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Grace Baptist Church
The Battle of Obedience: Following God When You Cannot See the Way
Who likes to follow orders? Nobody! If you had the choice of getting to do what you say or having to do whatever someone else says, which would you choose? You would choose what you want to do every time. You don’t know what they are going to tell you to do. They may make you look foolish and do something silly. You desire control. You want to know what the future holds and not leave it up to someone else.
But what about when it comes to God? Do you seek control in the same sort of way? You know, often we do. If you are here listening to me right now, there’s a good chance that you desire to follow God. We all want to follow God yet struggle at some point in living out the details of his plan. Sometimes his plans are difficult. Sometimes they seem silly. Sometimes they don’t add up on paper. Sometimes we don’t know the plans at all but are still called to follow.
That’s how it was with Joshua in the Old Testament. There’s a lot we can learn from him. He followed Moses for a long time. He trusted God early on, even when others didn’t. He was faithful and patient as God’s people wandered the wilderness for 40 years. Then there came a day when he was called to lead…but he was called to lead by following God. He was to lead God’s people in the Promised Land. But as they entered the land flowing with milk and honey, a land that signifies abundance of life, they were entering a warzone. There are battles in the Promised Land.
And we’re going to see one of the first battles that Joshua had to face before the great battles later. It’s a battle each one of us have to face daily. It’s the battle of obedience.
Joshua 1:2-9
We are called to obedience no matter what. Right at the beginning of this passage in Joshua 1, we see a command from God. Verse 2 says, “Arise, go.” Talking to Joshua, God is saying, your past is behind you. Moses is dead. There’s a future ahead of you. “Arise, go.” We know God calls us to walk in obedience to him. But often we get distracted by other things and miss the mark. We think that in order to be obedient, we must know God’s will and every detail of it first. Well, what is His will? What is His plan? Why doesn’t He just tell us what to do in an audible voice like he did with Joshua and Moses? Well, you know, he has specifically told us his will. We can read them every day.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” And 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” 1 Peter 2:15 states, “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” According to these verses, you know what God’s will is? It’s sanctification and purity and justice and gratitude.
We often think, surely God’s will for my life includes more than this! What about where I’m supposed to go to school? What about who I’m supposed to marry? What job am I supposed to pursue? Which direction do I go for this big decision? What is your will, God?! It’s sanctification and purity and justice and gratitude. God’s will for your life is that you live for him right now. And here’s the outcome of that. The outcome of our obedience is our good and God’s glory.
God tells Joshua to “Arise, go.” But he also tells him something else. He tells him that he is giving the land to him and all these people he is leading. The land that was long ago promised to Abraham when he packed up his family and followed God in obedience even though he didn’t know where he was going. It was the land promised to Moses and God’s people as they were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. God tells Joshua to follow him in obedience, but he also tells him the outcome. It’s for his good and God’s glory. They will receive the land, and the people will see that God comes through on his promises.
It’s the same with you. Following God is always worth it. It is costly, but it is always worth it. It doesn’t always make sense, but it is always worth it. It is often difficult, but it is always worth it. You may not know the way, but it is always worth it. It is for your good, even though it doesn’t always feel good in the moment, and it is for God’s glory, not your own.
Joshua 1:3-6
Even if we as Christians can stay focused on God’s will as outlined in the scriptures we read a minute ago, we often still ask the question when seeking whom to marry, whether to take that job, what city to raise our family in, etc.…is this God’s will for my life? It’s the most common question Christians tend to ask when seeking guidance for their future. That is the question that haunts us in the stillness of the night. That is the question we study and pour over and ask for a sign for until we find an answer. That is the question that has been screamed amidst much fervent prayer. But I believe it is the wrong question. It actually doesn’t even have to be asked at all. You don’t have to know God’s plan in order to follow God’s plan. Sometimes we get so caught up in knowing God’s will and plan for our lives that we often fail to actually live for Him on a daily basis.
Three times in God’s initial charge to Joshua, He says the words, “Be strong and courageous.” At no point does God tell Joshua the details of His plan. He tells him the outcome of His plan. He tells Him he can trust His plan. He tells him He will be with him in that plan. But He never tells him how the plan will unfold. Yet God gave Joshua exactly what he needed to hear in that moment—to be strong and courageous with whatever may come because the Lord would be with him. If Joshua knew all the details of the plan—the battles, death, and destruction the Israelites would soon face in the Promised Land—he might have got lost in them. He might have even been tempted to turn around and go back to the desert right then, missing out on all the blessings that were also to come.
Often God’s plans for us don’t add up on paper. If He told us His plans for our lives and certain situations up front, many times we wouldn’t take the path. Think about the battle plan that God had for Joshua. God was giving them the land, but it wasn’t like He was handing them a present and all they had to do was open it. No, they had to fight and wage war, but they had to do it God’s way (vss 7-8). The first battle they faced was at Jericho. A big fortified city. And God’s battle plan was to put the musicians up front and march around the city. And shout really loud. To Joshua and the other Israelites, this battle plan didn’t make sense. It probably wasn’t one they had practiced and prepared years for. And to the people of Jericho they probably looked pretty stupid and felt pretty stupid. Likewise, from the world’s perspective, obeying the Biblical instructions God gives us may not make sense, even to us sometimes. But it doesn’t have to. All God is asking is for you to trust Him and be obedient to what He says.
I think of the song “The Next Right Thing” that Anna sings in the movie Frozen II, which I’ve watched with my kids many times…and alone a few times (don’t judge me). Anna is struggling with how to move on when the grief of losing her sister has overwhelmed her. And I think it’s applicable to how we should look at following Christ and His will daily. Listen to part of these lyrics:
“Just do the next right thing.
Take a step, step again.
It’s all that I can
To do the next right thing.
I won’t look too far ahead.
It’s too much for me to take.
But break it down to this next breath, this next step.
This next choice is one that I can make.
So I’ll walk through this night
Stumbling blindly toward the light
And do the next right thing
And, with it done, what comes then?
When it’s clear that everything will never be the same again
Then I’ll make the choice to hear that voice
And do the next right thing.”
For some of you, the step you need to make is coming to Jesus and surrendering your will and way to him. (make further application) What is your faith in? Is it in a plan, or is it in the Planner?
Knowing God, not his plan, is what fuels our obedience.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
So many people place their faith in a plan, sometimes even God’s plan. But the object of our faith should not be in a plan. It should be in the Planner. When your faith is in a plan and the details of that plan go awry, faith deteriorates. Nights become long. Worry and fear weaken your resolve to go on, let alone stick to the plan. And when something happens that supposedly doesn’t line up with our expectations of this plan, we are left disappointed. We begin to question our faith, we blame God, and often we stop obeying Him altogether, assuming we misinterpreted His direction from the start. But when our faith is in the Planner, it doesn’t matter what the plan is. It doesn’t matter where you go or which route you take. It doesn’t matter how many twists and turns there are or what happens to you or around you. You trust the One who is in charge and in control to guide you through each step. Joshua knew he could trust whatever God’s plan was because of these words, “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (vs. 9).** It didn’t matter where they went or what they did. God was on their side. Joshua trusted Him, and so can you.
So, how can you follow God’s will, even when you cannot see the way? Here is how I would answer based on Joshua’s obedience. Remembering God’s past faithfulness fuels our present and future obedience. Remember God’s past faithfulness. Look at what God says to Joshua in verse 5. “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”
Joshua was able to walk in obedience wherever it was that God would lead because He remembered God’s past faithfulness. He had followed God for forty years in the desert before God’s promise was ever fulfilled. He saw Him part the Red Sea, provide water from a rock and manna from Heaven, protect them with a cloud by day and fire by night. Joshua believed God would give them the Promised Land when he first went to spy it out, even though the others cowered back in fear. When you remember God’s past faithfulness, you can trust Him in the present and have hope for the future.
When the Israelites finally crossed into the Promised Land, the first thing they did is set up 12 memorial stones, one for each tribe of Israel. Before they fought their battles. Before they began walking into God’s plans and purposes for them, they set up memorial stones to remember and look back. I want you to hear the reason why. As they walked through with the ark of the covenant, God parted the waters of the Jordan River just like He did the Red Sea. Remember, God had just got done telling Joshua that He would be with him just like He was with Moses. God was showing Himself to be with them now just like He was then.
Joshua 4:21-24 – “21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
Sometimes we need to set up memorials in our life to help us remember. Hindsight is 20/20. It’s good to look back and see how far God has brought you. We sometimes get so focused on what’s ahead that we tend to forget what God has done before. Are you tired? Remember! Are you grieving? Remember! Are you fearful or doubting or anxious or worried? Remember! Remember who God is! Remember what God has done! All the times He’s carried you. All the times He’s come through. All the times He’s sustained you. He’ll do it again. He’ll do it now. He’ll do it tomorrow. And the next day. Remember God’s past faithfulness. And walk in obedience even when you can’t see the way right now. And remember, it is God who is guiding you.
The False Prophet – 25
Revelation 13:11-18
Have you ever been tricked? Have you heard of the term catfished? That’s when someone pretends to be someone, making someone believe they are that person, when in reality they are not. People will have whole online relationships that they think are real, but it’s with a completely different person than they thought they were talking to the whole time.
That’s kind of what we see in tonight’s text. We see another beast come on the scene, a false prophet. I want you to think of those two words false and prophet. This person has every semblance of being a prophet. And what is a prophet? A prophet is someone who speaks on behalf of God. But we put a qualifier before “prophet” when we mention him. Why? Because he is not a real prophet. He is false. He has many people believing him and believing the one he is speaking for, the antichrist. A prophet seeks to draw people to worship the one true God. This false prophet leads people astray from worshiping the one true God. We need to be able to tell the difference between the works of God and the works of Satan.
Revelation 13:11-12
The false prophet will deceive. (vs 11) It had horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon. “The word “lamb” appears 29 times in Revelation. Twenty-eight of those times it refers to Jesus.”[1] Looks can be deceiving! The way he is described as a lamb with horns is similar to John’s description of Jesus in 5:6, “I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns.”
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 – 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness…”
How could this false prophet look like Christ? Some people think this means that he will come from within the church or from within the Jewish people.[2] Hear what Jesus says in Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Though this false prophet looks Christlike, the content of his words reveals his true nature. Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 6:45: “…out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
The false prophet will speak for Satan. (vs 11) Instead of speaking for the one true God, as prophets are supposed to do, this false prophet speaks on behalf of Satan. “It spoke like a dragon.” Remember, the dragon is Satan. What does it mean to speak like Satan? Well, from the beginning, Satan twists God’s words and makes people doubt God’s character. The false prophet will belittle the true gospel.
Many people think that he will bring about a one-world religion. Can you imagine how this would sound? It would sound so good. It’s all about peace and love! Can’t everyone just get along?! This sounds good, but there is a major problem. All religions teach different things and even contrary things. They can’t all be true. The problem is, when don’t tell the truth about the truth, it is the most unloving thing we can do. For example, talk of sin in our culture is considered unloving and judgmental. Shouldn’t people be able to just live how they want to and in whatever way makes them happy? But when the real reality is that there is a completely holy God that will judge all people, it doesn’t matter how you want to live. It matters how he says to live. Just as it would be unloving for a doctor to tell a cancer patient that he doesn’t have cancer, it would be unloving for you to let a person who hasn’t been redeemed by Jesus to think they are ok in their sin.
I agree with what Jim Hamilton says about this verse:
“This passage is giving us fair warning: just because someone claims to be a Christian does not mean he or she is. Just because someone uses the language of Christianity does not mean or she is promoting Christianity. Just because someone looks like Jesus does not mean he or she genuinely represents him. We must know what Christianity really is from the Bible so that we can see past the surface level of Christianity to discern whether what we see is the real thing or a satanic deception.”[3]
The false prophet will encourage false worship. (vs 12) Where true prophets of God call people to repent for their idolatry and worship the one true God, this false prophet encourages idolatry and worship of the antichrist. In those days, leaders of governments were considered divine and sought worship from those they ruled, even erecting temples for themselves.[4] Likewise, Nero, the emperor of Rome considered himself a deity, and many believed in what they called Nero redividus, a myth that either Nero would come back to life or that he never actually died (like Tupac and Elvis) and that he would come back to seize power.[5]
When thinking of the antichrist in the specific context in which John’s audience would have been hearing this, they most likely associated the antichrist with Nero.[6] This doesn’t mean that all this persecution and talk of the antichrist is just something that happened in the past. I think it means that Nero is a prototype of a specific person who will arise in the future. 1 John 2:18 tells us that there have been many antichrists.
Hear how evil Nero was so that you can get a picture of how evil the antichrist will be. Nero was so evil he murdered his mom for opposing an affair he was having.[7] During the great fire of Rome, he played his harp and sang as the city burned. He then blamed the burning of Rome on Christians and brought about the first large wave of persecution against Christians. He would sew skins of wild beasts on them and have wild dogs attack them until they died. He would have some wear shirts of wax, tie them to the trees in his gardens, and set them on fire in order to illuminate his garden.[8] Through his persecution is how both Peter[9] and Paul[10] were killed.[11] The false prophet will lead people to worship this type of leader, the antichrist. But how will he do it?
Revelation 13:13-15
The false prophet will deceive with miracles. (vss 13-15) One of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament is Elijah. There’s a story I love from 1 Kings 18 where Elijah taunts the prophets of Baal. There are 450 prophets of Baal (a false god), and there is one Elijah (prophet of the one true God). Elijah challenges them to take a bull, put it on some wood, and call to their god to send fire to consume the sacrifice. They call out, and nothing happens. They keep calling out and even cut themselves, yet nothing happens (1 Kg 18:28-29). Part of what I love about this passage is that Elijah starts mocking them. He knows that their god isn’t real and that he serves the one true God. He starts mocking them, telling them to cry louder, that maybe their god is either on a trip, asleep, or going potty (1 Kg 18:27). After hours of doing this with no answer, Elijah had them dump water all over and around his bull. And now hear what happened.
1 Kings 18:36-39 – 36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”
Where fire from heaven was a sign that Elijah was a true prophet, this false prophet will have similar signs. And even more miraculously, where the prophets of Baal couldn’t get a response from their false god, this false prophet will make an idol of the antichrist, and this image of him will speak. So, all those who wouldn’t worship him because of their skepticism, this will remove every ounce of doubt they have, and they will worship the antichrist.
Hear what one commentator says:
“The second beast copies God’s ways (v. 13). Jesus worked great and miraculous signs (John 2:11, 23; 20:30); so does the beast. People are too quick to believe when they see something out of the ordinary (v. 14), forgetting that Jesus warned us that false prophets would arise who could do great signs and miracles (Matt. 24:24). Paul told us that the “lawless one” will also do them (2 Thess. 2:9–10).”[12]
Those who follow Jesus will be persecuted. (vs 15) Just like Nero had so many Christians killed in the first large wave of persecution of the church, so will it be for all those who don’t worship the antichrist. It will be like in Daniel’s day when everyone who didn’t bow down to the idol of Nebuchadnezzar would be thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16-28). This is a religious move, but it is also a political one. Remember we saw last week that one way Satan advances his kingdom is through governments.
“The second beast orders that an image of the first beast be set up and worshiped, in clear violation of God’s commands (Exod. 20:3–4). As in Daniel’s day (Dan. 3:5–6), those who refuse to worship political, economic, and secular power will be killed (Rev. 13:15). Just as God marked out his own by putting a seal on their foreheads (7:2–8; 9:4), so the mark of the beast is put on those who reject God (13:16; 14:9, 11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4).”[13]
Revelation 13:16-18
Non-Christians will receive a mark that shows they follow the antichrist.(vss 16-18) Though this mark is forced, it is not mandatory. Danny Akin says, “It is clear from this passage that no one will receive it unknowingly. All will know exactly what they are doing. Believers will face economic boycott and social alienation in that day.”[14]**I know what you are thinking. What is the mark of the beast going to be? Is it going to be a tattoo? Is it going to be a microchip implanted in your hand? I don’t know. What I do know is that you will purposefully have to get it, it will set you apart as a follow of Christ or not, and you won’t be able to do anything without it.
The two main things commentators say about the number 666 is that 1) The number six was seen as imperfect, while the number seven was seen as perfection. And that it’s stated three times shows that it is wholly imperfect. Though it has power, it is incomplete power. 2) In the Hebrew language there are not separate symbols for letters and numbers. Letters could be added up to make numbers. The name “Nero Caesar” transliterated from Greek to Hebrew equals 666 when added up. Verse 18 does tell us that the number of the best is the number of a man.[15] In 14:11, it calls this mark, “the mark of its name.” So, whatever it is, it will align everyone either with the antichrist or against him. And those who don’t get this mark will be punished.
Now, the original audience would have read this out loud all in one setting. They wouldn’t have stopped at these verses, but they would have continued right along into chapter 14. When you do that, you see at the beginning of the next chapter that those who belong to Christ have a different seal than those who follow the beast. They have the Father’s name written on their foreheads (Rev 14:1), and they stand with the true Lamb Mount Zion, Jesus Christ who was slain for us. Then we see those who have the mark of the beast drink the full cup of God’s wrath (Rev 14:9-11).
Those who belong to Jesus are sealed and vindicated forever.
No matter how bad things get, Jesus wins. Satan counterfeits the gospel. Do you know the real thing from the fake? When something looks Christian but leads you to worship unbiblically, can you tell the difference? Are you willing to forsake all to follow Jesus? Do you belong to Jesus?
[1] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 231.
[2] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 270; Walter A. Elwell, ed., Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Ada, MI: Baker, 1989).
[3] Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 270.
[4] John Foxe, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (New Kinsington, PA: Whitaker House, 1981), 3.
[5] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 223; Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 257; G. K. Beale, Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 2015), 270; Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 1997), 248.
[6] Foxe, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, 12. “Many there were of the Christians in those days, who, seeing the filthy abominations and intolerable cruelty of Nero, thought that he was antichrist.”
[7] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julia-Agrippina
[8] https://www.biblestudytools.com/history/foxs-book-of-martyrs/the-first-persecution-under-nero-a-d-67.html
[9] http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/actspeter.html; https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/was-peter-crucified-upside-down
[10] Tertullian, Scorpiace 15:4; The Prescription Against Heretics 36.
[11] https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/was-paul-beheaded-in-rome
[12] Elwell, Evangelical Commentary on the Bible.
[13] Elwell.
[14] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 235.
[15] Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 275.
