Main Point: In the midst of life’s hardships, live in imitation of heaven’s worship of our eternal, sovereign, holy, Creator God.

I. The One Worshipped in Heaven – 4:3.

II. The Worshippers in Heaven – 4:4 – 8a.

“Four is the number that is symbolic of creation in all its fullness. Think of the four winds of heaven, and the four corners of the earth. In their number they represent the entire creation…” – Herman Hoeksema

III. The Worship in Heaven – 4:8b – 11.

See also Gen. 1:1; Psalm 95:6

“God’s holiness is His total and eternal separation from all that is sinful and defiling, and His positive purity, righteousness, and moral perfection.” – J.I. Packer

“God doesn’t need our worship; we need to worship Him” – R.C. Sproul

Application

1) True worship can only flow from redeemed hearts. 

2) Worship Him as Creator! 

3) Worship Him as Holy! 

Main Point: God is on the throne. Interpret the trials of your life in the light of His eternal, sovereign perspective. Glory is coming! 

I. Big Picture.

II. Come Up Here – 4:1.

III. The LORD is on His Throne – 4:2.

See also Psalm 47:7-8; Psalm 99:1-3; Romans 8:28

Application

1) “Come up here.” Is this the rapture?

2) We too are invited to “come up here.”

See also Isaiah 53:5-6

Main Point: Rest in the love of your Savior and rededicate yourself to living for Him. 

I. He set His love on us before creation!

See also 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Tim 1:9; Eph. 2:4; Eph. 3:14-19; 1 John 3:1

II. He set us free by His own blood.

See also John 8:34; Rom. 6:15-18; 1 Cor 15:3-4

Application: 

“He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” – 2 Cor 5:15

Main Point: Believe Christ’s Word, buy Christ’s riches, and look forward to Christ’s reward.

I. Christ Diagnoses a Repulsive Church – 3:14-17.

See also Jeremiah 17:9-10

II. Christ Counsels a Repulsive Church – 3:18-19.

See also Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Acts 26:18

III. Christ Promises a Repentant Church – 3:20-21.

Application

Main Point: Embrace your weakness and place full confidence in Jesus to use you in His kingdom and keep you in His grace.

I. Jesus Greatly Uses His Weak Church – 3:7-9.

See also Psalm 89:18; Isaiah 22:22; Acts 14:27; Col. 4:2-3; 2 Cor. 12:9-10

“The true child of God does not have great strength in himself. He is strong at times in Christ, but in himself he remains broken, weak, and dissatisfied with what he is and how little he makes use of God’s open doors.But in all the believers brokenness and weakness, Christ says, ‘I will give you a little strength, enough for the day, enough for the hour, enough to testify my name and to show the way for loss centers in me, the strong and almighty king of Kings.’” – Joel Beeke

II. Jesus Eternally Keeps His Weak Church – 3:10-13.

See also John 17:15

Application

1) Embrace your weakness. 

2) Trust His strength.

See also 1 Pet. 1:3-5 

Sermon: Revelation 3:1-6, To the Church in Sardis, A Dead Church

Main Point: Beware of the danger of spiritual complacency and be renewed in your commitment to faithfull follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I. Jesus’ Diagnosis of the Church in Sardis – 3:1.

See also Matthew 15:8-9

II. Jesus’ Remedy for the Church in Sardis – 3:2-3.

See also 1 Thess. 1:4-5

III. Jesus’ Recognition of the Faithful in Sardis – 3:4-6

See also 1 Thess. 5:23-24; Eph. 4:1; Matt. 10:32-33

Application

1) Are you dead or alive? 

2) Where is Grace Church slumbering? 

3) Pray that we, individually and corporately, will not grow complacent with the gospel. 

Sermon: Revelation 2:18-29, To the Church in Thyatira, Too Tolerant

“We must learn to hate sin, and we will, if we are getting to know God. If we do not, we will increasingly hate God.” – James Montgomery Boice

Main Point: Hold fast to Christ so that His church is purified and productive in His kingdom.

I. The Son of God Praises Thyatira – 2:18-19.

See also 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

II. The Son of God Rebukes Thyatira – 2:20-23.

See also 1 John 5:2-3

III. The Son of God Challenges Thyatira – 2:24-25.

IV. The Son of God Rewards Thyatira – 2:26-29.

See also Revelation 22:16

Application: 

Conclusion

“Our most miserable and vulnerable moments as Christians are the times when we lose sight of Christ.” – Joel Beeke

Sermon: Revelation 2:12-17 – To the Church in Pergamum, The Danger of Worldliness

Worldliness – any thought, attitude, or behavior that is shaped by the values and priorities of a fallen, rebellious world system rather than by the kingdom of God.

Main Point: Stand fast against the pressure of the world and root out all worldliness.

I. Be Faithful Under Pressure – 2:12-13.

II. Root Out False Teaching – 2:14-15.

See also 1 John 5:4-5

Application: Antidotes to worldliness

1) Live in the Word and remember the gospel every day.

See also Romans 12:2

2) Live in prayer and daily communion with Christ. 

See also Psalm 139:23-24; Matthew 26:41

3) Live in Christian community. 

See also Hebrews 10:24-25

4) Live in contentment. 

See also 1 Timothy 6:6-7

“The world is a seducer. It seeks to attract our attention and our devotion. It remains close at hand, visible and enticing. It eclipses our view of heaven. What is seen vies for our attention. It entices our eyes, preventing us from watching for a better country whose builder and maker is God.” – R.C. Sproul

 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” – John 15:18-20

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

“Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” – Polycarp of Smyrna

Sermon: Revelation 2:8-11, To the Church in Smyrna, Victory over Death.

Main Point: Jesus knows our suffering and comforts us with His victory!

I. Jesus Knows Our Suffering – 2:8-9.

See also Luke 6:22-23; James 2:5; Mark 8:36

“God is mine, it is enough.” – Thomas Watson

II. Jesus Comforts Us with His Victory – 2:10-11.

See also James 1:12

Application

1) Do not fear suffering for Christ. 

2) Rethink suffering. 

3) Rest in Jesus. 

4) So, live with an eternal perspective. 

See also John 11:25-26

Conclusion

“You can kill us, but you cannot do us any real harm.” – Justin Martyr

Sermon: Revelation 2:1-7, To the Church in Ephesus

Main Point: Repent of a cold heart and pour out your life for Jesus!

I. Jesus Commendation of the Church in Ephesus.

See also Heb. 12:3; 1 Cor 15:58; Col. 1:11; Rom. 12:2

II. Jesus’ Correction of the Church in Ephesus.

See also 1 John 4:10-11

can keep you going through the motions of church life for a long time without your first love. But the Lord Jesus knows the very day and hour when your love began to fade.” – Joel Beeke

“It is profitable for Christians to be often calling to mind the very beginnings of grace in their soul.” – John Bunyan

Application

1) Work hard for the Lord and His kingdom.

2) Expect hardship and purpose to endure in his strength.

3) Always treasure the purity of the church. 

4) Beware of cultural compromise. 

5) Live in the gospel daily so that all your works are done out of love for the Lord and His people!