Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Jan. 23, 2000, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS YEAR
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:21-30
Text: Philippians 1:23
Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Introduction: At the end of the passing year and beginning of the new year, I always examine my life and set goals for the coming year. I have goals for the church, goals for myself, for my wife, and for my children. However, my greatest desire, in 2000, is to go to heaven.
Don’t misunderstand me. I know that I am saved. I know that I am going to heaven. I’m not WORKING to get there; I’m TRUSTING Christ, His death for my sins, His burial, and His resurrection, to get me there. However, I don’t know that I’m going this year. If I had my desires, or as we might say in the country, “If I had my ‘druthers’,” I would like to go to heaven in 2000. As a matter of fact, I would like to go TODAY.
I want to give you four reasons why I would rather go to heaven this year than to stay on earth, or as Paul said,
Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
I. THE SETTING WILL BE PURE IN HEAVEN
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
A. There will be no drug traffic in heaven
B. There will be no daily temptations in heaven
- No wicked people enticing you to do wrong
- No bad music
- No filthy billboards, magazines, etc.
C. There will be no drunkenness in heaven
- No Miller Brewery, like we have here
- No Viking distillery, like we have here
- No beer and wine in the grocery stores or department stores
D. There will be no depraved politicians in heaven
II. THE SAINTS WILL BE PLEASANT IN HEAVEN
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
A. We will all believe right
B. We will all behave right
C. We will all BE right
One of the main things that hinders the building of great churches is that there aren’t enough great Christians. Christians rarely remain in a church longer than three years. At the end of the three years, they don’t leave to get in a stronger church or go to a mission field. They nearly always leave because they have fallen out over bad behavior or bad beliefs!
III. THE SORROWS WILL BE PAST IN HEAVEN
Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
A. There will be no more divorce
B. There will be no more disease
C. There will be no more death
D. There will be no more division
E. There will be no more disappointments
IV. THE SAVIOR WILL BE PRESENT IN HEAVEN
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
A. We will look upon HIS countenance
B. We will listen to HIS conversation
- When we get to heaven we can talk to the Old Testament prophets, the New Testament apostles, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, Lester Roloff, or anyone else, but the GREATEST blessing will be to talk to the Lord Jesus Christ, sit at HIS feet, and hear HIS voice!
C. We will lean upon HIS chest
- As did the apostle John
- 2. For closeness
- 3. For comfort
Are you going to heaven?
Do you want to go to heaven this year?
If you were to die today, would you go to heaven?
Jesus made the way to heaven available, when He died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. He bore our sins in His own body on the cross. He became sin for us. He became a curse for us. He paid our penalty. He paid our debt. Now salvation is offered as a free gift. Accept the gift today by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is written:
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.