JESUS LIVES; JESUS REIGNS! (CC)

ZION EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA PASTOR DAVID BOSTEDT - WELS WWW.ZIONTORRANCE.INFO SERMON TEXT: REVELATION 1:4-18 LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF THIS MORNING'S SERMON TEXT RECORDED FOR US BY JOHN IN HIS REVELATION WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 1, BEGINNING WITH VERSE 4: JOHN, 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, AND FROM JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE FAITHFUL WITNESS, THE FIRTBORN 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, AND 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. LOOK, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, AND EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE PIERCED HIM; AND ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN BECAUSE OF HIM. SO SHALL IT BE. AMEN. "I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA," SAYS THE LORD GOD, "WHO IS, AND WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY." I, JOHN, YOUR BROTHER AND COMPANION IN THE SUFFERING AND KINGDOM AND PATIENT ENDURANCE THAT IS OURS IN JESUS, WAS ON THE ISLAND OF PATMOS BECAUSE OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS. ON THE LORD'S DAY I WAS IN THE SPIRIT, AND I HEARD BEHIND ME A LOUD VOICE LIKE A TRUMPET, WHICH SAID: "WRITE ON THE SCROLL WHAT YOU SEE AND SEND IT TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES: TO EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMUM, THYATIRA, SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA AND LAODICEA." I TURNED AROUND TO SEE THE VOICE THAT WAS SPEAKING TO ME. AND WHEN I TURNED I SAW SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS, AND 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. HIS HEAD AND HAIR WERE WHITE LIKE WOOL, AS WHITE AS SNOW, AND HIS EYES WERE LIKE BLAZING FIRE. HIS FEET WERE LIKE BRONZE GLOWING IN A FURNACE, AND HIS VOICE WAS LIKE THE SOUND OF RUSHING WATERS. IN 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 [SPLENDOR] BRILLIANCE. WHEN 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. I AM THE LIVING ONE; I WAS DEAD, AND BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOR EVER AND EVER! AND I HOLD THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES." THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD. LET US PRAY: GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND COMFORT. AMEN. [TEXT TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, 1973, 1978, 1984, USED BY PERMISSION OF ZONDERVAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS] DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST: THESE OPENING WORDS OF JOHN'S REVELATION THAT WE READ THIS MORNNG, CERTAINLY CONTAIN MANY GLORIOUS TRUTHS OF GOD. THEY CERTAINLY ARE FILLED WITH GLORIOUS PHRASE AFTER GLORIOUS PHRASE OF THE WAY THAT GOD DEPICTS HIMSELF; OF THE WAY THAT GOD PICTURES HIMSELF AND PRESENTS HIMSELF NOT ONLY TO JOHN, BUT ALSO TO THE CHURCH. AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR JOHN TO RECEIVE THIS REVELATION. TO BE ALLOWED TO SEE THIS GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN AND THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO HEAR THE MESSAGE THAT GOD WANTED HIM TO HEAR AND TO WRITE DOWN. TO PASS ALONG TO THE CHURCHES; TO STRENGTHEN THEM, TO ENCOURAGE THEM, TO SHARE WITH THEM THE NEWS OF WHAT WAS TO COME. BUT IT WAS BASED ON THE GOD WHO IS, WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME ... THE EVERLASTING GOD. THE GOD WHO FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME WAS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE OUTSIDE OF TIME. THE ONE, WHO HELD THE KEYS OF DEATH AND HADES. THE ONE WHO PROCLAIMED SALVATION WHILE ON THIS EARTH. THE FATHER WHO PLANNED IT AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO USED THAT WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM GOD TO PROCLAIM THIS WONDERFUL NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST. THE WONDERFUL NEWS THAT JESUS LIVES. THE WONDERFUL NEWS THAT JESUS ALSO REIGNS. AND