(This message series is inspired and excerpted from Heaven is Now by Andrew Farley)
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. (Hebrews 10:19-23 NLT)
Invited to Heaven
“An early church writer spoke of this hope from heaven: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf” (Heb. 6:19-20). But Jesus never entered any inner sanctuary in the Jewish temple. He wasn’t permitted behind the curtain. Here, the writer means heaven itself, where Jesus entered after his resurrection. But there’s more. Speaking of this heavenly sanctuary, the writer then claims that “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way” (Heb. 10:19-20). This too means heaven, but this time we are invited. This invitation is not merely about a future in heaven. It’s about awakening to a very present hope. Our God has set it up for today, and he invites us to enter in. Why does he bother with such a spectacular invitation? Because heaven is now.” (pg. 12)
What is your first impression as you think about Heaven in the present tense? When does eternal life start?
“We’re told that God seated us with him in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 2:6), that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20), and that we are “aliens and strangers” in this world (1 Peter 2:11). We explain these away the best we can. We can’t have our faith involving such ridiculous notions. After all, how can any of it really be true here and now in the midst of so much ugliness all around us? … No, we can’t know all of heaven here and now. It will take a lifetime and more to gather it in. But even if we only partially realize heaven’s splendor on this side, it is still the sweetest form of life to embrace in the midst of all that earth throws our way. This [series] is about what goes on inside of us in the midst of our circumstances, not outside or all around us.” (pg. 13)
Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the kingdom of God come?”
Jesus answered, “God’s kingdom is coming, but not in a way that you will be able to see with your eyes. 21 People will not say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ because God’s kingdom is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21 NCV)
How does knowing “God’s kingdom is within you” change the way you live now?
Horatio Spafford was a wealthy lawyer in Chicago. You could look down a Chicago street and it was nearly all his. Horatio had millions. He also had a lovely wife and four beautiful daughters. One day, a fire swept through Chicago, destroying nearly all Horatio owned. Two years later he sent his family on vacation across the ocean to England. But their ship went down, and only Horatio’s wife survived. He received a telegram from her that read “Saved alone.” Horatio then sailed to England to meet up with his wife, so they could grieve together. On his way, he sat in the hull of that ship and wrote the song, “It Is Well with My Soul.” Horatio lost almost everything. He lost his four daughters and his fortune. His life had turned into tragedy. How could he write that it was well with him? Was he delusional? As the lyrics of his song reveal, the condition of his soul didn’t reflect the circumstances around him. His wellness came as he angled his soul toward heaven. He was awakened to heaven’s love. He was reflecting heaven’s life. He perceived these with spiritual senses, despite what his physical senses were telling him. (pg. 14-15)
So how exactly do we experience heaven here and now?
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (Hebrew 5:14 NASB)
We already possess the senses we need to take in heaven’s goodness (Heb. 5: 14 NASB). We need only have these senses awakened:
- We can feel the freedom of God’s grace.
- We can hear the Spirit bearing witness.
- We can see the finished work of Jesus.
- We can smell the fragrant aroma of Christ.
- We can taste the goodness of the Lord.
Through these five spiritual senses, we experience heaven on this side. We don’t see heaven with the natural eye. But by faith we enter into all that it means to be raised and seated with Christ (Eph. 2: 6), and we are awakened to heaven’s grace. (pg. 15)
Which of these 5 senses are you most excited about awakening?
Made Alive with Christ
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.[a] He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT)
Share some ways you have experienced “heaven on this side.”
Heaven Speaks [What Jesus might say if He were sitting right here]
My heart’s desire is that you rest in me. The heavenly promises I have made to you are designed to give you peace, even in the most violent of storms. Sometimes you plead with me for a circumstance to change. You ask again and again that it be taken away. My heart longs for you to see more fully how my grace is sufficient for you, even in this. For my power is made perfect in the midst of your weakness. Through my finished work, I have made you clean and close to me, and you are invited to live in a spiritual seventh day, relaxing in me. But to rest in me takes work. It’s not the kind of work you’re used to but a very different kind of work. I’m asking you to dig deeper into all that I’ve done for you so that you can more fully celebrate it, even when outwardly there seems only cause for pain. I long for you to awaken to the goodness of my grace. As you discover the heights and depths of my love for you, you will experience relationship with me like you never imagined possible. I love you, and I long for you to know me as I truly am. – Jesus (Inspired by Hebrews 3:15; 4:9-11; 6:19; John 14:27; 16:33; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10; Ephesians 3:18.) (pg. 16) Share your thoughts.
Awakening to Heaven [A sample prayer to close.]
Thank you, Jesus, for inviting me to rest. I welcome the adventure of awakening to your grace. I acknowledge that I have no real strength within myself. Instead, I am here, transparent before you, glorying in my weaknesses so that your power may rest on me. I love you, Jesus. And I want to learn more of your goodness toward me so that you can be my anchor, my stability in any storm. (pg. 17)
Next Week: The Covenant Connection
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