We rejoice in love, acceptance, and grace…as well we should.  But what about judgment, fear, and obedience. We Ought to Be... 1. Motivated by the Fear of God’s Judgment v.6-7      -The Gospel is available for all, but it won’t be available forever! 2. Validated by the Fate of God’s Judgment v.8 3. Devastated by the Fullness of God’s Judgment v.9-11      - Hell will be worse than you can imagine 4. Dedicated to the Faithfulness of God’s Judgment v.12-13 What should we long and pray for? The lost without Christ—Repentance The dying with Christ—Relief The living with Christ (us)—Revival  

You can’t live a sinless life, but you can live a blameless life! John’s vision shows the persecuted… The Scene of Victory v.1 The Song of Victory v.2-3 The Soldiers of Victory v.4-5 How is ... The Purity of YOUR Faith The Activity of YOUR Faith The Security of YOUR Faith The Honesty of YOUR Faith      

Preparation always trumps speculation. John describes... 1. The Counterfeit Ruler of the World v.1-9        The biography of the Beast… His Wonder v.1-3 His Worship v.4 His Words v.5-6 His War v.7-8 2. The Counterfeit Religion of the World v.11-17      To understand the second beast, notice… His Deceptive Appearance v.11 His Deceptive Performance v.12-14 His Deceptive Vengeance v.15 The Call to the Redeemed in the World v.9-10, 18 3. His Deceptive Compliance v.16-17      There is always a... Call to Endure Call to Faith  Call to Wisdom “The number of the beast is 666, that is, failure upon failure upon failure!”  -Simon Kistemaker

It’s important to remember… 1. The Defeat of Our Adversary v.7-9 2. The Declaration of Our Victory v.10-12      - Notice: 1. The Savior, 2. Satan 3. The Soldiers 3. The Defense of The Godly v.13-16 4. The Difficulty of Our Reality v.17 How do you fight from Victory? Know your enemy Know yourself Know your KING!

See The Signs... 1. See the Woman as the People of God who are Faithfully Waiting v.1-2     - Who is this woman?      -Through symbolic, apocalyptic language, she is a sign, representing all the people of God 2. See the Dragon as the Enemy of God who is Always Hating v.3-4      -The dragon is Satan. Satan hates God and anything that brings Him glory. Satan has always been behind the culture of death. 3. See the Boy as the Prince of God who is Now Reigning v.5      - Even when the enemy thought he won, death gave way to life! 4. See the Wilderness as the Place of God where He is Working v.6 Do you see the signs? We are in a battle. We are not home. Wake up!  

More Than Ever God has blessed us. More Than Ever our community needs the gospel. More Than Ever we must do something about it. 4 Words about Biblical Giving: 1. Biblical Giving is Mandated by our Master - Malachi 3:7–10; Matthew 6:19–21; Matthew 6:24; 1 Corinthians 16:1–2 2. Biblical Giving is Motivated by Mercy - 2 Corinthians 8:8–9 3. Biblical Giving is Medicine for Materialism - 1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:17–19 4. Biblical Giving is a Mark of Maturity - 2 Corinthians 8:7    

Casual Christianity is dead. Christ is still King. He is coming back. Submit to Him. Leverage your life. More love for the Savior, the saints, and salvations are ALWAYS the goals. More campuses, better spaces, and the right amount of staff help us reach these goals.

The 7th Trumpet ushers in the Celebration of… 1. His Final Reign v.15-17  - Trumpets also announce the coronation of kings - The 7th Trumpet announces the reign of God as King  2. His Final Reckoning v.18 3. His Final Reward v.18 -At least two groups… a. Special servants – prophets, apostles b. The saints – those who fear the Lord 4. His Final Revelation v.19 - The heavenly temple and the presence of the ark represent the nearest point to the presence of God What is the posture of your life?  

Revelation 11:1-14 Three Questions… 1. What is NOW? v.1-6 A.  For God’s People: We are protected to prophesy - Protection is shown in the measuring of the temple -The temple often depicts the people of God - The court outside represents those outside the family of God who oppose God’s people 42 months 1260 days A time, times, and half a time Three and a half years -The two witnesses represent the people of God empowered to share the Gospel and warn of coming judgment -- Hebrews used “week” to represent “sevens,” not just days A week of years = 7 years 70 weeks = 490 years 490 years divided into three time periods: Period One: 7 weeks = 49 years (Temple rebuilt)  Period Two:  7 weeks + 62 weeks = 483 years (Christ) Period Three: 1 week = 7 years (The Tribulation before His return) B. For the World: They are permitted to persecute 2. What is NEXT? v.7-10 -For God’s People: We will go from Testifying to Dying - It will appear that the church has been defeated 3. What is NEAR? v.11-14 - For God’s People: We will go from Temporary Death to Eternal Life - For the World: They will go from Temporary Life to Eternal Death Every knee will bow  

