The LORD's Day, March 25, 2007

Life’s Journey To Heaven

Psalm 84.1-7

Life is a journey. It ends in one of two places. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7.13-14)

The journey to hell is a horrible one. It has temporal pleasures but ends in destruction. The journey to heaven is an upward journey. It has its difficulties, as we see in this passage, but it is a glorious journey and ends in eternal life with Jesus forever.

The focus of this Psalm is the Dwelling Place of the LORD. The Psalmist is speaking of Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. When Solomon prayed the prayer of dedication for the temple he caught some of the New Covenant: But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built Yet give attention to your servant's prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence. May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.”
(II Chronicles 6.18-20)

We are told in Hebrews 8.5 “They (the priests) serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.

So this intense desire to be in the courts of the LORD is a deeper desire now made clear under the New Covenant to be with Him in heaven.

The Psalmist speaks of the blessedness of the birds. They are close to the altar.

He speaks of the blessedness of those who serve in the House of God. They live there.

He speaks of the blessedness of those who are going up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD. They have much to look forward to and the journey itself is a joy. He calls it pilgrimage. For the Psalmist it was a journey to the Jerusalem here on earth, a shadow of what was to come. For us it is the New Jerusalem, the reality in Christ. For the Psalmist and us it is the sheer delight of being in God’s Presence The Jews journeyed to Jerusalem at the times of the feasts. To this day the Passover ends with, “Next Year in Jerusalem ” For believers this pilgrimage is our life’s journey. When our hearts are set on it, it is blessed We are looking for the New Jerusalem.

1. This Journey is Blessed Because Jesus is The Way
We know where we are going John 14.1-6
We are marching to Zion We are on our way to heaven.

We have fellowship with Him.
We share with Jesus our life and His life. Psalm 86.17 ...You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me... Psalm 61.3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe... Psalm 71.5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth... Psalm 90.1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations...

What a joy to walk with Him

We create good memories as we go

*VBS in Norwalk, CT
*Mission Trip In Dominican Republic
*Going to Billy Graham1969-70/Serving with Billy Graham1990
*Friends from a guy who has a PhD and teaches English at Christian College to a one who has his own boat repair business- friends who are serving the LORD.

2. This Journey is Blessed Because It is a Highway
Isaiah spoke of it. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. Isaiah 35.8

It is above sin and the world. While we battle with the world and sin we do not walk in the way of the world and sin. We travel to heaven on a way that is free to a large degree of the consequences of sin.

We are not completely (like a highway through a congested area - noise and air pollution)) immunized because we still live in the world but we do not have to deal with personal consequences if we are on this way. It is an abundant life.

It bypasses much of the pain and sorrow that people who are on the road that leads to destruction experience. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world. This is because we are following Him. There is a vast difference between that an the sorrow of the transgressor. “...the way of transgressors is hard.” Proverbs 13.15

3. This Journey is Blessed Because We Have Fellowship With Each Other I John 1.7
While there may be some truth in these words:

To dwell above with saints we love, Oh that will be glory
To live below with saints we know, well that’s a different story

There is no other place on earth where you can get the kind of fellowship you do in the church.

Praying by ourselves has its place and benefits. Praying with one another has blessings and joys as well. We experience the joy together of answered prayer.

Recently we have been experiencing this joy. It brings our hearts together. It is sad that artificial means are used to bring life into the church. The church exists in Christ. He is our Life. He is the Life! Praying is one of the things that as we simply put God’s Word concerning it into practice we become what He desires for us. Praying builds up our faith together. We experience that communion and comradery that is uniquely the church’s. Next Saturday I’ll be at a track meet at my old High School. It will be great to see old friends but it is nothing like the church of Jesus Christ. We share the deep issues of life.

We share A Common Book, God’s Word.
We are all reading, studying, meditating on God’s Eternal Word. W have fellowship around it. We quote it to each other. We talk about it. We encourage each other with it. It is our way of life.

Bearing One Another’s burdens.
I am finding out that one of the greatest things the church can do is listen. You know that is something we are losing the art of in our rapid fire high tech world. One of the reasons I enjoyed visiting China is that we all sat around and talked after dinner. We listened to one another.

When we listen to a brother or sister we are imitating God as we are told to do in Ephesians 5.1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Be imitators of God.


4. This Journey is Blessed Because It is mapped out for us in God’s Word.
Psalm 139.16 All the days ordained for me were written in Your Book before one of them came to be.
We know the end He is the Alpha and Omega. He is the Word of God

If you begin following the LORD at a young age as I did, you have directions and
promises for all of life. I love the early words of the Book of Proverbs- a real father to son talk.

But really no matter where you begin your walk with the LORD the Word of God has directions for you.

General Directions like “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Specific Directions like if we are going through a time of trouble or a time of great abundance.

A fool need not err therein.

5. This Journey Is Blessed Because Of Where it Ends

The journey of life for the believer ends with Life It ends with Jesus It is being with Him forever

Heaven is awaiting everyone who is journeying with Jesus. He is taking us there.

I love what is probably the last words Paul the Apostle wrote:

II Timothy 4.6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

This journey ends with a crown. Finish it and you have won

This journey ends with a glad welcome home. II Peter 1.10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Eternal Possessions.

He goes on : 12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

He will soon put aside the tent of the body. The LORD Jesus Christ made it clear to Peter. His departure- the close of his career ( I like those words )... Peter was going home to a rich welcome.

This journey will end and it will mean glory for all who have longed for His appearing.

Every once in a while I get these bursts of desire to depart and go to be with the LORD. They have been getting more intense as time has gone on. My journey and yours will end one day. We will be with the LORD forever

Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Finish well. Keep the faith. It won’t be long until we are with Jesus...

Two hymns as we close...
When We See Christ
When We All Get To Heaven



The LORD’s Day
March 25, 2007

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
Life’s Journey To Heaven Psalm 84.1-7

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 87-89
Monday- Men’s Prayer Meeting- 6:30am
Wednesday- Bible Study- 7:30pm at the parsonage Psalm 87-89
Thursday- Bible Study- 10:30am at the church Psalm 87-89

Next Lord’s Day- Palm Sunday
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children) The LORD’s Supper Served

Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. leaves for Iraq next month (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter doing better, facing surgery this week. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer. Sonya, Albert and Anka’s niece in Canada results on the biopsy were negative Praise the LORD Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Praise God for a good report on Judy Mucci. She continues on Chemotherapy. Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson recovering from a heart attack last Sunday. He is doing well and is thankful for all the prayers offered for him. Pray for Eloise Brooks and Jean Louis as both are on dialysis.
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*A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503
*If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see Alice Gordon.

Good Friday Service- 2pm, April 6th
Early Morning Services -6:30am Each day of Holy Week


Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
Life’s Journey To Heaven
Psalm 84.1-7




Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God