WEBVTT 00:00:00.480 --> 00:00:05.459 All right, so we are looking at the book of Revelation tonight. 00:00:06.020 --> 00:00:08.880 We are in Revelation chapter 1. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:12.679 We're studying the book of Revelation this summer, and our particular focus this summer 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:18.780 is going to be on the letters to the seven churches that are found in chapters 2 and 3. 00:00:19.460 --> 00:00:23.740 But kind of as an introduction to that, we've been spending these first two weeks on chapter 1. 00:00:24.419 --> 00:00:29.899 Last week, if you were here, Pastor Greg walked us through verses 1 through 8 of Revelation 00:00:29.899 --> 00:00:36.140 chapter 1, and there we saw the answers to three kind of basic but important questions 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:36.839 about the book. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:42.439 We saw who Revelation is for, who it's from, and what it's mainly about. 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:47.980 And real quickly, just to review, we saw there that Revelation is for, as it says in the first 00:00:47.980 --> 00:00:50.200 opening and opening verses, it's for the servants of God. 00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:52.679 This book is for all the followers of Jesus. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:01:00.420 And we saw that the book was from, in verses 4 and 5, that it's from the triune God Himself, 00:01:00.660 --> 00:01:04.879 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the one Creator and Redeemer. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:12.980 And then we lastly considered that the book is ultimately about Jesus Christ and His kingdom, 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:15.420 about the kingdom of God. 00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:20.840 In other words, the book of Revelation, at the biggest picture, is about what God is doing 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:25.880 and is going to do to bring to completion His kingdom work in the world. 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:31.560 It's about what He's doing between Jesus' first and second coming, and of course, what He will 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:32.960 do at Jesus' second coming. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:39.540 So, with that in mind, let's pick up where we left off with verse 9. 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:41.159 Let me read this for us. 00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:43.340 It says, 00:01:43.340 --> 00:01:50.120 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:54.979 was on the island called Patmos, on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 00:01:54.980 --> 00:02:02.159 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, 00:02:02.800 --> 00:02:14.580 Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. 00:02:14.580 --> 00:02:21.480 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands. 00:02:21.920 --> 00:02:29.560 And in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 00:02:30.180 --> 00:02:33.080 The hairs of his head were white like wool, like snow. 00:02:33.640 --> 00:02:35.640 His eyes were like a flame of fire. 00:02:35.760 --> 00:02:39.780 His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace. 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:43.300 And his voice was like the roar of many waters. 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:46.180 In his right hand he held seven stars. 00:02:46.660 --> 00:02:49.380 From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. 00:02:50.140 --> 00:02:53.840 And his face was like the sun, shining in full strength. 00:02:55.160 --> 00:02:58.320 When I saw him, I fell at his feet, though dead. 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:02.500 But he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not. 00:03:03.200 --> 00:03:06.720 I am the first and the last and the living one. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:11.520 I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore. 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:15.040 And I have the keys of death and Hades. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:22.840 Write, therefore, the things that you have seen, those that are, and those that are going to take place after this. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:28.219 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands, 00:03:28.460 --> 00:03:31.020 the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. 00:03:31.020 --> 00:03:34.840 And the seven lampstands are the seven churches. 00:03:36.480 --> 00:03:38.439 Let's pray as we consider God's word together tonight. 00:03:39.040 --> 00:03:40.800 Lord Jesus, we thank you for your word. 00:03:40.900 --> 00:03:42.100 We thank you for the book of Revelation. 00:03:42.740 --> 00:03:46.040 Lord, we pray that by your spirit you'd help us to understand this mighty book. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:53.420 And God, that our hearts would be strengthened and encouraged to follow you in the life that you've given us here for your glory. 00:03:53.980 --> 00:03:55.920 Pray this in your name, Jesus. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:56.280 Amen. 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:56.439 Amen. 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:11.120 So, when you're facing a problem or a trial or even some kind of suffering, what's the one thing that you need? 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:18.240 Well, perhaps you'd say, the one thing I really want, actually, is for the problem to go away. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:20.480 I would prefer for the suffering just to stop. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:21.439 Thank you very much. 00:04:21.500 --> 00:04:26.360 But if that doesn't happen in the midst of pain and suffering and trial, what's the most important thing you can have? 00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:32.420 That's really what our text is pointing us toward tonight. 00:04:33.579 --> 00:04:36.579 But before we look there, what are some of the things you might say that you need? 00:04:36.579 --> 00:04:44.699 Perhaps you'd say you need the presence of caring and supportive friends, people to kind of walk with you through those times. 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:52.680 Or maybe you'd say that you really need a strategy for overcoming the trial, a plan to eliminate the source of pain. 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:57.219 If you're jobless, what you really need is a good resume and a few practice interviews. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:05:02.459 Or if your marriage is in trouble, maybe you need a good marriage counselor and some communication exercises to work on. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:03.919 Some sort of strategy. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:09.840 Friends, strategy, maybe the one thing you think you need are some answers. 00:05:10.939 --> 00:05:14.500 Maybe some sort of reason why you're going through what you're going through. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:18.900 Or at least some potential reasons why to help you understand what's really going on. 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:21.220 Maybe you think that's the one thing you need to really help you. 00:05:23.520 --> 00:05:25.600 Well, of course, all these things are good things, right? 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:33.920 They're not necessarily sort of bad in and of themselves, but our text tonight is pointing us to something even greater. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:44.860 To what is perhaps the most important thing for us to have when we're in the midst of trial or when we're about to undergo some sort of trial. 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:52.580 And if I were to put it as straightforward as I can, I think we see this in Revelation 1, 9 through 20. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:55.240 I think this is kind of the main thought. 00:05:55.240 --> 00:06:20.240 Now let's unpack that. 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:30.460 So verses 9 through 11, we see pretty clearly the fact that Christians suffer, that they face trials and problems and persecutions, that they experience distress and loss. 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:31.579 Look again at verse 9. 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:39.319 I, John, that is the Apostle John, your brother and partner, that is someone who shares deeply in something together with you. 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:45.659 Your partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:49.079 Look at those last three concepts. 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:52.500 Tribulation, kingdom, endurance. 00:06:53.819 --> 00:06:58.420 This is actually how John is sort of summarizing the Christian life. 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:01.839 First, tribulation. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:07.800 The word simply means suffering, distress, intense hardship. 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:11.600 As a follower of Jesus, there will be trial and hardship. 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:14.579 And often on account of being a follower of Jesus. 00:07:14.980 --> 00:07:16.040 Look at the rest of verse 9. 00:07:16.340 --> 00:07:21.180 I was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:30.740 Because John had been faithfully following Christ, bearing witness to God's word and to all that was true about Jesus, crucified, risen, reigning, coming again. 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:35.480 Because of all that, John was exiled and imprisoned on the island of Patmos. 00:07:35.480 --> 00:07:39.980 Now, Patmos is this tiny little island off the western coast of modern-day Turkey. 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:44.580 And at the time, the Roman Empire used Patmos basically as a penal colony. 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:52.600 That anybody that they thought was sort of a, you know, dangerous to the good order of the empire, they pretty much just shipped off there and forgot about. 00:07:53.840 --> 00:07:56.319 An easy way to solve your problems when you're an empire. 00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:58.319 Let's find a little island where there's nothing there. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.319 And let's put all the people we don't like on it and forget about them. 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:14.719 Now, of course, today, I don't think any of us are worried about getting shipped off to one of the Thimble Islands and sort of left there on account of our testimony for Jesus, right? 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:15.939 Maybe the Thimble Islands would be nice. 00:08:16.019 --> 00:08:17.240 There's some pretty sweet houses out there. 00:08:17.420 --> 00:08:18.139 But no, right? 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:21.219 We don't think in those categories, at least not in the west. 00:08:21.220 --> 00:08:27.580 But notice that John says, I'm your brother and partner in this tribulation. 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:35.759 He writes to these churches saying, this trial, this hardship, this is expected. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:40.160 This is something we all share in together. 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:45.940 After all, Jesus himself said, in the world, you will have tribulation. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.840 It's the same word that John uses here. 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:54.019 In fact, that saying of Jesus actually is recorded in John's gospel, chapter 16, verse 33. 00:08:57.379 --> 00:09:05.040 But notice, secondly, John doesn't describe and summarize the Christian life as only suffering or only tribulation. 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:08.639 He says in Jesus that we also share in the kingdom. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:22.819 That is, right now, we are fellow partakers in the reign of God, in that inbreaking, liberating rule of the triune creator and redeemer. 00:09:24.819 --> 00:09:29.019 Now, do you see the balance here? 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:33.519 That Christianity is not just tribulation. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:39.980 It's not just a sort of defeatist, pessimistic, despairing thing. 00:09:41.079 --> 00:09:48.019 And on the other hand, Christianity isn't just the kingdom or sort of shallow understandings of it. 00:09:48.500 --> 00:09:54.139 It's not just a triumphalistic, everything's fine and rosy, there are no problems in life sort of thing. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:58.080 No, John's saying it's both. 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:07.840 Christianity is about God's kingdom that progresses even through tribulation. 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:16.799 Christianity is about tribulation that one day will be swallowed up and healed by God's kingdom. 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:18.100 It's both. 00:10:18.100 --> 00:10:30.720 So one thing we see in this first paragraph of our text, verses 9 through 11, is that all Christians will experience some sort of trial or suffering at some point in their walk with Christ. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:37.080 And that doesn't overthrow all the joys and blessings of knowing God in Christ, but we can expect hardship. 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:42.180 Now, some of us don't need to be reminded of that fact, right? 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:48.239 Maybe you've experienced all sorts of hardships in this life, physical, emotional, relational. 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:50.279 Maybe you've been ridiculed for your faith in Christ. 00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:58.059 Some Christians in the world today, as we know, are being physically harmed and killed for their testimony to Jesus, as John puts it here. 00:11:00.239 --> 00:11:07.219 But I do think that many of us, at least in the West, aren't we kind of surprised when hardships come? 