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Grace World Outreach Church
The Seven Churches: Letter Six
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Locations & Times
Grace World Outreach Church
20366 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Greetings from Grace World
Thank you for joining us today at Grace World. Whether you are joining us in person or watching online, we are so glad you are here! It's our prayer that you discover life in all its fullness.
If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests
Every week we place these requests on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.
We'd love to hear from you and be a friend. Connect with us online at:
http://www.graceworldag.org
http://www.facebook.com/graceworldag
http://www.instagram.com/graceworldag
Thank you for joining us today at Grace World. Whether you are joining us in person or watching online, we are so glad you are here! It's our prayer that you discover life in all its fullness.
If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests
Every week we place these requests on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.
We'd love to hear from you and be a friend. Connect with us online at:
http://www.graceworldag.org
http://www.facebook.com/graceworldag
http://www.instagram.com/graceworldag
Letter Six: The Opportunity Of A Lifetime
The Seven Churches
Revelation - a surprising and previously unknown truth, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way
What is being revealed or disclosed?
Revelation is all about Jesus!
Quick Review:
Letter One - Ephesus - Return To Your First Love
Letter Two - Smyrna - Remain Faithful to the one who is fully faithful
Letter Three - Pergamum - Conquer Your Compromise
Letter Four - Thyatira - Stop Tolerating The Enemy
Letter Five - Sardis - Wake Up
Letter Six - To Philadelphia - Don’t Miss Your Opportunity
The Seven Churches
Revelation - a surprising and previously unknown truth, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way
What is being revealed or disclosed?
Revelation is all about Jesus!
Quick Review:
Letter One - Ephesus - Return To Your First Love
Letter Two - Smyrna - Remain Faithful to the one who is fully faithful
Letter Three - Pergamum - Conquer Your Compromise
Letter Four - Thyatira - Stop Tolerating The Enemy
Letter Five - Sardis - Wake Up
Letter Six - To Philadelphia - Don’t Miss Your Opportunity
The Greeting: Revelation 3:7 (ESV)
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 (mark that). - Revelation 3:7 ESV
Philadelphia means… “Brotherly Love”
His Church must be Three Dimensional in its love!
It is not enough to love God and our fellow believers; we must also love a lost and dying world and seek to reach unbelievers with the Good News of the Gospel.
A Church does three things
- Reaches UP
- Reaches IN
- Reaches OUT (This is where the greatest opportunity is at)
The City of Philadelphia
- Founded by Eumenes II in 230BC in honor of his brother
- Was referred to as “Little Athens”
- Known for their vineyards and fertile soil
- Was called “the gateway to the East.”
- The city had a “missionary” call to bring Greek/Roman Hellenization to the east as the empire expanded
- It was a city filled with opportunity
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 (mark that). - Revelation 3:7 ESV
Philadelphia means… “Brotherly Love”
His Church must be Three Dimensional in its love!
It is not enough to love God and our fellow believers; we must also love a lost and dying world and seek to reach unbelievers with the Good News of the Gospel.
A Church does three things
- Reaches UP
- Reaches IN
- Reaches OUT (This is where the greatest opportunity is at)
The City of Philadelphia
- Founded by Eumenes II in 230BC in honor of his brother
- Was referred to as “Little Athens”
- Known for their vineyards and fertile soil
- Was called “the gateway to the East.”
- The city had a “missionary” call to bring Greek/Roman Hellenization to the east as the empire expanded
- It was a city filled with opportunity
The Commendation: Revelation 3:8 (ESV)
“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.”
I know your works…
* You’ve kept my word
* You haven’t denied my name
Jesus reminds His church…You live in a city that says they are the open door. But I am the door and I have the keys!
“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.”
I know your works…
* You’ve kept my word
* You haven’t denied my name
Jesus reminds His church…You live in a city that says they are the open door. But I am the door and I have the keys!
The Correction: Revelation 3:9 (ESV)
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.
Where you find imagery in Revelation… go to Scripture and find it.
