1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,640 Let's pray together. We thank you, Lord, for your. 2 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:07,760 Word for the life. That it brings us. 3 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:11,440 Week after. Week, we want to hear from you 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,720 and to understand what you have. For us today, so pour out your. 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,120 Spirit upon us. Bless us with. 6 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:25,680 Understanding with resolve to live according to what you teach 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:31,600 us and send us out from this place rejoicing in what we've 8 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,160 heard. We pray in Jesus name, Amen. 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:41,160 So today is Ascension Sunday and we remember this day. 10 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:45,440 Jesus's. Enthronement in heaven. 40 days 11 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,960 after. Easter the Ascension is a Janus 12 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,760 moment in the. Story of the Bible it is the. 13 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,800 End of 1 chapter, but it is not the end. 14 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:57,440 Of the story. It ends. 15 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,800 Luke's Gospel we hear at. The end of. 16 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:07,680 Luke's gospel that Jesus has. Risen and has ascended into 17 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,960 heaven, and Luke closes. It out right there. 18 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,400 But that is not the end. Of the story. 19 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:19,360 The story continues and in fact in Acts Chapter 1. 20 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,200 Luke tells the story. Again, acts. 21 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,880 As his sequel, he tells he. Opens the. 22 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,480 Sequel with the. Same. 23 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,560 Story He just adds a little bit of. 24 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:33,720 Color and comedy at the beginning of acts when he tells 25 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,320 it again starting in acts chapter one verse 10 the. 26 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,360 Disciples have just. Seen Jesus lifted up into 27 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:44,080 heaven, they've lost sight of him. 28 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,400 And then pretty comically, the disciples are gazing into 29 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:53,000 heaven. And two angels stood there in 30 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:58,480 white robes, and they said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand 31 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:01,160 looking into heaven? This Jesus who was. 32 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,440 Taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you 33 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,240 saw him go into heaven. And we should laugh a. 34 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,160 Little bit at the disciples. Standing there with. 35 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,440 The these two guards. From the heavenly host kind of 36 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,080 nudging them, hey guys, hey guys, what are you doing? 37 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:23,480 They're looking up and and they're saying it is time to get 38 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,200 on with what he has. Told you to do. 39 00:02:26,640 --> 00:02:28,320 There's work to do. Let's go. 40 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,440 It's funny, but it's also I'm afraid. 41 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,160 The way that. We often times conceive of life 42 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,240 after the Ascension. Life after. 43 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,640 Jesus went up into heaven. He's gone. 44 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,560 What do we do now? That same kind of feeling, I 45 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,040 think. It's it's as if. 46 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,520 The ascension was the end. Of the story. 47 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:58,160 When it's just the end of 1 chapter and as Luke makes this 48 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,840 clear in the rest of. The book of Acts First of all, 49 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:04,000 there's. Pentecost and the pouring out of 50 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:05,520 the. Spirit just as Jesus. 51 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,920 Promised and then Jesus. Goes with his people out. 52 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:15,520 Into the world Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth, 53 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:18,640 especially in Rome at the end of the book of. 54 00:03:18,640 --> 00:03:22,240 Acts did Jesus. Leave them, No way. 55 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:25,320 He kept His promise. He went with them. 56 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:29,880 He was with them always to the ends of the earth, as they went 57 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,200 out to make disciples of all nations. 58 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,840 Now today's sermon is entitled, very cleverly I might add. 59 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,200 What's Jesus up to you? Get it? 60 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:49,320 Isn't amazing pastoral cleverness? 61 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,480 Always get some. So. 62 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:57,040 We usually think about the ascension from the angle. 63 00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:01,400 Of the disciples. But Revelation chapter. 5. 64 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,280 Is another angle on the ascension. 65 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:06,880 It is the heavenly angle of. What? 66 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,080 Happened after Jesus arrived in heaven. 67 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,000 So I want you to turn to Revelation chapter 5. 68 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,640 Thanks to Alex for reading that. That wasn't Spanish. 69 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,519 I didn't take that in school. Thank you for reading to us, and 70 00:04:21,959 --> 00:04:25,640 let's make sense of what we've heard from Revelation chapter 5. 71 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,600 You can find it in the Church Bible on page 967. 