Proverbs 25:25

GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR COUNTRY

Intro: Ill. Hard work and cold water! They go sooooo good together! Ill. Good news is like a drink of refreshing, cool water. Listen, God's people need some good news! The saints are too burdened this evening! Too many of God's children have lost their shout and developed a pout! Far too many have been sold a bill of goods by the devil and have lost all their joy in the Lord. Well, I've got some good news for you this evening!

I got to thinking, there just isn't much good news coming out of the world tonight! If you listen to all the major news stories fo the day, you are bound to get defeated and discouraged. I mean, you can't watch the news or read the paper without getting defeated. But wait a minute! What if heaven published a newspaper? If they did, it would contain nothing but good news.

If they did, what would the headlines say? Well, since Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of Heaven, Col. 1:18, I am sure that every headline would be about Him in some way. He, Who should be the object of earth's attention, is the object of Heaven's attention. As I thought about what kind of headlines they would publish in Heaven, I realized that I have an anthology of Heaven's headlines in my hand! In this blessed old book, there is a record of the big news stories of glory. Let me share a few of them with you this evening!

I. John 3:16 FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

A. Ill. The fall and hopelessness of man - Eph. 2:1-3.

B. God's awesome love made a way for you and me, Eph. 2:4; Rom. 5:8.

C. God's love for the sinner is good news from a far country! There will always be somebody who loves you and me - Jer. 31:3.

II. John 19:30 IT IS FINISHED

A. Ill. The crucifixion and why He died - Isa. 53:4-6!

B. He paid the price and now nothing else needs to be done, Eph. 2:8-9.

III. Luke 24:34 THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED

A. He arose from the dead, Matt. 28:1-6! Death could not hold Him for just as He was the Master of sin on the cross, He conquered death at the tomb.

B. He is the Firstfruits from the dead, 1 Cor. 15:23. Because He lives, we will live also! (Ill. Death has lost its sting, 1 Cor. 15:55) (Ill. To be absent from the bod is to be present with the Lord, 2 Cor. 5:8) (Ill. That is why the Lord says the death of His people is precious in His sight, Psa. 116:15.)

A. Ill. Heaven - Rev. 21:4 - That's my home!

B. It's gonna be better than we could ever imagine! (Ill. 1 Cor. 2:9)

V. Rev. 22:20 SURELY I COME QUICKLY

A. Ill. Jesus is returning again for His bride in the Rapture - 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thes. 4:16-17. Are you ready?

B. Ill. It will only be a short time then Jesus will come for you and me - Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17.

VI. 1 Thes. 4:17 SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD

A. The greatest glory of heaven will be to see the glory of heaven! Rev. 22:3-4

B. Ill. Eternity is a long time! Heaven is forever, so is Hell! Where will you be?

VII. Rev. 22:17 WHOSOEVER WILL LET HIM COME

A. Salvation is available to all - Matt. 11:28!

B. None will ever be turned away - John 6:37!

VIII. Acts 16:31 BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED

A. Salvation is a simple matter! The greatest news from the headlines of Heaven is the news that any sinner who wants to be saved can be by simply coming to Jesus by faith! Rom. 10:13

B. No one need ever die lost! Jesus died for all - 2 Cor. 5:14!

Conc: Thank God for a few precious promises from the Word of God! What do Heaven's Headlines mean to you? Before we finish this evening, let's turn briefly to the want ads section of the paper. Here is a listing you might find interesting: "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.", Eze. 22:30. The Lord is looking for some men and women who will put Him first, take Him at His Word and go everywhere telling this lost and dying world about God's good news from that far country. Let's cancel our pity parties, stop receiving "Woe Is Me Magazine" and get busy praising the Lord for what He has given us.