Being Witnesses: Embracing God's Kingdom in Tension
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of being witnesses to God's kingdom, as illustrated in Revelation chapters 10 and 11. We began by acknowledging the tension between the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of God, a central theme in Revelation. This tension is not just a historical or future reality but a present one, as we navigate the in-between time of redemption and restoration. The call to be witnesses is foundational to our identity as followers of Jesus. It is not about our actions or achievements but about pointing to God's greatness, beauty, and holiness.
The concept of witness is deeply rooted in scripture and is a response to God's activity, not our own. As witnesses, we are called to live in the tension of the in-between, where the kingdoms of the earth are becoming the kingdom of God. This is a challenging period, marked by the struggle between shalom and anti-shalom, yet it is also a time of opportunity to bear witness to the transformative power of Jesus' death and resurrection.
Revelation 11 presents a reversal of expectations, where the arithmetic of salvation is turned upside down. The witnesses, representing the church, are called to testify to the truth of Jesus' kingdom, even in the face of death. This testimony is not just a verbal proclamation but a lived reality, as we embody the values of God's kingdom in our communities. The resurrection of the witnesses symbolizes the victory of God's kingdom over the powers of sin and death, a victory that is both present and future.
As we navigate this in-between time, we are reminded that our role is to point others to the cross, where the ultimate reversal took place. Through the sacraments of communion and baptism, we declare our allegiance to King Jesus and bear witness to the hope of resurrection. In our daily lives, through acts of worship, community, and service, we continue to point others to the good news of Jesus, trusting that our witness can transform lives and alter destinies.
Key Takeaways:
1. Witnessing as Our Primary Identity: Our primary identity as followers of Jesus is to be witnesses, pointing to God's greatness rather than our own achievements. This posture grounds us in God's activity and reminds us that our role is to respond to and reflect His glory. [04:14]
2. Living in the In-Between: We live in the tension between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. This period is marked by challenges but also opportunities to bear witness to the transformative power of Jesus' death and resurrection. [13:30]
3. The Reversal of Salvation's Arithmetic: Revelation 11 presents a reversal where the expected outcomes are turned upside down. This symbolizes the victory of God's kingdom over sin and death, emphasizing that our witness can lead to new life and transformation. [21:36]
4. The Role of Sacraments in Witnessing: Through communion and baptism, we declare our allegiance to Jesus and bear witness to the hope of resurrection. These sacraments are powerful symbols of our commitment to live as witnesses in the world. [25:10]
5. Bearing Witness in Community: Our witness is not just individual but communal. Through acts of worship, community, and service, we point others to the good news of Jesus, trusting that our collective witness can transform lives and alter destinies. [27:03]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:23] - Baptism and Community
- [04:14] - The Concept of Witness
- [05:43] - LeBron James and Witnessing
- [07:45] - Overview of Revelation
- [09:17] - Multi-Ethnic Churches
- [10:47] - Living in the In-Between
- [12:01] - The Temple as People
- [13:30] - Symbolism of 42 Months
- [14:37] - Misinterpretations of Revelation
- [16:05] - Symbols, Not Stats
- [17:23] - The Role of Witnesses
- [18:33] - The Cost of Witnessing
- [19:31] - Resurrection and Reversal
- [21:36] - The Gospel in a Math Problem
- [23:47] - Jesus on Trial
- [25:10] - Sacraments as Witness
- [27:03] - Closing Prayer and Communion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Revelation 11:15-19
- Matthew 18:16
- Ezekiel 37:1-14
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Observation Questions:
1. In Revelation 11:15, what significant event is announced by the seventh angel, and how does it relate to the theme of the sermon? [01:23]
2. How does the concept of being a witness, as discussed in the sermon, align with the role of the two witnesses in Revelation 11? [17:23]
3. What is the significance of the temple being measured in Revelation 11, and how does it connect to the idea of the temple as a people rather than a physical place? [12:01]
4. How does the sermon describe the tension between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world, and what imagery from Revelation 11 supports this? [13:30]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the reversal of expectations in Revelation 11, where the arithmetic of salvation is turned upside down, challenge traditional views of victory and defeat? [21:36]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the role of witnesses is both a privilege and a challenge for followers of Jesus? [18:33]
3. How do the sacraments of communion and baptism serve as acts of witnessing according to the sermon, and what implications does this have for the church community? [25:10]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of living in the "in-between" time, and how does this affect the way believers should view their daily lives? [13:30]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: In what ways are you currently bearing witness to God's greatness, and where might you need to shift your focus from personal achievements to pointing others to God? [04:14]
2. The sermon discusses living in the tension between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. How do you personally navigate this tension, and what practical steps can you take to align more closely with God's kingdom? [13:30]
3. Consider the concept of the "reversal of salvation's arithmetic" from the sermon. How does this idea challenge your understanding of success and failure in your spiritual journey? [21:36]
4. How can you actively participate in your community to bear witness to the transformative power of Jesus' death and resurrection? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [27:03]
5. The sermon emphasizes the communal aspect of witnessing. How can you engage more deeply with your church community to collectively point others to the good news of Jesus? [27:03]
6. Reflect on the role of sacraments in your faith journey. How do communion and baptism serve as reminders of your commitment to live as a witness, and how can you renew this commitment in your daily life? [25:10]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel caught in the "in-between" time. How can you find hope and purpose in this period, trusting in the ultimate victory of God's kingdom? [13:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Witnessing as a Reflection of God's Glory
Our primary identity as followers of Jesus is to be witnesses, pointing to God's greatness rather than our own achievements. This posture grounds us in God's activity and reminds us that our role is to respond to and reflect His glory. Being a witness is not about showcasing our own abilities or accomplishments but about directing attention to the divine attributes of God—His greatness, beauty, and holiness. This calling is deeply rooted in scripture, where witnessing is a response to God's activity, not our own. As we live out this identity, we are invited to embody the values of God's kingdom, allowing our lives to be a testament to His transformative power. [04:14]
Isaiah 43:10-11 (ESV): "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you shift the focus from your own achievements to God's greatness in your daily interactions this week?
