Sunday, January 8th, 2017 - AM - Visions of the Son of Man - Part 3 (Rev. 1:17-20)

Take your Bible enjoyment Revelation chapter. Number one Revelation chapter number one as the children dismiss for children's church.

I like to read together with you beginning of her summer 12. Revelation chapter number one and verse number 12

John tells us and I turned to see the voice that speak with me. And being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the son of man. Clothes with a garment down to the foot and gird about the paps with a golden girdle his head and his hairs were white like wool as white as snow and his eyes were as a flame of fire and his feet like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace and his voice as the sound of many Waters he had in his right hand Seven Stars and out of his mouth when a sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. and when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me. fear not I am the first and the last I am he that liveth and was dead and behold. I am alive for Evermore. Hey, man, and have the keys of hell and of death write the things which thou has seen at the things which are and the things which shall be here after the mystery of the Seven Stars which thou Sauced in my right hand and the Seven golden candlesticks. The Seven Stars are the Angels of the seven churches and the Seven candlesticks which thou Sauced are the seven churches.

Our heavenly father. I humble myself before you and Lord. I pray that during this time as we study your word together. I just asked for that. You would hide me hide me behind Calvary. Lord may I decrease in May the Lord Jesus Christ increase in our midst? Thank you for the promise to John. Thank you for the comfort that he received from your word. And as we look at this commission that was given to John one more time. May we consider our own tasks that you would call us to do as lights in a dark world to take the Everlasting gospel to the inheritors of the earth Lord. May we do this before the angel flies through Heaven? Because if we wait until then Lord, it will be too late for many that we love and care for and God. I pray that you would stir a passion in us for the gospel renew. The hope of Christ in us that blessed hope that we talked about already this morning. Father take your word and mold us after the image of Christ. Take that sharp two-edged sword. And well this sword that John saw was a sort of judgment. May you take the sword of the great physician today that scalpel that can do surgery on our life Lord we give you permission. Even right now in this moment Lord Less open put us on your operating table Expose and discern the thoughts and intents of our heart those things that are in the world that are dragging us down those cares of life that are consuming us those things that have detracted us from putting our Focus wholly and solely and Jesus Christ May those things be removed and father. May you heal us with your work strengthen us Empower us enable us to be your Witnesses just as you empowered John and will thank you in Jesus name we pray. Hey man, John records that when he beheld the countenance of the Lord Jesus Christ, he fell at his feet as dead the countenance. The glory of the Lord was seen now John told us in his gospel that he beheld his glory. The glory is of the only begotten full of grace and truth. John saw a little glimpse of that. But it can I tell you I just don't think that he was fully prepared in his heart mind for what he encountered on Patmos who he encounter on Patmos as he turned to see this voice that was speaking in his voice that sounded like a trumpet that caught his attention, you know, the Lord does that sometimes he'll have something to get our attention along our way. He did it for Moses. Didn't he and Moses turned aside to see not so much that a bush was on the fire in the middle of a desert where there's plenty of eating plenty of things catch on fire. I'm sure if there's any Greenery around them or their they're dried out enough. I'm sure of fire in and of itself wasn't something that would spark Moses is interest, but what What did catch his attention was that this bush burned and it wasn't consumed it just kept burning and burning and I can't imagine what the fire would have look like but Moses turned aside to see. And that's when the Lord spoke to him through the burning bush now John turns hears this voice. He turns to see The Voice which is speaking to him and I don't think he was prepared. For what he would see because his reaction is a natural reaction. That one should have when they encounter the Lord in his glory like this John fell at his feet as dead hit already seen that Veil pulled away slightly. If you read Matthew chapter 17 verse number to the Bible says that Jesus was transfigured before them in his face that shine as the sun notice John said that his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. So whereas before it was just like the sun now it was like just full-blown and all of its strength the brightness of the sun. If you've ever seen how bright the sun can be at times which by the way, I was reading an article this year is going to be a special year. It's not been since 1979 that we've had a total eclipse come across some are. And that will happen this fall. So you astronomers out there get your telescopes out and your little boxes cardboard boxes that you can watch the eclipse with and check that NASA don't have all that stuff for you to go to the astronomical websites and they'll tell you all the details need to know I think what I read was anywhere in the country you're going to be within about it and a Tower Drive at the most away from a place where you can go and being a total eclipse. And are you going to have to wait until I think 2024 if you want to see it again. So this is a special year. That is an eclipse. That's when the sun is eclipsed by the moon and there's Darkness. There was Darkness on Calvary for 3 hours when the Son of God was eclipsed by the sin of the world and he bore our sins and he who knew no sin became sin for us. That was a Darkness. But can I tell you a John is not talking about Darkness John's not talking about something that is going to eclipse in our Mind's Eye What the Lord Has in all of his glory John sees the Lord and He describes him as the son of man and he is his countenance is as the sun shineth in his strength. He goes on in Matthew to say in Chapter 70 17 and verse number to his face that shyness the sun. His raiment was white as the light. That's his raiment. We read another places in Revelation that those who are believers are going to get new raiment. They're going to get a white robe and so we can get just a little imagination in our Mind's Eye about how this robe is going to look. And Peter tells us talking about the same Transfiguration account. He says we have not followed cunningly devised Fables. When we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But we're eyewitnesses of and here's a key word his majesty John be held the son of man and all of his majesty and Peter in 2nd Peter chapter 1 verses 16 18 goes on to tell us that he received Jesus received from God the Father honor and Glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent Glory. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased and this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount now if you keep reading that passage Peter goes on to say we have also a more sure word of Prophecy. What is revelation? Well, it's the words of the prophecy of this book. We have a more sure word of Prophecy. So Peter reminds us that while he was there while he be held with his own eyes was an eyewitness to the Majesty of of of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says there's something even more sure than my own eyewitness testimony. Maybe Peter ate the wrong pizza tonight before I don't know maybe somebody wants to try to rationalize away what he saw it there on the mountain. There's two other Witnesses by the way, but I mean, hey, maybe all three of them were duped Peter says, hey, you don't have to take my word for it. You can search the scriptures because we have a more sure word of Prophecy even than that of an eyewitness testimony. But can I tell you we are reading in Revelation chapter 1 the account of an eyewitness testimony of a genuine follower not only a follower but ye and Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ the last apostle that was surviving at this time. Who died as tradition tells us in church history tells us of natural causes. If you want to call being boiled in a vat of oil and surviving That Dying of natural causes. I don't know if I think there was some things that happened to John that probably took a toll on his body. He was persecuted for his faith none the less just like the rest of the disciples, but can I tell you I just look here at this description of these characteristics of Jesus Christ that John gives us and I believe that if we were to see the Lord in all of his glory like John saw here. We shrivel up like a worm on a hot sidewalk.

