From One Degree to Another

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Heaven Desired

September 28, 2016 by Phil Auxier

valleyofvision_pbk_frontWe’ve had a heavy year as a church with various members and regular attenders battling illness and losing loved ones.  One effect of this is to have a hunger or anticipation of heaven.  I love the prayer from the Valley of Vision entitled Heaven Desired.  Let these words be your heart and prayer as you comfort those facing these afflictions and seek to speak to your own heart about these matters.

O My Lord,

May I arrive where means of grace cease and I need no more to fast, pray, weep, watch, be tempted, attend preaching and sacrament;

where nothing defiles,

where is no grief, sorrow, sin, death, separation, tears, pale face, languid body, aching joints, feeble infancy, decrepit age, peccant humors, pining sickness, griping fears, consuming cares;

where the more perfect the sight the more beautiful the object,

the more perfect the appetite the sweeter the food,

the more musical the ear the more pleasant the melody,

the more complete the soul the more happy its joys,

where is full knowledge of thee.

Here I am an ant, and as I view a nest of ants so dost thou view me and my fellow-creatures

But as an ant knows not me, my nature, my thoughts, so here I cannot know thee clearly.

But there I shall be near thee,

dwell with my family,

stand in thy presence chamber,

be an heir of thy kingdom,

as the spouse of Christ,

as a member of his body,

one with him who is with thee,

and exercise all my powers of body and soul in the enjoyment of thee.

As praise in the mouth of thy saints is comely,

so teach me to exercise this divine gift,

when I pray, read, hear, see, do,

in the presence of people and of my enemies,

as I hope to praise thee eternally hereafter.

 

 

Filed Under: Heaven, valley of vision

Weekend Recap – Faith’s Homeland

May 14, 2012 by Phil Auxier

My 5/13/12AM (Mother’s Day) sermon from Hebrews 11:13-16 is now online.  It was entitled Faith’s Homeland and dealt with faith and the future.  Specifically, faith prepares for the future by persevering in the present.  Part of this perseverance means we confess that we are strangers and exiles here.  Why?  Because faith seeks a homeland, specifically, a heavenly one.  So, we persevere in the present with our eye on eternity.  This has all kinds of applications for mothers, daughters, women, men, sons and fathers, as well as anyone else.  We shrink our lives to the here and now and put that in an ultimate category.  But, in Christ, we have reason to hope for the future.  Faith’s homeland is eternity with Christ in heaven.  Let’s live this week in light of this.

Filed Under: Faith, Heaven, Weekend Recap

My Grandpa’s Passed On…

March 11, 2012 by Phil Auxier

Just got a call that my Grandpa has finished his fight here on earth…

About the same time he was passing, I was reading Winslow’s Morning Thoughts for March 11, which said this:

Dry, then, your tears, and cease to mourn, you saints of God. They are “not lost, but gone before.” Their spirits live with Jesus. And when He comes, He will bring them with Him, and you shall see and know them with a cloudless sight and a perfect knowledge. The very eyes which once smiled upon you so kindly- the very tongue which spoke to you so comfortingly- the very hands which administered to you so skillfully- the very feet which traveled by your side so faithfully- the very bosom which pillowed you so tenderly- you shall meet again. “The coming of the Lord draws near,” and those who “sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” Let us “comfort one another with these words.” 

Please pray these sweet words of comfort over my family today.  We’ve lost an oak…

Filed Under: Funeral, Grandpa, Heaven

Weekend Preview – Heaven IS for Real…

September 20, 2011 by Phil Auxier

Yes, the title of this post was meant to bait you in…

I know many of you have probably read Heaven Is For Real or experienced something like that and thought, “It was so encouraging to read something like this.”  Actually, when we say something like this it communicates for more than we may intend.  The story told in that book is an experience of someone and we somehow feel as if that experience helps cement reality.

The Bible, though, is as real as any best-seller ever was.  And, this coming Lord’s Day, we will be looking at how Heaven Is For Real in Hebrews 8:1-5.  You see, our salvation is a sure and final thing because Jesus didn’t perform His ministry in an earthly tent…No!  Jesus went to heaven where the real tabernacle was and ministered on our behalf there.  That is reality.  Heaven is for real and Jesus really ministered there and because He did, our lives will never be the same.  I hope this coming Sunday you rest in Jesus as your reality.

Filed Under: Heaven, High Priest, Jesus

Weekend Recap – Above

June 14, 2010 by Phil Auxier

Yesterday’s sermon, Above, from Colossians 3:1-2 is online. I thought we had a great day, exploring what it means to seek the things above as those raised with Christ. Then, in the evening, we spent time exploring forgiveness in the Gospel Centered Life curriculum.

Yesterday morning, I was struck with a call to…

Trust in Christ – Christ is ruling from heaven at God’s right hand. Therefore, we should bow to His sovereignty by trusting in Him.

Christocentricity – I borrowed this term from Sam Storms. What it means is: center in Christ. Make Him the center of all you are.

Look heavenward – we must get our eyes off of the here and now and focus on the eternal.

I hope you are encouraged to seek the things above.

Filed Under: Colossians, Heaven, Weekend Recap

From One Degree To Another?

Yeah, that's right. My one, consuming passion is Jesus Christ, my Lord. I'm totally gripped by one message: the Gospel - the good news that God came after me when I was far from Him. So, the life I live, I live by faith in Him: He loved me and gave Himself for me.

From One Degree To Another is the change that He's accomplishing in me by grace. Growing downward in humility, upward into Him, outward toward others, and inward with renewal characterize my existence.

This site is where I flesh all of these types of things out, including my life as a slave to Jesus, husband, father, coffee-enjoyer, and pastor. I hope it encourages you.

RSS My latest sermons at Crestview

  • Abiding in Jesus and His Words May 25, 2025
  • The Spirit Will Teach You May 18, 2025
  • Ask Anything May 11, 2025

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