Tuesday, September 27, 2011

GOING DEEPER - GOD WINS: A Study of Revelation Week Three Devotional

Watch the Throne!

Regardless of what you're going through — loneliness, temptation, depression, stress, financial setbacks, conflict, loss, persecution, the works, — a revelation of the character and glory of God is essential to getting through those periods in life that leave you feeling completely devastated.

In Revelation 4, John, a guy in his mid-nineties who had been unjustly sentenced to solitary confinement on a prison island called Patmos, got a behind the scenes glimpse of the throne room of God. Talk about the ultimate in prison breaks! John was taken from Patmos into God's throne room. The view was staggering.

John's perspective was immediately altered! His frame of reference completely transformed! The centerpiece in John's vision was a piece of furniture referenced at least seventeen times in Revelation 4-5: the throne of God. Everything else was defined by its relationship to the throne. And what was the primary activity taking place around the throne? Unceasing worship!

Revelation 4 reminds us that the history of the universe - from creation to consummation - finds its significance in worship! God is glorious. If we really know Him, see Him and experience Him, we can't help but stand in awe of Him and respond in worship.

The word worship is derived from the Old English word for worth. Worship is an indication of the worth, value, weightiness, significance, importance or prominence we give to someone or something.

John Piper describes it like this: "Worship is every act of the heart, mind, body and soul, which intentionally expresses the infinite worth of our great God." — John Piper

Revelation 4 reminds us that regardless of what's going on in life: 1) worship can alter our perspective, and, 2) God and God alone deserves to be worshipped!

Going Deeper: Read Revelation 4:1-11 daily this week. Spend time worshipping God for His power, sovereignty, majesty and holiness.

Sing a "new song" to God during your personal devotions. Turn the song of heaven in Revelation 4 into your own song!

Finally, make every day an adventure in worship, realizing that your heart can become a throne room for God. Make it your goal each day to "intentionally express the infinite worth of God" in your attitude, actions, conversations and character.

Music Suggestions: 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman, Revelation Song by Kari Jobe / Gateway Worship

GOD WINS - Part 3: Watch The Throne

Here's the download on this weekend's worship experience at a2 Church.

The opening worship set included these songs:
You Are Good here (Amazon) by Ricardo Sanchez
Sing Sing Sing (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Chris Tomlin
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) (You Tube) of here (Amazon) by Matt Redman

We jumped right into the message (extended notes included below) and wrapped up our time in worship with an extended worship response that felt like it was going to blow the roof off the worship room. Here are the songs we responded with... The message notes are included below... Make sure you check out the questions by David Powlison that help us to discern whether or not our hearts are centered on God. Also, check out the quotations by Eugene Peterson, John Piper and Charles Spurgeon on worship and singing! Good stuff!

Revelation Song (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Gateway Worship
Hallelujah (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Hillsong United
God You Reign (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Lincoln Brewster


WATCH THE THRONE
GOD WINS - Part 3 Extended Notes

Revelation 4

Revelation 4:1-11 (NIV), After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
"'Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,'
who was, and is, and is to come."
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."


NOTES: The book of Revelation was written to a group of churches that were struggling to survive… They were facing threats, intimidation, persecution and political and economic chaos… They were devastated and discouraged and felt like their faith and very lives where hanging by a thread…

John himself, the guy who wrote the letter, was the only apostle still alive… His peers and comrades had all been executed! He was a 90-something year old man who had been ripped away from the church he pastored in Ephesus and placed in solitary confinement on a seemingly God-forsaken island called Patmos… Prisoners were usually taken to Patmos to waste away and eventually die…

God had other plans… John experienced the ultimate prison break on Patmos… In Revelation 4, He went straight from the island of Patmos and was escorted into the very throne room of God…

IMPORTANT: Regardless of what you're going through — loneliness, temptation, depression, stress, financial setbacks, conflict, loss, persecution, you name it… A revelation of the character, glory and sovereignty of God is essential to getting through those periods in life that leave you feeling completely devastated.


Five Keys To A Personal Prison Break:

1. When life seems completely out of control, I may need to change my perspective and alter my frame of reference.


Revelation 4:1-2 (NIV), After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.


