So this is our “Hope”, our “Faith”, in our Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven is sounding sweeter everyday!
Do you feel like you can hardly wait? Are you excited? What a glorious day it will be when my Jesus I shall see!
Heaven!!! What a wonderful word. When the word "heaven" is spoken or read, many wonderful images come to mind. Streets of gold, imposing walls, glorious homes for each of God's people, all in a city of fantastic light. No more tears, pain, sorrow or death.
But we know that heaven is much more than a place to spend eternity. It is also the place where God and Jesus Christ the Lamb live. Where we don't have to see darkly as through a smoked glass, but where we can see our Lord and Redeemer face to face. He promises that forever, "They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." (Rev. 21:3) What a fabulous promise!
In Matt. 6:33 Jesus says, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven
Gen. 28:11 When [Jacob] reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven."
Who may dwell with God?
Ps. 15:1~~~
LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
Isa. 35:1~~~~
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
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.
No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isa. 66:1 This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.
And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
Diana Houk
© October 10, 2008
Jesus Faith was in God the Father, as Jesus went about doing the will of the Father God in Healing, Deliverance, & teaching Only one way to the Father God is in & through him. (The greatest act of Faith (AND LOVE) was when Jesus died on the cross believing (knowing) he would rise from the dead on the third day.)
Abraham introduced himself as:
“The Father of many while at that time (17 YEARS) he had NO CHILDREN”
(Abraham believed & trusted God that what he had promised he would bring to pass.)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had faith:
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it”. (Their Faith in God was so that if they died in the fire, they would die serving God & not bowing down to any other God.) And when they came out of the fire (alive) they didn’t even smell like smoke!
Noah was 480 years old when God told him to build an Ark and 600 (120 years trusting God) when the Flood came, Noah had never seen rain so he trusted God for something he didn’t even know existed! (Most Christians don’t have the patience or “Faith” to wait 120 years for the manifestation of what they are believing for).
David & Goliath:
David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear; He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. (David was the most unlikely to succeed being the youngest & the smallest, but he was going in the Power & Defense of the Almighty God)
Moses:
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided." (Over 3 million wanted to turn back to bandage when they saw the red sea) (Moses still trusted God (Faith. Then while receiving the 10 commandments Moses still trusted God by Faith.)
Daniel:
Prayer was what Daniel knew. Daniel had a made up mind and an extraordinary spirit of excellence. Daniel was a prayer warrior & he would kneel (on his knees) to pray 3 times a day & prayed & give thanks to his God. Daniel had the favor of God on his life. Daniel had a relationship with God.
Hebrews 11
By Faith We Understand
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
The Heavenly Hope
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland (Heaven). And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” Concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as [though] on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing they were swallowed (drowned) up by the sea.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
In the Old Testament, in Joshua chapter 6, we have an account of the Israelites defeating the city of Jericho when they came into the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. According to the biblical account, after the Israelites marched around the city once a day for six days, on the seventh day they encircled the city seven times. On the seventh time around, the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted and the walls fell flat. The story in the Bible goes on to say that when the walls collapsed, the Israelites stormed the city and set it on fire. Archaeologists found evidence for a massive destruction by fire just as the Bible relates.
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned; they were sawn in two, were tempted, and were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, having obtained a good testimony through faith. Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].
Diana Houk
© October 7, 2008
Jesus Faith was in God the Father, as Jesus went about doing the will of the Father God in Healing, Deliverance, & teaching Only one way to the Father God is in & through him. (The greatest act of Faith (AND LOVE) was when Jesus died on the cross believing (knowing) he would rise from the dead on the third day.)
Abraham introduced himself as:
“The Father of many while at that time (17 YEARS) he had NO CHILDREN”
(Abraham believed & trusted God that what he had promised he would bring to pass.)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had faith:
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it”. (Their Faith in God was so that if they died in the fire, they would die serving God & not bowing down to any other God.) And when they came out of the fire (alive) they didn’t even smell like smoke!
Noah was 480 years old when God told him to build an Ark and 600 (120 years trusting God) when the Flood came, Noah had never seen rain so he trusted God for something he didn’t even know existed! (Most Christians don’t have the patience or “Faith” to wait 120 years for the manifestation of what they are believing for).
David & Goliath:
David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear; He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. (David was the most unlikely to succeed being the youngest & the smallest, but he was going in the Power & Defense of the Almighty God)
Moses:
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided." (Over 3 million wanted to turn back to bandage when they saw the red sea) (Moses still trusted God (Faith. Then while receiving the 10 commandments Moses still trusted God by Faith.)
Daniel:
Prayer was what Daniel knew. Daniel had a made up mind and an extraordinary spirit of excellence. Daniel was a prayer warrior & he would kneel (on his knees) to pray 3 times a day & prayed & give thanks to his God. Daniel had the favor of God on his life. Daniel had a relationship with God.
Hebrews 11
By Faith We Understand
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
The Heavenly Hope
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland (Heaven). And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” Concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as [though] on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing they were swallowed (drowned) up by the sea.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.
In the Old Testament, in Joshua chapter 6, we have an account of the Israelites defeating the city of Jericho when they came into the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. According to the biblical account, after the Israelites marched around the city once a day for six days, on the seventh day they encircled the city seven times. On the seventh time around, the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted and the walls fell flat. The story in the Bible goes on to say that when the walls collapsed, the Israelites stormed the city and set it on fire. Archaeologists found evidence for a massive destruction by fire just as the Bible relates.
By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned; they were sawn in two, were tempted, and were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, having obtained a good testimony through faith. Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].
