Our faith

13Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne

will shelter them with his presence.

16‘Never again will they hunger;

never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat down on them,’

nor any scorching heat.

17For the Lamb at the center of the throne

will be their shepherd;

‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’

‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

SIN TO CONFESS

• Living in impurity rather than seeking cleansing through Christ.

• Unfaithfulness to God.

• Trusting in ourselves rather than the Lamb.

• Fear, unbelief, and failure to persevere through trials.

• Allowing suffering to turn us away from God.

ATTITUTE TO CHANGE

• From fear → confidence in God's presence.

• From despair → hope.

• From self-reliance → dependence on the Lamb.

• From complaining → contentment and gratitude.

• From giving up → perseverance.

• From spiritual uncleanness → desire for holiness.

ERROR TO AVOID

• Giving up because of tribulation.

• Trying to make ourselves spiritually clean without Christ.

• Rejecting Christ's shepherding.

• Allowing suffering to produce unbelief.

• Living for temporary comfort rather than eternal hope.

• Neglecting service and worship of God.

• Forgetting that God is present with His people in suffering.

TRUTH TO BELIEVE

• Jesus is the Lamb who saves and cleanses His people.

• God's people can come through great tribulation.

• The redeemed belong before the throne of God.

• God's people have a place of service and worship before Him.

• God's presence provides shelter.

• The Lamb is also the Shepherd of His people.

• Jesus leads His people to living water.

• God cares about human suffering and wipes away tears.

• Present suffering is not the final destiny of God's people.

PROMISE TO CLAIM

• God will shelter His people with His presence (v.15).

• They will never again hunger or thirst (v.16).

• God will protect His people from scorching heat (v.16).

• The Lamb will shepherd His people (v.17).

• The Lamb will lead His people to springs of living water (v.17).

• God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (v.17).

EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

• The great multitude who came through the great tribulation—an example of perseverance.
• Those who washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb—an example of dependence on Christ for righteousness.
• Those who stand before God's throne—an example of worship.
• Those who serve God day and night—an example of dedication.
• The elder who recognized and explained God's work—an example of spiritual understanding.