Silver Linings

Victory in Jesus  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  57:16
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Introduction
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Are you drawn to the light in the room, the good, or do you see what is wrong, and what shouldn’t be there overlooking the positives? Now, I’m not saying optimists are better than pessimists, because we need both. They keep us balanced.
What I am saying is if we are not careful we will read through the book of Revelation and pick up on the doom, gloom, sin, catastrophe, judgment and wrath without seeing the goodness, mercy, longsuffering, love and grace of God.
I often have people make the same mistake when studying the Old Testament. They ask why God is the God of judgment and wrath in the OT, and in the New Testament the God of Love. I tell them that they are not looking close enough at the text.
They don’t see the One who delivers from bondage and slavery, the One who feeds, waters, and provides for faithless rebels for 40 years (their whole lifetime).
They don’t see the One who warned people through prophets for 100’s of years before He brought judgment. How long would you feed and house an unthankful guest?
They don’t see the One who even in judgment did not allow those rebels to be destroyed, but preserved them, cared for them, protected them, and prospered them, and then eventually delivered them.
As we look at Revelation 7, I want us to see God working, for good, in the midst of judgment. Let me briefly explain verses 1-8 then look with me at Revelation 7:9-17.
In verses 1-8, at the beginning of the tribulation period, God marks 144,000 Jewish believers. Now, I’m not sure if there is a great Jewish awakening or these are Jewish believers previous to tribulation, but they will be set apart, and protected by God. These 144,000 will be evangelists and more than likely at the end martyrs, along with those who become believers as a result of their testimony. Now, verses 9-17 takes us to the scene in heaven following the ministry of the 144,000:
Revelation 7:9–17 NKJV
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
What sticks out most obviously in this text is the plethora of believers from every tongue, tribe, nation, and people coming out of the tribulation. And according to verse 14 they washed themselves in the blood of Jesus Christ, literally were atoned from sin by the eternal blood of the spotless lamb of God, Jesus!
This morning I want to give you four eternal truths about God, that stand no matter how dark the day. I believe John wanted first century Christians to realize these truths as they faced persecution and the Spirit of God wants us to realize these truths as we face difficulty and an uncertain future.

God Provides Hope in Tribulation.

The purpose of chapter 7 is to show that although the seals are being opened and chaos is being unleashed on earth, God’s people are not without hope.
In the darkest time on earth, lives are being transformed.
And regardless of the sufferings of these saints God ultimately brings comfort, peace, and joy by His presence.
Paige Patterson states this about chapter 7: “By way of practical application, every believer should note that what is presented to the eye in this passage is the promise of God — not for ultimate intervention in the present age but for Perfect intervention in the age to come.”
The Bible makes it clear that all who live godly lives will face tribulation but it is only for a moment and it pales in comparison to the glory we will share in eternity.
Let me leave you with the key to seeing glory in the midst of tribulation: Abiding in the presence of the Lord. Verses 15-17 speaks of God dwelling among them (skenoo) spreading His tent over them.
In His presence there is no more hunger, thirst, unbearable heat, or tears.
The point here is ultimate satisfaction and peace in his eternal presence, but you and I can experience endurance and satisfaction in the midst of tribulation and trials by abiding in Him. Philippians 4:13
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
John 15:7 NKJV
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Abiding is the key to hope during dark times.

God is Always Working.

When we think of the time of tribulation we think the devil is dominating, but this text gives us a different picture.
What we see in chapter 7 is probably the greatest revival of all time.
The devil is not dominating he is drawing for straws, raging for a moment, but ultimately losing. God is working in ways unseen in the midst of judgment and tribulation.
Let me ask a question: Why does God send judgment? Is it to grind an ax or get even? Is it revenge for us not doing what He wants? No, No, No! God send judgment for justice and mercy.
Every wrong will be brought to justice and judgment does that, but God sends judgment so that we will repent from sin so He can show mercy. You will see this throughout Revelation in narratives like chapter 7 and in phrases like Revelation 9:21
Revelation 9:21 NKJV
21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
God first uses truth to confront us, but He loves us enough to send tribulation if we don’t respond. That doesn’t mean that God authors every trouble that comes into our lives, but He uses tears like telescopes to help us see Him and become more like Him.
This narrative also shows us that revival may look differently than we think.
This revival is not a come and live your best life revival; it is a come and die that you may live revival, it is bathed in blood.
What we can apply today is the possibility that God may be working in a way that makes us uncomfortable. But, He is always working even when it seems the devil is having his day.

God is Worthy of Worship Regardless of the Situation.

It is interesting that this whole scene is anchored in worship.
The multitude is holding palm branches and crying out with loud voices.
The angels are standing in praise.
The elders are falling their faces.
And all are singing “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
One must believe that the saints are just continuing what they were already doing during tribulation. So often I want to complain before God when I am going through troubles and praise Him when going through the good.
The truth is He is worthy of praise regardless of my situation. I was reminded of song as I was considering this.
Casting Crowns “Praise You in This Storm:”
“And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side And though my heart is torn I’ll praise You in this storm.
We must remember that our changing circumstances does not change His nature.

God is the Author of Salvation.

The opening words of this multitude’s praise will be these words: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
More than any other generation to live, I believe this generation will realize that they didn’t save themselves.
Their praise and thanks rose from that realization.
Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Therefore if we want it we must receive it from Him.
The interesting thing is its a package deal. When we receive God we receive everything that He has available for us.
We must acknowledge the vast distance between us and God because of our sin.
We must turn from the service of self to the service of the Lord. Repent.
We must accept freely the gift of Righteousness that was provided for us through the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus.

Response

As Luke and those leading in the invitation come this way I want to say; I realize that the struggles of this life are real and they will only intensify. In this world we will have tribulation. It affects you whether your a Christian or not.
We can spend our days cursing God for our storms or we can look for the silver lining, the beacon of hope, the light of life.
There is hope because this world can abuse us, but it cannot destroy us. We have an everlasting inheritance in God that not even death can take away.
We have the hope and knowledge that God is working even when we don’t see it, and even in the storms of our life.
We have the hope of escaping the temporary toils of this life through worshipping the One who is worthy of it all.
We have the peace of knowing we don’t have to earn salvation, but it is a gift to those who love God.
This morning maybe you need clarity and focus during this storm. Ask for it!
Maybe your hear and you know that the storm you’re going through is to bring you to the Lord or closer to the Lord.
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