Majesty In Heaven

Hebrews 8:1-2 - Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.


Jeremiah 31:31-34 - “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Application:

· The new covenant has been solemnized by the blood of Christ
· The new covenant should govern my life
· My sins are forgiven in the new covenant. I am not ignorant of Him. I have true knowledge of Him.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Caught Up To The Third Heaven...Caught Up To Paradise

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 - I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.


2 Corinthians 5:8 - We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Philippians 1:23-24 - I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Luke 23:43 - Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Revelation 2:7 - Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Application:

· Would I rather be in this present body or at home with the Lord away from this body?
· Do I desire to depart and be with Christ?
· Paradise is a place of bliss and rest between death and resurrection. Am I looking forward to that?
· Is victory my objective? Am I strong in my faith? Am I looking forward to perfect fellowship with my God?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

A Building From God, An Eternal House In Heaven

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 - For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.


2 Corinthians 4:18 - So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

1 Corinthians 13:12 - For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Application:

· The experiences and circumstances of the present life, often painful and perplexing, are what is visible. They are temporary and fleeting.

· When I die, though my physical body will be buried here on earth, I expect that I will go immediately into the presence of Christ, and will be present with Christ until the day of resurrection

· When the Lord returns, I will fully know Him, similar to the way the Lord knows me

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

I Prayer To The God Of Heaven

Nehemiah 2:4 - The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Nehemiah 4:9 - But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

Nehemiah 13:31 - I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me with favor, my God.

Application:

· Before answering others, do I utter brief, spontaneous prayers to God? Am I characterized by frequent recourse to prayer?
· Do I pray? Am I watchful?
· Is my motive in my ministries to please and to serve my Lord?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Holy Spirit Sent From Heaven

1 Peter 1:12 - It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Romans 4:24 - The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

John 14:16-17,26 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you…But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Conclusions:

• As Abraham was justified because he believed in a God who brought life from the dead, so we will be justified by believing in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead
• John 14:16 is the first of a series of important passages about the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Father
• The Father sent another besides Jesus
• Counselor means Helper
• Counselor is a legal term, but with a broader meaning than counsel for the defense
• Counselor referred to any person who helped someone in trouble with the law.
• The Spirit will always stand by Christ’s people
• The Holy Spirit is His normal title in the New Testament—emphasizing His holiness, rather than His power or greatness
• Both the Father and the Son are included in the sending of the Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit reminding the apostles of everything Christ said is crucial for the life of the church—and for the writing of the New Testament

Application:

• Do you believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead?
• Do you have another Counselor with you?
• Does the Holy Spirit remind you of the things Christ has said?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Salvation

1 Peter 1:3-5 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Colossians 1:3-6 - We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints—the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

2 Timothy 4:8 - Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

John 10:28 - I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

2 Timothy 1:8-10 - So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Titus 3:4-7 - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Romans 13:11 - And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Conclusions:

• The Christian is shielded (1) by God’s power and (2) by his own faith
• The sheep’s security is in the power of the shepherd, who will let no one take them from Him
• Salvation is not achieved by human effort or merit but comes through God’s mercy alone
• Every day brings us closer to the second advent of Christ

Application:

• Do you have a firm assurance?
• Is there a crown of righteousness in store for you?
• Are you shielded by God's power and your faith?
• Is your security in the power of your shepherd?
• You are saved by grace.
• You are saved by God's mercy.
• Are you waking up from your slumber?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Wisdom

James 3:10-15 - Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10,14-16 - However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God…The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Conclusions:

• Wisdom enables one to face trials with pure joy
• Wisdom is not just acquired information but practical insight with spiritual implications
• “What God has prepared” is probably not to be limited to either present or future blessing; both are involved
• The “Spirit searches all things”, not in order to know them, for He knows all things
• Instead the Holy Spirit comprehends the depth of God’s nature and His plans of grace; so He is fully competent to make the revelation claimed here
• “Man without the Spirit” is described in Jude 19 as one who follows mere natural instincts
• The non-Christian is basically dominated by the merely physical, worldly or natural life
• Because the non-Christian does not possess the Holy Spirit, he is not equipped to receive appreciatively truth that comes from the Spirit
• The non-Christian needs the new birth
• The spiritual man is the mature man
• One who does not have the Spirit is not qualified to judge the spiritual person
• Thus believers are not rightfully subject to the opinions of unbelievers.

Application:

• Do you have practical insight with spiritual implications?
• Do you love God?
• Has God revealed to you what He has prepared for you?
• Do you understand the things that come from the Spirit of God?
• Do you make judgments about all things?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible