Vacation spot - hot springs, abundant wine Dionysos
Missionary city - Hellenistic way of life
Small church - persecuted from outside
Holy and True
Christ is reliable - true not usually associated with a person
Holds the keys - opens doors
No one can interfere
Not by Strength
Church had faced persecution - but held
It is Christ strength that moves the church
Zech 4:6
Zechariah 4:6 ESV
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
Not by Strength
God gets the credit
1 Cor 1:27-31
1 Corinthians 1:27–31 ESV
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Not by Strength
Open doors - walk through
obey = greater opportunity
Hold Fast
Trials are coming
Keep you - from going through - while you go through
Hold on - opportunities are given and taken
Talents - Matt 25:23
Matthew 25:23 ESV
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
The Prize
Permanently in the presence of God
Name of God - we belong
City - our citizenship
Name - our new state - blameless
Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, in Christ. Watchman Nee
