The Absence of Revelation
Pastor Erickson preaches from John 20 about Thomas, who was absent when Jesus first appeared, and shows that faith must be personal, rooted in the Word, and grown into a full revelation that Jesus is Lord and God. He calls the church to be in the house of God and, as the body of Christ, to reveal Jesus to a doubting world through their lives and testimony.
The message in 6 points
Thomas was absent when revelation came
He reads John 20:24-28, where Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus came. Pastor Erickson says many problems with doctrine, faith and hope come from an absence of revelation, and Thomas was absent when revelation was given.
1:04:42Nobody believed at first
On resurrection morning the disciples were not celebrating but mourning, hiding and hearing rumors that the body was stolen. From Mark 16 and Luke 24 he shows that none of them believed the first reports, so it is not fair that only Thomas carries the name doubter.
1:09:26Wanting the authentic for himself
Thomas wanted to see Jesus for himself and would not follow blindly. Using fake watches and purses he once bought in Chinatown, he says you cannot spot a fake until you know the authentic, and untested faith that rests on someone else's belief will not last in a storm.
1:17:15He was not where he should have been
Thomas carries the nickname because he was off by himself, discouraged, when the others were together and Jesus came. Pastor Erickson urges people to be in the house of God when the doors are open, because faith comes by hearing.
1:27:32Growing into full revelation
From Matthew 28 and Matthew 16 he shows that not every disciple had Peter's revelation of who Jesus is. People can sit side by side in church without the same revelation, but when Thomas saw the risen Savior he shouted, my Lord and my God, and he points to Scriptures that show all the fullness of God is in Jesus.
1:31:34We are the body of Christ
From 1 Corinthians 12:27 he says the church is now the hands and feet of Jesus, and the world doubts because Jesus has never been revealed to them. He leads people to pray that Jesus would be seen in their lifestyle and testimony until there is no more absence of revelation.
1:45:47
In his words
“Untested and untried faith will not stand up to the storms of life. Just believing because somebody else believes will never last.”
“Find yourself in the house of God, find yourself in the place where Jesus shows up when he walks into the building”
“They doubt because they don't understand, they've never seen, it's never been revealed to them. But now are we the body of Christ and we can reveal hope to a hopeless world.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
John 20:24-28
24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
King James Version.
Mark 16:9-14
9Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
King James Version.
Luke 24:9-11
9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
King James Version.
Matthew 28:16-18
16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
King James Version.
Matthew 16:13-19
13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
King James Version.
John 11:16
16Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
King James Version.
John 14:1-4
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
King James Version.
John 14:6
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
King James Version.
Colossians 2:9
9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
King James Version.
Colossians 1:15
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
King James Version.
1 Timothy 3:16
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
King James Version.
1 Corinthians 12:27
27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
King James Version.
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