Choose Destiny

Passion for Jesus

Written by billraul

I. setting our minds on the things above

“If you were raised with Christ, seek those which are above, (where Christ is), sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2

“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but (we look) at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

“For those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, (set their minds on) the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5)

A. Passion for Jesus is awakened and fueled as we deliberately position and incline our lives through meditation, prayer, fasting and holiness to become familiar with heaven, and specifically the throne of God, where Christ is seated and our union with Him there. The prophetic cry of the hour is for the church to set their lives on heaven. Heaven is least spoken on reality in the church and yet it was the driving force of the early apostles.

B. John G. Lake quote on wanting to see Jesus and looking to heaven to find Him there. (At the end of the hunger for God chapter)

C. “Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan preacher, often spoke of Heaven. He said, "It becomes us to spend this life only as a journey toward heaven . . . to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end and true happiness?" (Heaven by Randy Alcorn pg 1)

D. “In his early twenties, Edwards composed a set of life resolutions. One read, "Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can." (Heaven by Randy Alcorn pg 1)

E. Successful business leaders say that the one of the most powerful ways to become successful is to journey decades into the future to find out where they want to be, and they work their way back from that starting point. It’s when believers understand where they have come from and where they are going, that they are empowered to live life on this earth truly as strangers and pilgrims. 4 of the most critical chapters in the bible are the first two and the last two.

“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself,.. and began to wash the disciples feet.” (John 13:3-4)

Imagine you're part of a NASA team preparing for a five-year mission to Mars. After a period of extensive training, the launch date finally arrives. As the rocket lifts off, one of your fellow astronauts says to you, "What do you know about Mars?" Imagine shrugging your shoulders and saying, "Nothing. We never talked about it. I guess we'll find out when we get there." It's unthinkable, isn't it? It's inconceivable that your training would not have included extensive study of and preparation for your ultimate destination. Yet in seminaries, Bible schools, and churches across the United States and around the world, there is very little teaching about our ultimate destination: the new heavens and New Earth.

F. It’s as we are filled with a vision of heaven now, that we begin to long for that realm, that city, that kingdom to come to the earth.

“Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

II. Being filled with the knowledge of His will

A. It’s when we are filled with the eternal desire and will of God that we are empowered to walk worthy, to fully please Him and be fruitful in every good work. Being fruitful in every good work is massive because not all work is eternally fruitful. As a matter of fact, much of that which is considered powerful in this age will become chaff when the fire of God tests what sort of work it is. Fruitful work is work that is done with eternity in view. (1 Corinthians 15)

“I pray that God would fill you with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks..” (Colossians 1:9-11)

B. It’s when we connect with God’s eternal desire to dwell on the earth in a deep, intimate partnership with His creation, and that our real longing is for Christ to return and bring Heaven with Him. It’s when the earthly and spiritual are combined that God’s personality and plan is most released. It’s truly where God gets greatest glory. This is the driving force of all of history is God’s desire to dwell on a resurrected earth with resurrected saints.

“Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, He might gather together, in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:9-11)

III. Faith is longing for the city of god

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16

A. The expression of faith includes longing for the celestial city. True faith is so powerful that one of the saints of old died without receiving the promise while still maintaining that God is faithful because the real issue of faith is being connected to the big picture and being confident and aware of God’s eternal purpose. The heroes of the faith died in faith without having received the promise.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10

“For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:14-16

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:2-3

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven… Hebrews 12:22-23

“Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, (Night and Day Prayer) that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:13-15

“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come Lord Jesus!’” (Revelation 22:17)

“But to all who have loved His appearing.” (2Timothy 4:8)

“Thy kingdom, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:2)

IV. christ in us is the assurance (hope) of the coming glory

²⁷to them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which isChrist in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil (into the New Jerusalem which in the book of Hebrews is also the celestial city), where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 11:19-20

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