Revelation
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
I know thy works
and charity
and service
and faith
and thy patience
and thy works
and the last to be more than the first.
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.
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication
and she repented not.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed
and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation
except they repent of their deeds.
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.
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.
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
And he that overcometh,
and keepeth my works unto the end,
to him will I give power over the nations
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.
And I will give him the morning star.
He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
*******
A.D. 538 to A.D. 1798
This is the 1260 year period spoken of in Dan. 7 and throughout Revelation when applied to history it's quite understandable. We know all about the seeming special status of the Catholic church from the year it was set up 538AD and onward. It's history is quite amazing and not always in a very good way. Today we see the church and like so many horrors of the past we find it hard to imagine they truly existed simply because we have our supposed humane treatment today. I say supposed because there are still many places upon earth that have atrocities occuring that boggle the mind entirely. The Catholic church holds a special distinction for being a huge organized religious body that instituted the inquisition. Tortures unspeakable thrust upon people because they opposed the church. Opposing the church was unthinkable. And until 1798 it held a distinct power in religion and political aspects. Today we know the Catholic church to be mainly something of a good thing- the Pope a good man desiring peace. There are Catholic charities that help millions of people. Yes, it's had its fair share of scandal in the more recent years but even with that scandal the church and the power it weilds is only growing. More and more world leaders of various countries are looking for alliance with the Papacy, sending ambassadors, making very special visits to the 'Holy Father'. This force is truly astounding and we look at these verses here and how can we not agree that God's true people- His people- not those who are caught up in idoltry holding fast to beliefs and doctrines that aren't God's but so close to the true the counterfeit is accepted for the real thing; how can we not agree that God's people are few?
...
I know thy works
and charity
and service
and faith
and thy patience
and thy works
and the last to be more than the first.
...
This sounds so amazing doesn't it? Charity, service, faith, patience and works. Something God's people truly hope to attain in a walk with Jesus Christ, in a life dedicated to God.
...
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.
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication
and she repented not.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed
and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation
except they repent of their deeds.
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's people...suffering one who claims to be something she's not? God's people allowing a people of false beliefs to teach and seduce those who would truly follow the one and only true God? God's people holding fast to the worships of idols living a life that is geared towards worshipping the false gods and not the true. We're not talking outright worship of Satan, but rather deception, seduction and you don't seduce with forcefulness. You seduce with subtle actions. You lure with seduction. A false people whose hearts do not belong to God but seem to, they could lure a true follower away. Those who seduce will be lost with the seductress, those she considers her children will die with her. God, the one and only true God knows the reins and the hearts of us all. We will be given as we work- and the work is a result of our choices. The choices we make determine our lives and the lives that are not given fully to God- reins and heart- will have no part in Him.
...
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.
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
And he that overcometh,
and keepeth my works unto the end,
to him will I give power over the nations
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.
And I will give him the morning star.
He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
...
Hold fast till Christ comes. The heart fully consecrated to Christ in all needs to hold fast, not give up. Admonished to hold fast it's something all God's people throughout time need to do, those then, those through all the years, those today.
To us who do overcome, to us who keep Christ's works up until the end- Christ will give us power through Him over the nations, we will rule through Him with a rod of iron and all the earthly, ungodly in the nations will be destroyed utterly- shattered to pieces. As the Father gave to Christ His Son, we too will receive from Christ all that He can give to us- even Himself.
May God bless and keep us in Him! May we not be deceived as the masses who have been, are, and will be seduce by the evil of Satan. Let us hold fast in Him! Now and forever by His mercy and His loving grace. Amen.
8/31/10
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Heb 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Tempting God. Tempting God is really disbelieving in God, isn't it?
When we tempt a person to do something it's the same as daring them to do it. Come on, we tell them, show me you can do this or that, I bet you can't do it so you have to show me you can. We try to get them to PROVE themselves. When something is proven to get someone to believe it in, the faith is gone.
We ask friends and family to trust us based on their knowledge of our love and care for them, trust that we will do nothing to hurt them. Time and again that trust is abused and people have learned not to trust, not to have faith in each other.
God isn't human and He called for people to trust in Him. People wanted proof. People wanted God to prove Himself to them rather than to prove themselves to God.
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Heb 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness- when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
We can't make the same mistakes. Individually in our lives we can't tempt God, we can't ask God to prove Himself. To tempt God, to prove God is to grieve God. Having no faith in God will cost people so much- it will cost them eternal life.
What is an evil heart of unbelief departing from the living God? Lack of faith. Unbelief- no faith.
