Blessings in 3 places

Can we be thankful for our blessings on the earth?

Can we count some of these blessings?

How about blessings in heavenly places?

Can they be counted, too?

Are there to be future blessings in heaven?

Could we learn about these and offer thanks in advance?

ON EARTH

Wouldn't it be nice to have our sins forgiven and our bodies healed?

"Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?'

But so that you may know that the Son of Man [Jesus] has authority on the earth to forgive sins..."

He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home."

And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. Luke 5:23-25

Is any one of you sick?

He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick.

The Lord will raise him up.

If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. James 5:14-15

And He [Jesus] told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

and in His name repentance [to think differently about the Lord so we turn to Him to change us] and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem." Luke 24:46-47

IN HEAVENLY PLACES

Most of us want to achieve something so that we don't feel that our lives have been a waste.

Are we followers of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Might it be enough for Him to say to us, "Follow Me."? John 21:19-22

Would it be easier to follow Him if we KNEW that we have spiritual blessings and position from the Father through Jesus?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:3

Paul also wrote that we're SEATED WITH HIM.

But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy,

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses.

It is by grace you have been saved!

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6

Where is Jesus? 

He sits at the Father's right hand Psalm 110:1; Mark 12:36 and we can look to Him there. Hebrews 12:2

Since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

We can do this INSTEAD of to envy others and strive to get ahead of them. James 3:14-16  

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

We can think about some of what the Lord Jesus Christ has been given at the Father's right hand. Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:1

"Lord, please help me to know Your power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

You are my hiding place and my shield; I put my hope in Your word. Psalm 119:114

To know these truths about spiritual blessings and place with the Lord Jesus Christ might inspire us.

We could DO His word. James 1:22

Put others first. Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3

Take the lowest place. Mark 9:33-35; Luke 14:7-11 

Invite the husbandman, God the Father, to trim our branches so that Jesus the Vine will increase John 3:30 and we'll bear more fruit. John 15:1-5 

Jesus might say to us, 

"Here are some words to live by so that you follow Me and show fruit while you're still on the earth."

Love must be sincere.

Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

Share with the saints [God the Father's people] who are in need.

Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

There could be 13 good things in those verses to keep us busy.

We could try one a day and see what happens.

IN HEAVEN

There have been believers who claim that they visited heaven where the throne of the Father and the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ are. Revelation 4:1-3; 5:11-15

Paul wasn't sure if he was in his physical body when this happened. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

Others in our generation have stated that they went to heaven or their child did.

They've returned to tell us about some things.

Some doubt it.

The good news is that real believers will someday get to live in the dwelling places that Jesus is preparing for them.

In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I [Jesus] have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3

If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men. 1 Corinthians 15:19

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2

I [Paul] am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. Philippians 1:23

Can we believe the Bible's words about heaven?

Some of them include:

Street of pure gold, gates of pearl, precious stones, river of the water of life, tree of life with its fruit, angels, 4 living creatures,

hidden manna, white stone, new name, white horses, 24 elders, great cloud of witnesses, heavenly Jerusalem, Father, Lamb [Jesus], and the Spirit. Hebrews 12:1, 22-24; Revelation 1:4-5; 2:17; 4:4, 6-8, 10; 5:11; 19:11-14; 21:19-21; 22:1-2

You and I may have some personal beliefs about heaven such as a place of service made for children Luke 18:16 with the last being first and the first last, Matthew 19:28-30; Mark 9:35 companion animals, and such like that could be interesting Bible studies.

BUT isn't the most important truth we can believe NOW is HOW to make sure that we're ready to get there?

DOOR TO HEAVEN

After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.

"The time is fulfilled," He said, "and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!" Mark 1:14-15

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:3

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son [Jesus], that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17

"Truly, truly, I tell you," Jesus declared, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John 8:58

I [Jesus] and the Father are one. John 10:30

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

Jesus replied, "Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me?

Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?" John 14:9; Colossians 2:9

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

that if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:8-9

For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:12-13

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, brothers [and sisters], strive to make your calling and election sure.

For if you practice these things you will never stumble,

and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-11

Let's ENJOY the blessings provided by the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3-8; 2:4-10

Therefore, stop boasting in men [people]. All things are yours,

whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas [Peter] or the world or life or death or the present or the future.

All of them belong to you,

and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

Your thoughts?

R. Jason