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Today we continue series entitled: “Things are not as they seem.”

Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door! Philadelphia. Today we continue series entitled: “Things are not as they seem.” The Revelation of Jesus is more about the present than it is about the future.

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Today we continue series entitled: “Things are not as they seem.”

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  1. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Today we continue series entitled: “Things are not as they seem.” The Revelation of Jesus is more about the present than it is about the future. How do we live today in light of the future that is coming? This series takes much of its inspiration from Darrell Johnson’s book, Discipleship on the Edge.

  2. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Scripture Reading Revelation 3:7-13

  3. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia It feels a little like we have been taken out to the woodshed in these last messages from Jesus. Jesus, in the middle of the churches, knows their deeds. Jesus loves his churches so much that he calls them back to full communion with him.

  4. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Each message ends with: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Look at your neighbour. Touch the side of your head. Do you have an ear? “Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

  5. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus is not only speaking to the specific churches of John’s day. Jesus is speaking to us today If the shoe fits . . .

  6. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Where is Jesus calling you and me back to a full relationship with him? What do Jesus’ messages to the 7 churches have to say to us [OCRC] about God’s vision and mission for us?

  7. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus’ message to the church in Philadelphia. No mention of any issues: They had not lost their first love They had persevered under pressure They had not allowed false teaching in their congregation. They were not accommodating to the rich society they were part of.

  8. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Revelation 3:7-8 “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”

  9. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia This morning we will focus on this door that Jesus opens. 2 interpretations of the open door I believe that both are meant here.

  10. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Open Door to God Do you ever feel like you can’t get to God? Never good enough, … It is true. You can’t get to God in your own strength/goodness.

  11. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Sin separates us from God. We can’t overcome sin. But thanks be to God! Jesus did what we were unable to do. Jesus overcame sin and brought us back to God.

  12. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia At the time of Jesus’ death, the curtain to the Holy of Holies in the Temple, that kept people from God’s presence was torn in two. Lord’s Supper is a celebration of that renewed communion with God.

  13. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Revelation 3:7-8 Situation in Philadelphia Because these Christians confessed that Jesus was “holy and true” = God, the Jews kicked them out of the synagogue/excommunicated.

  14. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Revelation 3:7-8 Jesus is saying: The Jews may have slammed a door shut to you, but I hold the keys to the Kingdom of David and I open the door to the Kingdom of God.

  15. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus by his life and death opens that door back to God. If you haven’t already done so, Jesus invites you to walk through that open door, to accept him as your Saviour and Lord and be part of his eternal kingdom.

  16. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Second meaning to this door that Jesus opens. It is the door of opportunity.

  17. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia I Corinthians 16:8-9: “But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

  18. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Colossians 4:3: “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”

  19. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus opens the door of opportunity to share the gospel. This does not mean that there are no obstacles. Paul wrote in I Cor. 16:9, “because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

  20. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Philadelphia was founded in 140 B.C. to be a launching base from which Hellenize the world. To share everything Greek. It was set up to be a missionary city with the message: “If you ain’t Greek, you’re a geek.”

  21. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus tells this church in the missionary city, I am calling you to walk through the door of opportunity that I am opening for you.

  22. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus knows our tendency to huddle. In the face of opposition from the outside, it is easier to hide inside of the church. But Jesus is opening a door!

  23. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Max Lucado tells of a time when his dad took him and a friend fishing. It rained and snowed so much that they spent the week in a camper truck, bickering and griping.

  24. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia “When those who are called to fish don’t fish, they fight.” - Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, p. 57-58

  25. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Where is God opening a door of opportunity for you to share your faith? Some of you have told me of some of the open doors you have been given.

  26. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia One of you, while talking on a jobsite over lunch, were talking about girlfriends. When asked when you would be moving in together, they were surprised that you were going to wait until after marriage. You had an open door and you spoke about living your faith.

  27. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Another of you has shown concern for a neighbour, and now they are coming to you for advice. Jesus is giving you an open door, and you are going through it.

  28. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Where is Jesus opening doors in your life? Doors of opportunity to share your faith with people right around you? Do you see them? Jesus is still opening doors.

  29. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia There is a tendency to shrink back from open doors of opportunity, when we think that we are too small, too … To share our faith.

  30. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus give this missionary task to the church in Philadelphia knowing that they were small. “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Rev. 3:8

  31. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus opens a door of opportunity for this small church that is bigger than they could do in their own strength. As we saw last week, we need to have Jesus and his power in our lives to live the Christian life, which includes walking through these doors of opportunity.

  32. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia With respect to God’s Vision and Mission for us as OCRC, I believe that God will give us a God-sized mission that goes beyond our own strength, and can only be done through his power within.

  33. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Philadelphia was a small church called to a task bigger that they were. Called to a task that they could not do in their strength alone Called to a task they could only do with the Holy Spirit’s power and equiping

  34. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia You don’t need to go off to Africa to find open doors. [maybe God is calling some of you to go overseas to find open doors] God is opening doors for us all to be his witnesses, his missionaries, here in our own circles.

  35. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia We are going to pass out cards now that will help you to begin to live out this message. On this card are some prayer prompts. Fill it out and stick it in your Bible that you use for your daily devotions.

  36. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Father, may I today experience the joy and peace and power of having walked through the door of salvation opened for me by Jesus.

  37. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Lord, I am praying that you may open doors in the following people’s lives to experience your love and grace through me. [List 10 people that you are committed to pray for, for the long haul.]

  38. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia God, please open my eyes to see the doors of opportunity you are opening for me to share my faith.

  39. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may have the courage and the words to say when you give me open doors.

  40. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!Philadelphia Jesus: “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”

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