Tag: revelation

THE MODERN CHURCH PT. 5

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THE DANGER OF CRACKS IN YOUR LIFE

THE DEAD CHURCH

Revelations 3:1-2 “…I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

(2) Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.

You have some dangerous Cracks in your life!

Are you in the Doldrums better known as the “dead zone”? Be reminded, the church is you individually and personally, along with the “Body of Christ” collectively.

The Doldrum is a part of the ocean near the equator with abounding calm and light, very timid winds, and stillness. The weather is scorching and dispiriting. When caught in the doldrums, the sailing vessels of old would lie helpless for days and weeks in still waters, just waiting for the wind to begin to blow.

The Doldrum is a perfect description of what Christ calls the “Dead Church” of Sardis and Dead Churches around the globe, today’s church! Maybe you are having a Doldrum experience right now. As always, God has a remedy! Thank God!

Background/Context for Revelations 3:1-6

The city of Sardis was located very high on top of sheer cliffs that were almost impossible to climb. Therefore the people became very confident and believed it could not be penetrated by a foreign enemy. Their overconfidence in something other than God causes serious problems for them.

Being a superpower, they became very proud, cocky, lazy and complacent. (Sounds American doesn’t it!) As apathy took over they stopped giving attention to the foundations and walls of their spiraling city. At first, the cracks were small but grew bigger and wider. They missed seeing that the walls were deteriorating and massive cracks had formed at the foundation of the walls.

One night while the City of Sardis slept an enemy army scaled the cliff and slithered through the cracks in the foundation and walls. They were besieged by their enemy.

Self-Reflection Moment:

Are you aware of any areas in your life that are deteriorating and need attention? Marriage? Finances? Your relationships? A whole host of other vital areas in your life? Are there cracks in any of these areas through which the devil may try to sneak up on you and take you captive?

(Revelations 3:3) “Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God. “If you pull the covers back over your head and sleep on, oblivious to God, I’ll return when you least expect it, break into your life like a thief in the night.“

4 “You still have a few followers of Jesus in Sardis who haven’t ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world’s ways. They’ll walk with me on parade! They’ve proved their worth!”

Cracks in Life (The Doldrums)

  • Prayerlessness
  • Insensitivity to the Spirit of God.
  • Complacency
  • Too busy to get into the presence of God.
  • Trusting in the security of the world, i.e. jobs; money; government; material holdings …

Don’t get too busy that you forget the foundational things, cracks begin to form spiritually over time! Here’s how to seal those cracks through which the devil may try to enter and lay siege to your life.

  • Be watchful! Wake Up! (Rev. 3:2)
  • Repent, turn back to God
  • Strength the areas that are about to die or comatose,
  • Remember. it’s never too late to do something to fix the problem.

Locate the problem! Find a solution! Strengthen what you have! Do it before it’s too late!

In Summary: If you have a part of your life that is broken cracked or splintered, there is still hope it can be restored. It may require emergency care to get it on life support now, but it can be resuscitated and brought back to life again. Preventative medicine is always better than corrective surgery.

It may seem like it takes lots of time to be watchful and prayerful about your spiritual life, but I assure you it is less expensive and less painful than it is to crash spiritually and then have to fix things in your life that never had to be broken in the first place.

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Pray: Lord help me to stay awake and watchful regarding the spiritual conditions of my life. I realize that my old habits of not praying is an offense to you and a danger to me and those I love. Examine my heart and help me to identify those areas of my life that need to be fixed or corrected. Please give me the power to apply the needed corrections. Amen!

THE MODERN CHURCH PT. 4

On By glendarouseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

HERE COMES THE JUDGE/ THE SON OF GOD!

A MESSAGE TO THE CORRUPT CHURCH/A SEVERE WARNING AND JUDGEMENT

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.” (Revelations 2:18)

If you ever moved to a new community and had to select a new church home, you know how difficult it is to examine and evaluate a church and its ministry.

Impressive buildings may have dying or dead congregations, and be spiritual morgues. While modest structures might belong to strong lion-hearted assemblies on the march for the Lord. The church we think is “rich” may be poor in God’s sight. While the poor church is actually rich.

Only the head of the church, Jesus Christ can accurately inspect each church and know its true condition because He sees the internal, not only the external. The view of many Christians of Christ is narrow because they see him as Savior, as Healer, as Friend, and will call him “Lord” but neglect to see him as Judge. He has to be God-Judge to be God-Justice.

The Supreme Court in the United States is the highest in the land, served by Justices/Judges, and has authority to overrule lower courts. There is a court and Justice that reigns higher than all and has only one Judge/Justice. His name is Jesus Christ!. The nation would be better off if every Supreme Court decision aligned with the world of God. The Ultimate Justice!

The Commendation:

(Revelations 2:19)–  I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

The believers were very busy! They involved themselves in a sacrificial ministry for the sake of others. Their work was increasing, Characterized by faith, love, and patience; They were not guilty of religious activity.

NINETY-NINE AND A HALF WON’T DO!

(Revelations 2:20) “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.”

  • The sin of the church is they tolerated with corruption! Yes, God holds you accountable for tolerating sin and compromise.
  • You are doing a great job with most things that please God, but what is that one or two things, he has against you?
  • What are you tolerating just because you are comfortable where you are?

Accusation:

(Revelations 2:19) Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

The church was permitting a false prophet/prophetess to influence the people and lead them into compromise with the Roman religions and the practices of the “Guilds” (unions, syndicates, federations, fraternities, sororities, coalitions, and associations) So that the Christians would not lose their jobs or their lives.

Where ever these guilds were found idolatry and immorality, the two great enemies of the church were almost always found.

Does this sound familiar? Are you staying with an assembly or job that you know contradicts every thought of God, but you tolerate it for the same purposes the early Christians did? Maybe you joined a group or association so that your resume will be boosted but, overlooked the anti-Christian principles of the company association.

The church became too tolerant of false doctrine. Speaking the truth in love is the biblical balance.

(Ephesians 4:14) Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ

Good News! Repentance!

(Revelations 2:22) So I will cast her (the prophet) on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. (The prophet was unwilling to repent) Have mercy on the prophets who refuse to repent today!

Repentance/ Gk. Metanoia: Is composed of two parts: meta, meaning change, and noia, meaning mind.

As it is today, Everyone in the assembly was not unfaithful. The faithful separated themselves from the false doctrine and compromising practices. He admonished the faithful to hold fast in their resistance to evil. “Till he comes!” referring to Christ’s return for his people, at which time he will reward them for their faithfulness.

Action Steps: If you find yourself in a corrupt situation follow God’s plan.

  1. Separate yourself from the evil.
  2. Repent of your sins. (Change; mind) results in change actions.
  3. Remain faithful “Till he comes”
  4. If staying around the evil is pulling you into compromising, “Get Out” with your Soul in tack!
  5. Always, pray and ask God to deliver you out of it or give you strength to remain faithful.

Summary Reflection:

Years ago Rev. Billy Graham was stopped for driving over the speed limit. He pleaded guilty. The judge was friendly, and embarrassed for Rev. Graham to be in court. The fine was ten dollars. Rev. Graham stated, “If he let me go free, it would have been inconsistent with justice. The penalty had to be paid either by me or someone else!” Judgement is consistent with love. A God of love must be a God of justice. It is because God loves that He is just. His justice balances His love and makes His acts of both love and justice meaningful.