Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, April 28, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
NO MORE SEA
By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:1-5
Text: Revelation 21:1
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Introduction: About a year ago I attended a preachers fellowship in Pascagoula, Mississippi. There my preacher friend Curtis Mixson brought a wonderful message by this title on this passage. I’m sure there have been many sermons preached on this text and even with this title. I hope God will use this message to be a blessing to us all tonight.
There are several good “no mores” in the book of Revelation:
Rev. 7:16 – “they shall hunger no more”
Rev. 20:3 – The Bible says of the devil “that he should deceive the nations no more”
Rev. 21:4 – “no more death”
Rev. 22:3 – “no more curse”
… and here in our text, “no more sea.”
John was in exile, and every where he looked he saw the sea. He was on the isle of Patmos. Looking to the north, there was sea. Looking to the south, there was sea. Looking to the east, there was sea. Looking to the west, there was sea. He was surrounded by water. While he was there, however, God showed him a time when there would be no sea.
As the Bible speaks in this passage of the new Jerusalem, the holy city, it says that the sea will be gone. I have to admit that there are SOME things about the sea that I greatly enjoy — the sounds, the serenity will not be needed (our annual staff retreat to Panama City). However, in the New Jerusalem, all of the GOOD things of the sea will no longer be necessary, because we will have the most perfect of surroundings, and the most perfect of friends and companions.
On the negative side, there are some bad things about the sea. I imagine that John got tired of looking at the water. The sea was his prison. The fact that the Bible says, “and there was no more sea,” reminds us of some bad things that will be GONE.
I. IN THE NEW JERUSALEM THERE WILL BE NO MORE SEA AND NO MORE SINKING
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
I’m so tired of seeing Christians sink on their way, walking on the water to Jesus. No they don’t go to hell, but they lose rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. They also ruin their testimony and lose their peace and joy here.
Christians sink into a backslidden state
A. Because of deception
- Deceived by sin
- Deceived by Satan
- Deceived by society
- Deceived by self
B. Because of drifting
- Bad habits (thought, deed, habit, character, life)
- Bad companions
C. Because of damage to the vessel
- Health problems discourage some Christians and cause them to falter.
Someday in the future: NO MORE SEA … AND NO MORE SINKING!
II. IN THE NEW JERUSALEM THERE WILL BE NO MORE SEA AND NO MORE SHARKS
Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
The fish that swallowed Jonah was not a shark but a whale. However, for the sake of our message, I’m going to compare the devil’s traps in this world to SHARKS. There has been a lot of attention in the last couple of years to shark attacks in the waters of our beaches.
Likewise, the devil attacks us:
A. While we walk
B. While we work
C. While we wash
- Most people bathe in fresh water, but some people even bathe in the ocean. There is the danger of man-eating sharks and other fish.
- The devil can sneak up even on those who are trying to stay spiritually clean … in church … in Bible college …
III. IN THE NEW JERUSALEM THERE WILL BE NO MORE SEA AND NO MORE SEPARATION
John 6:17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
The disciples were separated from Jesus at night by the sea.
While we are on earth, we are separated from Jesus, physically speaking. We have not seen Him. Nor do we see other of the inhabitants and things of heaven, such as:
A. Family
B. Friends
C. Father in heaven
IV. IN THE NEW JERUSALEM THERE WILL BE NO MORE SEA AND NO MORE STORMS
Psalms 55:8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
Luke 8:23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.