Heaven Is Real
Life 1.0
SUMMARY
WE ARE THE CHURCH
When we begin to look at the seven churches described in the Book of Revelation, we discover specific demonic strongholds that can be found in church (you and me).
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Spirit of Religion (Revelation 2:4–5, 7)
The church at Ephesus had “left their first love” (Rev. 2:4). They were doctrinally sound and had everything in order but they had lost their passion for God. When you turn to Acts 19 to look at “first works” and “first love” you discover an astounding truth..
On fire at the start…
The very things you did at the start have become a bind, a practice…
Now blind to spiritual things, we grind out our religious activities and traditions with no transforming power.
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Spirit of Intimidation (Revelation 2:10–11)
Smyrna – Satan tries to strike fear in the hearts of believers by sending intimidation to frighten us away from faithfulness to God and His Word. Remember Simon Peter warming himself by the enemy’s fire on the night of Jesus’ arrest? This faithful disciple was intimidated by his surroundings and the questioning voice of a little servant girl. Today christians have become silent and cowed down before the world and its governments.
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Spirit of Compromise (Revelation 2:12, 14–17)
Pergamos – The city had a “pet” god in Asklepion, an idol symbolized by a snake who called himself a savior. They believed that their god incarnated into the area snakes, so serpents were allowed to slither freely around the temple. Those who desired healing spent the night in the darkness of the temple, hoping a snake would crawl over them. The city was an outpost to Greek civilization and was home to the temples of many other deities.
Prescription: ACCEPT GRACE AND LOVE GRACE’S PATH
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Spirit of Jezebel (Control) (Revelation 2:18-20, 26)
Thyatira – Surrender to no one…
Control comes from hurt…
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Spirit of Traditionalism (Revelation 3:1–6)
Sardis – I have always done it this way and it works for me…
Traditions and mans rituals and rights…
Resistance to change – resist the Holy Spirit
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Spirit of Inferiority (Revelation 3:7–8, 12)
Philadelphia – He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will write on him My new name” (Rev. 3:10–12).
Too many individuals use their supposed weakness as an excuse for failing to advance the cause of Christ.
The answer to our inferiority is His superiority! It is not in trying harder, but in trusting wholly that His work is accomplished.
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Spirit of Pride (Revelation 3:14–17, 21)
Laodicia – Boastfulness brings about mediocrity – its about what you have ALREADY done!
“Frozen in apathy nor fervent with passion…”
Repulsive to Jesus
Pride in what you have accomplished not what Christ has accomplished in you!
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HEAVEN IS REAL
FEAR NOT!
Revelation 1:17-18
When I saw him, I fell down at his feet as good as dead,[a] but he laid his right hand on me[ and I heard his reassuring voice saying:
Don’t yield to fear. I am the Beginning and I am the End, 18 the Living One! I was dead, but now look—I am alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys that unlock death and the unseen world.
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Revelation first reveals the church when it has lost its Christ Purpose…
But then it goes on to show and unveil Christ.
When it unveils Christ it also unveils those with Him.
To receive a revelation of Jesus – the head of the body is to receive a revelation of the body.
When he is unveiled, we are unveiled, for we are one with him in his glory.
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Ephesians 1:22-23 The Passion Translation (TPT)
22 And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ[a] and has given him the highest rank above all others. 23 And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it…
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Colossians 3:4 The Passion Translation (TPT)
And as Christ himself is seen for who he really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with him in his glory!
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Revelation
Revelation is not something that can be described – it must be discovered.
Revelation is the unique deposit of the fullness of every truth in scriptures wrapped up in the person and glory of Jesus Christ.