Latest / HBCWestminster / 12.13.20 Revelation 4:1-11 Pastor Danny Gardner

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12.13.20 Revelation 4:1-11 Pastor Danny Gardner · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  Well, our text this morning is actually Revelation, Revelation chapter 4, this Sunday and next. We are pushing pause on our study of Luke. We will come back to that in January. But we are going to be looking at for two Sundays now the worth of Christ. In fact, our theme this Christmas season is even just titled Worthy, the Worthiness of Jesus Christ. And I'll explain why here in just a moment.
• 0:22
  Our text this morning is Revelation chapter four. And so if you'd like to turn there, when you get there, if you don't mind standing in honor of the reading of God's word, I'll read our text and pray and begin. Revelation chapter four and verse one. After this, I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, come up here and I will show you what must take place after this.
• 0:50
  At once I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian. And around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads.
• 1:12
  From the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal. Around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.
• 1:39
  And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come. And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever.
• 2:02
  They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. And Lord, in heaven there is no joy apart from where you are, but Lord, in your presence joy finds its fullness. We long for heaven's shores.
• 2:32
  where there are no sad divisions, no evil designs, no untruths, no weariness or hunger or cold, no sadness, no suffering, none who are sick. We long for the day that we, your people, will stand before your throne covered by the blood of Jesus, an assembly when all will be kings and none will be servants except to you, Lord.
• 2:59
  So we ask that you would bring us speedily to that land of joy, and it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you, church. You can be seated. Some of you have probably heard the story of a young lady named Florence Chadwick, who in 1952 stepped into the waters of the Pacific Ocean off of Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California.
• 3:28
  The weather was foggy and chilly, and that journey is 26 miles. She could hardly see the boats accompanying her. Still, she swam for 15 hours. When she begged to be taken out of the water along the way, her mother in a boat alongside her told her that she was close and that she could make it. Finally, physically and emotionally exhausted, she stopped swimming and she was pulled out.
• 3:55
  It wasn't until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was actually just less than half a mile away. She had swam 25 and a half miles, only half a mile to the shore of California. Now here's a piece of the story I'll bet you haven't heard. Two months after Chadwick's failed attempt, she tried to swim once more, and once again a thick fog set in. But this time...
• 4:21
  She had a mental image of the shoreline in her mind as she pushed herself along. And not only did she succeed, but Chadwick ended up making that same swim two additional times. For good measure, Chadwick also became the first woman to swim the English Channel both directions, setting records as she did. After her failed attempt, she gave a news conference where she said, and I quote, all I could see was the fog.
• 4:52
  I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it. And listen, church, 2020 has certainly provided plenty of fog. My goal this Christmas season is to make sure that we can see the shore. My goal is to give us a biblical mental picture of what we have to look forward to.
• 5:17
  To the goal the Apostle Paul pictured when he said in Philippians 3 13 forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus in my personal morning devotions I have recently read 2nd Corinthians 11 this week. I was in 2nd Corinthians 11 12 13 And the Apostle Paul says in there all of these things that he endured all of these hardships that he endured
• 5:46
  What was it that helped him to get through those hardships? But the thought, the vision of heaven that he pressed forward toward the goal, the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. And this Sunday and next, we study what may be some of the most underrated chapters in all of scripture. If you were to list the top 10 most frequently asked questions that pastors get asked, what is heaven like? Would rank right toward the top. It's one of the most frequently asked questions I get asked.
• 6:16
  What is heaven like? Movies are made and become box office hits when they describe anything having to do with heaven. People who aren't even believers are enamored with the afterlife and what it will be like. According to Belinda Carlyle, lead singer of the Go-Go's, heaven is a place on earth.
• 6:36
  Kevin Costner in his famous baseball movie said that heaven is a baseball field in the middle of a corn patch in the middle of Iowa. Everybody's got an idea of what heaven is like. There are myriad testimonies of those who claim to have been taken to heaven and their testimonies differ slightly. They range in detail from paradise to seeing loved ones to the Lord and his angels. What's interesting to me, church, is that the answer to that frequently asked question
• 7:03
  is right here in Scripture, and I'll bet few of us have ever really spent any real time in it. This week and next, we will get a glimpse of heaven, actual heaven. Not what heaven might be like, but what heaven is like. God will, in Revelation 4 and 5, pull back the veil on his own throne room, allowing us to get a glimpse inside. And if you've ever wondered what heaven is like, wonder no more.
