The Message to Laodicea

The Message to Laodicea

Book of Revelation Chapter 3 Verses 14 through 22

This is the last church that is addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will see that the Lord Jesus will not commend this Pastor at all.

This is the Age of complacent Christians.

This is the Church of the early 1900's through today.

The Roman Catholic church had reached the peak of its power and the Jesuits had begun in this Age.

The Jesuits were a society that in title were formed to promote the Lord Jesus Christ, but they lost their way and forgot who they were supposed to be.

It is the Jesuits have cause many or I should say most of the problems between the Catholic Church and all other Church denominations.

In fact it is the Jesuits have doctored the Codex Sinaiticus so much, that it is so far from the truth it is like a book of lies.

This is the Scripture that is claimed to be the oldest recovered text that the Jesuits have added so many corrections that it has more corrections than it does original text.

Even this so-called protestant preacher who claimed to find this so-called earliest text was basically hired by the Pope and the Jesuits because he was a disciple of the Jesuits.

It is the Jesuits that have written the Catholic Doctrine used today.

It is this same doctored Codex Sinaiticus that is used for many English translations today including the NIV and even the NKJV and most all other perversions of the Scriptures.

The world needs to know the truth before it is too late!

You see the remnants of this society who still have control of the Catholic Schools.

The remnant of this society is in the UN.

You can find the Jesuits and the disciples of the Jesuits in every facet of government in almost every nation of the world today including here in America where they are also in our Federal Reserve that was a sellout of our own Banking Industry by Woodrow Wilson.

Methodism had begun.

The Protestant Church had begun.

Mohammedanism has gained in strength to be the number one religion in the world.

Religion was filling the world because the Christians had become Luke-warm!

Even today Christians refuse to take a stand even though we have the last of the remaining truth.

Sure there are Christians in every denomination, and we all need to take a stand on the truth while we are still able!

We must all make sure we have a copy of the true Word of God and not some doctored text!

I would never talk about people. I am not judging people their own works judge them. I am referring to Doctrine!

We already know that the Apostle Paul had a great concern for this church while he was still alive.

Col 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Col 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Here we see that already that Pastor was using enticing words to beguile this Church and they did not listen to Paul. They rejected the truth or became lute-warm

Now Jesus, the One true God, adds to what Paul had already told these Pastors. They had not changed!

This church in Laodicea was a self-complacent church.

This church in Laodicea was a lute warm church, the worst of all churches.

It is almost impossible for someone who is Luke-warm to ever give there all to the Lord.

A self-complacent individual will never pick up their cross daily and follow the Lord!

This is why Christians do not vote. Nothing changes for them no matter who is in power! They do not see the error of their ways!

They are alright with anything that seems to make the world be at peace with itself so, they do not concern themselves about the Lord's "or else" preaching.

Most of them do not even believe in Hell! This a teaching of the Jesuits.

God is only an old grandfather figure who allows just about anything. Another teaching of the Jesuits.

Laodicea was a banking center noted for its wealth.

Luxury was everywhere.

The city was also a medical center and even in that day Doctors were not cheap.

Most of these were eye doctors because an eye salve had been formulated there.

This area of Laodicea was also a center of the clothing industry.

It was easy to get a job and most all jobs paid very well for that day.

What did Jesus the Amen, say to this Pastor?

*****Rev 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;

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

Amen means Jesus Christ the faithful and true witness.

When we say Amen, we are saying we agree with everything about the "Gospel" the "Good-news" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will see that the Lord did not have anything good to say about this church.

We could use the word "complacent" when we talk about this church.

Complacent means self-satisfied. This people were satisfied with themselves!

Lute-warmness is the result of self-complacency.

It can be said that it is impossible for self-compliant people to be anything other than lukewarm!

The message is still sent to the Pastor of this church and I can just imagine how tough it was for him to preach this message because this message was aimed at him!

He was indifferent.

He was complacent.

He was self-satisfied.

He was half-hearted about his relationship with Jesus Christ.

He was neutral in his belief of the "Gospel" and it caused his church to be the same!

