Heaven, What Will We Do?

Heaven, February 13th Chapters 24-25 What will we do in Heaven?

I am living a good life with many conveniences but, THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME!

Psalm 16:11 (NIV) 11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

If that is all we know about Heaven it would be enough. What does Ps 16 say we will experience?

In his book, Things Unseen, pastor Mark Buchanan asks: Read Alcorn p. 394. What do you think?

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

You were created for what? Were you created to do good works in this life? … the next? … or both?

Revelation 22:3 (NLT/NIV) 3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. (NLT) 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. (NIV)

Notice that there is activity here. “Doing good works” in Ephesians and “serve him/worship him” in Revelation are not passive. Heaven will be full of activity!

We will reign with Jesus. Revelation 22:5 (NIV) 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

- 1 - Listen to the activity in this passage: Isaiah 65:21-22, 23 (NIV) 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands. -----STOP----- 23 They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.

“A significant difference will be that they’ll work without the hindrances of toil, pain, corruption, and sin.” Alcorn, p. 397.

Read Vs. 23 – “Because our minds and bodies will never fade and because we will never lack resources or opportunity, our work won’t degenerate.” Alcorn, p. 398.

Will we have needs in Heaven? Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV) -- Present 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Daniel 9:20-23 (NIV) -- Present 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.

Isaiah 65:24 (NLT) -- Future 24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

How cool is that! God is not going to stop being concerned about our needs, and may answer them before we ask – since we know all is from Him.

Read Alcorn, p. 400: How will we express our creativity? What do you think? Does it have merit? Researchers say we use about 10% of our brain. Can you imagine what it will be like to work at 100% utilization and couple it with the synergy of pure, holy, efficiently focused thought?

- 2 - Will there be music in Heaven? Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV) 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 5:8-14 (NIV) 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Will we dance in Heaven? Exodus 15:20-21 (NIV) --- Celebration to God’s glory of the exodus. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.”

Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT) David dedicates the temple. 11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.

- 3 - O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Luke 15:25-27 (NIV) 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

Surely it won’t cease, but instead magnify with pure intent.

Will we tell stories? How could you not? What Biblical person would you love to sit and visit? Hey Jonah, tell me bro, was it really a big fish or a whale??? “Who did, who did, who did, who did…” I bet Jonah hates that song!

Will we laugh in Heaven? Luke 6:20-23 (NIV) 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. You will be satisfied, you will laugh, you will leap for joy! Your service, worship, joy, music, dancing, and laughing will be holy and bring honor to God – just as it should in this world.

Revelation 21:4 (NIV) 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Romans 8:18 (NIV) 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Suffering only has to do with the present life under the curse. 2 Peter 3:13 (NIV) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

- 4 - James 4:14 (NIV) 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Remember the story of the woman who failed to swim from Catalina Island to the coast of California because of the fog, stopping just ½ mile short of the shore?

Never lose focus. Remember what God has done for you and keep your eye on the goal? What does this next verse say about what how our actions today may affect our life in Heaven?

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Let’s do what is right and holy. Let’s tell the truth about God’s love and His plan for us in Heaven. The person who says that Heaven will be boring is either foolish or under the influence of Satan. Remember Satan will lie about Heaven to diminish God’s glory and rob you of your joy of God’s salvation.

Ephesians 1:3-10 (NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME! I AM BLESSED WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN JESUS! PRAISE BE TO GOD, HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER! Make it personal: PRAISE BE TO GOD, MY FATHER’S LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!

God bless, go in peace.