The Counterfeit Christ – 24
Revelation 13:1-10
What is a counterfeit? It’s something that is fake that tries to pass for something that is real. It is a cheap imitation. (Mission trip to NYC…going to China town…people opening up a back wall of their store full of counterfeit purses.) (Can you tell the difference in these air Jordans? Counterfeits look real, and it can be hard to figure out what is the real thing or not. But counterfeits never hold up like the real thing.)
Tonight, we are going to see a counterfeit that is going to rise at the end of days, a counterfeit Christ…the antichrist. “The word antichrist does not appear a single time in Revelation. In the Apocalypse he is called “the beast.” Elsewhere in Scripture he is called the little horn (Dan 7:8), the prince (ruler) who is to come (Dan 9:26), the lawless one or man of sin (2 Thess 2:3-8), and the antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22; 2 John 7). The word antichrist means “one who is against Christ” or “one who is in the place of Christ.” Both are true. The beast is an antimessiah. He is in a war against Christ even as he attempts to replace the true Christ.”[1]
As we work our way through this passage tonight, we’re going to see different ways that Satan, through the antichrist, seeks to be a counterfeit messiah and bring about a counterfeit kingdom. Like always, we’re going to major on the majors and minor on the minors. We could speculate all day long on who we think the antichrist will be. I don’t think that’s what God wants us to do. I agree with Danny Akin on this who says this text isn’t written so we will speculate as to who the antichrist is, but he says “I think God’s design is to instruct us now and in every generation concerning what antichrists do and how they work as they are empowered and deployed by that dragon (13:2), Satan himself.”[2] “Satan is a powerful deceiver, and we need to be able to tell the difference between the real Jesus and the fake Jesus that Satan will use to deceive the world.”[3]
Part of this counterfeit we see tonight is even seen in the major end times players we see come out in this chapter. Satan is there on the beach, the antichrist beast is the focus of verse 1-10, and the false prophet beast is the focus of verses 11-18. Akin says, “Joined at the hip with the dragon, they constitute nothing less than a counterfeit trinity! Satan counterfeits God the father. Antichrist counterfeits God the Son. The false prophet counterfeits God the Holy Spirit.”[4]
So, I want to ask you right off the bat, “Are you certain that your idea of who Jesus is matches who he is in reality? How do you know that Satan has not deceived you into following some imitation of Jesus?”[5]
Revelation 13:1-2
We see the beast immediately rise out of the sea. The sea was often associated with evil in the ancient world. It has been referred to as “the reservoir of chaos.”[6] We see right off the bat just how evil he is, not only rising out of the sea, but with blasphemous names on its heads, visibly mocking the one true God.
Satan seeks to advance his kingdom.Later in Revelation, in chapter 17, the beast’s seven heads and ten horns will be interpreted as seven kings and ten kings (vs 10, 12). How the antichrist is described here comes from the way he is described in the Old Testament book of Daniel, chapter 7. In Daniel 7:17, it says, “These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.” And in Daniel 7:24, it says, “As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise…” Just as Jesus seeks to bring about his kingdom, Satan seeks to bring about his. And he does it through people. People are led astray by people. People we view as important and popular and powerful. You do that with people you know. I’m sure you’ve done something stupid because someone told you. They had power over you and so you followed them.
Satan seeks to advance his kingdom through people.We see that at play just this week. If you haven’t seen the Grammy’s, you probably have at least seen the news or memes going around. The performance by Sam Smith of his song “Unholy,” was literally worshiping Satan on the biggest stage in the world. And that’s not an exaggeration. CBS even said before the show, “We are ready to worship!” It’s not even subtle anymore. Satan’s kingdom is coming on earth. And because it’s popular, and it’s from people of power, many blindly follow it. It’s not just individuals that people follow, but Satan uses the government to bring about his kingdom as well. Many say the ten horns refer to powerful governments of the past.[7]
Satan seeks to advance his kingdom through governments.Most of the time when someone speculates about who the antichrist will be, they think he is a government leader. Corrupt and evil governments do the bidding of Satan. Many people thought Hitler was the antichrist. He systematically had 6 million Jews killed, and five million others. When we think of pure evil, Hitler is usually at the top of that list. Listen to this, to further make our point not just about Satan advancing his kingdom through individuals, but through governments. Since 1973, when Roe V. Wade was instituted, and abortion was legalized in America, over 63 million babies have been murdered.[8] About how many Jews were killed per year during the Holocaust, that many babies have been killed in America per year, ever since 1973.[9] Praise God Roe v. Wade was overturned! But abortion is still legal in most states. Only 13 states have a full ban.[10] And people who are against abortion are considered evil by our culture.
What’s even worse than Satan using individuals and governments to advance his kingdom here on earth is his deception in deceiving people into hell.
Revelation 13:3-4
Satan promotes a counterfeit gospel. “In verse 3 we see him counterfeiting the resurrection of the Son. In verse 4 we see him counterfeiting the worship of God.”[11] The beast will seemingly be killed and come back to life. Many people will think he is the messiah. The resurrection of Jesus is the core of our faith. Without it, our faith is useless and we are still in our sins (1 Cor 15:17). I saw a video this week of a college student saying they would believe in the resurrection if they were shown the medical records of Jesus. They knew full well that they didn’t keep medical records back then. They were saying essentially that no evidence would be enough to persuade them, even all the evidence we have of the empty tomb and appearances of Jesus after his death. But there will be medical records for the antichrist. He will be pronounced dead, and his medical records will show that he came back to life. Many will believe. It says because of this, “the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.” And their following of the beast led to them worshiping Satan and the beast rather than the one true God. And that’s the current reality of many in our world today.
Revelation 13:5-7
Satan will be given power, but for a limited time. The most beautiful picture of heaven, in my mind, is in Revelation 5. There we see people from every tribe and people and language and nation worshiping God. Here, in these verses, are some of the most heart wrenching, in complete contrast to what we see in heaven. People from every tribe and people and language and nation are worshiping the antichrist. Remember, horrible things have happened on the earth up to this point. Many people have died. There are clear signs that the end of days is at hand, and people will be thinking spiritually. They will be open to believing like never before. You know, it’s in times of hardship where people are the most prone to believe, because they know they can’t help themselves, so they cry out for someone who has power to help them. And the antichrist has power. He is overcoming Christians, who seem to the world to be the evil ones. And he has authority over the whole world. In this time of widespread turmoil, he promises peace and provision. He promises a way that leads to life amidst all the death that surrounds them.
But remember, he is a counterfeit Christ. He seems to have power, but the only power he has is given to him by God. It says, he was “allowed” to make war on the saints, and authority was “given” to him. God is still the one in control. The antichrist’s reign will only last 3.5 years. All authority he has is given to him temporarily by the one who has all authority. But most people follow those who seem to have power, and we see that play out here at the end.
Revelation 13:8-10
Many people will follow Satan. Verse 8 tells us that “all who dwell on the earth will worship [the beast].” Everybody worships somebody and something. Who do you worship? Many people worship themselves. They set themselves up as God. They follow their desires and seek to make their kingdom come, thinking that is the path to fulfillment and happiness. That’s what you’ve been sold. You’ve been deceived by Satan. You’ve been told over and over again that your desires are all that matters and you should abandon all to follow your desires. And you know what it’s led to? It’s led to your generation being the most depressed generation in history.[12] Studies also show that those without religious affiliation are far more likely to have mental health issues than those who follow a higher authority.[13]
The truth is that if you abandon all to follow Jesus, you will have life, but if you abandon all to follow your desires, you will have destruction (Matt 7:13-14). Satan has many people, and maybe many of you, right where he wants you…deceived and following him. But not all will follow Satan and the antichrist, even in the end.
True followers of Jesus will not follow Satan. Everyone whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of life will worship the beast. But those who truly belong to Jesus will not worship him. Those who follow and worship the true Christ, not the counterfeit, will not be deceived. And this is written so that you will persevere. You will keep following Jesus no matter what.
If you believe the truth, you are not deceived. And you won’t be deceived. Do you believe the truth? Do you believe that Jesus died, and was raised back to life? Do you believe that faith in Jesus is the only way to life, both here and now and forever in heaven? Do you follow Jesus? Do you forsake all your desires to follow him, or do you follow your desires? Even if everyone is against you and the ways of Christ seem to have no authority and power, do you still follow Jesus? He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Satan promises all those things but always falls short. He is a counterfeit. Believe in and follow the real thing, the real Messiah, Jesus. And keep following him.
[1] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 219.
[2] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 221.
[3] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 257.
[4] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 221.
[5] Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 258.
[6] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 1997), 244.
[7] John MacArthur, Revelation 12-22 (Chicago: Moody, 2000), 43.
[8] https://www.foxnews.com/politics/abortions-since-roe-v-wade
[9] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/01/11/what-the-data-says-about-abortion-in-the-u-s-2/
[10] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/abortion-laws-roe-v-wade.html
[11] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 222.
[12] https://www.aecf.org/blog/generation-z-and-mental-health?gclid=CjwKCAiArY2fBhB9EiwAWqHK6lqYTaNSKcZZhzqKxEhIm4_vdO90n0gkXV-dG1sUoqPgepmZtXoV7BoCnkgQAvD_BwE
[13] https://www.christianitytoday.com/better-samaritan/2022/may/generation-z-is-sinking-in-post-pandemic-mental-health-cris.html
The Coming War – 23
What is your favorite holiday? This is our third week in this chapter, and so far we’ve seen two important holidays that we celebrate—Christmas and Easter. At Christmas, when Jesus came, God in the flesh, it was the declaration of war, and at Easter, with Jesus on the cross and the resurrection, it was the final blow to make certain the end of the war. Satan is still fighting though. But there’s no question how the battle is going to end. That’s a little glimpse of what these last few verses of chapter 12 will show us.
Revelation 12:1-17
Revelation 12:13– And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
Satan seeks to destroy God’s people. We saw in verse 6 that the woman is the righteous remnant of Israel or the church. Either way, it is God’s people. The church is ingrafted into God’s covenant promises, and those who are his people by heritage can also not be children of the promise if they aren’t so in their heart (Rom 2:29; Rom 11). Either way, to be one of God’s people, you must have faith in Jesus. But here’s a thing you need to remind yourself. If you are one of God’s people, you are not exempt from hardship. You actually might even have more hardship than people of the world. But, you can have peace amidst any hardship, because you belong to God and God is with you.
“The word used to describe [Satan’s] pursuit of the woman is used elsewhere in the New Testament (Acts 7:52; 9:4; 22:4) to describe the persecution of the church, and that is probably what this pursuit symbolizes.”[1] It is interesting to note that Christianity is the number one most persecuted religion in the world.[2] That could be because there are far more Christians in the world than any other religion.[3] There are far less Jews in the world than there are Christians,[4] yet think about Israel’s history and Israel currently. There has always been someone trying to wipe out Israel. Always. And they were seemingly wiped out from 138AD until just 1948.[5] With how much Israel is mentioned not just in the Bible, but alluded to in Revelation, realizing this history of Israel and how it wasn’t until recently that they became a nation again, should perk you up! Even to this day Israel is constantly attacked. Other nations hate them and would love to see them wiped out. It’s been that way through Israel’s history. And it’s that way with the church right now as well. Satan seeks to destroy God’s people, and it will only get worse as the end approaches.
Revelation 12:14– But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.
God provides for and protects his people. Even though God’s people are persecuted, and many will die and have died at the hands of Satan and those who follow him, he can never and will never wipe out God’s people. There is a lot of Old Testament imagery here in this verse that adds tons of meaning for us.
“Wings often appear in the Bible as a sign of God’s protection.”[6] Just like the woman is flown in our verse into the wilderness, there is a parallel between the Israelites coming out of Egypt by the hand of God. Listen to Exodus 19:4, inwhich God says at Mt. Sinai, “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” Also, later on, Isaiah prophesied about the return from exile that would happen after the new Exodus in Isaiah 40:31, saying, “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Just like God provided for his people in the past, we see him doing it in the future. Even though they are hurting and face death, Satan cannot wipe them out.
I want you to think about what that means for your life. If you are hurting or confused or broken over something that has happened to you or because of your sin, where are you turning? You are safe under the shadow of his wings (Ps 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4). The world won’t bring you lasting comfort and protection. You can’t drown out your hardships and pretend they aren’t there. Your only help is God.
Revelation 12:15-16 – 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.
Verse 16 is so encouraging. It says, “But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured out of his mouth.” This is the same way that God delivered Israel from Pharaoh, keeping Moses alive despite Pharaoh trying to destroy him in the Nile, and just as the earth swallowed those who opposed Moses (Num 16:30-34; Deut 11:6). God has completed the new exodus in Jesus, and God will keep his people safe during the exile’s return that is currently taking place as we travel toward the promised land.
In verses 15-16, we see Satan try to destroy God’s people, but what happens? He doesn’t. He can’t. The earth opened, like it’s split from an earthquake, to defend the people of God from Satan’s attacks. Again, your only help is God. Then we come to our final verse of the chapter.
Revelation 12:17 – Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
Though Satan is defanged, he will attack until the end. Again, God never promises an easy life for Christians. You are actually promised opposition (John 15:18; 16:33).
If you are a Christian, you should join in the fight. Who is it that Satan attacks? It is those who “keep the commands of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” If you don’t want a bullseye on your back, don’t join the fight. You will never get shot at if you never go to war. There is a spiritual war currently being waged, and there is an even greater war to end all wars that is on the horizon. We need more bravery in the church if we are going to see the Satan defeated around us. We have a lot of people standing on the sidelines trying to be safe and sound.
I’m reminded of the story of Desmond Doss. He was a medic in World War II. He was also a devout Christian, a Seventh Day Adventist. And because of his beliefs, even though he enlisted, he was a conscientious objector, a non-combatant. That means he didn’t want to kill anybody. So, he didn’t bring a gun. But he still went to battle. He found himself in Okinawa, the bloodiest battle of the Pacific and the second most bloody battle of World War II. Hear how one article describes what he did.[7]
“The fighting took place on the hellish Maeda Escarpment in April 1945. The battlefield, located on top of a sheer 400-foot cliff, was fortified with a deadly network of Japanese machine gun nests and booby traps. The escarpment, nicknamed Hacksaw Ridge for the treacherously steep cliff, was key to winning the battle of Okinawa. The mission was thought to be near-impossible, and when Doss’s battalion was ordered to retreat, the medic refused to leave his fallen comrades behind.
Facing heavy machine gun and artillery fire, Doss repeatedly ran alone into the kill zone, carrying wounded soldiers to the edge of the cliff and singlehandedly lowering them down to safety. Each time he saved a man’s life, Doss prayed out loud, “Lord, please help me get one more.” By the end of the night, he had rescued an estimated 75 men. (The always modest Doss reckoned he saved about 50, but his fellow soldiers gauged it closer to 100.)”
We are in such a war, but even more deadly. Will you have the faith to run out on the battlefield? Over and over and over and over again? To risk being shot at or blown up? To save those who are being attacked by the enemy?
In this last verse, Satan is standing by the seashore, and what we’re going to see next, at the beginning of the next chapter, is his main end-times weapon coming out of the sea—the antichrist. And the world will be led astray by this beast, the antichrist. His way will seem right. He will seem like he’s on the right side of history. Everyone will even be saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (13:4) Seemingly the whole world thinks its way is certain and right and won’t fall. But here’s the thing…it will.
Just like Satan is standing on the sand, those who build their lives on shifting sand will always fall. It is only on the rock that is Jesus that you will stand. Now and in the end.
Think of the difference between the seed of the woman (God’s people) and the dragon (Satan), as Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:24-27 about those who listen and follow his teachings. Jesus compared those who follow his commands to those who build their house on solid rock, while those who ignore his teachings build their house on unstable sand. The seed of the woman (God’s people), in verse 17, are those who obey God’s commands and follow Jesus. On the other hand, the dragon (Satan) is depicted as standing on the sandy beach.
Are you following Jesus and his teachings, building your foundation on the rock? Are you part of the seed of the woman? Is Satan trying to attack you? If he’s not, there’s a good chance you’re not in the fight. If he is, keep in mind that although Satan may seem powerful, God will always triumph over him. Jesus has disarmed and defanged Satan, and his accusations against you will not hold.
However, if you realize right now that you’re not following Jesus’ commands, or if you’ve placed your trust in things like money, sex, drugs, or pride instead of him, then Jesus has a message for you. He says that you are like a foolish person building their house on sand, and when the rains come, the floods rise, and the winds blow—and they will—your house will eventually collapse. And great will be that collapse.
I want us to end thinking of these words from one commentator. “You don’t want to stand on the sand with Satan.”[8]**** Don’t align yourself with Satan by standing on the shifting sand that is certain to fall. Don’t seek safety by not joining the fight, all the while heading towards collapse. Instead, turn away from your sins and trust in Jesus.
Join the battle by sharing Christ with the people around you. Start little Bible studies at your school. If you’re living on the side of Satan, don’t let him have the victory over you. Turn to Jesus right now, in faith.
[1] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 254.
[2] https://research.lifeway.com/2019/07/19/christian-and-muslim-persecution-most-widespread
[3] According to Pew Research, there are 2.3 billion Christians in the world and 1.8 billion Muslims. https://research.lifeway.com/2019/04/02/10-countries-with-the-largest-christian-populations
[4] https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/the-size-of-the-u-s-jewish-population
[5] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-know-creation-modern-israel
[6] See Ex 19:4; Deut 32:9-12; Ps 17:8; 18:10; 36:7; 57:1: 61:4; 63:7; 91:4; Is 40:31. Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 216.
[7] https://people.com/movies/the-true-story-of-hacksaw-ridge-and-desmond-doss-the-medal-of-honor-winner-who-never-fired-a-shot
[8] Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 256.
The Present Salvation – 22
Revelation 12:1-17
This chapter is divided into three parts. It paints a picture of redemptive history of the past, the present, and the future. Last week we looked at verses 1-6 and how the coming of Christ defanged the ancient serpent, the devil. This week we will dig into verses 7-12 and see the present battle, but more importantly, the present victory that we now have in Jesus. Next week we will finish the chapter and get a glimpse of the future redemption that awaits all who are in Christ.
Revelation 12:7-9– 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
The battle has already been won.
Look at the beginning of verse 8. I love it! There is so much hope in it! “But he was defeated.” No matter what Satan does, he is fighting from defeat, not victory. He is a defeated foe.
