God in Heaven Above

Joshua 2:11
 our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

America has become the land of all religions. The freedoms granted to this country has allowed many from other countries to migrate to this great country, but with this migration comes beliefs that proclaim other gods that are contrary to the One true living God. It is true that Christians are intolerant of accepting other religions as acceptable ways to truth. The leader of the Christian faith made it clear that He and He alone is the Truth, the Way, and Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him. Jesus, fully man and God, He is the God of heaven above, and in the earth beneath. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him”- Col. 1:16. Apologetic books have been written in defense of these claims throughout history. It is good to know how to defend God’s word, but it is more urgent that we share God's grace and power to forgive through Christ. Let people see the power of God in our lives. Others will say. “For the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. He is a God that gives peace and joy, and everlasting Life.

Simplicity in Christ

 2 Corinth 11:3

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

It is possible to be deceived even when you have good intentions. Not everyone that says, “Lord, Lord.” will be true followers of Christ. Paul continues to warn believers that there will be those out there that will not be teaching sound doctrine, that they will preach Christ, but not the simplicity of His teachings and the purpose of His coming. The sound doctrine of Christ is that He was born of a virgin, His Deity as the Son of God, came to die, to pay the penalty for the sins of man, providing salvation to whosoever will believe in Him. He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and sits currently at the right hand of the Father. He is more than a good prophet, teaching us how to live. He is the only way to heaven. “I Am the truth and the way, no man comes to the Father except by me.” This is the simplicity that is in Christ.

New Heaven and New Earth

Revelation 20:7-15

The world as we know it will someday changed. All things will pass away and behold all things will become new. It will be a transformation. The earth will undergo a new birth. It must be born again. It will be purged and made fit as a tabernacle for God and His people. There will be no sin there. For all sin has been eradicated and cast into the lake of fire.

Destruction of the old Earth - the first earth passed away
• Destroyed by fire
• Renovated to be something else
• No more sea- He is the water of life
• Will there be a sun- Will he be the light of the world
Descending of New Jerusalem – New Jerusalem coming down
• A new city coming down from heaven
• What is this city made of?
Dwelling Place of God – Behold the tabernacle of God
• He desires to tabernacle with us
• Abiding in Him- We are the property of God
Death and Sorrow Are Gone – there shall be no more death
• There will be no reason to be sad, sorrow, or pain
• Memory wiped out- former things pass away
• There is no illness, aging, accidents to cause death
Deity of Christ – Sat upon the throne
• The creator- All things were created by Him
• He is the Word- True and faithful
• He is alpha and Omega. Was, Is, and ever will be
Drinking from the Fountain – the fountain of the water of life
• It is done- complete salvation
• He has promise to them that desire drink- water
• This salvation is free to us. No money can buy it
Death of the Wicked- Which is the second death
• Fearful- They that fear the judgment
• Unbelieving- In the only begotten Son of God
• Abominable- Sins that go beyond understanding- perverted
• Murderers- Acts of hatred- bitterness
• Whoremongers- Immorality- fornicators-
• Sorcerers- Evil spirits, Powers from Satan
• Idolaters-Anything that you put before God
• Liars- Black lies, White lies, dishonesty
• All will be cast into the hot fires of Hell never to live again.

Worthy The Lamb

Revelation 5:6-14

On an island, apart from the world, John finds himself a prisoner for Christ. It is on this isolated island that the Revelation of Jesus is made known to this man of God. It is here that John is given to know the mysteries of things to come. Christ is the theme that runs through the whole book. He is the one that in found worthy to reveal all things. All the host of heaven and all who have been redeemed fall to worship Him is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Sealed Books- book…sealed up with seven seals

• The use of metaphors- Is there actually a book-scroll in heaven?
• The Revelation- Things to come
• Unfolding of events- scroll within a scroll each is sealed

Strong Angels – I saw a strong angel

• Not even a magnificent and powerful angel could open the book
• Proclamation- Qualification for breaking the seals

Sorrow and Weeping – I began to weep

• Why does John weep?
• Trapped on a Island- What will become of him and others
• Prevented from seeing more of the mind of God
• Humanity of John- This is the end? Unfilled desires

Slain Lamb – Stood a lamb as been slain

• Jesus is referred to as a lamb through out the Bible
• He was the perfect lamb- sacrificed for all of Adam’s race
• Standing- Alive! Yet his appearance identified Him as the one.

Seven Horns and Eyes –till he establish-arms of His strength

• Horns- Represent the might and power of the lamb

• Eyes- Represent the all knowing, all seeing knowledge

Song of the Elders – And They sung a new song

• Who are these elders? - The Redeemed of the earth
• The swelling of joy- took them to their knees
• Harp & Vail = Praise and Prayer in worship
• The Song- sacrificial death, redemption man, and authority given by Christ to the redeemed.

