Crossing Over

What’s in Your Future?

 

February 17, 2008

 

 

 

Worship through Song

 

Video

Walk the Line: This is Your Chance

 

Offering

 

Spirit in the Sky

Norman Greenbaum

 

Video

Ever Thought About Dying?

 

Message:

 Pastor Scott and Pastor Clare Loughrige

 

Church Family News

 

 

 

 

Any musical selections and/or media elements used in our services are for illustrative purposes only and are not an endorsement of any artist, musical group, film or television program.

 

 

What’s in Your Future?

Fortune:  

noun 1 fortune favored him; chance, accident, coincidence, serendipity, destiny, fortuity, providence, happenstance

 

ORIGIN Middle English : via Old French from Latin Fortuna, the name of a goddess personifying luck or chance.

 

Let Jesus tell you your Fortune.

 

Revelation 21:1-4 (TNIV)  1 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. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 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. 4 '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."

 

So what’s in your future if you are a Christ Follower?

 

1.  A real ____________________(a).

Isaiah 55:1-2 (TNIV)  1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare

 

 

 

2. A real ____________________(b).

Revelation 5:9-10 (TNIV)  9And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God members of every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

 

Eccl 3:10-11 (NIV)  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

 

3.  Real ______________(c) and ______________(d).

Isaiah 25:6-8 (TNIV)  6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.

 

Luke 22:29-30 (NASU)  . . . and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you  30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 

 

Isaiah 25:6-8 (TNIV)  6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people's disgrace from all the earth.  The LORD has spoken.

 

Eph 5:18-20 (NIV)  18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

1 Tim 6:17 (NIV) God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. . .

 

1 Peter 1:8 (KJV) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

 

Ps 16:11 (NKJV) You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 

4.  A Real _______________(e)

 

John 14:1-4

 1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 My Father's house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

 

On your way . . . Don't forget:

 

Matt 16:19 (NIV)

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

 

Col 3:2 (NIV)

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 

 

Matt 6:33 (NIV)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV)

9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"- 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. 

 

If you are heavenly minded you will be the most earthly good.

 

 

Conversations in Life Group:

1. What are a few things you are certain are in your future?

2. What is the most wonderful event you have ever been invited to? What made it wonderful?

3.  Have you ever experienced joy unspeakable?  How long did it last?  How would you like to live like that all the time?

4.  Name one of the best parties you've ever been to.  How long did it last?  

5.  What is your favorite landscape? favorite part of the world? favorite work? favorite food? favorite hobby? greatest passion? favorite person/people? Can those people and things go to heaven with you?

 

Spiritual Practices:  Pay attention to what you love this week and determine if it is heaven worthy.  Rejoice for those things that can go with you and enjoy them more fully.  Repent for those things that are not worthy of you or the future Jesus has for you.

 

Pray:  Jesus, you said you will give me the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever I will bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  Give me the grace and wisdom to begin living in heaven on earth now.  Amen.

 

RESOURCES: 

Go to our website, www.ccmonline.org, and click on the Following the Star devotional for Lent.

 

READ: 

Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren

 

Answers:

a.  invitation  b.  life   c.  joy   d.  celebration   e.  home

 

Today’s message is available in the bookstore on CD or DVD. Streaming audio and videos of today’s message are also available on our website:  ccmonline.org.

Copyright © 2008  Scott & Clare Loughrige