November 22 Sunday Devotional

A Brief Update

For those of you who are unable to gather corporately with us this Sunday, you are loved and missed! If this is you, we are providing the songs we are singing together this morning and a devotional based on the sermon being preached.

Songs We are Singing Together

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

A Brief Devotional on Revelation 1:9-20

We have a guest preacher this afternoon. In light of that we are providing some brief notes provided in the ESV Gospel Transformation Study Bible on the text that will be preached. The sermon audio will be made available shortly after our time of corporate worship.

ESV Gospel Transformation Bible Notes on Revelation 1:9-20

John identifies with his audience as their brother and partner in both the tribulation and the kingdom, requiring patient endurance on the part of those who live between the two comings of Christ. One consistent New Testament theme related to the gospel is that those who embrace it will face tribulation (v. 9; cf. Matt. 5:11–12; Mark 10:29–30; Acts 14:22; 1 Thess. 2:4; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 2:21). The pattern of suffering-to-glory undergone by the Savior is the pattern for his disciples.

John himself has been exiled to Patmos because of “the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Rev. 1:9), likely a reference to the way that he has borne witness to the gospel. In the midst of his affliction, the risen Christ appears to him in glory (vv. 10–20), and the way that Jesus presents himself to John in his resurrection glory is applied to the churches in Revelation 2–3. John is not to fear, because Jesus is eternal (1:17), and also because of the victorious gospel: Jesus tells him in verse 18 that he died and yet is alive forever. This assertion means that even if those united to Christ are put to death, he can guarantee that death will not hold his followers just as death could not hold him, as the firstborn from the dead (v. 5). This is stated even more explicitly when Jesus declares that he has “the keys of Death and Hades” (v. 18). Death and hell cannot bind the followers of Jesus.

In Christ, death itself has been undone. Those who are in him have nothing to fear on earth. Our eternal future could not be more secure.

Song of Response

Benediction

Jude 24-25

Sermon Audio from Recent Sundays

November 15 - Matthew 4:12-17 (Devon Kauflin)

November 8 - Matthew 4:8-11 (Larry Malament)

October 25 - Matthew 4:1-4 (Larry Malament)