In Pensacola, I saw lots of those worms on the sidewalk, especially when it rains the rain comes out and they all come to the sidewalk and then the hot Florida Sun comes out and scorches them in and I remember going to class and just happened to kind of kick them to the side. You know, that's why the girls don't walk on those sidewalks them. You'll get that in a minute. Hold on. So this brings me to my thought for you this morning as we think about who the Lord Jesus is. In his glory in his majesty, let's approach him with reverence. But let's also Look to Him for Comfort. I'm here to tell you that you do not have to fear the Majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now you need to Revere that you need to have a reverence for it, but you don't need to fear it like you'd fear Zeus striking somebody down with a lightning bolt. Jesus Christ bore the wrath of God for our sins that wrath is what causes us to fear for what God would do in Judgment of our sins. But by this point John knows that Jesus Christ has already taken care of that it's under the blood all of those since were taken care of at Calvary Jesus Christ born of God for our sins. So while we may have a response like John's and we may shrivel up like a worm on a hot sidewalk. We don't have to fear that we're going to be struck down and consumed and and burned up in God's Wrath because if we have a humble response like John we're going to have a gracious compassionate comforting word from the Lord as we approach him as we draw nigh to God and he draws nigh to us. We clean up. We cleanse our hands as centers with purifier our hearts. We we battle against being double-minded as we deal with those things are like when we get close to God we can experience his grace because he gives grace to the humble. So let me fill in the blanks for you. If you need them. Actually, you know, I'm not going to take time to do that because we got started late this morning. And yeah the son of the glare on the clock so I can't see anyway, we'll just preach to lunch. Just kidding. Just kidding. I'm going to pick up with number 3 if you need to fill any other blanks come see me after the service. I'll give you the blanks that you need or look on with a neighbor who's been here for the past couple of go rounds and let's look at number three the commission of John Revisited now, this is number one right way to write to the seven churches. Now, we're going to look and I believe they're saying a little bit of poetry here when we come to these verses in particular verses 17 to 20. And what I mean by that is John is Jewish person and he's got some he braced Hebrew hebraic roots that he's going to be speaking from and though we're reading Greek New Testament. I think there's some Hebrew culture that's permeating and I think the I think we're seeing a little bit of some poetic things going on here with the literature myself. That's just my personal conviction. But you see this a lot in the Psalms where you'll have a praise that's given and then you'll have another Point that's made or prayer that happens and then you'll come back to the praise and you'll revisit that praise will that's kind of what we're seeing here in that John was given the commission then he turns to see this voice we get this characteristic all these characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ, and then we come back to the commission. So it'll meanwhile back at the ranch. We see the commission of John Revisited notice first off the comforting word that comes to him from the Lord Jesus Christ under the thought of this comforting word. We cannot miss John's reaction. Number one John's reaction. John says and verse 17 when I saw him. I fell at his feet as dead and he laid his right hand upon me.

