Revelation 21:22-22:5 Dealing with Sin
Posted by myoikos in #2019, #heaven, #holyspirit, #kingdomofheaven, Salvation, Sin on May 25, 2019
I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. [NRSV]
Physical images in Heaven:
- A city with no temple
- Gates that are never shut
- River of the water of life
- Tree of life
- Bearing twelve kinds f fruit
- Leaves of healing for the nations
- Throne for the lamb
- Light of the Lord
Features of Heaven
Open Gates:
- The gates are never shut
- Heaven s not a gated community
This flies in the face of
Radiant Glory
- People will bring in the glory of the nations
- Kings will bring their glory into it
Heaven has no place for sin
The proof that we are not in heaven is that sin is plentiful, abundant and rampant.
This is where we pull away from the glorious mystery of thinking about the new heaven that awaits us, knowing it will be far more and far better than out imagining can ever dream.
To be in heaven is to be in God’s presence, fulfilled and yet as fully ourselves.
The brokenness that we live in is the reality of sin
John is shown these glimpses of heaven to wet our appetite for more
When we loose something and find it,
we tell others, “it was in the last place I looked!”
Which begs the question do you keep searching once you have found what was lost?
The power of sin
- We live in a state where we cannot stay “found”,
- We live in the reality of our own sin
- We live in the reality of the effect of the sins of others
- We live in the reality of evil working tempt, test and make sin easier than doing good
So wait until the end?
Paul’s suggestion to sin all we like, because we have grace? No! By no means.
This does not bring glory to God, to others, nor ourselves.
We are witnesses of trusting in a sinful broken world
- Practice trusting a Christ
- Encourage others to trust Grace in Christ, and
- Glorify God for the nations of the world.
Dealing with Sin
Certainly we can blame the devil, the wealthy, the poor, our neighbor and previous generations, anyone one or thing we can blame, but that is not the solution.
Being in God (now and in heaven)
Getting into heaven means necessitates us addressing or sins
The “How To” section
We pretty much expect Jesus to already have taken care of that..and we just need the occasional buster shot, but what if we continue to be
- selfish,
- envy,
- prideful,
- lustful,
- greedy,
- apathy,
- impatience or
- wrath.
Focus on God’s help doing the opposite to reflect God’s glory by showing
- humility,
- kindness,
- moderation/temperance,
- charity,
- chastity,
- fidelity and diligence, and
- patience.
Both lists call for
- Practice
- Progress, and
- Persistence
Both lists, avoiding the evil and committing to the glorious, require Christ be in the throne, in heaven and in our hearts, minds and soul.
But the truth is that we can only live by these with the help of the holy Spirit and we we only find release from the power of the sin through Christ
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Posted by myoikos in #2019, #livingwater, #makingallthingsnew on May 17, 2019
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. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. [NRSV]
Reoccurring themes
- Living water
- Wipe away every tear
- Death will be no more
- No more mourning crying nor pain
Record and Remember what is trustworthy:
God is Making all things new.
“Making” is a physical and spiritual work
- Not rekindling
- Not rebranding
- Not refurbishing
Illustration of the cracked vessel:
Tried painting sealer
Tried adding putty
Only solution is to return to sand and incorporate new clay.
Sometime starting fresh
The focus is on Jesus Christ as the means of making all things new.
Is God’s way of RE-establishing
- Reality
- Justice
- Order
- Relationship
We are made for God, through Jesus
- The living water
- Jesus is the fountain of our new being
- Baptism makes us new
“It is done,”
- So be it
- I am
- As in the first creation.
The New Heaven has been accomplished through Jesus Christ
- We don’t make ourselves
- But we serve because it is how we show love to God
- We know tears, hunger, thirst, pain and death
- But this is not our end or purpose
- Our purpose is to love for God
- To find our beginning and end in Him
- Share the living water
- For the world is thirsty
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Revelation 7:9-17 Robes of White
Posted by myoikos in #2019, #heaven on May 11, 2019
After this, I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” [NRSV]
Intro
We are listening to John’s Revelation again this Sunday
Today we look and listen in to worship of God around the throne and look at those who have already gone before us.
- Mothers, daughters,
- Husbands, son, grandparents,
- friends and strangers.
Those who have gone to heaven are their because of Christ
Not because of what they have done, earned or left undone..
We look into a window of heaven and get a glimpse and see
Who’s that yonder dressed in White
- Are you in a going through the great ordeal ?
- Are you cleansed in blood of the lamb ?
- Are your robes white ?
Are we known by our Heavenly Citizenship
- Are you known by your victory over sin or by the shortfall for now
- Are you known by the works of Christ in your living
- Are you known as the clean in Christ
Those in Heaven: (know about those there and what to anticipate)
- They will hunger no more, and
- thirst no more;
- the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;
- for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and
- he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and
- God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.\\
The promise of the New Jerusalem:
- Heaven is a place that food is
- no longer needed…
- not to be bought,
- cooked or
- no worries about having enough.
