Heaven

Intro:

Happy Easter! We get to our big conclusion to this series, The View From the Cross! I hope you’ve enjoyed as we have joined Jesus on the cross to see his perspective in those fina moments, as he reflects on his earthy life, his emotions, and his vision of the future. We have joined Christ in seeing the temple, the upper room, the mount of olives, the passersby, his friends and enemies, the tomb… and now we join him as he looks beyond… to heaven!

Let’s join him on his “observation post” as we turn our eyes to heaven.

Teach:

Heaven and Earth collide

on the cross after all Jesus has seen and reflected on, heaven comes near. 

His home that he is preparing for us becomes reality again. 

He sees all moments in time, and in this moment he not only sees heaven and earth, but the new heaven and earth. 

Revelation 21:1–7 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.”

He see’s the trickle of the new heaven touching the earth, what does it look like?

The Captives Set Free

he sees generations of slaves to sin set free. 

Luke 4:18–19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

People are once and for all set free from sin, shame, and slavery.

They are the people who begin to follow Jesus and in his resurrection live the life they were called to at creation.

No longer slaves to the world or sin they become the first builders of the church, HIS BRIDE!

The Church Born from a Flame

he sees the first church born by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 11:15 ““As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning.”

The church is opened to the gentiles and a flame turned into an inferno.

Thousands are saved, brought into relationship with Jesus, a man they never met but now have an intimate relationship with.

Jesus came to us from heaven, and returns there as a very different place…

The Heaven He Left and the Heaven He Returns To. 

Christ left a heaven full of angels, the father, the Holy Spirit. 

But returns to a heaven that now includes us! 

Can you imagine? Jesus shows up and there, are the very people you just endured all that pain and suffering for.

He goes to build a place for us, to prepare it for each of us.

Christ begins his massive remodeling project.

Heaven collided with earth and then earth, US collided with heaven.

But the collision started WAY before christs death, it started the moment he joined us here on earth.

Preach:

Christ is the Collision!

when Christ walked this earth it was the collision of earth and heaven. 

While Christ sees the future new heaven and new earth that he is building through the cross, we have seen him all along as he walked the streets of his home. 

Yet most people missed it. Could we miss it?

Have you seen heaven on earth?

Christ walked among us and so many people missed it. 

But have we missed Christ moving among us as well? Have we missed the opportunities to see him, to see his heavenly work with us. 

He is EMMANUEL! God with us! But so often we think heaven is something after resurrection, but resurrection isn’t just something that happens when you die in your body, it’s something that happens when you die to yourself! 

Resurrection is what happens when you are BORN AGAIN in HIM! Your new life, ETERNAL LIFE begins in that moment!

You might have regarded your life after christ as a holding ground until you meet him in your physical death, but that was NEVER his intention.

John 10:10 “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”

Don’t miss it! Heaven is HERE with you, and its Christ in YOU!

You must realize that Jesus sees all of this heaven and earth collision on the cross, but most importantly, he sees YOU and finds great joy in his resurrection for you!

Jesus sees You! 

on that cross Jesus sees YOU! He sees me! 

He sees you in this moment. He sees you in your struggle.

He sees you living in the ABUNDANT life he promised for you starting right now!

But you have to get ready!!

Apply:

Prepare for Christ Collision in Your Life!

Christ not only sees you but has also crossed into your path, collided with your life. See how the miracle of the resurrection was all about Jesus making it possible to intersect your life!

Once you recognize those collisions, you must let go…

Let go, Join Christ in Resurrection.

You’ve been fighting, resisting the goodness of Christ. Let go, collide with Christ, let the work of resurrection happen in your life.

The power of Christ comes in letting Him take over your life… let go. Let him resurrect you!