Christmas - God of Redemption

Christmas - God of Redemption this message was given on 12-25-11

Revelation 7 - Time Out (notes)

Revelation 7 - Time Out

John Sees

• Four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. One angel stands on the east part of the earth one on the west, south and north.
• God gives these angels the power to harm the earth and the sea but God tells them, “Do no harm to the earth, nor to the sea, nor to the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.”

God Anoints 144,000 Jewish believers for their job during the tribulation. To evangelize the people living in the world’s worst seven years. This shows the mercy of God for people living at a time when faith would seem to not be around in the world.

The Seventh Seal Is released in Revelation 8 but chapter 7 is divided into two portions dealing with two groups.

1. The 144,000 Jewish believers Rev. 7:1-8
2. The Great Multitude of Gentiles Rev. 7:9-17

In This Chapter

God is portrayed as a merciful and loving God. It is mankind’s wickedness, rebellion and sin that bring God’s judgment. (Romans 6:23) The Judgments already described were unleashed because of the hardness of men’s hearts. They rebelled and continued to rebel for thousands of years. God declares a time out, He still loves the human race and longs to saved mankind.

The Result In This Chapter is that God’s mercy in the midst of judgment. God tells the four angels to relent so there might be a time of revival as the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. The wicked get their seal from the anti-christ 666, the great deceiver and the super imitator. The true followers of Jesus Christ get their seal from the angel of the Lord at this time.

Each Group

Saved during the different dispensations of time has different missions to perform. The church is the bride of Christ and will enjoy the 1,000 year honeymoon upon the earth. (Rev. 20:4) They reign as rulers, kings, & priests (I Peter 2:9 & Rev. 1:6) The 144,000 serve as bodyguards of the bride and the Lamb. (Rev. 14:4)

The Gentiles saved during the tribulation are the temple servants waiting on Christ & His Bride. They serve in the glorious temple described in Ezekiel 40-48 which is set up immediately after Russia is destroyed in Ezekiel 38-39. Russia will march, the anti Christ will be smashed and the Lord will return with His Bride.

Under the reign of the anti-christ there will be little food and one will have to take the mark of the beast to obtain food. The believers mentioned here refuse to take the mark and suffer during that time.

Then the Lord comes, the Millennial Temple is erected, and the Gentiles serve. From this time on, the people of God from all dispensations enjoy the presence of God. Their days of suffering are over, all tears wiped away and all memories of the past pain obliterated from their minds.

Revelation 7 - Time Out

Revelation 7 - Time Out this message was given on 12-18-11

Revelation 6 The Seal Judgments (notes)

Revelation 6 - The Seal Judgments

John Sees The beginning of the tribulation period in Revelation 6. This a period of seven years of the worst calamities, war, famines, economic problems and death in the history of the planet.

We Are Living

• In the church age, the Dispensation of Grace, the time of the Holy Spirit. It is called many things by Bible teachers and theologians. The rapture of the church brings this period to an end and then the antichrist will be revealed right after the church is taken out of the way.
• This is the person on the white horse or the first seal of Revelation 6.

The Word of God Talks about three descriptions of the judgment of God during the tribulation.

1. The Seal Judgments.
2. The Trumpet Judgments.
3. The Bowl Judgments.

Remember

• Revelation is an unveiling of Jesus Christ. This book takes the veil off so we can see how God is just, righteous and all powerful.
• God anointed Jesus to proclaim Good News to the poor, heal the broken, and die for our sins. That is what Jesus did in His first coming but in His second coming He will judge the forces of evil and put down every rebellion.

In Revelation

Jesus is revealed as a glorious, conquering King of kings and Lord of Lords. He will conquer with a sword and with great power and glory. He will send His angels to fulfill the predictions of His judgments like when He sent two angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah in Gen. 19:24.

Jesus is on a white horse and He will return with the armies of Heaven. The armies of Heaven will follow Him riding on white horses. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords and He will destroy all the enemies of the cross in His just judgment. We will exercise the authority Jesus has given us. We don’t have to wait until Rev. 19 to use the power that Jesus has given us. Go and make disciples of all nations starts today.

Unsealing The Scroll

• The title deed of the earth is the scroll John sees in Revelation 5.
• I watched while the Lamb ripped off the first of seven seals.
• John sees the appearance of the antichrist. A rider on a white horse with a bowl.
• This means the antichrist will win nations over through diplomacy at the start of the tribulation.

The Four Horsemen

1. The antichrist - a white horse.
2. War - a red horse.
3. Famine & economic problems - a black horse.
4. Pestilences, earthquake & death - a grey (pale) horse.

The Seal Judgments

5. This is the persecution of the tribulation saints. Many believe that if a person gets saved in the tribulation they will suffer severe persecution and even death.

6. A great earthquake, the sun turns black and the moon bloody red. The stars fall out of the sky like figs shaken from a tree. The sky snapped shut like a book, islands and mountains sliding this way and that. Kings, princes, generals, rich and strong, along with every commoner, slave or free. They hid in the mountain from the One Seated on the Throne and the wrath of the Lamb. The great day of their wrath has come--who can stand it?

Revelation 6 The Seal Judgments

Revelation 6 - The Seal Judgments this message was given on 12-11-11

Revelation 5 - The Lion & The Lamb (notes)

Revelation 5 - The Lion & The Lamb

John Sees

• A scene where God is on His throne and has a scroll in His right hand. The scroll is the title deed to the earth. Jesus is the Lamb (who was sacrificed to redeem man). Jesus not only redeemed man but the earth.
• When Man fell the earth is cursed also, so here what is implied is the earth is no longer under the curse because the Lamb has redeemed man and the planet.

The Seven Horns Signifies Strength and Authority

• In Matthew 28:18 Jesus says, “all power has been given to me in Heaven and on earth, go and make disciples of all nations.”
• The church has been given that power to influence the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Eyes Signifies The All Seeing Eyes of The Lord

• This signifies the fact that God sees the past, present and the future. He is all knowing and knows everything.
• Horns & eyes also talks about the perfect justice of the Lord, God is holy and His justice is perfect. He will judge unrepentant or uncovered sin because He is holy.

The 24 Elders

• Talks about the authority that Jesus has given the church over evil, to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy and nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)
• Talks about the victory that overcomes the world, which is our faith. (I John 5:4)
• It also talks about the judicial power the church has in judging angels. (I Cor. 6:3)

The Church

• Has been given power over sin, sickness, and the devil.
• Is called heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
• Has been commissioned to rule in life. (Rom. 5:17)
• Will rule in the future.

Rev. 19:11-14

11 I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose Rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of Heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Jesus is on a white horse and He will return with the armies of Heaven will follow Him riding on white horses. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords and He will destroy all the enemies of the cross in His just judgment. We will exercise the authority Jesus has given us. We don’t have to wait until Rev. 19 to use the power that Jesus has given us. Go and make disciples of all nations starts today.

When Jesus Takes

• The title deed of the earth a magnificent celebration of worship breaks out in Heaven.
• Worthy! Take the scroll, open its seals. Slain! Paying in blood, You bought men and women, Bought them back from all over the earth, Bought them back for God. Then You made them a Kingdom, priests for our God, priest-kings to rule over the earth.

The Song of Redemption

1. Take the title deed to the earth and open its seals.
2. Slain! Paying in blood, You redeemed men and women.
3. From all over the earth.
4. You made them a kingdom of priests for our God.
5. Priest-kings to rule over the earth.

The Last Point in this song talks about the authority to reign with Christ over the earth. The more I read and study Revelation the more I see the role the church will play in eternity. Scriptures like, “we are joint heirs with Christ” become more real to me. What Jesus says about the church all point to the fact that we are destined to the throne.

Rev. 5:11-14

I looked again. I heard a company of Angels around the Throne, the Animals, and the Elders ten thousand times ten thousand their number, thousand after thousand after thousand in full song: The slain Lamb is worthy! Take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength! Take the honor, the glory, the blessing! Then I heard every creature in Heaven and earth, in underworld and sea, join in, all voices in all places, singing:

Rev. 5

To the One on the Throne! To the Lamb! The blessing, the honor, the glory, the strength, for age after age after age.
The Four Animals called out, "Oh, Yes!" The Elders fell to their knees and worshiped.

Revelation

Reveals Jesus, the head of the church, and how the church has been called to a place of high honor in the Kingdom of God.

This causes Heaven to break out in great praise and worship.

Gives the church a picture of the power Jesus has given His Body in Heaven and on earth.

Gives us a picture of the amazing majesty Jesus has and the power the church has because we are the body of Christ.

Revelation 5 - The Lion & The Lamb

Revelation 5 - The Lion & The Lamb this message was given on 12-4-11

Revelation 4 - Worship Transforms (notes)

Revelation 4 - Worship Transforms

The Lord Jesus Christ Wants us to know that if anyone has the answers to the problems in our world it is the believer or a member of the church. If we are going to experience Heaven on earth we must learn the truths in Revelation that transforms. Worship is a transformational principle.

