End Times #3 Got An Ear? Then Listen

 

Are we living in the end times?

          Is the world as we know it coming to an end?

 

[Been here before-- http://www.geocities.com/alma-geddon/lastjudgment.html ]

 

You catch headline news and we hear of wars and rumors of wars;

          Disease running rampant, famines, economic collapse,

                   Natural disasters and fear.

         

          Maybe the future doesn’t look as bright and beautiful as it once did.

                   Is Jesus coming soon?

 

We’ve learned that we don’t know when

          the second coming of our Lord will occur.

         

          Yet we are assured that He is coming again.

                   Our response to that knowledge is living a holy life.

                             Your choice to live a holy life speeds His arrival.

 

          Living a holy life involves

                   Living in a state of expectancy

                             while bringing the good news of the Kingdom to others.

 

                   Live your life like today is the day,

                             While you Plan your life like the second coming is a long way

                                      off.

 

                   There are millions who are hurting who are suffering,

                             Folks that need help.

                                      A holy life is a life in which you give yourself away to

                                                make a difference for someone else.

 

                   Don’t be afraid, Jesus has something for you to do.

 

Today we are going to consider the message John gives to 7 churches.

 

 

 

Revelation 1:11 (NIV)

Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

 

If we take all seven letters as a whole.

          The message is one of warning,

                    One that we need to have the ears to hear it,

                              And then in hearing the message to heed it.

 

          The message concerns apostasy and what we must do to prevent it.

 

You know that everything rises and falls on relationships.

          It is from a relational perspective that we can make the most sense out of

                   scripture.   

                             So it is not surprising to find in the last book of the Bible an

                                      emphasis on keeping our relationships righteous.

 

          Just a quick review.

                   Righteous: From the 16^th century Right- wise,

                             means rightly related.

                                      When something or someone is how they should be,

                                                It is righteous.

 

          In Eden we enjoyed four righteous relationships.

                   We related rightly to God, to Others, to the Earth and to Self.

                             All those relationships became estranged because of sin.

                                      Salvation involves the reconciliation and intimacy of

                                                those relationships.

 

                             What we will find at the end of the book of Revelation is that

                                      all those relationships have been fully restored.

                            

In this teaching we will consider the meaning of the number 7.

          We will learn how 5 of the Churches John writes to are in danger.

                   And How we must guard ourselves from drifting away from

                             righteousness.

                                      Finally since revelation is about Jesus,

                                                We’re going to discover more about Him.

 

 

We will not be able to do a close verse by verse exposition even though there are

          riches of understanding to mined.

                   If you would like to do a more in depth study, there are some books

                             that I can  I recommend.

 

          Vernard Eller, The Most Revealing Book in the Bible.

                   That’s available on line free of charge:                                                                           http://www.hccentral.com/eller7/index.html

 

          William Barclay, The Revelation of John

 

          Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation

 

          George Eldon Ladd, A Commentary of the Revelation of John.

 

Since this is a teaching and not a preaching:

          Please feel free during the presentation to ask a question if you have one.

                   If you need a clarification

                             just raise a hand and we’ll try to clear things up

 

John of Patmos is to write to 7 churches.

          In Revelation numbers are symbols.

                   And even though the 7 churches are real congregations located in the

                             cites John mentions,

                                      that number 7 takes on a greater significance.

 

The number 7 is used 55 times in the book.

          7 is associated  with Spiritual perfection, fullness or completeness.

                                      (http://www.apocalipsis.org/symbology.htm#numbers)

         

          The Seven Churches are representative of all congregations every where in

                   every time.

                             So the message is to all churches.

 

Revelation 2:7, 11, 17; 3:6, 13, 22 (NIV)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

 

          Since churches are people, the message is for you and for me.

                   The message was for them, and the message is for every succeeding

                             generation, and the message is for us today.

You must remember that this Revelation is for Christians.

          It is written to believers.

 

You must remember that final salvation is dependent on your relationship with

          Jesus.

