The Wonder of Heaven
by Raymond Sloan
February 3, 2019 · Cornerstone Apostolic Church
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Revelation 21:1-7, Revelation 21:9-14, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, Acts 2:38, Revelation 21:19-27

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/raymond-sloan--the-wonder-of-heaven
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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would you pray with me all over this house Lord today we are thankful for your word we are thankful for worship thankful Lord God that your will is accomplished in our lives today one more time Lord we come to you expecting Lord to hear from your word in the name of Jesus I make myself available again one more time into your hand Lord fill us today God let us hear from heaven be like a little Maria chandelle on let us hear from you today Jesus we love you Lord and we trust you can we give Him praise right now come out lift your voice to him I love you Jesus how would be thy name King of glory yes Jesus see Manny man somebody say in Jesus name praise God thank you singers musicians thank you so much for leading us in worship aren't you thankful that worship get you close to him he man you may be seated thank you so much for standing again to our guests I welcome you so honored that you have come today thankful to be in the house of the Lord on the Sunday it was the seventh century BC but a series of walls began to be built in the larger cities of the then-known today is China in an attempt to keep out invading armies and also to protect their trade routes countless men and women and children spent great portions of their lives and time and and the finances they had to construct walls that would surround their cities they would use brick they would tamp earth they would use stone in mud they would they would do various ways to depending on the city to put materials together to try to use to keep the enemies from overrunning them to keep their community strong to survive it would be known for the centuries upon centuries that would follow as simply the Great Wall of China a barrier between kingdoms of the Chinese and the intruders that were trying to take away their power if you will generations have common generations have gone but the Great Wall of China still stands today as a symbol of a collective working over centuries of time the Great Wall of China nestled in a slope of the Jabal al mammoth mountain basin there lies a historical masterpiece thought to have been accomplished in the 7th century BC a nomadic group of jordanian sheep herders found a dwelling place that had a rock formation that could be they could use to assemble themselves together so that they could survive by capturing rainwater in the desert of course you need water to survive in the presence of water is paramount so this group of traveling tent dweller stopped and they formed a community of settlers one of their chief skills of the men were rock carving they had the ability to chip away at stone and rock and in an artistic way that they could form great pieces of rock fortifications with a a slight flare if you will so in the face of a rock cliff the sculptors begin their task as it turns out the purpose of carving this face of the wall was a burial place for one of their leaders who had passed what would be known in the country of Jordan there there lies an incredible scene of rugged and dangerous series of cliffs but right in the middle of that seemingly useless piece of real estate there are a series of tombs and they have survived the centuries of time in the Millenial if you will a name that is called simply petra the rock is a sight to behold once you have trekked the mile and plus to get back through the winding paths that lead to it you're going to want to see the rock formation simply called petra in 19 and 22 in the mountain range of Corcovado and brazil the project began by a french sculptor and a Brazilian engineer high above the bustling city of Rio de Janeiro a site was chosen to put together a symbol of peace and tranquility so as the artists and the engineers and the workers begin their task they would spend many man-hours - to complete what was considered to be a great task if you will in the year of 19 and 31 the dedication ceremony was held so that the whole world could see simply Christ the Redeemer over 120 feet tall from the base to the top of the head made out of soap stone and concrete reinforced with steel and rebar magnificent to behold Christ the Redeemer multitudes in fact will gather every year even to this year and they will see this great presentation of Jesus Christ at almost 8000 feet above sea level in the southern mountain range in Peru there lies a historical find that amazes even the wisest archaeologists thought to be a living quarters for one of the Inka Inka Imperials if you will Picacho e in the early 1400 it has said that the structure was built to honor a conquering leader so as the house and surrounding buildings were constructed it was noticed that there was very proponent to this space that was nestled into the mountain there was a temple that was built there under the Sun God there was a worship room of three windows that faced certain points of significance for this said religion at that time also they had watering systems they had gardens that would support those who stay with me that lived in that area it is known today as machu picchu it's an estate that was built for royalty it stands today as a symbol of a bygone era of homage paid to leadership on the Yucatan Peninsula in the 7th century AD a village was established and it would be connected together simply for a sole purpose of religious ceremonies and the headquarters for one of the military armors of armors armies of that day excuse me structures structures were built with intricate details carved into the walls and inscriptions of military maneuvers for those who would serve in the military that would come after them stone and rock would be compiled into exact angles to accommodate a sound structural edification there was a temple there was warriors gate the watering hole a troop garrison places a stargazing platform all to make up this amazing chicha Easter it's the city that was supported by the Mayan culture details of unparalleled civilizations lived in that particular day there were human sacrifices done there there were religious ceremonies there was military might going on it was a society in history but it no longer exists then the Flavian dynasty and the time frame of 70 a.d brought to life a structure that would baffle any student of architecture and design a Coliseum that would see 80,000 plus guests gladiators would fight on the floor level for all to witness plays speeches even events like mock sea battles would be seen there on the floor of the Coliseum and Romans built it it was a mammoth of a structure that was built simply by the spoils that were taken from Jerusalem it is said that the fall of the then Christian City the way that was taken is what they invested to make this building called the Coliseum rare beautiful as it is multitudes of lives were lost there as this Coliseum structure was put together a river bound city of Agra and India's there is buried a wife of a past emperor of the Shah home because of his love and his favour that he had for his wife the leader wanted to entomb the love of his life in a way that would not soon be forgotten so in white marble and gardens beyond compare the emperor had over 20,000 workers that worked over ten years to construct this particular place that would simply entombed his dead wife his late wife Mumtaz Mahal a resting place that's compared to no other simply known today as the Taj Mahal at a cost comparison this place today would cost 825 million dollars to construct its beauty and its decor are mind-blowing but all it was established for was simply a mausoleum for this man's wife here what I'm saying today I simply stand here and I have described to you in such a basic way what is called in our generation as the seven wonders of the world each one of these that I mentioned to you of course the detail and the history is too great for me to even talk about today from this podium but I've come to tell somebody that the generations upon generations the cultures the societies the languages in every district and in in every place and in every community that was put together I've come to tell you that they are wonders of beauty yes they are they are wonders of value yes they are they are wonders of craftsmanship yes they are they are wonders of purpose indeed it is true if they are truly remarkable and they are preceded to be put upon the list of the seven wonders of the world but I stand here to this podium one more time on this Sunday to describe to you the real wonder Revelation 21 verse 1 says this simply and I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first Earth were passed away and there was no more sea and I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a great voice out of heaven saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away and he that sat upon the throne said behold I make all things new listen to me friend of mine I stand at this desk today to proclaim that although the seven wonders of the earth of our world are great there is nothing to compare with the wonder of heaven I've come today to tell somebody and remind the AMA that there is still a plan that God started from the foundation of the world and it simply says this he said unto me as John said it is done I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely he that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son I've come to declare to somebody that's great and as magnificent as the Eiffel Tower maybe as the Leaning Tower Pisa maybe as Christ the Redeemer maybe it doesn't matter what you talk about all planet earth there is nothing like the wonder of heaven there is nothing to compare to the wonders of heaven there came unto me one of the steps stay with me one of the seven angels which hath which had the seven vials of the seven last plagues and talked with me saying come hither I will show you the bride the Lambs wife carrying me away in the spirit of great in high mountain having the glory it showed me that great city the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having the glory of God and her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a Jasper stone clear as crystal and had a wall great and high in twelve gates in the gates twelve angels and names written thereon which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel on the east three gates on the North three gates on the South three gates on the west three gates anybody follow me in the scripture the wall of the city had twelve foundations in in them the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb I've come to tell somebody remind somebody today that is great and as magnificent as man can make something and all the time and the finances and the money that's involved in building something whether it's a mausoleum for a dead wife or whether it's carved out of a rocks in the side of a mountain I've come to tell somebody today heaven is the true wonder and I've come to ask somebody today has something happened in your life over the last seven days that it's caused you to begin to question the wonder of heaven is there something that has distracted you and brought your attention to the things of this earth more than the things of heaven is there something happening in your life right now that's causing you to struggle and to wonder is God really in charge of my life does he truly love me why is it then that I'm going through what I'm going through I've come today to help somebody realize and understand regardless of what's going on on planet earth this world is still not our home we are passing through it there's a place called heaven out there friend of mine is where I'm looking for I don't want to stay here on planet Earth but it's a wonder friend that I'm looking for in my spiritual eye listen to me friend Corinthians the first letter chapter 2 verse 9 says this but as it is written eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the spirit searches all things yea the deep things of God if you could in your mind in your body in your soul go to one of the seven wonders of this world you too would stand in all with your camera clicking but nobody a friend nobody truly understands the magnificence of heaven there's no way that we could ever grasp the reality of streets of gold there's no way that we could truly understand the value of the stones precious stones that are represented there there's no way that in our little human minds that we can comprehend truly the value of the place called heaven but I've come today to remind somebody as much as this earth has to throw at you as much as it can hurt with the pain and suffering of this present life it does not compare with what is about to transpire in the place called heaven I'm here to tell you friend if you want to get over the trials in the chest and all the stuff you're going through in this present world you begin to dwell upon heaven if you want to get past all the junker and all the distractions of this present life you begin to think about heaven listen to me friend a lot of stuff on earth will begin to grow damn if you focus on what's out there instead of building your kingdom on earth you ought to build it in heavenly places yielded to the power and the purpose of an Almighty God I'm here today to remind somebody there's a wonder of heaven and it is all about Jesus here on earth as long as it took for them to build this or to discover that or to dig this house or to carve this or to put it in this place I've come today to tell you that when our Savior ascended from Planet earth he made me indication very clear I am going away I gotta get out of here but I'm going with a purpose I'm gone to prepare a place for you so that where I am you can be there also so you're not going to comprehend it now although you possibly might try you're not going to be able to write a story about it now although you might possibly try you're not going to be able to sing a song write a story about it or in any way draw it to where you can comprehend it but you might try but I've come today to tell somebody heaven is real and there is a way to get there and that is through the only saving name of Jesus Christ and we were given the understanding huh what must we what we got into what shall we do how we gonna get past all of the stuff of this world all the distractions of past centuries and generation how are we gonna get through all of this Peter stood on that day in the book of Acts reveals to us you repent and you be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise is unto you you got to understand something the promise will lead you to heaven the Word of God will get you to heaven the Word of God will get you past earth into heaven don't be sidetracked by the stuff going on presently in this world but realize with every darling of a new day it very possibly could be the sounding day I wonder how many of us sitting here today in this room woke up this morning thinking listening ear attuned trumpet I hear I wonder today that if any of us driving to this church building whatever roads you was there something that crossed your mind more than just a cup of coffee and the Danish that you had could it be that some of you even roll down your window and glanced out of it to look to the heavens could this be the day could this be the day I don't know about you friend of mine but I find myself in the season of life that I'm in more often looking up at the sky and the evening when the clouds are a beautiful shade of red or purple and I'm looking say whoa is that a dot I see let's finger bust open into a wide gap I don't know but I don't mind telling you I go to my heart once again and say even Oh God would you come and get the church I'm ready Lord Jesus I want to go home and be with you I want to hear you say well done thou good and faithful servant I've come today to tell somebody the wonder of heaven is real and you can go that to that place that's been prepared it's all determined by the Lamb's Book of Life I'm asking you today is your name there is your name there have you decided now that you're preparing for them have you made the decision that regardless of what my life's path leads me to I'm gonna hold on to the reality of a place called heaven I've come today to tell you I might be in my mid fifties but I vividly remember as a child my grandmother my grandfather looking at me there was no fear no trembling at all but simply pointing saying you better get yourself ready to make heaven your home I can't get you there my apron strings won't pull you there you've got to make your own decision do you want to go to heaven do you want to plant your feet on streets and golda are you more excited about the thinning there or are you satisfied with the here and now I've come to ask somebody as big as your job might be as good as your house might be as much money as you feel like you might have or the places you might want to go it might be that all of that will be pushed aside as the trumpet sounds and the angel of the Lord begins to make declaration make ready bring him home I am ready for the South for the Lamb to be married a true wonder called heaven I want to ask you today do you want to go do you want to go I've heard rumors that have said some smart people have decided that heaven is actually going to be here on planet earth I've heard some say that the sounding of a trumpet has no declaration and that the rapture will simply just simply be a transition of here to here and I scratch my head and I wonder if this is truly heaven you may have it I don't want to have to buy fuel in heaven I don't want to have a coupon to get my hamburger the way I want it with my price and so I searched the Scriptures and I said lord where where our folk coming up with their teaching and their theology and their doctrine and I began to notice that as much as John wrote from his revelation about what was to come we don't understand it as humans I mean I could today take a poll of all of you