SundaySermon - Prince

Heavenly Jerusalem

Verse: Hebrews 12:21-24

21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 

23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 

24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The passage talks of us to "come to Mount Zion". There is a blessing when God's people come into the presence of God. And that is what we desire when we gather together as a church. There are situation when God breaks in to our situation where God comes. But it is a blessing when we make that decision to come into His presence

There are several instances where different people came to God.

  • Disciples came to him (Matthew 5:1)
  • Centurion comes to him (Matthew 8:5)
  • Those who needed healing came to Jesus (Matthew 9)
  • Satan coming to him (Matthew 4)
  • Angels coming to him (Matthew 4)

This coming communicates a very important truth. It signifies authority. And Jesus in his mercy and goodness gives us the privilege to approach Him. And the privilege is extended to us to be seated with him. This is such an honor. 

Verse: Ephesians 2:6

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

And who wouldn't miss an opportunity to be with Jesus!!!

In our coming together the "assembly of the firstborn" (or the church), we are accompanied by "innumerable angels in festal gathering" and God comes as "judge". Again the judge is in the place of authority. 

Here are three points related to the Heavenly Jerusalem

  • Nature of Heavenly Jerusalem
  • Divine Exchange
  • Fight for Jerusalem

Nature of Heavenly Jerusalem

Let us go to another picture of God. This picture is described in Revelation 4 & 5. There are 7 groups of people in this picture

  • God, the Father
  • Son of God
  • Holy Spirit
  • 4 gigantic creatures
  • 24 Elders
  • Angels a lot of them
  • Church

The church (people like us) have the honor to be before God who is the judge. And here are some ways how the authority is exercised. 

  • The decisions we make is ratified in heaven

Verse: Matthew 18:18

18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

  • We have access to all the spiritual blessing

Verse: Ephesians 1:3

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Divine Exchange

Verse: Genesis 14:17-20

17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 

19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor[a] of heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

Abram gave him a tenth of everything. But notice that Melchizedek "brought out bread and wine". Jesus did the same in the last supper as well. This privilege we (as a church) are lavished when we come together. And we are be part of the Lord's Supper.... part of the body of Christ.

Fight for Jerusalem

While God the judge has called us worthy to sit along with Him in the heavenly places, we are battered by unhealthy words that always bring us down. They may be words from within us because we see our unworthiness. But God wants to fight those thoughts and direct our thoughts to the blood of Jesus who makes us worthy.

David was mocked but David fought and secured Jerusalem. Your battle is already won.... because Jesus has already triumphed in this battle. Your fight is just believe what God has said. You are worthy to come directly to the Heavenly Jerusalem

Verse: 2 Samuel 5:6-7

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” 

7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

Conclusion

Our gathering together in church is our privilege and honor because we can approach the heavenly Jerusalem. Let us not miss the opportunity to come together as God's people!!! 

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