72 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,840 And from this angle, from the heavenly angle, we can see. 73 00:04:32,840 --> 00:04:33,440 What? Jesus. 74 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,480 Is up to now and. Also what we are up. 75 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,680 To with him what? We have to do. 76 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,000 After the ascension, and we'll see that in four important ways. 77 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:47,440 But first, let's read a little bit. 78 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,040 Of what's happening in Revelation. 79 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:52,480 Chapter 5. John writes. 80 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,040 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the 81 00:04:55,040 --> 00:05:00,800 throne, a scroll written within and on the back sealed with 7 82 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,400 seals, and I saw a mighty Angel proclaiming with a loud voice. 83 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,440 Who is worthy? To open the scroll and. 84 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:12,360 Break its seals. Saint John, in a vision on the 85 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:17,840 Isle of Patmos, sees the heavenly throne room in all its 86 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:20,040 splendor. But there's a. 87 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,680 Problem and that. Is that the worshippers were 88 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,560 gathered to celebrate the feast. Of the ascension, but the. 89 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,720 Worship service has. Started and ground. 90 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,920 To a halt. No one. 91 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,560 There was qualified to. Read the lesson. 92 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:39,560 They'd had hymns. They had. 93 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,320 Prayers. But then it's time to read. 94 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,480 God's Word. No one is. 95 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:49,120 Qualified, so he says. Verse 3 No one was able to open 96 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:50,400 the. Scroll or to. 97 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,880 Look into it and we bought this church building in 2021 and the 98 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:57,840 former owners. Told us a story as we. 99 00:05:57,840 --> 00:05:59,240 Bought it and moved into the building. 100 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,280 A notorious wedding happened here in this building some years 101 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:09,000 ago apparently the wedding started in the early afternoon, 102 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:16,400 but the bride wasn't ready, so the band played and played and 103 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:20,640 played and eventually people started getting up and leaving 104 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,760 and by the time the bride came up in the early evening, most of 105 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:27,000 the. People had left. 106 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,360 They weren't even here for the ceremony. 107 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,840 That service was stuck. It couldn't go on because they 108 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:36,360 were waiting on. The bride. 109 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:38,320 And. This is very. 110 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,960 Similar what we're finding here in Revelation chapter 5 John's 111 00:06:42,280 --> 00:06:46,560 vision is very similar because. They were stuck too. 112 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,480 So verse 4. John bursts into tears. 113 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:55,160 He began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open 114 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,800 the scroll. Why was John so broken? 115 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:01,280 Hearted just because the worship service was. 116 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:05,320 Stuck. Well, it's because in heaven 117 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,120 this is more than a worship. Service this is also. 118 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:16,280 The command center in heaven there is no separation of church 119 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:20,440 and state the heavenly throne room is both the national 120 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,040 cathedral and the Pentagon at the same time. 121 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:25,000 It's simultaneously the place of. 122 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,400 Worship. And the cosmic command center 123 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,200 where God's. Word is read. 124 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,240 And then put into motion. So John wept. 125 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:34,960 Because the world is. Broken. 126 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:40,360 And if God's word goes unread, injustice remains. 127 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,480 Cries of distress everywhere. Go. 128 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,760 Unanswered hopes. Dashed the. 129 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:51,440 Healing of creation remains on hold, and John knew this. 130 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,760 He had this vision on the Isle of Patmos, where? 131 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,880 He. Was himself exiled. 132 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:00,080 Because of his. Faith. 133 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:04,040 And it had been some years earlier that Nero that the Rome 134 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,840 had burned in a fire and Nero had blamed the Christians and 135 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,440 there had been martyrdoms in Rome and there were martyrdoms. 136 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,040 All across. The Christian world in that 137 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,760 time. So John felt the brokenness 138 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:17,640 then? Just as we. 139 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:22,120 Feel the brokenness of the world today, all of the loneliness. 140 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:23,640 All. Of the trauma. 141 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,240 The abuse, all of the. Hurts that our congregation. 142 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,720 Feels heart attacks. And strokes and other things 143 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:35,600 that have affected us, cancer, carjackings and gun violence and 144 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,840 many problems in the city and. We say how? 145 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:40,679 Long, O Lord, about these things. 