100516 Hold On To the Promise
Tim Franklin
Revelation 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." NKJV
Introduction:
· “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on. And when you are ready, let go and God will catch you.”
· There is a pattern for obtaining the promise. I want to encourage you with this today. I am finding a few that are letting discouragement disqualify them. They are quitting, letting up, discouraged because God is not answering.
· Hope deferred makes the heart sick.
· Proverbs 13:12-13 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. 13 He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. NKJV
· How are we to hold on to the promise?
1. Wait for the Promise—Obedience to the Word
A. Jesus gave them an order/instruction—that would come with reward. Acts 1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; NKJV Waiting is required to get many of the promises. Some has to do with diving timing others have to do with our faith and our character.
i. Patience required obtain the promise.
ii. Hebrews 6:12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. NKJV
iii. Hebrews 6:9-12 speaks of a people who have worked hard, waited long, and are getting tired. The Hebrew writer gives them a very strategic word. “Faith and Patience.
iv. Heb 6:9-12I'm sure that won't happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you — salvation things! 10 God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. 11 And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. 12 Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
B. Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come..." NKJV They are rejoicing because it is finally here!
C. She waited
i. Loving-
a. Song of Solomon 8:6-7 Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised. NKJV
ii. Longing Song of Solomon 2:8,9
iii. Looking—Luke 15=seeking, asking, knocking.
iv. Scripture is full of people who waited long for the promise. Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Heb 11 and many of them never saw the promise having died in the faith. That is a testimony in itself! Died in the faith!
2. Prepare for the Promise –Anticipation of the Word
A. Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. NKJV
B. Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." NKJV
i. What she waited for she prepared for.
C. 1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. NKJV
3. Receive the Promise –Rejoicing in the Word
A. Because they waited: loving, longing, looking, they made visible their faith. In faith and patience they inherited the Promise and they were given. In Acts they received the Holy Spirit. In Revelation they receive the Bridegroom God. What are you longing to receive.
B. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. NKJV
C. Revelation 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. NKJV
i. She was given linen—made from flax, white. Was a garment that represented purity. Rev. 15:6 the angel wore fine linen, the priest wore fine linen garments.
ii. Righteous acts—she followed instruction.
D. Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." NKJV
Conclusion:
· God wants you to inherit the Promise/promises.
· Be patient while you wait. Let God have the perfect work in you.
· Prepare while waiting.
· Increase your faith by increasing your relationship with Him.
