My Obedience is Conneced to the Church
Notes
Transcript
My Obedience is Connected to the Church
INTRODUCTION
COVID tragedy= Walmart isn't 24 hours- What do you do when you can't find a pacifier before bedtime?
Church Success= numbers we see. Compare to other churches.
God measures differently- according to our faithfulness to the opportunity before us.
-Do we take advantage of open doors?
Philadelphia:
"Brotherly love"-- not enough to love God and believers
This church had a love for the lost - Great vision.
Links Rome to East
It was developed to be the door of Hellenism to the East.
"little Athens" because of all the Temples.
Place of Great Opportunity.
Problem: Earthquakes
17 B.C. destroyed by a severe earthquake.
Many people lived outside the city- no security.
Revelation 3:7-13
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.’
4 Reasons We Must Obey Now
1- Time is Short (7)
1- Time is Short (7)
Revelation 3:7
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.
Parable of the 3 Stewards. - One hid it and then he had to give an account. (10, 5, 1)
Every assignment has a deadline. “until I return”
Picture of Jesus
Holy and True
holy=he is God. He is set apart above all things.
Perfect- able to judge sin. - Accepting sin is a compromise of character.
True=genuine He is the original. No manufactured.
Colossians 1:15-18
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Key of David= authority to open and close doors.
Isaiah 22
Assyrian invaded Judah.
Jewish leaders trusted Egypt, not God.
Shebna was Jewish leader who abused office.
He was replaced by Eliakim.
Isaiah 22:20-22
20 In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
Jesus has authority to rule.
With this authority is the authority to open and close doors of opportunity.
Philadelphia was given a great door of opportunity to minister. But that time was limited.
We cannot live our life thinking we have forever. Time is short.
We cannot think Jesus is going to wait another 2000 years. The time is at hand.
We must obey now because the time is short.
2- Door is Open (8a, 9)
2- Door is Open (8a, 9)
Revelation 3:8
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.
Internal and External Opposition.
Lack of Strength
Not large or strong, just faithful.
God doesn’t just use large churches.
If God opens doors he will give us all we need to walk through it.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Opposition of Jews
Revelation 3:9
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.
When doors open, opposition should be expected.
1 Corinthians 16:8-9
8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
Keep opposition in perspective-- It’s spiritual, not physical.
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
3 Reasons Churches don’t walk through open doors.
Fear- ‘I can’t”
Unbelief- “God can’t”
Delay- “I can do it later”
We must obey now because the door is open.
3- Everyone is Important (8)
3- Everyone is Important (8)
Revelation 3:8
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.
Every part of the body is necessary if we are going to take advantage of the open door.
4 Characteristics of an Effective Church
A- Recognize Opportunities
A- Recognize Opportunities
ILL- Evangelistic Steering Team
Shine- Gov. Bent Elementary School
Best evangelistic events are those who capitalize on open doors.
B- Use Holy Spirit
B- Use Holy Spirit
We must depend on God’s strength, not ours.
We must attempt to accomplish more than we can in our own power.
C- Study Bible
C- Study Bible
Committed to God’s Word- do not compromise truth.
Don’t study for knowledge, study for obedience.
D- Submit to Jesus
D- Submit to Jesus
Jesus is Lord/boss.
Make obeying him #1 priority.
We must obey now because everyone is needed.
4- Protection is Promised (10-12)
4- Protection is Promised (10-12)
Revelation 3:10-12
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.
3 Promises to the Church
A- He defeats the Enemy
A- He defeats the Enemy
Romans 16:20
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Philippians 2:10-11
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
B- He Protects the Church
B- He Protects the Church
Revelation 3:10
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.
Keeps from tribulation.
Not just a local trial.
“them that dwell on the earth.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
C- God Honors the Faithful
C- God Honors the Faithful
Success is not size, success is faithfulness.
Revelation 3:12
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.
2 Purposes of a pillar
Stability- earthquake area. - eternal cannot be destroyed.
Honor- erected to honor a hero.
There is no reason to not be obedient when Jesus promises his protection.
Romans 8:31
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
CONCLUSION
This is not the time to give up.
vs 11- “Hold fast”
Enemy is coming- not time to give up.
Are you living in obedience?
Are you living in obedience?
Door is open. Are you taking advantage?
Missed opportunities= loss of reward.
