SECURITY FOR SHAKY PEOPLE
Love Letters • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsThe love of God lays claim to His people for His glory
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7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Revelation 3:
The shocking reality is that God loves to put His nature on display through the joy of His people.
To be loved by God is to be given the gift of seeing Him for Who He truly is & finding Him to be the fully satisfying, all encompassing, everlasting, awe inspiring, beautiful, glorious, magnificent Being that He is.
There are some, as hard as this may be to believe, who see Him & don’t find Him beautiful, they don’t find Him glorious & the bible calls these people blind.
We were all blind before the miracle of Jesus
It pleases your heavenly Father when you see Him & enjoy Him
To be the object of God’s affection is to be given the grace to see Him & love Him.
We love because he first loved us.
Before today we have seen what God’s love to for us but today in we will explore what God’s love does to us
There is a difficulty in what God’s love does for us
We must humble ourselves & admit that we are unable to accomplish anything of eternal significants, nothing of everlasting value apart from His grace at work in our lives
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
“ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Revelation 3:12-13
SECURITY FOR SHAKY PEOPLE
SECURITY FOR SHAKY PEOPLE
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THE LOVE OF GOD LAYS CLAIM TO HIS PEOPLE BY HIS GRACE & FOR HIS GLORY
THE LOVE OF GOD LAYS CLAIM TO HIS PEOPLE BY HIS GRACE & FOR HIS GLORY
This is where we are going
This is the point of this one verse:
That God has so loved us that He has made for us a permanent place in His eternal kingdom so that we might, through His empowering, be a demonstration for all of eternity of His glory.
WHAT IS A CONQUEROR?
WHAT IS A CONQUEROR?
WHO ARE THOSE WHO CONQUER?
WHO ARE THOSE WHO CONQUER?
Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.
Conquerors are those who have been conquered
Conquerors are those who have been conquered
They are not those who have, by their own strength or power or will, triumphed over adversaries or foes but rather those who by the strength & power & will of God have been born of The Spirit through the blood of Jesus.
Jesus victory is our victory when we, by grace through faith, abide in Him
They are not those who have, by their own strength or power or will, triumphed over adversaries or foes but rather those who by the strength & power & will of God have been born of The Spirit in the blood of Jesus.
Our default condition is to try & do things on our own.
Weather we are motivated by pride, false humility or insecurity we do not like to ask for or accept help
Our first parents refused the free gift of fellowship with God for the ability to earn for themselves the ability to be like God
The promises made to the overcomers are not made to the strong for this church was called weak & of little power.
If the requirement was self empowered conquering than this promise would be cruel to such a church
The promise is meant to motivate us to abide in Christ’s victory not to attempt to overcome by our own strength
LET’S TALK ABOUT PILLARS
LET’S TALK ABOUT PILLARS
When we think of pillars we probably think of load baring structures meant to prop up the roof of a building but that is not what is referenced here.
Pillars here are not referencing weight baring structures within the temple, as if it needs our ability to hold it up (for we have already seen that we are weak & in need of His strength even to overcome).
Pillars here are not referencing weight baring structures within the temple, as if it needs are ability to hold it up (for we have already seen that we are weak & in need of His strength even to overcome).
Pillars here refers to monument stones or standing stones known as an obelisk.
Obelisk of Heliopolis
Erected 1700-2400 years before Christ
62’ 4” tall
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary OBELISK
The sides are often covered by inscriptions commemorating the actions of a god or king.
Jacob set up a standing stone, a pillar at bethel where he experienced the open door of heaven & angels ascending & descending.
Could this be tying those 2 events together? The open door set before us & the open heavens seen by Jacob? I think it could
Jacob set up a standing stone, a pillar at bethel where he experienced the open door of heaven & angels ascending & descending. Could this be tying those 2 events together? The open door set before us & the open heavens seen by Jacob? I think it could
Pillars are monuments to gods or kings
Our place in God’s eternal Kingdom is designed to be a a monument to the goodness & faithfulness of our God!
Jacob set up a standing stone, a pillar at bethel where he experienced the open door of heaven & angels ascending & descending. Could this be tying those 2 events together? The open door set before us & the open heavens seen by Jacob? I think it could faithfulness of our God!
Our salvation is a monument to the goodness & faithfulness of our God! More is at stake in your journey of faith then you may be aware of. God has not only paid the price for your reconciliation He has placed His name upon you; His reputation is at stake!
We are meant to be a fixed figure in the eternal temple of our God!
More is at stake in your journey of faith then you may be aware of.
We will see that God has not only paid the price for your reconciliation He has placed His name upon you; His reputation is at stake!
