Washed Clean by Jesus' Blood (CC)

SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2013 SERMON TEXT IS: REVELATION 7:9-17 [CC CAN EASILY BE TURNED OFF OR TURNED ON AS DESIRED] 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 7, BEGINNING WITH VERSE 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 IN FRONT OF THE LAMB. THEY WERE WEARING WHITE ROBES AND WERE HOLDING PALM BRANCHES IN THEIR HANDS. AND THEY CRIED OUT IN A LOUD VOICE: "SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD, WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, AND TO THE LAMB." 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, SAYING: "AMEN! PRAISE AND GLORY AND WISDOM AND THANKS AND HONOR AND POWER AND STRENGTH BE TO OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN!" THEN ONE OF THE ELDERS ASKED ME, "THESE IN WHITE ROBES -- WHO ARE THEY, AND WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?" 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. 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 SPREAD HIS TENT OVER THEM. NEVER AGAIN WILL THEY HUNGER; NEVER AGAIN WILL THEY THIRST. THE SUN WILL NOT BEAT UPON THEM, NOR ANY SCORCHING HEAT. 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." 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: AS SOMEONE WHO HELPS PUT TOGETHER THE WORSHIP SERVICES THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I GET COMMENTS WHERE PEOPLE SAY: PASTOR, WHY CAN'T WE SING THOSE SONGS THAT I REALLY LIKE? AND I SAY: WELL, WE TRY TO INCORPORATE THEM. BUT IT REALLY IS ... A MATTER OF TASTE SOMETIME. BECAUSE TODAY YOU HAVE SUNG THE GREATEST HYMN EVER WRITTEN. YOU HAVE SUNG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORDS SET TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MELODY THAT I CAN IMAGINE, AND I COULD SING THIS HYMN EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. IT IS A HYMN THAT WHEN I SING IT, AND I HEAR IT, I START GETTING TEARS IN MY EYES. BECAUSE OF THE GLORIOUS PICTURE THAT IS THERE, AND IT REALLY TRULY IS VERY MOVING TO ME. AND THAT TEAR THAT IS IN MY EYE, I LONG FOR THE DAY WHEN I WILL NOT HAVE THAT TEAR IN MY EYE. AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THAT DAY IS GOING TO BE. WHEN THOSE PEOPLE WHO GATHER AT MY FUNERAL SERVICE, SING THE HYMN THAT WE JUST SANG. AND THERE WILL NOT BE A TEAR IN MY EYE. BECAUSE I AM GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE IN THE WHITE ROBES GATHERED AROUND THE THRONE OF GOD AND HE WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM MY EYES. BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS PURCHASED ME WITH HIS BLOOD. HE IS THE ONE WHO IS MY SHEPHERD AND TENDERLY CARES FOR ME. AND HE IS THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO COME AND TAKE ME TO BE WITH HIM AND I LONG FOR THAT DAY AND I LOOK FOR THAT DAY. THE GLORY OF GOD WILL BE REVEALED AND I, WITH MY EYES WILL SEE THIS. AND I WILL SEE THE CULMINATION OF MY FAITH. THIS BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF HEAVEN THAT JOHN PRESENTS FOR US TODAY. THAT BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THOSE IN HEAVEN, PICTURED IN THOSE WHITE ROBES OF HOLINESS. NOT THEIR OWN GOOD DEEDS. NOT THE THINGS THAT MADE THEM GREAT PEOPLE, OR GOOD PEOPLE, OR ONES WHO SERVED GOD WHILE THEY WERE IN THIS WORLD. BUT WHITE ROBES OF CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS. IN THE HOLINESS OF GOD, GIVEN TO SINFUL PEOPLE. NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THAT THEY HAD DONE OR DESERVED TO HAVE GOD IN HIS LOVE LOOK DOWN UPON THEM AND SAY: I WILL SEND MY MESSIAH. I WILL SEND MY SON TO BE YOUR SAVIOR. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT GOD DID. HE KEPT HIS PROMISES AS PAUL REMINDED US IN OUR FIRST LESSON FOR TODAY. THAT PAUL PROCLAIMED TO THOSE JEWS AND THOSE GOD-FEARING GREEKS THAT HAD GATHERED TOGETHER IN THAT SYNAGOGUE SAYING TO THEM: YOU KNOW THIS; YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND IT. THAT OUR GOD KEPT HIS WORD. THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS WERE FULFILLED. THE WORDS OF THE PSALMIST WERE FULFILLED. THAT GOD WHO WAS GOING TO SAVE PEOPLE, DID THAT VERY THING. USING PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND GOD'S PLAN, AND WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. THOSE PEOPLE WHO CRUCIFIED CHRIST DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS HIS BLOOD THAT WOULD WASH AWAY SIN. THAT IT WAS HIS DEATH THAT WAS THE SACRIFICE FOR SINS THAT GOD DEMANDED. THEY LAID HIM IN A TOMB NOT FULLY REALIZING THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO STAY THERE. THAT HE WOULD RISE TRIUMPHANT; BACK TO LIFE IN BODILY FORM. TO COME AND BE WITH HIS DISCIPLES. TO ENCOURAGE THEM, TO INSTRUCT THEM IN THEIR FAITH AND TO SEND TO THEM THE HOLY SPIRIT SO THAT THEY WOULD LISTEN TO HIS VOICE. THAT THEY WOULD BELIEVE HIM. THAT THEY WOULD TRUST IN HIM AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR. BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO RANSOMED THEM FROM SIN AND DEATH AND THE POWER OF THE DEVIL. AND IT IS HE WHO MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO WEAR THAT WHITE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR ALL ETERNITY. STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD AND PRAISING HIM. SINGING SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD AND TO THE LAMB. THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS. THEY HAVE GIVEN IT TO THE WORLD. THEY HAVE BROUGHT IT TO ME AND I AM SAVED! AND I AM GOING TO JOIN THAT THRONG IN HEAVEN SOMEDAY WHEN GOD HAS SET AND DETERMINED IT IS TIME FOR ME TO LEAVE THIS WORLD. TO JOIN THAT GROUP THAT IS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD PRAISING HIM WITH THE ANGELS AND THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. SHOUTING TOGETHER: AMEN! SO THAT ALL OF THE HONOR AND STRENGTH AND POWER AND GLORY GOES TO OUR GOD! FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE. FOR WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN BRINGING US SALVATION. AND THE CARE THAT HE PROVIDES FOR HIS SHEEP. THOSE WHO HEAR HIS VOICE AND LISTEN TO HIS VOICE. THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM, HE COMES TO THEM TENDERLY AS A SHEPHERD AND CARES FOR THEM KEEPING THEM IN THE FLOCK. PROTECTING THEM UNTIL THEY COME TO THAT PLACE OF REST WHERE THERE IS NO MORE PAIN ... WHERE THERE IS NO MORE SORROW. AND YOU AND I HAVE NOT YET REACHED THAT POINT. YOU AND I ARE IN THE GREAT TRIBULATION. THE GREAT AFFLICTION THAT GOES ON IN THIS WORLD. AND I'M SURE YOU THOUGHT OF THAT THIS WEEK. HOW COULD WE NOT REALIZE THAT EVIL IS RAMPANT ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. THAT PEOPLE DIE AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIMES THAT THEY'RE NOT EVEN THINKING OF THAT THEY CAN'T PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR. THAT PEOPLE ARE EVIL AND DESIRE TO HURT OTHERS. TO WREAK HAVOC AND TO CAUSE INJURY. AND HOW EASY IT IS FOR US TO SOMETIMES SIT BACK IN OUR HUMAN NATURE AND CRY: GOD, WHY? GOD, WHERE ARE YOU? GOD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? AS IF GOD DID NOT CARE. AS IF GOD WERE IN HIS HEAVEN AND CLOSED THE SHADES OF THE DRAPE AND WASN'T LOOKING AT IT. AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD WE KNOW THAT IS NOT THE GOD THAT IS OURS. BUT I TRULY BELIEVE AFTER THIS WEEK, THAT PEOPLE SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO LOOK FOR. THAT PEOPLE TAKE ANY EVENT AND WILL USE IT FOR WHAT THEIR BIAS IS OR WHAT IS TRULY IN THEIR HEART. INTERESTING CONVERSATION I HAD; I HAD TO HAVE A PRESCRIPTION REFILL ON FRIDAY. I GO TO THE DRUG STORE, AND THERE IS AN OLDER BLACK MAN STANDING THERE. COULDN'T EVEN TELL IF HE WAS IN THE LINE OR NOT, SO I ASKED HIM. I SAID: ARE YOU STANDING IN LINE? AND HE SAID: "WELL, YES I AM", IN THE MOST PROPER BRITISH GRAMMAR I HAVE EVER HEARD. AND I SAID: OKAY, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN LINE IN FRONT OF YOU AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE YOU HAVE TO WAIT LONGER. AND HE SAID: I HAVE THE ENTIRE DAY BEFORE ME WITH NOTHING TO DO. AND HE WAS JUST A VERY PLEASANT MAN AND WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION. AND