I've mentioned my favorite verse before and I'll use it again only this time including the whole passage-
Mar 9:14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
Mar 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
Mar 9:16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Mar 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
Mar 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Mar 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Mar 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
Mar 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
Mar 9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
Mar 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Here is a desperate father who only wants his son healed, a son that had been afflicted since he was a child with a spirit that made him deaf, dumb, feel pain, foam at the mouth, gnash his teeth, all as he wastes away. How desperate this poor father was to have his son healed. He brought him to the disciples of Jesus, men that had power given to them by Jesus to heal and cast out evil spirits, yet the disciples could not help him. How devastating that had to be to the father. Then the master of the disciples arrives and this is his last hope to have his son healed. He tells the Lord about his son and Jesus answers by saying this--
'O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?'
Faithless!
Jesus said- IF THOU CANST BELIEVE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH.
The opposite is true isn't it? Nothing is possible to them that do not believe.
Our only hope is faith in our Savior. Our hope lies in NOT tempting God, in not asking God to prove Himself but rather believing without the proof. We have to believe, we can't be faithless! If we doubt our belief we have to pray as that father who desperately wanted his son to be healed-- with tears-- LORD, I BELIEVE HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF.
Can you imagine the anguish, the desperate hope? Anyone who has faced having a loved one in pain, anyone who can comprehend the situation if they haven't experienced it, can put themselves in that father's position. A lot of people pray and tell God they'd do anything if only they'd help that loved one. This father told Jesus face to face, he believed and then said HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF. Why? Why did he add that last bit? Help though mine unbelief? Because the least little bit of doubt might have been enough to stop Jesus from healing his son and that man understood and wanted nothing, not even the possibility of the slightest disbelief in himself to keep his son from being healed. The helplessness we have in saving ourselves is in this too, isn't it? Think about it. We have to believe! We can't tempt God, we can't ask Him to prove Himself, we must have faith.
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Sin is soooooo incredibly deceitful. More on that tomorrow though.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we have faith in Him, may we not tempt Him in any way. By His love now and forever!
Amen.
8/31/11
I
know thy works...
Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in
Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
*******
Who
has a sharp sword with two edges?
What
is the two edged sword all about?
Psa 149:1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD
a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
Psa 149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made
him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Psa 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance:
let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Psa 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his
people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Psa 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let
them sing aloud upon their beds.
Psa 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their
mouth, and a
twoedged sword in their hand;
Psa 149:7 To
execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
Psa
149:8 To bind their kings with
chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Psa
149:9 To execute upon them the
judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
Hebrews
{4:12}
For the word of God
[is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is]
a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart
Revelation
{1:13}
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.
{1:14}
His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes
[were] as a flame of fire;
{1:15}
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his
voice as the sound of many waters.
{1:16}
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.
He
who has the two-edged sword is
Jesus.
And
from just noting a bit more about the two-edged sword it's easy to see that
it's symbolic of God's quick and decisive manner. There is no deception, no
guile, no toying when it comes to God, and all He does is precise. His word is
more powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. And the power and sharpness
of such a sword is tremendous. Jesus speaks with such exacting vengeance in
such a way that there leaves no doubt to the truth of his actions- none.
Jesus speaks to us holding nothing
back.
Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou
dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast
not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr,
who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
He
knows our works! He knew them back in the days of John, He knew them in the
early years of God's people- His church historically, and He knows us even now.
It's safe to say Jesus has known us through all time and there was never a time
He didn't know His people. Even when His people have caused Him grief He has
known and has tried to guide them down the right path of His righteousness.
He
knows thy works, where thou dwellest- where we live. He knows. And He has known where Satan's seat is and make no
mistake about it- Satan has his foothold in this world he was cast out
upon at the birth of salvation
realized in Jesus' entrance into our world as He took on the flesh of humanity.
Satan cast to this earth was never more to call heaven (God's seat) his home.
Yes, Satan has his powers and his influence and he's used them to form his own
plans that include a place where he would dwell and rule from. Satan's seat.
Living among the very place where the evil one, the one who opposes, the
deceiver was in power and holding fast to the true faith of Christ- what wonder!
Holding fast to Christ! Not denying Christ's faith!
People
say that there are no more martyrs, I say they're wrong. There are many, many
martyrs today. In fact just writing what I'm writing would be cause for my
death in some countries. We don't want to believe it, but it's true.
Wherever we are living, in whatever situation we find ourselves even if it's the worst place imaginable- if we hold fast to Christ and remain faithful then we will have His blessing. I'm not just talking a life or death situation with a true sword ready to slice our head from our shoulders. I'm talking living in the world that Satan claims as His and holding fast. It's all too easy for us to give in and go along with the crowd. To laugh and smile, and seemingly agree with the goings on even when they bold-facedly ridicule all that is Godly. Inwardly we might condemn the actions going on about us and we cling to that inward man, but outwardly we seem to agree with the ungodliness and what does that mean? We're ashamed of our beliefs.
If
we won't hold fast to Christ and our faith in Him now in the little things, how
will we do so later on when our very lives may depend on seemingly agreeing
with the ungodly? Will we align ourselves with the ungodly so that we can live?
Or be martyrs to hold fast to Christ?
The
historical message, the message for all time, we need to learn, to listen, to
take to heart what is being said.
Rev
2:14 But I have a few things
against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who
taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat
things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Rev
2:15 So hast thou also them that
hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Hold
the doctrine of Balaam... idol worship in all its ugly forms.
The Nicolaitans are mentioned once more and we know these are all that
about things, people and their actions, that Jesus hates.
Again,
just because you don't live in a town where they have festivals to worship the
sun god Baal, does not mean there is no idol worship today. Among God's people
there are those who hold fast to the belief that worshipping the world rather
than God means the most. We can't worship any other than God! Search our hearts
and our lives and examine what lies within- is it worship to anything other
than God? Is there a self-worship? The worship of any thing that would take us
from God?
Rev
2:16 Repent; or else I will come
unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev
2:17 He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give
to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a
new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Repent.
We
need to repent and not face the righteous wrath of Christ.
Listen!
We are told to LISTEN!
If
we overcome through Christ we will be given hidden manna- heavenly food so
precious. We will be given a white stone- a stone of purity and innocence in
Christ. In that stone we'll receive our new name, a new name only we know. God
made a point to give Abram and Sari new names and He also gave Jacob a new
name. We who overcome as they overcame by faith in God and His righteousness we
too will receive a new name.
By
His mercy, by His grace, by His love and by His righteousness alone may we cling
to Him and be found in Him to be overcomers through Him and Him alone. Forgive
us oh Lord, forgive us our many, many tresspasses, our many failings and set us
on Your path to Your righteousness- now and forever!
Amen
Note- here is an
excerpt from a prophecy booklet called- 'These Times - The amazing prophecies
of Daniel and Revelation. A
Special Issue.' pg. 24-25
'Verses 12-17.
The city of Pergamos (or Pergamum) was the capital of the Roman province of
Asia. A rich, important city, it served as a center of emperor worship and
various pagan religions. Jesus perceptively described Pergamum as a city in
bondage to the dictatorship of Satan, the leader of all evil forces (see
Revelation 12:9;13:1,2). The great failure of the church at Pergamum was that it
allowed pagan, unchristian influences into its midst, accepting the teaching of
"Balaam" -- a reference to a man who influenced the Israelites shortly after
they left Egypt to unite with pagans and become involved in idolatry and
immorality (Numbers 22-25; 31:13-16).
The experience of
the whole church following AD 313, when Emperor Constantine legalized
Christianity, resembled that of Pergamum. Following this time the church
increasingly accepted pagan ideas and practices into its midst and advanced
steadily down the path of apostasy foretold by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The
church's only hope lay in its willingness to let the sharp "two-edged sword" of
truth wielded by Jesus cut away their selfishness and pride (cf Hebrews 4:12).
'
*******
The reason I
wanted to insert this note is because we need to touch on the specific
historically applied aspect to the prophecy as well as the time of John the
prophet, and we most certainly can tell already how it's applied to us now and
to all of God's people through history in a broad meaningful way.
The
historical time period this covers- Constantine, or perhaps, rather, from his
professed conversion to Christianity in A.D. 313 to the establishment of the
papacy in A.D. 538.
In 313,
Constantine proclaimed the Edict of Milan which legalized Christian
worship. Go to Wikipedia, look up
Constantine and this is in there.
We've already gone over these dates when we studied the prophecy of
Daniel. Daniel and Revelation both deal with prophecy in a huge way and go hand
in hand in so much. This all fits
together and the placing of the puzzle pieces will mean we need to go back and
forth between these two books and truly throughout the entire Bible.
By God's grace,
through His will, now and forever!
Amen.
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Heb 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Tempting God. Tempting God is really disbelieving in God, isn't it?
When we tempt a person to do something it's the same as daring them to do it. Come on, we tell them, show me you can do this or that, I bet you can't do it so you have to show me you can. We try to get them to PROVE themselves. When something is proven to get someone to believe it in, the faith is gone.
We ask friends and family to trust us based on their knowledge of our love and care for them, trust that we will do nothing to hurt them. Time and again that trust is abused and people have learned not to trust, not to have faith in each other.
