“I Know” – Troubling or Comforting?
-Introduction
-Story about the other morning in truck – radio comes on – 1st words – “Hello, Mr. Chambers”
-That certainly got my attention!
-It was almost as if “somebody” was in the truck with me. What if somebody was saying,
“Hello, Mr. Chambers. I’m going to be riding along with you today – observing what you
do and seeing how you do…”?
-To a degree, isn’t that what happens each day in a spiritual sense?
-The Books Were Opened
-Rev. 20:12 – I referenced this a little while back in a lesson.
-Symbolic of the Omniscient nature of Deity. He knows! He knows all! (It’s as if He has it all
written down and readily available before Him.)
-Amos
-A common phrase found in the book is “for 3 transgressions and for 4.”
-If I’ve counted correctly, 8 times. (1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6)
-This is indicative of the fact that God knows what transpires. He’s keeping track. There is a
record of these things being kept.
-Notice, in the case of the times of Amos, things were going in the wrong direction. Sin was
increasing rather than decreasing.
-The Horses on Patrol
-Zech. 1:7-17 – Zechariah’s vision – The Rider on the Red Horse (a.k.a. The Man in the Myrtle
Trees)
-vs 8, 10 – horses – sent to patrol the earth – They are keeping watch over the earth.
-Now, in the context of Zechariah, it was to show that God was once again being merciful
to Judah, that He would deal with the nations and that now was the time to finish the
temple.
-Revelation 1-3
-1:9-13, 17-20 – Jesus is represented as being among (in the midst of) the churches.
-He knows. He is aware of all.
-chapters 2 & 3 – evaluations of the seven congregations
-There are some common denominators – common statements – “overcome,” “I know.”
-“I know” – In response to that statement we find variations – commendations, rebukes –
ranging from Philadelphia (3:7-13) to Laodicea (3:14-22).
-What About Us?
-So, the Lord knows all there is to know about us. So, how does that make you feel?
-Would you like the idea of the Lord taking an inventory of your life (with you listening)?
-He will – 2 Cor. 5:10.
-Does that bring about some nervousness, tension, discomfort? That’s natural. He knows
our shortcomings.
-Yet, as Christians, we can also have assurance (1 John 5:13).
-He knows our efforts, our works, our determination, our dedication.
-Those things aren’t missed. They don’t get overlooked. They are not forgotten.
-Consider the example of Hezekiah: 2 Kings 20:1-3
-Hezekiah was informed that death was approaching. He was able to pray, “Remember.”
-If we knew death was approaching and we prayed, would we pray more on the side
of “forget” or on the side of “remember”?
-Ps 11:4, Prov. 15:3, 1 Pet. 3:12
-Invitation
Joplin – April 22, 2012 – a.m.