NOTES: When John wrote Revelation, from an earthly perspective it looked like the enemies of the kingdom of God were winning… The churches in Asia were small and struggling… Christians were being persecuted, imprisoned and martyred… Tragedy, trials and turmoil were commonplace…The might and power of Rome seemed invincible… It felt like the evil one and the Emperor Domitian had the upper hand… They had the church in a choke hold and the church was on the verge of tapping out… Things were going south in a big way…

But in Revelation the Holy Spirit basically gave John this message: “Things are not as they appear… I’m about to show you the way things really are… I’m going to take you into the control room of the Universe – the very throne room of God… Things are not out of control… Evil has not and will not triumph… The course of history will not be determined by a political party, military might or some sadistic world leader with a “god complex”… I am still sovereign and omnipotent… I’m the God who ‘…makes known the ‘end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do what I please…’ (Isaiah 46:10) And I will… And you can bank on this, even when my plans escape your comprehension, I comprehend it all… My plans will not and can not fail!”


2. Regardless of what’s going on in life, God is sovereign! He “on His throne,” large and in charge and remains in complete control!

Revelation 4:2-8 (NIV), At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “’Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”



NOTES: The key word in Revelation 4 is “throne.” It gets used 14 times in this chapter alone! It’s one of the key words in the entire book — showing up about 46 times! It appears in almost every chapter in Revelation (the only exceptions are Revelation 9, 10, 15, 17, 18)!

The simple message of Revelation is that regardless of what may be happening on earth, God is still on His throne and He is still in complete and ultimate control!

A throne speaks of “power, control and sovereignty.” God’s sovereignty is a fundamental theme throughout the book Revelation…

IMPORTANT: It’s interesting that everything mentioned in Revelation 4-5 gets defined by its relationship to the throne…


“A throne centers authority. Worship is centering… In worship God gathers His people to Himself as center [where we declare with Psalm 93:1, ‘The Lord reigns, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure…]

Worship is a meeting at the center so that our lives are centered in God… If there is no center, there is no circumference. People who do not worship are swept into a vast restlessness, epidemic in our world, with no steady direction and no sustaining purpose.”
— Eugene Peterson, Reversed Thunder, pages 59-60


3.The throne of God is established in eternity, the center of human history and must be the center of our lives, individually and corporately.


QUESTION: Want to know whether or not your life is centered in God?


David Powlison, in his book Seeing with New Eyes, ask some great questions that will help us determine whether or not our lives are truly centered in God…

Important Questions:
• What do you love? What do you hate?
• What do you want, desire, crave, lust, and wish for?
• What do you seek, aim for, and pursue?
• What do you fear? What do you tend to worry about?
• What do you think you need?
• What are your plans, agendas, strategies, and intentions designed to accomplish?
• What makes you tick? What sun does your planet revolve around? What do you organize your life around?
• Where do you find refuge, safety, comfort, escape, pleasure, and security?
• On whose shoulders does the well being of your world rest? Who can make it better, make it work, make it safe, make it successful?
• Whom must you please? Whose opinion of you counts? From whom do you desire approval and fear rejection?
• What do you see as your rights? What do you feel entitled to?
• What do you pray for?
• What do you think about most often? What preoccupies or obsesses you?
• What do you talk about? What is important to you?
• How do you spend your time? What are your priorities?
• What would make you feel rich, secure, prosperous? What must you get to make life sing?
• On your deathbed, what would sum up your life as worthwhile?

— David Powlison, Seeing with New Eyes, pages 132-140


4. God and God alone is worthy of worship! The history of the universe – from creation to its consummation – finds its meaning and significance in worship!

Revelation 4:8-11 (NIV), Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “’Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”



NOTES: The word worship is derived from the Old English word for worth. Worship is an indication of the worth, value, weightiness, significance, importance or prominence we give to someone or something.

"Worship is every act of the heart, mind, body and soul, which intentionally expresses the infinite worth of our great God." — John Piper


5. Singing is the language of heaven. It’s not only a means of worship, it can be an act of worship! When it comes to the people of God the critical question is not, “Do I have a voice?” but “Do I have a song?”

(Scripture References: Revelation 4:8-11; Genesis 2:22-24; Job 38:6-7; Psalm 19:1-3; Exodus 15; 1 Chronicles 9:33, 15:19-22; 2 Chronicles 20:22, 24-25; Isaiah 54:1; 55:12-13; Luke 1:46-47; Luke 2:13-14; Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25-26; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18-19; Revelation 4-5; Zephaniah 3:17; Hebrews 2:12)


NOTES: A quick word study on variations of the word sing in the Bible reveals that there are more than 500 references to singing… There are at least fifty direct commands to sing to God…

Psalm 47:6 (NIV), Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.


