Sermon Notes: 9/25 – Joy & Hope for Christ

Joy & Hope For Christ – by Topher Wiles

09/25/2022 – Central Church of Christ

  • Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:1-6
  • INTRO: The Tennessee Vols football program is now 4-0 on the season after beating the Florida Gators 38-33 yesterday! Honk if you’re excited for the Vols! 

It all began with Philippians 1:3 and ends with Philippians 4:18 which say,

Php 1:3  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you”

“Php 4:18  I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

Eph 5:20 always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Read Matthew 25:31-40. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no-one can boast.

Php 4:19  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

  • Heb 6:10 “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
  • Luke 6:35“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High…”
  • Pr 19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
  • Mt 25:40 “The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Php 4:14  Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 

Php 4:16  Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 

Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” 
 

 


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Outdoor Service

Central News: This Sunday 9/25 we will host our annual parking lot drive-in worship service at 10am. With this Sunday as his last sermon as minister of Central Church of Christ, Topher Wiles finishes his 5 year commitment of service. Join us for outdoor worship of Jesus & be a part of honoring God along with the Wiles family in their farewell service. A pot-luck lunch meal open to all will be held in the annex following the AM worship service.

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Sermon Notes: 9/18 – Heaven is Enough

 
• WELCOME: to Central Church of Christ, not a place, but a people called out to show God’s love, tell God’s story, and be God’s family. There is part of a song in the Old Testament – Psalm 119 that points us to a very desperate and needed truth in our faith! – Verses 174-176.
174 I long for your salvation, O LORD,
and your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.

“There is no humor in heaven.” And he said he preferred “Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.”(Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven) 

 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. – Revelation 21:1

 

Revelation 4:2-3 “The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were SINGING A NEW SONG before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders…”

 I Corinthians 15:51-53 says “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

The story’s told of a missionary work amongst the Chol Indians in Southern Mexico. The work lasted for years but it ultimately resulted in a thriving church of 12,000 believers. What’s interesting is that when the missionaries came, the Chol Indians didn’t know how to sing. But when they fell in love with Jesus, the believers in the tribe became known as “the singers”.       

One of the missionaries noted:

“They love to sing now, because they have something to sing about.”

(“Psalms of the Heart,” George Sweeting)
https://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/singers/

 

Here’s a song in Daniel “… there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was LED INTO HIS PRESENCE. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an EVERLASTING DOMINION that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” – Daniel 7:13-14

 

“a NEW heaven and a NEW earth” Revelation 21:1

‘Behold, I am making ALL THINGS NEW…’” Revelation 21:5

“The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,… etc. etc.”   Rev 21:18-19                                

 

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

2 Samuel 12:8 “if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!.”

 

Revelation 21:3-4 

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

 

“No dust, nor rust, no rats, no rot,

No raucous rock, no potent pot.

All tell the truth, state only facts,

No wars, no debts, no income tax.

No growing old with weakened sight,

No dentures slipping when you bite,

No bombs, no guns, no courts, no jails,

Where all succeed and no one fails.

According to this dream of mine

In Heaven no one stands in line.

And there are only smiling faces

And lots and lots of parking places.”

(Humorist Richard Armour)

1 Thessalonians 4:16 “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven WITH A SHOUT…”

 

“Enough suffering.

Enough starvation.

Enough terror.

 Enough death.

Enough indignity.

Enough lives trapped in hopelessness.

Enough sickness and disease.

Enough time.

Enough!”

(A missionary named Gregory Fisher quoted in a sermon on sermoncentral.com)

 

I long for your salvation, O Lord,

    and your law is my delight. – Psalm 119:174

 

 

CLOSE: Revelation 22:1-2 tells of the Eternal River of Life.

 

“Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.”

