Lesson Title: LET IT SHINE! Series: In the MIDST of Your Mess, God has a Message! Lesson 2: June 8 – 14, 2022 AIM: After studying this lesson, students will realize that Christ is STILL in the midst of the church. Christ is the center of the Church and her mission! We have the responsibility to let our light shine for the world to see! INTRODUCTION: Think before answering this question: If Jesus Christ Himself were to show up in your church unannounced, evaluate your worship, and carefully investigate the interpersonal relationships in your congregation, how would He react? Be honest, now. Would He sit down with the leadership, pat them on the back, and say how proud He was of them and encourage them to keep up the good work? Or would the Lord sit across from them, stare in their eyes, and shake His head in disappointment? If He came to your Sunday school class or to your ministry meeting, could He rejoice over what He sees and hears or would He cry as He did over Jerusalem? 41 As Jesus came near Jerusalem, he saw the city and cried for it, Luke 19:41. It is a frightening prospect to be directly evaluated by the One who knows every dark secret, concealed fact, long-standing grudges, embarrassing mistakes, and less-than-pure motives. But this is exactly what Christ did, according to the first three chapters of the book of Revelation. Here we see Christ functioning as the exalted Head of the church, who is responsible for the church’s discipline and reward at His coming. As the veil is lifted between earth and heaven and we hear the message of the majestic Savior, let’s allow His words to pierce the veils of our own hearts, fortifying our strengths and correcting our flaws. BACKGROUND: In his Gospel, John snuffed out a rumor spreading among the early Christians that he himself would not die before the coming of Christ (John 21:20-23). However, in a certain sense, he would live to “see” the return of Christ in glory from heaven. The apostle John, then in his nineties, had been exiled for his faith by the emperor Domitian to a penal colony on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, about forty miles from Ephesus. As he was worshipping the Lord one Sunday, the veil between heaven and earth was torn asunder, and John was invited into the presence of the risen, glorified Jesus once again. This time Jesus commissioned John to “write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea” (Rev. 1:11). What unfolded before John’s eyes was a dramatic and often frightening series of God-given visions and voices portraying “the things which must soon take place” (1:1). Revelation 1:9-20 (NLT) 9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. 10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. 11 It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches. . .12 When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. 19 “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen. 20 This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches THOUGHT 1: To SEE Jesus, we must do as John did – we must TURN! Exodus 3:3-4 (KJV) 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 2 Kings 20:1-2 (KJV) 1In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, 2 Kings 23:25 (KJV) 25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. Luke 17:15 (KJV) 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, John 20:15-16 (NKJV)15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). POINT TO PONDER: Who do you turn to when trouble comes? Think of the time, you asked the question, down in your heart now LORD what shall I do? Then you confide in friends and loved ones, but you find that they have problems too! I. The Visible Christ A. His clothing 1) Jesus was clothed with a robe down to His feet. 2) The robe symbolizes the prophetic, priestly, and kingly ministry of Christ. As prophet, Jesus proclaims the Word of God to us As priest, Jesus gives us access into the presence of God and makes us acceptable to God As King, Jesus rules and reigns over all the affairs of the universe, and He protects and provides and works all things out for good to those who love and follow Him! 3) The chest of Jesus had a gold sash strapped across it. This particular sash was something like the chest piece or breastplate of the high priest on which the names of his people were engraved. B. His Hair and Head 4) The hair and head of Jesus were as white wool and snow. This is the picture of Christ as the Ancient of Days, as being the eternal LORD of the universal. Daniel saw Him many, many years ago! It is possible that this is also a picture of His sinlessness and purity of mind. The spiritual warfare is fought in the mind, and Christ never sinned; He never even had one evil or negative thought that came short of God’s glory. He was the sinless son of God Himself! Daniel 7:9(KJV) 9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool Daniel 10:5 (NCV) 5 While standing there, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothes with a belt of fine gold wrapped around his waist. C. His Eyes 5) Jesus Christ had eyes that were as a flame of fire. This symbolizes a piercing, penetrating power. He sees everywhere, even in the dark places and behind closed doors. His eyes search the innermost recesses of the heart. He knows it all! 6) He is omniscient and He is able to conquer all those who reject Him and do evil. No one will be able to hide from Him nor can anyone hide anything from Him! D. His Feet 7) He had feet like fine brass or bronze. This symbolizes strength and perseverance. 