The Pastor of each church and every church leader have one job, and this is to lead their flock to the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Pastor of this Church could very well have been a man named Archippus.

Col 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Col 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

Col 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

This could be the same man who is the son of Philemon who by the writing of the Apostle Paul was a fairly rich Christian.

Phm 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Phm 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Phm 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Though these facts are true this does not make the Pastor of this church to be Archippus, but in reality, the son of any rich man could be this type of person as the pastor of this church.

Whoever it was, they were neither cold nor were they hot in their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is the type of the modern-day church leader. They have a cool relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ when we are all supposed to be "on fire" for Him!

This is the reason for this message to this Pastor.

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

Jesus said, "you cause me to vomit". In other words Jesus said: "you make me sick"

If there is one thing that I never want to hear from my Savior, it would be "depart from me"!

Mat_7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Mat_25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Luk_13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

The next thing I would never want to hear is "you make me sick to my stomach"!

Jesus said this to keep from saying the word "hate" because Jesus was still offering this Pastor and this church a chance to repent.

Why was this church this way? Just let the Lord explain what He means.

*****Rev 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:

This Pastor confused material wealth here on earth with Spiritual wealth that can only come through a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual pride and lute-warmness are usually produced by worldly prosperity.

It is not enough for the wealthy Christians to just contribute his tithe and think that it is enough.

The riches given by our Creator are to be shared especially those who certainly have more than they need.

Today we see the superrich who make a big deal about giving millions of dollars to charities who only use 10% of that money for a good cause.

Many of them do not have a good cause at all!

We see them give millions of dollars to things such as the false science of climate change, that will produce no results but will just make other men rich.

It is not humans that cause our climate to change. It is wickedness, filthiness and sin!

If they gave to the missions to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they could change this world to be a far better place.

God's true people who are true to Jesus, will do more for this world that any of these other charities, period

Luke-warmness causes false professions of faith and a false reality of salvation!

You can ask people on the streets if they are saved and a majority will say they are, but then ask them which church they attend and most have no answer.

What we see in most so-called Christian circles today, it is enough to make us sick to our stomachs.

These people did not even realize they were wretched. They were despicable.

They were miserable for the Lord to look upon.

Even with all the riches upon this earth, they were poor compared to the riches of Heaven. They were missing out on God's gifts of "Grace"!

They were blind to the truth of the "Gospel"!

They were naked, not wearing the "armor of God"!

What is the same truth of us all? Listen to the Apostle Paul

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

I dare say that every true Christian has these same thoughts as the Apostle Paul.

The things done at this church in Laodicea were done to be pleasing to the public but not to Jesus Christ!

*****Rev 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 eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Jesus said, "you are shopping in the wrong places".

What was the answer from Jesus?

Jesus said allow me to be your counselor and quit listening to the world.

Jesus said: Let me show you how to buy Spiritual Gold.

1) Laodicea was a banking center but all the instruments of wealth in those banks are temporary. Yes even gold will deteriorate and go away unless it is stored in the proper environment. You must keep in mind that in Heaven, gold is just paving material having very little value.

Spiritual wealth is eternal, worth far more than anything considered valuable that is upon this earth!

Rubies and Diamonds and all such things are just wall decorations and even pearls are just doors in the New Heaven.

1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Real value is in life and eternal life!

Ask those who have been given over to this virus of today if their riches kept them from catching this virus.

About the only thing the rich can do during this virus is to get to be tested before anyone else and there is no excuse even for this.

Ask those that have died if it were possible, if their riches kept them alive.

The reality of Heaven is far greater than anything upon this earth!

2) The people of this church needed to change the place they got their clothing.

Remember this city was a clothing center. A large textile and manufacturing center.

They lacked Spiritual clothing! They had no shame for their Spiritual nakedness! Sounds familiar for today's church.

They were exposed to the wickedness of this world without the armor of God!

The white robe represents the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Rom_13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Gal_3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Without that white robe you will not get into God's New Heaven nor New Jerusalem!

3) They needed some eye salve. Remember this city was a great medical center.

