Acts 1: 91-11; Philippians 2:9). According to historical sequence, Christ’s ascension went before Him being preached among the nations. However, it is listed here as the last event.  This is for a very good reason (other than poetry).

This indicates that the Church ( God’s redeemed) is taken up into glory as Our Lord was! It implies that not only Christ as the HEAD, but also the Church AS HIS BODY is the manifestation of God in the flesh. We (together as His church are a human manifestation of the life of God on this earth)!

If we as the Church will only function as the loving ‘household of God. If we as the church will only function as the supporting pillar and ground of truth – we as His Body will bear a glorious testimony to the world. And one day the whole Christ – not only the head (Jesus) but also us (the Body) will together be caught up with Him into the glory!
The story of Jesus started in heaven; it ends in heaven! William Barclay says – “ He lived as a servant, He was branded as a criminal, He was crucified on a cross – He arose with the nail prints on him still. But the end is GLORY!”

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I am concerned at the harsh “Yoke” of control that Christian church leaders exercise upon the Lord’s people.  One arena  is the call to fast  type of control.  This is manifested is in the ” calls to fasting” that are made in the churches.  

Removing Religions Harsh Yoke From The Flock

Often one solitary Guru type leader or so called Senior pastor tells God’s flock that they are called to fast. Is this degree of control biblically based?

God’s Local Leadership Is Plural

(1) Each local congregation is shepherded, guided, led and nourished by a PLURAL GROUP OF ELDERS. There is no role of ” senior pastor” mentioned anywhere in God’s Word. No leading elder to dictate or to be God’s sole spokesperson on important decisions,. The one -pastor system is not scriptural. All of the five fold ministry gifts ( including that of pastor) are trans-local. ministering to all Christ’s Body. However in the local assembly God’s will in important decisions should normally first be revealed to a WHOLE COLLECTIVE GROUP of
elders.

Titus 1: 4 to 7 – To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour. The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be ….

1 Peter 5:1 – To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s
sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: …

God’s Five-fold Ministry Will Bear RESPONSIBILITY

( 2) In general, it is God’s leaders, ( five fold ministry) that are expected to take the lead, shoulder the burden and responsibility in spiritual warfare, fasting etc.  

In Acts chapter 13 we see such a group consisting of teachers and prophets who together are ministering to the Lord with fasting. the account does NOT say that the whole church was involved in this spiritual discipline; this time of special ministry and fasting was borne by prophets and teachers ( Presumably also, The Holy Spirit spoke collectively to these brothers calling them into this time of fasting).
…
Acts 13: 1 to 4 – Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Avoiding Tempting God By Harsh Control

(3) – There are a minimal of  ” Necessary things” to be observed by the gentiles who have turned to God from idols.

Acts chapter 15 is pivotal. God has included this chapter – almost in the centre of the book of Acts. It is very important! According to Acts 15:10, to impose anything MORE than these things listed in this chapter is in effect to ” tempting God”.

Acts 15:10 – Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

The Law of Moses imposed many burdens upon God’s children under the Old Covenant, There where commands, festivals to be compulsorily kept and observances that were described in Acts 15: 10 as things ” hard to put up with”.  Dare we, as called ministers of God impose upon Gods ” lambs” another set of special fast days and religious things to replace these many Jewish laws, ordinances, restrictions and disciplines.  Christ came to set us free from all such observances under the New Covenant”?  Indeed, we as leaders can invite the ” lambs ” to join us in any of these times we feel God has called us to. But, there ought not to be any sense of compulsion or expectation that they join us. They should feel totally free.

Conclusion

In short, what I am saying is this:

Any special times of fasting, need for teaching sessions, church disciplines etc., should normally be revealed to the whole group of elders that care for the church.  The leaders and ministry gifted members should bear the responsibility. Others in the church may ( and perhaps ought to be invited to join in) – but it needs to be made absolutely clear that there is no sense of compulsion on the flock of God.  To do so is to “ tempt God“.

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Thank God that many prayers have been answered and Donald Trump has wont the presidential election.   But for God’s grace it could have been a very different outcome.  Even millions of Born-Again Christians Will have Vote for Hillary Clinton,   The reasons they voted for her Will Shock You!

