Anil Kanda

Ceres SDA Church

Heaven’s Glimpses

Today's topic is going to be about heaven glimpses of heaven We're continuing with our series and we're coming down to the end tonight is the last meeting And I really want to advise you please come on out be blessed We have a concert at 530 That would be an awesome thing to be a part of as well.

The person who's doing that, she's actually blind.

And she's going to be sharing some wonderful music from her experience.

Speaking of that, I'm going to ask you a question right now.

And if you are brave, please raise your hand.

Can you please describe to me a certain color?

I want you to describe to me the color magenta.

Who thinks they can describe to me the color magenta?

Okay, someone please describe to me the color, color teal.

Alright, you guys are doing Very, very good.

Now I'm going to ask you another question.

If I was born blind, please describe to me the color red.

Some of you guys are naming colors to me.

If I am blind, please describe the color red to me.

I wonder what blind people are seeing in their mind as you're attempting to describe to them the color red.

You know, I was watching a video this week and it was about this blind person who was making a remark about how people love to describe colors to them when they have no sense or concept of what those colors actually look like.

And this particular blind person was remarking how some people will do senses to describe to them But it still doesn't define colors to them They essentially live in a world where they don't have any definitive concept of what colors are They have senses and feelings and maybe they may have some kind of tactile touch, but there is no reference point for those colors.

You know, ladies and gentlemen, A Lot of time we think about heaven and We come up with all these sort of concepts But the truth of the matter is we're so far off about what heaven really is like And so we'll come up with these phrases and these thoughts and these words and we're just saying this is what heaven's like But in reality we are so far off people in heaven are probably just like oh my goodness The angels are probably remarking they are so far off You know, I was actually preaching at a prayer conference not too long ago, and I was asking people, what is going to be your favorite thing about heaven?

And some people were talking about the animals, the brand new animals at their ride.

And you know, 1 person talked about, you know, getting wings and taking a giant line and flying off with him somebody was talking about how they'll be able to eat the most delicious fruit and Then at the very end of it.

I said to them it sounds like most of you just want to go to Disneyland and That is the truth of the matter Most of us when we're attempting to describe heaven We're using earthly concepts that you can probably find in some amusement park Ladies and gentlemen, God is calling us to re-evaluate our concepts of heaven because we're going to spend all of eternity there.

And when we look at God's word, we're going to find some very deep things about heaven.

A lot of people are all about heaven's descriptions, but they miss heaven's dynamics.

All about heaven's beauty, but heaven's behavior is far from them ladies and gentlemen God wants us to understand what the Bible says about this beautiful place that we're gonna be spending all the eternity in.

All right, everybody the Bible says in 1st Corinthians chapter 2 verse 9 something very powerful.

See nor ear has heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those Who what?

Love him in other words There is nothing that we have actually seen on earth that we can use as a reference point to describe what heaven is all about Just think about it We have some wonderful pictures up there and we have this sort of concept of what we may think heaven looks like but the Bible says I have not seen nothing that compares to this place Nor has no ears.

They've ever heard anything that can describe what this is all about In fact, when you read 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 Paul gets a vision of heaven.

He comes back and he says look I heard things that I cannot even tell you about He even goes as far as says it's not even lawful for me to talk about it Eyes have not seen nor ears have heard now watch if nor have entered into the heart of man in other words in the Imagination of mankind just think about how zany some of your imaginations are Mine is really zany and I come up with some of the most Unusual concepts but the Bible says there has nothing that nothing has ever entered into the heart of man that could even come close to conceiving an accurate picture of what heaven is all about and That's why Paul speaks so emphatically and he says I have not seen nor ears heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who what Love him.

The Bible says this that God is preparing for us a beautiful city Hebrews chapter 11 verse 16 says this, Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their what?

Now there's a little bit of information that's given to us about this city.

The Bible describes the length and the breadth of this city.

And when you take a good look at what it says in Revelation chapter 21, it describes the city approximately 375 miles long on each side, the size of several states.

Now many of you guys are thinking to yourself when you look at something like this.

Wait a minute Are you telling me all the redeemed are gonna fit in there?

Absolutely, and here's the sad part of the story that there's still gonna be room left over That there's still gonna be a lot of room left over.

Ladies and gentlemen, God is wanting to fill all of heaven.