There was a medical school that concentrated on treating eyes and partial blindness, the best in all the world.

They were famous for their eye salve.

Jesus said that "eye salve" was no good because it could not open eyes of those who were blind to the truth of God.

They were Spiritually blind!

They could not see the "Light of the world" who is Jesus Christ.

Joh_8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Joh_9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

They were so blinded by the world that they could not see the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

What was the answer to all the problems this church had?

What is the answer to "lute-warmness"?

Repentance!

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

There is only one answer to anyone who has lost their first love.

There is only one answer to for all those who have strayed from the truth.

"To Repent" Until we get to Heaven, we all need to repent everyday but that soul who is lost certainly must repent and call upon Jesus Christ.

This church at Laodicea needed not only to repent but to be zealous about it.

That word zealous meant: To be warmly engaged or ardent in the pursuit of that repentance.

To be ardent means: Having the appearance of quality of fire.

This my friends means to be "On Fire for the Lord".

There is no one on the face of this earth that the Lord Jesus does not love!

Sure He loves His Church.

Sure He loves those who love Him.

Sure He loves the believer.

We can be just as sure that He loves the lost or we would not be left here after our salvation. It would serve no purpose.

Rom_10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom_10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Why? Because we are all created in the image of our Savior!

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

There is only one difference between the saved and the lost. It’s called love!

Have you not noticed how much hate is in our world today and the instigators of hate, seem to be heroes to some.

To be saved is to open up your heart to receive the love of God, through His Son Jesus!

Do not be fooled by the United Nations or any other group, without the Lord Jesus Christ you will never get to Heaven and Hell is a real place!

*****Rev 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.

You tell a man to open up his heart to receive that special lady he has dreamed of having and finally found her, and he will understand exactly what you are talking about.

It’s like that with Jesus Christ!

We must open up the doors of our heart and receive the gift of love from our Holy God.

Sure this church needed to open up the doors and allow Jesus to come back in and fervently, on fire, to worship Him.

But it is each of us who are to open our hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ and most all of us have allowed our fire to grow dim.

After all, we are all in that Laodicean Church Age.

We need to turn up the heat within us and proceed to show the Love of God to this weary world!

There is no time greater than today as the world hides behind closed doors from a deadly virus.

Even Christians hide in panic behind closed doors in fear of this virus which in the end was not that deadly when you subtract all those who would have died if they had contacted the flu or any other virus. Not one death should be celebrated, Family members will still suffer.

We forget it is the Lord Jesus Christ who holds the keys of death!

In the end God will get the blame for this thing when we as Christians know we have already been warned by a loving God that these things would happen and none of us made the right preparations!

The world is not prepared for what is coming and the world seems to never learn from the mistakes that were made by that generation that was before this one.

God does not do these things to His own people, but He does have His reasons for not bringing it to an end!

The Scriptures will always prove to be true!

As Christians we must take our stand before we get swept under the rug and stomped on!

The Lord is knocking on the door of every heart, so it is we humans who have to make the next move!

Psa 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.

Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

We live in a world that will believe anything false but will reject most the truth!

Why am I not worried today? Because I believe!

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Joh 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

And what a wonderful promise the Lord Jesus makes to those who believe the truth and open the doors of their heart to receive Him.

*****Rev 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.

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

Our Savior, our God will not beg anyone to believe but He has presented us with the truth and He will plead with us to accept His truth and then this thing is in our own hands as to what we do with it.

The Lord will continue to knock until His patience runs out and it’s time to receive His Church into Heaven.

My home is prepared in Heaven! I hope yours is also!

Luk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

The Muslim get it all wrong.

The Jews get it all wrong.

To be a child of Abraham you must allow the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart!

You must allow the Holy Spirit to come to you and live inside of you!

The Holy Spirit says we need to listen to what the Bible says, and this is all the Bible not just bits and pieces.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Good works after salvation means, being on fire for the Lord.

What are we to be today?

1Pe_2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

What is God's rule about the altar for these sacrifices?

Lev 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.

Lev 6:13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.

