Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. It's a joy to stand before you today. We gather here with hearts full of hope. We gather with a common purpose. To know God more. To understand His word better. To find comfort and guidance in His teachings.

We turn today to the book of Revelation. A book that often stirs up fear and confusion. But today, we will find a message of hope and promise in its pages. Revelation 21:1-8 reads, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 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. 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.' He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!' Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.' He said to me: 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.'"

In these verses, we find a vision of a new heaven and a new earth. A promise of God's eternal presence with His people. A promise of a time when there will be no more tears, no more death, no more pain. A time when God will make everything new.

As we ponder on these words, let's remember what G.K. Chesterton once said, "Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all." Even in the face of despair, we are called to hope. To hope for the promises of God. To hope for the new heaven and the new earth.

Let us pray.

Dear God, as we open our hearts and minds to Your word today, fill us with Your hope. Help us to see beyond our present circumstances, to the promises You have for us. Guide us as we seek to understand Your word and apply it to our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

As we continue today, we will be looking at three main areas. We'll be talking about saints in the Scripture, believers as the blessed, and deceased or devoted disciples. I invite you all to open your hearts and minds as we learn together. Let's find hope in the promises of God. Let's find comfort in His presence. Let's find joy in His word.

Saints in the Scripture

In the Bible, we often come across individuals who are referred to as saints. These individuals are not just the well-known figures like Peter, Paul, or Mary. They are everyday people, like you and me, who have chosen to follow God's path. They are the faithful, the obedient, the humble, and the loving. They are those who have chosen to live their lives in accordance with God's word and commandments.

The term saint, in its biblical context, is not reserved for the extraordinary or the perfect. It is not a title bestowed upon a select few after a life of miraculous deeds or martyrdom. Rather, it is a term that encompasses all who have accepted Christ into their hearts and lives. It is a term that signifies a relationship with God, a commitment to His teachings, and a dedication to living out His love in the world.

The saints we read about in the Scripture are not distant, unreachable figures. They are individuals who struggled, who doubted, who made mistakes. They are individuals who experienced joy, sorrow, victory, and defeat. They are individuals who, despite their flaws and shortcomings, chose to trust in God and follow His ways.

In the book of Revelation, John speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. He speaks of a time when God will dwell among His people, when He will wipe every tear from their eyes, when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. This vision, this promise, is not just for the saints of old. It is for all who choose to follow God, for all who choose to become saints in their own right.

In the midst of trials and tribulations, in the midst of uncertainty and fear, the saints of the Scripture found hope in God's promises. They found comfort in His presence. They found strength in His word. And so can we. As we strive to live out our faith, as we strive to become saints in our own right, we can find hope in the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. We can find comfort in the knowledge that God will dwell among us. We can find strength in His word.

The saints of the Scripture were not passive recipients of God's promises. They were active participants in His plan. They were co-workers in His vineyard. They were vessels of His love and grace. They were lights in a dark world. And so can we be. As we strive to live out our faith, as we strive to become saints in our own right, we can participate in God's plan. We can be co-workers in His vineyard. We can be vessels of His love and grace. We can be lights in a dark world.

The saints of the Scripture were not isolated individuals. They were part of a community, a body of believers. They were part of the Church. They were part of the family of God. And so are we. As we strive to live out our faith, as we strive to become saints in our own right, we are not alone. We are part of a community, a body of believers. We are part of the Church. We are part of the family of God.

The saints of the Scripture were not defined by their past mistakes or failures. They were defined by their faith in God, their love for others, and their hope in His promises. And so can we be. As we strive to live out our faith, as we strive to become saints in our own right, we are not defined by our past mistakes or failures. We are defined by our faith in God, our love for others, and our hope in His promises.

Believers as the Blessed

As we continue, let's shift our focus to the blessed state of believers ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO