Grateful Fool?

For Those of us Who Feel Unworthy

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

This letter began, “I Paul, invited to be an Apostle, by the foreknowledge of God…”  He did not consider himself to be worthy.  If you doubt that, simply read Romans 7:7-24 or 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.  Paul always felt inadequate for the task he was assigned.  His life journey took him from a prideful Pharisee, to nearly despairing of ever being worthy, to final acceptance of his total unsuitability for the position…BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD.  There are two types of Christians who cause me to shake my head.  One is always frustrated by the flaws and mistakes of others and gives no allowance of their human weakness and is apparently unaware of his own.  The other simply says, “Nobody can live this life so they shouldn’t even try.  God will accept us as we are because we can’t succeed anyway.” 

Both of these attitudes are wrong.  First of all, it is not our responsibility to judge others in their walk with God.  True, we should be teachers and encouragers along life’s road.  Scripture says, “reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2).  It also says that we ought to be workmen who need not be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).  We are not worthy but we still ought to help one another make it and live as perfectly by His Word as we can and not as we might want.

People who allegorize and rationalize scripture miss one very important part of it.  God wants to be involved in our lives. He wants to make Himself known and real.  The fact that we so rarely see that sort of thing in our lives is due to our attitude and level of surrender and not to His willingness.  The cross of Christ should have GREAT effect.  It should deliver and move us powerfully.  Drug addicts should be set free and those destroyed by the ravages of a life of sin should be raised up.  In other words; the Gospel of Jesus Christ is actually supposed to work without fancy words and fair speeches (Romans 16:18).

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

If you don’t think that most unsaved people think we’re fools or insane, just read the responses they put in the comment sections of most articles on Christian lifestyle.  We Christians appear to come off somewhere between Jack the Ripper and Isis.  They certainly lump us together with the latter and say that all religions are like that.  The actual doctrine of our faith does not matter a bit to their ‘version’ of the truth. 

As I said in the section above, the word of God should flow with the miracle working power of God.  If it does not then our walk with God needs some serious growth.  The Word is pretty specific about what we ought to be able to accomplish in Christ.  “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:16-18).”  I don’t say that taking up serpents or drinking poison is something we are to do as an act of faith, but if it happens we are bitten or accidentally drink such things, we should survive.”

1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

People who call us deluded fools are not stupid or unthinking.  If anything they are thinking so much that they are unable to think further than the world around us and into the world that actually created that world.  I suppose they would tell you that they believe in what they can see and not a fairy tale.  The trouble with this literal “what you see is what you get” attitude is that this world which we live in is more empty space than solid reality.  The very atoms that make up your being are mostly empty space.  The only truly ‘real’ part of our makeup is spirit, which is why Jesus says, “We must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24, 14:16-17, 1 John 5:6).” 

The word for truth is aletheia and means the certainty of reality.  We can live and reproduce and create beautiful things and yet the reality of life is beyond what we see and smell and taste and touch.  We are a spirit.  It is the only eternal part of what we are.  It is also why those who become overwhelmed by the difficulties of life and horrors of their treatment by their fellow man do not help themselves by committing suicide.  Death in the service of God leads to life but death in the hopes of escaping judgment leads only to eternal torment.  God’s great gift is eternity and it is also His great curse.  In those who live for Him it is a gift.  In those who live for themselves and live only in this mortal body it is a curse because judgment will never end.

One of the greatest problems mankind faces is anger in the face of wounded feelings.  Many Christians are not well trained or sufficiently disciplined.  If they were then they would not attack those living in sin but would rather comfort them with the words of truth and love and deliverance.  Because we often react in fear – perhaps thinking we ought to protect our God – we hurl insults toward sinners rather than words of love and grace.  Scripture says that grace and truth came from Jesus (John 1:16).  Because we fail to give grace (unmerited favor) to those in sin, they are filled with anger.  This anger drives them into a desire to attack us intellectually. 

These are not stupid people.  They are thinking and reasoning and often have a wisdom of natural things that exceeds our own.  You cannot win them by declaring the anger of God when they cannot even see God.  You must win them with love and grace and truth.  Those attributes will ultimately bring the real changing force of God…power.  The power of God ought to reside in us and flow through us.  If it does not then the fault does not rest in God or the sinners, but in us.

1 Corinthians 1:20 AMP Where is the wise man and the philosopher? Where is the scribe and the scholar? Where is the investigator, the logician and the debater of this present time and age? Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this world’s wisdom?

One of the greatest frustrations of the modern scientists is the discovery of the Big Bang creation of the universe.  Far from being an attack against Christianity it makes you see even more the wonder of God.  Chuck Missler said in one of his teachings, “First there was NOTHING and then it exploded.”  As God says in verse 20, “Where is your wisdom wise man?  How is it that your knowledge ends so quickly scholar?  Can you answer the same questions I asked of Job?  Well??

Psalm 19 says, “1 THE HEAVENS declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. 2 Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor spoken word from the stars; their voice is not heard. 4 Yet their voice by evidence goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world. Of the heavens has God made a tent for the sun…”  God declares that the universe displays his handiwork and without words speaks powerful volumes of the greatness of God. 

The end of verse 4 says, “God has made the heavens a tent for our sun.”  We try to say that those who wrote scripture were ignorant savages with no knowledge of the universe around them but in reality they knew more in many areas than a modern scientist.  The writers knew the world was round like a ball.  Later people who ignored scripture thought it to be flat.  We have spent thousands of years relearning knowledge contained in the writings of scripture.  No religion on earth has more scientific truth than the Bible.  In verse 20, God is throwing down the gauntlet and saying, “If you think you’re so smart…prove it to me!”  Christians and Jews should never fear for the honor of God’s word.  He will always perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).

1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Consider a being greater in size and might than the entire known or unknown universe.  He observes the antics of a small backward planet in a corner of a single galaxy that HE created and hears their arrogant statement that “there is no God!”  Since their small, nearsighted myopic vision has so amused Him He has decided to win souls and save them by the simple expedient of having someone tell a story of love.  What a God.  No arrogance.  Just calm assurance of who He is.

It’s not the people who mock God that bother me since God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7).  He made us eternal beings and promised us glory and wonders if we serve Him and live for Him.  What bothers me is those who deliberately lie for the purpose of proving a theory that they KNOW is unprovable, that they hold onto evolution as the holy grail of their religion.  They accuse us of this all the time and while much of what we believe must be understood by faith, most of it is provably scientifically accurate.  This is more than can be proved in many of Science’s claims.

For this reason, God has not chosen to argue or greatly dispute with the world, but to offer in as simple a manner as possible His grace and love.  Come who will, God is offering His heart and strength to any who will trust, believe and obey.  It’s not our responsibility as Christians to defend God’s Word.  It is our responsibility to live it, model it and tell it to the world.  It is God’s business to empower it and bring it to pass.  What a marvelous division of labor.

1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The requested questions in verse 22 are, “Lord, show us a miracle and we will believe,” or “Lord, explain your rationale for what you have done and why and we will believe.”  His answer is, “Thus saith the Lord.”  His examples were the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as seen by hundreds of witnesses.  The reaction of others is, “That was then, show me now,” and “Why blood, why propitiation, why sanctification?  Just tell me how everything works.”

Instead of that answer He replies, “It works because I sent my Word and Spirit and they make it work (Psalm 107:20).  It works because I sent my love and that is why it works (John 5:38-39).  It works because I am the Lord thy God and that is why it works.  It works because it cannot help but work.  My Word Works. 

1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

I’ve spent a day thinking about this verse.  The foolishness of God is wiser than men…period.  The weakness of God is stronger than men…period.  The word for foolishness is “moros” from which we get moron, idiot, stupid.  I have a problem with the idea that God should have a moment of stupidity.  God is not smart, or dumb, or brilliant, or clever.  GOD IS.  We consider a scientist to be brilliant if he is able to figure out how atoms work or how to make a GPS understand where we are on the earth, but God knows where every atom is and how it interacts with every other atom in the universe.  Is He smarter or does He simply know everything? 

He has no age because He is outside of time.  His brilliance is absolute because there is no knowledge that did not come from Him.  Did He calculate the gravitational field of each planet and star or is it just in Him to know.  Does God have a foolish side.  Perhaps that is why there are platypuses, giraffes and mankind.  God just had a moment of whimsy.  The point is that God is greater than any thought we ever might have.  We cannot outgrow Him or become more advanced or smarter than Him.  Scripture says that in the end time the kings of the earth will make war on God (Revelation 19:19-20).  Is it possible that they will believe they have found a way to destroy Him or are they just seeking Israel’s destruction? 

My point is, God is waiting on them to do their worst.  He is already there, at the time, date and place of this great battle.  HE has already fought it in OUR future.  There is no thought you can have that He does not already know.  There is no idea you can come up with but that it came from Him.  There is no hope without Him and no future if He does not allow it.  This is the great God we serve and we do not need to protect Him from any spirit or natural person.  He knows altogether.

1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

First God says that he uses the foolish things of the world and the weak things of the world to confound the wise and then in verse 26 it says that the CALLED (that would be us saved people) are those who are foolish and not noble.  God didn’t call us because we were so noble or righteous or strong.  God called us because we were weak but willing, foolish but faithful.  We should never think more highly of ourselves than we ought to.  We are not the blue bloods of aristocracy but the blue collar workers of the spiritual universe.  God uses us and loves us because we are absolutely without merit apart from His desire to bestow His love and grace upon us.  We call a dog with several different breeds in it a mutt.  We are the mutts of the world, perhaps of the universe.  We can be loveable or vicious.  The choice is ours and the answer is His.

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

We often forget that God is so HOLY and POWERFUL that in our absolute best we are filthy prideful weaklings.  From the most powerful king or potentate to the poorest slave on the planet, none are worthy of God and His love.  For this reason God has chosen to reach those kings and potentates with a word from someone God has emptied of all their worldly value and filled them with His power and ability.  When the two witnesses come and men try many times to kill them they will walk unopposed until the moment that GOD has chosen to allow their death.  The whole earth will rejoice at their temporary destruction (Revelation 11:3-12).  These two witnesses are only ordinary souls but in the kingdom of God they are extraordinary, unstoppable and miraculous.

1 Corinthians 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

We in Christ are rarely the most highly taught or educated.  We study scripture and believe it’s words.  No man or woman can know or fully understand all of God’s Word.  The greatest scholars have barely scratched the surface of its wonder.  God does not choose to keep us ignorant though.  Just the opposite.  He tells us to study to show ourselves as a workman, proved by action and power to serve the kingdom of God.  It is not so much as a lack of desire to fully know God’s Word as it is a lack of ability.  His Word is perfect, flawless and alive.  His Word is light and life and the names of all who die in Christ are written therein.  If you can fully know and understand God then you can fully know and understand His Word. 

No, God does not want us ignorant (Romans 1:13, 1 Corinthians 12:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:13), but He is fully aware that we are unable to live by His Word without mistake.  When we stumble along at our very best and if all things work together for our good it is because He has made it so (Romans 8:28).  Have you ever seen preachers or Christians patting themselves on the back for their holiness and goodness?  Thankfully I have not seen it very often.  I’ve had people tell me, “You’re humble,” as if it is a curse for a Christian minister to be humble.  Perhaps I should wave my title around and see if anyone will fall prostrate on the ground before me.  Probably not the best idea because I can mess up with the best of them.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

I have more than a few times received a check from someone totally unexpected at the exact moment when I really needed a financial blessing.  I very rarely ask anyone for financial help.  It’s not that there aren’t those who would be willing to help me or bless me but because if I look to others for that help then where will God come in.  When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were attacked and defeated, and with them Lot, Abraham went to their defense (Genesis 14).  With three hundred eighteen warriors of his own house he defeated the kings that had defeated the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah.  What a marvelous display of faith.

When he came back with all the wealth of those two cities, the priest king of Salem (JeruSALEM) Melchizedek, came out with bread and wine and Abraham paid tithes to him.  After this, the king of Sodom came to Abraham and said, “Give us the living people you have rescued and keep all the wealth of Sodom for yourself.”  Abraham’s statement reminds me that my wealth or lack of it comes from God and not man.  He told the king of Sodom, “I won’t even take so much as a single thread of a single shoelace.  I will not have anyone say that a man made Abraham rich, but God only (Genesis 14:23).  He allowed his men who fought for him to receive their portion, but would not touch it himself.

