What is Lord Jesus Christ Doing in Heaven Now

I was asked tonight “What is Christ doing in Heaven now”
and give scriptural verses.

If you can think of anything else please add a comment and follow the same format.

1. Christ Jesus is seated in the midst of the throne, with a name above every name, on the right hand side of God, Crowned with Glory and Honour

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. Revelation 5:6 (KJV)

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: Philippians 2:9 (KJV)

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; Hebrews 10:12 (KJV)

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9 (KJV)

2.  Christ is preparing a place for us.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2-3

3. Christ is our Great High Priest, mediating the New Covenant, making Intercession for us, being our Advocate.

But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. Heb 7:24-27

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:24 (KJV)

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34 (KJV)

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1 (KJV)

4. Set over the Works of God’s hand,

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. Hebrews 2:7-8 (KJV)

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 1 Peter 3:22 (KJV)

5. Christ is Head of the Church, giving gifts, sending the Holy Spirit, Christ is among the Candle sticks, evaluating, judging, admonishing, and  encouraging His Church.

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23 (KJV)

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ……..He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Ephesians 4:8 & 10-12 (KJV)

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 2:33 (KJV)

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31 (KJV)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:16-21 (KJV)

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Revelation 1:12-13 (KJV)

6. Waiting in Anticipation and Expectation for his return to Judge the World and usher in the New Heavens and New Earth.

From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. Hebrews 10:13 (KJV)

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30 (KJV)

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:26 (KJV)

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:20-21 (KJV)

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:31 (KJV)

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:10-13 (KJV) 

As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Romans 14:11 (KJV)

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)

He is doing so much for us !

Do we praise Him as we ought?

Are we “too at home in this world”?

Do we appreciate enough His High Priestly Work?

Do we acknowledge Him , willingly,  as The Head of all things?

Do we give Him His rightful place in Church life?

Are we to man centred?

What are we doing for Him?

Do we receive his Admonitions?

Are we growing more like Him day by day?  

Do we live in expectation of His coming?

© Jeff Maxwell 2011

Jehovah Jireh

Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Will Provide

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” Genesis 22:8

Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh:  as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14

The English word “provide” give a good indication of the meaning here.

“Provide” is from the Latin providere   –     pro- before  / videre – to see:  so means to see before in the sense of preparing for a future event.

The Lord had made a suitable provision for Abraham. Let us look at it. God tested (Not tempted) Abraham, asking him to take his only son Isaac, go into the land of Moriah, and there make him a burnt offering, on the mountain that God would tell him.

Abraham obediently took two young men and Isaac with the wood for the burnt offering and took his journey. On the third day, Abraham saw the place God appointed. See Gen. 22:1-4

I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again to you. Gen 22:5

Here is a problem: was Abraham telling the truth? Abraham already knew he had to offer Isaac as a burnt offering! See v2 and he fully intended to be obedient. Hebrews 11:17-19 give us the answer.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Heb 11:17-19

Abraham was full of faith, believing God’s ability to keep His promises. If God asked Abraham to sacrifice Issac  Abraham believed that, God could raise Isaac from the dead. Therefore, Abraham could bring his son back after worshipping God. Isaac was the “child of promise” to elderly parents (See Gen18:11) who were past the age of childbirth. Isaac came in a sense “even from the dead” and in figure or type, Abraham received him back now.
The Puritan Thomas Watson wrote, “God is to be trusted when His providences seem to run contrary to His Promises”.  Job said, “Though he slay me yet will I trust him.” Abraham’s faith was sufficient for the situation. Is ours for the situations that surround us.

Now a question arises. (See Gen.22:7)

Isaac asks! Look fire and wood BUT where is the lamb for the burnt offering?
Abraham’s reply is not evasive but wonderful; he directs Isaac to almighty God’s control of the situation. Abraham is truthful; he wants the will of God done in this situation.

“My Son, God will provide himself a lamb for the burnt offering” Gen 22:8

Abraham’s answer satisfied Isaac so they went on together. Isaac’s relationship with his father, to me, is simply beautiful here. Isaac can question his father but accepts his answer and has nothing more to say.