                   It’s to those who overcome and endure that will experience the

                             ultimate victory.

 

You must remember that a righteous relationship is characterized by love.

          Love for God is demonstrated by your obedience to His commands

         

          Love for Self is demonstrated by becoming the person God created you to

                   be.

 

          Love for Others is seeking to meet their need, even at the cost of personal

                   sacrifice.

 

          Love for the Earth is being a good steward of all that has been entrusted to

                   your care.

 

Apostasy is departing from a right relationship with Jesus.

          Final apostasy is the losing of one's relationship to Jesus.

                (Eller  p. 59 or http://www.hccentral.com/eller7/part2.html)

 

Hebrews 2:1 (MSG)

It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off.

 

Five of the seven Christians congregations are drifting.

          The are slightly off course, and if they keep on the heading they are on,

                   The will be miles away from their desired destination.

 

The congregation in Ephesus is warned:

 

Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

 

Christians fallen from their first love.

          Think relationally, what is that first love?

                   Is not our first love the love that God loves us with which in turn we

                             give away to others?

 

1 John 4:19-20 (NCV)

We love because God first loved us. If people say, “I love God,“ but hate their brothers or sisters, they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen.

 

          What makes the faith more attractive than anything else is our love for one

                   another.

         

          Its that inclusive love,

                   a love that is interested in the others,

                             a love that sacrifices for the group,

                                       a love that brings a passionate  joy to a congregation.

 

A congregation can do wonderful things but they can loose this first love,

          Their unity, their testimony, their inclusive mutual encouragement.          

                  

          You can start to drift simply by being selfish.

                   You place your needs above the needs of your faith community.

                             You slowly become a consumer instead of a contributor.

                                      Before you know it you’ve set a course for destruction.

 

The congregation in Pergamum is warned:

 

Revelation 2:14-15 (NIV)

I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

         

Within the faith community there were individuals who were attracted to the error

          of Balaam and the teachings of the Nicolaitans

 

It is from the Old Testament that we learn something of Balaam,

          Numbers 25:1-5 and 31:16 indicate that Balaam was an evil man who

                   seduced the people into idolatry and immorality.  

 

The phrase “Food sacrificed to idols” is really just one word in the original

          language and it indicates participating in the feasts for the different pagan

                   deities. (Ladd, 47)

         

          The term takes on a more universal meaning if we consider that our

                   participation in certain activities,

                             consuming the  products of the non-christian culture can be

                                      considered idol worship.

 

From church history, the writings of Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus and

          Hippolytus indicate that the Nicolaitans were all about self-indulgence,

                   Confusing Christian liberty with license to do what they wanted.

          (Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT)

 

          This self-indulgence appears to have manifested in the acceptance of pagan

                   culture’s attitude towards sexual relations.

 

                   But its important to remember our figurative stance for interpretation.

                             It is very possible that idolatry, immorality, and fornication,

                                      Has to do with ones fidelity to God.

                  

                             The error here is that by participating in various forms of pagan

                                      worship the believers were off prostituting themselves to

                                                other gods

                                                                                     

                             We’re talking about spiritual infidelity.

                                      Flirting with the world.

 

What seems to be the problem with this congregation is their growing acceptance

          of these compromises with the non-Christian culture in which they lived.

                   The call of a holy life is a call to purity.

                             Purity means unmixed.

                  

                   There should be very discernable differences between the way a

                             believer lives their life and the way someone who has yet to

                                      reconcile their relationship to Jesus lives.

 

The teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans “persuaded Christians that there was

          nothing wrong with conformity to the world's standards.”

—Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT)

We begin to drift as we make compromises with the world,

          Resulting in a camouflaged  Christianity,

                   Where really the only difference between the way you live your life

                             and the way those that are spiritually dead  is that you believe in

                                      Jesus.

         

                   As a Wesleyan, I appreciate a good testimony,

                             But I need to see the evidence of a life being well lived.

