A Voice

Mark 1:1,11-13 - The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Mark 9:7 - And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Exodus 24:18 - Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Genesis 3:1 - Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Application:

·         When God is involved, the only true hearing is obedient hearing.

·         The good news is that God has provided salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

·         Jesus, the new Moses, fasted for the same length of time that Moses was on the mountain.

·         Christ did not have each temptation I have but experienced every kind of temptation I can have.

·         Satan insinuates falsehoods and portrays rebellion as clever, but essentially innocent, self-interest.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

The Spirit Descending On Him

Mark 1:9-10 - In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Matthew 2:23 - And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Luke 4:18-19 - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Application:

·         In Jesus’ day Nazarene was virtually a synonym for despised.

·         The Spirit descending on Him was Jesus’ anointing for ministry

·         Jesus was anointed, not with literal oil, but with the Holy Spirit.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Away

Revelation 22:18-21 - I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Deuteronomy 4:2 - You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Revelation 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Application:

·         All of the book of Revelation must be obeyed, and anything that adulterates or contradicts it cannot be tolerated.

·         God and man will someday be restored to the perfect fellowship that existed before sin entered the world.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Spirit

Revelation 22:17-19 - The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Revelation 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

John 4:10 - Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 - You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Application:

·         I will be restored to the perfect fellowship with God that existed before sin entered the world.

·         Jesus gave life and gave it freely. Living water refers to eternal life.

·         The revelation the Lord gives is sufficient. I must obey all of it and anything that adulterates or contradicts it I must not tolerate.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

The Alpha And The Omega

Revelation 22:6-14 - And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

Romans 13:11 - Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Revelation 1:8 - “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Application:

·         Every day brings me closer to the second advent of Christ.

·         God is the beginning and the end. He sovereignly rules over all human history.

·         I will be restored to perfect fellowship with God that existed before sin entered the world.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Light

Revelation 21:23 - And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Isaiah 60:19-20 - The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

Revelation 5:6 - And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Application:

·         The light of the sun and moon will no longer be needed in the new Jerusalem, since God and the Lamb will be the everlasting light.

·         There will be no night there but only the light of joy and salvation.

·         Lamb is pictured as the sacrifice for sin and as the mighty conqueror. The Lamb will be a victorious military leader.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

He Who Overcomes

Revelation 21:7 - The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

2 Samuel 7:14-15 - I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

2 Corinthians 6:16 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Romans 8:14 - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Revelation 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Application:

·         There is a special relationship God promises to maintain with the descendant of David whom He will establish on David’s throne. In Jesus Christ this promise comes to ultimate fulfillment.

·         Temple of the living God is built of living stones, including me; therefore it is all the more important that I form no defiling and unholy alliances.

·         I have become a child of God through faith in God’s unique Son, and being led by God’s Spirit should be the hallmark of this relationship.

·         If I can overcome, I will be restored to the perfect fellowship that existed before sin entered the world.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

Robe Dipped In Blood

Revelation 19:12-14 - His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Isaiah 63:1 - Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.”

Psalm 68:17 - The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.

Application:

·         Jews used the term “Word” as a way of referring to God. Jesus was God in the fullest sense.

·         Robe dipped in blood is either the blood of the enemy shed in conflict, or the blood of Christ shed to atone for sin.

·         Chariots of God are God’s great heavenly host.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV