HEAVEN CAME DOWN

Heaven In Our Midst

John 1:1-5, 9-14

 

“When our connection to the transcendent is lost, all we are left with is ourselves – now occupying center stage. This is a place of great loneliness and disenchantment.” — Joshua Rothman

 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

 

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5 (NIV)

 

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

 

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:9-14 (NIV)

 

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

Heaven Came Down

 

‘from the beginning of time until now it is the only thing which has ever really happened … We may call this doctrine exhilarating or we may call it devastating, we may call it revelation or we may call it rubbish … but if we call it dull then what in heaven’s name is worthy to be called exciting?’ — Dorothy L. Sayers

 

 

WHO DID IT?

God – The Word Was God

God became what God is not (human flesh) without ceasing to be God.

 

Reason – the logos

The meaning of everything takes up a position in the midst of everything.

 

Eternity – In the beginning

The Eternal One entered into time (history) without ceasing to be Eternal.

 

We live too much in time. We’re too earth bound. We see as other men see; we think as other men think. We invest our time as the world invests it. We’re supposed to be a different breed of people. –Leonard Ravenhill

 

I believe that the church of Jesus Christ needs a new revelation of the majesty of God. We’re all going to stand one day, can you imagine it- at the judgement seat of Christ to give an account for the deeds done in the body. This is the King of kings. He’s the Judge of judges, and it’s the Tribunal of tribunals. There’s no court of appeal after it. The verdict is final. –Leonard Ravenhill

 

Love — was with God

The Eternally Beloved One was Rejected (Forsaken) without ceasing to be the Beloved One.

 

The Origin — Through him all things were made

The Creator became a creature (human) without ceasing to be Creator.

 

 

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS?

 

Salvation.

 

Affirmation.

 

Identification.

 

Adoration.