• 7:34
  Scripture says that one man received a vision of heaven, and two men in biblical history have actually been taken bodily to heaven. Two men stood in the actual dwelling place of God. In the end, one, Isaiah, was so terrified that he thought he'd be killed. Another, the apostle Paul himself, said that his experience defied words. The third, the apostle John, wrote the description we will study.
• 8:01
  this morning and notice in verse 1 he says after this i looked and behold a door standing open in heaven the first voice which i had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said come up here and i will show you what must take place after this now that voice we know from revelation 1 to be the voice of god christ jesus himself but verse 1 says after this i looked and let me just encourage us right off the bat church not to get caught up in the chronology of our text
• 8:31
  Because for the purpose of this study, the chronology doesn't matter. I know that there are all kinds of opinions about what after this means. But let me just tell you right up front, church, full disclosure, I'm not handing out any charts. I'm not giving any timelines. Honestly, I don't want us even to get caught up in.
• 8:53
  those types of ideas, eschatological ideas, and all of the different theories about what they may be like. And obviously I have my own opinions about what I believe the scriptures to say and what I believe to be true. However, for the purpose of this study, the chronology, the timeline, your own personal issues and hot buttons regarding eschatology, church, they just don't matter.
• 9:18
  You can surely find great resources on many sides of many issues regarding in-time events. But when you're nine months into a pandemic, and everyone is masked up, and lockdowns are looming once more, and schools are closed, and activities and family gatherings are canceled, the things we used to argue about seem to fade in their importance, don't they? You know why I'm not going to teach the Chronology Church? Because I just don't care. I just don't.
• 9:50
  It really doesn't matter. And what I want to point out today in Revelation chapter 4 is that it didn't matter to the Apostle John either. The point, when you read Revelation chapter 4, the point is not the chronology. The point and what is the bulk of the text, the point is the throne and he who sits on it. What matters right now and what our families and our kids and our churches most need is a clear picture of the shore.
• 10:20
  We need to be reminded that there is a throne in heaven and our Savior is worthy to sit on it. That is the point of the book of Revelation in this Christmas season. We don't just need meek and mild. I know that normally we focus on, during the month of December, meek and mild baby Jesus. We've heard the Christmas story, the baby in the manger, the wise men, the shepherds. It's an important story, obviously, and we will continue to tell it every year.
• 10:49
  But this year, we need to be reminded that that baby became a conquering king. One who has already won the victory. If you were going to title this morning's message, it could be Heaven's Throne and the Worth of Christ. Heaven's Throne and the Worth of Christ. And in fact, our outline follows those two points. You'll notice first, Heaven's Throne. And we follow the text in verses 2 through 10. Follow the text by noting the prepositions throughout.
• 11:19
  on the throne, before the throne, around the throne. All of which, all of these prepositions have as their focus the throne in heaven and the one who sat on it. And I believe it was the theologian C.T. Studd who said that he wished that he could dangle every Christian, every believer over hell for 30 seconds.
• 11:42
  he said i wish i could believe i could just dangle every believer like on a string over hell for 30 seconds he said if i could i believe it would change their lives but a far greater impact i believe would be to dangle every believer over heaven for 30 seconds and that is exactly what the apostle paul or the apostle john does in revelation chapter 4. and so let's look at it let's just dangle ourselves over heaven for just a few minutes and look at what heaven will actually
• 12:11
  be like you'll notice first on the throne on the on the throne look at verse 2 at once i was in the spirit and behold a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne and he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian we find in verse 2 that the almighty creator sustainer and redeemer of the universe is seated on the throne in heaven
• 12:43
  Now, Christ being seated is a phrase that is often used actually throughout the New Testament. It can refer to a number of truths. In Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 12, it actually says, when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, once he died on the cross, was resurrected and ascended into heaven, Hebrews chapter 10 says, he sat down at the right hand of God. Now, church, no priest ever sat, ever.
