Exhibiting Discipline I

 

Phil 3:12, 15-16

 

SUBJECT: Spiritual Progress

THEME: Fulfill God’s purposes as we exercise discipline to run our race. 

RELEVANCE:

We must not allow our behaviors to be unruly, disorderly, disobedient, uncontrolled, disingenuous-not serious, or of embarrassing manners that derail our progress in Christ. To be winners who fulfill God’s plan, we must remain discipline throughout our race. 

INTRODUCTION:

Having seen achievement, we look now at the final ingredient in this formula for spiritual maturity and progress. Discipline is necessary to reach new heights in spiritual triumphs and finally reach the finish line of life as a winner.

Again, we are considering our need to grow spiritually by making continual progress. All of us want to be “winners” and fulfill the purposes for which we have been saved. But what is essential for winning?   

MESSAGE:

THE ESSENTIAL QUALITY OF DISCIPLINE. (Phil. 3:15-16)

ILLUSTRATION:  Frederick the Great of Prussia was walking on the outskirts of Berlin when he encountered a very old man proceeding in the opposite direction.

“Who are you?” asked Frederick.

“I am a king,” replied the old man.                                                                                      

“A king!” laughed Frederick. “Over what kingdom do you reign?”

“Over myself,” was the proud reply.

“Reigning” over yourself requires personal discipline.  – John Maxwell

     1.  Note the Extreme Importance of Discipline to a Christian.

 Temperance– Discipline, or Self-control is the ability to resist immediate gratification for the sake of a higher goal– Self Restraint.  (Ac. 24:25; Ga. 5:23; 2 Pe. 1:6).

         A.  Great Christians Always Have Self-discipline—without Exception.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

2 Peter 1:6, And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

               1. Discipline is Produced by the Spirit.

Ga. 5:23 shows that “temperance” is produced by the Holy Spirit.

               2. Discipline is Produced by Personal Effort.

2 Pe. 1:6 shows us that it is a product of the Christian growth experience. 

APPLICATION: Therefore, we must diligently invest our hearts and minds to experience a development of temperance throughout the course of our lives by the power of Holy Spirit.  This wonderful quality will solve the Christian’s struggle with emotional outbursts such as wrath, rage, anger, fear, and jealousy and cause us to avoid emotional excesses of any kind. We will have the ability to say “no,” to sinful desires and we will know when to say, “enough” to too much of anything. Thus the Spirit-controlled believer will be consistent, dependable, under control, disciplined, and well ordered.

         B.  Unfortunately, Our Society Seeks Instant Gratification Rather than Self-discipline.

ILLUSTRATION: We want instant breakfast, fast food, movies on demand, phone apps for immediate transactions, and quick cash from ATMs. But spiritual success doesn’t come instantly. Neither does the ability to consistently grow in Christ.

QUOTE:  As General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “There are no victories at bargain prices.”

APPLICATION:   Because we live in a society of instant gratification, we cannot assume that most Christians have self-discipline—that they will be willing to pay the price of greater growth, ministry, and responsibility.

         C.  When it Comes to Self-discipline, People Choose One of Two Things:       

               1. The Pain of Discipline Which Comes from Sacrifice and Growth or     

               2. The Pain of Regret Which Comes from the Easy Road and Missed Opportunities.

Each person in life chooses.

QUOTE:  In Adventures in Achievement, E. James Rohn says that “the pain of discipline weighs ounces. Regret weighs tons.”

Once again let’s turn our hearts to Christ, His Word, and the example of Paul— a Christian who was truly a higher achiever— as he shares more of the secrets to his personal success in growth and development.

     2. Discipline Yourself to Run by the Established Rules.  Vs. 15

Philip. 3:15, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

It is not enough to run hard and win the race; the runner must also obey the rules. In the Greek games, the judges were very strict about this.

          A.  Beware of Disqualification.

Any infringement of the rules disqualified the athlete.

               1.  Participate According to Established Spiritual Rules.

                     A.  A Disqualified Runner Did Not Lose His Citizenship (Though He Disgraced It).

                     B.  But He Did Lose His Privilege to Participate and Win a Prize.

ILLUSTRATION:   One of the greatest athletes ever to come out of the United States was Jim Thorpe. At the 1912 Olympics at Stockholm, he won the pentathlon and the decathlon, and was undoubtedly the hero of the games. But the next year officials found that Thorpe had played semiprofessional baseball and therefore had forfeited his amateur standing. This meant that he had to return his gold medals and his trophy, and that his Olympic achievements were erased from the records. It was a high price to pay for breaking the rules. (Thorpe's medals were reinstated in 1985 by the Olympic Committee.)

APPLICATION: We should run the race to win the prize, and this means participating by the spiritual rules laid down in this passage. We cannot loose our salvation, but we certainly can loose our reward (1Cor. 3:10-15).  Keep the Lord’s pleasure in mind as you run the race and not your pleasure.

               2. Emphasize the Importance of Obeying Spiritual Rules.

In Phil 3:15-16, Paul Emphasizes the Importance of the Christian Remembering the "Spiritual Rules" Laid down in the Word.

                      A.  The Christian Race Requires Discipline and Self Control.

QUOTE: “This word [self-control] describes people who are willing to get a grip on their lives and take control of areas that will bring them success or failure.”  — John C. Maxwell

APPLICATION:  To be disciplined means that we are “getting a handle on our self” in order to overcome sinful desires, spiritual pride, attitudes of self-reliance, spiritual laziness, extreme self-gratification, past failures and success, and overreacting.

                       B.  Spiritual Growth and Victory Requires Discipline and Self Control.

Therefore, discipline prepares us to fulfill God’s claims and will for our lives as we seek to practice what we have learned from His Word.  Discipline is the ability a person has to rule himself in following the example of Paul in Phil. 3:7-17.  It is the power to say “NO,” to rivaling desires that hinder our progress and say, “YES,” to everything God has outlines for our spiritual progress and success. This is key to our success. 

               3.  Practice Self Control–Discipline– to Remain in the Race.

1 Cor. 9:24-27, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: [27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

This is what Paul has in mind in this passage. The idea is that any athlete who enters a competition prepares himself to win by rigid self-control, strict conditioning, and rigorous training.

                       A.  Spiritual Growth Results from Discipline.  “. . . striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.”

Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation.

APPLICATION:  As Christians, we are running toward Christlikeness and our heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, witnessing, and public worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina. Don't merely observe from the grandstand; don't just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train diligently -- your spiritual progress depends upon it.

                       B.  Spiritual Growth Results from Self-denial.  “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:”

Any athlete who intends to win will prepare and restrict himself in all things: his diet, his activities, his associations, and probably even his friendships.  The winner knows that he must restrict himself in order to accomplish the ultimate task.

                            1.  At times we must give up something good in order to do what God wants.

                            2. Each person's special duties determine the discipline and denial that he or she must accept.

                            3. Without a goal, discipline is nothing but self-punishment. With the goal of pleasing God, our denial seems like nothing compared to the eternal, imperishable reward that will be ours.

ILLUSTRATION: Tenor Luciano Pavarotti is such a winner. He is often described by his admirers as “the new Caruso.” In a newspaper interview, the six-foot, three hundred-pound tenor asked: “Do you want to know the hardest thing about being a singer? It is to sacrifice yourself every moment of your life, with not one exclusion. For example, if it is raining, don’t go out; eat this, do this, sleep ten hours a day. It is not a very free life. You cannot jump on a horse. You cannot go to swim.”

               4. Play by the Rules in Order to Win the Race.

2 Tim. 2:5, And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

                       A.   If the Athlete Breaks Training, He Is Disqualified.

                       B.   If He Breaks the Rules of the Game, He Is Disqualified.

Only the contestants who compete by the rules will win the crown at the end of the race.

APPLICATION: Each of us as Christians ought to be pressing on toward the goal of Christlikeness and eternal rewards.  As maturing believers, we should understand that we could not, in our own humanity, gain perfection and acceptance by God (Phil. 3:8-10).  Salvation and Sanctification come through faith and dependance upon the Lord.  Yet because of our love for Christ, we willingly pressed on to follow his example in order to become more like him in life, all the while knowing that we are promised that we’ll know him fully upon our death or his return for us in the Rapture. (W. W. Wiersbe)

        B.  Be Aware of Revelation.  Phil 3:15, “. . . God shall reveal”

in order to play by the rules we must turn to the rule book–the Word.  This verse betrays some of the problems that faced the Philippian church.

            1.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Pride.

Spiritual pride had found its way into some of the believers;

                     A.   Apparently a Few Felt That They Had Reached a Holier Status than Their Fellow Believers

                     B.   This Was Causing Them to Look down on Those Whom They Thought less "Mature."

APPLICATION: There is never room for spiritual pride nor a ‘holier than thou’ attitude toward younger and struggling Christians. Spiritual pride is a mark of spiritual immaturity and infancy!  Spiritual maturity is marked by humility and service to others.

Philip. 2:3-4, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Galatians 5:26, Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6:1-2, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. [2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

            2.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Maturity.  Vs. 15, “As many as be perfect be thus minded”

                  A.  Notice Some Characteristics of a Faithful Mature Saint of God.

                        1.  They Depend on God!

Paul made it clear that those who were truly mature were those who realized their dependence on God.

                        2. They Determine to Press on!

They pressed on, not to make themselves good enough or to gain credentials by their accomplishments.

                        3.  Their Devoted to Knowing Christ!

Rather then spiritual pride, they pressed on to know their Savior better. This is their goal!

                   B.  The Goal of Every Believer Is Spiritual Maturity.

Col. 1:28, Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

                         1. The Word Perfect Means Mature or Complete, Not Flawless.

                         2. Paul Wanted to See Each Believer Mature Spiritually.

APPLICATION: Like Paul, we must work as wholeheartedly as an athlete, but we should not strive in our own strength alone. We have the power of his Spirit working in us. We can learn and grow daily, motivated by love, not by fear or pride, knowing that God gives the energy to become mature.

                   C.  Jesus Christ Is the Basis and Goal of Spiritual Maturity.

Hebrews 13:20, Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

The letter to the Hebrews is a call to Christian maturity. It was addressed to first-century Jewish Christians, but it applies to Christians of any age or background.

                          1.  Christian Maturity Means Making Christ the Beginning and End of Our Faith.

                          2.  To Grow in Maturity, We must Center Our Lives on Him,

                                 *  not depending on religious ritual,

                                 *  not falling back into sin,

                                 *  not trusting totally in ourselves,

                                 *  not letting anything come between us and Christ.           

                          3.  Christ is sufficient and superior.

            3.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Misconception.  Vs. 15, “Otherwise minded”           

Whatever problem of pride threatened to divide the Philippian church, Paul stopped it.

                    A.  God Will Show and Clarify Matters Concerning Spiritual Growth.

This was the final word on the matter; Paul invoked the illumination of God himself to clarify the truth of his words to those who thought differently. Those who were mature were to be committed to what Paul had said. And to anyone who thought differently about minor points, God would clarify the truth. God would lead them to the truth if they would keep their minds open.

                    B.  Are You Aiming for a Perfect Score with God?

Sometimes trying to live a perfect Christian life can be so difficult that it leaves us drained and discouraged. We may feel so far from perfect that we can never please God with our lives. Paul used "perfect" (3:12) to mean mature or complete, not flawless in every detail. Those who are mature should press on in the Holy Spirit's power, knowing that Christ will reveal and fill in any discrepancy between what we are and what we should be. Christ's provision is no excuse for lagging devotion, but it provides relief and assurance for those who feel driven. (W. W. Wiersbe) 

CONCLUSION:

Hebrews 12:1-2,  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is an exciting experience to run the race daily, "looking unto Jesus" (Heb 12:1-2). It will be even more exciting when we experience all that the “high calling” entails when Jesus returns to take us to Heaven! Then we will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ to receive our rewards! It was this future prospect that motivated Paul, and it can also motivate us.

