Sermon 2 in the series, “The Blessings of Revelation”
Topic II "The Blessing of Deeds Done for Jesus Christ!"
Thesis: We need to receive a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ daily because it makes the difference whether you will decide to die for Christ daily.
Text: Rev. 14:13 "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
Revelation 1:1 – 8
1The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
4John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits£ before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen.
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Illustration: Perpetua’s story: Perpetua-In A.D. 202, Emperor Septimius Severus disallowed conversions to Christianity. In the wake of that act, severe persecution broke out against Christians, particularly in North Africa. Living in Carthage at the time was a young woman of nobility named Perpetua age 22. She had been arrested for converting to Christianity and going to be water baptized. When she was arrested and placed into prison she was still nursing her infant son. In March of 203 A.D. she was lead into the amphitheater. Upon entrance in the arena she started to sing some of the Psalms. Her and the others where stripped naked and placed in nets. The crowd wanted them clothed so they where given tunics to place over their bodies. The Egyptians unleashed a mad heifer on her that charged her and up ended her. Later a gladiator was sent to kill her. He struck her on the shoulder she screamed in pain then she took the gladiators hand and signaled for him to slice her throat. He did. In the writings about her they tell of a vision she had upon her arrest. …She saw a ladder going toward Heaven. On it before her she saw her pastor ahead of her. (He had been killed by a leopard prior to her killing) She said in the vision he said, ‘Perpetua, I am waiting for you. But take care; do not let the dragon bite you.’ “He will not harm me” She said,” in the name of Jesus.” Slowly, as though he were afraid of me, the dragon stuck his head out from underneath the ladder. Then, using it as my first step, I trod on his head and went up” (Christian History, Issue 27 page12-14)
Introduction: How could someone give up there life? How? Because they had a revelation of who Jesus Christ was, is, and will be. This revelation was not religion. It was not a tradition, it was not a mere knowing about Jesus. It was an intimate relationship with Christ that had changed her life. It’s a life that has been transformed and continues to be impacted daily by having their eyes on Jesus. It’s seeing Christ as a God who is there 24-7. When you can see Jesus in spite of the difficulties then you can do all things through Jesus Christ even the ultimate sacrifice of giving up your life for him.
Once again it’s important to know that Revelation is an unveiling of Jesus Christ to all who are servants in His suffering kingdom. The book is delivered to John in a supernatural way while he is on the Island of Patmos. Here is an important point Revelation is Jesus Christ’s personal vision of himself to us and to all the servants of Jesus in past, today and in the future.
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I. Once we see and experience who Jesus was, is, and will be. We will then have the strength to stand up for Him in the face of persecution.
A. Illustration of being perseverant: Among some skaters was a small boy so obviously a beginner that his frequent falls stirred the pity of a well meaning spectator. She said, "Little boy, you don’t have to stay on the ice and keep falling down. You can come into the stands and watch the other skaters." As the boy got back to his feet he said, "I didn’t get new skates to give up with; I got them to learn how with." (Stories for Preachers).
a. We need to be able to be as persistent as this young boy when it comes to living for Jesus.
B. Why? Because Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. He is the beginning and the end.
a. This reality should impact our lives and give us the boldness to be able to stand up for Jesus in an age were it is not popular.
b. Rev. 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God, "who is , and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
c. This text in Rev. reveals to us Christ’s absolute deity. It ‘s a reminder of why Christ will win and an encouragement to the persecuted church why they need to not quit. He is the one who starts something and finishes the task -"ALPHA AND OMEGA"- The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet tells us that Christ is the sum of all.
i. He is Omnipresent – He was there in the beginning and he will be there in the end.
ii. The alphabet is an ingenious way to store information. Our literature is composed of a variety of arrangements of letters. Jesus is the final source of knowledge, understanding, wisdom and the writing of history. His decree is based on this fact " He knows ALL, and He will see to it that the Christian church wins!"
d. JESUS is in control and he cannot be deceived, disputed, or discredited no matter how hard Satan or others try.
i. FACT: Christianity began as a despised, illicit religious sect, Christianity endured 300 years of hostility to emerge as the dominant force in the Roman Empire." (Frend).
ii. At the time of this revelation it looked like the church was losing but Jesus reminds them and us that he will win. He has a plan and this was the historical plan for the change of heart in the Roman Empire. At the writing of Revelation it looked bleak but Jesus is the one that writes history.