Worship

• Is something I can do anytime, anywhere, all the time whether I am in church or not. My wife plays worship kids CDs for our grandson all the time at home, in the car or here in her office. She did it when our children were little. One of the greatest parenting skills every parent can do is to create an atmosphere or worship at home.
• Is what everyone of us can teach our children to do. This is one of the great Christian disciplines. Bringing God’s presence into our homes will invite God’s presence into our homes, into the hearts and minds of our children and their friends when they come over.

Revelation 4 :1

• The Throne in Heaven
• 1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in Heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
• John is transported right into the presence of God here.

Man Has Tried

For thousands of years to look into the supernatural realm but has failed if God has not been the center of our worship.

Jesus Christ has to be the center of any worship experience.

In every generation since Jesus came people have been taking trips to heaven.

Little children, Muslim terrorists, are seeing Jesus today are being transformed.

Key To Revelation
Rev. 1:3

• Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
• If there is anything the church in our culture needs to practice is being in the Spirit. Paul said to walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

We Can Walk

• Free of sin by walking in the Spirit. We don’t have to sin, we don’t have to fail or fall, even with all the evil around us we can stay in the Spirit.
• When we worship God in the Spirit we can live in the spirit and live free of sin and failure. We will succeed in life, personally, in our family, in our job or business, in ministry.

John Is Transported to Heaven

Relation 4:2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in Heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

Testimonies

• Colton Burpo and Akiane Kramarik are two children who have been transported into God’s presence and both saw Jesus and He looked the same. One is a PK and the other the daughter of an atheist.
• They both saw amazing colors (a rainbow) that they never saw on earth. There are colors in Heaven that we don’t have on earth. John saw those colors.

The Throne of God

• Is filled with color, light, activity.
• 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
• Some believe that the 24 elders are members of the church. A court in Heaven that carries out what God says. The church has been given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Matt. 16:18

Jesus Has Given

Us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to declare lawful and to declare unlawful on earth as it is in Heaven, in the court of the universe where the 24 elders of the church are. We need to stop living below the Heavenly standard of living that Jesus has provided for us to live in. Stop living like a pauper when you are a king.

Jesus Has Given Us The Keys To The Kingdom of Heaven

Mat. 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.

God’s Throne Is Dazzling

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. The throne of God is big, it is dazzling, it is bright with the glory of God (and all the amazing colors of a rainbow). and it is full of the holiness of God but it is also accessible to every child of God. It is full of sight and sounds that demonstrate that God is not wimpy or small but All Powerful and majestic and full of brilliance.

The seven lights are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Seven is the number of completion so the Holy Spirit is the complete revelation of the awesomeness of God. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

The Sea of Glass

What is the sea of glass? Some say that the gold in Heaven is so pure that it looks like glass so this could be a huge courtyard in front of the throne of God where people can come and be before the throne of God and see the court of Heaven and the glory of God’s presence. But this isn’t all there is around the throne of God, read on.

The Sea of Glass

10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

The Glory of God

Ezekiel 1 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,

5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human,

6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.

The Presence of God

15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.

Worship Is What Heaven Is

If you read Ezekiel's account of the glory of God in the first chapter you see something very close to what John saw. The lion is the king of the animal kingdom on earth, the eagle the king of the bird kingdom. The ox is a worker, type of Jesus who has completed the work of redemption so we don’t have to work ourselves into heaven. The man is a type of humanity in God or God in humanity like Jesus the God-Man.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

Worship Is Our Life

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”

Heaven, Worship & Authority

We talked about the court in Heaven and the power and authority they have in making decisions for what happens on earth but look at what they do when worship starts. They stop what they are doing and they cast their crowns before the throne of God and worship God. This means that it is not our position that we have that is important but our position in worship that is important.

We need to worship Jesus without being ashamed, inhibited or intimidated.

Heaven, Worship & Authority

We must be like the court of Heaven and cast our crowns before the throne of God and fall on our face before Him and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. The church must put worship as one of its highest priorities. We must put it above evangelism, outreach, feeding the hungry, praying for the sick or anything else. We must put the Word of God before us and read what Heaven is like and learn to worship like Jesus wants us to.

Revelation 4 - Worship Transforms

Revelation 4 - Worship Transforms this message was given on 11-27-11

Revelation 3 - Love and Thanksgiving (notes)

Revelation 3 - Love and Thanksgiving

The Lord Jesus Christ

• Desires to transform our church into a living example of the Kingdom of God in the world today.
• Gives advice to the church at Philadelphia that he has the key of David. This implies that worship is a vital part of being a church after the heart of God.

The Philadelphia Church

• Is the church of brotherly love. Jesus says that only God can open doors and no man can close the door that God opens. God had opened a door of ministry for this church and only God can close it. It is the same for us. On the other hand God closes doors that no man can open and if God closes a door, let’s not break it down we will only suffer for our rebellion.
• Was a church that had lost its influence and strength and only Jesus could return it to its former power.