146 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:44,320 And John says how long, O Lord? And the people in this church 147 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,960 service in heaven are saying how long, O Lord? 148 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:49,800 And they're all saying it because. 149 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:54,040 God's secret. Plan to remake the. 150 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:59,200 World The. Plan of new creation putting 151 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:01,520 the. World to rights is stuck. 152 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,280 On hold with no one to read. God's Word. 153 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:10,240 And to put it into action, this plan is rolled up in the. 154 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,520 Scriptures sealed with. 7 seals. Who is? 155 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:16,440 Worthy to open it verse six one of the. 156 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:20,440 Elders said weep. No more, for behold the lion of 157 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:22,000 the tribe of. Judah, the root. 158 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,680 Of David has conquered so that he can open the scroll and its 159 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:29,880 seven seals in between the throne and the four living 160 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:31,400 creatures. And among the elders I saw a 161 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,680 lamb standing as though it had been slain. 162 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:39,720 Now that's the Messiah, Jesus who conquered sin on the cross, 163 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,400 who conquered death on Easter, who became the Neil Armstrong of 164 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,520 heaven on ascension day, the first man to take the throne 165 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:53,560 over all creation. And then verse 7, his first 166 00:09:53,560 --> 00:09:55,760 action as king. Look at this. 167 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:57,880 He went and. Took the scroll. 168 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,320 From the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 169 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:05,200 Jesus's first. Action is very important. 170 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,200 Because this is what got. Israel into trouble? 171 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:11,200 This is what? Caused the downfall. 172 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,280 Of the people of God, they had the word of God. 173 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,200 But they didn't read it, and they didn't put it in. 174 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:21,120 To practice this is what. Caused the Babylonian exile, now 175 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,400 we. See Jesus, however, who takes it 176 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:29,840 to read it. Then and now, the first and 177 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:32,720 foremost responsibility. For every leader. 178 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:34,320 In every. Place is to. 179 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:39,960 Listen to God to meditate on His word night and day, and then to 180 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,880 lead accordingly. God's. 181 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,560 Word is the. Plumb line. 182 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,880 For every CEO, for every. Politician and bureaucrat. 183 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:52,880 It's the standard for every one of us in all of our vocations, 184 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,520 for we are all made in God's image. 185 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,120 And His word teaches us how to live. 186 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:01,840 His word teaches us how to lead and. 187 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,160 If we don't live accordingly, things will go wrong. 188 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:10,520 So he calls all people everywhere to live. 189 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:14,240 According to his word and in heaven, on that first ascension 190 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,440 day, Jesus the King took possession. 191 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:22,200 Of the word. With determination to rule all 192 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:26,600 things accordingly and things began to change for the better 193 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,280 everywhere from that day all the way up until now. 194 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,080 Meanwhile, down on the Mount of Olives. 195 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:36,000 The disciples are. Standing, looking up into heaven 196 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:38,680 and the angels are saying hey guys. 197 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:41,560 Hey, guys. And if. 198 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,360 They could have. Seen what we see from 199 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,800 Revelations angle. They would have. 200 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:51,120 Known that that. Jesus received the scroll. 201 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,280 He went on to open the seals. He went on to. 202 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:58,720 Read the word. And to put it in to motion, it's 203 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:02,960 a chain reaction of mission and healing and justice and truth 204 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:07,320 and life and love that begin to flow out from this moment, which 205 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,240 begins with the ascension of Jesus into heaven. 206 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,400 But the first? Response is praise and worship. 207 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,160 That's the next thing that happens after hearing the. 208 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,800 Word of God. Everyone begins to celebrate and 209 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,440 look at how they celebrate. In verses 9 and 10, the elders 210 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,600 and others around fell down before him and they sang a new 211 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,160 song. And then in verse 11, myriads of 212 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,480 myriads and thousands of thousands begin to sing a new 213 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:38,480 song. And then in verse. 