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Today we are diving into our last message in our series, “THE ANCHOR” (The HOPE we have because of Jesus…)

 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

Hope = Confident expectation based on something solid

“My  hope is built on nothing less… than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

Maybe today you walked in, HOPELESS… If that’s you today, look around you, stop and ask someone to share their story.  

Recap:  What is HOPE? / Where does HOPE come from? / HOPE for my future

Our number one prayer for you is this… that you latch onto this HOPE we have in Jesus.  HOPE that keeps us standing, when the entire world is shaken…HOPE that never fails.  Because of this HOPE… we are anchored, secure…

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Transition:  Today we will look at our final thought on HOPE… What some call, THE BLESED HOPE…The ultimate hope that there really is something beyond this life.   (Pray)

Story/Illustration:

Transition:  You see, the hope we have is not solely to get through this life… but it’s hope NOW that there is another level of HOPE… Heaven.

With as much HOPE as we have now, we still face things… hard times, difficulties, obstacles.

(My Season of ministry… “Why can’t I find balance?” “Because this isn’t home.”)

We will have seasons of pain/suffering/frustration… and we learned a couple weeks ago that that is part of God’s process of producing HOPE in us.

³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope… Romans 5:2-4 (ESV)

The ultimate HOPE we have is that this life is NOT all there is… there is an eternity of JOY and PEACE that awaits us! 

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ… Titus 2:11-13 (NIV)

(Eternal life)

We have to change our focus… from just finding hope in this life, to living our life in light of our eternal hope…(Peoples efforts to find hope HERE)

 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.                                    1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 (NIV)

The HOPE of Jesus is what has caused “Death to lose it’s Sting”…(1 cor. 15:55)

⁶ As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. ⁸ And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.  2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NLT)

At the end of your life… and everyday… THIS is the goal (James… your life is but a vapor)

Heaven is a reality we need to live in… But there are a lot of misconceptions of Heave;

§  Clouds, robes, halos

§  Never ending church service (singing forever)

§  Celestial retirement home

§  So unreal…

Transition:  But what does the bible say about Heaven?

1.    Heaven is a REAL place

Revelation 21… talks all about the city of Heaven, New Jerusalem. 

1400 miles in every direction / walls 200 ft. thick of solid jasper / 12 gates made from a single pearl / transparent streets of gold… amazing!

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3 (NIV)

2.    Heaven is a RIGHT place

Think about every wrong with this life… your life…

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:3-5 (NIV)

No pain, disappointment, insecurity, loss of innocence, worry, fear, bills, sickness...

3.    Heaven is a RELATIONAL place

A place where you will see your loved ones who walked with Jesus… (Those who didn’t?)

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (NIV)

4.    Heaven is a REWARDING place

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)

Transition:  That’s great that we have that to look forward to, but how do we have ETERNAL HOPE… Now?

1.    Remove Your Doubt

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)

2.    Replace Your Anxiety

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

3.    Refocus Your Energy

When we truly understand heaven… we will live different.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Big Idea: Hope is not some elusive idea or feeling that we are always chasing... Hope is not some cliche that hangs on our walls...

Hope is real... tangible... available.

Challenge:  If we will commit to these 4 areas... Not only will we find supernatural levels of HOPE in our lives, but God will use us to carry that HOPE into our world...

Where are you this morning?

Salvation?