Author: Laurin

Terry’s continuing series in the book of Revelation took us to Revelation 4, where he taught about Worship in Heaven. To listen to this message, simply click on the audio player below. Also included are some notes and links to Scriptures referenced by Terry.

God Is Coming, pt. 5

Review:

• Revelation 1:19 – outline of the book of Revelation
  • ch. 1 – things that you’ve seen
  • ch. 2 & 3 – things that are
  • ch. 4-22 – things that will be
• Reminders/Pitfalls/Concerns – Lessons from the letters to the churches
  • Don’t lose your first love
  • Don’t be afraid to suffer (Matthew 10:28)
  • Be on guard for sexual sin/impurity
  • Be on guard against spiritual deadness
  • Hold fast to the Word
  • Be on guard against lukewarmness/indifference
  • Be on guard against compromise/moving away from the Lord
• Ch. 2-3: John was told, “Write what you hear…”
• Beginning in ch. 4, John is told, “Write what you see…”
  • Test the spirits – 1 John 4:1
  • Test and approve all things – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Worship in Heaven: Revelation 4

• v. 1 – After all these things: the beginning of John’s eyewitness account
• v. 2 – Immediately
  • God took John to the spiritual realm to give us a glimpse of heaven
  • Translated from Patmos to heaven
  • Saw a throne
    • One sitting on the throne – the Father
• v. 3 – John describes the beauty he sees as best he can
• v. 4 – 24 thrones with 24 elders
  • clothed in white
  • golden crowns
  • clues will tell us later that these seem to be humans who have received their reward for faithfulness
• v. 5 – Lightning & thunder around the throne
  • 7 lamps are the 7 spirits of God (Isaiah 11:2)
• v. 6 – Before the throne
  • a sea of glass – the magnificence of being in the presence of God is unimaginable
  • In the midst of the throne –
    • 4 living creatures (Isaiah 6:2; Ezekiel 1:5-11)
    • Full of eyes

• v. 7 – the Four Living Creatures
  • Lion
  • Calf
  • Man
  • Eagle
• v. 8 – What do the 4 Creatures do?
  • full of eyes
  • have 6 wings
  • rest not
  • do not cease to say (a doxology):
    • Holy, holy, holy
    • Lord (Master)
    • God
    • Almighty/All-powerful
    • Was, Is, Is to Come – eternal nature of God
• v. 9 – the creatures give glory/honor/thanks to God
  • this triggers v. 10
• v. 10 – the 24 elders fall before God
  • worship Him
  • cast their crowns before the throne
  • say another doxology
• v. 11 – Doxology of the 24 elders
  • God is worthy of everything
  • Because He created all things
• Our purpose is to glorify the Lord by accomplishing the things He has for us to do, because we give Him pleasure.

In Terry’s continuing series, he took us through Revelation 3 and the last three churches. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included are some notes and links to Scriptures referenced. Be blessed!

God Is Coming, pt. 4

The Lord knows what’s going on in His churches – He walks in the midst of them.

1 Peter 4:17 – God only corrects those who belong to Him, whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6)

The things the Seven Churches of Revelation are working through here have parallels with churches/church ages throughout history, as well as today.

