Mighty God: Alpha and Omega
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Beginnings
Beginnings
There are lots of beginnings in life, but before these beginnings there was “the” beginning. Beginnings bring about a journey, the journey brings about a conclusion (an end), this morning that is what we are looking at.
(beginning of life picture here) - expand
(beginning of your journey picture) - expand
(beginning of Christian life picture) - expand
Other beginnings (expand on each one):
A relationship, courtship, marriage
A new family
New jobs
New perspectives of things
(Heaven or hell picture inserted here)
(transition) this morning as we look at scripture may we get a deeper understanding “the beginning” God was for He is the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and the End. Our understanding directly impacts our eternity, our eternal destination.
In the beginning . . .
In the beginning . . .
The Great I AM was there in the beginning. Having been there there are things we can learn to help us grow more in understanding of our Mighty God who was, is, and is to come.
This morning I’m not putting all the blanks on the screen, but I will tell you the answers as we go.
He tells us He is the beginning (Rev1:8)
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
God always has been, He is the same today and will be the same tomorrow.
He tells us He created in the beginning (Gen1:1-2)
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
We see God created, we see the God the Spirit of God in the beginning.
He tells us the Word was in the beginning (Jn1:1-2)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
Notice it says “He was in the beginning” So the Word was He and He was with God in the beginning.
He is God incarnate (Jn1:14)
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(expand on (v.1, 14))
He tells us, distinguishes end from the beginning (Isa46:10)
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
(expand this is pointing to Jesus) because He is before all things.
He is before all things (Col1:15-18)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
HE is the image of the invisible God; All things were created through Him, the things we see, the things we do not see, in heavens and on earth
All things created by and created for Him, I will talk about why in a minute or two.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
He holds all things together, he is the head of all things to the church, he has first place, preeminence over all things.
(Transition) so in the beginning impacts any things, and I said I was going to speak why we were created in a few minutes and now we are there. Because He was, is and is to come He is worthy.
God is worthy!
God is worthy!
Think about this, God is worthy, you were created to give him praise, to praise His worthiness, we were created with purpose and direction so to be prepared to share it with others.
God, who was in the beginning is worthy (Rev5:11-14)
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
Worthy to receive, power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessings
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
(He is worthy picture inserted here)
He is worthy of blessings, honor, glory, and dominion forever.
(transition) Our Mighty God, the Alpha, the Omega, who was, is and is to come is worthy. He blesses us, but think about the passage again, He is worthy of being blessed too. Ever wonder how can we bless God?
How about walk in a manner that is pleasing (a blessing) to God like Enoch (Heb11:5)
To offer sacrifices of praise (Heb13:15)
God who is worthy is worthy of us walking in a worthy manner (Col1:9-12)
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Want to walk worthy? Then be filled with knowledge of His will! so that “you will” walk in a worthy manner, pleasing Him and bearing fruit as you continue to grow in knowledge of Him.
11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Pray, pray that you may be strengthened with all power, all steadfastness (the quality of being resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering); oh wait and patience, joyously! And while you are being patient give thanks. And Paul tells us why in (v.12)! (expand)
We walk in worthy manner because we understand we were created for His will (Rev4:11) and created with eternity in mind(Ecc3:11)
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Worthy are you Mighty God, the Alpha and Omega of all glory, honor and power. For He created man with eternity in mind.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
With eternity in mind does not mean we understand, comprehend everything. we are on a journey learning about our Mighty God as we study His Word together.
(Beginning and end picture inserted here)
(expand; check the time, you should have plenty of time to park here for awhile) our journey from the beginning to where we are now, to understanding there is an end too.
For God is:
Infinite, eternal, he is sovereign, He is holy, He is faithful, he is true
He is love, who gives mercy and gives grace.
He is also just and gives justice so that day, the day of judgment, the end is coming and we need to know and be prepared and as we prepare to share to bring others with us!
The End
The End
As there were a few beginnings mentioned when we started this morning, there are a few ends too. But, there is one end that has eternal consequence be it good or bad, so lets look at some ends (biblically speaking).
End of the Jewish age (Mt24:11-14; Heb12:25-29)
11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
There are many false prophets, many will be misled, most peoples love, well, it will grow cold.
expand on that, there are many, who have misled many who continue to mislead many and many whose love has grown cold.
13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Hope is for the one who endures will be saved, but know, the end will come.
Expand: this was preparatory to the destruction of Jerusalm, Jesus was answering the questions asked back in 24:3
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
But to keep in context so we know exactly that is what is being spoken of, the end of the Jewish age look at this
2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”
In the writing to the Hebrew (Christian Jews) it is said regarding the judgment that was to come
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”
27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
God is a consuming fire, one day this world and all that its in it will be burnt away by the consuming fire, are you secure , are you ready. One day that final judgment is going to come, don’t be left out in the cold (or in this case heat).
God is a consuming fire, so don’t be stubborn (Rom2:5-6)
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:
Expand: don’t be stubborn, unrepentant, for God’s wrath is coming. Remember God is just, God is holy.
God is a consuming fire, be ready since we do not know the day (1The5:1-3)
1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
People will claim peace and safety, but remember destruction is coming, and none will escape.
God is a consuming fire, be ready for we do not know the hour (Mt25:10-13)
Be alert (be ready) for we do not know the day or the hour.
Be ready, don’t look back, press on (Lk9:62)
No one looks back after putting hand to the plow. (use Elisha as an example, killed his cows and burned his plow)
Be ready, look to Jesus (Heb12:1-3)
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Sin entangled us, strangled us, trip us and strips us. and wants to do it again if we are not careful. We need to remember Jesus the author and perfecter of our peace, our peace with God and the peace of God made available to us. Consider his sacrifice and don’t grow weary.
Be ready, pursue peace (Heb12:14)
14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
(expand) pursue; Remember the sanctification for without it no one will see the Lord. as you do that then:
Be ready, fulfill the commission (Mk16:15-16)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
In NASB it says “has believed” in the NKJV it says “believes” either way it is a present tense continuous action.We need to continue to believe. It is the one who has believe, continues to believe and has been baptized shall be saved.
Do you believe? do you continue to believe, have you had your sins washed away? He wants to give to the one who thirsts
6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
Thirt to the one who needs the living water or the one who thirsts for righteousness come. Isaiah says this about the Messiah
1 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. 2 “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.
3 “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
(Invitation -Come to the living water picture inserted here)
Do you need to come to have an everlasting covenant? (expand) (invitation song) (Prayer)