Becoming an OVERCOMER in YOUR LIFE? The Revelation 2-3 “check-up” (Compiled by Jon Dorris) (Permission granted for anyone to use freely) Intro -Wonderful FREE gifts in Salvation -We need these truths to be strong foundations in our life -Jesus gave us way to have sins forgiven = no condemnation (Ro. 8:1-2) -IDENTITY as beloved children of Loving Father God -Confidence to run talk to God when we do sin -John 17:23 -These are all free for the Believer – THANK GOD -BUT GOD WANTS US TO BE MATURING SONS & DAUGHTERS OF GOD. -You would want your children to grow up and mature wouldn’t you? -You would want to learn how to become successful in life wouldn’t you? -So does God with us. -Most of the New Testament is designed as a blueprint for VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING -This is being TRUE DISCIPLE OF JESUS. 1st. We must make a SOLID CHOICE to align with God’s blueprint. 2nd. We must be DILIGENT to learn God’s WORD (esp. NT) and put into continual practice = becoming a maturing OVERCOMING / VICTORIOUS Christian, versus living a continually defeated life. -When we do not align with God’s blueprint, life just does not work well at all. = mess after mess. -So be serious in going after learning and living the whole New Testament. -Find a small group of other committed Christians and chose to walk together helping each other walk this out. -Aligning is a life-long journey/process. -It’s coming out of the evil world system little by little and into the Kingdom of God-blueprint. -TODAY I want to give you small but powerful tool to help you stay on this journey as a VICTORIOUS OVERCOMER. -Periodically I read through Revelation 2-3, which is about the  good and bad characteristics of the 7 Churches in that time period -Then I repent and align with God as needed. -This has been a blessing to me over the years. -It has kept me on a healthy journey with my relationship with God. -The 7 Churches were actual Churches in Jesus’ time, in today’s nation of Turkey. -TODAY Christian Churches tend to flow in cycles of these same TEMPTATIONS and CHALLENGES. -Therefore it is healthy to periodically give yourself a “check-up” with Holy Spirit’s help. ASK HIM TO HELP YOU DO THIS. -Let’s look for 3 things in these 7 churches: 1. Do we need to REPENT of things (turn away from them and align with God’s blueprint instead) 2. What Kingdom of God ACTION do we need to STRENGTHEN? 3. What REWARD does God promise? -Let these GREAT REWARDS encourage you. (Jack reads scriptures in Mandarin and English is on slide) A. Message to Church at Ephesus -Rev. 2:4-5 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 1. REPENT -of letting our LOVE FOR GOD GROW COLD (Nicholaitans basically perverted and altered God’s truths, which made people stumble and fall away from God) -Guard yourself from this 2. STRENGTHEN -PERSEVERING in God’s Kingdom New Testament truths -EX. Tanya and I have had to persevere in the “good fight of faith” for truths for a VICTORIOUS marriage. 3. REWARD Rev. 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life (partaking of Jesus’ Life) which is in the Paradise of God.’ B. Message to the Church of Smyrna (Don’t Read – no time) 1. REPENT (Jesus was encouraging them NOT to fear) -of FEARS of trials and sufferings, John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” -EX-I caught myself with this fear = trying to avoid God’s transforming things for me. Acts 14:21-22 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS WE MUST ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” -Repent into committing all things into God’s hands and trust him. -Matthew 11:28-30 (no time to read – Jon paraphrases) 2. STRENGTHEN -our focus on BEING FAITHFUL to God in trials and temptations. -Be encouraged through hard things knowing God is building the Kingdom of God in us. 3. REWARD Rev. 2:10b Be faithful until death (selfish desires), and I will give you the crown of life. -EX-I have gotten free of these fears of suffering in the past = great peace and rest in life. C. Message to the Church in Pergamum 1. REPENT -Making idols of anything (desiring something more than we desire God) -EX- I was pushing to start a Polyurethane Manufacturing business but God wanted us in missions – God said “Do you want to prop that business up without My help?” I said NO! -Idols attract demons = John 10:10 - you allow them to bring KILLING, STEALING, & DESTROYING. -Sexual immorality (Nicholaitans said it is OK, just not temple prostitution.) -Compromising God’s Kingdom Truths (NT blueprint) -Matthew 16:24-27 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. -Are you willing to live life God’s way? -This is the test whether you are Jesus’ disciple or not. -So we repent of the selfish mind-set of living for our pleasures, -Instead we choose 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 2. STRENGTHEN -Holding fast Jesus’ (covenant) Name - 1 John 3:23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 3. REWARD – Mt. 16:27 above = Jesus will reward our faithfulness D. Message to Church of Thyatira (do not read – long) 1. REPENT -of tolerating Jezebel-type teaching that lead people astray into immorality and idolatry. EX-modern day movement of perverting God’s grace into a license to sin (yes Jesus forgives sin but He does NOT want us to continue in sin) 2. STRENGTHEN -Holding fast to God’s Kingdom NT teachings and keep His deeds firm until the end. 3. REWARD -Rev. 2:26-29 He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star (life with Jesus Christ forever). 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ E. Message to the Church of Sardis (for sake of time do not read) 1. REPENT Rev. 3:2-3 Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.3 So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 2. STRENGTHEN -Not “soiling our garments” with sin/evil worldly living. 3. REWARD -Rev. 3:5 He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. EX-sin can take us downhill so low that we actually reject Jesus. F. Message to the Church of Philadelphia 1. REPENT (skip – for time’s sake) 2-3. STREGNTHEN & REWARD (listen to verses)(Jack reads in Mandarin) -Revelation 3:10-13 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ F. Message to the Church of Laodicea 1. REPENT -Rev. 3:15-17 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 2. STRENGTHEN -Rev. 3:18-19 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore, be zealous and repent. 3. REWARD -Rev. 3:20-21 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Conclusion: -My notes are on the TCA website. -Take them in your own private time with God and work through them with God. = GREAT BLESSING & REWARD Invitation: -All stand -If you want to, in your heart agree with me: “God we repent for choosing to live for selfish pleasures. We ask You, God, to build into our lives the mind-set of doing everything for what glorifies You the most. God this is impossible for us but very possible for You. Please transform us this way, in Jesus Christ’s Name we pray. (Optional if time – Pray Rev. 3:18 – 3 points)