The Devil & The Church

• Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it…”
• The Devil always tries to get into the church. He does it with leaders who allow the people of God to put them into an unhealthy place. Pastors need to stay close to Jesus so that they never allow the church to elevate them to a place that is unhealthy.

How Satan Enters The Church:

When a leader thinks he is above God’s Law and thinks he can not be rebuked, removed or replaced.

Love - Rev. 3

• 10 'You have kept My command to put up with anything that happens. So I will keep you from the time of suffering that is going to come to the whole world. It will test those who live on the earth.'
• When the church walks in love Jesus promises to keep that church from the time of suffering that will hit the world.

The Blessing

• Of holding on to Jesus. No one will be able to take away our crown.
• Of overcoming. Jesus will make us pillars in the temple of God, we will always be in God’s presence. He will write the name of God on them and the name of the city of God on them. In Rome when someone received high national honor their names were engraved in public places on stone.

Views On The 7 Churches

• Every church is a period in church history.
• Jesus addressing people in the seven churches are people in every church in history.
• Since the church is individual people Jesus is speaking to us as individuals and as a corporate group. Yes, Jesus mentions false teaching, false leaders in that time in history in Asia Minor but if you look at the church today there are similarities in the church today.

The Admonitions

That were given in the first century apply to the church today. Jesus is the head of the church and when He makes a statement, or a rebuke or a compliment to a church almost 2,000 years ago it can apply to the church today.

The Church of Laodicea

• Jesus is revealed as a faithful witness and the ruler of God’s creation. Jesus knows what the church is doing, He is all knowing. This church was lukewarm, neither cold nor hot and that makes God sick.
• If there is anything that gets to God it is when His people think they don’t need God, they are rich, powerful, popular, in, cool, etc.
• When a believer (who is part of the church) gets to this point Jesus says, “you don’t realize how pitiful and miserable you have become. You are poor, blind and naked.

Jesus Recommends We

1. Buy gold tried by fire. Jesus is pure gold, nothing is worth more than Him. When I come to Jesus and ask for help, I let Him know that I can not make it on my own, I get Him. Sometimes a church becomes successful and it takes its eyes off what is really important. Then you will be rich.
2. Buy from Him white clothes to wear. This is when I clothe myself with His righteousness. It is not good works that justifies us but the blood of Jesus.
3. Buy from Him healing lotion to put on your eyes to see.

We Are Most Vulnerable when we are most blessed. When we are in need we tend to put our trust in the Lord. This is why revivals usually start in very needy places with very needy people. The more need there is, the greater possibility for God to work. Example of Israel in Egypt. They called on God in their time of need and God heard.

The key: We must always be needy of Him. We must always realize how impossible life is without Jesus and call on Him and He will help us, regardless of how much money we have in the bank, or how popular we are or how powerful we think we are.

Sometimes The Church becomes like the church in Laodicea, rich (in our eyes but poor in God’s), powerful, self indulgent and popular. This is when we need Jesus the most. This is when we are most vulnerable. This is when we are ready for a fall.

The best medicine for this sickness is remembrance and thanksgiving. If we become powerful, rich and popular remember from where God has raised us up from and be thankful for the blessings of the Lord.

Revelation 3 - Love and Thanksgiving

Revelation 3 - Love and Thanksgiving this message was given on 11-20-11

Revelation Transforms - Revelation 2-3 (notes)

Revelation Transforms The Church - Revelation 2-3

The Lord Jesus Christ

Desires to transform our church into a living example of Jesus Christ in this community. Just as we talked about the transformation of the believer into the image of Jesus from glory to glory, so is Jesus coming for a glorious church free from spots, wrinkles or any other disfigurement a Church holy and perfect.

Ephesians 5:25-27

What does a Transformed church look like?

1. It looks like Jesus.
2. It acts like Jesus.
3. It is sacrificial like Jesus was.
4. It is a servant church like Jesus.

The Word of God Was Given By Inspiration

2 Timothy 3 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work.

Keys To Revelation

• Revelation is never something that is not found in scripture but something already in scripture. Revelation corrects erroneous concepts about God in every generation. In every generation satan steals the Word so God sends revival and in that outpouring the spirit of wisdom and revelation comes on the people of God to correct what the church has lost.
• Revelation also equips the church to reach its generation.

Keys

People in any given period of time can also miss the truth God has for that time like the Jewish leaders in the time of Jesus Christ. JESUS was God, the greatest figure to ever walk the earth with the most powerful teachings ever spoken by anyone.