 

          A holy life is a life set apart, because the choices that you make are

                   motivated by love, the results in you bringing the kingdom to others.

           

The congregation in Thyatira is warned:

 

Revelation 2:20 (NIV)

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

 

The name Jezebel comes to us from the Old Testament,

          In 1 Kings 16:31 we are introduced to this pagan wife of King Ahab who

                   leads the people into the worship of Baal.

 

          Now in the midst of the congregation a woman like Jezebel claims to be a

                   prophetess.

                             A prophet is one who speaks for God.

                                      A prophet hears what God has said and then tells you.

         

          But there are false prophets and she appears to be one of them.

                   Through her teachings she is leading folks off the path of discipleship.

 

An educated guess as to what this Jezebel was teaching comes from understanding

          what the city of Thyatira was like.

                   The city was known for its business unions.

                             If you want to do business, work, make money, you had to do

                                      it through the unions or guilds as they were called then.

 

                   The guilds had patron gods,

                             The guilds would have these common meals in honor of their

                                      Gods.

 

                   So it is possible that this woman taught since the gods that the pagans

                             worship are not really gods it doesn’t matter if you participate

                                      in their rituals in order to make money.                        

(Mounce 103)                         

                  

                             This is a compromise with culture to make money.

 

                   The problem is that the congregation as a whole is putting up with it.

                             They are tolerant of her and her unchristian business practices.

                                      But Jesus warns that this kind of tolerance will destroy

                                                The church.

 

We begin to drift when we are tolerant of false teaching.

          As a believer you are a teacher of the faith.

                   If someone knows that you are a Christian they are learning from you

                             what that means.

 

          When I was in the Navy, our team was asked to do something stupid.

                   Now that is not too unusual.

                             But me being me, I started gripping and complaining while

                                      offering a much better alternative to the orders coming

                                                down from on high.

 

                   Art LaGrange leaned over and said,

                             “I thought you Christians take all this kind of stuff in stride.”

                                      I was giving a false teaching by my attitude,

                                                And the Holy Spirit used Art to rebuke me.

 

                                      This time I was a fast learner and told Art he was right,

                                                I was out of line.

 

                                                Later Art and his family became believers.

 

If you are tolerant of your false teaching, you will drift away.

          If we as a congregation are tolerant of false teaching,

                   Of hypocritical living,

                             it will lead to destruction.

 

 

The congregation in Sardis is warned:

 

Revelation 3:1-2 (NIV)

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

 

This congregation was full of religious activity.

          It looked good, and strong, and healthy.

                   But all that was being accomplished was being accomplished by

                             human endeavor alone.

Sardis is “a picture of nominal Christianity, outwardly prosperous,

          busy with religious activity, but devoid of spiritual life and power.” (Ladd 56)

         

                   To be spiritually dead is to not have God the Holy Spirit abiding

                             within you,

                                      empowering you to do what He has called you to do.

 

The reason for this lack of spiritual power seems to be the absence of problems.

          There is no heresy attacking the church.

                   There is no animosity with the Jewish synagogue.

                             There are no problems with the government.

                                      Complacency is the problem.

         

          Things are good, there is really no need for God.

                   Could we call it institutional faith, organizational righteousness?

                             The congregation is just going through the motions,

                                      Good motions, but there is the missing power,

                                                Fervency, and passion of God pulsing at

                                                          the core of all that activity because they

                                                                   were no longer perpetuating the                                                                                     Kingdom,

                                                                             they were furthering the cause

                                                                                      of their organization.

 

We begin to drift when organizational energy takes the place of spiritual energy.

          Let me put it this way:

                   Do you need God to show up to make it through your day or

                             Can you get by without His help?

 

                             If you are not dependent on God you’re living in Sardis.

                                     

The congregation in Laodicea is warned:

 

Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

 

Once again we have to peer into the times to understand the hot and cold water

          reference.

 

          Within sight of Laodicea was Hierapolis, known for its hot springs,

                   Thought to have medicinal value.