can laid His right hand. upon me

this is personal. John use his personal pronouns and he says when I saw him I was I was in fear. I fell at his feet as dead and he didn't strike me down. No, he came with that same hand that upholds the Stars. He like that hand the right hand upon me the hand of power the hand of majesty. What a touch that must have been. It also tells me that this is the bodily Lord Jesus Christ This is not some spirited figment of John's imagination. He didn't eat pizza night before and now he's going crazy not having weird dreams. No, we've already dealt with that. It's not some starry-eyed trance. This is the Lord Jesus Christ. And when Jesus touch John he felt that touch. This is the the same hand that if John were to look at that hand. It would be as he showed Thomas behold my hands and my side this would be the hand that would bear the scars of Calvary upon it not the wounds but the scars And so those are scars that he'll be there for all eternity as reminders of us and what he did to redeem mankind. I want to spend some time in the scriptures with you looking at some passages and I don't want to just read them to you. I want you to turn over there and read along with me as we consider these but I want you to see that what John has experienced is nothing out of the ordinary necessarily we want to go and compare scripture with scripture be a diligent Bible student in that respect John says when I saw him, I fell at his feet is Daddy latest right hand upon me saying unto me fear not I am the first and the last want you to turn in your Bible to Daniel chapter number 10 look with me beginning at verse number 7.

We got to Daniel before when we considered the vision of the son of man in all the characteristics and we saw how Daniel described him. We compared that without John described him and there was some overlap wasn't there. There was some some neat things to see in both of those descriptions. So let's go back to Daniel chapter number 10 beginning of verse number seven. The Bible says and I Daniel alone. Saw the vision. For the men that were with me, so not the vision no sense of Vision on a dream. What a great quaking fell upon them so that they fled to hide themselves that they didn't even see what Daniel saw and what happened to them.

waking you're scared in their boots scared their boots off and they go and run to hide. That was everybody that was around that didn't even see the vision and Daniel says therefore I was left alone and saw this great vision. And look what happened to him. He says there remained no strength in me. For my comeliness was turned in me into corruption and I retained no strength. Yet I heard the voice of his words. When I heard the voice of his words then was I in a deep sleep on my face and noticed this my face toward the ground. You know what that is. That's worship. What happened to Daniel Daniel had this experience and physically it was more than his body could bear. Did you know your physical frame was only created to handle so much many of you are very acutely aware of that and more. So as a day to do laundry as the days go on because you wake up and there's a new pain in your body somewhere that wasn't there yesterday. And so you realize they're your body is is only capable of bearing so much. No Daniel here. His body can't handle this and there. There's this voice. He hears this voice and then it just leads him into this deep sleep on his face.

John says I fell at his feet as dead. He laid his right hand on me. I see some overlap here John Philip. The Lord speed is dead. And this is a very Apostle mind you that leaned on the bosom of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper John 13 verse 23 One Rider said it this way of vision of the exalted Christ can only produce all in fear.