They arrive at the place God appointed; build an altar together and lay out the wood, the younger man helping the older man, both in harmony with each other, despite the thoughts that must have been going through Abraham’s mind. Isaac is bound and laid on the wood, on the altar, he does not argue, force is not used, as he does not resist his fathers will. Abraham takes up the knife to slay his son according to God’s direction.
Then the “angel of the Lord” stops the proceedings. Do not harm the lad, as the “angel of the Lord” now knew that Abraham feared God, because he had not withheld his only son from Him.

Who is “the angel of the Lord?”  

There is good reason to believe that it is a pre-incarnation “appearance” of Jesus Christ”. Appearance is used loosely as this “voice” called to Abraham out of heaven, twice, and was not an appearance (Theophany) of the pre-incarnate Christ in human form as in other scriptures.
A study of the “Angel of The Lord”; “Angel of the Covenant” in reference to Christ Jesus will repay your efforts.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Gen. 22:13 

Jehovah Jireh: God provides and Isaac is spared, a ram caught by the horns in a bush is provided, ready for sacrifice in Isaac’s place. Here is a picture of Christ’s Substitutionary Sacrifice in our place, acceptable and well pleasing to God.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Abraham and Isaac are able to return to the two young men and Abraham’s faith was rewarded by a renewal of the promise of God.

Christ has done so much for us in His death on the Cross of Calvary, as “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the World” Take some time to think through for yourself exactly what it meant for Christ Jesus to willingly offer Himself and how he precisely fulfilled the Old Testament types of offerings for Sin.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29
The big questions are;
Have we any interest in Christ Sacrifice?
Have our sins been forgiven?
Are we washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Are we walking with Christ Jesus day by day in newness of Life?

Jehovah Jireh. The Lord Sees.   The Lord will Provide.
Ebenezer; hitherto the Lord has helped us.

Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him. Matt 6:8
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Further Study

Note 1.

Mount Moriah is in same range as Golgotha /Calvary.
The Jews say Adam and Noah sacrificed upon Mount Moriah
Solomon built the temple for God’s worship on Mount Moriah.

Note 2

Isaac as a type of Christ.

Isaac, Only Son Heb 11:17   :  
Jesus Christ, Only begotten Son John 1:14 John 3:16 Ps. 2:7

Isaac carried the wood and was laid on it. Gen 22:6 & 9
Christ carried Cross   John 19:17     Acts 5:30 (hanged on a tree)

Isaac was bound.  Gen 22:9   
Christ was bound Matt 27:2

Isaac showed no resistance.    
Christ led like a lamb to the slaughter.

Isaac was to be stabbed.      
Christ was pierced by a spear.

Isaac offered as a Lamb                    
Christ the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world

On the 3rd day Abraham and Isaac came to the mount of sacrifice Isaac offered and returned  
Jesus Christ was Crucified at 3rd hour and Christ rose again on the 3rd day.

Contrast.

Abraham’s son Isaac was spared being sacrificed.
God spared not His only Son Jesus Christ.

Isaac was to be a burnt offering.
Christ was the Paschal Lamb, and the Scapegoat, taken without the camp and slain with the Sins of His people upon His head.

© Jeff Maxwell 2011-11-17

Window Cleaning

Just thinking about cleaning windows, glass and mirrors.

You clean them thoroughly and they look great, even perfect to ones eyes.

Then the sun comes out, and shines on and the through the glass; guess what? That which is so perfect, now looks so imperfect, so full of smears, missed places, and unwelcome grime.

This is much like our life, out of the light of God’s Word and the Son’s sight, viewed by our own eyes, it looks great, almost perfect……

But in the light of God’s Word and beams from God’s Son shining on it, it looks smeared, tainted, very dirty and in need of a complete Washing in the Blood of Christ.

In what light do you look at you life?

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:19-21

God’s Riches

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

“We do not diminish God’s riches by receiving from them.”

“God’s riches are absolutely inexhaustible”

“We daily receive bounty from the Riches of God but seldom realise to what extent”

“If our thanks were proportionate to the Riches of God received we would be seldom off our knees”

“According to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus…..Superlative riches enjoyed by God’s children, NOW and for EVERMORE”

©Jeff Maxwell's Original Sayings 2011

Jehovah Tsidkenu: The Lord Our Righteousness

“This is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness”—Jeremiah 23:6.