12 All 214 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:42,120 creatures everywhere. Began to sing a new song and 215 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,640 these songs. Tell us what Jesus is up to. 216 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,720 Now and what? We are up. 217 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,320 To with him or what? We should. 218 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:57,560 Be up to as we join Him in ruling faithfully according to 219 00:12:57,560 --> 00:13:01,840 God's Word as He is making all things new He invites us into. 220 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:06,320 This to rule. With him and he calls us to join 221 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,000 him in four important. Ways the first. 222 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,600 Of them is on the. Cross Jesus. 223 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,160 Triumphed over sin. So that. 224 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,960 We can now do the same on the cross. 225 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:22,160 Jesus triumphed over sin so that we can now do the same. 226 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:25,920 See the new song in verse 9. Worthy. 227 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:30,040 Are you to take the scroll? And to open its seals, for you 228 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:33,120 were slain, and your. Blood by your. 229 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:37,840 Blood you ransomed. People for God. 20 years ago. 230 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,440 A high. Profile Christian. 231 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,720 Author and speaker wrote a book about. 232 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,760 Revelation and he popularized this slogan that says you want 233 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,880 to know Revelation, the Book of Revelation summarized in two. 234 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,360 Words. It's these two, Jesus. 235 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:54,480 Wins. Jesus wins. 236 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:56,680 And it's very. Popular for a while. 237 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,880 The problem with it. Is that Jesus already? 238 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,000 Won. Before the book of. 239 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:07,320 Revelation even begins. It happened on the. 240 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,520 Cross where Jesus? Ransomed. 241 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,480 People for God. That's the new song that 242 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:17,400 everyone's singing when he arrives in the Ascension. 243 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:23,160 Sin is rebellion against God, and death is the punishment for 244 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:27,320 traitors. We all deserve to die because of 245 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,040 our. Disobedience, our sin, our 246 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,240 rebellion against God. But through the the cross, 247 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,120 Jesus. Paid our ransom. 248 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:38,640 He does this for all who. Repent of their disobedience, of 249 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:43,480 their rebellion, and put their allegiance in Him on the cross. 250 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:47,400 Jesus triumphed over sin so that we can do the same. 251 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,400 So one thing that He is up to right now is empowering us in 252 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,880 holiness, empowering us in this fight against sin. 253 00:14:57,080 --> 00:15:03,120 With his help. You can be clean, you can live 254 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,960 according to his word. You can live a. 255 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,840 Godly. Righteous. 256 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:09,840 And sober life. As it says. 257 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:11,640 In the prayer book. To the glory. 258 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:16,120 Of his holy name, so sanctifying us, making us. 259 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:20,240 His holy people is a huge part of what Jesus is up. 260 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:24,320 To right now and he invites. Us to be a part. 261 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:30,040 Of that holiness a second thing that Jesus is doing right now is 262 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,920 he's gathering all kinds of. People all. 263 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:36,640 Kinds of people into his church. See, as the song continues at 264 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:40,720 the verse end of verse 9, he ransomed, ransomed people from 265 00:15:40,720 --> 00:15:45,880 every tribe and language and people and nation. 266 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,360 Just. Rescuing Israel would not have 267 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,880 been enough to end Satan's reign of terror. 268 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:56,480 Over our world he had. To ransom. 269 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,600 All peoples, everywhere. The old creation. 270 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:04,920 Had failed. A new creation had to begin, and 271 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:09,200 so only by Jesus becoming King of all nations and all. 272 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:14,080 Peoples, will this work succeed? So that's what Jesus. 273 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:19,040 Was up to on the cross and what he continues to do even now see 274 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:23,560 verse 10 he invites. Our help with this project. 275 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:28,040 For he made us a Kingdom and priests. 276 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,200 To our God. Extending God's forgiveness and 277 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:34,080 welcome not only to Jews. But also to. 278 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:40,400 Gentiles, all the other families and nations of the world, and 279 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:44,960 our church here is an embassy of the Kingdom of God. 280 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:48,640 For the people of. Washington, the nations who 281 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:50,360 come. Here our church is a. 282 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,680 Colony of Heaven. Here to establish. 283 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,800 Heaven on earth. Now, to be clear, we don't do 284 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,360 this mission. Without Jesus. 