• 13:14
  in fact their office and responsibilities would not even allow for it to even consider sitting down a priest would have had first to consider his job complete which none of them did second in order for him to sit he would have had to have found familiarity enough in the presence of god to take a posture of comfort consider that no place was even provided in the tabernacle or temple for a priest to sit there were no chairs
• 13:40
  inside of the temple in order for a priest to sit down because their job was never done. And their attitude was one of constant vigilance. They never even would have sat down if they could. Christ, however, we find sat at the right hand of God, a place of honor, a place of exaltation and of power. He didn't need to fear condemnation because his work was completely accomplished. His work was finished.
• 14:11
  Now, an interesting aside and something I enjoy teaching in connection to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 12 is the fact that he actually sat, not only sat in the presence of God, of the Father, but he actually sat at the right hand of the Father. And this may have been an intentional reminder to the Jews of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the ruling council.
• 14:34
  that oversaw all religious affairs within Judaism while under Roman rule. In fact, the Sanhedrin were the ones who condemned Jesus and handed him over to Pilate to be crucified. And during their court proceedings, a judge would be chosen to preside over the hearings. On either side of the judge, a scribe would be placed. And so as the judge would sit, a scribe would be placed on his left and on his right. The scribe on his left
• 15:04
  was responsible for writing the condemnations the scribe on his right was responsible for writing the acquittals it was jesus who said that he came into the world not to condemn the world but to save it in fact just a few verses earlier in hebrews chapter 10
• 15:26
  It is said that Jesus is able to save to the uttermost because he is making intercession for us. And so now imagine this picture, church. Here is the father on the throne, Jesus at his right hand. The scribe on the right hand is responsible for acquittals. He is depicted as sitting at the right hand of the father writing.
• 15:46
  Equitals. Equitals. What a beautiful picture that is. And we find here in Revelation chapter 4 and verse 2 that Jesus is sitting on the throne and for the remainder of the book of Revelation preparing to cast judgment upon the earth. Here we find Jesus on the throne ready. Ready. And it says in verse 3 that he who sat there had the appearance of Jasper and Carmelian. His description of Jesus is interesting.
• 16:16
  Of all of the stones he could have chosen to describe the king, he uses these two, Jasper and Carnelian. Jasper is described as crystal clear in Revelation 21. It can be assumed maybe to be a diamond. You can imagine all the shining brilliance of Christ likened to a diamond with its many facets. Every direction you turn it, you see something new, light refracted in a new way. A Carnelian.
• 16:45
  Other translations may even use Sardius as a blood-red ruby. It's meant both to describe the beauty of God as well as his fiery judgment to come. And so you see Jesus here, a multifaceted, beautiful, crystal clear, and pure diamond, radiant, but also a ruby, ready to execute judgment on the throne. Notice verse 4 continues.
• 17:13
  Around the throne, the end of verse three, it says, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Verse four, around the throne were 24 thrones and seated on the thrones were 24 elders clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads. Continue, verse five, from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. We'll come back to those in just a minute.
• 17:42
  Before the throne, there was a sea of glass like crystal. Here we go again. Around the throne. Around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature like a lion. The second living creature like an ox. The third living creature with the face of a man. The fourth like an eagle.
• 17:59
  The four living creatures, each of them with six wings and full of eyes all around and within, are day and night, never ceasing to say, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is to come. And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor, and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him, seated on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. And they cast their crowns before him. That would make a great band name, Casting Crowns.
• 18:27
  We'll notice some things around the throne. Within the throne room, we see several things. First, an emerald rainbow, verse 3 says. It turns out that the throne room of God is actually a pretty busy place. Encircling the throne is a rainbow made of an emerald. The rainbow is meant to be a comforting contrast to the flashes of judgment spoken of in the previous verses. The Lord had promised in Genesis 9,
• 18:58
  never to destroy the earth again by flood. And although the wrath of God will be poured out on mankind for their disbelief, the rainbow reminds the reader that the wrath of God never operates at the expense of the faithfulness of God. Let me say that again, church. There will be a day where you get to heaven.
• 19:21
  where you will take a step across the threshold into the throne room of God, and you will see that throne, and you will see that rainbow. It's there, the emerald around the throne, encircling the throne like a rainbow. You will see that rainbow, and it will be a reminder to you of what the rainbow represents. It was a promise from God never to destroy the earth by flood again.