The World longs to see Jesus in us. We need to look like Jesus if we are going to win the lost and change the world. We will be transformed into His image as we behold in the Word the Glory of the Lord. As we are transformed by the renewing of our thinking the church is transformed by the teaching of the Word God.

Principles in Rev. 2

1. The loveless church must return to her first love.
2. The persecuted church must endure.
3. The over tolerant church must not put up with evil but overcome evil with good.
4. The compromised church must repent and turn back to pure devotion to Jesus Christ and to the pure teaching of the Word of God.

The Seven Churches

1. To the pastor of the loveless church Jesus is revealed as the one who holds the leaders of the church in His right hand.
2. To the pastor of the persecuted church Jesus is revealed as the eternal God to look beyond your current circumstances & see your eternal future. Poverty caused by persecution isn’t a sign of the spiritual condition of the church. You are rich, don’t fear, be faithful to the end and Jesus will give you the crown of life.
3. To the pastor of the over tolerant church Jesus is revealed as the one who has a two edged sword who will correct sin or false teaching in the church. We need the Word to keep us pure and in line doctrinally. If we don’t turn from sin & false teaching God will come to us with His sword to discipline us.
4. To the pastor of the compromised church Jesus is revealed as the one with fire blazing eyes as the one who sees through everything. The one with brazen feet means He went to hell for us so we don’t have to go to hell.

There Is A Process

• In how God communicates with the church. The Lord speaks to the leader of the church, not a prophet or an elder or a mature member of the church.
• Write down what you see, both the things which are now, and the things which are to be hereafter. Rev. 1:19

Jesus Promises Something to Every Church

Ephesian church 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.

Smyrna church

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Pergamos Church

17 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 hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Church at Thyatira

26-29 To the one who is victorious, who carries out my work to the end, I will give authority over the nations, just as I myself have received authority from my Father, and I will give him the morning star. He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the potter’s vessels shall be broken to pieces. Let the listener hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.

A different part of Jesus Christ is revealed to every church.

The Sleeping church

1-3 Write this to the angel of the Church in Sardis: These are the words of Him who holds in His hand the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.

Conclusion

Personal testimony of Son Life.

Revival is God visiting a place with His power and His might and shattering the forces of evil and spreading His Goodness in that place. Revival is Jesus coming to His church and revealing to His church her condition and then saying I have something much better for you, here it is, take it, embrace it, receive it and run with it and I will show you what I can do when you trust Me, when you allow Me to be the Lord of your life and the head of My church.

Revelation Transforms - Revelation 2-3

Revelation Transforms - Revelation

2-3 this message was given on 11-13-11

Revelation Transforms - Revelation 2 (notes)

Revelation Transforms - Revelation 2

We Have

• The answer to every problem in the world because of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
• The Word of God which reveals the answers to all the problems in society.
• Revelation knowledge as a result of the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
• A great inheritance in Jesus Christ. Eph. 1

Principles About Revelation:

1. Jesus speaks and His Word unveils principles, ideas, future events and answers to problems.
2. Jesus always reveals truths, insights and strategies to the church for the purpose God has for that particular time in history.
3. Revelation is given to reveal a side of God the church has missed, lost or satan has stolen.

The Word of God Was Given By Inspiration

2 Timothy 3 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God and fit him fully for all branches of his work.

Key To Revelation:

Go through the seven letters to the churches in Revelation and look for truth God has for us today. God’s Word is like a treasure chest with secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven for every generation.

Keys

• People in any given period of time can also miss the truth God has for that time like the Jewish leaders in the time of Jesus Christ.
• JESUS is God, the greatest figure to ever walk the earth with the most powerful teachings ever spoken by anyone.

The World Longs to see Jesus in us. We need to look like Jesus if we are going to win the lost and change the world. We will be transformed into His image as we behold in the Word the Glory of the Lord. Revelation reveals Jesus.

Principles in Rev. 2

1. The loveless church must return to her first love.
2. The persecuted church must endure.
3. The over tolerant church must not put up with evil but overcome evil with good.
4. The compromised church must repent and turn back to pure devotion to Jesus Christ and to the pure teaching of the Word of God.

The Seven Churches

1. To the pastor of the loveless church Jesus is revealed as the one who holds the leaders of the church in His right hand.
2. To the pastor of the persecuted church Jesus is revealed as the eternal God to look beyond your current circumstances & see your eternal future. Poverty caused by persecution isn’t a sign of the spiritual condition of the church. You are rich, don’t fear, be faithful to the end and Jesus will give you the crown of life.
3. To the pastor of the overly tolerant church Jesus is revealed as the one who has a two edged sword who will correct sin or false teaching in the church. We need the Word to keep us pure and in line doctrinally. If we don’t turn from sin & false teaching God will come to us with His sword and discipline us.
4. To the pastor of the compromised church Jesus is revealed as the one with fire blazing eyes. The one who sees through everything. The one with brazen feet, means He went to hell for us so we don’t have to go to hell.

