BCC Rejoicing in your Heavenly Reservation I Peter 1.1 to 9

The Blessing of Hope 1:1- 5

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 1) “1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen who are residing temporarily in the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. A New Birth to a Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Today I want you to start cultivating an emotional attachment for heaven. This needs to be the day you make sure you are 100 percent certain that you are on your way to heaven. Certain is as when the Bible says, “absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Make no mistake my dear friends that we are looking ahead because I believe our redemption draws nearer and nearer. This is our finest hour as believers. The heavenly home is right around the corner or just upon the shore. There is a song written by Don Wyrtzen in 1971 Called finally home that speaks of reaching that very destination:

“When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night, oh how lonely death can be. At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light, for death is swallowed up in victory. Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven, of touching a hand and finding it God’s. Of breathing new air and finding it celestial, of waking up in glory, and finding it “Home.”

Remember as we begin most of the people listening have already made their reservation for heaven by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. From there we gain a new perspective of heaven every time we read this passage or any other passage concerning heaven in God’s precious Holy Word. Of course let’s consider the topic of heaven and ask, “when was the last time your heard a message on heaven and you were not in a funeral home or attending a funeral?” What we need is certainty about our eternal home in the heavens.

Here’s something else to think about. Have you ever heard someone say that “so- and so is so heavenly minded they are no earthly good? I have heard it several times recently. Personally, I do not think we are guilty of what was just said. First heavenly minded people are going to attract peoples attention to a sorely needed topic of heaven. Then secondly, the believer is never in a position where they cannot do some earthly good. Remember who resides in you, the Holy Spirit of Christ. You have been bought with a price. Heaven and the attraction of heaven is a comfort to the church. I Thessalonians 4:16- 18 Says “ For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Then I have also heard people who actually criticize heaven minded people with the argument that you just want to get to heaven. You don’t want to do anything about those who are left behind and unsaved. We can’t go until all the world has been reached, and there needs to be a big harvest or revival. But who can say that the whole world has not been reached and who can say which revival is going to be adequate by their standards? The Lord himself does not know the hour, only the Father in heaven. When we are in the clouds is the right time!

Let me draw your attention to verse three of our initial text. We are going to steer clear of some earthly locations that just prove that this was written for us humans.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

Heaven is a relationship destination!

I. We are blessed in our relationship with the Trinity.

Count them: God and Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is here in the

sanctification of the Spirit of verse two, also the Spirit is in:

the operation of being born again (Titus 3:5

“Not by works of righteousness which have done, but according to His mercy has He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

and The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I have a Holy Spirit verse for that.

Romans 1:4: “And declared to the the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

Thinks now about the countless generations of people who will meet us in the clouds who are still alive on earth. Take a deep breath and then let it out. Then imagine, that is going to be awesome because we are just a twinkling eye away from heaven. Wow relationships with a whole new group and face to face with the one who redeemed us.

When I worked in business stewardship through Christian broadcasting, the main thing about the main thing was always: relationships, relationships, and relationships. If you have seen Jesus, it says you have seen the father. Take comfort in your relationship with the Trinity and the family of God that comes with them. It is our comfort.

II We are Blessed and revived through the prospect of Hope Through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead. verse 3 also

Without the resurrection Paul told the church at Corinth that we would be miserable Christians. Which of these words portray the believer?

Abandoned, shattered, oppressed, wretched and of course the key word for someone with out the resurrection: it’s the word “miserable.” None of those words portray the believer because, in Christ you have passed from wretchedness to eternal life. You are in a special place because you have a reservation in heaven. You might even say it’s your super power. “ I’m going to leave the earth some day. I’m on my way to heaven. I’m a part of the dynamic duo, it’s Jesus and me. The resurrection is the key to making your reservation secure for all eternity. The seal of the Holy Spirit for everlasting life.

The resurrection is so powerful that with The Lord and His Holy Spirit can help you can solve life issues. In fact some people bet the whole farm on the resurrection. They were expecting an even better life than they lived on Scripture pages:

King James Version Chapter 11

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured,

All of these were expecting a heavenly reward better than the life they had on earth. They were willing to bet the whole ranch. They made a reservation. They had the foresight. They could see why it counted. That is why there is a chapter 12 of Hebrews. There is a great cloud of witnesses, a heavenly grandstand in heaven cheering us on. This is a relationship, this resurrection to be celebrated in heaven and on earth as we look for the best that is to come.

III. Waiting for an Imperishable, Undefiled, and Unfading Inheritance laid aside in Heaven. vs 4

I have another word to describe that which is waiting: incorruptible. Society is ripe with corruption. It takes armies to fight the drug trafficking in South and Central America, Afghanistan, and not to mention the USA. This world has the capability and the propensity to be corrupt. Heaven is not untouchable, but is within your reach as you extend your hand to Jesus. Heaven is not untouchable, it is well within your grasp even yet today. It’s the real thing. There are not any scams about heaven. Think about and receive today what the Bible says:

You will be ushered into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Reserved in heaven and protected by the power of God for salvation. That’s what I want. 100 percent sure. That is salvation in Jesus who has gone to prepare a place for us. Isn’t this the life you want? You want to be heaven bound because you have a spot reserved especially for you!