LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Revealing the Mystery of God”
Revelation 10:1-11
10/11/20
Princeton challenging place to go to seminary
confronted w/ wide variety of beliefs & convictions about our faith
forced to think through exactly what believe, not just mindlessly accept
theo. prof: if only want to hear what already belief, talk into tape recorder & listen
unfortunately, seems to be what we are all doing now: live in giant echo chamber
only listen to what lines up w/ what already believe: confirms & makes feel better
no matter what political persuasion, ever watch “other” cable news network?
recently watched frightening documentary about social media (F-book, Twitter, etc)
engineered to keep track of everything you do, to learn what catches your attn
so can give you content that you will want to look at (so can sell ads)
as algorithms better & better, all you ever see
eg if two of us use Google for identical search, will get different results
eg “global warming:” “hoax” or “causes,” based on past viewing history on internet
if seems like people in nation living two different worlds, actually true
worlds of information screened to give you what you want to read
God’s word different: yes, provides hope, comfort, assurance: what want to hear
but if paying attn, will challenge & make you uncomfortable
not only in hearing/reading, but also in sharing/declaring
As going through Rev, now up to description of angels blowing 7 trumpets (8:6-Ch 11)
1st 4 trumpets bring partial destruction (1/3) of each part of creation
5 & 6 profound suffering upon unrepentant, death of 1/3: more in vid devo this week
then interlude/pause/change of scenery before 7th, just like w/ 7 seals
find out what’s happening for people of God in midst of it all
2 parts to interlude: 1st part now, 2nd part in video devotion for Wed
then goes on to 7th trumpet: video devotion for Friday
both parts of interlude about God’s people deal w/ receiving & proclaiming God’s word
not as easy & comfortable as may seem
John sees mighty angel come down from heaven: 2nd of 3 X see mighty angel in Rev
description dripping w/ allusions & references to OT imagery of God
no doubt that this angel directly from God, acting on his behalf & w/ his power
Angel does three things
First: shouts like roar of lion: description of Lord in Isaiah, Hosea, Amos
in response to roar, John hears “voices of seven thunders”
apparently from Lord himself, or another of his emissaries
told in 1:18 to record everything he saw in vision, so began to write what thunders said
but instructed to seal up what 7 thunders said, not to write down
similar to 2 Cor 12:4: there are mysteries about God not permitted to share
reminder that God’s plans, while include us, are not fully known by us, may never be
to walk in faith = accept & live our part of God’s great design w/out fully understanding
Second thing angel does is announce that delay is over
waiting so long for God’s will to be completed: time will come when finally over
as have said, that will/plan is a mystery, but “the mystery of God will be accomplished”
as pray “Thy k’dom come, Thy will be done on earth as in heaven”
time is coming when prayer will be answered: mysterious will accomplished
Third: one want to focus on
angel had open scroll in hand: same angel & same scroll from Ch 5
scroll of God’s will/ message to world: had been sealed, now revealed through X
up to now, John had been spectator: watching fantastic events unfold around him
now, instructed to be participant: role to play in God’s mysterious will
take scroll & eat it, just as Ezek had: like “devouring” book, like needing to “digest” news
to take God's word for yourself, make it part of you
but also to speak it: what John commanded to do
Took scroll & ate: sweet in mouth, like honey: just like what Ezek exp’d
sweet to receive God’s message, words of salvation & grace & love
but then became bitter/sour in his stomach
the way to the sweet victory of the resurrection is through the bitterness of the cross
endure hardships of our own as take up own crosses to follow Jesus
bitter because of judgment & wrath: part of gospel want to avoid
reminds me of Jesus’s parable of the seeds (Mt 13, Mk 4, Lk 8)
a bit like the seed falling in shallow soil, or the eagerness of new belief
God’s message sounds wonderful at first, and it is
but it has an edge to it, which we’d (I’d) rather ignore, so wither away
After John ate scroll, told to proclaim its message
“prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages & kings” (v. 11)
different again from Ezek, who was told to speak to people of Israel
God’s plan now extends beyond “chosen people” to all people
will never meet anyone who is outside of God’s plan, unable to share in message
God’s message is sweet, but also sour/bitter
If God’s word doesn’t make you squirm, not listening
or more accurately, listening selectively only to what you want to hear
only tuning into cable news that you like, allow social media algorithms to control you
gospel contains words of judgment & challenge for us all
confronts our long-held beliefs & convictions, shatters them as false idols
eg in Rev, uncomfortable to hear about God’s wrath against unrepentant
easier when it is people different from us: “that’s right! God’s out to get you!”
