Closer than Ever
Notes
Transcript
6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.” And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. 7 “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. 11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
Introduction:
I love America! and what it represents!
Unfortunately for some, it represents racism and bondage.
For others, opportunity and freedom.
All I know is that it is the best example ever of an earthly government!
That being said, it is also corrupt and debased, because it is made up of human beings, and anyone who tells you differently is deceived.
The idea of America and it’s constitution can not be perfected in a fallen world, so as we celebrate the independence of our nation, and the freedoms we still enjoy, Let us not forget the true independence day - the day Jesus went to the cross and freed us from the bondage of sin!
I will celebrate independence day, but I do not hang my true independence upon it, for if this country were a communist nation, I would still be free in Christ and I would celebrate that freedom.
So, it is upon this freedom that I would ask you to occupy your minds with for the next 35 minutes, as I segway into our text of Revelation Chapter 22.
For as we contemplate the last things written in this book, I remind you that this is the revelation of Jesus Christ!
It is therefore an history of the prophecies which shall come to pass.
There are several things we must keep in mind as we close this book:
I. The Prophetic element.
I. The Prophetic element.
The messenger (angel) that John is talking with seems to be one of the prophets (verse 9).
This is extraordinary, because we are used to angels as we know them appearing to man, but a heavenly representative of the human prophets, would make this different.
Yet, regardless of what we think about it, we must recognize the importance God has placed on this, lest we close the book and forget about it, or think it to be some far away time, irrelevant to us today!
Prophecy is important, because God’s prophecies always come o fruition.
And so, this entire book should never be ignored or considered non-essential to the Christian.
II. The call to worship God.
II. The call to worship God.
There has been enough debates, arguments, and opinions, to distract us for too long now.
we need to concentrate on what is important - worshipping God.
And we can’t do that while we engage in these other matters.
This is the main purpose for our existence.
The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church Westminster Catechisms
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever.
Remember that Jesus told the Samaritan woman, that time is coming to worship God in Spirit and in truth.
A. Worship Him with our actions.
B. worship Him with our minds.
III. The Need to proclaim the message.
III. The Need to proclaim the message.
You have heard me say, that the light shines brightest in darkness? well. here we are!
The command is to let your light so shine, that men would see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.
The messenger tells John specifically here to not seal up the words of this prophecy!
Which essentially means that we are to proclaim it everywhere.
Remember, we do not save anyone, only that we are the heralds of God’s good news. It is the Spirit of God that births faith!
As we faithfully tell others, the Holy Spirit opens their understanding.
This is what Jesus said in...
23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
And what was prophesied in...
27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
IV. The need to be steadfast.
IV. The need to be steadfast.
This last verse gets a little sticky, when we consider the various interpretations of it.
I believe what the scripture is saying is for the believer to be faithful to the end, and that the gospel will take root in the lives of those who the Holy Spirit has enlightened, as the rest continue in sin.
But this verse is primarily for the believer.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
we are not like those who turn away from the truth, or who get discouraged and give up.
We are free agents for the gospel of Christ, and free to assemble and live for God, regardless of what any government or person says!
We are the Lords freeman!
11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Conclusion:
Are you free today!
Enjoy the fact that you live in a free country, and that you can tell others about the real freedom that you have in Jesus!
