As we begin chapter three, we know it is Jesus speaking to the apostle John, on the isle of Patmos, and He told him to write these things down. Does this letter sound like your church?
Revelation 3:1-6 “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.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
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.
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.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
One day we had a little discussion about verse five above. You see, it does say that Jesus can “blot” out our names that are written in the book of life. Perhaps our names are written in when we’re born; but Jesus is the Judge, and has the power to blot them out. That is scary. I pray my name does not get blotted out because of something I’ve done, am doing, or could do in the future. Perhaps that’s why Jesus gave us “The Lord’s Prayer,” which so wisely includes the verbage “forgive us our trespasses” and petition to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Revelations 3:7-13 “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;
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.
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.
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.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
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.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
I love God’s Word and believe ALL of it. And there’s the part that says when God closes one door, He opens another one, and no one can shut it! Yes, He does open and close doors for us! But first we must open the door of our hearts to Jesus, who is knocking on our heart with His Word (Accountability)
When we approach God’s throne, with our Intercessor, Jesus Christ sitting on His right hand, pleading our case for us; don’t you know when God is for us, who can be against us? I get so excited when I read God’s Word! And just think - when you look at a Bible sitting on a table, what color is it? Usually black or brown (yes I have a white one) but when it’s closed you don’t see a thing. It does not look exciting or full of promises. Then you open it up and see all of God’s glory written in it. It fills our spirits, renews our strength, gives us hope, courage, and yes, even healing! And the New Jerusalem is coming down from heaven! Did you “hear” that?! Praise God for His Word!
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