ASSIGNMENTS

1. Daily read over this material and read or sing the song.

2. Place the scripture where you will see it each day.

3. Imagine what heaven will be like and think of what you will like best.

4. Pray for God's help to have the power to overcome the human tendency to focus on the physical so you can set your eyes on the unseen realms above.

5. Write down the difficult situations that you faced that you will never have to face in heaven.

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DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS

MONDAY - VERSES: Matthew 5:10-12 PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to be able to look past the problems of this life and focus on my reward in Heaven.

TUESDAY - VERSES: Matthew 6:19-21	PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to be storing my treasures in Heaven and setting my heart there also.

WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Acts 1:9-11	PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to remember to watch for the return of Jesus and not forget His promise

THURSDAY - VERSES: 2 Corinthians 5:1-4	PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you for planning my eternal home and a new eternal body. Help me to look forward to receiving it.

FRIDAY - VERSES: Philippians 3:20 (the word "Conversation" does not refer to speech, as we use it, but to a community or citizenship, in essence a home)	PRAYER THOUGHT: Help me to remember that my citizenship and home is in Heaven and that I am a sojourner on Earth and in this physical body.

SATURDAY - VERSES: Colossians 1:3-6	PRAYER THOUGHT: Thank you for the hope I have of Heaven, and help me to share that hope with others throughout the world.

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There will be three things which will surprise us when we get to heaven; one, to find many there that we did not expect to find there; another, to find some not there whom we had expected; a third, and perhaps the greatest wonder, will be to find ourselves there. - Bowes

SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 71

HEAVEN - 12-8-13 to 12-14-13

SCRIPTURES - Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

COMMENT – It is easy for us to be distracted by all of the struggles and monotony of our lives and forget about the real reason we are living these lives: preparing for Heaven. We must constantly remind ourselves to keep looking for the home we are hoping for. Jesus will return and he has prepared a place for all of His people. Let us keep hoping and keep looking for His return and the realization of our hope.

SONG - SING TO ME OF HEAVEN

1) Sing to me of Heaven, sing that song of peace, From the toils that bind me it will bring release; Burdens will be lifted that are pressing so, Showers of great blessing o'er my heart will flow.

CHORUS: Sing to me of Heaven, let me fondly dream Of its golden glory of its pearly gleam; Sing to me when shadows of the ev'ning fall, Sing to me of Heaven, Sweetest song of all.

2) Sing to me of Heaven, as I walk alone, Dreaming of the comrades that so long have gone; In a fairer region, 'mong the angel throng, They are happy as they sing that old, sweet song.

3) Sing to me of Heaven, tenderly and low, till the shadows o'er me rise and swiftly go; When my heart is weary, when the day is long, Sing to me of Heaven, sing that old, sweet song.

THOUGHTS

He came from Heaven to Earth that we might go from Earth to Heaven. He suffered the death we deserve that we might enjoy the life he deserves. - Albert Lemmons

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Handbook to Heaven

When a Soviet official was asked why a study of the Bible was frowned upon in his country, and why those who dared to print and distribute it were severely punished, he replied, "We find that the reading of the Book changes people in a way that is dangerous to our state!"

During World War II when the Nazis occupied a new territory, they immediately placed all Christians in concentration camps if they made public commitments to the Word of God. They had found that those who clung to the Bible would not compromise their faith or yield to the evil edicts of a godless dictator.

The same type of opposition was manifested during the Boxer Rebellion in China. A little girl whose father had been murdered because of his faith hid herself in a cornfield to elude her persecutors. She was soon discovered and threatened with death if she did not reveal where the family Bible had been concealed. Testifying that it was her daily strength and stay, she refused to tell them and was soon cruelly martyred. She chose to die rather than give up that treasured Volume!

Those who oppose civil and spiritual liberty continue to suppress the God-inspired Scriptures, for they consider them "dangerous." To the believer, however, it remains his beloved "Handbook to Heaven"!

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During one service I was complaining to the Lord about the lack of attendance: "Lord, attendance is just not what I'd like it to be."

This was the Lord's response: "My son, attendance is not what I'd like it to be in heaven."