1. The Church of Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)
   • v. 1 – attributes of Christ
     • Holds the “seven spirits/seven-fold spirit” (Isaiah 11:2) – the Holy Spirit
     • Hold the seven stars – angels (Revelation 1:20)
   • What They Were Doing Wrong (v. 1b)
     • Look good on the outside, but spiritually dead
   • Instruction to the Church (v. 2-4)
     • Wake up!
     • Strengthen the good things
     • Trust & obey
     • God gives a way back to Him (that’s His mercy, hope, & grace):
       • Remember
       • Hold fast
       • Repent
     • If you won’t turn back to Him:
       • Christ will come when you’re not ready (as a thief)
     • To those who have not gone astray:
       • They are found worthy to walk with Him
       • White clothes = clothed in the righteousness of God
   • Instruction to the Individual (v. 5)
     • If you overcome:
       • clothed in white
       • name will NOT be erased from the Book of Life
       • He will confess your name before the Father
         • If you are ashamed of Jesus, He’ll be ashamed of you before His Father (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26)
2. The Church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)
   • v. 7 – attributes of Christ
     • Holy
     • True
     • holds the key of David (King of Israel)
     • what He opens/shuts:
       • God gives us opportunities & redirects us to His will, but we need to be in tune with the Spirit
   • What They Were Doing Right (v. 8)
     • No misdeeds
     • they are weakening, but God’s grace is sufficient
     • kept the Word
     • held onto His Name
   • Promises (v. 9–11a)
     • God will make sure that everyone knows that He loves His true Church.
     • Those who have kept His Word will be spared from the “hour of testing”
     • He is coming quickly!
   • Instruction to the Church (v. 11b)
     • Hold fast
       • be faithful to the end
   • Instruction to the Individual (v. 12)
     • He who overcomes/is victorious (many start the race, but not all finish)
       • will be a pillar in the temple of the Father in heaven
         • help hold up the Kingdom
       • will write on him the Name of God & the name of the city of God (the New Jerusalem – Rev. 21:2)
3. The Church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)
   • v. 14 – attributes of Christ
     • the Amen
     • faithful
     • true witness of the Father
     • Creator/Sustainer
   • What They Were Doing Wrong (v. 15-17)
     • No good deeds!
     • they are lukewarm
       • need to make up your mind how you truly feel about God (get right with Him)
       • WARNING: stay lukewarm and He will spit you out!
     • they are spiritually unaware
       • think they are rich, but are poor
         • they are too comfortable/content in worldly things apart from the Lord
       • they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked
   • Instruction to the Church (v. 18-19)
     • buy from God
       • invest in Him
       • look to Him for everything, because He will sustain you
     • clothe yourselves in white
       • be right with God
     • see with spiritual eyes, not worldly eyes
   • Indictment of the Laodicean Church (v. 20)
     • Jesus is on the outside of this church.
       • They think they have it all together, but Jesus isn’t even a part of it. He’s standing at the door, waiting to be invited in.
   • Instruction to the Individual (v. 20b-21)
     • Listen!
       • If you hear His voice, open the door to Him.
     • If you repent and hold fast (He always gives us a road back):
       • you’ll have the right to sit with Jesus on His throne
   • v. 22 – Listen/hear the Spirit
     • His Spirit is preparing the Bride of Christ (the Church) for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb
       • Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
       • He wants to bring clarity & purity to the Church

Last Sunday, Terry continued his teaching on the Seven Churches of Revelation. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and links to Bible Gateway to read verses that Terry references. Enjoy and be blessed!

God Is Coming, pt. 3

God is in the midst of His people, His churches – He knows what is going on in every church.

1 Peter 4:17 – Judgment begins with the household of God (His people – Israel & the Church)

These letters are report cards for the churches – what they’re doing right & where they are going astray and need to change their track.

The Church of Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)

• v. 8 – characteristics/attributes/names of Christ
• Reminder: stay within the bounds of Scripture!
  • Revelation 22:18-19
• What They Were Doing Right (v. 9)
  • Smyrna was intensely persecuted, but spiritually rich
    • persecution breeds spiritual fervor/revival
• v. 9b – The Jews who rejected Christ & persecuted Christians
  • This persecution actually helped spread the Gospel
• Instruction to the Church (v. 10)
  • Persecution will get worse, but:
    • Fear no more
    • Be faithful unto death
      • Don’t deny Christ; focus on the life to come
• Instruction to the Individual (v. 11)
  • Listen & understand!
  • v. 11b – the Second Death = the Lake of Fire

The Church at Pergamos (Pergamum) (Revelation 2:9-17)

• v. 12 – the sharp, two-edged sword = the Word of God
• What They Were Doing Right (v. 13)
  • where Satan has his throne – Pergamos was an evil place filled with false deities/religions (and a huge temple to Zeus), but the Church held fast to Christ
• What They Were Doing Wrong (v. 14-15)
  • the doctrine of Balaam: they listened to false teaching
  • the devil turned people away to sexual immorality/compromise
  • living in the midst of pagan religion made it hard to stay true to Christ
• Instruction to the Church (v. 16)
  • Repent!
• Instruction to the Individual (v. 17)
  • even if the Church as a whole doesn’t repent, it is up to each person to return to God
  • there is a special blessing for those who listen to the Word and understand it

The Church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-27)

