Strengthen What Remains

The Gathering

Wednesday November 2, 2011

“Staying watchful”

Revelation 3:1-6

Theme Verse: Revelation 1:19

Author: John

Background of city of Sardis:

1) Famous for its red dye and woolen goods.

2) Known for its immorality.

3) Received no commendation from the Lord.

4) They were recognized for its reputation of being alive

“The church of Sardis was in the period of the Reformation era, which was Martin Luther’s attempt to reform the Roman church. The Reformation church held strong orthodox doctrines.”

--Abeka

How do we “strengthen what remains” as Christians:

1) Don’t let the world catch us off guard

(1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4)

          -“Be Alert”

2) Remember what you have received and heard

(2 Timothy 2:2; 2 Timothy 1:4)

         

3) God will honor the name of the true believer (v. 4)

He will take notice of the smallest number of those who abide with him…

4) Is your name written down?

-God will remember & honor the name of the faithful and chosen believer

-God will blot all who claim to have a name but do not

Recognize:

1) Need examine your Spiritual Life

2) Need to understand true Repentance

3) Need to be not caught off guard

Who holds the keys of hell and death and determines the destinies of nations and individuals (Psalms 9:16; Acts 17:31).

Questions you have to answer yourself?

Are focused on your walk with God?

When the music is silent, what remains true?

Have you been caught off guard?

Stay focused to God's Truth or you will be corrupted

The Gathering

Wednesday October 25, 2011

“Stay focused to God’s Truth or

you will be corrupted”

Revelation 2:18-29

Theme Verse: Revelation 1:19

Author: John

Background: This book was intended to encourage Christians through the centuries, especially the Christians in the 1-3 centuries who faced the fiercest of persecution for their faith (death, homeless, etc). In the midst of these fierce persecutions, God had John write a letter to encourage all who read and give a better understanding of His plans.

Things which are

Church Age

(Present)

Background of city of Thyatira:

-1) Home place of Lydia, Paul’s first convert in Philippi

-2) Purple cloth was the cities major product

-3) Recognized for its trade guilds (Practiced idolatry)

-4) Belief that it was dangerous to read a Bible individually

-5) Thyatira actually taught false doctrines by church leaders v. Pergamos only allowed it to sink in the church

-6) Permitting “Jezebel” to institute Baal worship

(i.e. 1 Kings 16; 2 King 9)

“The church of Thyatira was a period of that emphasized the danger for individuals to have a Bible, or anyone to read the Bible to them, and that only the priests were capable of properly interpreting the Bible. Thus the church leaders ruled over the people in all spiritual matters, locking the people into spiritual darkness (Nicolaitans: clergy rule).”

--Abeka; p. 28

How do we as Christians stay focused on the Truth:

1) Don’t let the world catch us off guard

(1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4)

2) No compromise

(2:20-22; 1 Corinthians 11:30)

          -World’s Morality v. God’s Moral Law

…the downfall of this corrupt movement in the church will be a wake-up for the morally lax in all the churches who hear about it…

3) Understand the source of Real Truth

          -Jesus claimed to be Truth (John 14:6)

          -The Word of God is Truth (John 17:17)

          (Psalm 117:2; 119:43; 142; 151; 160)

                   -Test of the truthfulness of the Bible

                   -Opinions come and go

         

Recognize:

1) Need to meditate God’s Truth (Psalm 119:15; Joshua 1:8)

2) Need to understand how serious sin is

3) Need to understand that Truth is a person

Who holds the keys of hell and death and determines the destinies of nations and individuals (Psalms 9:16; Acts 17:31).

Questions you have to answer yourself?

Do you believe in God’s Absolute Truth?

Are you becoming convicted by God’s

 wonderful Truth each day?

Have you compromised your faith this

week or week’s past?

Staying faithful

The Gathering

Wednesday October 19, 2011

“Staying faithful to Christ”

Revelation 2:12-17

Theme Verse: Revelation 1:19

Author: John

Background: This book was intended to encourage Christians through the centuries, especially the Christians in the 1-3 centuries who faced the fiercest of persecution for their faith (death, homeless, etc). In the midst of these fierce persecutions, God had John write a letter to encourage all who read and give a better understanding of His plans.

Things which are

Church Age

(Present)

Background of city of Pergamum:

-1) Known for the second largest library of the world

-2) Provincial capital of Asia

-3) First city to erect temples in honor of leaders and gods

-4) One of the gods was of “healing”

-5) It during the time of Constantine of no persecution

-6) Devoted to emperor worship, as noted above

-7) Two major doctrines indentified here: Balaam & Nicolaitans    

“Pergamos was in a time of no persecution, in fact it was in a time of being united with political power. It literally means “married to power”, which caused the worldly leaders of the Pergamos church to exalt themselves above the common people and to substitute man’s teachings for the Word of God.”

--Abeka Book

How do we as Christians remain faithful:

1) Understand God’s omniscience (v. 13)

          --He knows where you are at

          --He knows what you are experiencing

          --He knows your faithfulness (Gal. 6:9)

2) Be careful not to compromise with the world

(Balaamism) 1 Peter 2:11-12; Romans 12:2

          --You must refuse to commune with idols

          1 Cor. 10:14-22   

--You must separate yourselves from worldly practices

--You must stand against Satan’s authority

         

3) Call to repent and turn from the worldly worship

           

Recognize:

1) Need to give God our all in worship.

2) Need to call others to repentance that may be pulled away.

3) Need to worship God and not a person.

Who holds the keys of hell and death and determines the destinies of nations and individuals (Psalms 9:16; Acts 17:31).

Questions you have to answer yourself?

Is following God worth losing everything?

Is God calling you to repent of your worship?

What compromises, if any, have you made in your worship?

Friday October 14

I woke this morning quoting to Micah and Luke a passage from Lamentations 3:22-25. God's mercies and faithful love are new every morning. It is a great hope we can rest in. Everyday we can wake up with a fresh thought about how each day brings new things for us.

Yesterday we were told that Jonah could go home, but we decided to wait one more night being that he had only one day on the floor. Last night there was one irregular heart beat the whole night, and after some check this morning the specialist sees no major alarm. They will be hooking us up with a 24-hour monitor at his first follow-up visit. The one thing we must remember is that God is the ultimate physician that gives our medical techs the expertise. He is in charge. He gives us new mercies and fresh hope each day.

Today we are heading home to begin the road of recovery. God has a plan for Jonah and our family that will give us hope not to destroy us. A God-ward focus has to be the foremost thought of our lives.

Moving forward to Christ.