Revelation 1 - A vision of Christ

Sermon notes from Sunday morning 22 April 2018

Revelation 1 verses 9 - 20

John has this wonderful revelation, not only what is taking place in the present but what will take place in the future.  He has his mind opened to what will take place in the future.  Christ will come again one day and take his children home to be with him.  That leaves something of a dark scene.  What does it leave here on earth?  Everyone not saved will be left behind.  There will be a great separation on that day.  There will be those raptured up to the splendours of glory and there will be those left behind.  They will believe a lie, a lie of the man that is to come, the anti-Christ.  We have the spirit of the anti-Christ working today in this world.  One day he will be raised up and have the power and the authority of the devil himself.  You can almost see the need for such a person today.  A Europe that is grasping at Britian pulling out of the Union because if they do others will also pull out.  They are setting rules that need to be put in place before that happens.  Before we get down to the anti-Christ John wants to give us a view of Christ himself.  Sometimes we can lose sight of Christ, focus more on the anti-Christ.  John gives this picture of the Lord himself.  The Lord points us to himself.  Verse 19 John is told to write - "write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be  hereafter."  Before he does that John gives a record of Christ.  What the church needs today is a vision of Christ.  We can get so caught up with the singing, all the things happening around us and somehow lose out on the focus of Christ himself.  Lose out on the awe of Christ.  Sometimes we don`t have that presence with us.  That is why we need to get back to that awe as Isaiah had when he went into the temple in chapter 6.  He saw the Lord high and lifted up.  He looked into Christ`s face and saw his own sinful state.  Like Moses.  He was doing the everyday job in the desert of guarding the sheep when something attracted him - it was the burning bush.  Does the word of God still attract us today?  Moses heard the voice of the Lord out of the burning bush.  Are we so taken up with the presence of Christ today?  Are we listening for his voice to bend us and break us today?  Sometimes we have fallen into the trap of what the church needs today.  What we need today is a vision of Christ.  Think here of this vision John gives us of Christ.  Verse 17 as he gazes on his face look what he says "when I saw him I fell at his feet."  Not when they sung or when he listened to someone singing.  He was so taken up with the Lord that he fell at his feet.  This message that came to John on the Isle of Patmos.  The Lord had made an assessment of the churches and now wants John to write them down.  John gets a view of him.

The assessor`s abilty - verse 15.  He looks at the Saviour`s feet.  When we come into the presence of Christ our gaze is down because we cannot look on the one who is holy and perfect.  His feet are like brass.  The feet speak of stability.  The one who is stable and sure, what we can build upon.  "Cast all your cares upon him for he careth for you."  He is able to care for us.  Paul in Corinthians talks about the foundations he had laid and it is these we are to build upon.  We cannot build on something that is not stable or sound.  Brass speaks also of judgement "as if they burned in a furnace."  He is speaking of judgement, one who went through that judgement for you and I.  He bore that fire for you and I if we are willing to allow him to.  He was "wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed."  How many times did the feet come into John`s mind.  Sure he remembered Luke 8 and a young demonic boy who had a legion of devils within him.  He had to leave his home, his mother and his father one day.  I`m sure their hearts were broken but there came a day when they couldn`t handle him any more.  He went out to live amongst the tombs, it was the only place he could live.  He cried and cut himself daily.  They tried to use chains to bind him but he broke them in two.  The people came out of the cities to see him and there he was sitting at Jesus` feet.  Speaks of peace and redemption.  He died on the cross for you and I to save us.  When we come to the cross we repent of our sin and take him as Saviour and Lord.  He saves us.  This morning as we come into God`s presence can we take a look at his feet.  Luke also tells us of the woman who came into Jesus` presence one day so thankful for what Jesus had done that she begins to weep and washes Jesus` feet with her tears.  She was serving Christ.  Are we serving th Saviour?  Here was a woman so thankful for what Jesus had done for her.  Luke`s gospel also tells us of Mary and Martha.  A feast was made for the Lord in their home.  Martha was in the kitchen so busy preparing the meal but where was Mary?  Sitting at Jesus` feet listening and learning.  Have we sat at Jesus` feet today learning from him?  Learning how to serve him?  Think of John 12 whenever the Lord came into the house and Mary broke the expensive perfume and anointed Jesus` feet.  That speaks of commitment.  Are we committed to Christ today?  Are we doing whatever he wants us to do in service?  Are we in discipleship with him?

