March 27, 2008

Revelation 3:7-22 - The Churches at Philadelphia and Laodicea

 

v7 - angel - means messenger

 

Philadelphia - means brotherly love

 

***A 3-fold description of Jesus Christ

 

1.He is Holy - means to be set apart - sanctified

 

a.) our position in Christ - we are holy as soon as we are saved

 

b.) our process in Christ - 1 Peter 1:15 - we are becoming more holy every day

 

c.) our place in Christ - complete holiness will occur in heaven

 

 

2. He is True - it means to be an original/1st one/not a copy or imitation

-Jesus Christ is the only true Holy One

 

 

3. He has keys - keys unlock and lock doors

***not all open doors are Gods' doors

 

 

v8 - this is a word from the Lord for CCWC......

 

-there is an open door before us into our community and the world....

 

-open doors represent opportunities

 

 

Why has the Lord set before CCWC an open door of opportunity:

 

a. we have little strength - humility

 

b. we have kept the word

-we have believed God

-we have not strayed from the full gospel

 

c. we have not denied His name

-Jesus Christ is not being pushed to the side

 

 

 

verse 9 - an open door of the Lord brings opposition

 

 

v10 - keep - means to keep your head above water

-the Lord will keep us through any trials

 

 

v11 - quickly - means the day has been appointed/set down

-stay on track/do not lose your rewards

 

 

vs12-13 - overcomers - means victorious ones/to prevail/more than a conqueror

 

***Christians are to be pillars - permanenetly fixed;cannot be shaken or moved

 

***Christians are God's property - speaks of ownership

 

***Christians have a place to go

-New Jerusalem which is heaven

 

 

 

 

The Church at Laodicea - Rev 3:14-22 - The Present Church Age

 

 

v14 - Laodicea - means just people (without God)

 

2 Descriptions of Jesus Christ:

 

(1) Amen/Faithful/True One - means certain/dependable/reliable

 

(2) The beginning of the Creation of God - means the sourceof all creation; the origin

-this means Jesus is the Creator of all things

 

-because of salvation, we can be saved - Romans 1:20

 

 

 

vs15-17 -

 

not cold - means cold to the point of freezing

 

 

not hot - means hot to the boiling point

 

 

lukewarm - means comfortable;complacent;indifferent

-they slipped into this state

 

 

vomit - means to make God sick

 

 

The cause of lukewarmness:

 

a.) it is a spirit of this church age

 

b.) it is a lack of spiritual discipline

 

 

 

 

vs18-20 -

 

I counsel - the Lord does not demand.  He draws people by His love.....

 

 

To the saved :

 

***have a hunger for God

-buy from me - means to come to the Lord - Isaiah 55:1-3

 

 

***open your eyes to the truth

-Laodicea was a city and area that produced eye salve to help people to see

 

 

 

vs18-20 - the Lord is trying to get into this church age

 

 

 

vs21-22 - overcomes - this is a born again Christian/a conquering one/one who prevails

 

a.) we will reign and rule with Jesus Christ forever