It’s like if your ball team is down by 20 with a few minutes to go. You know the game is over. The other team has already won. But the buzzer hasn’t buzzed yet. The timer hasn’t clicked all the way down. So the losing team still plays. And maybe they’re upset about it, like it’s their biggest rivalry. So, they play dirty. They throw elbows and knock other players down. They’ve lost, but they’re going to go down swinging.
Though Satan is defeated, he is still fighting. Look at the beginning of verse 9. After it says he was defeated, it says, “he was thrown down to earth.” And what does he do down on earth. When God asks him at the beginning of Job what he has been doing on earth, he says, “going to and fro on the earth” (Job 1:7). Here’s how the Apostle Peter describes what Satan is doing as he is going to and fro on the earth. “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). How does a lion prowl around ready to attack? They try to do it without you seeing them, then they pounce when you least expect it. Then it’s too late. Satan works the same way. Satan is defeated, but he is still fighting.
We live in the already/not-yet.Jesus has won the battle, but the victory hasn’t been fully realized yet.
Hear how D.A. Carson describes some of how this is played out.
“We already have the forgiveness of our sins, but we do not yet have the consummation which Christ’s death and resurrection have secured. We already grow in sanctification, but we have not yet been glorified. We are squeezed between the already and the not yet; already it is the last hour of this age which is decaying and will pass away. But it has not yet passed away, and the new heavens and the new earth have not yet dawned.”[1]
We live in the already/not-yet. Jesus has already defeated sin and Satan, yet it is not-yet fully realized. Jesus has crushed the head of that ancient serpent, yet he has not cast that beast into the lake of fire that burns forever and ever (Rev 20:10). This can be illustrated in the difference in Dday and Vday. The battle at Normandy essentially ended World War II. Yet the battles were not over after that invasion. People still died after Normandy. It wasn’t until Vday, or victory day, that the battle was officially over. We are living in between Dday and Vday. The battle has been fought. The victory has been decided. But there are still casualties until that victory is finally realized.
Satan knows he is a defeated foe. This makes him all the more dangerous. He will lead many astray in the last days. He promises abundant life just like Jesus does, only his way leads to death. Many follow him, though. If Satan can deceive a third of the angels to leave heaven, he can deceive you into hell. He is enticing and will pull as many people as he can down with him. Have you ever pushed someone into a pool or lake? What do they do as they are falling down? They flail their arms and try to drag anyone around them down with them. Satan is still fighting. The head of that serpent has been stomped on, but he’s still thrashing around on the floor. There is coming a day when he gets what he deserves though. Justice will finally and fully be realized, and there will be no more fight. The victory that has been won on the cross will be finally and fully realized. All bad and sad things will come undone. It is hope in that final victory that allows you to fight and live through the battle you’re in now. The hope of the already fuels our fighting in the not-yet.
Revelation 12:10 – “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers[a] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”
Here we see the already and the not-yet, how it’s played out. Let’s break it down.
The already:
In Christ, your salvation is certain.
Verse 10 says, “Now the salvation…has come.” It doesn’t say it might come. It says it has come. God knew the end of the story at the beginning. We see that in Genesis 3:15. When Jesus died on the cross and rose back to life, salvation came. And for all who believe, whose faith is in Jesus, their salvation is certain.
Your salvation isn’t up to you. You can’t save yourself. If you could, your salvation wouldn’t be certain. I can’t even be certain I can walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night without tripping. I can’t be certain that I won’t make a fool of myself at any given moment. I can’t be certain that I can drink water without it chocking me and sending me into a coughing fit. For something as important as eternal salvation, if it was up to me, I would never be certain. But it’s not up to me.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
By the Holy Spirit, you have power.
Verse 10 also says, “Now…the power…has come.” If you have been saved, you have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead within you (Rom 8:11). Right before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples (and us as well) that they need to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them, then they will be his witnesses where they are and around the world (Acts 1:8). This power, it’s the same Greek word (dynamin), where we get our word for dynamite. Satan is seeking to bring people to hell with him, you are empowered to stop him. You can charge hell with a water gun, like it’s filled with holy water! You also have power to overcome any temptation Satan brings your way! James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” You are not weak. If you are in Christ, you have the greatest power dwelling within you. And you can change the world that Satan is ravaging!
The church is bringing about God’s kingdom.
Another aspect of the already that we see in verse 10 is it says, “Now…the kingdom of our God…has come.” Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). The work of the church is to bring about the kingdom of God here on earth. Right now, many people rule and reign themselves, to their own demise. They think they know what is right and good all the way to their own destruction. If there’s a kingdom, there must be a king. We live so much like we are the kings and queens of the world, or at least our lives. That will only bring us dissatisfaction and destruction. The way of the world leads to destruction. It is a wide and easy road, and many people take that path. But the way of Jesus, it’s a narrow way. It’s not as easy. It goes against what the world says, but that is the way to life.
Matthew 7:13-14 – 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Make Jesus the king of your life. Let him rule and reign your actions and desires. And as we do that, his kingdom will come in our hearts and this world. And we will have life.
Christ has authority over all.
Finally, we see from this verse, “Now…the authority of Christ has come.” His rule and reign is perfect. Whatever he says is good and true and right. He not only has authority to deems what is good, right, and true, but he has authority over all things in what they are allowed to do…even their existence.
Colossians 1:16-17 – “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Whatever is happening or has happened in your life, find comfort in the fact that it has been allowed by the perfect and completely good Creator of all things and lover of your soul. Even Satan himself can only do what God allows him (Job 1). And that’s where we see the not-yet come about.
The not-yet:
Satan still accuses.
Even though the kingdom and authority of Christ has come, verse 10 shows us what Satan does as he’s been thrown down. He accuses. He accuses day and night before God. He says, “Look at them! They’re so dirty! Haha! Look at what I made them do! You’re not good enough for God! You’re too broken for anything good to ever come from you. Just give up! You’re worthless! You’re sinful. You’re no good. You’re dirty.”
Here’s the deal with accusations. They only matter if they have merit…if there’s actual reason for them. Just because someone is accused doesn’t mean it’s the truth. Here’s the truth:
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
John 3:17 – For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Let him hurl accusations at you! Who cares! If you are in Christ, you are redeemed and there’s no condemnation. No matter what you’ve done or how dirty you’ve been, you are given the righteousness of Christ! (2 Cor 5:21) No matter what this world hurls at you, remember who you are in Christ, and remind the world whose you are. That’s how you conquer Satan.
Revelation 12:11– And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Satan still steals, kills, and destroys.
This is part of the not-yet reality. Satan still destroys (John 10:10). He promises the world but takes everything. But here’s the deal, even if he takes everything, your very life, you overcome him because of Jesus. Even if he takes the most valuable thing away from you, your life, you have life everlasting with God.
There’s nothing to fear with Satan if even when he takes what’s most valuable from you, you still win! Nothing is more noble than a soldier going down fighting for the freedom of their country. And we are in a battle. And we’re fighting for the freedom of all who will believe. The victory has been decided, but the war is still being waged. Which side are you fighting for? Don’t fight for this world.
Revelation 12:12– Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!
Our hope is in heaven.
Our only hope for victory is in heaven. As we remind ourselves of heaven, it helps us fight through anything here on earth. So, set your gaze above.
Colossians 3:1-4 – 1 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Be alert. Live for heaven, not for the things of this world.
1 Peter 5:8-11 – 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
[1] D.A. Carson, “Partakers of the Age to Come,” in These Last Days: A Christian View of History (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2011), 90.
The Victorious Baby – 21
Revelation 12:1-17
Who is bummed that Christmas is over? I know it’s only been a few weeks since Christmas, but it feels so far away. If you know me at all, you know that I love Christmas. One of my farewell sayings to people throughout the year is, “Merry Christmas!” And anytime anyone says it’s not Christmas, I reply, “Every day is Christmas in my heart.” We usually think of Christmas just at Christmas time. We don’t usually study the beginning of the gospels except for in the month of December, but Christmas matters every day of the year. It matters for our salvation, and it matters for what happens at the end of time. We don’t have the cross of redemption without the cradle of the incarnation. We don’t have salvation if Jesus never came. But he did, and he came to wage war. That’s what we see here in Revelation 12. I love what my favorite pastor/theologian, Eugene Peterson, said about this chapter, “This is not the nativity story we grew up with, but it is the nativity story all the same.”[1]
This chapter we’re starting to study tonight gives us an epic overview of the grand redemptive story of the Bible and of history. It tells of salvation from the past, in the present, and into the future. Tonight, we’re going to look at the first part. Right off the bat we see a woman about to give birth, a baby boy to be born, and a powerful dragon. That makes for an exciting adventure story, huh?! Imagine if that is what we read at our Christmas eve services and sang carols about!
Revelation 12:1-2
God fulfills his promises. There is so much history in these verses that can be easy to overlook. The description of the woman in verse 1 comes directly from the dream Joseph had in Genesis 37:9-11. In his dream the sun represents his father Jacob, the moon Rachel, and the twelve stars are the twelve tribes of Israel.[2] The woman likely represents a righteous remnant of Israel, the people of God. We can see this a little more in verse 2, where the woman is crying out in birth pains, about to give birth. The Old Testament often refers to the nation of Israel as a mother giving birth.[3] Think of it this way, the nation of Israel suffered and agonized for centuries waiting for the Messiah to come, and how did he finally come? He was born. A baby boy. God fulfills his promises. And he always comes through, no matter what your situation seems like at the time. But a mother and baby about to be born are not all we see in these verses. There’s something more going on.
Revelation 12:3-4
Remember, we are reading a history of the past right here. The dragon is Satan. It tells us that in verse nine. How it describes him in verse 3 is like the fourth beast in Daniel 7, and it’s meant to show how powerful he is. Satan is more powerful than we know, and he is more active than we often think. Verse 4 reminds us of when and how Satan fell. There was a primordial war in heaven, and Satan rebelled against God. A third of the angels chose to follow him in his rebellion against God.[4] We can see this in Isaiah 14:12-15.
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven;above the stars of God I will set my throne on high;I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’15 But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.
This war was waged in heaven before God ever created man. I don’t know if you’ve ever deeply thought about this, but Adam and Eve were not the first who were fallen. There was already a fallen serpent, Satan, in that perfect Eden. And that serpent hates God and the things of God and he will do whatever it takes to bring as many people down with him. Just like he deceived Adam and Eve and led them to sin, he does the same with us. But remember, God fulfills his promises. And we can know God fulfils his promises, even when it seems like he’s not at the moment, because he has fulfilled his greatest promise. God promised this to that ancient serpent after he brought sin into the world.
Genesis 3:15 – “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
How does offspring come into the world? As a baby. Who is a baby born of? A woman. Here we are reading in Revelation 12 the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, a baby being born to defeat the serpent. God really does keep his promises!
Revelation 12:5-6
Who is this baby that was born? The baby is Jesus. If you were Satan, and God said that a baby boy would defeat you, what would you do? You would try to defeat baby boys, right?! Especially ones that had to do with the promises of God to defeat Satan. That’s one reason Satan attacks the families. That’s part of the reason why abortion has been a tool of his for centuries. Satan loves to kill babies and to deceive people into thinking that it is ok and good to kill babies.[5]
Hear some of the promises of God about male offspring that Satan has tried to destroy. [6]
Right after that first promise that the offspring of woman would stomp the serpent’s head, Satan moved Cain to kill Abel, the direct offspring of Adam and Eve (1 John 3:12). God heard the groanings of his people enslaved in Egypt, and Satan moved Pharaoh to kill Hebrew baby boys before Moses could deliver them (Ex 1-2). God promised that the Messiah would come through the line of David (2 Sam 7), and Satan moved Saul to kill David (1 Sam 18:10-11). God promised that the Messiah would come through the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10), and Satan moved wicked Athaliah to destroy all the royal heirs of the house of Judah (2 Chron 22:10). God chose Israel as his people, promised to be with them, and that the Messiah would come through them and for them, and Satan moved Haman to plot genocide against the Jews (Esther). God planned to fulfil all these promises by taking on flesh himself, Jesus being born of Mary (Matt 1:20-23), and Satan moved Herod to kill baby boys in order to kill Jesus (Matt 2:13-18).
Satan’s goal is to destroy God’s plans. It’s been that way all throughout history. It’s the same way now, with our world and with you. His mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He has been a murderer from the beginning and is the father of lies (John 8:44). Satan deceives many people. And many people follow him. They will mock you for your belief in Jesus and seeking to follow his Word and ways, thinking you are brainwashed for believing in such nonsense. The whole time they are believing the father of lies. They are deceived. And the thing about deception is, you don’t know you are deceived often until it’s too late.
People don’t write checks much anymore, and a lot of places don’t accept them anymore. If someone seeks to buy something expensive and writes a check that they know can’t be cashed, how does the clerk know they can purchase the item? They don’t for sure until the check is cashed to see if it bounces or not. But by then it’s too late. They’ve been deceived. The one who is doing the deceiving is the only winner. He takes from everyone else, while everyone else thinks they are benefitting. It’s the same way with how Satan deceives this world, and often even you.
We see Satan’s end in Revelation 20, but, sadly, we see who he takes with him and how he does it.
Revelation 20:10 – and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Satan deceives many people to follow him all the way to Hell. It’s not only Satan that is thrown in there, but it is all those who follow him. By the way, if you don’t follow Jesus, you are following Satan all the way to your demise. There are many people who deny that Hell is real. That is another lie where Satan has people deceived. This passage in Revelation is overlooked through Satan’s deception and lies, and Jesus spoke on Hell more than anybody, because Jesus tells the truth.[7]
Doesn’t it sometimes seem like Satan is winning? That he is in control? That SO MANY people are following him? Just remember this: Satan is fighting a losing battle. Danny Akin said, “But in all of this, [Satan] failed! Verse 5 tells us, “But she gave birth to a Son—a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron scepter.”[8] This is another promise of God we have from Psalm 2:7-9. God is victorious!
David Platt said,
“The birth of Christ on that day in Bethlehem inaugurated the death of this ancient serpent, just as it had been promised back in Genesis 3. The birth of Christ declared the death of the ancient serpent; the death of Christ defanged the adversary.”[9]
God is our only protection and provision. The verse (John 10:10) where Jesus says Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, I want you to hear the rest of what he says. “I came that [you] may have life and have it abundantly.” Just as God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness after he freed them from slavery in Egypt, he provides for this woman after she gives birth to the baby that will crush the serpent. Remember, this woman symbolizes God’s people. That is what God does for you. He provides for you and nourishes you, even amidst warfare.
As we end, I want you to hear application of this passage from two commentators. First, Danny Akin says of verse 6,
“Here the wilderness symbolizes a place and promise of protection and provision, just as God cared for Israel following the exodus. God has specifically prepared a place for the woman, a place where He will feed her for 1,260 days, or 3 ½ years. The place will be one of spiritual refuge. She may be persecuted and suffer, but she will also be provided for and sustained. Everything the righteous remnant needs to honor her God and experience the victory provided by the male child, the babe of Bethlehem, she will have. God has preserved and taken care of His people in the past. He continues to meet our needs in the present. He will not fail us in the future. We have His word. You can trust Him.”[10]
In thinking about what this means for us, as we live in a world ravaged by Satan, a Satan that knows he is done for but is wreaking as much havoc and bringing as many people along with him as he can, hear these words of Jim Hamilton.
“Just as Israel was provided for by God throughout their time in the wilderness, with manna from Heaven and water from the rock, so the church will be nourished for 1,260 days. Where is your home? Do you think you’re home now? Or do you think of yourself as a pilgrim passing through, sojourning on the way to the land of promise? Have you been redeemed, bought out of slavery and delivered in an exodus greater than that of Israel from Egypt? Do you want to know how to participate in that, how to make that true for you? It’s simple: begin to trust Jesus right now and never stop. You will either trust him, or you will go to war against him with Satan and so face certain defeat. However much it may look like the dragon has all the advantages, he loses every time.”[11]
Trust Jesus right now and never stop.
I find it fitting to end with a Christmas song. We won’t sing it, but I want to read it, and I want you to think about the words…what it means for you and what it means in the context of what you’ve heard tonight from God’s Word. This was written by the great hymn writer Charles Wesley in 1744. It’s called “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.”
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Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
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Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
[1] Eugene H. Peterson, Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination (San Francisco: HarperOne, 1991), 121.
[2] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 210.
[3] Isa 26:17-18; 54:1; 66:7-12; Hos 13:13; Mic 4:10; 5:2-3; Matt 24:8
[4] Grant R. Osborne, Revelation, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2002), 461.
[5] Russel l D. Moore, Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches (Wheaton: Crossway, 2009), 59-84.
[6] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 211. “Since God’s declaration in Genesis 3:15, Satan has sought to prevent this male child from coming. He moved Cain to kill Abel (1 John 3:12). He moved Pharaoh to kill Hebrew baby boys (Ex 1-2). He moved Saul to kill David (1 Sam 18:10-11). He moved wicked Athaliah to destroy all the royal heirs of the house of Judah (2 Chron 22:10). He moved Haman to plot genocide against the Jews (Esther). He moved Herod to kill Jesus (Matt 2).”
[7] Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 24:51; 25:30, 46; Luke 13:28
[8] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 211.
[9] https://radical.net/message/fighting-from-not-for-victory
[10] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 212.
[11] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 250.
The Faithful Witnesses – 20
Revelation 11:1-19
A few days ago, January 8, was the 67th anniversary of the death of Jim Elliot and four other young men in the Ecuadorian rainforest, by the Huaorani people. These people were unreached and dangerous. Most people groups who are unreached are so because they are difficult and dangerous to reach. Jim was only 28 years old, and he was speared to death trying to share Christ with these people, along with the four others. Jim is famously quoted as saying, “’He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” You cannot keep your life, why not give it away for the sake of the gospel. What you gain is life that is never ending. Jim was willing to give his life for the sake of being a witness to the gospel of Jesus. He left behind a wife Elisabeth, and a 10-month-old daughter. Three years later his wife would go back to those same people to live and share Christ with them. And those people who once killed those who came to be a witness of Christ to them ended up believing in Christ for themselves.
God has had a faithful witness throughout all generations. In the text for tonight, even though there is much in the details that is uncertain and debated, you can know this: God has his faithful witness, and the gospel prevails. We’re going to see some symbolism like usual, and like usual, there are many different explanations people give to each point. As we have done throughout this whole study of Revelation, we will do again here. We will major on the majors and minor on the minors. At the center of what we will see in this text are two witnesses.
