The Truth About Easter
God Never Panics, He Has a Plan – Part 2
Romans 14:9-11, TLB; Matthew 3:16-17, NKJV; Matthew 5:3, NKJV; Matthew 7:11, NKJV; Deuteronomy 11:21, NKJV: Matthew 6:9-10, NKJV)
Part of God’s plan is for us to enjoy some of heaven while we are here on earth.
We will all face the test of life and death. (Romans 14:9-11, TLB)
We will all be tested on Who and How we live our life.
The Test will include Books and the Book.
Because Jesus died and rose we will all appear before Him for a least two judgements. (Revelation 20:11-15, NCV)
First Judgement (Test) is by the Books. (Works without faith)
People who don’t really have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ will be cast in the lake of fire. (Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV)
Second Judgment (Test) is by the Book. (Revelation 20:14-15, NKJV)
Jesus is the only way to get your name written in the Book.
The only people who will be allowed into Heaven and stay in heaven are the ones who have put their faith in the slain Lamb of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV; John 6:40, NKJV; James 2:19, NKJV; John 3:16-17, NKJV)
Experiencing heaven on earth is some of the greatest experiences in life. (Matthew 28:1-8, NKJV)
Mary experienced some of the most exciting news and miracles in her life and God is still in the most exciting news and miracle business.
Experiencing heaven while here on earth most often involves us doing our part to furthering God’s Kingdom.
Most people don’t experience Heaven while on earth because they are not willing to pay the price. (Matthew 13;43-46, NKJV)
The common denominator to having the Kingdom of heaven while here on earth is the price it cost.
The one common results of having the Kingdom of Heaven we experience the power and value to answer and meet ever need in our life.
Understanding the value of the Kingdom of God meeting every need in our life should lead us to selling and removing anything that is getting in our way of getting the Kingdom of God.
What is the real problem?
Most people come to church for what they can get not what they can give. (Acts 20:35, NKJV; Luke 19:10, NKJV; Mark 8:35-36, NKJV; Romans 1:21, NCV; Romans 1:24-31, NCV)
The reason most people are missing out on heaven while here on earth they are selfish and not willing to pay the price.
How can we experience some heaven while still here on earth?
Be willing to pay the price by being prepared. (Matthew 25:1-13, NKJV; Matthew 6:33-34, NKJV; Mark 8:34-37, NCV)
Sermon Video Transcription
James Greer: 00:00 Amen. What a story that is. Hey, let’s welcome our Alexandria campus. Amen? Whoo. Hey Alexandria, I want them to learn today how to have some heaven while they’re still here on earth. Amen? And guess what Pineville? I want you to learn that. You’re here talking about anxiety, and I want you to know one of the greatest causes of anxiety and pressure is we worry so much about what other people say about us. And what we’re going to learn today is, when we can learn more about what God says about us, is we quit worrying so much about what other people say about us.
James Greer: 00:33 Hey, you know we’re going to, Journey Church is getting together for a trip for Israel. If you’re interested in that, you can check it off in your bulletin, or you can talk to Heather about it afterwards. I mean, hey, that was [inaudible] and there’s good food there too. Amen. Of course we got to have the food, but like I said, if you’re interested in that trip, you can just check it off and they’ll contact you and see you about going there.
James Greer: 00:56 Well, like I said, hey, God never panics because God always has a plan. We have a key verse that I want to read is Romans 14:9-11 and it says this, “Christ died and he rose again.” That’s what Easter’s all about, right? The death, burial and resurrection, and say, Amen? You all going to enjoy Easter this year? Easter’s all about Christ is not dead, he is alive. And the verse said, “Christ died and he rose again for this very purpose.” The very purpose of Easter as Jesus was not dead, but he is alive. Amen? “So that he can be the lord both while we live and when we die.” Now see, what you know is death is not the end of life, death is the beginning of life. And see if we’re not careful, we forget that death’s the beginning of life. See eternity, we’re going to spend somewhere. Jesus says, hey, I want to be the Lord over the living and the dead. And it proves that the death, burial, resurrection, that he wants you to spend it with him.