And as we begin to come to a more accurate understanding about heaven, we're going to be learning some wonderful things about what takes place at the Second Coming.

You know, this week I did a funeral for Mary Yarbrough.

And that morning when I was giving a little homily about this, I was really impressed with a thought that never really occurred to me prior.

Whenever we talk about the Second Coming we usually quote 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 16-17, for the Lord himself will descend from where?

With the voice of an archangel with the trumpet of God and then it says and the dead in what?

This is so awesome when you think about it in other words God is not just simply stating stating Well, here's the sequence in which I'm going to be doing things When I come back rather he is stating his first priority when he comes back and you know what that is the resurrection of the dead Now just think about this God has been missing a lot of people You think about many of the righteous who are gonna be alive during that time They still have a present active communion with God But many of the people that have passed away like Adam or Abraham who was even the friend of God God misses him and That's why his very first priority when he comes back.

I miss that brother The Bible says he was the friend of God God misses his friends And that's why we need to understand something so beautiful that when Jesus comes back it says in Philippians chapter 3 verse 21 He will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body According to the work in by which he is able to Even to a subdue all things to himself first Corinthians chapter 15 tells us we will get brand new bodies Can you say amen to that?

Now there's a lot of misunderstanding about these brand new bodies a lot of people think to themselves.

Wait a minute Does that mean we're not going to be able to identify 1 another that we're just going to be different ladies and gentlemen We need to understand something God will preserve your identity Amen He will preserve your Identity part of the remarkable things that we will enjoy in heaven is brand new bodies a brand new brain But the mind itself will still be intact In other words if your mind is changed ladies and gentlemen, you're no longer you Does that make sense?

And if you're no longer you, then you're no longer the person God's trying to save.

And I will get a brand new body and a brand new brain, praise the Lord, but my mind he will still keep intact that my identity He will still keep intact if I lose my identity.

I am no longer a no candor Now a lot of people say wait a minute, but I don't want to be thinking about all the horrible things that take place Well, ladies and gentlemen here's something that you need to truly understand.

The Bible says we will recognize Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

And if we can recognize them, we will recognize each other.

But what will be done away with the Bible teaches this that there should be no more pain in other words We have 2 almost categories of memory.

We have a what we may call and I'm being very general right now an intellectual memory We know all things that happened in our past and we have what's called a basic like emotional memory Where we still carry certain feelings based upon Certain things that have taken place in our life.

So a lot of the pain that we have Experienced we will not forget the events that might have led to that but there will be an emotional healing of those things And this is wonder what the Bible says in it.

This is so powerful I can't even articulate it as good as this every power will be developed every capability increase the grandest enterprises will be carried forward the loftiest aspirations will be reached the highest ambitions realized and Still there will rise new heights to surmount new wonders to admire new truths to comprehend fresh objects to call forth the powers of body and mind and soul.

Heaven begins to become more exciting, more real, more actual in our minds when we begin to realize that part of eternity we will be developing and growing more and more and more into the likeness of God.

I talked about this verse in Matthew chapter 8 verse 11.

Koinonia

The Bible says he will enlighten our darkness.

It tells us in 2nd Corinthians that Jesus is the light of the knowledge of the glory of the gospel of God.

And when I'm reminded about that, that gives me great hope.

Well, I want to start with a word of prayer for several reasons.

1 being, I actually have 2 sermons right now.

And I'm not quite sure which one's to preach or which 1 to preach I should say but I believe God's going to lead amen let's bow our heads for a word of prayer father we just thank you so much for this time and thank you for being a light in our darkness God we just praise you because you commanded the light to shine out of the darkness and Lord We just thank you that we are not left alone in this world, but that you are with us Jesus We pray and ask for the greatest of all teachers and preachers the Holy Spirit to present this message this special communion time Lord as we recommit ourselves To you.

We pray amen All right church family You guys know that today is communion day and that is a very special day.

Amen a Lot of people shake their heads or they sigh during communion times and that's because you don't really Recognize what communion is all about during communion time God wishes to draw our hearts closer to him through this very special Act of worship, so I really really challenge you to stay for the whole service let God bless you in tremendous ways because there are things he's been wanting to do in your life and Participating in the communion service will help that process.

I want to share a very interesting song with you.

