Sunday Sermon Episode - Chris Smith - Revelation 7: Shepherd Worship

0:00You know, as we've been walking through the book of Revelation, we just keep ending up in the throne room, don't we? We'll just keep going back to this place where God is seated upon the throne. Right, and last week we talked about these six seals, right? There's this seventh seal. Just kind of lingering out there and we'll get there next week, but these six seals, right? And we see about this counterfeits Christ is going to come in the world riding on the white horse. We see wars and rumors of wars and we've lived that this week, haven't we? We've seen war break out in the Middle East with with Iran and Israel. We saw a Pakistan this week proclaim a war against Afghanistan and all around there's war. There's violence. There's terror attacks. There's these things that are going on and the book of Revelation knows that and they keep bringing us back to the throne room. They keep bringing us back to the point where we go. He is high and lifted up. He is worthy. It's this breath of fresh air.

1:04You know, as we look at current events, we need to realize that those current events have their root in Scripture. For example, this war that we see with Iran and Israel, it goes way, way back. In fact, tomorrow in the land of Israel is podium, which is this celebration of Esther. Remember the book of Esther? Remember the story of Esther, right? Well, the story takes place in Persia in actually what is modern day Iran and there's someone in Iran that wants to destroy the Jews. His name was Hamin in this story in Esther and that we see that back all the way in Esther, 313. Here was Hamin's plan to destroy Esther's people. It says in verse 13, letters were sent by couriers to all the King's provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, to annihilate all Jews, young and old women and children in one day.

2:08And the 13th day of the 12th month, which is the month of Adar to plunder their goods, right? So there's a spin this ancient conflict going on between these two nations that we see taking form today. And so what do we do in the midst of maybe this is the red horse that we read about last week where wars and rumors or wars are taking place? What do we do? We step back. We trust in the Lord. We lift our eyes to heaven because that's where our hope comes from, comes from. That's what we do today. We're back into this throne room story. In fact, I want to turn back to chapter 5, starting in verse 13, just to remind us of this throne room picture that has these similarities throughout the story, this repeated theme throughout that God is sovereign and God is in control, so we don't have to fear back at verse 13 of chapter 5. And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them saying,

3:13can y'all say this with me? Because we're going to say this someday when we're in heaven to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen. Truly, right? And the elders fell down and worship. Can you imagine being there? Can you imagine being before God? Like Jonathan mentioned earlier, this is going to be a little bit different type of service today because we want you to be involved in the worship service. So we're going to actually ask you to talk to the people that are around you. That means that you might not know them, all right? So in a second, I'm going to ask you to answer this question. If you were in the throne room, what question would you want to ask God? Now listen, if we're honest, we're probably not going to think of any of those things, okay? When we get there and we see God high and lifted up, we're just going to be an honor and praise and glory. But right now we have questions. What are some of those questions? So here's what I want you to turn to the people that are around you.

4:16If someone's by themselves, just invite them into your circle, okay? And first of all, say your name like, hi, my name is Chris. What's your name? Oh, hi, Andrew. Nice to meet you, right? Say their name, introduce yourself. And then what is a question you've always wanted to ask God? Now, I'm going to apologize now. I will probably interrupt you in two minutes, okay? But until then, I want you to share. Ready? Go. Share the people that are around you. Yep. Oh, yeah. They're gonna have to ask them, are they gonna have to ask? Yeah. Yeah, fast car is on the 3rd floor. You

5:38You R. S. S. S. R. R. S. S. S. S. OK, OK. So It sounds like you guys have a lot of questions, right? All right, so it either sounds like you guys have a lot of questions or you are we're named fellowship church for a reason Okay, so we don't know which right if you have Bible questions remember you can always write them down All right I love to answer questions about the Bible about what's going on in scripture things that you have please send me questions as you go I'm not as good as God is going to be an answer them But I'll take a shot at it as well. Okay, we are in Revelation chapter 7

6:42Right, we have just finished the six seals and this sealing of the people in Israel and take up in verse 9 after this I looked and behold a great multitude that had that no one could number from every nation from all tribes and People's and languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb Clothed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands whoo what a picture Every nation every tribe every language every people group praising God We're an amazing picture of God's family all around the world today people are lifting high the name of Jesus And I'm going to tell you if you haven't had a chance to worship God in another language You're missing out right today our mission team is down in Honduras and they're singing glory Adios right to the Lord in Spanish right Vipin They're going to be going to South Asia praising the Lord in their language

7:43I've been blessed to see so many times be visiting places around the world I've gotten to sing praise to Jesus in Japanese and Swahili and Romanian right and in Thai and Hebrew. It's an amazing thing. You don't know what you're saying You don't you don't know some of the time, but you're just calling out Jesus right praise be to Jesus all around the world I can't wait for this time We get to be before God no more worries anymore No more like my voice coming out because my voice isn't that good. That's why I don't get up here and sing But all praise be to him now. Let me ask you this question with the people around you share What country do you have a heart for now? Listen the country you might have a heart for is United States It's okay to have a heart to share the gospel here to be a missionary in your workplace to me a missionary in your neighborhood It's okay to be a missionary there, but share with the people around you. Where do you have a heart for the gospel ready?

