July 14, 2019 “On the Lookout” Revelation 1:1-8
July 18, 2019
Take-Away’s From Revelation 1:1-8, On the Lookout
The author is John, marooned on the island of Patmos.
The audience is seven churches located in SW Asia Minor; because there are seven, we can interpret that to mean all churches, of all time.
The repetition of 1:3, 1:4, 1:7 and 1:8, clue us in to the theme of these introductory verses.
The Pastor mentioned four antidotes to lazy listening:
- Take time to prepare your heart Saturday night-
- Try sitting somewhere different to break a stubborn tradition-
- Take notes; see Pastor recommendation for journal-
- Model sermon listening; Bible open. Young or new listeners around you-
The Pastor highlighted five credentials of Christ that are meant to spur on our worship. Included in these five credentials, the pastor shared personal applications to gauge your spiritual development:
- 1:5 He is our Warrior– firstborn of the dead. Here is our hope. We may be developing intellectually if we are overcoming depression, reflecting on this hope.
- 1:5 He is the world’s Ruler- Domitian was an oppressive ruler. Christ is a liberating Ruler. We may be developing emotionally if we panic less, or rest better knowing He has planned the events of our days. (How might this term have helped them then?)
- 1:5 Christ is the Savior of helpless souls– sin locks us up; Christ saves us from sin by freeing us spiritually. You may be developing spiritually if you can overcome addictions.
- 1:6 He is our Redeemer-by His blood we have a new identity, a new mission. Therefore, you can develop physically by offering your body as a living sacrifice to Him.
- 1:7 He is the returning Judge-emerging not from a chamber in a black robe, but on a cloud in a white robe. Develop socially by making friends with the lost and unchurched.
