WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.080 It'd be great if you had a Bible in your hands at the moment. 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:06.020 So if you don't have one, put your hand up. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:09.779 And they are busting to get you a Bible. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:12.880 So put a hand up anyway to give them something to do. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:14.500 That would be fantastic. 00:00:15.380 --> 00:00:16.859 Has anyone not got a Bible? 00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:18.900 There's one down here, fantastic. 00:00:19.140 --> 00:00:19.679 One over there. 00:00:19.740 --> 00:00:21.480 Anyone else not got a Bible? 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:22.620 Everyone else has got... 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:24.199 Over here, we've got a couple over here. 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:26.800 Girls over this way, this is brilliant. 00:00:27.240 --> 00:00:28.600 Couple over here, keep your hands up. 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:29.679 They will get them to you. 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:31.379 There's one there, one at the back here. 00:00:31.420 --> 00:00:32.659 Another one over here. 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:34.399 I know they're running around the back out through there. 00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:36.159 They're going everywhere. 00:00:36.460 --> 00:00:38.060 Just keep your hands up, they'll get to you. 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:39.060 Over there. 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:40.399 They're Chinese Bibles. 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:47.859 I give up. 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:50.640 I always say don't work with animals and children. 00:00:52.740 --> 00:00:53.620 That's fantastic. 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:54.079 Wonderful. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:55.560 Okay, we're all good? 00:00:56.219 --> 00:00:56.579 Brilliant. 00:00:56.579 --> 00:00:56.679 Brilliant. 00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:57.979 Chinese Bible. 00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:00.240 There's a Chinese one? 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:01.380 You don't want a Chinese one. 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:02.079 You want an English one. 00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:03.399 A Chinese Bible. 00:01:03.979 --> 00:01:05.039 You want a Chinese Bible. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:05.739 Oh. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:08.579 There's one over here. 00:01:09.039 --> 00:01:09.400 Brilliant. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:10.799 Fantastic. 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:12.659 All right, we're settled. 00:01:13.039 --> 00:01:13.420 Hopefully. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:16.700 Give them a round of applause. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:18.260 Thank you for helping out today, kids. 00:01:18.260 --> 00:01:31.300 Okay, so what would it look like for God to become the dominant reality in your life in 2018? 00:01:31.980 --> 00:01:33.280 What would that look like? 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:44.879 What would it look like for the things in the Bible to be more real for you than the things on the television, 00:01:45.219 --> 00:01:50.379 the things in the newspapers, the things on the internet and social media? 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:51.879 What would that look like? 00:01:51.879 --> 00:02:01.399 See, what we can be confident of is that God has revealed himself to accomplish that very thing. 00:02:02.859 --> 00:02:12.579 God reveals himself so that we might know the way things actually are, that we might know reality. 00:02:12.580 --> 00:02:21.720 And yet, for some of us, we are just falling over the finishing line of another year. 00:02:22.700 --> 00:02:23.980 That's what it feels like. 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:34.900 I think for some of us, it's so easy to be lulled into sleep by the ordinary day-by-day life that we have. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:36.660 It feels like we're on a treadmill. 00:02:36.659 --> 00:02:45.519 Our senses can be dulled by the humdrum of one day after another day after another day. 00:02:47.139 --> 00:02:52.659 And so what we need, as we close off another year, is we need to see God. 00:02:53.939 --> 00:02:57.979 We need to be convinced that Jesus is reigning as the risen King. 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:04.359 We need to have him speak to the situation, whatever it is that we're facing in our lives. 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:11.960 We need to hear him speak into the situations of our society and our country and into this church. 00:03:12.940 --> 00:03:17.720 We need to know that God is right now on his throne. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:22.780 And as we have sung, he is in control in heaven. 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:31.420 He is worshipped by myriads upon myriads of the heavenly host as the infinite God over all. 00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:38.660 We need to see the way that God will pulverise wickedness and injustice. 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:43.460 He will obliterate those who oppose him. 00:03:44.220 --> 00:03:47.420 And he will set up his kingdom for the joy of all who trust him. 00:03:49.180 --> 00:03:56.940 And so this book of Revelation and these verses which Wendy just read out to us is exactly what we need as we come to the end of 2017. 00:03:56.939 --> 00:04:07.620 God has given us the book of Revelation so that we can know his glorious justice and his mercy and see how blessed we are. 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:14.699 And so that we might live lives that worship him by faith. 00:04:14.699 --> 00:04:21.879 And the message of Revelation was essential for his first recipients. 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:28.099 You see, this was written first and foremost to Christians almost 2,000 years ago. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:35.139 They're living in the Roman Empire and they are facing the biggest nightmare that you can imagine. 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:46.860 Revelation 1 verse 9 tells us that John, the writer of this, the one who receives this vision from God, is exiled on the island of Patmos. 