Let’s Talk About Heaven: Being Heavenly Minded

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue how we analyze the word we normalize the word, the Bible warns us against is no coming up today.

Pastor Greg Laurie points on the bondage we experience when we fix our eyes on the Lord or the next day, Kevin constantly be seeking them thinking about maybe the finest meal you've ever experienced the services first class the chef is world renowned his culinary creations will leave you speechless. You can't get your eyes off the shiny silverware nor the food and gaze upon the utensil behold this ridiculous today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points up so enamored with the world.

We miss eternity member is a little boy to me. Disneyland was like heaven on I don't feel that way anymore. But I did a long time ago and I think it was due in part to might get a horrible upbringing and I would watch this show on television called the wonderful world Disney and then when color TV came out yes and that old big changes to the wonderful world of color that we were just amazed that watch this on our screen. The these programs that busy would do but then Walt Disney told us about this park.

He was building and it was good to be the happiest place on earth and and so what I would visit Disneyland. It was like heaven to me because I mean II felt it was just such an incredible place that I was so sad to leave. In fact, you know you're a kid when you go to Disneyland in your favorite part is when you arrive and you know you're an adult when you go to Disneyland because your favorite time is when you leave right that drew so that's all I used to feel about Disneyland and I think it just sort of a glimpse of something much greater.

That is coming. We long for heaven and the Bible teaches that when a Christian dies they go immediately to heaven to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So if you've loved ones who have died in faith, they are in heaven right now. Do they see us down here.

Are they watching this up there that they know what were going to down here.

We'll talk about that next message because those are very important questions, and some of my answers may surprise you a little bit actually. But yes it is true.

The Bible teaches we will go straight to heaven. So let's talk about heaven to turn the Colossians chapter 3.

Since then, you've been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. There so we are to set our hearts. We are to set our minds on things above.

This phrase set your mind to be translated. Think, or more thoroughly, have this inner disposition. Let me put it another way, the verses actually saying simply think heaven think heaven that something were all supposed to do as Christians and by the way, the verb that used in this verse is in the present tense. So to be translated. Keep thinking heaven, or keep thinking about heaven, or keep seeking heaven put it all together and think constantly be seeking and thinking about heaven. You see, our feet must be on earth, but our minds and our hearts can be in heaven now back in Colossians 3, Paul starts with the word therefore put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires.

Don't be greedy for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life is still part of this world. Now is the time to get rid of rage, malicious behavior, slender and dirty language. Don't lie to each other for you've stripped up your old sinful nature and all of its wicked deeds put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your creator become like a lot whenever you read the word therefore in the Bible.

Find out what it's therefore in other words, when phrase starts with the word therefore these drawing on what is been previously set. So again, what was previously sent a set your mind on heaven. Set your heart on heaven think a lot about heaven. So with that in mind. Therefore now he tells us about three categories of sin that can will keep us earthbound.

Instead of being a heavenly minded work earthbound number one if you're taking notes. Sexual sin can keep you earthbound sexual sin. Verse five Paul mentions sexual immorality and impurity. The word that he uses the Greek word for neon. Guess what English word we got from that how we normalize the word poor right we normalize the word. Oh she's a porn star. Oh yeah, looking at porn we make a joke got a big watch sitcoms, mainstream sitcoms on television and they joke openly and consistently about looking at porn we so normalize that and made it sort of acceptable in the Bible warns us against Cornelia is a root word that just speaks up all kinds of immorality it's premarital sex tissue. None of that is that's having sex with someone you're not married to extramarital sex. That's also having sex with someone you're not married to all kinds of sex outside of God's natural order and so when the word Cornelia is used. It's talking about a person that feels her mind was sexual imagery and talks about it constantly and ultimately acts on it so the Bible is warning you to not do that.

Don't fill your mind with those thing because if you do it's like you of a fire in your pouring fuel on your fire.

It's dangerous and it's one day going get out of control and what will happen is that a person can only take that stuff in for so long and then they want to start acting on those impulses and get into all kinds of trouble me about do I need to actually say it's a really bad idea to sext someone send a sexual image of yourself via text or Snapchat or something else. These are things that are destructive in your life and are not God's plan for your life and things that can ultimately destroy your life and that's where the Bible warns you about these things.

Listen, God invented sex.

Sex is amazing sex can be blessed. But in one place and that's when you're married to a person in a monogamous relationship. The end. There's no sense in solid people come up to me and say will the Lord spoke to us and said it's cool know you did say that he dreamt that you way too much pizza. God will never contradict his word and he says that for your own good.

He says are for your protection, so don't let that dominate your life. Idolatry can keep us earthbound. You will be heavenly minded if you're worshiping an idol and he mentions that as well. Here in Colossians.

Don't let idolatry, which is green and I lose anyone or anything that takes the place of God in your life, and specifically it says to be a greedy person is idolatry.

