Keep The Party Going

Sermon Title: “Keep The Party Going”

Main Text:

Revelation 5:1–6 ESV

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Prayer

Speak Lord, for we are listening, In Jesus name Amen.

Introduction

I remember years ago watching a show on MTV called My Super Sweet Sixteen. Some of y’all might remember it. It followed teenagers—usually the children of the rich and famous—who were throwing birthday parties that looked more like red-carpet events than backyard get-togethers.

I'm talking about limousines, live performances, celebrity guests, $100,000 shopping sprees, and cars with big red bows on top.

But what always stuck out to me—was the reaction these teenagers had when their parents gave them something extravagant… but not exactly what they expected.

One girl got upset because her car wasn’t the color she wanted. Another threw a tantrum because the shopping spree was in the “wrong” store. I remember sitting there thinking: “Are you serious?! You just got gifted something most people dream of, and you’re mad because it wasn’t in your preferred shade of pink?”

And while I was reflecting on this, it dawned on me that so many of us may be guilty of treating Christ like theses teenagers.

The truth of the matter is that too often you and I have become comfortable and ungrateful concerning the amazing things our Lord and Savior has done, is doing and will do for us.

That same kind of ungrateful spirit has creeped into our spiritual lives. We have gotten so used to God's blessings, His grace, His mercy, His presence, His provision that when God shows up in our lives it doesn’t move us anymore.

Matter of fact, many of us have started expecting God to show up our way, on our timeline, according to our preferences. And when He doesn’t, we throw spiritual tantrums.

It’s so bad for many of us that we’ve lost our sense of awe when it comes to our Lord and Savior. And even worse we have stopped worshiping!

And if we be honest that’s why many of us can come into the house of worship and look all mean, stoic and lifeless because we have become desensitized rather than mesmerized by this amazing God we serve.

Recap of week 1 of the series…

Intellect vs. Emotion

Quietness = Holiness vs. Expression = Sinful

As a result our worship experiences are dull and dead.

God is a God of emotion

The real problem is we haven’t been experiencing God in ways that will cause us to express ourselves.

We will not be a place that throws evangelistic parties if we don’t possess anything worth partying about

Transition

The reality is that if there was ever a time to express ourselves, appreciate our Savior and worship the Lord it should be every time we think of what our Savior did on calvary for our sins.

And church family, I’ve come to remind us of the importance of what our Jesus did for us and how we ought to change the way we approach it in our worship when we are in the presence of our Lord.

Background

Here in the book of Revelation we are introduced to the apocalypse or what is called the unveiling of the future. The book is heavily agreed upon by scholars and seen in evidence that it is written by the apostle John.

The apostle John is on this island called Patmos where he writes the Revelation. This island is believed to serve as a labor camp to which the Roman authorities sent offenders. Modern scholars though have argued that there is little record that Patmos was used as a penal colony or prison.

However, what we are sure of is that as a result of John's effective witnessing for the gospel, this led the governing authorities to exile him to Patmos during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian.

While at Patmos, John recieved visions that would become what we know now as the Revelation of John. John was instructed to write on a scroll and send as a pastoral letter the Revelation to the churches.

See as you read the opening chapter of Revelation you will find that these visions given to John are intended for seven Christian communities in the Roman province of Asia or modern day Turkey.

Now you must understand what was happening at this time. The book of Revelation was written in a time of Roman Hostility towards Christianity and eventually turned into direct persecution. 

This was a time where Christians were experiencing hardship and pressure because of their refusal to comply with popular demands for emperor worship. This leader Domitian demanded worship to himself which was a crucial issue for Christians.

Compare to what we are seeing today…

Trump

Supreme Court

Immigration - Kilmar Abrego Garcia

We are in the last days

Talk about what we maybe going through in our lives…

Job uncertainty / Annoying boss

Financial issues and uncertainty

Family Issues / Relationships

Sicknesses and Pains

Bereavement

If we ever needed the Lord before, we sure do need Him now!!