QUESTION: Why does music seem to be hard-wired into our framework?

Maybe it’s because we were created in the image of God and as image-bearers of God we were created to sing…


MUSIC IN CREATION:
Job 38:4-7 (NLT), “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much. 5 Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line? 6 What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone 7 as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?”

Psalm 19:1 (NCV), The heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies announce what his hands have made.

Isaiah 55:12 (NIV), You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.


THE FIRST RECORDED WORDS OF A HUMAN BEING – ADAM BROKE INTO SONG
Genesis 2:23 (NIV), The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,'
for she was taken out of man."


NOTES: The longest book of the Bible is not primarily a book of history, teaching, or prophecy, but a book of poems set to music.


Later on, David assigns Levite musicians to sing God’s praises day and night at the Temple as part of Temple worship (1Ch 9:33; 15:19–22). This was all part of God’s design to surround his presence with singing.


In the New Testament, there are more than 20 references to music, and almost all of them have to do with singing.

• Mary sang when she heard the announcement that she would have a child! (Luke 1:46-47).

• The angels sang the night of Jesus’ birth! (Luke 2:13-14).

• Later on, we see Jesus and the disciples singing after their last Passover meal together (Matthew 26:30).

• In Acts 16 we read of Paul and Silas, bound in prison, exhausted after being stripped and beaten. Nevertheless, they are praying and singing hymns to God while the other prisoners listen. Singing was obviously more than a legalistic, lifeless duty for them.


QUESTION: Do you realize that according to Zephaniah 3:17, God sings over you and me?

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV), The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing."


Hebrews 2:12 quotes Psalm 22, where the Son of God sings the Father’s praise in the midst of the congregation…

Ephesians 5:18-19 (NLT), Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.


WHY WE SING:

“The reason we sing is because there are depths and heights and intensities and kinds of emotions that will not be satisfactorily expressed by mere prosaic forms, or even poetic readings. There are realities that demand to break out of prose into poetry and some demand that poetry be stretched into song.” — John Piper


“If the joy of the Lord be your strength, why not express it in holy song? Why should not your joys have a tongue as well as the joys of ungodly men? When warriors win victories, they shout; have we won not victories through Jesus Christ our Lord? When men celebrate their festivals, they sing; are there any festivals equal to ours – our paschal supper, our passage of the Red Sea, our jubilee, our expectation of the coronation of our King, our hymn of victory over all the hosts of hell? Oh, surely, if the children of earth sing, the children of heaven ought to sing far more often, far more loudly, far more harmoniously than they do. Come, then, let us sing because we are glad in the Lord.

“Let us sing, too, because singing is the language of heaven… Heaven is the home of sacred song, and we are the children of heaven…”
— Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Sermons on New Testament Women, page 11


“Singing is the God ordained language by which men can express their highest joys. The saints sing the high praises of their God. Singing is the language of the holy angels! Did they not, when they came to Bethlehem, sing concerning the newborn King? Singing is the language of Heaven and most marvelous of all, singing is the highest language that God ever uses! ‘He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over you with singing.’ Oh, for more holy singing!” — Charles Spurgeon, Exposition on Psalm 145


Song of the Four Living Creatures – Revelation 4:8

Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy 
is the Lord God Almighty, 
who was, and is, and is to come.”


Song of the 24 Elders – Revelation 4:9-11

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
 for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

Monday, September 19, 2011

GOING DEEPER - GOD WINS: A Study of Revelation Week Two Devotional

One Church. Two Church. Good Church. Bad Church.

Jesus loves the church! Revelation 1 gives us a glimpse of Jesus in all His majesty and glory. Revelation 2-3 give us a glimpse of the church - something not so glorious and at best, a work still in progress. In these two chapters Jesus writes directly to seven actual, specific churches. But since seven is the number of perfection or completeness, Jesus is speaking to all churches — in that time and ours.

A couple of these churches were hitting on cylinders! A few of these churches were a mixed bag of good and bad! And one church pretty much stank!

Each of these letters follow the same basic pattern.