 

This natural spring in Blackville, South Carolina has the unusual distinction of being legally owned by God. The spring was known for its healing powers by Native Americans, and news of its magical abilities spread when six badly wounded Revolutionary War soldiers made stunning recoveries after drinking and bathing in it.  The land was purchased by Lute Boyston who believed the spring should be free for all and in 1944 he deeded the spring and surrounding acres to “Almighty God, for the use of the sick and afflicted.”
https://www.guideposts.org/better-living/travel/7-of-the-worlds-amazing-healing-waters

 

INVITATION Song: Have you Been to Jesus – 904

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?


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Jim Cantrell Baptism

We praise God that Jim Cantrell was baptized into Christ this morning at the Central church building! We are also grateful that Earlayne expressed a desire to recommit her life to Christ today. We thank God for those who share faith in Christ Jesus!
 
Make sure to give them a hug when you next see them!

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Sermon Notes 9/11 – Rev 20 – Judgment

The Judgment Seat

Daniel 7:13-14 “… there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was LED INTO HIS PRESENCE. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an EVERLASTING DOMINION that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Colossians 1:13  “(God) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the KINGDOM of his beloved Son.” 

II Peter 3:9-12  “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

  But THE DAY OF THE LORD will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!”

 

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy is the one who SHARES IN THE FIRST RESURRECTION! Over such THE SECOND DEATH HAS NO POWER, but they will be PRIESTS OF GOD and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”

 

Revelation 20:11-12 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

 

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened. AND ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED, which is the book of life.”

: “And whosoever was NOT FOUND written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15

Revelation 21:27 tells us “But nothing unclean will ever enter (heaven), nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

 

In Acts 16 a Philippian Jailer asked Paul and Silas “What must I do to be saved?”

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” Acts 16:31

But this jailer didn’t know what to believe about Jesus… so for the next hour or so they taught he and his family what they should believe about Jesus. And “he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.” Acts 16:33

Once this jailer and his family knew what to believe they baptized the jailer and his family into Christ that very hour. It would have been a little after midnight.

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

 

The Bible is very clear on how we should respond to God’s free gift of salvation.

  • Believe in the Lord Jesus (Acts 16:31)
  • Repent of our sins (Acts 3:19)
  • Confess Jesus as our Lord and Owner (Romans 10:9-10)
  • Be buried in the waters of baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38)
  • Life for Christ (Mark 13:13)

 


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Sermon Notes 8-28: Revelation 12 Dragons

Crazy Predictions – http://frankdimora.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83534afe169e20134854dac9b970c-pi

  • Whisenant, Edgar C. (1988). 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988.Predicted that the Rapture would occur in 1988.
  • Whisenant, Edgar C. (1989). The final shout: Rapture report 1989.Predicted that the Rapture would occur in 1989.
  • Whisenant, Edgar C. (1993). 23 reasons why a pre-tribulation rapture looks like it will occur on Rosh-Hashanah 1993.Predicted that the Rapture would occur in 1993.
  • Whisenant, Edgar C. (1994). And now the earth’s destruction by fire, nuclear bomb fire.Prediction for 1994.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_C._Whisenant

Jesus said “about that day or hour (of His return) no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36

https://earthsky.org/human-world/biblical-signs-in-the-sky-september-23-2017/

“I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“NOW the salvation

and the power

and the kingdom of our God

and the authority of his Christ HAVE COME,

for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down…”     Revelation 12:10

 

 “… now is the time of God’s favor, NOW is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

“… you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation…” Ephesians 1:13

Romans 1:16 says: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the POWER of God for the SALVATION of everyone who believes…”

Colossians 1:13 tells us that God “… has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the KINGDOM of the Son he loves”

1 Corinthians 4:20 “… the KINGDOM of God is not a matter of talk but of POWER.”

Ephesians 1:19-22 That power (that God has given us) is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, FAR ABOVE all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God PLACED ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET….”

Revelation 12:1-2

“a great SIGN appeared in heaven: a WOMAN clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.”

