A New Year Resolution for New Hope West Oahu

A New Year Resolution for New Hope West Oahu

January 8, 2012 / 8:30am

It's that time of year again.

We're going to lose weight, exercise more, get out of debt, stick to a budget, stop smoking, save for the future and spend more time with family.

We make resolutions because we want to bring change to bear on our circumstances.  We want to improve ourselves and our quality of life. And the top resolutions, for most people, tend to revolve around the same three items: money, health and family.

But what would a set of New Year's resolutions look like for you and this church, your role as a leader, or simply as someone who wants to live a life of strategic Kingdom investment?

Though many more could be added, here are 15 to consider:

1. Pray more.

So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD … ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty (Zechariah 4:6, NIV).

2. Invest in my spiritual gift(s). 

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress (I Timothy 4:14-15, NIV).

3. Get more intentional about evangelism.

I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some (I Corinthians 9:22, NIV).

4. Care for myself spiritually.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 3:12, NIV).

5. Make the tough decisions I know are best.

And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace (Acts 20:22-24, NIV).

6.  Confront debilitating patterns of sin.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1, NIV).

7.  Do the hard work needed to build community.

If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over (Matthew 18:15, NIV).

8. Keep in touch with contemporary culture.

From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders. … All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take (I Chronicles 12:32, NLT).

9. Quit comparing myself to other Christians, other leaders and other churches.

Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind.  When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, "Master, what's going to happen to him?"

Jesus said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you? You — follow me." That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn't die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you?" (John 21:20-23, Msg)

10. Read more.

Timothy, please come as soon as you can. … When you come, be sure to … bring my books … (II Timothy 4:9,13 NLT)

11.  Prioritize my family.

A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, … attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God's church? (I Timothy 3:2-5, Msg)

12. Refuse to use ministry to satisfy my personal ambition.

Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not (Jeremiah 45:5, NIV).

13. Love people, not just crowds.

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love (I Corinthians 13:1-3, Msg).

14. Be more open to change.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19, NIV)

15. Stay focused on the vision.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, NIV).

Vision: “NHWO Exists to proclaim that God can be trusted and people matter.”  -- Matt. 28:18-20 – Edification, Equipping, Evangelism, and Extension

Message on January 8, 2012

A New Year Without Fear

Hebrews 13:5-6

January 8, 2012 / 10:30

The dictionary defines “fear,” as being: a distressing emotion 

aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined. 

  

In Hebrews Chapter 13:5-6, the author writes, 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Outline: In these two verses, there are four incredibly wonderful thoughts we can apply to our lives as we face the new year together.  And I would like for you to face this new year by squaring back your shoulders, putting a smile on your face, and saying "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear." 

1.  We Have the Contentment of His Provision - v. 5: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have

Folks, discontentment is a disease, and it takes away your joy and it takes away your peace.  And what is contentment?  

Contentment is not getting what you want, but it is wanting what you already have.  

You see, contentment will make a poor man rich.  And discontentment makes a poor man even more poorer.  

1 Tim. 6: 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 

        

If you've got something on your back, and something to eat, and you have Jesus Christ in your heart, you're blessed. You see, material things can never bring contentment, and the reason they cannot bring contentment is that material things can never satisfy the deepest need of your heart.  

Ecc. 5:10 - He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

Either you can't get enough of it, or when you get it, you find out it doesn't meet your need. You see, this round world, will never fit in your three-cornered heart.  It cannot satisfy the deepest longings of your soul.  

Now why can't material things bring contentment?

Well Jesus explained it in Luke 12:15 - “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Your deepest needs will never be met by material things. Nothing wrong with material things, they just simply cannot satisfy the deepest longing of your heart.  This is why if you are going to invest, invest in eternity.

Remember the passage in Psalm 37:4  "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart."  Now that doesn't mean that you'll have every desire met. It means that when you delight yourself in Him – when you yearn for the things that are on the heart of God, He will then give to you His desires and you will experience contentment. How so? Because you will find it in the Lord and not in anyone or in anything else.  You see, only in Jesus can your desires be met – the deepest desires of your heart.

Heb. 10:34 – For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.  

