Seals 5-7, “The Answers”
Rest for those under the altar of Jesus
Wrath for those under the earth
Final judgment is swift and certain
The Four Riders
Life is a great tribulation
Jesus, the Lamb, is sovereign
Grace in abundance is provided
Resurrection For Real Life
A death like his removes the old
A resurrection like his brings the new
Your reckoning makes it your real life
The Triumphal Arrival of a Disappointing King
Jesus will always disappoint when we expect his kingship to resemble ours.
Power
Governance
Religious Life
Saving Grace
The One Who Conquered
We have an insurmountable problem
We have an invincible Hero
We have an incredible new life
The Center of Everything
Everything is in beautiful order with God's throne as the center
On the Throne
Before the Throne
Around the Throne
From the Throne
Toward the Throne
Laodicea: Lukewarm in Luxury
The malady of trusting in worldliness robs us of the vitality of trusting in Jesus.
Condition
Cause
Cure
Commitment
Philadelphia: Little Power, Big News
Because of the absolute power and grace of Jesus, he gives his faithful church:
Invitation
Validation
Preservation
Transformation
Sardis: Reputation vs. Reality
A good name is bad news
A fundamental change must occur
Only good news has power for a new name
Thyatira: Exceeding Growth & Excessive Tolerance
Progress, not perfection, is commended
Tolerance of sin is to be called out
Belief in the gospel is absolutely sufficient and satisfying
Pergamum: Tenacity and Negligence in the Hood
Tenacity for the gospel amid overt opposition is commended
Negligence of holiness amid covert immorality needs repentance
Result of repentance is a life beyond comprehension
Smyrna: White-Knuckled & Fearless
How does Christ’s true church flourish amidst an unjust and hostile culture?
Don’t be surprised by the trouble
Don’t be fooled by appearances
Don’t be afraid because of who’s with you
You won’t be disappointed by what you have
Ephesus: The Steadfast & Smug
The authority and humility of Jesus is essential
A love for being right can lead to doing wrong
Our motivation is the double-edged grace of Jesus
What You See Is Who You Get
We see the reality of who and where we are
We see the realization of who is with us
We see what we really have in Christ
First We Worship
God’s character is the beginning of everything
God’s actions flow from his character
Full-hearted, all-of-life worship is our proper response
Seeing is Being Blessed
The Purpose: genuine and effective encouragement to Christians in a chaotic world.
The Style: To show and make known (signify) all that must take place.
The Approach: Recapping the seen and unseen realities of Christ’s triumph
The Point: The triumph of Jesus guarantees the triumph of his church
He Came for You - The Outsiders
Debunking the insider myth
Shining light on the truth
Giving all that is deserved.
He Came for You - The Fearful
Our great fear is a loss of self
God’s great love in Jesus surpasses our fear
Only then can we show courageous faithfulness
He Came for You - The Reluctant
Short-sightedness is at the heart of our reluctance
Faithfulness is at the heart of Jesus arriving
Joyful worship is at the heart of our lives when we see God’s faithfulness in Jesus