There Is A Process

In how God communicates with the church. The Lord speaks to the leader of the church, not a prophet or an elder or a mature member of the church.

Write down what you see, both the things which are now, and the things which are to be hereafter. Rev. 1:19

Jesus promises something to every church

• Ephesian church
• 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.
• Smyrna church
• 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
• Pergamos Church
• 17 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 hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
• Church at Thyatira
• 26-29 To the one who is victorious, who carries out my work to the end, I will give authority over the nations, just as I myself have received authority from my Father, and I will give him the morning star. He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the potter’s vessels shall be broken to pieces. Let the listener hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.

Revelation Transforms - Revelation 2

Revelation Transforms - Revelation

2 this message was given on 11-6-11

Transformation Revelation - Revelation 1:1-2 (notes)

Transformation Revelation - Revelation 1:1-2

We Have

• The answer to every problem in the world because of the Revelation of Jesus Christ that we have.
• The cure to all the ills in man because of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
• The one who came to restore the world in Jesus Christ.

What Does It Take to be transformed into the image of the Son and to be a transformer of the world?

1. Spending time with Jesus.
2. A revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Witness of Jesus Christ is the Message of God

Revelation 1

1-2 This is a Revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him so that he might show his servants what must very soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who is the witness of all that he saw - the message of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Keys That Transform

1. Jesus is the one who is, who was and who is coming.
2. Jesus is called the faithful witness.
3. Jesus is the first born from the dead.
4. Jesus is the ruler of the earthly kings.
5. Jesus is coming in the clouds.
6. Jesus is coming to judge the world.
7. Jesus is the Alpha & Omega.
8. Jesus is the Son of Man.
9. Jesus is dressed in God’s glory.
10. Jesus is completely pure.
11. Jesus’ eyes are blazed like fire.
12. Jesus went to hell for us.
13. Jesus’ voice will be heard by everyone.
14. Jesus holds the leaders of the church in His hand.
15. Jesus’ Word is alive and powerful.
16. Jesus’ beauty is amazing.

The World longs to see Jesus in us. We need to look like Jesus if we are going to win the lost and change the world. We will be transformed into His image as we behold in the Word the Glory of the Lord. Revelation reveals Jesus.

The Keys of death and the grave are in the hands of Jesus Christ because He is the first and the last, the living one. He was dead but now He is alive for ever. The future is ours because we belong to Jesus Christ. The secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven are ours because of Jesus.

As I Spend Time

• With Jesus I will see His Glory.
• With Him He will touch me and it is the touch of Jesus that changes us into the people He has destined us to be so we can change the world. He conquered hell for us so we can bring heaven to the earth in our daily living. I will be given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to bring heaven down to earth.
• With Jesus I will start to look like Him.

Jesus Christ came to reveal the Father to the world. When Jesus healed the sick this is the revelation of what God desires to do everyday in the world through us. When Jesus forgave sins He was showing us that God desires to forgive our sins and the sins of the world everyday.

Jesus Said sin is the root cause of all the suffering in the world. He came to remove sin so we could heal all the hurts in the world by the power of the Spirit of God who is in us. He will transform us so we can be transformers in the world.

The Enemy (John 10:10)

• Came to steal, kill and destroy: This is what He does everyday.
• Jesus came to give us abundant life: This is what we should do every day in the world is bring people the abundance of life that we have to change their lives.

Jesus & Power

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Mark 3:15
And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Luke 9:1
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.

Hebrews 2:14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Jesus Came To Reveal

The Father’s will to us. He came to show us how God feels about sin, sickness, the devil and evil in the world. It is our job to go into the world and remove evil everywhere we go like Jesus did when He was on the earth.

When we do we can change the world we live in, the family, the neighborhood we live in, the city we live in, the nation we live in.

How We Move Into The Destiny God Has For Us To Change The World: John 15

1. Be born of the Spirit.
2. Stay connected to Jesus.
3. Stay in His Word.

Transformation Revelation - Revelation 1:1-2

Transformation Revelation - Revelation 1:1-2 this message was given on 10-30-11

A Transformed Life 4 - Romans 12:1-2 (notes)

A Transformed Life 4 - Romans 12:1-2

Contrasts

• God transforms us.

• The enemy condemns us.

• God changes our personality.

• The enemy forms strongholds in minds.

• God uses the Word to renew our minds.

• The enemy attacks our minds.

• God takes truth and changes our world view.

• The enemy uses lies to cause us to continue to think in a way that causes us to live defeated lives.

