Read Revelation 1:9-17

I. REFOCUS UNDER PRESSURERevelation 1:9

• What type of pressure are you under? Is it emotional? physical? mental?
  material? social? financial?
• From Revelation 1:9, what types of pressure do you think John
  experienced?

A. THE PRESSURE OF SUFFERING

• What were the two specific causes of John's suffering in verse 9?
  Put each into your own words.
• In what way have you suffered in a similar fashion?
• In what other ways are you suffering?

B. THE PRESSURE OF SOLITUDE

• Describe the highlights of John's life from the following verses (John is
  sometimesreferred to as the beloved disciple.) John 1:1-2, 14;
  Mark 1:19-20; John 9:1-8;Mark 9:2-7; John 11:7, 16-17, 38-44;
  Matthew 26:36-38; John 19:25-27;John 20:1-8; Acts 1:1-11;
  Acts 2:1-4; Acts 3:1-10.
• How was John's life different on Patmos?
• Have you ever had to make a similar transition?
• What is your Patmos?
• Do you think John would have received the vision of the glory of Christ had
  he not been on Patmos?

II. REFOCUS THROUGH PATIENCE

A. PATIENCE IN YOUR ATTITUDE

• From verse 10, what was John's attitude when under pressure, on Patmos?
• What does I Peter 1:6-9 say our attitude should be when under pressure?
  I Peter 2:20-25? I Peter 4:12-19?
• What is your attitude when under pressure?
• How do you think Proverbs 3:3-6 might help you adjust your attitude?
  Matthew 11:28? I Peter 5:7?

B. PATIENCE IN YOUR ACTIVITY

• Describe John's activity before exile on Patmos from I John 1:1-3.
• What activity was God now commanding John to do? See Revelation 1:11, 19
• How were the two activities different?
• What opportunities would John have missed had he not been willing to
  change activities and ministries?  

III. REFOCUS THROUGH PREOCCUPATIONRevelation 1:12-16

• What do the lampstands represent in Rev. 1:12? See 1:20
• Who was the one "like a son of man"? (see 1:17-18)
• From verses 12-16, how did John see Jesus as our High Priest
  (cp. Heb. 4:14)? as King (cp. Rev.19:16)? as Everlasting Father
  (cp. Isa. 9:6, Dan. 7:9)? as Judge (cp. John 5:22)? the Living Word
  (cp. John 1:1-2, 14)? the Good Shepherd (cp. John 10:28) the Truth
  (cp. John 14:6, Eph. 6:17, Heb. 4:12)? the Light of the World
  (cp. John 8:12)?
• When under pressure, with what are you preoccupied? With what was John
  preoccupied?

IV. REFOCUS UNTIL PROSTRATERevelation 1:17

• What impact did the vision of the glory of Jesus Christ have on John?
• What are the primary characteristics of a dead man? Relate these
  characteristics to surrender to Christ.
• How did Paul have a similar experience in Galatians 2:20?
• Do you think Jesus was referring to this experience in Matthew 16:24-25?
• How does this apply to you?
• How do you think the vision of the glory of Jesus Christ helped John deal
  with the pressures, problems and pain in his life?
• On what are you focused?
• Would you choose to lift up your eyes and refocus on Him?  

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