Reminder

Next week (August 19th), we will all be meeting in the Sanctuary for a Sunday School Rally.

See you there!!

Rev. 1:1-10

We reviewed Rev. 1:1-3

Verses 4-6 show the Source of Revelation to John

7 is the number of perfection: 7 churches symbolize perfection: 

7 Spirits show the perfect Holy Spirit: this message is from the Trinity; it is complete.

V.5 addresses three titles: "Faithful Witness" (ref. Rev. 3:1); "First Begotten of the Dead" (Superiority, also found in Col. 1:18); "Prince of the Kings of the Earth" John 18:37.

Notice the last part of v. 5 is written in the past tense; see John 3:16.

"Washed" is the Greek word for released.

Verse 6 shows the purpose of believers: we are to be kings and priests.

We are royal priesthood. I Peter 2:9

Verses 7-8 are the message of His coming

("Behold" tells us to LOOK!)

Other related verses: Matt. 24:30 ; Luke 21:27 ; I Thes. 4:17 ; Acts 1:9-11 ; Zech. 12:10-11

Verse 8 states that He is the Alpha and Omega.

Verses 9 and 10 show that John described himself as a brother and companion in tribulation. He was stuck on an island for sharing his faith; why is it so difficult for us to share our faith when we are free to do so?

Verse 10 shows that he was In the Spirit on the Lord's Day; he was allowed to see the events of the future and told to write them down in a Book.

Some Things Change, Some Things Stay the Same...

                                                 ( picture swiped from Facebook)
We are so grateful to Jimmy Willis for stepping up to become our new Teacher! (What a brave soul you are!!)  We will dearly miss Jim and Lori Eller, but also know that we are in good hands (sorry Jimmy, if that sounds like a commercial for AllState...)

As per Pastor, our 'fresh start' will begin with a Sunday School rally in two weeks; following that, all Sunday School classes will be addressing the same topics to unify our Bible studies.

Today we discussed His Power and Who He Is

Rev. 1:1-3
Revelation was written to give us hope as Believers (and as a warning for the unsaved). John was given the message by an angel.

In verse 3, there are three types of people mentioned:  he who reads, those who hear the words of prophecy, and those who keep those things which are written.

How close are we to the events written in Revelation?  "the time is near" 


He is waiting on more people to be saved.  II Peter 3:9


God's time is not our time.  Psalm 94


No one knows what hour; the last days will be as the days of Noah; be ready for the Son of Man to come back in a day and hour we do not expect.  Matt. 24:36-44


Jesus told us to watch and be ready!!
Will YOU be ready?!?


Blessed is the servant whose Master finds him serving when He returns...
 

Our Position in Jesus Christ

Special thanks to Lance Harrington for preparing and delivering the message for today!

Col. 3:1-2
Paul is in prison as he writes to the Church, challenging them through their difficulties. (He had never even visited there.)  No matter where he was, he lived out the Will of God.  He encouraged others instead of being discouraged by his own circumstances.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit knew Their positions in the Trinity.
Psalm 110:1;  II Sam. 7:12;  Luke 22:69  

The verb in Col. 3:1 means "co-resurrected".

We forget our position when we fail to feed the Spirit.  As Believers, we sometimes lean on our own understanding, walk by sight instead of faith, fail to pay attention to consciously include God, allow pride to stand in our way, etc.

"Seek those things which are above..." (His glory, His will, His power, patience, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, etc. :  eternal things)

Sometimes we live in sin because we take God's grace for granted.

Sin does not have power over us; our position in Christ leads us to righteousness.

When we take a stand then "play out of position", people notice.  When we stumble and fall, we should repent, apologize, take responsibility, then be accountable, transparent, and humble.

Paul wrote from prison  to remind and encourage the Church of its position in Christ, and to set its sights on eternal things instead of temporary things.

"Let Him speak in and through you..."  Luke 22

Ruth

"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."  I Tim. 5:8

Ruth's family stood in contrast to the other families of the time.

Ruth sacrificed to stay with the family.

Ruth eventually became the Great-Grandmother of King David.

Guarantees that God gives to us: Love

Thanks to Ken Idleman for today's lesson!

I John 4:16

There are many kinds of love: friends, family, sexual, unconditional ("Agape")

"Others will catch a glimpse of God through you."

Guarantees:

*He chose us.  John 15:16

     If we do God's work, He promises to equip us with what we need.

*He loved us first.  John 4:8-10

     His love cannot be earned or increased.

Rejoicing in Heaven