To allow our fire to go out is negligence!

To put our fire out is complete disobedience!

We had better heed to the Word of God, saved for us, and preserved for us by God the Holy Spirit!

Amen

Let's Pray!

The Message to Philadelphia

The Message to Philadelphia

Revelation Chapter 3 Verses 7 through 13

Philadelphia which means "brotherly love" was also one of those seven cities that the Lord Jesus speaks to us about.

Today, this city lies in present day Turkey and has the name Allahshehr as the Muslim have renamed this city, but even today it still has a large Christian presence with as many as 25 churches of various sizes with 5 of those considered to be large churches.

It is also called Katakekaumene which means "burnt region" because of its volcanic character.

It lies only 28 miles from Sardis.

Maybe the greatest trait of the church in Philadelphia was patience!

The church at Philadelphia was one of those churches that when you walked in, you could feel the love from those brothers and sisters in Christ.

This church gave a new meaning to the term "brotherly love"!

Every ministry was bound together in the name of Jesus Christ.

Every activity was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ.

These brothers and sisters had given their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ and had no regrets in doing so!

This church at Philadelphia gives as the complete idea, on a small scale, of what the Lord Jesus expects from all His churches.

This church was only 28 miles from the church at Sardis but untold miles in Christian behavior form that church.

Listen to what Jesus actually says, as again Jesus speaks to the Pastor of this church.

*****Rev 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;

There is no truth in this world greater than our Lord Jesus Christ!

We get nothing but truth from the Word of God!

We get very little truth from the world. We receive a lot of deception, and deceptive practices!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the "Holy One of God"! Even the Devil and his demons know this is true!

Mar 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

The Lord Jesus Christ is true, and He is the emblem of truth of our Holy God!

Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

Act 4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

It is Jesus who holds the "Key of David"!

Isa 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.

We know when doors are locked, then we need a key. We also know that when doors are left open then again, we still need a key to lock that door for safety.

Jesus holds all the keys to all the closed doors of His ministry.

Jesus holds all the keys to all the open doors of His ministry.

Jesus holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus also holds the keys to hell.

Jesus holds all the keys of death.

Mat_16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Rev_1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

As the holder of the keys, then Jesus is the Holder of power in Heaven and upon Earth!

Mat_28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

The world can deny these things, but it does not make these things any less true!

This Pastor needed to understand these things just as we need to understand these things today.

Nothing upon this earth can compare to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There can be no ministry, unless the Lord Jesus opens the door to that ministry.

It is by these things that the Holy Spirit keeps us headed in the right direction!

Again all things that go on in every church are known to Him.

Remember the church is the saints that are inside the building and not the building itself.

*****Rev 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.

We should understand if the Lord gives a message to the Pastor of any church, He expects that message to be shared with the people of that church. The Lord does not have secrets when it comes to His church!

In fact the Lord Jesus has no secrets at all that are not revealed in the Scriptures.

This church knew exactly what it meant to be a "mission minded church".

The Apostle Paul had written many times about open doors for the ministry to the Gentiles.

Act 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

1Co 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

2Co 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

2Co 2:13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

Col 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Col 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

This church also knew what it was to live in insecure surroundings because this area was a place of many earthquakes.

This church knew what it was to have hope.

This church knew of that yearning for a Heavenly Temple that was eternal.

This church knew the reality of the Gospel offered to the overcomer!

Yes, Jesus Christ is the One who is True!

There is no excuse for any of us not to be alive and faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ all our days.

Even in these days of this Corona Virus, we are wrong not to place "all" our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus will never do things to cause harm to His church and He expects His Church to rise up to meet the obstacles in its path head on!

Where is our faith now?

Is it in the governments that seek someone to blame?

Is it in our systems that fails to prepare for these things even though the Lord said they were coming?

Is it in riches?

Is it in our own selves?

A loss of faith is a denial of the power of our Lord and Savior!

He will take us home soon enough! It is never a time to quit on the Lord!

Even today as this virus goes worldwide, it is not time to quit on the Lord, it is time to be as busy as we can without being foolish.

