"Hope of Eternal Life"
Text: John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

      Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. These were the words
spoken by Jesus to Martha at the
grave of her brother Lazarus. Lazarus had been
dead four days and his body was stinking. This was the physical evidence
that he was really dead without any doubt. Martha no doubt thought how can
this
man claim to have the power raise her brother from the dead. Jesus prayed to
the Father and then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth
and he that was dead came forth bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and
his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him,
and
let him go.

      The story of Lazarus gives us hope of eternal life because Jesus
defeated man's last enemy which is death. His victory over death removes the
fear
of death and gives to us the hope of eternal life. The apostle Paul said,
"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable",
(1 Cor 15:19). He is saying that the saints of God are miserable beings if
they only have hope in Christ for all that he does for us in this world and
not have the hope of eternal life.

      The hope of eternal life gives the child of God the strength to endure
life. We are able to overcome its many ups and downs, its many trials and
tribulations,
its many disappointments and personal failures. In that hope of eternal life
we have a supply of God's mercy that is with out end.
The Bible in its wisdom
encourages us to have hope in eternal life, it said, "It is of the LORD'S
mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are
new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith
my soul; therefore will I hope in him", (Lam 3:22-24).

      The hope of eternal life is a comfort to our souls. We have no fear
when men of the world do things that show that they have lost their natural
minds
which have been taken control of by Satan. But we know that Satan has
already lost his battle against God and the saints of God.

      It is just good to know that God has prepare a place in glory for his
people where there will be joy forever more. My hope of eternal life gives
to
me the knowledge that I will live again. My hope gives to me a peace that
passes all understanding. It gives to me strength that enables me to keep
pressing
my way. The Holy Ghost in me gives me the hope of eternal life. Paul taught,
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day
of redemption", (Eph 4:30). We are kept by the Spirit of God until the
return of the Lord and all of those who are in Christ whether dead or alive
will
be caught up to meet him and will live forevermore.

Jhn 5:21
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth [them]; even so the
Son quickeneth whom he will.

Jhn 6:39
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath
given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last
day.

Rom 5:17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in
life by
one, Jesus Christ.)

Rom 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he
that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by
his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1Cr 15:20
But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them
that slept.

2Cr 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by
Jesus, and shall present [us] with you.

Phl 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

1Th 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Rev 20:5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished. This [is] the first resurrection.

Rev 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no
more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for
the former things are passed away.

Jhn 1:4
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jhn 5:26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have
life in himself;

Jhn 6:35
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall
never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Jhn 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.

Psa 36:9
For with thee [is] the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Isa 38:16
O Lord, by these [things men] live, and in all these [things is] the life of
my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

Act 3:15
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof
we are witnesses.

Rom 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the
law of sin and death.

Col 3:3
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

1Jo 1:1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the
Word of life;

1Jo 5:11
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son.

Rev 22:1
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Jhn 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth
not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Job 19:25
For I know [that] my redeemer liveth, and [that] he shall stand at the
latter [day] upon the earth:

Isa 26:19
Thy dead [men] shall live, [together with] my dead body shall they arise.
Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew [is as] the dew of herbs,
and
the earth shall cast out the dead.

Luk 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with
me in paradise.

Rom 4:17
(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him
whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those
things
which be not as though they were.

Rom 8:10
And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit
[is] life because of righteousness.

1Cr 15:18
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

2Cr 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved,
we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens.

Phl 1:23
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with
Christ; which is far better:

1Th 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Hbr 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen
them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and
confessed
that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.


A fruitful harvest requires faithful service.
 Galatians 6:9 states,
And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not.
YBIC, Thomas, And YSIC, Linda.
twilliamson2@...
pofm@...