Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places
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Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places
As I come forward at end of worship
SLIDE 1 WELCOME
Encouraging words from worship time
How often do you think about heaven
Do you look forward to heaven?
Do you know for sure you are going to heaven?
Younger ages maybe not so much......maybe older yes....but why is that so?
We aren’t guaranteed even the next hour are we?
SLIDE 2 SEATED WITH CHRIST IN HEAVENLY PLACES
Maybe if in the busiest or most challenging times it would help if we could be reminded of all the wonderful things about heaven
And then building on top of those wonderful reminders......that all the terrible parts we won’t have to go through in eternity.....
Now the title of today’s message comes from Ephesians chapter 2.....which wha la....comes the ever so famous
SLIDE 3
For by grace you have been saved......
SLIDE 4
For by grace you have been saved......
Through faith......
SLIDE 5
For by grace you have been saved......
Through faith......
Not of yourselves......
SLIDE 6
For by grace you have been saved......
Through faith......
Not of yourselves......
It is a gift from God......
SLIDE 7
For by grace you have been saved......
Through faith......
Not of yourselves......
It is a gift from God......
Not a result of works....so that no one may boast.
So a great encouragement and reminder in challenging times or anytime......that now we know seated in heavenly places is right three in Scripture along with “for by grace you have been saved”
Let’s just be honest......when we are down a bit or a little or lot discouraged......maybe didn’t wake up with as much joy as you thought you would a certain day
Let’s be honest the enemy....yes the devil will throw whatever he can at us to keep us down to maybe kick us down or discourage us even more....rob us of our joy
SLIDE 8 SEATED WITH CHRIST IN HEAVENLY PLACES
We need to come right back at him and really just remind ourselves ......Jesus has done everything for us .....and also has seated us in heavenly places with Him!
So you maybe on the road driving.....not on your best game......you may be at work......not on your best game......you may be at school ......not on your best game......you may be at church......not on your best game
SLIDE 9
You and I need to be reminded how we are saved and where we are already seated.....with Christ!
Maybe your on your best game and your just full of yourself.....more than likely you don’t have joy......just full of pride and yourself......and more than likely no one else wants what you have......come on?
Then the same applies
You and I need to be reminded how we are saved and where we are already seated.....with Christ!
So it’s like this......you go somewhere....to an event....a show
Maybe your walking around....grabbing a snack or drink....looking around at different attractions
And you hear on the PA system........”ladies and gentlemen please take to your seats....the show is about to start!
That’s how our everyday life can get......just going about doing your thing......your normal routine......distracted by different attractions.......and we need to listen to Holy Spirit telling us
SLIDE 10 SEATED WITH CHRIST IN HEAVENLY PLACES
“The show has started “take your seats”!!!
Believe me when we get up in the morning the devil and his cronies are saying “the show has started”
And that does not matter where you are at in your walk!
So according to all the stories in the 4 gospels.......if you needed a pick up.....to be encouraged.......felt guilt......to be seated and joy restored......you are really in a better position to be........like for this truth to penetrate
Lets flip that
Now....maybe you have been standing firm.....on your good routine......on your game.....feeling more than confident in your walk........its just gotten to be too much you.......but you like it right?........
Then the Lord may have to tell us......”you sit down!” You need to be re-seated in heavenly places
From the 4 gospels and stories .......these were the more dangerous positions to be spiritually.....why?
Because these were the standing…..maybe gotten a too much of themselves lately that needed to be sat down by the Lord and re-seated
But from the gospel stories we see ......was much more difficult to affect these types of people.......these types always talked about others faults or mistakes................usually the ones that needed to be encouraged or picked up
Have you noticed these that usually self righteousness and pride has taken...... its seat........have to use where everyone else is seated to approve their seat......and usually faults or mistakes of others to make their seat better.
We can let the gospels prove it
SLIDE 11
11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
We see that here as Jesus tells this story....and many other times in situations giving this warning
Many would say ....well I’m not a Pharisee......
Now look at the flips side as Jesus masterfully brings this out
SLIDE 12
13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
We all......can we say together? ”WE ALL” need to be seated with Christ.....how forgiven and humbled!
How about this story in the gospels
SLIDE 13
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,
SLIDE 14
38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
SLIDE 15
40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?”
I would also say which one would love Him more and have more joy!
And the answer is.....?
SLIDE 16
43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
SLIDE 17
45 “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.
46 “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.
47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
now who in this story do you think has more joy?
We all need to be humbled and seated with Christ amen?
Either take your sit with Him or sit down and take your seat with Him.
SLIDE 18
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
yes that’s everyone of us.......doesn’t matter how good or bad you think you were or are......doesn’t matter how you were raised or who raised you.......if you went or go to church........before receiving Jesus....you and I were dead in trespasses and sin
Next verse ....2
SLIDE 19
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
SLIDE 20
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
SLIDE 21
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
WORSHIP TEAM COME
SLIDE 22
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
SLIDE 23 COMMUNION
PRAYER / COMMUNION
WORSHIP SONG
SLIDE 24 SEATED WITH CHRIST IN HEAVENLY PLACES
MARK DISMISS