• v. 18 – Jesus Christ in His glorified state
  • Revelation 1:13-18
  • One big difference: in ch. 1, Jesus was “like a son of man” – here, He is identified as the Son of God
• What They Were Doing Right (v. 19)
  • they showed agape love
  • they were faithful
  • they served others for the Lord
  • they persevered
  • they actually got better over time
• What They Were Doing Wrong (v. 20)
  • they tolerated Jezebel (one who turns people away from God and to false religion)
• Instruction to the Church (v. 21-25)
  • v. 21 – God wants everyone to repent & gives everyone a chance
  • v. 22-23 – God knows all we think & do; no matter how pious we think we look on the outside, He will judge & punish those He knows are faithless
  • v. 24-25 – to those of the Church who remained faithful, God said to hold on & you will be okay
• Instruction to the Individual (v. 26-27)
  • v. 26 – Praise God for His faithfulness to the individual who overcomes – we will help to shepherd/administer the Kingdom
  • v. 27 – quote from Psalm 2:9
    • there will be no nonsense in God’s Kingdom
    • there will be no end to His Kingdom (Isaiah 9:7)

While Alan is spending his winter in warmer climes, we are blessed to have Terry begin a series on the Book of Revelation. This first message is an introduction and teaching from the first chapter of Revelation. To hear this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included some notes and links to verses Terry references. Praying you are blessed by this series in the days ahead.

God Is Coming, pt. 1

2 Timothy 3:1-5 – In the last days… (before the Lord comes)

Revelation 1

• v. 1 – where the revelation came from
  • from God the Father
  • to the Son
  • to an angelic messenger
  • to John
• v. 2 – throughout this chapter, there are a number of names/descriptions of Christ; the first of these is found in this verse. For the full list, see below.
• v. 3 – a 3-fold blessing to those who
  • read the Book of Revelation
  • hear it
  • apply it
• v. 4 – seven spirits (seven-fold Spirit) = the Holy Spirit
• v. 4-6 – more of Christ’s names/descriptions
• v. 7 –
  • Acts 1:11
  • “even those who pierced Him” = Israel
  • When He comes, the people of God will rejoice, but the people of the world will mourn.
• v. 8 – more of Christ’s names/descriptions
• v. 9 – John was exiled to the island of Patmos (see map) for his testimony and speaking the Word of God.

• v. 10 – “in the Spirit” = worshiping God; “on the Lord’s day” = Sabbath Saturday.
• v. 11 – message was to be shared with seven churches in biblical Asia
• v. 12 – seven golden lampstands
  • Let the Bible interpret the Bible whenever possible (see v. 20)
• v. 13-16 – description of the glorified Christ: who He was before the incarnation, and who He will be for eternity
  • in the midst (He dwells within the Church, His faithful people)
  • like a son of man – John, who spent years in the company of Jesus during His time on earth, wasn’t sure if it was Christ he saw, because he saw the glorified Christ
    • clothed in a long robe
    • with a sash across his chest
    • white hair
    • eyes like “a flame of fire” = judgment
    • feet like burnished bronze
    • voice like the sound of many waters (think of the noise of Niagara Falls)
    • in His right hand He held the seven stars (see v. 20)
    • out of His mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword = the Word (Hebrews 4:12)
    • His face was like the sun
• v. 17 – John (who knew Christ well) fell at His feet as though dead
  • Christ made sure to minister to John before He continued (“Do not fear.”)
• v. 17-18 – more of Christ’s names/descriptions
• v. 19 – the outline of the Book of Revelation
  • things which you have seen (ch. 1)
  • things which are (ch. 2-3)
  • things which shall take place after these things (ch. 4-22)
• v. 20 – Christ interprets the symbols
  • lampstands = churches
  • stars = angels/messengers of the churches

Names /Descriptions of Christ in ch. 1

1. the Word (v. 2)
2. the One who is and who was and who is to come (v. 4)
3. the faithful witness (v. 5)
4. firstborn of the dead (v. 5)
5. ruler of the kings of the earth (v. 5)
6. He who loves us (v. 5)
7. He who has freed us from our sins by His blood (v. 5)
8. He who has made us to be a kingdom of priests (v.6)
9. Alpha & Omega (v. 8)
10. the One who is and who was and who is to come (v. 8)
11. the Almighty (v. 8)
12. the First and the Last (v. 17)
13. the Living One (v. 18)
14. was dead, now alive forevermore (v. 18)
15. holds the keys to death and Hades (hell) (v. 18)

Alan brought a lovely teaching from Psalm 84 for about being in God’s presence. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included Alan’s outline with some notes and links to Bible Gateway to read Scriptures Alan references. Enjoy!

