BULLETIN BOARD
A Marriage Made in Heaven Sermon Notes
“A Marriage Made in Heaven”
Revelation 19:1-10
You and I were created for fellowship with God.
The only way God will give more of Himself to us is if we give more of ourselves to Him.
“Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself” (Rev. 19:7, CSB).
- The music will be glorious (Rev. 19:1-6).
There are four stanzas in this Hallelujah Chorus.
- 1st stanza: The rejoicing of the saints (v. 1).
“A vast multitude” of people in heaven will be singing “Hallelujah” because that which was begun at Calvary is now come to full consummation.
- 2nd stanza: The retribution of the sinner (vv. 2, 3).
The redeemed in heaven praise the Lord God for He has made things right.
- 3rd stanza: The relationship of the saved (vv. 4, 5).
“Praise our God.”
- 4th stanza: The reign of the Savior (v. 6).
Jesus is reigning, and the shouts of His praise will be magnified throughout Heaven.
- The bride will be gorgeous (Rev. 19:7-8).
“The bride,” the true church, “has prepared herself” (v. 7).
How do we make ourselves ready?
- Redemption prepares us (v. 8a).
“She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.”
- We get saved.
- Being saved is known as redemption.
- At redemption, we receive the inner nature of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rapture prepares us (1 Thess. 4:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 John 3:2-3).
All of the sinful proclivities of the old flesh will be left behind.
Reward will make us ready (v. 8b).
“For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.”
We will receive rewards according to the deeds that we have done (2 Cor. 5:10).
We want to hear the Lord say, “Well done” (Lk. 19:17).
The guests will be glad (Rev. 19:9).
“Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!”
The Groom will be glorified (Rev. 19:10).
- The angel warns John not to worship him, but to “Worship God.”
- While on earth, Jesus allowed others to worship Him and approved of it.
- Jesus Christ is God.
“The spirit of prophecy” is Jesus Christ.
“In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out and meet him’” (Matt. 25:6, CSB).
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Divine Power Needed for Desperate Times
“Divine Power Needed for Desperate Times”
Matthew 17:14-21
We need divine power to be difference makers in desperate times.
Matthew 17:14-21, CSB
“Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire (and burns himself) and often into the water (and almost drowns). I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him” (vv. 15-16, CSB).
“You unbelieving and perverse generation” (v. 17).
- Jesus is frustrated with our lack of spiritual power (Matt. 17:14-17)
“They couldn’t” (vv. 16, 19).
“How long must I put up with you?” (v. 17)
“He (Jesus) summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits” (Mark 6:7, CSB).
“So, they went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them” (Mark 6:12-13, CSB).
“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (Lk. 10:17, CSB).
“Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20, CSB).
The church was birthed with power (Acts 1:8).
- Jesus is the Lord of spiritual power (Matt. 17:17-18).
Mark 9:20-24, CSB
“IF YOU CAN? Everything is possible for the one who believes!” (Mark 9:23, CSB).
“Lord, I do believe in You and in Your ability, but my faith is weak! Help me to grow in my faith!” (Mark 9:24, CSB)
Mark 9:24-27, CSB
- We need to learn the lessons of spiritual power (Matt. 17:19-21).
They lacked spiritual discipline in their lives.
“This kind can come out by nothing but prayer (and fasting)” (Mark 9:29, CSB).
- Prayer is a state of close communion with the Lord.
- Fasting speaks of a lifestyle of total submission and surrender to the Lord.
Fasting and prayer are inferred throughout Scripture.
- Moses (Exod. 34:28; Deut. 9)
- Jews fast on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:23; Lev. 23:26-32)
- Joel 2:12-14 a congregational fast for the purpose of confession and repentance
- Esther called her people to fast for three days (Esther 4:14).
- Jesus began His public ministry with a 40-day fast (Matt. 4:2).
- Jesus speaks about three spiritual disciplines—giving, praying, fasting (Mt. 6:1-8, 16-18)
He says, “When you fast…”, not, if you fast (Matt. 6:16-17).
- Christians fasted (Acts 9:9; 13:2; 14:23)
We do not fast to manipulate God; we fast to get more of God.
Our problem is we want more of God without wanting to give more of ourselves to God.
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