00:04:47.699 --> 00:04:52.159 And it says, because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 00:04:53.300 --> 00:05:00.120 And so John has been representing Jesus and it got him into a whole lot of trouble in the first century. 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:05.060 John's writing to the church from exile on the island of Patmos. 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:11.319 Now these days, today, you go to the island of Patmos and there's about 3,000 inhabitants there. 00:05:11.699 --> 00:05:16.819 And it is full of five-star resorts and villas. 00:05:18.459 --> 00:05:20.939 In John's day, it was a prison island. 00:05:21.899 --> 00:05:23.199 Very different circumstances. 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:32.279 And John, as he receives this vision and he writes these words, is an old man. 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:39.599 He's sentenced to work in the quarries because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:54.860 And Jesus was so real and so precious to John that he would rather be exiled on a barren prison island than not represent Jesus. 00:05:57.100 --> 00:06:02.800 And John is typical of the hardships of many Christians were facing in his day. 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:08.560 They were feeling the force of their society. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:14.259 They were feeling the force of the Roman Empire wanting to squeeze them out. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:24.199 According to the Roman writer Suetonius, the Roman Emperor Domitian, he was the emperor when John wrote these words. 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:31.840 He was both physically unimpressive and a moral catastrophe of a human being. 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:35.759 He had many affairs with married women. 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:39.620 He eventually stole someone else's wife to be his own. 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:49.180 When his brother Titus was hit with a very serious illness, he ordered that he just be left on the side of the road for dead. 00:06:50.740 --> 00:06:58.659 Another bloke, called just the kind of a guy, made some sort of harmless but humorous remarks about Domitian. 00:06:58.660 --> 00:07:02.080 Everyone thought it was funny except Domitian. 00:07:02.820 --> 00:07:04.980 And so that joker was executed. 00:07:05.860 --> 00:07:13.220 This man seduced his married niece, got her pregnant, and then she died from the abortion he demanded that she have. 00:07:13.220 --> 00:07:24.520 And this moral catastrophe of an individual was sensitive about his baldness, as most guys are. 00:07:25.520 --> 00:07:29.820 He was sensitive about his pot belly and his spindly legs. 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:36.540 But he demanded that the whole empire refer to him as Lord God. 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:41.319 You call me God. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:52.580 And John is writing to Christians who were suffering extreme hardship under his hand 00:07:52.580 --> 00:08:00.540 because they refused to give a Roman Emperor that kind of worship. 00:08:00.540 --> 00:08:06.140 They refused for Domitian to be the dominant reality in their lives. 00:08:10.140 --> 00:08:13.780 And this is what the churches were facing when this revelation came to John. 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:18.340 And so this is a word of comfort and it's a word of perspective. 00:08:18.339 --> 00:08:30.279 And the first thing that this revelation says is that despite the terrible hardship that they were facing, 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:33.759 God wanted to know that they were truly blessed. 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:42.659 They were blessed because God had given this revelation of Jesus Christ of what will soon take place. 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:50.459 They were blessed because God had given them perspective and clarity on the present as well as the future. 00:08:51.839 --> 00:08:55.360 They were also blessed because of what Jesus had done for them. 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:58.079 Verse 5 of chapter 1 says, 00:08:58.199 --> 00:09:00.379 To him who loves us. 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:04.500 Jesus loved them. 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:09.220 That there is in the present tense. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:12.080 Jesus loves his people right now. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.220 Even with Domitian, he still loves his people. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.799 And Jesus' love for his people led him to lay down his life for them. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:24.019 They are blessed because in laying down his life for them, 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:28.639 it says in verse 5 that he has freed us from our sins by his blood. 00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:33.000 You see, those who sin deserve to die. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:37.899 And death, ultimate death, is separation from God. 00:09:39.179 --> 00:09:47.980 And Jesus' death cancels out our obligation to pay the penalty for our sins to God. 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:51.799 That we might be reconciled to God and live. 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:55.019 And so the blood of Jesus, it says, frees us. 00:09:55.100 --> 00:10:02.440 It frees us from lust and from greed and from pride and from anger and from bitterness and grumpiness. 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:06.260 And every other enslaving sin. 00:10:08.340 --> 00:10:14.180 You see, the blood of Jesus breaks the power of cancelled sin. 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:18.640 Jesus didn't just come to save us. 00:10:19.160 --> 00:10:20.400 He came to change us. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:26.659 We are blessed because Jesus, as verse 6 says, 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:31.579 made us a kingdom, priest to his God and Father. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:33.079 We belong to Jesus. 00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:34.059 We are his people. 00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:36.059 Our allegiance is to him. 00:10:36.459 --> 00:10:39.620 We are blessed because the kingdom of Jesus cannot be overcome. 00:10:40.179 --> 00:10:44.100 Notice who the security is in this blessing. 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:48.840 See who it is that gives us the blessing. 00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:50.980 Verse 4. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:56.139 From him who was and who is to come. 00:10:56.460 --> 00:10:57.320 Verse 5. 