The Glory of The Lord

2 Corinthians 3:18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Keys That Transform

• We see God’s Glory in His Word.
• The Glory of God in the Word transforms us into the image of Jesus.
• We are transfigured into His very Own image in ever increasing splendor from one degree of glory to another.

When We Are

• Born again and start to study the Word of God transformation starts.
• The Baptism in the Spirit is the second step of our transformation.

The Baptism In The Spirit

Was predicted by John the Baptist Matthew 3:11.


I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The Baptism

• Was predicted by Jesus Christ
• Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.

The Baptism In The Spirit Is Fulfilled On The Day Of Pentecost

Acts 2:1 AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place 2 When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].

In Every Move of God the baptism in the Spirit always becomes one of the main characteristics of that move of God.

Jesus Said

• That we would be given power after the Holy Spirit came upon us.
• The Holy Spirit comes upon the believer and transforms us into the image of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit

• Pours into the church the love of God. Jesus said the world would we are his disciples by our love for each other. We need the Spirit’s love so we can love each other and love the lost.
• Deposits gifts to the church.

The Mind Gifts

1. The Word of Knowledge: This is divinely given information about a person, a situation, a sickness or problem that only God could know.
2. The Word of Wisdom: This is divine wisdom on how to deal with a situation, a person or problem.
3. Discernment of Spirit: This is the divine ability to know when it is a demonic influence or not in a person’s life.

The Power Gifts

1. Faith: The supernatural ability to believe.
2. Healing: Supernatural ability to heal a sickness, illness or physical ailment.
3. Miracles: a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency

The Speaking Gifts

1. Tongues: Speaking in a spiritual language unknown to the speaker.
2. Interpretation of Tongues: The supernatural ability to interpret the tongue.
3. Prophecy: Speaking a message that encourages, comforts and strengthens the listener.

Without The Spirit

• We don’t have access to these powerful gifts that are designed to help us minister to the world, the lost and the church.
• The Glory of God something we see throughout the history of man, in the O.T. it was seen on places like a burning bush, the mountain of God, a pillar of fire at night, a cloud in the day, on the tabernacle, on the temple, etc.

In The New Covenant

• The glory is one people, Jesus, the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. Paul said your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
• In church history the glory of God has appeared as a cloud inside buildings and at night as a ball of fire on top of buildings.
• This is why we must value the presence of God in our lives. It comes by the Word. We see the glory of God in the Word of God.

A Transformed Life 4 - Romans 12:1-2

A Transformed Life 4 - Romans 12:1-2 this message was given on 10-16-11

A Transformed Life 3 - Romans 12:1-2 (notes)

A Transformed Life 3 - Romans 12:1-2

On The Transfiguration on the Mount Jesus was transfigured in front of His disciples. Theologians have debated on why Jesus was transfigured. I believe it was a prophetic act. Jesus was demonstrating the transfiguration of the believer in the future.

The Answer To All The Problems In The World…

• Is the church of Jesus Christ because we have the mind of Christ. We have the thoughts of God. All the creativity of Heaven is for the church to change the world.
• If the world is in a mess we can clean it up. If our life is in trouble Jesus is the answer. If our family has a problem we have the solution.

Transformation Takes Time

1. But it does not have to take a long time, it just takes dedication, presenting our passions, desires, and ambitions to God.
2. It takes a new attitude.
3. It takes a new mind set or way of thinking.
4. The Word of God gives us a new attitude, new though patterns and new passions.

2 Corinthians 3:18

And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

How Transformation Happens

1. We behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord with unveiled face.
2. Are constantly being transfigured into His very own image.
3. How? In ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another.

Explanation

• The glory of God comes upon us through the Word of God. The glory of God is the presence of God.
• In the O.T. the glory of God came as a result of obedience to the Word of The Lord. It is still the same today.

The Glory of God is manifested as smoke, a pillar of fire, a cloud, mist, fog, or crystals that look like floating jewels. When Moses first saw the glory of God it made a desert bush glow and God told him to take his shoes off because the place was made holy by the presence of God.

The Glory of God

• Was seen as a pillar of fire at night and a cloud in the day.
• Was seen by Israel on the face of Moses when he came down from Mount Sinai.
• Is the presence of God. In past revivals around the world people have seen the glory of God upon buildings, in the Azusa Street revival, in the Indonesian Revival and other revivals. People actually saw the fire of God and the cloud.

The Word of God

• Says those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the Holy Spirit.
• Talks about the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death. But the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-8)

Romans 8:7 [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot. 8 So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Thoughts is where victories are won, where strongholds are formed or demolished.

