JESUS LIVES; JESUS REIGNS! (CC)
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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.