What is happening in heaven at 1:37pm today?

Church Family: Are you struggling today?  Does life seem futile?  Is all your hope gone?  Does it seem like that the enemies of God are winning in your family in your work in your country?  Ok, stop, wait!  Jesus desires us to look at things from His perspective by asking, “What is going on in heaven today, right now?"  As we wake up and live and struggle and do life and persevere on earth, Jesus reminds us to be heavenly minded and ask, “What is going on in heaven, in the throne room of God today, right now?"

Jesus reminds us in Revelation 4, that things that we are experiencing and enduring on this earth right this minute are not as they appear.  This is such an important habit that we must keep persevering in daily.  We must look at life from a heavenly perspective.  Being able to look at the things of this earth from a heavenly perspective is the everyday reality and outworking of a biblical worldview.  Things are not out of control!  The devil has not won!  Evil is not victorious!  And cruel fate does not rule the universe!  Instead, God is on His throne, in heaven, and He has everything, everywhere in His sovereign reign.
 
Jesus wants His struggling, persecuted people, His Church, to be captivated and encouraged by this vision of the Throne Room of God in Revelation chapters 4-5.  He wants His persecuted church today, in the midst of the tribulation we endure on this earth, to be amazed, enthralled, fascinated, captivated by the greatness of God.  And when this happens we will not be discouraged.  Trust, hope, boldness, perseverance and peace will be realized and these attributes will reign over despair, gloom, fear and spiritual depression.  We will find sin less appealing.  We will not be fooled by this world nor by the flesh.  We will not be enslaved to unrighteousness because God is seen as eternally beautiful and on His throne.

Right now, before the Throne of God there is a declaration every hour of every day and night by the four living creatures, that goes out to the ends of the earth.  These living creatures are giving glory, honor and thanksgiving to the triune God across the universe.  They are declaring in worship right now before God on His throne that God is holy, sovereign, and eternal (4:8-9) no matter what.  Are you listening?  Can you see the declaration in creation?  All of creation in heaven and on earth and under the sea is declaring this right now (5:13), can you hear it?  Can you see it?  Please spend some time in Revelation 4-5, being amazed at God ruling in sovereign power on His Throne.
 
A glimpse into heaven through John’s heavenly vision reminds us that in the middle of our trials, suffering and temptation, God sovereignly controls all things, He is holy and He is eternal.  And one day, all of heaven’s perfection before the Throne of God that is pouring forth in worship right now will one day be done with same perfection in holiness and intensity on earth.  Oh God, we pray that Your will be done on earth as it is being done in heaven right now!

Revelation 4:8 ...and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

This Sunday we will be meeting in person at the church building if you would like to join us in person at 10am.  And for those who will be staying at home, we will  be live-streaming on our Grace Community Church Topsail YouTube Channel. Push the blue link.  We can also be found at https://www.gracetopsail.com/

I look forward to worshipping our sovereign God, Jesus Christ with you Sunday. - Steve