Couldn't have said it better myself.  Worth the read and contemplation for church life today.

http://marc5solas.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/top-10-reasons-our-kids-leave-church/

One of my favorite quotes is, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."  Well, I know God has a great plan for our lives, now I'm just waiting for him to let us know!   I'm excited about this next phase of our lives and ministry.  Now we are praying that through working the connections and divine intervention, it will be clear what the next move will be.   

Wow, who woulda thought that Chick-fil-A would be in so much trouble for the simple support of traditional, biblical marriage?  Dan Cathy never said he hated gays, and in fact the restaurant hires gays, serves gays and is in general very kind to them.   I've heard that tomorrow is "support your local Chick-fil-A" day, so I encourage you all to get out there and show this great organization your support.  

Zach and Michelle Garland's wedding at Coronado.  

This was one of the most scenic spots I've ever done a wedding at.

http://sentralizedgathering.com/blog/

This is why we have monthly community bonfires and family movie nights on the playground by our house. It's also why I've turned the big open field next to my house into a community gathering spot where the neighbors can run their dogs and let the kids use the rope swings.   It's also why I surf the same spot on weekday mornings with essentially the same group of people.  It's why I'd like to spend more time at places like the Pannikin.   Where are your "Third Places?"

Revelation 8   “God withholds Judgment.”

Intro…   One of the fundamental lessons we all learn early on is to own up to what you did, clean up your mess, take responsibility.

Apologizing, asking for forgiveness.  These are all important steps in maturity.

In the Christian life, repentance is important…clears things up between us and God.

All this is important because we know judgment will come.

Although we may not admit it, we need God’s judgment, his standards to keep up in line.

We need to be thankful for God’s limited judgment…

Big Pic:  God gives us plenty of warning before his judgments come.  Let’s not wait for the huge, “acts of God” for him to get our attention.

Text:  Revelation 8 (1-5)

8:1-5   “Silence for about a half an hour”

This silence adds to the suspense before it gets crazy.

This doesn’t mean God is being indifferent in his slowness to judge.

This brief period is between the ceaseless praises by the living creatures, angels and elders.

Silence is appropriate in anticipation of the Lord’s coming judgment.   Kinda like silence or respect in the courtroom.

These judgments are so terrible that the angels stand breathless in wonder.

God sends a fiery response to the people’s pleas, “Who can stand?”

This displaces the entire rebellious humanity, land and sea, sun, moon, sky etc.

Yet, God shows divine restraint (1/3).

What a great side of God to know that he can show restraint.

However, Rev. 8-11 now issues in a time of judgment.

v. 13 “Woe, woe, woe…”

Anyone who rebels against God will endure eternal punishment and condemnation.

Now, as bad as that sounds, remember that God always offers his grace, love and mercy to those that repent.

v. 2-4      7^th seal, censers, prayers, 7 angels standing before God with 7 trumpets,  another angel stood at the Altar with a  golden censer praying for the saints.  Incense in the censer.

The 7^th seal is a view into the future…

v. 2-4  is a glimpse into God’s heavenly sanctuary.

The incense rising up symbolize the prayers of the saints.   

 In the OT, the sanctuary in the tent had two altars, one for bloody sacrifice in the courtyard and the other for smoky incense inside, adjacent to the veil into the Most Holy Place.

The angel took the censer, threw it on the earth, thunder, lightning, earthquake.

These angels initiate limited judgment (in thirds) that warn of the coming destruction and summon rebels to repent.

“For our God is a consuming fire…” Hebrews 12:29

Just as God finally destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah when they would not repent, there is a time when the fire of God will descend upon this earth in punishment.

8:6-13

7 Angels with 7 trumpets ready to blow them.  We’ll look at the first 4.

These judgments sent to earth are in response to the prayers of the saints.

Again this is a limited judgment from God.  However if we continue to ignore his warnings, we can expect his full judgment.

I believe these will be actual calamities suffered by unrepentant non-believers.

This is punishment from God.  The devil is not doing this. It is done on orders from God.  God can do this if he

v. 7  First angel, trumpet blow, hail, fire mixed with blood.  1/3 of the earth burned up.

This reproduces the 7^th plague of Egypt.  (Ex. 9:24)

The purpose?  To call rebellious nations to repentance.

v. 8  Second angel, trumpet, great mountain burning with fire thrown into the sea. 1/3 of the sea became blood.  1/3 of sea creatures died, 1/3 of the ships destroyed.

This shows God’s sovereignty over another sphere of human life, the oceans, 70% of the earth.

The first plague in Egypt turned the Nile into blood.  That echoes Jer. 51:25 & 42 where God announced he would make Babylon a “burnt mountain” and cover it with the sea.

Ezekiel 38:22 "And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone."

v. 10  Third angel, trumpet, great star falls from heaven, blazing like a torch or star, fell on 1/3 of the rivers and springs.  That star is named Wormwood.

C.S. Lewis?  Screwtape letters?   A series of letters from a senior demon, Screwtape, to his nephew, a junior "tempter" named Wormwood.

This book shows the importance of taking a deliberate role in living out Christian faith by portraying a typical human life, with all its temptations and failings, as seen from devils' viewpoints.

Chernobyl means wormwood…interesting…This accident that occurred in Russia affected mostly communist countries (those who deny God)…maybe God’s judgment???

1/3 of the waters became Wormwood, many people died because of the bitter water.

Just as the Nile’s bloody waters became undrinkable…

Cities could be forced to surrender by sheer thirst.

This “blazing torch” (Wormwood) could represent a huge meteorite falling to earth.

v. 12  Fourth angel, 1/3 of the sun was struck, 1/3 of the moon, 1/3 of the stars, 1/3 of their light will be darkened, 1/3 of the day will be kept from shining likewise, 1/3 of the night.