The reasons they voted for Hillary

The second in the series on the subject, ‘What is heaven like?”.  In the first section we have been looking together at the reality of the The New Jerusalem. It is our eternal home.  Our home, the New Jerusalem, will be the place where we God’s redeemed children will live forever and shine as the stars for evermore. We will be thrilled as we are looking together at the last two chapters of God’s word, – Revelation chapters 21 and 22.

There Was No More Sea

Verse one tells us that there is no more sea.

Rev 21:1 – And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

This has disappointed some. But there is no need to worry and be disappointed. There is surely water in this new earth (Rev 22:1 ).  There may well be beautiful lakes and parks within the New Jerusalem or on the new earth, which as we shall see later must be greatly enlarged. The New earth will be far bigger than this present old earth; we just are not told everything.  But why is the “sea” no longer present in the New heaven and New earth?  Let’s look together as we seek revelation from the Lord  as to what is meant by this statement.  Firstly as we look into this we will see that scripture often uses the “sea ” as a metaphor of God’s judgement, and also the distress and turmoil among the nations.   The sea may also be used to represent  that which divides and separates that which should be complete and united. 

The Sea of God’s Judgement

Let’s look at “ the sea” speaking of judgement. We know that God sent a very great sea, a very large deluge of flood in the days of Noah that covered all the earth.   God sent a flood and brought judgement on an ungodly generation who had become so corrupt that EVERY imagination of their hearts was only evil continually, (Gen 6:5).  Only Noah, his wife and his three sons, together with his sons wives entered the ark that Noah had built and where saved.  So here we see that the waters in the day of Noah speak of judgement. Satan and his evil followers have all now been judged and been dealt with and will not be found in the new heaven and new earth. (jER 5:22).

The sea is also a holding place for evil spirits that have been judged and are waiting for final judgement in the Lake of fire . Revelation chapter 9 tells us that at this moment in time God has bound up four angels in the great river Euphrates. The sea will also give up its dead for the final judgement day.

Rev 9:13, 14 – And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Rev 20: 13 –  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

The Genesis 1:1 Judgement

Many believe that the reference to the “face of the deep” in the second verse of the book of Genesis speaks of judgement.

Gen 1:1 and 2 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  2 And the earth was ( alt., became) without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Many good bible teachers believe that the “ face of the deep” speak of waters that God used to judge a previous world that had existed before the time of Adam and Eve. It is possible that there is a vast gap, involving a time of God’s judgement between the first and second verses of Genesis.
If we look at the Hebrew word for “was” in Genesis 1:2, we see that it can equally be translated, “became”. Thus, the first two verses of Genesis will read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and the earth became waste and empty and darkness was on the face of the deep.

In the beginning God  would have created the heavens and the earth good and beautiful. Then something happened to cause the earth to became a chaos and vacant mess. Something happened between verse 1 and verse 2 which caused the earth to become waste and empty. Further evidence that points to a gap between the fist two verses of Genesis comes from the book of Job.

Job 38:4 to7  – when God laid the measure of the foundation of the earth, the sons of God (the angels) shouted for joy.

We can see that the sons of God ( the angels) were created before man was created – but why would they shout for joy?  Why ever would they rejoice over a vast “ deep” covered with darkness? It is more probable that they were rejoicing over a beautiful creation that would have been wonderfully created with order and symmetry and that was very good – spoken into existence by a God who makes everything beautiful!

Satan’s Fall

The event that caused chaos and emptiness would have been the pollution of the universe caused by Satan. He had previously been created as God’s second -in-command; Satan’s origin was wonderful. He was God’s anointed cherub, the one closest to God, holding the highest position in God’s creation.
Ezekiel 28 describes his position in the universe before his rebellion and corruption.

Ezekiel 28: 13 – You have been in Eden the garden of God.

If we read the context, we can see that this was not the Eden in which Adam was put. This Eden was not on the earth, but in the heavens, on the holy mountain of God.  