Revelation 11:1-3 – 1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
Right off the bat, the three major areas in this text that are debated are mentioned (the temple, the time, and the witnesses). Like most things in Revelation, you can either take them symbolically or literally, and whichever way you choose to read the text is how you will interpret it. Just like through all the previous chapters of Revelation, I don’t think I nor anyone else can definitively tell you what these things exactly mean. There have been dozens of different interpretations by great scholars and Bible teachers. What I will do is tell you what some of the major views are and we will again major on the majors. First, right at the beginning we see the temple mentioned.
The temple refers to either the people of God or a literal rebuilt temple.
Those who say the temple here is symbolic and refers to the people of God[1] do so because the New Testament depicts the people of God as the temple (Eph 2:19-21, 1 Pet 2:4-10). The temple has always been about God dwelling with man, not the building itself (Eph 2:22). And since the death of Jesus, God does dwell with man—the Holy Spirit indwells them (1 Cor 3:16). When Jesus breathed his last, the curtain of the temple ripped from top to bottom (Matt 27:51). There was no need for a physical temple because the once for all sacrifice had been made (Heb 10). Another reason is that here John is given a rod to not only measure the temple, like in Ezekiel 40:2-3, but he is to measure “those who worship there.”
It’s interesting to think about how the readers of John’s letter here would have interpreted it. I don’t know fully how they would have understood it, but I do know that most people believe Revelation was written in the 90s AD. The original temple was built by King Solomon and was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC. The temple was later rebuilt, which you read about in some of the minor prophets (Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai). But something horrific happens again in Jewish history in between all the books of the New Testament and John’s vision in Revelation. The temple is destroyed again, by the Romans in 70 AD. So, knowing this, the mention of the temple to a Jewish audience would bring about all kinds of emotions. Many of them would remember when it happened. This is only 25 years later. “The burning question among Jewish Christians was, “Has God rejected his people? (Rom 11:1).”[2]
Because of this and some other New Testament passages, others believe this temple to be a literal new temple built on the temple mount in Jerusalem. Right now, all that exists of the old temple is the western wall. And Jews go there to this day and weep and pray, longing for the day the temple will be rebuilt. Because of that, the location is referred to as “the weeping wall.” And what sits on top of the temple mount is not a temple built for worship of God. It is the Dome of the Rock, the oldest existing Muslim structure, which has been there for over a thousand years. To this day, the temple mount is controlled by the Muslims, not the Jews.
There are several New Testament passages that lead people to believe that the temple here is going to be an actual rebuilt temple, specifically Matthew 24:15 and 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
Matthew 24:15 – “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).”
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 – 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
In this literal view, if a new temple is to be built, and there are Orthodox Jews who are making preparations and seeking to make it happen even now,[3] then the antichrist will set himself up in the temple. So, there are many people (dispensationalists) who are awaiting the rebuilding of the third temple as a sign that the events of Revelation will take place soon or are already taking place.
Next, in these verses, we see a specific time: 42 months or 1,260 says. The time refers to either the church age or a specific 3.5 years.
This number of days comes directly from the prophecies in the book of Daniel. Jim Hamilton explains, “This three-and-a-half-year period interprets what many refer to as ‘Daniel’s seventieth week.’ In Daniel 9:24-27, the angel Gabriel tells Daniel, ‘seventy weeks are decreed about your people’ (v. 24). These ‘weeks’ are seven-year periods.”[4] What is half of seven years? Three and a half years. Many people believe the great tribulation is going to last seven years and will be broken up into two three-and-a-half-year periods. What we’re reading about in these passages would be the second half of the seven years.
Hamilton and others believe these numbers in Revelation are symbolic and “refers to the whole time from Jesus’ death and resurrection until just before he comes.”[5] That means the church age. Whether the temple and the days are symbolic or literal, we can know this: God is in control, with his people, and will protect his people. Though the world outside the temple is given over to the nations and is being trampled on, those within the temple are safe, and God is sending his witnesses. Majority of the rest of this chapter is about these two witnesses. It says about them,
Revelation 11:4-6– 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.
Who do you think the two witnesses are? Here’s a list of what people have suggested:
Old Testament and New Testament; the witnessing church; witnessing in general; Elijah and Enoch; Elijah and Moses; Zerubbabel and Joshua; Elijah and Elisha; James and John; Peter and Paul; Law and Prophets; Law and gospel; Israel and the church; Israel and the Word; Churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia; the spirit of Elijah and Moses.[6]
I used to think that they would be Elijah and Enoch simply because neither of them died but were taken up. I think, though, as Danny Akin says, that the two witnesses are “individuals or a group who come in the spirit of Moses and Elijah to fulfill a specific ministry given to them by God.”[7]
The two witnesses refer to specific witnesses that come for a specific purpose.
The olive trees and lampstands mentioned in verse 4 show us that these witnesses will be “bearers of divine light (Matt 5:15-16).”[8] Verse three mentions they will prophesy for three and half years in sackcloth, the garments of grief, humility, mourning, and repentance. “Their power is clearly reminiscent of the ministry of Moses and Elijah (vss. 5-6; see Ex 7:14-18; 8:12; 1 Kg 17:1; 2 Kgs 1:10-14).[9] They come during the great tribulation. It was expected that Moses (Deut 18:18) and Elijah (Mal 4:5; see Matt 11:14) would come at the end of history, and here they are.
Malachi 4:5 – Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
So, they’re prophesying, which often means they are speaking against the sinfulness of people. It does mention that the place is like Sodom and Egypt, places known for their sinfulness. Sodom is a city that is known for their immorality, sexual sin, and wickedness. Egypt is known for idolatry, oppression, slavery, and suffering. These witnesses are preaching against this also with great signs and wonders, just like Moses and Elijah. And when they are done prophesying, the beast arrives.
Revelation 11:7 – And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them…
The beast refers to the antichrist. “This is the first of 36 references to the beast in Revelation. A more detailed description of him is found in chapters 13 and 17. He is clearly the one John calls in his epistles “the antichrist” (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7) and Paul calls the man of sin or “the lawless one” (2 Thess 2:8-9).”[10]
Revelation 11:8-10 – 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.
It often looks like evil wins. That’s what we see here. These witnesses gave their lives for the message they were proclaiming and who they were proclaiming about and for, Jesus. And we see the true heart of evil come out in verse 10. They, essentially, create a new holiday, like Christmas, to celebrate the death of these witnesses. They exchange presents and all! It says “the earth will rejoice over them.” “This is the only mention of rejoicing in the book of Revelation.”[11] They hate Jesus that much. Jesus tells us it’s the same with us.
John 15:18 – If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
You will often feel like the world is winning. It seems that way now. Church attendance is falling. The ways of God are mocked and deemed as evil. If you say God’s way is best you are slandered as hating other people, those who don’t follow God’s ways. It often looks like evil wins, and they often think they do. They think they are on the right side of history, and all the Christian bigots are on the wrong side of history. But…God always wins.
Revelation 11:11-14 – 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
Just as Jesus rose from the dead, when evil thought it had won, he raises these two witnesses from the dead, and everyone who once mocked sees. God always has the final say. God will be glorified. God calls you to proclaim him and be his witnesses, no matter the cost. Many people come to Christ, and possibly a great conversion of Jews takes place because of these witnesses. It doesn’t matter what it cost them, they wholeheartedly fulfil their God-ordained purpose.
God protects and honors his faithful witnesses.
These witnesses were protected until they fulfilled their mission, and God even used their death for his greater glory. Jim Hamilton says, “The point of the text is that evil forces may even kill those who belong to God, but God overcomes death and vindicates his people.”[12] I love what the great Southern Baptist missionary to China, Lottie Moon, said. “I have a firm conviction that I am immortal ‘til my work is done.”[13] And who we talked about earlier, Jim Elliot, who gave his life for his faithful witness of Christ, wrote to his parents, “Remember you are immortal until your work is done. But don’t let the sands of time get into the eyes of your vision to reach those who still sit in darkness. They simply must hear.”[14] And here is what their witness leads to…God being glorified, just as it should be.
Revelation 11:15-19 – 15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
God’s kingdom will come, and God will be glorified. That is how all history works out. Remember that. Even when it seems evil is winning or has won.
[1] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 1997), 215; James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 233.
[2] George Eldon Ladd, A Commentary on the Revelation of John (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972), 150-151.
[3] https://www.jewishvoice.org/read/article/update-building-third-temple
[4] Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 234.
[5] Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 235.
[6] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 202.
[7] Akin, 203.
[8] Mounce, The Book of Revelation, 218.
[9] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 203.
[10] Akin, 204.
[11] Akin, 204.
[12] Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 242.
[13] Daniel L. Akin, Ten Who Changed the World (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 64.
[14] Akin, Ten Who Changed the World, 81.
The Little Scroll – 19 What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? As a youth pastor, I’ve seen some pretty weird things get eaten. And I gag almost every time…not just when I eat it, but watching them! Have you ever eaten too much of a good thing? Do you know the feeling in your stomach at Easter, Halloween, or Christmas when you eat tons of candy early in the morning and it makes you feel just blah? Tonight, as
I would rather learn from others’ mistakes than from my own. What about you? “We have a great need to see evil for what it is.” “As we study John’s vision and observe the armies of darkness battling in the future, we can better understand how similar spirits of wickedness try to torment us today.” As we look to the future, we need to let it affect us today. Revelation 9 God is sovereign over evil. God allows evil, and
The Prayers of Saints and Trumpets of Wrath – 17 Why won’t God do anything about the evil in the world? I hear that question a lot, and actually, I think about that question a lot. It has a lot to do with what I study and write about in my PhD work. I want you to think deeply for a second. We’re going to do a little exercise. If you were God, what would you do about the evil
Revelation – The Worship of the Nations – 16 Who watched the UT-Bama game Saturday? Everybody. It had millions in viewership. I bleed orange. I went to UT, and that’s where my wife and I met. I went to every home game while in college. If you are a UT fan, what did you do when that winning field goal was kicked? If you kept watching, what did the fans do at the stadium? Erupted! And we can use that
Revelation – The Sealed Saved – 15 It has been a while since we’ve been in Revelation. We took a break for the Summer and started off the school looking at Acts 2 and what the early church devoted themselves to. Now, it’s time to hop right back into Revelation where we left off. The first series we did had to do with the seven churches. It was more like some of the epistles of the New Testament than what
I want you to try something. Have a conversation with the person sitting next to you. EXCEPT…you can’t talk to them. Ok, go… Ok, we know that’s impossible. You we need to communicate with each other. How about this…Who in here thinks you can have a healthy relationship with your boyfriend or girlfriend and never talk to them? Communication is necessary in relationships. What is our greatest, most important relationship? Our relationship with God. How is your communication with him?
Acts 2:42-47 We are in a series called “Devoted.” It is straight from Acts 2:42. In it we see three things that the early church devoted themselves to, and we see in that what we are to be devoted to. Primarily, they were devoted to Jesus, but their devotion to Jesus is played out in their devotion to God’s Word, the fellowship, and prayer. What the word “devoted” means here in this passage is “continued steadfastly.” These things are what
Mark 2:1-12 Do you remember the last words you said to someone you loved who isn’t with us anymore? Or do you remember the last words they said to you? If you knew you were about to see someone you loved dearly for the last time, do you think you would choose your words carefully? Not all last words are that way, like the famous last words of the redneck: “Hey! Watch this!” Unlike that, here are some famous last
What are you devoted to? Acts 2:42 – And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Our devotion should be to Jesus. When you’re devoted to something, it is evident in different ways. What is internal becomes external. When you are devoted to Jesus, it comes out in different ways. We see this with the early church. They were devoted to Jesus. They sought to follow him. They loved
Matthew 2:16-18 I. The world’s MADNESS. Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men was exceedingly angry, and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he determined from the wise men. II. The world’s SADNESS. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, a voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great
Luke 18:18-30 It costs to follow Jesus. “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus it begins; the cross is not the terrible end
How long do you think it would take to lead the whole world to Christ? America? Tullahoma? Your school? Statistics (32% or the world claims to be Christian; 68% non-Christian) U.S. population: 332 million World population: 7.75 billion Each day (in the world) 385,000 babies are born 261,800 of those will end up non-Christian 150,000 people die 102,000 die without knowing Christ Each hour (in the world) 7,425 people die 5,049 die and go to hell If you stood all
Rest matters. You can get in some pretty funny and embarrassing situations if you don’t have rest. Every single person has probably had their picture taken at least once while asleep in the car or in a classroom with drool rolling down their cheek. I could tell story after story of hilarious instances where lack of rest has caused people to be embarrassed. – Sara seeing man fall asleep at Christmas Eve service and put money in communion – Pictures
Have you ever come across something in the Bible that doesn’t make sense? There are some crazy stories in the Bible! One of my favorites is…especially since I work with youth…the story of Elisha and the she bears. 2 Kings 2:23-25 – 23 He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 And he
What’s the greatest treasure you have? If your house was on fire, what is the one thing you would run and grab? (kids, dog…not cat, family heirloom, Bible, computer) We have a lot of treasures. Most likely you have more than you could grab. Randy Alcorn, in his book The Treasure Principle, makes a really profound and biblical point that I want us to dig into this morning that radically changes our perspective on how we live and approach life.
Revelation – The Blood of the Martyrs – 14 Revelation 6:7-17 – 7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
Is Hell Real and Why Do People Go There? Luke 16:19-24; John 3;16-18; 36 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels
Revelation – The Wrath of the Lamb – 13 Revelation 6:1-17 – 1 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its
Revelation – The Lion and the Lamb – 12 Revelation 5:1-14 – 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
The Restoration Business James 5:19-20 I. RESTORE BELIEVERS “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth…” (1) The POSSIBILITY of a person who knows Christ wandering away from the Lord. 1) Some people wander away from the Lord because of neglect. “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together as is the manner of some.” 2) Some people wander away is because they get caught up in the ways of the world. a. You can wander away in BELIEF. “if anyone among you
Revelation – The King on His Throne – 11 Revelation 4:1-11 – 1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around
Answered Prayer James 5:16-18 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. I. An EXPLANATION of answered prayer. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (1) There is an INTEGRITY to prayer. “the effective, fervent prayer of
The Benefit of Grace | April 27, 2022 Who is someone you would consider a saint? Usually it is the most godly or impactful person you know. In the catholic faith, someone becomes a saint after they die if their life is evaluated and they are found to live virtuously, as a servant of God, and have performed at least one miracle or if someone prays to them after their death and a miracle occurs. * Conversation with a catholic
The Healing Ministry of the Church James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous
Easter: V Day Easter for Christians is V Day (a day commemorating victory) Easter is V Day because of… I. A vacant tomb. Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene , Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, who will roll away
A Prescription for Any Condition James 5:13-14 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick, let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him with oil in the name of the Lord. Question #1, Is anyone among you suffering? Question #2, Is anyone cheerful? Question #3, Is anyone among you sick? I. The Circumstance of Hardship Is anyone among you suffering? Let
Revelation – Spit You Out – 10 Revelation 3:14-22 – 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing
Jesus is Coming Soon! James 5:7-12 7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,
Revelation – Open Door – 9 Revelation 3:7-13 – 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not
Money Miseries James 5:1-6 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You
Revelation – Wake Up – 8 Revelation 3:1-6 – 1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.
What if Tomorrow Never Comes? James 4:13-17 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy. And that is God so…who are you to judge another? Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrowwe will go to such and
The Tragedy of a Worldly Life James 4:4-10 1) He says we are saved out of the world. 2) He says we are still in this world. 3) He says we are not to be of the world. 4) He says He sends us into the world. I. The sinfulness of a worldly life. (1) Worldliness is a sin against love. “Adulterers and adulteresses!” (2) Worldliness is a sin against light. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?” (3) Worldliness is a sin against liberty. “Whoever therefore wants to be
Revelation – Tolerating Tolerance – 7 Revelation 2:18-29 – 18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and
The Tragedy of a Misdirected Life James 4:1-3 I. The tragedy of disruptive problems. “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (1) So he asks, where do they come from? (2) How do they operate? (3) Now notice what takes place then. II. The tragedy of destructive passions. (1) These destructive passions destroy peace within. “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet
Wisdom: What this World Desperately Needs! James 3:13-18 KNOWLEDGE is the accumulation of facts. WISDOM is the ability to use knowledge for God’s glory and to benefit mankind. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. I. THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD (1) Where did it get its ORIGIN? “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.” (2) Now what is the
Revelation – False Teaching & False Promises – 6 Revelation 2:12-17 – 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the
James 3:1-12 My brethren let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. for we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. I. The DIRECTIVE nature of the tongue. “Indeed we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.” “Look also at ships: although they are so large and are
Revelation – Bigger than Death – 5 Revelation 2:8-11 – 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that
Saving Faith
James 2:14-26
John Calvin, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies–can never be alone.”
I. Saving faith is a matter of WORKS as well as WORDS. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?”
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled.’ But you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Thus also, faith by itself–if it does not have works is dead.
Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
II. Saving faith is a matter of the HEART as well as the HEAD. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.”
III. Saving faith is a matter of the PUBLIC as well as the PRIVATE.
(1) Abraham the Patriarch. “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?”
“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”
(2) Rahab the Prostitute. “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Are you willing to get in the wheelbarrow?
Revelation – Remedy for a Cold Heart – 4
Revelation 2:1-7 – 1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
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Do you take complements well? There are some people who just have to have positive feedback on everything they do to feel valued. Other people have a hard time receiving complements and don’t know how to react when they are given. Though these two types of people are completely different, they have one thing in common. They each would prefer to hear the good things over the bad.
Can you think of a time you were complemented by somebody and it just meant the world to you? Maybe because of how hard you tried and someone finally noticed it, or maybe just because of who that person is, it meant the world that they would say something nice about you.
What would you do if Jesus, to your face, told you all the good things you are doing, even the things nobody sees? That’s what’s happened here in this first letter to the church in Ephesus. Jesus starts off by giving essentially a long run-on sentence of nine things they are doing well.
Remember, Jesus stands among the lampstands, which are the seven churches. He is with you and sees you. As one commentator said, “As one who walks in the midst of the churches, Christ is able to say, “I know your deeds” (2:9; 3:1, 8, 15).”[1] This was a great church. The city of Ephesus was huge and important, and this church was actively living out their faith. Jesus spouts off a list of nine things this church is doing well. As we think about these, we need to evaluate our life and see if we look like this as well. Would Jesus say the same things to us?
The list of positive things they did can be broken up into two categories: deeds and theology.
Deeds:
1) Their works. (vs 2)They served the Lord. A Christian is not saved by works, but a Christian is saved to work. You could tell these people knew Jesus because there was fruit to show of it (Matt 7:17).