This Grand Pause has... 1. A Unique Messenger v.1-3 He represents the Lord with some powerful parallels: Mighty Wrapped in a cloud Rainbow over his head Face like the sun Legs like pillars of fire Right foot on sea, Left on land Voice like a lion Seven thunders 2. An Urgent Message v.4-7 3. An Unchanging Mission v.8-11    -The scroll represents God’s plan to judge the world under the authority of Christ. John is commanded to… 1. Consume it! 2. Communicate it! ---But I’m not a prophet?  I’m just a regular person. Love The Lord Love Your Family Love God’s People Love Your Neighbor Love The Lost Leverage Your Life for Good Share the Gospel and ALL of its truth

Two Lessons: 1. A Release You Cannot Imagine v.12-19        a. Notice what he heard… -A voice commanding the release of four angels -Bound across one river — the Euphrates -Prepared for one specific time -To kill ⅓ of humanity -With a cavalry of 200 million       b.  Notice what he saw… -Fire – War -Smoke – Darkness, confusion, suffocation -Sulfur – Torment of the wicked 2. A Relationship You Cannot Ignore v.20-21 What is the point? Your sin is not solo. Satan loves it. Starve him. Communion-with The Lord Conviction-from The Spirit Confession-to a godly friend Community-with believers    

What can we learn from... 1. The Divine Permission? v.1-3 -Lesson: In his complete sovereignty, God can and does ordain and control the use of demons and demonic activity to carry out His divine judgment upon the wicked. 2. The Divine Protection? v.4 -Lesson: God protects those He saves from demonic torment in the midst of judgment. 3. The Demonic Commission? v.5-6 - Lesson: Demonic activity never blesses or encourages, rather it torments to the point of hopelessness. 4. The Demonic Description? v.7-11 - Lesson: We need not take demons or demonic activity lightly. With symbolic language, John explains just how serious these enemies are. Demonic Activity:Do NOT dismissDo NOT fearDo NOT be unpreparedDo NOT forget lost people

Sounds signal a lot 3 Questions... 1. When do these Trumpets Sound? -Answer: These trumpets occur in response to the cry of the saints for the judgment of God on the wicked 2. Why do these Trumpets Sound? -Answer: These trumpets signal the beginning of the judgment of God on all of creation. 3. What do these Trumpets Send? - Answer: The first four trumpets send an assault on the very creation that rebellious man often places his confidence in. What do they send? –First Trumpet: An assault on the land –Second Trumpet: An assault on the sea –Third Trumpet: An assault on rivers –Fourth Trumpet: An assault on the sky –Funeral Lament of the Eagle: Woe! The sights, the sounds, and the smells of the table remind me that I need not fear the sound of judgment!  

FIGHTING TEMPTATION MEANS CONFESSING OUR WEAKNESS. FIGHTING TEMPTATION MEANS CRYING OUT FOR HELP. Fighting Temptation:  Remember Who You Follow Remember Who Follows you Remember The Weapon of Prayer and the Word Remember Christ

Adrian Rogers – “The most miserable man  on Earth is not an unsaved man but a saved man out of  fellowship with God.” The How of Confession... 1. Appeal 2. Admission 3. Alignment “If we want to be clean, we have to come clean.” Be quick to confess sin Be specific in confessing sin Be sure of God’s forgiveness  

Matthew 6:9-13 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name.[a]10 Your kingdom come,your will be done,[b]    on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]12 and forgive us our debts,    as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation,    but deliver us from evil.[d]

Convictions surrounding this series on prayer: We want to be a praying church. Not a church that merely prays. We want prayer to permeate everything we do, not simply have a prayer ministry. There’s a direct connection between the church’s prayer life and your prayer life.    I. His Sovereignty II. My Submission III. Our Sanctification   Prayer Challenge: Become part of His Kingdom - Salvation & Repentance Seek His Kingdom instead of yours. Pray for His Kingdom to come through you.

Have you ever felt like your prayer life was a Routine burdened by a Ritual? When was the last time you cried out to your Heavenly Father? How is our prayer life…? The Holy Spirit transforms our prayer life from a ritual that is practiced to a relationship that is prioritized! The Holy Spirit... 1. Confirms our new Identity (v.14, 16)         - Attests our Adoption v.14       “To give evidence of or demonstrate as true”         - Affirms our Adoption v.16 “To reassure, confirm, or assert strongly that something is true 2. Compels our new Intimacy (v.15) Slavery v.15a Sonship v.15b                 - Freedom and Delight. Prayer Challenge: Correct Your Identity. Salvation & Repentance Commit To Intimacy. Prayer & Praise  

What kind of parent are you? God wants His children… 1. Gracious vs. Guarded v.3-4 2. Spiritually Directed vs. Self- Determined v.5-6 3. Faithful to Him vs. Free Thinking v.7-8 4. Worshipful with Finances vs. Financially Wealthy v.9-10 5. Humbly Correctable vs. Highly Confident v.11-12 You cannot lead your child where you are not going, or you have not been. Which child are you raising?  Which person are you?

What NOT to do goes a long way in a man’s life. Men Don't... 1. Fall Asleep at the Wheel       Alertness is commanded throughout Scripture 2. Bring a Knife to a Gun Fight 3. Settle for “Saved” 4. Lose your “Why” Men, in The Lord…Be WatchfulStand FirmGrow StrongerLove Always