* First of all, we get a snapshot of Jesus that comes directly out of the vision John had in Revelation 1. It's like God is reminding us, "The most important thing is not the church, it's Jesus!"

* Second, we get a confirmation about the reliability of the intelligence Jesus has on the church. Jesus begins each letter by saying, "I know..." That's a humbling thought... Jesus knows...EVERYTHING.

* This is followed by the ultimate performance review where Jesus commends the church for what's going good, and He "calls the church on the carpet" for where they're blowing it!

QUESTION: Some of us really prepare for our annual performance review, but do you ever think in terms of the ultimate performance review? If Jesus gave a2 a performance review, what would He say? If he gave you a personal performance review, what would He say?

* Fourth, Jesus makes the action step(s) the church needs to take crystal clear. He lets the church know what they need to do to get right and stay right, spiritually.

* Finally, each letter concludes with a promise the church can live on and the challenge: "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and what He is saying to the churches."

Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck conclude their excellent book, Why We Love The Church with these words:

“The church is not an incidental part of God’s plan. Jesus didn’t invite people to join an anti-religion, anti-doctrine, anti-institutional bandwagon of love, harmony and reintegration. To be sure, He showed people who to live. But He also called them to repent, called them to faith, called them out of the world, and called them into the church.

“[1 Corinthians 13:7] says, ‘Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ If we truly love the church we will bear with her in her failings, endure her struggles, believe her to be the beloved bride of Christ, and hope for her glorification. I still believe the church is the hope of the world — not because she gets it all right, but because she is a body with Christ for her Head.

“Don’t give up on the church. The New Testament knows nothing of churchless Christianity. The invisible church is for invisible Christians. The visible church is for you and me.

“So I guess this is my final advice: Find a good local church, get involved, become a member, and stay there for the long haul… Go to church this Sunday and worship there in spirit and truth, be patient with your leaders, rejoice when the gospel is faithfully proclaimed… While you are there, sing like you mean it, say hi to the teenager no one notices, the blue hairs and the nose-ringed, volunteer for the nursery once in a while. And yes, bring your fried chicken to the potluck like everyone else, invite a friend to church, take the new couple out for coffee, give in the offering, be thankful someone vacuumed the carpet, enjoy the Sundays that click for you, pray extra hard on the Sundays that don’t, and do not despise ‘the day of small things’ (Zechariah 4:10).”


THOUGHTS: The last paragraph by DeYoung and Kluck contain some excellent and very practical action steps. I encourage you to reach the prayerfully read the paragraph again, and establish your own action steps...


Going Deeper: Read Jesus' evaluation of each church in Revelation 2-3. Focus on one church each day, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you reflect on Jesus' message to that church. What is Jesus saying to you? What in your life would Jesus compliment? What would He "call you on the carpet" for?

Music Suggestions: Slumber by NeedToBreathe; Awakening by Hillsong; 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

GOD WINS - Part 2: One Church. Two Church. Good Church. Bad Church.

I love Sundays at a2 Church! I love it when God’s people get together to exalt God and encourage one another!

Here’s an overview of yesterday’s worship experience at a2 Church. Extended notes of the message follow…

Opening Worship Set:
Let God Arise (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Chris Tomlin
Great, Great God by Gateway (recording not available)
You’ll Come or here by Hillsong

Stephanie Thomas welcomed everyone, shared a couple of important announcements and the intro to the morning message. She shared two great passages of Scripture as a segue into the song the band brought.

Isaiah 52:1-2, Wake up, wake up, O Zion! 
Clothe yourself with strength. 
Put on your beautiful clothes… 2 Rise from the dust, O Jerusalem. Sit in a place of honor. Remove the chains of slavery from your neck, 
O captive daughter of Zion. 3 For this is what the Lord says:
"You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed."

Ephesians 5:14-16, Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! 15 So watch your step. Use your head. 16 Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!


The a2 band introduced the message with the following song:

Slumber (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by needtobreathe

We shared Part 2 in the series GOD WINS with a message titled, One Church. Two Church. Good Church. Bad Church.

Finally, we responded to the message with a time of prayer and reflection. The a2 band led us in singing, “Awakening” (You Tube) or here (Amazon) by Hillsong / Chris Tomlin, and wrapped everything up by baptizing six people! Yay, God!

Here are the extended notes from the message.