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:15.440 We think for one reason or another that we're entitled deep down to a pain-free life. 00:11:17.300 --> 00:11:21.300 Or we think that being a follower of Jesus should somehow get us out of it. 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.379 Now, don't get me wrong. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:33.240 Following Jesus actually will save you a whole load of heartache in the long run. 00:11:33.240 --> 00:11:42.580 To listen to Him, to know Him, to follow Him, that sort of life is full of joy. 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:44.899 It is full of the kingdom. 00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:49.940 But following Jesus will also mean suffering at times. 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:56.279 One of the other pillars of the early church, the Apostle Peter wrote in his first letter, 00:11:56.279 --> 00:12:06.559 Beloved, don't be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:13.199 Friend, are you experiencing a fiery trial tonight? 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:21.459 And if so, are you uncertain how you are going to stand in the face of it? 00:12:21.460 --> 00:12:31.420 Jesus told John to send this book of Revelation off to the seven churches in Asia Minor. 00:12:31.660 --> 00:12:32.639 That's western Turkey. 00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:36.259 And those churches are listed there in verse 11. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:42.259 In fact, these cities are listed in the order that the main road would sort of take you if you were the one delivering the letter. 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:46.019 You'd sort of first visit Ephesus on the coast, and then you would go up to Smyrna, 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:47.900 and then you would sort of circle around the rest. 00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:55.620 And these churches were about to undergo a season of persecution and suffering unlike any they had known before. 00:12:57.659 --> 00:13:02.639 It seems that the Roman Empire was going to become more aggressive in the years to come, 00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:06.559 and following Jesus was going to be more costly than ever. 00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:13.460 And as you read through the seven letters in chapters 2 and 3 and sort of look at them as a whole, 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.679 you see what they're up against. 00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:22.339 Not just physical harm from unjust rulers, but also internal theological confusion and moral breakdown 00:13:22.339 --> 00:13:25.139 and even spiritual complacency. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.939 All things that threaten the church even still today. 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:40.319 And John wants to call them and us to patient endurance. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:44.060 That's the third thing John mentions in verse 9. 00:13:44.140 --> 00:13:47.980 And notice how all three of these words are strung together. 00:13:48.800 --> 00:13:51.460 The way that it's constructed in the Greek is actually very tight. 00:13:51.560 --> 00:13:54.040 These three concepts are all sort of woven together. 00:13:54.040 --> 00:13:58.860 As if John is saying, if we participate in the kingdom by virtue of our union with Christ, 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:02.280 and if we undergo tribulation by virtue of our union with Christ, 00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:09.759 then the patient endurance to remain faithful comes also by virtue of our union with Him. 00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:11.659 That is in Jesus. 00:14:13.199 --> 00:14:18.319 And you see, the rest of the chapter starts to give us that endurance. 00:14:19.559 --> 00:14:21.519 Where do we get it in the midst of trial? 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:24.960 From a vision of the glory of Christ. 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:30.079 And in verses 12 through 16, we see the glory of the person of Christ. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:35.600 And in verses 17 through 20, we see the glory of the work of Christ. 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:42.819 Now, if the word glory is kind of a confusing one or not sort of very clear in your mind, 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:45.279 look at the description of Jesus in verses 12 through 16, 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:48.460 and maybe that will help to sort of give you a shape for it. 00:14:48.460 --> 00:14:52.080 I admit this description of Jesus is a little strange at first. 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:52.800 It's kind of bizarre. 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:55.940 Sort of see the white hair waving in the wind, and you think, this is strange. 00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:57.160 What's going on? 00:14:57.980 --> 00:15:03.060 But you have to see that John's trying to use finite human language 00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:07.660 to capture something that actually exceeds the bounds of our language. 00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:11.280 And what are some of the themes that we catch here? 00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:17.340 First, you have to admit that John is presenting Jesus here as completely radiant. 00:15:17.340 --> 00:15:20.040 His face is shining like the sun. 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:22.680 His feet are like burnished bronze refined in a furnace. 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.940 His hair is gleaming white. 00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:24.879 His eyes are on fire. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.420 Even his clothes are resplendent. 00:15:26.660 --> 00:15:29.680 He's got this golden sash strung around his chest. 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:33.220 From head to toe, Jesus is blazing and bright. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:39.139 Do you remember how Jesus once described himself in his earthly ministry? 00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:43.500 He said, I am the light of the world. 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:49.039 And the people listening must have thought, this guy, who does he think he is? 00:15:50.460 --> 00:15:54.259 And yet now John gets a vision of the risen and ascended and ruling Jesus, 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:56.419 and it all makes sense. 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:03.039 So first, the glory of Jesus here is his brilliance. 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:04.039 It's his beauty. 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:12.360 But second, John is sort of capturing some of his glory by describing Jesus' power. 00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:15.919 His voice is like the roar of many waters. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:20.319 His right hand is holding seven stars, and we'll get to what that means in a minute, 00:16:20.439 --> 00:16:22.299 but at least you can see it's a picture of strength. 00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:26.799 Out of his mouth comes a sharp two-edged sword. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:31.399 That's a pretty striking image, isn't it? 00:16:31.859 --> 00:16:33.879 A sword coming out of his mouth. 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:41.899 As if to say, John is saying, it's as if to say, here is one so powerful, so authoritative, 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:46.879 that his mere word is penetrating and effectual. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:51.600 What he says goes. 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:53.919 What Christ says happens. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:57.179 The judgments that he declares are true. 00:16:57.779 --> 00:17:00.879 And in fact, this Lord doesn't just declare mere verdicts, 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:08.960 but his word creates and it recreates this voice that roars like waters 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:11.619 and pierces the air like a trumpet. 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:18.219 So the vision of Jesus here, this vision of his glory, of his person, 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:22.139 is one of intense beauty and one of perfect power. 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.679 Have you ever thought about that? 00:17:27.639 --> 00:17:34.439 When do we ever see, when do we ever catch a glimpse of beauty and power in the same thing? 00:17:37.979 --> 00:17:39.759 So often it's only one or the other. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:42.000 Beautiful things are often very fragile, aren't they? 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:43.940 Flowers wither. 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:48.619 Last Sunday in the morning service, I used the flowers in our front yard as a sermon illustration. 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.539 Now they're all dying. 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.420 They're all withering away quickly. 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.660 Flowers wither. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.339 Sunsets quickly disappear. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.900 In the old apartment that my wife and I used to live in, 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.799 we lived on the fifth floor overlooking the city, 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:01.559 and every night we would get the sunset. 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:05.519 And every night, Beth would say, Nick, come, quick, look at the sunset. 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:06.140 It's beautiful. 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:06.660 It's great. 00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:10.380 And often I would catch it, but sometimes I would miss it because it would be gone. 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:15.140 Beautiful things are often fragile. 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:20.080 And powerful things are often, well, not very beautiful, are they? 00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:25.540 I remember in college, we used to like watching this thing called the World's Strongest Man. 00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:27.620 Does anyone ever remember seeing those? 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:33.360 They were like these contests, probably on some weird off-channel like TNT or TNN or whatever. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:42.179 Anyway, so the idea with these World's Strongest Man contests were that these huge dudes with names like Lars and Dietrich would basically pull cars up hills, 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:46.919 and they would throw logs over walls, and they would do all these sort of crazy feats of brute strength, 00:18:47.199 --> 00:18:49.740 and then they would get scored and awarded prizes or something. 00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:50.159 I don't know. 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:58.619 And for as awesome as those shows were, and as cool as I thought those guys were for like, you know, throwing things and smashing things, 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:02.939 I wouldn't necessarily say that any of those guys was particularly beautiful. 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:10.659 And yet here in Jesus Christ, we've got both. 00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:15.819 Ravishing beauty and unparalleled strength. 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:27.179 And as John reaches for metaphors to try to capture what Jesus is like, it's maybe no surprise that he goes to nature. 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:30.639 Hair like wool, like snow. 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:38.319 John pointing us there to a blizzard covering the layers of earth in white, in power and in beauty. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:51.039 Or like a voice that roars with the sound of many waters, the ocean vast and limitless, the waves pounding, the shore crushing, powerful and yet beautiful at the same time. 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:56.579 Jesus' face shining like the sun in full strength. 00:19:56.700 --> 00:20:01.279 There it is again, the sun shining in full strength and beauty and in power. 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:11.859 But you know, in describing the risen and ascended Jesus here, John isn't just sort of finding helpful pictures from nature. 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:17.680 He's also, and perhaps more importantly, pulling from the Old Testament. 00:20:18.740 --> 00:20:26.559 You see, these various images come from places like Ezekiel 1 and Daniel 7 and Daniel 10 and Isaiah 60. 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:29.920 Some places where it's describing God himself. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:39.079 One of these allusions is right there in the beginning of John's description. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:41.599 Jesus appearing like a son of man. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:46.960 Which is a direct allusion, almost a quote of Daniel 7. 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:50.000 Let me read that part of Daniel 7 for you. 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:54.480 Daniel 7 verses 13 and 14 say this, 00:20:54.480 --> 00:21:00.160 And behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:05.440 And he came to the ancient of days and was presented before him. 00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:10.300 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom. 00:21:10.860 --> 00:21:14.460 That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:19.040 His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away. 00:21:19.320 --> 00:21:22.340 And his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:30.859 John is saying here in Revelation that Jesus Christ is that son of man. 