April 13th, 2025 - 9am

Imagine the Scenes of Passion Week:

The Savior - bound

The Sights - dark

The Sounds - disturbing

The spirit of Satan - ruling

The "Servants" of God - rejecting

The Song - condemning

Notice...

Let the Physician in.

Let Him do His work.

The Doctor is at the door.

When Life is hard...

Jesus said...

1. I am Working for you v.8

2. I will Win for you v.9

3. I will Watch over you v.10

4. I will Welcome you v.12

So, when life is hard...two words.

HOLD ON

What does Jesus offer to a church whose reputation doesn't match reality? 

Jesus offers...

1. A Wake Up Call We All Need To Hear v.1-2

2. A Way Back We All Need To Remember v.3

        - The way back:   Remember.  Repent.

3. A Walk We All Want To Go On v.4-6

        - A walk with His:

Hear the wake up call!

Remember the way back.

Keep your future walk in mind.

When the King speaks we must listen! 

The King says...

1. I care about what you ACCOMPLISH with your life! v.19

2. I care about what you ALLOW in your life! v.20-23

       - Their sin was not participation.  It was toleration!

              Wisdom to remember:  Whatever you allow you will eventually accept.  

                                                            Whatever you accept you will eventually affirm.

3. I care about what you AFFIRM in your life! v.24-25

4. I care about what you are AWARDED for in your life! v.26-29

Practicing righteous authority over our lives now prepares us for righteous authority later.

Jesus knows our setting, our culture, and our context

Notice:

1. The Courage v.13

2. The Compromise v.14-15

3. The Consequences v.16-17

         Two opposite consequences…

          Condemnation

                  Continual Compromise leads to Condemnation

          Conquering 

                -Satisfaction

                -Salvation

Two Sweet and Serious Words:

“Therefore Repent”

How can we be faithful in the face of fear?

LOOK TO JESUS!

1. He was Faithful in His Suffering v.8

2. He is Faithful in our Suffering v.9-10

3. He Will be Faithful to End Suffering v.11

There is nothing the enemy can throw at us compared to the reward Christ has for us!

1. Gift

2. Guarantee

To be faithful, Jesus must be bigger than your fear

They had abandoned their first love

Ephesus was...

Faithful to Toil v.2a

Faithful to Truth v.2b, 6

Faithful under Trial v.3

Returning to the love you had at first involves…

1. The Discipline to Remember v.5a

2. The Decision to Repent v.5b

3. The Diligence to Return v.5c

4. The Danger of Removal v.5d

Do you love Him?

Do you love others in Him?

You cannot study John and Jesus without pondering you and Jesus.

Two parts to this moment…

1. John’s Natural Reaction v.17a

2. Jesus’ Supernatural Reassurance v.17b-20

Fear disappears in the presence of…

 Revelation is a word to those in battle.

In this order we are given…

1. John's Credentials v9

2. John’s Context v.10a

3. John’s Commission v.10b-11

4. John’s Commander v.12-16

Be overwhelmed by…

His swag – Robe, Sash

His shag – White Hair

His stare – Eyes of Fire

His stance – Bronze Feet

His sound – Roar of Water

His stars – 7 Churches

His sword – Sharp Words

His shine – Like the Sun