August 23, 2015

Sunday School
Revelation 4 & 5
(References - Kay Arthur, Google, Discover Revelation, Inter Varsity Press)

• After John hears about the seven churches, he looks up into the sky and sees a door standing open in heaven.
• John hears a voice saying, "Come up here," & he is immediately "in the spirit"
• He then sees a throne and the One who sat on the throne. John begins to describe what he sees. 
• He that sits on the throne was like jasper (crystal/diamond) and sardine (ruby for purity).
• There was a rainbow round about the throne like emerald ( God's enduring or everlasting qualities)
• There were twenty four seats and on those seats were twenty four elders wearing white raiment and crowns of gold.
• In 1 Chronicles 24:1-19 read how David divided the services of the priests into twenty four divisions; the twenty four elders represented the six thousand saints times twenty four equals the one hundred forty-four thousand.
• John, "the faithful witness," is awed by what he is viewing & hearing.
• Out of the throne proceeded lightenings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Revelation 4:5
• The seven lamps are a symbolic number covering all the workings of the Spirit of God.
• Four Beasts or living Creatures were around the throne with eyes (symbolizing wisdom) all over their bodies.
• One was like a lion (symbolizing strength) One like a calf (symbolizing service) One like a man (symbolizing intelligence) & One like an eagle (symbolizing swiftness).
• Each had wings depicting movement. They all worshiped God saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and Who is and Who is still to come!" Revelation 4:8
• Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
• An angel says in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?" Revelation 5:2
• When no one responded, John began to weep bitterly. An elder said to him, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus He can open the scroll and its seven seals." Revelation 5:5
• When John looked up, he saw a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. Revelation 5:6
• We see that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David and the Lamb as it had been slain are all the same...... Jesus!
• The Seven Spirits of God are the seven characteristics of the Holy Spirit. They are the eternal part of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of the Lord; The Spirit of wisdom; The Spirit of understanding; The Spirit of counsel; The Spirit of power; The Spirit of Knowledge; The Spirit of the fear of the Lord. These seven spirits of God were sent into the earth as spiritual gifts to aid Christians.
• Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 to get a better understanding.

Sermon

James 5:1-8   v1-Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. v2-Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. v3-Your gold and sliver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. If will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! v4-Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. v5-You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. v6-You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you. v7-So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. v8-You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord's return is near.

Subject: "Don't Give Up On God"

• God is not condemning riches but the spiritual wickedness.
• In this day and time there is still spiritual wickedness where we want what we want and will go about getting it by any means necessary.
• Satan is the author of deception and confusion.
• We Christians need to be steadfast in our faith.
• God is in control and He will have the "last" word.
• For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
• We imagine that God will say, "ENOUGH!" Enough sin, suffering, pain, sadness, crying, worrying, etc.
• Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost.
• He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more - or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist." And the One seated on the throne said: "Look! I am making all things new!"  Revelation 21:4-5
• God wants good fruit, that's why we as Christians need discing and pruning at times to cultivate good fruit.
• When Jesus returns, we will understand all.
• Christ is the only foundation. 
• For God I live and for God I die.
• We are to be patient, faithful, obedient and not be tempted by the world. For Jesus is coming again!