The Eighth Letter
Pastor Erickson preaches from Revelation 1 and the letters to the seven churches, imagining what Jesus might write in an eighth letter to the church in America as the nation nears its 250th year. He reminds believers that God sees their faithful labor and that much is required of those given much, and he calls the church to examine its heart, guard the truth, refuse to be lukewarm and open the door to Jesus.
The message in 6 points
What would Jesus say to the church
He reads John's vision of Jesus among the seven golden candlesticks, Luke 12:48 and Revelation 3:20, and asks what Jesus would say to the apostolic church in America if he wrote one more letter.
1:31:25Grateful for the gift of freedom
As the nation nears 250 years, he thanks God for the freedom to worship without fear and for the missionaries and Bibles sent around the world. He warns from James 1:17 that when gratitude fades, entitlement quietly takes its place.
1:35:52Time for a self inventory
Turning 50 made him ask where he has been and where he is going. Darkness in the culture shows how badly this generation needs the light, and Jesus wrote to his church, not to Caesar, because revival starts when God's people let him search them first.
1:42:29Seven letters, one lesson
He walks through the churches of Revelation: Ephesus left its first love, Smyrna stayed faithful in suffering, Pergamos let compromise in a little at a time, Thyatira tolerated what it should have confronted, Sardis lived on a reputation, Philadelphia passed the test and Laodicea grew comfortable and spiritually poor. In every letter Jesus praises what is right, corrects what is wrong and offers hope.
1:49:17An imagined eighth letter
He imagines Jesus telling the church in America that he knows its prayers, its preachers and its faithful saints, and that no labor goes unnoticed. Then comes the warning: much is required of those given much, so do not let blessing replace dependence or comfort weaken consecration.
1:59:30Open the door and respond
Revelation 3:20 was written to believers, an invitation to a two way relationship with a God who knows us by name. He asks what kind of church our children will inherit, reminds the church that God has already written all it needs in his Word, and calls everyone to the altar to refuse lukewarmness and ask God to search them.
2:09:40
In his words
“Revival has never started by fixing the world. Revival has always started when God's people allow him to search them first.”
“Don't ever believe the lie that your labor goes unnoticed. Jesus sees what nobody else sees. He remembers what everybody else forgets.”
“We don't actually need an eighth letter because God's already written to the church. 66 books, Genesis to Revelations. We already have everything we need to be successful in the kingdom of God.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Revelation 1:10-13
10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
King James Version.
Revelation 3:20
20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
King James Version.
James 1:17
17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
King James Version.
Matthew 5:14
14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
King James Version.
2 Corinthians 13:5
5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
King James Version.
Romans 12:2
2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
King James Version.
2 Timothy 3:5
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
King James Version.
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