How does God see all those who reject Him?

*****Rev 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.

It is our Holy God, who holds all the power in this world!

He did not cause this virus, but He could have and He could stop it with one Word! When all this thing has gone its way we may not ever see where the mistake of some man or some government was made, but we can be sure something went wrong and in the end we will see that it was intended unless governments cover it up saying its best for the people not to know these things.

I am ashamed to ask our Savior to put an end to this thing for people who do not accept that there is a God who cares, but if we do not pray, we to are being disobedient and no better than they.

This church at Philadelphia was located in the right place no matter what we think!

It is important where we locate the church buildings. I know from what our Pastor, preacher Sam has said, that our Church is located where God intended it to be located.

All those who travel this highway cannot miss our church. We are right on the side of the road in full view. We cannot hide who we are on the outside, but we can hide who we are on the inside!

I know by personal experience and a study of the Word of God that we get the truth in my church. My Pastor preaches a sound doctrine!

Are we a perfect church? No and that answer will always be no.

Was the church at Philadelphia a perfect church? That answer is also No!

In the end, all those of the synagogue of Satan will come to worship before the Church.

Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

There is no greater feeling than to know that you are loved!

There is so much hope given to us by the Word of our Heavenly Father, we would be foolish not to believe what He says!

God does not say these things just to make us feel good. He gives us the truth!

Today there are still those Jews who say they follow the true God, but they are of the synagogue of Satan because they do not.

They are liars just like there are many so-called Christians who do the same thing.

You cannot be a Christian and support abortion.

You cannot be a Christian and support queers and lesbians.

You cannot be a Christian and allow your child to pick to be a girl if he is a boy nor pick to be a boy if she is a girl.

Neither can you be a true Jew if you support these things! A true Jew follows the Word of God even if they do not follow the New Testament and the Old Testament condemns all these things.

The synagogue of Satan and the church of Satan exist today as the Luciferians and others who say they are atheist and all those who reject the truth of God and the truth of the Gospel.

This little church of Philadelphia was a bright and shining light in a dark world, and we need more churches like this church today!

Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The Lord makes some precious promises to all those who stick to the truth!

*****Rev 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.

We do not keep the word of our patience we are to keep the Word of the Lord's "patience"!

How patient is our Lord?

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

When will the Lord's patience run out? We can say for sure we are closer to that day then we have ever been!

When it is time to keep His Church from the hour of temptation as written in this Scripture!

There is an hour of temptation coming to all this earth, which I believe to be the first three and one half years of the seven years of tribulation.

Satan will have free reign upon this earth, and he will take advantage of it by using his deceptive character to win over to his side all those who remain upon this earth after the Lord has removed His Church, as He promised.

I'm not saying anything, but I just have this thought that keeps going through my head that if the world locks down every person into their homes. The Lord Jesus could come as a thief and collect His Church and the world would blame all those missing on the virus.

Just a thought as I said but this is how easily the "Rapture" could take place without most of the world being aware of it.

The Anti-Christ could then step out with the cure to all the sickness and the world would accept him!

The Antichrist could then step out with his plan to put everyone back to work and solve all the world’s problems, and he would be accepted.

These are just my thoughts, only the Lord knows but He could return at any time!

Those seven years of Tribulation are real, and those days will affect everyone who dwells upon the whole earth, yet the Lord says He will keep the Church away from those days and the only answer is to not be here upon this earth when these things begin.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Every believer will experience a great deliverance such as we can only imagine, and it will be according to the written truth of the Word of God.

We cannot afford to listen to some man or some government when we already have the written, unchangeable, undeniable, truth of Jehovah God!

The Lord will always deliver His Church!

When the Lord decides to come, it will not take days or even hours, it will take only a blink of the eye!

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

Rev 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.

What are we to do? Hold fast!

We must not miss the fact that Jesus did not find anything wrong with the way this church was operating.

The Pastor was doing his job and the people were listening and being obedient to the Word of God.

We are to hold fast!

We are to be overcomers!