God isn't human and He called for people to trust in Him. People wanted proof. People wanted God to prove Himself to them rather than to prove themselves to God.
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Heb 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Harden not your hearts as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness- when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
We can't make the same mistakes. Individually in our lives we can't tempt God, we can't ask God to prove Himself. To tempt God, to prove God is to grieve God. Having no faith in God will cost people so much- it will cost them eternal life.
What is an evil heart of unbelief departing from the living God? Lack of faith. Unbelief- no faith.
I've mentioned my favorite verse before and I'll use it again only this time including the whole passage-
Mar 9:14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
Mar 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
Mar 9:16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
Mar 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
Mar 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Mar 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Mar 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
Mar 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
Mar 9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
Mar 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Here is a desperate father who only wants his son healed, a son that had been afflicted since he was a child with a spirit that made him deaf, dumb, feel pain, foam at the mouth, gnash his teeth, all as he wastes away. How desperate this poor father was to have his son healed. He brought him to the disciples of Jesus, men that had power given to them by Jesus to heal and cast out evil spirits, yet the disciples could not help him. How devastating that had to be to the father. Then the master of the disciples arrives and this is his last hope to have his son healed. He tells the Lord about his son and Jesus answers by saying this--
'O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?'
Faithless!
Jesus said- IF THOU CANST BELIEVE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH.
The opposite is true isn't it? Nothing is possible to them that do not believe.
Our only hope is faith in our Savior. Our hope lies in NOT tempting God, in not asking God to prove Himself but rather believing without the proof. We have to believe, we can't be faithless! If we doubt our belief we have to pray as that father who desperately wanted his son to be healed-- with tears-- LORD, I BELIEVE HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF.
Can you imagine the anguish, the desperate hope? Anyone who has faced having a loved one in pain, anyone who can comprehend the situation if they haven't experienced it, can put themselves in that father's position. A lot of people pray and tell God they'd do anything if only they'd help that loved one. This father told Jesus face to face, he believed and then said HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF. Why? Why did he add that last bit? Help though mine unbelief? Because the least little bit of doubt might have been enough to stop Jesus from healing his son and that man understood and wanted nothing, not even the possibility of the slightest disbelief in himself to keep his son from being healed. The helplessness we have in saving ourselves is in this too, isn't it? Think about it. We have to believe! We can't tempt God, we can't ask Him to prove Himself, we must have faith.
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Sin is soooooo incredibly deceitful. More on that tomorrow though.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord may we have faith in Him, may we not tempt Him in any way. By His love now and forever!
Amen.
8/31/11
I
know thy works...
Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in
Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
*******
Who
has a sharp sword with two edges?
What
is the two edged sword all about?
Psa 149:1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD
a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
Psa 149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made
him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Psa 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance:
let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Psa 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his
people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
Psa 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let
them sing aloud upon their beds.
Psa 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their
mouth, and a
twoedged sword in their hand;
Psa 149:7 To
execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
Psa
149:8 To bind their kings with
chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Psa
149:9 To execute upon them the
judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
Hebrews
{4:12}
For the word of God
[is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is]
a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart
Revelation
{1:13}
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.
{1:14}
His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes
[were] as a flame of fire;
{1:15}
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his
voice as the sound of many waters.
{1:16}
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.
He
who has the two-edged sword is
Jesus.
And
from just noting a bit more about the two-edged sword it's easy to see that
it's symbolic of God's quick and decisive manner. There is no deception, no
guile, no toying when it comes to God, and all He does is precise. His word is
more powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. And the power and sharpness
of such a sword is tremendous. Jesus speaks with such exacting vengeance in
such a way that there leaves no doubt to the truth of his actions- none.
Jesus speaks to us holding nothing
back.
Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou
dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast
not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr,
who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
He
knows our works! He knew them back in the days of John, He knew them in the
early years of God's people- His church historically, and He knows us even now.
It's safe to say Jesus has known us through all time and there was never a time
He didn't know His people. Even when His people have caused Him grief He has
known and has tried to guide them down the right path of His righteousness.
He
knows thy works, where thou dwellest- where we live. He knows. And He has known where Satan's seat is and make no
mistake about it- Satan has his foothold in this world he was cast out
upon at the birth of salvation
realized in Jesus' entrance into our world as He took on the flesh of humanity.
Satan cast to this earth was never more to call heaven (God's seat) his home.
Yes, Satan has his powers and his influence and he's used them to form his own
plans that include a place where he would dwell and rule from. Satan's seat.
Living among the very place where the evil one, the one who opposes, the
deceiver was in power and holding fast to the true faith of Christ- what wonder!
Holding fast to Christ! Not denying Christ's faith!
