The Four Living Creatures

Welcome to worship and the word with pastor today were starting a series called the four living creatures in this new series. Pastor Robert shares with the four heavenly creatures in the Bible represent the body of Christ worldwide. Our church in our own lives is a phenomenal message so let's join Pastor.

Alright so the series you've all been waiting the four living creatures mentioned in Revelation and Ezekiel and so will talk about the four living creatures let me just let you know that I'm going to spend the majority of the message.

Building a foundation for this today talking about the four living creatures because I believe these the faces of these creatures represent an aspect of the church and of our personal lives that we need to understand saucepan most of the message. Doing that, just so if you're one of those that you think it's been 15 minutes and is 90.1 yet we need to call the restaurant by dinner plans will still get out on time. I just have to build a foundation. First, okay. And so were going to do that so I call this message the four foundations because the four faces of these four creatures are foundational to the church in the church you attend needs to have these four foundations and you need to have these four foundations of your life and I'm going to show you they're not just foundations but with God. He builds on these periodically so that we go higher and higher in these four areas alright so will start Revelation chapter 4, and a model read the whole chapter 3:11 versus what I want to give you little bit of background on the four living creatures are right and this has nothing to do again attempts by the way this not.

That's not you won't hear that are all in this part because I don't believe that's what the four living creatures represent the Revelation chapter 4 verse one after these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying, Peter and I will show you things which must take place after this. Immediately I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne set in heaven, and one sat on the throne and he who said they are one of talk about this in this moment was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance so well again going read the rest of versus an automatic, and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Okay, so a jasper and a sardius stone in the connexus 28 the police had aggressively known and aggressively had 12 stones in each stone represented a tribe of Israel. The Jasper represented the tribe of Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob and the sardius represents a tribe of Benjamin's last horn so he says this in, then the person sitting on the throne was like jasper and sardius them.

So in other words, that this is so good when you think about it.

He was Jesus because he is the first and the last, the Bible fits together perfectly. It's it's absolutely incredible.

So when when Israel would see the stones they knew God is talking about the first life in chapter 1, when Jesus reveals himself to John on the island of Patmos where the book of Revelation was written. He says he is way introduces himself on the first and the last of the beginning and the end on the Alpha and the Omega, so that's what the Jasper and the sardius stone represents her and then it says that there was a rainbow around the throne that you'll think about this. A rainbow is a semi circle is only half a circle but it's around the throne, so it's the full circle and the radio represents the promise of God of grace and here's what he saying at the throne. The promise is complete is now completed, because God's done what he wanted to date, so that's first three so they look at verse four around the throne were 24 thrones, and all the frames I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on her head's mouth just let you know. Most theologians believe and I believe this is well that the 24 elders represent the 12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament and the 12 apostles in the New Testament. So that's where you get the 24 from verse six no verse five and from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Just again give you background Isaiah if you will note the seven spirits of God are there in Isaiah 11 verse 10, so there listed Reich in Isaiah 11 verse two. The mental fiber easy to see the first one is the spirit of the Lord.

The seventh one is the spirit of the fear of the Lord, and another five are simply just listed their verities of the state. Verse six before the throne there was a sea of glass like Crystal and MS of the throne and around the throne, were four living creatures full body scan front and back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, or this is a young ox, the third living creature had a face like a man in the fourth living creature was of like a flying eagle. Before leaving creatures, each having six ways were full of eyes around and within, and they do not rest day or night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne lives forever and ever. The 24 elders fall down before him resets of the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying you are worthy of the Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. Now remember these 12 stones. I talked about a moment know that the breastplate of the preset 12 stones of 12 tribes of Israel. These 12 stones are also in the foundation of new Jerusalem: on what I'm going to be sharing is that these four living creatures represent the foundation of the church and the foundation of our lives destroyed one more that you go read the rest Revelation chapter 67 and then some of the other ones to about verse 19 you'll see the four living creatures registering chapter 6. These are all the odd versus wrong, try to remember 135 and seven. Watch the four living creatures. Verse one now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals that I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder. Come and see verse three when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, come and see verse five when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say come and see verse seven when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, and see.