One Church. Two Church. Good Church. Bad Church.
GOD WINS: A Study of Revelation – Part 2

September 18, 2011 * Chris Goins


C.S. Lewis in his book, The Screwtape Letters described the church like this: “…spread out through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners… …which makes our boldest tempters uneasy.”


NOTES: Revelation 2-3 are focused on the church…

In Revelation 1 we get a glimpse of Jesus. He’s large and in charge – glorious and majestic — walking in and among His church — supervising, examining, inspecting and evaluating.

In fact, Revelation 2-3 contains seven letters that Jesus wrote or dictated to seven churches in first century Asia — modern Turkey. These were seven actual, specific churches. But in Revelation numbers matter… And since seven is the number of completeness or perfection, Jesus is speaking to all churches — both then and now…



Five Important Realities About The Church:

1. The church is at the heart of God’s redemptive purpose and plan. Jesus holds the church’s leaders in His strong hand —secure in His grip and under His authority. He loves the church and is present and at work in it and through it (1:12-13, 16, 20; 2:1).



NOTES: The churches in Revelation 2-3 are far from perfect… They were messy, because people are messy… People are sinful, imperfect and flawed… These churches were a mixed bag…

Four of the churches got mixed reviews… One of the churches was an absolute wreck… At least two of the churches were struggling with sexual sin… But Jesus refused to dump the church… John said, “He was standing the middle of the seven golden lampstands…”

That’s how committed Jesus is to the church He died to redeem… This is one of the reasons it baffles me when believers get casual about and apathetic when it comes to their commitment to and passion for the church of Jesus Christ…



Article from Washington Post: Some time ago Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck wrote a piece that appeared in The Washington Post. It was basically a synopsis of a great book they wrote titled, Why We Love The Church… The piece in the post was titled, Jesus Loves The Church… I wanted to read some of that piece… I’ve slightly edited and adapted it for our purposes… But here it is…

"Here’s what the haters won’t tell you: Jesus believed in and founded the church… He didn’t start a movement of latte-drinking disciples who excelled in spiritual conversations. He founded the church (Matt. 16:18) and commissioned the apostles to proclaim the good news that Israel’s Messiah had come and the sins of the world could be forgiven through his death on the cross (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:14-36).

"For almost two millennia, it was axiomatic that Christians, like, actually went to church (or at least told other Christians they did). From Cyprian to Calvin it was believed that for those to whom God “is Father the church may also be Mother.” But increasingly Christians are trying to get more spiritual by getting less church.

"Take a spin through the religion section at your local bookstore. What you’ll find there is revealing – there are “revolutionary” books for stay at home moms, teenagers, and Christian businessmen. There are lots of manifestos. And most of the books about church are about people leaving the church to “find God…” It used to be you had to overthrow a country to be considered a revolutionary, and now, it seems, you just have to quit church and go pray in the woods.

"We’ve been in the church our whole lives and are not blind to its failings. Churches can be boring, hypocritical, hurtful, and inept. The church is full of sinners. Which is kind of the point. Christians are worse than you think. Our Savior is better than you imagine.

"But the church is not all about oppression and drudgery. Almost every church we know of visits old people, brings meals to new moms, supports disaster relief, and does something for the poor. We love the local church, in spite of its problems, because it’s where we go to meet God. It’s not a glorified social/country club you attend to be around people who talk and look just you do. It’s a place to hear God’s word spoken, taught and affirmed. It’s a place to sing praises to God, and a place to serve others. It’s a place to be challenged…

"We love the church because Christ loved the church. She is his bride–a harlot at times, but his bride nonetheless, being washed clean by the word of God (Eph. 5:25-26). If you are into Jesus, don’t rail on his bride. Jesus died for the church, so don’t be bothered by a little dying to self for the church’s sake. If you keep in mind that everyone there is a sinner (including yourself) and that Jesus Christ is the point and not you, your dreams, or your kids, your church experience might not be as lame as you fear.

"Perhaps Christians are leaving the church because it isn’t tolerant and open-minded. But perhaps the church-leavers have their own intolerance too – intolerant of tradition, intolerant of authority, intolerant of imperfection except their own. Are you open-minded enough to give the church a chance – a chance for the church to be the church, not a coffee shop, not a mall, not a variety show, not Chuck E. Cheese, not a U2 concert, not a nature walk, but a wonderfully ordinary, blood-bought, Spirit-driven church…?