People
say that there are no more martyrs, I say they're wrong. There are many, many
martyrs today. In fact just writing what I'm writing would be cause for my
death in some countries. We don't want to believe it, but it's true.
Wherever we are living, in whatever situation we find ourselves even if it's the worst place imaginable- if we hold fast to Christ and remain faithful then we will have His blessing. I'm not just talking a life or death situation with a true sword ready to slice our head from our shoulders. I'm talking living in the world that Satan claims as His and holding fast. It's all too easy for us to give in and go along with the crowd. To laugh and smile, and seemingly agree with the goings on even when they bold-facedly ridicule all that is Godly. Inwardly we might condemn the actions going on about us and we cling to that inward man, but outwardly we seem to agree with the ungodliness and what does that mean? We're ashamed of our beliefs.
If
we won't hold fast to Christ and our faith in Him now in the little things, how
will we do so later on when our very lives may depend on seemingly agreeing
with the ungodly? Will we align ourselves with the ungodly so that we can live?
Or be martyrs to hold fast to Christ?
The
historical message, the message for all time, we need to learn, to listen, to
take to heart what is being said.
Rev
2:14 But I have a few things
against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who
taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat
things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Rev
2:15 So hast thou also them that
hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Hold
the doctrine of Balaam... idol worship in all its ugly forms.
The Nicolaitans are mentioned once more and we know these are all that
about things, people and their actions, that Jesus hates.
Again,
just because you don't live in a town where they have festivals to worship the
sun god Baal, does not mean there is no idol worship today. Among God's people
there are those who hold fast to the belief that worshipping the world rather
than God means the most. We can't worship any other than God! Search our hearts
and our lives and examine what lies within- is it worship to anything other
than God? Is there a self-worship? The worship of any thing that would take us
from God?
Rev
2:16 Repent; or else I will come
unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev
2:17 He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give
to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a
new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Repent.
We
need to repent and not face the righteous wrath of Christ.
Listen!
We are told to LISTEN!
If
we overcome through Christ we will be given hidden manna- heavenly food so
precious. We will be given a white stone- a stone of purity and innocence in
Christ. In that stone we'll receive our new name, a new name only we know. God
made a point to give Abram and Sari new names and He also gave Jacob a new
name. We who overcome as they overcame by faith in God and His righteousness we
too will receive a new name.
By
His mercy, by His grace, by His love and by His righteousness alone may we cling
to Him and be found in Him to be overcomers through Him and Him alone. Forgive
us oh Lord, forgive us our many, many tresspasses, our many failings and set us
on Your path to Your righteousness- now and forever!
Amen
Note- here is an
excerpt from a prophecy booklet called- 'These Times - The amazing prophecies
of Daniel and Revelation. A
Special Issue.' pg. 24-25
'Verses 12-17.
The city of Pergamos (or Pergamum) was the capital of the Roman province of
Asia. A rich, important city, it served as a center of emperor worship and
various pagan religions. Jesus perceptively described Pergamum as a city in
bondage to the dictatorship of Satan, the leader of all evil forces (see
Revelation 12:9;13:1,2). The great failure of the church at Pergamum was that it
allowed pagan, unchristian influences into its midst, accepting the teaching of
"Balaam" -- a reference to a man who influenced the Israelites shortly after
they left Egypt to unite with pagans and become involved in idolatry and
immorality (Numbers 22-25; 31:13-16).
The experience of
the whole church following AD 313, when Emperor Constantine legalized
Christianity, resembled that of Pergamum. Following this time the church
increasingly accepted pagan ideas and practices into its midst and advanced
steadily down the path of apostasy foretold by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The
church's only hope lay in its willingness to let the sharp "two-edged sword" of
truth wielded by Jesus cut away their selfishness and pride (cf Hebrews 4:12).
'
*******
The reason I
wanted to insert this note is because we need to touch on the specific
historically applied aspect to the prophecy as well as the time of John the
prophet, and we most certainly can tell already how it's applied to us now and
to all of God's people through history in a broad meaningful way.
The
historical time period this covers- Constantine, or perhaps, rather, from his
professed conversion to Christianity in A.D. 313 to the establishment of the
papacy in A.D. 538.
In 313,
Constantine proclaimed the Edict of Milan which legalized Christian
worship. Go to Wikipedia, look up
Constantine and this is in there.
We've already gone over these dates when we studied the prophecy of
Daniel. Daniel and Revelation both deal with prophecy in a huge way and go hand
in hand in so much. This all fits
together and the placing of the puzzle pieces will mean we need to go back and
forth between these two books and truly throughout the entire Bible.
By God's grace,
through His will, now and forever!
Amen.