Sermon Tone Analysis

*THE VISION OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCHES*

Revelation 1:9 - Pastor Kenneth L. Brown 3~/4~/07

*Let Me Tell You About Him*

At the time of this extraordinary vision the Christian church was under great persecution by a Roman emperor name Domitian.

The Apostle John was the only living disciple of Jesus for Peter and Paul were already put to death.

John himself is banished to island named Patmos and according to *Rev.

2:13* one Pastor had already been martyred.

Fear and discouragement flowed throughout the seven churches and they were rapidly losing their first love, they began to compromise, they became powerless, they were tolerating sin, and had become a bad taste to the Lord Himself.

Jesus for this very reason reveals Himself in a dynamic fashion for the vision depicts Jesus as the glorified Lord of the church.

So in spite of all the frustration and discouragement the church was feeling at this time, Jesus wanted them to know that He had not abandoned the churches or His promises.

The vision of Christ to the churches would encourage and comfort those who were struggling to hold on.

And this will uplift us today as well.

I want us now to turn our attention to,

*I.                   **THE SETTING OF THE VISION *

*a.      *John who was an Apostle of Jesus Christ, a member of what is known as the inner circle of the 12 disciples and the author of a gospel and three letters.

Yet John doesn’t brag or boast he simply identifies himself as *“your brother.”

*

b.      John also identifies himself as a *“companion.”

*This word means partaker in the original Greek.

John stresses to the churches that he too was a participant with them in their struggle and suffering.

i.

John writes that he was a companion in the tribulation for he had been beaten, boiled, and then exiled from friends, family and country to the island of Patmos.

ii.

John was also a companion a partaker with them in the kingdom.

This was to let them know that there is some suffering one has to go through while they wait for the coming kingdom.

iii.

I know that some of us don’t want to go through nothing but rather you want to or not you will face some trials and tribulations.

c.       Like many in the church John also had patience.

This word means *“to remain under.”*

It speaks of patiently enduring difficulties and hardships without giving up.

i.

And maybe someone here today needs to know that you need to preserver, you got to remain under the weight of your circumstance and endure.

You cannot always run from your problems you got to stay under them.

It is like lifting weights you cannot build strength unless you stay under the weight.

You got to continue to push, pray until something happens all the while you are getting spiritually stronger.

d.

Now watch, John says he has gone through all of this in *Jesus Christ*.

i.

Belonging to the kingdom, suffering and patiently enduring trails are all apart of the Christian experience.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will not face hardships because you’ve come to Jesus Christ and started coming to church.

The more you live for Jesus the more the enemy will try to destroy you.

As soon as you begin to develop you relationship with Jesus the devil will try to wreck your life.

Satan has a way of bringing trails and tribulations into your life.

ii.

John wanted the church to know that this Christian walk will bring upon grief, pain, and alienation.

iii.

There is no such thing as easy Christianity for true Christianity always is in the face of some sort of trouble.

You see the bible says Matt. 11:12 *“the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force”.

*You have to press your way through amidst the temptation of sin, the hurt, the drama, the brokenness, and people who turn on you.

iv.

*2 Cor.

4:17* For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding /and/ eternal weight of glory,

                                                             v.

*1 Peter 1:6-8*  In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, /being/ much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

*So therefore* *You got to press!! *

e.       John says, I was in the isle that is called Patmos, and the reason I was cast on this lonely island was because of the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

My crime *I had to tell them about Him.*

                                                               i.

I was banished because I wasn’t a closet Christian.

My crime was faithfulness to the Word of God.

I shared the Word with boldness, I shared Jesus Christ and it cost me.

How many know it will cost you to live for Christ, it will cost you some friends, some family.

ii.

John was guilty.

I wonder if you could be accused of such a crime?

Could somebody find you guilty of being bold for Jesus Christ and the Word of God? Far too many Christians aren’t bold enough but yet they want heaven.

They want the blessings from God but will not boast about God.

But I know that there are some real Saints in the house today who don’t mind telling somebody what Jesus has done for them.

Let me tell you about Him,

1.

I was lost but because of Him I am found.

2.      I was headed to hell but because of Him I am going to heaven.

3.      Let me tell you about Him.

My family is torn apart but Jesus kept me together.

4.      Let me tell you about Him.

My money ran out but Jesus kept my lights on, Jesus paid my rent.

5.      Let me tell you about Him.

My friends left me but Jesus stood by my side.

6.

Let me tell you about Him.

When I wanted to give up, Jesus kept on showing up.

*THE VISION OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCHES*

*Rev.

1:10-11*

*Pastor Kenneth L. Brown 3~/11~/07*

Christ Reveals Himself for the purpose of building up the church who at this time was suffering persecution because of their faith.

Many in the church were losing heart, forsaking their beliefs, and tolerating sin.

Jesus wants the church to know that He has not left them.

Jesus brings John a Word and it comes to John when he himself is exiled to Patmos alone and abandoned.

Now isn’t interesting that Jesus will come to you with a Word when you feel alone and abandon.

What unfolds prior to the vision of Christ is worth our careful consideration.

*1st let us consider the fact that…*

* *

*I.                   **John was In the Spirit on the Lords Day.

*

a.       John received his vision while he was in the spirit.

Now we hear this term in the spirit often by people and some how it has taken on a different meaning from what John here is conveying to the churches.

For when many today use the term “in the spirit” they equate it with emotional feelings such as shouting and weeping for joy as being in the spirit.

John experience was nothing we will ever experience.

John was awake, alert, full of his senses, mind was clear, eyes focused and ears open.

While under the Holy Spirit’s control John was taken~/transported outside of time and space and receives a vision of Jesus and future events.

b.

This would not be the 1st time some one was transported by the Holy Spirit for it happen to *Ezekiel in chp.

8.3* And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem… It happen to Philip after he baptized a eunuch turn to *Acts 8:30-40*

*c.       *Now take note when John received his vision.

He received it on *the Lord’s Day*.