MULTITUDE [F.O.]
Notes
Transcript
Revelation 7:9-12
Revelation 7:9-12
[FULL OUTLINE]
CAPTURE
Caught a glimpse of the amazing five days we had in the mounts of NM at camp
m3 camp. Moment, mission, movement. A place where students can have a moment with Jesus Christ that will change their life, in hope that the moment propels them into mission beyond the campground into their home, schools, and places of recreation. Ultimately, our prayers are that this spurring on into mission would lead to a gospel movement of students to reach Texas and impact the world with the Gospel.
Speaking of moments, one night comes to mind in particular. Imagine 1400 angsty teenagers in a huge worship auditorium, gettin’ ready to do the monkey dance and church clap
Many of whom are gathered around the stage
Here comes the M3 camp director dude- record scratch- he tells all of these teens to go back to their seats. No monkey business tonight. “No more monkeys jumpin’ on the bed!” You already know how popular this guy was in this moment! *audible sign from the auditorium*
He proceeds to share about his past seven months battling with depression. His struggles. His losses. This man just massacred the moment! The nastiness and grit of what’s going on in life right now for him.
As one of our boys accurately put it in a prayer: “God, I know that everyone in here right now has some nastiness in their lives..”
But here was the incredible thing… as we got past the moment of interruption, the camp director brought everyone into a moment of solemn prayer. Not just, *I’m gonna halfheartedly listen to you and nod my head as you pray*
No- the room was in reverent silence for about 45 minutes as he encouraged the multitude of people to earnestly, fervently pray for themselves. Some kneeling, some face-first on the ground. To adore Him. To confess sin before the cross. To express thanks and gratitude to Him. To pray for needs, not only in our own lives, but for those in our lives. To pray for the lost. To pray for the Gospel to spread.
What an amazing interruption! What an unexpected encounter! To step beyond the expected. To stop to seek His face and truly pray to Him.
A moment of recognition: Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Listen- we are all guilty of being like these angsty teens at summer camp. Although not all of us are preparing for the church clap, we all have the routines we go through. “Going through the motions.” Not only is this indicative of the physical routines and realities of life, this is illustrative of our mental, emotional, and spiritual routines of life
How often do we stop to seek Him, genuinely pray, and be brought to a place where we truly see where all of reality and all of life is headed towards?
In between packing up the parsonage, spending precious last evenings with youth students and families, baptism meetings, sermon prep, writing a research paper, and a million other things that are just gonna sound like I’m “braggin’ about busyness,” I asked God to slow me down and help me reflect upon these past couple of years. “God, what just happened?” “God, what did you just do?”
Let’s be reminded together in these next few moments that from Him and through Him and for Him are all things.
Prayer
CONNECT
Stand & read passage
Revelation 7:9-12
Background
John the Apostle, who also wrote The Gospel of John and 1, 2, 3 John
Talk about an interruption- John wrote Revelation while in exile on Patmos. Exile due to persecution of the Gospel
Written to followers of the Way, Jesus.
Through John’s visions and writings, God is revealing things to His people not previously known. Hence, The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Things concerning Jesus’ second coming. The movement of all history towards Himself.
How we got here to this passage:
In his vision, John saw a scroll with seven seals that only the Lamb of God, Jesus, is worthy to open.
These seals have been likened to the title deeds of the universe which reveal God’s judgments. Signet and seal. God owns all things, and He will bring all things to their rightful completion and culmination.
God is getting His way. His perfectly just, right, and beautiful way- and no one will be able to open their mouths against His way.
Now, we land in the passage we just read.
The tribulation saints who have been saved and made pure through the Lamb are gathered before the Heavenly Throne.
Let’s talk about the nature of His salvation in regard to two main things: His salvation is Global and His salvation is Glorious
Global (Rev. 7:9-10)
What’s happening?
God’s great desire being fulfilled.
God’s number one desire for the human race: when all is said and done, there be an unthinkably massive multitude of people who are gathered unto Himself, head over heels in love with Him.
Every nation, tribe, people, and language. Every heritage and culture. Every people group. Every corner of the earth- the far corner (across the ocean) and the near corner (across the street).
He was head over heels in love with us first. He wants the hope of the Gospel to touch all people! So all can know Him and be with Him.
Who are these people?
Jesus’ blood-bought ones. Those who have accepted Christ as Savior through repentance and belief.
These people have been through it. Through the tribulation- literally the hardest of the hard times that will ever happen.
But God brought them through it.
What are they doing?
