Around the Corner and Around the World | Revelation 10

Around the Corner and Around the World | Revelation 10

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Around the corner and around the world”

Scripture: Revelation 10

(Main commentary helps below at the end)

Last week: “Have you got your heart in order?”

This week: “Around the corner and around the world”

My Bottom line:

With his authority to speak,

his presence to embolden, and

his word to proclaim to the nations,

Jesus recommissions his church in the tribulation

to multiply disciple-makers (xDM)

around the corner and around the world.

Intro

Jim Hamilton tells the following story:

“My parents had come to visit my sister and me. We were working at Kanakuk, a Christian sports camp in Missouri. But that night the softball game I was playing in wasn’t over when my parents and sister were ready to go. I told them to go on, and they did.

These were the days before cell phones. I knew my parents would be staying at a resort called Holiday Island, I began to wonder how in the world I would find my family. I got to Holiday Island and pulled into what looked like an office. Thankfully, someone came to the door, but when I asked if they could help me find which time-share my parents were in, I was told there were thousands of time-shares at Holiday Island. To make matters worse, there was no central system that logged all the units. He couldn’t help me.

Suddenly I realized that I was alone in the world, with no idea where to go, no clues as to where to start, and no way to contact my family. So I despondently got in my car and started driving farther into Holiday Island. Then I saw a familiar sight: there was my sister’s car! And under the windshield wiper was a note—I have it with me to this day. It reads as follows:

Jimbo,

We are at 15 Ironwood Dr. on the Island. Go to the Island—turn right on Appaloosa Dr.—2nd street is Ironwood Dr. Go to the end of the street. 15 Ironwood Drive.

Love, Dad

PS: It is 7:20 pm—we will be back here at 8:20.

It was 8:15 when I found that note. As I began to follow the directions, I soon crossed paths with my dad coming to get me, just as he said he would.

• Jim’s father revealed to him detailed truths about the future that encouraged him not to give up in the present. Where his family was and when he was coming to get him.

• He gave him specific instructions on what to do and told him what he was going to do as well.

Jim Hamilton’s dad left him a note on his sister’s car telling him

1. Exactly where his family was and

2. Exactly when he was coming to get him.

I. 10:1-3 The Angel of Salvation through Judgment

Note the authority this angel has as he represents Christ. Later we’ll hear authority from “The voice”.

Reminds me of this funny story: https://bible.org/illustration/lighthouse

Lighthouse

The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message” “Alter your course 10 degrees south.”

Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.”

The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am the captain!”

Soon another message was received: Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am seaman third class Jones.”

Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am a battleship.”

Then the reply came “Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am a lighthouse.”

In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives.

Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest—something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our peril. (A voice of authority in life)

Paul Aiello, Jr.

II. 10:4-7 “No more delay” at the 7th trumpet

“No more delay” - no more judgments; no more time to repent and believe; time to wrap this up!

III. 10:8-11 John Eats the Scroll

“The Voice” = The risen Lord Jesus Christ recommissioning John (and us); voice of authority (Either God the Father or God the Son)

“Go” with authority

“Take the scroll” = take my revealed words (could be the future but more likely the good news)

“Eat the scroll” = Digest it so that you process it internally and then proclaim it having processed it personally along the way.

“Prophecy again about” the nations - to the nations regardless of creed, religion, ethnicity, or anything else. All people.

Summary: (note how this mirrors the Great Commission in Matt 28:19-20)

1. GO: Go (or as you go) with authority (Holy Spirit authority)

2. TAKE: With God’s revealed words (Bible)

3. EAT: Internalize the message personally

4. PROPHESY: Proclaim it again around the corner and around the world (to the nations cf. Acts 1:8)

Compare with Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 1:8 and see the similarities. (See Luke 24 and Mark 16 as well)

Last week’s challenge was to share Christ with the person God brought to mind at that time. How did you do? Did you take that as if it were from God? Did you ignore it? Did you see God move? He isn’t done. And perhaps you have a second chance...but there are no guarantees as this poem suggests.

Poem: "Around the Corner" (Charles Hanson Towne)

Around the corner I have a friend,

In this great city that has no end,

Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,

And before I know it, a year is gone.

And I never see my old friend's face,

For life is a swift and terrible race,

He knows I like him just as well,

As in the days when I rang his bell.

And he rang mine but we were younger then,

And now we are busy, tired men.

Tired of playing a foolish game,

Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim

Just to show that I'm thinking of him",

But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,

And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner, yet miles away,

"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."

And that's what we get and deserve in the end.

Around the corner, a vanished friend.

2 major applications on top of...

1. Be Confident. Be confident that God is Lord of all and will accomplish his purposes. Per the angel standing reminding us everything is under Jesus’ feet, no terrorist, no rogue governments, no dictators, no usurpers of democracy, no kings are going to stand in the way of God’s accomplishing his purposes.

2. God Reveals Truth. We can know truth because God has revealed himself.

   1. We’ll never have all knowledge—only God is omniscient.

   2. But we have knowledge because God gave Jesus the scroll. God—>Jesus—>Angel—>John—>us!

   3. We have it and can trust “the things that must soon take place” (1:1).

Closing

Jim Hamilton’s dad left him a note on his sister’s car telling him

1. Exactly where his family was and

2. Exactly when he was coming to get him.

Jesus said to his disciples in John 14:1-3,

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Almighty God has sent his angel to his servant John “to show to his servants the things that must soon take place” (1:1).

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

• ESV Global Study Bible

• Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• The Book of Revelation, NICNT, Robert Mounce

Have You Got Your Heart in Order? | Revelation 9:1-21

Have You Got Your Heart in Order? | Revelation 9:1-21

Darien Gabriel

Text Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Have you got your heart in order?”

Scripture: Revelation 9:1-21

Last week: “Why We Pray”

This week: “Have you got your heart in order?”

My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.

Intro

Moving: Right after you move in, your house is NOT in order. House vs Spiritual house (aka heart) Seals It would be really helpful to me as a pastor to be able to see whether or not you had the seal of God on your forehead. Like Shadrach, Mishshach and Abednego, you will find yourself in the fiery furnace, but you will come out unsinged.

Evil: As we see the evil in the world around us, it’s understandable that you will want to put things in better order than they are. Some do this through politics, others through non-profits, others through writing or the arts, and even through ministry. Making a difference? If this is you, my question for you is, is your “house” in order? In other words, Are you trying to clean up the mess in the world before you’ve cleaned up your own “room”. I mean that literally—not just metaphorically. A better question than, “Is your house in order?” might be, “Is your heart in order?” (Title of today’s message)

Better questions: Before you ask yourself, is my house in order ask yourself is my heart in order? (Optional)

A picture of evil (LOTR) Read some of Lord of the Rings (LOTR) story that describes the Nazgul. “The Nazgul came again, and as their Dark Lord now grew and put forth his strength, so their voices, which uttered only his will and his malice, were filled with evil and horror. Ever they circled the City, like vultures that expect their fill of doomed men’s flesh. Out of sight and shot they flew, and yet were ever present, and their deadly voices rent the air. More unbearable they became, not less, at each new cry. At length even the stout- hearted would fling themselves to the ground as the hidden menace passed over them, or they would stand, letting their weapons fall from nerveless hands while into their minds a blackness came, and they thought no more of war, but only of hiding and of crawling, and of death.” Return of the King, p. 97

My outline:

Intro

I. 5th Trumpet: Spiritual warfare is as real as physical warfare. (9:1-12)

II. 6th Trumpet: When God removes his sovereign restraint on evil, all hell breaks lose. (9:13-19)

III. Unrepentant sinners show how depraved an unsealed heart really is. (9:20-21)

IV. Applications—God is sovereign over evil. That’s how he can use evil to judge evil. “The devil is still God’s devil.” -Martin Luther

A. See and feel the evil around us better by gazing at God

B. If sealed by God, rest in that no matter what.

C. If not sealed by God yet, repent and believe; trust and follow Jesus Christ.

1. Humble yourself before holy, almighty God

2. Repent of your sins against him and believe that he’s made a way out for you.

3. Evidence your faith by leading others to follow you as you follow Him.

Closing

My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.

Applications

I. God is sovereign over evil. That’s how he can use evil to judge evil. “The devil is still God’s devil.” -Martin Luther

II. See and feel the evil around us—recognize the good God graciously pours out.

III. If sealed by God, rest in that no matter what.

IV. If not sealed by God yet, repent and believe; trust and follow Jesus Christ.

A. Humble yourself before holy, almighty God

B. Repent of your sins against him and believe that he’s made a way out for you.

C. Evidence your faith by leading others to follow you as you follow Him.

Closing My Bottom line: God‘s judgment is horrific and only those who God seals (who repent and believe) will be protected from it.

Read closing story of heroism in LOTR final books Return of the King. Narrated by Jim Hamilton: “King Theoden has been crushed beneath his fallen horse, and the Nazgul descends to defile the dead. Only one warrior has remained to defend the fallen king. This warrior was named Dernhelm, but it was really the maiden Eowyn in disguise. The presence of the Nazgul startled the horse that Eowyn and the hobbit Merry rode, and they were thrown from their crazed mount. ‘Merry crawled on all fours like a dazed beast, and such a horror was on him that he was blind and sick. ‘“King’s man! King’s man” his heart cried within him, “You must stay by him...” But his will made no answer, and his body shook. He dared not open his eyes or look up.’ “Eowyn disguised as Dernhelm then commanded the Nazgul, ‘Leave the dead in peace!’ “A cold voice answered: ‘Come not between the Nazgul and his prey! Or he will not slay thee in thy turn. He will bear thee away to the houses of lamentation, beyond all darkness, where thy flesh shall be devoured, and thy shriveled mind be left naked to the Lidless Eye.” ‘A sword rang as it was drawn. “Do what you will; but I will hinder it, if I may.” “Hinder me? Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!” “Then Merry heard of all sounds in that hour the strangest. It seemed that Dernhelm laughed, and the clear voice was like the ring of steel. “But no living man am I! You look upon a woman. Eowyn I am, Eomund’s daughter. You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” The black rider rises to kill Eowyn: “But suddenly he too stumbled forward with a cry of bitter pain, and his stroke went wide, driving into the ground. Merry’s sword had stabbed him from behind... “Eowyn! Eowyn!” Cried Merry. Then tottering, struggling up, with her last strength she drove her sword between the crown and mantle, as the great shoulders bowed before her. The sword broke sparkling into many shards. The crown rolled away with a clang...and a cry went up into the shuddering air, and faded to a shrill wailing, passing with the wind, a voice bodiless and thin that died, and was swallowed up, and was never heard again in that age of this world.” Return of the King, p. 97

Stand, brothers and sisters, against the onslaught of evil. Stand and fight against temptation...stand and fight for your life.” -Hamilton

Yes, stand and fight temptation, injustice, sin and evil. But start first in your own heart. Get your heart and home in order first. Then wade into the battle for the hearts and souls of mankind. Let’s pray

Other notes: This is the story of history & lore Lucifer chose to become the one worshiped and feared over worshiping his very own creator. His hubris led him to pursue conquering others to this end. Ever since he attempted Adam and Eve to follow him in this he’s been tempting others down the same path.

- The emperor and Vader in Star Wars

- Scar in the lion king

- Sauron in lord of the rings

- Thanos in Avengers

When we reject Jesus Christ as Lord, we walk down this who, naïve and dangerous path of anti-Christ as one of his followers. This is wicked. And there will be hell to pay. Literally. This is what the Lord is judging in the future as displayed in the Revelation.

Hamilton’s need: “We have a great need to see evil for what it is.”

Hamilton’s main point: “God’s judgment is painful and terrifying, and only those who God seals will be protected from his judgment.”