Scripture interprets Scripture.
Isaiah 22:15–16 (ESV)
15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: 16 What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock?
Shebna - was entrusted as a steward of the master's resources. However rather than help others, he helped himself. ,
Selfish Pride is a stench in the nostrils of God!
Isaiah 22:17–19 (ESV)
17 Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you 18 and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be your glorious chariots, you shame of your master’s house. 19 I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station.
God is an excellent accountant. His books are perfect. Nothing is missed. When He settles accounts… He executes with true justice.
Isaiah 22:20–22 (ESV) 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 (responsibility) the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
A Master Key. This key would be entrusted to a steward. He had full access to the house, most importantly the king's treasury.
Keys Jesus has
* Key To The Kingdom Of Heaven (Matt 18:9)
* Key Of Knowledge (Luke 11:52)
* Key Of Death and Hades (Rev 1:18)
* Key Of David (Rev 3:7)
* Key Of The Pit (Rev 9:1; 20:1)
3 Doors Jesus Forever Shuts
* The door to your past sins and previous self (Ps 103:12, Gal 2:20)
* The door to self-condemnation and satan’s curses (Rom 8:1; Col 2:14)
* The door to self-imposed limitations, lies, and liabilities (Is 54:17)
3 Doors Jesus Opens (+ one)
* The door to his righteousness and his identity
* The door to every promise and all provision (2 Cor 1:20)
* The door to unlimited possibilities (Mark 9:23)
* The door to the Nations (Ps 2:8; Mark 16:15)
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.
Where you find imagery in Revelation… go to Scripture and find it.
Scripture interprets Scripture.
Isaiah 22:15–16 (ESV)
15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: 16 What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock?
Shebna - was entrusted as a steward of the master's resources. However rather than help others, he helped himself. ,
Selfish Pride is a stench in the nostrils of God!
Isaiah 22:17–19 (ESV)
17 Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you 18 and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be your glorious chariots, you shame of your master’s house. 19 I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station.
God is an excellent accountant. His books are perfect. Nothing is missed. When He settles accounts… He executes with true justice.
Isaiah 22:20–22 (ESV) 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 (responsibility) the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
A Master Key. This key would be entrusted to a steward. He had full access to the house, most importantly the king's treasury.
Keys Jesus has
* Key To The Kingdom Of Heaven (Matt 18:9)
* Key Of Knowledge (Luke 11:52)
* Key Of Death and Hades (Rev 1:18)
* Key Of David (Rev 3:7)
* Key Of The Pit (Rev 9:1; 20:1)
3 Doors Jesus Forever Shuts
* The door to your past sins and previous self (Ps 103:12, Gal 2:20)
* The door to self-condemnation and satan’s curses (Rom 8:1; Col 2:14)
* The door to self-imposed limitations, lies, and liabilities (Is 54:17)
3 Doors Jesus Opens (+ one)
* The door to his righteousness and his identity
* The door to every promise and all provision (2 Cor 1:20)
* The door to unlimited possibilities (Mark 9:23)
* The door to the Nations (Ps 2:8; Mark 16:15)
The Council: Revelation 3:11 (ESV)
"I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown."
Matthew 16:19 (ESV) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Don’t waste the opportunity of the open door that now stands open before you!
The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity - Leonard Ravenhill
"I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown."
Matthew 16:19 (ESV) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Don’t waste the opportunity of the open door that now stands open before you!
The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity - Leonard Ravenhill
The Charge: Revelation 3:12-13 (ESV)
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.’
Why do I miss an opportunity
- I don’t believe I am able
- I don’t know what I don’t know
- I don’t believe I deserve it
- I don’t believe I can make use of it
I need to find the KEY MAN who OPENS THE DOOR!
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.’
Why do I miss an opportunity
- I don’t believe I am able
- I don’t know what I don’t know
- I don’t believe I deserve it
- I don’t believe I can make use of it
I need to find the KEY MAN who OPENS THE DOOR!
Ask: Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me through this message?