God’s Glow In the City?
Thesis: Our city throws out a portrait to all who visit her. They can see and observe what values we live by. So what do they see?
Texts: Rev. 21:23,24 “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings on the earth will bring their splendor into it.”
Rev. 22:4,5 “ They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
Introduction: This portrait in Revelation 21,22 is a portrait of the New Jerusalem a Holy City. It describes the city where God dwells. Moore notes this about cities:
Every city has certain unique characteristics. These indicators give away a lot of information about the cities inhabitants. For instance, The fact that New York City has over 40,000 licensed taxi drivers and nearly 12,000 operating taxicabs tells us that a large number of that cities residents are heavily dependent on public transportation. When I lived in Louisville, I saw many more kid’s soccer fields, and far fewer kid’s baseball fields, then I see here in Pine Bluff – an indication of the sport of choice for the majority of young people in each of the two cities. The presence and proliferation of adult bookstores, strip clubs, and so forth can be an indication of the prevailing moral attitudes of the community’s residents”(1).
In Pittsburgh where I grew up it was a dirty city – lots of smog and filth. The cities rivers where smelly and dirty in color. This reflected that at this point in history it was a steel city and the home of Blue Collar workers. Since I left the steel mills have closed and the city has changed dramatically into a White collar city. The city today is very clean and well maintained. A few years back it won the most beautiful city of the year award.
Chicago was different than Pittsburgh. It had a clean city and reflected a city of White collar workers (The downtown area). There where many malls and fancy restaurants. Many people drove BMW’s, sports cars, Audi’s, Mercedes and dressed like yuppies. It was a fast paced city with everybody going a mile a minute. I use to remember when we would come back to Chicago how the traffic speed up. There was a rush to be somewhere. I’m not sure if anyone knew where somewhere was? The prevailing mindset you see is if you want to be successful be busy as a bee. You ask how someone was doing and they say “I am so busy!”
You have Somerset with its Rock festivals, and tubing center, and strip joints and party places and dance clubs all telling us something about those who live there.
Amery is different than Chicago. We have a lot of weekend lake home people. We have a lot of tourists in the summer time. Life is at a slower pace than in Chicago. The town is relaxed and friendly. Yet there is Soo line park, Uncle Bobs which paints us another portrait of Amery. Share about the all night prayer meeting and observations on county. The county has one of the highest suicide rate in the state. It also has a high rate of divorce, poverty, high rate of drug addiction. All these characteristics tell us something about our city. We have many bars packed on the weekends. (Share about walking around Uncle Bob’s seven times at the prayer meeting).
We have new construction in the city which portrays the another characteristic of the town. All these indicators put off a glow as to what the residents in the city are like.
In Revelation 21 and 22 we learn about the residents of the Holy City. Revelation 21;10 states, “And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.”
Moore makes this observation that I would like to expand on today,
“In the verses that follow (Revelation 21 and 22), John describes the unique characteristics of that holy city. Now, the promise of Revelation is that, if you’re a believer (i.e. in the language of Revelation, you have had your “robe washed in the blood of the Lamb”), you will someday inhabit that holy heavenly city in the New Heaven!”
One of the premises of …Revelation… is that people can experience a foretaste of the future blessings of God today. In most cases it’s not possible to experience the full blessings spoken of in the future, today. We only catch glimpses of what it will really be like from books such as Revelation. But God gave us Revelation to get a glimpse of who He is. We see his attributes and character traits through out the vision John received. This vision is given to us today so that we could start to pursue the character traits of the Lord. We need to seek after the values that the Lord holds as attributes to the Holy cities residents.
A question jumps out as I read about this city. “Do I exhibit the qualities and characteristics of one who will one day be a resident in this city”?
More questions spring forth, “Do I fit into this city’s lifestyle”? “Does my life today reflect that I belong there”?
T.S.- Lets take a few moments today and explore this Holy city and learn what it is like and what the residents value in their lives.
I. God’s Glow in the Holy city – wow what a show!
a. Revelation 21, 22 - Gives us a show of what happens when God shows up and glows in a city.
1. The Holy city’s first characteristic is God dwells in it (21:3).
a. God – Yes – Dwells, resides, lives, in this city LITERALLY!
2. In this city crying is done away with as God wipes away all the pain and sorrow and hurt. (21:4)
a. In other words there is joy, happiness, contentment!
3. In this city there is No death – only life - life with no crying, no pain. Death is no longer a concern only life!
a. What is a city like when God glows and sits on the throne in a city? There is no death, no pain, no sorrow!
4. In this holy city there is a new way of doing things – the old is dead and gone – It means:
a. This city is not like the worlds - driven by pride, by greed, by people treading on top of others to get to the top, by people doing there own thing at the cost of someone else life or feelings.
b. No this city is run with Love in absolute control. (21:4-10).
i. Reflect on I Cor. 13 “The Love chapter!”
c. In this city God makes everything new- there are no ghettos, no crack houses, no houses of ill repute, no exploitation of people and resources, no thieves stealing – no it’s ALL NEW!
d. It’s all fresh and beautiful!
e. There is a new government!
