Revelation, Part 1 Series

Revelation, Part 1

Revelation 1:5-11

Introduction

Open your bibles to Revelation, Chapter 1

Last week we looked at the year in advance, and we discussed the joy of living the life that John mentions in 3 John Verse 4 and examined and defined that as a church, our mission will be to be able to always give an answer for our actions – and most importantly, answer why we believe the way we do.

2 Tim 4:2 says “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

I believe there is no more important time than right now to be involved in God’s ministry and the calling each of us has on our lives, and I want to say up front that this series scares me. I am not a prophet and do not claim to be – but I have read the works of great prophets whose words, given divinely from God, have come true long before I was born.

Starting today, we are looking ahead to one more great prophecy, the prophecy of Jesus Christ’s return, and how important that is to not only us, but to all of humanity who may pass from this world without Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Pray

Read Revelation 1:5b-8

I. Who do we serve?

- We have been freed by blood (v5b-6) ** Most important reason **

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary gives us the ability to serve. It is because of the shed blood that we can proclaim our own freedom. Because Jesus paid with His blood – we are called to do one thing, preach the word!

- The Prophecy of His return (v7)

While John is in the midst of revealing who he serves in this life – we get a preview of what will happen one day. Jesus Christ will descend, and we shall see him. Just as the angel of the Lord proclaimed in Acts 1:11 when Jesus ascended to Heaven, here is the confirmation – that we shall see Jesus return.

- Who is Jesus? (v8)

Alpha and Omega

The Beginning and the End – Present Tense!!

Given authority over everything (discuss this more in coming weeks)

(Make a mental note that His authority cannot be overlooked, but we will look further in that in the coming weeks.)

Read Revelation 1:9-11

II. Who is John and why is he important?

He was just a fisherman – lowest paid workers and no one here is a millionaire

John had one thing in common with us, he loved Jesus

This is the same John who sat with Jesus at the Last Supper, the same John who was at Calvary, and the same John who was called “the disciple that Jesus loved”

John was an ordinary man, but he was a sold-out, servant of God

You are an ordinary man – Are you sold out for Jesus?

You are an ordinary woman – Are you sold out for Jesus?

- Being sold out means that no matter what it takes, God’s will comes first in your life. (God first – Family Second – Everything else is third)

We are just average, ordinary people – no different than who John was

Are you sold out today? Are you willing to do whatever it takes?

He was banished for loving God, with everything that was in him. Because John loved Jesus and proclaimed him, he was banished from society. He was cast out because He would not conform. Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform …”

Fact: 11 of the 12 disciples were killed for their faith – yet John was spared to continue living on – God had a purpose for him to continue being alive, and now we are seeing it.

Remember, God will use anyone who is willing to serve to fulfill His plan! And that plan, is very simple – 2 Peter 3:9 “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”.

III. What was John told to do?

To write what he sees – word for word – as the Lord laid it out before him

To ensure that the vision got into the hands of those who would come after him

John plays a very important role in prophecy

We have seen all there is to see in history minus the return of Jesus Christ.

And we see in Verse 7 as well, what that will look like

IV. Why is the mission important?

One reason: It was given by the Spirit of God!

2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction, and training in righteousness.”

Pastor Jimmy Dillon – This was the second verse I had to learn in discipleship (first was 2 Tim 2:2 – gospel into the hands of faithful men) – and this lesson is vital.