Do you know the word content literally means self-contained?  

It’s the same idea used in Philip. 4:11 -  10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Now when Paul wrote this he was in prison.   And what he literally means is this, I can do all things through Christ who is pouring His life into me.  Be content with Christ’s provision.

Now personally, contentment does not mean I'm satisfied with myself.  That doesn't mean that I don't have any ambition.  It means that I don’t long or lust for things to bring me happiness. And so if you want to face this New Year without fear, learn to be content with Christ’s provisions.

2. Know the Companionship of His Presence – v. 5: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

You see, I don't know what I'm going to face this year.  But there's one thing I do know, I know He will never leave me.  This is so encouraging. You see, we fear because we're afraid we're going to have to face something we don't understand, and we're going to have to face it alone. 

I’ve came across people who are alone on Christmas. Dr. Abraham Maslow, famed research analyst said, "The truth is that the average American does not have a real friend in the world."    And psychiatrist Alfred Adler said, "All human failures spring from a lack of love," -- and then he named some of them: alcoholism, workaholics, depression, suicide.  He said all of this springs from a lack of love.  People need someone to love, and they need to be loved, and without it, their lives are filled with fear, and frustration.   And they turn to lesser things in order to get a temporary fix.

Now look at that verse.  He says, I will never leave you.  Do you see it?  Never.

Now in the Greek, this phrase actually has five negatives in it.  Now we say a double negative is bad English, but evidently it wasn't bad Greek.  And here's what it literally says, "I will never, no not ever, no never leave nor forsake you." Let me give that to you again.  "I will never, no not ever, no never leave you nor forsake you."

We can face the New Year without fear because there is the companionship of His presence.  Not only will Jesus not leave you, but it also says that He will not “forsake” you as well. The word “forsake” literally means, “to abandoned” or “to give up on.” The idea is that Jesus will not leave you as an orphan.

I am speaking to women whose husbands have left them; to those whose fathers have walked out on them; husbands whose wives have left them, employees who have been suddenly dismissed for whatever reason.  Although all may happen, Jesus will never leave nor forsake you.

And so what does that mean to me as I face a new year?  When I'm discouraged, I know that He sees me through, because He's there. Also, I know even though I can be bad at times and make some pretty awful choices. God will not abandoned me as others would.

Loneliness is one of the chief maladies of our age, but Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  What I am saying is this: When I am discouraged, His presence sees me through.  When I am lonely, His presence cheers me up.  And when I worry, His presence calms me down.

Do you know what worry is?  Worry is a mild form of atheism.  It's acting like God doesn't exist.  

You see, we need to practice the presence of the Lord this coming year.  You're going to be tempted to close doors that should remain open. You will be tempted to open doors that should remain close. Listen: When the devil comes and knocks at your heart's door, and tells you to open a door that should stay close, or to close a door that should remain open, you can simply say, "Jesus, please go answer the door."  

3.  I Have the Confidence of His Promise – v. 5: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

A promise is no better than the one who makes it.  Again in the Greek language, this is an intention.  And what it literally says is, "He, himself, has said."  

Who is making this promise? It is the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, God.  This is the confidence of His promise.  So in His omnipotence, God promises me strength when I am weak; in His omniscience, God knows all about me and promises to love me with all my faults; in His omnipresence, God promises to never leave or forsake me.  What have I to fear? When God makes a promise, He is more than able to deliver on it.

4. I Can Know the Comfort of His Protection.  v. 6: So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Now look carefully again at the text: Verse 5 says, “For He has said. . .” Verse 6 says, “So we may boldly say. . .”  What gives to me the boldness to make this declaration? God has said. 

So here, how do you face this new year without fear?  You find your contentment in Christ.  You find your companionship in Christ.  You find your confidence in Christ.  And then you'll find your comfort in Christ, so that we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."  

Now, I don't know what you're going to have to go through this coming year.  I don't know what sickness, I don't know what heartache, I don't know what trouble, but this much I do know: I can boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do to me." 

When you face this New Year, I want you to find your contentment in Jesus.  I want you to find your companionship in Jesus.  I want you to find confidence in Jesus.  Then you'll find your comfort and your courage in Jesus. 

