SF393- WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT LET GO (Revelation 18-29)
Revelation 2:18-29
INTRODUCTION
Subject Background
"What ever you do, don't let go!"
Ø Sometimes this is good advice sometimes it is not so good.
Ø Water skiing ‑ not good
Ø In the coal mine ‑ real good
Jesus tells this Church to Hold on
Why?
Scriptural Background
The founding of the church
Ø Possibly by a woman
Ø Lydia (Acts 16:14-15)
The failing of the church
Ø Certainly by a woman
Ø Jezebel ‑ character, symbolic ‑ worse thing that could be said of her
Ø OT ‑ strong and wicked woman, imported Baal worship into Israel
Ø She was clever she mixed the altar of Baal with the altar of Jehovah
Ø She was a strong woman with a weak man
Lesson On When To Hold On and When To Let Go
1A. WHAT THE LORD DETECTED ABOUT THIS CHURCH
1B. That They Needed Reminding (2:18)
He reminds them of His Omniscience
"who has eyes like a flame of fire"
Ø He knows everything about you
Ø Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?
He reminds them of His Omnipotence
"feet like fine brass."
Ø Brass is a symbol of judgement
Ø He has to power and authority to judge all.
2B. That They Needed Rewarding (2:19)
It was a going church
works and service
It was a glowing church
love and faith
It was a growing church
last are more than the first
2A. WHAT THE LORD DETESTED ABOUT THIS CHURCH
Fatal Flaw ‑ something they needed to put away
Four Things...
1B. The Source of the Error (2:20a)
"that woman Jezebel"
Ø She would spend half the day putting on her war painting and the rest of the day on the warpath.
Ø She was a domineering woman.
Ø The same demonic spirit controlled this woman
2B. The Seductiveness of the Error (2:20b)
“seduce”
This church had a warm heart but a soft head.
This woman was a very "deep" teacher. (24)
Ø It sounded good ‑ spiritual elitism
Ø They thought it was unchristian to oppose error.
If you stand against error you are right!
Galatians 1:8 (NKJV) 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Titus 3:10 (NKJV) 10Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
2 John 1:10-11 (NKJV) 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
Ø There is nothing wrong with a church standing against wrong.
3B. The Seriousness of the Error (2:20c)
"Seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols"
They were wrong in principle
"who calls herself a prophetess."
Ø God had not her to preach or teach.
Ø A woman is not to have authority over men in the church.
1 Timothy 2:12-14 (NKJV) 12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
Ø She had assumed an unscriptural role and the weakling pastor did not stand up against her. This is why he is being condemned
They were wrong in precept
“to teach”
Ø Her theology was all wrong.
They were wrong in practice
"to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols."
Ø This led to spiritual adultery
Ø We are married to Christ
James 4:4 (NKJV) 4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Ø When you get married you take vows and responsibilities it is the same when you are saved.
Ø They were being drawn away in their loyalty and commitment.
4B. The Stubbornness of the Error (2:21)
She refused to repent
Ø God was patient with her.
She made a mistake.
Ø She misread God's slowness to be softness
5B. The Sentence Upon The Error (2:22‑23)
We learn some important lessons about God's ways in judgement ‑ Three "I wills"
He is patient in judgment (22)
Ø He still gives an opportunity for repentance!
Ø God would rather...
Correct than condemn us
Pardon than punish us
He is practical in judgment (23a)
Ø Judgement is not only disciplinary: It is exemplary.
1 Timothy 5:20 (NKJV) 20Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
The Lord is perfect in judgment (23b)
Ø Salvation is always of faith; judgment is always according to works
Ø Greatest judgement for false teachers
Ø Worse to believe a wrong thing than to do a wrong thing
Ø You go to heaven or hell by what you believe not by what you do.
Ø Ideas outlive actions
3A. HOW THE LORD DIRECTED THIS CHURCH
1B. They Should Hold Out (2:24)
Ø Resist wrong!
2B. They Should Hold On (2:25)
Ø Hold on the Book, the Blood, and the Blessed Hope
3B. They Should Hold Up (2:26)
Hold up under pressure.
Why?
Because we will rule (2:26‑27)
"rule" = to shepherd
Because we will rest (2:28‑29)
"the morning star" ‑ Jesus
Ø The "morning star" is the star that appears just after the darkest hour
It is getting gloriously dark ‑ Jesus is the coming morning star.
Ø Do not let up, do not back up, and don’t shut up, until you are taken up!
Ø He is coming ‑ Hold out, Hold on, Hold up!
APPLICATION
All You Need Is Jesus!
If you have Jesus you have everything
Wealthy Roman
Ø Left estate to slave Marcelous ‑ to his son he left the choice of one thing from his estate and he choose Marcelous.
If you choose Jesus you will get it all!
Are you holding on the Jesus Today?
WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT LET GO!
Sunday, May 16, 1999 - Revelation 2:18-29
1A. WHAT THE LORD DETECTED ABOUT THIS CHURCH
1B. That They Needed _______________________ (2:18)
He reminds them of His Omniscience
He reminds them of His Omnipotence
2B. That They Need ____________________ (2:19)
It was a ________________ church
It was a glowing church
It was a _________________ church
2A. WHAT THE LORD DETESTED ABOUT THIS CHURCH
1B. The ______________________ of the Error (2:20a)
2B. The Seductiveness of the Error (2:20b)
This church had a ____________ heart but a soft head.
This woman was a very "_____________" teacher. (24)
If you stand against error you are right!
Galatians 1:8; Titus 3:10; 2 John 1:10-11
3B. The Seriousness of the Error (2:20c)
They were wrong in __________________
1 Timothy 2:12-14 (NKJV) 12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
They were wrong in __________________
They were wrong in __________________
James 4:4 (NKJV) 4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
4B. The Stubbornness of the Error (2:21)
She refused to ______________________
She made a ________________________
5B. The Sentence upon the Error (2:22‑23)
He is ___________________ in judgment (22)
He is ___________________ in judgment (23a)
1 Timothy 5:20 (NKJV) 20Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
The Lord is _________________ in judgment (23b)
3A. HOW THE LORD DIRECTED THIS CHURCH
1B. They Should ______________ Out (2:24)
2B. They Should ______________ On (2:25)
3B. They Should ______________ Up (2:26)
Because we will _____________ (2:26‑27)
Because we will ______________ (2:28‑29)