James Greer: 02:01 But he also wants us to learn something today, I want you to learn today, that God prays. He told us to pray, that we can actually learn to enjoy some heaven while we’re still here on earth, but he wants us to settle for sure that one day we’re going to heaven. Amen? And it goes on and says, “You have no right to criticize your brothers, and look down on them. Remember, each of us will go stand personally before the judgment seat of Christ.” I am, you are, we all are. “For is written as I live, sayeth the Lord, every knee shall bow before me, and every tongue shall confess.” Now, I’m not going to preach on that today, because I’m going to teach today, how to enjoy some heaven while you’re here on earth. But let me tell you what, if you’re not sure you’re going to go to heaven, you don’t get to enjoy the heaven while you’re here on earth. Amen?
James Greer: 02:49 I’m not going to talk about in Revelation chapter twenty it talks about there’s books, plural, that have everything you’ve ever done written in them. And there is book, which is the lamb’s book of life. The books is where you judge by your works and you live life and you’re frustrated, and you’re always tired, because you’re trying to work and get yourself into heaven. You won’t get there that way. And there’s the book in Revelation Chapter 22 verses eleven through fifteen that says, hey, your name is in there because of the lamb Book of Life, Jesus Christ. Okay? But Jesus is making it very clear, it does matter what we do while we’re here on earth. The truth is the devil will try to get you to focus more on what’s going on here on earth, and what other people are saying while you’re here on earth, where you will miss having some heaven while you’re here on earth.
James Greer: 03:44 The message is so important today. I went through most of my Christian life, never really understanding that I could just have some heaven while I’m here on earth. I thought I had to wait till I got to heaven to really enjoy heaven. But the truth is that is not biblical. The truth is God said, hey, if we can really listen to this message today, if we can listen to learn and apply this message today, me and you can learn to enjoy some of heaven while we’re here on earth. Now listen, some of us are ready for some heaven while we’re here on earth because you’ve been through enough hell. Amen? Okay, alright.
James Greer: 04:21 God doesn’t panic, God has a plan. Part of God’s plan is to teach us how to have some heaven while we’re here on earth. And in Matthew six verse nine, “The disciples, they come to Jesus and say, Jesus teaches how to pray.” They knew that Jesus had some kind of intimate relationship with the father. It was like when Jesus prayed, things happened. Amen? I mean, and they did. I mean Jesus could take, you know, he could take two fish and feed 5,000 I mean, the blind could see, the crippled could walk, the dead would come alive. There’s something about when Jesus prayed, things happened. Amen? And the disciples said, Jesus, teach us to pray. And he says, okay, I will. And he said, in this manner, therefore pray. He says, whose father? Whose father? So right now, right of the bat, he’s trying to tell me and he’s trying to tell you, and he’s trying to tell the disciples, he is now our father. See?, so long before that, in the Old Testament, it seemed like he was such a distant father. It seemed like you had to go through priests, and you had to sacrifice lambs, before you could ever come into the presence of God. And Jesus says, now my father is your father. Isn’t it great to know you got a daddy in heaven. I mean, don’t you know that he’s not only a father, but my father’s in heaven and hallowed be thy name. He said, listen, I want you to see him different. I want you to know that no matter where you go, no matter what you do, you’ve got a father now. Your father will be with you if you’re at church, he’s going to be with you at Monday, he’s going to be with you when you’re away, and he’s going to be with them when they’re deployed. Amen. Thank goodness you got a father. Amen? And not only do you have a father, you’ve got a father that said hallowed be thy name. And hallowed be thy name means he’s a reverent God, he’s an awesome guy, he’s a mighty God.