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
James 2:14-17 – 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Is there fruit from your faith? Are there works to show that you follow the Way? If there are not, there is a good chance you don’t actually follow Jesus. Jesus even says as much (Matt 7:21-23).
2) Their labor. (vs 2)They served tirelessly and under threat of persecution. Following Jesus is hard work. It’s not the easy road. They understood this and lived it out.
Matthew 7:13 – Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
We live in a time where the American dream has crept its way into the church. Most Christians think the extent of being a Christian is not being too bad of a person and you will get good things in life.[2] What it really means to be a Christian is to deny yourself and take up your cross daily (Matt 16:4; Lk 9:23). That’s not as enticing. But it’s the true way. It’s not the way our flesh or our culture says is best, but it’s the way the Creator and sustainer of the cosmos and the lover of your soul says is best.
3) Their endurance. (vs 2, 3)Chuck Swindoll states,
“The Ephesian Christians faced special challenges. Because they refused to bow the knee to the goddess Diana or the images of the emperor, they found themselves maligned, slandered, boycotted, and abused. Not unlike Jewish merchants in Berlin in the 1930’s Christians in Ephesus would have been the objects of physical violence, social ostracism, and economic repression. Yet they endured. They bore up under the load. Clearly, Ephesus had been taught well by its predecessors, Paul, Timothy, and John.”[3]**
Do you persevere in following Jesus, or do you give in to the pressures around you? If you keep going even when its hard, you are a lot like this Ephesian church, and Jesus will say “well done.”
Theology: (vs. 2, 6)
1) They separated from evil.
2) They believed the right things.
They didn’t bear with those who were evil and tested those who claimed to be apostles and found them to be false. They were not just believing everything they were told but were seeking true truth.
The culture around them worshiped false Gods. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was there, the temple of Artemis, which became a revered place of worship.[4] Also, in verse 6, we see mention of the Nicolaitans. They are only mentioned here and a few verses later, but many commentators agree that these people brought in a thinking that it was ok to be sexually immoral and to not follow the law. Early church fathers had some harsh words against them, as Jesus does here, saying he even hates what they are doing. Irenaeus[5] said, “They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence,” and Tertullian[6] argued that they aimed at destroying the happiness of sanctity by their lust and luxury.[7]
This church stood against this false teaching and wayward lifestyles. They stood firm on the truths that God has laid out in scripture, and they were unashamed of it. Is that you? Do you live that way? What you believe determines how you live. Do you believe the right things, and therefore do you live the right way?
With all the good Jesus commended them for, there was one problem. Jesus says, “You do this and this and this and this and this and this and this BUT…I have this against you…”
As much as we want to hear all the good, you know how easily one negative comment can cancel out all the good things you see in your life. It’s the negative you dwell on. It’s the negative that ruins your day. And Jesus intends it to be that way with this negative.
“Every virtue carries within itself the seeds of its own destruction. It seems probable that desire for sound teaching and the resulting forthright action taken to exclude all imposters had created a climate of suspicion in which love within the believing community could no longer exist.”[8]**
“Barclay concludes that ‘heresy-hunting had killed love and orthodoxy had been achieved at the price of fellowship’ (1.64), while Robbins observes that ‘their hatred of heresy had left no room for love of those who differed in their beliefs’” (54).[9]**
After all the good Jesus noted about them, He said this…but…You have abandoned the love you had at first. (vs 4)
Have you ever been in love? What was it like? Take a few moments to think back and remember the beginning of all those rushes of feelings and your willingness to move mountains for that person.
Listen to what Warren Wiersbe said: “The church that loses its love will soon lose its light, no matter how doctrinally sound it may be.”[10]**
This quote struck me in a pointed way. These people were commended for serving God tirelessly and being doctrinally sound, yet Jesus had this one thing against them, and their lack of love threatened to undo it all. In verse 5, Jesus said their lack of love, even amidst all the good they were doing, threatened to take their lampstand away. There is no need for a lampstand when there’s no light shining. Remember, the lampstands are the churches.
It’s the Olympics right now, and I love watching the Olympics. If you’ve ever watched the opening ceremonies, you know that the main point is when they light the torch. This is modeled after the Greek’s Lampadedromia. In it, the winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Him.[11]
Hamilton says, “The church in Ephesus is doing nine things right and one thing wrong. But that one thing they have abandoned, the love they had at first, threatens to nullify everything that they are doing right.”[12]**
Akin says, “They didn’t have a head problem but a heart problem. Obedience out of duty had replaced obedience out of love for Christ.”[13]**
Allow God’s Word and Spirit to shine and heat up some dark and cold places in your heart right now. Maybe your light isn’t shining brightly because your love has grown cold.
Warren Wiersbe says, “The Ephesian believers were so busy maintaining their separation that they were neglecting adoration.”[14]**
Remedy for a cold heart:
Remember. (vs 5)
Memory can be a powerful tool. Remembering what it was that caused someone to fall in love with somebody can stop a divorce in its tracks. Remembering all that somebody has done for you can fill your heart with gratitude unlike anything else. Remember what Jesus has done for you. Remember how sweet and free the gospel is. Remember what He saved you from. Remember the great love He has showered upon you. Remember who He is and what He has done.
Repent. (vs 5)
Danny Akin says, “Jesus reminds them that labor is no substitute for love, purity is no substitute for passion, and deeds are no substitute for devotion. Do not pat yourself on the back for doing good things for the wrong reason. God looks on the heart (1 Sam 16:7; Mark 7:6).”[15]
Evaluate the state of your heart, and if it’s not in the right place…if it’s not beating on fire for God and His glory alone, repent. Turn. Admit your failure. And trust that God hasn’t changed and is right there waiting for you to return.
Do what you did. (vs 5)
When you were so in love, how did you act? You would do anything for that person. When you first fell in love with Jesus, how did you act? You passionately followed Him. Your poured over His Word. You worshipped Him with hands raised and the hairs on your arms standing up. Do it again. God hasn’t changed. Your salvation is still the same. You’ve been pardoned from an eternity of punishment. You’ve been given life now and forever. You have hope. Jesus is still the same Jesus you fell in love with.
And remember this: The reward is great. (vs 7)
“Those who conquer will eat from “the tree of life.” The tree of life will be infinitely satisfying, and those who fail to conquer because they prized other things over Jesus will feel infinite remorse. And that remorse will never end.”[16]**
“What Adam and Eve forfeited through sin we regain in Christ.”[17]**
Heaven and eternity are your reward. Beholding forever the glory you lived for here on earth is yours. True love displayed and comprehended forever is yours. And it starts now.
[1] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 1997), 68.
[2] This is called moralistic therapeutic deism and is prominent among the American church.
[3] Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on Revelation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011), 38.
[4] https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/seven-wonders-ancient-world/; https://www.britannica.com/topic/Temple-of-Artemis-temple-Ephesus-Turkey
[5] Against Heresies 1.26.3
[6] Against Marcion 1.29
[7] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 35.
[8] Mounce, 69.
[9] Mounce, 69n13.
[10] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007), 1041.
[11] Fan The Flame, J. Stowell, Moody, 1986, p. 32
[12] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 70.
[13] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 37.
[14] Wiersbe, 1041.
[15] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 38.
[16] Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, 71.
[17] Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 40.
Favoritism in the Church
James 2:1-13
I. James gives us a PROHIBITION. “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”
1) Favoritism is contradictory to the Christian faith.
2) Favoritism is contradictory to Christ.
II. James gives us an ILLUSTRATION.
1) They were partial on the basis of the superficial.
2) They were partial on the basis of the material.
III. James makes the APPLICATION.
(1) Face the contradiction. “Listen my beloved brethren has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?”
(2) We need to face the transgression. “but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”
“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”
(3) We need to face the examination. “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.”
“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.”
Come just as you are!
Revelation – Letters to the Churches – 3
Revelation 1:3-4a – 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
Revelation 2:7 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Revelation 2:11 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Revelation 2:17 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Revelation 2:29 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:6 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:21-22 – 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
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Do you like receiving letters? It always means a lot when you get a personal, handwritten letter from somebody. It means they took the time and purposefully thought of you. What would happen if you received a letter from Jesus? What would you do? I read this and thought it was fitting for what we are going to hear in these letters:[1]
Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:Dear Ruth, I’m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I would like to visit.Love Always, JesusHer hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. “Why would the Lord want to visit me? I’m nobody special. I don’t have anything to offer.” With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets.“Oh my goodness, I really don’t have anything to offer. I’ll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner.”She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. “Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least.”She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk…leaving Ruth with grand total of twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.“Hey lady, can you help us?”Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn’t even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags.“Look lady, I ain’t got a job, ‘ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, it’s getting cold and we’re getting ‘kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us, lady, we’d really appreciate it.”Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.“Sir, I’d like to help you, but I’m a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I’m having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him.”“Yeah, well, okay. I understand. Thanks anyway.”The man put his arm around the woman’s shoulders, turned and he headed back into the alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.“Sir, wait!”The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. “Look, why don’t you take this food. I’ll figure out something else to serve my guest.”She handed the man her grocery bag.“Thank you lady. Thank you very much!” “Yes, thank you!” It was the man’s wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering.“You know, I’ve got another coat at home. Here, why don’t you take this one.” Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman’s shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street… without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.“Thank you lady! Thank you very much!”Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn’t have anything to offer Him.She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox. “That’s odd. The mailman doesn’t usually come twice in one day.” She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.Dear Ruth, It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.Love Always, Jesus
The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.
Last week we just got done seeing Jesus in all his glory. He promises He is coming back again. He is writing us letters in hopes that we would prepare for his arrival. We are going to see good things and bad things in these letters about the state of our hearts and how we are living. And as we evaluate ourselves in light of these letters, it shouldn’t just change our expectation of his arrival for the future, but it should change how we live for him now in the present.
He wrote these for all churches. Every time he concludes a letter to a church, he uses the plural “churches” (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). Remember, this is a circular letter. If you go in a counterclockwise motion from Patmos and make the rounds of the churches in the Roman province of Asia, you would be following the exact route of the churches as they are listed in these two chapters. And just like with any symbolic, apocalyptic writings, often when you see a number, it has some other intended meaning. The number 7 is a number that means completion. So the fact that there are only 7 churches listed gives the impression that they are not only for the individual churches but for the church as a whole. These letters were also intended to be read aloud in all the churches, likely from start to finish. So, though they deal with specific problems in specific churches, they are also meant to admonish and encourage people in all churches.
There is no perfect church. James Hamilton makes a good point about these letters as they were written in history. “When this letter was written, the apostolic age had not yet closed! The church has never really had a ‘golden age’ when everything was right. From the beginning there were problems.”[2] This gives me hope and it challenges me, as it should you. So many times people hop to and frow to church after church because something isn’t just right. Guess what, you’ll be hopping your whole life. File this away right now for the rest of your life. Plug into a church for the long haul. Don’t bail immediately when things get difficult. Do the hard work of seeking to make it healthy if it is not. That’s what these letters to these churches are for. Jesus is saying, here’s some good. Here’s some bad. Do something about it. So, even though it is for the church as a whole, it is really for the individuals within the church.
He wrote these for individuals. Notice how many times he says, “He who has an ear, let him hear…” Warren Wiersbe says, “Churches are made up of individuals, and it is individuals who determine the spiritual life of the assembly. So, while reading these messages, we must apply them personally as we examine our own hearts.”[3] These letters are for you. And, as it says right off the bat, you are blessed if you listen and do what it says (1:3). When you get harsh words said against you, often it is easy to be seen as an attack. But, when the words come from somebody you know who loves you, they come from a place of encouragement, to better you.
He wrote these to encourage. Many times in these 7 letters, John is writing with a longing for the church and its individuals to overcome…to conquer (2:7, 11, 17; 3:21). John was a pastor at heart, seeking to encourage these churches during a difficult time of persecution. It’s not easy for us to hear, but it is necessary for our health. There is a lot of judgment that lies ahead in the book of Revelation, but as Warren Wiersbe says, “Before Christ judges the world, He must judge his own people.”[4] That’s what he is doing in these letters…to you.
The content of these 7 letters are all similar, and we can benefit from starting off by getting a birds eye view of these before we dig deep into them in the coming weeks. The content of these letters can be summarized as: For the glory of God the churches are to be zealous for the gospel, reject false teaching, and live according to the gospel.[5]
For the glory of God. Each letter starts with some aspect of who Jesus is in relation to what the letter is going to say.
Revelation 2:1 – The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
Revelation 2:8 – The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
Revelation 2:12 – The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
Revelation 2:18 – The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Revelation 3:1 – The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
Revelation 3:7 – The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Revelation 3:14 – The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
The most important thing in all of life is Jesus. The first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer is, “To glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”[6] The most important aspect of your life and eternity is what you seek to glorify.
Be zealous for the gospel. Each letter contains either a warning about not taking the gospel seriously or encouragement that they are zealous for the gospel and should keep going.
Revelation 2:4 – I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Revelation 2:10 – Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:13 – I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith
Revelation 2:26 – The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations
Revelation 3:3 – Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.
Revelation 3:8 – You have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Revelation 3:16 – Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Are you taking the gospel seriously? Is it the most important thing in your life? Or are you lukewarm? Have your forgotten the love you had at first?
Reject false teaching. Many of the letters contain some charge for them to not listen to some particular false teaching and to listen to and follow the truth.[7] One commentator says, “All of the letters deal with the theme of faithfulness to Christ in the midst of an often-threatening pagan culture.” This is so important to us today, as we have so many voices yelling at us, telling us which way to follow. And the whole time, we have God’s Word guiding us to himself.
You hear what you listen for. When you have a sound machine on to go to sleep, do you hear the sound machine? Yes and no. Even though you hear it, you tune it out so you don’t hear it. It’s the same way with the voices around us.
Are you listening to the voices around you? Are you listening to your own desires? Or are you listening to God’s Word and submitting your mind, body, and future to what it is saying?
Live according to the gospel. Action must always follow correction. If I discipline my child, it is so they do not do the same thing I just got them in trouble for. It is the same way with the discipline of God.
Hebrews 12:11 – For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
So, will you be one who listens and is blessed? Or will you harden your heart and pursue destruction? The choice is laid before us as it is laid before these churches. Which will you choose? And you must choose.
[1] https://www.cobblestoneroadministry.org/sermon3.html
[2] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 56.
[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007), 1040.
[4] Wiersbe, 1040.
[5] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 59; G. K. Beale similarly notes the content of these letters as, “Christ encourages the churches to witness, warns them against compromise, and exhorts them to hear and to overcome compromise in order to inherit eternal life.” G. K. Beale, Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (Grand Rapids: W.B. Eerdmans, 2015), 53.
[6] https://thewestminsterstandard.org/westminster-shorter-catechism/
[7] 2:2, 6, 14-16, 20, 24
Revelation – Seeing Jesus – 2
Revelation 1:9-20
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
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. 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.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 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.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
What do you think the perfect life is? What would it be for you? (Most people would say no hardship or having everything you want) The perfect life is a life that follows Jesus. How that is played out is often in complete contradiction to the ways of the world and the American Dream. And that thought has crept into the church. The best life is the one that follows Jesus. But look what Jesus himself says about following Him:
Luke 9:23 – If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Following Jesus involves suffering and obedience. (9-11)
The apostle John, who is suffering, is writing to specific churches, who are suffering. Why is John suffering? He did nothing wrong. He is suffering simply for following Jesus. He is in his nineties and he is exiled on an island for criminals. John MacArthur tells us,
“According to the Roman historian Tacitus, exile to such islands was a common form of punishment in the first century. At about the same time that John was banished to Patmos, Emperor Domitian exiled his own niece, Flavia Domitilla, to another island. Unlike Flavia Domatilla, whose banishment was politically motivated, John was probably sent to Patmos as a criminal (as a Christian, he was a member of an illegal religious sect). If so, the conditions under which he lived would have been harsh. Exhausting labor under the watchful eye (and ready whip) of a Roman overseer, insufficient food and clothing, and having to sleep on the bare ground would have taken their toll on a ninety-year-old man. It was on the bleak, barren island, under those brutal conditions, that John received the most extensive revelation of the future ever given.”[1]**
John is saying he is a brother and partner in tribulation. He has joined them and is with them amidst their hardship. And they can all make their way through it because Jesus is with them.
Your best life is not now. (9)
I love this about Revelation. It shows me the future. It shows me the destruction of everything that has destroyed me so many times. The destruction of worldly, enticing, sinful culture…the destruction of Satan…the destruction of sin…and ultimately the destruction of death. Right now, we dwell amidst all of these things. Destruction surrounds us. If you think you are living your best life now, you are in for a rude awakening. Hardship awaits you, followed by more hardship. But Revelation shows me that no matter what I face now, God is making all things new.
Here is something else incredible to think about. I want you to dwell on the best things you have experienced in life. The best things you have experienced. The most beautiful things you have seen. The most pleasing aromas you have smelled. The most delicious of foods. The most exhilarating of stories you have watched or read. Amidst all of those incredible goods, your best life is not now. What awaits in heaven makes all of those things look dull and boring.
There is so much hope in Revelation, because though we suffer now, it won’t last forever, and all the good we have now, we have even better waiting for us in our future, purchased and prepared by Jesus himself (John 14:3).
The risen Christ calls his church to obedience. (11)
Do you do what you are told? Is it easy or hard for you to do what you are told when your parent or some authority tells you to do something? We like to do what we want. Nobody desires obedience to another. (My little girl thinks it’s the end of the world when we tell her to walk up the stairs and she wants one of us to carry her. What would take her 10 seconds ends up taking 5 minutes of crying and barely crawling.)
John is told to write down exactly what he sees, and what does he do? Exactly as he’s told. He’s already in the situation he is in because he has done exactly what he was told, taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. This very letter is intended for churches in Asia. All the suffering he has experienced through being the last living apostle has come from each apostles’ obedience in doing what Jesus told them as well. Jesus’ own brother, James, was stoned to death. Peter was crucified upside down. Paul had his head cut off. And here John is, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who reclined at the last supper, leaning on Jesus, the one who saw him transfigured, the only one of the disciples who was at the foot of the cross, the one who took care of Jesus’ mother Mary…here he is in his old age after living a life of obedience to Jesus, still walking in obedience. Here he is, after all these years, 60 years after hearing the voice of Jesus, hearing from the mouth of Jesus again, a resurrected and fully glorified Jesus…and you better believe he is doing whatever he is told, without question. He sees the worth of Jesus. And when you do, you are willing to follow wherever he leads.
