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The
Bible: Sunday Sermon Tape # 58 |
Character of Christ: For His Father's Glory |
|
The
Bible: Sunday Sermon Tape # 58 |
Character of Christ: For His Father's Glory |
Don't
miss the pictures of the zoo days. The Lord willing, Creation Creature Features
soon.
See
the previous sermon notes on the Web -
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Rev 1:19
|
Every warning, struggle,
temptation, promise, strategy, and victory
in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
The choice is yours ................
The Text ("Blue Letter
Bible"): Revelation
(Strong's numbers, Hebrew-Greek lexicons,
cross references, etc., can be accessed from the above link)
Review: Outline of The
Revelation: Key verses = Rev 1:8 & 19
I. Character of Christ
for His Father's Glory (Who Was) (Things You've Seen) Chapter 1
What about your character, & your
family's character, & that of your church?
Can other people see Jesus' goodness, unselfishness, & humility through each
one?
A. Introduction (1:1-8) Of Jesus to His servants (1:4 Church)
(see also 6:1 Israel)
B. Post-Incarnate, glorified Jesus (1:9-18)
II. Counsel of Christ
for the Church (Who Is) (Things Which Are) Chapters 2-3
This counsel also applies to you
personally, your family, your local church, & all of
"Christianity".
A. Command to Prophesy (1:19)
B. Seven Churches Counseled (1:20) ESP-TS-PL (Praise
before correction!)
C. Ephesus (2:1-7)
Loveless
D. Smyrna (2:8-11)
Persecuted
E. Pergamos (2:12-17)
Compromising
F. Thyatira (2:18-29)
Corrupt
G. Sardis (3:1-6)
Dead
H. Philadelphia (3:7-13)
Faithful
I. Laodicea (3:14-22)
Lukewarm (no praise)
III. Consequences of Christ
for the Church, Israel & the World (Chapters 4-22)
(Who is to come again!) (Things
which will happen soon!)
Are you ready for your future? The
judgment seat of Christ?
A. Raptured Church (Bride of Christ) in Heaven (4:1-5:14)
B. Tribulation of Israel (Jacob's) Trouble on Earth
(6:1-18:24) (Daniel's 70th Week)
1. Seals (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 6:1-8:2)
2. Trumpets (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 8:2-11:19)
3. Players (Seven) on the Tribulation Stage (Rev 12-14)
* These three chapters are an interlude, zooming in for a personal look at the people.
4. Bowls (Seven) of Judgments (Rev 15-16)
5. Babylon's Final Fall (Rev 17-18)
C. Christ's Wedding & War (19:1-21)
D. Millennial Kingdom (20:1-6)
E. Final Futile Rebellion (20:7-10)
F. Great White Throne & Second Death (20:11-15)
G. New Heaven & Earth Coming (21-22:15)
H. Jesus' Promise & Warning for YOU, your family,
& your church (22:16-21)
I. Character of Christ for His Father's Glory (Who Was) (Things You've Seen) Chapter 1
What about your character, your family's character, & that of your church?
Can other people see Jesus' goodness, unselfishness, & humility through each one?
A. Introduction (1:1-8) Of Jesus to His servants (1:4 Church)
(see also 6:1 Israel)
Rev 1:1-3 "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."
The "Revelation" of Messiah Jesus comes to us from:
Father God through
Son of God, Jesus, through
Angel of Jesus through
John the Apostle through
You and Me, on to others . . . .
* Remember, the book is the "Revelation", not the "obscuring" or clouding of Jesus.
Who, what, when, where, why,
and how regarding the "Character of Christ" begins to unfold in
chapter 1.
Just as a yawn is contagious, and we absorb a bit of the accent from a foreign
friend, the character of the Lord Jesus transforms our character when we
submissively meditate on Him in faithful obedience:
2 Cor 3:17-18 "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Jesus is 100 % God and 100 % Man. He is the perfect God/Man. He alone has the right to rule as Prophet, Priest, and King. He is the Son of God and the brother of Man (Rom 8:28-29). We need a "Big Brother" looking over our shoulder. No, not the big brother of big government, but our Elder Brother, the Firstborn from the dead, Jesus, the Son of our Heavenly Father.
v. 3 "Blessed" - This promise of blessing is the first of seven beatitudes in the Revelation. Blessed is the one who reads the book, and the one who listens to the reading, and especially to the one who keeps or responds faithfully to its message.
Jesus first came to suffer and pay the price of
separation from the Father that we deserved.
(I once heard a Sinclair Ferguson preach a sermon on
the separation between the Father and the Son, which made me break down and cry
in realization of what my "Big Brother" really did for me)
His second coming will be to rule and represent His Father as Judge and
King.
