Rev. Andy Presbyterian Chinese Church (SF) March 13, 2016 Worthy Is the Lamb （ Revelation 5:1-14 ）

Lion King & Slain Lamb Worthy Is the Slain Lamb because He is the truth we can rest!

Worthy Is the Slain Lamb! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God! (Matthew 27:40)  The first truth that we can rest is that: God’s strength is disguised as weakness.

Want to join a losing team?  But God is content with the appearance of weakness  What if God always win?

What about a God who appears to be weak?  (Jesus said,) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13)

 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)

, Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12, cf. 5:39)

, To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.... But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (1 Corinthians 1:25, 27-29)

Worthy Is the Slain Lamb The first truth that we can rest is that: God’s strength is disguised as weakness.  The second truth that we can rest in is that: God has a plan.

God has a plan  Scroll = a plan And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

God has a plan  Scroll = a plan In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:9-12)

Worthy Is the Slain Lamb The first truth that we can rest is that: God’s strength is disguised as weakness. The second truth that we can rest in is that: God has a plan.  The third truth that we can rest in is: God is in control.

Christ’s humility is born out of confidence Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:52-53)

God is in control  For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

Slain Lamb is the Lion King Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’ (Revelation 6:15-17).

Slain Lamb is the Lion King They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. (Revelation 17:14)

Paul said, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be

condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness… So then, brothers, stand firm.... May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-17)

The Lion has roared. The Lamb wins. Application:  What does the world look like to you, “evil is winning and good guys finish last”?  What does it look like to God?  What is your attitude toward the future?