Can You Handle the Testimony? 2018 Advent Series 12-23-18 Sermon 4 of 4 Can You Handle the Testimony? Romans 13:11-14

I. The Authority “…Jesus…” The Head Potentate “I…,” potentate - ruler, sovereign: one who wields great power or sway www.merriam-webster.com

I. The Authority “…Jesus…” The Head Potentate “I…,” I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. Psalm 89:27

I. The Authority “…Jesus…” The Head Potentate “I…,” And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18

I. The Authority “…Jesus…” The Head Potentate “I…,” “And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23

I. The Authority “…Jesus…” The Head Potentate “I…,” To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God's creation. Revelation 3:14

I. The Authority “…Jesus…” The Testimony “…sent my angel to testify…”

II. The Eternity “I am…” As God “…the root…” “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” Exodus 3:13 In verse 14, God says, I AM WHO I AM. In verse 14, God says, I AM has sent me to you. In verse 15, God says, Yahweh . . . has sent me to you . . . this is my name forever.

II. The Eternity “I am…” The Testimony “…sent my angel to testify…” Tetragrammaton - "four letters", is often used as the technical term to refer to this Hebrew word. In early Judaism, the word was used as the Lord's name. YHWH = YAHWEH Used 6,000 times in the Old Testament

II. The Eternity “I am…” The Testimony “…sent my angel to testify…” “I am the bread of life” (6:35). “I am the light of the world” (8:12). “I am the door” (10:9). “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11). “I am the resurrection and the life”. (11:25-26). “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (14:6). “I am the true vine” (15:1).

II. The Eternity “I am…” The Testimony “…sent my angel to testify…” “Very truly I tell you,…“before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

II. The Eternity “I am…” The Testimony “…sent my angel to testify…” For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 "The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham" Matthew 1:1

II. The Eternity “I am…” The Testimony “…sent my angel to testify…” He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:32-33 "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel" 2 Timothy 2:8

II. The Eternity “I am…” The Testimony “…sent my angel to testify…” "He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh" Romans 1:2-3 "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" John 1:3

III. The Intensity “…bright…” A. From Jacob “the…star.” “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob;…” Numbers 24:17

III. The Intensity “…bright…” From Jacob “the…star.” Jesus was born while they were in Bethlehem registering with the IRS.

III. The Intensity “…bright…” A. From Jacob “the…star.” “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. “ Revelation 22:15

III. The Intensity “…bright…” To Us “…morning star.” “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, …..I will also give that one the morning star.” Revelation 2:26&28

III. The Intensity “…bright…” To Us “…morning star.” The actual morning star in astrology is Venus the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude bright enough to cast shadows. Because Venus is an inferior planet from Earth, it never appears to venture far from the Sun. Venus reaches its maximum brightness shortly before sunrise, for which reason it has been known as the Morning Star. Pastor J. Richardson

III. The Intensity “…bright…” To Us “…morning star.” "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts " 2 Peter 1:19 “Jesus is the "bright morning star" because He is "...the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man" John 1:9

III. The Intensity “…bright…” To Us “…morning star.” “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Revelation 21:23 “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 22:5

Things to Remember and Practice Are you simply waiting for His return or are you watching for His return????? What do you think Jesus would say about our Church????? “Do you believe Jesus was and is the “I AM?”