Sermon (notes) for Sunday’s Sermon –November 16, 2008

Sermon Helps for November 16, 2008

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Title: “Worthy is the Lamb”

Introduction: This is our last sermon in our series, “Who Is Jesus?” The statement that we finish with says this: “Jesus said that all authority as related to humans and our planet has been given to him from the Father.” Revelation 5 is a look at the honor given to Jesus at the Throne Room in Heaven.

1. Can I See God the Father?

A. God says No – not face to face. We hear him say this to Moses

in Exodus 33:19.

B. Two Scriptures in the Book of John say this as well.

(John 1:18 and John 5:37)

C. The Apostle Paul also says we can’t see the Father.

(I Timothy 1:17 and I Timothy 6:16)

2. We Look at Jesus to see the Father

A. Philip wants to see the Father. (John 14:8)

B. Jesus answers in John 14:9-11

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!”

C. God the Father has given Jesus all authority over earth and

mankind. Read John 17:1-2.

3. A Look in Revelation at the Throne Room of Heaven

A. God the Father sits on the Throne – Revelation 4

B. Worthy is the Lamb (Jesus) – Revelation 5

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and

wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and

praise.!” Revelation 5:12

Conclusion:

“When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide,

When the bright and glorious morning I shall see,

I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,

And His smile will be the first to welcome me.” (Fanny Crosby)

Revelation 5:1-14

(New International Version)

¹Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. ²And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." ⁶Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. ¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." ¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹²In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" ¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" ¹⁴The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Excerpt from the sermon on November 6, 2008

Jesus Manhandled Death!

I like the roughness of this word – manhandled. I like the momentum that the word carries with it as we see Jesus being placed in that tomb. He was certainly treated bad by the Roman soldiers. He was mocked and whipped and they stuck a crown of thorns on his head. They beat him and slapped him and spit on him. The method of death was cruel. Dying on a Cross was the worst kind of indignity that could be given at the moment of death. And so I use this word to show the emotion of God. Jesus manhandled death.

When he died there was an earthquake. I have always seen it as expressing the emotion of God the Father to the death of His Son. The curtain at the Holy of Holies at the Temple was torn in two. The sun was covered making the whole region overcast and dark. And then on the 3^rd day God sent an angel to roll the stone away. It was not a gentle hidden act. It was a dynamic intrusion by God into the earth’s atmosphere. The account in Matthew says the angel’s appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were shocked and afraid and shook like dead men. They fled.

The word manhandled means to handle roughly. Other words to attach to the word are words like clobber/attack/bash/batter/drub.

I can only imagine what it looked like from the other side – where Satan lives and rules. I can only imagine the horror that the demons felt as the Son of God exploded out of that grave.

I know what it feels like at a tomb. I know the emotions that hang around a funeral - Helplessness/Sadness/Despair. There is nothing that can be done.

Jesus changed that emotion at his death. He did do something. God manhandled death. Jesus walked out of that tomb – Alive. Like a lightning bolt that crashed into a mighty oak tree and shatters it to oblivion Jesus exploded out of that tomb.

Remember our verse we put on the screen early in the sermon?

“God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing him from the agony of

death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

Acts 2:24.

I tingle with hope and excitement. It thrills my soul to know that Jesus defeated death. He took the sting away.

How does Jesus take the sting away? When I come and bow before Jesus as my Lord and Savior he touches my soul. His Spirit comes upon me. I am given eternal life. When I come to my death and my body is committed to the grave there is Jesus. He will not let me die eternally. He takes my spirit to himself. I am given eternal life in Heaven.

Paul has an eloquent expression of how Jesus took the sting of death away.

(Power Point) “…O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Corinthians 15:55-57

Sermon Helps for November 2, 2008

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Title: “Your Sins Are Forgiven”

Introduction: We have come to our 9^th statement on our list of 11 as we look at “Who Is Jesus?”. Here is the statement for this morning.

Jesus died for our sins. Our sins keep us away from God and His

perfect Holy Presence. Our sins keep us from Heaven. Jesus is the

remedy for our sins. By bowing before Him he will forgive us of our

sins.