1. Constantine became the Roman Emperor and became influenced by the Lord at the Battle of the Milavian Bridge. He was meet there by his rivals and he was outnumbered. But he cried out to the divine for help. He then had a vision of a red cross in the sky and he was told to embrace this symbol and he would win. He had the symbol of the cross placed on his shields and his army won a great victory.
2. He later on signed the Edict of Milan where Christianity became the accepted religion of the Roman Empire. No longer were Christians outlaws but the ones who were a BLESSING TO THE EMPIRE.
3. The persecution of Christianity stopped as a result of this miracle and then spread far and wide throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.
4. Jesus was right he had everything in control. He was the beginning and the end. I am sure no one in the Roman Empire could have believed that the emperor would be converted but Constantine was and it stopped the persecution of the church.
C. The reason why Jesus will win is because he is Omnipresent, "The beginning and the end" His omnipresence is stated in terms of time , "I am...which is, and which was, and which is coming the Almighty." In Revelation it is revealed that everywhere there is failure in the church, in the nation of Israel, in the nations of the world, and on but it reveals that Christ who is in all points of time as we know it will not FAIL. He travels through time assuring that victory is ours.
a. It’s hard for us to imagine that Jesus is not restrained by time- he controls time.
b. Jesus knows the outcome of everything that will happen in this world.
Transition Statement: Jesus deity and character traits assure us that He is in control and we need to see this. We also need to see that Jesus is around today in 2001.
II. Seeing Jesus for who he is today Rev. 1:12-16.
Revelation 1:12-19
12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,”£ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hade 19“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
A. The Appearance of Jesus Christ.
a. The first dimension that John noticed, of Christ in His glory, is his robe. He noticed that it had a golden sash.
i. This reveals immediately to a reader of John’s apocalypse that Christ is a Priest.
ii. The Son of man is a priest. Just as a soldier’s uniform creates a set of expectations in the person who sees him, so this priestly dress shapes the responses that develop throughout the unfolding details of the vision.
iii. To them a priest was a bridge. The expectations have to do with getting out of what is insufficient or oppressive and getting into what is whole and free.
iv. A priest presents God to us. He also presents us to God. He brings together the divine and the human.
v. Jesus is the priest who had made the ultimate sacrifice which created a bridge between man and God.
b. His head and hair like wool, as white as snow. (Rev. 1:14)
i. Signifies- Who the lamb is in Rev. 4 it’s Jesus Christ.
ii. Signifies-Purity, holiness, blemish free – no corruption.
1. Reference the pairs skating scandal. This does not happen in Jesus’ kingdom.
iii. Signifies- Wisdom, heavenly wisdom
c. Eyes as flaming fire.
i. Signifies - eyes that see all – His omniscience- all knowing.
ii. Signifies - eyes that penetrate to the deepest parts.
iii. Signifies - a burning fire that burns away all that is unclean.
d. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace.
i. Signifies- strength. Bronze is made by melting steel and copper together. It makes a foundation as strong as steel and unable to rust because copper does not. It is a picture of the strongest foundation possible to anyone in those days.
e. Voice was like a sound of rushing waters.
i. Signifies - authority- Example Niagara Falls
ii. Signifies - an overwhelming voice, of power and might.
f. He held the seven stars.
i. Signifies - the entire church known in that day and today.
ii. Signifies - The universe. In that day they only believed in seven planets in the universe.
iii. He holds both in his hands- He controls them.
g. Out of His mouth came a sharp double edge sword.
i. Signifies His Word as powerful as a double-edged sword. (Most lethal weapon of the day)
ii. His word cuts deep and with speed and accuracy. It’s not the sword of steel, but the sword of truth.
h. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Rev. 1:16)
i. Signifies- He is compared to the sun at its brightest point. A splendor. So bright you are overwhelmed and unable to look at His face. It is so bright John falls to the ground.
ii. The heavenly light where there is no darkness, no veil, no mist, no cloud obscuring its brightness.
B. We need to get a fresh revelation of Jesus today if we want to be able to stand in the face of persecution.
a. We need to see Him as He is in glory. A vision of Him today will inspire you and change you. It will encourage you to go where He wants you to go. It is the greatest thing you could ever see.
b. The big question: So do you want a fresh revelation of Jesus? Then ask Him to reveal himself to you. He will! I promise you if you see Him it will transform your life!
T.S.- We need to understand that for us to be able to make a stand for Jesus Christ requires us to have fresh revelations of him in our lives so that when the day comes to stand for him. Then because of our stand for him will come the blessings.
III. Blessing of deeds done for Jesus Christ!
Rev. 14:13"Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes, " Says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
A. The Church in Smyrna Rev. 2:8-11
a. This blessing spoken of in Rev. 14 would mean a whole lot to this persecuted church. This church was suffering severe persecution and a revelation from God’s word would help them to persevere. To better understand their situation in 90AD let me give you some historical background.
b. Smyrna was a beautiful city located on the coast about 40 miles north of Ephesus. It was one of the most prosperous cities in Asia. With typical Chamber of Commerce humility the city fathers called it "the pride of Asia." There was a hill named the Pagos which was located at the back of the city. On the crest of this hill were a number of pagan temples, forming a circle. The crest with all it’s temples resembled a crown when looking at it from a distance. The city received the name "the crown of Asia" as a result of it’s prosperity and it’s temple’s on the crest of the hill.
c. The city was one of the major centers of emperor worship. The emperor temple had been erected in 26AD during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Since the time of Christ many Christians were put to the test annually in claiming who was Lord. The Romans would charge others to say, "Caesar is Lord!" those who denied and said "Jesus is Lord" would face persecution from the Romans.
i. The persecution they would face would be any one of the following: Fines, loss of Roman Citizenship and it’s rights, loss of property owned, loss of business owned, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, mental abuse, reputations destroyed, lies generated about them, hate crimes committed against them, families split apart, children taken away, abandoned by friends and family, imprisonment, stoning, whippings, beatings, bodily injury, and for some death.
ii. The persecution did not just come from the Romans it also came from the Jews. There was a large community of Jews living within the city. These Jews were outright hostile to the Christians in the city. They were involved in lying about Christians and encouraging the Romans to deal with these cannibals, atheists, and immoral Christians.
iii. It’s interesting to note that the name Smyrna means "Myrrh." It is a very fitting name for this church because myrrh is a perfume, whose aroma is released by crushing it.
B. Smyrna receives a message of understanding from Jesus "I KNOW", a message of encouragement (YOU ARE RICH!), and a message of hope "BE FAITHFUL ... AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF LIFE."
a. *Rev. 2:8-11: "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty-yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
b. Jesus understands and knows about persecution.
i. This church was being crushed with persecution and it had to be a spiritual adrenaline rush to receive a personal message from Jesus Christ.
1. It is vitally important to have someone who understands what we are going through -- this is why support groups are helpful in facilitating healing. People can help each other persevere and make it when others empathize and understand.
a. Share about what happened to a senior pastor when he took my Agape group. He did not understand because he never faced what they were facing.
c. I am absolutely convinced that we in America do not even know what real persecution is. We have no understanding of what these Christians were going through. It’s hard for people to truly understand persecution unless you have been through it.
i. It’s hard for many of us to empathize with the Jews who went through the Holocast. I watched the movie Shindlers List and was deeply moved and hurt by what I saw. But to live through it is another story.
1. I cannot feel what they felt!
ii. Jesus starts off his message of hope to this church by reminding them that He is the first and last. He will out live the Roman Empire and all the Jews. He will have the last word. His kingdom will be the only standing in the end.
1. This is a fact not wish!
iii. He also states a fact they need to never forget "These are the words of him...who died and came to life again."
iv. He is the only one who can make this statement of FACT. He died and rose again. He holds the keys of death and Hades. He is not a dead Jesus but an alive Jesus who vanquished, destroyed, overcame, dismantled death. He beat it and he controls it. Believe in the one who defeated death and you will live see Him and see victory.