Listen to what the Word of God says right here and let it speak to your heart.

Faints for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God now watch what David says next It's very powerful Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a Nest for herself where she may lay her young even your altars.

Oh Lord of hosts My king and my God blessed are those who dwell in your what?

House for they shall still be praising you blessed is the man Now this is where it starts getting very deep blessed is the man whose strength is in what you as Whose heart is set on what?

Pilgrimage now, it's very interesting a pilgrimage was a spiritual journey Muslims Will take pilgrimages to Mecca Hindus will take pilgrimages to the Ganges and the Jews will take pilgrimages To Jerusalem where they could worship God and celebrate the feast days, but watch what he says right here.

It's very interesting Blessed is the man Whose strength is in you whose heart is set on what?

Pilgrimage or his journey now watch what he says next as they pass through the valley of what?

Baca Does anybody have footnotes that tell you what the word Baca means?

Weeping tears as they pass through the valley of what tears tears Let's continue They make it a spring The rain also covers it with pools they go from strength to what Strength each 1 appears before God in Zion David is saying that in his pilgrimage, in his journey with God, oftentimes he will encounter times where he is left weeping, times that will bring him to tears, trials in his life.

But as he continues to go forward he's growing from strength to what?

Strength to strength he's growing in character in knowledge and wisdom in grace Until he reaches that Destiny and that destiny is to see God in Zion.

Can you say amen to that is your heart set on pilgrimage today?

Are you set on going forward in your spiritual walk?

That's your desire I believe God wants to bless you in the most powerful ways.

And my prayer is that through this communion service that you will allow God to bless you in a very, very special way.

As I was doing some research for the sermon, I was reading about Jewish weddings.

The sermon just led in that direction of no intention of my own.

And so as I was led to this thing about Jewish weddings, it's very interesting.

There are a lot of modern Jewish weddings and there are a lot of traditional Jewish weddings.

In traditional Jewish weddings, it's very unique, the ceremony that takes place.

Oftentimes after the engagement takes place, a week or 2 or 3 weeks happens and they don't see each other But when they're Brought back together for the actual ceremony the woman is wearing this veil Now what is so unique about this veil is that it has?

Stars on it Now the reason why it has these stars is because It is supposed to be a reminder of the promise of Abraham.

Do you remember what the promise of Abraham was?

God says, in your seed, the world will be blessed.

And what happens is that woman is supposed to wear a veil with stars on it that represents the promise of Abraham But as the ceremony continues and they get married what happens is very unique Sermon or ceremony is that they take this Cup of wine and they will drink from it together underneath the veil very interesting, but they will both drink from the same cup and It's supposed to represent that these 2 creatures are now United and 1 and it's so interesting after that moment.

They'll take some of the plates throw them on the ground and start dancing like crazy And but what happens is that this very special ceremony was to bind 2 separate Individuals and unite them as 1 as they partook of the same cup." Very interesting, the Song of Solomon brings up very similar language.

The Song of Solomon was actually at some time considered 1 of the most holiest books by rabbis.

When you read that book, it's a book about romance, right?

But that book describes God's passion for his bride the church amen and what God is wanting to do in the communion service is partake of a very special cup with you.

Take your Bible, let's go to Matthew chapter 26.

Matthew chapter 26 And let's start with verse 26.

Let's see what the Bible says right here.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread.

Blessed, broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said to them, take, eat, this is my what?

Then he took the cup and gave thanks gave it to them saying drink from what?

From it all of you so remarkable because he says this was shed for many for the remissions of sins Very interesting here Jesus is having this very special last supper with his disciples and as he drinks of that cup He passes it to them and they were to drink from the exact same cup now imagine this 12 other men drinking from the same cup.

Here they are, they're drinking from the exact same cup.

And as they're partaking of this cup, I can just imagine the last guy thinking to himself, oh my goodness, I'm in the wrong seat.

But 12 different men partook of the same juice their lips touched the same cup that Jesus drank from first in Fact what's very interesting in Hebrew culture today when they're having the Passover.

They actually have 4 cups and it represents 4 different blessings And it represents the process of the Exodus So today when you take a good look at Jewish Passover's 4 different cups and they drink from it What is very interesting?

There is a tradition that a child is supposed to ask something on Passover day and that is this the child is supposed to ask this question What makes this day?

