Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Over the past few weeks we have been working our way through a sermon series on Heaven and Hell.

Now these past two weeks we have addressed the topic of Hell, the place that is more than an adjective in foul or course talk, it is a real place of suffering, torment for the un-repentant, the sinner.

A place where God’s presence is void and of course we know the Devil himself, Satan and those angels that fell with him from heaven are in suffering there as well.

It is an eternal destination my friends....

And today I want us to move forward, to the good place!

Heaven!

Heaven was described as the “home of the saved.”

A place that is real place, eternal and where God’s presence resides continually...

Heaven is a wonderful place....

And what do we know about heaven?

There are many things we can say or describe about it and over the next couple of weeks we will try to dive into each little section.

My goal is that we come away with a good understanding of Heaven, and what God has prepared for us in this place.

So if yo have your Bibles with you today, I want to share with you a few passages of Scripture, and we will start with

It is a familiar passage and a good jumping off place today.

Now why did I choose this passage…

I believe it gives us a message for us, a timeless truth on the value and worth of heaven.

So a little background here.....

We know that this is the night before Jesus crucifixion, He is in the upper room with the disciples and he is teaching all he can before His time comes, before the arrest and the events leading up to his passion.

And it is here that Jesus teaches them some timeless truths about Heaven.

So let us begin ....

What do I want you to see… I want to you see that Faith is the Key that unlocks that God has prepared for us...

1. Faith is the Key....

Now I think it is important, that we talk about this truth, no matter if we are dealing with the Old Testament people or the New Testament people… everything single truth and reality of God begins with faith.

Now I think it is important, that we talk about this truth, no matter if we are dealing with the Old Testament people or the New Testament people… everything single truth and reality of God begins with faith.

We either believe God or we do not....

A person must have faith to see God

Look at verse 1....

Do you see the key thought here… It is Believe…

Everything we hope for, everything we hang onto is because of faith, do we believe or not.

We got into our car today to come here because we believed it would get us here… we had faith.

The clothes you are wearing, you picked those out to keep you covered and hopefully look good too.... faith

And in this passage Jesus speaks about faith.

Jesus says here, Let not your hearts be troubled..... Do not worry....

Instead as you have believed and had faith in God the Father, do the same concerning me.

I have done all these works, and I have taught so that you would have faith.

Believe....

What do you believe?

What is your faith in?

As people we tend to put all our eggs in one basket and then we stumble and fall and suddenly, the eggs are broken, the basket is ruined and we are left wondering what next...

Faith is the key.

It was for so many in the Old Testament… By faith Abraham left his family and all that was familiar to him and followed God.

It was by faith that Moses lead the children of Israel up to the edge of the Red Sea, and by faith it was opened.

It was by faith that Gideon took 300 men into to battle and witnessed the mighty hand of the Lord in battle.

It was by faith that David stepped out onto a battle field to face a giant and it was by faith that Levi, and Peter, Andrew and others followed Jesus...

Faith is the first ingredient to Salvation and entrance into the kingdom and family of God, do you have faith?

Faith is the one “basket” if you will that you can put all your eggs (hopes, desires, struggles etc..) and it will be ok.

Faith is key in understanding and finding heaven at the end of life.

So do you have faith today?

Do you know Jesus is more than a good person, a mighty man, that He is indeed the Son of the Living God, come to earth, made flesh to die for your sins..

Do you have faith in Jesus...

So faith in Jesus, that is a must.

we have to accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

But by faith my friends know that Heaven is a real place...

2. Heaven is a Real Place

2. Heaven is a Real Place

As much as we have talked about the reality of Hell, please know that Heaven is a real place as well.

But Heaven is completely different than hell, it is a place where the presence of the living God resides, it is a place of happiness and reward unlike hell that is a sad, pitiful place of torment.

The Scriptures testify concerning this place and Jesus himself even told the disciples and us through His word that he was going to prepare a place for them.

So what else do we know?

The Scriptures testify concerning this place and Jesus himself even told the disciples and us through His word that He was going to prepare a place for them, a heavenly home.

Go back to our text today and lets consider what Jesus was saying to them and us...

verses 1-3

Jesus tells us two things in particular that I want you to pay attention to this morning..

The first is this… The Father has a house, a mansion a place that is one of many rooms, a house that will hold His family.

What does that mean exactly?

The Father’s house with its many rooms?

Now we have talked about this in the past, but Jesus is reminding them of something they were familiar with...

The Jewish family was a close nit family.

The Father would have the son help him build onto the house, and as the wedding day approached there might be long hours.

But when they were done, the Father would inspect the work and tell the son he could go get his bride…

The son and the wedding party would celebrate through the streets as they went to get the son’s bride and He would bring her to his house, and the father’s house.

It is a picture of well of the rapture that we await ....

But it is wonderful… The father’s house would grow and grow as the family grew thus many rooms.

The Father of Heaven has a home awaiting, the Son had to finish.... made it ready.

So back to verse 2

Jesus says the Father’s house has many rooms… I am going to prepare a place for you.

Jesus had one last thing to do… The Cross, this was the final task set before Jeuss, the cross would ensure all the darkness of sin and separation were forever dealt with, Jesus would die on the cross as an atonement for sin, our sin, the world’s sin.

Thus He would justify us in front of God, making his bride, His church acceptable and able to come into the presence of the living God, most literally entrance into the Father’s house and kingdom.

The Kingdom of God was prepared by Jesus....

So heaven is a real place...

Jesus told his disciples this, look at verse 3 in

Here is the second thought I want you to hang on too.

He will come for us … He will come again…so that we can be where He is.... Jesus is speaking about his second coming here..

He will come get his church, His people

What a beautiful promise my friends, Jesus is telling them this simple truth.

Heaven is real, I am going to prepare a place for you, and all those who would call upon the name of the Lord and be saved…

Don’t worry, I will go away to finish the work, but I will come again.. so that you might be where I am...

So Jesus would leave their presence for a little while, but one day, suddenly when they least expected Jesus would also return to take them home as well.

What does all this mean…???

One day I will be where Jesus is......

I will be with Him, my Savior and Redeemer, my closest friend, I will be with Jesus.

Heaven is the home of the saved....

B. Heaven is a real place.... if that were not so, then I ask you ...

Why would Jesus tell us to lay up our treasure in heaven.

Let me share this passage from the gospel of Matthew, chapter 6

Listen to what Jesus says here : abandon the paradigm that this is all you have ....so you might as well make the most of it, be rich, eat drink and be merry for tomorrow you die.. no,

This life is not it… because we are eternal, instead of storing up and hording the things if this world, instead of being consumed with this life and the treasures you can store up now...

Store up for yourself treasures in heaven… things of eternal value that can not be stolen, corrupted by the forces of this world.

Friends, how could you store up, keep, the eternal treasures that are of utmost importance if heaven were not a real place....