GOD IS our righteousness and sanctification and wisdom and redemption.  Without Him I am a blind beggar without future or hope.  Christ’s blood gives me redemption and righteousness before God.  His Word sanctifies me and gives me wisdom.  With these things in my life, I can do all things.  As is often sung in the old gospel song, “Without Him, I can do nothing.  Without Him, I would fail.  Without Him, I would be drifting; like a ship…without…a sail.”  People who always say, “I need,” or “give me” will never discover the joy of God truly becoming their portion.  Do you need money?  God is your portion.  Do you need hope?  God is your portion.  Do you need anything at all?  God is your portion.  When Moses asked God, “Who shall I say sent me?”  God said, “I AM.”  I AM your portion.  If you want to brag or strut or talk big, brag about God.  Tell everyone, “My God is bigger than your God.  My God is better than your God.  My God is badder than your God!  My God can beat your God up!”  Strut that!

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

I could have kept these two verses separate but I decided at the last moment to put them together.  What is it that makes a religion?  People worship animals or planets or suns or other inanimate things.  They have no life within themselves.  They are props for this life we live and that is all.  Personally, there are three things that really keep me serving God.  The first is a future.  If I died tomorrow and my life just ended then what does it matter how I live this life.  Paul said, “If there is no salvation to be had, no eternal life, then we Christians of all men are the most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19). 

Who wants to live holy and righteous and always do the right thing even when it hurts?  This is a fallen world.  The greatest fun you can do in these bodies is to live as many do, in sin.  It’s not that some wouldn’t choose to live lives of nobility and love even without God, but not many would.  The truth is, only God gives us a true reason for the way we live and that we are willing to give our lives to live this way.  Scripture says in many places that sacrificing ones self  for the common good is not a natural inclination, but a spiritual one.  The echo of Christ’s sacrifice for us touches the whole earth and is birthed in many hearts, not just the born again.  Satan’s heart is to kill steal and destroy (John 10:10).  God on the other hand so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so nobody had to perish. 

The second thing that keeps me serving God is prophecy.  God’s word contains thousands of prophecies.  Most have come true and we are not talking about some misjudged action that was not adequately and correctly interpreted.  We are talking about things that could not have come to pass with even a billion to one odds but coming to pass with advance notice.  We’re talking about a God outside of time telling us things that would happen in time but telling us ahead of the time.  This happens with great regularity in scripture and if you listen to His Spirit, in life as well (John 16:13). 

The third thing and the main reason that I came to know the Lord was not for salvation or even for prophecy, though those things have kept me.  The main reason I came to the Lord is that I wanted a better life.  Satan does not promise it.  Man cannot offer it.  We are too greedy, too apt to squabble amongst ourselves and too ready to step on one another to secure our own future.  Those who might have some altruistic attitudes and try to help others often turn bitter and angry when those attitudes are not reciprocated.  None of these things matter to the saints of God (or should not).  We do what we do for Him, not for ourselves.  In return He promises us a great future, either here or in the hereafter.  That was the main reason I came to God, for a life of faith and wonder.

1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Knowing these things, that God desires to live in us and make us strong, powerful, anointed and life changing through our words to others, we are often terrified of failing HIM.  That we fail ourselves is a often daily occurrence.  That we might fail Him is no less frequent an occurrence.  Paul knew the Hebrew scriptures backwards and forwards.  He had it down. Me, like Peter I have a degree in the university of life.  I love God.  I study His Word daily.  I pray about it, agonize over it and grieve for the many hours I wasted when I might have been studying.  PAUL KNEW THE SCRIPTURES!  He knew them and still approached his ministry in weakness, fear and much trembling.

The word for weakness is astheneia and means to be feeble (think elderly or sick almost to death).  Fear is phobos and means the terror of a thing and in this case the thing would be failure.  Paul was terrified he might fail God.  Fear is tromos which means the absolute fear that causes you to shake and tremble.  It is vast dread that you are not good enough.  These are the things that Paul felt in preaching to the church in Corinth.  He absolutely KNEW he was unworthy for the honor and use that God had chosen for his life.  When he was with them they did not see a cocky and arrogant man in complete control.  Paul had one thing going for him though.  He preached the truth and it NEVER failed.

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

I’ve heard preachers preach musically, rhythmically, passionately and with rhyming words.  Paul said he did not speak that way.  This thing he knew; that when he spoke the words and turned them loose on his audience…that audience would never be the same.  Those words were living and powerful and sharper than any two edged Roman sword. 

Our faith cannot stand in the wisdom of men. 

The wisdom of men has men worshipping ancestors, the wisdom of men has you worship beasts and planets.  The wisdom of men will even have you worship NOTHING AT ALL. 

Worship God in the power of His Word and in that alone.  Do not follow fables or imaginative lies.  Follow the truth and the truth will make you free. 

The Seven Churches of Revelation - Philadelphia and Laodicea

Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

What a marvelous name for the Savior of Philadelphia.  He is the Holy and True.  He has the key of David.  In 2 Samuel 7:1-16, God promises David that someone from his line will sit upon the throne of Israel for all time.  This promise appeared to be broken when the Romans stopped the Jews from punishing their own criminals.  In the United States we grow ever weaker as we deny the fundamentals of the faith that made this nation great.  One of those fundamentals was the right to put murderers to death as God has insisted we do. 

When Rome denied Israel that same right the chief priests rent their clothes in horror because it appeared that the Word of God had been broken.  Scripture said that there would never fail to be a son of David on the throne until the Messiah came (Genesis 49:10).  The right to punish criminals is considered to be a central right of all nations.  When people attack this right they fail to realize that they are actually weakening the nation (Numbers 35:30-33).  Scripture says that sin, especially unpunished sin, is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34).  What they did not realize is that in a small village in Judea a baby had been born to the line of David.  While this child would die, unlike all other kings He would rise again on the third day and would one day sit on David’s throne. 

