Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

Just Go To Heaven
Rev 4:1-2

Introduction
In the world it is not unusual to hear the words "Go To Hell." I want you to hear the words "Go to Heaven."
 

1.    Just Go To Heaven Knowing the . . Invitation Is Given. Rev. 4:1
        "After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

    A.    In the Future The Door Is Open To All Christians. Rev.4:1 b
        ". . . a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

    B.    Today The Door Is Open To Anyone. John 10:7-10
            7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. NKJV

Illustration
This week we have been in Vacation Bible School, and each night the children have been exposed to the A B C s of salvation.

A = Admit you're a sinner, and need to repent.

B = Believe Jesus saves and will save you.

C = Confess Jesus is Lord, and make a commitment to him.

In explaining confession, and commitment I have asked the children if the empty pews would hold them up if they sat on it. They have all agreed they could sit on the empty pew. I asked "why isn't the pew holding you up right now?" They responded "because we are not sitting on it." I said, "correct, and you must make a commitment to Christ if He is going to be your savior." On decision night we had three boys go over and sit on the empty pews indicating their commitment to Christ.

Application

Have you ever made a commitment of your life to Christ? Did you ever leave where you were and make a commitment to Christ? He said in

John 10:8-9  8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,"
 
 

2.    Just Go To Heaven Knowing the. .Invites for Several are Many.
        Heb. 12:1  "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, NKJV

Intro.
The word witnesses refers to all of the people listed in the eleventh chapter, and all the witnesses of scripture.

        The Man In Hell Invites.
        Luke 16:28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they
        also come to this place of torment.' NKJV

        The Woman at the Well Invited.
        John 4:39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because
        of the word of the woman who testified,. . . NKJV
 

    A.    Who Invites You?
            Mother, Father, Wife, Children, Friends, Neighbors.

    B.    Who Do You Invite?
            Mother, Father, Wife, Children, Friends, Neighbors.

Illustration
Did you ever talk to someone who had never heard the message of salvation? It seems impossible to me that a person could live in this country and never hear about Jesus. The week I talked to a man who said I don't know how to give my life to Jesus. I asked if I could share and he said I could. After sharing I asked if that made sense, and he said yes. I asked if he would like to pray and invite Jesus into his life and he said I don't know how to pray. I asked if I could lead him and he said yes.

Some people even in this country have never heard. Why? Simple Addition one tells one, two tells two, four tells 4, eight tells eight, sixteen tell sixteen, thirty-two tell thirty-two, and it keeps doubling until

7 years 32 = 64, 8 years 64 = 128, 9 years 128 = 256,

10 years 256 = 512, 11 years 512 = 1,024,

12 years 1024 = 2,048, 13 years 2048 = 4,096

14 years 4096 = 8,192, 15 years 8192 = 16,384

16 years 16,384 = 32,768, 17 years 32,768 = 65,536

18 years 65,536 = 131,072, 9 years 131,072 =262,144

20 years 262,144 = 524,288 21 years 524,288 = 1,048,576

22 years 1,048,576 = 2,097,152 23 years 2,097,152 =4,194,304

24 years 4,194,304 = 8,386,608, 25 years 8,386,608 = 16,777,216

26 years 16,777,216 = 33,554,432, 27 years 33,554,432 = 67,108,864

28 years 67,108,864 = 134,217,728, 29 years 134,217,728 = 268,435,456

30 years 268,435,456 = 536,670,912, 31 years 536,670,912 = 1,073,341,824

32 years 1,073,341,824 = 2,146,683,648,

33 years 2,146,683,648 = 4,293,367,296

34 years  4,293,367,296 = 8,586,734,592

So in 34 years there would be more converts to Christianity than there are people on this planet at this time.

Application

On one occasion about 40 years ago I told that story and a young girl asked "if that is true why don't we do it. I said that is a good question.
 
 

3.    Just Go To Heaven Knowing the . . Interrogation of God.

    A.    Interrogation for the Christian. 2 Cor 5:10
        For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NKJV

        1.    For Rewards not Salvation.
        2.    Salvation is determined on earth. John 3:16-18
    For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
    believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did
    not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
    through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned;
    but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not
    believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. NKJV

    B.    Interrogation for the Non-Christian. Rev 20:11-15
        11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face
        the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
        12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books
        were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
        And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which
        were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and
        Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were
        judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were
        cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found
        written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. NKJV

            1.    For the Purpose of Revelation.
            2.    Salvation is determined on earth. John 3:18
        18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe
        is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only
        begotten Son of God. NKJV

Illustration         JUSTICE Traditional
While browsing around in the attic, Junior came across an old report card which had been his father's. He brought it downstairs and compared it with the one he had just received at school and which he intended to show when his dad was in a good mood. When Dad was seated in his easy chair, Junior approached.

"Hey Dad, just look at this old report card of yours and then look at the one I just got. Why, your grades aren't any better than mine."

"You're right, son," he said. "I guess the only fair thing to do now is give you what my Dad gave me."

Application

That lad thought equal judgement with his dad would be fine. Then he found out how his dad was judged.

Are you willing to be judged like Christ? He was punished for our sins, not His but ours. Do you think you will go to heaven without judgement for your sins. You must be presented in the righteousness of Christ.
 
 

4.    Just Go To Heaven Knowing the . . Rewards Can Be Waiting.
        Matt 5:13  "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how
    shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and
    trampled underfoot by men. NKJV

Now Remember work will not get you into heaven but If you place your faith and commitment in Christ; He will reward your works after you become a Christian.

Matt 6:19-21 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NKJV

Matt 7:22-23 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' NKJV