                             These are the hot waters of healing.

 

          Then not far to the south was Colossae, known for its cold pure waters.

                   The cold waters of refreshment.

 

          Secure in its affluence Laodicea was neither good for healing or refreshing.

                         

                   Laodicea gave no refreshment to the spiritual weary and

                             Offered no healing for the spiritually sick.

(Mounce, 126)

 

                   In other words the congregation wasn’t ministering.

                             It existed solely for the purpose of perpetuating itself.

                                      It was not bringing the kingdom to anyone.

 

People drift when they are not engaged in Holy Spirit lead ministry.

          Your spiritual gifts are for healing or refreshing others.

                   Don’t use them and your relationship with Jesus becomes tepid,

                             And you get spewed.

 

          As a congregation I have asked the question,

                   If we closed our doors would anyone in the community know,

                             Much less care?

 

                   What is God’s calling for this congregation,

                             How do we, as a congregation, bring

                                      Healing or refreshment to our community?

 

                   If we are doing neither, what good are we?

 

Here are the warnings to the Christians:

          Don’t compromise a holy life by failing to love one another

          Don’t compromise a holy life by compromising with the pagan culture

          Don’t compromise a holy life by tolerating false teaching.

          Don’t compromise a holy life by self-sufficiency

          Don’t compromise a holy life by ignoring your calling

 

If the warnings are not heeded the result is apostasy,

          A drifting form a righteous relationship with Jesus into some sort of spiritual

                    prostitution.

                             Apostasy is being off course and headed for judgment.

                                      Are you on the right course?

 

For those who overcome,

          There are the blessings of eternal reward.

                   The overcomers

                             will eat of the tree of life (Rev 2:7)

                             will be given the crown of life (Rev 2:10)

                             will not be touched by the second death (Rev 2:11)

                             will eat the hidden manna (Rev 2:17)

                             will receive a white stone inscribed with a new name (Rev 2:17)

                             will be given authority over the nations (Rev 2:26)

                             will be given the morning star (Rev 2:28)

                             will be dressed in white (Rev 3:5)

                             will never have their names blotted from the book of life (Rev 3:5)

                             will be acknowledged before the Father (Rev 3:5)

                             will be a pillar in the temple of God (Rev 3:12)

                             will be enthroned with Jesus (Rev:21)

 

Something very important is revealed to us through Jesus’ word to the

          congregation at Smyrna: (Rev 2:10)

 

          “Jesus' promise of victory is never that of exemption from suffering but

                   always of the strength and help that will see one through suffering.”

(http://www.hccentral.com/eller7/part2.html#smyrna or Eller p. 63)

 

          Followers of Christ are not exempt from the sufferings of Christ.

                   It’s the overcomers who receive the reward

          “The overcomer in Revelation is not one who has conquered an earthly foe

                   by force,

                             but one who has remained faithful to Christ to the very end.

                                      The victory believers achieve is like the victory of Christ

                                                on the cross.” (Mounce 90)

         

          Are you an overcomer?

 

Since the book of Revelation is about Jesus,

          Revealing to us who Jesus really is,

                   We need to see what chapters 2 & 3 disclose to us about Him.

 

Lets quickly consider three things

 

Revelation 2:18 & 23(NIV)

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze…I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

 

The description is drawn from the book of Daniel 10:6.

          It speaks of Jesus blazing anger against sin, His immovable power (Barclay),

                   His ability to strip away all our disguises and games.

 

Jesus holds believers accountable.

 

Revelation 3:7 (NIV)

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.

 

Holy is a title reserved for God. (Isa 6:3; 40:25; 43:15) and

          True is a translation of the Greek alethinos (ἀληθινός) it means reality.

                   It  discloses to us that Jesus is God and Jesus is reality.

 

We look again to the Old Testament to understand what “who holds the key of

          David” means.

