2014-11
2014-11
Sunday Nov 23, 2014
Sunday Nov 23, 2014
“Faith and Gratitude” (Luke 17:11–19)
Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sunday AM/November 23,
2014
Luke 17:11–19
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled
along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy
met him. They stood at a distance 13
and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on
us!" 14 When he saw
them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they
went, they were cleansed. 15
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud
voice. 16 He threw himself at
Jesus' feet and thanked him-- and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all
ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18
Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise
and go; your faith has made you well."
1.
Jesus is powerful and full of compassion, and
many are blessed by his kindness.
a.
Jesus’ ability to heal multitudes with the sound of his
voice demonstrates his divine power.
b.
Jesus’ willingness to heal despised and unclean lepers
demonstrates his bountiful compassion.
2.
Receiving the blessings of Jesus' common grace is
not enough to make a person thankful (Physical blessings don’t change the spiritual
heart). a.
We are prone to a sense of entitlement.
b.
We focus more on the gift than the giver.
3.
Thankfulness is the natural response of faith in
a person whose heart has been healed by Jesus' saving grace.
a.
Inner faith expresses itself outwardly in response to
Christ:
i.
Repentance
ii.
Praise
iii.
Humility & Worship
iv.
Thanksgiving
b.
Such a faith is rare in our fallen world.
c.
Faith such as this takes root in unexpected people.
Main Idea: Thanksgiving should be our willing and
continual response to the saving grace of Christ.
Wednesday Nov 19, 2014
Wednesday Nov 19, 2014
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
by Donald Whitney
Learning…for the purpose of godliness: Chapter 12
Learning Characterizes the Wise
Ø Learning
is following in the foot-steps of Jesus.
Ø Learning
is a part of discipleship
Ø Wisdom
is characterized by humility, teachableness, and a desire to grow in knowledge
and understanding.
Ø Learning
is a lifelong discipline.
Fulfilling the Great Commandment
Ø The
greatest commandment is to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind
and strength.
Ø God
is glorified when we use the mind that he made to learn about Him.
Ø Learning
is a discipline that is counter-cultural in our age.
Essential for Increased Godliness
Ø The
Christian life begins with learning—the gospel.
Ø Christians
are a Word-founded people, a “people of the book.”
Ø The
Christian life begins with knowledge, and it must continue in progress toward
godliness with growth in knowledge (applied).
By Discipline, Not by Accident
Ø Not
much learning is gained by accident or in the normal course of life.
Ø Growth
in godliness requires discipline; learning requires purposeful discipline.
Ø We
must be intentional and systematic about learning.
Learning by Various Means
Ø Audio
Books
Ø Video/Audio
Sermons
Ø Internet/TV/RadioØ Bible
Study Software
Ø Classes/Small
Groups
Ø Purposeful
Conversation
Ø Reading
Obstacles to Reading
Ø Our
Entertainment Culture
Ø Technology
and Media
Ø Lack
of Time
Ø Lack
of Ability
Ø Lack
of Interest
Ø Tiredness/FatigueØ Too
Many Choices (Bad Choices)
Sunday Nov 16, 2014
Sunday Nov 16, 2014
“The Lord Seals and Protects His People” (Revelation
7:1–17)
Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sun AM/November 16,
2014
Revelation 7:1–17 (NIV)
7 After this I
saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the
four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the
sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from
the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to
the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do
not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads
of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number of those
who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From
the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe
of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe
of Gad 12,000,
6 from
the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe
of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe
of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from
the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe
of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe
of Issachar 12,000,
8 from
the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,
from the tribe
of Joseph 12,000,
from the tribe
of Benjamin 12,000.
9 After this I
looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from
every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before
the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their
hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs
to our God,
who sits on the
throne,
and to the
Lamb.”
11 All the angels
were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living
creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen!
Praise and
glory
and wisdom and
thanks and honor
and power and
strength
be to our God
for ever and ever.
Amen!”
13 Then
one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did
they come from?”