Different from any other day It's a Jewish tradition.

There's somebody in the family, usually it was the youngest child, he was to ask this question, what makes this day different than any other day?

And as he asked that question, the father usually would then begin this sort of speech where he would lead the children of Israel Through their journey, excuse me described their story out of Egypt and the deliverance that was given to them So when you have Passover with your children, excuse me when you have Last Supper with your children, ladies and gentlemen, this is the time that God is calling you to explain things to your children.

So here they are, they're having this very special ceremony, Jesus takes this cup, he passes it over to them, they all drink from it, and each 1 is partaking of this very intimate occasion a ceremony that is generally reserved for weddings And I can just imagine my own mind after partaking Of this there's probably this look of just like what are we actually doing?

Jesus realizes he needs to communicate a very special message to his disciples and that message ladies and gentlemen is the Message get this the message of community The message of what?

Community it wasn't like there was a lack of cups or somebody didn't bring out enough cups Is that Jesus was trying to communicate something and that was his people are to be 1 to drink from the exact Same cup, but the children of Israel the 12 disciples were big troublemakers even right before this scene they were fighting there was jealousy in their heart there was resent bitterness some of them even had revenge others 1 specifically betrayal and Jesus wanting to bring this all together He says I'm going to pass out this cup and ask this cup is being passed out here These bitter men are they're drinking from the exact same cup.

I don't know about you but when I drink from somebody from something and I put that down like it's a water bottle if I have a Suspicion that somebody else drank from it.

I don't want to touch it In fact, what is So strange is that if I attempt to drink it even after I had that suspicion it doesn't taste like my water bottle anymore You know what I'm talking about right so here Jesus has this very unique ceremony He's bringing these 12 disciples together and they're Partaking of the exact same cup the exact same dish as they're eating it.

God is seeking this very special community These 12 disciples have been with Jesus for 3 and a half years and through these 3 and a half years They still were not completely united, but they began to recognize some things and that was God was calling them to be 1 unified it unified to have this special union In fact, you want to know what the word community means in Latin.

It simply means this in common community means in Common and after the resurrection of Jesus these 12 disciples begin to come together and they begin to pray they begin to lay aside Their pride and their unbelief And the resentment that was there and they begin to seek unity very interesting 1 of my good friends is a counselor and she talks about how there are 2 root sins in this world She says number 1 is pride Number 2 is unbelief in fact When you look at all sins these 2 tend to be the root of all sin that there is in this world, either pride or unbelief.

In fact, pride and unbelief is so strong it actually fractured the Jewish leadership, where you had the Sparisees, who were very prideful, and then you had the Sadducees that were what?

Here in even the leadership of Israel these 2 great sins were manifested in their leadership.

But pride and unbelief is what God was trying to root out of the disciples before He could pour upon them the Holy Spirit.

Take your Bible and let's go to the book of Acts.

I'm going to show you something very remarkable.

And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room when they were staying.

Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

1 accord in prayer and what supplication with a who Women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his what?

H.M.S. Richards

Voice Of Prophecy

What Jesus Said About the Holy Spirit

Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus is coming again.

Cheer up you pilgrims, be joyful and sing, Jesus is coming again.

This is the voice of prophecy, a voice crying in the wilderness of these modern days.

From our Voice of Prophecy studios in Los Angeles, California, we welcome you to this half hour of inspiration and music transcribed with the King's Herald's Del Delker, Brad Braley, and our speaker HMS Richards, a Seventh-day Adventist minister.

Philip Bliss, the Civil War gospel songwriter who gave us Hold the Fort, also set to music the exclamation of love for Jesus.

Man of sorrow, what a name for the Son of God who came, Ruined sinners to reclaim, Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Lifted up was he to die, it is finished was his cry, Now in heaven exalted high, Alleluia, what a Savior!

When He comes, our glorious King, All His ransomed home to bring, Then anew this song we'll sing, Hallelujah, what a Savior.

♪♪ ♪♪ O Lord, our Heavenly Father, we seek Thy blessing upon this broadcast today.

Remember in mercy everyone who listens, and give Thy grace through the power of the Holy Spirit.

There is a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God, A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blessed Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who bow before thee, near to the heart of God.

I'm looking today for that glorious appearing.