• 19:49
  And so let me say this one statement one more time because I think it's a significant one. The wrath of God never operates at the expense of the faithfulness of God. God is faithful to fulfill his promises, and that is represented there in the emerald rainbow. Also around the throne, you see in verses 4 and 10, we've already read them, 24 thrones.
• 20:16
  and elders seated on those thrones now there's some dispute about what those thrones are and who the elders are who sit on them some believe that these elders refer to angelic beings other others believe that they are the redeemed throughout time still others believe that they are possibly the raptured church however i think the first that they are angels can be dismissed straight away since nowhere in scriptures does it say that the angels sit on thrones it never says that
• 20:46
  Multiple times, however, the people of God are said to reign with Christ one day. And so I do believe that these represent the people of God, whether that is the raptured church or the redeemed of all time. I don't think really matters one way or the other. Listen to Matthew chapter 19 and verse 28. Jesus speaking, truly I say to you in the new world, when the son of man will sit on his glorious throne, which is what we have right here. You who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
• 21:19
  So we, the people of God, are said to sit on thrones in heaven that we will rule and reign with Christ. So no doubt these are the people of God on the thrones, but notice it also says in verse 4 that they are clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads. Their white clothing refers most probably to the dress given them by Christ himself, the white being the purity symbolizing Christ's righteousness imputed to believers.
• 21:48
  at salvation and their golden crowns are crowns of victory promised to those who have competed successfully and won. And those are the crowns that will eventually be thrown, cast at the feet of Jesus. So you see there an emerald. You see these thrones with the elders sitting on the throne, worshiping the Lord. You also see in verses six through nine, four living.
• 22:17
  And nearest to the throne are these four living creatures, which actually play a pretty central role in the events of Revelation. These are angelic beings who have been tasked with the defense of the throne. These four cherubim, surrounded with eyes so as never to be caught off guard. You can't sneak up on them, other words, because they have eyes in every direction. They become the divine war machine of Revelation. They will execute the judgment of God.
• 22:47
  on earth. And according to John here, and also described in Ezekiel chapter 1, these four creatures had different appearances. There's a whole abundance of ideas about what each of these represent, but I think probably the simplest understanding is that the first, the face of a lion, represents Christ's supremacy over wild animals, the lion being the king of the beasts. The second, with the face of an ox,
• 23:14
  Represents Christ's supremacy over domesticated animals because the ox is the strongest of those. The third, the face of an eagle, represents Christ's supremacy over flying animals. The last, the face of a man, represents Christ's supremacy over humanity because mankind was the pinnacle of creation. And so what they represent is the supremacy of Christ over all of creation.
• 23:44
  Everything that was made, Christ is supreme over. That's around the throne. Notice from the throne. From the throne, verse 5 says, Flashes of lightning, peals of thunder are always associated with the presence of God. In Exodus chapter 19 and verse 16, On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain, a very loud trumpet blast.
• 24:11
  so that all the people in the camp trembled and there could be no doubt church what john was seeing was the fullness of the presence of god in jesus christ this is the presence of god what the people of israel saw on top of mount sinai when the law was being given when the presence of god came to earth john was now seeing that same presence of god and here is
• 24:37
  Kind of another substantial proof that Christ and the Father are one. Christ is the presence of God. That's from the throne. What about before the throne? You continue in verse 5. Before the throne there were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass, like crystal. The seven torches, the seven spirits of God, describes the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, in all of its fullness.
• 25:05
  Throughout Old and New Testaments, the number seven we know represents completion, fullness, and here John sees the Holy Spirit in its fullness. John's vision of Christ seated on his throne in judgment would have been startling enough, but add to that these living creatures prepared for battle, and now the Holy Spirit as Christ's war torch. John would have been overwhelmed, I think, at this vision. One pastor has said the comforter.
• 25:33
  The Holy Spirit to those who love Christ, the Comforter, the one who dwells in us. The Holy Spirit of God that dwells in us will become the consumer of those who reject him. Also before the throne is a sea of crystal glass. Glass like crystal. And the sea is symbolic. And again, there are a lot of different ideas.