A Psalm About Being in God’s Presence

Introduction: Three Ways God is Present

1. His omnipresence (Psalm 139)
2. His positional presence – the temple, the tabernacle, where believers are gathered (Matthew 18:19-20)
3. His indwelling presence (John 17:20-23)

Psalm 84

1. Three Results of Being in God’s Presence (Psalm 84:1-2)
   • Where God is present, there is beauty.
     • It’s a beautiful thing to see God’s presence in His people.
     • Keith Green “Stained Glass” (click to listen on YouTube; scroll a bit to read the lyrics in the comments)
   • God’s presence creates a hunger for more of Him.
     • Sometimes we aren’t hungry for God because we are satiated with everything else.
     • We don’t know we are to hunger for Him.
     • Psalm 63:1
   • God’s presence brings a substantive joy to the whole of our person.
     • Psalm 16:11
     • Psalm 32:11
     • Psalm 51:12
     • It’s a joy built on the surety of salvation, walking in God’s way, and having Christ’s righteousness.
2. Contentment in God’s Presence (Psalm 84:3-4)
   • God’s presence lets you know you are valuable.
     • The Psalmist says something about two birds which Jesus mentions in the New Testament:
       • Sparrows
         • was considered a worthless bird, but God values it and gives it a home (Matthew 10:29)
         • God gives a home to birds, how much more does He value us?
       • Swallows
   • God’s presence can be a remedy to restlessness.
     • A swallow is always darting about, but even it has a nest.
     • Matthew 11:28-29
     • When we sacrifice those things that make our spirit restless on the altar of God, we can find peace in Him.
   • God’s presence is an inexhaustible personal resource.
     • He is to David the “Lord of Hosts” and “My King.”
     • God is not so exhausted in taking care of the multitudes that He wouldn’t have enough time for you individually.
3. God’s Presence in Our Hearts (Psalm 84:5-11)
   • God in our heart is a source of daily strength in life’s trials, if we really want it.
     • To want it, we have to keep our heart highway open to God (Philippians 4:13)
     • “I can’t; He can. He never said I could; He always said He would. And He always will.” -Major Ian Thomas
   • God in our heart can turn sorrow in our lives into a spring in others’.
     • Living Water (John 7:38)
   • God in our heart is our shield and our anointing.
     • He sets our hearts apart to Him.
   • God in our heart should be seen as better than everything else.
     • Is it?
     • Better is one day in Your courts!
   • The evidence of God’s presence in our heart is how much we really trust Him.

Terry spoke a few Sundays ago on “The Call” and the people who answer God’s call. To hear this message, simply click play on the audio player below. *The recorder was turned on a bit late, so the introductory part of the message is missing. Also included are some notes and links to Scriptures he references in this message.

The Call

God’s ways are not our ways! (Isaiah 55:8-9)

2 Peter 3:9 – God doesn’t want anyone to perish.

The Holy Spirit draws us to God (John 6:44).

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

• God doesn’t always (or even usually) call the qualified (1 Corinthians 1:26)
• 5 Types of People that Answer God’s Call (1 Corinthians 1:27-28) *the recorder was turned on at this point
  1. foolish things of the world: how the world views us
  2. weak things: those that need help/don’t have it all together
  3. base things: lowly, ignoble, without family (unimportant to the world)
  4. despised things: those the world has turned its back on
  5. the things that are not: those counted as nothing in this world
• Why? So we won’t glory in ourselves, but in God. (1 Corinthians 1:29)
  • What causes a Christian to be successful is not who we are on our own, but how much God can work through us.
  • Humble thyself so He can lift you up (1 Peter 5:6)
  • Philippians 3:3-14 – Paul’s testimony
    • let go of ourselves
    • take hold of Christ
  • Isaiah 42 – the Suffering Servant
    • God specializes in using damaged people (Isaiah 42:3)