14 I answered,
“Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who
have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before
the throne of God
and serve him
day and night in his temple;
and he who sits
on the throne
will shelter
them with his presence.
16 ‘Never
again will they hunger;
never again will
they thirst.
The sun will
not beat down on them,’
nor any
scorching heat.
17 For
the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their
shepherd;
‘he will lead
them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will
wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
1.
Jesus seals his people for protection in
preparation for spiritual warfare (7:1–8, cf. 14:1–5)
The 144,000: what are the interpretive
options and what conclusion should we take?
a.
Literal
b.
Semi-literal
c.
Figurative/Typological Interpretation
2.
Jesus will infallibly bring his redeemed
people to their eternal rest, even if through martyrdom (7:8–17).
Main Idea: God’s
people will face persecution for the name of Christ in an unbelieving world, but
take heart we have been sealed and protected by God and he will bring us safely
to our eternal home.
Sunday Nov 16, 2014
Sunday Nov 16, 2014
“Why Don’t People Believe?” (John 12:35–50)
Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sunday AM/November 16, 2014
John 12:35–50 (NIV)
35 Then Jesus told
them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while
you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark
does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light
while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he
had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
37 Even after
Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not
believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the
prophet: “Lord, who has
believed our message and to whom has
the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For
this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He
has blinded their eyes and hardened
their hearts, so they can
neither see with their eyes, nor understand
with their hearts, nor turn—and I
would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this
because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42 Yet at the same
time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees
they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of
the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise
from God.
44 Then Jesus
cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one
who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who
sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no
one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
47 “If anyone
hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did
not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is
a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words
I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did
not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I
have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life.
So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
1.
The response of unbelief to the words and
works of Jesus is complex and defies simple explanation.
a.
Unbelief is the natural response of those
in darkness.
i.
Sin has affected us all, and so we all stand in
need of new birth and the drawing power of God (John 3:3–5; John 6:37, 44).
3 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no
one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 "How can someone be born
when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a
second time into their mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly
I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water
and the Spirit. (John 3:3-5, NIV)
37 All those the Father gives me will come to me,
and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37, NIV) 44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I
will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:44, NIV)
ii.
Because Satan has blinded unbelievers’ eyes (2
Cor 4:4).
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of
unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Co. 4:4, NIV)
iii.
Because of their love for their own pleasure.
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the
world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were
evil. 20 Everyone who does
evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their
deeds will be exposed. 21
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen
plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:19-21,
NIV)
iv.
Because of their love for the praise of men –
the praise of man kept many from believing, kept some who believed in silence,
and bound others up in false/superficial belief.
42 Yet at the same time many even among the
leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly
acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise
more than praise from God. (John
12:42-43, NIV)
b.
Unbelief does not contradict the purpose
of God; rather, it fulfills it.
i.
The unbelieving response of the Jews to Jesus
was in keeping with their long history of rejecting God and his prophets. The
rejection of the Jews in Jesus’ day was another historical manifestation of
their abiding stubbornness as a people.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was
coming into the world. 10 He
was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not
recognize him. 11 He came to
that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1:9-11, NIV)
ii.
The unbelieving response of the Jews to Jesus, though
predicted by the prophets and purposed by God, was fully in keeping with the
willing rejection of the people, for which they will be held accountable. (In
other words, God’s hardening of them did not occur apart from their own desires
to love themselves and reject God).
iii.
The unbelieving response of the Jews to Jesus
was a temporal judgment of God on them for their past sins and unbelief. They
had perpetually rejected God’s prophets, and so now God hardens them in that
response in order to bring judgment on them.
iv.
God’s judicial hardening is often partial and
temporary – in other words, God’s sovereignty in the human heart holds out hope
that the God who hardens is also the God who can soften. This is why we pray
and why the prophet Isaiah pleaded with God to show compassion on a hardened
people (Is 63:15–19).
v.