Pride of Heart Caused Satan’s Downfall

The thing that caused Satan’s rebellion and downfall was the pride of his heart. Satan lost his lofty exalted position next to The Most high when he rebelled against God and in the pride in his heart desired to be equal with God. Ezekiel 28:17 says that his heart was lifted up because of his beauty.

God cannot tolerate any rebellion among His creatures so immediately after Satan’s rebellion, God declared His judgement on him. Satan was cast out of heaven. God declared….
I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendour; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. 18 “You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you.

The heavens and the earth were defiled by Satan’s rebellion and along with Satan were also judged by God. Job 9:5-7 says that God overturned the mountains in His anger, shook the earth out of its place, commanded the sun not to rise, and sealed the stars. Since we cannot find a record of an event like this in all of human history we must reckon that this judgement must have happened before the time of Adam and Eve. Because of God’s judgement, the heavens did not shine. The earth was covered by darkness. The fact that the earth, after being judged by God, was buried under the deep water proves that God must have judged the earth by flooding it with water. So, “the earth became waste and empty,” buried under deep water, and covered with darkness (Gen. 1:2).

(V1 to say “the sea is no more” indicates that Satan and his evil followers have all
been dealt with and will not be found in the new heaven and new earth. (jER 5:22),
Noah, Matt 8:29-32, Rev 20:13, Rev 19:4 – “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

The Sea That Separates and Divides

That which separates and divides – Especially to the apostle John imprisoned on the isle of Patmos, the sea was something that was separating him from his beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. He was in solitary! John was a lover of men who no doubt loved human company – especially the fellowship of fellow believers. Just across the sea from him was the city of Ephesus which was a great city full of people – the sort of place he would have loved to evangelize and no doubt there were already some Christians that he knew and loved who lived there. The “sea” was separating him from his beloved in Christ. One day for John, and one day for us there will be no more parting and separation.

Just as the sea separates nations and people from each other, in the same way there are things – imperfections and subtle forces and attitudes that in this age exist in our lives, that stop even the closest friends being truly one with each other. In the new heaven and new earth – in the eternal state all the negative forces and emotions that tend to separate us from one other will be removed. All of us, In Christ will for evermore enjoy a closeness that we could never ever know now. In the New Jerusalem we will not only recognize each other and share memories of our lives together. We will love each other in a deeper way than we can ever imagine at this time. The “ sea of separation” will be for evermore abolished!

No More Separation – Ever

No more separation. No more parting; we will recognise each other on that day! The disciples of the Lord Jesus recognised him after his resurrection, as he walked around in His glorified body (John 21:7). In Matthew 17 and Luke chapter 9 Moses and Elijah appeared in glory on the “mountain of transfiguration” with Jesus. They were talking to Our Lord about the mighty DEATH he would accomplish to save us – and in some miraculous way we are told that the disciples recognised both Moses and Elijah. They KNEW who they where. The Lord didn’t come to them and say, Hey – here are Moses and Elijah talking with me. In the same way we will recognise, know and love each other.

As we enjoy this precious closeness with the Lord and each other, will we remember times that we lives on earth? I believe that we will! The scriptures tell us that in eternity we will be LIKE Jesus. 1 John 3:2 – Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”

Yes, we will be like him – and Jesus Jesus knew and remembered His disciples and remembered His life on earth. After his resurrection, as he appeared before them in his spiritual body, he reminded them about the reality of his rising again according to the prophets which he had previously told them about during the time of his earthly life. This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”, (Luke 21:44).

In the New Jerusalem there will be 1000000’s of brothers and sisters in Christ we do not yet know. Not yet! We will one day! At the moment we are separated from them. We may have been born in a different age. They may live or have lived 1000’s of miles away. They may even live in our neighbourhood, but circumstances have not yet brought us together. A SEA DIVIDES US NOW!. One day that “sea of separation” will be no more. We will have the excitement of developing new relationships throughout eternal ages! We will be able to meet new people and develop new friendships. Won’t it be something to be able to spend time with Abraham or Moses or Elijah or Peter?