sitting here and I could ask somebody I could say what does it mean to have a dragon with seven heads and ten horns and all of you would have this depiction that you heard somebody else say or maybe God even gave you some insight but you couldn't explain some of the things on it the skin or the hair or the why the crown wire through this wire say and all of a sudden we get wrapped up in Revelation and we forget the basic story ends like this you ought to see this place John said coming down as a bride adorned beautiful clear no blemish perfect fact if you look into it the angel took me up to a high place so I could look over somebody's gonna wonder about this someone's gonna ask questions about what I saw and I have no other way to do it but simply in my way put words down so the angel says what you see right because there's no other way there's no way whatsoever that anybody will ever understand this wonder and so in and then the way that John could he he began to try somehow to get folk to understand what it was foundations of the wall of a city were garnished with all manner of precious stones the first foundation was jasper the second sapphire the third caledonia the fourth and emerald the fifth sardonyx sixth sardius seventh crystalline the eighth Burrell the ninth topaz the tenth christoforous the eleventh the jackeen the twelfth amethyst twelve gates were twelve pearls every several gate was a woman pearl the street of the city was pure gold as it were transparent glass it's interesting at this point listen to me carefully and I'm bringing it to a close John investigated as quickly as he could with what he was seeing and he said in verse 22 I saw no temple Darian for the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are the temple of it the city he notices doesn't have need for the Sun neither of the moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lightning the lamb is the light thereof again John's peeking into heaven if you will if it's okay to say that in our humanistic understanding and he was trying to get it to where we could all grasp it and this is what he says he saw there the nation's verse 24 of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there they shall bring the glory and honor of the nation's into it and there shall in no wise enter into any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie but they which are written the Lamb's Book of Life let me ask you something today as I close why did you come to church today why did you get out of bed why did you get dressed put on your Sunday go to meet and clothes why did you come here today some of you could quickly answer that and simply say because I was made to cuz I had no choice cuz mama said or cuz I might get a snack in class oh yeah that's okay I know sometimes sister Eunice or brother Gibson give away snacks in their class it's good nothing wrong with a good old Krispy Kreme but I'll ask the question again why did you come today I know this that if you came to church today because you wanted to hear the fine instrumental work of one brother drawn Ackerson see the light came on when I said that you see that then you're not disappointed or maybe you came today because your favorite teacher was going to be teaching in your class and I'm sure you were not disappointed it couldn't be that you came today to hear the one and only pastor slow I'm sorry let me tell you something if you listen to the songs this guy played they're saying today with this group she's trying to get you to realize heaven is where we're headed your Sunday school teacher may have been talking about Abraham may have been talking about something else but it's all focused on there every time you come into the house of the Lord it is to encourage one another but I'm not encouraging listen carefully I'm not going to encourage you to be yourself forever I'm going to encourage you to better yourself and get to a place to where the wonder of heaven will begin to become focus in your life see there's nothing wrong with education I wish I had one there's nothing wrong with being smart sometimes I can spell that let me tell you something there will not be smart people in heaven there will not be wealthy people in heaven there will not be rich and famous in heaven there will simply be save people in heaven now they might have been a doctor or they might have been that here on earth but that will have no relevance there John made clear that I looked in there was no temple there was no place to go and make sacrifice it was not needed and therefore there could not be judgment there and therefore nobody could look at you in fact the only light that's sitting there is him it ain't you and so as smart or as bright as you feel like you might be here on earth he don't want that there therefore we got to understand something all of our attention and our focus while we are here getting ready for there needs to be like we're getting ready for their lord I thank you for the work that I get to do I thank you Lord for the blessing of my wife and my children I'm thankful Lord for a place to live in a car to drive and clothes to wear in foody I'm thankful for everything that makes up me but God of heaven in heaven in place that your plate making for me the wonder of it is it won't be about me it'll be all about you and the one thing that John noticed there is the light it's going to be him and your job in your position and your themes and your stuff will make nothing it matters not can I tell somebody today in this place there will be no reason to have a Taj Mahal in heaven there'll be no reason to have a Petra the rock a place that's been dug out in heaven why because the wonders of heaven have nothing to do with what the hand of man can do but simply the wonder of heaven is him this hill I wish it stand with me right now please in the name of Jesus whatever trials tests situations circumstances stuff battles jerk whatever you're going through at this point here what I'm saying please carefully listen it is not about you it might be that you made bad choices dumb decisions you got caught up in