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:03.080 From Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 00:11:03.540 --> 00:11:04.420 Verse 6. 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:08.120 To the one whom power and glory belong forever. 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:09.639 Verse 8. 00:11:10.079 --> 00:11:13.159 The one who is and who was and who is to come. 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:14.259 The almighty. 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:18.459 The one who is ruler from eternity to eternity. 00:11:22.199 --> 00:11:29.740 How good must John's experience of Christ be for him to declare this blessing? 00:11:29.740 --> 00:11:35.700 In spite of sitting in a prison cell as he writes it. 00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:42.440 In spite of the ways that Christianity will not advance people in Roman culture. 00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:48.200 In spite of the fact that knowing Jesus could cost you your possessions, your land. 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:50.700 Put you in prison. 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:51.919 Cost you your life. 00:11:54.440 --> 00:11:56.200 You're blessed if you know Jesus. 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:07.740 John must think it's better to stand right before God by faith in Christ. 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:11.340 Forgiven and free from all sin. 00:12:12.340 --> 00:12:15.399 Than it is to have all of Rome bow to you. 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:25.759 John must think there is a life after this life in which the rewards for those who belong to Jesus 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:33.659 will be infinitely more superior than all the pleasures of sin in this present world. 00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:40.720 And God gives John this revelation. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:43.659 Not just for John. 00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:46.779 But for the seven churches of Asia. 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:52.459 John got the vision. 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.740 And he took... 00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:59.919 Jesus told him to write it down so that we could get the vision. 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:01.679 He gets the vision. 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.139 We get the Bible. 00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:07.860 You want to see Jesus as John saw Jesus? 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:10.879 You need to have your face planted in the Scriptures. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:17.220 That's why week after week after week I say to you, have a Bible in your hand. 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:19.740 You won't see Jesus otherwise. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:27.759 And so if you're sitting here today and you've got your face planted on Facebook or something else, 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:28.700 get off it. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:30.299 Get off it. 00:13:30.299 --> 00:13:39.899 Jesus is infinitely more important to you right now to hear him. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:43.139 He gives a rip what the Sydney Morning Herald thinks. 00:13:48.339 --> 00:13:50.459 Don't feel too embarrassed right now to get to a Bible. 00:13:52.599 --> 00:13:58.639 God gives John this revelation, not just for John, but for the seven churches of Asia. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:03.600 And the voice he heard, verse 10, says in verse 11, 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:07.340 write on a scroll what you see and send it. 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:10.100 It's meant for us. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:13.879 This vision of Jesus is meant for us right now. 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.039 He appears to John. 00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:27.899 Write it in a book. 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.179 What you see. 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:31.579 Send it to the seven churches. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:32.500 John gets the vision. 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.179 We get the book. 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.379 I want to keep making that point. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:35.759 John gets the vision. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:36.720 We get the book. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.899 Do you declare yourself to be a Bible-believing Christian? 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:53.819 Don't claim it if your face is not in the scriptures. 00:14:56.379 --> 00:15:02.600 Don't claim it just because you sit in a church that declares to be one of its core values of Christ-centered Bible saturation. 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:11.440 See, this God wants us to come to him through his word. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:17.180 He wants us to seek him in his word, to know him by his word, to gaze upon him steadily through his word, 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:20.840 so that we would know how blessed we are. 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:31.060 Your perspective will go in a million different directions unless you are constantly getting the perspective of Jesus that the scriptures give us. 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:45.919 This is a revelation for imprisoned John and persecuted Christians in the Roman Empire and for Christians in North Korea and a thousand other hard places in our world and for us right now. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:16:00.559 For those who are suffering, for those who are tired, for those who are weary, for those who are running out of steam, for those who are confused, for those who are disheartened, 00:16:00.959 --> 00:16:09.799 for those who are disenfranchised, for those who are spiritually dry, for those who are insecure about where they stand with Jesus. 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:17.620 Despite the circumstances, we need to know how blessed we are if we know Jesus and are known by him. 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:28.579 Knowing how blessed we are, the call here is to persevere in treasuring Jesus even when it is tough. 