Well, they are safe. The flock has been brought in to the Shepherd’s fold. The safest place to be is near Jesus.
They are made clean, for they are clothed in white robes
They are joyfully exalting God as King with palm branches in their hands: Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths, Jesus riding into Jerusalem
They are here together. In community. Bound to one another.
Worshiping Him. Faith always has an object.
Glorious (Rev. 7:11-12)
Who else?
All the angels. All the elders (whoever they are). The four creatures (who are very strange indeed- but they lead in worship).
Whoever the elders are, they sound important. Yet when they are talked about in Revelation, they seem to always be on their face in worship! It doesn’t matter how important you may be or someone else may be- only One is worthy of worship
What is the why beyond this all?
There is one and only one deserving Person of worship. The object of Praise: “to our God forever and ever”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Jesus at the Center.
Bicycle wheel illustration: connected to Christ & close to Him as the Center of all things. Global & Glorious. The closer we are to Him, the closer we are to one another.
The Global nature of salvation is driven by relationship- with God and one other (we make up the multitude). The Glory is rich in relationship- with God and one another
CONSIDER
Those saved and washed by the blood of the Lamb will be gathered before God in worship and enjoyment of Him forevermore.
Christ’s reward for the Cross is His people being gathered to Him in worship and gladness.
Listen: the Church is the vehicle to gather many, many people from many, many people groups to the Throne of our God.
We serve a Missionary God. The Great Mission of God is for many lovers of God to come to Him.
The Church champions the Gospel good news. The gospel is the good news that the everlasting and ever-increasing joy of the never-boring, ever-satisfying Christ is ours freely and eternally by faith in the sin-forgiving death and hope-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Live our lives for the mission of God. Share the life you’ve found in Jesus.
Be overtaken by this scene at the Throne. Why? Because there’s a scene for you. Be in the scene at the Throne and bring others into the scene.
COLLIDE
How are we doing in completing God’s mission to bring a multitude of lovers of God to Himself?
According to the Joshua Project (as of February 16) there are 16,598 people groups in the world. 7,165 of these are “unreached”
Global perspective: About halfway there. There is work to be done.
Local perspective: think about who you know if your life who is lost. Family, friends, coworkers, classmates. There is work to be done.
What is the greatest issue the world faces? Is it lostness?
Salvations, baptisms: Ava Gomez, Chloe Van Winkle, Desiree Fordham, Elle Garrison, Broxon Potter, Christian Fordham, Brock Wilson, Jeremiah Hamm
Because of Christ the Lamb’s all sufficient merit at the Cross gifted to them through faith, they are stepping into the scene at the Throne of God.
Call into ministry (pastoring, missions, etc.): Ava Gomez, Chloe Van Winkle, Hannah Vaughn, Jackson Campbell
With the confident hope of being caught up all together at the Throne of God, they want to leverage their lives to bring Jesus lots of people who are head over heels in love with Him. God if you want, set me apart for sacred use. Because in light of eternity, people are what matter in the end.
What are you leveraging your life for?
As Christians, our calling isn’t to live in the abundance of possessions at the pinnacle of carnality to seek fleeting pleasures. These things will fade. These things won’t last.
Also, as Christians, our calling isn’t to live hollowed-out lives with puckered faces. “Agh, well I can’t take any of this stuff with me to heaven anyways.” “Agh, well I can’t partake in the things the world loves and strives for.” “I guess I’ll sit here in my minimalist home playin’ Phase 10 all the days of my life, truly bored to the depth of my soul”
Our calling as Christ followers is rich. We live from His abundance. The calling is grand. It is daring. It can often be dangerous. It is full of adventure. It’s more captivating than any other pastime, hobby, or cause- more captivating than any club, any career, any game. And it has eternal implications: go on the search and rescue mission, empowered by the Spirit of God, to make lovers of God who will one day gather around His throne. Let’s join the multitude. Let’s make a multitude.
CALL
When you are in love with someone, you are willing to give whatever it takes at whatever cost to give them the desire of their heart.
Camp pastor story: wife wanted children
My own story: wife wanted horses. Face as long as a horse’s.
The Father is head over heels in love with you: have you fallen head over heels in love with Him?
What would you do to give Him the desire of His heart?
He doesn’t need you- but He wants you.
In your Joy of being found in Jesus and loved by the Father, do you want someone else to know? Do you live and breathe for that? Let’s get this from your heart to your feet now!
What are you willing to do to take part in giving Him the desire of His heart?
Be in the multitude. Bring a multitude.