Prior to all this throne business we see two attributes of God that clash with the publically paraded reasonableness (weakness) of man.  First, God is HOLY.  The Greek word is hagios.  It means that God, Jesus, is morally and actually pure and blameless.  The Word of God has created all things and that Word is perfect and pure and righteous; in other words, holy.  God is Holy and will tolerate no sin in His heaven or His people.  The closer we can possibly come to His sinlessness the better off we are.  Those who seek to live as unrighteously as possible in order to enjoy the grace of God are fools (Romans 5:19-6:16).  As God says, “Be ye holy as I the Lord thy God am holy (Leviticus 11:44, 45, 19:2, 20:7, 26).”  We are supposed to do our absolute best.

In John 18:37-38 Pilate asked Jesus if He was a king.  Jesus said that to that end he came, to bear witness of the truth.  Pilot’s answer is one that has echoed throughout the history of mankind, “What is truth?”  What is truth indeed?  The Word of God is truth and true.  Scientifically it has been proven time and time again and has forced many brilliant men and women to change their theories.  Our Lord has said that he does not lie (Hebrews 6:18, Psalm 89:34-37).  God’s promises are true and will all come to pass to the last and least mark upon a Hebrew Aleph-Beit in the Torah. 

Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

In John 8:31 Jesus begins to win some Jews over.  They begin to believe in Him and then things go badly and he winds up telling them their father is the devil.  In verse 41 they call him a bastard child of fornication since Mary and Joseph were not married when He was conceived.  He tells them their father is the devil and that God is His true Father.  In verse 43-44 he says they can’t understand Him because they are of their father the devil and they are led and ruled by the lusts of their father who was a murderer from the beginning.  He calls Satan the father of lies. 

This is not some pleasant religious exchange.  This is a no holds barred insult exchange where these men who were beginning to believe suddenly go the other direction after His accusations.  In verse 48 they call him one of the hated Samaritans and say He is possessed by the devil.  By verse 59 they have called him demon possessed twice and he has declared himself to be the voice in the burning bush.  It was at this moment that they tried to stone Him.  Whenever you see the Jews try to kill Him you know He has made an important point; in this case that He is the great I AM (Exodus 3:14). 

Does it appear to you in this exchange that Jesus just threw away the budding relationship?  Have you ever been in a church or around Christians when they have told you something that was scriptural but really irritated you?  Welcome to life in Christ.  Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the TRUTH will MAKE you free.  Truth is violent and has terrible power.  It can wound and heal, destroy and repair.  Jesus is the son of God.  We are His literal and figurative body.  Do you believe that He wants weak and cowardly saints making up His body?  He will challenge you and shake you up many times in life.  That door mentioned above will remain open as long as you stay in the game and continue to press ahead in Him. 

It is important to note that after he miraculously walked through their midst and passed by that he saw a man blind from birth and healed him…on the Sabbath day.  Needless to say the Jews were not happy about doing miracles on the Sabbath day (John 9:15-16).  They were so incensed that He appeared to miraculously heal the man that they even interrogated his parents.  Finding nothing to accuse the man about they called him a sinner and put the man out of the Synagogue for having the nerve to be healed on the Sabbath day!  Welcome to religion that has become traditional and died. 

You might wonder why I went through all this.  The reason is that three things happened on this particular Sabbath day.  Jesus identified who was a disciple and who was not by demanding and sticking to the truth of who He was.  He brought those who came to a clear decision for or against Him, in one case pushing several seekers away.  The second was that He showed Himself to be the Lord of the Sabbath.  Finally, he sought the man cast out (since he could no longer worship in the temple) and redirected the man’s worship to Himself (John 9:35-38).  After this and as a parting shot he called the Jews who had argued with him sinners and went on.  The next chapter explained what the proper door is. 

In Revelation 3:8 he describes the door that HE has opened (or soon will) by His sacrifice.  After this He left the divided Jews behind and went away.  Remember something here, these are not cute stories about our Lord.  These are passionate and sometimes violent exchanges over the hearts and minds of men.  In Matthew 11:12 it says, “Since the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.  Our life in Christ will often be filled with violent disagreement and we may be threatened.  Are you ready for this assault or will you flee in fear.  Jesus said the Philadelphians had a little strength.

Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Don’t be so excited about the word synagogue here.  Synagogue simply means a fellowship, assembly, church, ecclesia or tabernacle.  The synagogue of Satan may well include your supposed Christian brothers or sisters.  Our persecution can come from Islam, Christianity or nonbelievers.  Who it comes from is a question.  That it will come is a certainty.  Nonetheless, one day, after all is said and done and we stand tall with Christ our head in His proper place, these who have attacked, wounded and in some cases even killed us will worship the very God we are supporting.  They will worship at our feet and on that day know that we were right and they were not.  On that day they will know that He loved us…and they missed it.

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

It is hard to serve Christ, not just because of Satan’s attacks but because we are attacked from within by those who refuse to surrender fully to Christ and because we are assaulted within our own selves as Paul said in Romans 7.  Our race with destiny is not given to the swift nor our battle to the one who is most strong, but to the one who endures to the very end (Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 13:13); to the one who has kept the word of Christ’s patience.  The Greek word for patience is hypomone which means patient continuance.  That means that in spite of attacks, in spite of disappointments in this life, in spite of your closest friends speaking against your faith in Christ (Micah 7:5-7), you maintain it…and in the midst of it all your Savior will keep you from the greatest of these temptations to quit and you will ultimately pass your trials.

Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Your responsibility is not to be a great hero, God is the hero.  Your responsibility is not to be the smartest or most capable.  Jesus is your head and has given you the gifts you need to meet His goals.  Your responsibility is to use your gifts in the manner He sees fit and honor your Lord and King.  You wear a king’s crown with your title upon it.  Hold fast to it.  Don’t allow anyone to take your crown or do your job.  It would be a pity to see someone steal your crown because you let it fall from your head.  Your crown is a symbol of your duty, your responsibility and your call.  If you lose it then verse 12 will never happen for you. 

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

A pillar can hold tremendous loads without difficulty as long as certain conditions are met.  The most important of all is that it must be perfectly straight.  A bent or twisted pillar is of no use as it will snap under load.  It must be placed perfectly under the burden it is to carry.  If it does not stand exactly upright the load may cause it to shift to the side and collapse.  The pillar must rest upon a firm surface like solid rock.  A soft surface like sand can cause it to sink and shift, again causing a collapse (Matthew 7:26).  The pillar must be protected against vermin like termites or rust or dry rot.  Some pillars can look as strong as the day they were installed and yet break without warning during a trial after years of faithful service.

