God's Wrath Poured Out
God's Wrath Poured Out
Text: Revelation 8-9
Big Idea: God is slow to anger.
Purpose: To show God's compassion in the midst of His judgment.
Introduction:
What does it take to get your attention?
Many young men would love to know how to get the attention of a young woman;
And there are many mixed messages
1. Be sensitive
-so a young man listens, attentive, perhaps sheds a tear
-and is heartbroken to discover – she thinks he’s a wimp
2. Be strong
-works out, gets bolder in proclamations
-speaks with confidence, becomes assertive
-and it heartbroken to discover – she thinks he’s a bully
I have known many young men – become very frustrated
Probably true for young women too,
-pretty, smart, flirt, reserved – it doesn’t seem to matter
-they give every opportunity to be known
-and longing to be noticed.
In scripture
God’s relationship to His people – often compared to a romantic courtship
-church is His bride
-calls us to be faithful, and worship of other gods is compared to adultery
Sermon Body:
Movement 1: *God gives every opportunity for you to turn to Him.
Purpose: To show God's patient persistence.
Content:
Demonstrate God's ways of acting:
Because no matter what you are looking for, He is the answer
-if you need to respect someone – He is a God to be feared
-the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
-if you have been wounded and need to be cared for
-He is God of grace and mercy
-slow to anger and abounding in love
*Name some ways God reveals Himself:
Grace
Strength
Elevating the lowly – David, Ruth, Gideon
Brining down the lofty – Saul, Pharisees, Nebuchadnezzar
Miraculous – Jesus provided, stopped the seas – definite “show me” attitude
Anger/Wrath – Christ overturned the temple tables, God’s judgment
This is not God’s way of putting on an act
-like some people can
-I will act refined around some, and gruff around others
-this is just acting
-but a person can be athletic and intelligent
-can have a good sense of humor and a good sense of business
-God is tender, and powerful, slow to anger, yet will judge
-and He will patiently wait for you to come to Him
This passage
-Is an example of God’s power and patience
Power to judge – wiping out 1/3 of all
-yet waiting
If your image of God
-is a stern judge, who looks with glee at the prospect of punishing
-just hoping that someone will step out of line
-look more closely at this passage
God is showing what will happen
-His people are praying for His justice, vindication
-Yet, He takes no delight in rushing to claim
-He is slow to anger
-giving every opportunity to turn to Him
Movement 2: *Some will persist in refusing to acknowledge God.
Purpose: To show the stubbornness of our hearts.
Content:
Show some that should have known God, but rebelled
*Who were some Biblical characters who should have seen God?
Balaam – God spoke to him in the book of Numbers
-even opened the eyes of a donkey – to avoid the angel who would kill him
-but Balaam plotted against God’s pepole
Judas Iscariot – first-hand witness of the miracles
-Jesus washed his feet
-but Judas could not accept Christ’s way
-and sold him for money that he would later throw away
Ananias and Sapphira – part of the church
-but would not give God his due
-not in terms of money
-but in terms of the truth – tried to lie to Him
With some hearts
-it is hard to get through
Parents understand
-try to teach, train children
-and they persist in trying to rebel
-when we try enough
-have to conclude
-not that parents haven’t tried, done what is right
-despite the complaints of the children
And with God
-no one can claim they had no choice, no opportunity to know Him
-look at creation – it screams out that God is real
-yet God gives every chance – for us to come into His Kingdom
In the end
-whether we come to Him or not
-His Kingdom will come
-and those unwilling to acknowledge him, will face emptiness of His wrath
Text – He unleashes the demonic forces – to torture and devour
Movement 3: *God will bring His Kingdom.
Purpose: To reassure
Content:
He answers our prayers
-for justice, peace, all things right
He brings His justice.
-will rid the earth of rebellion
-will raise us to the status of having new names
-and crowns on our heads
That’s what He does for His children
Some will be rebellious
-but for those who turn to Him
-who accept and believe
God has a lasting crown
-a place at His side
- a place of royalty
Conclusion:
What more could you want
God of mercy, love and grace
-the whole world belongs to Him
But not a pushover
-to be taken advantage of
-He is no fool
He will judge
-if you do not know Him – good reason to be afraid
-but if you belong to Him
-are marked by His grace
-than you have reason to be at peace
-you will be protected through the battle
-because you are the child of royalty
And you will receive the treatment reserved for royalty
-in the House of the Almighty