Akin’s main point: “In carrying out judgment on unrepentant humanity, the sovereign Lord will use Satan and his forces, but he will always remain in control over them.”

Outlines:

Hamilton Akin

I. 5th Trump (9:1-12) I. Spiritual warfare is real and intense (9:1-12)

II. 6th Trump (9:13-19) II. When God’s restraining grace is removed, Hell comes to earth (9:13-19)

III. Unrepentant sinners (9:20-21) III. God’s judgments reveal utter depravity of human heart (9:20-21)

Main commentary help:

- Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

- Revelation by Jim Hamilton

- Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

- Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

- ESV Global Study Bible

- Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

- Bible Knowledge Commentary

Why We Pray | Revelation 8

Why We Pray | Revelation 8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Why We Pray” (The 7th seal = 7 trumpets)

Scripture: Revelation 8

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

• ESV Global Study Bible

• Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

Last week: “Why God Seals His People”

This week: “Why We Pray”

Bottom line: We pray because our prayers change things—sometimes mercifully; sometimes justly.

Intro

Young people, can I give you a little advice? Resist the temptation to compartmentalize your life. What I mean is don’t treat the different areas of your life as if they don’t affect other areas of your life.

It’s like spokes on a wheel. If you treat each spoke (representing a different area of your life) as if they don’t connect, then the wheel of your life falls apart (eventually). But if you remember that they are all connected at the center at the hub, and that what you put at that center hub matters, you will find a life that is whole and full of peace (no matter what the world throws at you).

Avoid the titanic mistake of compartmentalizing your life. Here’s a story to drive this point home.

How to Avoid the Titanic Mistake

James Cameron, director of the movie Titanic, describes the Titanic as a ‘metaphor’ of life: ‘We are all living on… [the] Titanic.’

When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was declared to be ‘unsinkable’ because it was constructed using a new technology. The ship’s hull was divided into sixteen watertight compartments. Up to four of these compartments could be damaged or even flooded, and still the ship would float.

Tragically, the Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 at 2.20 am. 1,513 people lost their lives. At the time, it was thought that five of its watertight compartments had been ruptured in a collision with an iceberg.

However, on 1 September 1985, when the wreck of the Titanic was found lying upright on the ocean floor, there was no sign of the long gash previously thought to have been ripped in the ship’s hull. What they discovered was that damage to one compartment affected all the rest.

Many people make the Titanic mistake. They think they can divide their lives into different ‘compartments’ and that what they do in one will not affect the rest. However, as Rick Warren (from whom I have taken this illustration) says, ‘A life of integrity is one that is not divided into compartments.’

David prayed for ‘an undivided heart’ (Psalm 86:11). He led the people with ‘integrity of heart’ (78:72). Supremely, Jesus was a ‘man of integrity’ (Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14). How can you and I avoid the Titanic mistake and live lives of integrity?

The point isn’t just that David prayed for an undivided heart. That’s huge. But the bigger point is that David prayed believing that God could and would give him an undivided heart if he just asked.

Last week we learned that we sing because we’re sealed.

This week we learn that we pray because our prayers change things.

Bottom line: We pray because God changes things in our world as a result.

This week’s message is pretty simple, though devastatingly sobering.

Our prayers ascent to heaven where almighty, all-loving God hears and responds to them in accordance with his will to devastating effect. Even if those prayers are imprecatory prayers that devastate others in our world.

No, we’re not taking revenge. That’s God’s job (Romans 12). But we can ask God to do that.

• To act justly.

• To avenge his people.

• To vindicate his people.

“How long...” is a refrain in so many prayers. (Cf. Rev 6:9-10) Not a bad prayer. Just as long as we’re not having a pity party but instead praying faith-filled prayers to the One who can and will answer in accordance with his perfect, holy, loving will.

And isn’t that what we’ve been asking for all these years?

“(Let) your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-13)

How long...

• Will we continue to let politics divide us instead of our faith unite us?

• Will we care more about what’s for dinner than what happens to lonely, unmarried pregnant teen girls?

• Will we participate in the sin of silence in sharing the gospel?

• Will we see sleeping together as a way to try out a marriage partner instead of sleeping with someone’s future spouse?

• Will we see porn as a cancer for our soul?

• Will we scorn spiritual disciplines and habits that are means of grace?

• Will we settle for a self-absorbed mission in life?

• Will we take for granted our intergenerational community of faith?

• Will we value time playing games alone over time conversing with others?

• Will we spend more time watching videos than reading the word?

• Will we get more agitated over how political actions affect our income than how they affect the next generation’s soul?

• Will God continue to wait to pour out his holy justice on us like a raging river?

• Will we continue to believe that as long as I‘m a “good person” in the eyes of “normal” people, I’ll be ok in God’s eyes?

I could go on and on. No doubt you have some “How longs” you want to pray to God as well.

Well, I can tell you this—it won’t be forever.

Our prayers released to heaven eventually return answered to earth. Sometimes exactly the way we prayed them. Oftentimes even better.

How long will we continue in our prayerless-ness?

I. Our prayers WILL be answered. (8:1-5)

A. Genuine prayer is sacrificial prayer. This is suggested by the altar where the martyrs are (under), where the prayers are offered up (censer), and where we were redeemed to be able to pray (cross).

1. The martyrs lived sacrificially by faith.

2. Jesus lived sacrificially by faith.

3. “The scene in heaven suggests that there is something sacrificial about genuine prayer. Both the believer and his prayer enter the presence of God by way of the altar.” (Mounce)

   1. Believers under the altar (+ all prayers offered by all saints in all of history)

   2. Prayers in the censer rise up as divine acceptance (cf Eph 5:2)

      1. “...and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

4. Calm before the storm? Pause to hear their prayers? Dramatic pause? God’s timing is perfect—don’t delay in responding to his merciful pause. (8:1)

5. Angels directly from God’s throne. To stand in God’s presence is to stand ready to serve at the pleasure of the king of kings. (Mounce)

   1. He’s sovereign and holy and will (must) judge sin. (8:2-3)

   2. More judgment is on the way—but still, God gives chance for humanity repent and believe. Still they do not. More and more die.

      1. Seals - 1/4 die

      2. Trumpets - 1/3 die

6. Incense symbolizes sacrificial prayer. As the prayers rise up, God returns his answers back down in his perfect timing. Sometimes mercy—sometimes judgment.

B. Genuine prayer can be for mercy or for justice.

1. Prayers are lifted up by faith.

2. Prayers are answered by God.

II. Proof that prayers are answered: 4 Trumpets of Wrath. (8:6-12)

1. Hail and fire mixed with blood. 1/3 of earth, 1/3 of trees, all great grass.

2. Like a huge mountain all ablaze thrown into sea. 1/3 sea to blood, 1/3 living sea creatures die, 1/3 ships die.

3. A great star, blazing like a torch, fell on 1/3 rivers and springs poisoning drinking water and killing 1/3 of people.

4. Sun is struck dark (1/3), 1/3 of moon too, and 1/3 of stars too. Light is leaving.

III. Woe to the earthdwellers. (8:13) - Woe, woe, woe signals 3 more to come to those on earth. Goal: repentance and faith in their creator.

1. Unlike first four trumpets which fall on the source of people’s life,

2. The last three fall upon people themselves.

Q: Are you ready for his holy judgment? Are you ready to face your holy creator?

May you think you’re good. You’re a “good” person, after all.

You haven’t murdered anyone.

Yet Jesus said, if you’ve even hated or gotten angry with your brother or sister, you’re as guilty of murder as if you pulled the trigger. (Matt 5:22)

You haven’t been unfaithful to your current spouse.

Yet Jesus said, if you’ve lusted after another person sexually, it’s as if you have slept together. (Matt 5:28)

This is true of your future spouse as well.

And I still have 8 of the 10 commandments to go.

Do you really believe that you are morally pure before your perfectly, holy creator? Because he knows better.

He knows what you’ve done.

He knows what you’ve said.

He knows what you’ve thought (every thought)

The Lord is sending his holy wrath against all of humanity except for those who’ve humbled themselves and repented of their sin believing that their only hope is that Jesus took on God’s holy wrath on our behalf—in our place.

Conclusion:

Let me address our younger generations for a minute. Here’s a question:

How do you know a debt has been paid? A financial or legal debt?

Q: When you have been arrested, convicted, and imprisoned, how do you know when your debt has been paid?

A: You know it when the door opens and you can walk through them into freedom.

Q: How do you know when your moral debt to God has been paid.

“The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)

A: How do you know when the wage has been paid and the death of been paid? You know because of when Jesus walked through the door of death through the resurrection. Yes, the door opened and Jesus walked through it proving that our debt had been paid. (Tim Keller, Hope)

Other notes:

Fact: the altar of incense

In OT times, the altar of incense (8:3–4) stood in the Holy Place of the tabernacle and the temple next to the veil concealing the Most Holy Place. Each morning and evening, the high priest burned incense on the altar (Ex. 30:1–10).

Incense represented the prayers of the saints in the earthly sanctuary (see 5:8; also Ps. 141:2; Luke 1:9–11). Fire from the altar will be flung to earth in judgment in answer to the saints’ prayers.

Global Study Bible

Altar of Incense is symbolic of prayers. -BKC

“Prayers of all God’s people” result in God’s judgment and glory.

On the golden altar (8:3)

Martyrs underneath golden altar. (6:7-10)

“How long, sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (6:10)

Their faith is in God’s character and competency to be sovereign, holy and true and act justly:

1. Sovereign - authority and power

2. Holy - morally, perfectly pure

3. True - revealing what is true

1. Angel 5 holds golden censer over golden altar holding incense (smoke) and prayers all in front of the throne.

2. These prayers mix and rise up from angel’s hand.

3. Angel filled censer with fire from the altar and hurls it onto the earth resulting in thunder, lightning, and an earthquake. This launches/initiates the 7th seal = 7 trumpets of judgment.

Why God Seals His People | Revelation 7

Why God Seals His People | Revelation 7

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: Why God Seals His People

Scripture: Revelation 7

Main commentary help: 

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

Last week: “How to prepare for the end”

This week: “Why God Seals His People”

Intro

I was a civil engineer for about 10 years before I went into full-time ministry. To become a professional engineer, you must graduate from an accredited university, pass the EIT test, apprentice the appropriate number of years, and then pass the PE exam. After doing all of that, you become a registered PE in that state. You can then get a seal that has the state seal, your name, and your PE #. Then when you must sign and seal documents you are identifying them as yours and that you have authority to submit these under the laws of the state. Your seal establishes identity, ownership, and authority.

We talked about 6 seals of judgment last week. But this is a different kind of seal. This is the seal found in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22:

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/2co.1.21-22.niv

God seals those who trust and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Seal them from what? From the judgments he will pour out on the rest of the world because of their rebellion against their good and great Creator.

This parenthetical chapter between the 6th and 7th seals takes the time to share this truth that God seals his people. Therefore, they do not need to fear God’s judgment for he will protect them from them.

I. The sealing of the servants of God on the earth. (7:1-8)

II. The singing of the servants of God in heaven. (7:9-17)

Bottom line: We sing because we’ve been sealed.

The pathway to life is through a grave.

• True for Jesus.

• True for us.

Are you resting under God’s seal? Or do you need to trust and follow Jesus Christ?

God’s judgments are coming. Are you ready for that?

Pray to God and ask for his mercy and grace in Jesus’ name today.

