"RENOVATION PART II --
RENEWAL DAY BY DAY"

Reve 1:10-20 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, 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. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And 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. His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

2Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day.

• Jesus told John to write a message to each of the seven churches in Asia Minor.
• Each letter included one of the descriptions seen in chapter 1.
• John was in the Spirit.
• So he saw things SPIRITUAL.
• In REVELATORY fashion.

First thing John saw when turned to see the voice of Jesus were CANDLESTICKS.

• Verse 20 says the candlesticks were symbolic of the seven churches.
• The candlesticks were the MENORAH.
• Seven-branched Candlestick.

• Candlesticks made are like branches shooing out from the lampstand.
• And the branches were formed in the shape of almond branches.

Jesus is in the midst of the candlesticks.

• Superimpose a picture of the candlestick over Jesus and you see the idea.
• Branches
• Compare this with His words:

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We are His extension.

John heard a voice and saw candlesticks.

• Jesus showed John that He speaks through the Churches.
• He is in the midst.
• They are extensions of Himself.

Seven stars in His right hand

• These stars are said to be the angels of the seven churches.
• The preachers.
• Lights
• Fires.

The church is a candlestick with a ministry that lightens darkness with light!
Jesus said "I am the light of the world."

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Then He said....

Matt 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

We are extensions of Jesus Christ.
The ministry of this church lightens this city!

• John fell down as though dead when He saw Jesus.
• But Jesus laid His right hand upon John and said, "Fear not."
• The same hand that held the stars.
• The ministry is in His right hand.
• He comforts with His ministry.
• His right hand of POWER is upon the ministry.
• Ministers are instruments of His righteousness.
• They speak His word.
• They are His mouthpiece.

He writes letters to the churches.

• First is to Ephesus.
• He introduces Himself as the one who holds the seven stars in His hand and walks amidst the candlesticks.
• Talks to the preacher.
• To the angel (messenger).
• The preacher must correct a problem here through the word.
• Their problem was losing their first love.
• But the reward of the overcomer in Ephesus is to eat of the tree of Life in the paradise of God.

First, He shows himself as amidst the candlesticks looking like a tree.

• He is the Vine, the churches/candlesticks are the branches.
• And the seven stars in His hand are the ministers.
• Like fruit on the branches, ministers are in His hands.
• As candlestick upholds the fire, branches hold the fruit.
• The ministers preach what we need to "eat" to gain eternal life.
• Ministers preached the word, bread of life.
• Jesus holds the ministers.
• Without Him we can do nothing.
• He is the source.
• The vine.
• The power.

Then we read the overcomers will eat of the tree of life!
Notice the sequence of thought.

• Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, making one great Tree of Life.
• The ministry is the fruit of life.
• Feeding souls the eternal life of God's word.

• Why?
• To begin the work to fix up a ruined world (See Renovation part I).

Somehow the first day of Genesis parallels the first church listed in Revelation 2.

• Seven churches.
• Seven days (do some homework and notice the parallel).
• Last day of Rest - seventh church overcomers will SIT WITH HIM in His throne.

Psal 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Psal 104:2 Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
Psal 104:3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
Psal 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
Psal 104:5 [Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever.

• Get the foundation underneath us first so we can remain standing.
• It connects LIGHT with HIS ANGELS or MINISTERS who are FLAMES OF FIRE.
• Exactly the picture of Revelation.
• He held the seven flames in His right hand.

2Cor 3:3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Preachers minister God's Spirit into the hearts of believers.

In the next chapter of 2 Cor., God has Genesis in mind when he speaks of ministry.

2Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

• Ministers preach the Word and our hearts believe it, and it is like LIGHT shining out of darkness. Paul said that God, WHO COMMANDED THE LIGHT TO SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS. This is a reference to Genesis and "Let there be light."
• John saw candlesticks when He heard the voice of Jesus.
• LIGHTS were on the candles.
• FLAMES.
• and the flames were the ANGELS -- preachers.
• John saw a symbol of preachers preaching the LIGHT of the word.
• THAT IS WHERE JOHN HEARD JESUS' VOICE COME FROM.
• And this LIGHT is referred to as MINISTRY in 2 Cor. 3.

Genesis 1 shows a picture of God giving the Gospel to man.
The end result is that man is made in God's IMAGE!

2Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Jesus is the image of God, and the Gospel is preached as it were LIGHT.
Word preached by ministers.

2Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

If Jesus is the image of God (2 Cor 4:5), and we have the light of ministry preached to our hearts, and we are thereby changed into the same IMAGE, then were are changed into the IMAGE OF GOD by hearing and believing the preaching.

Back to Psalm 104.

Psal 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

All is done by His Spirit.

• The FACE of the earth is renewed.
• The Spirit moved upon the FACE of the deep.
• With OPEN FACE we behold the glory and are changed into the same image.
• The terms of 2 Cor 3 and 2 Cor 4 are identical to Genesis 1.

Gene 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

2Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Both are done by the SPIRIT.

2Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

• David prays after his sin.
• Like all sinners can do, David cried to God.

Psal 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

CREATE... and RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT...

• CREATE and RENEW.
• Same TWO THINGS God did with the world.

Psal 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

Paul says something interesting about mankind.

1Cor 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover [his] head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

• Man is the image and the glory of God.
• In Genesis, God made man in His image as crowning end to His great work.
• Psalm 104 speaks of this creation.
• Uses the same words CREATE and RENEW as David asked God to do with him.
• Paul said that MAN is the glory of God.
• Psalm 104 said:

Psal 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Psal 104:31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
Psal 104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
Psal 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Psal 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Psal 104:35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

DID DAVID THINK OF THE ACTUAL MESSAGE IN GENESIS 1, AS WE ARE TONIGHT, WHEN HE WROTE THAT?
A message of Man's renewal and return to God's image?

• "The glory of the Lord shall endure forever!"
• God will make man in His image.
• And that which is allowed to be made so will endure forever.
• God gives us eternal Life!

Man in God's image will endure forever!

• Sinners will be consumed out of the earth.
• The wicked shall be no more.
• But God's glory shall endure forever.
• Again, what is God's glory?
• MANKIND who is returned to His image is His glory.

2Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

In Psalm 104, God rejoices in His works in verse 31.

Ephe 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Back to subject of ministry of Spirit.

2Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.
2Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

• We are changed into His image as we behold the GLORY -- the LIGHT.
• 4:4 says the LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL.
• All is done by the SPIRIT.
• Let the Spirit here tonight CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
• Let it baptize you with its infilling of the Holy Ghost.
• Let it bring you back to God's glory and image.
• Be changed into the same image from glory to glory.

Psal 104:32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

• His touch brings smoke of anointing glory into our lives.
• The glory of God was often seen as a cloud -- smoke.
• His glory "filled" the temple as He "fills" us with His Spirit.

1Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Exod 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

1Kin 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

• God ministers righteousness into you.
• As renewed the earth (Psalm 104:30), He renews you.

Genesis saw Six Days of renewal.
"rebuild: Renew, repair."

2Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day

• DAY BY DAY
• Genesis' SIX DAYS!
• Paul had that in mind.

His Spirit created and renewed the world.

2Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

His Spirit can do more in five seconds than man can do in five years.

The ministers are in His hand.

2Cor 5:18 And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Preachers have the honour of ministering truth and the way ofd reconciliation.

2Cor 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

• We are extensions of God.
• He is doing it by us.

2Cor 6:1 We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

• The ministers are His flames of fire.
• The lights of the candlesticks.
• The stars.
• His right hand.

• Overcomers have the right to eat of the tree of life.
• Feast on His word.
• Must overcome the flesh to keep eating.
• Devil wants you to stop getting Spirit in ministry.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.

• Paul ministered Spirit.
• Wisdom of world not work ( 1 Cor 1:21).

• Where did John see the source of the voice?
• In the midst of the candlesticks -- churches.
• His words are spoken through the church.
• Let the light shine on your heart.
• Turn your heart to Him.
• Let it shine on YOU.
• Obey the word of God preached to you.

Roma 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

• What a wondrous change will occur in you.
• As he creates a new heart in you and renews a right spirit by the ministration of righteousness.

2Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

This is spoken of after Paul discusses the ministration of righteousness in 2 Cor 3.

Righteousness and light.

• Gospel shines in your darkened heart.
• God sets to work and forms you into the crowning result of His image.
• His revelation continues through our lives.
• Through the CHURCH, Jesus is revealed.
• THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
• Sons of God, like Adam.
• Made unto what God originally made Adam like.

Reve 10:1-2 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and [his] left [foot] on the earth,

Reve 10:8-11 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go [and] take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take [it], and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Let this PROPHECY I have preached to you shine on your hearts and create in you and renew in you HIS IMAGE!