So the living creature speak and what are they saying they're saying, you see the unfolding revelation of Jesus Christ and let me say some drug book of Revelation, and I believe that many, many people miss it. And I say this is any times book of Revelation does have some passages about intent book of Revelation. Note tells us about what happened before the fall before the earth was ever created and actually tells us about the fall of Satan and the third of the angels phone that's in Revelation is not future. It also tells us about the coming of the Messiah, the first dance also tells us about the birth of the church so that the book of Revelation so much more family ragged office that we can understand your grade you will miss Revelation if you if you think this is the revelation of the end times. It is not Revelation.

In fact, it's a bill that they would live six of the first five words of the book Revelation 11 says the Revelation of Jesus Christ said Revelation enzymes says the Revelation of Jesus Christ. If you read the book of Revelation and you don't see Jesus you missed it missed the whole point missing the whole point and so maybe will get caught up on so many things instead of Jesus. He's what it's about. So here we go.

My three-pointer item again will spend more time on the first one, number one before foundations of the church. The four living creatures represent the four foundations of the church never really go back to Ezekiel chapter 1 verse four. Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself. Brightness was all around and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, this is very similar to the vision John them out of the midst of the fire. Also from within. It came the likeness of four living creatures is Ezekiel is rated Revelation watch the faces safely. Revelation Ezekiel 1 verse 10 as for the likeness of their faces. Each had the face of a man. Each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side needs of the poor in the face of an ox or in the did revelations is a calf. It's a gun, a young ox on the left side and each of the four had the face of an eagle, verse 50.

As I looked at the living creatures, behold, we'll was only are beside each living creature with its four faces of this imported because the will represents the Holy Spirit must say that the moment verse 17 when they moved when the crew when therefore creatures move they went toward Tijuana for directions they did not turn aside when they went, so they didn't turn they just move that the preacher never turned verse 19 when the living creatures when the wheels went beside the and when the living creatures were lifted up. Sellers are raising up to get you higher and higher from your the wheels were lifted up wherever the spirit wanted to go for the spirit is in the will.

Wherever the spirit wanted to go. David creatures went up the church there.

Because there the spirit with in the wheels were lifted together with them for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels isolated just distal L4 creatures each creature has four faces face of a man by civil I am face of an eagle face of an ox wherever the spirit goes creatures.

So here's what you need to understand as a church that's were refocusing. First they went about us as individuals. This is what happens in churches.

The Holy Spirit leads us because remember, it says the wheels which represents the Holy Spirit is there lifted up, and as the wheels were lifted up creatures lifted up. So what happens is as a church, a church will begin the focus on grace and focus on prayer. Maybe focus on servant hood and then focus on worship and then when we focus on price again now or the higher level and we focus on prayer now or at a higher level and serving who would go to a higher level than worship we go even higher. And we focus on grace ago. Don't hurry I don't following this is exactly what happens in the church now. One of these you relate to more than the other.

Here's the tenancy though if you're not cautious that the church are going to will be focusing on what you won't know go visit that church and the church is Bonsall worshiping church who I found home I found home and also the spirit turns in your life way way way way way what happened lately were off-base or off-track when we were going in the right direction and in the spirit turns again and we go another way, the following and then the spirit leave and will go back you will go deeper in worship and this would be a piglet wolf. Thank God I've been praying Prof. Robert. He finally heard God and he's preaching like you should be on phone worship in the presence of God because that's where it is you follow me alone safe to just hold because the spirit wants to take us Tiger in all for the serious as a church and what I see people do is build go visit the church and its own doing going there direction and they'll join the church and in the spirit changes so I go look for another church may find another church is going there direction. A joint element in the spirit changes all not not because horses are important, but because he wants take us Tiger in our understanding of another area. So these are the four foundation of the church year's number two before foundations of life.

These are for foundations in your life. Ezekiel chapter 3 verse 13. I also heard the noise of the ways of the living creatures that touch one another and the noise of the wheels beside the and a great thunderous noise know what first 14 so the spirit lifted me up, so it's not just the church so just foundations church its foundation in your life. If you're not strong in one of these areas, you can ask God to take you higher in that area. If you say you know why I love worship love the presence of God until I got to give a good understanding of his grace. I am surveying uncommitted somewhere, but Lord, I need to go hire my prayer life. I need to become a prayer warrior for my family may become a priority for my kids. So this is a frequent prayer of parents of teenagers.

I need to go higher in prayer for my marriage. I need the hiring prayer for my business I medial hiring prayer date. That's great, because the Holy Spirit wants to leave you there. So these are for foundations not just of the church with FB in your life and so this during the series were going to look at each of these foundations and say where are you kidding can we as a church go higher. Just as the church corporately, but I as an individual cannot go higher in my prayer life. Can I go hire my worship life cannot go higher in my humility. Serving others in a technical hiring being gracious and kind to other people's wealth in my understanding breaks even and forgiving myself.