A WHILE LATER, AN OLDER WHITE WOMAN COMES ALONG AND SHE SAYS: IS THIS THE LINE? AND THE MAN SAYS: WELL, YES IT IS. OR AS WE WOULD SAY IN BRITAIN: "THE QUEUE". AND SHE CAME TO HIM AND SAID: WHAT? AND HE SAID: AS BRITONS WE WOULD ... AS IN BRITAIN, WE WOULD SAY: "THE QUEUE". SHE SAID: ALL OF YOU PEOPLE NEED TO GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM. AND HE SAID: OH ... HE GOES: WELL YOU YANKEES YOU DON'T LIKE ME HERE. AND I SAID: AND THEN WE WONDER WHY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD DON'T LIKE AMERICANS. AND HE SAID: YOU KNOW, IT'S .. IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. AND SHE SAID: I'M JUST TIRED OF ALL OF YOU FOREIGNERS COMING HERE AND BLOWING US UP. AND WE WENT: OKAY ... YOU KNOW. ALRIGHT. AND SHE SAID: WELL, THERE WAS A BAG THERE. THERE WERE TWO BAGS THERE. EVERYONE THERE AND NOBODY SAW THOSE BAGS AND NOBODY DID ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE BAGS. AND I SAID TO HER: SO EVERYTIME YOU HAPPEN TO SEE A BAG SOMEWHERE, YOU CALL A BOMB SQUAD? THERE WERE PEOPLE IN A MARATHON. THERE WERE BACKPACKS. THERE WERE BAGS. AND SHE SAID: YES. EVERY TIME I SEE A BAG SOMEPLACE, I CALL THE BOMB SQUAD IMMEDIATELY. AND THE MAN NEXT TO ME SAID: WHAT A HORRIBLE WAY TO LIVE. IN FEAR. ALL THE TIME. BECAUSE DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT GOD HAS SET THE DAY YOU'RE GOING TO DIE? THAT GOD KEEPS YOU IN HIS CARE AND PROTECTION? AND HE SAVED YOU BY HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, AND WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO, YOU ARE GOING TO GO! YOU CAN'T LIVE IN FEAR. GOD PROTECTS YOU. AND I SAID: YOU SAID THAT VERY WELL! AND THE LADY STOPPED TALKING TO US. [LAUGHTER] BUT IT TRULY IS AMAZING THAT WHAT WE WANT IN LIFE, IS WHAT WE SEE. A HORRIFIC OCCASION IN OUR LIVES PLAYED OUT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES. BUT GOD STILL IS IN HIS HEAVEN. GOD STILL IS CARING FOR HIS CHILDREN. GOD STILL IS ADVANCING HIS CHURCH. GOD STILL IS USING HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO BRING AID AND COMFORT AND CARE. TO BRING PROTECTION AND PROVIDE SAFETY. GOD STILL IS SHOWING HIS LOVE TO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE HIS OWN. AND CALLING THE CHURCH TO BRING THE TRUE COMFORT OF GOD'S WORD TO THOSE PEOPLE. OF KNOWING THAT THERE IS A GOD WHO HAS LOVED PEOPLE SO MUCH THAT HE HAS SAVED THEM FROM ETERNAL WRATH AND PUNISHMENT. THAT HE IS A GOD WHO CARES FOR PEOPLE. THAT HE USES YOU AND ME TO SHOW THAT LOVE. TO EXPRESS THAT CONCERN. TO RAISE OUR PRAYERS FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE. THAT THEY WOULD BE COMFORTED BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR. AND IF THEY DO NOT KNOW IT THAT GOD WOULD SEND SOMEONE TO THEM TO SHARE THAT MESSAGE WITH THEM. TO HOLD OUT THAT HOPE. TO HOLD OUT THAT WONDERFUL KNOWLEDGE THAT IS YOURS AND MINE IN JESUS CHRIST. THAT WE PUT ON THAT ROBE OF CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN OUR BAPTISM. THAT DAILY WE LIVE IN THE MUCK AND MIRE AND TURMOIL AND TRIBULATION OF AN EVIL SIN-FILLED WORLD. THAT WE CANNOT STOP EVIL FROM ATTACKING US. BUT WE STAND IN THE CONFIDENCE OF KNOWING THAT OUT GOD LOVES US AND HE CARES FOR US. AND ULTIMATELY HE IS GOING TO TAKE US OUT OF THIS VALE OF TEARS TO BE WITH HIM IN HOLINESS AND PERFECTION TO WIPE THE TEARS FROM OUR EYES. TO STOP THE PAIN. THAT THERE BE NO MORE HUNGER. AND NO MORE THIRST. BECAUSE WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD; CALLED BY HIM TO FAITH, CALLED BY HIM TO OUR ETERNAL HOME. TO WEAR THOSE WHITE ROBES OF CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR ALL ETERNITY. AND TO JOIN WITH THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT IN PRAISING OUR GOD FOR WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE. BECAUSE SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD AND TO THE LAMB. AND THEREFORE WE CRY AMEN! GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER AND STRENGTH AND WISDOM BE TO OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER. 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.