Revelation
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;
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.
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.
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.
Behold, I come quickly
hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown.
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.
He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
...
Isaiah {22:22} And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
...
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
...
Jesus. Jesus alone holds the keys of all God's people. David, one of God's beloved - a representative of God's true people, the faithful. The key of the faithful is Jesus- faith in Jesus is the key- without faith it's impossible to please God. All of God's faithful had that special faith in God.
Many things can one man open and another close it happens all the time. But when God opens something no man can close it save God. And what God closes, no man can open. God alone has the power of such magnitude, God alone.
...
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.
...
He knows us our hearts, He knows the deeds of our heart which are our works. God sets before us a way to Salvation and no man can take the from us, not one. Compared to the wonders of God we are very weak creatures. Even with the smallest of strength we can be strong in the Lord if we keep His words, if we don't deny His name. We can't deny God, we can't deny our Salvation. If we deny the power of salvation in Jesus Christ then we have no right to salvation at all.
...
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.
...
What are Jews but God's chosen people? God's chosen. Those who say they are God's chosen and aren't they will be accounted on Satan's side where all liars dwell. Satan is the father of lies and all his children liars with him, deceiving themselves and all they can deceive with lies.
Jesus will reign and all the liars will one day realize He is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, He is the Truth! And all those who cling to the truth through Him will stand on His side and in that day the liars and followers of Satan realize this they will be worshipping at the feet of Jesus realizing where true love is found.
...
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.
Behold, I come quickly
hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown.
...
Rev. {14:12} Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The saints will have kept the word of God's patience. Faith! Faith in Jesus! Keeping the commandments of God! If we keep through Jesus will will be kept by Him from the temptations that come about all- trying that patience and trying to rip it from us.
Before all in the world are caught in the snares of satan, before there are none faithful left, Christ will come. We have to hold fast! HOLD FAST! Keep believing, keep the faith so that we will have our crown of life in Christ. We can't let any man take our crown and yes, men will try. All that belong to satan will try to take that crown from us, to fill our minds, our hearts with deception, with lies, convincing us to lose faith. Our trust, our hope must be in Christ and Christ alone.
...
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.
He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
...
We must overcome through Christ- if we overcome we will stand in the temple of God an be with Him and never leave Him. We will have the name of God upon us, the name of the city of God, new Jerusalem, a city that will come down from heaven. We will have the new name of Christ- a new life in Christ- we must listen! We must hear the Spirit!
May God bless and keep us in Him now and forever though satan would have us and use all in his power to keep us from God. By the mercy and grace of Christ alone we live.
Amen!
9/2/10
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Compare-
Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Compare-
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness
These verses are being repeated with slight variations in the same chapter- why? We have to note it, we have to ask ourselves why and the only real answer to that is the usual one. Something is repeated for emphasis, right? When you repeat an instruction you're doing so in hopes the one you are instructing won't forget what you're saying and understand its importance.
We are PARTAKERS of Christ, PARTAKERS of the heavenly calling. This is something so amazing we don't appreciate what it really means. We've been so jaded that we can scarcely comprehend this let alone feel the joy, or the importance of what it all means. How can we lightly say or even think- I am a partaker of Christ, I am a partaker of the heavenly calling? How can we read these words and not understand how incredibly blessed and honored we are by having this opportunity? We're so jaded, so incredibly beaten down spiritually that we can't truly comprehend what this means. It's deliverance! As surely as God's people were enslaved in Egypt we are enslaved today to Satan in so many ways. We need to be set free in Christ. We need to look forward past the here and now. We need to understand that this life is so very temporary. It weighs on us though. Life with all its problems weigh us down heavily- the 'cares of this life' can be so heavily they over come us if we let them. Satan would blind us to our heavenly calling at every opportunity. We are called to remember we are partakers of Christ. We are called NOT to harden our hearts. How does a heart become hardened? Through disbelief, through forgetfulness of the heavenly calling, through letting this world and ALL it's awful problems be overwhelming and consuming.
Heb 3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Again, compare--
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.
Unbelief is deadly.
We have to believe in our Hope, Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR! We have to believe in our HEAVENLY CALLING and make that heavenly calling our life, our reason for living- Jesus! Living for our Savior, NOT for ourselves.
By the grace of God may we do this before our hearts become hardened, before we lose faith and unbelief overtakes us.
In His Love
Amen
9/2/11
Rev 3:1 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.
Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect
before God.
*******
Watch.