I go higher laser for foundations of the church there for foundations of life and then take each week. Does your foundation so I don't I just have one little application on this one.

So here's the first foundation relates for number three is the foundation breaks the foundation breaks and I preach on grace a lot and I sprinkle every message with grace because the strength of CN is the law of first Corinthians 1556. Please say again because this is so happy you you you should meditate on this month's the strength of CN is the law of seven words. In other words, if I stand up and preach law use CN actually a spring in your life to get stronger and stronger the more I say don't don't don't. The stronger Simmons gets disabled what what overcomes CN love say I'm unfaithful to my wife not because I stood in front of a preacher one day and said I do, but because a lover that's that's gonna trump every commitment that I make my words is slow enough so try preach on grace a lot a lot so but I have one burden on grace for today for us. Before I do like to show you why say the man represents grace because the man and I don't know of any theologian doesn't believe in this represents Jesus grace thank you Jesus. Jesus referred to himself just of the gospel of Matthew, 30 times as the Son of Man is the first one I referred himself that like the Son of Man, because he is God and became man 82 times of the Gospels, Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man, usually a few in Matthew Matthew 12 oversight for the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. Matthew 1613 who do men say that I the Son of Man am Matthew 1627 for the Son of Man will come in the glory of his father.

Matthew 1811 for the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. Matthew 2028 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve. Matthew 26 two you know that after two days is the Passover and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified. So Jesus is the Son of Man, and then why does Sadie represent Grace John 117 for the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. So I one burden about grace because I preached a lot of series of grace and I've got one burden for all of us right now and that is how gracious are you to yourself. Are you still giving yourself grace because when you got saved you receive breaks but are you still receiving grace. 10 years later you still receiving grace for your failures. After you got saved. Paul, traveling to Corinth comes to Ephesus X 19 and he says of them.

Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed such a great question. Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believe that I thought about that question and this is what I want you set question target for the subject breaks. Have you received grace since you believed the Lord someone shared the gospel with you and send all your sins can be forgiven and you probably product is all but I'm a bad person. I should have a Jesus to and it's like a light came on you like this and you received the grace of God, but Harriet receiving the rights of God, since you believed now how how are you about receiving the grace of God for your failures since you became a Christian, but just what you did before Christ. But what you've done after Christ.

And here's a test. Do you play those failures over and over in your mind of a failed business. A failed relationship, a failed marriage, a failed venture, a failed dream. So are you still receiving grace. This is this is, it's like one little burden I have for you. That could be really big bird. As we started the church, the church took off and Sega started attacking me. I've told you before my early 20s I had a big time failure. My marriage, and Sega started attacking me just with their what are you doing pastor a church wedding and send up there telling people how to live their lives with this failure in your life. What he what you do, you don't.

Do you mean just the just horrible shame Constance at some shared it with elders. One day, and they said you know maybe you need to talk to someone and I said you know I base it is really one you feel that this country minus of you know, I've been thinking about it. However pastor this on our staff, now pastor Tommy ricks and I sold. I just feel like Tommy could help so I going office the next day and my sister gives me just be regular phone call. They rotted a little piece of paper and maybe that'll make terrified you double stack of unit and she said she centers she said a guy called her name. Tommy Briggs and he says he's one of your friends was a lot of people, offices for my friends. She done sat skeptical demo in MD again. I got a lot of phone calls.

He was your best friend in high school not you and I don't know who they are but they like his greasy essays is 100) and he said he doesn't want to bother you, but he said he has a word from God for you now just told the authors this so I called Tommy we got together. He starts unfolding this word.

Then he says to me I don't know what I'm talking about Robert Anderson what God told but the failure that you committed after you got saved is under the blood like the failures you permitted before you got saved and you need to forgive yourself and I received grace as a Christian burial followed we received grace we come to Christ's, but you need grace today and this is one of the foundations that you can build your life. We want to take a moment to think about with past RapidShare today and really listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you if you want to connect with us or check out some of pastor Roberts other messages visit Pastor Robert.com if you haven't already, go follow us on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter so we can be a part of your community were so glad you joined us for the beginning of this series. Next time, Pastor Robert is going to share about humility in certain until then. Have a blessed week