No more sea of separation in that day! We will be as close to each other in eternity as we are now to our husbands and wives in this life.
The one-flesh relationship we currently enjoy in marriage is a signpost pointing to our relationship with Christ, who is our bridegroom. Once we reach our final destination, the signpost will no longer be necessary. The purpose of marriage is not to replace heaven, but to prepare us for it (Ephesians 5:31-32). Does this mean that we will not be as close to our husbands or wives as we have been in this world? Not at all! We will be closer knowing that God chose us for each other so that we might sample what life will be like with Him in Heaven.

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This day I come to you all with good News! Today I come to you with glorious news! Today I come to you with a message concerning our glorious eternal home.

The Realty of the The New Jerusalem

Our home will be the New Jerusalem; it will be the place where we, God’s redeemed children, will live forever and shine as the stars for evermore. We will be thrilled as we are looking together at the last two chapters of God’s word, – Revelation chapters 21 and 22.

We Can Know The Things Prepared For Us

Many Christians suppose that our future eternal state is a closed mystery that cannot be known. They either suppose that we can’t know in this life what our future state will be like or they have strange and weird suppositions of heaven. Such people often quote from First Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 9, which says – No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

They quote this verse, but completely fail to read and assimilate the next verse, verse 10. We read here one of God’s wonderful ‘buts’! We go on to read in verse ten, “….But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets”. The Holy Spirit is telling us through the writings of the apostle Paul that although we cannot fathom out heaven’s reality with our limited brains, the Spirit of God plumbs these deep truths and reveals them to us. My Christian friend, God wants to make your future eternal destiny very real to you! Of course we can never know fully the marvellous things that have been prepared for us, but we can know enough to thrill out hearts and inspire our vision. We can know enough of eternity that when we enter it – it will NOT be strange to us, because we have already had a foretaste of it and also been thrilled with the vision of it.

Lifting our Gaze to Eternal Things

God wants us to lift our eyes above the mundane. He so much wants to enable us to look beyond our present problems and hardships and spur us on in our pilgrimage. He will do this by giving us a vision of the glory to come. God exhorts us –

 Col 3:1, 2 – 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. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.’,.

God wants us to understand our wonderful destiny and inheritance so that we see our future problems in the shining light of eternity;

Rom 8: 17, 18 – since we are his (God’s) children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” (Rom 8:17,18). Verse 17 is teaching us that we are actually to be co-heirs with Christ.

A place of Undescribable Glory and Beauty

The New Jerusalem will be a place of incredible glory and beauty. It is a possibility that our eyes will be able to see many colours that we were unable to see on earth as well as musical sounds we cannot even begin to imagine now. Every sight, every sound will be satisfying, completing and harmonious to us. You will never look at a wall again and think, “ this wall could have been a little different in color”. We will love one another and enjoy harmonious relationships in a way that we can never imagine now. The greatest joy of all however will be that we will forever be able to see the loving face of the Lord Jesus whom we will love so much. His precious Name will be indelibly imprinted on our hearts and minds! The greatest joy will be to forever discover new facets of His grace, kindness, love, personality and majesty! (Rev 22:4).

The Glorious Bible Vision

So let’s begin to read together from the book of Revelation, chapter 21. We will read the first four verses together. We are reading from the New king James version.

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.“

A New Heaven and A New Earth

There is coming a NEW heaven and a New Earth. This passage echoes Isaiah 65: 17 – behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

The time is surely coming when the first heaven and earth which were created according to Genesis 1:1 will be “rolled up” and changed. God will create a totally new heaven and earth. The first creation had known the ‘touch’, contamination and presence of sin and the curse. God will create a pure new creation full of righteousness. Two other passages of scripture speak of this new creation. They are found in the Book of Hebrews and the second epistle of Peter.

Heb 1:10 to 12 – (speaking of the Son): You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.

2 Peter 3:12 to 14 – the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The Old Heaven and Earth Passed Away

This old earth is often a place of suffering, sadness, sin and the curse. The scriptures indicate that even the heavens will have been contaminated by satan’s hand. But all this will pass; one glorious day, God will create something wonderfully and gloriously new. What a privilege it will be, as one of God’s redeemed sons or daughters to stand on that day with God and hear him once again create and speak into being at his command a new universe. Perhaps we will hear that unimaginably wonderful voice of the Lord say, once again,,,,, “New earth come forth!”