1. He is the one that defeated death with it’s own weapon the cross. He controls death now and his sacrifice made it all possible.
2. Remember the promise to Abraham about having faith in God. Romans 4:17 "As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."
3. He gives life to the dead!
a. Not money, not fame, not power, not Satan, not evil powers, not Buddha, not Mohammed, not Confuscious, not Shirley Mclaine, not governments, not Caesar, not any other force in this universe.
4. God knew in the time of this writing who would win the battle raging in Smyrna just like he told Abraham to trust and believe.
a. He knows what’s like to be abused and he understands!
b. He was beaten, whipped, mocked, kicked, punched, stabbed, and martyred on the cross of agony. He knew what affliction was he felt on his back, his hands, his feet and his legs.
c. He understands what abuse is He felt and endured it for us.
d. Jesus knew pain and persecution but he also knew the Father’s Word which stated, “ See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Jesus knew that he had to face the persecution of this world to accomplish the plan of the Father.
i. Jesus also warned the church that it to would under go times of persecution.
1. This is true today as well.
ii. But even in their times of pain and suffering they need to remember He sits on the throne. When they see Him for who He is they should realize that they are not poor or in poverty. They need to not allow their focus to be on the persecution but keep their eyes fixed on His greater purpose
5. When they do this they will discover that they are truly the richest people on the face the earth.
a. I wonder if the church is ready to handle adversity today. Persecution for Him?
b. How will you do if the church comes under persecution?
c. In our name it and claim it society, in our prosperity culture, in our, “ We don’t have to suffer philosophy of ministry.”
i. Reference the tape from AACC.
d. In our rights orientated society, in our,” Don’t have too mind set.”
e. In our self centered mind set and bless me club mentality.
f. How will you respond to a clear cut message of Christ that says, “I see your suffering” but, “I am not delivering you right now.” He even becomes more explicit “It will last longer!”
g. Will you cry that’s not fair! Lord!
h. The reality of fairness.
i. It was not fair that God had to send His Son Jesus to be abused, to be beaten, to be lied to, to be stabbed, to be nailed to the cross, to be crucified for our sins and evil deeds. It is not fair that Jesus had to leave Heaven and all it’s beauty behind so that we could be delivered
j. He did nothing wrong we did!
k. So now with that heart ringing in your heart let me ask, “Is it unfair to have to suffer for the sins of others when you have done nothing wrong?”
l. Point: Is it unfair to suffer a little while then for Him?
m. Is it unfair to sacrifice your time, money, reputation, family, Job, property, and life?”
n. Is it unfair to give your life for Christ, to lay down so that in reality you find eternal life?
C. Polycarp’s death is an example of how we should die for Christ..
a. His message is a message of encouragement for the Christian Church today.
b. Polycarp was born about A.D. 70, and he knew eyewitnesses of Jesus, possibly including the apostle John. Before 110 Polycarp was named bishop of Smyrna, and throughout his life he stood for orthodoxy. At a pagan festival c. 156 (though possibly later), Polycarp was arrested at the demands of an angry mob. This account was written by Christians in Smyrna shortly there after and is the earliest extant account of a Christian martyr outside of the New Testament.