What Will God Say?

 

MATTHEW 7:21-23

Theme: When we reject false systems of evaluation, we are ready to embrace a concrete criterion from God.

Relevance: The Lord wants us to exercise wise judgment and choose the Will of God over the mere pretenses of people.

Introduction: the disciple must look beyond the appearance of things and note what is really happening. Refusing to be caught up with man made expectations we begin to perceive what God actually requires or stipulates.

Since there are false prophets in the world pointing people in the wrong direction, we must always be careful of deceptions. In this light Jesus reveals every disciple’s real priority consideration. God’s very own expectations…His standard…His criteria for genuine evaluations….

Message:

Determine to be the Person Who Does the Will of God (Matt. 7:21-23).

The final test is not what we think of ourselves, or what others may think. The final test is: What will God say? 

I.               How Can We Prepare for This Judgment?

By doing God’s will.

A.             The Lord Jesus next warns against people who falsely profess to acknowledge Him as Savior, but have never been converted.

                                                         i.     Not everyone who calls Jesus, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

                                                       ii.     Only those who do the will of God enter the kingdom. The first step in doing the will of God is to believe on the Lord Jesus.

1.     John 6:29, Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

2.     John 6:39-40, And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. [40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

3.     Matthew 12:50, For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

4.     Matthew 21:28-32, But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. [29] He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. [30] And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. [31] Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. [32] For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

B.    Obedience to His will is the test of true faith in Christ.

                                                         i.     When a person is truly born again, he has the Spirit of God living within (Rom. 8:9); and the Spirit enables him to know and do the Father’s will.

                                                       ii.     God’s love in his heart (Rom. 5:5) motivates him to obey God and serve others.

II.            Words Are Not a Substitute for Obedience, and Neither Are Religious Works.

A.    The Test Is Not Words!

                                                         i.     It is not saying “Lord, Lord,” and not obeying His commands.

                                                       ii.     How easy it is to learn a religious vocabulary, and even memorize Bible verses and religious songs, and yet not obey God’s will. 

B.    The Test Is Not Works!

                                                         i.     We are now introduced to those who apparently believe themselves to be genuine disciples and can appeal to their charismatic activities to prove it, but nonetheless turn out to have no real relationship with the Lord to whom they appeal. The false prophets of v 15 were deceivers, but these are self-deceived.

                                                       ii.     On judgment day when unbelievers stand before Christ (Rev. 20:11–15), many will remind Him that they prophesied, or cast out demons, or performed many wonders—all in His name. 

C.    The Test is Not Miracles. A Ministry of miracles is Not a Guarantee Nor a Sign of Real Salvation.

                                                         i.     From these verses we learn that not all miracles are of divine origin and that not all miracle workers are divinely accredited. A miracle simply means that a supernatural power is at work. That power may be divine or satanic. Satan may empower his workers to cast out demons temporarily, in order to create the illusion that the miracle is divine. He is not dividing his kingdom against itself in such a case, but is plotting an even worse invasion of demons in the future.^[1]

                                                       ii.     Preaching, casting out demons, and performing miracles can be divinely inspired, but they give no assurance of salvation. It is likely that even Judas participated in some or all of these activities, and yet he was not a true believer.

                                                     iii.     In the last days, Satan will use “lying wonders” to deceive people (2 Thes. 2:7–12).

                                                      iv.     Even if they were doing supernatural deeds—prophesying in His name, driving out demons, and performing many miracles, they were not obedient to the Father, continually doing His will (Matt. 7:21). They would be refused admission to the kingdom because Jesus had no personal relationship with them (vv. 21, 23).^[2]

III.         Acceptance Depends Not on Profession, Nor Even on Apparent Christian Activity, But on Whether Jesus Knew Them. All their appeals will be in vain.