1. What we think affects our life
2. Strongholds are formed or demolished in our minds
3. A victorious Christian has his mind under the control of the Holy Spirit not the flesh.

A Transformed Life 3 - Romans 12:1-2

A Transformed Life 3 - Romans 12:1-2 this message was given on 10-9-11

A Transformed Life 2 - Romans 12:1-2 (notes)

A Transformed Life 2 - Romans 12:1-2

There Is A Process in Transformation

• It starts with presenting our physical body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. A holy life is a dedicated life to the Lord. The first step in this process is dedication.
• Part two is not being conformed to the pattern of this world.
• Part three is the renewing of our minds.

Why Do We Need Our minds renewed?

1. Because we live in a fallen world.
2. Because the carnal mind is hostile to God & does not submit to God’s Word.
3. The manner in which people are trained is to think like the world.

Two Types of Wisdom

• The wisdom of the world has big sounding words.
• The wisdom of the world is man’s wisdom.
• Man dies & his wisdom dies with him.

• God’s wisdom goes from generation to generation.
• God’s wisdom is given by the Holy Spirit.
• God’s wisdom is based on faith in Jesus.
• God’s wisdom was planned before man was created.

Two Types of Wisdom

1. The wisdom of God is a secret wisdom, not known to just anyone.
2. Satan and the forces of evil do not understand the wisdom of God.

Biblical Standards

Romans 8:7-8

I John 2:15-17

II Cor. 10:3-5

I Cor. 3:6-8

Sometimes It takes a generation or so for the church to accept a new way of thinking. This happens through the revelation of the Word of God by the Holy Spirit. In some cases it is too late and the church misses something amazing and looses a generation.

We Can Not Allow ourselves to end up in the situation where we miss the next move of God so we must always allow the Word of God to renew our minds.

A Steady Diet Of God’s Word will renew our minds. This is when we allow the spirit of wisdom and revelation to see more clearly what God has in store for us.

The Word of God:

• Is alive and full of power, it is penetrating and sharper than any two edge sword.
• Goes into our thought patterns and changes them to His thought patterns. This is how our minds are renewed.
• Will not return empty but will accomplish that which God desires in our lives.

God Desires

• That we live an abundant life full of the Word of God.
• We can have a life that is meaningful and transformational as we allow the Word of God to do its work in us.
• We can look like Jesus as we allow this process to work in every area of our life.

What Does Transformation Look Like?

The Greek Word gives us the meaning of the process that a cocoon goes through to become a butterfly. It is something that envelops or surrounds in a protective or comforting way. The Word of God must envelop us as we are transformed into the image of Jesus.

II Corinthians 3:18

A Transformed Life 2 - Romans 12:1-2

A Transformed Life 2 - Romans 12:1-2 this message was given on 10-2-11

A Transformed Life - Romans 12:1-2 (notes)

A Transformed Life - Romans 12:1-2

There Is A Process In Transformation

• It starts with presenting our physical body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. A holy life is a dedicated life to the Lord. The first step in this process is dedication.
• Part two is not being conformed to the pattern of this world.
• Part three is the renewing of our minds.

What Renews The Mind:

1. A new mind set or a new world view.
2. A new set of values.
3. The Word of God.

The World has a set of values, a way at looking at the world. The church has a world view, even in the church there are different views such as miracles don’t happen anymore. If you study church history there has been miracles in every generation of the church.

In Every Revival God opens up new ways of thinking for the church, sometimes it is radically different than the current thinking in the church at other times minor adjustments are made. The general thought though is that the church has a hard time accepting new ways of thinking.

Sometimes it takes a generation or so for the church to accept a new way of thinking. This happens through the revelation of the Word of God by the Holy Spirit. In some cases it is too late and the church misses something amazing and looses a generation.

We Can Not allow ourselves to end up in the situation where we miss the next move of God so we must always allow the Word of God to renew our minds.

A Steady Diet Of God’s Word Will Renew Our Minds

This is when we allow the spirit of wisdom and revelation to help us see more clearly what God has in store for us.

The Word of God

• Is alive and full of power, it is penetrating and sharper than any two edge sword.
• Goes into our thought patterns and changes them to His thought patterns. This is how our minds are renewed.
• Will not return empty but will accomplish that which God desires in our lives.

God Desires

• That we live an abundant life full of the Word of God.
• We can have a life that is meaningful and transformational as we allow the Word of God to do its work in us.
• We can look like Jesus as we allow this process to work in every area of our life.

What Does Transformation Look Like?

The Greek word is were we get the word metamorphosis - the process that a cocoon goes through to become a butterfly. Something that envelops or surrounds in a protective or comforting way. The Word of God must envelop us as we are transformed into the image of Jesus.

II Corinthians 3:18