What’s interesting is that the book of Revelation is a book many people shy away from because of its consistency of symbols and figurative language. Revelation is a book where many have approached it from a perspective that presents it as spooky or scary.

Essentially, Revelation is misunderstood and painted in the light of negativity. But the truth is that Revelation is a book of hope and triumph. When readers approach the book of Revelation, they should find joy, hope and excitement.

See the book of Revelation is all about the revelation of Jesus. It is an unveiling of how Jesus has, is, and will provide us with all that we need in the midst of terror. In other words, if you read and study Revelation and you don’t see or remember Jesus, you’ve missed the entire book.

And this is why I believe the Lord has brought us here to Revelation chapter 5 on today. As I explain earlier many of us have fallen into this trap of being so good of Christians that we’ve lost our awe of Christ.

We’ve lost the emphasis in how amazing our God is and I believe on this resurrection weekend we need Revelation 5 to walk us back into a mesmerized view of our Lord and Savior.

Background of Rev 5

When looking at Revelation chapter 5 we must understand that it is linked with Revelation chapter 4. See in the first three chapters we see John’s vision focused on the seven churches and the messages addressing their issues. In other words, there is a clear focus on the earth.

But when we get to Revelation chapter 4, there is a shift from the earth to Heaven. See Revelation 4 and 5 escorts us into the second major division of Revelation.

See the first division reveals "the things which are" and we see that through the seven churches. However the second division reveals "the things which must take place after these things." 

In Revelation 4, we see that in John’s vision he is invited into Heaven. See the Apostle looks through an open door into the heavenly temple and sees the throne of God. And what John sees is that this throne is shining and there is a rainbow glowing like an emerald around the throne.

See the throne symbolizes God’s rule and governing authority over creation, while the rainbow around the throne signifies God’s faithfulness to His promises.

Now to fully appreciate where we are going, you must understand what has happened. See Satan seized the dominion of this earth and is

God’s adversary, and has disputed God’s divine authority.

We refer to this as the Great Controversy, where Satan claims that God is not fair and does not have the right to rule. In other words, Satan wanted to be like God and because he wasn’t he turned against God and is on a tear to get you and I to do the same.

But what John sees in the heavenly throne room is a heavenly council affirming God’s rightful rule over the universe. And what is happening in Revelation 4 and 5 is this constant worship that is repeatedly taking place there.

I hope yall sticking with me, because I’m going somewhere.

So in chapter 4 of Revelation we see not only the throne of God and a rainbow but we see that there are 24 elders around God’s throne and they have white robes and golden crowns,

And then we see in John’s vision four living creatures and this is not a Revelation seminar so I’m not going to dive deep into every detail but please don’t miss the point here.

See what John sees here is that these living creatures, the 24 elders and essentially the entire heavenly council of heaven is straight up having a party. See the bible says in Revelation 4: 8-11 that there is a praise break taken place repeatedly.

See John reveals that what he sees is the four living creatures worshiping and they never cease to say “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.

And church family look at what happens. Every time the living creatures break out in their chant, the 24 elders fall down and worship and they start throwing their crowns.

In other words what John sees is that in Heaven there is constant worship in the context of expression for the living creatures and the elders as they start falling down and throwing their crowns.

Oh I wish I had a witness in here…

But thats not it. When we look at Revelation 5, and this is where I want to pitch my tent today. We see that the attention is shifted to a focus on a scroll that is sealed with seven seals at the right hand of God. In John's vision it is apparent that no one in the entire universe is "WORTHY" to open the scroll. 

Lord help me not to get too happy and scare these good ole Adventist.

Church family, don’t lose me here…

Discuss the Great Controversy

Satan convinced God’s people to leave Him and as a result we were to die for the sins we committed.

This makes Satan the ruler over earth.

Our God loves us so much that He already had a plan of salvation to reclaim and restore us.

Talk about the scene of Jesus saying I will go.