A.    Matthew 7:23, And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

                                                  ii.     Jesus is explaining that not everyone (especially highly religious people) who claims to be Christian will be recognized by him.

                                                iii.     A true believer cannot lose his salvation, nor can all miracles be performed by true believers.

                                                iv.     What does it mean to “work iniquity” or practice lawlessness?

                                                  v.     The quality or condition of having no regard for societies laws; behavior that is contrary to or shows indifference to God’s law: Unfortunately, a lot of confusion, lawlessness, stupidity, and even death surrounds this reality. 

                                                vi.     Jesus will declare to them that He never knew them or acknowledged them as His own.

A.    Note the extraordinary authority he assumes as judge; to enter the kingdom of heaven depends on his acknowledgment and consists in being with him.

B.    “Jesus goes on to describe those who will be able to call upon His name on the day of judgment. It will be those who hear His words and put them into practice, the same ones referred to in verse 21 as those who obediently do the will of the Father in heaven. True believers are the good trees that produce good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), the true sheep who look to Christ, depend on Him, commit themselves to Him, trust in Him, and believe on Him for righteousness, salvation, and eternal life. These are the ones who will enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (From Does Matthew 7:21-23 mean that believers can lose salvation?)

Conclusion:

When we reject phony righteousness, we become able to eliminate false systems or sanctimonious standards of judgment also. Our Lord invites us to exercise wise judgment and choose the Will of God over the mere pretenses of people.  Will you accept his generous invitation?

MANY ARE STUCK IN DEADLY SINFUL SYSTEMS OF EVALUATION!

1 Timothy 6:20-21, O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: ²¹ Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

We must guard against the errors seeping into the churches and taking the place of God’s truth. Not only are we to guard the Bible teachings committed to our trust, but also avoid the dangers of improper division of the Word, foolish irrelevant chatter, and contradictions falsely claiming to be real knowledge.

 We are called to avoid being carried away by false teaching, by imitating the obedient faith of godly leaders.

Hebrews 13:7, Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation…. 17, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

GOD OFFERS FREEDOM THROUGH CHRIST FROM THE EVIL

The world in which we live is not a godly world, but we each must experience the freedom that Christ offers to us so that we can live in this world, yet not be “of” this world.

John 17:14-17, I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [15] I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Christ prayed earnestly that we would not become enslaved and influenced by the evil present in the world system. 

YOU CAN BE FREE OF SIN’S CLUTCHES TODAY WHEN YOU RECEIVE CHRIST!

To any person in the clutches of something sinful, negative, or evil, “You can be free!”

Romans 6:18, Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Romans 6:22, But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

This is the spiritual freedom that everyone needs to become familiar with.

GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS YOURS BY HIS GRACE! (Through the kindness and help of God)

Ephes. 1:7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Have you decided to accept and receive Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? To “accept and receive”—is required for you to be forgiven by God, regardless of the nature, magnitude, or deep entrenchment of your sins.

To “accept” is to believe with your mind that what the Bible says about Jesus and His death on the cross is true—that Jesus died for your sins, and He rose again to give you and me new life in Him. To “receive” is to say, “I don't merely accept what Jesus did on the cross as a fact of history or as a statement of sound theology, but I accept His sacrificial death on the cross as being for me personally and individually—his sacrifice was made for my sins. I invite Christ to indwell me, to cleanse me of all my past transgressions, iniquities, evil, and sin, and to make me a new person in God's eyes. I receive the work of the Holy Spirit in me that gives me a completely restored relationship with my heavenly Father.”

Titus 3:5-7, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Have you taken Him up on His offer? If not, will you accept and receive Jesus Christ today? Will you receive God's forgiveness?

---

^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1230.

^[2] Louis A. Barbieri Jr., “Matthew,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 34.

