“All I could see was the fog. I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.”

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

Prologue

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John

“Regardless of what view you have of the end times, you want to make certain that when the apocalyptic dust settles you are standing with Jesus.”

Revelation 1-3

The Alpha and Omega

Revelation 4-5

The Lamb of God

Revelation 6-18

The Righteous Judge

Revelation 19-20

The King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Revelation 21-22

The Bridegroom

1. You will live in a new heaven and new earth.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

2. You will live with God forever.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God."

3. You will never suffer again

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Future expectations determine present behavior.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

What was it that kept him going?

1. A promised future with Jesus.

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.

Three Questions:

What do you believe about your future?

What was it that kept him going? (Promised future with Jesus.)

2. The promise of reaching more people for God’s glory.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Living with eternity in view:

a. You are more able emotionally to deal with whatever happens to you in life.

b. You maximize your moments in life.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Saul to Paul: Acts 9

What excuses do you use to disqualify yourself from being used by God?

What excuses do you use to disqualify others?

The enemy doesn’t need to disqualify you if you have already disqualified yourself.

The enemy doesn’t need to disqualify others if we do it for him.

Paul and Silas in Prison: Acts 16:16-40

Following Jesus should be disruptive to our past life.

-2 Corinthians 5:16-17

-Galatians 5:13-25

Jesus, help me be easily interrupted for you.

What is one area you know you need to ask God to interrupt?

We are not just saved people; we are sent people.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

I. The Church is supernatural in origin and function.

The Church is a supernatural invention that runs on supernatural power.

II. The Church is a community of authentic love.

It is better to be loving than to be right. It is better to be merciful than to be mean-spirited and judgmental.

The unresolved gap between what we say and how we live is the crevice into which people fall.

You cannot make yourself loving any more than you can make yourself good.

III. The Church expects the miraculous presence of Christ.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

How deep the Father's love for us,

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

PSALMIST: “All who see me mock me: they hurl insults, shaking their heads.”

GOSPEL: “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads.”

PSALMIST: “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him.”

GOSPEL: “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now…”

PSALMIST: “My mouth is dried up like a potsherd…”

JESUS: “I am thirsty.”

PSALMIST: “…they pierce my hands and feet.”

GOSPEL “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

PSALMIST: “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”

GOSPEL: “And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.”

Lift up the gates, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory will come in! Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates, lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – he is the King of glory.

1. There is truth – truth that everyone should believe.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

2. Jesus came to testify to that truth – he is the key witness.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father accept through me.”

3. Everyone doesn’t listen to Jesus – everyone gets to choose what they believe.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Communicating the truth:

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

1. Remember, you represent Jesus. (the Lord’s servant…)

2. Show kindness to everyone even when it’s not shown to you. (be kind to everyone…)

3. Keep winsomely teaching the truth.

4. Trust God to change their hearts.

Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.

What is most important?

Luke 10:38-42

If the enemy can’t destroy you, he will distract you.

The American dream is about distraction, not security. You might retire from your earthly work but never retire from Kingdom work.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Jesus brings dead things back to life.

John 11:1-46

Despite her grief, Mary ran to Jesus.

Raising Lazarus from the dead was Jesus' last recorded miracle before his death.

Lazarus outlived Jesus and was a walking testimony of the resurrection for humanity and of Jesus as King.

Turn what looks like death into a prayer.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 4:38-40 | THE STORY Pg. 343

If Jesus is in your boat, you don’t need to be afraid of storms.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.

Give Jesus what you have and let him multiply it.

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

If you don’t come apart, you’ll come apart.

4 Pictures of Jesus’ life and ministry:

1. The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

If you have not been baptized, then what are you waiting for? This is not something to be casual about. This is something to be intentional about.

2. The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Why did Jesus submit to this testing?

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

3. The Conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

4. The Conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan Woman

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now He had to go through Samaria.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

Prayer:

Have you intentionally received Jesus Christ? Have you intentionally been baptized? Are you intentionally trying to get more of His Word into your life so you can stand firm and resist the temptations of life?

5 Movements in The Story:

Creation (Eden, Fall, Flood, Tower of Babel)

Israel (Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Judges, Kings, Prophets)

Jesus

The Church

Paradise/Heaven

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I. Jesus came to show us truth.

Listen, God is not playing any games of hide and go seek with us. He is absolutely transparent with us. We are allowed to see, full on, what God is like. He has revealed himself all along the way but now He makes a personal appearance in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. God has come in the flesh and He is on mission. He has revealed a very distinct mission. He has come to the world full of grace and truth. Truth here is more than factual reporting about a particular subject or skill. Truth here is about ultimate reality. Jesus is ultimate reality.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

II. Jesus came to show us grace.

(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Grace is the very opposite of merit. Grace is not only undeserved favor but it is favor shown to the one who has deserved the very opposite. Grace is the unearned, undeserved, unmerited, favor of God.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

What do we do with the Word made Flesh? What do we do with Jesus? We receive Him!