"The Church, because it is Christ’s church, will outlive American Idol, the NFL, and all of our grandkids. We won’t last, but the Church will. So when it comes to church, be like Jesus: love it, don’t leave it. As someone once said to Jake Blues in the huge Christian classic, the Blues Brothers, “Jake, you get wise, you get to church.”



2. The Holy Spirit is still communicating to the church, and the church needs to listen.

Revelation 2:7 (ESV), He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22)

The Holy Spirit is still communicating to the church…


Seven By Seven: The Basic Pattern of Each Letter

• A snapshot of Jesus that comes directly out of the vision John had in Revelation 1. It's like God is reminding us, "The most important thing is not the church, it's Jesus’ activity in the church!"

• Second, we get a confirmation about the reliability of the intelligence Jesus has on the church.


Jesus begins each letter the same way… He begins by saying, “I know... I know… I know…” That's a profound and humbling thought... To realize that Jesus knows the actual score… He knows everything… He knows it all…

• This followed by the ultimate performance review where Jesus commends the church for what's going good, and He "calls the church on the carpet" for where they're blowing it!

• After His evaluation, Jesus makes the action step(s) the church needs to take crystal clear and rather simple. He lets the church know what they need to do to get right and stay right, spiritually.

• Finally, each letter concludes with Jesus giving the church a promise that church can live on and the challenge, to keep listening…



3. Every church is planted in the context of a culture that in its own way is diametrically opposed to God, and that church will either transform the surrounding culture, or the surrounding culture will eventually transform the church.

Romans 12:2 (PH), Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold…

Romans 12:2 (MSG), Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God…


4. Every church has a tendency to drift towards one of two extremes: separatism or syncretism. Both extremes are dangerous and deadly.

Separatism / Isolationism We isolate and protect ourselves from culture by hiding out in our own “Christian” subculture. We become fundamentalists who impose our own man-made rules on people in the name of achieving holiness and avoiding worldliness.

Syncretism / CompromiseWe become so immersed in and aligned with the values, beliefs and mindset of the culture that we lose our distinctive identity as the people of God and the church of Jesus Christ… We end up abandoning and diluting the simplicity of the gospel in the name of relevance.


Dangers of Separatism: Ephesus / Sardis

[Ephesus] Revelation 2:2-5 (NLT), “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

Revelation 2:4-5 (NLT), “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”

Revelation 2:4 (ESV), But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Danger #1: Right beliefs when it comes to doctrine; but a loss of passion when it comes to worship and compassion and action when it comes to people.


[Sardis] Revelation 3:1-2 (NLT), Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.”

Danger #2: Right beliefs when it comes to doctrine; but a loss of mission in the world and impact on the surrounding culture.


Revelation 3:5 (NLT), All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.


Danger of Syncretism: Pergamum / Thyatira / Laodicea

[Pergamum] Revelation 2:13-16 (NLT), I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.
14 I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. 16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.


[Thyatira] Revelation 2:19-20 (NLT), I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.

[Thyatira] Revelation 2:20 (NLT), But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.

Danger #1: Compromise and rationalization when it comes to personal ethics and sexual purity.


NOTES: The expression Jesus uses for “sexual sin” when He addresses the problems in Pergamum and Thyatira refers to at least three things for our culture:

Adultery – sexual involvement between a married person and someone he or she isn’t married to…

Fornication — That’s a different “F” word for some of you… But in the New Testament it’s a “catch all” word that refers to any kind of sexual activity outside the confines of marriage…

Pornography — which is a growing epidemic for the American church…



Jack Hayford describes the problem like this in his book E-Quake: “To indulge yourself outside the biblical guidelines in terms of sexual behavior is to abandon yourself to demonic influence and thereby to be restricted in your capacities for what the Lord wants you to be. It may not damn your soul to hell, but it will certainly bring so much hell into your life that you won’t do much good for heaven.”


Danger #2: Worship that is marked more by convenience and cultural accommodation than it is by passionate God-centered devotion.


NOTES: Both the church at Pergamum and Thyatira were struggling with the issue of “…food sacrificed to idols…” (2:15; 2:20).