• 25:58
  I think that throughout all of these variety of interpretations, I think easily represented there, just the simplest interpretation seems to be that the purity and splendor of God are represented in this sea of glass. Really an interesting picture of heaven. But notice that the focus of heaven is the throne. The focus of heaven is not the living creatures. It's not...
• 26:28
  the elders on their thrones it's not the emerald rainbow it's not the appeals of lightning and thunder and the torches it's it's not the sea of glass like crystal the focus of heaven is the throne and the focus of the throne is he who sits on it and so let me ask honestly church is the throne and he who sits on it the focus of your life the throne is the focus of heaven is the throne your focus
• 27:00
  as well or is your mind and heart consumed with other things politics the direction and darkness of our country our broken economy how about this one whether the vaccine will work man i'm hearing all kinds of people talk about the vaccine and side effects and all of these other things hebrews chapter 12 says to fix our eyes on jesus the author and perfecter
• 27:30
  of our faiths. And so can I just for a moment, church, dangle you over heaven for 30 seconds? Will you do me a favor? Just close your eyes. Close your eyes for a moment and allow me to dangle you. Can you see heaven's throne room? The flashes of lightning, the sea of glass, the torches, the elders, the angels, the four living creatures, the emerald rainbow, the throne on top of all of it. If you can just
• 27:57
  put yourself there put yourself in john's shoes and see all of that is there anything on this earth that we need to fear if that is true if that's what awaits us is there any reason for us to be anxious because if all of that is true if that is our savior if that's the one who sits on that throne if that's the jesus that we love and worship and serve is there anything on this earth
• 28:30
  that he cannot handle, make the throne the focus of your life. That's first, heaven's throne. But notice second, the worth of Christ. The worth of Christ. And you pick up in verse 11. And our study this morning will only include the first word of this song that will be sung. Just the first word. Next Sunday, we'll pick up in verse 11 with the second word, okay? But for the...
• 29:00
  For our focus this morning, look at verse 11 and just the first word. Worthy, it says. Worthy. Next week, we'll look at the worth of Christ in creation, which is the focus of this song. Also, we'll look at the worth of Christ in dominion. If you look down at chapter 5 and verse 9, he says worthy again. Also, chapter 5 and verse 12, there's a third song, worthy.
• 29:30
  Again, the three worthy songs of Jesus in heaven. We'll look at the worth of Christ in creation next week, dominion, and in salvation. But let's look first this week at the importance of the word worthy, worthy. The Greek word axios, translated here worthy, can also be translated as valuable. Having merit, weighty, can actually be translated heavy.
• 30:00
  heavy. The thought behind this word is that the worth of Christ is kind of like gravity pulling inextricably everything else toward him. Romans 11 deepens this idea when it says, from him and through him and to him are all things. In other words, Romans 11 says that Jesus is the center of everything.
• 30:26
  He is the center of creation, certainly. We'll talk about that next week. But he's also the center of everything that's not created. He is the focus. He is the center. From him, through him, and to him are all things. In other words, everything in creation orbits around him. He is the middle. He is the gravitational pull that holds all things together. The three-part song that is sung in heaven.
• 30:56
  has as its central and repeated theme the word worthy, the worth, the gravity of Christ. Hebrews chapter 6 and verse 19 calls Christ an anchor for our souls, and indeed he is. For those who understand his worth, his weight, his gravity, for those who understand how heavy Jesus is and have therefore tethered themselves to him, there is no loss, there is only gain.
• 31:25
  This is why the Apostle Paul could say that to live is Christ and to die is gain He had tethered himself to the immovable Christ to the anchor of our souls and therefore could not be shaken even in times of trouble Ten or so years ago
• 31:44
  When Chase was just a newborn, he was only a matter of months old. Pearson was eight and Zach was five. And some of you have probably heard me tell the story of taking my boys and my family, Hallie Oswell, to Newport Beach in Southern California. And when my boys were little, we used to go to the beach and not only to swim, but we'd also fish. And just standing there off of the beach, we'd catch these little fish, little angry fish. Man, they were really fun to catch.
