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Heaven O For A Home With God. Church of Christ at Medina Lesson taken from Chapter One in the book by Steve Klein and Jeff May. O For A Home With God. Church of Christ at Medina April 19th, 2015

What makes heaven, heaven? “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3, ESV) Have you ever been homesick? Have you ever been homesick for heaven? Heaven, our home, should be object of our desire not because of where it is, but because of who is there! God makes heaven a wonderful place! 1 John 3:1-3

What makes heaven, heaven? God and heaven are so connected that often the terms are synonymous – “Father, I have sinned against heaven…” (Luke 15:18) Heaven is God’s eternal home. Matthew 6:9 Genesis 24:7 – “The Lord, the God of heaven…” Heaven is God’s holy habitation. (Deut. 26:15) God is everywhere, but heaven is the center of His operations. 1 John 3:1-3 Luke 15:18 Matthew 6:9 Genesis 24:7 Deut. 26:15 1 Kings 8:27, 30

How Beautiful Heaven Must Be Considering the beauty of the earth, would we expect anything less than a beautiful abode for God? (Acts 7:49) The Scriptures provide us with the best descriptions of heaven that our finite minds can understand. Isaiah 6:1-3, Daniel 7:9-10 Revelation 4:1-11, 7:9-12 Despite the descriptive beauty, heaven simply isn’t heaven without God! Psalm 73:25 – “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” (ESV) 1 John 3:1-3 Luke 15:18 Matthew 6:9 Genesis 24:7 Deut. 26:15 1 Kings 8:27, 30 Isaiah 6:1-3 Daniel 7:9-10 Revelation 4:1-11 Revelation 7:9-12 Psalm 73:25

God’s Great Plan “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30, ESV) Heaven is a prepared place. It is the place where God intends to dwell with His family. Isaiah 6:1-3 Daniel 7:9-10 Revelation 4:1-11 Revelation 7:9-12 Psalm 73:25 Romans 8:28-30

God’s Great Plan “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV) Isaiah 6:1-3 Daniel 7:9-10 Revelation 4:1-11 Revelation 7:9-12 Psalm 73:25 Romans 8:28-30 Ephesians 1:3-6

God’s Great Plan First, God’s creation of man was a well thought-out plan. Second, God’s plan included having man as His sons. This part was very difficult because it required making provisions to forgive man for sins. This meant that God planned to give Jesus in our stead…before He even created us! God did all this so that He could bless us. God wants to bless us because He loves us. (1 John 4:8) Ephesians 2:4-7 Isaiah 6:1-3 Daniel 7:9-10 Revelation 4:1-11 Revelation 7:9-12 Psalm 73:25 Romans 8:28-30 Ephesians 1:3-6 Hebrews 2:10 1 John 4:8

God’s Great Plan “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30, ESV) Isaiah 6:1-3 Daniel 7:9-10 Revelation 4:1-11 Revelation 7:9-12 Psalm 73:25 Romans 8:28-30 Ephesians 1:3-6 Hebrews 2:10 1 John 4:8

Who really wants to go to heaven? “Heaven must first be in us, before we are in heaven.” Many people say that they want to go to heaven, but most don’t want live in such a way as to make it there. Even Christians act as if they don’t want to go to heaven…yet. How did the apostles view the idea of going to heaven? Isaiah 6:1-3 Daniel 7:9-10 Revelation 4:1-11 Revelation 7:9-12 Psalm 73:25 Romans 8:28-30 Ephesians 1:3-6 Hebrews 2:10 1 John 4:8

Who really wants to go to heaven? “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22, ESV) “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20 ESV) 1 Cor. 16:22 Rev. 22:20 Phil. 1:23-24 Phil. 3:20 1 Cor. 1:7 Col. 3:1-4 2 Peter 3:12 Hebrews 11:24-27 Eccl. 2:1-11 Eccl. 3:11 Colossians 1:16 Eccl. 12:13

Dreaming the Hours Away When you are day-dreaming of places to go, is it ever of heaven? If heaven is truly our home (Philippians 3:20), then we should be longing to go there! Faithful people of the past did (Hebrews 11:13-16), and we should be dreaming of it too. 1 Cor. 1:7 Col. 3:1-4 2 Peter 3:12 Hebrews 11:24-27 Eccl. 2:1-11 Eccl. 3:11 Colossians 1:16 Eccl. 12:13 Hebrews 11:13-16