The unbelieving response of the Jews to Jesus
was a part of God’s impeccable and inscrutable wisdom to bring salvation to the
Gentiles. God purposed the rejection of Israel, so that the gospel might go to
all the nations.
24 Some were convinced by what he said, but
others would not believe. 25
They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this
final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when
he said through Isaiah the prophet: 26
"'Go to this people and say, "You will be ever hearing but never
understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving." 27 For this people's heart has
become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their
eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 28 "Therefore I want you to
know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will
listen!" (Acts 28:24-28, NIV)
7 What the people of Israel sought so earnestly
they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8
as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not
see and ears that could not hear, to this very day." (Romans 11:7-8, NIV) 11
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!
Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to
make Israel envious. (Romans 11:11, NIV)
vi.
In a dramatic reversal, God will then use
believing Gentiles to bring the Jewish people to repentance and they too will
be saved through faith in the Messiah.
12 But if their transgression means riches for
the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater
riches will their full inclusion bring! (Romans 11:12, NIV)
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this
mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has
experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come
in, 26 and in this way all
Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from
Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
(Romans 11:25-26, NIV)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing
out! 34 "Who has known
the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Who has ever given to
God, that God should repay them?" 36
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory
forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36, NIV)
2.
Jesus is the perfect and ultimate
revelation of God; He is the only way, to reject him is to bring condemnation
on yourself.
a.
Jesus is the exact manifestation of the
glory of God (v. 41)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and
exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each
with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered
their feet, and with two they were flying.
3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy,
holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the
doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried.
"I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of
unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." (Isa.
6:1-5, NIV)
3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the
exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of
the Majesty in heaven. (Heb. 1:3, NIV)
b.
Jesus’ testimony and works are in perfect
harmony with the Father’s words and works.
c.
Jesus is the only way – to believe in
Jesus is to believe in God.
d.
Jesus’ words bring eternal life – to
reject them is to bring your own judgment upon yourself.
Unbelief is deceptive and destructive. Do not harden
your own heart. Repent and believe the gospel of Jesus, or else these words
that I have spoken to you today from God’s Word will condemn you on the last
day.
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if
you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the
rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, (Heb. 3:7-8, NIV)
This message will either quicken you or it will deaden
you. The gospel of Jesus Christ is never neutral.
Main Idea: Unbelief
fulfills the purposes of God in salvation history; but everyone who rejects
Jesus and his words will be condemned on the last day.
Wednesday Nov 12, 2014
Wednesday Nov 12, 2014
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
by Donald Whitney
Journaling…for the purpose of godliness: Chapter
11
Journaling Explained
Ø A
journal is a place in which a person records information important to him or
her personally for preservation or consideration.
Ø A
Christian journal is a place to document the works and ways of God in your
life.
Is Journaling Expected?
Ø Journaling
does not carry the same expectation in Scripture that many of the other
disciplines do.
Ø However,
there is biblical precedent for journaling by faithful followers of God, as
well as by many in church history.
Value of Journaling
Ø Help
in self-understanding and evaluation
Ø Help
in meditation
Ø Help
in expressing thoughts and feelings to the Lord
Ø Help
in remembering the Lord’s works
Ø Help
in creating and preserving a spiritual heritageØ Help
in clarifying and articulating insights
Ø Help
in monitoring goals and priorities
Ø Help
in maintaining the other spiritual disciplines
Ways of Journaling
Ø Whatever
works best for you
Ø Whatever
is most helpful in your pursuit of godliness
Ø Frequency,
method, occasions, type of content, and length can all vary
More ApplicationAs with all the disciplines…
Ø Journaling
can be fruitful at any level of involvement.
Ø Journaling
requires persistence through the dry times.
Ø You
must start journaling before you can experience its value.
Sunday Nov 09, 2014
Sunday Nov 09, 2014
“Christ, the Lord of History” (Revelation
6:1–17)
Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sunday
PM/November 9, 2014
Revelation 6:1–17 (NIV)
6 I watched as
the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four
living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I
looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was
given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3 When the Lamb
opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then
another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take
peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a
large sword.