- No more seasons,
- time or
- night
- A Place with the Lamb is a shepherd…
- reversal
- Living Water
- recalling the promise of the woman at the well
- No tears… they have
- no grief for us,
- no fears,
- no loneliness,
- no worries,
- no struggles will not be our concern.
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Singing with Full a Voice. Revelation 5:11-14
Posted by myoikos in #2019, #bethesong, #resurreciton, #trustGod, Worship on May 5, 2019
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped. [NRSV]
Reminder: Revelation of John is about three things. Being alert, repentance, and worship. Today we listen to Revelation to learn about worship
1. A. Worship is all about what we do for God that is about praising, celebrating, thanking, appreciating, honoring and expressing our love, devotion and trust of God.
2. B. Is not about us in any way. When it is, our worship is about ourselves.
3. Worship is what United us not our ideas, theologies and practices or behaviors.
4. Worship is about God drawing us together for God.
John Wesley had many things to say about worship and singing in particular:
“The opening pages of the United Methodist Hymnal bear a preface that has bemused and bewildered distracted worshippers for ages. These seven rules, titled Directions for Singing, were first included in the 1761 publication Select Hymns, a hymnbook for early Methodists.
A few things to keep in mind when you read these directions. First, the hymns we take for granted as “traditional worship” were almost all new in John Wesley’s day (I mean, Charles was writing them), and most of them would never be sung in church building walls in Wesley’s lifetime. Newton’s Amazing Grace wasn’t even written yet.
The Methodist movement was happening outside of church walls, where all the artful music could be made, and usually only the preacher had a copy of the hymnbook with all these cool new songs. They would sing one line out at a time, and then the gathered crowd would repeat what they heard.
Apparently George Whitfield (the white-haired guy in the comic above) was a master at lining out hymns after he finished preaching. In this context, Wesley’s directions are really rooted in his belief that worship is the work of all the people, meant to unite us as a priesthood of all believers in service to God.
Truth be told, the church historically has a tendency of elevating musicians and preachers as somehow separate from the larger crowd, a crowd which tends to become spectators instead of participants. Wesley’s directions for singing are meant to offer practical ways we worship together. Here they are:”
https://shar.es/a0aVNN. (1) Wesley’s Directions for Singing / by Charlie Baber 9/19/17
Directions for Singing. That this part of Divine Worship may be the more acceptable to God, as well as the more profitable to yourself and others, be careful to observe the following directions.
• I. Learn these tunes (Methodist Hymnal) before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.
• II. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
• III. Sing All. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up and you will find a blessing.
• IV. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.
• V. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.
• VI. Sing in Time: whatever time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend closely to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can. And take care you sing not too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from among us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
• VII. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your Heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve of here, and reward when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
Back to the text:
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,
The snapshot John gives us in this Revelation is a glimpse of worship In heaven. “Singing with full voice:”
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
https://youtu.be/rGgX_oqdib4 Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Holy, holy is Thee
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Holy, holy is He
Sing a new song to Him who sits on
Heaven’s mercy seat
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You
Clothed in rainbows of living color
Flashes of lighting rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor strength and glory and power be
To You the only one who’s King
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You
Filled with wonder awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your name
Jesus Your name is power, breath and living water
Such a marvelous mystery
Oh, You’re worthy, mystery
You are worthy
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings
You are my everything and I will adore You, I will adore You
Songwriters: Jennie Lee Riddle
(2) Revelation Song lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
In https://youtu.be/rGgX_oqdib4 Worthy is the Lamb
Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came and gave amazing grace
Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know Your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crown
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus, Son of God
The Treasure of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came and gave amazing grace
Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know Your forgiveness and embrace
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crown
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus, Son of God
The Treasure of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne
Crown You now with many crown
You reign victorious
High and lifted up
Jesus, Son of God
The Treasure of Heaven crucified
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
(3)https://youtu.be/4Gae-n0Pb7Q Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir “Worthy is the Lamb”
🎶 A tune from Rev to sing with practice using ones full voice.
G. G. G. F. E.
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
F. F. F. E. D.
Seated on the throne
Seated on the throne
G. G. G. F. E.
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
F. F. F. E. D.
High and lifted up
High and lifted up
G. G. G. F. E.
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
F. F. F. E. D. C. B. C.
Worthy is the lamb, that was slain
In the state d Heaven EVERYONE can be heard singing.
Let the congregation say together “amen”
🎵 A-a-men, A-a-a-m, a-amen, amen, amen
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Amen has come to mean “let it be so, let it be true, let it be, let it happen.
With full voice we come to worship God
Is it about me or you, no
It is about Jesus has lived, did a s rose again for you and me
Worship is about giving in to God, we might struggle most of the time but in worship we practice living in heaven, practice living for God.
Sing like we are standing before the throne.
It’s ok to tell you neighbor to sing louder or to tone it down as long as everyone is praising … so sing!
Wesley’s Directions for Singing UMBoH
1. Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.
2. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
3. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.
4. Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.
5. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.
6. Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
7. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
Oikos: It's a household word 