WE do not have to establish our own righteousness, for that is impossible, we have already sinned and come short of the Glory of God.

Even if we could be completely righteous from now on, we could not undo the sin, which we have already done.

“Jehovah our Righteousness” refers to the Lord Jesus Christ “who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree”. 1 Peter 2:24

The only way we can be “righteous” is if, God declares us righteous on the basis of the finished work of Christ.

This is called Imputed Righteousness, the Righteousness of Christ set down to our account.

We can receive this Righteousness only by Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We cannot buy it,          barter for it,              be worthy of it,              ONLY receive it by Faith.

If we are to be Saved from the punishment of our Sins:

We must be Justified by Faith Alone in the Finished Work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

© Jeff Maxwell 2011

THE PASTOR IN PRAYER

I was very privileged to to read this prayer this morning and
thought it deserves to be in the public eye again. Jeff

A Prayer of C H Spurgeon.

Holy Father, keep Thy people we beseech Thee, for Jesus’ sake: though
they are in the world let them not be of it; but may there be a marked
distinction between them and the rest of mankind. Even as their Lord was
“holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners,” so may it be with
believers in Christ. May they follow Him; and may they not know the voice
of strangers, but come out from the rest, that they may follow Him without
the camp.

We cry to Thee this morning for the preservation of Thy church in the
world, and especially for her purity. Oh Father, keep us, we beseech Thee,
with all keeping, that the Evil one touch us not. We shall be tempted, but
let him not prevail against us. In a thousand ways he will lay snares for our
feet, but, oh, deliver us as a bird from the snare of the fowler. May the
snare be broken that we may escape.

Let not the church suffer dishonour at any time, but may her garments be
always white. Let not such as come in among her, that are not of her,
utterly despoil her. Oh Christ, as Thou didst groan concerning Judas, so
may Thy children cry to Thee concerning any that have fallen aside into
crooked ways, lest the cause of Christ in the earth should be dishonoured.
Oh God, cover we beseech Thee, with Thy feathers, all the people of
Christ, and keep Thy church even until He shall come who, having loved
His own that were in the world, loveth them even to the end.

We would each one of us ask this morning that we may be washed as to
our feet: we trust Thou hast bathed us once for all in the sin-removing
fountain. Thou hast also washed us in the waters of regeneration, and given
us the renewing of our minds through Jesus Christ. But oh for daily
cleansing! Dost Thou see any fault in us? — oh we know that Thou dost
— wash us that we may be clean.

Are we deficient in any virtue? Oh supply it, that we may exhibit a perfect
character, to the glory of Him who hast made us anew in Christ Jesus. Or,
is there something that would be good, carried to excess? Be pleased to
modify it lest one virtue should slaughter another, and we should not be the
image of Christ completely.

Oh Lord and Master, Thou who didst wash Thy disciples’ feet of old, still
be very patient toward us, very condescending towards our provoking
faults, and go on with us, we pray Thee, till Thy great work shall be
completed, and we shall be brethren of the First-born, like unto Him.

Gracious Master, we wish to conquer self in every respect; we desire to
live for the glory of God and the good of our fellow men.
Wilt Thou enable us especially to overcome the body with all its affections
and lusts; may the flesh be kept under; let no appetite of any kind, of the
grossest sort, prevail against our manhood, lest we be dishonoured and
unclean. And let not even the most refined power of the natural mind be
permitted to come so forward as to mar the dominion of the Spirit of God
within us.

Oh help us not to be so easily moved, even by pain may we have much
patience; and let not the prospect of death ever cause us any fear, but may
the Spirit get the mastery of the body. We know nothing can hurt the true
man — the inner, new born, cannot be smitten; nor is it to die: it is wholly
incorruptible, and liveth and abideth for ever in the life that is in Christ
Jesus.

