Sermon Notes for 8-26-2020

Revelation Chapter 5 — The Scroll in Action

Rev. 5:1-14

Text of chapter:

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. (Rev 5:1 NLT)

And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?" (Rev 5:2 NLT)

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. (Rev 5:3 NLT) Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. (Rev 5:4 NLT)

But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has won the victory. 

He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals." (Rev 5:5 NLT)

Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. 

He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. (Rev 5:6 NLT)

He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. (Rev 5:7 NLT)

And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. (Rev 5:8 NLT)

And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Rev 5:9 NLT)

And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth." (Rev 5:10 NLT)

Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. (Rev 5:11 NLT)

And they sang in a mighty chorus: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered--to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing." (Rev 5:12 NLT)

And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. 

They sang: "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever." (Rev 5:13 NLT)

And the four living beings said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. (Rev 5:14 NLT)

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, "Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza." (Act 8:26 NLT)

So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, (Act 8:27 NLT)

and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. (Act 8:28 NLT)

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." (Act 8:29 NLT)

Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Act 8:30 NLT)

The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. (Act 8:32 NLT)

He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." (Act 8:33 NLT)

The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?" (Act 8:34 NLT)

So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. (Act 8:35 NLT)

As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" (Act 8:36 NLT)

“You can,” Philip answered, “if you believe with all your heart.” And the eunuch replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Act 8:37 NLT)

He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. (Act 8:38 NLT)

And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world--to every nation, tribe, language, and people. (Rev 14:6 NLT)