Holding on to His Promise

 

Rev. 22:7, 12, 20

Subject: Calm Assurance/Strong Faith

Theme: Take Jesus Christ’s Promise to Heart to Finish Strong

Introduction:

Assurance and direction bring strength and resolve to our experiences though we are certain to face many challenges. We are assured of ultimate triumph through the precious promises of the Lord.

Relevance: real faith…our otherworldly confidence in God is strengthened by His promises. These promises prepare, stir, and assure us resulting in power to endure the trials and unfair situations of life.

Message:

I.               Prepared by His Promise (Rev. 22:7).

Christ Himself seeks to prepare His people for His return with this promise.      

   A.  A Motivating Promise.  “Behold, I come quickly:”

From Jesus himself come these words of assurance and motivation.

       1. Pay Careful Attention to the Promise.  “Behold”

The command “Behold” is an imperative! We must give our attention to this motivating and stirring truth, that Jesus could come at any time.

       2.  Be Prepared Considering the Promise. 

            a.  Three times at the close of this book Christ says, “I come quickly!” (vv. 7, 12, 20).

            b.  The word “quickly” in Rev 22:7 means “swiftly come to pass in succession.”

                  — This means that his coming will be quick and without delay.

                  — It will not be “soon” according to human timing (after all, John wrote this two thousand years ago), but it is certain to occur; it is imminent.

            c.  The churches have expected Christ to return since the days of the Apostles, and He has not yet come; but when John's prophecies begin to be fulfilled, they will happen very quickly. There will be no delay.

            d.  We do not know when Christ will appear, and it behooves us to be ready. Jesus clearly told his followers to be prepared, because they don't know when Lord is coming. 

Matthew 24:42, Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 24:44, Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

   B.  A Clarifying Promise. “blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.”

Jesus announced a blessing for those who obey the prophecy of Revelation.

       A.  What Does it Mean to Keep the Sayings of the Prophecy of this Book? (Rev 22:7)

             1.  Basically, the word “keepeth” means to guard, to watch over, to preserve intact. 

                    a.  It has to do with maintaining, observing, and fulfilling the commands of God in this book.

                    b.  “[Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book] That receives them as a divine communication; that makes use of them to comfort himself in the days of darkness, persecution, and trial; and that is obedient to the precepts here enjoined.”  — (from Barnes' Notes)

                    c.  Thus, the Book of Revelation is to be Received, Used, and Obeyed.

             2.  What exactly is a Christian to obey as detailed in The Revelation?

                    a. We are to be faithful to Christ. God commended the Philadelphians for keeping Christ's words and not denying his name (Rev. 3:8).

                    b.  We are to be spiritually and morally clean and prepared for Christ’s return (Rev. 7:14; 22:14).

                    c.  We are to endure patiently (Rev. 14:12-13).

                    d.  We are neither to add nor detract from Revelation's words (Rev. 22:18, 19).

             3.  Serving God begins with our faithful service to him now. Remain Faithful!

       B.  What is the Blessing? (Rev. 22:7) “blessed is he”

           1.  The command given to Record the Vision (Rev 1:11,19), has been carried out; this book was designed to be a blessing to believers according to (Rev 1:3).

Rev. 1:11, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev. 1:19, Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Rev. 1:3, Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

           2. “Accordingly a special blessing is pronounced on those who believe and heed the prophecy of the book. As stated earlier, this last book of the Bible, so neglected by the church and with its meanings confused by many expositors, contains more promises of blessing than any other book of Scripture. This reference to blessing is the sixth beatitude in the book (the seventh is in v. 14).”  –John Walvoord

           3.  Like the beatitude in Rev. 1:3, this one promises a blessing to believers who obey God by heeding the warnings of this prophecy.