Shouts and Praise- I heard a voice of many angels

• The heavens join in the praise of the redemption of man
• Power, Riches, Wisdom, Strength, Honor, Glory, Blessing.

Sitting on the Throne Be unto Him that sits on the throne

• Deity of Christ
• Attributes of God are given to Christ
• He is the eternal God- Always was, is, and forever will be.

Prayer Works

Isaiah 37: 14-21, 33-38

The situation for Hezekiah looked mighty bleak. He was faced with an enemy who was proven to be formidable in battle. He realized that his small army would not be able to stand against such a force of destruction. But, Hezekiah had a connection to the God of all kingdoms and his faith drove him to his knees. Satan will do all he can to cause us to despair and doubt God’s care for us. It is times like these that we can claim the promises of God and take it to God, and trust Him to bring us out.

Difficult Situations- received the letter

· Crisis often drives us to our needs

· The storms will cause us to cry out

· Communicate with God, in the valley and mountain top

Dependence on God- he went to the house of God

· Take it to God in Prayer- He is not our last resort

· Lean not to your own understanding, lean on Him

· Not by our means or the works of men, but…

Deity Rules- even thou alone

· Acknowledge Him as God and God alone

· Not by chance, but by providence

· He rules in the affairs of man

Defender of God- reproach the living God

· Glory and honor given to God

· Not by the power of man, but God is lifted up

Deliver Us- save us from his hands

· The righteous cry- God Hears

· God delights and desires to hear us call out

· In His time- God will deliver

Declared by God- thus saith the Lord

· Hearing an answer from God- Assurance

· Through His Word, His servants- preached word.

Defending His Own-I will defend this city

· God has a leash on Satan

· The Promise of God to Keep us from danger

· Staying true and believing He is able

Defeat of the Enemy- the angel smote the camp of Assyrians

· God sends His angels to do battle

· God also allows circumstances to stop the enemy

· Christ, our shield of defend, and sword of victory

The Way To God

1 John 1-10
October 7, 2007

One of the foundation truths that must not be compromise is the deity of Christ. Upon this doctrinal truth rest the whole Word of God. He is truly man and truly God. There is none other that is able to provide full salvation that brings man restoration with a Holy God. He died for the sins of man and provided a way for all to live holy in this present world. The essence of a real Christian is not in what he believes about Christ, but knowing Christ as Savior and Lord of their life. In this we know, if we abide in Him, He abides with us.

Witness His Humanity (which we have seen)
• He was from the beginning- all thing came by him (John 1)
• Observation using our senses
Word of Life (of the Word of Life)
• He is the Word (the Logos)
• The Living Word- The Bible speak volumes of Him)
Worshiping together (may have fellowship with us)
• Maintaining fellowship with other believers
• Central focus of our communing together is with God
Writing with a purpose
• Declaring truth to other
• Joy is made full
Walk in the Light (if we walk in the light)
• He is the light we walk in- Follow Christ- His Cross
• Walk in darkness- living in sin
• Light and dark cannot fellowship together
Washed in the Blood (blood of Jesus…cleanseth)
• Staying under the blood of Christ
• The Power of the Blood of Christ
Way to God (confess our sins)
• Condition salvation- not conditional love
• The faithful of God to forgive
• Sin and wickedness is remove- Our sins cast away
Willfulness of Man (if we say)
• The free will of man to decide and choose
• All have sinned and must acknowledge depravity
• God is true and does not deceive or lie

The Word was made Flesh

John 1:1

Before God made the world and created man as a fleshly creature to oversee His creation, the Son coexisted with God the Father. His nature was one with the Father coexisting eternally as part of the Godhead. In the fullness of time, God’s eternal plan to redeem fallen man was put into action. The Son was sent. In a world of fantasy, our mind may somewhat be able to grasps such a process, But, this is not fantasy, this is a reality that time and history has recorded. Jesus Christ left His rightful place sitting at the right hand of the Father to condensed to this world to live among sinful men. He came with one thought in mind. To be the supreme sacrifice, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.
The Word
• From the beginning with God
• Coexisted with God
• Deity of the Word- He was God

The Creator

• He is given credit for Gen 1
• Life is created by the life giver
• He came not to bring death, but life
• He was life and this life would guide men to God
The Light
• The Light penetrates and dispels the darkness
• Men in darkness do not understand this light
• It defy all what man has known- “Self”
The Witness
• John prepared the way
• He pointed others to Him- Behold the Lamb”
• He testified that Jesus was the light (life) sent to this world
The Rejected One
• His own creation did not know Him
• He was rejected by His creation
The Accepted One
• There would be a few select that would receive Him
• They would become sons of God- Being Born of the Spirit
The Incarnate One
Affirmation of God’s divine plan- He became a man- The witness of Him as the God-man- full of grace and truth