but even then, don’t like idea of a God who punishes sin: prefer forgiving & loving
he certainly is loving & forgiving, but only as we accept gift of grace he offers
even more difficult when hits close to home: realize God wants us to change ways
Revelation 10:1-11
10/11/20
Princeton challenging place to go to seminary
confronted w/ wide variety of beliefs & convictions about our faith
forced to think through exactly what believe, not just mindlessly accept
theo. prof: if only want to hear what already belief, talk into tape recorder & listen
unfortunately, seems to be what we are all doing now: live in giant echo chamber
only listen to what lines up w/ what already believe: confirms & makes feel better
no matter what political persuasion, ever watch “other” cable news network?
recently watched frightening documentary about social media (F-book, Twitter, etc)
engineered to keep track of everything you do, to learn what catches your attn
so can give you content that you will want to look at (so can sell ads)
as algorithms better & better, all you ever see
eg if two of us use Google for identical search, will get different results
eg “global warming:” “hoax” or “causes,” based on past viewing history on internet
if seems like people in nation living two different worlds, actually true
worlds of information screened to give you what you want to read
God’s word different: yes, provides hope, comfort, assurance: what want to hear
but if paying attn, will challenge & make you uncomfortable
not only in hearing/reading, but also in sharing/declaring
As going through Rev, now up to description of angels blowing 7 trumpets (8:6-Ch 11)
1st 4 trumpets bring partial destruction (1/3) of each part of creation
5 & 6 profound suffering upon unrepentant, death of 1/3: more in vid devo this week
then interlude/pause/change of scenery before 7th, just like w/ 7 seals
find out what’s happening for people of God in midst of it all
2 parts to interlude: 1st part now, 2nd part in video devotion for Wed
then goes on to 7th trumpet: video devotion for Friday
both parts of interlude about God’s people deal w/ receiving & proclaiming God’s word
not as easy & comfortable as may seem
John sees mighty angel come down from heaven: 2nd of 3 X see mighty angel in Rev
description dripping w/ allusions & references to OT imagery of God
no doubt that this angel directly from God, acting on his behalf & w/ his power
Angel does three things
First: shouts like roar of lion: description of Lord in Isaiah, Hosea, Amos
in response to roar, John hears “voices of seven thunders”
apparently from Lord himself, or another of his emissaries
told in 1:18 to record everything he saw in vision, so began to write what thunders said
but instructed to seal up what 7 thunders said, not to write down
similar to 2 Cor 12:4: there are mysteries about God not permitted to share
reminder that God’s plans, while include us, are not fully known by us, may never be
to walk in faith = accept & live our part of God’s great design w/out fully understanding
Second thing angel does is announce that delay is over
waiting so long for God’s will to be completed: time will come when finally over
as have said, that will/plan is a mystery, but “the mystery of God will be accomplished”
as pray “Thy k’dom come, Thy will be done on earth as in heaven”
time is coming when prayer will be answered: mysterious will accomplished
Third: one want to focus on
angel had open scroll in hand: same angel & same scroll from Ch 5
scroll of God’s will/ message to world: had been sealed, now revealed through X
up to now, John had been spectator: watching fantastic events unfold around him
now, instructed to be participant: role to play in God’s mysterious will
take scroll & eat it, just as Ezek had: like “devouring” book, like needing to “digest” news
to take God's word for yourself, make it part of you
but also to speak it: what John commanded to do
Took scroll & ate: sweet in mouth, like honey: just like what Ezek exp’d
sweet to receive God’s message, words of salvation & grace & love
but then became bitter/sour in his stomach
the way to the sweet victory of the resurrection is through the bitterness of the cross
endure hardships of our own as take up own crosses to follow Jesus
bitter because of judgment & wrath: part of gospel want to avoid
reminds me of Jesus’s parable of the seeds (Mt 13, Mk 4, Lk 8)
a bit like the seed falling in shallow soil, or the eagerness of new belief
God’s message sounds wonderful at first, and it is
but it has an edge to it, which we’d (I’d) rather ignore, so wither away
After John ate scroll, told to proclaim its message
“prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages & kings” (v. 11)
different again from Ezek, who was told to speak to people of Israel
God’s plan now extends beyond “chosen people” to all people
will never meet anyone who is outside of God’s plan, unable to share in message
God’s message is sweet, but also sour/bitter
If God’s word doesn’t make you squirm, not listening
or more accurately, listening selectively only to what you want to hear
only tuning into cable news that you like, allow social media algorithms to control you
gospel contains words of judgment & challenge for us all
confronts our long-held beliefs & convictions, shatters them as false idols
eg in Rev, uncomfortable to hear about God’s wrath against unrepentant
easier when it is people different from us: “that’s right! God’s out to get you!”
but even then, don’t like idea of a God who punishes sin: prefer forgiving & loving
he certainly is loving & forgiving, but only as we accept gift of grace he offers
even more difficult when hits close to home: realize God wants us to change ways
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com