A thrilling expectancy floods through my breast.

The multiplied signs show the moment is nearing when we shall see Jesus find peace and sweet rest.

Through sunlight and shadows dim, I keep scanning the sky.

I keep scanning the sky for the promises nigh.

With trumpet and shout from the heavens descending, The sky's ageless silence he'll shatter that day.

We'll rise up to meet him, our praises all blending, All sorrow and sin put forever away.

I'm looking today for him, I'm looking today for him.

Through sunlight and shadows dim, I keep scanning the sky, for the promise is nigh.

Just a few days ago, we turned over another page in the calendar and found a new year waiting for us.

Yet it's not too late to make some good resolutions.

May we suggest a resolution for 1957 that will help you to get the very most out of life?

Our suggestion is that you study your Bible in the light of our free Voice of Prophecy Bible Correspondence course.

As you study these Faith Bible Course lessons in the privacy of your own home or at the place of work, you'll find a faith and a hope and confidence you've never known before.

You write us a letter of request to the Voice of Prophecy.

When you complete these first lessons, send them in for grading and the next lessons will be sent to you.

Address your letter of request today to the Voice of Prophecy.

We know that once you get started, you'll find each lesson more interesting than the last.

So write, requesting the Bible course, and mail your letter, being sure to include your name and address, to the Voice of Prophecy.

We'll be looking forward to hearing from you this week.

Nearer, still nearer, close to thy heart.

Draw me, my Savior, so precious Thou art.

All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride, of man is pride.

Here now is HMS Richards, the Voice of Prophecy speaker.

His subject, what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit.

Beside the speaker's desk in the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., sits a man who knows parliamentary law thoroughly.

Sometimes a speaker may not know just the proper procedure in some parliamentary tangle, but this expert knows without looking at his books and quietly whispers to the speaker the proper answer.

When our Savior was about to leave this world, he said to his disciples, I will send you another Comforter.

This word Comforter comes from 2 Greek words meaning the 1 called to stand by, like the man at the speaker's side, ready to help in times of emergency and perplexity.

This 1 came on the day of Pentecost to stand by and give counsel to every Christian.

I will pray the Father, Jesus said, and he shall give you another comforter that he may abide with you forever, even the spirit of truth.

The Holy Spirit comes as a gift from the Father.

In John 16, 7 we read the words of Jesus, It is expedient, it's good for you that I go away.

For if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.

But if I depart, I will send him unto you.

While our Savior was with his disciples, he was their comforter, their guide, and their helper.

He taught his disciples when he was with them.

But the Holy Spirit also is a teacher, John 14, 26, but the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, by the way that word Ghost is just the old English word for Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.

It is when the word of God is understood by the teaching of the Spirit that we fully understand it, and only then.

Since the Holy Scriptures are really written by the Holy Spirit, for we read in 2nd Peter 121, holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit alone can fully explain them.

When the Comforters come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, he will testify of me, " Jesus said.

When our Savior returned to heaven, His presence through the Holy Spirit was still with his disciples on earth.

Of the coming of the Spirit, he said, he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.

So you see, friends, Christ is present by the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

The real presence of the Holy Spirit is with every believing disciple.

Notice now 3 things that Jesus said about the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.

And when he is come, he will reprove or convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

And thirdly, he shall glorify me." Those are 3 very important things too.

1 of the first proofs that the Holy Spirit is dealing with any man is the deep conviction that he's a sinner.

When 1 rejects Jesus as the Savior, the Holy Spirit convicts his heart of sin.

God has provided only 1 means of salvation, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as we read in Acts 4.12.

True conviction of sin and the knowledge of our need of a Savior come from the Holy Spirit.

Floyd Jones says that when he was pastor of a certain church, he felt he had made a complete failure.

Back to Menu

All Teachings

Heaven’s Glimpses

46m

Koinonia

33m

What Jesus Said About the Holy Spirit

29m

Seven Letters for Seven Brides (Reading Revelation- 6)

30m

12. Luke: Jesus in Jerusalem

37m

Spirituality- Part 2

50m

Wounds of a Whisperer

52m

Hired Servants

53m

Spirituality- Part 1

40m

Under His Wings

1h

Pants On Fire

41m

What’s Next?

29m

Sound Doctrine