Dec 8, 2024 PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD - Pastor Chuck Kennedy

Dec 8, 2024 PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD - Pastor Chuck Kennedy

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A look at the 7 churches in Revelation

12-08-24

Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mark 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

We are in the end of the end times

We have the continuation of the ministry of John the Baptist

Preparing a people for the return of the Lord

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

The 7 stars are the angels or messengers of the church

The 7 candlesticks are the 7 churches

Light!

The mystery of the stars and the candlesticks revealed

This is a picture of the importance the churches are to Jesus

Think about it, He purchased the church with such a horrific act of love

It is no small matter and not to be taken lightly

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

This is no small matter to Him

It is His church which He suffered, bled and died for

He is calling the church to holiness and purity

To be without spot or blemish before Him

1Pet 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1Pet 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1Pet 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1Pet 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

1Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Pet 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1Pet 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

We are to come out of the world

Separate ourselves unto Him

2Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Jesus was in the midst of the candlesticks in Rev 1

We are about to see Him walking in the midst of the churches next

Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Jesus addressed the messenger or the angel overseeing, watching over the church of Ephesus

He holds with a firm grip the 7 angels over the churches

And He walks in the midst, or is vitally involved in the 7 churches

He does not take this lightly

Again it was His blood that purchased them

Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Jesus is vitally involved in the works of the churches

What they are doing

Thy labor is efforts, motives

Patience is the sister to faith

Spiritual warfare against those who would try to be something they are not to the detriment of the calling and ministry ordained of God

Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

We reap if we faint not

The Ephesian Church was holding fast

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

This is a major problem

They were seemingly doing good

But this Jesus Himself said He is holding against the Church, or the leader of the Church at Ephesus

They had fallen from the purpose of their ministry

Loving Jesus First and foremost

Matt 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Matt 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Matt 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Matt 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matt 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

If we love Him, we keep His commandments, or we are lying

1John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

1John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Puts me in remembrance of an earlier warning

Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Candlestick removed?

I would remind us that He is addressing the church

These statements and warnings are to the believers

Matt 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Matt 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

Matt 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Matt 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Matt 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Matt 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matt 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Remember to focus on your First Love, Jesus

Focus on His Grace He did for us and not our works

Keep your first love Jesus at your forefront

Not focusing on your works, but on His, what He did

This will keep the fire going strong inwardly as your eyes are stayed on Him alone

Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

The Nicolaitans were believed to be derived from Nicolas in acts 6 who was a deacon

Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

A Proselyte means he had converted

His name means commander of men,

The last part of it, las, is where we get our word “laity”

He taught that we were so free in Christ that there was no restraints

We could do anything we wanted and be ok

Sound familiar?

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

This is saif to each of the 7 churches

He that overcomes

And the resulting reward

Take heed saints, get ready, He is coming

But this time not as a Lamb

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

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