285 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,800 As he said in the Great Commission, behold, I am with 286 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:06,880 you always, even to the end of the age. 287 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:09,480 As we go out on mission, he promises to go. 288 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,440 With us. He promises. 289 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:14,640 To be a part of our work as a royal priesthood. 290 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:19,760 But by the same token, Jesus doesn't do this mission without 291 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:24,760 us, or at least not usually very rarely. 292 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:26,640 Before his. Crucifixion. 293 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,680 He. Said that it would be better. 294 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,840 If he went away. So that his spirit would be 295 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,080 poured. Out on all of us so that we can 296 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,960 multiply his mission in all the world. 297 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:38,360 And that's exactly. What he did? 298 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:40,560 That the power of the Spirit. Now he goes. 299 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,520 Out with us. On mission through sharing the 300 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,320 good news through praying for healing as. 301 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:51,040 A priesthood of believers. Restoring justice and so on. 302 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,200 This is the. Work that Jesus has. 303 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,480 Given us to do this. Is the work that he is. 304 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:58,080 Doing now. Through us here. 305 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:03,680 As an embassy of his Kingdom and we promise to do this every 306 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:04,960 Sunday at the end of our service. 307 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,600 You know, we gather at the back, the Deacon says go forth into 308 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,560 the world in the power of the Holy Spirit and we say thanks be 309 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,840 to God and that is our agreement that we are going out into. 310 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:16,920 The world as ambassadors of Jesus. 311 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:18,600 In the power. Of his spirit. 312 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:25,240 How long has it been since you told someone about Jesus? 313 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,480 Why are you standing there looking up at heaven? 314 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:42,840 Go tell someone about the risen King. 315 00:18:43,120 --> 00:18:47,120 There is no better news. For our world today. 316 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,000 That's another thing that Jesus is doing. 317 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,960 Here's a third thing. Jesus is preparing an eternal 318 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,960 dwelling place for us, not. Up there, but right here. 319 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,640 See the end of verse 10. Jesus gathers people. 320 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:06,120 From every nation to become a Kingdom of priests, and they 321 00:19:06,120 --> 00:19:13,840 shall reign on the earth. Heaven is not our home. 322 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:19,000 It is not our final destination. The Bible doesn't teach that. 323 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:22,480 It's a. Staging ground. 324 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,760 For what? Is yet to come the dead in 325 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,680 Christ? Are alive with. 326 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:31,120 Him now in heaven. But that is not where they will 327 00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:31,960 stay. Nor is it. 328 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:35,760 Where he will stay, we say. This in the Nicene Creed, every 329 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,440 Sunday he will come again and glory to judge the living and 330 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:41,400 the dead, and his Kingdom will have no end. 331 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:46,720 NT right? The theologian likes to put it 332 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:47,480 this way. Another. 333 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:51,440 Clever pastor trick. Heaven is important, but it's 334 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:56,880 not the end of the world. The earth will not be destroyed 335 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,800 at the end of history. Instead, as Jesus says in the 336 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,280 Beatitudes, the meek will inherit. 337 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,440 The Earth. So when Jesus returns, earth and 338 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:10,800 heaven will be reunited, and the earth will be heavenized, and 339 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:15,440 Jesus people from every tongue and every nation will dwell in 340 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:19,720 peace and safety and worship under the benevolent reign of 341 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:22,880 Jesus the risen King. Therefore, we as Christians 342 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:23,720 should have a. Very high. 343 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:28,200 View of creation we should have a high environmentalism, we 344 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,120 should. Care about all the world. 345 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:33,440 That he has made because it belongs to him and he is coming 346 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,800 back to. Live here, we should take care 347 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:42,000 of this place. Because it belongs to him 4th 348 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,240 and finally. Jesus has gifts. 349 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,000 And he is. Eager to share? 350 00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:53,760 Look at the new song Song by the myriads in verse. 12 there are. 351 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:58,120 Seven things that he is given worthy is the Lamb who was 352 00:20:58,120 --> 00:21:00,320 slain. To receive power. 353 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:05,920 And wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing 354 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,360 and all of creation, all the living things. 355 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:12,080 Sing this in verse 13. They have. 356 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:16,160 Four of those. 