How to prepare for the end | Revelation 6:1-8

How to Prepare for the End | Revelation 6:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: How to prepare for the end

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-8

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

Last week: “How to Live in this world of suffering”
This week: “How to prepare for the end”

I. Intro

My dad died in 2014. He was in his 80s and died because of dementia. He forgot how to swallow. Watching him die like that was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But because he knew the disease would eventually take him, he prepared himself financially, mentally, physically, relationally and spiritually. And when his brain forgot how to swallow, he started to die. But he knew that the best was yet to come. I realize that talking about God like this can get me canceled. When people don’t like what you’re saying, they want to just cancel instead of discuss and debate the issues. As a result, it’s getting riskier and riskier to speak truth—especially from the Bible. Yet Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney does so in the middle of the pandemic on a world-wide simulcast where he said the following:

“The best is not behind us. The best is yet to come, especially for those who know Jesus. I would not be able to do a positive summit and try to speak some hope and positivity if I did not say that because that is what I know. I know true peace and happiness comes from knowing Jesus. Jesus is the hope of the world. Always has been, always will be. The hope of the world is not a vaccine. It is not a politician. It is not some stimulus package. It is not any of those things. The hope of the world comes from knowing Jesus. That is what I believe and that is why I know that the best is yet to come.” -Dabo Swinney

https://www.powerofpositivesummit.com/

Where does the courage to say that and risk all he’s accomplished come from? Sheep among wolves, Luke 10:3Power of the resurrection, Phil 3:10How to prepare for what end? The end of my life or the end of the world? Yes, both. Because the answer is the same for both.

But he was ready. We talked about it often. He wasn’t wanting to leave this place but he was at peace about it whenever it happened. He’d trusted Christ at an early age.He’d led his family to follow Christ.He’d walked with Christ the best way he knew how.He’d had the important conversations while he was still thinking well. Hospice was called in when it was time.He was prepared for the end. Are you prepared for the end yet?

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly.

Let’s dive into the 5th and 6th seals. The 7th seal is the 7 Trumpets (judgments) we’ll learn about in the weeks to come.

II. The 5th Seal—Martyrs (6:9-11)

A. What’s a martyr? Martyr = witness. So a Christian martyr is someone willing to be a witness even if it kills them in the process.

B. Why were these people martyred? Because they were faithful to the word of God (Proclaim Jesus), and Because they were faithful to the testimony (Embody Jesus).Does your life do these 2 things?

C. They want vengeance, justice and vindication. After all, they died for loving God and loving people like Jesus did/does.

D. Vengeance is God’s job—not ours.

E. God’s character—holy and true.F. God’s method—sovereign and always on time.lG. Future martyrs? Church of Smyrna and us.

III. 6th Seal—The End. (6:12-17)

A. Common throughout scripture to be cosmic, cataclysmic destruction. Could be literal.Could be symbolic. No less real either way. Goal is to lead people to repent and believe. People would rather die than...

B. ...Face God and the wrath of the Lamb.

C. The great leveling begins. God’s justice and mercy are for all no matter your station or status in life.

D. What about you? What are you putting your hope in for your deliverance in the end? Politicians? World leaders? Scientists? Wealthy people? The Military?

Application
How do we prepare for the end?

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it. And ordering our lives accordingly.

Share story of Nigerian funeral

Decide if my faith is worth living for. If it’s worth living for, then it’s worth dying for. Saturate your mind and heart with scripture daily. Memorize it as if you might have to live without a printed copy one day. Pray like you might be martyred one day. Proclaim Jesus daily. Embody Jesus daily.

Bottom line: We must prepare for the end of life and the end of the world the same way: as if living and dying for Christ was worth it.We do this daily as we Proclaim & Embody Jesus.

Let’s pray.

Other notes:

How to Love

Four bullets hit Pope John Paul II – two of them lodging in his lower intestine, the others hitting his left hand and right arm. This assassination attempt on the Pope in May 1981 left him severely wounded and with considerable blood loss – his health was never the same again. In July 1981, the perpetrator, Ali Ağca, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Pope John Paul II asked people to pray ‘for my brother Ağca, whom I have sincerely forgiven’.

Two years later, he was to take the hand of Ali Ağca, then in prison, and quietly tell him that he had forgiven him for what he had done (even though his would-be killer had not asked for forgiveness). He developed a friendship over the years, meeting Ağca’s mother in 1987 and his brother a decade later. In June 2000 Ağca was pardoned by the Italian President at the Pope’s request. In February 2005 Ağca sent a letter to the Pope wishing him well. When the Pope died on 2 April 2005, Ağca’s brother, Adrian, gave an interview saying that Ağca and his entire family were grieving and that the Pope had been a great friend to them.

Pope John Paul II’s response of love and mercy is exemplary. God’s love and mercy is even more extraordinary because ‘At the cross of Jesus, pardon is complete. Love and justice mingle, truth and mercymeet.’

How to Make the Most of Your Life

‘People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like,’ writes Shane Claiborne in his book The Irresistible Revolution. ‘Sometimes it’s like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a halo. She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery, like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget – her feet. Her feet were deformed.

Each morning I would stare at them. I wondered if she had contracted leprosy. One day a Sister explained, “Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them. And years of doing that have deformed her feet.” Years of loving her neighbour as herself deformed her feet.’

When people are asked about the person whose life they most admire, so often the answer is ‘Mother Teresa’. She made the most of her life. It is a paradox, because her life was a life of self-denial, taking up her cross and following Jesus.

Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 56 • Devotional

How to Live In This World of Suffering | Revelation 6:1-8

How to Live In This World of Suffering | Revelation 6:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “How to Live in this world of suffering” (Proclaim & Embody Jesus)

Scripture: Revelation 6:1-8

Main commentary help: 

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Seven Seals by Matt Chandler, 2021 sermon

Last week: Jesus worshipped as Redeemer

This week: Jesus worshipped as Righteous & Just Judge

Our need: Grace and truth from our creator-redeemer 

Bottom line: In light of our need for grace and truth in a world of hurt, let’s proclaim and embody Jesus where we live, work, and play.

So Hamilton focuses on the glory of God and how we take it too lightly. God’s judgment falls on those who take it too lightly. He then fleshes out how God judges humanity through humanity. God has a plan (though we have differing takes on how that will unfold) and that’s what matters. He has a plan and will sovereignly carry it out on earth and in heaven. 

Chandler focuses more on the persecution and how we should prepare and live in light of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and the natural catastrophes we’re enduring and that will accelerate and intensify like birth pangs. 

Both refer to Matthew 24 as Jesus’ commentary on this passage. 

I. Four Seals and Four Horsemen on the earth (6:1-8) - God judges humanity through humanity.

A. First Seal/horseman: White - Conqueror bent on conquest

1. False Christ—Looks like Christ but isn’t

2. False teacher

3. False hope

4. Deceiver

5. “Were given” - God is sovereign; they have nothing he hasn’t given to them

B. Second Seal/horseman: Fiery Red 

1. Takes away peace and

2. Incites mortal violence

C. Third Seal/horseman: Black

1. Severe famine (days wages for a small meal for a person or family)

2. None of what you need but all you don’t need - typical of what we tend to pursue too

D. Fourth Seal/horseman: Pale

1. Death and Hades (Hell)

2. Power to kill 25% of the world (about 2 billion or China + most of India)

II. Martyrs and Signs in the Heavens (6:9-17) - God continues judgment in the heavens

A. Fifth Seal: Martyrdom—wait a little longer

1. They were there because they proclaimed and embodied Jesus.

2. Are we willing to go there?

B. Sixth Seal: Natural disasters on increasingly frequent and more intense scale; heading towards or already in the tribulation

1. Already in in that we’re already experiencing these things; cannot mean for us what it didn’t mean for them

2. Also, as things increase in intensity and frequency, some yet unseen things will occur as a part of the tribulation (possibly)

3. Tribulation = Daniel’s 70th week; a 7-year period where global tribulation will climax with the Great Throne of Judgment

4. Great leveling of people; all our earthly hopes will crumble in this day of judgment

5. Only hope is in the one who can and did open the scroll—Jesus the Christ

C. Seventh Seal: 7 Trumpets of judgment 

III. How do we live, survive, and even thrive in light of this?

A. Proclaim Jesus Christ. 

1. They will hate us. Yes, they will. Oral Roberts U in sweet sixteen and USA Today article.

2. Ok for them to hate us for being Jesus (not for being unkind or obnoxious)

   1. When we major on doctrine, we become mean, legalistic and judgmental

   2. When we major on the Spirit but go soft on truth/doctrine, we become sentimental, inconsistent and discouraged.

   3. We must be scholarship on fire! We worship in Spirit and in truth. The Spirit of Christ and the Word made flesh. Potent combination.

3. Matthew 24:14

B. Embody Jesus Christ.

1. Not enough to talk Jesus. We must show them Jesus through our actions.

2. He is the head—we’re his body (hands and feet, etc.)

3. Luke 6:27-36

C. This is what it means to carry our cross daily and follow him.

IV. Conclusion

Therefore, let’s proclaim and embody Jesus today—every day—around the corner and around the world. Let’s “Always be ready to give to everyone who asks (us) the reason for the hope that we have (in Jesus).” And let the chips fall where they may. 

• We may see someone come to Christ.

• We may find ourselves under the altar in heaven awaiting for Jesus to avenge and vindicate our life on earth.

How to Live and Die Well | Revelation 5

How to Live and Die Well | Revelation 5

Darien Gabriel

Notes: Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title:  “How to live and die well”

Scripture: Revelation 5

Main commentary help: 

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• The Seven Churches by Mike Breen

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

Last week: Jesus worshipped as Creator

This week: Jesus worshipped as Redeemer

Our need: 

We need Jesus. Why? (Personally and globally)

• He lived the life we couldn’t live (perfectly just/righteous, mercifully and humbly)

• He died the death we deserved to die (rebellious sinners from birth)

• He seized destiny

  • His

  • Ours

  • The worlds

• We need Jesus. Otherwise, there’s no hope.

Bottom line: Rev 5 teaches us that Jesus is in control of the past, present and future of world history; that Jesus has taken over.

This equips us to be able to live and die well. Knowing the future—how it all ends (we win!)—changes our whole perspective on life...if you believe it. 

Episodes:

I. Intro

• Story: “The Four Chaplains“

• How to be a living sacrifice—Romans 12:1

• LIve in a manner worthy of the gospel to which we’ve been called

  • Phil 1:27

  • Eph 4:1

  • 1 Cor 11:27 LS

  • Are you weeping?

    • If for grief, then appropriate.

    • If for circumstances, perhaps not.

    • Is it possible it’s because you do not know or believe that Jesus can open the scroll?

II. Bad news: No one can open the scroll (5:1-4) (John weeps)

• John weeps because he loses all hope. (P. 153 gives what is lost if scroll isn’t opened)

• If the promises of the Bible cannot be fulfilled, it’s like a world without Jesus

III. Good news: The Conquering Lamb can open the scroll (5:5-7)

• Jesus can and does open the scroll!

• Truth 1: He is worthy of our allegiance and worship because of the death, burial and resurrection.

  • Lion

  • Lamp

  • Like skull and crossbones are a symbol of poison, but not a picture of it, lion and lamb are symbols of Christ but not a picture of him.

• This shows a missionary God

• To all the nations

• More Truths

  • He is worthy of our total allegiance and worship because of the death, burial and resurrection

  • He won—therefore we win!

  • He has taken control of history (past, present and future)

• Therefore,

  • We can trust him with uncertain future

  • We get to worship him with lips and life

  • We can live victoriously no matter our circumstances

  • We are encouraged to encourage others to live this way

IV. The appropriate response to the conquering Lamb: True and spiritual worship (5:8-14)

• Our worship/response reveals our faith (or lack thereof) in what the Bible teaches

• Our worship is best seen in our locking arms with Jesus around the corner and around the world in mission to the least, the last and the lost of every nation and every generation. (9)

V. Conclusion

• Are you weeping?

  • If for grief, then appropriate.

  • If for circumstances, perhaps not.

  • Is it possible it’s because you do not know or believe that Jesus can open the scroll?