By the way, is to root words here to have and more. So what is it mean to be a greedy person that someone that wants to have more. It's a sin of always wanting more. More more more more. It's never enough. The Bible says Hell and destruction is never full and so is the heart of a man never satisfied and is not just that I want more but I want what I have no I want what you have. I want yours. I don't just want when I want yours to. That's coveting by the way, that's when the Bible says don't covet your neighbor's wife for the possessions that that's coveting something that does not belong to you and so this is what this is a nuts, idolatry, and it can preoccupy your mind. Idolatry can keep us Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here personally inviting you to join us for what we call Harvest at Home. It's a Bible study. It's a worship service. It church in your home, you're not able to get out your church right now.

If so, join us for Harvest at Home people are listening this from around the world listen to this. We have seen thousands of people commitment to follow Christ. Join us this weekend Harvest at Home.oh well. Today on a new beginning were considering those things that distract us from keeping our eyes on our eternal reward. Pastor Greg continues his message. Let's talk about heaven. And then thirdly, rage, slender and dirty language keep us earthbound verse eight rage, malicious behavior, slender and dirty language. By the way, the word Ranger speaks of a settled in habitual anger with the thought of revenge.

This is a person was the bumper sticker on their car. I don't get mad I get even. Don't cut that person off just give them wide birthright on the road because it that's in the of gun racks in the back of their car Smith & Wesson bumper stickers and no so you know DV you want to mess with that person because there are people out there that are just waiting to get angry about something.

Malicious behavior speaks about boiling agitation of your feelings. A sudden violent anger. Don't be that person.

Slender speaks of speaking ill of others and people slender so much, especially online, because you do it anonymously right. You don't have to face the person you can take on a different name and say complete lies about a person and destroy a person's reputation is spread gossip about a person. Even the word gossip kisses like a snake. Ever notice that its costs there's something very appealing.

I just heard something I don't know if it's true, but I just wanted to share with you so you can pray, so you can pray when you just heard something you don't know if it's true in English or about someone and I noticed to be critical or demeaning or degrading. So why would I share something about someone that I don't know is true that can hurt that person. One of the person is standing over there right now.

Here's a thought walkover limits that are the craziest thing I know it's not true and they can tell you the truth, but see will embrace these things and internalize these things and even worse spread these things don't don't let that happen to you. These are not the things a Christian should be doing, especially a heavenly minded. One. Listen, if you put your faith in Christ you're a child of God.

You are a citizen of heaven and it's time to start living like one child of God or not known for slander were known for love were not known for condemnation were known for forgiveness and restoration.so you want to be you want to be that guy that girl that people go to insight. You know you're always fair-minded about these things. You're always compassionate you're always carried don't be known is that mean-spirited judge mental parts person be heavenly minded person and when we begin like never before to think about and see As you know the great thing is, is when your focus on heaven you live the most fulfilling life on earth.

The quote CS Lewis one last time.

He said amen heaven and you get thrown in. Amen. Earth and you will get neither." That's true. Amen heaven and you get are thrown into the ideas I'm so focused on heaven that I'm living the fullest life on earth, but some people I don't think about the afterlife. I want to just get the most out of this life, you end up not living a full life in this earth. And then you end up not being prepared for the afterlife. So how can you know for sure that you get to heaven some people to well live a good life. Okay that's not true, but let's just say it is true for the sake of a point live a good life. How good. Well, as good as I choose to live pricing so you're making the rules will, of course, I am.

That's not the way it works because even if you were to live a good life and granted some people live better lives.

Another solid minute you still not good enough to get you to heaven because one sends enough to keep you out. The Bible says if you offend in one part of the law, you're guilty of all of it. So you've ever sin any time in your life, that's enough sin to keep you out of heaven go all that. That's pretty hard shell that is is not for there's only one way to get they have it. Through Jesus, who died on the cross for our sin and paid the price for our sin and rose again and now we offers us this gift of eternal life. Years ago I was given I think I can't remember three or four tickets to Disneyland and so we went into the park. It was very nice because it's very expensive. What is it like $5000 a ticket nine metrics really a lot, that's just one part double side tried so and so you guy I had these tickets we got in where word start. Have a good time and I felt guilty because one of the people didn't show up.

I had a free ticket to Disneyland and I thought that I can't walk around with a free ticket to dissing what if there's somebody outside that would love the commitment that can afford it.

I can give him this ticket and I said to my wife. I'll be back in like literally four minutes. How long is it going to take me to get rid of a free ticket to Disneyland. I came back like 30 minutes later she said whatever new I said I can get anyone to take it because I walked up to strangers hi would you like a free ticket to Disneyland. They certainly backing away.

This is a difficult know it's free ticket. He wanted no wanted okay hey would you like you're free to give good thing I want to catch his year, to give it to. I just have an extra the pertinent know no one would take it. I really had to assault a person.

No I didn't but I finally found someone. It's an opening will your will go.

