HANDOUT FOR SERMON: HEAVEN IS WAITING FOR YOU. April 9th, 2023, Manchester, TN
INTRODUCTION: Christian and non-Christian alike need to realize just how valuable Jesus Christ is All of humanity needs to understand that the only begotten Son of God came here for our benefit. Jesus came. He showed us goodness and He was crucified and buried. He rose from the grave proving to us that He had power over death and that eternal life is real! Jesus provides for us a way of salvation. We have so much to be joyful and hopeful about!
Scripture: John 11:25-25, Acts 13:26, 29-30, 2 Timothy 2:10, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
When considering the concept of salvation, the Bible speaks of God’s wrath and judgment upon sin and evil, but the Bible also speaks of salvation in Christ and an eternal inheritance in heaven. In our lesson today we will see what we can learn about heaven.
Heaven is real. It is an amazing, eternal place of glory and great joy. It is a place of perfection and a place to be with God, in the very presence of the almighty God who made YOU and all that we see and know. If YOU love God then YOU WILL love Heaven. Don’t try to figure out all the details of heaven. The resurrection of Jesus provides us with hope, a joyful expectation of good. John 14:1-6
LESSON: 1.1.HEAVEN IS GOD’S DWELLING PLACE. To be in Heaven is to live in God’s house and see Him for eternity. If your life is affiliated with God, you will enjoy being in His presence. Jesus told His disciples they would live in the house of His father forever. Jesus said He would return and bring us to where He was (in His Father’s house). Jesus will sit at the right hand of God in Heaven. Is it not amazing to think you and I can be there too!
Scripture: John 14:1-3, Ephesians 1:20
2.HEAVEN IS THE AMAZING INHERITANCE OF THE FAITHFUL. Jesus spoke to His disciples, to the faithful, about receiving a great reward or a great inheritance. The unfaithful and faithless will not be in Heaven in the presence of God. The reward to the faithful on Earth will come later, it will be given after our death and resurrection. In one way we have much of what we need to survive now in this world but there is an amazing, underserving inheritance awaiting us.
Scripture: Matthew 5:11-12, Matthew 25:31-34, 1 Peter 1:3-9, Revelation 20:10
Heaven will be an amazing place because it is the place where God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, all the heavenly host and all the faithful of God are. Can you image it’s beauty? You may be thinking that sounds so wonderful and perfect. Yes is it because part of our reward is to have the devil, the tempter, removed from your life for all eternity. All that the devil does and stands for will be permanently removed from our presence. What a day of glory that will be.
3.HEAVEN IS WHERE CHRIST IS AND WHERE HIS FOLLOWERS GO. Jesus often spoke of His return to His Father and being at the right hand of His Father in all eternity. Will it not be wonderful to be in the presence of the One who has blessed you with redemption, forgiveness and mercy your whole life? Jesus, the one who came to show us the way, the truth and the life. Heaven is home of our Messiah, what a blessing to know it will also be my home too.
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11
4.HEAVEN IS THE HOPE, THE LONGING AND THE JOY OF EVERY BELIEVER. The followers of Jesus love to think about Heaven, talk about Heaven and sing about Heaven. Knowledge of such an amazing eternal place brings us hope and gives us great joy. This is God’s plan! He knows of our great needs and He also knows we need hope and joy in this trying world that we currently live in. However, we are just pilgrims and sojourners wandering through this life awaiting our REAL HOME with God in Heaven. There should be an eagerness in all of us.
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3, Romans 12:12, Romans 15:13 John 11:24-25, 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:6, Hebrews 11:10, Philippians 3:20
Let us also look at Revelation 21-22 to hear what God says about heaven.
These chapters portrays a vision of the Church at “home” with God in heaven beyond the judgment. It is a message of joy and hope for God’s people. Consider the term: “New heaven and new earth” in Revelation 21:4. There is only one other reference, 2 Peter 3:10-13.
- Heaven is devoid of all sin and sins consequences. Revelation 21:3-4 All the temptations you experience and all your weakness, all such will pass away. Cease in heaven. Revelation 20:10 Satan will be cast out and bound!
- Heaven is a massive, impressive and amazing city, which God built, Revelation 21:10-16. A city which will reflect the greatness and beauty of God. A constant reminder of who God is and what an amazing creator and maker He truly is.
- Heaven is sustained and purified by God and God’s glory, Revelation 20:22-27 Because God is there everything will be constantly sustained and purified by God and His light. We will be naturally draw to Him because all we will need will be given by Him.
- Heaven is pictured as the restored Garden of Eden, Revelation 22:1-5. The tree of life is there and everything is warmed by the warmth and care of God.
The Bible starts with the concept of a beautiful place where mankind and God reside and commune together. The Bible ends with the same concept of a “beautiful place” where mankind can be with God in all eternity. (Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 20-22) Oh, what a wonderful and joyful future that awaits all the people of God! Count your blessings and rejoice!