• LIve in a manner worthy of the gospel to which we’ve been called

  • Phil 1:27

  • Eph 4:1

  • 1 Cor 11:27 LS

• How to be a living sacrifice—Romans 12:1

• Story 2

Illustrations:

“Mary had a little Lamb, 

his soul was white as snow. 

And anywhere His Father sent, 

the Lamb was sure to go. 

He came to earth to die one day, 

the sin of man to atone.

And now He reigns in heaven alone. 

He’s the Lamb up on the throne!“

-Daniel Akin

2/3/1943 : Four Chaplain's Day; holiday; sacrifice

Why Do We Worship God? | Revelation 4:1-11

Why Do We Worship God? | Revelation 4:1-11

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title:  “Why do we worship God?”

Scripture: Revelation 4:1-11

Main commentary help: 

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• The Seven Churches by Mike Breen

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

Be Confident About Your Future

What does the future hold in store for you?

Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel: Day 71 • Devotional

Futurologists predict what will happen in the future. For example, it has been predicted that some babies born today will live to the age of 150. Some of their predictions may come true. Others may not.

• In 1962 Decca Recording Company rejected the Beatles. They said, ‘We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.’

• In 1977 Ken Olson, Chairman of Digital Equipment Co., said, ‘There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.’

There are certain things about the future that we don’t know and that we are not supposed to know. However, there are other things that you can know about the future and that makes a real difference to your life now. Today we see why the echo the world needs to hear is from God through his people. That is worship.

Bottom line: Be the echo the world needs to hear from God through his people.

Illustration: This is not unlike the moon reflecting the light of the sun so that we can see the sunlight at night.

There are 2 parts to this:

1. Seeing and hearing God so that I am changed.

2. Echoing/reflecting what I see and hear into a world that needs to see/hear God and be changed as well.

Need:

We need to see God as he is so that we’ll be able to overcome (be victorious) over the challenges and temptations in life that we experience and that are described in Rev. 2-3.

“Our need for this text is much the same as the need for the seven churches to which John sent this letter. We know from what Jesus said to them in the seven letters that 

1. they had lost their first love in Ephesus;

2. they were about to be killed for the faith in Smyrna—husbands, wives, so`ns, daughters facing death;

3. they were tempted by false teaching in Pergamum;

4. they were tolerating a false prophetess in Thyatira, and she had led some into sexual and morality and idolatry;

5. the church was dead in Sardis,

6. persecuted in Philadelphia, and

7. Lukewarm in Laodicea.” -J Hamilton

“The whole point of this text is to show us that right now God is on his throne being worshiped and praised as he rightly deserves.” -JH

Context:

3 purposes:

I. To give believers a renewed vision of the risen, ascended and ruling Lord Jesus (1); 

II. To call for repentance and renewal (2-3), and 

III. To reveal God’s future plans for his church (4-22)

We are entering the third purpose and section. 

Outline:

I. The One seated on the throne. (4:1-6a)

1. Jesus invites John in through his open door (contrast with Laodicea not opening their door to Jesus) (Trinity: Son of God)

2. Description of the throne room and the one seated in it.

3. “In the Spirit” is how John describes whatever it is he experienced in receiving this revelation.

4. A throne with God sitting in it. (Trinity: God the Father)

5. He had the appearance of jasper and ruby gems. (Reddish-brown colors) These gems represent the radiance or echo of the glory of God in these places (High priests breastplate (Exod 19), Rebuilding of New Jerusalem (Isaiah 54), Description of bride of Christ as New Jerusalem (Rev 21))

6. Rainbow reminds us of the covenant that God made with Noah to never judge the earth by flood again. Adds green to the mix. This covenant of patient mercy. So when we see this bow added we see justice and mercy perfectly balance reflect God’s glory.

7. 24 elders - 12 tribes + 12 apostles; either humans or angelic beings

8. Dressed in white representing our justification, sanctification and glorification (righteousness)

9. Gold crowns—when they worship, they are giving all that they have (voices, presence, time, energy and crowns). While these are tokens of worship to God, they are valuable to us expressing our value of him.

10. Thunder and lightning remind us of God descending on Mount Sinai and giving of the law by which they’d be judged. Justice from the throne surrounded by patient mercy of a bow.

11. 7 lamps = 7 spirits of God or Holy Spirit in full. (Trinity = Holy Spirit or Spirit of God)

12. Sea of glass—clear as crystal; hard as diamonds (floor); add to this

II. The Worship of the One seated on the throne. (4:6b-11)

1. Four angelic creatures around the throne reflecting or echoing God’s glory through their attributes.

2. Their words give us reason to worship him:

   1. Holy, holy, holy (number for God)

   2. Eternal/timeless one

   3. Creator

3. Elders fall down in worship because that is the only appropriate posture of worship in front of someone as great as the Lord God Almighty.

Applications:

Echo God’s glory where we live, work, learn and play:

1. With our lips (Heb 13:15)

2. With our lives (Heb 13:16)

But notice that the emphasis here is on the former and that our tendency is to see this as non-productive, wasteful. (See John 12:-18 narrative about how Mary “wastes” her nard)

How to Fully Rely on God Instead of Yourself | Revelation 3:17-22

How to Fully Rely on God Instead of Yourself | Revelation 3:17-22

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “How to fully rely on God instead of yourself”

Scripture: Revelation 3:17-22

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• The Seven Churches by Mike Breen

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

Bottom line: Jesus calls us to fully rely on him instead of ourselves. Our self-reliance makes him want to puke.

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and to us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Need: Due to it’s enormous affluence, the Laodicean church was vulnerable to self-reliance. We, the American church, need to hear Jesus’s words to this church and evaluate ourselves in light of them.

Last week we saw how the Laodicean church thought, “We’ve got this!”

Illustration: Pic of inflatable tanks used in WW II. They look real at a glance but they are not authentic. Many Christians look real on the outside at a glance. But they are not.

5 Steps Towards Fully Relying on Jesus Again

1. Hear the loving rebuke of the Lord. (19a)

   1. Jesus loves you.

   2. That’s why he rebukes and disciplines you.

   3. Cf. Hebrews 12:4-11

2. Earnestly repent and believe the Lord. (19b)

   1. While the “Importance of Being Earnest” is a great movie, it’s not about this.

   2. But it is important to be earnest in your repentance.

   3. Repentance is more than being sorry for your sin. It’s choosing to change your thinking from believing a lie to believing that living by the truth is better for all.

3. Invite the Lord in. (20)

   1. Jesus is outside the church knocking to get back in. They were doing church without Jesus.

   2. Contrast 2 ways the church was approached:

      1. Roman soldiers were told to go to Laodicea and that they were to provide them room and board for free.

      2. Jesus comes and asks to be let in to join them for a sweet time of fellowship and food that he provides.

4. Join the Lord on His throne. (21)

   1. We overcome (are victorious) because we trust in Jesus’ victory over sin, death, shame, guilt and hell itself.

   2. He overcame all of that and his Father gave him the right to rule. He does the same for us.

5. To Hear is to Obey (22)

   1. The Spirit of the Lord (Trinitarian throughout this passage) speaks; are we listening.

   2. To hear is to obey.

How to Fully Rely on God Instead of Yourself | Revelation 3:17-22

Darien Gabriel

What You Don’t Realize Can Kill You | Revelation 3:14-22

What You Don’t Realize Can Kill You | Revelation 3:14-22

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “What You Don’t Realize Can Kill You” (Part 9)

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin
  Revelation by Jim Hamilton
  The Seven Churches by Mike Breen
  Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger
  

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and to us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Need: Due to it’s enormous affluence, the Laodicean church was vulnerable to self-reliance. We, the American church, need to hear Jesus’s words to this church and evaluate ourselves in light of them. Main Point (Akin): Churches that lose sight of their dependence on Christ for all things are deceived and useless, but Jesus graciously promises healing to all who will rely on him for their every need. Main point (Hamilton): Jesus calls on the church at Laodicea to rely on him and his resources rather than their own. Outline (Hamilton): 3:14 Jesus is the true witness 3:15-17 Laodicea’s self-reliance 3:18-20 The counsel of the true witness: Rely on Jesus 3:21-22 Hear the promises that the Spirit speaks.

Being a Great Commission Church | Revelation 3:7-13

Being a Great Commission Church | Revelation 3:7-13

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title:  “Being a Great Commission Church”

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Main commentary help: 

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• The Seven Churches by Mike Breen

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

This week’s title: “Being a Great Commission Church”

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and to us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Tension: We must evaluate our church and ourselves to see if we’re being faithful to the Savior, the gospel, and the great commission for God rewards those who are.

Though we may be modestly influential culturally, the church that is faithful to the Savior, the gospel, and the great commission will be rewarded by God.

1. A great commission church sees Jesus as awesome. (3:7)

   1. He is the holy one.

   2. He is the true one.

   3. He is the sovereign one. (Unstoppable)

2. A Great Commission church is faithful to the gospel. (3:8-9)

3. A great commission church lives by the promises of God. (3:10-13)

Keep Your Testimony Fresh | Revelation 3:1-6

Keep Your Testimony Fresh | Revelation 3:1-6

Todd Luce

The Best is Yet to Come
Keep Your Testimony Fresh
Revelation 3:1-6
Todd Luce

Jesus' church is alive and God is shaping you into what you aren't yet in this age of the Spirit in accordance with the Father's plan for all the nations ... remember how you have received and heard, then be ready to share what God is doing in your life now ... keep your testimony fresh!

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin | Revelation 2:18-39

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin | Revelation 2:18-39

Christopher M. Karpus

Repent from the Tolerance of Sin (Apathy towards Sin)

By Chris Karpus

Revelation 2:18-39

To the Church in Thyatira (the idolatrous church)

a. Each church was literal in existence (Asia Minor in modern day Turkey)

Ephesus had abandoned their first love

Smyrna was not admonished, but they were facing tribulation

Pergamum had people holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans

Thyatira, today’s letter, is tolerating Jezebel

- Many commercial guilds in Thyatira…like trade unions…more than any other Roman province – Industrialized city known for their commercial trade…purple dye…Lydia, from the book of Acts

Acts 16 – refers to Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, from Thyatira.

b. Each church represents spiritual issues relevant to Christians today

1. Verses 18-19

-Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of God”

-whose eyes are fire - Jesus’ searching gaze from which nothing escapes

Whose feet are like burnished bronze – seems to point to Jesus’ absolute purity

- They had the deeds that Ephesus had, but had the love that Ephesus lacked

- Jesus recognized their love and faith, service and perseverance…

- He even noted that they were doing even more than when they started

2. Verses 20-21

-Jesus faults the church of Thyatira for tolerating this “Jezebel” whom He gave time to repent

(Jezebel – daughter of Ethbael, king of the Sidonians

She worshiped the baals and ashiras, and led King Ahab (the King of Israel) to do the same

2 Kings 9:34 “that cursed woman”

As a punishment for her wickedness, she was eventually pushed out a window, trampled by horses and eaten by dogs)

We are told 2 things about this Jezebel in Thyatira: (other than not repenting)

1. She calls herself a profit

2. She is teaching Jesus’ servants to practice sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols

Eating food sacrificed to idols…dinner with the guild…sacrificed to Zeus

Jesus told Thyatira that they were allowing someone like that to influence their people – why do you tolerate her?

-Could be a reference to the process of church discipline back in Matthew 18:15-18

- She did not repent even though she was given time to do so

- Jesus is now faulting the church for continuing to tolerate her….so if they had gone through the process, it seems that He is saying that she should have been excluded by now

- Jesus said that they had love, BUT it seems their love was undiscerning and blindly affirming

- They tolerated false teaching and immoral behavior – two things God is fiercely intolerant of

- Jesus didn’t pat them on the back for being open minded, welcoming and affirming, he chastised them basically for being blind and undiscerning

- Tolerance – a buzz word in our culture

- There is a good kind of tolerance, but Christians cannot be tolerant of ALL things because God is not tolerant of all things.

