An Urgent, Submissive Church
Notes
Transcript
We Are The Seven
An Urgent, Submissive Church
INTRODUCTION
OKC Bombing- person in basement stuck.
Fear of other explosions
Debated cutting off leg.
Urgency to save a life.
The clock is ticking and millions are going to die without Jesus.
God has left first-responders = Local Churches
Are we functioning in a healthy enough way to make a difference?
An urgent church is a submissive church.
Not focused on self.
Focused on our Commander/ Submitting to Jesus is all we do.
Revelation 1:1-8
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: 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,
5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Jesus is preparing the church to save the world from hell (1-3)
Shortly - quickly (Holman)
vs. 3 - written to change one's attitude and action.
“The time is near”- it is approaching.
It is getting closer everyday. (vs. 7—when time stops ticking)
What should be the result of our urgency?
Panic? -- ILL- Tornado sirens going off.
Submission to leaders. - do what the leaders are asking you to do.
Reasons Jesus is Head of the Church -
if we are going to be the church God desires for us to be we must submit to Jesus.
It’s not about an individual leader. It’s about God.
5 Reasons Jesus is the Authority
He is Eternal (8)
He is Eternal (8)
Revelation 1:8
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Alpha and Omega
Alpha= he was around before us and he created all.
Colossians 1:17
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
John 1:1-3
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.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Omega=He will be around when all is gone.
ILL- Testing a fighter Jet
A pilot can fly and say what he thinks.
Only the designer know if it is fulfilling the purpose it was created.
designer knows what it was intended to be.
Jesus established the church. he gave it purpose.
Great Commission- Make disciples
He is Superior (12-15)
He is Superior (12-15)
Revelation 1:12-15
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
“in the midst of the lampstands”= Jesus sent is Spirit to empower people
Lampstands=churches
Revelation 1:20
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Shows the position of Judge and King
ILL- Clothing represents the position
5 Star General- Stars represent the power- but are not what gives the power.
If someone steals the uniform they do not get the position.
Symbolic clothing of Jesus
Robe, girded at chest= dress of Judge and King
White head an hair= eternal wisdom
Eyes like flame of fire= fire can warm or burn
Burnished bronze feet= shows strength, power to crush
Jesus, through crucifixion, has power to remove sin.
He is Powerful (15b-16)
He is Powerful (15b-16)
Revelation 1:15-16
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
Holder of the stars
Stars= angels or messengers.
Revelation 1:20
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Voice= many waters
ILL- Niagara Falls- powerful enough to provide energy to millions.
Sharp two-edged sword= Word of God
The message Jesus gives is Truth of God’s Word
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Sword= deadly in the hands of a trained soldier.
Are you skilled in the Word of God?
He is Conqueror (18)
He is Conqueror (18)
Revelation 1:18
18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
He is alive and the only one who can offer life.
He has won the victory over death.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus conquered death- broke the curse of sin.
He is the conqueror and rightful ruler.
One day he will return to take His throne.
He earned the keys(18b)
He holds the keys.
He conquered death
He has authority over death.
He offers life.
ILL- Tara locking kids in car at Ada Walmart.
Jesus is the only one with the keys to allow entrance as well as limit entrance.
He is Omniscient (19-20)
He is Omniscient (19-20)
Revelation 1:19-20
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
John commanded to record the following 3 things (outline)
The things that you have seen= past revelation.
1 John 1:1-3
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Those that are= present church circumstances
7 Churches of Revelation (7 ages of the church)
Those that take place after= future = end times.
We will be focusing on the 7 churches in their present circumstances.
Specifically - our roles as part of the body of Christ.
Believers are part of a local body of believers = a church.
Church is important to Christ- it is his body- His Bride
1 Corinthians 12:27
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
CONCLUSION
Time is ticking.
It appears to be ticking forward.
The ticking time is a clock that is ticking backwards.
Urgency matters.
Whose team are you on? Is Jesus Lord?
Are you prepared for the day of judgment? Have you made Jesus Lord?