Our walk with Christ must be straight, upright and we must stand upon the solid rock that is our Savior.  Our doctrine and dedication to our duty and responsibility must be without any chink in our armor.  Many seemingly strong and dedicated saints have simply collapsed one day after a particularly difficult storm in their lives.  In verse 10 Jesus has promised to keep us straight, strong and doctrinally pure.  He will watch us through His Word as long as we do not take liberties with it and seek to change it.  If our doctrine remains pure then no vermin, either spiritual or natural, will cause our will to crumble.  As Paul says in Ephesians 6:13, “…take on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

A pillar is the strength of the building and in this case the strength of His sanctuary.  You will bear the weight of the name of God, the name of the city of God, the New Jerusalem, and the new name that Jesus Himself will give us, and be like the pillars Boaz (In Him Is Strength) and Jachin (He Shall Establish) before Solomon’s temple.  What name will the Lord write upon you on that day?  Will you be ready?

Revelation 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And having done all to stand…stand therefore (Ephesians 6:14).

Laodiceans

Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Notice Jesus’ title here.  He is the Amen, the Faithful and True witness.  He is also the beginning of the creation of God.  Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth.”  John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  Over the years men have impugned the Word of God and said it is not worthy to be trusted or depended upon. God said, “My Word will not fail.  I will perform it and bring it to pass (Ezekiel 12:22-25, Jeremiah 1:11-12.)  God promised Joseph many wonderful things and in anger his brothers sold him into slavery.  His Word couldn’t come to pass, could it?  Psalm 105:17-22 says that God watched His Word to perform it and in the end, Joseph ruled all of Egypt under Pharaoh. 

The other day a man told me, “I believe God, it’s the written word I don’t believe because it was written by men.”  He said he believed in Jesus and loved Jesus but not man.  I had no chance to tell him that if the New Testament as written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, Jude, James and that unknown writer “wink wink” of Hebrews are all untrustworthy and the God who gave them the words to write was untrustworthy then he couldn’t have been a Christian.  If the Torah and Ketuvim and Nevuiim which were also written by mere flawed men was untrustworthy and God was unable to control what and how those men wrote and which books or writings made it through the ages then we wouldn’t have Christianity or Judaism and his belief system would be based on a fairy tale. 

These beliefs were not made up as man tried to understand his world and universe and wrote down his questions and ideas.  They came into being because God wrested their attention by miracles that we could not understand today even if all our sciences got involved (and were truthful).  We consider them to be stupid and ignorant savages when they may have been smarter overall than we though not as technological.  They certainly used more of their brains than we do these days.  God directed His scriptures to be written and made sure that they used only the words He wished and the letters and vowels he wished.  They wrote with a language whose letters had numerical and actual meanings and those meanings had to line up with the plain text.  He did this in both the Hebrew writings and Greek writings.  His fingerprint and prophetic words abound throughout both testaments and anyone not totally blinded by Satan will see the truth of them if they but look.

His Word is perfect and entire, to which statement Jesus says, “Amen.”  God’s Word is faithful and will always come to pass.  To this our Lord says, “I am faithful to perform it.”  God’s Word is never false as it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18) and to this Jesus says, “Truth.”  Jesus is the faithful and true WITNESS.  His words in red in most Bibles are a witness of the truth.  The entire book of Revelation is His witness.  He is the beginning of all creation and will also finish it.  It is His desire to complete this work in all His children but it goes against all the false science and low wisdom that man might believe.  He is trying to establish with the Laodiceans that this is a time of wonder and amazement.  They should be on fire for more of God’s grace.  Verse 15 says differently.

Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

There is one great truth in the universe today.  There must be differences to accomplish work.  The hammer is violent and hard but the nail does not respect a slipper.  Only a hammer can pound it in.  A flame is hot and will burn anything if hot enough, even steel, but the softness of water can extinguish it and thereby become lukewarm.  The scientific term is called heat death.  Chemical reactions happen because of a temperature differential between one body and another.  If our sun was the same temperature as the earth then no reactions would be possible.  Even something that has intense cold carries seething untapped power as long as it does not become lukewarm.  It is called zero point energy for absolute cold.

What God is trying to tell the Laodiceans is that they simply do not care about kingdom work.  It is quite boring to them and they have no spiritual discernment.  They are neither against it (which He could use) nor for it (which He could also use).  They just don’t care.  Jesus rejoices in finding a passionate sinner.  Many who came to Him while He abode with us on earth were won to Him by His power and persuasion.  They were passionately against Him and when they ran into the truth it converted them.  They were then passionately pro Jesus.  Such was the Apostle Paul.

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

You can drink hot water and it is like weak tea.  You can drink cold water and it is refreshing.  Lukewarm water will make you vomit.  It appears to affect your gag reflex.  Jesus says, “If you hated me and I can win your respect and love through my word then we both win.  If you loved me and we traveled together in power and grace then we both win.  If you are lukewarm, neither hot or cold and there is no passion in your life then there is no hope either.  To call yourself a Christian and live lukewarm before Christ is to be in danger of making your Savior sick to His stomach. 

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

There are several stories about people who found themselves rich beyond their ability to spend and Jesus looked upon them as fools (Luke 12:16-21) who failed to store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 18:18-25).  Consider that God looks upon the wealthy as someone who does not feel any need to trust Him.  If they get sick they get the best doctors; hungry, they buy food.  In their wealth they will never lack for friends.  The problem is that God is not willing to trust us unless we have been tested and tried…in the fire. 

In the verse above he says they are wretched (afflicted by sorrows), miserable (one to be pitied), poor (homeless and begging on the street), blind (clouded like cataracts, blind spiritually, mentally and physically), and naked (not wearing the required clothing, not holy). 

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.