This resembles the 9^th plague on Egypt (Ex. 10:21-23)

The billowing smoke from burning cities may be causing this darkness, but the ultimate source is God’s reign and judgment.

All this judgment…but it’s going to get worse.

v. 13  John looked and saw an Eagle crying with a loud voice flying overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”

Almost like, you thought that was bad…

These last three trumpets signify escalating judgments on rebellious humanity as the end approaches.

Application:

Where does all this rebellion start?  At birth…

Bible verses on disobedient children…2 Tim. 3:1-5 

 “Man's most basic problem has never been a lack of intelligence or education, but a nature that is fallen and morally corrupted.  Unless man experiences a new birth, in which he receives  a new spiritual nature from God, he is doomed to the destructive influence of his fallen nature.”

As bad as these judgments of God are…thank God Christians will be spared that wrath.

Now you see why I started with the basic need for every human to “clean up after themselves.”

And remember, our title today is “God withholds judgment.”

It could be so much worse!

Continual repentance, spiritual breathing…

Revelation 7   “A description of heaven.”

Intro…TULIP  Perserverance of the saints…once saved, always saved, we can’t lose our salvation. 

Revelation 7

Big Pic:  “The Sealing of God’s international Israel.”

Text:  Revelation 7

v. 1-8  The 144,000

Chapter 7  is an interlude or interruptive period in the chronology of Revelation, showing God's program of grace and salvation during the period of judgment.

It’s also known as “The Sealing of God’s international Israel.”

There are two other interludes in Revelation, 10:1-11 through 11:14, and 20:1-6.

These interludes explain the place of the saints in the events of Revelation.

There are different interpretations of the 144,000.

What is the relation between these 144,000 and the innumerable multitude “from every nation?”

These 144,000 could either be an actual number of Jewish believers brought to faith immediately after Jesus returns, or figuratively of a national conversion.

“Israel” could be a reference to the church, the new covenant people of God.

In this view, both the 144,000 and the international multitude are complimentary perspectives on the church and believers from every nation including ethnic Israel.

All these people are protected from the wrath of God, but will be exposed to persecution by evil enemies.

Either way, it’s a large group of people who are chosen, sealed and elected to be in God’s presence.

Think back over a month ago when we left of in Revelation 6, the sixth seal was opened with a great earthquake, the sun became blackened, the sky fell etc.  All hell broke loose.

God’s enemies cried out, “Who can stand?”

The answer is those “sealed” with the seal of the living

God.  v. 2.

Each of these servants of God will receive a "SEAL" on his forehead.  Not sure what it will look like but will be visible.

 That’s why John sees four angels holding back the four winds of judgment until all of God’s servants have received his seal.

Remember last week we talked about a royal signet ring?  This is similar.

Our seal as Christians is the name of the Lamb and of God. (14:1)

This seal is promised to all who conquer by faith.  It’s the opposite of the mark of the beast and symbolizes God’s ownership and protection of his people.

What as the seal or mark of God under the Old Covenant?  Circumcision.

v. 3   Under the New Covenant, God’s Holy Spirit seals us as his property.

Another angel is ascending and saying, “Don’t harm the earth until we have sealed the servants of God.”

144,000 were sealed, 12,000 for each of the 12 tribes of Israel.

God will raise up an army of 144,000 Jewish evangelists to spread across the globe and bring in a soul harvest of unimaginable proportions.

v. 9-17  A great multitude from every nation will be saved.

v.  9-10  Multitudes of people standing before the throne of God saying, “Salvation belongs to our God.”  Wearing white robes of victorious martyrs.

v. 11-12  Angels and living creatures fell on their faces and worshipped God…

v. 13-17  Who are these people?  (The elder asked John)

The ones coming out of the great tribulation washed white in the blood of the Lamb.

They serve God all day and night, sheltered in his presence.

The sufferings on earth mentioned in v. 13-14 are now left behind.

There will be no more hunger or thirst or scorching sun.

No more tears.

That’s why we have so many great songs, especially the gospel songs that talk about a glorious life in heaven.

Many of our great gospel songs were written by slaves who couldn’t wait to escape this earth.

Since most slaves couldn’t read or write, (against the law to teach them) these songs had secret hidden meanings so they could communicate to each other without their owners knowing.

Under the protective care of the Lamb, our Shepherd, we will find refreshment in springs of living water.

So what’s the big picture here?  What is the practical advice, take home stuff for today?   

(4 things)

Revelation chapter 7 represents eternal hope.  The end of suffering. 

I’m sure many of us have suffered here on earth or know people who have suffered…

Worshipping God in heaven.  You think our worship is good, or maybe you’ve been to a conference with hundreds or thousands of people worshipping….that’s nothing!  When we get to heaven, the worship will be better than we can imagine.

One thing we learn from Revelation is that although the Antichrist will have power over all peoples and languages, he will not deceive everyone.

Verse 9 makes it clear that the preaching of the gospel by the 144,000 Jewish witnesses will reach a multitude that no one can number, from every language, tribe, and people.

So, even Satan's control will not keep people from receiving Christ individually.

Everything is under God’s control, including the Antichrist and his limited influence.

Nations and peoples may have rejected Christ, but individuals can still receive Him.

John 1: 10-12  

Although 144,000 and a "great nation" will be saved, this doesn't mean all will be saved or universalism.

God will not force his love on anyone, but some will reject his love.

Deut. 4: 29   This is a promise from God Almighty.

Conclusion:  So today we’re talking about heaven…

 Jr. Seau’s paddleout…

Huge event at Qualcomm, all over the papers…

People tend to say, “He’s in a better place” at all funerals.

Well, I certainly hope so…

What about the funerals of atheists.  I guess they think they just cease to exist.

Not a lot of hope there…

GOSPEL