An Encounter with the Living Christ Revelation 1, 9-20 5-03-09

An Encounter with the Living Christ

Rev. 1:9-20

May 3rd, 2009

I)        Suffering because of the Word (vv. 9-10)

A)     Why was John on the isle of Patmos? Because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. – He was faithful.

1)      Faithfulness to God does not mean that we will be kept from hardship.

2)      We can rest assured though that God does not abandon us in the midst of hardship but come to us.

B)      Met by Christ in the midst (much like Meshak , Daniel,Peter, Paul)

C)      Heard the voice of God- He turned to see, but knew immediately who was speaking

1)      How do we know that it is God who is speaking to us?

(a)    God speaks to us through His word, His servants, and sometimes in the midst of circumstances.

(b)   God speaks to us in the midst of a relationship (Mk  1:35)

(c)    The word will not contradict what God has said.

2)       When we know that it is God who is speaking to us we need to respond to that word.

(a)    Jonah knew what God was saying and refused to obey.

(b)   Annaias knew it was God and obeyed even though it was scary. (Acts 9)

II)      Saw the Word

A)     This is not the first time that John has seen Jesus in all of His glory. (Mt. 17:1-2,5)

B)      White- His holiness (Rev. 4:8)

C)      Eyes like  blazing fire-  (Rev. 2:18-19) (Ps. 139:1-3)(Heb. 4:13)

D)     Feet like bronze- strength. (Ps. 29:11, 28:8a)

E)      Voice- (1 Thes 4:16) Awesome, majestic, yet at times still and small (1 kings 19:12-13)

F)      Double edged sword: (Heb 4:12, Eph. 6:18, 2 Tim. 3:16)

G)     His response: He fell down at His feet- worship- there is no way that you can get a picture of Who Christ is and stay the same.

III)    The Ministry of the Word (vv. 17b-20)

A)     Don’t be afraid- (He placed his hand on John- love it!) (similar- Matt. 14:27) He has the ability to aleeve our fears- I Am speaks of His sovereignty – even death does not cause Him to be afraid for He holds the keys to death.

B)      Write what I tell you.  Sovereignty again- He alone has the right to speak to these churches.

1)      He stands among them. (v. 12-13)

2)      He has paid for the church with His blood. (Acts 20:28)

3)      He is the head of  the church (Eph. 5:23)

4)      He loves the church and has given Himself for it. (Eph. 5:25)

5)      He has every right to say the things that He will about these churches.

(a)    To encourage those who are hurting and persecuted.

(b)   To rebuke the complacent.

(c)    To warn of impending death.  All of this is the mercy of God.

6)      The church serves to bear the light and life of Christ to a dark and dying world. (Matt. 5:14-16) When the church fails or refuses to do this its reason for existence has ceased. (Rev. 2:5)