00:16:28.819 --> 00:16:30.120 Let's look at what John saw. 00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:36.759 Verse 12, John turns to see whose voice it was that he heard that sounded like a trumpet. 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:40.019 But that's a fairly natural response, I'd imagine. 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:48.960 And what he saw was seven golden lampstands and Christ in the middle of the golden lampstands. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:54.299 And verse 20 is the interpretation of the lampstands. 00:16:55.080 --> 00:17:00.399 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand of the seven golden lampstands is this. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:03.720 The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:08.420 And the seven lampstands are the seven churches. 00:17:10.379 --> 00:17:18.879 And so the vision of Jesus that John gets here is that Jesus is amongst his churches. 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:24.859 And as you know, if you're around here recently, seven is the number of fulfillment, completion. 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:30.019 This is a revelation of Jesus amongst his church. 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:32.160 His complete church. 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:37.160 And Jesus, he's here. 00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:39.900 Christ is standing among the churches. 00:17:40.040 --> 00:17:41.940 He's not merely over the church. 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.440 He's not distant from the churches. 00:17:43.540 --> 00:17:44.680 He's not standing on one side. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:48.120 He's right in the middle of the church. 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:58.719 And it says that John saw, according to verse 13, one like a son of man. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:07.200 And he gets that term from Daniel chapter 7 in the Old Testament, where in verses 13 and 14, 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:14.200 it talks about the son of man or one like a son of man, who's referring to a great ruler. 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.059 He's a great ruler. 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.220 This is what it says in Daniel. 00:18:19.220 --> 00:18:22.079 In my vision of man, I looked. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.460 And there before me was one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:31.460 He approached the ancient of days and was led into his presence. 00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:35.079 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power. 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:38.759 All peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:42.720 His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away. 00:18:42.859 --> 00:18:45.160 And his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:54.680 So when John says, I saw one like a son of man standing in the middle of the lampstands, 00:18:55.299 --> 00:19:02.279 he means that he saw someone with dominion and glory and kingly power. 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.160 That's what he saw. 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.740 Someone with authority over all nations. 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:09.099 Someone with authority over all peoples. 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:14.460 One who would rule the world forever and his kingdom would never be destroyed. 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:22.599 The one who stands amongst the churches is the one who received from the ancient of days 00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:27.579 dominion and glory and kingdom rule and power and authority in heaven and on earth. 00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:31.599 That's what John saw. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:40.139 And in verse 13, this son of man, it says, was dressed in a robe, reaching down to his feet 00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:42.819 with a golden sash around his chest. 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:52.859 The robe here is similar to the robe in the Old Testament, which is almost always refers 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:54.319 to the robe of the high priest. 00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:59.700 And the gold sash around his chest signifies two things. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:05.519 The fact that it's high, not down here, it's actually up here, around his chest. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:13.220 And the fact that it is gold shows that this priesthood is very, very great. 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:23.039 Jesus is not only the son of man from Daniel 7, who receives everlasting dominion over all nations. 00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:29.259 He is also the final high priest who brings all the priestly work of the temple to an end, 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:32.720 where he mediates between God and humanity. 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:36.860 There's no more need for any animal sacrifices. 00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:49.879 This priest is so great that he gave his own blood once and for all to put all sin once and for all, 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:54.339 to deal with it all, put it all away by the sacrifice of himself. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:58.659 And he stands among the lampstands. 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:03.759 He stands in his church, with his church. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:10.599 And he is with his church today as one with authority and everlasting dominion 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:15.859 and one with final, decisive forgiveness for our sins. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:22.599 And then John sees in verse 14 that his head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.640 Now this is remarkable. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:35.360 Because in Daniel chapter 7, where John gets the picture of the one like a son of man in verses 13 and 14, 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:41.259 God the Father is described like this in verse 9. 00:21:41.259 --> 00:22:10.140 In other words, John is describing this son of man in exact same terms that Daniel describes him, 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:12.000 describes God himself. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.980 And you put this picture together. 