Acts 17:16-32
We are living in a post-modern generation where a new breed of thinking has invaded the imaginations of men's hearts and minds. Once upon a time, there existed something called objective truth which in turn set the parameters for objective morality. God was that objective truth and His Holy Word the moral standard which was brought to bear upon the consciences of men. God the creator dictated to man the created, what was right and what was wrong and the consciences of men bore testimony and approval. But now, we are seeing an altogether different scenario taking shape before our eyes, where man is fast becoming answerable to no one. science, we’re told has now explained away God and if there is no God and man is just an advanced ape with no God-given conscience, then it naturally follows that man is free on his upward journey of evolution to define his own truth and in turn his own morality without the baggage of accountability.
The call goes out in this sermon without reservation; REPENT!! God is one day going to judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath appointed. In that day the secrets of men’s hearts will be laid bare and no stone will be left unturned. Justice cries aloud to have its fill and unrighteousness will not be left unpunished but mercy cries louder, DO NOT GIVE THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE!! Hell opens wide its mouth to receive you but the arms of God are open even wider to receive you if you are willing to first repent and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus that you might be saved!! What will you do?
Revelation 2:1-7
Ephesus was a city of tremendous importance and was by far the greatest city in Asia. Commercially it was unrivalled and was the wealthiest being surpassed by very few cities of that day. Being situated at the mouth of an important river, Ephesus commanded the trade of that region and was dubbed “The Vanity Fair of the Ancient World”. Politically, it too was a city of great importance earning for itself the name “Supreme Metropolis of Asia”, and of course religiously, it held a place of incredible prominence being the centre of the worship of Artemis aka Diana and the temple situated in that city was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. To this city dared to come the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!
Around the year AD 52, a Church in Ephesus was founded and a decade later, around the year AD 62, Paul wrote his epistle to this same Church. In the passing of some three plus decades Jesus Christ now addresses this Church and though He had much good to commend them for; their labour and patience in exposing false doctrine and rooting out false teachers, He nonetheless had something against them, namely that they had left their first love!!
Revelation 1:9-20
The four Gospel accounts record for us the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Mention is made of His birth and great detail is given to his ministry of some 3½ years, culminating in His death, burial and resurrection. Following His resurrection, Jesus showed Himself alive for 40 days by many infallible proofs being seen of the Apostles and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom until the time in which He was taken up to heaven.
We have very little recorded in the New Testament of the words of Jesus Christ following His ascension. However, it’s not until we come to the final book in the Bible that we have a detailed description of the risen ascended Son of God and the words spoken by Him to His Churches. This therefore if for no other reason, makes the Book of Revelation a very unique book in the Bible. In this teaching, we examine this first vision of John who beholds the risen, ascended Christ!