The call to repentance

 The call to repentance

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.  

I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.  

Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  

Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelations 2:12-17.

Here we have Christ speaking to the church at Pergamum a city that was full of emperor worship among other things. A church surrounded by paganism. 

Christ points out that one of the things He has against them is they tolerate the teachings of Balaam. A reference to the old testament were Balaam advised the king of Moab to seduce the Israelites into sexual sin and spiritual adultery.

At the same time the Nicolaitans while opposed in Ephesus, were spreading sexual and spiritual adultery in Pergamum.

Christs call is to get rid of such teachings or He will intervene.

There are many churches here in the western democracies today that tolerate false teaching in their midst. The call to the church at Pergamum is a call to those churches who allow false teaching in their midst without correcting it.

Thus the question becomes to anyone reading this; Take a few minutes to assess the church and denomination that you are part of. Do they allow false teaching. Teaching that is not from the bible. Teaching that is not from Christ?

Please think about it.

 

The church at Smyrna

 The church at Smyrna

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.  

I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Revelations 2:8-11.

Here is one of only two churches mentioned in Revelations that Christ does not criticize. Christs states that while they may seem to live in poverty. It is quite the opposite. They are rich. 

Christ tells them that some of them are about to go to prison, and suffer persecution. Yet He reminds them that if they stay faithful to the point of death they will receive a crown of life.

This is happening around the world today in the twenty-first century. There are many believers in Christ Jesus who are being persecuted, jailed, placed in prison camps even put to death for the name of Jesus.

These believers have the assurance from Christ that they will receive a crown of life.

As believers in the western democracies we should be praying for the persecuted church around the world. 

For as brother Andrew a famous evangelist and bible smuggler once said, “our prayers go where we cannot.”

Please don’t just think about it. 

Pray for the persecuted church now.

The church at Ephesus

 The church at Ephesus

The book of Revelations widely believed to be written by the apostle John speaks of seven individual Churches. 

The first Church addressed is Ephesus John writes,

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.  

But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Revelations 2:1-7.

It has been said that each church addressed in the book or Revelations is representative of Churches that have existed throughout history and are around today. Further more one can personalize these churches. 

Thus we can look at what is said to each of the churches in Revelations and see if it is like the church congregation, denomination or church movement we attend. At the same time we can look at ourselves and see if we are acting like the church described. 

Here the Ephesian church is commended for what they have gone through, for their hard work. Jesus commends them for not tolerating wicked men. For their testing of false prophets. He even commends them for hating the practices of the Nicolaitans a group of heretics.

Jesus then says,

"I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."

Our first love as believers must always be God.

It is possible for a church or an individual to seem to be doing everything right yet not be truly following God.

Thus I would ask you the reader, if you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, examine yourself, and the congregation you attend. Then ask yourself am I like the church at Ephesus? Is the congregation or denomination I am a part of like the church at Ephesus?

Please think about it.

Of importance to God

  Of Importance to God

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1

On February 14, 1990, NASA at a distance of 6 billion kilometres (3.7 billion miles) had the Voyager 1 space probe take a picture of the Solar system. It showed earth as a pail blue dot smaller than the head of a pin. 

Looking at it we see just how small earth is in the universe. Within the vastness of the universe it seems insignificant. Yet it is everything to those of us who live on it.

Some have said there may be more planets out there in the vastness of the universe that have life. While that may be true such planets are too far away from us to communicate with or to help us in anyway.

It is our planet and our planet alone that is important to us. We have no other place in the universe to live. 

We must also remember that we on this pail blue dot is of importance to God and we who live here. For the Bible which God  has inspired is directed at us. With the sole purpose of pointing us to God. Making it clear in a nutshell the choice we have.

In the gospel of John Jesus is recorded as saying,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18

So what do you believe?

Please think about it.

No fear in love

 No fear in love,

In 1John we read,

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

“We love because he (Jesus) first loved us.  

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”1John 4:18-21.

So the question becomes do you love your brother? 

In 1Corinthians we read what true Christian love is. It states,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered,

 it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."  

                                               1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13. 

Is this the kind of love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Scripture to live by #2

 Scripture to live by #2

A word from the apostle Peter,

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:11,12.

As I posted in my previous blog Christians are live at peace with the world around us. Peter tell us that we are “aliens and strangers” in this world and as such we are to live good lives within the society God has place us in.

In the book of Galatians we read what a good life is. It states,

"But of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians5:22,23.

When people see the fruit of your spirit what do they see?

Please think about it.

A scripture to live by

  A Scripture to live by

The apostle Paul writes,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:18-21. 

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you follow this scripture?

Do you do your best to live at peace with those around you?

Do you feed your enemy?

Do you as far as is possible live at peace around you?

Do you do your best to overcome evil with good?

Please think about it.