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Episodes
Sermons preached at the Hinckley Evangelical Free Church (Hinckley, MN)
Episodes
Monday Oct 31, 2016
Monday Oct 31, 2016
Letters to the Church: Hinckley
Various Texts
Recap
· As we have examined Jesus’ letters to the 7 churches of Asia Minor in Rev. 2-3
· We have been seeking the Lord to see what He wants to say to us
o This is a process that the Elders have been going through
· From this process, God has shown us some areas that we are doing well in
o And others that we need to focus or refocus on
A Vision of Jesus
· Each letter opens with a vision of Jesus
o A reminder of who is leading the Church
· Jesus is:
o Present with the church (Rev. 2:1b)
o The eternal & victorious One (Rev. 2:8b)
o The Conqueror (Rev. 2:12b)
o The all-knowing, Ancient of Days (Rev. 2:18b)
o The Possessor of the Holy Spirit and the churches (Rev. 3:1b)
o The holy One who gives us unlimited access to God (Rev. 3:7b)
o The faithful Ruler of all creation (Rev. 3:14b)
Jesus would commend us for:
· Our commitment to the Word, which includes:
o Sound Biblical teaching & doctrine
§ Like Ephesus (Rev. 2:2)
§ “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1)
o Staying focused on the ‘majors’
§ Not being divided by ‘minor’ theological differences (Rom. 14:1)
§ “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”
· Our unity (1 Pet. 3:8a)
o We are not easily divided
o But tend to focus on the One who brought us together
· Our welcoming and gracious spirit
o “Come as you are” mentality (Rom. 15:7, NIV)
o Allowing people to fail and still feel loved
Areas to Grow
· Like Ephesus (Rev. 2:3) & Laodicea (3:15) we have lost focus in some areas
· Community
o Being the church beyond Sunday mornings (Acts 2:46)
o Something that used to come naturally
§ But has faded as we have grown
· Service & Giving
o Ministering to one another and our neighbors
o Through our time, talents, and tithes (1 Pet. 4:10)
· Prayer
o Both individually and corporately coming before the Lord (Jas 5:16)
o Not just to talk, but to listen
o And moving beyond our comfort zones to before the throne of God
· In a word, what we have lost focus of is our Vision (Pro. 29:18)
o We need to return to the vision that God has for us as a church
The Good News
· Just like the churches in Revelation, Jesus is not done with us
o This is a wake-up call!
o There is hope and healing for us in all these things
· We need to return to that which we know God has called us
o While not abandoning that which we are doing well
· We will spend the next few weeks with this as our aim
So What?
· Are we ready to let God refocus us on His vision for His church?
· Are we willing to be challenged and changed by His word and His Spirit?
· We don’t do this alone!
Meditation Verse: Revelation 2:1b
Monday Oct 24, 2016
Monday Oct 24, 2016
Letters to the Church: Laodicea
Revelation 3:14-22
Laodicea (v. 14a)
· Very wealthy city
o Where travelers would exchange their money for higher quality currency
· Suffered a major earthquake on AD 60
o So wealthy that they refused aide from Rome to rebuild
· Despite their wealth, the city had no good water source
A Vision of Jesus (v. 7b)
· Jesus describes Himself as:
o The ‘Amen’: The affirmation of God
o Thus, He is the faithful and true witness to who God is
o The beginning of God’s creation: Referring to him being the source & ruler of all of creation
§ Arche: beginning, source, or ruler (see John 1:1)
“I know…” (v. 15-17)
· Jesus’ knowledge of the Laodiceans work leads to His rejection of it
· The city piped in water from the Colossae & Hierapolis
o Colossae had a cold spring of water that issued forth from the side of the nearby mountain which was the most refreshing water in the region
o Hierapolis had hot mineral springs, which were used for healing purposes
o By the time it got to Laodicea, it would be lukewarm, and mineral laden
§ Thus, nauseating
· Like their water supply, the Laodicean church’s works were nauseating to Jesus
o Thus, His declaration that He is about to spit them out
o This is a declaration of the worthlessness of their work
§ Not that Jesus desires that His people be on fire for Him, or be apathetic toward Him!
· And they think that they are rich spiritually
o When they are really the poorest of the poor
· Like their city’s self-sufficiency
o The church had become prideful, boastful, and complacent
Jesus’ Offer (v. 18-20)
· He counsels the church to invest in Him
o To exchange their worthless works for something of real value
§ Like travelers would exchange their inferior currency for the better Laodicean kind
· This call to exchange is to trade their self-sufficiency for reliance on Jesus’ own righteousness
o Which will heal their shame and spiritual blindness
· He reminds them that His discipline is an act of love
o And calls them to repent and rekindle a zeal for God
· This is not a call of first belief
o But rather a call back to intimate fellowship with Jesus (Song 5:2)
The Call to Conquer (v. 21-22)
· Jesus promises those who persevere in their faith:
o That they can sit on His throne with Him
§ Sharing in His rule
§ For their work will be done
So What?