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:20.340 And the next thing that John saw was the end of verse 14, 00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:22.980 and his eyes were like blazing fire. 00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:29.580 The eyes of this son of man were not the clouded eye of fading glory. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:35.920 They were the eyes of sharpest clarity and purification. 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:41.680 These eyes miss nothing that goes on in his universe. 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:45.320 They are exploding with energy. 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:52.960 All of us know the drooping eye that's about to go off to sleep and you have the nodding head. 00:22:53.060 --> 00:22:54.960 We all know that experience. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:23:03.960 And we know the role of the eyes and the resentful eye and the grumpy eye and the half-shut eye of the scowl and the bad mood. 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:14.600 And we know the eyes that are alive with wonder and excitement and hope and expectancy and energy. 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:17.180 They're generally children. 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:23.820 And Jesus' eyes were like a flaming fire. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:29.539 Hair as white as snow. 00:23:29.860 --> 00:23:31.039 Eyes like fire. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:38.119 So we've got to know 2,000 years after John saw this vision that Jesus is not tired. 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.859 He's not fatigued. 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:41.339 He's not burnt out. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.599 He has not lost his energy. 00:23:44.139 --> 00:23:48.700 His eyes are aflame with a flashing fire of inexhaustible energy and hope. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:52.539 He sees everything that has been and everything that will be. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.619 Nothing takes him by surprise. 00:23:54.619 --> 00:24:04.000 And when Jesus thinks about his plans for you, about his plans for St. Paul's, his plans for this country, his plans for this world and for Christians of all the nations, 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:07.039 he's not hesitant. 00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:08.559 He's not bored. 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:11.119 He's not tired. 00:24:12.699 --> 00:24:23.959 His eyes are aflame with fire, utter exhilaration and passion and enthusiasm for the work that he is bringing to completion. 00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:33.079 John also happened to notice the bronze feet in verse 15. 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:36.839 They are the feet of a glorious and almighty conqueror. 00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:40.779 And again in verse 15 is the voice like the sound of many waters. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:48.259 It's the picture of just sheer raw power, the thunder of the voice of authority. 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:58.900 Then there's the right hand with the seven stars and a sharp sword coming out of his mouth and his face shining like the full strength of the sun. 00:24:58.900 --> 00:25:12.080 What do you do when you're confronted with such power and authority and splendor and majesty and glory and awe? 00:25:12.380 --> 00:25:14.320 What do you do when you see that? 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.800 Verse 17 is what you do. 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:29.599 This Jesus who we play with, John says, is not to be trifled with. 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:34.220 He's not to be treated with disdain. 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:42.879 Domitian might be the emperor of the Roman Empire, but he's a librarian compared to Jesus. 00:25:42.880 --> 00:25:53.720 And to John's immense relief, this judge, this king, this majestic eternal ruler, reassuringly in verse 17, 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:56.940 places his right hand on him and speaks a word of comfort. 00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:58.560 He says, do not be afraid. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.540 Do not be afraid. 00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:05.420 What a comforting hand. 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:12.940 I don't know what your circumstances are right now, but that comforting hand is on your shoulder when you turn to Jesus. 00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:15.440 Do not be afraid. 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:20.460 These are incredible words of comfort for a prisoner of the Lord Jesus. 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:24.000 This Jesus stands with his people. 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:29.680 The encouragement here is that despite what it looks like, Jesus is with his church. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:36.320 He's with us as the son of man, the one with power over all that is, both seen and unseen. 00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:40.400 The one with everlasting dominion and glory. 00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:43.940 He is the great high priest that has put away the sins of his people once for all. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:47.120 He is the great and wise ancient of days. 00:26:47.119 --> 00:27:02.319 Yet with eyes that are aflame with the fire of youth and energy and hope and exhilaration for his unstoppable plans for you, for his church, for his world. 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:07.240 So gaze upon Jesus. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:21.839 Let his royal power and his priestly forgiveness and his fiery hope fill you with confidence afresh that treasuring him is never a vanity. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.639 It is never a vanity. 00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:29.559 It is never a vanity to throw your lot in with him. 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:35.500 And there are some here, I confident, who are hedging your bets either way. 00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.899 Make a decision. 00:27:39.159 --> 00:27:40.099 Cross the line. 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:43.500 Throw your lot in with Jesus. 00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:51.240 The most significant feature of this passage is the overwhelming glory of Jesus. 00:27:51.419 --> 00:27:52.119 He is risen. 