Let’s Talk About Heaven: Keep Your Mind on Things Above

You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Visit our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org. We will mobilize the word we normalize the word, the Bible warns us against is no coming up today. Pastor Greg Laurie points on the bondage which we fix our eyes on the Lord the next day, Kevin constantly be seeking them thinking about maybe the finest meal you leverage. The services first class chef is world renowned culinary creations will leave you speechless Julys of silverware nor the food and gaze upon the utensil ridiculous today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out the folly of being so enamored with the world as he members a little boy to meet the land 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 my ghetto horrible upbringing and I would watch a show on television called the wonderful world Disney and then when color TV came out yes and that old big jaded to the wonderful world of color and we were just amazed that watch us on our screen, but 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 so let's talk about Kevin 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 how this inner disposition. Let me put it another way, the verse is actually saying simply think heaven think heaven that something were all supposed to do as Christians and by the way, the verb edges 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, Boston, evil desires.

Don't be greedy for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Because of these since 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, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other for you 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 you 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 said a set your mind on heaven. Set your heart on heaven think a lot about heaven. So with that in mind there for now. He tells us about three categories of sin that can will keep us earth instead of being heavenly minded were earthbound, number one, if you're taking notes.

Sexual sin can keep you earthbound sexual sin. Verse five Paul mentions sexual immorality and impurity word that he uses the Greek word for neon just 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 were 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 things because if you do it's IQ of a fire in your pouring fuel on your fire. It's dangerous and it's one day getting get out of control and what will happen is that a person can only take that step in for so long and then they want to start acting on those impulses, then get into all kinds of trouble me, but do I need to actually say it's a really bad idea to sext someone and 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. 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 sit with 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 that 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 which 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, or 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 master Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here. You know my uncle Fred Jordan at one of the first Christian TV programs out there. It was called church in the home. I remember watching it as a little boy when I was living with my grandparents we have church in the home for you every weekend is called harvest@homeinvitedharvest.org we have worship in a message of God's word. So join us this weekend for harvested home harvest.today on a new beginning were considering those things that distractors from keeping our eyes on our eternal reward pastor Gray continues his message. Let's talk about heaven.

One of the most requested studies of the year and then thirdly, rage, slander, and dirty language keep us earthbound verse eight rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. By the way, the word Rager 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 so you believe 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. Slander speaks of speaking ill of others and people slander 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 about I just heard something I don't know if it's true, but I just wanted to share it with you so you can pray, so you can pray when you just heard something you don't know if it's true, and share 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 the get hurt that person.

The person is standing over there right now. Here's a thought walk over to the fire.

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 why 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 safe 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 you're focused on heaven you live the most fulfilling life on earth.

The quote CS Lewis one last time. He said amen heaven 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 have that software works because even if you were to live a good life and granted some people live better lives. Another solid minute is 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 seen in any time in your life, that's enough sin to keep you out of heaven go well that that's pretty harsh.

That is, is not for there's only one way to get they have and it's through Jesus who died on the cross for our sin and paid the price for our sin and rose again and now he 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 and I'm not sure it's really a lot that's just one part couple side tried so that's how you die. 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 and 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.

What is this is this a cold. Now it's free ticket. He wanted no wanted okay hey would you like every ticket it is and I want to catch his hair would give it to you. I just have an extra the pertinent know no one would take it. I really had to assault a person know I didn't. But I finally found someone. It's in all things will you're welcome. 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 it's a gift 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 in a pray in a moment I'm the new extended 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 hope them to come to you.

Help them to believe in you. Help them to receive the hope of heaven, we would ask 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 that it's a real joy to have her good friend Pastor Levi Lesko with us easily, pastor of fresh life church in Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Wyoming and is written a new book that were making available a colorful children's devotional resource called roar like a lion, Levi, what are you hearing from parents about the book. What is this resource done for kids and their folks what's been so surprising. Dave, you know, I've I knew that kids were to like it because it focused group with our own kids all my kids when I would write one would read it.

Tell me what they didn't like about it. Then when our illustrator Catherine Pearson would send us the rough sketches of the drawings she was in Switzerland so she wouldn't email them. My kids would say I don't like that or that bears not fat enough for you, whatever and we would make the tweaks so we Artie knew that we had something good on her hands, but what I was surprised by was the fact that I would hear back from adults who are blessed by two matter-of-fact one pastor who I sent it to. In Australia, really back and said I don't even have kids in the house anymore. My grandkids are on but I've enjoyed reading this myself and it was a great laugh because you know God's word is God's word and of course the kids devotional should encourages us because it's based on God's word, which will encourage all of us. And Jesus said we all have to have faith like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. I also have recurred a lot from homeschooled moms and homeschooled dads who said that this is been a really indispensable part of their homeschooled curriculum because it has history and Bible so they'll do. Maybe a little bit of this lesson then will do a deep dive on the right brothers and the fact that they flipped a coin to figure out who is gonna fly first to Kitty Hawk or the Corrie 10 boom section and then the learn more about the historical person and then they'll do a deeper dive on the Scriptures, and that they said it's basically functioning as Bible and history class, great. So roar like a lion. This new book by Levi Lesko deals with topics like having courage to try something new.

Even when others are watching facing fears about school and friendships handling new challenges and past disappointments dealing with peer pressure and bullying and finally understanding how we each fit into God's great story so you can see that Levi is bringing it into the real world of what your kids are facing right now so you can equip them prepare them, help them, encourage them and more so order your copy of this brand-new book by Levi Lesko titled roar like a lion 90 devotions to a courageous faith. Yes, the perfect time for new devotional resource the start of a new year and what better way to have quality time with your kids or grandkids will send it to you to say thank you for your investment in this ministry and the lives that will be touched in the coming year and does in our culture need a touch from the Lord right about now. So thank you for your investment today and will say thanks tangibly with a copy of the brand-new book called roar like a lion. You can donate securely online@harvest.org or write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 and then the pressure just before we go.

Would you mind praying with the person listening who wants to make a change today in the 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 yeah 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 to 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 in 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 at Lancer. Many of the questions you might have and get you started off right in your new relationship with the Lord. So get in touch and ask for it will send it to your free of any charge you can call us anytime day or night at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or write a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or go online to harvest.org and click the two words know God one next time as this best of message continues with focus on the bodies will have in the hereafter. How different will they be will find out next time. Join us here on a new beginning master Bible regularly. Everybody thinks or listening to an beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner. Just go to harvest.org