Tuesday, 5 September 2017

Gospel Meeting 03/09/2017

1st  Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians – ch4 vs13 – 18.

“… ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope”.

All people like to hope that good and happy things will come to happen in their lives.
The speaker told of one who was long hoping to spend retirement in comfort in a warmer and more scenic climate.

The foundation of hope is very different to anyone in the world who either does or does not have Jesus Christ as their Saviour...

The "hope" of this world:
People who have not put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ have but a desire of something happening that they hope will become a reality – but it may or may not!
Human strength or will cannot guarantee anything, i.e. a happy and long retirement.

The Word of God "hope":
“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?. But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently”. – Romans ch8 vs23 – 25.
Christians “hope” is founded on the promises of God – fully guaranteed!
“For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth”. –
Psalm ch71 vs5.
God keeps all of His promises, and Christians have the “blessed hope”, KNOWING it will all come to fruition in God’s timing.

What will having this “hope” mean to Christians in the future? –
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall arise 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”.
The Revelation ch1 tells us that there shall be no more death, pain or suffering – all tears shall be wiped away… great and wonderful promises!

What does having this “hope” means to Christians now? –
“Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”.
We need not fear, Jesus Christ is ever with us and providing for us.

Our future is secured for all eternity – and far better than this current world!

However, those unbelievers without Jesus Christ as Saviour are without any hope –
The Revelation ch20 vs11 tells of their horrendous eternal suffering and torment, forever separated from God, for unforgiven sins.
Friend, if you are still without Christ, you have nothing good to look forward to whatsoever. It may be that you are doing so very well at this present time, but you can not take anything with you into eternity –
“Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him”. – Psalm ch49 vs16- 17.

How does anyone obtain “the blessed hope”? –
Be sorry for your sins and turn from them.
Believe that The Lord Jesus Christ paid the price for all your sins, being crucified on Calvary’s Cross, and taking the punishment for them by His sinless sacrifice.
Ask Him to forgive you, and accept Him into your heart and life as your personal Lord and Saviour today.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved”. –
Romans ch10 vs9.
Another of God’s promises – simple and without any catches like so much in this present world.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. – 1st Peter ch1 vs3.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our living hope… He overcame death, rising again!

Friend, accept these most wonderful promises without delay.

Just as with the past global flood, God in a coming day WILL judge all sin.
No man can match God’s holy standards.
However, anyone can enter into Heaven, through belonging to God’s eternal Son - The Lord Jesus Christ.

The world’s hope is very confined in anyone’s abilities, but the Christians blessed hopes are all absolutely guaranteed.

Personally inherit them all today!

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