In verses 12 and 13 John sees the Son of Man.  Notice here the assessor`s sustaining power.  in verse 20 we read of the meaning of the candlesticks.  The Lord is in the midst of this.  The Lord is in the midst of the church today.  He sees the Lord walking.  He is sustaining the church.  Christ has to sustain us individually.  He will lead us, direct us.  The candlestick in the Old Testament was in the tabernacle.  The priest had to make sure the lamp was burning constantly.  Burning brightly all the time.  The priest had to make sure the wick was cut and their was plenty of oil added.  The church was to be the light of the world as we are individually.  We can only do that by listening to the word of God day by day.  Are we burning as bright as we should be?  Being a testimony today?  Speaking up for Christ?  Telling others of the work Christ has done in our heart?  Will people point to us and say "that is a man of God?"  Jesus said "without me you can do nothing."  You get up in the morning, don`t hand your life into the Lord`s hands then you are on your own from thereon in.  Remember the boy with the fishes and loaves.  The crowd had to be fed and his was the only food available.  He brought it to Christ.  Andrew knew there was nothing he could do with these loves and fishes.  He even asked the boy "what is this among so many?"  This boy stepped out of the crowd.  Andrew said "I don`t know what the Lord can do with this but let`s see."  He gave all to the Lord for him to use.  The Lord will use what we give him.  He will not snap it out of our hands.  Peter walked on the water only as he looked to Christ.  It was his sustaining power that kept him going.  The moment Peter took his eyes off him, when he looked at the wind and the waves, then he began to sink.  The Lord was the sustaining power.  That is what he wants of you today.  You and I are to be the light of the world kept topped up with the spirit of the living word.  That is hunger today, that the Christian has to trust in.  The scripture tells us I am to hold forth the word of truth in an evil generation.  John 15 shows us the symbol of the vine growing - Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.

The assessor speaks here of security.  Verse 17 the candlesticks are described in verse 20.  He speaks of the stars being in his right hand.  Where does the star shine? It shines in the darkest night.  Where do you and I shine - in the darkness when Christ is filling us.  He has the stars in his hand.  The 7 stars represent the 7 letters to the churches or the 7 spirits of the churches.  They are in his right hand.   A firm grip, no-one shall pluck them out of his hand.  The believer is secure and safe.  There is an eternal security for the believer today in the hand of Christ.

The assessor`s sovereignty.  Verse 13 we are speaking here of the one who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The world stripped him naked and hung him on the cross.  The Lord clotheth him with royal robes.  We read here of the girdle, the golden girdle.  The linen girdle speaks of service while the prophets girdle is made of leather.  The Lord`s girdle is not around the waist.  That speaks of his kingship.  Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lord`s.

Notice lastly John`s surrender - verse 17 "and when I saw him I fell."  He couldn`t stand when he looked at the Saviour.  He fell at his feet.  Peter said "depart from me for I am a sinful man."  This world is not getting better but delving deeper and deeper into the abyss.  The Saviour wants to save you today, to make you a new creation in Christ Jesus.  Get our eyes on him today, forget everything else.  One day he is coming again and he will take us home to be with him.