Application: Preparation, motivation, clarification, and inspiration. We must be prepared as Paul insisted in 2 Ti. 4:1, 2: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” Again, it was Peter who required in 1 Peter 3:15-16, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: [16] Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” The need to be prepared is pressed upon each of us as believers. It is our lot to be firm, stable, established, ready, and to make the necessary arrangements! In other words, we need to stand firm in our faith in God, be stable in our walk with Him and be ready to meet the Lord Jesus at any moment.

II.           Stirred By His Promise (Rev. 22:12-13).

Clearly the coming of Christ in the Rapture is a stirring promise to be embraced by every child of God. The Promise of Christ’s Return here seems to be related more to the Rapture then the Revelation. We are so stirred to serve, trust, and rest in the Lord’s promises!

        A.  It Will Be Surprising (Rev. 22:12).  “And, Behold, I come quickly”

              1.“The coming of Christ is the preeminent theme of both the Prologue and the Epilogue (Rev 1:7; 22:7,12,20). By quickly (v. 12) is not meant that the Second Advent would occur soon after John completed the writing of this book. Rather, it means that the events of the Second Coming will occur so fast, one event quickly following another, that many will be taken completely by surprise.”   — (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

              2.  Bear in Mind that the Second Coming Has Two aspects: The Rapture and The Revelation. The first is before the Tribulation and the second is after the Tribulation. The next event on God’s prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the saints.

        B.  It Will Be Rewarding (Rev. 22:12).  "My reward is with Me"

              1.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ!

Believers will be judged according to their works; and rewards will be given to those who have been faithful. This implies that God is mindful of our sufferings, and our service, and nothing will ever be done in vain if it is done for Him.

The Bible records God rewarding his people for good works according to his justice.   No act of mercy will be forgotten; no true believer will be abandoned. (For more on rewards, see Matt 16:27; 19:27-30; Luke 6:23,35; 1 Cor 3:8,13-15; 9:25; James 1:12.)

              2.  We Have the Responsibility of Serving the Lord. 

Throughout church history, there have been those who have (to use Dwight L. Moody's words) become "so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good." They quit their jobs, sold their property, and sat and waited for Jesus to return. All of them have been embarrassed, of course, because it is unbiblical to set dates for His coming. It is also unbiblical to become careless and lazy just because we believe Jesus is coming soon. Paul faced this problem with some of the believers in Thessalonica, (2 Thess 3).

              3.  There Will Also Be Rewards in the Kingdom.

Christ reiterated that He would bring a reward for his people, according to what each had done (Rev. 20:12-13.) Our reward will include a place in God's kingdom (see Matt 25:34-40; Mark 9:47; 10:29-30), not because of our good deeds but because of God's gracious promise to people of faith (Luke 12:31-32).

               4.  Some Rewards Will be Personal and Individual.

Although all God's people will be saved and will enjoy the reward of eternity with him, several rewards seem to be given to individuals, according to what they have done. God will look at each individual's heart; thus, it may be that a quiet saint praying daily beside her bed will receive even greater reward than a flamboyant, well-known preacher. It may be that the woman who used her gifts to the fullest extent will be rewarded more greatly than the one who believed but was too afraid to reach her potential. God will not bestow his rewards in ways that we humans might. Each believer's job is to serve God to his or her fullest potential with a heart that is right with him (1 Cor. 3:5-15).

        C.  It Will Be Completing (Rev. 22:13). He will Personally Complete what He began in your heart! Christ repeated the words he had spoken at the beginning of the Revelation: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (see Rev. 1:8,17).

                1.  Christ as the Creator. (Alpha, Beginning, First)

The Creator began and will end time itself. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; it's like saying he is the A and the Z, or even A-to-Z.

               2. Christ as the Completer. (Omega, End, Last) 

Rev 22:13 is a great encouragement to anyone who seeks to serve the Lord. Whatever God starts, He will finish; for He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last.