In 3 John we read that John asked the church to support those evangelists who went out to preach to the gentiles.  Some pastors refused to acknowledge the beloved disciple’s advice.  Now we have something just a bit more serious; the Savior of all mankind counseling us to buy of Him gold tried in the fire.  Jesus wants us to come out as pure gold.  We are the gold and only He can purify us and prepare us to be acceptable in His sight (Zechariah 13:9, 1 Peter 1:3-9).  How hard is it for the rich to walk in a way that requires faith?  So many others must believe for their daily bread. 

We also are to be holy and wear perfect raiment.  You cannot walk holy when you make allowances to pamper your flesh and every desire.  He says in verse 3:5 that if we overcome we will be clothed in white raiment and will not have our names blotted out of the Lambs book of life. Matthew 22:1 is about the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Only the noble were invited to the marriage but many began to make excuses that they could not attend.  Some not only refused to come but murdered the king’s servants.  He was furious and sent in His army and destroyed them.  That parable shows the end of the Jews who refused to accept the sacrifice of Jesus.  

Beginning in verse nine the king sent his servants out into the highways and hedges to bring guests to the wedding of his son.  Many came and as they arrived they were given garments to wear because they were too poor to provide their own.  As the king walked through and visited his guests prior to the wedding he saw one man not wearing the provided garments of holiness and light.  Apparently he felt that he could wear whatever he wanted in the king’s presence while attending the son’s wedding.  In Matthew 22:12 he asked the man, “My friend, how is it that you do not have on your wedding garments?  Scripture continues to say that the man was speechless.  He had nothing to say for himself. 

In verse 13 the king orders his servants to bind the man hand and foot and toss him into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  You might say, “This is unfair. The man may not have known what was expected.”  The truth is that all were told (Revelation 3:5, 13).  These letters are written to us who believe.  Their warnings are for us and their message is very clear.  Christ’s final reminder was to anoint their eyes with eyesalve so they might see.  The Laodiceans produced a mineral mixture called “Phrygian powder” which was mixed and applied to the eyes.  It was thought to heal weak eyes.  Jesus used His understanding of this to let them know their spiritual blindness needed to be healed.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Remember, this church is a wealthy, spiritually weak church.  They were circling the drain and about to die.  Christ let them know that there was still hope if they listened.  He told them that He only rebuked and chastened those He loved.  Nevertheless, his warning was dire.  They had to repent quickly.  If ever there was a time to be zealous it was now.  I am reminded of the book of Jonah.  God sent Jonah to Nineveh to preach the coming destruction.  Jonah hated the Ninevites and wanted them to be destroyed.  After being swallowed by a giant fish and arriving on shore half dead he began to preach the warning.  He didn’t beg or even word it politely.  His basic message was, “Forty days and you get yours!” 

The point is, Jonah with his fish bleached skin and weeds about his head scared the Ninevites to death.  From the king in the palace to the donkey in the manger they all wore sackcloth and bowed before the Lord.  They all fasted before God down to the smallest animal in the barn and God did not destroy them.  This is the warning God is giving to the Laodiceans and it is up to them to heed it. 

Revelation 3:20 Behold, 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.

We quote this scripture all the time and yet it speaks of our Lord standing at the door of a Christian’s heart seeking entrance.  He’s not speaking to pagans or even Jews here; He is talking to those in the Laodicean church.  He wants more than lip service and scripture quoting.  Jesus wants your heart.  If you are not willing to open it up and invite Him in then you will never survive Satan’s attacks.  He’s knocking and waiting.  Can you hear Him?  Will you open the door to your heart or are you still one of those who thinks it doesn’t take all that.  He wants to come into you and sup with you and you with Him.  Won’t you ask Him in?

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Bear this in mind; prior to his birth, Jesus had eternal power and was forced to lay it aside in order to be tempted as we are.  Because of this He is able to know how hard it is for the rich to make it into heaven.  It was harder for Jesus because He could have called for help at any time.  The wealthy and powerful can seek help at all times.  They don’t lack funds to do whatever they want.  If they never grow, they won’t have learned to let Christ perfect them in trials and faith.  To receive what they are promised by Jesus they must learn to trust Him.  This is extremely difficult for them but if they do it is their lot to sit beside Jesus on His throne.  

We are the body of Christ.  Some of us are pillars, standing tall and strong with little approval or desire for greater things.  Others will sit side by side with Jesus upon the throne.  What is your calling ‘on the other side?’  What is it that you will accomplish.  One thing is certain, whatever your gift, you will fit that position like it was made for you or rather that you were made for it.  If we suffer with Him, we will also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). 

Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Perhaps some of us need hearing aids.  Let them ask of Jesus who gives to all men liberally.

Blessings beloved,

Bishop J

The Seven Churches of Revelation - Thyatira and Sardis

Thyatira

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

Many are fond of saying that Jesus is not God.  In this letter to Thyatira it says he has eyes like a flame of fire.  The first time we see this is in Exodus 3:2, the burning bush where God said, “I am that I am.  This is the same statement that Jesus said in Mark 14:61-62 when the High Priest asked if He was the Son of God.  In this statement He is declaring that He is both the Son of God and the voice of God in the burning bush.  It is not a lesser position.  He is God.  Joel 2:1-11 describes the day of the Lord and how it will be like a flame of fire (Revelation 1:14). 

Brass is always mentioned in the Bible for judgment.  It was the only metal available that could handle heat and therefore used to burn sacrifices to turn away the judgment of God.  In some verses the angels sent by God to proclaim His judgments are said to have feet like brass (Ezekiel 1:7, Daniel 10:6, Revelation 1:15) and of course this verse.  When Jesus says he is the flame of fire and has feet of fine brass we know a judgment of God is coming.  The fire is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24 – God is jealous, Deuteronomy 9:3 – God will consume His enemies, and finally in Hebrews 12:27-29 – God consumes those who do not come to Him in faith to obtain His mercy.) 

Scripture says, “Do not be deceived, God is never mocked (Galatians 6:7).”  Those who mock His name will receive the recompense of reward for their sin.  Scripture also says, “The fool has said in his heart there is no God (Psalm 14:1, 53:1-5).  Whenever I hear someone call the Almighty the “Sky God” or some other foolish insult I think, “A fool is someone who insists they are an expert at something they know nothing about and refuse to acknowledge they may be in error.  Billions over the course of the earth’s history will one day awaken to realize that they were wrong.

