Wednesday, November 29, 2006

"First Love" 11.27.06

A Brief Description of Jesus: (Revelation 1)
•Jesus speaks with a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet10, and rushing waters15
•He is wearing a robe that descends to his feet,
•He is girded across the chest with a golden sash13
•His head and his hair are white like wool and snow14
•His eyes are like flames of fire14
•His feet are like glossy bronze glowing as if they were in a furnace15
•He holds seven stars (pastors, 20) in his right hand
•A sharp two-edged sword comes out of His mouth16
•His face is as radiant as the sun shining in its strength16
“A typical solar flare can release the energy equivalent of millions of 100-megaton hydrogen bombs exploding at once.” CNN

•When John saw him, he fell down as if he were a dead man17
•Lighting shoots out of His throne 4:5


The Response of all who are close to Jesus: (Revelation 4, 5)
~24 elders
~Angels
1. A strong angel
2. Myriads of myriads of angels (myriads=10,000) vs11
~4 creatures – all have eyes in front and behind, and have 6 wings.
1. Lion
2. Calf
3. Creature with a face of a man
4. Creature like a flying eagle

•The creatures never cease to say “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” 4:8

•As the creatures do this, the 24 elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne (with lighting shooting out of it), and NEVER STOP WORSHIPPING HIM!!
They cast down their crowns before him.
Each one holds up a golden bowl of YOUR PRAYERS to Jesus! 5:8
They sing a new song

•The strong angel = “Who is worthy to open His book??” No one.

•Myriads of myriads of angels = “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

•Every living thing begins to worship Him, as the 4 creatures keep saying “amen,” and the 24 elders fall down and worship.

This is the response of those in close proximity the Jesus
Why isn’t this always MY immediate response, and the immediate response of all Christians all the time?...

The answer is in Revelations 2:2-4
• Background on Ephesians

Israel leaving first love:
• Ezekiel 16:8-15
• Jeremiah 2:2
•Betrothal: “an engagement”
•Devotion: “Ardent, often selfless affection and dedication, as to a person or principle” –American Hertitage Dictionary

We can leave our first love if we don't stay intimate with Jesus:
• Matthew 24:12


HOW DO WE PREVENT OURSELVES FROM LEAVING OUR FIRST LOVE?
• Revelation 2:5 “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first:” Ardent, selfless affection and dedication to a person.

If you are not putting things aside to spend time with your savior, you are forgetting your first love.
Husband/Wife analogy (sacrifice) – our relationship to God is similar. You must MAKE time. Your worship is grounded and based off of this point...nothing else is more important in worship than the foundation of spending time with Jesus.

Spending time with Jesus = reading your bible + praying.

Homework: Read chapters 1 & 2 (Unquenchable & Undone)

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