A pillar is a special support that holds up an important part of a building to keep people safe from disaster.

Jdg 16:29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.

Jdg 16:30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

A pillar can be a memorial for our children to remember us by.

Gen 35:20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.

A pillar can be a trophy received for a victory.

2Sa 18:17 And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.

2Sa 18:18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.

A pillar can also be a stone set up by the Lord Jesus Christ.

1) An example.

Jos 24:26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.

2) The truth.

1Pe_2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Jesus says, "I will make you a pillar" in the Temple of God.

What a precious gift!

Jesus said, "I will give you a new name".

When the Lord calls us into a personal relationship, and we are "Born Again" then He will give us a new name.

For example, look in the Old Testament.

Abram was his family name but with Jehovah, Abram became Abraham.

Sarai was her family name but after she became the mother of Isaac, Sarai became Sarah.

Jacob was his families name but once he gave into the Lord God Jehovah, Jacob became Israel.

It was at the time of Circumcision the names were given in the New Testament.

Luk 1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

But the Lord said His name would be John,

Luk 1:60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

Because he would pave the way for the Lord.

Luk 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

Luk 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

Luk 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

Luk 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Every Christian will have a new name.

First the name of Jehovah God.

Second the city of New Jerusalem.

Third a new name.

As in my name Bobby, of New Jerusalem, child of Jehovah God

As in:

Joh_19:38 And after this "Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus", but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

We may have an address as we live upon this earth, but our home is in Heaven and our New Address will be our name, belonging to God the Father living in New Jerusalem.

Listen to the Holy Spirit.

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

Again the Holy Spirit tells the Pastor of the Church at Philadelphia to listen to what He has to say.

Our God says to listen to what He has to say:

Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Amen

Let's Pray!

The Message to Sardis

The Message to Sardis

Book of Revelation Chapter 3 Verses 1-6

Last week we saw the Church at Thyatira. The Church at Thyatira was the Church as it existed during what history calls the "Dark Ages".

It was the period in history when the Papal Church in Rome gained power and it was the time of the Crusades. The time of the Inquisitions.

No matter what history teaches, God was not in any of those things. It was not the will of God for those things to take place, so that period was the "Dark Ages". A period when the light of Jesus was not shining very brightly.

In near history it was now time that the Church of England was established, in what we know as the established church or government sponsored church.

It is the 1600 hundreds in America.

It is at the end of that dark period in history when we see that the Age of the Church as the Church of Sardis is seen.

Sardis was the Capitol city of Lydia. In the time of the Emperor Tiberius, Sardis was desolated by an earthquake which affected twelve other important cities. It is said the whole face of this area was changed.

Sardis was a city proud of its riches and the things money can buy, but when the riches failed the city failed and began to die.

This is what God has to do sometimes to get the attention of the Church.

After these times, Sardis became a place of commerce and Sardis began its decline by giving into the enjoyments of luxury and pleasure and indulging in excess of sensual sanctification.

We should ask ourselves if we have ever seen a church that was dead or that was dying?

A church that was completely lifeless?

A church that was satisfied with itself, and had no intention of changing anything that it did or the way it went about the business of the Lord.

A church that was established by good people in the past, but who most of them had now gone on to be with the Lord and now rested upon those things that were fast being forgotten.

Have you ever heard from that Christian who says, "yes I'm saved, my mother and father were saved and I am their child" or "yes, I'm saved, I attend such and such a church", Or yes I'm saved I am a church member, I attend that great church at Sardis.

It is in this climate that we see the Church of Sardis as spoken by the Lord.

Sardis had a form of Godliness, but was without the power of God!

Sardis had a name to live, but in actuality was dead!

Again the Lord speaks to the Pastor of the church at Sardis.

*****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.

In all these seven messages there is none so depressing as this message to the Church at Sardis.

The truth is, as Jesus Christ lives, then the church is to live and be alive.

Sardis did not have a bad reputation as seen by the public.

In fact to the public, this church seemed to be spiritually sound.

The truth is the world is not our judge! It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our "Judge"!