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:35.879 He is the one who has ascended to the Father to the ancient of days. 00:21:36.139 --> 00:21:40.980 And the Father has given him an everlasting kingdom that will never pass away. 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:46.079 And it will be a kingdom of all peoples, nations, and languages. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:49.259 And it will never and can never be destroyed. 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:55.720 Friends, how does a vision of the glory of Christ's person help us endure in trials? 00:21:56.039 --> 00:22:02.480 Because this Jesus, this one who is the sum and source of all beauty and all strength. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:08.460 This one who fulfills all the Old Testament longing for God himself to come as king. 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:12.439 This one, his kingdom is never going to end. 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:16.000 And it will never be destroyed. 00:22:17.220 --> 00:22:21.680 And that means that no matter what is shaking you right now, 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:27.880 it will not and it cannot take your best thing away from you. 00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:35.600 If you belong to Christ, then you belong to one whose beauty and power cannot fade. 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:40.900 What you have in him, no amount of suffering can steal. 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:44.759 What you have in him, no hardship can really truly diminish. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:52.820 Friends, no one is talking about the present reality of the Roman Empire. 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.420 Are they? 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:56.259 It is gone. 00:22:57.860 --> 00:23:02.300 And yet the kingdom of Jesus Christ remains and is larger than ever. 00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:12.799 You see, friends, this vision of Jesus here, this is Jesus right now. 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:19.779 At the Father's right hand, living, ruling, reigning, and one day coming again. 00:23:20.919 --> 00:23:25.399 This is the one through faith that you are united to. 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:35.040 So even if your health fails and even if your dreams are shattered, you have him. 00:23:39.040 --> 00:23:42.660 Imagine a house that is just full of artwork. 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:45.540 A picture on every wall. 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:50.779 But every single piece in that house is a print. 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.119 It's a reproduction. 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:54.119 Except one. 00:23:55.339 --> 00:24:00.200 Upstairs in the spare bedroom hangs a genuine Monet. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.899 Worth millions. 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:05.059 Beautiful to behold. 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:12.720 And imagine that that same house one night while the owner is away is utterly robbed. 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.299 Broken into. 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:19.259 And every single piece ripped from the walls while the owner is away. 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:24.659 And you can imagine the owner coming home and maybe seeing his front door sort of swinging open. 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:28.379 And he goes in and he starts to see that all the pictures are gone. 00:24:28.639 --> 00:24:29.940 And his heart starts to beat. 00:24:30.179 --> 00:24:31.659 And he starts to hurry through the rooms. 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:33.460 And he makes his way to the stairs. 00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.240 And he goes up. 00:24:34.360 --> 00:24:35.700 And he goes into the bedroom. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:42.080 And there on the wall, in its place, hangs the Monet. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:46.259 They had taken everything else. 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:49.880 But they didn't take the one of real worth. 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:55.759 They had overlooked the one that had real, lasting value. 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:59.380 That's the one that he still had. 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:05.259 Friends, it's the same with Christ. 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:18.540 Even if every picture you own is stripped away, you still have the one of limitless, eternal value. 00:25:18.540 --> 00:25:24.720 Who will give you your heart's desire in fullest satisfaction for eternity. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:33.339 You see, every pleasure, every good, every joy we experience in this life is somewhat like a print. 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.920 Somewhat like a reproduction. 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:38.839 Pointing us toward him as the source of all good. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:41.640 Whose face shines like the sun without ceasing. 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:46.039 And if we have him, then we can really lose nothing. 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:55.099 It's not to downplay or to diminish our hardships or pain or suffering. 00:25:55.099 --> 00:26:01.000 But to say that in him we have everything. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:06.220 But you know, John doesn't just show us Christ's person. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.960 He also shows us the glory of Christ's work. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:14.559 In verse 17, John falls to the ground like a dead man. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:23.140 Jesus here is not simply sort of Jesus meek and mild, but one who makes us fall down to the ground. 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:31.600 And seeing John on the ground, Jesus reaches out his right hand, puts it on John, and says, 00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:33.240 Fear not. 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:37.400 I am the first and the last and the living one. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:40.640 I died and behold, I am alive forevermore. 00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:44.220 And I have the keys of death and Hades. 00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:52.759 You see, when Jesus, the ever living one, died and rose again, he conquers sin and death for all who believe. 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:54.119 And now he holds the keys. 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:57.740 He has the authority over death and hell. 