I think we need to read address our own heart and make sure that we have the same kind of attitude the same kind of respect the same kind of mindset today. many believers speak and act with undue familiarity toward God. This writer went on to say John's response illustrate with Paul wrote and 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 16. He said this though, we have known Christ after the flesh yet. Now henceforth know we him no more John no longer nestled it next to the Lord's part relating to him. Is he done before John is now at his feet as dead. And I mention this in in our time together before I don't believe when we get to have him we're going to walk up to Jesus and slap her arms around his shoulder and say hey old buddy old pal good to see you and don't misunderstand me. Jesus is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. But Jesus is also the Son of God the only begotten full of grace and truth. He is the one that we will bow before he is the one that we will cast crowns before we will lay those crowns at his feet. He is the one that does piercing a eyes that are as a flame of fire when we stand before the Judgment seat of Christ. This is the one with whom we have to do. This is the one that we will stand before him and give an account of our life and he will Render unto every man according to his works. And so there is a sense in which we must come with respect and all before the Lord Jesus Christ who judges the quick the living and the dead he is a judge of all and hear this judge comes with compassion. And he's not there to Judge John. Note John sensor taken care of there under the blood but he's about to show John the Judgment that's coming on the world.

That's Daniels encounter. Isaias is similar turned is Isaiah chapter 6 and I'll begin reading a verse number one. Isaiah says in the year that King Uzziah died. I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and his train filled the temple and it's not a choo choo train there. That's a train of his Majestic robe. His train filled the temple. Above it that is above the throne stood the seraphim serafine's or angels. Each one had six wings with Twain or with two he covered his face and with Twain he covered his speed and with Twain he did fly and one cried into another and said we love to sing this song around here. Holy holy holy to him. But that's where we get the words to the hymn from holy. Holy holy is the Lord of hosts. The Lord of armies is what that means. The whole earth is full of what his glory And the posts of the door movie remember the quaking that came up on Daniels? I thought surround him now Isaiah has a similar experience that the doorposts are moving at the voice of him that cried and the house was filled with smoke. When you see the glory of the Lord a lot of times you'll see a description of smoke such as when the temple was dedicated done under Solomon the folks that were there that day were moved with all at the glory of the Lord because his smoke filled the temple And I don't know about you, but I've been in meetings before where I've maybe since a little bit of that and the holy spirit's been there and the Lord Jesus Christ has been in the midst and you can you can sense when you have two or three gather together in the lord's name in the Lord is in the middle of them. This is something that we stand in awe of this is the temple. This is the body of Christ where two or three are gathered. That's where God's glory is today and it ought to get a little smoky in here sometimes amen. Not because not because we're in Colorado, but because we're Believers banded together worshiping the Lord some of you who are not from Colorado or just clicking with the end. They are the ones who you are from Colorado or still thinking about that. So take some time. I think the second hand smoke might be getting to a snob just kidding in all seriousness. the glory of the Lord Is here around Isaiah? The whole earth is full of his glory and the house was filled with smoke. Now. Look at his response. Then said I roll is me.

Triumph undone, remember how Daniel described himself he had. No strength in him. Isaiah says that he was undone when you undo something you take it apart. Isaiah says, I was just taking apart before the Lord. I'm undone. Why was he on done? Because he knew himself just like Daniel. He said it was the inside of him was turned a corruption. He realized who he was before and Almighty got Isaiah had the same response. He says I'm a man of unclean lips. This is Isaiah. This is the man who supposed to be the prophet of the Lord and he saying I'm a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. Well, I'm telling you we live in a place of unclean lips today. And there's no Guardian. You can put on your TV to keep it all out either. I'm sorry, but filters are there almost obsolete anymore because of the way things have gone Isaiah didn't even have a TV and he says I live amongst the people of unclean lips.

why because we're Sinners that's who we are Sinners by birth centers by choice and Isaiah says Dwell, in the midst of a people of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the king the Lord of hosts the Lord of armies. You see some similarities in his description then flew one of the themes on to me having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with the tongs from off the Altar and he laid it upon my mouth and said love this has touched my lips done iniquity is taken away and I sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying whom shall I send and who will go for us then said I here am I send me Isaiah saw the Lord he responded much in the same way Daniel and John did he received a cleansing from the Lord and a comfort from the Lord and then the Lord had a commission for Isaiah. You see the pattern Daniel fulfilled his commission for the Lord John fulfilled his commission for the Lord. So when this happens, this is an encounter that there is something God is going to want to do I want take time to read through all These passages but I want to just take some notes Here with you for a moment Genesis chapter 17 verse 1 the Bible says when Abraham was 90 years old 9 the Lord appeared unto Abraham and said unto him. I am the almighty God the Almighty we talked about that word before haven't we because John described him as the almighty in Revelation chapter 1. This is the almighty. This is the first place that appears if I remember correctly in the scriptures the word Almighty before me and be thou perfect and I will make my Covenant between B&D and I will multiply the exceedingly and look what Abraham does he fell on his face? And then God talked with him. He fell on his face. He received the word of the Lord.

