WHAT CHRIST IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH -7
WHAT CHRIST IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH • Sermon • Submitted
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“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.’
INTRODUCTION
SERMON TITLE: I WANT TO DO GREAT THINGS IN AND THROUGH YOU
I WANT TO DO GREAT THINGS IN AND THROUGH YOU - Revelation 3:7-13
I WANT TO DO GREAT THINGS IN AND THROUGH YOU - Revelation 3:7-13
JESUS DOES NOT WORK THROUGH INDIVIDUALS: HE WORKS THROUGH CHURCHES MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO THEMSELVES ARE LABORING IN AND FOR THE CHURCH
Jesus does not work through individuals. He works through churches made up of individuals who, themselves, are laboring in and for the church.
Jesus does not work through individuals. He works through churches made up of individuals who, themselves, are laboring in and for the church.
(SARDIS - LAST WEEK)
I. “I Am In Complete Control of Your Moments
I. “I Am In Complete Control of Your Moments
STOP TRYING TO OPEN DOORS THAT JESUS HAS CLOSED
in your ministry
in your life
II. Persevere In the Present Moment
II. Persevere In the Present Moment
JESUS SAYS IN VERSE 8A
“ ‘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.
NOTICE THAT THE WORDS:
“I know your works” (comes before I have set before you)
COVID HAS TAUGHT THE CHURCH THAT:
IT IS BEING FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT MOMENT WE ARE IN - NOT THE COVID FREE MOMENTS
IT IS BEING FAITHFUL TO THE PRESENT PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCHES - NOT THE CROWDS THAT MATTER.
IT IS BEING FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT COMMUNITY WE ARE IN - NOT THE ONE WE WANT
IT IS BEING FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT BUILDING WE ARE IN - NOT THE ONE WE WANT
COVID HAS TAUGHT US - INDIVIDUALLY- THE SAME
Don’t live looking for open doors because none will be set before you.
PERSEVERE in the PRESENT moment – whatever that will bring. Learn to live and love Jesus even in the challenging and difficult moments of life Be faithful to the Lord-Now
Faithful over a little
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.’
When the church is operating in it’s purpose
§ And the people fulfilling their purpose within the purpose of the church (sardis)
§ Jesus says: I will open opporuntiies for ministry that will be transforming and life and eternity altering for many
IN OTHER WORDS WE SHOULD BE FAITHFUL OVER WHAT WE HAVE AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE: WHY?
We should be faithful over what we have at the moment because:
We should be faithful over what we have at the moment because:
How we handle this moment is what is most true about us
How we handle this moment is what is most true about us
WE KNOW THAT WE SHOULD PERSEVERE IN THE PRESENT; WE KNOW THAT MEANS THAT WE SHOULD NOT GIVE IN OR GIVE UP WHILE WE ARE IN THE FLAMES OF FIRE AND SUFFERING. THERE WILL BE FOR US AN OPEN DOOR OF MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY AND USEFULNESS.
BUT IN WHAT WAY ARE WE TO PERSEVERE?
“ ‘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.
1. They Kept His Word
1. They Kept His Word
DID NOT NEGLECT HIS WORD
WERE NOT ASHAMED OF HIS WORD
2. They Kept His Name
2. They Kept His Name
WERE NOT ASHAMED OF OWNING HIM
THEY DID NOT GIVE AWAY THEIR DIGNITY (11b)
THEY DID NOT GIVE AWAY THEIR DIGNITY (11b)
(SAY SOME THINGS HERE SO THAT THEY CAN WRITE DOWN THE NOTES)
I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Persevere under the fire – be faithful in the flames because
III. Understand What the Real Power is for the Present Moment
III. Understand What the Real Power is for the Present Moment
“ ‘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.
LITTLE MEANS: SMALL, OR BELOW AVERAGE IN NUMBERS OR SIGNIFICANCE
a. Little (Jesus is saying that this is what the church appears to be to the “so called” power brokers of this world: the big people)
BUT HERE IS THE TRUTH ABOUT SMALL. WE KNOW WHAT JESUS CAN DO WITH SMALL OR LITTLE THINGS AND PEOPLE
1. five fish and five loaves (fed a multitude)
2. The little old lady gave two mites (all that she had) and God praised her above those who gave from their abundance
3. But then Paul put it this way
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
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.
OH YES, SOME CHURCHES FEEL SMALL IN THE WORLD -
SOME PEOPLE FEEL SMALL IN THE WORLD
SOME MARRIAGES SEEM SMALL IN THE WORLD
BUT GOD SAID, GIVE ME YOUR LITTLE AND WATCH ME WORK
IN OTHER WORDS - YOU DON’T NEED TO TRY TO BE BIG!
Big is only better when God gives it to you. If you get Big on your own it’s disasterous.