Yet, the world will stand in self-deifying, futile Jesus-denying pride against
Him.
Pro 16:5 "Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished."Psa 2:1-10 "Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."
7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ "
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Beware a Dangerous Misinterpretation: Many Christian leaders today are mistakenly encouraging the "Body of Christ" to confront the governments of the world about moral issues and political policies. Their countenance and tone are often far less than humble and gentle (2 Tim 2:23-26). They want us to demand our "rights" in ways that are indistinguishable from secular activists who constantly whine and complain, in what looks like arrogant pride. These leaders, I believe, have forgotten the rank, role, and responsibility to which our Lord has called us as the "Body of Christ". Until Jesus returns, we are to witness boldly, and work to change (reform) our churches, but not the governments of the world. Next week in our study of Rev 2-3, the Counsel of Christ to the Churches, we'll see that there is not even a hint of a suggestion that the church should invest its time and efforts to challenge world institutions about morality.
Certainly, I believe we should vote, and use whatever legal means available to humbly influence the world for good, but the new trend is to over focus on political activism and neglect evangelism and true discipleship. We are to challenge the world to submit to Jesus as Lord and King, but not to try and make the unregenerate world adopt a facade of religious morality. Remember that true discipleship occurs only when a church is willing to L.E.A.D. its members toward restoration and maturity in Christ, through loving, equipping, accountability, and discipline. The governments of the world will be dealt with directly by the Lord Jesus, when He comes again physically to rule from Jerusalem.
A new book, The End of Days, by a respected Jewish journalist in Israel, Gershom Gorenberg, demonstrates the dangerous trends developing not only in fundamentalist Islam and Hyper-Orthodox Judaism, but also in fundamentalist Christianity. Extremists from the fringes of all three groups are reaching a critical mass of misguided and potentially violent energy, all focused around Jerusalem and the temple mount. Yet the most disturbing factor is that much of the fuel for this dangerous potential is unwittingly coming from mainstream Christian writers like Tim LaHaye and David Noebel. I respect both Tim and David tremendously, and I believe that neither of them would ever advocate any form of violence. Yet they say that their new book, Mind Siege, is a battle cry against the governments, institutions, and leaders who have corrupted our culture. Even though they refer to the fact that the battle ground is the mind, and is a struggle between conflicting worldviews (2 Cor 10:3-5), the flavor of the book is falls short of the character principles found in 2 Tim 2:23-26.
23But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Just as Nero blamed all of Christianity for the burning of Rome, we might all become unnecessary scapegoats for the actions of a few deranged extremists. And the transitional writings like Mind Siege could be the excuse the world uses to link all of us to the false Christians who practice violence. 1 & 2 Peter are quite clear. It's an honorable thing to suffer as a martyr and a scapegoat if it is the necessary consequence of humbly and submissively (2 Pet 2) preaching Jesus. But to suffer unnecessarily, because of a rebellious attitude and/or breaking the civil law is a tragic dishonor to Christ.
Satan's strategy is to get us to swing to he extremes. If he notices a person or church becoming liberal, he pulls and pushes them toward the extreme of apostasy. If he sees Christians getting serious about God's Word and concerned about immorality in the world, then he'll tempt us to try and change the world by our flesh and the methods of political activism or even force. But folks, the world can only be changed by Jesus' flesh not ours. It's not by might, nor by our power, but by God's Spirit that the world will be changed. Only when the Spirit of God through the Son of God returns in His perfect human flesh as the God/Man will any Man make the world behave. Only then will, every knee will bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus the Christ is LORD.
vv. 4-8 Greetings to the Churches
Rev 1:1 "Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
"to the seven
churches" - There were many more churches in Asia Minor than these
seven. The number seven carries the biblical meaning of completion, thus
these represent the totality of the Body, as well as the literal fellowships.
(see the notes from Rev 2-3 for more details on the seven churches)
"grace" and "peace" - The message begins with a word of encouragement, not condemnation.
Exaltation of Jesus, His titles, His character, His
works, and His coming as prophesied are the central focus.
(Mat 23:30; Zech 12:10-14) His right to rule is backed up and proven by
His fulfillment of hundreds of Messianic prophecies, demonstrating His
transcendence and His sovereign authority. He who is, the I AM, and who
was, is coming again, for good.
B. Post-Incarnate, glorified Jesus (1:9-18) Vision of the Son of Man
Rev 1:9 "I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,11 saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.19 "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this."