19 I know thy works (ergon), and love (agape), and service (diakonia), and faith (pistis), and thy patience (hypomone), and thy works (ergon); and the last to be more than the first.

Your ending works are greater than your beginning works.  Because of your love and service and faith and patience, you have grown to be more effective and effectual in your service to God.  The Lord judges our works.  Are they of faith, have they been motivated by love and faith and a desire to serve?  Is your work motivated by a desire to be seen or a desire to perform the will of God for the pleasure of serving and obeying our Heavenly Father?  Faith without works is dead (James 2:18-26) but then works without faith is nothing at all.  All that you do must be mingled with faith and that with love.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

I don’t know why but this verse makes me chuckle.  Anyone familiar with the Bible knows the name Jezebel who helped her husband Ahab the king to sin (1 Kings 21:25).  Oddly enough the Greek translation of the Hebrew name means “chaste” in my Strongs but the Hebrew translation means “Baal is my husband” or “unchaste.”  Those last two of course make the most sense.  We know the woman Jezebel in the Old Testament was instrumental in causing the Children of Israel to sin by murdering the prophets of the Lord and supporting hundreds of the Prophets of Baal.  Though Elijah killed the prophets of Baal he was terrified of this woman (1 Kings 18:22-19:15).

Most scholars call this story allegorical because they believe it is too unlikely for there to be another woman named Jezebel who is trying to get the children of God to stumble.  The first thing I would like to state is that most of us find a way to live up to our names.  Names are powerful things.  I come from a long line of shepherds from Bavaria.  As I stated previously my family name means “shepherd’s staff.”  I have seen a photo in National Geographic of a shepherd in Bavaria, Germany that looked just like my Uncle Rich.  I would hope that my soul and spirit look like Jesus the Shepherd of us all.

Whether or not this woman’s name was actually Jezebel or not is unimportant.  She walked in that spirit and sought to lead the church of Thyatira in the same sort of sins.  Not only was she living a life of sin but it goes on to say that she was trying to teach the people to sin.  Scripture is very specific about prophets and teachers.  Prophets are the foundation of the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:20) and teachers  have the ability to mold your future directions.  Beware false teachers and false prophets (Romans 16:16-18, 1 John 4:1, 2 John 1:10-11, 2 Timothy 4:3-4).  I could go on but you get the idea.  Know the Word of God for yourself (2 Timothy 2:15, Hosea 4:6) so you don’t stumble.

Perhaps you think that this type of thing is ridiculous, that it couldn’t happen.  It happens all the time.  I recall a church I attended many years ago that broke up because the pastor committed sexual sin.  He left the ministry in the hands of the assistant pastor.  A few years later I had to come back to the town on business and met up with the church.  They were going to different houses and drinking alcohol and partying.  The church had become a social pit rather than a spiritual beacon.  I couldn’t believe it.  I got out of there immediately.  This type of life can lead to churches that hold services while serving beer and wine or have homosexual pastors.  There is a reason that God expects holiness and that is so His house will always be known as a house of prayer and filled with life.  

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

In spite of the depth of her failures and her terrible example of fornication AND idolatry Jesus allowed her an opportunity to repent.  This verse is extremely important.  This wasn’t the local pastor’s judgment or even the local bishop’s.  This was Jesus’ decision.  He gave her time and she ignored it.  In Genesis 15 God promises Abram great things and he wished to know when they would step into it.  God told him that it would take time because the sin of the Amorites was not yet full.  God doesn’t forget sin.  He offers opportunities to repent with spiritual strength to make it possible.  When the end comes it is final.  The Amorites are no more.  Those who refuse to repent will be no more as well.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

God is quite capable of making the punishment fit the sin.  The punishment of all sin is death; but even death has levels and sin is judged from small to great.  The Lord will arrange the relationship so that all those who commit sin with her will find themselves always having accidents, making stupid decisions, offending dangerous people and in general living a miserable life.  Her own children will no longer have the protection that average people receive from God without even knowing it.  They will die.  God will award these ‘supposed’ Christians with what they so justly deserve rather than with the grace and mercy He usually awards.  His judgments are far harsher towards His wayward children than unsaved sinners.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Now we get to those in Thyatira who have striven to walk the straight and narrow path (Matthew 7:13) and live a holy life before God.  His choice is not to add burden upon burden or sorrow upon sorrow.  These are they who do not try to justify the righteousness of abominable life practices but merely love as God has ordained and serve as He has desired.  They are not saddled with burdens of punishment or sorrows.  Life itself has enough trials that affect us.  God would ease our burdens and comfort our hearts.  Will you allow Him to do so by your loving, God fearing life or will you force Him to cause you pain and even death to protect the rest of us?

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

What rules and regulations were we given?  We can already see that fornication and adultery is a sin.  Other lifestyles listed as abominations are also still sins and have not changed in God’s mind simply because He did not choose to have them retaught by Jesus.  Eating pork or mixing types of materials are not abominations.  These were special requirements chosen by God to teach Israel how to obey; not to judge sin.  Cheating, stealing, mocking others, homosexuality, fornication…these are abominations that never change and sins that God will not continue to tolerate in the church. 

In Acts 15:20 the counsel in Jerusalem decided that… “we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.”  This counsel decided once and for all that Christians would not be required to observe all the day to day rules and regulations that all Jews were required to obey.  What it did NOT do was to suddenly make SIN okay.  These requirements were not criminal but there are ‘religious criminal laws’ in the Bible.  These are laws that God has specifically made a sin for all mankind.  The ten commandments are one such set of laws. 

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

This is a reference to Psalm 2 which says: 7 “I will proclaim the decree:  Jehovah said to me,  ‘You are my son;  today I became your father.  8 Ask of me, and I will make  the nations your inheritance;  the whole wide world  will be your possession.  9 You will break them with an iron rod,  shatter them like a clay pot.’” It ends, “10 Therefore, kings, be wise; be warned, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve Jehovah with fear; rejoice, but with trembling. 12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish along the way, when suddenly his anger blazes. How blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

This is the warning for the world to come.  This is why Jesus came to Thyatira as the Son of God who walks with fire and judgment.  He is a merciful and gracious Savior and Lord but also walks as judge, jury AND executioner of the world.  People on the earth, particularly the unsaved, are fond of taking our Christian scripture against judging (Luke 6:37) and using it to say that we will not be allowed to judge the smallest things.  This is scripturally incorrect (John 7:24) and we can see in the verse above that not only did the Lord Jehovah give this right to Jesus but Jesus gave it to us if we will endure sound doctrine until the end. 