                   John draws from Isaiah 22:22, the one who holds the key has

                             complete administrative authority in the kingdom.  (Ladd, 58)

 

Jesus grants entrance into New Jerusalem, the City of God. (Barclay)

 

          It is only through Jesus you enter into the Kingdom of God.

 

Revelation 3:19 (NIV)

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

 

When you love someone, and you see that they are headed for trouble,

          You do your best to intervene.

                  

God loves you just the way you are and

          loves you too much to allow you to stay that way.

 

          Jesus disciplines and corrects His followers.

 

 

Last time you made a list of 15 revelations of Christ

          Add these three:

                   Jesus holds believers accountable.

                             Jesus disciplines and corrects His followers.

                                      Jesus grants entrance into New Jerusalem

 

If you think we covered a lot of stuff today,

          We just glimpsed the tip of the iceberg.

                   There is so much here.

                             But this is what I want you to walk away with today.

 

Everything rises and falls on relationships.

          Most precious of all is your relationship to God,

                   For once that is reconciled and becoming more and more righteous,

                             You are empowered to set all your other relationships right.

 

          Got an ear, listen to the warnings.

                   Heed the warnings, guard your relationship with God,

                             It is your life.

 

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

 

 

 

 

End Times #3 Got An Ear? Then Listen

 

Revelation 1:11 (NIV)

Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea."

 

If you would like to do a more in depth study, there are some books that I can recommend.

            Vernard Eller, The Most Revealing Book in the Bible (http://www.hccentral.com/eller7/index.html)

            William Barclay, The Revelation of John

            Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation

            George Eldon Ladd, A Commentary of the Revelation of John.

 

7 is associated  with Spiritual perfection, fullness or completeness. The Seven Churches are representative of all congregations every where in every time.

                       

Revelation 2:7, 11, 17; 3:6, 13, 22 (NIV)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

 

Apostasy is departing from a right relationship with Jesus.

           

Hebrews 2:1 (MSG)

It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off.

 

 

The congregation in Ephesus is warned:

Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

 

1 John 4:19-20 (NCV)

We love because God first loved us. If people say, “I love God,“ but hate their brothers or sisters, they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen.

 

You can start to drift simply by being selfish.

                       

 

The congregation in Pergamum is warned:

Revelation 2:14-15 (NIV)

I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

           

We begin to drift as we make compromises with the world, resulting in a camouflaged Christianity

                         

The congregation in Thyatira is warned:

 

Revelation 2:20 (NIV)

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

 

We begin to drift when we are tolerant of false teaching.

 

As a believer you are a teacher of the faith.

 

 

The congregation in Sardis is warned:

 

Revelation 3:1-2 (NIV)

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

 

Do you need God to show up to make it through your day or can you get by without His help?

 

The congregation in Laodicea is warned:

 

Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

 

People drift when they are not engaged in Holy Spirit lead ministry.

 

            As a congregation, how do we bring  healing or refreshment to our community?

 

Here are the warnings to the Christians:

            Don’t compromise a holy life by failing to love one another

            Don’t compromise a holy life by compromising with the pagan culture

            Don’t compromise a holy life by tolerating false teaching.

            Don’t compromise a holy life by self-sufficiency

            Don’t compromise a holy life by ignoring your calling

 

Apostasy is being off course and headed for judgment.

 

The overcomers

                                    will eat of the tree of life (Rev 2:7)

                                    will be given the crown of life (Rev 2:10)

                                    will not be touched by the second death (Rev 2:11)

                                    will eat the hidden manna (Rev 2:17)

                                    will receive a white stone inscribed with a new name (Rev 2:17)

                                    will be given authority over the nations (Rev 2:26)

                                    will be given the morning star (Rev 2:28)

                                    will be dressed in white (Rev 3:5)

                                    will never have their names blotted from the book of life (Rev 3:5)

                                    will be acknowledged before the Father (Rev 3:5)

                                    will be a pillar in the temple of God (Rev 3:12)

                                    will be enthroned with Jesus (Rev:21)

 

“Jesus' promise of victory is never that of exemption from suffering but always of the strength and help that will

see one through suffering.”