- -Our culture says that love = unconditional affirmation. That is not the way God loves.

- We cannot give unqualified, unconditional affirmation to every belief and behavior.

- Parents should understand this. – you see your kid playing in the middle of a busy street, you don’t respond with “who am I to judge”?

- -We are called to love what God loves and hate what God hates

- -(Love what God loves) That’s where Ephesus failed

- (Hate what God hates – where Pergamum and Thyatira failed

3. “Jezebel”, in this case is most likely a specific person, but metaphorically, what “Jezebel’s” does the modern western church tolerate?

a. Racism

Jemar Tisby, in his book “How to Fight Racism” makes a tough statement for the white evangelicals in our country: “…everyone is either fighting racism or supporting it”.

In other words…we are either fighting racism or tolerating it

b. Abortion – I may favor pro life political candidates, but if I haven’t promoted a culture of life and compassion, I’m really not doing much by just pulling a red lever.

c. Pornography and sex trafficking

d. Worship songs with bad theology?... Bad doctrine leads to bad lives

e. People who call themselves prophets, and aren’t…

- Some just make political predictions, and never talk about the actual Word of God

3. from Verse 20

…(this Jezebel) who calls herself a prophet

- Jesus addresses the problem of imposters at several points in these letters:

- In Ephesus, he speaks to those who call themselves apostles who are not

- In Smyrna, he speaks to those who say they are Jews who are not

- In Thyatire, He is speaking of a woman who calls herself a prophet…and she is not

+ Fakes cannot fool the One whose eyes are like blazing fire

+ Always hold what so-called prophets say up against the Word of God

Matthew 24:11

11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

+ they will deceive non-believers and Christians…don’t fall for them, even if they say what our itchy ears want to hear.

4. Verse 20:

- She has infiltrated the people of God (probably part of why Jesus calls her a “Jezebel”) and teaches them idolatry and immorality (the rest of the reason she is called Jezebel)

- She is called to repentance and refused.

- Those who belong to Jesus repent of sin. What’s missing is repentance…repent and believe…believe and repent for the remission of sin

- At this point, the church had a responsibility to tell her the truth

- to protect the flock

- Instead, they were tolerating her, and as a result of the church’s failure to act, she was leading the servants of Jesus into sin.

-Tolerance in this case, is not love, it is unfaithfulness to God

- In not directly doing something about the false teaching, the church bears some of the responsibility for the sins provoked by the Jezebels…by tolerating it. Is that the same as approval?

-Is it possible that… Not DOING SOMETHING about RACISM, is implicit approval of racism

…Not DOING SOMETHING about abortion, is implicit approval of abortion

…and so on…

Obviously, we don’t want to hear our Lord and Savior say: “To the church in the United States, I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first…but I hold this against you: you tolerate things I hate.”

5. Verses 21-23:

- Jesus is effectively calling His servants, who are sinning with Jezebel, to repentance

- He is announcing judgement…Jezebel and everyone who sins with her will be judged

- Those who belong to Jesus will repent. Those who do not belong to Jesus will not.

- Those who refuse to repent, identify themselves as Jezebel’s children, and Jesus’ promises them that they will be judged and die

The result of this is…in verse 23

6. Verse 23:

- Basically, it looks like Jesus is addressing everyone who did not follow Jezebel. He is not imposing another burden on them, other than tolerating Jezebel.

- he says to HOLD FAST TO WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL I COME. What they have is the Gospel, and “holding fast” means living it out

- He has also called evil what it is…by saying “satan’s so called deep secrets”

8. Verses 26-29

Jesus is referencing Psalm 2:8-9

Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron[a]; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

If we want to rule with Jesus in the future, we need to be faithful to Him in the present. Remember, in the case of Thyatira, -Tolerance is not love, it is unfaithfulness

Though we are cultural outcasts now, or ridiculed now…we will rule. If we’re not outcasts now because of our faith, or ridiculed now because of our faith, then maybe we look too much like the culture.

David Wells…professor of Theology said – “worldliness is whatever makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange”

Does this mean we are to be intolerant? Of course not. It means we need to treat people the way Jesus treated people. He humbled, showed law to the proud, and He showed grace to the humble

Look at the story of the woman caught in adultery:

John 8:3-11

9. Verse 28

We will receive the Morning Star (Numbers 24…a star will come out of Jacob) – If you overcome, the ultimate gift is Christ Himself.

If you hold fast, you may not get:

The job, or the raise, or the girl or boy, or even your parents and family. You may not get the big house, fair treatment or the promotion. You may not get the political candidate you want in office, great health or appreciation from your family and friends or even the freedom you think you deserve…but if you hold fast…you WILL get the morning Star…you will get Jesus Himself. If He is all we have, understand that He is truly all we need.

Thanks!

Repent from Compromise | Revelation 2:12-17; Hebrews 13:5-6

Repent from Compromise | Revelation 2:12-17; Hebrews 13:5-6

Darien Gabriel

Rev 2:12-17, TBYTC, part 5

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “Repent from Compromise”

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17; Heb 13:5-6

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• The Seven Churches by Mike Breen

Last week’s title:

This week’s title: “Repent from Compromise”

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and to us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Tension:

Illustrations:

Seaplane commodore and pride

Illustration:

There were times in the life of our family when our girls were tempted by friends and family to try something new and truly enjoy life. Usually, alcohol or sex encouraged. Our young people especially deal with this kind of temptation on a daily basis. The temptation to compromise what we know is the wise, pure path the Lord Jesus would encourage us to follow.

Pride is the attitude that makes us vulnerable to compromising with sin.

In the meantime, the enemy tempts us to pursue sinful pleasures that promise much but never deliver what they promise. Sin never pays.

False teachings like the ones that the church in Pergamum were embracing lead us towards idolatry and immorality; towards compromise with promises that never deliver. This is the danger the church today faces.

Need:

“We need to be convinced that we must never flirt with evil. We need to have the false exterior of sin pulled back so that we see it as it is.” -Hamilton

Flirting is behaving as if you are attracted to or are trying to attract someone to you. Driven by desire; can be less than serious but can also turn serious. When we flirt with sin, we’re responding to it’s enticements and it’s like playing with fire without respecting that fire.

This week’s main idea: “The main point of the letter to the church in Pergamum is that they must repent of the Nicolaitans teaching.” -Hamilton, p. 86

“Though believers and churches are constantly tempted to compromise both theologically and ethically, true followers of Christ will remain faithful and receive from the Lord the reward of eternal life.” -Akin

My Bottom line: Repent of Compromise

Good compromise and bad compromise. We’re talking about compromising with sin—the temptations and pressures that the world and the enemy throw at us. 2 kinds:

• Power - like a direct, frontal assault

• Social pressure - more subtle

Context: (by chapter)

“We can summarize the whole book of Revelation by thinking of it in three parts: Jesus and the letters, the throne and the judgments, and Babylon, Jesus, and the bride.” -Hamilton’s

I. Jesus and the letters ( to the churches)

II. The throne and the judgments (from the throne)

III. Babylon, Jesus, and the Bride

More detail:

1: Vision of Risen Christ

2-3: Letters to 7 churches from risen Christ

4-5: Vision of throne room of the risen Christ

6-16: Judgment of Risen Christ

17-22: Fall of Babylon and arrival of New Jerusalem

Outline:

V. 12 Intro

• Church vs churches

• Sword from ch. 1 (more later)

V. 13 Pergamum-

• Describe city (Provincial Roman capital, center of lots of pagan worship, 2nd largest library (huge educational city))

• Where Satan lives; imagine being a church in the city where Satan’s headquarters is

• We all live in places where we’ll be tempted to compromise

• Antipas - “my faithful witness”

V. 14 “Nevertheless”

• Balaam and Balak

• Nicolaitans

V. 15 “Repent, therefore”

V. 16 A warning that Jesus take sin seriously

• Illustration: Sin and Sword: Sarawak python and 3 ton truck

  • Sin is deadly

  • Jesus deals with sin in a deadly way

V. 17 2 gifts

• Hidden manna

• White stone

Conclusion

Repent from compromise. Recognize that like the early church, we’re constantly under pressure to compromise.

Faithful Even to Death | Rev 2:8-11

Faithful Even to Death | Rev 2:8-11

Ken Dorrity

We are in Revelation 2:8-11 and the focus is on the letter to the second church in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

Revelation is the revealing of Jesus and God’s plan for everything!

Remember, Revelation was written by John while in exile on the island of Patmos and Rev. 2 and 3 includes the letters to seven Churches in Asia.

These 7 were on a major road that was on a circular route. A letter carrier would leave Patmos and could go in the exact order as letter dictated, landing in

Ephesus > Smyrna > Pergamum > Thyatira > Sardis > Philadelphia > Laodicea

Izmir – 3rd largest city in modern-day Turkey is built on the site of ancient Smyrna.

Smyrna – comes from myrrh. A spice we all remember from Matthew as a gift from the Wise Men to Jesus. Myrrh smells wonderful but only after it is crushed.

The church in Smyrna was persecuted, poor, and afflicted, but like myrrh, when the church is crushed something wonderful was revealed, JESUS.

Smyrna – beautiful seaport (Aegean Sea) city 35 miles N of Ephesus.

Nicknames: Port of Asia. Ornament of Asia. Flower of Asia. Crown of Asia.

Aristides “The wind blows through every part of the city, and makes it as fresh as a grove of trees.

In AD 23 as a reward for loyalty, Smyrna beat out 11 other cities for the right to build the 1st temple to honor Tiberias Caesar (AD 14-37). This along with the influential Jewish population was the ingredient for a hostile environment for the believers there in Smyrna.

Smyrna was also famous for the place of execution of Polycarp (Feb 23 AD 155) who was bishop of the church of Smyrna and knew John (Irenaeus AD 130-200 confirmed Polycarp knew John).

8 “Write to the angel of the church in Smyrna: Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: 9 I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death. Revelation 2:8-11 CSB

The One who conquered death knows their suffering.

Jesus shares 3 things He knows what the believers are in the midst of life in Smyrna:

1) Affliction, 2) Poverty, 3) Slander

Don't fear what is to come. Be faithful.

The second death will not harm the followers of Christ.

The life worth dying for and the life worth living for!

Be Faithful to the Point of Death.

Application: Pray for the persecuted church. Check out Fox's Book of Martyrs.

Visit persecution.com and pray for those who are suffering.

First Love | Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7

First Love | Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: “First Love”

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7; 2 Tim 1:7 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Bible Knowledge Commentary

• Be The Church by Seth McBee

• Break the Code by Bruce Metzger

Last week’s title: “Motivated by the Risen Jesus...”

This week’s title: “First Love”

Our series is “The best is yet to come” as we walk through the prophetic apocalypse that is the Revelation of the Risen Christ, a circular letter to the early church—and us today. My prayer is that you’ll be strengthened, comforted and encouraged through this word today.

Now some of you may be thinking right now...things can’t get much worse. Better is good, best, well, I’m listening.

Tension:

What is it that happens to people between...

• Their wedding day and the day they sign divorce papers?

• The day their child is born and the day they see their child as a disappointment and brat?

• The day a loved one is diagnosed with awful condition and the day that loved one, whom we cherish, becomes a burden?

What happens is a loss of first love.

Need:

Maybe this is how some of us feel right now about our faith in the risen Christ. We’re just going through the motions and doing our duty. This is not victorious living!