Be watchful. We have to watch don't we? Time and time again our Savior has
admonished to watch. There has to be a reason for this, a good reason. Isn't it
true that if you're being watchful there is a sense of expectation in your
life? A life spent watching for
our Savior. A life spent in
expectation of our Savior. A life whose sole endeavor is to live watching for
Jesus Christ. Waking up in the morning with the expectation of Jesus. Going to
sleep at night with the expectation of Jesus. Watching for Jesus, watching our
lives -watching whether or not our own actions are those that our Savior would
commend and not condemn. Watching and recognizing the need of repentance in our
lives. Yes, we need to be
watchful and if we don't watch, if we aren't watchful we have only ourselves to
blame when we are taken unawares.
We
have to strength the remaining things- things that are ready to die- die
without intervention? Isn't it often the way that weak things are known to
die?
If
God's people don't hold fast through the adversity surrounding them it's easy
to grow weak. Imperfection in actions are unacceptable. So much admonition and
this isn't something that can be taken lightly. Strengthening something that is ready to
die means what? Keeping it from dying, right? If a person who is sick and near
death is given strength it usually means they are recovering, no longer dying.
When something not someone, but something is dying don't we do all we can
usually to try and keep it from dying? We don't want things to lose life. If something good within us is alive we
have to keep that strong, not let it weaken. If we let our faith grow weak then
we are in danger of it dying. Is it any wonder we are told to be watching, to
strengthen the things that we do have that can be strengthened, things that can
so easily die if we neglect them?
No,
the works aren't perfect, and we can't believe God will ever accept anything
less than perfection in Christ.
Rev
3:3 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.
Remember!
Hold fast! Repent! Watch!
These
are things that throughout history God's people have to adhere to. There will
never be a time we should no longer remember all that we've been taught and
have received of God. There will never be a time we should loosen our grasp on
the faith we need in Jesus. There will never be a time we shouldn't repent, and
there will never be a time we shouldn't watch for the coming of our Lord and
Savior- never. Foolishness some will say, but it's true. We watch and we keep
the hope alive, the faith strong in Christ. If we stop watching for Christ we
will not be prepared and like a thief sneaking in and stealing away all that is
yours without your ever being alerted to their visitation until it's too late
and all your goods are gone- Christ will come and salvation will be lost to
those who aren't watching for Him.
Remember!
Hold fast! Repent! Watch!
Rev
3:4 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.
Rev
3:5 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.
Rev
3:6 He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Defiled
garments are unsuitable, if we're not clothed in the pure white of Christ's
righteousness then we are stained by unforgiven sin, unrepentant sin and we
will not walk with Christ. There are few that remain clothed in Christ's
righteousness among God's people, few that are trusting solely in Him and not
relying on their own filthy righteousness. Only those who are clothed in white
will be worthy in Christ.
God's
people who overcome with have white raiment, pure undefiled garments and they
will have their names in the book of life- Christ will confess our names before
God, before God's angels! We want our names confessed by Christ. We want Him
knowing our names, knowing us, knowing that we rely on Him and wait for Him,
watching, seeking Him and the gift of His salvation.
May
the Lord bless us with His mercy. May we be among those clothed in the pure
white of His righteousness and have our names confessed by Jesus to God and the
angels. In His name!
***
More tomorrow on
this, there is so much to study. We can't leave out the historical aspect to
all this either. By the grace of
God may we only grow closer and closer to Him! In His love so amazing, so
wondrous! Forever in HIM and HIS
righteousness!
Amen!
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Compare-
Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Compare-
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness
These verses are being repeated with slight variations in the same chapter- why? We have to note it, we have to ask ourselves why and the only real answer to that is the usual one. Something is repeated for emphasis, right? When you repeat an instruction you're doing so in hopes the one you are instructing won't forget what you're saying and understand its importance.
We are PARTAKERS of Christ, PARTAKERS of the heavenly calling. This is something so amazing we don't appreciate what it really means. We've been so jaded that we can scarcely comprehend this let alone feel the joy, or the importance of what it all means. How can we lightly say or even think- I am a partaker of Christ, I am a partaker of the heavenly calling? How can we read these words and not understand how incredibly blessed and honored we are by having this opportunity? We're so jaded, so incredibly beaten down spiritually that we can't truly comprehend what this means. It's deliverance! As surely as God's people were enslaved in Egypt we are enslaved today to Satan in so many ways. We need to be set free in Christ. We need to look forward past the here and now. We need to understand that this life is so very temporary. It weighs on us though. Life with all its problems weigh us down heavily- the 'cares of this life' can be so heavily they over come us if we let them. Satan would blind us to our heavenly calling at every opportunity. We are called to remember we are partakers of Christ. We are called NOT to harden our hearts. How does a heart become hardened? Through disbelief, through forgetfulness of the heavenly calling, through letting this world and ALL it's awful problems be overwhelming and consuming.
