LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Open Door Policy”
Revelation 3:7-13
9/13/20
Last week, talked about vision John had of X: remember, all about him
X appeared to John for reason: give message to 7 churches of Asia
not continent, but province of Roman Empire: western end of Anatolia/Turkey
fairly prosperous region, thrived under Roman governance, happy to have them
X had message for each church, how to be faithful in circumstances
can teach us how to be faithful too
Seven letters (remember: 7 is number of perfection) follow tight pattern
“To the angel of ___”: technically, letter not to church, but to its “angel”
guardian angel of church, and/or spiritual essence of church
no clear line between human/physical & spiritual world like we think there is
interesting to consider what “angel” of OU is like
“These are the words of ___:” pull aspect of X’s description in Ch 1
reminder of who X is, perhaps highlight aspect most relevant for them
“I know your deeds:” praise for what church is doing well
“Yet/Nevertheless:” exhortation to improve/reform/repent
“To the one who is victorious:” promise of blessing
preview of description of life in glory that will come toward end of book
“victorious:” remember that Xn life is more than journey, but struggle
against own recalcitrance, but also forces & beings in opposition to X’s authority
seek to undermine & destroy our efforts in his name
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches”
echoes Jesus several times in gospels “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
might think “we all have ears, so we can all hear”
but not a given that our ears, our spiritual ears, can hear
so if you are blessed w/ hearing ears, use them!
Pattern can be seen by exceptions: eg Laodicea no praise: X really upset!
Philly (looking at today): no correction, only praise
hard for western PA’ns to hear praise for Philly!
Description of X: the one who holds the key of David
reminder from Ch 1 description: “I hold the keys of death and Hades”
no one can open what he shuts, no one can shut what he opens
relevant for Philly: “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”
Remarked in past about how rich w. meaning Bible is: more than one at same time
encountered that w/ this promise: have opened door no one can shut
as I studied & prayed over, open door to follow X where he leads us
have to decide: am I willing to walk through it?
going through X’s open door is risky & dangerous
no idea what’s on other side
many examples of people who did: difficult lives, even martyred
have to leave what’s familiar & predictable
even if living in damp dark cave, it’s the cave you know
sometimes act like butterflies who don’t want to leave cocoon
old Irish proverb: “better the devil you know….”
but going through X’s open door also an opportunity
leave miserable place where you are now, that sucks life out of soul
no idea where going, but confident beyond wildest dreams
draws you closer to X, whom meet on other side: source of life
promise to be exempt from hour of trial” coming upon world
Seemed like could preach nice sermon on this message: then did my research
completely different understanding of open door in front of Philadelphians!
door open not just for us to exp blessing of God, but to take part in work he is doing
door X opened was opportunity for evang & mission
like Paul wrote about: 1 Cor 16:9, 2 Cor 2:12, Col 4:3
Philly: gateway city for travel & commerce into inland areas
perfect place to spread news of JX: love, salvation, new life
“key of David:” ref Eliakim from OT: steward/custodian of king’s household
Is 22: God promised “key to the house of David” to him
controlled ability of people to enter king’s presence
key we carry is gospel message, which opens door for people to enter X’s presence
as Ps 84 puts it, blessed to be doorkeeper in house of our God
to be able swing doors wide open for others to exp life w/ X
in other words: door X holds open isn’t just for us to pass through
but for us to invite others to enter as well
what doors/opportunities is God opening for you to share news?
what door is open to us during the pandemic?
are you going to use to invite others into life & love of X?
Contrast of current situation w/ promise of going through open door (v 8): “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word & have not denied my name.”
X’s message for small church, doesn’t think can do much
compare OU w/ Family Victory, eg: easy to think have “little strength”
but as we keep his word, uphold his name, God opens door for us to do his work
promise will become pillar in temple of God
pillar: support, steadiness, permanence
not so weak & insignificant after all!