· Are we lukewarm; complacent in our relationship with Jesus?
o Or are we growing and investing in that relationship?
· Are we relying on ourselves or on Jesus?
Meditation Verse: Revelation 3:18
Monday Oct 17, 2016
Monday Oct 17, 2016
Letters to the Church: Philadelphia
Revelation 3:7-13
Philadelphia (v. 7a)
· Suffered a devastating earthquake in AD 17
o Along with Sardis
· Was once the hub for the spread of Hellenism in Asia
o Hellenism: Greek language & culture
· Known for their vineyards
o Large temple to Dionysus
A Vision of Jesus (v. 7b)
· Jesus describes Himself as:
o Holy: Something other than creation
o A term used exclusively for God
· True: Both trustworthy and the source of truth
o The holder of the key of David
o A reference to the one who alone had unfettered access to the king (Isa. 22:20-23)
o Jesus alone gives unlimited access to God
“I know…” (v. 8-10)
· Jesus commends the Philadelphians for their works
o Including not denying Him despite pressure to do so
§ Especially from those of the Jewish synagogue
· He tells that He has opened a door for them
o Probably a reference to opportunity for them to spread the Gospel
o Much like the city was used to spread Hellenism
· For their endurance Jesus promises to reward them by “keeping them from the hour of trial” that is coming (v. 10)
o This is seen by some as a reference to the Rapture
o But may also be a reference to His protection of His people throughout the coming tribulation (see John 17:15)
o Τηρέω (tareo): keep watch over, guard
§ keep, hold, reserve, preserve
§ keep, observe, fulfill, pay attention to
o Regardless of how you interpret it, Jesus is promising to protect His people
§ Either by removal or perseveration through trials
§ A theme throughout Revelation
· “sealing” (7:1ff.), “measuring” (11:1–2), and “nourishment and protection in the wilderness” (12:6, 14–17)
The Call to Conquer (v. 11-13)
· To those that persevere in their faith in Christ, Jesus offers:
o A crown: The stephanos/victor’s crown
§ Having it taken is not a reference to loss of salvation
§ But rather, loss of reward
o To be a pillar in God’s Temple: A place of permanence before God
§ In order to bring Him glory
o Names written on them (1 King 7:12; 2 Chr. 3:15, 17)
§ The Father’s name: Showing that they belong to Him
§ The New Jerusalem: Their new place of citizenship (Ezek. 48:35)
§ Jesus’ new name: Reflecting their special relationship with Christ (Isa. 62:2)
So What?
· Are we walking through the ‘open door’ that God has set before us?
o Are we looking for opportunity to share the Gospel with others?
· Are we comforted by the protection that God offers?
o As He calls us His own
Meditation Verse: Revelation 3:8
Monday Oct 03, 2016
Monday Oct 03, 2016
Letters to the Church: Thyatira
Revelation 2:18-29
Thyatira (v. 18a)
· Located on a vast plain
o The modern city of Akhisar
· Ancient defensive city for the kingdom of Pergamum
· Known for their trade guilds
o Lydia (Acts 16:14, 40)
o Including their metal working
A Vision of Jesus (v. 18b)
· Jesus is described as being the Son of God
o Having eyes of fire: All-knowing
o Feet of burnished bronze: Symbol of strength
· Daniel’s Ancient of Days (Dan. 10:6)
“I know…” (v. 19)
· Jesus commends the church for their:
o Love
o Faith
o Service
o Endurance
o Maturity: They had not become stagnant (2:4-5)
o But were growing in their relationship to Christ
“But I have this against you…” (v. 20-23)
· Thyatira’s sin was tolerance of false teaching and immorality
o Much like Pergamum
· This came via a false prophetess called ‘Jezebel’
o May be an allusion to Ahab’s wife who encourage idol worship and led Israel astray
· This represents the dangers of assimilating to the culture around us
· Jesus claims that judgment will come upon her and those who follow her
o Though He desires repentance (v. 21 & 22b)
o The result of such judgment is to act as an example to the Church (v. 23)
“But to the rest…” (v. 24-25)
· Jesus gives comfort to the faithful
o Who have not fallen under such false teaching
§ “Deep things of Satan”: Probably a reference to Jezebel’s teaching and/or Gnostic heresy
· He encourages them to continue doing the good work in which they have been growing
The Call to Conquer (v. 26-29)
· To those that persevere in their faith in Christ, Jesus offers:
o The authority to rule* with Him (see Ps 2:9; Isa 30:14; and Jer. 19:11; see also Mark 25:21; Rev. 20)
§ Sharing in Jesus’ authority from the Father
§ Rule: To shepherd or pastor
o The Morning Star: Jesus Himself (22:16)
So What?
· Are we assimilating to our culture?
o Going along with idolatry and immorality of the world around us
o Or are we acting as lights in the darkness?
· Are we letting Jesus prepare us to shepherd like He does?
· Do we live like Jesus Himself is our great reward?
Meditation Verse: Revelation 2:28