Tuesday, June 28, 2016

It is Finished!



It is hard to look back and see that 195 Bible Study sessions have walked us through the Book of Revelation, verse by verse so we can have a true understanding of what is contained in this Book. People have been afraid to read these words contained within it. The Book of Revelation begins with a blessing, and it ends with a provision of blessing of God's grace. You will never find another God's like ours. This is the final message in this series.

God did not give us prophecy to scare us, He gave us prophecy to prepare us.

Remember you will never understand the Book of Revelation without understanding the Old Testament, that is answered in the Book of Revelation by design.

We need to stand in our wholly Bibles unto the end.

Revelation 22:19 ~ "and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

We read yesterday about the warning "not to add to," the Bible which is a warning against cults. Those who add to the Bible are recognized as cults, like Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology, Mormons. They breed abhorrent theology in thinking God's Word is not enough and it needs interpretations outside of the Bible to explain what it really means.

Verse 19 is a warning to those who want to "take away" from what the Bible has to say. It recognizes theological liberalism. This 'take away' is amazing because it directly warns against biblical liberalism in the last days. Biblical liberalism means to diminish, to revise, to suppress, to altar, to usurp over the Author with the intent to change its original meaning. To sum it up, a false prophet.

Deuteronomy 4:2 ~ "You shall not add to the word which I command you, not take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you."

2 Peter 2:1-3 ~ "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber."

While the "taking away" from the Bible also gives birth to cults as well like Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code). Without knowing what the Bible has to say, how can you tell the truth from the lies permeating the world today. Their goal is to get you to question what is really true or not.

1 Peter 1:17-21 ~ "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of you stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

The Bible isn't some private interpretation, and man didn't write it. The Holy Spirit possessed man to write it. That is why it is without error.

How do I stand in my wholly Bible until the end?

1. Start to take your daily reading and glue it to your day. (No matter how many times you have started it, don't back up, pick it up today and keep on going. Get out a highlighter and highlight the verse that speaks to you in your daily reading. Incorporate that into your prayer and into your day.

2. Move out being confident because it's God's Word.

3. Confront the false, by using the Truth!

We need to trust in our Lord Jesus Christ right now.

Revelation 22:20 ~ "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely, I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

But how do I trust Jesus more? Do it now! God have never lied or deceives you.

1. Know what He says is true beyond perceptions.
2. Let Him be personal with you.
3. Obey Him when he speaks to you.

Mark 5:35-36 ~ :While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."

We need to enjoy our Lord Jesus Christ every day.

Revelation 22:21 ~ "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

The grace - is the enemy of every cult and the stumbling block of every liberal. In the Greek, is is 'charis' meaning the divine influence upon the heart, being accepted, benefited, favored, gifted, to become an object of joy, pleasure, approval, unearned delight!

A cult says you have to work you way into heaven and the one saying that all can agree with that Jesus said is that you should tithe. They are all about you giving your money to them.

Ephesians 2:4-10 ~ "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

The Christian life begins with grace; it is sustained by His grace; and we will finish by His grace. And we, we're finished by His grace.

Amen - so let it be, it is the truth, that's it.

But how do I enjoy the Lord Jesus more?

1. Take hold of His grace.
2. Practice His presence moment by moment.
3. Rest in the fact that you are His special child.

Remember you will NEVER have to work to get saved. It is a gift from God, paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross and all it takes is for you to simply accept it and ask Him into your heart today. Won't you take God on His word and be saved?

My hope is that first of all you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and that you have enjoyed these 195 individual Bible Study sessions through the Book of Revelation. My goal is that Jesus Christ has been revealed to you in a more powerful and real way through our time together. Now it is time to begin to study how we can be more Christ-like in our own life! Hope you continue to join me.

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