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| March 19, 2006 The Believer's Hope Colossians 1:1-5 I. Heaven is a PLACE 1. Jesus came from Heaven. John 6:38 For I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent. 2. Jesus returned to Heaven. I Peter 3:22 (Jesus) Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 3. Jesus is coming from Heaven. I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God...... II. Heaven is PROMISED to the Believer I Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The Lord Jesus is coming for us. We are going to be caught up to meet Him Then we will be with Him forever--in Heaven. That's God's promise. 1. Peter also links together the words hope and Heaven. I Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. He calls it an inheritance. It comes to us at no cost to ourselves. No down payment, realtor fees or closing costs No mortgage payments, property taxes, or fear of foreclosure. It's God's free gift to the Believer. III. Heaven is being PREPARED for the Believer John 14 1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 1. What kind of place is God preparing? Revelation 21:1-6 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. A place where everything is new 1. A new heaven--a whole new universe of stars and galaxies 2. A new earth--prestine, fresh, unmarked by sin 3. A new city--with streets of gold, foundations of precious stones, and gates of pearl 4. A new relationship--God dwelling with men, no longer separated because of sin. 5. A new condition Everyone broken heart will be healed Death will be forbidden Sorrow will be unknown Suffering will be no more BEST OF ALL WE WILL BE WITH JESUS ...and so shall we ever be with the Lord. |