Heb 3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Again, compare--
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.
Unbelief is deadly.
We have to believe in our Hope, Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR! We have to believe in our HEAVENLY CALLING and make that heavenly calling our life, our reason for living- Jesus! Living for our Savior, NOT for ourselves.
By the grace of God may we do this before our hearts become hardened, before we lose faith and unbelief overtakes us.
In His Love
Amen
9/2/11
Rev 3:1 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.
Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things
which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect
before God.
*******
Watch.
Be watchful. We have to watch don't we? Time and time again our Savior has
admonished to watch. There has to be a reason for this, a good reason. Isn't it
true that if you're being watchful there is a sense of expectation in your
life? A life spent watching for
our Savior. A life spent in
expectation of our Savior. A life whose sole endeavor is to live watching for
Jesus Christ. Waking up in the morning with the expectation of Jesus. Going to
sleep at night with the expectation of Jesus. Watching for Jesus, watching our
lives -watching whether or not our own actions are those that our Savior would
commend and not condemn. Watching and recognizing the need of repentance in our
lives. Yes, we need to be
watchful and if we don't watch, if we aren't watchful we have only ourselves to
blame when we are taken unawares.
We
have to strength the remaining things- things that are ready to die- die
without intervention? Isn't it often the way that weak things are known to
die?
If
God's people don't hold fast through the adversity surrounding them it's easy
to grow weak. Imperfection in actions are unacceptable. So much admonition and
this isn't something that can be taken lightly. Strengthening something that is ready to
die means what? Keeping it from dying, right? If a person who is sick and near
death is given strength it usually means they are recovering, no longer dying.
When something not someone, but something is dying don't we do all we can
usually to try and keep it from dying? We don't want things to lose life. If something good within us is alive we
have to keep that strong, not let it weaken. If we let our faith grow weak then
we are in danger of it dying. Is it any wonder we are told to be watching, to
strengthen the things that we do have that can be strengthened, things that can
so easily die if we neglect them?
No,
the works aren't perfect, and we can't believe God will ever accept anything
less than perfection in Christ.
Rev
3:3 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.
Remember!
Hold fast! Repent! Watch!
These
are things that throughout history God's people have to adhere to. There will
never be a time we should no longer remember all that we've been taught and
have received of God. There will never be a time we should loosen our grasp on
the faith we need in Jesus. There will never be a time we shouldn't repent, and
there will never be a time we shouldn't watch for the coming of our Lord and
Savior- never. Foolishness some will say, but it's true. We watch and we keep
the hope alive, the faith strong in Christ. If we stop watching for Christ we
will not be prepared and like a thief sneaking in and stealing away all that is
yours without your ever being alerted to their visitation until it's too late
and all your goods are gone- Christ will come and salvation will be lost to
those who aren't watching for Him.
Remember!
Hold fast! Repent! Watch!
Rev
3:4 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.
Rev
3:5 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.
Rev
3:6 He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Defiled
garments are unsuitable, if we're not clothed in the pure white of Christ's
righteousness then we are stained by unforgiven sin, unrepentant sin and we
will not walk with Christ. There are few that remain clothed in Christ's
righteousness among God's people, few that are trusting solely in Him and not
relying on their own filthy righteousness. Only those who are clothed in white
will be worthy in Christ.
God's
people who overcome with have white raiment, pure undefiled garments and they
will have their names in the book of life- Christ will confess our names before
God, before God's angels! We want our names confessed by Christ. We want Him
knowing our names, knowing us, knowing that we rely on Him and wait for Him,
watching, seeking Him and the gift of His salvation.
May
the Lord bless us with His mercy. May we be among those clothed in the pure
white of His righteousness and have our names confessed by Jesus to God and the
angels. In His name!
***
More tomorrow on
this, there is so much to study. We can't leave out the historical aspect to
all this either. By the grace of
God may we only grow closer and closer to Him! In His love so amazing, so
wondrous! Forever in HIM and HIS
righteousness!
Amen!