5 When the Lamb
opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked,
and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales
in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the
four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six
pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the
wine!”
7 When the Lamb
opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say,
“Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its
rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were
given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and
by the wild beasts of the earth.
9 When he opened
the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain
because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They
called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you
judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 Then
each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little
longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and
sisters, were killed just as they had been.
12 I watched as he
opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like
sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and
the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by
a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being
rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings
of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone
else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They
called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of
him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For
the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
1.
Christ, the Lord of History, controls all
events, including the limits, timing, and unfolding of evil and its
aftereffects in the world (vv. 1–8).
a. The
first horse and its rider: white horse: conquest
b. The
second horse and its rider: red horse: warfare/violence
c. The
third horse and its rider: black: famine
d.
The fourth horse and its rider: pale: death and
Hades
2.
Christ, the Lord of History, cares for his
suffering saints and will vindicate them with justice in his time (vv. 9–11).
3.
Christ, the Lord of History, will bring the
world to its appointed climax and will come to judge in holy wrath (vv. 12–17).
Main Idea:
The Risen Christ is the Lord of History. Nothing happens in the
world or to his saints apart from his control. He cares for his saints and will
vindicate them when he comes to judge the world in holy wrath.
Sunday Nov 09, 2014
Sunday Nov 09, 2014
“Walk in the Light while It Is Still Shining” (John
12:35–36)
Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sunday AM/November 9,
2014
35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going
to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,
before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where
they are going. 36 Believe in
the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of
light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from
them. (John 12:35-36, NIV)
1.
Opportunity: You will only have
the light for a limited time.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light
of all mankind. 5 The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God
whose name was John. 7 He
came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all
might believe. 8 He himself
was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light
to everyone was coming into the world.
(John 1:4-9, NIV)
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he
said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12, NIV)
5 While I am in the world, I am the light of
the world." (John 9:5, NIV)
9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve
hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they
see by this world's light. 10
It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no
light." (John 11:9-10, NIV)
46 I have come into the world as a light, so
that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46, NIV)
a.
Judgment is coming.
31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;
now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from
the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:31-32, NIV)
47 "If anyone hears my words but does not
keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world,
but to save the world. 48
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the
very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. (John 12:47-48, NIV)
b.
Our hearts are hard.
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many
signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of
Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has
the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah
says elsewhere: 40 "He
has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with
their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn-- and I would heal
them." (John 12:37-40, NIV)
2.
Exhortation: Walk In/Believe in
the light while it is still available.
3.
Warning: If you reject the light while
it is available, darkness will overpower/overtake you, and you will not know
where you are going.
4.
Promise: If you walk in/believe in the
light you will become sons of light.
Main Idea: The light of the gospel of
Christ is shining for a limited time, walk in the light now, so that you might
live in the light for all eternity and not the unending darkness of Hell.
Saturday Nov 08, 2014
Saturday Nov 08, 2014
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
by Donald Whitney
Silence & Solitude…for the purpose of godliness: Chapter
10
Silence & Solitude Explained
Ø Silence:
the voluntary and temporary abstention from speaking so that certain spiritual
goals might be sought.
Ø Solitude:
the voluntary and temporary withdrawal to privacy for spiritual purposes.
3 Principles
Ø Think
of silence and solitude as the counter-balance to the discipline of mutual
fellowship.
Ø Silence
and solitude are often practiced together.
Ø Our
culture conditions us to be comfortable with noise and crowds.
Reasons for Silence & Solitude
Ø To
Follow Jesus’ Example
Ø To
Minimize Distractions in Prayer
Ø To
Express Worship to God
Ø To
Express Faith in God
Ø To
Seek Salvation/Deliverance of the Lord
Ø To
Be Physically and Spiritually Restored
Ø To
Regain a Spiritual Perspective
Ø To
Seek the Will of God
Ø To
Learn Control of the Tongue
Ø Silence
& Solitude help connect us to the other disciplines.