As we God’s children have lived out our lives through this world we will have encountered many pains, hardships, struggles, persecutions, tribulations there. At times we may be tempted to feel that these tribulations should not be. Some of God’s children are even tempted to think that God cannot possibly care for them, allowing them to suffer in this way. But through it all, every trial and hardship as well as every satanic opposition we encounter will have had a purpose and is bringing forth God’s own nature into the fabric of our lives. (Rom 8:28).

Rom 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose

At the time of the New Creation God will have used many things to perfect His people:  Having redeemed us and born us again into “his forever family” God will have used Satan, Antichrist, the false prophet, weakness, hardship, and various other difficulties to perfect us. When that perfection process is over and complete God will no longer need the negative things of the old creation. He will say, “Satan, I don’t need you any more. Go to the lake of fire. Sickness, sorrow, and tears I don’t need you any more – you have served your purpose. Go to the lake of fire!  My people have been perfected! God will have no purpose for anything old anymore,

God will say, “ I don’t need you anything old. I don’t need the old heaven and I don’t need the old earth. All the old and negative things were instruments used by Me to perfect My people. Now that My people have been perfected, all these things may be put into the universal ‘trash can,’ the lake of fire.”

Our God will have Made  ALL THINGS NEW

If you have enjoyed this message so far and perhaps you would like to share with me some of your thoughts on ” heaven”. then please add your comments in the COMMENTS space below..

proceed to part 2 – there was No More Sea

or …… Perhaps you would like to read my – Commentary on The New Testament BOOK OF HEBREWS

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The Lord Jesus has given us the powerful blessing of believers baptism.  It is far, far more than a symbol, it carries HIS Authority and the blessing in Him and his matchless Name. –

PROCEED TO WHAT IS BAPTISM

The Heart of The Bible

The whole Bible is built around a beautiful person.  At the heart of the bible is the wonderful Lord Jesus Christ and the promise of Eternal Life to those who accept him.  It was written only that men might believe and understand and know and love and follow Christ.
Yes, Jesus Christ is indeed the centre and heart of the bible, the centre and heart of history, is the centre and heart of Our Lives. Our eternal destiny is in his hand.  Our acceptance or rejection of him determines for each one of us eternal glory or eternal ruin; heaven or Hell, one or the other!
The most important decision any one is ever called on to make is to settle in his heart once and for all that matter of his attitude towards Christ. On that heart attitude depends everything.

 Famous Men Speak Concerning Scripture

Abraham Lincoln – I believe the Bible is the best gift of God has ever given to men. All the good from the saviour of the world is communicated to us through this book.

W E Gladstone – I have known 95 of the world’s great men in my time and of these 87 where followers of the Bible. The Bible is stamp with the speciality of origin and an immeasurable distance separate it from its competitors.

George Washington – It is impossible to rightly Govern the world without God and the Bible.

Napoleon Bonaparte – The Bible is no Mere book But a Living creature creature with a power that conquers all that oppose it.

The Old Testament

Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
The New Testament

Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts (of the Apostles)
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

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Our government as well as the EU us sleep walking!  The threat of persecution of Christians through the “Islamisation” of EU and UK is very real.   This party political broadcast ( Feb, 2016)   “blows a trumpet” alarm!   How I wish there were more Christian pastors and prophets that had the same wisdom and courage to raise an alarm. 

PURCHASE (1) – Christian Bibles, Books, Commentaries, Helps and DVDs

There is one particular leading Christian Book and bible Distributor that I am proud to be an affiliate for.   It is  a Distributor that consistently provides an enormous selection of bibles, books and other items at excellent value. 

Christianbook.com Home

Me, baptising in the Philippines

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Additionally, this distributor’s business provides revenue to support several charitable causes locally and globally – including help to the poor in Bahamas, Belize, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Uganda, Venezuela, and Zambia.

PREACHING INTO THE NEW YEAR!   This sermon was preached at 0030 am 01-01-2016, as we entered the New year,   It is an exhortation of the blessings and prosperity that we as children of God can expect in the New Year.   (At the same time it deals with and doesn’t dodge issues like “apostolic suffering” and  the reality of sickness and healing.