Is that a coincidence? I don't believe it is. Now let's look at Moses. I mention him earlier in my opening statements for the message. But in Moulton Exodus chapter 3 beginning and verse number one most is kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law the priest of Midian he led the flock to the backside of the desert came to the Mountain of God even to her about the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and he looked and behold the bush burned with fire. And here's what I drew your attention earlier. The Bush was not consumed in Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great site why the bush is not burnt and when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see God called unto him out of the midst of the Bush and said Moses Moses And he said here am I same thing Isaiah said right here. Am I Lord send me and he said drawn-out and I hear they're put off thy shoes from off. Thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is Holy Ground. So while Isaiah had an angel come and touch his tongue with a with a coal of fire to cleanse him Moses has taken shoes off because he's in the presence of the Lord. You see you just can't come to God in your way you please you he'll accept you and he will in no wise cast anyone out who would approach on to him. Jesus said come unto me and here's the qualification all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest, but then he says take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart. So when you come to the Lord Jesus Christ didn't have an encounter with him. It's going to change your life. If it's the way that we're reading in the scriptures here now others have come to Christ and it hasn't made a hell of beans in their life and they go out and live worse and send them before they met him that can happen. But when your heart is not in it see Isaiah had a desire Moses had a desire and he listen to the Lord. So the Lord gets his attention isn't his word says take your shoes off. You're on Holy Ground and we continue with the with the description here put off. Thy shoes from off. Thy feet Exodus chapter 3 verses 1 through 6 for the place where we're on the L stand is Holy Ground at sanctify. Moreover he said I am the god of the Father the god of who Abraham. So the same response that Abraham had he fell on his feet. Then he received the word of God. This is the same guy that speaking to Moses. He says the god of Abraham the god of Isaac and the god of Jacob and what did Moses do Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God. Joshua let's consider him since we're looking at bible characters and Joshua chapter 5 verse number 13 in the Bible says and it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted up his eyes and looked and behold there was a man there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand and Joshua went under him and said unto him art thou for us or for our adversaries.

And he said nay neither like that. That's a good response. You got it wrong Joshua, but ask the captain of the host of the Lord. Am I now come the captain of the Lord's host? You know who I believe that is. Well the next phrase tells you who I believe it is and why I believe it's Jesus. a pre incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ Joshua fell on his face to the Earth and did worship He worshipped the captain of the Lord's host. There's only one that we worship and it's God and this is God in a pre incarnate appearance to to Joshua and Joshua has a similar responses. Guess what Moses as Abraham and Daniel and Isaiah the others that we were at what was his response he fell on his face to the Earth ended worship. He adored and he reverenced worship worship. He ascribed worth to this one that was before and said unto him what saith my Lord unto his servant. What do you have for me? Isaiah said here? Am I send me Moses is going to receive a commission to go and set God's people free Abraham's going to receive the blessing of God and that the Messiah is going to come through him. Isaiah is going to be the prophet of the Lord that will take for the Lord's message John. It's going to be the one who bares sport the commission that God Jesus gets him to write to the seven churches of all the things that are written in Revelation. I see a consistent thread in a consistent theme, but we're not done. Let's go over and just look at a couple more and turned the judges Chapter 13 Verse number 20 And the Bible says this for it came to pass when the flame went up toward Heaven from off the altar. This is Samson's parents. By the way. Samson would be used of the lord of the spite of Samson pride and despite who Samson was a lord still going to use him to judge his people. This is the flame went up toward Heaven from off the altar that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the Altar and look what happened at Manoa and his wife. They looked on it and fell on their faces to the ground similar response. Isn't it is zekiel had a similar response. Is he guilty chapter 3 verse 23, the Bible says then I arose and went forth into the plane and behold the glory of the Lord stood there as the glory which I saw by the river keybar did you see the glory that Ezekiel referenced the Lord? Is there by the river Key Bar and Ezekiel says in verse 23 at the end of it. I fell on my face. Daniel chapter 8 we didn't read this but Daniel said he came here where I stood when he came I was afraid and fell upon my face, but he said unto me understand o son of man think it was called the son of man their lowercase M. By the way, Ezekiel was also called the son of man. And that was a Lord's favor title for himself the son of man for at the time of the end shall be the vision these things that you're saying it's not going to happen yet. It's going to be the time of the end. All right. I've already reference Matthew chapter 17 and we've thought about the Transfiguration was that experience any different we didn't read all of it. Go to Matthew chapter 17 what I called it to you earlier was from verse 2. About the glory of the Lord. The Peter tells us about the voice that came from Heaven. Look at what happen in Matthew 17 at the Transfiguration. They heard this voice. Remember Peter said it said this is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased when they heard that voice.

