2. Loren Bumbalough says:
I’m new, and I had a wonderful reception into the CBC family on Sunday. I met some folks at the Adult Bible Study, and while out to lunch with them later…we started discussing a question I had about this sermon.
You talked about anticipating heaven, and how we should be looking forward to it as much as we would a trip to Bermuda. Yet, when describing heaven, you described specifically the “new Jerusalem”…that is, what would come after the world gets burned to bits and God establishes the “new earth”…which I am super excited for by the way. http://www.compasschurch.org/blogs/sermons/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif
My question is this: You said to anticipate heaven, and then describe the “New Jerusalem.“ So…what does heaven look like BEFORE the New Jerusalem gets established? If I died today, what does THAT heaven look like? Is it the same? I was confused on this point and those I talked with about it during lunch weren’t sure either and said I should ask. So, here I am..asking. http://www.compasschurch.org/blogs/sermons/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif Thanks!
3. Pastor Mike says:
Loren: Unfortunately, it is a bit confusing that we use the word “heaven” and “The New Jerusalem” interchangeably, when technically they are distinct places. Randy Alcorn (in his book “Heaven”) justifies this interchangeability of the terms (and thus his book’s title) because Revelation 21:3 tells us that “the dwelling of God will be among men.“ But that should not remove the distinction in our minds. Heaven (the current one) will be the temporary home for Christians in the interval between our death (or the rapture) and the Millennial Kingdom and the subsequent New Earth and New Jerusalem. This reality (i.e., a Christian’s death before the rapture) is described by Paul as being “unclothed” or disembodied in 2 Corinthians 5:4. We know that though it will be without our bodies it will be in the presence of God (v.8). We also know it will be great (Phil.1:21-23). But there is not a lot of info about this “Intermediate State” as it is called, because it is not our ultimate home! I recently preached and broadcast a rather involved thirteen-part series on this entire flow of events called “Sorting Out the End Times” which you can download or stream for free at FocalPointRadio.org. Or you can acquire the CD’s at Compass on the weekends. I trust that thirteen hours of teaching will address a lot of other issues that this response may raise.
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4. Lorraine Sibbald says:
Listening to your sermon, does “store up your treasures in heaven” mean that to be a true follower of Christ I need to downsize my home, or leave my husband and kids to work for Christ, or quit my job to do work for Jesus?
As a new Christian, I find this sermon very confusing and disturbing. I thought that things I do in this life (works) cannot bring me into the presence of Christ. I heard you breach that we cannot work our ticket to heaven. Now it seems, I hear you say that whatever we “give up” for Jesus, in this life, will get us something in the next. So “works” do matter? I believe that I have heard the message preached that it is only through belief in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, and Gods grace, that I can enter the Kingdom.
Pastor Mike, I am an just an ordinary woman, and I dont have a calling in anything, except to come to know Our Lord, and to care for all my family, and do what I am moved to do with what I have, to help others as they come into my life. Now it seems that it is not all that is needed. I need to think of ways to give things up. I’m really perplexed and confused. Please can you explain, or let me know which of your sermons deals with this more clearly. Will the “sorting out the endtimes” help? With many thanks. Lorraine Sibbald
Here are some things you might be interested in:
| Almost a Christian - Part 1 | Hebrews 6 | Dr. Mike Fabarez |
| Almost a Christian - Part 2 | Hebrews 6 | Dr. Mike Fabarez |
| Almost a Christian - Part 3 | Hebrews 6 | Dr. Mike Fabarez |
| Almost a Christian - Part 4 | Hebrews 6 | Dr. Mike Fabarez |
1. Karen Geraci says:
Thank you for another thought-provoking sermon today, and a great way to end this series. I chuckled about the idea of God as a “capitalist” (and “notice I didn’t say republican” thank goodness) instead of a “communist”. Another point to ponder was the idea of letting go of the material things of this world (and the worries they generate), because they don’t really matter in the long run. And, I love the analogy to start preparing now for a trip to heaven, by reading all about it, and by living with a purpose. (I’m ready for that trip to Bermuda too…:)