Sermon Notes from Aug 19, 2012 on Rev 10:

Intro Questions:  Do you enjoy waiting?  Are you patient? Content?
If we are honest most of us have to say "no" to those questions.  Society/advertising pushes us to not be and yet God's word tells us we can and should be content in him...even in the midst of suffering/persecution.

Symbolism of Rev 10 and the messages behind it:

Angel:   Reminds us that God is sovereign and in control
   - Feet on land and water = All of creation is under God's control
   - Seal up all of the details = The saints do not need to know everything...just that God is in control

Scroll:  God's word/a copy of the scroll that is in Jesus hand from chapter 5...similar to God's call to Ezekiel in Ez. 2-3

  - Eat God's word = take its message to heart...internalize the prophecy and put it to work in one's life (Psalm 119:103, Jer. 15:16)

  - Sweet = God's sovereign will is always beneficial
       - The saints will be rewarded & vindicated for the sacrifices/investments they make.  Eternal life is a sure
          thing in Jesus, so even in the midst of persecution trust in him
       - God is in control & nothing happens without his knowledge
       - The end is near.  The scroll is the prophecy/judgments that will set things right.

  - Bitter = the end is near, but it will involve great suffering and martyrdom

So what?  Application?

In light of God's sovereignty what do you do with suffering?
   - 1 Peter 4:12-19 (Purpose)  God allows trials to test/strengthen our faith...Satan tries to use them to get
      us to curse/abandon God
   - 1 Thes. 5:18 (Response)

What role does God's word play in your life?
   - Encouraging?
   - Refining?
   - Sweet?
   - Bitter?
   - Who is the person you have the most difficulty with?  Have you extended them grace?  Give them the
      Grace Card (see the movie of the same name)
   - FBC is to be a no triangulation zone.  Triangulation occurs when you have a problem with person A, but
      go to person B and complain hoping that they will side with you and never go to person A.  That is not in
      line with Matt. 18.  Try to work things out with person A and if not take a witness and if not then go to
      the elders...

Are you willing to be content in letting God be in control?

Are you willing to be a witness no matter the cost?

    - If intense persecution broke out today how would we continue to maintain our "up" (relationship w/
      God) and the "in" (relationship w/ other believers) and the "out" (our witness to those outside of a
      relationship w/ Jesus)?  Life Transformation Groups provide a key to all of this.