Jesus, Who Is He?
Topical Identification of Jesus
Intro:
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
I pray that God will give us ears to hear…
What is the spirit saying to the church today? What is the Spirit saying to you personally?
Can you hear him? Can you hear him or is your hearing fading?
Open up your Bible to Revelation chapter 2…
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
This is repeated 7 times in chapters 2 & 3.
Jesus address to John for each of the churches starts out with very specific issues for each of the individual churches but closes with a broad application to all the churches.
To the church of… is singular. While … says to the churches is plural.
This shows us that the same warnings and rebukes presented here are still valid for the church today.
Let’s first look at what Jesus is saying to the church of Ephesus in Chapter 2 and to the church in Laodicea in chapter 3:
Rev. 2:1-7 (NIV)
"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: [2] I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. [3] You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
[4] Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. [5] Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. [6] But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
[7] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Ephesus was a major metropolitan: Supreme Metropolis of Asia - "free" city, i.e., self-governed - "The Vanity Fair of the Ancient World"
The church in Ephesus had lost it’s first love. They had forgotten where they had come from and what Christ had done for them.
Religious – Doing the right things but not out of love
Have you lost your first love?
Do something nice for someone?
Rev. 3:14-22 (NIV)
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. [15] I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! [16] So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. [17] You say, ’I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
[19] Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. [20] Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
[21] To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Exp: City of Laodicea – Wealthy - earthquake of A.D. 17 – refused imperial help and paid for everything themselves.
Despite it all – Bad Water – Luke warm
Either hot or cold? This is a reference to their uselessness.
The Laodicean church can still be found today sitting on the church pews out of religious obligation not doing anything useful for the Kingdom of God.
The church in Laodicea had lost it’s passion. In fact, both Ephesus and Laodicea had lost their passion.
How? They had been lulled to sleep. Have we lost our passion or usefulness?
The church in America has!!
The church in America has totally lost their mind. Look at the political climate of America. It is a sad day when people who claim to serve a living God would put into office a Muslim, just because he is running on their team’s ticket. Our senate and congress have Muslims in them.
Jesus says: Mark 9:40 (NIV)
for whoever is not against us is for us.
All religions other than Christianity are by their very nature against Christ. What has happened in America? The same things that happen in Ephesus and Laodicea, we have lost our 1st love, usefulness, and passion. We have drifted off to sleep.
WAKE UP!!!
Sin is still sin! It does not matter if it is politically correct or socially acceptable, sin is sin! We must take a stand against it.
Abortion is still murder, Homosexuality is still an abomination, Adultery and fornication is still sin, the Lord still hates gossiping and according Rev. 21:8…
the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice witchcraft, the idolaters and all liars will find their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
I don’t care how much we accept as a country or as a church, sin is still sin. Wake up!!
Find your first love again!!! Become passionate about your Jesus again.
How did we lose our passion in the first place? We have forgotten who Jesus really is:
TS. Today, I want to talk to you about four identities of Jesus Christ in order that we might regain our passion for him.
1. Jesus is our Baptizer.
a. We are baptized in the Spirit by Jesus
i. Jesus commands us to be baptized as well as baptize new converts.
1. Mark 16:16 (NIV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
ii. Every time the word baptized is found in scriptures it means immersion.
1. People would baptizo (Gk word) material in dye in order to change its color.
a. It was dyed thoroughly. There was a visible, noticeable change.
b. When the Lord baptizes us, there should be a visible change in our lives. We are transformed.
1. There is an inward witness
2. There is an outward evidence
c. When we are baptized by Jesus, our love increases!
i. 1 John 4:8: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1. If you truly know Christ as the Baptizer, you will have love for mankind.
a. A love that will snatch them from the pits of hell.
i. John 3:16
ii. Do you love mankind? Do you know him as the baptizer?
d. When we are baptized by Jesus, we are empowered!
i. In John 20:22, we are commanded to receive the spirit.
1. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells us that we will receive power when we are baptized in Holy Spirit.
a. If you don’t have the power to live a holy life
b. Or to proclaim the message of hope
i. You need to know Him as Baptizer
e. Get to know Him as Jesus the Baptizer today.
i. Let Him baptize you with change, love and power!
TS. You must also learn to identify him as…
2. Jesus the Healer
a. 1 Jn 3:8 tells us that Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil!
i. Sickness and disease is the work of the devil. The son of God came to destroy it.
b. Jesus is our healer, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
c. It is God’s nature to heal
i. Exodus 15:26 I am the Lord, who heals you.
ii. Hebrew translation: Ani Yahweh roph’eka
1. I am the Lord your physician
a. Roph’eka is translated elsewhere in scripture as physician and it is an active participle used to emphasize that it is indeed God’s nature to heal.
b. Ka is singular and draws attention to an individual, personal relationship.
c. If it was his nature to heal then, it still is today.
d. I am the Lord your personal physician who will heal you individually.
iii. Psalms 103:3 who forgives all your sins and heals all of your diseases.