I just want to have an hour of my time to Disneyland and that's how it is, and we offer this gift you can go to heaven by believing in Jesus notes good works is our good works. It's his work on the cross you just accepted your will to catch water with the catches and just telling you what to give you could never afford it so wanted to just take it the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And then you can know you go to heaven to look do you know right now that if you died you would go to heaven if you don't don't you want to get that resolved. Why would you want to go on for another minute without being sure you're prepared for the afterlife. So you pray in a moment I'm going to extend an invitation enclosing for you to ask Christ to come in your life and forgive you all of your sin so you can know you go to heaven when you die if you don't know this for sure respond to this invitation because 2000 years ago God sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place. The pay the price for all the wrongs we've done all the sins we committed in three days later he rose again from the dead and here he is now alive with us in this place, standing at the door of your life and knocking and he says if you hear my voice, and open the door, I will commit if you've never asked him to come in to your life. Do it now. Let's all bow our heads. Father, thank you now for your word to us.

Thank you for sending Jesus Lord Jesus, thank you for coming and laying your life down for us. Now we pray for any hear that you not yet know you help them to come to you.

Help them to believe in you. Help them to receive the hope of heaven, we would, in Jesus name I pray for Greg Laurie important prayer and if you like to make a change today in your relationship with the Lord.

Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning.

Concludes if you missed any part of today's message. You can hear replay right now by going to harvest.org just look for the study called let's talk about heaven part one or for a permanent copy on CD.

Call 1-800-821-3300.

We can speak with you anytime around the clock that's 1-800-821-3300 Pastor Greg, our listeners really love it when Kathy joins us here in the program. Yeah, I think they enjoy hearing about the two of you. You talk once or twice of how you met Kathy and began dating. But that's told in some detail in your book Jesus revolution against the backdrop of the Jesus movement. Yes, you and Kathy really had a front row seat for that movement. Yeah, that's true. And you know we did not realize at the time that we had a front row seat to a genuine spiritual awakening, but indeed we did and I wanted to share my story not to live in the past but hopefully to prepare for the future you know if you get in a car you probably notice that the rearview mirror is a lot smaller than your windshield. That's because you need to spend more time going forward, then going backward okay so it's good to reflect that because we can learn from the past and we can reflect back on the great work that God did you know in the Psalms we read the phrase all that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and his wonderful works to the children of men will see the psalmist repeat the great things that God did for the nation Israel. It's good to remind yourself of what the Lord is done and then it's also a great thing to say Lord would you do it again. We've had revivals in the history of America in the past and I would say were overdue for one right now.

In fact, I don't know what else could change the course of our nation were so divided politically were divided racially were divided in every way imaginable, and only Christ can bring us together. We need a change of heart. We need the Lord to pour his spirit out on our churches and on our country, but it starts with us. So I've written a book called Jesus, revolution, and I told the story of how I came to faith how I met my wife how we came together how we saw the Lord work how we started our church is a lot there is also some historical backdrop there to help you understand what we are facing that the times I think as you read this book, you'll say wow that sounds a lot like our nation right now so it seems to me that we can learn from the past. In this case.

As I said before, the fame of revival spreads the flame of revival. So let's talk about that theme. Let's look back a little bit and let's pray that God will do it again.

I'll send you a copy of this book Jesus revolution for your gift of any size whatever you send will be used to help us continue to teach God's word and call people to Jesus Christ and I hope this book will be a blessing for you order your copy now of Jesus revolution. Yeah, that's right, you can call 1-800-821-3300 and someone is here to take your call around-the-clock, seven days a week will be glad to send it to you to thank you for your investment so that we can continue to bring these studies your way each day and share the gospel with hundreds of thousands of people each year. So once again, call 1-800-821-3300 or right a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or order online@harvest.org and by the way, when we send you Jesus revolution will also include the brand-new study guide that goes with it to help you get even more from the helpful insights and principles in the book, so contact us today. Then the pastor Greg just before we go. Would you mind praying with the person listening who wants to make a change today, and their relationship with the Lord. I'd be happy to Dave you know is you been listening to this today.

Maybe you've heard another voice.

By that I mean, you heard me say a few things, but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned in you. This is what I need order stated more accurately.

This is who I need I need Jesus.

And I want Jesus, but maybe you don't know how to make that connection. Let me help you pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life.

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now. Would you come in the my heart, my life as Savior, as God as friend. I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me an Jesus name I pray, amen. I know there was a relatively short prayer. Maybe you felt something as you prayed it.

Maybe you felt nothing, that doesn't really matter because God's word says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. It doesn't say so. You may think you have it or you may hope you have it of gods in a good mood. No that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer and minute Jesus Christ, the son of God has come into your life. So congratulations, you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord and to help you as you follow the Lord would like to send you some resource materials recall our new believers growth packet it will answer many of the questions you might have and get you started off right in your new relationship with the Lord to contact us and ask for will send it free of charge. Write a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime night or day at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org and click the two words no God but next time as pastor. Greg continues his series, the afterlife and the eternal will focus on the bodies will have in the hereafter. How different will they be to find out next time you're on a new beginning regulatory possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email, devotions@harvest.org