Recent Sermon Notes
What a weekend we had with guest minister Nancy Dufresne. She shared on the power of faith and reminded us that God and the Holy Spirit should always remain our focus. That means when we face difficulty, listening to the Holy Spirit, our guide on the inside, is the best thing that we can do. You can walk in faith toward your miracle!
Pastor Jim delivered his seventh installment in his series on the book of Romans, entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The first three chapters of Romans focuses explicitly on the definition of sin. “Because,” as Pastor Jim says, “if you don’t understand what sin is, you will not understand the solution to the sin problem.” Paul wanted them to understand that all of mankind has a sin problem, and no matter who you are, you will never, ever be able to achieve righteousness through your own merit. If doesn’t matter if you’re a secular pagan who worships Zeus or a religious Jew who strictly follows the law, God will never see you as righteous through your own effort. Pastor Jim has much more to say in this message subtitled, “All Under Sin.”
Last Sunday, Pastor Mac taught a message entitled, “They Brought.” He said, “If you’re in a relationship with the Lord, you’re in a covenant with Him. And that covenant is one of blessing.” Yet, many covenant believers do not seem to walk in the level of blessing the Bible promises. Why is that? Pastor Mac said walking fully in the provision and purpose of God begins by understanding what the definition of a covenant actually is.
What a wonderful Easter weekend we had as we celebrated Jesus! His resurrection is the focal point for our faith, for it bridges the gap between the seen realm and the unseen realm. As you go through your day today, remember that the resurrection power of Jesus has the ability to raise your circumstances high above anything you can imagine. The touch of death does not need to destroy your life! God’s resurrection power is at work in you and through you to touch this world for Him.
Pastor Jim gave the fifth installment of his series entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The first three chapters of Romans can be summed up by saying people who rely on their own righteousness, their own ability, their own self-effort will not escape the judgment of God. It is only through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can any man escape His judgment. In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul defines New Testament righteousness as the ability to stand before God without a sense of guilt or inferiority.
Revelation Revealed #11: Revelation chapter 6 | Pastor Jim Hammond | January 1, 2023
Recap:
Happy New Year! This past weekend, Pastor Jim ministered on Revelation chapter 6. It was part of his current teaching series on Saturday nights entitled Revelation Revealed. He started off by reminding us that this book has a promise attached to it. Blessed are those who read the words of Revelation. These words point to Jesus. Everything, even the judgments, point back to Him.
Specifically, Pastor Jim focused on the first few verses of Revelation chapter 6. These verses tell of the beginning of the first seal judgments. He provided context for what the world could look like in this day, and more than anything, how reading of these judgments should make us more and more active in bringing other people into a relationship with Jesus.
Dive Deeper:
The book of Revelation reveals Jesus. In particular, it reveals Him as judge. Starting with chapter 6, Jesus judges those who have rejected Him. If someone rejects Jesus, only judgment is left for them. Those who are left behind in the Tribulation have no argument. Everything is predicated on the sacrifice of Jesus, and if they reject it, they will receive the judgment that Jesus died to save them from. People can have Christ as Savior today or have Him as judge tomorrow.
An interesting thought Pastor Jim mentioned was, what if the tribulation doesn’t immediately follow the rapture? Perhaps there will be a short period of time after the rapture where people can process what happened and make the decision to turn toward Jesus.
The antichrist will become a key player after the rapture. Many Jews, in fact, will believe that the antichrist is the Messiah as he appears to point people toward peace; everything will change, however, halfway through the tribulation. The antichrist will turn on the Jews. Jews will begin turning toward Jesus, for the primary objective of the tribulation is to bring Israel back to God.
Prior to all of this, there will be a falling away of people from Jesus; this is happening even today. Let that challenge you to bring more people to Jesus. Talk about what is to come. Not everyone will listen, but at least you can provide them with information that will help them in the future. Let them know that Jesus loves them. Let them know that if they find themselves on earth after millions have disappeared that they should not take the mark. Point them toward Jesus and the amazing sacrifice that He took upon His own self so we can be saved.
Read About It:
Revelation 6:1–6 KJV
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
Daniel 9:26–27 NKJV
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
2 Thessalonians 2:1–8 Amp.
But relative to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet] Him, we beg you, brethren, not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here. Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God. Do you not recollect that when I was still with you, I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining him [from being revealed at this time]; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own [appointed] time. For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think God attached a blessing to those who read the words of the book of Revelation?
2. Why is it important to be aware of these future events?
3. What does it tell us about God that He is both Judge and our Savior?