James Greer: 06:04 But it’s a god that says, when they said, who do you say that I am? God says, I am who I am. He said, just tell him I am is coming. God is whoever he wants to be, whenever he wants to be, and whatever he wants to be. Amen? God, sometimes he’s the God Almighty. Sometimes he’s the God of protection. Sometimes he’s God the provider. Sometimes for ladies, he’s your husband. Sometimes people, he is our father. But he said, listen, I want you to know he’s your daddy, and he’s the hallowed be your name. You can never read that the same way when you understand that Jesus was trying to tell them, I want you to know you’ve got a father in heaven that has the power to meet every need in your life.
James Greer: 06:43 Then he said, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is where? Did you know that Jesus said, hey disciples, I want you to know it’s okay. I want you to know, I want you to start praying. I want you to pray that you can finally have some heaven while you’re here on earth. I want you to know Journey Church, you watching online, Alexandria, that you could actually say it’s okay, that Jesus said it’s okay, for me and you to pray to have some heaven while you’re here on earth. Amen? So we can say it’s okay, that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. He taught them to say, hey, I’ve got a father that’s in heaven. And my father has the provisions, the protection, to whatever I need.
James Greer: 07:26 And see, one of the ways you get some heaven while you’re here on earth. Every time you hear from the father, you’re getting to get some heaven while you’re here on earth. I mean, Jesus heard it, Jesus experienced heaven while he was here on earth. I mean in Matthew 3:16 it says this, “And when he, Jesus, had been baptized,” And if you here today, and you’ve never been biblically, publicly, baptized. Man, at the end of the service, you need to come today, and say, man, I am ready to be baptized. “Jesus came up immediately.” How can you come up out of the water unless you go down into the water? People ask me a lot of times, why do we baptize the way we do? Well, a good reason because Jesus had to go down to come up. Amen? That’s a good reason. And immediately, Huh? “And immediately from the water and behold,” What was open? “Heavens, they were open to him, and he saw a spirit of God descending from heaven like a dove, and it lightened upon him.” So in other words, heaven opened up, and so they’re going to get the spirits from heaven while they’re here on earth. “And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying,” Stop for a minute, every time we hear the voice of God from heaven down on Earth, we can experience some heaven while we’re here on earth. And today we actually have God’s word, and stay with me. When you can experience God’s word from heaven, and it confers with the Holy Spirit, and it enlightens you to what God’s doing in your life, you get to experience some heaven while you are here on earth? Amen? And they said, “The voice came from heaven and it said, this is my beloved son who I am well pleased.” I mean he was pleased that his own son got baptized. And I believe it still pleases the father, your father, my father, our father, when we’re baptized. You want experience some heaven? Have you ever been biblically, publicly, baptized? You had to go down and come up, if you haven’t, today’s a great day to do that.
James Greer: 09:28 Did you know in Matthew 5:3, you know what it says? It says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Those seem contrary to me, how can you be blessed and poor? How can you be poor and blessed? How can the Kingdom of Heaven be when you’re poor? It’s because it says, when you’re poor, it means you’ve become totally reliant upon God. When you realize that you have to be totally dependent on God. When you humble yourself and say, God, I have nothing else, I can’t make it on my own. When you’re totally dependent on God, God says, I’m going to meet your needs like never before, and you’re going to experience some heaven. Sometimes the greatest experiences we have in heaven are when we have the greatest, you ready? When we have the greatest needs while we’re here on earth. Sometimes you really don’t know how bad you need God until you have nothing else in here, they said, hey, heaven steps in.
