08/29/10 - If I Die Before I Wake PT5 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "If I Die Before I Wake" with part 5 of this Sunday service.

If I Die Before I Wake Part 5
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, August 29, 2010

www.churchatmirrorlake.com


Sermon Notes:

Heaven: The Culmination of Restoration

Matthew 19:28 (NKJV) “So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration (AMP-new age, the Messianic rebirth), when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Acts 3:21 “For he (Jesus) must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

Colossians 3:10 “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”


The Big Idea:

The final Heaven is a resurrected Earth—the New Earth—a restoration of what Earth was intended to be.  Our resurrected bodies are a return to what our bodies were intended to be.
Restore, Replenish, Renew, Resurrect, Redemption, Reconciliation, Regeneration, Recover  (“re” is “ana” in Greek—same meaning: a return to an original condition)

“God always sees us in the light of what He intended us to be and He always seeks to restore us to that design.” (Alcorn)

All of Jesus’ miracles, except for the cursing of the fig tree which is to show us the foolishness of trusting a cursed world system, are restoration miracles.  Illustrating the meaning of redemption: freeing creation from the bondage of sin and evil and reinstating life and living as intended by God.

Our celebration of Communion is a celebration of restoration:

1.   The bread and the wine: a new covenant—a return to the relationship God intended.  A restoration of mankind with dominion over sin instead of mankind ravaged by sin.

2.   The Cross: Satan planned to kill the 2nd Adam just as he killed the 1st Adam.  The temptation in the wilderness is the evidence of that plan.  Satan thought he had succeeded when Jesus died on the cross.  But there was a problem—the 2nd Adam didn’t die because he had to as a consequence of sin.  He died because he chose to as a payment for the sin of others.  His choice empowered him to win and positioned him for victory.  His choice assured satan’s defeat and our victory.  His choice at the cross restored our ability to make choices that position us for life as God intended.

3.   The candles: 2 Corinthians 5:19 “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” We have renewed access to God.  Our prayers are heard and are powerful.  We can change the course of history with our prayers.  We can approach the throne of God on behalf of others.

Heaven reinforces our knowledge of a loving God who is for us, who wants us to have rich and satisfying life here and for eternity.  Hell demonstrates clearly the result of pursuing an un-restored life.  Restoration is only available in Christ.  We cannot restore ourselves and therefore cannot access life as it is intended without Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 “So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.”

A life restored to God-sufficiency instead of self-sufficiency.  He enables, He empowers and He gives us the faith that prompts us.  Life as God intended is a God dependent life—learning to simply do what the old hymn says: “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way…”