Because you have little power and (watch this) did not try to get more of it – but, rather, trusted Me with your insignificance
§ WHEN THE CHURCH GET’S HARD UP TO GAIN POLITICAL OR SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND BEGINS TO DO WHATEVER NECESSARY TO GET THAT INFLUENCE THEY ARE SEEKING A SIGNIFICANCE THAT JESUS IS NOT CALLING THEM TO.
§ THE ONLY THING JESUS IS CALLING US TO ARE THE THINGS THAT HE CELEBRATES HERE IN THIS CHURCH: PERSEVERANCE IN WORD AND FAITH
o WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
§ BECAUSE NO DOOR OF SIGNIFICANCE TO JESUS WILL BE OPENED FOR A CHURCH THAT IS NOT DEPENDANT ON THE POWER OF CHRIST BY WAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
· PRACTICALLY:
o No marriage will be given an open door
o No mission will be given an open door
o No…
JESUS LAYS OUT SOME PROMISES TO THOSE CHURCHES THAT WILL TRUST HIS POWER IN THEIR SMALLNESS
b. The power is not in the church but in the I Will’s of the Lord. These are the precious and great promises that come from the Lord for those who will never lose sight of where the power lies.
JESUS PROMISES 4 THINGS:
PROMISE 1: I WILL HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS
PROMISE 1: I WILL HANDLE YOUR BUSINESS
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.
I WILL Make them bow down
Synagague of Satan (here and at Smyrna) both churches that are praised by the Savior.
Thus, spiritual growth incites the insurrection of the devil
Understand this important reality:
When the church is revived, the devil is revived too!!!!
Growth in the Lord awakens the beast of the devil - BUT JESUS WILL MAKE THEM BOW
Don’t get in my way by trying to get them out of your way. Let me handle that
HIS LOVE FOR YOU WILL BE REVEALED IN HIS PROTECTION OF YOU SUCH THAT IN THE END THEY WILL LEARN HOW MUCH THE LORD HAS AND IS LOVING YOU
IN OTHER WARDS: THEY GON’ LEARN TODAY
PROMISE 2: I WILL GIVE YOU FRONT ROW SEATS TO MY DESTRUCTION
PROMISE 2: I WILL GIVE YOU FRONT ROW SEATS TO MY DESTRUCTION
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.
PROMISE 3: I WILL SHOW YOU TO BE SIGNIFICANT TO ME
PROMISE 3: I WILL SHOW YOU TO BE SIGNIFICANT TO ME
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.
lived through earhtquake in Philadephia: BUT WHEN HE QUAKES THE EARTH; THEY WILL STAND AND NEVER AGAIN BE LAID LOW; THEIR STANDING IN THE MIDST OF IT WILL SHOW THEY ARE VALUABLE TO THE KINGDOM OF THE LIVING GOD
PROMISE 4: I WILL IDENTIFY WITH YOU
PROMISE 4: I WILL IDENTIFY WITH YOU
1. When a man has bad credit he often needs a co-signer. But when the credit is really bad, not too many will co-sign because
a. Their good credit is now tied up with the unpredictability of someone else’s terrible credit
2. All of us got bad credit: bad not even the word for us. Every credit buereue in the universe comes back with a ?
3. Some scripture on how bad we were and are outside of Jesus
iv. BUT EVEN WITH THAT BAD CREDIT, JESUS IS GOING TO CO-SIGN WITH HIS BOOD BEFORE THE FATHER SAYING: THEY CAN’T PAY – BUT I WILL TAKER ON THEIR DEBT.
1. JESUS TOOK HIS GOOD NAME, SIGNED ON TO MY BAD NAME AND RETAINED HIS GOOD NAME AND NOW HAS MADE OUR BAD NAME; GOOD NAMES
v. THOUGH PHILLY WAS A GOOD CHURCH, EVERY SAINT IN PHILLY WAS STILL DEALING WITH THE INDEWLLING PRESENCE OF SIN IN THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES. (yes, beleaguered and sinful (though faithful) God will identify with them because they identified with Him by writing some names on them
1. Name of God: Is the name that show you belong to the God of the glorified Christ
2. Name of Jerusalem: Is the name that signifies that you are a citizen of the kingdom of God
3. My own New name: Many are not sure what this fully means
WHEN YOU LIVE LIKE YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE THE POWER LIES: JESUS SAYS - YOU WILL HAVE MY NAME
You might have a strong name, a cure name, a family name,. BUT IT’S HIS NAME WRITTEN ON YOU THAT IS YOUR HOPE
YOU MIGHT HAVE A NAME THAT YOU WANT TO FORGET. YOUR FAMILY NAME MAY BRING PAIN, SCARS AND FEELIONGS OF WEAKNESS AND INADEQUACY – BUT THE POWER IS IN HIS NAME AND HE WROTE IT ALL OVER YOU