Seven lampstands (12, 20) = seven churches
Hear the words of one commentator regarding how we should understand this imagery in relation to the Old Testament:
“In order to understand this passage, it is important to understand the Old Testament background. Most of the references to lampstands in the Old Testament are references to the lampstand in the tabernacle or the ten lampstands that Solomon prepared for the temple. But the most important background for what John relates here about Jesus in the midst of the seven lampstands is what Zechariah saw as stated in Zechariah 4:1-14…The lampstand Zechariah saw points to the successful rebuilding of the temple and the renewal of God’s presence among his people…This scenario now finds its fulfillment in what John sees in Revelation. The Lor is not building a temple in which he will dwell but a church (cf. Matt 16:18)! The church is not a building but believers who are “living stones” (cf. 1 Peter 2:5). Zechariah’s lampstand, which symbolized the presence of God in the temple, is fulfilled by the seen lampstands of Revelation, which symbolizes God’s presence in the seven churches to whom John writes (1:20; 2:5).”[2]**
Here’s something I want you to see about all of this. It is where Jesus is standing. He is standing amidst the lampstands (13). You know what this means? You are not alone. You have all the saints who have walked before you in suffering and obedience, your fellow brothers and sisters in the faith like John, and you have Jesus. Right here among us. With us in the fight. You are not alone. Even John, locked away on an island. Jesus is among his churches.
Seeing Jesus as he truly is produces awe and wonder. (12-16)
Warren Wiersbe says, “There is a dangerous absence of awe and worship in our assemblies today. We are boasting about standing on our own feet, instead of breaking and falling at His feet.”[3]** We could greatly use a fresh sense of awe when it comes to Jesus. Let’s try to make sense of some of what John is seeing about Jesus in these passages. Remember, much of Revelation is symbolic, which means it also has intended meaning.
His attire (13) = Heavenly Priest – see Daniel 10:5[4]– What he is wearing is similar to what a priest would wear. A priest is someone who would facilitate the forgiveness of sins with sacrifices. Jesus is our high priest who sacrificed himself for us once for all.
Son of Man (13) = Messiah – see Daniel 7:13-14[5]
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Hairs (14) = Ancient of Days – see Daniel 7:9[6]
“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.”
Eyes (14) = All-Seeing Judgment
“When John describes Jesus as one whose ‘eyes were like a flame of fire,’ he is declaring the reality that nothing escapes the all-searching, pure gaze of Jesus.”[7]**
Remember, “Revelation” is an unveiling or uncovering. Sometimes it’s good when things are revealed, like when we truly see Jesus for all that He is in all of His splendor, or that moment when a husband first sees his wife as she’s walking down the isle. Other times revealing is painful and scary. We hide things for a reason…because we don’t want them to be revealed.
Here are three things to know about the all-searching gaze of Jesus.[8]
1) No sin we commit will escape his notice.
2) He will see every faithful thing his people do.
3) He will note every injustice done to his people by their enemies.
Feet (15) = Purity – see Daniel 10:6
“His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.”
His feet are bronze, refined in fire. When refining would take place with metals, you would put the metal in a hot fire and it would burn away all the impurities. The picture John sees of Jesus is one of absolute purity. He is the perfect one. There is no blemish in him. What an incredible vision this would be to behold. What would your response be to seeing Jesus this way?
Beholding Jesus’ power overwhelms and encourages. (17-20)
“As we see in verses 17-20, this appearance of the risen Christ, in blazing splendor like the sun shining in full strength, produced in John a sensory overload that left him “as though dead” (17). The incomparable glory of the risen Christ motivates John’s audience to heed what John has been commissioned to write. The matchless splendor of Heaven’s King attracts the attention and compels the obedience of the churches John addresses. The risen Christ in glory summons forth obedience from his churches.”[9]**
John was literally overwhelmed when he saw Jesus in all his glory. He dropped down as if dead. But Jesus said the most wonderful words: “Fear not.” We can fear not because He is alive and He holds the keys to all of time and death itself.
I love what Danny Akin says in relation to Jesus’s response to John here:
“Do not fear time. He is the First and the Last.
Do not fear life. It is He who is alive forevermore.
Do not fear dying. He holds the keys to the grave and death.”[10]****
I want to conclude with these words from James Hamilton in his commentary on Revelation:
“The most significant feature of this passage is the overwhelming glory of Jesus. The grabbing description of the sovereign Lord Christ, the King Messiah, assures John’s audience, which includes us, that Jesus is to be worshiped and obeyed because of his surpassing worth and power. His authority is such, as the one who holds the keys of death and Hades, that he controls the earthly and the eternal destiny of every man, woman, and child. Your response to Jesus as he is revealed in this passage determines whether you will rule with him or will be slain by the sword that comes from his mouth. He is risen. He is indestructible. He is unconquerable. He is Lord.”[11]**
Have you made him your Lord?
[1] MacArthur John, Revelation 1-11, vol. 32, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1999), 41.
[2] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 45-6.
[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007), 1039.
[4] Hamilton, Revelation, 47.
[5] Hamilton, Revelation, 46.
[6] Hamilton, Revelation, 48.
[7] Hamilton, Revelation, 49.
[8] Hamilton, Revelation, 49.
[9] Hamilton, Revelation, 50.
[10] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 27.
[11] Hamilton, Revelation, 52.
Revelation – Revealing Christ to Christians – 1
Revelation 1:1-8
1The 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.
Greeting to the Seven Churches
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.”
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An apocalyptic event from history (September 11, 2001, or Pompeii).[1]**
The city of Pompeii is famous because it was destroyed in 79 CE when a nearby volcano, Mount Vesuvius, erupted, covering it in at least 19 feet of ash and other volcanic debris. The city’s quick burial preserved it for centuries before its ruins were discovered in the late 16th century.
What if you knew of the event one day before? What would you do? We should think of Revelation in this way. In movies where you have an apocalyptic event happen, they kinda allude to this. There’s always that old disheveled homeless-looking dude that is grungy and has a long beard who is holding a big cardboard sign, and what does the sign always have on it? Something like, “THE END IS NEAR.” I guess that’s how the world sees Christians, as some caricature. It’s probably because, if we’re honest, they don’t see actual Christians doing it. Proclaiming the end is near. Telling people they need to repent and believe. They know what Christians believe about this and how they should react, but we so often don’t act consistent with what we believe. We should view the book of Revelation and our response to it in the same manner as the homeless-looking dude on the street a day before Pompeii is covered with ash. What will help us get to this point is in realizing why this book of Revelation matters.
Why Revelation matters: It reveals. It reveals Christ. It reveals the way things are and will be.
We love when things are revealed. We don’t like things to be hidden…unless they are bad. Revealing can be good and it can be difficult. Two renovation shows that highlighted how celebratory revealing can be is Extreme Home Makeover and Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Fixer Upper. After the renovation in Extreme Home Makeover, a big bus would be in front of the house, obstructing your view of the renovations. Everyone would yell, “Move that bus!” Then the homeowners and viewers would get to see the house as it is now. It’s the same with Fixer Upper. They would have a huge picture of the old house obstructing your view, then they would wheel it apart, revealing the renovation. And what is always the response from the homeowner. They lady almost always immediately starts crying because she is overwhelmed with what she sees. This is how the revealing of Christ in Revelation should be for us. The curtain is being pulled back and we are seeing things as they are. Jesus is the only one worthy. And as John sees this, he can’t help but weep. And neither can we.
On the other hand, there are some things we don’t want revealed. Why do girls wear makeup? Why do they put on concealer? Why is it called concealer? Because they are covering up things they don’t want revealed. What they consider blemishes. What would happen if all of a sudden we could listen to each thought you had today? Would that thrill you? What would you do if we yelled, “Move that bus!” and a large screen tv that plays all of your secrets started playing? The same thing as those homeowners…you would start crying. But not in the good way.
Revealing is glorious and difficult. We will see both in this letter. We will see the glory of Christ and the reality of our blemishes. But it will all lead us to glory in the God of our salvation.
So, we see a little about why Revelation matters. But what exactly is Revelation? Is it some horror book added onto the Bible?
What Revelation is: Apocalypse, Prophecy, Epistle
We see in verse 1, this is an apocalypse. The word revelation is the Greek word apokalypsis. This suggests it belongs to the genre of ancient Jewish and Christian literature or apocalyptic writings. When you hear the word apocalypse, what comes to mind? (end of the world…fire and brimstone…some world-shattering event…a new dystopian way of living) What we get from John’s isn’t just a transporting vision to the final outcome of earth. The effect of John’s visions “is to expand his readers’ world, both spatially (into heaven) and temporally (into the eschatological future)…It is not that the here-and-now are left behind in an escape into heaven or the eschatological future, but that the here-and-now look quite different when they are opened to transcendence.”[2] When you realize who God is…what He has done, is doing, and will do, it changes your perspective on everything. We have such a small view of God and near-sighted view of history and eternity. The apocalyptic component of Revelation gives us a HUGE view of God in his grandeur, his holiness, his judgment, and his glory. And that is meant to change our perspective here-and-now.
One commentator says that apocalypses have two purposes: (1) “to encourage and comfort believers” in their suffering and (2) to “challenge believers to adopt a new perspective on reality” in light of the end.[3] Another adds that “in Revelation the readers are exhorted to remain faithful to God and Christ, to endure until the final day not by capitulating [giving in] to the pressures imposed on them from the world.”[4] We need this. Especially in today’s age when the world is pressing in harder than seemingly ever before and with such loud voices. This apocalyptic vision is meant to strengthen us in the struggle and to help us endure the fight.
We see in verse 3, this is a prophecy. Revelation tells us what is to take place in the future. If you could know the future, would you? Would you pick that superpower if you were given the chance? I’m not totally sure I would. Maybe I would live in fear and dread some horrible thing on the horizon that is going to happen. But on the other hand, it might cause me to live more fully. To appreciate each moment more. To make the most of every opportunity. We are told how things are to end. Jesus is victorious. Satan loses. Forever. That gives me so much hope amidst the battle right now! Knowing what is to take place, no matter how devastating and how glorious, should cause us to live each moment to its fullest. If you knew you were about to have a last few moments with somebody, wouldn’t you make it count? Part of this component of Revelation being a prophecy is that we should live this way, as we can see from verse three, “for the time is near.” This phrase “must quickly” or will soon “take place” occurs seven times in Revelation and emphasizes that it could happen at any moment. Revelation isn’t the only place this is mentioned, but several times in the New Testament, we are told the same thing. “Hebrews 1:2 teaches we are now in ‘these last days.’ James 5:9 tells us, ‘The judge stands at the door.’ First John 2:18 affirms, ‘It is the last hour.’”[5] So, Christ could come at any moment. The events of Revelation could happen at any second. This is the nature of this prophecy.
We see in verse 4, this is an epistle (a letter). Hear what one commentator says about this: “The churches appear to be named in the order in which a letter carrier would have gone from one church to another, starting from Ephesus.[6] This book is a circular letter addressed to Christians in churches. That means it was written to encourage Christians. The whole book was probably intended to be read aloud, in one sitting, in a worship gathering of the local church. In writing to seven churches, seven being a number of completion and wholeness, John writes to all the churches.”[7] Another commentator says, “We shall observe quite often in this book the symbolic significance which attaches to numbers in Revelation. Seven is the number of completeness. By addressing seven churches John indicates that his message is addressed to specific churches as representative of all the churches.”[8] So what this means is this is also a letter written to you. For us to read aloud together. To be encouraged and to live for God in the short time we have left. We have to seek to understand the imagery and the intended meaning behind certain components to be able to apply it correctly to our present church age, but it is written for us to read and study together.
So, Revelation “seems to be an apocalyptic prophecy in the form of a circular letter to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia.”[9] Ok, we have seen why Revelation matters and what it is. Now, I want to tell you how we are to read and understand Revelation.
First, you should try to read it as they would have understood it. This is part of the aspect in understanding that it is a letter that was intended to be read aloud in real churches. So, we should read it and seek to understand it within the context they would have understood it.[10]****
Also, we should remember that this is also prophecy. Many prophecies in the Bible often had two fulfillments (an immediate and a future fulfillment). Many of the prophecies we study at Christmas time about Jesus are this way. Take for example the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 about Immanuel. It had an immediate fulfillment at the time of Isaiah of a child to be a sign to Ahaz, but it had greater fulfillment when Jesus was born in Matthew 1:23.[11] As we seek to understand how they would have read it, it may give us insight to understand it as we should. There could even be some past fulfillments of the prophecies found in Revelation, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still greater fulfillments to be had of those same prophecies in the future.
As with all prophecy, and really everything, we should major on the majors and minor on the minors. As certain as we like to be, we need to admit that we are not certain. And if anyone says they are certain about some specific aspect of end times prophecy, you should immediately be uncertain about their certainty. We don’t know when Jesus is coming back. We don’t know if any or which historical position of end times theology is correct or most accurate. We can’t know what each symbol means with complete certainty. We can and should seek to come to reasonable conclusions and convictions, but we should hold them with loose hands.
Here’s why I think this. The Jews had the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. They studied them diligently and were eagerly awaiting His arrival. Yet, they missed it. He came as a humble baby born to die rather than a conquering earthly king like David. He didn’t come as they expected though He perfectly fulfilled every prophecy in the Old Testament. Who are we to think we are any different? We have the scriptures, and we are eagerly awaiting His second coming. There is much uncertainty, but we can be certain about two things, and that’s how we are going to view this whole study.
We can be certain that Jesus is coming back again, and we should be found ready.
Are you ready? Are you ready to study this book? To have Jesus revealed? And heaven revealed? And your sin revealed? And the glory of God revealed?
Are you ready for Him to come back again? What if it’s tomorrow?
[1] This introduction is inspired by the introduction to the following commentary. James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 17.
[2] Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation, New Testament Theology (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993), 7-8.
[3] Brian J. Tabb, All Things New: Revelation as Canonical Capstone (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2019), 5.
[4] Thomas R. Schreiner, The Joy of Hearing: A Theology of the Book of Revelation, New Testament Theology (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021).
[5] Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2016), 5.
[6] See also, Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation, 12. He states, “They are probably named in the order in which they would be visited by a messenger starting from Patmos and travelling on a circular route around the province of Asia. But many misreadings of Revelation, especially those which assume that much of the book was not addressed to its first-century readers and could only be understood by later generations, have resulted from neglecting the fact that it is a letter.”
[7] James M. Hamilton, Jr., Revelation, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 20-1.
[8] Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation, 16.
[9] Thomas R. Schreiner, The Joy of Hearing: A Theology of the Book of Revelation, New Testament Theology (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 26.
[10] Schreiner, The Joy of Hearing, 22-3.
[11] https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/march-web-only/three-horizons-of-old-testament-prophecy-christopher-wright.html
Connected – Week 6 – Strangers Matter
Luke 10:25-37
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
What is Jesus saying in this text? What point was Jesus trying to get across to this man?
Well, the man’s question was, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” This man new the Law, the Old Testament Scriptures, so Jesus answered his question with a question and asked, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” The lawyer, who knew the law well, of course answered correctly. He said what we’ve been studying these two whole months: Love God, love others. Love God with my everything and love my neighbor as myself. Jesus said, well, yeah…that’s right. Do this and you will live.
Before the guy asked Jesus the question, he already knew the answer. He nailed the answer, spot on. So, why did the man ask another question in order to justify himself? If he knew the law, knew how to inherit eternal life…why was there need to ask, in order to justify himself, well, who is my neighbor?
What we see in this, before we ever get to the story of the Good Samaritan, is the most important part of this passage. And, honestly, it is almost always overlooked when people read, study, or preach this passage.
The initial question was “How can I have eternal life?” And, Jesus answers. Follow the Law. But here’s the thing…We can’t perfectly obey the law. We don’t. Jesus sent the man back to the law, not because the law saves us but because the law shows us that we need to be saved.
Galatians 2:16 – yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:21 – I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Galatians 3:21 – Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
There is no real conversion without conviction, and the law is what God uses to convict sinners.
Romans 3:20 – For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
That’s the whole reason this guy asked the next question about who my neighbor is…he wanted to justify himself. He wanted to be right, but he knew that he doesn’t love his neighbor as himself – he knew he doesn’t live up to the law. He may love God with his everything, but when it came to some people…he knew he didn’t have it.
So, if his eternal life hung in the balance, because he can’t love all people, he wanted to find a way around it…“Well, who’s my neighbor then?”
Here’s the main point of the text…before we ever get to the Good Samaritan: You cannot get to Heaven…You cannot get to Heaven on your own…Because you cannot fully obey all of the Law.
If you want to get to Heaven, it is only through the One person who fully obeyed the Law. He not only obeyed the Law, but He fulfilled its requirements. There is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood – Hebrews 9:22. Jesus lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death so that you can go to heaven if you put your trust in Him. That is the main point of this story. That is the main thing you must hear. Because no matter how well you love God or love your neighbor, you will fail, and you will not be good enough for Heaven, but Jesus is, and He took your punishment so that you can go to Heaven. So, that’s the first point Jesus is making. But, He answers the man’s second question too, by telling a story.
The point of this story is not who my neighbor is. The point is that I be a good neighbor.
Two men passed by – one a priest and one a Levite. These guys knew the law…they knew the Scriptures…they were holy men. Neither of them helped the man in need. The Samaritan, a despised enemy, didn’t just check on the man…he went out of his way to help.
What are some big rivalries sports wise? [Give a few examples that are happening right now]
A Samaritan was like the person on the other team that you have this sacred hatred for but really you’re no better than them and them than you.
We see two men of God pass up a God opportunity. When we see these two men in this story, I want us to see ourselves. People who go to church. People who try to live for God. People who read His Word. People who worship. These two people were given an awesome opportunity to show the love of God. You’re not only given an opportunity, you’re given a responsibility. If not you, who will reach them? Somebody? Maybe nobody? What if you were the one who was supposed to do it? Is their blood on your hands? The responsibility is yours. God’s glory is on the line and people’s souls are on the line
What is a stranger? Someone you don’t know.
There are no strangers to God.
God knows them, and God wants to save them. God wants them to have eternal life with Him. So, God sends you. God puts them in your path.
We’ve been looking this whole time at who is my neighbor and how I should act towards them. Really, it is fitting for us to end this series how Jesus ended this story.
It doesn’t matter who our neighbor is. What matters is that we are good neighbors.
