I. Jesus and you are kings who make God known to the world.
A. The seven churches of Asia (vs. 4) faced the hostility of Roman power and the seduction of Roman wealth. But their main task was the same as our main task: to make disciples. To make God known in the world. John then begins his letter by reminding the church of who God is. We see in verses 4 and 5 that God is Trinity. God is him who is and who was and who is to come. Exodus 3:14: God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
B. The Holy Spirit is the seven spirits who are before God’s throne (vs. 4). Jesus is the ruler of the kings on earth (vs. 5). He is even the ruler of the Caesar in Rome. Jesus is the true and ultimate king. God had commanded Adam to be a king (Gen. 1:26) and Israel to be a nation of kings. Exodus 19:6: “And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” But Adam and Israel failed. Jesus now commands us in the church to be kings, and we can succeed in union with Jesus. 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
II. Jesus and you are priests who bring the nations to a sacrifice.
A. We see who Jesus is in vs. 5 where John sings a hymn of praise to Jesus: “to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.” Jesus was an extraordinary high priest (see the book of Hebrews). Jesus not only offered up the sacrifice for the people’s sins. Jesus was the sacrifice for the people’s sins! Jesus “made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father.” We are priests like Jesus is a priest. A priest is a mediator. A priest stands between people and God to connect them. And how do people get connected to God? Through the sacrifice of Jesus.
B. As God’s priests we don’t just point others to the sacrifice of Jesus. We also make sacrifices ourselves. Romans 12:1: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We sacrifice by suffering for Jesus, by forgiving others, by putting others’ interests ahead of your own, and by offering a sacrifice of praise (Heb. 13:15). A sacrifice of praise is made when you are praising God in a time of trial and tribulation.
Application:
Be kings and priests so that our great God can be known.
Sources:
The book of Revelation
Commentaries by G.K. Beale, Tom Schreiner and Tim Chester.
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) What do you see when you look at the thrones of the world? Who is truly on the throne? Who has the only throne that will last forever?
2) What comfort does each person in the Trinity provide for you in the challenges you face?
3) What are the pressure points from our culture that you feel today as a Christian? Which is the hardest pressure for you to resist?