So when we find ourselves here in Revelation 5, John reveals to us in his vision that there is a conundrum. See no one in the entire universe is "WORTHY" to open the scroll. 

See the sealed scroll in God's right hand as symbolizing God's comprehensive plan for judgment and redemption. The seven seals indicate the completeness and authority of this divine plan. In other words, what John sees is the rescue plan to save you and I is inaccessible until someone worthy is found to open it.

So as John is seeing this in his vision, John is heart broken because they can’t find anyone to open the scroll. So John start crying. I’m in Revelation 5: 4. Because if the scroll cannot be open, then we are doomed. Essentially, we have no hope.

And it is here where another shift takes place. See the word of God says that while John is weeping, one of the elders says to him, weep no more!!

Oh I wish I was in a church right now…

The Bible says, that while John is weep, while John is crying, while John has lost hope in what he sees in the vision, an elder disrupts him and says weep no more.

Well why should John stop weeping? The elder says behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals!

Oh I feel like preaching…

Now look at what happens in this shift. The search for one worthy to open the scroll leads to the introduction of the "Lion of the tribe of Judah," but what John says is that when he looked he saw a Lamb standing as though it had been slain.

And what we find is that this Lamb that appears slain in John’s vision is Jesus! See what we find here is that Revelation 5 is the picture of confirmation of what happened when Jesus ascended to heaven from earth after he was crucified and had rose.

Now don’t forget what I told you earlier, this book the Revelation of John is written at a time where destruction and evil is taken place toward followers of Jesus.

These Christians are scared, they are uncertain, some have even turned from their ways and tainted the gospel. Essentially, this is a time where hopelessness has the grip of God’s people.

And the truth of the matter is that oddly it feels like what you and I are going through today.

Expound…

But what we see in John’s vision here in Revelation 5, is that this Lion imagine of Jesus reveals that He is strong and is in complete control but then there is the Lamb imagine who appears to be slain, which reveals the loving and selflessness of our Lord and Savior.

In other words, I know things may look like they are out of control in your life,

I know there are situations that looks like it has the best of you,

I know there are moments when you want to just give up,

I know there has been depression that has taken over at times in your life,

But don’t let the world hijack the beauty of this easter weekend. It’s not about bunnies, its not about eggs, its not about how well you are dressed up. The beauty of this weekend celebration is that there was Lamb who was sent on our behalf and he was slain so that you and I could have a chance at life.

In other words, what made Him worthy to open the scroll was that he died for you and for me! For the Bible says in John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The bible says in Isaiah 53:5

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

But Church family, He didn’t stay dead, for the Bible says in Luke 24: 5-6

Luke 24:5–6 ESV

5 “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen.

And just like the Praise Team song, Don’t cry, wipe your eye, He’s not dead!

And here’s what gets me… in verses 11-14 of Revelation 5, the party turns up even more after its revealed who can open the scroll!!

So if there’s a party up there, then it only makes sense that there would be a party down here!! So we gotta keep the party going!!

Illustration: Will Packer & the Super Bowl

The story of the resurrection weekend is that We’ve already WON!!!

Over 2000 YEARS AGO - For the bible says, they took my Jesus….

Don’t wait till the battle is over, Shout now!!!! We’ve already won!! So let’s keep the party going!!!

For the Bible says, For when I am weak, He is strong,

The bible says, No weapon formed against me shall be able to prosper,

The Bible says, If God before me, than who can be against me,

The bible says, all things work together for the good of those who love Christ Jesus,

The Bible says, God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,

The bible says, my God shall supply all of my needs according to his riches in glory,

The Bible says, He’ll never leave you, nor forsake you,

The bible says, He gives power to the faint and to the weak He increases strength…

Even the youth shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted…

But they that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall; mount up with wings as an eagle…

They shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint!

Appeal Song

Total Praise Reprise/Thats love

Appeal

Accept the cross - Come to God

Accept the cross - Return to God

Accept the cross - Recommit to God