The relationships you build in this place and in your classrooms matter for eternity. The question Jesus is answering with all of this is about eternal life. People’s souls are at stake through our relationships. God not only gives us opportunities, but He gives us a responsibility.
You’re no different than anyone else just because you go to a different school or grew up in a different family, kind of like the Samaritan. God knows them all and loves them all, and we are all the same under the blood of Jesus, and all of us need to be under the blood of Jesus.
What hurts me as a pastor is to see you here for fun, friends, and entertainment and forgetting the whole purpose of the fun, friends, and entertainment…it’s to bring strangers to feel welcomed. Then they come and you don’t acknowledge them. And if you acknowledge them, it’s a “hey, ok bye.”
I don’t see the Samaritan…the true neighbor in Jesus’ story doing this. I see him not only see if the guy is ok…I see him help heal the guy’s wound…I see him put the guy on his animal and walk him into town…I see him go out of this way to put him in a hotel to get better and stay the night with him…I see him give two days wages and offer even more if needed to provide for the guy…I don’t see a man who just said, “hey are you ok? bye.” I see a man go out of his way for an enemy…for a stranger. I see a guy who doesn’t see social class, or looks, or school, or age, or commonalities in sports or gaming or cheerleading or studies. I see a guy who sees a stranger as God sees them. Someone created in God’s image who needs a friend…who needs some help…who needs to be shown the compassion that God has for them. That is a neighbor. That is loving God and loving others.
Knowing this, in a crowd of this size, it should pain your heart that you don’t know someone’s name. That you haven’t gotten to know that person. That you haven’t invited that person to hang out with you outside of church. That you haven’t tried to make friends with that person because you go to a different school.
The guy asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor.” Jesus answered…it doesn’t matter. You go be a good neighbor. If you think about it, why shouldn’t we? When we were strangers of God…when we didn’t know God, God sought us out…He pursued us…He gave His life for us…He was patient when we didn’t believe…He knocked and knocked and knocked…until finally we opened the door.
Revelation 3:20 – Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
One line from the song “Come thou Fount” sums it up best: “Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God. He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.”
Connected – Week 5 – Enemies Matter
Matthew 5:43-48
I want to tell you a story about a man. This man was an amazing man. He was known as a man full of grace and power. He loved on people and preached the Word of God boldly, and it is written about him that he did many mighty wonders and signs. When He spoke, he spoke with such wisdom and full of the Spirit. Nobody could argue with him. He always won the arguments in showing people who Christ really was. This made a lot of these people mad, so they made up lies to get him arrested. After he was arrested, as he was standing before the council, they asked him about the accusations made against him, saying, “Are these things so?” And the way he answered them was with one of the best sermons ever preached, proclaiming God’s deliverance through Jesus, and shouting to them that they are stiff-necked people who always resist the Holy Spirit. When he finished his sermon, they were furious! They dragged him off to outside the city and grabbed handfuls of stones and they started heaving them at him, striking him in the face and head and all over. They were killing him. His life on earth was almost over, and as he fell to his knees, too weak to stand, he shouted his last words…a prayer…one of the most powerful prayers to ever have been prayed. He said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Right as he prayed this, he died.
Now, why was this one of the most powerful prayers to ever have been prayed? It’s because the man that was standing there, happy about and approving of them stoning this man…he ended up getting saved. Not only that, but he ended up becoming a preacher. Not only that, because of him…this man that was happy and approving of this execution…because of him, millions have come to faith in Jesus.
The man that gave his life was a man named Stephen, and one of the men that Stephen prayed for, for God to not hold the sin against him…one of the men that was killing him…one of the men that was in charge of all these people killing him…a man that was zealous and happy about these people killing him…His name was Saul. And He became Paul. And God did not hold this sin against him.
Now, how can anyone pray such a prayer?
We’ve been in a series called Connected. We’ve been looking at relationships. And, it’s all based off Matthew 22:36-40. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Summarize the series up to this point
Tonight, we are going to look at the hardest relationship that we will have to deal with – Enemies.
Earlier in Jesus’ ministry, he talked about this, in His sermon on the mount. Turn to Matthew 5:43-48.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Here, Jesus is quoting the same verse of Leviticus 19:18 that He did in our Matthew 22 passage. But He’s clearing something up – He’s clearing up a common misconception…one that we have as well.
He’s saying that your neighbor does not only include your friends, your parents, your loved ones, or strangers (which we will look at next time), but it involves someone else…your enemies. It’s easy to seek a good relationship with all these other people, but Jesus says that you are skipping one important relationship! Your enemies! And Jesus is not just saying that we should seek good relationships with our enemies…no…He is saying that we should seek good for our enemies! What?!
Vs. 44 – “Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.” Praying for someone is the greatest form of seeking good for that person. Now, I don’t believe Jesus is talking about praying for harm to come their way. Remember, He says to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Imagine praying, “God, please give me a bad day today. Please let me go hungry today and get some sort of illness. I just would love that. And please let my friends turn on me today. That would be great. Also, while you’re at it, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, let me slip and fall. I would LOVE to break a bone! Thanks God. Amen.” No! You pray for good to come your way. Every time. Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.”
This word persecute doesn’t just mean kill – it means anyone that brings you harm. Someone who’s mean to you…Someone who spreads rumors about you…Someone who bullies you…Someone who has hit you…Someone who stole your innocence…Someone who flat out doesn’t care about you. Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you.”
Now, how in the world can we do this? Here’s three ways from this passage:
1. Simply greet them – vs. 47
We avoid those we don’t like or that don’t like us.
2. Help them – vs. 45
Practically meet their physical needs. 3Paul tells us to do this in Romans 12:20 when he says, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Kill them with kindness.
3. Pray for them – vs. 44
We covered this earlier – praying and seeking their good, and ultimately their salvation…their greatest good.
I think this question can be better answered by answering another question though: Why should we do this? We know we CAN do this, but we don’t feel like doing it…so WHY should we do this?
Jesus did it for us.
Who are we to not forgive when Christ forgave us? Who are we to not show grace when Jesus has showered it upon us? Who are we to not seek good for someone when Jesus did everything in His power to give us good? Who are we to not pray for an enemy when Jesus prayed for us as He was nailed to a cross?
This is what I want us to see tonight. This is what will change your whole perspective on how you see Everyone. You are an enemy of God. Now, I’m saying “are” here when I know that some of you now aren’t, but you were…
We are enemies of God. We killed Jesus. We spit in His face. We mocked Him. We pulled His beard out. We slapped Him in the face. We whipped Him. We ripped His flesh off. We tortured Him. We made Him bleed and bleed and bleed. We put a crown of thorns on His head. We made Him carry His cross till He couldn’t carry it anymore, and we made Him carry it some more. We laid Him on that cross. We took the nails and the hammer. We jammed the nail through his left hand into the wood. We jammed the nail through his right hand into the wood. We put His feet together and we jammed the nail through the tendons and flesh of both feet into the wood. We made Him scream. We tortured Him. We mocked Him as He suffered in agonizing pain. We lifted him up and jarred his body as the cross slid into the hole into upright position. And we stood there… looking… laughing… jeering. And we celebrated as He breathed His last. We killed Jesus. We are enemies of God.
You may be thinking, no…I wasn’t there. No, you weren’t there, but He Was there, because of you.
We killed Jesus.
But, as Jesus hung there, bloody and beaten, about to breathe His last, He said these words…He prayed this prayer…for His enemies…for His persecutors…for us…“Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
James 4:4 – “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Romans 5:6-10 – 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
We are to love others as God loves others. We are at enmity with God. We are enemies of God. But God loves us and showed it in action.
We should love our enemies, 1) because God loves our enemies 2) Because God loves us, who are His enemies 3) To be a light of God’s love (Matt 5:16). What is a light for if it’s not used in the darkness? What darker place is there than with an enemy?
So, what do you need to do? Some of you are still enemies of God. You need Jesus. You need His forgiveness. Some of you need to shine your lights in the darkness and love your enemies to Jesus. Some of you need to cry out in forgiveness to God and someone else because you have been acting as an enemy to that person. Some of you need to cry out in thanks. That though you nailed Jesus to the cross, He does not hold your sins against you but seeks your good and has given you salvation through His blood.
Connected – Week 4 – Marriage Matters
Genesis 2:18-24; 1 Corinthians 6:13b-20
[funny proposal story]
I wish I would have been taught more about marriage when I was younger. If you think about it, if you get married, you will spend majority of your life married. Yet, we might prepare for marriage for a month before our wedding, and actually we prepare more for the wedding than we do the marriage. We spend more time practicing divorce than we do preparing for marriage. I’m convinced that that is what most dating is…practice for divorce. “That person doesn’t make me happy…that person is starting to annoy me…” In marriage, that person isn’t always going to make you happy…they are sometimes, and probably often are going to annoy you…and much more!
I’m not an anti-dating person…but I do think that we’ve got it all wrong. I know that many of your future spouses will not be happy about the relationship you’re in right now or the relationship that you have had in the past. If you want a fulfilling rest of your life, you need to do it starting right now. You need to start thinking about your marriage now. If you date, it should be because you actually, truly honestly, not due to your overactive hormones of your need for affection, but actually, truly, want to and can see yourself marrying that person. Some of you may be that way…many of you most likely are dating for selfish and ungodly reasons, ones that will end up hurting that person, hurting you, and hurting both of your possible spouses and even the rest of your lives.
So…marriage…what about it, and what do I need to know right now?…
Purity paves the way to intimacy.
Our most intimate relationship on earth is marriage. See how intimate this relationship is. It goes all the way to the beginning, to the first man and woman. The first married couple.
Genesis 2:18-24
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
So, we see that our most intimate relationship on earth is marriage…So, what does that have to do with the other point that purity paves the way to intimacy? Ok, well let’s look at a couple places in the New Testament that refer to this passage we just read in Genesis.
1 Corinthians 6:13b-20
13 …The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
When you unite with someone sexually, you are one with that person. This is the biblical truth.
Don’t listen to the lies of Satan!The culture we live in throws out lies after lies saying the opposite. They say that everyone has sex and you’re lame if you don’t. No, the ones who don’t just don’t talk about it or sing about it to auto tune. They say that you can’t live without sex. No one has ever died from not having sex. They say that sex is a natural part of a loving relationship. If this is true, why can’t those students who are so sexually active keep long-term, loving relationships? They say that sex is a natural part of growing up. The truth is that sex outside of its designed parameters of marriage keeps people from growing up. They say that sex outside of marriage would cease to be a problem if teens would just wear condoms. Condoms may prevent STDs and pregnancy, but there are A LOT deeper problems than that. Condoms do nothing to block the mental and emotional consequences of sex. A condom can’t: erase a memory, remove guilt, restore a reputation, or repair self-esteem. They say that sex makes life better. Truth is, sex outside of marriage doesn’t make life better; it makes life more complicated. Don’t listen to the lies of Satan!
God invented sex and marriage and he created sex for marriage. – He invented sex as a good thing, a thing that unites, a thing that is meant to bring freedom, enjoyment, and intimacy in the most intimate of relationships – marriage. But for all the good that God created sex for within marriage – it’s just as destructive outside marriage as it is good within marriage.
Sex outside of marriage is destructive. Fire in the fireplace is a wonderful thing. But fire on the carpet can burn your house down. Sex is like fire. In the right context, it is awesome. But when it is outside the context it was designed for, sex can burn your life and your relationships to the ground. Don’t play with fire.
Now what if you’re not going THAT far? How far is too far?
Well, besides Paul saying “Flee from sexual immorality,” I want to ask you this question. You will be married one day, Lord willing…You will love that person more than you can possible love anyone on this earth…They are your jewel, your treasure, your love…How far would you want your wife to go with the person she dated right before you? How far would you want your husband to go with the person he dated right before you?
A pure life now will bring you a more fulfilling and intimate marriage in your future. Purity paves the way to intimacy, and the most intimate relationship you will have, by God’s design, is your marriage. If marriage is so important and the most intimate relationship on earth, let’s see some verses on what the Bible has to say about it…
1 Corinthians 7:29
29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,
Luke 14:26
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 18:29-30
29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
How can God say these things if marriage is so important? It seems like it is saying the opposite. It’s because of this:
Ephesians 5:25, 32
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Marriage on earth points to a greater marriage – Christ and His church.
All of our relationships point to our greatest and most essential relationship. But marriage was specifically designed for that very purpose. It shows Christ’s love and commitment for His church – those He’s saved. Marriage is designed to show Christ and His church.
John Piper says, “The meaning of marriage is the display of the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his people.”
Marriage is a covenantal promise, not a contractual agreement. And that covenantal promise starts now…way before you get to the point of putting that ring on. And, everything leading up to that point should be to show Christ’s covenant keeping promise. He didn’t cut any corners – He didn’t take the easy way – He gave himself and his life fully and wholly to you…for you.
What if you’ve messed up? There’s grace. There’s forgiveness. Isaiah 1 says that though your sins are like scarlet, He will wash you white as snow. That’s what Christ offered on the cross. That’s what the story of Hosea and Gomer shows. You can be forgiven and pure through the sacrifice of Jesus. Well, that shows that you can be made right with God, but what about your future spouse? What if you’ve already messed up? Start saving yourself for your spouse now. Show him or her that you’re waiting for them.
Write letters to them. Now. When you’re lonely. When you’re waiting. When you’re thinking about them. When you don’t even know them yet – pray for them – when you are struggling with liking a boy or girl and wanting to date them but trusting God over your feelings – When you are lonely – when all your friends have boyfriends or girlfriends and go to parties and you are home – by yourself – write to them…your future spouse.
Now, there are one of three possible stories. Here are the three stories you can write to your future spouse: (by Andy Stanley)
Story 1
When I was a teenager I messed up sexually. I got carried away with the person I was dating. I figured that since I did it once, it really didn’t matter if I did it again. So I slept with several other people along the way to meeting you.
Story 2
When I was a teenager I messed up sexually. But when I was ____ years old, after hearing my youth pastor teach on purity and intimacy in marriage, I decided that God knew what He was talking about. Sex was created for marriage. I decided that from that point on I would wait. I set new standards and have stuck with them. Since that day I have saved myself for you.
Story 3
When I was a teenager I realized that God knows more about sex than anyone. Since He created sex for marriage, I decided to wait. I have saved myself for you.
Which story do you want to tell? Which story would you want to hear from the person you will one day marry? Let’s begin right now with committing ourselves to God and our future spouse.
Connected – Week 3 – Authorities Matter
Romans 13:1-10
How many of you want to be like your parents when you grow up? How many of you say, “I will never do that when I have kids?” Do any of your parents have a rule that you absolutely hate? Ugh…my mom used to make me eat lima beans. And I couldn’t get up from the table until I ate them. Other than that, I was a perfect child.
Recap of our relationship series: Our relationship with God is our most important and most foundational relationship. But, it is played out through all of our other relationships. We cannot separate our relationship with God from our relationship with others. And we asked the crucial question – the question that is guiding this whole series: Is the way I act towards others, in each one of my relationships, accurately reflecting who God is?
Last week we looked at one of these relationships – relationships with friends. We saw that we should avoid unhealthy relationships and establish healthy ones. We read Proverbs 13:20 which says, “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” We saw that the friends we choose to have matter and will determine the direction and quality of our lives.
Tonight, we’re looking at another one of these relationships – relationships with those in authority.
Turn to Romans 13:1-7. What we’re going to do is walk through these verses and see the significance they have in our lives and in these relationships.
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
13:1 – This is the basis of this message. God is the ultimate authority. Even more than that, God is the only authority. God is the only One who is truly in charge. Nobody else is, even if they think they are. Kings even do the bidding of the sovereign hand of God…He moves them like puppets. It’s Sesame Street to Him. Big Bird thinks he owns the place – nuh uh – He moves as God pleases – He doesn’t own the street, God does. Any authority that someone has has been given by God. So, when we obey authorities, we obey them not because of that authority, but because of the authority that put them there.
“Those that exist have been instituted by God.” So, what are these authorities that exist?This is how we’re going to break them down: Parents and Other authority figures (teachers, law enforcers, bosses, etc.). God has placed them in authority, so we must be subject to them – we must obey them – submit to them.
13:2 – If you resist an earthly authority, you are resisting the heavenly authority. If you resist authority, you Will incur judgment. Judgment is getting what you deserve. If momma is cooking and says, “Don’t touch that. It’s hot.” What are you going to do? Well, some of you are going to touch it, cause momma don’t know what she’s talking about. “Momma always said life is like a box of chocolates. You never know whatcha gonna get.” Well, if you touch that stove, I know what you’re gonna get, and so does momma! You’re going to get burned! If you disobey authorities, you will get what you deserve. And you’re not only resisting them, you’re resisting the One that put them there. This leads us to the next verse.
13:3 – If we obey authorities, we don’t have to worry about facing the penalty of disobedience. Living this way is actually more free. Maximum freedom is found under God’s authority. Rules are not to restrain us. With Adam and Eve there was one rule. Satan deceived them into thinking they weren’t actually free. What ensued was Leviticus…the outcome was Tons of rules. But these rules, these “Shall nots” are God’s way as it was in the beginning. If we could only live this way, we would have freedom as they had. If I’m speeding while driving, I’m constantly looking for a cop and it’s exhausting! I can drive more freely within the speed limit – with no worries. If you’re constantly afraid someone will find out your sin – you are living with regret, with fear, with shame. Living according to God’s authority and rules frees you from all of that – it doesn’t hinder you. Maximum freedom is found under God’s authority.
13:4 – Those in authority are there for our good – our benefit. Remember, God knows what will burn you. Mom isn’t keeping you from something when she makes the rules – she is protecting you. It’s the same with God.
13:5 – How you act towards those in authority has major effects on your spiritual life. Your spiritual life is affected by how you are in relation to the authority figures in your life. If you are at odds with your parents, you will not feel close to God. If you are constantly rejecting the authority of your teacher, you will not feel close to God. If you constantly break laws, you will not feel close to God. You will not feel close to God because you are not fully submitting to God’s authority over your life. And you’re not submitting to God’s authority over your life because you’re not submitting to the authorities that God has placed in your life.
13:6-7 – We are to honor those in authority not because of them but because of God. But, what if those in authority are bad? What if the rule is not for your betterment? What if your parent is actually mean and just made a mean rule? I have a simple yet complex answer…well, two answers 1) If they are causing you to do something contrary to the Bible…you disobey, because the Bible and God is your ultimate authority. We can see an example of this in the story of Daniel when he is told to worship an idol. 2) If it is any other incident, obey that authority, no matter how insane it may seem. Jesus did this when He was arrested and crucified. He told Peter not to retaliate. Your consistent obedience in light of even being wronged may even bring that person to Christ.