1. Dirty and Sinful

A. We are Dirty by Genetics

Read Romans 3:23

B. We are Dirty by Choice

I John 1:8-10

2. Getting Washed Clean

Jesus literally died on the Cross for our sins. His blood became the

symbol of the soap needed to get down into our dirty souls. To come to

Jesus is to have him wash us clean of our sins.

Read the following verses that all talk about the Blood of Jesus that

washes us clean: Romans 5:9//Hebrews 9:14//I Peter 1:18-19//

I John 1:7//Revelation 1:5.

3. Your Sins are Forgiven

A look at Luke 7:36-50 finds a sinful woman coming to Jesus for his

forgiveness. It is important to understand that Jesus has the ability to

forgive sin and he did forgive her. We also need forgiveness.

The Bible says this in I John 1:8-10: “If we claim we have no sin, we

are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess

our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to

cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are

calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”

Conclusion: Will you bow before Jesus and let him wash you clean?

Luke 7:36-50

(New International Version)

³⁶Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. ³⁷When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, ³⁸and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. ³⁹When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." ⁴⁰Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."   "Tell me, teacher," he said.

⁴¹"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred pieces of silver, and the other fifty. ⁴²Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" ⁴³Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."   "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

⁴⁴Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." ⁴⁹The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" ⁵⁰Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Sermon Helps for October 26, 2008

Scripture: John 10:22-42

Title: “Jesus’ Miracles Speak For Him”

Introduction: “Who is Jesus?” is the title of the series of sermons we are going through. Today we come to #8 on the list of eleven answers to this question. When a person begins to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ that he is the Son of God what proofs can be found to affirm that he is telling the truth? “Jesus did what only God could do. He walked on water. He commanded nature to obey him. He forgave people of their sins. He commanded demons to leave people. He brought back some people from the dead.”

1. The Setting of John 10:22-42

Jesus is at the Temple in Jerusalem. This is the location that King

Solomon had built a magnificent structure where God’s Glory had

shone bright. Years later the Babylonians had destroyed it. At the time

of Christ Herod had rebuilt it. Jesus loved to come to the Temple.

2. The Question: “Are you the Christ, the Messiah?”

Jesus doesn’t shy away from saying that he is the Christ. Here is a

paraphrase of what Jesus said in John 10:25. “I told you I was. I have

said it often. I am the Christ, the Messiah. How many times do I have

to say it!”

3. How can Jesus prove that he is God’s Son?

One way he proves he is God’s Son is through the miracles he does.

Miracles alone are not the reason we should worship Jesus. But in the

accumulation of helpful reasons to believe in Jesus as God’s Son they

are important credentials to help us know that Jesus is telling the truth

about himself. Look at John 5:36 and John 7:31 and John 20:30-31 and

Matthew 11:4.

Conclusion: As we look at Jesus perform miracles and do amazing healings and command nature to obey him it helps us to affirm our belief in him as the Son of God. “Will you join me in worshiping Jesus as God’s Son who has come from Heaven to tell us the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

John 10:22-42

(New International Version)

²²Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. ²⁴The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." ²⁵Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, ²⁶but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ²⁷My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. ³⁰I and the Father are one." ³¹Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, ³²but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" ³³"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God." ³⁴Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? ³⁵If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken— ³⁶what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? ³⁷Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. ³⁸But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." ³⁹Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

⁴⁰Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed ⁴¹and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." ⁴²And in that place many believed in Jesus.

A poem by Joseph Bayley

Lord Jesus Christ

I thank you

that you were real

A real man

and before that

a real boy.

It hurt

when you were planing wood

And you got a splinter

under your nail

You felt it

When a stone got stuck

in your sandal

You had to shake it out

Your removed the sand

From between your toes

And slept on hard ground

On cold nights

dreaming of foxes

With their warm holes

you got thirsty

hungry

Tired

Bone tired

tired of crowds

Tired because you walked

too far

You died

Lord Jesus Christ

thank you

That you were real

real God

You healed people’s hurts

even raised their dead.

You said

Come to me

if you’re tired

And I will give you rest

You fed hungry crowds

And said

I am living bread

that came down from heaven.