Day 2: Navigating the Tension of the In-Between
We live in the tension between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. This period is marked by challenges but also opportunities to bear witness to the transformative power of Jesus' death and resurrection. As believers, we find ourselves in an "in-between" time, where the redemption and restoration of all things are underway but not yet complete. This tension is not merely a historical or future reality but a present one, where we are called to live out our faith amidst the struggle between shalom and anti-shalom. It is a challenging period, yet it offers us the chance to demonstrate the hope and power of the resurrection in our lives. [13:30]
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (ESV): "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."
Reflection: What is one specific challenge you are facing right now, and how can you use it as an opportunity to bear witness to the hope of Jesus' resurrection?
Day 3: The Upside-Down Arithmetic of Salvation
Revelation 11 presents a reversal where the expected outcomes are turned upside down. This symbolizes the victory of God's kingdom over sin and death, emphasizing that our witness can lead to new life and transformation. The arithmetic of salvation defies human logic, where the witnesses, representing the church, testify to the truth of Jesus' kingdom even in the face of death. This testimony is not just a verbal proclamation but a lived reality, as we embody the values of God's kingdom in our communities. The resurrection of the witnesses symbolizes the victory of God's kingdom over the powers of sin and death, a victory that is both present and future. [21:36]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: How can you embrace the unexpected and upside-down ways of God's kingdom in your life today, especially in areas where you feel weak or inadequate?
Day 4: Sacraments as Symbols of Allegiance
Through communion and baptism, we declare our allegiance to Jesus and bear witness to the hope of resurrection. These sacraments are powerful symbols of our commitment to live as witnesses in the world. They serve as tangible reminders of our identity in Christ and our participation in His death and resurrection. By partaking in these sacred acts, we publicly affirm our faith and our dedication to embodying the values of God's kingdom. The sacraments are not mere rituals but profound expressions of our allegiance to King Jesus and our hope in the resurrection. [25:10]
Romans 6:3-4 (ESV): "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Reflection: Reflect on your experience with communion or baptism. How do these sacraments remind you of your commitment to live as a witness to Jesus in your daily life?
Day 5: Community as a Collective Witness
Our witness is not just individual but communal. Through acts of worship, community, and service, we point others to the good news of Jesus, trusting that our collective witness can transform lives and alter destinies. The church, as a body of believers, is called to embody the values of God's kingdom in a way that is visible to the world. By living out our faith together, we create a powerful testimony to the transformative power of the gospel. Our communal witness is a reflection of the unity and love that characterize God's kingdom, inviting others to experience the hope and joy found in Christ. [27:03]
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church community this week to strengthen your collective witness to the world?
Quotes
There are some strong voices within the church that put a lot of emphasis on what we do. On what we do. And while there are plenty of good things to do, our primary identity is as image bearers, not as worker bees. [00:04:45] (19 seconds)
There's this very fine line between what I do as a response to being an image bearer, and then I do what I do because I need to be an image bearer. And I do what I do because I need to prove myself, or because I want to justify myself, or because I am trying to earn approval. Either approval of other people, or God's approval. Witness provides us with this helpful image because it grounds us in God's activity, not our own. [00:05:04] (27 seconds)
Seven, as we've seen, is the number of completion and wholeness. So 42 months, halftime, it's a way of saying we are in between. We are in between. Now, what are we in between? We're in between shalom and anti-shalom. We're between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this earth, the kingdoms of Rome, the kingdoms of the United States, you name it, right? [00:13:30] (33 seconds)
The way to fight back against the sin and evil in our world. Again, we learned about it in chapter 6. We learned about it when we fast forward to chapters 12, 13, and 14. The way to fight back against the sin and evil in the world is through the building of multi-ethnic churches that give this little picture, this glimpse of what heaven actually looks like. [00:09:44] (30 seconds)
Now, one of the issues with this chapter, with the book of Revelation as a whole, is we can sometimes treat these numbers literally or as a code to be cracked. And so a couple things just from my lifetime, there was a book that came out in 1988 called 88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in 1988. [00:14:47] (20 seconds)
The bad news is that the witnesses are going to die. This is both, I think, a literal and a symbolic death. In every generation, there are people who die for pledging allegiance to Jesus, even in our moment right now. There are people around the world for whom it is that costly to pledge allegiance to King Jesus. [00:18:35] (26 seconds)
The great reversal of Revelation 11 is the witnesses win. They win by losing. They win by losing just like Jesus. Now, all of this is part of, again, a beautiful reversal within this section of Revelation. I want you to check this out. This is a little nerdy, but very cool, all right? So hang with me for a moment. [00:19:54] (27 seconds)
The upside-down kingdom of God, Jesus' death and resurrection, it changes the math. Now, Jesus' death and resurrection is the power that changes the math, but the reversal is very much related to the work of the witnesses. Their repentance, their example, their sacrifice, their death, it helps lead to new life, to a different outcome. In the midst of the chaos of our world, in this messy in-between time that we live in, we point people to the cross, and it changes things. [00:22:23] (42 seconds)
It is bearing witness to the good news of Jesus. We do this as we repent of all the ways that we fall short, as we repent of the ways that we have worshipped other kings, the ways that we have prayed, and as we put something else at the center. [00:24:21] (20 seconds)
And two of the foundational ways that we declare allegiance, that we witness to the good news of Jesus is through the sacraments of communion and baptism. [00:25:00] (10 seconds)
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