8:44Go share with the people around you You Oh I'll tell you this I think I Do you like this? No, I'll get it. Can you say I have a mind? okay now let me ask you a question so so tell me what are some places that you

10:05have a heart for around the world because you can show up Israel here somebody last server said Nevada and I was like okay and Nevada is that awesome right that works like that's random but it works okay where else what about this side what else Las Vegas is in Nevada yes it is so all right sin city right Argentina right Cuba owls from Argentina right so maybe we'll have a church plant in Argentina one of these days right praise the Lord for that what about this side Nicaragua Mexico Tanzania okay where you're from right hometown how do you say it again it says like you're saying alcohol and that feels weird if it's totally weird right so sit loud Hong Kong there you go sorry I was like alcohol I mean Hong Kong right place to do right like if you haven't met

11:06Cory yet meet Cory because that's some awesome amazing stories that are there so yeah Iran right what if this war gives us an opportunity to go in that's something that Chris prayed for this morning Chris Cherry prayed for what if it gives us inroads to be able to share the gospel in Iran right God can do anything that guy wants to do and use any means by which the gospel to be spread and that's what we pray that we can be those instruments of praise because someday every people every tongue every tribe every nation will stand before God and it says and they will cry out verse 10 with a loud voice salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the limb salvation belongs to our God where is the hope the hope is in our God Jesus right there's only a few times a salvation belongs to the Lord or to the good God appears one of them is in Jonah chapter two right do you remember Jonah right supposed to go spread the word to his enemy runs the other direction God's like yeah I got

12:11a means of travel for you that you're not ready for right and takes him in the belly of the fish he wakes up in the belly fish prays the Lord and here's the last line of his prayer in Jonah but with I with the voice of Thanksgiving will sacrifice to you what I have vowed I will pay salvation belongs to the Lord how can salvation belong to the Lord remember what we read in Revelation chapter five verse nine which says and they sang a new song saying worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slain and by your blood you ransom people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation how can salvation belong to the Lord because the lamb was slain the sins of the world were placed upon him and his blood was spilt for us but he didn't say dead did he it says he's standing in the throne room why because he rose

13:14again after three days right that's the gospel that's what we celebrate every time we take the Lord supper we don't celebrate oh I get a little snack at church like snack time brings us back to kids ministry we're like whoa why can't we have goldfish in there no we're not having a snack time right we're having a time to remember Christ body broken for us his blood which was spilt for us this same blood that allows these people to be dressed in white because his blood covers our sin what a picture that's where we get to celebrate today this is another expression of worship let's pray together Lord as we prepare to take the Lord supper may this be an expression of worship may we lay our sin down before you God not holding on to our sin with hope of rectifying it by our own power the Lord through your power and strength you conquer death what a glorious

14:15day today in a small way Lord we just want to remember what you have done for us so may this time be a time of honor to your name and what you have done and your name amen and in chapter 7 verse 11 it says and all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell on their faces before the throne and they worship God saying amen blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever amen you know you're singing it when you have to say amen before and after right you're singing right that's just like whoa truly these things are true and it lists seven attributes of God here right blessing glory wisdom thanksgiving honor power and might do we recognize those

15:19things in our God here's what I want you to share with the people around you which of these seven things that are listed here describes God to you which is the most powerful picture or description of God in your mind ready go

17:01conversation maybe we should phrase it this way okay which of these do we need to do a better job of recognizing do we need to be better at all of them but which share with your group which one of those you need some help on do you need help giving him thanks or recognizing his power or giving him value above other things honoring him which of those do you need a little work on we're all working for our grass right which you need a little bit of work on all right go there's gonna be a day where we can't help but do these things right

18:28there's gonna be a day where we're dressed in white and we get to be before God and we're gonna give him all blessing and honor and glory look what happens at verse 13 and then one of the elders addressed to me saying who are these clothed in white robes and where have they from where have they come and I this is John talking and I said to them sir you know like John's like why are you asking me I just got here right you're asking me and then the elder says and he said to me these are the ones coming out of the great tribulation you see in the midst of the great tribulation we're gonna see this in the trumpets next week many many people are gonna be persecuted because of their faith in Jesus many saints are gonna die and they're gonna be transported into eternal glory with him and he said and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of a lamb that's what we just celebrated right his righteousness covering our

19:31unrighteousness 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 they shall hunger no more neither thirst anymore the sun shall not strike them nor any scorching heat for the lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of living water and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes this is heaven we all long for heaven don't we we just can't wait to be there in fact this is a glimpse of what's gonna be taking place in Revelation 21 look how Revelation 21 describes the same scene then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more and I saw the holy city new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband

20:33and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying behold the dwelling place of God is with man he will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them as their God hallelujah he will wipe every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more neither shall there be mourning or crying or pain anymore for the former things have passed away anybody excited about heaven they're excited about this time like I wonder what makes you most excited about heaven is it seeing your loved ones you know just this week one of our loved ones went to go be with Jesus Cynthia cousins who comes the second service all the time in our trio over there right and she went to be with Jesus on Monday night and she's having a great time she is worshipping with the Lord she's probably trying to ask him these questions right now by Cynthia don't worry it'll it'll happen what do you look forward to in heaven I want you to share that

21:33with the people around you what are you most excited about taking place in heaven I'm gonna give you two minutes ready go

22:38all right church I know two minutes can can fly one hey remember when the service is over you don't have to leave you can just keep this conversation going we love for you if you have some final things to share just stay what we'll boot you out when third service gets in here don't worry but we're just gonna take a few moments just to pray thank you guys for being a part it's such a joy to be able to be up here in the here the laughter and the joy and to see some of the tears that come down as you experience what God has for you so may God be your comfort and your joy in the midst of this like if someone around you just just pray for you and then I'll interrupt and pray to close us and then

23:38we're gonna spend some time praising our Lord and Savior again so somebody in your group wouldn't mind praying just pray for your group and then I'll jump in Lord Jesus I thank you for every soul that is in this room Lord young and old

24:41Lord I thank you for just this beautiful cacophony of noise or the prayer to you Lord you are worthy we recognize Lord that you are the lamb that was slain and all honor and glory and praise goes to you so Lord as we spend some time singing out your praises let us reflect on who you are and then take those things out into the world Lord to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone that we meet may you be honored with our praise you pray this in Jesus Christ the lion and the lamb in his name amen