i. All the crowd, astonished at the noble conduct of the God-beloved and God-fearing race of Christians, cried out, “Away with the atheists; let search be made for Polycarp.” But the most admirable Polycarp, when first he heard of this, was not dismayed but wished to remain in the city. The majority, however, prevailed on him to withdraw. And he withdrew to a small estate not far from the city. There he passed the time with a few companions, wholly occupied night and day in prayer for all men and for the churches throughout the world; as, indeed, was his habit. And while at prayer he fell into a trance three days before his arrest and saw his pillow set on fire. And he turned and said to his companions, “I must needs be burned alive.” [By torturing one of Polycarp’s servants, the authorities discover his whereabouts. So, on the day of the preparation, mounted police … found him in a cottage, lying in an upper room. He could have gone away to another farm, but he would not, saying “The will of God be done.” So, hearing their arrival, he came down and talked with them, while all that were present marveled at his age and constancy, and that there was so much ado about the arrest of such an old man. Then he ordered that something should be served for them to eat and drink, at that late hour, as much as they wanted. And he besought them that they should grant him an hour that he might pray freely. They gave him leave, and he stood and prayed, being so filled with the grace of God that for two hours he could not hold his peace, while they that heard were amazed, and the men repented that they had come after so venerable an old man. Now, as he was entering the stadium, there came to Polycarp a voice from heaven, “Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.” And no one saw the speaker, but the voice was heard by those of our people who were there. Thereupon he was led forth, and great was the uproar of them that heard that Polycarp had been seized. Accordingly, he was led before the proconsul, who asked him if he were the man himself. And when he confessed, the proconsul tried to persuade him, saying, “Have respect to shine age,” and so forth, according to their customary form: “Swear by the genius of Caesar,” “Repent,” “Say ‘Away with the atheists!’ ” Then Polycarp looked with a severe countenance on the mob of lawless heathen in the stadium, and he waved his hand at them, and looking up to heaven he groaned and said, “Away with the atheists.” But the proconsul urged him and said, “Swear, and I will release thee; curse the Christ.” And Polycarp said, “Eighty and six years have I served him, and he hath done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my king who saved me?” Then said the proconsul, “I have wild beasts; if thou repent not, I will throw thee to them.” But he said, “Send for them. For repentance from better to worse is not a change permitted to us; but to change from cruelty to righteousness is a noble thing.” Then said the proconsul again, “If thou cost despise the wild beasts, I will make thee to be consumed by fire, if thou repent not.” And Polycarp answered, “Thou threatenest the fire that burns for an hour and in a little while is quenched; for thou knowest not of the fire of the judgement to come, and the fire of the eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why delayest thou? Bring what thou wilt.” As he spake these words and many more, he was filled with courage and joy; and his countenance was full of grace, so that not only did it fall not in dismay at what was being said to him, but on the contrary the proconsul was astonished and sent his herald to proclaim thrice in the midst of the stadium, “Polycarp hath confessed himself to be a Christian.” When this was proclaimed by the herald the whole multitude of Gentiles and Jews who dwelt in Smyma cried out with ungovernable rage and in a loud voice, “This is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, that teacheth many not to sacrifice nor worship.” They kept shouting this, asking Philip, the Asiarch, to loose a lion at Polycarp. But he said that it was not lawful for him, since he had finished the sports. Then they decided to shout with one accord that he should be burned alive. For the matter of his vision of the pillow must needs be fulfilled, when he saw it burning while he was at prayer, and turned and said prophetically to his companions, “I must needs be burned alive.”And now things happened with such speed, in less time than it takes to tell; for the mob straightway brought together timber and faggots from the workshops and baths, the Jews giving themselves zealously to the work, as they were like to do.… They were about to nail him to the stake, when he said, “Let me be as I am. He that granted me to endure the fire will grant me also to remain at the pyre unmoved, without being secured with nails.”So at length the lawless ones, seeing that his body could not be consumed by the fire, bade an executioner approach him to drive in a dagger. And when he had done this there came out [a dove and] abundance of blood so that it quenched the fire, and all the multitude marveled at the great difference between the unbelievers and the elect” (Christian History, Issue 27).
c. Jesus’ message of hope is, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of Life.”
i. Polycarp understood this reality and he is currently bathing in it in blessings of revelation.
ii. So how about you! Do you understand what it means to live and die for Jesus Christ?
Conclusion:
Jesus is God who came in the flesh and experienced what it was like in this abusive world. He can relate to what injustice feels like. He experienced and He can help you go through it and help you to overcome it with His touch – a vision of Him.
Point of decision question: Are you hurting and in need of encouragement?
Then ask Jesus to touch you! To let you see what He sees! To hear what he hears! To know what he knows. Then you will not be afraid to take a stand for him and die to yourself.
The key to being able to overcome is to get a vision – a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ.