Addicted to the ministry of others

Sermon notes from Sunday 8 April 2018 - Mr Chris Killen

1 Corinthians 16 verses 13 - 19

I beseech you brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas that is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.) verse 15

When we think of addiction we immediately think of drugs, alcohol, gambling.  It is wasteful, distrustful thing.  It not only affects communities but nations, society, families and of course the individual.  It affects a person physically, psychologically and spiritually.  It has far reaching consequences.  The person who starts out never intended to be in that way.  Addiction comes in many different forms.  Drugs can be either legal or illegal but alcohol has to be included.  The most potent and powerful drug is alcohol.  There are many however who are addicted to pleasure and the pursuit of the things of the world.  It is the pursuit of many to have wealth and fame.  Addictions that affect not just the body but also the mind, emotions and ultimately affect the soul.  Whilst we think of addiction as a very negative thing there is such a thing as a healthy and helpful addiction.  This house of Stephanas had a very good addiction.  We would do well to consider and learn from them.

The origin of their addiction.  Where did it come from?  I have never met or will ever meet anyone who set out with a purpose in life to be an addict.  I have heard many who have said "I just cannot believe how I ended up in this mess, how was I so stupid, I did not see what was coming."  If you could see the consequences of addiction you can begin to realise the serious consequences of it.  The root cause of stubborn addictions and habits lies in the heart.  "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17 verse 9)  The heart of the problem is getting to the problem of the heart.  The reality is we have a sinful heart.  Man cannot free himself from that addiction and sin.  We all have that addiction to sin and to keep on sinning.  We read about this family Stephanas in verse 15.  They were the "firstfruits of Achaia".  Paul went about preaching the reality of sin, its effects, the consequences and delivery from sin.  We find here this family responded as they heard the gospel.  Perhaps you have heard the gospel so many many times, have listened as you have been told you need to be born again, you have been told you need to call on the name of the Lord.  You are like his family, brought to the point as Paul preached the gospel that you know you should be saved.  As Paul preached the gospel he saw Stephanas and his family converted.  We are not told the circumstances of their conversion, perhaps Paul preached for a series of nights but what we do know is that the whole family came to the Lord.  Here is a family changed by the grace of God.  What a wonderful change the Lord makes in a house, he makes it a home.  We do not know the circumstances of when they came to know the Lord as Saviour but we know they are serving the Lord in Corinth.  Each one of them had to come to know the Lord personally.  It is not enough that your mum and dad are Christians or someone else in your family is a Christian.  Salvation is personal.  We think of this new addiction they have, an addiction to helping the church, be a blessing to the Lord.  It came about because the Lord gave them a new heart.  They each personally came to know the Lord.  John 1 verses 12 and 13.  It was not by family relationships or the work done or the best intentions of others but by God himself.  Each one of us has to come personally to Christ and trust him as Saviour.  Have you done that?  The origin of their addiction was in their hearts by the grace of God.

The object of their addiction - "to the ministry of the saints."  A good English dictionary, Webster`s says of the word addiction "the act of devoting or giving a practice to".  They were given over to it completely.  Normally we are born with addiction to sin.  When Christ saves us he gives us new desires.  Tragically addiction is all about how much you can get and make from it.  It is a selfish thing.  When the Lord saves it is all about what you give back, how you can be a blessing to others.  That desire was in Stephanas` house.  If you love the Lord you will want to talk about it.  Hebrews 6 verse 10 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shown toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister."  God sees what you do, he sees everything you do.  All those little things in the background in his name he sees them.  God sees what you have done to other people and what you have done to help them.  We serve others because we love the Lord.  That is the order and it must be correct.  We are to be a blessing to another member in a body.  Christ is the head and there are different functions of the body.  We are in that body, when one part suffers the other parts feel it too.  Therefore as we love him we love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  As we love the Lord we will love each other in the church.  We love the community and reach out to others.  Addicted means to be determined, to be appointed, to be ordained, to set in order.  We have to be determined to be a blessing to others, to go out of our way to help others.  When someone wakes up in the morning and they are addicted to drugs their minds are working out where they will get their drugs from that day.  They are consumed, devoted to their addiction.  In this church in Corinth here is a family that has been changed, that selfish desire has been taken away and they want to be a blessing to others every day they live.  We should be doing likewise.  It doesn`t take much to say to someone "I missed you out and about, how are you keeping today?"  Whenever someone is not well it is very difficult for that person to read and pray.  We ought to think about such people, visit and read scripture to them.  Paul went around preaching the gospel, establishing churches - he just loved people and wanted to see them coming to Christ.  Remember Christ himself was the servant king - "he came not be served but to serve." (Matthew 20 verse 28)