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:12.440 And that means, you see, friends, because Jesus died and rose again, there's no suffering or no death that we might undergo in this life that Jesus himself cannot turn over and will turn over for our ultimate eternal good. 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:15.500 Whether that good comes in this life or in the age to come. 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:22.740 Because Jesus died on the cross taking our worst, our sin, our punishment, our hell. 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:29.279 And because he gave us in his resurrection his righteousness and his life and his reward. 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:38.500 Friend, whatever trial we face here, it cannot possibly be some mistake in God's plan. 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:44.339 God's ultimately going to use them for our good. 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:48.339 And he's going to make us more like Jesus through them. 00:27:49.639 --> 00:27:51.819 Fear not, Jesus says. 00:27:52.399 --> 00:27:54.859 I'm the one who holds the keys to death and hell. 00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:57.979 I died and behold, I'm alive forevermore. 00:27:58.159 --> 00:27:59.579 What do you have to fear? 00:28:00.459 --> 00:28:12.439 If I could take a Roman cross and make it the gateway to eternal life, how could I not take the suffering and trial that you face and make it a pathway for renewal life for you? 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:24.519 The very thing that you fear, the boot of the Roman Empire coming down on your necks is the very thing that I've turned into the means of your and the salvation of the world. 00:28:25.620 --> 00:28:26.660 What have you to fear? 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:37.420 And notice here that Jesus is standing among the lampstands and holding the stars in his hands. 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:41.759 The lampstands, Jesus tells John in verse 20, are the churches. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:45.940 And the stars are the angels of the churches. 00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:49.240 Now, perhaps the angels there are just that. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.220 Angelic beings. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:55.240 A representative part of the heavenly host with a special ministry to the churches. 00:28:55.560 --> 00:29:00.060 Or maybe what angels refers to there are actually human messengers. 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:02.200 The word angel just simply means messenger. 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:07.100 So maybe this is just sort of messengers from the churches that John's going to send a message back to. 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:11.740 But, you know, either way, the big picture is the same, isn't it? 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:17.900 That here is Jesus dwelling in the midst of the churches. 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.660 Present among them. 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.299 Active among them. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:28.840 Friends, Jesus Christ is here even if we don't see him with our physical eyes. 00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:34.379 The living one dwells among his people. 00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:38.699 Dwells among the ones he purchased with his own death. 00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:45.819 Dwells among us to lead and to guide and to teach and to warn and protect and to say, fear not. 00:29:49.879 --> 00:29:52.679 Friends, this is what we need in times of suffering and trial. 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:55.839 We need a fresh vision of the glory of Christ. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:30:00.799 And when we see his person, when we see his beauty and his strength, 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:04.899 friends, we realize that he is our greatest good. 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:08.799 And nothing can take him or his kingdom away from us. 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:13.299 And when we see his work, when we see his death, his resurrection, his reign, 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:18.019 we realize that nothing bad cannot be turned for our good. 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:20.819 And that he's here present with us. 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.000 And we need not fear. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:27.519 Now let me conclude with two applications then. 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:31.079 One for those who aren't Christians and one for those who are. 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:37.440 First, we've been saying tonight that those who believe in Jesus can face trial and suffering 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:41.259 with the utmost endurance because of who Jesus is and because of what he's done. 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:49.379 But friend, don't you see, if you're here tonight and you've not placed your trust in Christ, 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:52.359 then these things are not true of you. 00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:58.619 Without a saving relationship with Christ, the living one, 00:30:59.900 --> 00:31:04.160 suffering actually will steal your best. 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:13.960 Your friends, your possession, your worldly status, your health, even your legacy, 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:16.580 none of those things are immune. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:24.840 And the bad things that happen to you, friend, ultimately they will never turn for your good. 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:31.839 Apart from Christ, your best days will forever be behind you, 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:35.839 slipping further and further away. 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:42.899 And as you head forward, you are destined to face more loss and more fear. 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:57.540 But tonight, the same risen Lord Jesus that John saw on the beaches of Patmos 00:31:57.540 --> 00:32:02.220 is saying to each one of us, come to me. 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:08.120 A little later in the church to lay out at sea, Jesus is going to say, 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:11.280 I'm standing at the door and I'm knocking. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:14.440 Friend, open to him. 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:22.720 And he will come in and he will sit down and he will dine with you as a friend, 00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:24.759 the king of the universe. 