Come to the Christmas Party

Dear Saints,

It’s Friday, what will you be doing tonight? I hope you are thinking, “I am going to Rick and Kathleen’s home for the Christmas Party and Fellowship.”

That’s right, it is tonight, so please come and invite a friend too. The party begins at 5:30pm.  Bring a potblessing dish and a grab-bag gift worth $10.00.  If you are going to be bringing a keiki or two, bring a gift of at least $5.00 for each keiki you bring as well.

For those who want to BBQ, bring your favorite meat to slap on the grill. Dress festive and wear the appropriate colors – Green, red and white or any of the three combinations.

If you cannot make it at 5:30pm, come whenever you can. This will be an awesome time of fellowship.

Here’s the address: 87-146 Kulahelela Place in Maile.

Map of Address

Merry Christmas and hope to see you tonight!

Much Blessings,

Pastor Rich

P.S. One more thing: Please bring one or two cans or any other non-perishable food item. We will be putting together a gift basket to help a needy family.

The Power of Christmas To Change Your Life

Dear Saints,

Just before they passed around the cranberry sauce at their Thanksgiving feasts, two moms - one from Villa Hills, KY, the other for the Butler County OH village of Seven Mill - bowed their heads.

They will give thanks for a rascally 12-year-old boy whose organs saved three lives and whose spirit inspired those two moms to take jobs helping others.

The Kentucky mom, Judy Schumacher, will remember Justin, her fun-loving, life-giving son. The Ohio mom, Jennifer Miller, will celebrate being alive after receiving his liver in 1992.

Both moms gave thanks that their 19-year quest recently came to a successful conclusion.

"This fills a hole in my life and in my heart," Judy said.

"With their generous gift," Jennifer said, "I have a husband, Marty. I have Brady, my 8-year-old angel baby. I have a family."

And she has a life.

In like manner, Jesus was born to give His life for others so that they too might have life. This coming Sunday, we are honored to come together and celebrate the gift of Jesus from the heart of the Father to all of us.

Here is what to look forward to:

REMEMBER: There is just one Service – 10:00am

Message title: “The Power of Christmas to Change Your Life” – from Matt. 1:21-2:4

Afterwards, stick around for a great Christmas luncheon to follow. 

Invite a guest or two and let’s all come together and celebrate the birth of Emmanuel.

Much Love,

Rich

In the Land of Plenty - Dec. 17-18

Aloha Saints,

We have an awesome weekend coming and we want you not to miss out on any of it. In addition to the Saturday's outreach at Kalaeloa Raceway Park, this is what is being planned for Sunday at New Hope West Oahu:

8:30 Service: Nolan will share the Word with us.

10:30 Service:  "What Happens When Your Love Grows Cold?" Rev. 2:1-7 (Pastor Rich)

We will also be blessed during the praise and worship time -- Brothers and Sisters in Christ will do the worship for both services. 

Also, don't forget, on Friday, Dec. 23rd, at 6:30pm, we got a Christmas Party for you and your family at Rick and Kathleen's home in Maile. Everyone is welcome to attend. Bring a potblessing dish (sign ups will be in church on Sunday) and a grab bag of $10 for adults and $5 for children. Rick is also going to fire up his brand new grill, so if you want some meat cooked or BBQ, bring it with you. 

I want to personally thank in advance all those who have chosen to help out at the Keike Christmas at the Tracks outreach on Saturday. Because of Jesus, using willing servers like yourselves, many keikis and their families will have a memorable Christmas this year! 

Thanks everyone!

See you this weekend!

Much Love,

Pastor Rich

Message Outline and Notes for November 27, 2011

Jesus Is On His Way

Rev. 1:7-8 / Nov. 27, 2011

10:30 Service

Five Truths Regarding Jesus’ Coming –

1. The Urgency of the Second Coming – 1:7a – “Behold, He is coming”

Why Must Christ Return?