James Greer: 10:23 Matthew 7:11 look at this, I like this, “If you then, being evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. (Me and you.) How much more will your father.” Do you all understand over and over and over Jesus is saying, don’t you know that you’ve got a father that’s in heaven? Don’t you see more and more and more, he said, I want you to have a different relationship, I want you to have an intimate relationship. I want you to know that you’ve got a father, a daddy, in heaven that is going to be with you no matter where you go. A father who is in heaven, and it gives you good things to who? Who ask. In other words, one of the ways you get to experience heaven on earth. You’ve got a father in heaven, when you ask the right thing and he answers those prayers, and you hear a voice from God and he confirms it. Hey man, you’re getting experienced some heaven on earth while you’re still here. He doesn’t want you to wait until Heaven to get to experience some of heaven while you’re here on earth. Amen? Listen, look at Deuteronomy said, Deuteronomy says, “You can have days of heaven. That the days, and the days of your children, they may be multiplied in the land of which your Lord swore upon the follower. To give them like the days of heavens above the earth. He wants us to have some days on earth like heaven above, God does. So what I want you to know is, it’s really clear, God says, I want you to have some heaven while you’re here on earth. He said, it’s okay to pray for it. It’s okay when Jesus was baptized, he got the experience. When you hear the voice of God, even if it’s you’re reading your Bible, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove in your heart, and you confirmed it by God, you’re getting to experience it.
James Greer: 11:59 Did you know the first Easter? You all do know we’re in the Easter season. Amen? Did you know that the first celebration of Easter, that Mary and Mary, they got the experience heaven while they were here on earth. They went thinking it was going to be the worst tragedy that ever found, and it was the greatest triumph they’d ever experienced. Let me give you another example of heaven on earth. It’s in Matthew twenty-eight chapter twenty-eight verses one through eight great experience. It says, “And after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, they came to see the tomb.” Stop right there a minute. What did they come to see? The tomb. They came to see a tomb, they thought that Jesus was dead. And I want you to know before the story is over, he’s not dead, but he’s alive. Some of you all are coming to church every single Sunday like Jesus is dead. Some of you all are living a defeated, discouraged, life instead of a victorious life. Some of you need to stop coming to the tomb.
James Greer: 13:01 Church sometimes used to be like a tomb. I mean, when I used to go to church when I was young, it was like a tomb. Matter of fact, if I smiled too much, my mother would get me. If I laughed, I was in trouble. But listen, we’re not in the tomb. Amen? Don’t come to church seeking a tomb, come to church seeking a risen savior. Amen. Don’t come to church, and live your life, looking for a dead end. No future, no hope, no dream, I mean, he’s not dead, but he’s alive. He’s not in the tomb. Amen? Quit living like that, quit putting yourself through all that hell, quit living like that. Jesus says, I want you to have some heaven while you’re here on earth. Stop living in your past, start living for an exciting future. And most of all stop living in tragedy and defeat, and start living in victory and triumph. Amen?
James Greer: 13:47 Because he said, “And behold, there was a great earthquake and the angel of the Lord descended from heaven. Where did the angel of the Lord descend from? Heaven. They’re fixing the experience some heaven while they’re here on earth. “He came and he rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it” I wish I’d of had time, I got to visit that place when I was in Israel. And next Sunday maybe I can show you the pictures of it, it was great. He didn’t roll the stone back to get Jesus out, Jesus was already out, he rolled the stone back where they could get in. Amen? I mean, I’ll tell you what, I mean it was unbelievable. So God wants us not to live in the past, he doesn’t want you coming to church looking for the dead tomb, he wants you to live a life that is an experience of triumph, not tragedy. And then in verse three, it says, look it says this, “And his countenance, it was the angel. It was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.” And that’s the angel who came from heaven. Amen? “And when the guards shook for the fear of him, and they became like dead men, they just fainted. And the angel answered and said to the women, don’t be afraid.” Listen, I know that you what? Seek Jesus who was crucified. Stop right there a minute. One of the ways that you get the experience heaven while on earth, is when you seek Jesus. I don’t know what’s going on in your life, but I know the answer to your -problem, seek Jesus. The first thing I can tell you, if you’re not experiencing some heaven while you’re here on earth, the first step is to begin to seek Jesus. Amen? And so when you start to begin to seek Jesus, it’s the beginning. It’s one of the keys to begin to understanding experiencing heaven while you’re here on earth.