00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:29.399 And he'll make you his own and then you'll hear him say to you, 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:34.359 perhaps for the first time in your life, the words fear not. 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:40.039 Turn and trust in Jesus Christ. 00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:46.539 And if you have done that, if you are a Christian, 00:32:46.639 --> 00:32:52.779 then I want to encourage you and me by way of application to seek the means that God's given us 00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:55.960 of renewing our vision of Jesus's glory. 00:32:57.680 --> 00:33:01.960 Of course, you probably won't actually have a vision like John had here and that's okay. 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:07.059 But what are the means that God has given us to make the truth about Jesus more and more real to our hearts? 00:33:07.059 --> 00:33:10.259 Well, first, quickly, we'll just kind of tick through a couple of them. 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:14.399 First, notice that John, even in exile, is worshiping on the Lord's Day. 00:33:16.059 --> 00:33:19.500 Now, when John says the Lord's Day, he's obviously referring to Sunday there. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:24.019 By the way, this is one of the earliest references to Sunday as a special day for Christians 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:27.879 in the historical preserved works that we have. 00:33:27.880 --> 00:33:33.020 The Lord's Day, Sunday, this is when Jesus rose from the dead. 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:35.380 This is the new day of Christian worship. 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:39.460 No longer the seventh day as it was under the old covenant, 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:43.380 but now the first day, the day of new creation, 00:33:44.020 --> 00:33:49.900 the day when the God of Israel inaugurated his worldwide reign in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:56.600 And here is John, worshiping in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. 00:33:57.700 --> 00:34:00.540 You see, friends, what we do on Sundays isn't some rote ritual. 00:34:00.780 --> 00:34:02.940 It's not checking off a list of spiritual to-dos. 00:34:03.280 --> 00:34:07.259 It's gathering in the Spirit of God to set our minds and set our hearts 00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:10.300 upon the one who died and rose again to bring us to God, 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:12.860 to get a renewed vision of the glory of Christ. 00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:19.860 These regular rhythms of gathered worship are essential to keeping and renewing that vision. 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:26.840 And isn't it so easy to drop off when things get hard? 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:30.240 You know, when we encounter conflict or trial or suffering, 00:34:30.240 --> 00:34:34.920 one of the first things to go is we stop gathering with other Christians 00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:40.440 because we're busy or because we're hurt or because we have questions or doubts. 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:46.200 And yet, this is precisely the time when we need it more than ever. 00:34:46.859 --> 00:34:52.179 Even John, in exile, by himself, is taking advantage of the Lord's Day. 00:34:55.339 --> 00:34:57.960 But in addition to that, in addition to gathering on the Lord's Day, 00:34:58.279 --> 00:35:01.939 friends, do we take the time in our times of private prayer, 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:04.539 not just to pray our needs to God, as important as that is, 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:09.799 but do we take the time in our times of private prayer to actually think about God 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:12.019 and to enjoy Him? 00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:19.120 You know, this is another means of keeping our vision of Jesus' glory real, 00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:24.060 to find a truth about God or Christ in our regular reading 00:35:24.060 --> 00:35:26.420 and to pause and to think over it deeply 00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:32.340 and then worship God for it and enjoy God for who He is. 00:35:32.340 --> 00:35:37.019 Just this morning, I read Psalm 21 as my morning devotional. 00:35:37.140 --> 00:35:37.920 And verse 1 reads, 00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:40.220 Oh, Lord, in your strength the king rejoices. 00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:42.420 And then I read the rest of the psalm in about 30 seconds. 00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:45.500 And then I realized I got nothing out of reading this psalm this morning. 00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:46.880 This was a waste of time. 00:35:47.120 --> 00:35:48.539 And then I went back and read the first verse. 00:35:48.820 --> 00:35:51.840 Oh, Lord, in your strength the king rejoices. 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:53.800 Friends, encountering a line like that, 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:57.740 pause and rejoice in God's strength. 00:35:59.260 --> 00:36:03.160 Think and reflect on the way in which God parted the Red Sea 00:36:03.160 --> 00:36:05.880 or the way in which Christ stilled the storm of Galilee, 00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:08.640 the way in which He's worked with strength in your own life. 00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:10.420 This is what it means to meditate on God's Word, 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:12.720 and that's a means that the Holy Spirit's going to use 00:36:12.720 --> 00:36:15.600 to renew your vision of the glory of Christ. 00:36:16.420 --> 00:36:20.079 Your hair's not going to get blown back every single quiet time, 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:22.619 but you're going to be growing in your intimacy 00:36:22.619 --> 00:36:25.179 and your vision of who Jesus is. 00:36:26.920 --> 00:36:28.039 Because I have no hair, 00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:30.400 it doesn't mean my hair has constantly been blown back 00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:31.500 in my quiet times. 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.279 That has not happened. 00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:38.699 Lastly, one more means of keeping our vision of Jesus fresh, 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:41.480 and that means is the Lord's Supper. 