A CONVICTION FOR WITNESS—Part II—Revelation 1:9-20
Some of us have trouble ‘witnessing’. We allow other things to call us away from that responsibility.
The apostle John was convicted to record the fantastic images of Jesus’ revelation.
Those loyal to Christ will be convicted to bear record of Jesus’ revelation.
Who will bear witness of/to Jesus’ revelation?
A Christian witness is borne thru...
1. FAMILY/COMPANIONSHIP(:9)
2. COMMUNION(:10a)
3. HEARING(:10b)
4. SIGHT(:11a)
5. MULTIPLICATION/SUPPORT(:11-12)
6. POSITION(:13a)
7—A Christian witness is borne thru
APPAREL/CLOTHING’s Authority(:13b)
—Explanation/Argumentation:(:13b)
:13—“...one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, & girded across His breast with a golden girdle.”
“Robe/Garment”—enduw—Indescriminant Garment
Rev. 19:16—“And on His robe & on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
“GIRDED”—
“Golden girdle/Band”—Minimally...Exalted rank/High official—High priest wore an ephod across the chest bearing the names of the tribes of Israel—God’s people.
Lev. 8:7—“And he put the tunic on him & girded him with the sash, & clothed him with the robe, & put the ephod on him; & he girded him with the artistic band of the ephod, with which he tied it to him.”
Ex. 28:6-8—“They shall also make the ephod of gold, of blue & purple & scarlet material & fine twisted linen, the work of the skillful workman. “It shall have two shoulder pieces joined to its two ends, that it may be joined. “And the skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship, of the same material: of gold, of blue & purple & scarlet material & fine twisted linen.”—Priestly dress
Rev. 15:6—“& the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean & bright, & girded around their breasts with golden girdles.”
—Illustration:
Father & son with Home .Com business/Father & son Dressed in suits/Can’t be serious about business if dressed in pajamasClothes speak of attitude
—Application:
?Jesus’ APPAREL/CLOTHING demand your Witness?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
8—A Christian witness is borne thru
PURITY’s Authority(:14a)
—Explanation/Illustration:(:14a) Head
:14—“And His head & His hair were white like white wool, like snow;...”
“His HEAD...white like...wool”—
“His HAIR...white like...snow”—
Dan. 7:9—“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, And the hair of His head like pure wool.”
‘Signifying his venerableness, gravity, wisdom, & ripeness of judgment’
Eph. 5:26-27—Unblemished, Unspotted, Unwrinkled—“that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.”
—Argumentation:
Isa. 1:18—“Come now, & let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”
—Application:
?Jesus’ HEAD demand your Witness?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
9—A Christian witness is borne thru
INSIGHT/Knowledge’s Authority(:14b)
—Explanation/Argumentation/Illustration:(:14b) Discernment
“....& His eyes were like a flame of fire;....”
“His EYES”—Penetrating—Separating—Judging—Wrathful
1Cor. 3:12-13—“Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; & the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.”
Dan. 10:6—“...his eyes were like flaming torches...”
Knows everything about me...Failure—Obedience—Commitment—
Lk. 22:60-62—“But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. And the Lord turned & looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a cock crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out & wept bitterly.”
—Application:
?Jesus’ INSIGHT demand your Witness?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
10—A Christian witness is borne thru
SUBJUGATION’s Authority(:15a)
—Explanation/Argumentation/Illustration:(:15a)
:15—“...& His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, ”
Dan. 10:6— “...his arms & feet like the gleam of polished bronze”
“His FEET”—
“Burnished bronze/Fine brass”—calkolibanon—Used only here & in 2:18—An unknown metal.
“Caused to glow/As if they burned”—Emphasis on glowing aspect of super hot metal.
1Cor. 15:23-26—“But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God & Father, when He has abolished all rule & all authority & power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”
No human or spiritual enemy can withstand jesus’ decisive feet.
Josh. 10:24-25—“And it came about when they brought these kings out to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, & said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near & put their feet on their necks. Joshua then said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong & courageous, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.”
—Application:
?Jesus’ SUBJUGATION demand your Witness?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
11—A Christian witness is borne thru
CLARITY’s Authority(:10b,15b)
—Explanation/Illustration:(:10b, 15b)
:15b—“....& His voice was like the sound of many waters.”
:10b—“...a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,...”
:15b—“His VOICE”—God speaks
“Like the sound of many waters”—Thunderous/Deafening/ Undeniable.
Dan. 10:6— “...& the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult....”
:10b—“A loud voice”—
“Like a trumpet”—Clear/Distinct/Summoning/Mustering/ Loud
Distinctive/Unmistakable yet seems small due to individual nature...
God could speak & reveal things to one without clarity to others.
Acts 22:9—“And those who were with me beheld the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.”
Holy Spirit speaks plainly. What makes His voice indistinct is the presence & influence of personal sin!
—Argumentation:
Isa. 32:9—“Rise up you women who are at ease, And hear my voice; Give ear to my word, You complacent daughters.”
Jn. 10:24-28—“The Jews therefore gathered around Him, & were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, & you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me. “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. “My sheep hear My voice, & I know them, & they follow Me; & I give eternal life to them, & they shall never perish; & no one shall snatch them out of My hand.”