James Greer: 15:39 Verse six can radically change your life if you’ll allow it. He’s not here, Jesus, he’s not dead, he’s not in the tomb. He’s risen. He overcame death, he defeated Satan. He is what? Risen. Okay, you all ready? As he said. I want you all to get this, if you don’t get anything else today. “He’s not here, he is risen.” Get these three little words, “As he said.” Let’s say them together, as he said. I never saw it before. He said, come to this place where I [inaudible] but I want you to get as he said. Because see Mary and Mary who had an intimate relationship with Jesus, they came to the tomb and had this unbelievable tragedy in their life. And the angel said, I want to remind you what Jesus already said. I want you to remember what he said. See, this could change your life, because when you feel defeated, when you feel discouraged, remember what Jesus said? See, when somebody comes and says something that really hurts you or maybe defeats you, and you’re feeling really discouraged. Quit worrying about what they said, and remember what he said. When we come to the point where we really get this, and we come to the point that no matter what’s going on in life, we need to be reminded of what Jesus said about the situation. It doesn’t matter what we see, it doesn’t matter what we think, it doesn’t matter what we hear, what really matters is what Jesus said about the matter. Amen?
James Greer: 17:02 I’m going to come back to that, because it’s so big, you just can’t imagine how it can change your life. See, they were experiencing some heaven while they’re here on earth. Unbelievable, that they were experiencing this new, exciting, news. They were experiencing a miracle, like unbelievable. Jesus is still in the miracle working business. He still wants to bring good, exciting, news to you like never before. We’ve got to remember, it’s not so much what we think, it’s how we control what we think. It’s not what we see, it’s what God says. It’s not what others say that really matters, we got to continue to remind ourselves, what did Jesus say about the matter? They faced what was going to be a tragedy, he reminded them what Jesus said about the matter. Even though they had seen him crucified and put into a grave, what really mattered? He wasn’t in there, was he? He said, I’m going to live, and he rose from the grave.
James Greer: 18:06 It is so important, if you could learn how to handle what people say to you. Do you understand one of the things that robs your joy, one of the reasons that you don’t have heaven while you’re here on earth. It’s cause she’s been to dad gum much time worrying about what other people say that does not really matter, and you don’t spend enough time worrying about what Jesus says about the matter. That is good Brother James. Amen? Do you get it though? One of the main reasons you’re not experiencing heaven on earth, you’re wasting too much time worried about what other people say that doesn’t really matter, and you’re not spending enough time worried about what Jesus says, which is what really matters.
James Greer: 18:47 So how do you change it? Number one, you separate what people say. You’re ready? From who you are. You separate what people say, from who you are in Christ. Because if you don’t know who you are in Christ, you are allowing other people to determine who you are. And I know way too many people that have grown into adulthood that are still losing all their joy and happiness, because they’re so upset about what somebody else said. When you stay upset about what somebody else says, you’re letting them determine who you are instead of Christ. Oh James, this is good, whoo, I’m preaching it now. I can change your life. You’re going to have to quit worrying about it. I’d go home and say that I can’t believe at work what somebody said something. Big deal, man. What did Jesus say. I mean, the real truth is, I mean, I love my wife, my wife loves me. We’re one big happy family most of the time. But even when we’re not, that doesn’t determine who I am. If I’m upset with Debbie, Debbie is upset with me, that’s still not who I am. Man, I am who Christ said I am. What’s the first thing you got to do man? You all better be getting this, it’s going to change your life. Do you want to change or do you just want to come to church? Do you just want to try, or do you want to train and do you want to change? Okay, so the first thing you’re going to do when somebody says something to you, you’re going to separate from what they said from who you are. Amen?
