Yesterday was an incredible day at a2 Church. Here's the download of yesterday's worship experience:
The band nailed the opening worship set that included the following songs:
Praise Is The Offering (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Gateway Worship
You Are Good (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Ricardo Sanchez
Our God (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Chris Tomlin
INTERVIEW WITH VANCE MASSENGILL: Yesterday's worship experience also featured an interview with missionaries Vance and Kari Massengill. Vance and Kari are missionaries to the Middle East and Northern Africa. Their passion for God and for reaching unreached people groups was and is inspiring.
SPECIAL 911 REFLECTION: This was followed with a special 911 Reflection by Jessica Hands and featured a worship response by the a2 Worship Team that included the following two songs:
God You Reign - Chorus Only (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Lincoln Brewster
Shelter Me (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Tab Benoit or here (You Tube) and here (Amazon) for the original by Buddy Miller.
We launched the new message series titled, GOD WINS: A Study on Revelation yesterday. It was rather poignant to launch this series on the 10-year anniversary of September 11, 2001. Remembering God's sovereignty is crucial during times of uncertainty. The extended message notes are below...
Finally, we closed the worship experience with this song by Hillsong United.
Take Heart (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Hillsong United
Here are the extended notes from yesterday's message.
It’s All About Jesus!
GOD WINS: A Study of Revelation – Part 1
Two Extremes When It Comes To Revelation:
1. Extreme #1: The “Prophetic Jigsaw Puzzle” Approach.
“…though St. John saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.” — G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy
2. Extreme #2: The “Avoid It At All Costs” Approach.
Why Revelation Matters To People Like You and Me:
1. It’s in the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is inspired by God and useful to teach us…
Revelation 1:1-2 (NIV), 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, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The NLT reads, “…This is his report of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ…”
2. It carries a special blessing.
Revelation 1:3 (NIV), 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.
3. It’s all about Jesus. It reveals, unveils, glorifies and magnifies Jesus!
Revelation 1:1a (NIV’84), The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.
IMPORTANT: This is not just a revelation that comes from Jesus; it is a revelation of Jesus Christ! It’s not a revelation of “stuff”, information or even prophecy! It’s a revelation of Jesus Christ!
“…the book of Revelation is more than just a collection of prophecies; it is a handbook on worship… Revelation isn’t an invitation to speculation; it’s a summons to adoration! It’s a call to focus on the glory, majesty and power of Jesus Christ!” — Jack Hayford, E-Quake
Revelation 1:4-5 (NIV), 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, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Revelation 1:5b-6 (NIV), ...To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
Revelation 1:7-8 (NIV), "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.
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Revelation 1:9-11 (NIV), I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."
Revelation 1:12-16 (NIV), Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Revelation 1:17-18 (NIV), When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last,18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
4. It’s a handbook on God-centered, heaven shaking, transformational worship.
What is worship?
“Worship is every act of the heart, mind, body and soul, which intentionally expresses the infinite worth of our great God.” — John Piper
“Worship is our response to what we value most.” — Louie Giglio, The Air I Breathe
“Worship is responding to all that God is with all that I am.”
“Worship is the continuous outpouring of all that I am, all that I do and all that I can ever become in light of a chosen or choosing god." — Harold Best, Unceasing Worship
THOUGHT: Revelation 1:5, as John contemplates what He has seen, He explodes in a hymn of worship…
Revelation 1:5b (NIV), …To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 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.
THOUGHT: In Revelation 1:17-18, after John gets a glimpse of who Jesus is and how He reigns in falls in a posture of abject worship…
Revelation 1:17-18 (NIV), When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
NOTES: This kind of thing happens throughout the book of Revelation (4:8, 11; 5:9-10, 12-13; 7:12; 11:15, 17-18; 12:10-12; 15:3-4; 19:1-8)… Here’s the point: When I feel deep gratitude or adoration, that somehow has to find expression…
5. It reminds us that God in sovereign. He is large and in charge.
Revelation 1:17-18 (NIV), When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Revelation 1:19-20 (NIV), "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels (messengers) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
CLOSING: “UNDER FURTHER REVIEW:
(Thanks to Pastor Steven Furtick for the idea…)
In both college and pro football, we live in the age of instant review… Sometimes during the course of the game, a play will occur… On the field, the play is called an “incomplete pass, fumble, turnover, etc.” Sometimes that single play can determine the outcome of a game… And it looks like the situation is hopeless… All is lost… The game or opportunity is over…
But then the official will indicate that the play is under review… The officials on the field have to wait for the officials upstairs to determine what actually happened on the field of play… Because the officials upstairs have access to different information… They have access to instant replay, camera angles and slow motion; they can see what the officials on the field can’t see…
Sometimes the drama is amazing… The guys calling the game for the television network will weigh in with their two cents of what the official is going to say… But nothing really matters until the official on the field gives the verdict of the officials in the box…
Sometimes he will walk back on the field and where the situation looked hopeless, the official will say, “Upon further review…” and He will overturn the ruling on the field! In one instant, EVERYTHING CHANGES!
APPLICATION: In a very real way, that’s what happens in the book of Revelation… John and the first century church are under the gun… Persecution is rampant… Things are falling apart…
But John has a vision that’s different than the ruling on the field… He sends the situation up to the ultimate official, and in the book of Revelation the ultimate official interrupts the game and says to John and a struggling church, “Upon further review… Jesus is alive! God is still on His throne! You are still in the palm of His hand and Domitian or Hell will not write the final word of your story! God will write the final word of your story!”
Maybe your marriage is falling apart… Maybe the diagnosis of the doctor has left you with a sense of hopelessness… Maybe your struggling from the pain and memory of past mistakes… Maybe you just lost your job… Maybe your situation looks completely hopeless and the opportunity looks dead…
It’s not over as long as God is sovereign and large and in charge… Upon further review…He can restore your relationship, heal your body, supply all your needs… Upon further review, He can forgive your sin and make you whole!
When You Feel Like You’re At The End:
1. You are never in a place where the love of Jesus can’t fine you (v. 9).
2. Your circumstances are never so severe that the Holy Spirit can’t alter or change your perspective (v. 10).
3. It’s not over until Jesus writes the end of your story (vs. 8, 19).
4. Fear and anxiety don’t have to rule and dominate your life. Jesus is closer and more powerful than you can imagine (vs. 12-18).
5. Everything in our world can come completely unglued and fall totally apart, but Jesus provides absolute security (v. 15).
6. I’m never really lost or forgotten, Jesus holds me in His strong right hand (v.16, 18-20).
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