John's personal introduction to his fellow believers emphasizes not only their (our) common struggle with trials in this fallen world, but especially our common eternal destiny in the Kingdom of our big brother, Jesus, the Lord of Lords. Even though John is on Patmos as a prison of persecution for his faithful preaching about the Lord, his focus is on the importance of patience. The prophesied promise that our Lord will come to rescue us from the world, the flesh, and the Devil should be the source of our patient strength.
"in the Spirit on the Lord's day" - John is worshiping in spirit and in truth on Sunday, when the Lord appears.
"behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet" - Can you remember when you were little and your friend or brother came up behind you and shouted? If you're like me, you jumped six inches in the air. But then when you saw who it was, you relaxed and laughed. Not John the Apostle. Oh, I bet he jumped alright, but when he turned and saw his Big Brother, Jesus, he fell on the ground in fear as a dead man! Notice though, that Jesus (vv. 17-19) immediately comforted him with the words: "Don't be afraid". Jesus then reminds John not only of His sovereign power and position, but also of His sacrificial love and faithfulness: "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen."
vv. 12-16 are a snapshot of the real Jesus, the one and only God/Man, surpassing every portrait and image man has ever tried to create of Him. The cross and the tomb are empty. Jesus is alive and all of the Father's authority radiates through Him bodily (Mat 28:18-20). The blazing glory of His Holy countenance and powerful authority is what brought John to his knees:
"like the Son of Man" - this phrase is a primary messianic title found throughout the Bible (Dan 7:13; 10:5; Mat 8:20; 9:6, etc..) The Messiah/Savior not only had to be God, but also had to be a real human in order to live a perfect life for us and earn the right for man to enter heaven, then die the death (separation from the Father) that we deserve, and finally rise again to earn the right to rule as King on David's throne in Jerusalem.
"robe down to feet"; "girded about the chest by a golden band" - Jesus is dressed in the manner of the Old Testament high priest, because He is the perfect high priest forever, of the order of Melchizedek. (see the notes from the sermon on Gen 14; also be sure to look up Psa 110:4; Hebrews 5, 6, and 7)
"His head and hair were white like wool, white as snow" - Isa 1:8 promises that though our sins be as scarlet, the saving work of God's grace for our forgiveness can make them white as snow. Jesus is the spotless lamb, pure and sinless, and His perfect work on the cross paid in full our sin debt before God the Father.
"eyes like flames of fire" - His piercing gaze is the examination of a judge, the ultimate authority over all authority in the universe under the hand of God His Father (1 Cor 15). Like laser beams that cut to the core of your heart, kids, you can fool Mom and Dad, but not God. Children, please listen carefully. It's not Santa Clause who knows if you've been bad or good. That's just a made up story. It's Jesus who really knows and judges and saves those who submit to His Authority by faith.
"feet like fired brass" - He walks among His churches with strength and authority, ready to lift up and ready to pull down as the need fits.
"out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword" - The Word of God (Heb 4:12) is sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing as deep as soul and spirit, beyond the superficial lip service and phony actions of man, able to judge the motives of the heart.
"His countenance was like the Sun shining in it's strength" - 2 Cor 3:16-18. Moses came down off the mountain with a fading glow from the glory of God. Infinitely more, Jesus IS the glory of God the Father (Col 1-2; Heb 1) and when you look at Him now in His glorified form (John 14; 1 John 3:2), you see the full force of our Father's Face (pannim - faces).
But Jesus is not only the Judge (Rev 4-22), He is also the Good Shepherd (John 10:10), our Big Brother who loves us more than we could ask or even imagine (Eph 3:14-21). So He gently reaches out and touches John, just like He put out His hand to embrace the leper, in perfectly humble love. Actions speak even louder than words, folks, and His actions say, "Trust Me!" "I AM in control" "I AM Good" "I AM wise, and I know what is best for you" "Follow Me!"
Folks, He is willing and eager to reach out and lift you up as well (1 Pet 5:5-9). All you have to do is humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, resist the Devil (Jam 4:7), and march forward.
But please notice, God doesn't want to build our self-esteem or self-confidence. His desire is for us to build Christ-esteem (Isaiah 6; Job 42; John 3:30), and confidence in Christ alone (Philip 4:13). Fix you eyes on Jesus and everything looks different!
Every warning, struggle,
temptation, promise, strategy, and victory in the Revelation can also play out in your life, your family, and your church!
The choice is yours ................
What do you need to change?
(The final question to ask God, whenever
you study God's Word)
Lord, how
am I doing on your conflict meter, for your glory?
Giving Up < < < < < < < Standing
Firm > > > > > > >
Blowing Up
Return to related articles from "The Bible: One Bite at a Time" -
Biblical Prophecy: A Jigsaw Puzzle with Pieces Throughout the Bible
(Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Mat 24, 2 Th 2)
Revelation
Chapter 1