Oh for a complete conquest of self especially render us insensible to praise,
lest we be too sensitive to censure. Let us reckon that to have the
approbation of God, and of our own conscience, is quite enough; and may
we be content, gracious God, to hear the cavilling of unreasonable men;
yea, and to hear the misrepresentations of our own brethren. Those that we
love, if they love not us, yet may we love them none the less; and if by
mistake they misjudge us, let us have no hard feelings towards them and
God grant we may never misjudge one another. Doth not our Judge stand
at the door:

Oh keep us like little children who do not know, but expect to know
hereafter, and are content to believe things which they do not understand.
Lord keep us humble, dependent, yet serenely joyful. May we be calm and
quiet even as a weaned child, yet may we be earnest and active.

Oh Saviour, make us like Thyself; we wish not so much to do, as to be. If
Thou wilt make us to be right, we shall do right. We have often to put a
constraint upon ourselves to be right; but oh, that we were like Thee,
Jesus, so that we had but to act out ourselves to act out perfect holiness.
We shall never rest till this is the case, till Thou hast made us to be
inwardly holy; and then words and actions must be holy as a matter of
course.

Now here we are, Lord, and we belong to Thee. We caught at that word as
we read it — “Having loved His own.” Oh, it is because we are Thine own,
that we have hope. Thou wilt make us worthy of Thee. Thy possession of
us is our hope of perfection. Thou dost wash our feet because we are
Thine own. Oh how sweet is the mercy which first took us to its heart, and
made us all its own, and now continues to deal tenderly with us that, being
Christ’s own, we may have that of Christ within us which all may see and
which proves us to be the Lord’s.

Now this morning, we would bring before Thee all Thy saints, and ask
Thee to attend to their trials and troubles. Some we know here are afflicted
in person, others are afflicted in their dear friends; some are afflicted in
their temporal estate, and are brought into sore distress. Lord, we do not
know the trials of all Thy people, but thou dost; for Thou art the Head, and
the pains of all the members are centered in Thee. Help all Thy people even
to the end.

Now we pray Thee to grant us the Sabbath blessing which we have already
sought; and let it come upon all the churches of our beloved country.
May the Lord revive true and undefiled religion here, and in all the other
lands where Christ is known and preached and let the day come when
heathendom shall become converted. Let the blessed gospel of the Eternal
God prevail, let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Oh that we may live to
see that day!

The Lord bless our country have pity upon it in all its present afflicted condition.
Oh, let the people see Thy hand, and understand why it is laid upon them, that they
may turn from wrong-doing, and seek righteousness and follow peace.
The Lord hear us as, in secret, we often cry to Thee on behalf of our beloved land,
the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon it yet again, for Jesus’ sake.
Amen.

C H Spurgeon Pastor at Prayer
(Extracted and lightly edited by Jeff Maxwell)

FOR SERMON: No. 1499. (October 12, 1879.
SCRIPTURE: John 13:1-17. HYMNS: 186, 262, 263.
 

Jesus Christ Pre-eminent

That in all things HE Might have the pre-eminence. Col. 1:18

The context is the Church … .

The Church is not just the organisation but the whole company of believers.

Jesus Christ must have the first place there.

Not The Minister, Not the Elders or Deacons, Not the Singing groups or Musicians.

Not the social Work, Not any other groupings of people or ideas.

 Jesus Christ must have the first place.

 The “in all things” (Literally “in all”   things is added to give the sense).

This widens the application.

In reality Jesus Christ has this first place, and is eminently worthy of it, we cannot alter that, it is absolute fact.

But we can detract from it, we can hide it from view, we can obscure it by our actions and words and thoughts. We can exalt and excel a multitude of other things to seemingly take HIS rightful place.

The Church often does this, individuals often do this, the world always does this, Satan delights to do this.
 

But as Children of God we should give HIM the First Place in everything, in our love, in our worship, in our work a day life, in our service to God,  in our thoughts, in our families, in relationships we hold dear, in our finances, in everything.
IN EVERYTHING Christ first and foremost, Christ above everything, Christ honoured and exalted above ALL 
 

Let us examine the reality of where we place Christ Jesus in our lives and whether others can see HIM there.

 

© Jeff Maxwell 2011