They fell on their face and were sore afraid.

I fell on her face and worse or Frank.

When the Lord shows up, however, that looks like in our life we ought to have a similar response and humble ourselves before him. Remember when the Lord Jesus Christ began his ministry. He was teaching by the seaside and he was there off the coast of capernium and he was he was with the people that were following him and Peter was there. Anna and some of the other fishermen that were with him Peter was fishing and they had been fishing all night and they were mending their Nets getting ready to pack it up for the day and and call it call it done. They didn't catch anything. It was a fish last night for him. But the Lord Jesus Christ came by the shore there and look tells us in chapter number 5 that the Lord Jesus looked at Peter and said launch out into the deep. And The Story Goes On to tell us that Peter. Went back and forth with the Lord a little bit. He said we've toiled all the night we've taken nothing and then Peter says it's nevertheless at Thy Word. Will I let down the net in one printer pointed this out to me? I've never looked at it that closely before but what Peter said is he would let down the net and when Jesus said was let down the Nets plural and if Peter had done what Jesus had said and let down the Nets portal he would have taught he would have been able to handle the load of fish that he got but he didn't he said nevertheless at Thy word. I'll test it out here. I'll put down a nap. So he did and what happened is boat almost sank because he couldn't handle the amount of fishes that were in his net. Now this is when the Lord is going to launch out a little bit from the shore and Peter's boat there or I think it's John's boat if I get that correct and he'll actually use the water there by the Sea of capernium as a as a an amplifier for his voice and he's going to teach there by the seaside. This is when Peter a steps out by faith and follows the Lord remember, this is the same Peter that says Thou Art the Christ the son of the Living God. This is the same Peter that will say Lord to whom shall we go thou Hast the words of eternal life. This is the same Peter that will turn to John later and say ask him who it is that betrays. Because John's Landing on his Peter's response when he can't handle the fish that are in his net when he lets down the net. He has to call the other folks over to come help him. They get it to the shore finally. And what does he do when he comes to the Lord Jesus Christ and Luke Chapter 5. Here's his response when Pop was Simon Peter saw it. He fell down at Jesus's knees sang depart from me for I am a sinful Man O Lord. Have you had that occur in your life? Have you experienced the word of Jesus Christ that has shown you who you really are when you stand before Thrice? Holy God with whom you have to do. Have you encountered the compassionate Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. That would come alongside just as he did Peter. He didn't say yeah, you are a sinful man. Get out of my sight. I can't use you know, he would say follow me and I will make you to become Fishers of Men He took that same man who humbled himself before the Lord and he used him for the furtherance of the Gospel Kingdom. And Peter is going to preach a message in which 3002 Sergeant going to trust Christ at Pentecost Peter when he is converted he is going to strengthen his brother and because the Lord Jesus Christ prayed for him sing. Peter was used of God when John fell at his feet as dead John was used of God. He was used to write the letters to the seven churches. So my question to you today because I stand before you as someone who has encountered the word of God and it has revealed how sinful I truly am. I do not deserve to stand here before you because of my nature and if we're all honest, there's not a single person in this room that really should deserve to stand here and it is only by God's grace that someone could take the word of God whether it's behind a sacred desk like this or whether it is sitting down around your own kitchen table with someone and open the word of God to them USS Center leading other centers to Christ to help them find the hope of the Gospel that you found that they so desperately need there is hope from the word of God and John is going to take pain and hand as the Lord commission him and he's going to write the things to the seven churches that are going to wake them up and it'll be a wake-up call to them the Lord might give you a test to come alongside someone and give him a wake up call.