1. There is no disease that He cannot heal.
2. It is His nature to move against all that afflicts and torments those who come to Him believing.
3. You can’t get away from it, He wants to heal you. Physically, not just spiritually.
iv. There is healing in the atonement.
1. The blood that was shed upon the cross brings you healing.
2. When Jesus said “It is finished” the work necessary for the redemption of the whole person – spirit, soul, and body – was complete.
v. The ministry of Christ was a healing ministry, for He bound up broken souls and bodies.
1. Divine healing wasn’t something peripheral, it was an important witness to his identity.
2. The authority that he gave his disciples at Mt 10:1, to heal every disease was never rescinded. It is still ours today!
3. In Mark 16:17-18m Before He ascended to heaven, Jesus gave .this ringing promise to his faithful apostles and disciples: “ these sings will accompany those who believe: in my name they will place their hands on sick people, and they will recover.”
a. Ms. Sharon’s Leg example
Ms Sharon knows him as The Healer. You must learn to identify him as Jesus the Healer!
TS. Not only is He is the Healer and the Baptizer, He is also identified as the
3. Jesus, the Soon coming King
a. Acts 1:11 (NIV) "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
b. More than 300 times, an average of one verse in every 26 in the NT, The NT refers to truth of the second coming of Jesus Christ
i. Even though some have exercised more zeal than wisdom in making spectacular predictions about events surrounding the Second Coming, do not mistake this truth; He is coming Back!
ii. Scripture places great emphasis on this strategic teaching.
iii. Regardless of theological fads, we must understand the truth that is taught through God’s Holy Word, Jesus is coming back, physically.
c. Most non-Christian religions and philosophies have a circular view of history.
i. Hindus - The wheel of life – No beginning and no end.
ii. Modern view v. post modern view.
1. from point a to point b
iii. Scripture teaches a liner view of history
1. beginning, in the beginning
2. A central event – the cross and resurrection
3. A final consummation –
a. World events will not continue in an endless unyielding procession. There is coming a time when this present order will cease
b. And for the Christian, That exciting
d. Death is not our hope… and neither is converting the whole world.
i. Our blessed hope is in the return of our Bridegroom, Jesus.
ii. If we truly believe this and know him as the Soon coming King.
1. we will live in a manner pleasing to our Lord.
a. We will constantly be self evaluating ourselves v. the Word of God.
e. 4 things about his return
i. He will return personally.
1. He is not sending a representative
ii. He will return unexpectedly
1. Like a thief in the night – be prepared
iii. Return in Glory
1. In the Glory of the Father
iv. Return in a physical mode.
1. He can be touched
v. Coming to receive his own
1. R U ready to go up?
TS. Before you can know him as the Soon coming King, Before you can know him as the Baptizer, Before you can know him as the Healer, you must identify as…
4. Jesus as Savior
a. John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
i. Could you let your child be sacrificed?
b. Jesus died for your sins.
c. Jesus rose from the dead to show his victory over sin, death, and the grave.
d. Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
i. Paul killed Christians and was forgiven
ii. All have sinned
1. no matter what you have done
2. no matter how old you are
a. Christ died for you
e. While we were Gods enemy, he sent his son for our reconciliation.
i. Even while we hated him, he sent his son for our restoration
f. You can enjoy that restoration today by getting to know Him as savior!
i. Are you ready for that?
ii. Bow your heads
1. Romans 10:10 (NIV) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
2. Are you ready to identify him today as your savior?
Altar
Selected Bibliography
Special thanks and acknowledgement to Sermon Central and their contributors. Points and or illustrations may have been drawn from materials found on their website: www.sermoncentral.com.
A Treasury of Great Preaching. Austin, TX: WORDsearch Corp., 2005. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Brown, Francis, S.R. Driver, Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1906. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Eims, LeRoy. Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be: Growing Into the Leader God Called You to Be. Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 1996. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Gaebelein, Frank E. Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1976-1996.
Harris, R. Laird, Gleason L. Archer, Bruce K. Waltke, ed. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1980. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Jamieson, Robert, A.R. Fausset, David Brown. A Commentary: Critical, Experimental, and Practical on the Old and New Testaments. Toledo, OH: Jerome B. Names & Co., 1884. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Commentary contained as a single volume.
Life Application Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1988. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
McGee, J. Vernon. Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1983. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Meyer, F. B. Expository Preaching: Plans and Methods. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Peters, Ruth. Bible Illustrations – Illustrations of Bible Truths. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1998. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Tan, Paul Lee. Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Dallas, TX: Bible Communications, 1998. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Thayer, J. H., trans. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament New York: Harper & Brothers, 1889. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Thompson, Frank Charles. Thompson Chain Reference Bible. Indianapolis, IN: B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., 1997. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Vine, William E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1940. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