 

Are you an overcomer?

 

 

3 New Things Are Revealed

 

Revelation 2:18 & 23(NIV)

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze…I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

 

 

Jesus holds believers accountable.

 

Revelation 3:7 (NIV)

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.

 

 

Jesus grants entrance into New Jerusalem, the City of God. (Barclay)

 

 

Revelation 3:19 (NIV)

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

 

                       

Jesus disciplines and corrects His followers.

 

 

Everything rises and falls on relationships. Most precious of all is your relationship to God,  for once that is reconciled and becoming more and more righteous, you are empowered to set all your other relationships right.

 

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

 

 

End Times #3 Got An Ear? Then Listen

 

Revelation 1:11 (NIV)

 

If you would like to do a more in depth study, there are some books that I can I recommend.

            Vernard Eller, The Most Revealing Book in the Bible (http://www.hccentral.com/eller7/index.html)

            William Barclay, The Revelation of John

            Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation

            George Eldon Ladd, A Commentary of the Revelation of John.

 

7 is associated with Spiritual perfection, fullness or completeness.  

The Seven Churches are representative of _____________ congregations every where in every time.

Revelation 2:7, 11, 17; 3:6, 13, 22 (NIV)

 

Apostasy is _____________ from a right relationship with Jesus. Hebrews 2:1 (MSG)

 

The congregation in Ephesus is warned: Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)

 

1 John 4:19-20 (NCV)

 

            You can start to drift simply by being _____________.

                       

The congregation in Pergamum is warned: Revelation 2:14-15 (NIV)

 

            We begin to drift as we make _____________ with the world, resulting in a camouflaged Christianity

                         

The congregation in Thyatira is warned: Revelation 2:20 (NIV)

 

            We begin to drift when we are _____________ of false teaching.

 

            As a believer you are a _____________ of the faith.

 

The congregation in Sardis is warned: Revelation 3:1-2 (NIV)

 

            Do you need God to show up to make it through your day or can you get by _____________ His help?

 

The congregation in Laodicea is warned: Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)

 

            People drift when they are not engaged in Holy Spirit lead _____________.

 

            As a congregation, how do we bring  healing or refreshment to our community?

 

Don’t compromise a holy life by _____________ to love one another

Don’t compromise a holy life by _____________ with the pagan culture

Don’t compromise a holy life by _____________ false teaching.

Don’t compromise a holy life by _____________ -sufficiency

Don’t compromise a holy life by _____________ your calling

 

Apostasy is being off course and headed for _____________.

 

 

 

The overcomers

                                    will eat of the tree of _____________ (Rev 2:7)

                                    will be given the crown of life (Rev 2:10)

                                    will not be touched by the second death (Rev 2:11)

                                    will eat the hidden manna (Rev 2:17)

                                    will receive a white stone inscribed with a new name (Rev 2:17)

                                    will be given _____________ over the nations (Rev 2:26)

                                    will be given the morning star (Rev 2:28)

                                    will be dressed in white (Rev 3:5)

                                    will never have their names blotted from the book of life (Rev 3:5)

                                    will be acknowledged before the Father (Rev 3:5)

                                    will be a pillar in the temple of God (Rev 3:12)

                                    will be _____________ with Jesus (Rev:21)

 

“Jesus' promise of victory is never that of exemption from suffering but always of the strength and help that will

see one _____________ suffering.”

 

            Are you an overcomer?

 

3 New Things Are Revealed

 

Revelation 2:18 & 23(NIV)

 

            Jesus holds believers _____________.

 

Revelation 3:7 (NIV)

 

            Jesus grants _____________ into New Jerusalem, the City of God.

 

Revelation 3:19 (NIV)

                       

            Jesus disciplines and corrects His _____________.

 

 

Everything rises and falls on relationships. Most precious of all is your relationship to God,  for once that is reconciled and becoming more and more righteous, you are empowered to set all your other relationships right.

 

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.