James Greer: 20:04 Alright, second thing you do, the second thing you do is you don’t continue to play the negative things in your mind that you heard. You know, they went to the tomb. They could’ve said, no, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead. And they said, hey, don’t you remember? No, no, no, no, no, he’s dead. No, no, no, he’s alive. So you don’t focus on he’s dead. Now, what you focus on is what? He’s alive. So you don’t keep focusing on the negative things, you break that record and you start focusing on the positive thing. Nobody can control your mind but you. Do you want to keep controlling what somebody said, our are you going to focus on what Jesus said? I tell you what you do, remind yourself over and over what Jesus said. Amen? What did the Angel tell Mary and Mary? Hey, do you remember what Jesus said? The Angel reminded Mary and Mary, he’s not dead, he’s alive, just as he said he would be. Separate what they said from who you are in Christ. Don’t repeat the negative, but learn, learn for your good. Whatever’s said, learn for your good. Not to hurt you, but if there’s something good, learn from it. Amen? Change your life. I’m telling you what, if you all learn this one thing, you’ll have a better marriage, you’ll have a better relationship. You can then enjoy some heaven while you’re on earth. Amen?
James Greer: 21:18 Okay, this is how you know who you are, you all ready? I’m not going to get to preach this whole thing. It doesn’t matter. This is probably the most important thing. Did you come this morning, and you were more upset about what somebody has said to you or about you this week, then you are about what Christ said, who you are? That tells us where you are spiritually, it’s that easy. If you’ve been spending more time talking about what somebody else said about you, and you’ve been more upset about what somebody else said or did to you, instead of focusing on who you are in Christ and what he said. You’re not where you should be, and you’re allowing the devil to rob your heaven while you’re here on earth, and that’s what he wants you to do.
James Greer: 22:00 Okay, let’s go. Whew, there is no greater joy than to know whose you are, who you are, and what you’re to do. Matthew 28:7 let’s go on. That was all for free. Now they learned who they were, they know whose they were. In verse seven of Matthew twenty eight, now they’re going to learn what they were to do. “The Angel tells them, go quickly.” Now they’re getting the message. “Go quickly, and you go tell the disciples that he is risen from the dead.” They found out who they were, whose they were. Now they know what they were to do. And go to Galilee and there he’ll see you, behold, have I not told you? So they went quickly from the tomb with great joy, they ran to the disciples. Guess what? When we’re doing what God told us to do, the way that he told us do. We’ll not only experience great joy, that’s part of experiencing heaven while you’re here on earth. Amen?
James Greer: 22:59 Okay, I got a rock. Hmm? Why don’t most people get to experience it? You just learned one of the greatest reasons. You’re more worried about what other people say, them what God says, right? The second reason I’m going to show you in the bible. The first reason you’re more concerned with what other people say than what God says. If you don’t get anything else, where are you going to get? When I lose my joy, when I don’t have heaven on earth, one of the first reason is I’m more worried about what other people say than what God said. I even Mary, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, the angel had to remind them what Jesus said. So I’m trying to remind you when you get upset to remind yourself of what Jesus said about the situation. Amen?
James Greer: 23:44 Number two, number two. Second reason you don’t want to pay the price, you just don’t want to pay the price it would take to experience heaven while you’re here on earth. Jesus taught about it in Matthew 13:43. He taught why most people don’t experience it. He said, hey, then the righteous, they’re going to shine forth as sun in the Kingdom of the father. I can tell you, I’m not going to preach on that one right now, but when you’re right with God, you have a different countenance, you all ready? On earth and in heaven. There will be different degrees in heaven, and people will shine like different stars in heaven. Anyway, he who has ears, let him hear. That’s what I want you to know. If you have ears today, hear. Amen? What does he want you to hear? The Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that was hidden in a field. Which a man, then when he found it hid for the joy over it, he goes and he sells all that he has and buys the field. Okay? And again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking a beautiful pearls. What did he do? Well, who when he had found the one pearl with great price, he went, he sold all that he had, and he bought it. Can I ask you a question? What was Jesus teaching about? What was the common denominator? The Kingdom of Heaven, and how to have it. He was teaching, Hey, I’m giving you a parable, I’m giving you a picture. I’m trying to give you a lesson, how to have the Kingdom of Heaven, that was the common denominator. What was the second common denominator? The price you had to pay. What was the third common denominator? The great rewards you get. They all said, hey, it’s worth selling everything I have because of the joy that it brings. It’s teaching the Kingdom of Heaven has the…you ready? Are you all ready? The answer is amen. Are you ready? It’s teaching that the Kingdom of Heaven has the power and value to meet any and every need in your life. It’s teaching, if you really understood what I was teaching today, you would sell or remove anything in your life that keeps you from experiencing heaven while you’re here on earth. Brother James, whoo, we’re preaching today if you all don’t know it man. You all are getting something that you can change your life, and the gates of hell cannot even prevail. Amen? Let’s rock it man.
