As It Is In Heaven

TEXTMatt. 6:10

INTRODUCTION:

A.      JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY:  "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be

          done, as in heaven, so on earth."

          1.       God's will is done in Heaven...

          2.       That's the way it should be here.

B.      WHAT ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT SHOULD BE LIKE IT IS IN

          HEAVEN?

I.      EVERYONE THERE DESPISES SIN.

A.      DAVID'S ATTITUDE SHOULD BE OURS( Psa. 119:104 ).

B.      SIN IS HATED BECAUSE OF ITS TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES.

          1.       Angels who sin( 2 Pet. 2:4;  Jude 6 ).

          2.       Adam and Eve and their descendants( Gen. 3:17-19;  1 Cor. 15:22 ).

          3.       Casting out the guilty( Isa. 59:1-2;  Eph. 2:1, 12;  Rom. 6:23 ).

          4.       The sorrow of chastening( Heb. 12:7-8 ).  Doesn't always work.

          5.       An insult to God and his Son( Heb. 6:6;  10:26, 29 ).

C.      WE NEED TO LEARN TO HATE SIN( Rom. 12:9 ).

D.      JAMES DEALS WITH TEMPTATION AND OVERCOMING.

          1.       The nature of temptation( James 1:13-14 ).

                   a.       An external component - enticement.

                             --situation, opportunity, urged by someone.

                   b.       An internal component - lust.

                             Vine's definition, "epithumia,  denotes 'strong desire' of any kind... The

                             word is used of a good desire in(Luke 22:15; Phil. 1:23; 1 Thes. 2:17)

                             ... Everywhere else it has a bad sense...  Such "lusts" are not necessarily

                              base and immoral, they may be refined in character, but are evil if

                              inconsistent with the will of God.

          2.       How do we overcome?

                   1.       Work on the heart( Rom. 12:9;  Phil. 4:8;  Psa. 119:104 ).

                   2.       Avoid enticing situations and people( 1 Cor. 15:33; Jas. 4:7 ).

                   3.       The proper attitude( Jas. 4:7-10 ).

E.      DO WE REALLY HATE SIN, DO WE MAKE AN EFFORT TO OVERCOME?

II.     GOD'S AUTHORITY IS RESPECTED THERE.

A.      GOD'S POWER AND MAJESTY ARE DISPLAYED THERE( Rev. 21:23 ).

B.      WHO WOULD DESPISE HIS AUTHORITY THERE?( Rev. 4:10-11 ).

C.      NOT ALL ON EARTH LISTEN TO GOD

          ( Judges 21:25;  Rom. 10:16;  2 Pet. 2:9-10 ).

D.      TODAY, ALSO, THERE ARE THOSE WHO REFUSE TO LISTEN.

          1.       Like the Gentiles( Rom. 1:28 ).

          2.       Like some early Christians( 2 Tim. 4:3-4 ).

III.    EVERY SOUL IS IMPORTANT.

A.      HEAVEN WILL BE FILLED WITH LITTLE ONES( Matt. 18:2-6, 10 ).

B.      WHO DOES JESUS EXALT?( Luke 18:9-14 ).

C.      NOBODY IS UNIMPORTANT( Matt. 10:28-30;  1 Pet. 5:7 ).

D.      SO ON EARTH, EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT( Rom.12:3;  1 Cor.12:15-22 ).

IV.   EVERYONE ENJOYS WORSHIPPING GOD IN HEAVEN.

A.      BATHED IN GOD'S GLORY, ALL WORSHIP CONTINUALLY( Rev. 4:8-11 ).

B.      DAVID SAYS IT BEST( Psa. 122:1;  84:1-4, 10-12 ).

C.      THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD NOT BE HAPPY IN HEAVEN!

          1.       They want to RECEIVE praise, not give it.

          2.       They want to BE SERVED, not serve.

          3.       They hate to sing, hate to worship, hate to serve.

V.    EVERYONE VALUES THE LOST SOUL.

A.      GOD AND JESUS VALUE THE SOUL( 2 Pet. 3:9 ).

B.      ANGELS ANXIOUS FOR THE SOULS OF MEN( Luke 15:7 ).

C.      Matt. 9:36-38.  WHERE IS OUR COMPASSION FOR THE LOST?

          1.       The gospel is the only power God gives that will save us( Rom. 1:16 ).

          2.       Paul's obligation( Rom. 1:14-15 ).

          3.       His desire( Rom. 9:1-3;  10:1-2 ).

          4.       His commission( Rom. 10:13-15 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      OUR CONCERN HERE IS THAT EVERYONE GOES TO HEAVEN.

B.      THE INVITATION OF JESUS IS OUR INVITATION TO YOU( Rev. 3:20 ).