{"id":1729,"date":"2025-05-14T19:32:52","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T19:32:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=1729"},"modified":"2025-12-16T17:16:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:16:52","slug":"the-reign-that-holds","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/the-reign-that-holds\/","title":{"rendered":"THE REIGN THAT HOLDS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Reign That Holds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Revelation 1:4-8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever looked around and wondered, \u201cWho\u2019s really in control?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever felt like the world is spinning out of control? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever felt like everything you thought was stable\u2014your health, your family, your country\u2014shifted or turned in a dime? And everything you thought was solid suddenly felt fragile?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, most of us have \u2014 and it\u2019s in moments like those that we crave something sure. We crave that which can settle our fear and calm sour hearts. We long for that which can bring us peace and reminds us that our lives, our future, and our even faith are not simply hanging by a thread, but are securely in the hands of God. Well, that\u2019s exactly what the apostle John offered the churches of Asia (and you and me), in the opening lines of the book we call \u2014 Revelation<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you have your Bible, would you turn there with me? It\u2019s the final book of the Nee Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here we find John writing about just what I described a moment ago. He writes this book to remind us of the great hope we have (as believers) in Jesus. But understand, he\u2019s not writing from a peaceful office or the comfort of his home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know, for the great majority of my life as a pastor, I\u2019ve written my sermons from either the comfort of my home or my personal office (usually with the help of a warm cup of fresh coffee beside me). But not John. When he penned this book, he did so from the discomfort and solitude of an island prison in the ancient near-east.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having been exiled there, on the island of Patmos for his faith and proclamation of Jesus, John found himself in a place where he was meant to suffer and die\u2014yet, it was where the Spirit of God surrounded Him and comforted him in his suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on that island, God reminded Him that even when things looked bleak, and even when life is hard, Jesus is still on the throne reigning in power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So this morning, as we read Revelation 1:4\u20138 I want you to discover that<\/strong> more than a greeting\u2014this is a powerful declaration. And here John tells us: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus reigns above all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 He\u2019s reigning now, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 He will reign in the future, and\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Some day soon He will return again and make all things right!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, follow along as I read. In Revelation 1:4\u20138 (NIV)<\/strong>, John writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJohn, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.<\/em> To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father\u2014to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.<\/em> \u201cLook, he is coming with the clouds,\u201d and \u201cevery eye will see him, even those who pierced him\u201d; and all peoples on earth \u201cwill mourn because of him.\u201d So shall it be! Amen.<\/em> \u201cI am the Alpha and the Omega,\u201d says the Lord God, \u201cwho is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d like to give you just a little background on this book and passage.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be clear \u2014 I know a lot of people struggle with this book, after all, it\u2019s filled with symbols and prophecies and word pictures of this to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But at its core, this book is not so much a riddle to be solved, but rather a revelation to be received. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just apocalyptic; it\u2019s pastoral. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, John is writing to seven churches of Asia Minor (those of his day \u2014 and really those of our day), those who were experiencing great trials, and struggling with personal compromise, and believers who were facing great persecution. And his goal in writing this book was not to predict headlines \u2014 but simply to declare hope. To proclaim the message that Jesus reigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He reigns now\u2014and He will reign forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, in this greeting, John offers us deep theology \u2014 but it\u2019s wrapped in deep doxology. Meaning, he offers us rich theological picture of who Jesus is, and what He\u2019s done. And he points calls upon us to rejoice and respond to Him with worship and reverence and trust!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Message:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So with that, I invite you to look closely at this passage and respond to the call of this passage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the first call of this passage is this: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Anchor Your Confidence in Who God Is<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGrace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come\u2026\u201d<\/em> (v. 4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before John tells us what to do, he tells us who God is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This triune greeting (from the eternal Father, the Spirit, and the Son) is rich with comfort: God is not bound by time, confused by current events, or caught off guard by our crises. He was before it all. He is with us now. And He is to come, bringing all things to their rightful end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corrie ten Boom<\/strong> once said, \u201cNever be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the heart of Revelation 1. The God who authored your story hasn\u2019t put down the pen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you feel overwhelmed by uncertainty, remember: nothing takes God by surprise. Not your diagnosis, not your job loss, not your prodigal child. He rules over your past, your present, and your future. So, you can walk through uncertainty with peace because your God is unchanging. While seasons shift and news cycles spin, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as a ship\u2019s anchor doesn\u2019t keep the storm from coming\u2014but rather it keeps the ship from drifting, so also is it with our faith. And the book of Revelation reminds us to drop the anchor of our lives (and our faith), deep into the eternal character of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second call of this passage is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Live as One Loved, Freed, and Sent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests\u2026\u201d<\/em> (vv. 5\u20136)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These verses move from adoration to identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This reigning Christ is not distant\u2014He is personal. He loves us. He freed us. He called us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t miss the order here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014He loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014He freed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014He made us priests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your calling flows from His love\u2014not your performance. So understand, the reigning Christ is not a distant ruler\u2014He is a personal Savior. He loves us, not as a past action but a present reality. He has freed us\u2014not just from guilt, but from bondage. And He has commissioned us\u2014not to sit, but to serve. You are not just saved from sin; you are saved for a purpose. You are part of a royal priesthood\u2014called to reflect God\u2019s glory and intercede for others.