Gateway Visalia
Dear Church
Pastor Lance Ainsworth Revelation 2:8-17 August 15th & 18th, 2024 A New Name
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM
Sunday 11:30 AM
Introduction
Revelation 2:8-17 NASB
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
To the church of Smyrna (images), from Jesus.
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’
In suffering, Jesus says, “I know, fear not, trust me.”
“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me know wrong: how then can I blaspheme my King?” Polycarp
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
To the church of Pergamum (images), from Jesus.
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
What I believe matters. How I behave matters. Repentance matters.
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’
White stone – tesserae - Access.
The wedding feast of the lamb, new name.
The wedding feast of the lamb, new name.
Dear Church
Revelation 2:8-17 Pastor Lance Ainsworth
August 15th and 18th, 2024
A New Name
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What’s your favorite Olympic sport to watch?
Read Aloud: Revelation 2:8-17
1. v.9 “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Jesus knows your suffering and your fear. Can we control what we fear? Or do we decide how to deal with fear? Is detachment the antidote to fear? What are the other options? How do we overcome the fear of death?
2. v.13 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” Jesus knows the cultural struggles of our day, and He encourages the church of Pergamum to stand up to persecution. If Satan cannot get us to deny our faith, what does he do next? How do small compromises lead to great disasters? Why did Jesus use Balaam as an example?
3. v.17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.” The white stone represents victory and access to great feasts. Read Revelation 19:7-10. What a celebration! How does Jesus giving us a new name change our perspective of moralism? Have you experienced cognitive dissonance in your life? What changed, behavior or belief?
Revelation 2:8-17 Pastor Lance Ainsworth
August 15th and 18th, 2024
A New Name
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What’s your favorite Olympic sport to watch?
Read Aloud: Revelation 2:8-17
1. v.9 “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” Jesus knows your suffering and your fear. Can we control what we fear? Or do we decide how to deal with fear? Is detachment the antidote to fear? What are the other options? How do we overcome the fear of death?
2. v.13 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” Jesus knows the cultural struggles of our day, and He encourages the church of Pergamum to stand up to persecution. If Satan cannot get us to deny our faith, what does he do next? How do small compromises lead to great disasters? Why did Jesus use Balaam as an example?
3. v.17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.” The white stone represents victory and access to great feasts. Read Revelation 19:7-10. What a celebration! How does Jesus giving us a new name change our perspective of moralism? Have you experienced cognitive dissonance in your life? What changed, behavior or belief?