As we go through this time of a killing virus, it is still not this wicked world that should decide what information to give to the Christian.

I for one do not trust the world to do right. The Lord says to "come out from the world and be ye separate".

I can understand reasons to avoid contact but I will not understand as we move forward toward martial law which is illegal in the USA.

We see here again that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who has the "seven spirits of God".

Seven being the number of completeness, then it is the Lord Jesus Christ who has the complete Spirit of God.

Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

It is God's Son who God's Spirit descended upon and remained upon Him.

Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who received so much of the Spirit of God that it cannot be measured because He has all the Spirit of God!

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who shares His Spirit with each of us that love Him!

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

You see it is not the Church that has the Spirit. It is the Spirit of Jesus that lives within each child of God within the Church, that make it a Church that is alive and not dead.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The Church is alive only if those inside the Church have given themselves as living sacrifices to the Lord Jesus Christ.

This Pastor at Sardis would have to get on fire for the Lord, if he was to save this church!

The flock of this shepherd had died!

Without the Holy Spirit in all His fullness we are not much of a church and are dying!

Water baptism is a command of the Lord, but it does not save.

Repenting is a must, but when we are not serious about following Jesus Christ, it loses its strength.

We must be baptized with the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit that is given to Jesus Christ.

Remember the message of John the Baptist.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

This message is still true today!

The Lord Jesus does not commend this church in anything they are doing to spread the Gospel and make disciples, which is the work of every Church!

This is the greatest sin that a church can have!

Not preaching the Gospel. Jesus Christ should be in every sermon!

Not providing the truth of salvation. Salvation comes only by Jesus Christ!

Not making disciples who also proclaim the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Anything else done in any church is secondary to these things!

It was a lifeless church. In fact Jesus Himself, said it was a dead church!

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This church focused on everything but Jesus Christ! Remember they were the pride of a city that was also dying!

This church has no Nicolaitans.

This church has no Balaam.

This church has no Jezebel.

This church had no enemies.

This church had no life when it had the greatest opportunity to witness without repercussion.

Satan has no intertest in a dying church!

So what was the advice of our Savior?

*****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.

The old city of Sardis was located in a perfect place to defend. It was truly an impregnable fortress.

Enemies studied year after year to find any weaknesses in the defense of this city. It just so happened that a lazy watchman was fooling with his helmet one day and it fell to the ground outside the wall of the city.

He climbed down the face of the walls using the crevices in the walls and got his helmet and returned to his position.

That next night his city was overrun by men who climbed those same crevices and the watchmen never saw them, for they were not expecting anyone to do such a thing.

We must understand the enemy is always watching for any weakness!

When Alexander came, he knew the story of the watchman and he too used the same strategy to capture Sardis.

What does Jesus say? Be watchful!

If Jesus says we need to be watchful, then we are not being watchful enough!

To be watchful is to be vigilant.

To be watchful is to be attentive.

To be watchful is to be careful to observe the things going on around us.

To be watchful is to be cautious.

We must not be lazy Christians we must be alert Christians!

There are some very important things we need to be doing for the Lord every day and we need to be careful to do them!

Above all we must stay focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

We must stay focused on the "Gospel" the Good News" of Jesus Christ.

We stay diligent in observing all the Word of God, rightly divided!

Our Lord is alive, and we must become alive to serve the Lord!

We should consider all the things that have been happening in our world just in the last couple of years, especially in the past few months.

What did Jesus teach us?

Mar 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

Mar 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

Mar 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Mar 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Mar 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Mar 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Mar 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

Mar 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

What remains for us to do is get back to the basics of the Church?

Spread the Gospel and make disciples!

There is no greater work for us to do today except we must add "to watch"!

There were none of the works of the Church at Sardis that were perfect. None!

When we perfect the basic duties of the Church, then we can do some other things in the communities.

Another thing that we must do perfectly, is when we gather together, then "to worship" is the number one thing we are to do.

We worship our Heavenly Father, by the work of His Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit!

And Jesus adds "Remember" the truth of the Scriptures as delivered in the "Apostles Doctrine" and especially the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus 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 means we must learn from that "or else" preaching.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We need to remember the "Gospel"!

