Living in the Light with Anne Graham Lotz

Episode: Living In The Light - 1/12/2025
Date: January 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the hope and assurance found in Jesus Christ, especially amid trials, suffering, and a turbulent world. Anne Graham Lotz, using Revelation 1 as her foundation, encourages listeners to refocus on Jesus—his Gospel, greatness, and glory—as the ultimate source of comfort, confidence, and purpose. Through personal testimony, biblical insights, and passionate exhortation, Anne calls listeners to fully surrender to Christ, knowing his love, presence, and authority surpass every hardship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jesus’ Knowledge, Presence, and Power

• Anne opens (00:03) by emphasizing Jesus’ omniscience:

  “If Jesus knows everything, always has, he’s never had a new thought. And that means you’ve always been on his mind... when he died on the cross, he was dying for you by name. When he comes back, he’s coming for you by name.”
  (00:03)

• Jesus’ attributes highlighted throughout:

  • Omniscience: “He’s always been thinking of you... He’s never not been thinking of you.” (03:10)
  • Omnipresence: “Fully present here with us in this auditorium. Fully present with you online... Fully present with Christ. If there’s some left in North Korea, they’re Christians who are being persecuted now in a fresh way in China. Fully present.” (05:10)
  • Omnipotence: “Almighty, no one is mightier than Jesus.” (06:20)

• Assurance for all circumstances:

  “None of these life catastrophes are greater than Jesus. He promises he is with us at all times.” (00:24)

2. Finding Self-Worth at the Foot of the Cross

• Anne shares a personal story about feelings of inadequacy (01:04):

  “Everybody in my family’s a high achiever. So it makes me feel small... And then this is what the whisper said to me, Anne, Jesus is the most important man not just in your life... but in the entire universe... And the most important man in all of the universe... thinks you are so important that in his humanity, he’s the Savior who shed his own blood to redeem you... How can you feel inferior?” (01:04–03:09)

• Self-worth is found by focusing on who Jesus is:

  “I found my self-worth at the foot of the cross, taking a good long look at who Jesus is. He is God, and He’s man.” (03:12)

3. Revelation 1: Jesus’ Eternal Authority

• Explaining “Alpha and Omega” (03:23):

  “Really it’s saying that Jesus is the full wisdom of God. Fullness of God’s wisdom resides in Him.” (03:32)

• Jesus reigns above world leaders:

  “No one is mightier than Jesus. So when we see and read the headlines and we see all the saber rattling... It doesn’t matter who you name or who the person is, or they can flex their muscles for a time. No one is mightier than Jesus.” (06:20)

• God’s ultimate plan:

  “Right now, the things that are going on in our world, I just think the pieces are being put together to set the world up for his return... we know that God is in control and that Jesus is almighty.” (07:55)

4. Lessons from John’s Exile on Patmos

• Identifying with John’s suffering and isolation (09:20):

  “John, and he was a people person... And on Patmos, he was cut off from everybody. He was isolated, he was exiled. Nobody to talk to, nobody to pray with, nobody who would encourage him. Cut off from his ministry, his church, his family in exile, on Patmos, in suffering.” (09:20–10:09)

• Parallels to modern suffering:

  “You and I may be called on to suffer in that same way... Hostility to Jesus, the hostility to the gospel, the hostility to the scriptures... persecution, I think, is right around the corner.” (10:20–11:20)

• Personalize your Patmos:

  “Let me just ask you, what is your Patmos in some way, are you cut off?... It could be you’re the only Christian in your workplace... I think a hospital bed can be a Patmos.” (11:25–12:12)

• Suffering as a place to encounter God:

  “How many times does God draw near to us and give us a fresh encounter with himself when we’re suffering?... the hard times, the difficult times, the times of suffering have been some of the sweetest times.” (12:14–12:50)

5. Hearing God in Suffering

• The importance of spiritual posture (13:10):

  “Instead [of complaining], he was in a sweet spirit. I was in the Spirit... he was listening for the voice of God to speak to him. For you and me, that’s reading our Bibles every day, especially when you’re suffering.” (13:10–13:50)

• The Bible as God’s living voice:

  “Behind the word of God, the voice, there was a living person who was doing the speaking... When you open your Bible, would you please keep in mind that behind the words, there’s a living person. This is a living book. This is the word of God.” (14:14–14:42)

6. The Vision of Christ Among His People (Revelation 1:12–16)

• Jesus draws near to suffering believers (15:00):

  “Among the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. That’s Jesus drawing near to those who are suffering.” (15:00)

• Christ’s attributes in the vision:

  • Priestly Intercessor: “Dressed in a robe... the robe of a high priest... Right now he’s praying for you. Praying for me by name.” (15:24)
  • Kingly Authority: “He has a golden sash around his chest... Jesus is the king. He’s in charge.” (15:47)
  • Eternal Wisdom: “Hair on his head was white like wool... He’s all wisdom. He never makes mistakes.” (16:05)
  • Righteous Judge: “His eyes were like blazing fire. Because at this stage, I believe he’s angry, angry at those who would cause your suffering.” (16:23)
  • Triumphant Over All: “His voice like the sound of rushing waters... All the profanity, obscenity, the rioting, the things that people are saying, one day he’s gonna have the last word.” (17:22)

• For the persecutors:

  “Can I just say a word to Hamas or Iran or Russia or China or anybody who would come against God’s people? When you come against God’s people, you’re coming against God.” (16:38)

7. The Christian’s Response: Surrender

• John’s reaction to the vision (18:32):

  “When I saw him like this, the only reasonable response I could give is to fall at his feet as though dead.” (18:32)

  • Surrender means “you’re silent. No more giving excuses, no more defending yourself... you’re still. You’re not wrestling with God anymore.” (18:40)

• Illustrating total surrender (Galatians 2:20 reference):

  “I’ve been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, but the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (19:36)

8. Encouragement to Surrender Fully

• Reassurance for those afraid of surrender (22:21):

  “If you fully surrender to the Lord like that, that somehow you’re going to lose by it... But I can give you testimony that when you fully surrender to the Lord, he’ll give you so much more than you ever could have taken for yourself. And your life will be richer and bigger and more satisfying. But the way up is down on your face before him.” (22:21–22:55)

9. Purpose in Our Suffering and Readiness for Christ’s Return

• Even on Patmos, God gave John new purpose (23:05):

  “John, I have something for you to do right there on Patmos. I want you to serve me. The rest of the book of Revelation is his obedience to that command. And as a result, for 2,000 years, the church has been encouraged to focus on Jesus.” (23:05)

• Urgency of Christ’s imminent return:

  “Jesus is coming. And I don’t mean just like, well, yeah, he came and now he’s coming. I mean, imminent. Any moment he’s coming. Are you ready?... one of the best ways to be ready is to make sure you’re focused on him, on His Gospel, on His greatness, and on his glory.” (23:41–24:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jesus’ unchanging thought and care:
  “He’s never had a new thought. And that means he’s always been thinking of you. You’ve always been on his mind. And when he died on the cross, he was dying for you by name.” (03:10)

• On finding self-worth:
  “I found my self worth at the foot of the cross, taking a good long look at who Jesus is.” (03:12)

• On the world’s chaos vs. Christ’s authority:
  “No one is mightier than Jesus... No one is mightier than Jesus.” (06:20)

• On experiencing God in suffering:
  “The hard times, the difficult times, the times of suffering have been some of the sweetest times. And the times when God has drawn near to me and I’ve seen Him and gotten to know him in a fresh way.” (12:44)

• On the purpose in suffering:
  “When you suffer, this is my point: open your eyes. Because how many times does God draw near to us and give us a fresh encounter with himself when we’re suffering?” (12:14)

• On scripture as more than information:
  “When you open your Bible, would you please keep in mind that behind the words, there’s a living person. This is a living book.” (14:37)

• On surrender:
  “When I saw him like this, the only reasonable response I could give is to fall at his feet as though dead.” (18:32)

• On readiness for Christ’s return:
  “Are you ready? The moment he comes, you won’t have a second to get ready. You need to be ready.” (23:53)

Important Timestamps

• 00:03–03:12: Jesus knows and loves you personally; always on his mind
• 03:12–07:55: Explanation of Jesus as Alpha and Omega; authority over all world leaders and events
• 09:20–12:14: John’s exile on Patmos; suffering and isolation; modern parallels
• 12:14–15:00: Suffering as an opportunity for divine encounter
• 15:00–17:22: Vision of Jesus among the lampstands; detailed unpacking of his attributes
• 18:32–19:36: John’s reaction—total surrender; personal application to listeners
• 22:21–22:55: Reassurance for those fearful of surrendering to Christ
• 23:05–24:32: God-given purpose in suffering; call to be ready for Christ’s imminent return

Summary Flow

Anne Graham Lotz guides listeners through Revelation 1 to encourage a radical re-centering on Christ, especially when facing hardship or uncertainty. Through biblical exposition, personal stories, and passionate appeals, she assures listeners that Jesus’ care is personal, his presence is real, and his authority is supreme above every trouble or power in the world. Anne urges believers to listen for God’s voice in suffering, recognize the profound spiritual encounters that can arise in hardship, and respond with complete surrender, emphasizing that readiness for Christ’s imminent return is found in re-focusing on his Gospel, greatness, and glory.

For further resources or to get started with personal Bible study, visit anngrahamlotz.org.