—Application:
?Your CLARITY bear Jesus’ Authority?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
12—A Christian witness is borne thru
LORDSHIP’s Authority(:16a)
—Explanation/Argumentation:(:16a) Possession/Control
:16—“And in His right hand He held seven stars;...”
Col. 1:18—“He is also head of the body, the church; & He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.”
“In His right hand”—Control/Sovereignty
—Application:
?Your LORDSHIP bear Jesus’ Authority?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
13—A Christian witness is borne thru
TRUTH’s Authority(:16b)
—Explanation/Argumentation/Illustration:(:16b)
“...& out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword;...”
“Sharp” & “Two-edged”—Heb. 4:12—“For the word of God is living & active & sharper than any two-edged sword, & piercing as far as the division of soul & spirit, of both joints & marrow, & able to judge the thoughts & intentions of the heart.”—Because He is the very Word of God(Jn. 1:1, 14). Cuts going up & down.
“Sword”—Instrument of Judgement, Finality & Death.
Eph. 6:17—“And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, & the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
—Application:
?Your TRUTH bear Jesus’ Authority?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
14—A Christian witness is borne thru
BRIGHTNESS’s Authority(:16c)
—Explanation/Illustration:(:16c)
“... & His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”
Dan. 10:6— “...his face had the appearance of lightning...”
“FACE”—
We can judge much from a person’s facial expression.
Jesus’ face is hidden in holiness—Unmistakably holy.
—Argumentation:
Ex. 34:34-35—“But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; & whenever he came out & spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.”
—Application:
?Your BRIGHTNESS bear Jesus’ Authority?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
15—A Christian witness is borne thru
WEAKNESS’s Authority(:17-18a)
—Explanation/Illustration:(:17-18a) Stupefy/Paralyzed/Fear
:17—“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man.
Dan. 10:8—“So I was left alone & saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, & I retained no strength.”
“And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first & the last,...”
Petrified/Paralyzed/Numb/Stupified with fear.
“Do not be afraid”—Lk. 21:36—“But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, & to stand before the Son of Man.”
:18—“...& the living One; & I was dead, & behold, I am alive forevermore,...”
Resurrected—
—Argumentation:
2Cor. 12:2-10—“I know a man in Christ who...was caught up to the third heaven. ...was caught up into Paradise, & heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. .... And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
—Application:
?Your WEAKNESS bear Jesus’ Authority?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
16—A Christian witness is borne thru
KEY’s Authority(:17b-18b)
—Explanation/Illustration:(:17b-18b)
:18—“...& I have the keys of death & of Hades.”
Rev. 3:7—“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens & no one will shut, & who shuts & no one opens, says this:”—Isa. 22:22
“Keys of death”—
Jn. 14:6—“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, & the truth, & the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”
“Keys...of Hades”—idou— ‘Un-Seen’—Realm of the dead—Akin to OT Sheol—Unseen by mortal man
—Argumentation:
Mat. 16:16-19—“And Simon Peter answered & said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered & said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh & blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, & upon this rock I will build My church; & the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; & whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, & whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Jn. 14:25-26—“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection & the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, & everyone who lives & believes in Me shall never die....”
—Application:
?Your KEY’s bear Jesus’ Authority?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
17—A Christian witness is borne thru
PERCEPTION’s Authority(:20)
—Explanation/Illustration:(:20) Disclosure/Pictures
:20—“As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, & the seven golden lampstands: ...”
“Mystery”—Lack of clarity/understanding of import of a concept.
“7 stars”— :16—Angels
“7 golden lampstands”—:12-13—Churches
“...the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches,”
“Angels”—Angels/Messengers/Pastors
“... & the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
—Argumentation:
Lk. 1:1-4—“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses & servants of the word have handed them down to us, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”
Eph. 1:18-19—“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, & what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might”
—Application:
?Your PERCEPTION bear Jesus’ Authority?
?What is your Conviction regarding Jesus’ Revelation?
—CONCLUSION—
A Christian witness is borne thru...
APPAREL/CLOTHING’s Authority(:13b)
PURITY’s Authority(:14a)
INSIGHT/Knowledge’s Authority(:14b)
SUBJUGATION’s Authority(:15a)
CLARITY’s Authority(:10b,15b)
LORDSHIP’s Authority(:16a)
TRUTH’s Authority(:16b)
BRIGHTNESS/FACE(:16c)
WEAKNESS’s Authority(:17-18a)
KEY’s Authority(:17b-18b)
PERCEPTION’s Authority(:20)
FAMILY/COMPANIONSHIP’s Authority(:9)
COMMUNION’s Authority(:10a)
HEARING’s Authority(:10b)
SIGHT’s Authority(:11a)
MULTIPLICATION/SUPPORT’s Authority(:11-12)
POSITION’s Authority(:13a)
CHILDREN’S— ‘Weakness/Hats’
How many of you have jobs?
Some? What kind of job?
You pay income taxes?
No?
Drive to work?
Unable to!
Support yourself & family?—Doctore/Dentist/Lawyer/Newspaper man/Publisher/Pastor/Businessman/Policeman/Housewife/
Unable to!
But that’s okay—because that makes you an ideal child! & an example to us! when you are weak in those things(an adult) then you are strong in being a child!
Presented 02/10/02am to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 31797