Philip. 1:6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philip. 2:12-13, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Application: Stirred, stimulated, motivated, encouraged by this promise from the Lord Jesus to spring into actions of service, trust, and rest in Christ! I am reminded of the words of Moses when he said in Exodus 35:21, “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.” The encouragements of the apostle Paul seem to belong here as well. He said in 2 Tim. 1:6-14, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the gift of God, which is in thee (inner fire from God) by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ⁸ Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: ¹¹ Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ¹³ Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” May we be possessed by a passion to serve, trust, and rest in the Lord’s promises.

III.        Assured by His Promise (Rev. 22:20-21).

Assurance based on Christ’s promises yield great confidence, faith, and rest in the Lord.

   A.  The Final Promise of the Savior (Rev. 22:20).

        1.  We must keep expecting Jesus Christ to return (vv. 17, 20-21). Three times in this closing chapter John wrote, "I [Christ] come quickly" (Rev 22:7,12,20). 

        2.  But He, has "delayed" His return for nearly 2,000 years! Yes, He has; and Peter tells us why: God wants to give this sinful world opportunity to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:1).

   B.  The Fervent Prayer of the Saints (Rev. 22:20).

        1.  John adds the hope of all believers to the declaration of Christ by praying, “come, Lord Jesus.” 

        2.  If our study of Revelation has been truly led by the Spirit, then we will join John in the Bible's last prayer. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" To this John replied in a brief prayer, Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Are you ready?

         3. John could pray this because he was fully convinced of our Lord’s promise! 

   C.  The Final Provision for the Saints (Rev. 22:21).

Rev. 22:21, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

“This expression, so common in other New Testament books, brings this final word from God to an end. For those who believe that Christ in His first coming provided salvation, there is the wonderful promise of His coming again to bring full and final deliverance. As the book began by introducing a revelation of Jesus Christ so it ends with the same thought that He is coming again.”— John Walvoord

Application: Assured and therefore comforted by our Lord’s promise. Assurance is part of the experience of trusting in the promises of a completely trustworthy God. Faith takes God at His word, being fully persuaded that God has the power to do what he has promised (Rom. 4:21, Heb. 11:1-2). Assurance springs not from the power of positive thinking then but the power of the gospel. The Gospel is indeed good news, but since the gospel is God’s gospel (Rom. 1:1) it can be trusted because He is powerful to save, faithful to his word (Rom. 3:3), unable to lie (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18) and unable to change (Mal. 3:6). And since the gospel promises are according to the Scriptures (1Cor. 15:3-4) certainty is possible because these same Scriptures are God authored and therefore infallible and trustworthy (2Tim. 3:16-17; Luke 1:4; 2Pet. 1:20). Believers in Christ are assured of salvation because our God and salvation are true, sure, perfect, and unchangeable in Jesus Christ forever. It is okay for the believer to rest in the Lord Jesus every day of life. 

Conclusion:

“Probably no other book of Scripture more sharply contrasts the blessed lot of the saints with the fearful future of those who are lost. No other book of the Bible is more explicit in its description of judgment on the one hand and the saints’ eternal bliss on the other. What a tragedy that so many pass by this book and fail to fathom its wonderful truths, thereby impoverishing their knowledge and hope in Christ Jesus. God’s people who understand and appreciate these wonderful promises can join with John in his prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus.””— John Walvoord

Real faith always rests on the promises of God. Faith is essentially trusting in what God said, promised, wrote, or committed Himself to. It is not merely rooted in our own desires, ambitions, prayers, plea bargains, or wishful thinking…no matter how much we want it or how fervently we pray for it. This is why we should want to will of God above all else…His will often highlights his promises or feature His actions. Anytime we place confidence in something God said or promised, we exercise faith in God and His will. God’s promises give rise to real faith in our hearts. Yes, God is the worthy object of our faith, and His promises provide the very content or substance of our trust. 

Our spiritual confidence is strengthened by these clear promises from the Lord Jesus. They prepare, stir, and assure us resulting in strength to endure through the challenges and unfair circumstances of life. Take the Lord Jesus Christ’s Promises to your own heart so you too can finish life’s race strong, full of faith, and even more committed.