A SECURE PLACE FOR A SHAKY PEOPLE
A SECURE PLACE FOR A SHAKY PEOPLE
“Never shall they go out of it”
The city of Philadelphia was regularly revenged by earthquakes. To be told they would be made a fixed figure in a temple that resides in a kingdom that cannot be shaken was to give them great assurance.
Never shall they go out
The city of Philadelphia was regularly revenged by earthquakes. To be told they would be made a fixed figure in a temple that resides in a kingdom that cannot be shaken was to give them great assurance.
The New Covenant required a new system to evaluation.
We must remember that for the believers at this time they were struggling with a total paradigm shift. For Israel all would go well when they were surrendered to God's purpose & they would suffer when they were outside His will/grace. Jesus here through these letters is teaching these believers that their assurance must not be in our outward circumstances for our true home is in an unseen realm, in a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
We must understand that believers at this time were struggling with a total paradigm shift.
For Israel all would go well when they were surrendered to God's purpose & they would suffer when they were outside His will/grace.
Jesus, through these letters, is teaching believers that their assurance/confidence must not be in outward circumstances for our true home is in an unseen realm, in a kingdom that cannot be shaken; our citizenship is in a city whose builder & maker is God.
It is illegal for us to judge our standing with God via popularity or prosperity when we have been given the grace to receive unrestricted proximity.
Is there grace for popularity & prosperity? Yes. But they are inferior to the grace for proximity.
We want is friends & finances & He has given us His face
We must recognize that the current systems & structures of this world cannot define our true identity, security or placement in His eternal kingdom.
This is the Kingdom that through the gospel, the proclamation of Christ eternal victor won on our behalf, is invading the world in which we current reside.
Our security is based on God’s ability
We are placed as a monument to God's goodness & Christ's faithfulness this is why we will never be removed
Your security isn’t about you!
Your security isn’t for you! (deepest level)
Your security is about The One Who secured it!
Because they were built as monuments to a king obelisks were often removed when a new king or ruler came to power.
It was normal for a newly crowned king, to go & remove all the monuments & memorials of the previous ruler so that the former glory would be forgotten & the new rulers could be established.
This will never happen to us because our King lives forever & His glory is without end!
JESUS CLAIMS YOU FOR HIS GLORY
JESUS CLAIMS YOU FOR HIS GLORY
As a monument stone we are promised an engraving, that Jesus will “write on him”. This engraving is a clear declaration of Who get's the glory for our existence in God's Kingdom.
Jesus promises not only that we will be a monument to His goodness but also that we will fully belong to Him.
As a monument stone we are promised an engraving, a clear declaration of Who get's the glory for our existence in God's Kingdom.
He places on us the name of God, the name of the new Jerusalem & His own Name.
God - to Whom we belong
The eternal God & Father
The mighty maker of heaven & maker of earth
New Jerusalem - the place of our true citizenship
A city who’s Builder & Maker is God!
A city not formed from human will nor filled with human sin but a city made by God for the glory of His name & the good of His people.
This is the place of our true citizenship & this will be our home for all eternity!
Jesus - the One for Whom we live our lives & gladly give our full allegiance
In Him we live & move & have our being
The One in Whom we abide
The One Who’s victory becomes our victory
Jesus did not need to fight anyone to be victorious; He fought for us & rose again victorious for us!
I do think there may be one more layer of meaning & purpose to these engravings
Jesus promises not only that we will be a monument to His goodness but also that we will fully belong to Him.
He engraves His Name upon us…Andy in Toy Story
A WORD ABOUT GRACE
A WORD ABOUT GRACE
All of this is accomplished, all of this is ours by grace alone
The rebel will say this is too good to be true
The rebel will say this is too good to be true
The religious will say this is too easy to be true
The redeemed will simply say this is true
Won by grace
Grace is not God’s weakness but God working
Grace is not God throwing up His hands & turning a blind eye to ignore our sin; grace is God rolling up His sleeves & starring our sinfulness right in the eye to eradicate our sin.
Grace is God forgiving AND freeing us from our sin
Grace turns sinners into sons, makes God’s enemies into His family & transforms the powerless into the pillars
Until you are willing to admit that all your victories, all your conquering & all your success are only possible because of the decisive roll of Jesus you will never know the true depths of joy this overcoming is designed to produce within you.
This is so difficult for us because God has ordained His working to be done in our working. He works a miracle when we obey
Peter took the step but Jesus made water solid
My call to you today is simple…
ABIDE IN CHRIST & KNOW THE DEPTH OF JOY THAT COMES ONLY THROUGH HIS VICTORY BECOMING YOUR VICTORY
The deepest joy you will ever know if found in being a monument to His glory
The deepest joy you will ever know if found in being a monument to His glory