You rose from deadness

into life bringing life.

Lord Jesus Christ

I thank you

that you are real

Real God Man

I worship you

I adore you

Because you who bore

my sins

Know what it’s like

to have a splinter

Under your nail

and to die.

Sermon Helps for October 19, 2008

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52

Title: “Jesus and His Father”

Introduction: I want to start with the word – Riveted. It means to attract and hold completely. This is the word that I want to apply to us and Jesus Christ. Jesus came from Heaven in order to bring us back to a relationship with our Creator God. When we worship Jesus we become riveted to God. This morning I proceed to two more descriptions of Jesus. We are up to the 5^th and 6^th descriptions of Jesus Christ on our 11 point list.

1. Jesus was not born of a human father

A. Joseph was not his birth father.

“How could it be?/This baby in my arms/Sleeping now

so peacefully/The Son of God the angel said/How

could this be? Lord, I know he’s not my own/Not of

my flesh, not of my bones/Still Father let this baby

be/the son of my love”

(Written by Michael W. Smith, “Joseph’s Song”)

B. God was the Father (See Matthew 3:17)

C. Jesus talks about his Father in Luke 2:41-52.

“Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?”

The house he is referring to is the Temple in Jerusalem

2. If you want to worship God the Father you must

worship the Son, Jesus. first.

Jesus says in John 14:6 that he is the way, the truth and the

life. No one can come to the Father except through him.”

A. The Bible clearly explains the distance/barrier between us

and Him. See Romans 3:10.

B. Normal relationships work this way in our lives.

Conclusion: Jesus is the One who provides me access to the Kingdom of God. I bow before Him. And in bowing before Jesus in worship I suddenly find myself in the presence of God.

Luke 2:41-52

(New International Version)

⁴¹Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. ⁴³After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

⁴⁹"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" ⁵⁰But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁵¹Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Sermon Helps for October 12, 2008

Scripture: John 3:22-36

Title: “Jesus Gives Eternal Life”

Introduction: We are going through the list of 11 items that define who Jesus is. Last week we highlighted three things. 1. Jesus said he was the Son of God. 2. He said he came from Heaven to speak the Word of God to us on earth. When he speaks he is God speaking. 3. Jesus allowed people to worship him. Today we add one more to the list. Jesus gives eternal life.

1. What is Eternal Life?

In one sense everyone has eternal life because we die but our

spirit goes on into the next life. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reflects this

thought. But in the New Testament God clarifies what he means

when he uses this phrase. Eternal life = living in Heaven with

God.

2. John the Baptist talks about Eternal Life - John 3:22-36

He is not the Christ, the Messiah. He gives witness that Jesus is

the Son of God. Be sure to notice verse 36. “Whoever believes

in the Son has eternal life…”

3. Jesus talks about Eternal Life

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal

life.” John 3:16

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and

believes him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up on

the last day.” John 6:40

4. How do I get my Ticket?

You get it from Jesus. “This is what God has testified. He has

given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the

Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life.”

I John 5:11-12

Conclusion: I want a legitimate ticket that allows me entrance to Heaven. Jesus is that ticket. Jesus is my Savior. I go to Him for my ticket!

John 3:22-36

(New International Version)

²²After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. ²³Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. ²⁴(This was before John was put in prison.) ²⁵An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. ²⁶They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

²⁷To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. ²⁸You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' ²⁹The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. ³⁰He must become greater; I must become less.

³¹"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. ³²He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. ³³The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. ³⁵The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. ³⁶Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

Sermon Helps for October 5, 2008

Scripture: Mark 1:21-39

Title: “The Holy One of God”

Introduction: Last week I included in the sermon notes a sheet of paper with the heading, “Who Is Jesus?”. I listed 11 things Jesus said about himself. I return to that list and will, for a few sermons, go back through each item. It is always helpful to study and listen to what Jesus said about himself. The end result is worship. We Christians have bowed before Jesus and accepted his offer of salvation.

1. Jesus said he was the Son of God

A. Where in the Bible does it say that Jesus is the Son of God?

i.) The Angel says this to Mary in Luke 1:35.

ii.) God the Father said it when Jesus came from the water after