1. The Promise of the Father requires that Jesus returns.

 4 He Who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord makes fun of them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger and make them afraid, saying, 6 “But as for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 I will make known the words of the Lord. He said to Me, “You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for you to own. The ends of the earth will belong to You. 9 You will break them using a piece of iron. And they will be broken in pieces like pots of clay” – Ps. 2:4-9

2. The Promise of Christ requires His own Return

 1 “Do not let your heart be troubled. You have put your trust in God, put your trust in Me also. 2 There are many rooms in My Father’s house. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going away to make a place for you. 3After I go and make a place for you, I will come back and take you with Me. Then you may be where I am” – John 14:1-3

3. The Guarantee of the Holy Spirit requires that Jesus soon Returns -  “The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The Father will send Him in My place. He will teach you everything and help you remember everything I have told you”– John 14:26

2 Thess. 2:1-8a – 6You know the power that is keeping the man of sin back now. The man of sin will come only when his time is ready. 7 For the secret power of breaking the law is already at work in the world. But that secret power can only do so much until the One Who keeps back the man of sin is taken out of the way. 8 Then this man of sin will come. 

Matt. 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth.” It enhances flavor and it preserves.

Gen. 6:3 - Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years."

Gen. 19:22 – “Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”

“Separate yourselves from among this congregation , that I am consumed them instantly” – Num. 16:21

1 Cor. 7:14 - For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

Rev. 3:10 - Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

4. God’s program for the church demands Christ’s return –

5. Christ’s program for the unbelieving nations requires His soon return –

6. God’s program for Israel demands that Christ return – He has promised her salvation, peace, prosperity, security, and a kingdom (Deut. 4:30-31; Isa. 9:6-7; 11:11-12; 60:10-14).

7. Christ’s life on earth demands that He return.

8. The judgment of Satan demands Christ return –

9. The expectation of believers demand that Christ return – Titus 2:13

2. The Glory of the Second Coming – 1:7b – “Behold, He is coming with the clouds”

3. The Scope of the Second Coming – v. 7c: “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even those who pieced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him”

4. The Response to the Second Coming – 1:7d – “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will mourn on account of him. Even so. Amen.”

5. The Certainty of the Second Coming – 1:8: "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

“I am Alpha and Omega” – Omniscience (God is all-knowing)

"who is and who was and who is to come” – Omnipresence (God is everywhere all at the same time)

“the Almighty” – Omnipotence (God is all-powerful)

Applications: Two words to remember and take with you:

1.     Alert – Be obedient and watchful

2.     Rest – Be confident and secure

Message Outlines for December 4, 2011

Journey Through the Bible

Lesson 2 – The Book of Genesis, Part 1

8:30 Service

Since Genesis deals with such things like the beginning of creation, mankind, animals and the Hebrew race, the name “Genesis” is given this book. It means, “beginning” or “origin.”  Very often the name of a book in the Bible will give you a clue of what the book is all about.  It is not the purpose of Genesis to tell us how or why God did what He did, but to show us who.

Outline of Genesis

1. The Beginning of Mankind (Chs. 1-11)

A.    The Creation (Chs. 1-2)

B.    The Fall of Man (Chs. 3-4)

C.    Noah and the Flood (Chs. 5-10)

D.   The Tower of Babel (Ch. 11)

2. The Beginnings of Israel (Chs. 12-50)

A.    The Life of Abraham (Chs. 12-25)

B.    The Life of Isaac (Chs. 21-35)

C.    The Life of Jacob (Chs. 25-49)

D.   The Life of Joseph (Chs. 30-50)

The Beginning of Mankind (Chs. 1-11)

A. The Creation (Chs. 1-2). 

·        The Creator. Genesis begins not with telling us how or why creation came about, the WHO. The name for God is “Elohim,” which means, “infinite strength.” In Ch. 2, we are first introduced to the word “LORD” which comes from the Hebrew word for Jehovah. The name “Elohim” is most often used when God is dealing with the physical universe. However, when God is dealing with His people or people in general, the word “Jehovah” (Yahweh) is most often used. 

Note: Read Gen. 6:22 and 7:1, 16 and note the two names used for God.

When dealt with animals, the name God (Elohim) is used, but when God shut Noah in the Ark, the name Jehovah was used).