THAT MESSAGE CAME TO JOHN AS EVEN HE REMINDS US IN THE WORDS THAT HE IS THE ONE WHO WORKED WITH THE DISCIPLES. WHO WAS A COMPANION WITH THEM IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL. WHO WAS THE ONE WHO WAS WITH THEM IN PATIENT ENDURANCE. AND ISN'T THAT AN INTERESTING PHRASE ABOUT OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE! THAT IT IS ONE OF PATIENT ENDURANCE ... AS WE LIVE IN FAITH; AS WE LIVE IN GOD; AS WE LIVE IN THE WONDERFUL NEWS THAT OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN WE HAVE CONFIDENCE. WE HAVE JOY THAT SPRINGS UP WITHIN US. AND WE ARE SO REMINDED OF THAT BY HOW JESUS HIMSELF IS PICTURED IN THESE WORDS. THE ONE WHO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS. THE ONE WHO WAS DEAD WHO NOW LIVES FOREVER IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. THAT GOD'S SON, JESUS CHRIST, IS OUR SAVIOR. HE IS OUR LORD. THAT BLOOD HAS PURCHASED US TO BE HIS OWN; HAS MADE US MEMBERS OF GOD'S FAMILY. AND FOR THAT WE CERTAINLY ARE FILLED WITH JOY. A JOY THAT IS UNENDING BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM: FROM SIN, FROM DEATH, AND FROM THE VERY POWER OF THE DEVIL HIMSELF. AND HIS HOLD THAT HE HAD ON US WHEN WE WERE OUTSIDE OF FAITH. AND OUTSIDE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. BUT GOD HIMSELF CAME AND REDEEMED US. PURCHASED US WITH HIS BLOOD; BOUGHT US BACK TO BE HIS OWN. AND TO LIVE AS HIS CHILDREN IN THE FREEDOM OF KNOWING THAT WE NOW HAVE CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS. THE ETERNAL GOD WHO IS, WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME HAS GIVEN US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WE WEAR EVERY DAY. THAT ALLOWS US ACCESS TO GOD THE FATHER IN PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING. TO RAISE OUR SONGS OF JOY IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE. TO HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS LIVES AND THAT WE NOT HAVE FEAR. THAT WE NOT BE AFRAID. THAT WE NOT GO BACK INTO THE HOLD OF SATAN WHO WANTS TO ROB OF US OF OUR CONFIDENCE; WANTS TO ROB US OF OUR JOY. HE WANTED TO DO THAT WITH THOSE VERY DISCIPLES THAT WERE LOCKED IN THAT ROOM. AND JESUS CAME TO THEM AND SAID: PEACE BE WITH YOU. PEACE ... THAT PEACE OF KNOWING THAT YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. THE PEACE OF KNOWING THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER IN OPPOSITION TO GOD BUT YOU ARE WITH HIM. A PART OF HIM; A MEMBER OF HIS KINGDOM. AND THERE IS OUR PEACE AND THAT IS WHAT CALMS OUR FEAR. IN THE MIDST OF EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AROUND US IN THIS WORLD OUR FEARS ARE TAKEN TO THE LORD AND THERE PUT TO REST. THERE CALM. JUST AS HE CAME TO THOSE DISCIPLES AND SAID: LOOK AT ME! UNDERSTAND IT IS ME! TOUCH ME. SEE ME. LET MY PEACE COME OVER YOU. AND THAT SAME KNOWLEDGE COMES TO US WHEN WE GET EXCITED ABOUT THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT DETRACT US FROM OUR JOY AND OUR STRENGTH AND OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. HE IS THE ONE WHO LIVES FOR US. HE HAS OPENED HEAVEN FOR US. AND SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO SIT AND LET THAT PEACE COME OVER US. DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR DAYS ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THEIR WORRIES. ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THEIR TROUBLES. BUT WE GO BACK TO THAT PATIENT ENDURANCE THAT IS OURS THROUGH FAITH. THAT LOOKS TO GOD. THAT TRUSTS IN GOD. THAT SAYS: I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR ... WHO WAS DEAD AND WHO NOW LIVES. WHO REIGNS FROM HEAVEN ON MY BEHALF. WHO IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD CAUSING THE AFFAIRS OF THIS WORLD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HIS CHURCH. KNOWING THAT SATAN IN HELL WILL NOT DESTROY THE CHURCH. NOR WILL THE WORDS, THAT COMFORTING MESSAGE DISAPPEAR FROM THE FACE OF THIS EARTH. IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO OUT. THE KNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO DIED, WHO