That was the last time I complained to the Lord about lack of attendance. -- Harvey Koelner, Leadership/89, S

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Face to Face

Mr. Standfast, one of the great characters of John Bunyan in Pilgrim's Progress, said these words as he was dying: "I am now going to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and see the face that was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with Him in whose company I delight myself." That should be the anticipation of every Christian. But did you know that that's the anticipation of God? Psalm 116:15 states, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Do you know why? Because God wants to bring men to Himself.

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Mansion Building

There is a legend of a wealthy woman who, when she reached heaven, was shown a very plain mansion. She objected. "Well," she was told, "that is the house prepared for you." "Whose is that fine mansion across the way?" she asked. "It belongs to your gardener." "How is it that he has one so much better than mine?" The houses here are prepared from the materials that are sent up. We do not choose them, you do that by your earthly faithfulness."

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After a preacher died and went to heaven, he noticed that a New York cab driver had been given a more favorable place than he had. "I don't understand," he complained to St. Peter. "I devoted my entire life to my congregation."

"Our policy is to reward results," explained St. Peter. "Now, tell me what happened whenever you gave a sermon?" The minister admitted that some in the congregation fell asleep.

"Exactly," said St. Peter. "And when people rode in this man's taxi, they not only stayed awake, they prayed!" - The Reader's Digest, January, 1990

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Getting Into Heaven?

A little boy, caught in mischief, was asked by his mother: "How do you expect to get into heaven?"

He thought a minute and then said: "Well, I'll just run in and out and in and keep slamming the door until they say, 'For goodness sake, come in or stay out.' Then I'll go in."

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HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE

INTRODUCTION - JOHN 14:1-4

LEAD STATEMENT - HEAVEN IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE . . .

I. OF WHO _________ IT. - COLOSSIANS 1:16-17

II. OF ________ WILL BE THERE. - REVELATION 22:14

III. OF ________ WILL BE THERE. - HEBREWS 10:34-35

IV. OF WHO _________ ______ BE THERE. - REVELATION 21:8

V. OF WHAT __________ __________ BE THERE. - REV. 21:27

CONCLUSION

HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE

INTRODUCTION

A. HEAVEN IS WHAT I CANNOT REACH! BY EMILY DICKINSON

"Heaven"—is what I cannot reach!

The Apple on the Tree—

Provided it do hopeless—hang—

That—"Heaven" is—to Me!

The Color, on the Cruising Cloud—

The interdicted Land—

Behind the Hill—the House behind—

There—Paradise—is found!

Her teasing Purples—Afternoons—

The credulous—decoy—

Enamored—of the Conjuror—

That spurned us—Yesterday!

B. HEAVEN IS SOMETHING WE CAN REACH. - John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (4) And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

LEAD STATEMENT - HEAVEN IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE . . .

I. OF WHO MADE IT. - Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

A. Consider the beauty of the Earth God/Christ created in one week.

B. Consider how beautiful the place Jesus has been preparing for 2000 years will be.

C. God only makes things that are perfect.

II. OF WHO WILL BE THERE. - Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

A. God - Father, Son, and Spirit

B. Bible heroes

C. Angels and other heavenly beings

D. Saints from all ages

III. OF WHAT WILL BE THERE. - Hebrews 10:34-35 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. (35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

A. Joy and Rejoicing

B. Comfort and Peace

C. Light

D. Love and Fellowship

E. Home

F. Tree of Life

G. Worship and Praise

H. Reward

IV. OF WHO WILL NOT BE THERE. - Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

A. Satan and his angels

B. Evil people of all generations

C. Unbelieving people

D. Hypocrites

E. Liars

V. OF WHAT WILL NOT BE THERE. - Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

A. Sin

B. Death

C. Pain and Sickness

D. Separation

E. Sorrow

F. Darkness

G. Hunger and Thirst

CONCLUSION

A. HEAVEN OR HELL BY ELLEN BAILEY

Heaven has a place prepared for me and you

Hell is another place that has one prepared too

There is no place in-between that we can go

It's either Heaven above or Hell down below

Heaven is a place with streets paved with gold

Hell is a fiery furnace with unquenchable coals

Heaven is found with forgiveness and prayer

Hell doesn't care; it will take you as you are

We are all destined for one place or the other

There is no place in-between to run for cover

We must decide now where we intend to stay

We cannot be fence-sitters come judgment day

B. Invitation

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.