7 To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, 357 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:20,560 be blessing and honor and glory and might, forever and ever. 358 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:24,720 Jesus right now is the King of kings and the. 359 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,240 Lord of Lords. And that means? 360 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:30,760 He has wealth. And power and wisdom and 361 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,040 blessing beyond our. Wildest. 362 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,240 Dreams that have come to him. He possesses. 363 00:21:36,360 --> 00:21:38,440 These things because. He is the. 364 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,280 King. What does he do with it all? 365 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,720 What any king does. Whether good or evil, he shares 366 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:49,560 the love with his people. Think of our former president. 367 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,920 Think of our current president handing out pardons to 368 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,840 scoundrels they love. Right. 369 00:21:58,160 --> 00:21:59,840 Do you think? Jesus will treat. 370 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:04,680 Us scoundrels any different? No, this is what kings do. 371 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:08,640 Jesus power. Is infinite. 372 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:13,040 His. Wealth beyond imagination, his 373 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:17,040 wisdom unparalleled. And he promised I will not. 374 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:18,720 Leave you as. Orphans. 375 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:24,040 Rather, he pours out his spirit. And his gifts upon the church. 376 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:29,680 So that we, his body take. Whatever we need out into the 377 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:35,040 world as his ambassadors. He supplies his people. 378 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:39,400 On the front. He blesses us with gifts. 379 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,640 Like Father Christmas in the Narnia. 380 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,360 Stories, right? The gifts that are. 381 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:47,040 Given at Christmas are not toys. They're tools. 382 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:48,600 They're. Weapons they are. 383 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:53,480 For the the. Remaking of Narnia the same way 384 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,160 in. Their true story, This story of. 385 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,200 Heaven and earth being remade. We are a part of the new 386 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:03,200 creation and Jesus gives us new creation. 387 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,000 Gifts they are. Tools. 388 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:09,040 For the remaking of the world as His ambassadors in the world. 389 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:12,080 So what do you need from the Lord to be His? 390 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:15,640 Ambassador here. Think for a moment of. 391 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,400 What you would like to? Ask him for because Pentecost is 392 00:23:19,400 --> 00:23:23,720 coming next Sunday and it is a very good time to ask him. 393 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:28,200 For a gift. Let's say you're feeling 394 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,400 especially powerless to represent him. 395 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:35,360 Maybe you see something? A great evil at work. 396 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:38,080 Or maybe it's a little evil at work. 397 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,360 Maybe it's at school, maybe somewhere else in the community, 398 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,160 but you. Feel powerless to. 399 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:48,280 Stand against this thing well. Who has all the power? 400 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,720 The King of Kings, the. Lord of Lords worthy. 401 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,520 Is the Lamb who was slain to receive? 402 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,040 Power. He shares it with his people. 403 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:00,880 Pentecost is coming. It's a very good time to ask 404 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:02,560 him. For power. 405 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,400 Or maybe you lack the wisdom to understand His word and to. 406 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,200 Be able to to live. According to it and to tell. 407 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:14,680 It to other people, well, he has all. 408 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:19,720 The wisdom in the world. He loves to share it. 409 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,000 With his people. Pentecost is coming. 410 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:27,760 Ask Him for this too. There's a list of seven things 411 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,760 here. He's got them all in infinite 412 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,800 abundance. Ask Him for all of them, and ask 413 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:36,920 Him so that you can be His faithful. 414 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,080 Ambassador here. In Washington. 415 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,680 Worthy is. The Lamb who was slain to 416 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:48,320 receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and 417 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,800 glory and blessing. Ask him for these things. 418 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,200 He is the. Great king who loves. 419 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:56,080 To give gifts to His people. Let's pray together. 420 00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:58,640 We do ask you. Lord to. 421 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:03,480 Empower us for this work. Thank you so much for calling 422 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:05,520 us. To serve with. 423 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,880 You to be. Ambassadors for you. 424 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:16,040 It's daunting, but thank you that you go with us to. 425 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,320 Pour out your. Blessings, your gifts upon us 426 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:24,320 scoundrels, make us new like you and use. 427 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,440 Us for your. Glory we pray in Jesus name, 428 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:28,200 Amen.