LIVED, AND WHO NOW REIGNS. JOHN SAW THAT. JOHN WAS WITNESS TO THAT. TO ALL OF THAT RIGHTEOUS POWER AND STRENGTH AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND HE FELL BEFORE HIM. AND JESUS COMES TO HIM AS WELL AND SAYS: DO NOT BE AFRAID. I AM THE ONE WHO LIVES. I AM THE ONE WHO REIGNS. AND I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU TO BRING TO THE CHURCH. TO BRING TO THE CHURCHES IN ASIA. TO WRITE IT DOWN AS A COMFORT TO ALL WHO BELIEVE AND TRUST IN ME. THAT I AM THE ONE WHO IS, WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME. AND EVERY EYE THAT WAS EVER CREATED ON ONE DAY WILL BE OPEN TO SEE ME AS THE LORD OF ALL AND KING OF KINGS. A DAY OF TERROR FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE. BUT YET A DAY OF REJOICING FOR MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHO LONG FOR CHRIST'S RETURNING. WHO WANT HIM TO COME TO END THIS WORLD. TO TAKE THE CHURCH TO BE WITH HIM. TO LIVE IN HIS PEACE AND PROTECTION AND HIS HOLINESS EVERY DAY. BUT AS WE WHO WAIT FOR THAT DELIVERANCE, WE DO SO WITH PATIENT ENDURANCE. PATIENT ENDURANCE ... KNOWING THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT GOING TO LIKE US. OUR WORLD TODAY IS NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD OF THE DISCIPLES WHO HAD BEEN PROCLAIMING THE MESSAGE THAT JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD. AND THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN JERUSALEM CAME TO THEM AND SAID: YOU HAVE TO STOP! BUT THEY DIDN'T! AND THEY WERE THROWN IN JAIL. AND YET WHEN THEY MIRACULOUSLY WERE RELEASED ... WHAT DID THEY DO? DID THEY GO TO THEIR HOMES AND JUST SIT THERE AND SAY: WELL, IT'S DONE. WE CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE. THEY DIDN'T! THEY TOOK THE WORD OF GOD AND THEY PROCLAIMED IT FOR THEY KNEW EVERYONE WAS GOING TO HEAR AND SEE THEM AND THEY WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN AND ONCE AGAIN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD CRUCIFIED CHRIST, WHO HAD KILLED HIM. THAT IT WAS GOD WHO HAD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND THEY WERE GOING TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN OBEY MAN. AND I THINK WE AS THE PRESENT DAY CHURCH AT THIS TIME, IN THIS COUNTRY, NEED TO OPEN OUR EYES TO THE FIGHT THAT IS AHEAD. THE WORLD DOES NOT LIKE OUR MESSAGE. IT NEVER WILL LIKE OUR MESSAGE. WHEN WE STAND ON WHAT GOD'S WORD HAS TO SAY ON THE JUDGMENT THAT IT PRONOUNCES ON SIN, PEOPLE WILL ARGUE BACK. PEOPLE WILL BECOME DEFENSIVE. THEY WILL BECOME IRATE AND THEY WILL ATTACK. AND WHAT IS OUR CHOICE THEN? TO SAY: WELL, I GUESS I CAN'T SPEAK ANYMORE. I GUESS I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO REMAIN SILENT. THOSE WHO ARE ON THE SIDE OF SATAN ARE NOT QUIET. THEY ARE PROCLAIMING THEMSELVES, THEIR MESSAGE, THEIR AGENDA ... AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. AND WE, AS CHRISTIANS, NEED TO STAND ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GOD WHO REIGNS AND RULES. COMING AND PROCLAIMING TO THE WORLD THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THEIR ONLY SAVIOR FROM SIN. HE IS THE ONLY PATH TO HEAVEN. WE WERE NEVER TOLD AS THE CHURCH THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE EASY BUT IT IS WITH PATIENT ENDURANCE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO GOD'S WORK. NOT AFRAID OF THE WORLD. NOT AFRAID OF SATAN. BUT PROCLAIMING JESUS CHRIST, THE ONE WHO IS OUR LORD. THE ONE WHO DIED AND SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US. THE ONE WHO LIVES FOR US. THE ONE WHO IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA; THE FIRST AND THE LAST, WHO IS, WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME ... IS THE ONE WHO IS WITH US. THE ONE WHO COMES TO US ... AND CALMS OUR FEARS. HE SAYS: PEACE BE WITH YOU. I AM ALIVE. I AM RULING ON YOUR BEHALF. DO NOT ... BE AFRAID. AMEN. LET US RISE. NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR UNDERSTANDING, KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY YOUR LIVES, IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.