James Greer: 25:54 So what’s the problem? What did I tell you, what’s the problem? Number one. Number one, you’re too worried about what other people say to you and about you. Second of all, most people are not willing to what? Pay The price. Three, most people go through life, whether it’s here or church, for what they can get, not what they can give. Yet, the Bible says it’s more blessed to give than to receive. I told you about the recent survey that did with the congregations and pastors. Same question, what’s the church for? The pastors says, to seek and save the lost, which is what Jesus said. The congregation said, it’s to meet my needs. And so therefore, it proves you see, it’s just what I said. So you cannot experience heaven while you’re here on earth until, you’re willing to do several things. As we get ready to close, Trey, because we’re running out of time doggonit. Okay, number one, worrying so much about what everybody else said. Everybody here has let that bother them this week. Now just come and confess it here in a minute, all right? Second of all, say, hey, I’m willing to pay the price with my time, my energy, and my tithe. Third of all, learn is more blessed to give, than it is to receive. Stop being so daggum selfish.
James Greer: 27:19 Fourth, and most important, you ready? You can’t experience heaven on earth, until you have a little heaven in you. The first experience of heaven in you, when you accept Christ, the Holy Spirit from heaven, descends and lives in you. So if you don’t have heaven in you, you can experience heaven while you’re here on earth? So if you’ve never done that, in just a moment when I give the invitation, you need to come and make sure that you are basing your faith of going to heaven on the blood of Jesus Christ. So you say hey, I want to do that. Man, did you see that God, the father, descended a dove from heaven when his son was baptized, said, that’s my beloved son whom I’m well pleased. If you’ve never been biblically baptized since you were saved, today is the day to do that.
James Greer: 28:09 Maybe you’re here today, and you are like Mary and Mary, they ran to the tomb, and you are just living in tragedy and defeat. You need to be reminded today, whatever the problem is you’re going through, you need to be reminded today. What’s Jesus say about it? Maybe you came fearful today, and you need to be reminded that God didn’t give you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of sound mind. Maybe you said, I just can’t keep going, and Christ said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Maybe you came and you said, well, I just worry, worry, worry. No, no, no, he said, cast all your cares on me, because I care for you. See, some of you just need to be reminded what Jesus said about your situation, and you don’t need to go home the same way. Some of you maybe need to come and join this church, come rededicate your life. Some of you need to ask for forgiveness. Some of you know people you need to go and ask for forgiveness.
James Greer: 29:05 So if you’d stand and let me pray with you and pray for you. God will allow you, he’ll tell you, the holy spirit, the heaven is living in you, ask him. God, I just thank you for our church. I thank you for our people. God, most of all, I thank you for your son Jesus Christ. I thank you that we can have some heaven while we’re here on earth. I thank you that we can have the holy spirit that lives in us. I thank you that we have your word, and our word, and the Holy Spirit can confirm that you in heaven or our Father. God, I pray that everybody here today would relax, if you’ve got the father. If you don’t have God as your father, that you had come and settle that. If you came and you’re worried that the hallowed be thy name, that you’d let your daddy take care of the problems. If you have a provision, let your daddy take care of it. If you need protection, let your daddy take care of it. You know and one of the ways we get to experience heaven while on Earth, he said his father knows how to give us good gifts. It’s through prayer, and maybe you have a prayer that you need God to answer this morning, what a great time to come. So whatever God has laid upon your heart, would you come today, and let God have his will and his way. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Recorded in Pineville, Louisiana.