Do you really suppose that God will allow those who mince about and mock His authority and rules and call themselves Christians but doubt the very truth and power of His Word will be allowed to judge the world?  Jesus has been given this authority to judge nations and kings and destroy those who have stood against Him.  He expects us to walk in His righteousness and remain holy and blameless as we possibly can until the very end and then He will give this same authority and honor to us.

I love the last sentence of Psalm 2:11, “How blessed are those who take refuge in Him.”  These letters are written to US!  They are written to the church of God with expectation of swift repentance.  They ring clearly together with the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If MY people, which are called by MY name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek MY face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  We are the ones judged by these letters; not the sinners.  It goes on in 2 Chronicles to say that only after we straighten up and act right will God arise from His slumber and open His eyes to our plight.  Then will He hear us and answer our prayers.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

Jesus is the true light that lights our hearts.  Read the prophecy of Zacharias in Luke 1.  Verse 77-78 says, “…because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  And finally 2 Peter 1:19, “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”  This same title is also repeated in Revelation 22:16 just before calling all who thirst to come.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And if you don’t…use your imagination.

Chapter 3

Sardis

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Sardis, a gemstone, red in color and can be quite beautiful.  Sardis was the wealthy capitol city of Lydia.  This was the church whose parking lot would have been filled with Mercedes and Rolls Royces.  They had a name that meant wealth and riches to all who heard it.  While there is no sin in honoring God by respecting His churches and doing all they can to improve upon their beauty, there comes a time when those improvements are motivated by pride and not by a desire to honor God.  Sardis was one such church.  This wealthy church started out on the wrong foot with Jesus. They thought they were doing okay, hence the “name” that they were alive even though He said they were dead.  Have you ever met Christians who thought they had it all and yet you could see the emptiness in their hearts toward the Lord?

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Here are a people who are like someone in a hospital, whose heart is ready to stop beating.  In spite of their dire spiritual condition they appear to be strong and vibrant for God.  They spout religious words and love for everyone but they have forsaken the true doctrine of holiness and love for God.  Scripture says they are like the man who sees himself in a mirror and turning away has forgotten who he was.  James 1:22-24 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

Having a strong relationship with God is a subtle and tender thing.  It must be nurtured daily to remain strong and flourishing.  As we will see below, those who fight against the touch of God’s powerful anointing will be shocked to lose that tremendous relationship. 

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

No doubt there will be thousands upon thousands of Christians who will observe the day of the rapture with horror when they realize their weak and faithless salvation was little better than a social club experience.  Only those who have received the engrafted word of the Living God with faith and assurance and who nurture daily their walk with God are likely to hear the voice and feel the tug of the Savior when He comes as a thief. 

These are like those who receive the word with gladness but the cares of this life and watered down doctrine have caused them to gradually release the true passion and zeal of their original salvation experience.  Notice He says they must repent.  That means that they once walked before God with a zeal and passion but have allowed it to die off and become cold.  We are told to watch and be ready at all times.  Will you hear and be ready?

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Sardis - Thou hast a few names (white stones) in Sardis who have not defiled their garments.  This proves that you CAN defile holy garments even with other ‘holy’ people. 

This letter was short and hard with just a hint of respite.  Some ‘might’ overcome.  Those that do will be clothed in white garments and not be blotted out of the book of life.  This verse goes a long way toward proving that the once saved always saved doctrine is not completely true.  They had to accept Christ to be written in the book of life.  Once in the book, Jesus reserves the right to blot out their name if need be.  Do you suppose it will be a big ink stain or an erasure?  The Greek word is exaleipho which means to smear, obliterate, wipe away.  It could be any of those.  It also contains a reference to being erased with tears as if Jesus is weeping while He wipes away those names.  

There are two parts to this word.  Ex means exceeding or extreme and aleipho means to anoint.  This appears to speak of someone who is unable to endure sound doctrine to the point where it becomes an abomination to them.  Jesus would literally blot their names out with the unendurable anointing and their hearts would be incapable of continuing in it.  I have known people who detest the word anointing.  Until now I didn’t understand why.  I have even been asked not to use that word while praying for some.  Can you imagine someone allowing Satan to deceive them to the point that they would fear the anointing that destroys the yoke?  People in bondage whether through sin or a horror of the delivering power of God’s anointing cannot be delivered from sin.  They will run from God in horror and go to Hell. 

No wonder He will be wiping their names from the book of life in tears.  If your name cannot bear the anointing of God then it will be anointed out of the book of life and that sorrow will cause our Savior much grief.  Second Corinthians 1:21 says, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us…”  See, it is the anointing that will empower us to stand firm and yet for some, the anointing is an uncomfortable reminder of just how powerful and mighty God truly is.  They live a life of psychological and sociological Christianity and have no place in their hearts for a real and powerful experience of the power and might of God’s anointing.

The anointing causes us to stand firm in Christ.  Without it we have no life in Him.  The anointing destroys bondages, raises the dead and heals the sick.  I recall a series of novels called the Chronicles of Narnia.  It was a fanciful tale of Christianity where God was the Emperor Over the Sea and Jesus was a lion.  An oft used quote in the books was, “He’s not a tame lion.”  That is an accurate description of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  He is not a tame lion.  You are expected to be overwhelmed and bowled over from time to time.  God takes pleasure in knocking you off your feet.  He cannot use the timid or cowardly or fearful (Matthew 8:26, Revelation 21:8).  If you aren’t bold and willing to press on by your own personal temperament then you had better be willing to allow His anointing to push you along with thunder and lightening bolts on occasion. 

Not only are you not allowed to be fearful or cowardly but you are required to live holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight (John 14:27, Colossians 1:22).  That is the only way to wear the white garment and to have Jesus brag about you to His father and His angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Does this speak to your ears?