Sermon Notes - Revelation 1:1-8 - Blessed by the Word of God - Littleby/New Hope Service - April 27, 2025 PM

1.     1 Corinthians 14:3

a.      Strengthen, Encourage, and Consolation.

b.     These are words that are applied to when someone speaks the Words God gives them.

c.      If we look at the Old Testament prophets who shared about Jesus, we would easily agree.

d.     That they strengthen, encourage, and console their audience.

e.      We look at some of the other OT prophesies, it might be a bit scary.

f.      I suspect we would agree that is the case with most of the prophecy we find in the Bible.

g.     Then there is some prophecy in the Bible that gets a bad rap.

h.     The book of Revelation.

i.       Revelation as a prophecy is not meant to intimidate us.

j.       It is meant to strengthen our faith.

k.     It was given to encourage us as we walk this earth.

l.       And to console or comfort us in time of need.

2.     Let’s take a look at a few verses.  

3.     Revelation 1:1

a.      The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

b.     This book is full of prophesies that are revealing truths about Jesus and about what is still to come.

c.      This letter is a Declaration about Jesus.

d.     Some try to make it a detailed play by play of what is to come.

e.      Trying to lay out what is going to happen day by day.

f.      It simply is not that detailed.  

g.     It is a guide.

h.     It tells us what is going to happen.

i.       But we cannot map out each step with it.

4.     In this first verse we are told that the Revelation of Jesus was given to ‘Show His servants’.

a.      The words contained in the Revelation given to the Apostle John are meant to be shared with Jesus’ followers.

b.     They are meant to be shared with us.

c.      We need to be reading these words.

d.     We cannot avoid them.

e.      They are part of God’s Word.

5.     Now to be honest, there is also some controversy in this first verse.

a.      It talks about ‘what must soon take place’… it has been roughly 2,000 years… how is that soon?

b.     We don’t know when these events will happen.

c.      Only the Father does.

d.     Today we can be thankful that we have the opportunity to share Jesus one more day before these events unfold.

6.     Revelation 1:2

a.      The angel came to John.

b.     Shared the prophecy.

c.      John faithfully shared it with all who would listen.

d.     Even to the point that we have it before us today.

e.      The Words of God.

f.      The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

g.     Has been shared with us.

7.     Revelation 1:3

a.      Blessings to those who read the words of this prophecy.

b.     Blessings to all who hear the prophesies read.

c.      As we read and hear these words this evening, we are blessed.

d.     But there is a caveat, a response is required.

e.      We need to keep what is written.

f.      Take the prophecy found in this letter to heart.

g.     Listen to what it teaches.

h.     Follow its teachings.

i.       James 1:22-25 – ‘Be doers of the Word’.

j.       We need to take the Word of God to heart.

k.     We need to take the Revelation of Jesus and listen to it.

l.       Then do what it tells us to do.

m.   Action is required.

n.     Verse 3 ended with the same bit of controversy as mentioned in verse 1.

o.     ‘Because the time is near’ - we do not know how much time we have left.

p.     This is a Revelation of Jesus Christ as given by God

q.     We need to speak it, listen to it, and follow it.

8.     Revelation 1:4

a.      John is writing to the 7 churches that he has ministered to.

b.     Grace and Peace… a wonderful blessing.

c.      Grace bestowed upon followers of Jesus and His Peace that fills us.

d.     A blessing not given by John, but He who is, was, and is to come…

e.      Blessings bestowed by God the Father.

f.      A blessing that we cannot begin to measure.

g.     Seven spirits are the seven ways the Holy Spirit is manifesting in the seven churches of Asia.

9.     Verse 4 had the Father and the Holy Spirit, verse 5 brings the focus back to Jesus.

10.  Revelation 1:5

a.      Faithful witness – Jesus is the source of the prophecy that we are barely even dipping our toe in the water on tonight.

b.     He provided the truth that we are discussing.

c.      He is the faithful witness.

d.     Firstborn from the dead – He is our Resurrected Lord who defeated death.

e.      If He did not defeat death on that first resurrection morning, our chances of a resurrected body would be non-existent.

f.      Ruler of the kings of the earth, in the coming future our Lord will rule for all of eternity.

g.     He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

h.     There will be no one greater than Him on earth.

i.       Loves us and has set us free – Out of an abundance of Love our Lord wiped away our sins.

j.       He cleansed us and redeemed us.

11.  Revelation 1:6

a.      Exodus 19:5-6

b.     God’s message to the people of Israel through Moses.

c.      1 Peter 2:9

d.     Peter is writing to Christians scattered around Asia.

e.      These words are for Christ followers.

f.      That includes us.

g.     We are part of that royal priesthood as we have been grafted into the family of God.

h.     We are to serve God.

i.       By Loving Him with all that we are.

j.       By giving Him the honor that He is due.

k.     By glorifying Him.

l.       For all of Eternity.

m.   Reading, hearing, and following His Word.

n.     All of His Word… is part of doing our part.

12.  Revelation 1:7

a.      Acts 1:9 – Jesus ascended up into the clouds.

b.     Here we see Him returning with the clouds.

c.      We see similar imagery prophesied in Daniel.

d.     Daniel 7:13-14

e.      Our Lord will return, and he will be given dominion.

f.      He will Rule, be the King of kings over all the earth.

g.     Where as it says in Daniel every people, nation, and language will serve Him.

h.     His return will be obvious.

i.       People will know it.

j.       His followers will be excited to see Him.

k.     They will also understand the pain they caused.

l.       Zechariah 12:10

m.   Followers of Jesus will be excited to see Him.

n.     Yet, at the same time they will recognize that they had a hand in His death.

o.     He was pierced for our sin.

p.     He paid our debt.

q.     But the joy of knowing that we get to spend forever with Him.

r.      The grace and peace from the Father… outweigh any sorrow a believer will feel.

13.  Revelation 1:8

a.      From the very beginning to the very end.

b.     Jesus is the beginning of history to the very end of history, and every second in between.

c.      He is ever existent.

d.     And He has revealed Himself to us.

14.  The Words we looked at this evening are just the beginning.

a.      We know the whole Bible is ultimately about Jesus.

b.     I picked these verses as a reminder that no matter what preconceived notions we may have, all Scripture is God inspired.

c.      It is given to us to Strengthen, Encourage, and Comfort us as we walk this earth.

d.     We need study the Word and we are Keep the Word.

e.      We are to practice what it teaches.

f.      As we do, we will draw near to our Jesus.

g.     We will be blessed by the reading and hearing of the Word.

h.     Read it, share it, & discuss it.

i.       It can and will change our lives.