·        The Seven Days of Creation. The Hebrew word for “day” in Genesis 1 is “Yom” and does not necessarily mean a 24 hour period. God could have created the world through a process that took millions of years, or He could have done so through 24 hours, six day process. Which was it? The word “day” used by itself can mean “age.” But when “Yom” is used with a numerical adjective such as, “one, two, three,” etc., it means 24 hours.

Note: God may have created a universe with the appearance of age. For example, when God created Adam and Eve, what were they at the time of creation? They had the appearance of age and maturity, but they were just created and therefore quite new or young.

       First Day – 1:3-5: ______________________________

       Second Day – 1:6-8: ____________________________

       Third Day – 1:9-13: _____________________________

       Fourth Day – 1:14-19: ___________________________

       Fifth Day – 1:20-23: _____________________________

       Sixth Day – 1:24-31: _____________________________

       Seventh Day – 2:2-3: _____________________________

B. The Fall of Man (Chs. 3-4)

·        The Temptation. God is not the author or sin. Temptation is the work of Satan (3:1-6).

·        The Sin. Eve yielded to the temptation of Satan, she involved Adam and the human race fell.

·        The Results. Immediately there was a lost of innocence and a sense of guilt. There was also a lost of desire for fellowship with God. Neither Adam nor Eve wanted to take the blame. But God held them accountable (3:17-19).

·        The Promise of a Redeemer. Genesis 3:15 is the first reference in the Bible to the coming Messiah.

·        The Progression of Sin. In Chapter 4, we see anger, jealousy, hatred and finally murder.

___________killed__________(4:8). Sin leads to more sin)

C. Noah and the Flood (Chs. 5-10)  This section teaches us about the universal flood of mankind and the faith of Noah. It would be helpful to understand what happened in Noah’s day, if we are to understand when Christ is coming.

What will be the similarities between the days of Noah and the days preceding the coming of Jesus? (Matt. 24:37-39)

D. The Tower of Babel (Ch. 11)  After the Flood, God commanded the people to replenish the earth, but they had other plans. What did the people do? _____________________________________

____________________________________________________

In order to get the people to spread out over the earth as He first intended, God caused the people to speak in different languages.  The word “babel” means “confusion.”

Applications: Three Closing Thoughts -

1.  Since God created the world out of nothing, can I trust Him to give me a new beginning?

2.  Since Satan tempted man and he fell, can I submit to God and allow Him to empower me to overcome?

3.  Since God sent a universal flood to wipe out mankind, will I warn others that the Lord is a God of justice and the need to repent is most urgent?

The Work of Christ in His Church, Part 1

Rev. 1:9-16a

Dec. 4, 2011 / 10:30

Jesus wants His church to be encouraged and strengthened.

1.     He will reveal a vision of Himself and His present work among His people – Chs. 1-3

2.     He will judge the world that has so often persecuted Christians – Chs. 4-18

3.     He will usher in His own kingdom in which the church will rule and reign with Him forever – Chs. 19-22

V. 9 - I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 

v. 10 - On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Ten Great Works of Christ in His Church

1. Christ Empowers His Church – vv. 12-13a, 20b:  I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man. . . and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

2. Christ Intercedes For His Church – 1:13b: And among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 

3. Christ Purifies His Church – 1:14-15a: The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace

Heb. 4:13: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

4. Christ Speaks Authoritatively To His Church – 1:15b: His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 

 “This is My Beloved Son! Listen to Him!” (Matt. 17:5).

5. Christ Controls His Church – vv. 16a, 20a - In his right hand he held seven stars. . . The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches

Three Personal Questions

1.  When was the last time you had a Vision of Christ?

2.  When was the last time you heard the Voice of Christ?   

3.  When was the last time you passed on a personal Message from Christ to someone else?

"As I look ahead, far ahead, two to three years down the road, I do see God doing it, even though I may not know all of the details today. That’s what vision is. Vision is not a crystal ball or hearing audible voices. It is the belief in one’s heart that God is going to do something that is consistent with His Word and consistent with His will, and believing that what God is going to do will have an amazing impact on your life. Having vision is having the confident belief that the promises of God are going to be realized in the future of our church” -  Pastor Tony Miano