Will Anyone Be in Heaven Because of You?

Introduction (5m)

What should we be doing as The Salvation Army / a Corps in 21st Century?

Matthew 22:37–39 NLT

Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Love the Lord your God with all your heart

Love our neighbour as ourselves

Go and make disciples

Help them to belong (soldiership and adherency)

Teach them to obey Jesus’ teaching

Explanation (5m)

In Revelation 7, we see the result of a Movement/Corps that puts these activities into practice

Revelation 7:9 NLT

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.

We are not small or ineffective

Heavenly population is huge - expansive, inclusive, innumerable. Beyond our ability to fathom.

Imagine how John felt when he saw this crowd

Alone, isolated on Patmos. Might have felt he was only part of small ragtag remnant who had made it through terrible persecution. But no! Here is a victory parade of millions - billions - more!

We are encouraged to feel the same

We may feel small, ineffective at times. Even worldwide TSA and 1 1/2m soldiers is puny compared to population of 7-8 billions.

But we have a spiritual impact over eternity. We are part of crowd that cannot be counted.

When we finally arrive in the presence of God, it will be in victory!

Not weary, battered, and worn, but victorious! White robes and palms are both signs of victory. Shouting and singing praise and thanks to God.

But how can such a small and seemingly ineffective Church, Movement, Corps have such a huge eternal impact?

Revelation 7:10 NLT

And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

The victory isn’t ours, it’s God’s! He has already won the victory. He won it on the cross and from the empty grave.

Mystery in this victory: it is won through Jesus’ suffering. Often his followers are called to suffer too.

May not be persecuted in the same way as John and his contemporaries. But we are called to take up our cross - to sacrifice control, self-determination - to give up our will for the sake of God’s, to obey him for the sake of the world.

“Salvation” is more than simply rescue. It is “the victory through which rescue is won”. It is the hope that keeps us going, keeps us working.

We believe in the Good Shepherd who lovingly provides for, protects, cares for, and leads his flock towards this final victory.

Application (5m)

So, whatever we decide to do as a Corps to continue to contribute to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, we already know what the finish line looks like

Matthew 24:14 NLT

And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

These verses do not tell us what to do, but they do encourage us what to see

John encourages us to see that impressive throng standing before the throne of God. To see beyond our own conditions and circumstances, beyond empty chairs, beyond seeming lack of enthusiasm for the Good News, beyond lack of officers, beyond corps closing, beyond lack of money, and to keep our eyes fixed on the glorious completion of God’s saving work.

The question is, will you keep going to the finish line?

Philippians 3:13–14 NLT

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Who will be in heaven because you choose to keep going until the final victory is won?

Who will you be able to pick out from that vast, innumerable crowd, and say, that person is here, worshipping the Lamb, because of me?

Loving your neighbour, making disciples of them, teaching them to obey God, and leading them into membership of his Church, all through your love for God is the most important thing you can do with your life

Not getting married, not building a career, not investing in your pension, not travelling the world, not paying off the mortgage. But fulfilling your mission.

There are people in your life who today are doing whatever they want - watching TV, sitting having a drink, reading the newspaper, scrolling through social media, relaxing and enjoying themselves, but totally unaware that Jesus died for them so they could have the victory over sin and death

You may be the only person in their life that can tell them this Good News. God wants everyone to be in his family because he loves us all. We must love everyone in the same way.

Who is going to be in heaven because of you?

What kind of legacy will you leave?

One day there is going to be a huge victory parade into heaven. Who will you spot in the ranks of the Salvationists on parade who are there because you told them the Good News?

Next Steps

William Booth Enters Heaven

Video: William Booth Enters Heaven | 6:00