The outcome of their addiction.  Here is a family devoted to serving others, to be a blessing in the church.  They made a difference.  We only have a short brief life and we need to make it count.  Some time had passed since Paul had established this church, probably 10 years.  In chapter 1 we read of the controversy over some saying who they were baptised by but this family were so meek and we read of the grace that they displayed.  Verse 16 "That ye submit yourselves unto such."  Paul was telling the members to look at Stephanas and his family and be like them.  Verse 17 "I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied."  Paul was thankful for the coming of this family into the church at Corinth.  Verse 18 "For they have refreshed my spirit and yours."  Instead of being a discouragement they were encouragers.  They had an addiciton that was constructive not destructive.  It was a blessing to many.  Has this change been wrought in your heart and life?  Do you know the Lord as your own Saviour today?  

The attitude to the resurrection and the effect that the resurrection has on individuals

Sermon notes from 1 April 2018 pm

Luke 24 verses 1 - 8, Acts 17 verses 32 - 34

I want us to turn our attention to those verses in Acts 17 verse 32 "and when they heard of the resurrection of the dead."  Think of the attitude to the resurrection and the effect that the resurrection has had and will have on men and women`s hearts as they heard the gospel message.

Athens was a city of great culture and learning.  The architecture was magnificent.  Paul came here on his own and he was waiting on the others to catch up with him.  His heart is moved as he waits there because the whole city was given over to idolatry.  In verse 21 we read that the people of the city would gather together to talk and discuss things of interest including new things that were happening all around them.  Here on this day they came face to face with something new.  A Saviour who died on a rugged cross, was buried in the tomb and on the third day he rose again from the dead.  That was the point of stumbling.  There were 3 effects to the story of the resurrection.  Some mocked, others said we will hear thee again of this matter and the third believed on the words spoken to them.  Is there a stumbling block in your life that keeps you back from coming to Christ?  It`s a real mountain they cannot get past or over it or around it.  What did this message mean to the preacher?

Here was a message that was developed.  Paul came with this wonderful message of a resurrected Saviour, he is living and alive for evermore.  In Acts 17 verse 1 Paul travels to Thessalonica alone and doesn`t stay there too long because he has trouble there.  He moved on from there to Berea verse 10.  In verse 16 Paul waited on Silas and Timothy in Athens and he saw something that made him very sad.  His soul stirred within him.  He saw the whole city given to idolatry.  They had their own religion.  Verse 22 you are so religious he tells them.  He has been watching the people coming and going.  His very heart is touched.  Whenever our hearts are touched it is amazing thing to witness even when we see it among our family and friends.  They were so religious in their ways.  Verse 23 he does something for them.  An altar has been built for the worship of God.  Paul says he found it.  We are not told what it was built of.  This one was very special - it had an inscription on it - "to the unknown god."  Each of them had their idols and images, all the things they bowed down to, prayed to, worshipped.  Now they were saying in case there is another god we have forgotten about we will build one to him.  Paul said "you are too religious."  Sadly we have them in our own families today.  "Don`t talk to me about your religion, I have my own, I have been to my own place of worship today already."  If that is the case then the church has taken the place of Christ.  Now it is an idol.  Doesn`t it prove one thing to us - religion does not satisfy.  Here were people worshipping, praising all sorts of images and idols but they were still looking for another god.  They were still not satisfied and hungry.  Some people would criticise Paul`s message.  They say he watered it down when he came there.  They said he never mentioned the cross nor Christ`s resurrection.  But how could he get to the resurrection if he didn`t speak of a death first?  It was only when they reached the resurrection that the hands went up.  He developed a message that would meet the hunger they had.  These people had religion, were fervent in their religion but still had an altar to the unknown god.  You will hunger unto the day you bow your knee at the cross and take Christ as Saviour.  The rich young ruler who came to Jesus had everything he wanted but there was a hunger in his heart for something more.  He kept all the commandments but they didn`t fulfil his hunger.  That could only be filled with the gospel, that Jesus died for his sins.  Remember at the feast of the Passover in John 12 verse 21.  The Jews were there but there were also some Greeks.  They came to Philip asking "that we might see Jesus."  Ritual doesn`t fill the soul, only Christ can do that.  It tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 3 and 4 "Christ died according to the scrptures; And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."  Paul had a complete message.  He had Christ as died, rose again and in heaven even now.  1 Thessalonians 4 verse 14  "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." 