Now, I must make a side note here – I feel led to tell you this – yes, you are a product of your family – no you did not pick your family – But if you have a dysfunctional family, you do not have to be a byproduct of the dysfunction. In Christ, you can break the cycle of dysfunction. I am reminded of the Kings in the Chronicles. Amidst the dysfunctional kings, you would have the likes of a Josiah, doing what was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.
With all that said – all that about authorities and obeying and for our benefit and not harm – and maximum freedom is found under God’s authority, I get it, but what does that have to do with our Connected theme? What does that have to do with loving God and loving others? What does this have to do with showing God’s true nature through our relationships?
13:8-10 – In obeying these authorities, we are fulfilling the Law – the law to love. In obeying these authorities, we are loving God and we’re loving those that God has divinely placed in authority over us. Each time we obey an authority, we are being Christ-like, who though He was God, He submitted to God and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. He submitted to the will of God to bring Him to that place of ultimate submission to the ultimate Authority – And it was all for you – because He loves you – So you can be with Him for eternity – So you can submit to His authority – He was obedient when you weren’t and because you weren’t.
Philippians 2:1-11– 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
It all starts right now for you with submitting to the Ultimate Authority.
Superman. Snow White. Harry Potter. Luke Skywalker. Princess Leia. Peter Pan.
Why do so many inspiring stories have orphans as main characters?
As we are entering the holiday season…and as some have already entered in…there will be several movies that play on a loop. Who likes The Christmas Story? What about It’s a Wonderful Life? Now how about a more modern day classic…Elf? In this movie a child who is put in an orphanage sneaks into Santa’s bag and is raised by elves. In the beginning of the movie, Buddy finds out that he’s not a cotton-headed ninny muggings and that he’s not an elf. Of course he’s not an elf—he’s 6’3.” Unfortunately, just like in the case of the elves adopting a human, some people think adoption is just for fairy tales. For someone else. But that’s not the case.
These stories of orphans and adoption, even in our beloved movies, tap into the innate feeling that this world is not our home. As C. S. Lewis wrote, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”
This is why adoption is such a comforting doctrine. To be adopted is to realize you were made for another world—and for another person. Your home is in heaven—and you were made for God.[1]
Now, the adoption I am talking about this morning is theological in nature. What we see from physical human adoptions represents a spiritual reality for those who are in Christ. The Westminster Shorter Catechism 34 asks “What is adoption?” It answers: “Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby, we are received into the number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.”
Just like earthly adoption, it’s the act of God bringing into his family those who weren’t naturally His and legally making them to be just like his Son. It’s where we are brought into a new family, and totally divested of our belonging to our former family. God totally changes who we are and what we get.[2] Today, as you have seen, we’re focusing on orphans and adoption.
You know, the Bible has a lot to say about what it should look like, practically, to live out the faith we say we have. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” And it’s not silent on what many of those good works are. We are to look after orphans and widows in their distress.[3] We are to visit those who are in prison.[4] We are to remember and help the poor.[5] We so often neglect to live out the very good works that the Bible demonstrates we are to work.
Now, the Bible does not say we are saved by good works, but we, the workmanship of God, are created by God to do good works. And as we do, we are imaging Him and what He has done for us. It is so in adoption. The Bible draws a powerful, and very real, analogy with adoption and what God has done for us in salvation. And the earthly picture of adoption, a family taking in and making their own a child who was once not their own, demonstrates to an unbelieving world what the God of love has offered for them.
So, let’s look at some matters of importance in regards to theological adoption and draw some parallels with earthly adoption, and I pray we see together through it how much God really loves us.
Adoption has mattered for eternity and will matter for eternity. Before the foundation of the world, God predestined us to be adopted.
Ephesians 1:5 – He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.
Here’s what this means, and I will frame it within mine and Sara’s personal story of adoption.
(Tell the story of Sara and I desiring and seeking to adopt for our first child. We had purposed before we ever had children to adopt, even though God had different plans in mind for us.)
Adoption was plan A for God. It wasn’t a plan B after Adam and Eve sinned and became, in a sense, illegitimate children. Creation, Fall, Redemption, Adoption was plan A for God. Adoption doesn’t just matter in eternity past, but it matters for our past.
Adoption matters for our past.
Romans 8:15 – For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Children who are adopted have a past that is difficult. They are orphaned or abandoned. They may feel betrayed or unloved. I’ve read more than one story lately of couples who walked into an international orphanage for their first of two meetings to adopt their children, and the orphanage was in dead silence although it was filled with babies. Babies eventually stop crying out when they realize nobody is coming to help. For one of these families, after days of playing with two children who would soon become theirs, and having to leave for the final time on that first trip, as they walked out the door, one of the boys fell to his crib and let out a loud guttural yell. Hear what this man said about it.
“It seemed he knew, maybe for the first time, that he would be heard. On some primal level he knew he had a father and a mother now. I will never forget how the hairs on my arms stood up as I heard that yell. I was struck, maybe for the first time, by the force of the Abba cry passages in the New Testament…ones I had memorized in Vacation Bible School, and I was surprised by how little I had gotten any of it until now.”[6]
This is our past. Broken. Hurting. Helpless. A slave to sin. In bondage to the things of the world. And God enters in and loves us with an unconditional and transforming love. Where there was once helplessness, God brings hopefulness.
Physical human adoption isn’t easy. And we shouldn’t necessarily expect it to be. Adoption means bringing another human into your family who may have lived weeks, months or even years in a world without you. A world without love, security, nourishment, or hope. They may have past trauma, genetic issues you know nothing about, different worldviews than your own that are engrained in them and from their prior environment. But even though dealing with their past is hard and not to be treaded lightly, it is no reason to keep us from adopting. After all, God saw our dirty past sins, failures, mistakes before we even committed them and still chose to send his Son to die in our place.
Where we have been is no determiner of who we can be if we allow Christ to transform us from the inside out. To justify us. To adopt us. To make us his child.
Adoption matters in our present.
1 John 3:2-3 – 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
We are God’s children now.
Realizing the present implications of our adoption brings us hope. There is nothing worse than feeling helpless and hopeless—than feeling that nobody cares and there’s no relief for your situation. That’s what happened in those orphanages where none of the babies were crying. There was no hope. There was nobody to help. So, why even cry out? You might be in a similar situation in life right now with all that is surrounding you and happening to you.
If you fall into a pit that is too deep to climb out of, what do you do? You cry out for help! But what if nobody is around? Crying out is useless when there’s no help and no hope. But, it’s not so with God.
The reason that baby could plop on his crib and let out a deep yell was because he knew he was heard. He knew there was help. For once, he had hope, because he was being adopted. He had someone who cared.
It’s the same for us. We live in what’s called the already and not yet. Jesus has brought redemption, but it has not fully been consummated. The Revelation 21 making of all things new, where He will wipe every tear from our eyes and death, and mourning, and pain will be no more, hasn’t taken place. But, it is coming. It is coming because He is coming. Just like those parents had to leave on that first visit. But, they were coming back. And they were going to take that baby to where they were with love and care.
It’s the same with us. There is sin, and death, and mourning, and crying, and pain…but not without hope. We can cry out because we have one who hears us and who cares and who is coming back for us. So, whatever you’re going through or have been through, there is hope. You have a Father who cares and will provide exactly what you need. Our adoption assures us of that amidst where we are right now.
Adoption matters for our future.
I love hearing the Rickman’s story and how they stepped out in faith to take in three kids. Now three kids have a better future because they belong to a family, because they are being brought up in a Christian household, and they have access to education they might not have had otherwise…because of all this, their futures are forever impacted. And not just their futures, but their children’s futures, and their children’s children’s futures and on and on and on. It’s a ripple affect. It’s an inheritance of love and acceptance they now have taken on and will pass down to their families.
I was listening to my favorite singer/songwriter yesterday, Andrew Peterson, and his song “Planting Trees” came on. In it he talks about some maples he planted, and how he prays the roots grow deep. He then says, “And many years from now; Long after we are gone; These trees will spread their branches out; And bless the dawn.” Now, hear the second verse. I thanked God when I heard it last night because I knew it was for us today. That’s how God works.
“He took a plane to Africa. He gathered up into his arms an orphan son. So many years from now, long after we are gone, this tree will spread its branches out and bless the dawn.”
What we plant today will outlive us. That’s all the sacrifices big and small we make for others. That’s raising our children to know and love the God that knows and loves them. That’s spending days doing paper work and thousands of dollars and risking heart ache to give love and life to another person. That’s showing the sacrifice and costly love that was given to us through Jesus. There was nothing he wouldn’t pay for us—his very life. There is no distance too far from which he would come for us—heaven itself.
The future of an adopted child isn’t the only future that matters for adoption.
1 John 3:2 – Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is…
In the Bible, intrinsic within the doctrine of adoption is the notion of inheritance. An inheritance is a legal right to something familial. The Bible says of those who believe that we are God’s children and therefore his heirs. Galatians reveals this well.
Galatians 3:29 – And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4:7 – So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
There is hardship now, but soon the inheritance is ours. There’s hope in that.
Romans 8:17 – and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
This inheritance is only for those who are adopted. It says, if you are children then you are heirs. You must be adopted by God to receive the inheritance of God. And how are you to be adopted?
John 1:12-13 – 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
So, receive Him. Believe in his name. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”[7] The name of Jesus is the name above all names.[8] It means “The Lord saves.” The angel said to Joseph, who was to adopt a child that was not his own, “you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”[9] At this name, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He, Jesus Christ, is Lord.[10] The Bible says that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”[11]
If you believe…not just some hypothetical wishful thinking, but actual belief, that the Creator of the cosmos took on flesh, lived the perfect life that you and I can never live, suffered, bled and died for your every sin, and victoriously, in real space and time, real reality, rose from the dead, He gives the right for you to become a child of God. To be adopted. To not have wrath placed upon you, which is our natural birthright, but instead, grace and love.
Hear who we are apart from Christ, before our adoption, and you will see our incredible need to be adopted as God’s children and the glory of our inheritance.
Ephesians 2:1-7 – 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Our adoption matters for eternity because without belief in Jesus, God’s wrath still rests on us, and with belief in Jesus, the inheritance of God awaits us.
While I am inspired by stories like the Rickmans and Pogues and others who have adopted in our church and community, I know that as great as it is to welcome a child into your family, it’s even greater for them to be welcomed into God’s family. That is the ultimate goal. When I think of adoption, I think of a mission field of bringing children not only into a physical family of love and acceptance, but hopefully into God’s eternal family of love and acceptance.
Take a look at this picture on the screen. This is Rafa and Josenia. Both adopted from Costa Rica into different families and both getting baptized on the same day. They each received Christ, probably in large part because of their family’s Christ-like example and consistency in bringing them to church where they have heard the gospel. This is beautiful because it demonstrates the end goal of adoption…both theirs and ours. Loving a child outside of your DNA with the same love that God has graciously bestowed upon you, in order that they will ultimately know how much they are loved and accepted by God. The inheritance of God now awaits these two once orphaned kids. All because two families took a chance and were willing to sacrifice. An act of selfless love and sacrifice that will keep causing a ripple effect for these kids and the generations to come that they impact, long after we are gone. Wouldn’t you want to be part of this?
You can by first of all accepting the inheritance Jesus died to give you–eternal life–if you haven’t already. It’s free and you can come just as you are to receive it. But what’s great about coming into the family of God is that God doesn’t leave us just as we are. Just like families who adopt don’t leave their kids in the orphanage, God cleans us up, feeds us his Word, and brings us into a family of other believers (the church) so that in time we grow to be more like him. If we are truly following Him, we start to take on his traits just as if we shared his DNA. You can take the first step in doing that by coming today and becoming part of the family of God.
And for those who have already been adopted into the family of God, maybe He is prompting some of you to pray about adopting a child into your family. It’s not an easy call, as Sara and I have experienced waiting almost 10 years since we first started pursuing adoption, but we know God will be faithful to see us through, and it will be worth it. The same for you.
To conclude, as Faithful Adoption Consultants, an organization we follow, posted on their Facebook this week about adoption… “It is hard. It is messy. It takes time. It requires patience. It can strengthen you. It will bend you. It will bring you to your knees. It will remind you of Who is in control. It will break your heart for things you never knew existed. It will bless your life. It will take sacrificial love. It will do all those things…and it is still worth it.”
[1] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/first-comes-love-then-comes-adoption/
[2] https://www.buckner.org/files/uploads/FCA-SermonOutline-GodsGiftofAdoption.pdf
[3] James 1:27
[4] Matthew 25:36
[5] Galatians 2:10
[6] Russell D. Moore, Why Every Christian is Called to Support Adoption; Christianity Today (July 2, 2010). https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/july/10.18.html
[7] Acts 4:12
[8] Philippians 2:9
[9] Matthew 1:21
[10] Philippians 2:10-11
[11] Romans 10:9
Connected | Week 2 | Friendships Matter
Matthew 22:36-40; Proverbs 13:20
Our main text for this series is Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
We are to love God with our everything and love others as ourselves.
Last week we saw that the most foundational relationship was our relationship with God, but we saw something else as well. We saw that we cannot separate our relationship with God from our relationship with others. Our relationship with God is played out through every single one of our relationships on earth, both good and bad. The way we act towards others (friends, family, enemies, strangers) in these relationships is how the world sees God. So, last week we asked one simple question: Is the way I act towards others, in each one of my relationships, accurately reflecting who God is?
Now, tonight, I want us to look at it in a little different way. Notice the most crucial word in our text…what is it? LOVE. Love was recognized in both passages as the main key to living as God wants us to. LOVE God with our everything. LOVE neighbors as ourselves. This is agape love – unconditional love – love regardless of what happens.
Check out the characteristics of this love – 1 Corinthians 13 shows us, and every time love is mentioned, it is the same word as in our main text – agape – unconditional love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.
Now, you’re probably thinking that I am going to talk about romantic relationships…ooh, I loooove him…I looooove her….No. Eww. I’m talking about something that you probably have never thought about when reading 1 Corinthians 13. We’re going to talk about friends.
The Proverbs have a lot to say about a lot of stuff. And, the Proverbs have a lot to say about friendship. We’ll look at a few throughout this message. Here’s one to start with…
Proverbs 17:17a – “A friend loves at all times…”
1 John 3:16 – “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
The literal words in this passage mean a laying down of your soul – a giving up of the very essence of life on behalf of another, because that is what Christ did for us. So, if a friend loves at all times, shouldn’t we love in this way? Laying down our souls and caring for their souls?
The purpose of Christian friendship is a mutual sharpening. Proverbs 27:17 ESV says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Some translations throw in the word friend: NKJV – “A man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” NLT – “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” If you truly want to share the love of God, you will share the God of love. A true friend – one that agape loves – one that loves with the love of God – will want God’s best for you and will strive to build you up in Him…to sharpen you in Christ. So, this is the type of friend that we need and that we should be to others
(Non-Christian Friends)
Now, I know that we are to have acquaintances that are not Christians, but I want to warn you – do not fully confide in and seek counsel from a friend who is not a Christian. The purpose of non-Christian friendships is to show them the love of God by showing them the God of love. It’s caring for their souls – and if you truly love them, you will care about their soul – and if you truly care for their souls, you will do whatever it takes to save their souls, because that’s what Jesus did – and we show His love by how we love – He loves souls, we love souls.
Have friends and be a friend that sharpens. Build one another up in the Lord. So, how do we do this? How do we live this out? Here are the two things you must walk away with 1. Avoid unhealthy friendships. 2. Establish healthy friendships.
Proverbs 13:20 – “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
The friendships that you choose will determine the direction and quality of your life. How many of you have temporarily abandoned a conviction at the urging of a friend? How many of you have ever been influenced by a friend to do something that you knew was contrary to God’s will?
1. Avoid Unhealthy Friendships
Here’s one of the many reasons why we should avoid unhealthy friendships: The verse says, “A companion of fools suffers harm.” It does not say that a fool suffers harm, which they do…it says a companion of fools. It’s talking about you – you will suffer harm by hanging with people who disregard God. That’s what a fool is – someone who disregards God. How many of you have done something stupid with a friend and got in trouble for it? You probably wouldn’t have done that if you weren’t with that friend.
We are acceptance addicts – you know, we don’t even really pick our friends, our friends pick us – we become friends with those that accept us, and we stay away from those that don’t accept us or that we don’t accept. This means that we often won’t call out people for ungodly behavior because we fear the lack of acceptance – we are actually more likely to give into the ungodly behavior because we want acceptance. And, we suffer for it. You WILL suffer…you WILL suffer harm because of your unhealthy friendships.
A true friend is someone who will love you and not just accept you. Loving is being more concerned about the friend than about the friendship
2. Establish Healthy Friendships
So, we NEED ourselves to establish healthy relationships. We are who we hang out with – or we become who we hang out with. “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise.” A true friendship is one that respects and encourages your relationship with God. So, I want to ask you – Do your friends encourage or hinder your walk with Christ?
Never sacrifice your relationship with Christ for a relationship with another person. Maybe you don’t have a relationship with Christ, well someone loved you enough to bring you here so that you could meet the God of love. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” I want us all to think of the friends in your life and different situations you are in to make this real for us: If they show you dirty pictures, that’s not a friend – they’re trashing your soul. If you show dirty pictures – you’re not a friend – you are being a tool of Satan in that person’s life as Satan is striving for their soul as well. If you talk about a friend behind their back, or spread rumors, true or not – that’s not a friend – that’s making it easier for others to see them in a different light than Jesus sees them. A friend builds up, not tears down.
Are you a friend with someone because of status – so you can have a greater status? God’s love is not conditional upon our status. Our love and friendships should not be conditional upon other people’s status as well. God is gathering a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. If our prayer is that His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, my friendships should be characterized by every tribe, tongue, nation, social class, athletic ability, intellectual capacity, looks, size, Whatever! Let’s love with the love of God – let’s love like God!
So…some of you need to reevaluate your friendships. Some of you need to have some hard conversations with some friends. Some of you need to kick some friends to the curb…lovingly tell them about Jesus but don’t spend time with them. Some of you need to reach out in friendship to some people in this room that you Always overlook…God Never overlooks them, but you might. Some of you need to accept the God of love and the friendship that He offers. Let Him have His way. Accept whatever He is prompting you to do. Act in love…in love of God and in love for your friends’ souls.