The Self Revelation of God

THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH WINNING ALL (ECWA)
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THEME: THE ESSENTIALS OF GLOBAL MISSIONS
TOPIC:  THE SELF REVELATION OF GOD
TEXT: REVELATION 19: 1-16

Rev. (Dr.) Stephen K. Awoniyi

INTRODUCTION

In reference to the man by the name C. S. Lewis, the word “The Self- Revelation of God” could be explained thus:  "The greatest poem in the Psalms and one of the greatest lyrics in the world."

The above narrated statement was written or composed by King David around 1000 BC.  This phrase or word consists of three distinct parts which could be explained thus;
1.  Through Nature:  Revelation 19: 1-6
2.  Through His word:  Revelation 19: 7-10
3.  The key to Benefiting from God’s word:  Revelation 19: 11-16  

A.  The Lord’s Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

          What does the word “Covenant” really mean in the Bible? This could be viewed in several ways.  For example, after Noah’s day the descendants of his sons degenerated into godlessness and idolatry.  The Bible records that at Babel the Lord judged human rebellion with confusion of languages.  This could be seen in the book of Genesis that says;   

The Tower of Babel

Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.  2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.  3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.  4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.  6 And         the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.  7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”  8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.  9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth (Genesis 11:1-9 (NKJV).

Brethren, be assured that Babel was the beginning of idolatry.  The tower was what archaeologists called ziggurat, which was upon the top of where idolatrous worshiped.  In reference to the Lady by the name Kay Arthur,  in her Book titled “Lord, Teach Me To Pray” the town Babel is actually the Hebrew name for the city known as "Babylon" or the “Tower of BABYLON, that is “The Babylonians.”  The ancient Babylonians and the Assyrians spoke the same language known as "Akkadian", that is, "The gate of the gods," where heaven and earth met.  The above narrated points are also fully explained in the Epistle of Romans thus;

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,  23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things (Romans 1:18-23 (NKJV).

B.   God’s Covenant with Israel Through Moses

                Be assured that it was the sin of Jacob’s sons that got the Israelites into bondage in Egypt, and they fell into the idolatry of the Egyptians.  The ten plagues were God’s judgments upon the very gods that the Egyptians worshiped, and their idolatry was closely tied in with animals and insects.  This was carefully emphasized in the book of Exodus:

The Seventh Plague: Hail

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, 14 for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.  15 Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth.  16 But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth (Exodus 9:13-16 (NKJV).

Our Almighty God brought the Israelites from the land in Egypt with a great miracle and led them into the land of Sinai and gave them His law. This is also explained in the book of Exodus thus:

Israel at Mount Sinai

19 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.  2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.

3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:  4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.  5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for that all the earth is Mine.  6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him.  8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord (Exodus 19:1-8 (NKJV).

The above narrated stories indicated that after our Almighty Father reminded His people that He is the Lord of the Heaven and the Earth, He then told the Israelites that they should be a kingdom of priests.   This statement is fully loaded with great meaning, that is, a priest is a mediator between God and Man.  This means, Israel must be a whole nation of priests, intermediaries between the Lord who reveals Himself to them, and to the pagan nations around them.  That is, they must be a Missionary Nation.  But before they can do this faithfully and obediently, they must be loyal to His word and keep His law with humility and honesty.    

C.  The Place of Gentile Converts in Israel

The place of Gentile Converts in the Land of the Israelites could be emphasized or explained in this way:             

20 Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word;  21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord  22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice,  23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.  24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.  25 Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea (Numbers 14:20-25 (NKJV).

Also, the Book of Genesis could the narrated thus:

18 On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying:  “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—  19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,  20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,  21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jobsites  (Genesis 15:18-21 (NKJV).

The Book of Leviticus could also be viewed or explained in this way.

The Sanctity of Blood

17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,  2 “Speak to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which the Lord has commanded, saying:  3 “Whatever man of the house of Israel who kills an ox or lamb or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp,  4 and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting to offer an offering to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord, the guilt of bloodshed shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people,  5 to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they offer in the open field, that they may bring them to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to the priest, and offer them as peace offerings to the Lord.  6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and burn the fat for a sweet aroma to the Lord.  7 They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.”

8 “Also you shall say to them: ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,  9 and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to offer it to the Lord, that man shall be cut off from among his people (Leviticus 17:1-9 (NKJV).

CONCLUSION

Dearly beloved, I wish I have more opportunity to go into the Book of Ruth.  Ruth, a Moabite widow, was highly impressed with Naomi, her mother-in-law.  The lady Naomi requested that Ruth should return to the land of Judah where she came from but Ruth refused to retune to Judah.  Ruth said to the lady Naomi;

Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I     will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her” (Ruth 1:16-18 (NKJV). 

Brethren, how do you show your attitude toward each another?  Be assured that no-matter your sorrow, discouragement, or calamity, the Almighty God is on your side.  Call on Him each day and you will see that He will not leave you nor forsake you because He is there on your side.  Thanks!