Both of these churches were located in what could be called union towns… In that era, union or trade guild meetings often involved the worship of pagan gods… And if you were a Christian and went to the union hall, but refused to worship the local area deity, you were not considered to be a good union member… The social and economic consequences were pretty high…

What was evidently happening, was that some of the believers in these churches were compromising their faith… They were actually participating in the worship of pagan gods and rationalizing it by saying, “I worship Jesus in my heart, so it doesn’t really matter what I do when I’m in the Union Hall…” God said, “You bet it matters!”

These believers had segregated their lives into the sacred and the spiritual… They behaved one way when they were with family or believers in the local church, and a completely different way when they were at work… They had slipped into idolatry…

Some of us can’t relate to the language of idolatry… But it’s important to remember the way Tim Keller defines idolatry… Keller writes:

“Idolatry is not just a failure to obey God, it is a setting of the whole heart on something besides God.” ~ Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods, page 171.


We may not be able to relate to the false gods the people in Pergamum or Thyatira struggled with, but we have our own false gods we regularly bow down to: the god of money, success, power, being smart, the god of sex, approval, being attractive, the god of relationships, pleasure, work, career or reputation… You name it…

Here’s the problem: You can’t segregate your life in to the spiritual and secular… When it comes to your life, Jesus is either Lord of everything, or He’s not Lord of anything…



[Laodicea] Revelation 3:17 (NLT), You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

Danger #3: Convenience, comfort and affluence that dulls spiritual sensitivity and ultimately take precedence over commitment, devotion and total consecration to Jesus Christ.


[Laodicea] Revelation 3:18-20 (NLT), So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

John Piper nails it when he says, “Christ did not die to redeem a bride who would keep him on the porch while she watched television in the den. His will for the church is that we open the door, all the doors of our life.”


5. The church is not meant to merely survive! It’s God will for the church to thrive!

Two Examples: Smyrna and Philadelphia

[Philadelphia] Rev 3:8, 11-11 (NIV), I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.


Book Quotation: I love the way Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck end their book, Why We Love The Church… They write:

“The church is not an incidental part of God’s plan. Jesus didn’t invite people to join an anti-religion, anti-doctrine, anti-institutional bandwagon of love, harmony and reintegration. To be sure, He showed people who to live. But He also called them to repent, called them to faith, called them out of the world, and called them into the church.

“[1 Corinthians 13:7] says, ‘Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.’ If we truly love the church we will bear with her in her failings, endure her struggles, believe her to be the beloved bride of Christ, and hope for her glorification. I still believe the church is the hope of the world — not because she gets it all right, but because she is a body with Christ for her Head.

“Don’t give up on the church. The New Testament knows nothing of churchless Christianity. The invisible church is for invisible Christians. The visible church is for you and me.

“So I guess this is my final advice: Find a good local church, get involved, become a member, and stay there for the long haul… Go to church this Sunday and worship there in spirit and truth, be patient with your leaders, rejoice when the gospel is faithfully proclaimed… While you are there, sing like you mean it, say hi to the teenager no one notices, the blue hairs and the nose-ringed, volunteer for the nursery once in a while. And yes, bring you fried chicken to the potluck like everyone else, invite a friend to church, take the new couple out for coffee, give in the offering, be thankful someone vacuumed the carpet, enjoy the Sundays that click for you, pray extra hard on the Sundays that don’t, and do not despise ‘the day of small things’ (Zechariah 4:10).”



Closing Illustration:
A few years ago an anonymous author penned some words that I believe describe what life must have been like in that first century church and what God desires life to be like in the church today.

The Fellowship of the Unashamed
I am part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I've stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals!

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, live by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let go, or slow up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops. And when He comes to get His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me…my colors will be clear.
~ Anonymous


References:
The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis

Vision Weekend - Part 1, September 11, 2011, a message by John Ortberg of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

Church: Love It, Don't Leave It by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck

Why We Love The Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck

Revelation Message Series by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church

Revelation 2-3: Letters to the Seven Churches, Mary 20, 2011, a message by Bob Thune of Coram Deo Church

E-Quake by Jack Hayford

ESV Study Bible

Life Application Study Bible

Revelation 1-11: New Testament Commentary by John MacArthur

Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation by Dennis Johnson

The Returning King by Vern Poythress

Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, Grant R. Osborne

Revelation: The Triumph of Christ by John Stott

How To Buy Gold When You're Broke, a message by John Piper of Bethlehem Baptist Church

Monday, September 12, 2011

GOING DEEPER - GOD WINS: A Study of Revelation Week One Devotional


It's All About Jesus!