\u00a0So determine today not to waste your freedom. Rather, use it to serve, serve God and His divine purposes.\u00a0Live as a kingdom citizen and a priest of God. Serve others. Intercede. Represent Christ in the world. You were not just forgiven\u2014you were commissioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, \u201cBeing a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously doing God\u2019s will.\u201d Jesus didn\u2019t just rescue us\u2014He released us into purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final call of this passage is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Look Forward with Unshakable Hope<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In verse 7, John turns our eyes upward — and forward.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He declares that Jesus is not only reigning now\u2014but He will also reign in the future too. He not only came in the past, but there\u2019s a divine promise of a second advent \u2014 for He will come again.\u00a0 And when He comes, every eye will see Him. No one will miss Him. No one will dismiss Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look again at what John writes in verse 7<\/strong>. He says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, He is coming with the clouds\u2026 every eye will see Him\u2026\u201d <\/em>(v. 7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is both a warning and a comfort. To the rebellious, it brings fear. But to the faithful, it brings hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The late British preacher, Charles Spurgeon<\/strong> put it well one time when he said, \u201cThe coming of Christ is the hope of the church, the joy of the believer, but the terror of the ungodly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His point was that for those right with Jesus, His return is welcomed. But for those far from Him, or those running from Him \u2014 to them it is an unwelcome reality. A grave concern \u2014 painful promise. But let me be clear, you don\u2019t have to live afraid. And the message Of this book isn\u2019t meant to be a scary story. To the contrary, it is meant to be a message of hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message of Revelation is as penned to point you and me towards a greater day when the pain and struggle and challenge of this world will be met with the wonder and welcome of our great Savior!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know this, Christ is coming again.<\/strong> It\u2019s a certainty!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As verse 8<\/strong> testifies, Jesus Himself declares,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am the Alpha and the Omega\u2026 the Almighty.\u201d<\/em> (v. 8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does that make sense to you? If you aren\u2019t familiar with those terms, Alpha and Omega\u2014let me clue you in.\u00a0These aren\u2019t just titles, Alpha and Omega are also the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In other words, Jesus is proclaiming that He is God, and as such, He is the beginning and the end\u2014and everything in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And He ends verse 8 by stating that He is the Almighty. And again, let me help you understand the significance of this word.\u00a0In Greek, the word Almighty is the word Pantokrator<\/em>\u2014and it means: \u201call powerful one — the ruler of all — the one who holds all things together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Jesus is telling you and me that no matter what we may face in this life, we never face it alone. Because the Almighty is in control. And as the only children\u2019s song declares, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got the whole world in His hands!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And more specifically, He holds your life, your family, your hopes and dreams, He holds your profession and provision, your past, present, and your future \u2014 in His hands. For He is the Almighty, and He is in control! And one day you will witness His Almighty power when He returns \u2014 because the One who began all things will one day bring all things to completion! The Alpha will one day have the final word as the Omega. And that\u2019s a divine promise you can build your life upon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For, \u201cSo shall it be! Amen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let Christ\u2019s return shape your choices today. Live alert. Forgive quickly. Serve faithfully. Worship boldly.\u00a0Live today like you\u2019re expecting Him tomorrow. Let the promise of His return shape how you live.\u00a0Determine not to allow your faith to wane nor your walk with Christ to drift. Make it your goal to continue pursuing Jesus. Li e with your eyes open and your heart anticipating his return.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, stay alert. And, when Jesus returns, may He find us faithful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as a farmer plants in spring with a confidence and anticipation that in the summer the seed will grow, and I  the fall a harvest will be reaped. So also, may we live: sowing seeds of faith, knowing that the clouds will one day split apart \u2014 allowing the King of Kings to appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Revelation opens, it doesn\u2019t give us charts or codes. It gives us Christ\u2014reigning, loving, returning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what do we do with this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 We stop living like we\u2019re alone in the chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 We stop wringing our hands at the news cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 We stop building our lives on temporary ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014And we start anchoring ourselves in the One who is, who was, and who is to come<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the same Jesus who loved you, bled for you, and freed you\u2014is ruling over history and returning for His people. So lift your eyes. Strengthen your knees. Keep going. For Jesus holds it all. And more importantly, He\u2019s holding you! So, anchor your life in Him. Choose to live as one loved, freed, and sent. And look forward with hope to the promise of His imminent return. Because no matter what headlines say or how your heart may feel\u2014Christ reigns (yesterday, today, and forever).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing Prayer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Jesus, we thank you for the gift of eternal life. We thank You that You are the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Thank You for loving us, freeing us, and calling us into Your service. Help us to live anchored in Your truth, aligned with Your purpose, and alert to Your return. Reign in our hearts today, as You reign over all. In Your name we pray, Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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