October 10, 2014

HAVE YOU DELIVERED "THE MESSAGE" GOD HAS GIVEN YOU LATELY?

Revelation 1:9–20

Rick Howard
Friday's Devo

October 10, 2014

Friday's Devo

October 10, 2014

Central Truth

We all have a message to deliver if we follow Christ. John's message, given directly to him by Christ, was to record everything he saw past, present, and even what was to come in the future. In the same way, we, as Christ followers, are to share in our "world" the message of His death, resurrection, and love for all mankind.

Key Verse | Revelation 1:19

"Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this." (Revelation 1:19)

Revelation 1:9–20

Vision of the Son of Man

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “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.”

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 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. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Dive Deeper | Revelation 1:9–20

When I was assigned a passage in the Book of Revelation, my first thought was, "Oh, no." I figured I'd have a deep theological passage that only a seminary graduate could understand, interpret, and make applicable to today. To my surprise, this passage did not fit that description at all. I say that because what God is doing in this passage is laying the foundation for the message He is planning to reveal to John in the rest of this book.

Christ begins by making sure John knows just who is talking to him. Jesus shows Himself and refers to Himself in ways that would clearly reveal to John that he is again in the presence of Jesus Christ. Remember, John was the "disciple that Jesus loved" who traveled with Christ for three years. He knew Christ intimately, and John was so awed by the vision and voice that he fell at Christ's feet "as though dead" (verse 17). Christ's response to John's act of worship was a classic God line, "Do not be afraid" (verse 17, NASB). Upon hearing those words, John would have had no doubt that this was Christ he was seeing and hearing, and you can be sure he listened up after that.

In the same way, Christ has revealed Himself to me. Through the Holy Spirit, however, not a personal appearance. Although I know God's plan is for me to be His messenger, I fail in that task more often than not. You see, Jesus revealed Himself to me many years ago when I accepted Him as my savior. That is the past part of my message -- "what was seen." Today, I see God at work in my life and the lives of other believers around me. I see and hear stories every day of folks who were addicted to the best the world could offer in success, happiness, and fulfillment and who now find life in a relationship with Christ. That is the "what is now" part of my message. Finally, I also know what the future holds absent a relationship with Christ. "What will take place later" is a return to old patterns and behaviors and, at some point, eternal separation from God.

Discussion Questions

1. What is your story of past, present, and future to share with the world God has placed around you?

2. If you are a Christ follower, are you sharing the message He has given you as He commanded us?

3. Give examples of how you are living life as if you really believe that the Book of Revelation is true and that it was recorded by John from Christ and will be fulfilled someday.