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:53.940 He is indestructible. 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.819 He is unconquerable. 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:57.319 He is Lord. 00:27:57.319 --> 00:28:06.460 And as such, he summons forth obedience and worship from his blessed people. 00:28:07.159 --> 00:28:10.000 He is to be worshipped and he is to be obeyed. 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:13.980 He is to be treasured because of his surpassing worth and power. 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:22.519 And so what John intends for the book of Revelation, as Jesus intended for the book of Revelation, 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:26.980 is to produce a radical change in perspective for us. 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:35.120 As you look back on 2017, ask yourself, and as you think about the area, 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:38.480 is your gaze consistently upon Jesus? 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:43.740 Do you daily preach the gospel to yourself of how blessed you are? 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:46.500 Do you know daily how blessed you are? 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:55.940 Are you announcing to anyone who will listen how blessed it is to know Jesus and to be known by him? 00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:59.920 Are you calling people to taste and see that the Lord is good? 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:04.900 Do people see it in your life and the values and the priorities and your attitude and your perspective? 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:13.960 Do they see the radiance of Christ displayed in your life despite the circumstances? 00:29:14.860 --> 00:29:15.700 Do they see that? 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.700 Do they see that? 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:22.559 This was written about Christians. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:27.500 Let me read to you what was written about Christians not long after Domitian's time. 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:33.940 They love everyone, but by everyone they are persecuted. 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:38.960 They are unknown, yet they are condemned. 00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:43.720 They are put to death, and yet they are brought to life. 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:47.839 They are poor, and yet they make so many rich. 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:52.180 They are in need of everything, and yet they are bound in everything. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:56.559 They are dishonored, and yet they are glorified in their dishonor. 00:29:56.819 --> 00:30:00.039 They are slandered, and yet they are vindicated. 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:02.579 They are cursed, and yet they bless. 00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:06.220 They are insulted, and yet they offer respect. 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:13.539 When they do good, they are punished as evildoers, and when they are punished, they rejoice as though brought to life. 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:19.860 And so Christians, when punished daily, increase more and more. 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:27.019 Is that you? 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.120 You? 00:30:31.120 --> 00:30:33.019 Don't miss what this communicates. 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:43.879 These Christians live in a way that says that knowing and treasuring Jesus is better than freedom from persecution. 00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:50.139 Knowing and treasuring Jesus is better than avoiding martyrdom by denying him. 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:54.359 Knowing and treasuring Jesus is better than worldly possessions of money and wealth. 00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:57.119 Knowing and treasuring Jesus is better than fame. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:31:03.599 Knowing and treasuring Jesus is better than doing evil to avoid persecution from a criminal government. 00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:12.319 You see, when Christians joyfully obey and worship and treasure Jesus through difficult times, 00:31:12.899 --> 00:31:17.199 this causes their numbers to increase. 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:28.360 You see, when Christians treasure Jesus by joyfully showing by their lives that knowing God is this good, 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.660 it is this good, 00:31:32.080 --> 00:31:34.600 others want to know that God. 00:31:35.299 --> 00:31:36.980 They want to know, what have you got? 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:43.000 So if you are stuck in a rut with your relationship with Jesus, 00:31:44.360 --> 00:31:46.799 maybe you've not planned to grow with him for years, 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:50.539 maybe you've just kind of given up on him doing any change in your particular life, 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:55.160 I want to encourage you as you enter into the new year 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:59.200 to make a plan to treasure Jesus more in 2018. 00:31:59.539 --> 00:32:01.259 Every staff member of St. Paul's does it. 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:05.200 By the end of January, they have to submit a master plan for their life, 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:07.059 not just for their work, for their life, 00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:09.920 for the upcoming year. 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:14.819 The changes that God is going to bring in their life that they want to see God do. 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:20.879 What would it look like for this Jesus that we see here in Revelation 1 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:24.059 to be the dominant reality in your life in 2018? 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:28.259 Plan your run with him for next year. 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.619 See what he will do. 00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:35.279 Pray that many more people encounter him as you treasure him. 00:32:36.479 --> 00:32:41.359 That's what we're seeking to do as a church in increasing measure in this next year. 00:32:41.899 --> 00:32:47.519 We are desperate for more people to encounter Jesus and treasure Jesus. 00:32:48.699 --> 00:32:51.259 May it happen because we're doing it.