(Archive of other audio sermons)
(Archive of other audio songs)

or

Sunday 18 August 2002 - "Be one of God's people"

(Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen)

Rev 1:9 - 13

9 ¶ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

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.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

In this revelation to John we are reminded of Daniel who had the same mystery revealed to him. We see how the old and new Testaments agree together.

John introduces himself as their brother, and companion. They were born of the same heavenly Father and belonged to the same heavenly family, and shared in the same suffering of Christ's sake. Woe to you if you seek men's applause and all speak well of you. Paul wrote in 2 Tim 3:12,

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

Do you realize what you are asking for when you ask for revival? You are asking to become the off-scourging and dirt of the world. There was a man of God overseas by the name of Zinzendorf who had over 1000 newspaper articles attacking him. When the truth is preached and wickedness exposed, the ungodly will not keep quiet. If you rebuke the deeds of the lawless, they will accuse you of legalism. John was not only their companion in suffering, but also patience, i.e. long-suffering.

He was exiled on the island of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. He was unafraid to speak out and bear witness of Christ. When you suffer, ask yourself why. If you suffer because of your sin and stubbornness, you're in the devil's camp. Others suffer with poverty, because they are lazy and flirt around with the opposite sex.

John was in the Spirit. Some want God to work and reveal Himself to them in power, but they walk in the flesh. Never! Gal 5:16 and onwards gives a clear description of the difference between a life lived in the Holy Spirit and one lived in the flesh. The fruit of a Spirit is love, joy peace etc., but a fleshly life harbor bitterness and the root of bitterness.

While the other Christians were gathering together on the Lord's day, he was alone and isolated on the island. He was not sulky because of his isolation and trouble. He did not only see the temporal, but saw the invisible, and walked in the victory of the Holy Spirit. A Christian should never be despondent, even if the devil turns all against him, for God intends it for good. Satan has no authority over us. He tries over and over again to let us fall, but burns his fingers every time, for God is with us and turns it for good.

John had his back towards God's revelation when Jesus spoke to him. He had to turn around. So too, you need to turn all your attention to what God wants to show you. It is not good enough to hear good sermons and hear Jesus speak to you. No, you must turn around, give your undivided, full attention to Him and obey fully. When John turned around, he saw the golden candlesticks and One like the Son of man in the midst. John fixed his gaze on Him and nothing else could distract him. Some try to please men and get distracted by what their father, mother, husband, wife, children, etc will say. They do not make God's Word their own, but please men. John made it his own. He spoke for himself, "I John ...". Can you speak of the faith as your own, or do you still live before people and say, "The minister and our church do not allow this and that"?

Are you a companion of John and God's people in their suffering and testimony of Jesus Christ. Some do not share in God's people's suffering, but add to the suffering. Make God's Word your own and be one with God's children in their suffering and testimony.