• 32:10
  just standing on the sand and casting into the waves. And every now and again, we would climb out on these long rock jetties that would extend out into the ocean. I mean, hundreds of yards out into the ocean. We'd go out where the water was deeper, trying to look for and catch bigger fish and sharks and other things. It was really fun. One of these times when, like I said, Pearson was eight and Zach was five, we were...
• 32:32
  uh way out there on one of these jetties we could look back and see the shore where hallie and newborn baby chase were hanging out there on a blanket and just enjoying the ocean enjoying the beach my boys and i were fishing and catching those little angry fish and throwing them back in and having a good time but we were well above where the waves were crashing against the rocks uh one moment and i don't totally know why i did this i looked out at the horizon
• 32:59
  uh out toward the ocean and noticed that one of the waves that was coming looked substantially larger than the ones that were crashing at our feet i noticed it was getting bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger and i didn't know why but i did see that wave suddenly swallow the end of the jetty that we were on the rocks that we were on this was going to be well above this wave was so much higher
• 33:22
  it was going to swallow the rocks that we were on. We had very little time to think. I dropped everything that we were holding, all of our gear and all of that. I looked at Pearson, who was eight and tall enough to kind of negotiate the rocks themselves. And I said, Pearson, get as high as you can quick right now. Don't ask questions. Start climbing. Get above where that wave is going to hit right now. Climb. Then he dropped everything and just started climbing up onto the top of the rocks where the wave wouldn't get him.
• 33:49
  but zach because he was five and too little he couldn't do it he couldn't negotiate those rocks and so i turned and as the wave came i just kind of turned on the rock that we were at and i and i just kind of held him like this i wrapped my arms around him and i held him and i planted both of my feet on the rock knowing that i was about to get hit with this wave and as the wave came and hit me and it was about waist deep
• 34:11
  pushed against me zach let out this horrible scream this little boy terrified terrified beyond belief screamed we get rocked with this wave and i remember thinking and praying no kidding church praying as my feet began to falter and the wave began to lift me off of the rock i could feel my feet slipping around on the rock i just began to pray lord make me heavy lord make me heavy lord make me heavy i'm standing there with my little boy hoping we don't get
• 34:40
  swept off of this rock and out into the ocean. Can you imagine church, Jesus doing the same thing for us? The year 2020 has hit us like a wave, bigger, stronger, more devastating than any wave before it, at least in our lifetimes, many of our lifetimes. Can you imagine standing there on that rock?
• 35:08
  knowing that we're about to get swept off and Jesus just coming and putting his arms around me and just whispering into our ears, don't worry. Don't worry, church. I'm heavy. I'm heavy. I can't be moved. I will be an anchor for your souls. Is your faith, church, tethered to the immovable Christ? A couple of questions as we conclude.
• 35:39
  First, can you see the shore? Can you see the shore? Don't stop swimming. Forget what lies behind. Strain toward what lies ahead. The goal, the prize in Christ Jesus. That's first. Second, how heavy is Christ in your life? You feel like you've been hit by a wave? Jesus has offered to be your immovable anchor.
• 36:02
  But you've got to make him the center of your life. Your life has to orbit around him. You must recognize that Christ and he alone is worthy. He is worthy of our praise and our devotion. J.B. Phillips has described what he imagines to be the Apostle Paul when he looks forward to Jesus. And just listen to this. Listen to these words that he gives to the Apostle Paul. I've seen Christ face to face.
• 36:32
  bright as the morning, fairer than the day, lovely beyond all loveliness. I've looked into his eyes and that's all I'm ever going to see. I've heard his voice. That's all I'm ever going to hear. It rings like the sweetest music in my soul. I love him with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength. I live only for him in the strength of the heavenly vision. I live on and on, anticipating the day when I shall see that face and hear that voice.
• 37:01
  Again, all I want is to win Christ. And Lord, I pray that you would be the anchor for our souls. I pray that we would tether our lives to your worth, to your gravity, to your weight. Lord, you are worthy. You sit on heaven's throne. You are the focus of every created thing from you and to you and through you are all things.
• 37:31
  All things, Lord. Who are we to think that we can stand on our own? We can't. And Lord, amidst the 2020 fog, I pray, I pray that we would be able to see the shore, that we could see heaven, that we could see heaven's throne and he who sits on it. And it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.