This week’s main idea: “Rev 2:1-7 teaches us that the great commandment matters to God. Jesus identified our greatest obligation was wholehearted love for God, which declares to us that God is not pleased by dutiful obedience that does not flow from genuine love. Here, Jesus mercifully reveals his glory to the church in Ephesus to summon forth from them the first love that he requires.” (Hamilton, p. 63)

My Bottom line: Remember how far you have fallen! Repent and return doing the things you did at first. (Remember, Repent, and Return)

Story: “First love”

First time I saw my wife. (Share story)

Overview/Preview:

• Revelation probably written to be read aloud in one sitting in the context of a church gathering. We will do this by the end of the series somewhere, somehow. (See promise of 1:3)

• From the risen Jesus Christ to the 7 churches in Asia Minor.

The church at Ephesus:

• Paul wrote letter to them 43 years earlier (AD 53)

• While there (several years) oversaw discipleship of entire region (Acts 19)

• Was most prominent church in the region at the time

• Temple to Artemis (Diana) goddess of love and other stuff; 7th wonder of the ancient world

• Silversmiths rioted when Paul came

• Nothing there since 14th century

Context: (by chapter)

1: Vision of Risen Christ

2-3: Letters to 7 churches from risen Christ

4-5: Vision of throne room of the risen Christ

6-16: Judgment of Risen Christ

17-22: Fall of Babylon and arrival of New Jerusalem

Structure: It’s a chiasm (# corresponds to 7 churches in order)

1 Ephesus - forsaken first love, Jesus

2 Smyrna - no rebukes

3 Pergamum - Several rebukes

4 Thyatira - Several severe rebukes

5 Sardis - Several more severe rebukes

6 Philadelphia - no rebukes

7 Laodicea - Lukewarm love, Jesus

• Bad news is that only 2 of 7 churches are not rebuked even though they are still in the apostolic age.

• Yet, there’s good news in that there is hope for every church because the risen Jesus tells them how to recover. Remember, repent and return.

  • Jesus is still among his church!

  • Jesus loves to reprove and discipline his church.

Outline:

2:1 The Authority of the Risen Christ

2:2-6 The Address to the church at Ephesus

2:7 The Call to hear and heed the promises

2:1

• John writes to the angel of that specific church

• Angel = messenger

• Writing down the words of the risen Christ

• We should read these letters to the churches in light of the glory of the risen Christ

• How would the demeanor of your worship service change if the governor came in and joined you for worship?

• Jesus describes himself using words from 1:12-16. He does this for each church he addresses.

  • Him who holds the 7 stars (angels) - Jesus is in control of his messengers

  • Him who walks among the 7 lamp stands (churches) - Jesus is present and at work

• The early church met in houses; so even though Jesus writes to “the Church” he’s writing to the network of churches that make up the church of Ephesus. (Kind of like if Jesus wrote a letter to the group at Grace, he’d be writing to all the different groups of people who gather under the banner of Grace Christian Fellowship)

2:2-6

• Risen Jesus had a lot to commend them for:

  • pure doctrine

  • Hard working

  • Persevering

  • Condemnation of wicked people

  • Not grown weary of doing good and working hard

  • Opposed practices of the Nicolaitans (probably encouraged idolatry and sexual immorality)

  • We can summarize these into 2 categories: Deeds (hands) and Theology (head):

    • Hands - hard working, persevering, not growing weary of doing good

    • Head - pure doctrine, opposing false teaching, church discipline of wicked people

    • What they are missing is Heart - Love for the risen Christ

• Risen Jesus had one rebuke:

  • You have forsaken/abandoned (not just lost) the love you had at first.

  • At first = when your eyes and ears were opened to the truth that sets you free.

• Remember (consider) how far you have fallen from that love you had at first

  • Not necessarily at the beginning of your walk with Christ; maybe at a significant spiritual marker

  • I remember having lots of tears at the altar during a service at summer camp—when I was the youth pastor! Then later wondering where that passion to surrender all went

  • Our faith ebbs and flows—where are you today?

  • Perhaps you’ve never experienced a moving, life-changing encounter with the living God. Try this:

    • Think about your sin before a holy, holy, holy God.

    • How do you propose to cleanse yourself from your sins? Good works are like mensural rags in God’s eyes when performed to be cleansed.

    • How to propose to satisfy God’s righteous wrath for your sins?

    • There is only one mediator—Jesus

    • He died to pay the penalty for sin.

    • If you trust him, God will forgive your sin and adopt you.

  • This line of thought—

    • from God’s holiness

    • To our sin

    • To God’s justice against sin

    • To the provision of God made for our salvation in Christ and the mercy he shows to those who trust him

    • —this thinking on the gospel is what will fire anew our first love.

  • Just as thinking on your need for Jesus will fan the flames of your love for him, so also thinking on God’s mercy in giving you a spouse you don’t deserve will refresh your zeal for your spouse...

• Repent turning from duty to delight; from self to others first; to living to please Jesus over pleasing yourself

  • The great commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength

  • And others as yourself

• Return and do the things you did at first

  • When your mind is consumed with devotion for the one you love, you do what pleases them

  • Evidently, this devotion waned in the church of Ephesus

• Warning and Reward

  • If you don’t repent, I’ll unchurch you

  • If you do, see v. 7

2:7

• Whoever has ears quickened by the power of the Holy Spirit listen up and follow

• Reward for those who overcome -

  • Right to eat from the tree of life

  • Be with risen Christ in paradise

Applications:

Remember how far you have fallen! Repent and return doing the things you did at first. How?

1. Remember (consider) how far you’ve fallen, (Admit that you’ve dropped the ball here)

2. Repent of sin, and (Confess and turn from your sin...)

3. Return to Christ by doing the things you did at first. (Turn...to (or back to) the risen Jesus Christ and savior and Lord). How?

   1. Be zealous for the gospel—fall in love with Jesus and his good news again!

   2. Be diligent about sound doctrine—be in the word!

   3. Be faithful in living out the gospel—be like the risen Christ!

Conclusion:

When we remember how far we’ve fallen, and humble ourselves, we repent of our sin and return to the risen Christ and the things we did at first. This is the way;-)...and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through the Son...the risen Christ Jesus.

“Believer or unbeliever, one sure way to grow in your love for God is to think on the gospel—

1. God’s holiness and justice against sin,

2. the peril of your condition,

3. the provision made in Christ, and

4. your need to trust in Jesus.” (Hamilton, p. 70)

Will you remember, repent and return to him today?

Let’s pray.

Other:

Hamilton’s notes on all 7 churches:

Verse: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of...

“Power, love and self-control/sound mind” 2 Tim 1:7

Analogy: Head, heart, hands

Consider combining the two...

Head - Sound mind/self-control

Hands - Power

Heart - Love

If Jesus wrote a letter to GCF, what would it say?

Probably a summary of what he charged all 7 churches to do:

For the sake of Christ,

1. Be zealous for the gospel,

2. Reject false teachings, and

3. Live in a manner consistent with the gospel.

Greatest need of the early church (and today’s church) according to Hamilton:

“to be faithful to Jesus, to hold fast to the gospel, and to live lives that are pleasing to him.”

Good News: “God has given us everything that we need to know to be right with God through Jesus and live in a way that pleases him.” -Hamilton

Main Point (Hamilton): “For the glory of God, Jesus charges the churches to be zealous for the gospel, reject false teaching, and live in a manner that corresponds to the gospel.” (LGLP, xDM)

Generally, for all the churches...for the glory of God, Jesus charges the churches to...

1. Be zealous for the gospel, (pursue steadfast faithfulness to gospel—which 2 & 6 were commended for)

2. Reject false teaching, and (be diligent about sound doctrine)

3. Live in a manner that corresponds to the gospel. (Live in pure devotion to Jesus, avoiding idolatry and immorality that grows from false teaching (and unbelief))

4. Practice church discipline, when necessary.

5. Be faithful unto death (cf. 2:10)

Story: Pastor Greg Wills (Hamilton, p. 61)

Notes from Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) on Rev 2:1-7:

Verse 1: DESTINATION

• Paul had visited Ephesus about 43 years earlier in AD 53.

• Paul was there for several years and preached/disciples so effectively “that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in th province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10).

• Silversmiths started a riot because their business of making shrines of Artemis was threatened.

• Ephesus—long history; most prominent church in region.

• Uninhabited since 14th century. (Immediate area)

• Mostly 2nd+ generation Christians

• Note how Paul draws from the description of the risen Christ in ch. 1 to re-describe himself to the 7 churches:

  • ““To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.”

  • ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Verse 2-3: COMMENDATION

• Commended for their faithful service for 40 years! Specifically,

  • hard work

  • perseverance

  • condemnation of wicked people

  • identification of false apostles (false teachers in each of first 4 churches)

  • enduring hardships

  • not growing weary in serving God

Verse 4: REBUKE

• Despite many commendations, soundly rebuked for forsaking the love they had at first.

• Word order is emphatic: Literally, “Your first love (agape) you have left.”

• Agape - deep love God has for people (cf. Eph 1:15-16 (35 years earlier))

Therefore,

• Pure doctrine (HEAD)

• High level of service (HANDS)

• Devotion to Christ (HEART) ——LACKING!! HENCE REBUKE

• Risen Christ wants all three!!

Verse 5-6: EXHORTATIONS

1. “Remember the height from which you have fallen!”

2. “Repent”—Our love for risen Jesus should be greater than...

   • Spouse

   • Kids

   • Parents

   • Best friends

   • Boy/girl friend

   • Self

   • Idol

   • Hero

   • Cause, manifesto, dream

   • god

3. (Return) and “Do the things you did at first.”

Verse 7: WARNING & PROMISE

WARNING: “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Lampstand = light or presence of Christ in the church = church will die)

PROMISE: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is the paradise of God.”

• When you eat this fruit, you live abundant life forever.

• Tree that was in the garden of Eden is now in the New Jerusalem.

Illustration: (Cf. With Isaiah’s reaction in Isaiah 6:1-8) Isaiah went from “Woe is me” to “Here I am” in a very short time. How long would it take for you to surrender all to Jesus and let him send you wherever to do whatever? How long would it take for you to give Jesus a blank check? Not long if you see him as he is today.

Motivated by the Risen Jesus | Revelation 1:9-20

Motivated by the Risen Jesus | Revelation 1:9-20

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: Motivated by the Risen Jesus...

Scripture: Revelation 1:9-20 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

Last week’s title: “The Best is Yet to Come”

This week’s title: Motivated by the Risen Jesus...

Last week’s Main idea: “Those who hear and obey God‘s word will be blessed by the Lord.”

Summarizing some of my thoughts lately...

1. We see the risen Jesus in all his glory and are motivated to trust and obey. (Rev 1:9-20)

2. When we trust and obey, we’re blessed beyond imagination. (Rev 1:1-8)

3. And finally, we’re blessed to be a blessing to others around the corner and around the world. (The Bible)

We’ll focus on 1 today.

This week’s main idea: “The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches. The incomparable glory of the risen Christ motivates John’s audience to heed what John has been commissioned to write. The matchless splendor of Heaven’s King attracts the attention and compels the obedience of the churches John addresses.” -Hamilton

My Bottom line: When we (the Church) see the risen Jesus today, we’ll be super motivated to trust and obey.

Illustration: (Cf. With Isaiah’s reaction in Isaiah 6:1-8) Isaiah went from “Woe is me” to “Here I am” in a very short time. How long would it take for you to surrender all to Jesus and let him send you wherever to do whatever? How long would it take for you to give Jesus a blank check? Not long if you see him as he is today.

I hope your motivation for trusting and following Jesus will recalibrated today. Checked against the standard. The standard is truth and God’s word.

Why are you following Jesus?