but also monument: “testifies” to whomever it monumentalizes
eg grave monument: remind/tell world of person buried there
civic & nat’l monuments: call attn to person, consider to be important
in this sense, we are “monuments” to X: call attn to him
Also promise to “keep” Philly in hour of trial: not to remove, but protect/keep watch over
in face of spiritual struggle, if God opens door for gospel to come to someone
(or entire group of people), not even Satan can prevent it from happening
Revelation 3:7-13
9/13/20
Last week, talked about vision John had of X: remember, all about him
X appeared to John for reason: give message to 7 churches of Asia
not continent, but province of Roman Empire: western end of Anatolia/Turkey
fairly prosperous region, thrived under Roman governance, happy to have them
X had message for each church, how to be faithful in circumstances
can teach us how to be faithful too
Seven letters (remember: 7 is number of perfection) follow tight pattern
“To the angel of ___”: technically, letter not to church, but to its “angel”
guardian angel of church, and/or spiritual essence of church
no clear line between human/physical & spiritual world like we think there is
interesting to consider what “angel” of OU is like
“These are the words of ___:” pull aspect of X’s description in Ch 1
reminder of who X is, perhaps highlight aspect most relevant for them
“I know your deeds:” praise for what church is doing well
“Yet/Nevertheless:” exhortation to improve/reform/repent
“To the one who is victorious:” promise of blessing
preview of description of life in glory that will come toward end of book
“victorious:” remember that Xn life is more than journey, but struggle
against own recalcitrance, but also forces & beings in opposition to X’s authority
seek to undermine & destroy our efforts in his name
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches”
echoes Jesus several times in gospels “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
might think “we all have ears, so we can all hear”
but not a given that our ears, our spiritual ears, can hear
so if you are blessed w/ hearing ears, use them!
Pattern can be seen by exceptions: eg Laodicea no praise: X really upset!
Philly (looking at today): no correction, only praise
hard for western PA’ns to hear praise for Philly!
Description of X: the one who holds the key of David
reminder from Ch 1 description: “I hold the keys of death and Hades”
no one can open what he shuts, no one can shut what he opens
relevant for Philly: “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”
Remarked in past about how rich w. meaning Bible is: more than one at same time
encountered that w/ this promise: have opened door no one can shut
as I studied & prayed over, open door to follow X where he leads us
have to decide: am I willing to walk through it?
going through X’s open door is risky & dangerous
no idea what’s on other side
many examples of people who did: difficult lives, even martyred
have to leave what’s familiar & predictable
even if living in damp dark cave, it’s the cave you know
sometimes act like butterflies who don’t want to leave cocoon
old Irish proverb: “better the devil you know….”
but going through X’s open door also an opportunity
leave miserable place where you are now, that sucks life out of soul
no idea where going, but confident beyond wildest dreams
draws you closer to X, whom meet on other side: source of life
promise to be exempt from hour of trial” coming upon world
Seemed like could preach nice sermon on this message: then did my research
completely different understanding of open door in front of Philadelphians!
door open not just for us to exp blessing of God, but to take part in work he is doing
door X opened was opportunity for evang & mission
like Paul wrote about: 1 Cor 16:9, 2 Cor 2:12, Col 4:3
Philly: gateway city for travel & commerce into inland areas
perfect place to spread news of JX: love, salvation, new life
“key of David:” ref Eliakim from OT: steward/custodian of king’s household
Is 22: God promised “key to the house of David” to him
controlled ability of people to enter king’s presence
key we carry is gospel message, which opens door for people to enter X’s presence
as Ps 84 puts it, blessed to be doorkeeper in house of our God
to be able swing doors wide open for others to exp life w/ X
in other words: door X holds open isn’t just for us to pass through
but for us to invite others to enter as well
what doors/opportunities is God opening for you to share news?
what door is open to us during the pandemic?
are you going to use to invite others into life & love of X?
Contrast of current situation w/ promise of going through open door (v 8): “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word & have not denied my name.”
X’s message for small church, doesn’t think can do much
compare OU w/ Family Victory, eg: easy to think have “little strength”
but as we keep his word, uphold his name, God opens door for us to do his work
promise will become pillar in temple of God
pillar: support, steadiness, permanence
not so weak & insignificant after all!
but also monument: “testifies” to whomever it monumentalizes
eg grave monument: remind/tell world of person buried there
civic & nat’l monuments: call attn to person, consider to be important
in this sense, we are “monuments” to X: call attn to him
Also promise to “keep” Philly in hour of trial: not to remove, but protect/keep watch over
in face of spiritual struggle, if God opens door for gospel to come to someone
(or entire group of people), not even Satan can prevent it from happening
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com