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:47.960 You see, Jesus gave us this somewhat simple practice 00:36:47.960 --> 00:36:53.159 in order to keep our minds and our hearts renewed 00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:55.940 in the glory of what He's done for us. 00:36:57.220 --> 00:37:01.380 He's given us these very, very simple and basic things 00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:05.340 that are found in nearly every culture, bread and wine. 00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:07.940 He's given us these simple things 00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:12.940 to take us into the infinite depths of what He's done for us. 00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:17.599 So friends, what we're about to do in a moment, 00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:20.599 this is the time to pause and to pray 00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:22.720 and to confess sins 00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:25.860 and to worship and enjoy Christ 00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:28.559 through these tangible means that He's given us. 00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:34.380 Our passage ends with Jesus telling John and telling us, 00:37:34.639 --> 00:37:38.940 I'm here dwelling in the midst of the lampstands. 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:42.119 I'm present in the churches. 00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:46.920 In a moment, a couple of us are going to hand out 00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:47.900 the bread and the cup. 00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:50.179 But you see, friends, really, 00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:54.760 it's Jesus Himself who offers these things to us, 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:57.019 saying to us, 00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:58.599 remember me 00:37:58.599 --> 00:38:01.760 and eat with me 00:38:01.760 --> 00:38:06.040 and take what I've done down into the depths of you 00:38:06.040 --> 00:38:08.040 and let me, through it, 00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:09.120 comfort you 00:38:09.120 --> 00:38:10.780 and strengthen you 00:38:10.780 --> 00:38:12.040 and change you. 00:38:15.020 --> 00:38:17.200 So let's take a moment right now to pause 00:38:17.200 --> 00:38:19.580 and to prepare our hearts for communion. 00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:28.420 Lord Jesus, we ask that as we gather 00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:31.079 now around your table, 00:38:33.079 --> 00:38:34.559 Lord, that as we take the bread 00:38:34.559 --> 00:38:35.539 and as we take the cup, 00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:38.099 Lord, actions that we've done so many times, 00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:42.099 Lord, that you would make it fresh and real to us, 00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:45.819 that in and through these humble means, 00:38:45.820 --> 00:38:50.160 we would see the magnificence of what you've done, 00:38:51.580 --> 00:38:53.180 taking on flesh 00:38:53.180 --> 00:38:55.820 and having it broken, 00:38:57.240 --> 00:39:00.059 having blood course through your veins 00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:01.720 and then allowing it to be spilled 00:39:01.720 --> 00:39:04.000 for us, 00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:05.640 for us sinners 00:39:05.640 --> 00:39:06.900 and for our sin 00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:09.620 to reconcile us to God, 00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:11.720 to give us peace with God. 00:39:15.820 --> 00:39:17.960 Lord, come by your Holy Spirit 00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:19.600 and renew us, we pray. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.300 Amen. 00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:23.780 Well, Greg, I wonder if you'd help me 00:39:23.780 --> 00:39:25.220 to serve communion tonight. 00:39:25.820 --> 00:39:27.820 And Mary, would you help as well tonight to serve? 00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:28.240 Thanks. 00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:34.039 Well, friends, as we gather to the table, 00:39:34.140 --> 00:39:35.559 let me make just a few comments 00:39:35.559 --> 00:39:37.519 about how we typically do things here at Trinity. 00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:40.059 First, we're going to hand out the bread 00:39:40.059 --> 00:39:42.460 and we're going to sort of hold it 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:43.340 and pray together 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.460 and then we're going to eat it together 00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:45.960 as a sign of our unity 00:39:45.960 --> 00:39:46.860 and we're going to do the same thing 00:39:46.860 --> 00:39:47.760 with the cup after that. 00:39:47.820 --> 00:39:48.599 We're going to take the cup 00:39:48.599 --> 00:39:49.920 and distribute it to one another 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:51.820 and then we're going to partake of the cup together. 00:39:52.940 --> 00:39:54.019 And if you're here tonight 00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:55.380 and if you're a Christian, 00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:56.679 if you've turned from sin 00:39:56.679 --> 00:39:58.300 and placed your trust in Jesus 00:39:58.300 --> 00:39:59.500 and in His righteousness 00:39:59.500 --> 00:40:01.340 as your hope 00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:02.500 and your standing before God, 00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:03.699 then, friend, take the bread 00:40:03.699 --> 00:40:04.579 and take the cup 00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:05.860 in repentance 00:40:05.860 --> 00:40:06.900 and in faith 00:40:06.900 --> 00:40:07.780 and be renewed 00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:08.920 in your relationship with Jesus. 00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:09.599 You're welcome 00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:11.159 to take these things with us 00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:12.539 if you've placed your trust in Jesus. 00:40:13.179 --> 00:40:13.860 If you're here tonight 00:40:13.860 --> 00:40:15.559 and you haven't done that, 00:40:15.900 --> 00:40:17.300 if you're still sort of spiritually 00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:18.320 figuring things out, 00:40:18.360 --> 00:40:19.099 if you're not sure 00:40:19.099 --> 00:40:20.360 where you stand with Christ, 00:40:20.760 --> 00:40:22.200 then instead of taking the bread 00:40:22.200 --> 00:40:22.740 and taking the cup, 00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:23.740 you can just pass them by 00:40:23.740 --> 00:40:25.599 or just sort of make a gesture 00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:28.260 and we'll pass them along, friend. 00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:29.260 But I'd encourage you 00:40:29.260 --> 00:40:30.380 to use this time 00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:32.800 to come to terms 00:40:32.800 --> 00:40:35.140 with who Jesus Christ is 00:40:35.140 --> 00:40:36.940 and what it would mean for you 00:40:36.940 --> 00:40:38.960 to step over the line 00:40:38.960 --> 00:40:41.019 and to start a relationship with Him. 00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:43.860 We don't get many times 00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:45.000 in our busy world 00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:46.079 to just stop.