Why are you following Jesus the way you are following Jesus? (Half-heartedly vs wholeheartedly)

I. Introduction: Story + Summary (Doignetus)

II. John’s situation and Commission to write (1:9-11)

III. John’s description of the risen Jesus (1:12-16)

IV. Jesus asserts his authority and commissions John to write (1:17-20)

V. Conclusion: Summary + Story + Application + Vision

Opening story/illustration

Diognetus about Christians to Mathetes (Hamilton, pp. 32-33, 37)

1:9-20 “John’s vision of the risen Christ”

I. “John’s situation and commission to write”

“Unlike the Roman Empire, which is promised peace but delivered brutality and fear, the Kingdom of God promises tribulation and delivers peace and confidence and eternal salvation to those who patiently endure.” Hamilton, Pp. 43-44

“Make no mistakes about it: Your best life is not now. Your best life will begin when the skies are split by the shout of the archangel.” Hamilton, p. 44

Churches listed in order an itinerant preacher would visit them beginning at Island of Patmos (where John was exiled) and moving around Asia Minor.

These cities seemed to be natural centers of communication for itinerant ministry and 7 focal cities with respect to the church’s organization and distribution.

• all but Thyatira had temples dedicated to emperors

• all but Philadelphia and Laodicea lead imperial priests and altars

Note, though an apostle, John shared in the suffering of the church.

John shares why he writes Revelation: Because Jesus told him to!

Read 3rd paragraph in Hamilton, p. 45–it’s powerful!

This is meant to motivate the Church to gladly submit to the word of the risen Christ! This will become clear in chapters 2-3.

1:12-26 “John’s description of the risen Jesus”

• Jesus described in priestly terms

  • References to Zechariah 4

  • 7 lamp stands point to the presence of God in the tabernacle and temple; hence priestly terms

  • Like a priest, Jesus calls the churches to repentance (Chs 2-3)

  • Jesus’ clothing points to a heavenly high priest

• Jesus described in kingly terms

  • References to Daniel 7

  • “Like a son of man” is kingly/messianic term

  • Jesus receives an eternal kingdom (Dan 7 & 10); cf. Rev 1:6 & 9

2 major influences on John’s first vision:

1. The letters to the churches—When you compare Revelation 1 with Revelation 2-3 you see Jesus described the same way

2. The vision of Daniel in ch. 10.

   1. Revelation is fulfilling Daniel’s vision in Daniel 10

   2. When you compare Revelation 1 with Daniel 10 you see Jesus described the same way

   3. Jesus is unveiled as deity in Rev 1:14 in describing like Ancient of Days (reference to God the Father)

“Eyes like a flame of fire” 1:14

3 implications of his blazing eyes:

1. No sin that we commit will escape his notice,

2. He will see every faithful thing his people do, and

3. He will note every injustice done to his people by their enemies.

“Feet like burnished bronze, refined” points to the absolute purity of Jesus.

“Powerful voice” = communicating authority this is to be obeyed. His voice is to drown out other voices that would call you away from true faith and holiness that marks those who truly know God.

Sometimes he does speak in a still, small voice. But there are times when he wants to drown out everything else.

Are you listening? To whom?

3 more...

7 Stars - messengers of 7 churches (Angels, not pastors). Jesus holds in right hand = he is in control

sword in mouth - symbolically Jesus will speak decisive words of judgment.

“Face like the sun” - painful brightness of the sun shining full strength, on which we can’t look

“The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches.”

1:17-20 “Jesus asserts his authority and commissions John to write”

John literally blown away by God’s glory in Jesus. No power on earth does this.

Jesus doesn’t leave John. He tells him not to be afraid. Why?

Because he lives forever and holds the keys of death and hell. That is, he defeated death and the cross as seen in the resurrection.

Jesus is terrifying in his holiness. We should tremble, humble ourselves and repent of our sin before him. But no need to fear for our own lives if we repent and we trust him for he empowers us to live with him forever.

Jesus among 7 lamp stands = Jesus is present in and with his church.

Conclusion:

John’s situation and commission is to write down this vision (Revelation), which includes this powerful description of Christ himself in all his glory so that we will rightly be motivated to 1) Worship Jesus, and 2) Obey him.

“Jesus reveals himself to John the way he does to compel John’s audience to

1. Heed the 7 letters he is about to dictate to John about the present, and to

2. Convince them of the truth of...the end of history in Chs 4-22.” -Hamilton

What is God saying to you right now?

What are you going to do about it?

These are not rhetorical questions. Take some time to stop and pray right now.

Let’s pray. Amen.

Trust God to Put Things Right

Pippa and I enjoy doing crosswords together. When we are stuck on one clue we don’t give up, we move on to the next clue. Every time we find an answer it helps us in resolving some of the other clues. In the end, we are sometimes able to solve most of the puzzle.

In a way, reading some of the difficult parts of the Bible is like trying to solve a crossword puzzle. Rather than getting bogged down in a tricky section, you can use the passages you do understand to help you resolve some of the more difficult ones.

Often I find it hard not only to understand some of the difficult passages in the Bible, but also to understand why certain things are happening in our world. There seems to be so much injustice. There are no easy answers.

I love the second great rhetorical question from yesterday’s passage, ‘Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?’ (Genesis 18:25). One thing that you can be sure about is that on the last day, when all is revealed, you will see God’s perfect judgment – and everyone will say, ‘That is absolutely right.’ Each of today’s passages tells us something about the fact that, in the end, God will put things right.

The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8

The Best is Yet to Come | Revelation 1:1-8

Darien Gabriel

Series: Revelation: The Best is Yet to Come

Title: The Best is Yet to Come

Scripture: Revelation 1:1-8 NIV

Main commentary help:

• Exalting Jesus in Revelation by Daniel Akin

• Revelation by Jim Hamilton

• Breaking the Code by Bruce Metzger

Last week’s title: As We Wait in Uncertain Times, Put Your Hope in Him for All Time (Psalm 146)

This week’s title: “The Best is Yet to Come”

Main idea: “Those who hear and obey God‘s word concerning who Jesus is and what he does will be blessed by the Lord.”

Bottom line: No matter how bad things get, the best is yet to come. And his name is Jesus.

Opening story/illustration

The Matrix

In the sci-fi movie The Matrix, Neo is told that the truth of their world is that they are shielded from reality by an illusion created by machines that control everything. Then Neo is given a choice. He can take the blue pill and forget what he just heard and live on in ignorance asleep to the truth. Or, he can take the red pill and become empowered to live in that true world that true reality.

We have a choice too. Revelation and God’s word tell us that we’re asleep and unable to see the reality of our spiritual condition unless someone opens our eyes with truth. God opens our eyes to see the truth through his word. But we have a choice to believe or not believe. We can remain skeptical and ignore the truth putting our heads back into the sand or we can “swallow the pill” of truth and live in reality fully aware of the dangers that surround us.

Other illustrations:

Persecuted Pastors

Dr. Danny Akin (professor at SEBTS.edu) asked a pastor in a persecuted country what his favorite books of the Bible were. He said Daniel and Revelation. (See story at bottom)

9/11 vs 9/10

What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing? We would start telling people, of course.

There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.

And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.

It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?

Prologue with doxology to introduce this circular letter to the churches.

“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.1.niv

• Revelation = unveiling, revealing

• Apocalypse = unveiling how it all ends

• From God—>to Jesus—>to the angel—>to John—>to the 7 churches—>to the rest of the churches in that day—>to the universal church—>to us and our churches—>His servants = us

• “Soon take place” means this could happen at any time.

  • We’re lulled to sleep because it hasn’t come in 2,000+ years so we think what’s one more day.

  • But whenever it does happen, we’ll feel that way. Is that the mindset you want? Really?

“who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.2.niv

• Word of God= truth; do you believe?

• Testifies to what he saw (and heard) in his visions on the island of Patmos around AD 90 (60 years after the resurrection)

• It’s all about Jesus Christ

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.3.niv

To obey this because you want to. Glad obedience from the inside.

Not like when you’re asked to take out the trash. You do it, but your heart isn’t into it. That’s not what “take it to heart” means.

What will Revelation call us to do?

• Act justly

• Love mercy

• Walk humbly with our God

• Glorify and worship God for his justice and his mercy

• Walk in hope believing that the best is yet to come no matter what we’re going through now

When?

The “time is near” reminds us of the urgency and posture in which we are to live. Like in the time of the Passover, we live with our shoes on, our bags packed, ready to roll. It’s living in this world holding everything loosely except his word.

“John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.4.niv

• Grace and peace - the order matters; Know Grace, know peace. No grace, no peace.

• Peace = complete wholeness and holiness

• Number 7 is used a lot by John; complete or all; comprehensive

• Describes Jesus here as timeless One and king/Lord

“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.5.niv

Who is God...who is Jesus and what has he done/is he doing?

• Jesus called “the faithful witness”

• “The firstborn from the dead” - who is second, third...us!

• “Ruler of the kings of the earth” - sovereign

• Love - “loves us”

• “Freed us from our sins by his blood” - the lamb of God who was our substitutionary atonement on the cross

• Many reasons to worship/revere/fear him already

“and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.6.niv

Who are we and what do we get to do?

• He anoints us as kingdom priests. What do priests do?

  • Represent God before people

  • Represent people before God

• The makes him worthy of all praise forever!

““Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.7.niv

• Greg Stier likes to say, “Keep your eyes on the clouds ️ and on the crowds.”

  • Clouds - watching and ready for Jesus’ imminent return

  • Crowds - to be a witness in the meantime; a sacrificial lamb among wolves

• Everyone will see him - even those who know and reject

• Everyone will mourn him

  • For their sin

  • For their loss

• “So shall it be! Amen.” It is certain.

““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/111/rev.1.8.niv

• Beginning and the end (outside of time)

• Timeless One

• End of prologue

Conclusion

Think about some of our several sermon series titles from last year. And I am not this good:

• Joy No Matter (what)

• As We Wait (for his return)

• The Best is Yet to Come (His name is Jesus)

• Undeserved Grace

• Better Together

• Jesus Manifesto

As we wait for his return, we walk better together in joy and undeserved grace no matter what our circumstances because the best is yet to come and his name is Jesus.

Am I ready?

Do I believe this yet?

Am I prepared to take to heart what is written here today?

Will I worship God for his justice and mercy in our world?

Will I love God and love people by mercifully and gently giving people the reason for the hope that I have? (1 Peter 3:15)?

9/11 vs 9/10: What would you do if you knew with complete and total certainty what would happen on Sep. 11, 2001 on Sep. 10, 2001? What would you do? Something? Nothing?

There’s something coming that makes 9/11 and COVD-19 and WW II look like birthday parties. It’s described in Revelation.

And you and I know that it’s God’s word and therefore will come to pass.

It’s like 9/10/01. We know what’s coming. What will we do about it? Will we dare to share?

What is God saying to you right now?

What are you going to do about it?

These are not rhetorical questions. Take some time to stop and pray right now.

Let’s pray. Amen.

Basic outline of the book

The Christ of...

1. Communication - he is the God who reveals his will to his people.

2. The Churches (vision)

3. The Cosmos (vision)

4. Conquest (vision)

5. Consummation (vision)

6. Challenge

Theme:

“The majesty and glory of the warrior lamb, King Jesus, who is coming again to rule and reign forever!”

Notes:

Intro/Prologue (1:1-3)

Doxology (1:4-6)

”The revelation” or unveiling of the mystery of who God is and what he’s up to. (Hint: Kingdom of God in our world)

We’re called “servants” which is someone who gladly serves his master no matter what the task or cost.

Seems like v. 1 is the purpose: (1-2)

• To reveal, unveil the word/testimony of God

• From God the Father

• To and through Jesus Christ

• Through an angel

• To John

• To the Churches in that day

• To us, the universal Church

• What must soon take place/happen in our world

• To servants of Jesus Christ i.e. the Church

v. 3 The beatitudes

• the person...