She gives “… birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. Revelation 12:5

   Revelation 12:17 “… the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring— those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

Galatians 4:22-26 “it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman (Hagar) and one by a free woman (Sarah). But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

 

Revelation 12:9 “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan”

“… “the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.” Revelation 12:4

Hebrews 2:14 says: “through death (Jesus destroyed) the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil”

Revelation 12:7-9 tells us “there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down— that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

   1 Peter 5:8 says it this way: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

 

Revelation 12:11 says “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”

https://www.southernstandard.com/sports/another-heartbreaker/

 


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River Jean Webb born today

We are excited to share that Aaron & Ashley Webb have a wonderful baby girl! River Jean Webb was born at 3lbs 10oz and 16 3/4″ long! River & Ashley are both healthy. Thank you for praying!
 
We will upload a picture later when we receive one.  Praise God!

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Sermon Notes: 8/21 – God’s Army in Revelation

OPEN: Years ago, there was a TV show called Kojak. It starred Telly Savalas as a lollipop-sucking detective who always went around saying, “Who loves ya, Baby?”

Welcome: Over the last few weeks we’ve been looking deeper into the “Last Chapter, or Last Battle” as some like CS Lewis call it in the Bible.   This week we look for Hope in Revelation Ch 8.

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

The Bible tells me so”

  • He “… loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” Revelation 1:5
  • He has “… made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father…” Revelation 1:6
  • He has given us robes made “… white in the blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14
  • ”… he’ll guide (us) to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from (our) eyes.” Revelation 7:17
  • We will conquer Satan “… by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of (our) testimony….” Revelation 12:11
  • We have “his name… written on (our) foreheads…” Revelation 14:1
  • And we sing “… a new song before the throne…” Revelation 14:3

 

I came across this chart dealing with a powerful prophecy from Daniel 9.

https://www.rockofages.org.sg/pastoral-reflections/2020/3/11/daniels-seventy-weeks-prophecy

The prophecy is called the “70 weeks prophecy”  – I don’t quite buy it.  
 
… crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”- Rev 7:10

 

Revelation 7:4b-8 – “I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,

12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,

12,000 from the tribe of Gad,

12,000 from the tribe of Asher,

12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,

12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,

12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,

12,000 from the tribe of Levi,

12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,

12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,

12,000 from the tribe of JOSEPH,

12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.”

 

“… he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart…” Romans 2:28-29

“But now IN Christ Jesus you who ONCE were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”  Ephesians 2:13

 

Back in 325 A.D. the church held a conference in the city of Nicea. We’re told that there were 318 delegates who attended. Of those 318 delegates, “fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.” Vance Havner.
https://books.google.com/books/about/Scars.html?id=eM0LvgAACAAJ
https://www.equip.org/articles/what-really-happened-at-nicea/

 

C.S. Lewis once said: “As you perhaps know, I haven’t always been a Christian. I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”

https://www.lewisquotes.com/quotations/happiness/happiness-and-religion.html

 

Ephesians 2:1-5 tells you and I “… you (and I) were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

 

Revelation 19:11-13 “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.”

 

II Corinthians 10:3-4 “… though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…”

Revelation 8:1-5  “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

  “Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.”

 


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Sermon Notes 8/7 Last Chapter 3

Worthy is the Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14

It’s time to Re-Think Jesus in a Biblical Way.

 

WELCOME: To Central Church of Christ, not a building, but a people called out to Show God’s Love, Tell God’s Story, and Be God’s Family. We’re in week 3 of our sermon series inspired by C.S. Lewis’ book, “The Last Battle” in which the great Lion takes care of Creation once and for all.  Last week we asked the question, Why was a Worship setting thrown right there in between letters to 7 churches and the great battle. 

