Sermon # 91
Title: The Final Beatitudes
Text: Revelation 22:14
Reading:
Subject: The Seven Beatitudes Given in Revelation
Date: Sunday Evening - November 27, 1988
Tape #
Introduction:
Do you know what a beatitude is? A
beatitude is the sure and certain promise of immortal bliss, eternal happiness,
and supreme delight.
1.
Our Lord Jesus
pronounced nine beatitudes in his sermon on the mount (Matt. 5:3-12).
2.
The apostle
Paul gave us what some have called “the last beatitude” in Acts 20:35 - “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how
he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Everyone knows that it is more
blessed, in this world, to be rich and have the means to give than it is to be
poor and have nothing to give. It does not take a great deal of brilliance to
understand that! But the words of our Lord mean that “It is more blessed to
give to others than it is to receive from them. It is more blessed to give what
we have, be it little or much, for the good of others, than it is to increase
what we have.”
Many give for the hope of gain, to get
more. God’s people give according to their ability, to do good, hoping for
nothing in return. It is more blessed to give our labor to those who need it
than it is to be paid for our labor from those who do not need it. It is
blessed to give and labor for those who are grateful and appreciative. But it
is more blessed and honorable to give and labor for those who are ungrateful
and unappreciative, for then our gifts and our labors are to God alone.
Look at the text, Acts 20:35, it tells
us three things about the children of God in this world.
First,
God’s saints are honest, hardworking men and women. They work for their
living. They work hard. And they work for God (Eph. 6:5-8; I Thess. 4:11; II
Thess. 3:10; I Tim. 5:8).
Second,
God’s people work, not to enrich themselves, but to support the weak, the poor,
the needy, and the work of the gospel (Eph. 4:28).
·
We work to
support our families.
·
We work to
support the gospel.
·
We work to
support those who are not able to support themselves.
Thirdly,
God’s saints in this world, who
give with willing and cheerful hearts, are blessed of God.
·
The fact that
they give with willing hearts, freely and cheerfully is proof that they are
loved of God. Our giving does not cause God to love us and bless us with his
grace. But it is a proof that he does love us and has blessed us (II Cor. 9:7).
·
Giving men and
women shall be constantly supplied by God with the ability to give (II Cor 9:8;
Phil. 4:19; Lk. 6:38).
·
Generous,
open-hearted and open-handed men and women, those who give willingly,
cheerfully, because they love Christ are blessed with God’s unspeakable gift,
Jesus Christ, and everlasting glory in him (II Cor. 8:9; 9:15).
“Blessed!”
- Our text says, giving men and women are “blessed.”
Proposition:
These are the beatitudes of our Lord, his sure,
unconditional promises of supreme happiness and eternal bliss to his people.
These beatitudes, the blessedness they promise, are not conditioned upon the
character and conduct of those to whom the promises are made. Rather, their
character and conduct is the result of the blessing bestowed (Eph. 1:3).
Tonight, I want to show you The Final Beatitudes. Turn with me to
the Book of Revelation; and I will show you the last seven beatitudes given to
God’s elect in the Word of God. Here are seven sure and certain promises of
immortal bliss, eternal happiness, and supreme delight given to all who believe
in the last Book of the Bible.
I. Supreme happiness and eternal
bliss are connected with the public ministry of the Word (Rev. 1:3).
A.
They that read...
Dr. Gill suggests that the word read here means to read with
explanation. The faithful gospel preacher reads God’s word to the church and
explains the meaning of the words. That is what it is to preach the scriptures.
And the man who does so is blessed of God.
1.
With grace
2.
With gifts -
knowledge, understanding
3.
In preparation
4.
In preaching
B.
They that hear...
Those who hear the Word of God faithfully read and
proclaimed are blessed in the providence of God, for this is the means of grace
(Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:14-17).
Those who hear in faith with
understanding hearts are blessed with divine grace and eternal life (John
3:5-7; I Cor. 2:9-14).
C.
They that keep...
Those who keep the word in their hearts are the children of
God. Their hearts have been prepared by grace. The word has been sown in their
hearts by grace. And they keep the word by grace.
·
Wayside
hearers
·
Stony ground
hearers
·
Thorny ground
hearers
·
Good ground
hearers
II. Supreme happiness and eternal
bliss is promised to all who die in the
Lord (Rev. 14:13).
There is a great, indescribable
blessedness connected with death for the believer. “Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (See
II Cor. 5:1-9).
A.
They rest from their labors (See Heb. 4:9-11).
·
Rest in His
purchase!
·
Rest in His
providence!
·
Rest in His
presence!
·
B. Their works do follow them.
·
Our works do
not go before us.
·
We do not
carry our works with us.
·
Our works
follow us to heaven for the praise, honor, and glory of Christ.
III. Supreme happiness and
eternal bliss is promised to those who persevere in the faith of Christ (Rev. 16:15).
·
He that
watcheth for his Lord.
·
He that
keepeth his garments, the garments of salvation (Matt. 10:22; I Cor. 15:1-3;
Heb. 3:14; 10:23).
IV. Supreme happiness and eternal
bliss is promised to all who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9).
The effectual call (Psa. 65:4; I Cor.
1:26-31).
V. Supreme happiness and eternal
bliss is promised to those who are born of God (Rev. 20:6).
The new birth is a resurrection from
the dead!
·
I have been
resurrected representatively (Eph. 2:4-5).
·
I have been
resurrected spiritually (John 5:25).
·
I shall be
resurrected personally (Job 19:25-27).
VI. Supreme happiness and eternal
bliss is promised to all who keep, or obey, the words of Christ (Rev. 22:7).
·
Buy of me
(3:18).
·
Open the door
(3:20).
·
Come out of
her (18:4).
·
Whosoever
will, let him come (22:17).
VII. Supreme happiness and
eternal bliss is promised to all who obey the commandments of God (Rev. 22:14).
A.
His commandments are very simple (I John 3:23).
B.
All who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ have the right to live forever.
·
It is the gift
of God.
·
It is the
purchase of Christ.
C.
All who believe shall enter into everlasting glory!
Application:
“Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved!”