20/20 Vision: Philadelphia
Notes
Transcript
Handout
“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.’
Christ’s Work
He is Holy and True
-God is sovreign
b. Opens and Closes Doors
-Gospel Opportunities
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
c. Uses the faithful (v. 9)
2. Christ’s Protection
a. Through obedience
-Can be here and now
-Self-protection is a result of compromising the Gospel
-Godly protection comes from embracing the Gospel
b. For His purpose
-Both in abundance or in sacrifice
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
3. Christ Transforms
a. Individuals
-Simon to Peter, Abram to Abraham, Saul to Paul
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
b. Communities (v. 9)
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
c. Eternally (v. 12)
-regardless of situations, God will be victorious