Rev 21:4 – He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. – Rev 5:3-4

           

There was a song in 2001 by country artist Tim McGraw that reached Billboard Top Hits #1.  When was the last time you heard a song hit the #1 most popular in the world.  The song repeats the chorus of “I don’t know why they say Grown Men don’t Cry.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQjp5s6DJlw

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4682475/Tim+McGraw/Grown+Men+Don%27t+Cry

 

 “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5

https://www.google.com/search?q=lion+jesus&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS760US760&sxsrf=ALiCzsayjJoNI7__Tzgh-k5bS72hw0P-TA:1659871736688&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPnPOJ0LT5AhXpj2oFHS5LDqYQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1920&bih=969&dpr=1

“… between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6

Caricature of Will Smith on screen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyJIz-goLto

John 1:29 John the Baptist “…saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the LAMB of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Isaiah 53:7  “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a LAMB before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth.”

  • Rev 7:10 “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
  • Rev 7:17 “… the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd…
  • Rev 12:11 “… (Christians) have conquered (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb…”
  • Rev 19:7 “…the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready”
  • Rev 21:27 tells us that the only ones who will enter heaven will be “… those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

 

This Lamb Is All About Who Jesus Is.

He is the Lamb of God who was slain for our sins.

He is God in the flesh.

He is ALL POWERFUL.

And He is ALL SEEING.

 

    “WORTHY are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation…

  Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “WORTHY is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

  And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”    Revelation 5:9-13

 e “… they have conquered (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelation 12:11

 

“But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b

 

“You will conquer (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of (your) testimony, for (you have) loved not (your) lives even unto death.” Revelation 12:11

  I want to close with a story about a young man named Keaton Jones who lives two hours away, just north of Knoxville. (2017)
https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-stand-with-keaton-jones-boy-who-spoke-against-bullying-19959371

 

Keaton was the object of bullies in school, so much so that he quit going to lunch because some kids kept pouring milk on him day after day. When his mom filmed his response to it one day and posted it on Facebook, two NFL Tennessee Titan Linemen (Titans tight end Delanie Walker, tackle Taylor Lewan)  and the Quarterback for the UT Vols (Jarrett Guarantano) contacted him.

Walker, Lewan, & Guarantano all met with Keaton Jones & his family, giving their personal cell phone numbers if he ever needed them.  Wow, could you imagine? 


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Sermon Notes 7/31 – The Last Battle – Rev 4

Here’s a quick reminder that we are looking for ideas, leaders, co-leaders, and hosts for growth groups. Please fill out the survey here: https://forms.gle/nCAkzsUJSdazMX5fA

OPEN:  21 years ago, many of you remember what you were doing.  You had plans for the day, you went to school, you went to work, I was in my 4th year at Lipscomb about to go to morning chapel. But for most of us, our plans were shattered in a moment’s time… along with the plans of millions of Americans across the nation.
https://www.newsweek.com/new-yorkers-and-tourists-remember-their-where-they-were-september-11-2001-269997

“But courage, child: we are all between the paws of the true Aslan.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle

 
  • “Revelation 21:4 – He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

 

REVELATION 4 – READ IT:

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings[a] and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

    who was and is and is to come!”

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

    to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

    and by your will they existed and were created.”

 

ILLUS: For example, how many of you have heard of the mark of the Beast? (“666” described in Rev. chapter 13)  https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-10-04-0610040047-story.html

1 John 4:4 “You are of God,… and have overcome… because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

 

Jesus taught us: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

 

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

 

ILLUS: In 1637, a German named Martin Reinkardht wrote a powerful hymn that has been sung in churches for over 400 years.  Let me read a couple of the verses for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKNM5KD9__Q

 

“Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices

Who wondrous things has done, in whom His world rejoices

Who, from our mother’s arms has blest us on our way

With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given

The Son, and Him who reigns with them in highest heaven

The one eternal God whom earth and heav’n adore

For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”

https://talkofjesus.com/nun-danket-alle-gott/

 

Note the words of that last verse:

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given…

The one eternal God whom earth and heav’n adore

For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”

 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

 


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