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

We must remember that by the actions of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins and be restored in our relationship with our Heavenly Father, Our Creator.

We must remember this free gift of God brings with it eternal life, but only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

We must accept the truth of the "Gospel"

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

We cannot listen to the lies of this world!

Rom_3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Once we know these things as the truth, then we must repent from our old life.

This church had done wrong! They had forgotten Jesus Christ the foundation of the Church! They had forgotten the truth of the Gospel!

They had done so wrong, that they were not being a living church, they were in a dyeing church, in fact almost a dead church.

They had a must do! They must repent!

You see this pastor had to preach this message to this church and they had to listen and act upon the Word of God!

Every church needs to be reminded of these things constantly so they can remain alive!

They had lost their fervor in their relationship with the Lord and what this church needed to know is, that the Lord will leave a dyeing church alone so that it can die unless they repent!

Every preacher must preach with sound doctrine.

2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Every congregation must hold fast to the truth.

1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1Ti 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Or then will come the "or else".

Notice Jesus says He will come as a thief. Not as a robber, not as a bandit, which means the secrecy of the thief, not in violence. In fact if this church did not watch, it would never know that Jesus had removed His candlestick.

It is a very sad thing that if Jesus Christ came during a church service, many a church like this one at Sardis, would not even realize that the "Rapture" had taken place.

1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

This Pastor needed to realize that there were still a few true believers in His church, and if he could not cause his flock to repent, he still had to feed those who remained true, with the truth.

*****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.

Why are names important? Because there is a book in Heaven called the Lamb's Book of Life.

Rev_21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

If your name is not written down in the Lamb's Book of Life, you will not enter into God's New Heaven!

The Lord Jesus wanted this pastor to know that it was because of him that there were only a few names written down in this Book of Life.

The Lord will hold each pastor responsible for his message in every church! No pastor can save but it is his job to lead other men, women and children to the Lord!

These who know the Lord will also have some responsibility!

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Jas 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Again we must be "over comers"!

*****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.

There were some in this church at Sardis who had remained faithful to the Lord during all the things that were happening in this wicked city.

They had remained faithful even though their pastor was not faithful to the Word of God and his message had become worldly.

They remained Christ centered and were not centered on the things of this church.

This is our answer today, we must remain Christ centered!

There are many churches like this one in Sardis that remain today, where the Pastor has given in to the world.

As individual Christians, we must understand that no matter what our church is doing, we must remain faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ!

They had to separate themselves from most all the other church members!

Three promises are made to these who took their stand upon the Lord, the Solid Rock.

It pleases the Lord for us to remain focused on Him even if those around us do not!

We must remain faithful to the Lord's plan for His Church. It is His Church! The true Church belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ because we as believers were bought by the precious blood of Christ Jesus.

1) The true Christian will be clothed in white!

White is the color of righteousness.

White is the color of purity.

White is the color of perfection.

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It is important for us to remember all the things that Jesus Christ has done for us, because the world cannot do any of these things!

2) Every over comer will have their name written down in the "Lamb's Book of Life"

This is a book that God keeps.

This is the Book that will be opened on "judgment" day!

The names written in the Book of Life and remain there, are those who will never die!

Exo 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Rev_20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

3) Every believer will be presented to our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ will confess that he knows every believer and He will personally confess that each and every believer are the real thing and worthy to be allowed into God's New Heaven!

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

And what does the Holy Ghost say?

*****Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

It is the Holy Spirit that has given us the Bible, the complete Word of God. God's Word will never change!

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We can be sure that we have the truth of God!

We can also be sure we know the truth of this world!

There are not any lost books of the Bible!

There will never be another new book added to the Bible!

We cannot hear the Word of God unless we are present in a Bible believing church!

We should also be present in Sunday School.

We should also be present at all other times when the church gathers to teach the Word of God.

We must then apply the Word of God to our daily lives!

Without making a personal application of the Word of God, we will soon wear that look of death!

Amen

Let's Pray!