something whatever that is there is a place called an altar to where you could sacrifice anything and you can give it to God and you could put it on that altar it might be that you've already done it I Challenge it one more time go back to the altar one more time get into a position to where you can say without fear and without intimidation that nothing can destroy me if I'm doing it in the name of Jesus no weapon can be formed that would ever overcome me why because I'm doing it in the name of Jesus now Lord if my pride and my arrogance and all of me gets in the way I got a chance to get back to an altar where I can bow my knee lift my hands cry tears of repentance and once again I can put my focus on the wonder of heaven and that wonder Lord is you you Jesus it's all about YOU Jesus it's all about YOU Jesus it's all about YOU Jesus somebody in this room life is throwing you a curve ball you need to get off the plate and let the Lord God do it work in your life somebody under there under the sound of my voice there's a circumstance or something you're going through and you feel all alone I'm here to tell you that the Lord God is just as close as simply mentioning his name this altar is open right now for anybody in everybody heaven is real come to ask you are you looking for that place that I have not seen ear haven't heard about are you looking for that place that the Lord God has prepared for those that love him are you looking for that place for him that's where the Lord God can reveal himself to you as the light that shines forever would you come to an altar today and let him do something in you spirit of the Living God you are working right now in this place Yallah Clara yeah ramadhir a short story by year quarter the name of Jesus I bless you today come on would you come Jesus I I come to lay it down I know Lord that if a child tests a circumstance happens in my life but you also make a way that I could get out of it and escape and bring honor and glory to you today Lord let your word take root in somebody's life come on this altar is open somebody needs to get in touch with the God right now somebody needs to get in touch with him know what I want to reach for you Lord I want to touch you Lord I want to connect with you today I want my heart and my life Lord to focus on you come on somebody come on somebody pray talk to the Lord Jesus I need you come on this altars open would you come Jesus I'm hungry for you Jesus I want heaven Lord to be in my future I want to walk on streets of gold I want to walk through a gate of pearl I want to stand upon foundations of precious stone I want to know that you called my name I answered and you put my name in the Lamb's Book of Life come on it's prayer time in the house of the Lord let's all find a place to pray come on let's get past ourselves our desperation our problems our circumstances and let's reach to heaven right now Jesus Jesus Jesus come on that's right heaven is real heaven is real heaven is real heaven is real would you pray Jesus I need you Jesus I trust you Jesus I believe in you Jesus I honor you Lord I bless your name Jesus I worship your name you are worthy you are worthy you are worthy blessed be the name of the Lord come on somebody touch him right now heaven is real heaven is real heaven is real heaven you're worthy Jesus I love you Jesus I trust Jesus I believe you're worthy Jesus come on that's right you're wonderful Jesus holy holy holy holy holy is your name o the wonders of heaven won't you reach over pray for somebody close by you come I'll reach over me and go find another man pray for ladies go find another lady pray for would you the name of cheese come on that's right pray one for another heaven is where we want to know heaven as one Jesus Jesus Jesus how I Love You Lord how I love you Jesus I worship your lord i worship blessed be the Lamb blessed be the Lamb I Love You Jesus I Love You Jesus you're wonderful Savior you're wonderful Jesus holy holy holy I love you Jesus oh I Love You Savior I Love You Jesus I believe in you Jesus oh god of glory I love you today I worship you I worship you I worship You Jesus I worship you when we all when we get you here oh yes what a day man will be when we all see Jesus we're safe oh yes heaven is real you got to believe God has a plan and a purpose that the glory of the Lord work in your life that the power of the Cross have its way in your life believe in him trust him don't be distracted don't be sidetracked with things but that the power of the Cross work as wonderful as things on earth can be nothing compares to his wonder somebody say in Jesus name in Jesus name as beautiful as things are for the day but you got a picture I want to show you something something that's that's pretty this it's little McKinley Josh and Jordans baby ain't she pretty she's so Apostolic II with her mo as beautiful as that might be eyes Josh what the world how did you do that huh she'll probably show up in the next week or so but I just wanted to share that with you friend of mine it's gonna be worth it all sister Jean it's gonna be worth it deal it's gonna be worth it but one of these days one of these days one of these days we'll walk into heaven we'll walk into heaven if you're looking for heaven one day why don't you give the Lord praise right now Lord I love you and I bless you I magnify and exalt your name today King of glory King of glory King of glory I love you today oh yeah take somebody's hand let's pray together Lord we are thankful for our time in the house today thankful for the power of the cross thank you Jesus for the promise of heaven Lord I want to go I want to go plead your blood lord over each one today that's represented in this house every home every heart every family let the glory of God work this week Lord we call upon you for there is no other name there is no other way it's all about YOU Jesus we love you and trust you for great things bless and keep us this week we're going to come back rejoicing loving you and serving you in the name of Jesus we pray to God be the glory for the things that you have done in Jesus name