• who reads/listens to this prophecy aloud (to hear, believe and take to heart)

• w/ urgency (time is near)

”Unveiled/revealed will of God to bless

“revelation: God’s will is to bless his people”

Revelation: Encouraged by victory

“He is the God who communicates his will to his people.”

Title as truth: God reveals his will to his people.

vv. 4-6 Writing to (audience) the 7 churches (representing all the churches forever) of Asia Minor.

Grace + Peace

Who is God?

1. God, the Father, Timeless One

2. Jesus Christ, Messiah/King, Faithful son, firstborn from the dead, resurrected one

3. Holy Spirit, 7 spirits

Jesus also...

• freed us from our sins, by his blood

• loves us

• made us a kingdom of priests to serve

• worthy of all our praise

• eternal one

Who is coming again

from the heavens...in the clouds...every eye...

conviction and repentance

beginning and end

Almighty God

Who he is and what he does...who we are and what we get to do (make list)

Heading Into A New Year | Psalm 146

Praise The Lord

Darien Gabriel

Bottom line: As we wait for his return in these uncertain times, let’s put our hope in the Lord for all time. The Lord who is good and able to bless us infinitely better than any person can.

Times are uncertain. In times like these, it is easy to put our hope in people and things. But, our hope should not be in presidents, supreme court justices, governments, finances, or anything like that. We must hope in the Lord. You can tell whether or not someone has hope by how they react in uncertain times.

Remember that we are commanded to give an answer for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). If we don’t have hope, we can’t give an answer. Our hope must be in the Lord, because Christ has by His atoning death and resurrection saved us from the power and penalty of sin and restored us to relationship with God. Not only do we have future hope of eternity with Him, we have present hope in delighting in God day by day (Psalm 16:11).

Psalm 146 gives us a picture of what it means to worship the Lord regardless of our circumstances.

Series: As We Wait (for His Second Coming) #Advent

Scripture: Psalm 146

We live in uncertain times. We always have but this year seems worse than usual. By a lot.

Who’s our next president? The electoral collage voted for Biden. But Congress still has to confirm that vote. Giuliani says there’s more to come out after Christmas.

And then there’s the virus. Vaccines are being distributed as we speak. But then there’s a newer, supposedly stronger COVID virus in England right now. Talk about uncertainty!

The unnamed psalmist tells us, “Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.” (V. 5)

How do we walk in that blessing? We do what the psalmist tells us to do at the beginning and the end of this psalm. We praise the Lord.

How do we do that?

I. Let’s praise the Lord (1-4)

He tells us right from the start: with our lives and our lips. (Vv. 1-2)

He vows to praise the Lord all his life.l (1-2)

He exhorts us to join him. (3-4)

Cf. Hebrews 13:15-16

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/111/heb.13.15-16.niv

Let’s trust and praise the Lord—not people; not leaders.

Your leaders to win their election? (GA race in early Jan.)

Your friends to help you in your trials?

Your family to accept you as you are?

Your boy/girl friend to be yours forever?

Your life to be healthy and wealthy forever?

The Lord tells you through this unnamed psalmist that your hope shouldn’t be in a circumstance or situation or person. It should be in a God who is good and able; it should be in Him!

As we wait for his return, we should live full of hope in a God who is good and able to bless us with himself instead of just ideal circumstances.

II. Praise for our faithful Creator (5-6)

III. Praise for the gracious Lord. (7-10)

• How God is faithful:

  • He helps the oppressed

  • He gives food to the hungry

  • He releases prisoners.

  • He gives sight to the blind.

  • He raises up the defeated.

  • He loves the righteous.

  • He protects the immigrant/sojourner.

  • He leads the orphan and widow (vulnerable) to security.

• But, because he is just (holy), he also leads the wicked away in frustration (and eventually, judgment).

• The psalmist concludes that the Lord reigns forever. As eternal ruler, he is

  • sovereign

  • just

  • Therefore, meriting our praising him above all things.

Our part/application is seen in bookends of this Psalm. “Praise the Lord!”

As the writer of Hebrews tell s us in 13:15-16, we can praise him with our lips and our lives.

Praise him with our lips. How? Sing, praise, celebrate, shout, whisper, preach, teach, herald, write, post, video, rap, and/or hum our focused praise and proclamation of who he is and what he’s done (and is doing) for all to hear. We do this as a sacrifice of praise. (Sacrifice meaning in a way that costs us something)

“Sacrifice of praise.”

1. Openly

2. Profess

3. His name

Praise him with our lives.

1. “Do good”

2. “Share with others”

3. “Sacrificially”

Sacrifice is key word.

• It cost God his son and Jesus his life to enable us to receive mercy.

• It costs us comfort as we live surrendered to this way of life too.

So God is calling us to find our hope and help in him.

As we wait for his return in uncertain times, let’s join this psalmist and find our help and hope in Him for all time.

How do we do this? By praising God with our lips (sacrificial praise) and our lives (sacrificial living) around the corner and around the world.

Amen

What are we so excited about? Who are We Waiting for? | Luke 2

What are we so excited about? Who are We Waiting for? | Luke 2

Chris Karpus

Luke 2: What are we so excited about? Who are We Waiting for?  

Bottom Line: God Became a Man 

So, what we’re NOT trying to do on Christmas Eve is try to make the birth of Christ more exciting. 1. If we don’t think “God became a man” is exciting enough, we should get our pulse checked. 

God Became a Man, and He shouldn’t have to compete for our affection with a new phone, nunchucks,  a new car or a big guy in a red suit. We don’t have to hang lights on the Light of the World. 

God Became a Man – the greatest event to occur in the history of the universe Video – Tribe celebrates receiving Bibles 

Luke 1:39-45 (Mary went to visit Elizabeth) 

39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered  Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in  her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are  

you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of  my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my  womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! 

John, even as a baby…not a fetus…a baby…knew who to get excited about 

Rosie (rescued, separation anxiety from her rescuers and pure joy in being  reunited) 

John 1:1-5 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God  in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been  made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and  the darkness has not overcome[a]it. 

John 1:14 

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one  and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

1. The Creator of the World humbled Himself and became a man, just to live for us, die for us (by our  own hands) and raise from the dead…all for our forgiveness and redemption. 

Best summed up by: 

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not  perish but have eternal life.

There are over 400 prophesies about the Messiah in the Old Testament – Jesus fulfilled them all. The  odds of Jesus fulfilling just 8 of those prophesies is 1 in 1 quintillion (18 zeroes) 

Lee Strobel figured out a visual for that: tiles 1 1/2” square, one with red on the bottom – covering the  every bit of dry land on the earth - 1 person walking the earth for a lifetime can only pick up 1. 

Genesis 49:10 (about 1500 years before Christ) The Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah 

The scepter will not depart from Judah, 

 nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[a] 

until he to whom it belongs[b]shall come 

 and the obedience of the nations shall be his. 

Isaiah 7:14 (about 700 years before Jesus was born) The Messiah would be born of a virgin 

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a  son, and[e] will call him Immanuel. 

Fulfilled: (Luke 1:26-33)  

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in  Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s  name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is  with you.” 

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the  angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give  birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most  High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s  descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

Jeremiah 23:5 (about 646 years before Jesus)  

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, 

 “when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch, 

a King who will reign wisely 

 and do what is just and right in the land. 

2 Samuel 7:12-13 

When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you,  your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He is the one who will build a house for my  Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Back to Luke: 

Luke 2:1-7 

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman  world. 2(This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And  everyone went to their own town to register. 

Micah 5:2 (400 years before the birth of Christ) The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, from the tribe  of Judah 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, 

whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (In the beginning was the word) Luke 2 

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David,  because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was  pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the  baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him  in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

0. Jesus is born when Israel is under Roman Rule. 

1. There is an invisible power behind and OVER the human rulers. They didn’t know it at the time, but  God used Caesar and Quirinius to fulfill what He had promised long before that. 

2. If you’re tempted to worry or celebrate over who is in charge of this great nation, your town or you  HOA, DON’T. The same God is behind and over all OUR rulers too.  

3. The birth of Christ…God became a Man. 

4. Nothing about this particular scene says “GLORY”, but everything about this scene INSTRUCTS us  about Glory. 

5. In the Kingdom of God, HUMILITY always precedes GLORY 

- The first will be last, and the last will be first (Mark 10:31) 

- God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6) …also 1 Peter -Humble yourself before the Lord, and in good time, He will exalt you (James 4:10) + We see this modeled right from the beginning of Jesus’ life 

+ True greatness is not always visible greatness

One of our favorite Christmas songs is “Christmas Snow” by Audrey Assad (on Chris Tomlin’s Christmas) 

Could've come like a mighty storm With all the strength of a hurricane 

You could've come like a forest fire With the power of Heaven in Your flame 

(But) You came like a winter snow Quiet and soft and slow 

Falling from the sky in the night To the earth below 

6. Truth is, most of us have glory-craving hearts, and the incarnation of the Son of God in an animals  feeding trough should put our hearts in check. In fact, Jesus spent a lifetime showing us how to live like  Him. 

Philippians 2:3-11 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above  yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 

5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 

6Who, being in very nature[a] God, 

 did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7rather, he made himself nothing 

 by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, 

 being made in human likeness. 

8And being found in appearance as a man, 

 he humbled himself 

 by becoming obedient to death— 

 even death on a cross! 

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place 

 and gave him the name that is above every name, 

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

 in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

 to the glory of God the Father. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of  God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Luke 2:8-20 

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An  angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were  terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy  for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the  Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, 

 and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to  Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

1. The angels appeared to shepherds keeping watch over their flock. 

- Not glorious work / bad reputation / they were considered unreliable and despised. - God chose THEM to get the good new first…the first to hear of the great joy for all people - These despised individuals were the first to hear that God became a man… 

- These guys were the first to hear all of the titles of Jesus brought together – Savior, Messiah,  Lord 

WHY? The Bible doesn’t necessarily say why them…but 

It appears that God chose the humbled of society to reveal the humble beginnings of the life of  His glorious Son. 

Jesus was consistent throughout His ministry in is love for the humble 

Jesus’ very beginning didn’t demonstrate the riches of His existence, but Jesus Himself was born  into poverty. 

SIDE NOTE – What do you think that implies? 

1. Poverty is not a sin. 

2. Poverty is not God’s disapproval 

3. Poverty does not prevent a person from worshipping God 

4. Poverty does not necessarily doom a person to poverty forever 

5. Poverty does not excuse unrighteousness  

6. Poverty is not shameful in and of itself 

7. Poverty is a cross that God entrusts to some people for a time 

If some prosperity gospel preacher tries to tell you that poverty is a sin, of that it is God condemning  you, and that you just have to give a certain amount of money to be released, they are lying to you.

Some poverty is our own responsibility. Point to Jesus. 

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When  they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all  who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things  and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things  they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 

1. That does not mean…”huh?”.  

- An angel had visited her (and her fiancée), she became pregnant as a virgin and just gave birth  to the Savior of the world in barn. A bunch of stinky shepherds came to visit her baby, the Good  Shephard telling them of heavenly hosts of angels…she didn’t go “huh”…”what do ya know…” 

2. She treasured the moment as a mother and pondered the events leading up to it in her heart. 3. People who ponder the fact that God Became a Man, don’t just go “huh”.  

God became a man – THAT is what we’re excited about 

And if you really want to get excited, knowing that Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophesies  about the Messiah, give this a pondering: He’s Coming Back as a conquering King 

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17 

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel,  and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive,  who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we  will always be with the Lord. 

Revelation 22:12-13 

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I  am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

The one who fulfilled all of the prophesies about the Messaiah, Jesus himself, said He is coming back… We better believe it 

We better be ready