No More Delay
No More Delay
Text: Revelation 10-11
Big Idea: God's imminent coming will require great sacrifice.
Purpose: To reassure that the sacrifices we make for God's Kingdom will be worthwhile.
Introduction:
I was five years old
-and had just been in a bad accident
-been riding on the back of an older neighbor boy
-while running a race – he tripped
-I flew over his shoulders – face first in a puddle in the gravel driveway
-as I stood up, noticed a red stain in the gravel – from my blood
-and my mom heard me screaming – drove me to the doctors office
While driving there
-I thought about how much I disliked being at the doctor’s office
-we always had to wait
-probably never had an appointment that didn’t cause me to wait for 20 minutes
I later found out that our neighbor called ahead
-but I was so surprised to see the doctor and nurse come out of the office
-and take me to a room right away
-I didn’t even need to check-in, or wait, or look at a silly magazine
-because of the nature of my injury – they made space for my appointment
Made a sacrifice of their time – to take care of an urgent situation
Time becomes very important at crucial moments.
Some obligations can be put on the back burner, but not all.
Medical Emergencies vs. Elective procedures
There is a difference between paying for a vacation, and paying to replace a roof damaged by a storm. The damaged roof is time-sensitive, and to repair it in a timely fashion, you will make a significant sacrifice.
In our text today, we get the message that there is an urgency – a time sensitive nature to Christ’s final victory, and that this urgency will require God’s children, God Himself, to make sacrifices in order to complete His plan.
Describe scene of Rev. 10-11.
Angel standing with scroll open
Declaring No more delay
Witnesses dying for Christ’s testimony
Seventh Trumpet Sounds and Christ returns
Sermon Body:
Movement 1: *Great planning does not preclude urgency.
Purpose: To show that important occurrences almost always involve a sense of urgency.
Content:
Illustration of Wedding
-have a plan, but inevitably it gets urgent
-rehearsal – people come late, who has the ring
-it all needs to come together in a short period of time
-and even the best plans call for urgent, hasty reactions
Speak of God's plans for Israel
– well made, but still urgent in the end
– He knew what He was doing, He set everything in place
– Yet there were many instances when critical decisions were made – urgent times
In this text, a sense of urgency is developed
Angel has open scroll
Christ is about to return
Last opportunity to witness
*God desires the salvation of His creation.
-which is why it becomes urgent
-even once the battle has begun
-Christ sends witnesses to proclaim His power to the nations
-it seems even in the middle of the battle
-you can switch sides – declare loyalty to Christ
-NOTE THIS: It was important for the Apostle Paul
-who at one time had persecuted the church
-and became a great missionary for the church
God is in the business of changing lives
-and while the battle rages – be certain
-He wants to see your life transformed
-He wants to see people know His power and grace
Let that be a reassurance to you
-even if you have rebelled in the past
-and though you may know your own sin
-he wants people in the battle to switch sides
-and declare their loyalty to Him
This desire – reaches an urgent status in the last days
-when the time is short, urgency overwhelms
Movement 2: *God's plans reach an urgent point in our lives.
Purpose: To help people uncover God's working in their lives.
Content:
Question: Have you ever had an urgent moment in your walk with God?
-facing a crisis, longing for God’s presence
-maybe at a death, illness, financial strain,
-and you didn’t know where to turn
*Urgent needs often make us turn to God.
-God is often found in the middle of crisis moments
-even in the book of Revelation
-when He is declaring judgment
-sends the witnesses
-to testify, prophecy
-because He is still looking for His children
-He is powerful and gracious
And he knows the power of crisis
Crises present opportunities.
-usually means danger is present
-but also a possibility for a change
-crises make us take stock of what is important
Movement 3: *The sacrifices made for God's Kingdom will be worthwhile.
Purpose: To reassure that God's Kingdom will not be delayed.
Content:
1260 days explained – three and a half years (like three and a half days of death)
-not a terribly long time
-but long enough to be an enduring struggle
These 1260 days – represent a danger
-a struggle
-real losses will be experienced
-life is not without heartache
And we may question: Why is this happening
Revelation has something to say about that
-some of the end times will remain mysterious
-look at the seven thunders
-John is told not to speak
Allude to mysteries that are not spoken.
10:3-4 – hears thunder, but told to be quiet
End of Chapter 10 – told to eat the scroll – this He proclaims – Christ’s reign
The struggle ends – with the trumpet blast
The dead come back to life
-Christ is coming Back
-notice called was and is (but not to come) because He came
Conclusion:
God’s urgent focus
-even while He is demanding justice
-is to let others know the truth
-Truth of His love, His power
-Even those who are far from God
‘ -still have opportunity to hear His witnesses
For Christ’s witnesses
-this may mean sacrifice
-great sacrifice
-but the sacrifice will not be long to cause suffering
-because God is coming
The dead will live again
-the damage of the enemy – though great, is short lived
And Christ will come – to proclaim His own