Heaven is For
Real
HOW TO KEEP OUR
EYES ON THE HEAVENLY THINGS
Memory Verse: Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) 2 Set
your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
TEXT: Colossians 3:1–4
INTRODUCTION: Colossians 3:1–4; Psalm 77:1–14; Eph. 3:20, John 16:33; Matt. 26:39; Psalm 23:4
Illustration:
Personal Story
“Faith is not so much receiving from God what we
want but accepting from God what He gives.”-- Adrian Rogers
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”—Adrian
Rogers
“Be
prepared for God to allow things in your life that give the opportunity to
demonstrate your faith in Him.” -- Henry Blackaby
1. Be in Regular Prayer:
Proverbs 18:10;1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians
4:6; Psalm 10:1; 86:7
Illustration:
“When everybody’s freaking out, they all look to
Dad—especially when Dad is a pastor. Now I was finally in a room where no one
was looking at me, and I began raging at God.
‘Where are you? Is this how you treat your pastors?! Is it even worth it
to serve you?’… At
that time when I was so upset and outraged, can you believe that God chose to
answer that prayer?...What had I learned?
I was reminded yet again that I could be real with God…I learned that I
didn’t
have to offer some kind of churchy, holy-sounding prayer in order to be heard
in heaven. Most importantly of all, I learned that I am heard. We all are.” – Todd Burpo
2. Be Sustained and
Strengthened by Gods Word:
Psalm 119:105; Deuteronomy 8:3; Proverbs 7:1–3
Cf. Matt.
4:4, Luke 4:4
3. We must Embrace
the Attitude of Worship:
2 Chronicles 20:14–15; Romans 8:31
4. Rely on the
Support of the Holy Spirit:
John 16:7; Romans 8:26–27; Philippians 1:19
5. Be Nurtured by
Your Church:
Galatians 6:2; Phil.
2:4; Job 2:10; 13:15; 42:12
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is
a piece of the continent, a part of the main; …. any man’s death diminishes me, because I am
involved in mankind…”-- John Donne (1572-1631)
Illustration:
“Pastors
are supposed to be unshakable pillars of faith, right? But at that moment, my
faith was hanging on by a tattered thread and fraying fast…At that moment, I
needed to borrow the strength and faith of some other believers.” -- Todd
Burpo
“Our church gathering around us in the eye of
the storm would change the way Sonja and I approached pastoral visitation in
times of trial and grief. We were
faithful about it before; now we’re
militant.”--Todd Burpo
ILLUSTRATION:
“Despite
her blindness, Crosby did not spend her life in bitterness and defeat but
instead dedicated her life to Christ.”-- Billy Graham
“It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God
that I should be blind all my life and thank him for the dispensation. If
perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of
God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things around
me.”—Fanny Crosby
CONCLUSION: Rom. 8:28; 2Corinthians 12:10; Isaiah 55:8–9;
Philippians 4:13