The book of Revelation begins with these words, "The revelation of Jesus Christ..." This book is not just a revelation that comes from Jesus, it's a revelation about and of Jesus!

The supporting cast surrounding Jesus is colorful and interesting: the four horseman of the Apocalypse, angels, demons, the Great Harlot, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, the mark of the Beast, 666, seven seals, seven bowls, seven trumpets, two witnesses, the 144,000, cataclysmic disasters, the lake of fire and the awesomeness of heaven... But that's just the supporting cast!

In his excellent book, E-Quake, Jack Hayford describes Revelation like this, "...the book of Revelation is more than just a collection of prophecies; it's 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."

The book of Revelation reminds us that history is really His-Story. In fact, your story is really His-Story. You can triumph, because He has already triumphed!


GOING DEEPER: Read Revelation 1 each morning this week, taking time to reflect on the description of Jesus contained in Revelation 1:12-18. Incorporate this description in your personal prayer and worship time. (See additional notes below for insights into the description.)

SCRIPTURE MEMORY:
Revelation 1:17-18
"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."

SUGGESTED WORSHIP MUSIC: The First and the Last by Hillsong; Take Heart by Hillsong United; 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

ADDITIONAL NOTES:


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.


Here are a few insights/thoughts about John's vision of Jesus:

• He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest…

John isn’t just giving us a fashion detail. Jesus was wearing the long robe of a Master, not the shorter garment of a servant or slave. John is letting us know that the same Savior who came in humility to serve, seek and to save was now enthroned on high as the Lord and Master over all creation!

The long robe is probably a reference to a priestly robe and a reminder that Jesus is our great high priest… The gold sash is a reminder that He is exalted above everything and everyone!


• His head and hair were white like wool.

In our culture, white hair is usually something to be avoided. It’s a sign of aging or infirmity. In fact, in our culture the only thing worse than having white hair is having “no hair.”

But John’s description of Jesus having hair that was as “white as wool” is remarkably similar to a vision that Daniel had of someone he called, “…the Ancient of Days…” (Daniel 7:9). John wants us to know and understand that our King is the Eternal King! He always has been and He always will be! Daniel called him the Ancient of Days!



• His eyes were bright like flames of fire…

Fire in the Bible is always a symbol of purity. His eyes pierce straight through all lies, deceit and cover-ups. In other words, Jesus is not only a God who looks right at you, He looks right through you… He knows your thoughts, motives, desires, dreams, the works…


• His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace…

The feet of Jesus were once wounded, but now they’ve become feet of dominion.

Bronze is a picture of strength. It’s an interesting material. It’s made up of two elements: iron and copper. Iron is strong, but it rusts. Copper doesn’t rust, and it’s pliable and bendable.

Bronze combines the strength of iron with the endurance of copper. When John says “…His feet were like burnished bronze...” it’s a picture of strength. Jesus Christ is strong and steady. He provides an unshakeable foundation and absolute security.


• His voice sounded like the thunder of mighty, roaring ocean waves.

This is an unmistakable statement that the Word of God is irresistibly alive and still speaks with power and authority above the den of history!


• In his right hand were seven stars…

What do you guys do with your right hand?
You pound nails… You turn wrenches… You embrace friends… You lift weights…

What did Jesus do with His right hand? He held seven stars…

“He held seven stars in his right hand…”

Revelation 1:20 tells us that the stars are people. They’re the seven pastors of the churches. This is a picture of Jesus holding the pastor and the people of these seven churches in his hand.


• He spoke with such power and authority that it was as if a two-edged sword was coming straight from his mouth.

That two-edged sword is a picture of the power of His Word that is able to slay every adversary and cut through every attempt at self-deception.

When John sees Jesus, Jesus is ready for war! He is armed and ready to crush His enemies — sin, Satan and death with the power of His Word…


• His face was like the sun shining in all its strength…

John saw Jesus in his unveiled glory… He had seen Jesus like this once before on the Mount of Transfiguration, now he sees him like this again… The effect was staggering…

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.”

John’s posture was a posture of abject worship. The Book of Revelation opens with the account of a man at worship, kneeling face first, not before a vision, but before the Victor!

GOD WINS - Part 1: It's All About Jesus

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).