5. In this city there is a spring of everlasting life. Many have looked for the fountain of youth so they could live forever. Here it is friends it’s in the New Jerusalem (21:6).
a. The great blessing is, there is no cost to drink of its life giving water.
6. In this city according to Rev. 21:11 “It shone with the Glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.”
a. Friend the holy city was illuminated with the presence of God. There as beautiful colorful majestic view of GOD! It is absolutely breath taking. PAUSE AND LET HIS SPIRIT GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE!!!!
b. The walls and foundations glittered and beamed with the brilliant colors of beauty. The gates where white washed pearls. The streets where paved in GOLD (21:11-21)! WOW what a show it will be.
7. This city had no temple – no church buildings - because God along with the lamb resided there literally. You could see them, touch them, speak to them, hear them, and smell their sweet presence (21:22,23)
a. 21:23 states, “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb its lamp.”
b. In the city - God flows and glows and all can see the light.
c. In this city a resident is one who has a personal relationship with the Lord God almighty.
i. It’s personal and intimate! It’s not philosophical its real!
d. I discover that a resident of this city walks in the light because of God’s presence – they see by God’s illuminating presence. There is no need of natural light because God’s supernatural light is everywhere guiding the way around in the city.
e. Jesus told us in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
f. John tells us in I John 1:5 “…God is light in Him there is no darkness…”
g. The Psalmist wrote of the Lord (Psalms 119:105) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
8. In this city we told in verses 24-26 that the kings will honor and praise the Lord. Yes even the leaders and the whole nation will proclaim the Lord the king and bring him glory.
a. In this city everyone even the President and Congress type people will honor God. There will be no separation of Church and State. They are one because you cannot have good government without the Lord Almighty.
9. The city will never close its gates again. All will be able to enter into the presence of the Lord. There will be no night.
a. In Other words night represents evil it will be banished forever! There will only be LIGHT!
b. In this city the residents will worship God alone.
c. They will not worship themselves only HIM!
10. In the Holy city the residents will be holy and righteous. There will be no evil or unclean individuals. There will be no deception only truth. It will be full of residents who are written in the Lambs book of life.
a. There will be no disgusting practices. No child abusers, no rapists, no violence, no crime, no murderers, no liars, no self-centered individuals, there will be only people who are blessings to each other.
11. In this city there will be mass production of great fruit. The resident there will receive fruit from the tree of life that will bring healing to everyone. The pains of the past will be completely healed. The diseases and sickness’ of life will be gone (Rev.22:1,2).
a. The residents of this city will receive fresh fruit all the time! They will be satisfied like never before!
b. The fruit of Spirit will be manifested in the lives of the residents: Galatians 5:22-23
i. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control.”
12. In this city there will be no curses only blessings as God’s people worship and Praise the Lord. The residents of this city will serve the Lord (Rev. 22:3,4).
a. Because the curse is gone once again we will see his face like Adam and Eve.
b. No more separation because of the curse.
c. We will be united with Lord forever!
13. In the city of Light where God’s glow -flows -and shows we will reign with Him forever and ever.
Conclusion: We have been illuminated this morning by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. We have a challenge before us to act like future residents of this Holy City. Where one day we will experience the fullness of God’s glow – flowing – and glowing in all his majesty. It will be the greatest show on earth and all the universe. It’s a show I do not want to miss. I want to be there on the front row praising God when the show opens up for all eternity.
The questions I asked earlier where:
“Do you and I reflect the characteristic of one who will be a resident of this city?”
“Am I preparing now to enter into the Holy City?”
“Am I ready now to enter the Holy city?”
” Do I illuminate the presence of God’s glow in my life”?
“ Do people see it and say where are you from and where are you going”?
Do they see the Holy City’s resident reflecting it’s character traits:
1. Do they see a person with the joy of the Lord?
2. Do they see a person who has died and needs not to fear death?
3. Do they see a person who is truly living?
4. Do they see a person who does thing in a new and refreshing way?
5. Do they see someone who drinks from the fountain of life?
6. Do they see a life directed by LOVE?
7. Do they see a light beaming out of your life?
8. Do they see a person with a personal relationship with the Lord?
9. Do they see a person who worships God?
10. Do they see a person written in the Lambs Book of Life?
11. Do they see a righteous person?
12. Do they see a holy person?
13. Do they see the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
14. Do they see a person who serves God with their whole heart mind and soul?
Altar Call: If you are one who wants to enter then the ticket to get in is Jesus Christ!
It’s an easy ticket to get do three things:
1. Acknowledge that you’re a sinner and ask God to forgive you of you sins.
2. Ask Jesus to become the Lord of your life and you give up your life to him.
3. Turn away from sin and selfish ways and follow the Lord with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength.
Maybe you have once asked Jesus into your life but recently you decided to leave His path and light and choose you own path and light. It’s easy you want your ticket back into Heaven for all eternity. Say your sorry and ask God to restore you and then jump back on his illuminated path that leads to the Holy City and get ready to be blessed.
Prayer Teams will pray!