Who is it around you that you need to be on your knees for because they've walked away from their first love who is it around you that you would feel burden for because maybe they're they're trying to serve the Lord but they're under such severe persecution that they are broken. Smyrna crushed mer, there's no condemnation for Smyrna, but there is an exhortation. Who is it around you in your life that the Lord would take you from this place and you would be on your knees for them. You would gather around you would reach out to them and love them to Christ and just say hold on to persecution is hard. I know it's difficult. But the Christ promised us that this isn't all there is who can you reach out to who is it that's getting married to the world. Who is it that is being lured away from those morons. Who is it? That is drifting and who is it that's going to compromise that's around you that you need to reach out to that. The Lord would say go. You see what I'm doing. I'm taking the letters to the seven churches now you do the rest of them. You got Philadelphia. You've got Sia Tyra. You've got laodicea. You've got these other churches their seven total and there's a message in each one of them. This was what John was given to do. But you need to ask the Lord. What would you have me to do? the Lord says whom shall I send? And who will go for us notice the plural because it's 3 and 1/2 the Triune got it and Isaiah humbles himself after he deals with a sin by the way, you have to do that.

He says here. Am I Lord send me throughout the rest of this month. You're going to encounter some families. That have said that exact same thing. The Lord Jesus Christ they have they have met him. They have cleanse their heart. They have found his forgiveness of sins through his shed blood on Calvary and they have been brought to the place in their life where they have answered the call and they have said Lord will go our family will go to Thailand. Our family will go to Singapore. Our family will go to the Philippines. Our family will go to China. Our family will go to British Columbia. Our family will go to Minnesota. Our family will go to Broomfield Colorado. Our family will go you're looking at a missionary before you today who surrendered to do that exact thing here in this city. And County and if you'll seek the Lord while he may be found if you'll call upon him while he is near you know, who said those words. The same man who said here. Am I Lord send me Isaiah said those words seek the Lord while he may be found. Did I believe the Lord has something for you to do it may not be full-time Christian marriage Ministry. I understand that the call of God is different for each and every person but there is somebody that the Lord wants you to take his word to and reach out to them. Just like John so we see John's reaction. He fell at his feet as dead. Is that a scriptural reaction? Is it a Biblical way to respond and react when the Lord shows up? Have you ever been in your devotional time may be reading the word of God and Jesus just kind of showed up there through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And it's humbled you and you just had to Bow your head.

When that's happened to me. It's not too long. After that. The Lord has showed me somebody that he wanted me to talk to somebody they wanted me to encourage in his word somebody to reach out to you because I was sensitive. Can you be sensitive to the Lord Jesus? Because if you do you'll have the same response that John had and you'll have a mission that Helen Fuld to you just to fill in your blank because I'm out of time number to we see Jesus response John's reaction led to Jesus's response and we talked about it was that same hand that you laid on him the same hand that holds the pastors of those churches is the same hand that John that Jesus laid on John to comfort him and this is the hand of that upholds the Universe. They fear not Jesus Christ is the one who has the keys. He has the keys to death and hell and he is the one who has all authority. No one is a prisoner of death through the Lord Jesus Christ except at their own choice. Jesus conquered death and he was dead. He is alive again. That's what he tells John. We need not fear for eternity because he has those keys. This is the hand that holds the keys that he lays on John and then he gives him the commission to write versus 1920. The mission is unfolded.

And this is an outline for the entire Book of Revelation chapter 1 verse number 19 if you want the outline of the book it's spelled out for you here. The mission is unfolded to John and verse 19 and the Mystery of the candlesticks is unveiled in verse number 20. So in closing I just encourage you with this as we approach The Book of Revelation, I don't believe it's a difficult book to understand. I just got some of your attention because you've been reading it for a long time and you try to wrap your mind around this verse shows you why I want to feel that way because if there's something in here that we need to understand the Lord is going to show us see John saw these lamp stands and you can figure it out. He saw these stars and he didn't know what that meant and the Lord shows him exactly what they mean who are the stars? They are the Angels The Messengers who are The Messengers, I believe that the pastors of the seven churches. We're going to read about in chapter number two. So that mystery is solved that's unfolded the John we know who the who the angels are these candlesticks. These are the churches themselves. So when you're reading the book of Revelation keep that in the back of your mind if it needs to be spelled out for you it will be The Book of Revelation is not difficult. There's some hard things in it that we have to really think through but as far as trying to hunt for symbols that aren't there or look for this kind of sim in a symbolic a picture or thinks there are symbols and when they're in the book you'll be sure to know that the Lord has showed you where they are.