It was a message that was despised - verse 32 "and when they heard of the resurrection of the dead".  They listened well, their ears were opened but when he started to tell them of an unknown God, when they considered it, thought about it, they couldn`t believe it and walked away.  At what point will you wander away from the message of the gospel?  Pilate asked "what shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?" (Matthew 27 verse 22).  Will you either accept Christ as Saviour or reject him as your Lord?  Paul gathered with the people wherever he could - sometimes it was in the synagogue with the Jews, or in the marketplace with the Gentiles.  Notice in verses 19 and 20 that they were curious.  They came to the meeting with their minds so closed to start off with.  The devil does that - he will do all in his power to close our minds to Christ.  Either accept it or reject it.  The people who despised that message left, some mocked it while others thought it was utter nonsense.  Paul takes up the message of God as the creator in verse 24 and then he moves on to tell them what they are in the sight of God - verse 25.  We are sinners in the sight of God.  There are others who teach a different message - that man is his own boss and can do his own thing, reach whatever height he wants to but there is one he can never reach - the mark of God.  We have all come short of the glory of God.  He took his very best, his only Son and sent him into the world to die on an old rugged cross but it was all God`s plan that we might be saved.  Maybe you have never been saved or maybe you are in a backslidden state.  God wants you to come to him.  Paul points to what God expects.  He had another day in mind when he sent his Son to a manger.  He had another day in mind when he sent him to the cross.  He had a day in mind - when he will come again as a judge.  This world will come to an end one day.  The Lord will come back that you might stand before him.  Paul says to this people God created you, you are a sinner before him and one day God will come to judge everyone for their sins.  Now he says God calls everyone to repent before God and have faith in the Lord.  This message was despised by the people because they were hungry for God.  What makes young people try something for the first time?  For satisfaction to their hunger.  As soon as they try it once something else kicks in, the mind begins to blur everything.  All that once worried them is gone now.  Why do they do it?  Because of a hunger.  They want to see what it will do to them.  When that hunger is filled with Christ they despised it.

The effect on others - "some mocked and others said, We will hear you again of this matter."  Not all rejected the message though.  There were a number who listened very carefully.  One turned to the other and asked each other "what do you think of this message?"  This is the first time we have heard of a Saviour who came in the world, who died and rose again.  We could have new lives, we could be changed forever.    Maybe a bit of doubt creeps in.  Maybe we should think about it, count the cost of it.  Don`t put Christ off by thinking you will get saved another week.  "Behold now is the accepted time."  Maybe tonight you want to be saved, would love to be saved but just not tonight.  Felix of old trembled as Paul stood before him.  Paul spoke of the gospel, righteousness before God, temperance, self control and the great judgment day of God.  When Felix heard this he trembled.  He told Paul "go thy way when I have a convenient season I will call for you."  Joshua in the Old Testament said "choose you this day whom you will serve."  For the last group of people it was a message that delighted because it filled their hearts and souls and changed their lives.  They "clave" unto the message he preached.  This message culd change your life for eternity.  They listened with intent.  When they did that it struck a chord .  They had placed their sins upon a sacrifice who had died and risen again.  You can have your sins laid on that same Saviour and accept him in the beloved today.