8) His feet are the feet that preached the gospel, the glad tidings of peace. 9) But they are also the feet that shall tread down His enemies. 10) His feet are also able to rush to the rescue of His people. Isaiah 52:7 (NLV) 7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who tells of peace and brings good news of happiness, who tells of saving power, and says to Zion, “Your God rules!” Romans 10:15 (KJV) 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! E. His Voice 11) Jesus had a voice that was like the sound of many waters rushing together. 12) His voice symbolizes authority. It sends forth the glorious message of salvation, hope, joy, confidence, and comfort. John 10:4-5 (MSG) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NLT) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. It thunders forth majestic rebuke, conviction, and judgment. Psalm 29:4 (NLT)4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. Jeremiah 25:30 (NKJV) 30 “Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and say to them: ‘The LORD will roar from on high, And utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread the grapes, Against all the inhabitants of the earth. John 5:28-29 (NKJV) 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. Revelation 3:20 (NLV) 20 See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and we will eat together. II. The Victorious Christ A. “Fear not – do not be afraid” 1) He was declaring that He had not appeared to John in judgment but in love and care. 2) He was appearing to commission John and to use him in the great mission of building up the churches and of reaching the loss for God! B. “I am the first and the last” 1) He is the beginning and the end. 2) He is the One who can be with a person forever – when the person is born and when he dies and during all the days in between! 3) He can and will be with a person throughout all of eternity. C. “I am He that lives, and was dead: and behold, I am alive forevermore” 1) The exalted and glorified Lord need not be feared, for He is the same Person who came to earth and died and rose for our salvation. 2) He is exalted and dwells in the most awesome and frightening glory, but He dwells there to save us, not to condemn us. 3) He lives forevermore to make us acceptable to God and to carry us through the evil and death of this world! D. “I have the keys of hell and of death” 1) Jesus is the Savior of the world. He has conquered death, and He can deliver us from judgment and hell. 2) He has the keys to unlock both death and hell and to deliver us from the bondage of both! III. The Vision of Christ THOUGHT 1: Note that Christ was not giving John a message for himself, but for the church. He was to use what Christ was giving him for the edification of believers to build them up in the faith. This is the great purpose for Revelation, the reason why it must be taught to the church: to edify and build us up in the faith! 1) The seven stars are the “angels” of the church, the “pastor” of the church. a) Although the primary recipient was the pastor of each church, Revelation 1:11 reminds us that these messages were intended for the church under his care (“send them to the churches. . .”) 2) There was Christ standing in the midst of seven golden candlesticks, that is, in the midst of the churches. The candlesticks represent the churches. Why this symbol? a) Jesus is the Light of the world, and it is the task of the church to show Him to the world. b) The church is to proclaim the light of Christ to the world, and it is to do so with the brilliance and speed of light. c) Note that Christ stands in the midst of the candlesticks. The churches receive their light from Christ. d) Unless He stands in the midst of the church, the church has no light. Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) 14“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. IV. PURPOSE OF LIGHT: TO SHINE 1) Notice that Jesus said you are a city that sits on a hill – you are to shine in public 2) Then He said you are like a lamp and give light to all who are in the house – you are to shine at home 3) When it shines. . . a) Light expels darkness b) Light entices you c) Light exposes 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NLV) 6 It was God Who said, “The light will shine in darkness.” He is the One Who made His light shine in our hearts. This brings us the light of knowing God’s shining-greatness which is seen in Christ’s face. Ephesians 5:11-16 (MSG) 11-16Don't waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It's a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! 4) Darkness CANNOT put out light! But light can dispel darkness! John 1:5 (NLV) 5 The Light shines in the darkness. The darkness has never been able to put out the Light. V. PROVIDER OF LIGHT –THE SON 1 John 1:5 (NLT) 5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. VI. PLACES OF LIGHT Scripture Psalm 119:105 (NIV) 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Savior John 12:46(NIV) 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. Psalm 27:1a (NIV)1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? Saints What kind of light (Christian) are you? Candle light Flash light Motion light Spot light Traffic light Stop light Flood light Christmas light