Suggestions for Silence & Solitude
Ø “Minute
Retreats”
Ø A
Goal of Daily Silence & Solitude
Ø Getting
Away
Ø Special
Places
Ø Trading
Off Daily Responsibilities
Sunday Nov 02, 2014
Sunday Nov 02, 2014
“Worthy Is the Lamb” (Revelation 5:1–14)
Cameron Jungels/Eastside
Baptist Church/Sunday PM/November 2, 2014
Revelation 5:1–14 (NIV)
5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the
throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And
I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the
seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth
or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I
wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or
look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep!
See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is
able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a
Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne,
encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns
and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the
earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him
who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four
living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one
had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to
take the scroll
and to open its
seals,
because you
were slain,
and with your
blood you purchased for God
persons from
every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You
have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will
reign on the earth.”
11 Then
I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon
thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and
the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they
were saying:
“Worthy is the
Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power
and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and
glory and praise!”
13 Then
I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the
sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on
the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and
honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living
creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
1.
The Sacred, Sealed Scroll (vv. 1–4)
2.
The Slain Lamb and Victorious Lion Who Is
Worthy (vv. 5–7)
8 "Judah, your brothers will praise you;
your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down
to you. 9 You are a lion's
cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies
down, like a lioness-- who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's
staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the
obedience of the nations shall be his. (Genesis 49:8-10, NIV)
5 "The days are coming," declares
the LORD, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who
will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteous Savior. (Jer.
23:5-6, NIV)
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his
roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of
understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge
and fear of the LORD-- 3 and
he will delight in the fear of the LORD. (Isa. 11:1-3, NIV) In that day the
Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to
him, and his resting place will be glorious. (Isa. 11:10, NIV)
9 "As I looked, "thrones were set in
place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as
snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with
fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10
A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon
thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The
court was seated, and the books were opened.
11 "Then I continued to watch because of the boastful
words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its
body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been
stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of
time.) 13 "In my vision
at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with
the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his
presence. 14 He was given
authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language
worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Dan. 7:9-14, NIV)
3.
Universal Praise and Honor to God and to
the Lamb (vv. 8–10)
Main Idea: Jesus of Nazareth, the
descendant of King David, is worthy of the praise of heaven and earth, because
he gave his life to redeem God’s people and then rose victoriously to reign
over all creation.
2 This is how we know that we love the
children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God:
to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God
overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our
faith. 5 Who is it that
overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of
God. (1 John 5:2-5, NIV)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword? 36 As it is
written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as
sheep to be slaughtered." 37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved
us. 38 For I am convinced
that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor
the future, nor any powers, 39
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39, NIV)
Sunday Nov 02, 2014
Sunday Nov 02, 2014
“Glory through
Shame; Victory through Death” (John 12:20–36)
Cameron
Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sunday AM/November 2, 2014
John 12:20–36 (NIV)
20 Now there were
some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They
came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they
said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell
Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied,
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very
truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it
remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone
who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this
world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must
follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the
one who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is
troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was
for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify
your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I
have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd
that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had
spoken to him. 30 Jesus said,
“This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time
for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And
I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He
said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke
up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how
can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told
them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while
you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark
does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light
while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he
had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. "After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the
Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, (Dan.
9:26, NLT)
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man
of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their
faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. (Isa. 53:3, NIV)
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the
very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as
a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a
cross! (Philippians 2:7-8, NIV)
15 And I will put enmity between you and the
woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you
will strike his heel." (Genesis 3:15, NIV)
The path of Jesus’ glory was through shame, and the path
of Jesus’ victory was through death.9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, 11
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, NIV)
11 For all those who
exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be
exalted." (Lk. 14:11, NIV)
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy
went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Matt. 13:44, NIV)
For Jesus and his followers, the path to glory is through
shame, and the road to victory is through death.