How to Be an Optimist

How to Be an Optimist

I. Introduction

A. The Book of Revelation is all about on life in this world.

B. The Book of Revelation lifts us out of ourselves—out of our world—out of our own situation—out of our own family problems—so we can see things the way sees things!

C. Revelation 5:1-10 (NLT) ¹Then 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. ²And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. ⁴Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. ⁵But 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.” ⁶Then 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. ⁷He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. ⁸And 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. ⁹And 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. ¹⁰And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

1. “Was it it?”

2. You’ll know it was worth it because at the center of human history stands a “Lamb who was slain”—and He is !

D. Revelation 5:1 (NLT) 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.

1. God’s will for this —the “Deed” to this world.

2. It’s God’s plan to set this world !

3. And whoever holds the “scroll” has authority to the earth!

4. John weeps for the of the human race!

E. Revelation 5:5 (NLT) “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.”

II. Why Is Jesus Worthy of Worship?

A. Because He was

1. Revelation 5:9 (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.”

2. The suffering of Jesus was about the agony of bearing upon Himself the of the entire world—your sin and my sin!

3. Galatians 3:13 (NLT) But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing.

4. Jesus drained the “cup” of the Father’s wrath so could be free!

B. Because He us

1. Revelation 5:9 (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.”

2. Mark 10:45 (NAS) “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

3. I Peter 1:18-19 (NLT) ¹⁸For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. ¹⁹It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

C. Because He

1. Revelation 5:5 (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.”

2. Romans 8:35-37 (NLT) ³⁵Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) ³⁷No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

III. Conclusion