THE ONLY ONE

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In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in Heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.

I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:1-5

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

There has been no other person ever like Jesus, who existed before creation began, would come down from Heaven to earth and although perfectly sinless would live alongside sinners who needed saved, who would fully die and then fully live again before ascending back into the heavens to sit in authority over Heaven and earth at His Father’s right hand, destined to come back to earth to rescue His disciples and bring judgment on those who rejected Him.

Jesus was one of a kind and as chapter five of the Book of Revelation opens, we find this reaffirmed as John continues to share his incredible experience in the throne room of God. Look again at verses one through five:

Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in Heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.

I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

After sharing his initial survey of the throne room and its incredible majesty, John fixes his gaze on God and sees Him holding a divine scroll in His right hand. From his vantage point, he could see some details of the scroll, writing that it had “writing on both sides” and was “sealed with seven seals”.

Now, you’ll remember that the number seven has been a dominant, symbolic number through this book up to this chapter, carrying with it a meaning of completeness and perfection.

There were seven churches that Jesus wrote to (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea), each represented by one of the seven lamp stands (1:11, 20).

Seven spirits of God were represented by seven blazing lamps in front of God’s throne. You’ll recall that these seven Spirits were actually seven qualities found in the Holy Spirit which were:

1. The Spirit of the Lord.

2. The Spirit of wisdom.

3. The Spirit of understanding.

4. The Spirit of counsel.

5. The Spirit of might.

6. The Spirit of knowledge.

7. The fear of the Lord which Jesus would delight in.

In chapter 1, Jesus held seven stars in His right hand and these stars represented the “angels (or messengers) of the seven churches” (v.20). At the start of each of His seven letters, Jesus leads with the words “To the angel of the church of” and then the church’s location.

We’ll see this number continue to pop up through our continued study like in today’s passage where we read of the seven seals on the scroll. More on the significance of each seal and what it would result in once it was broken but for now, there was a dilemma arising within the throne room of God for we find “a mighty angel” pose a very important question “in a loud voice”:

“Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

If you’ve ever heard the expression “crickets” after a question was asked, that’s what I am feeling here. No one responded because there wasn’t anyone present “in Heaven or on earth” or even “under the earth” who was able to “open the scroll or even look inside it”. We read where this brought great distress to John who “wept and wept” before an intervention happened.

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

There was One who could do what no one else could do, One who had the power and authority to take the scroll from God’s right hand, break the seals, open it, and reveal its contents.

That One was none other than Jesus, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” and “the Root of David” who had triumphed. And as we’re going to see, He will indeed break each seal and then open the scroll but before we get there, I wanted to close with more on this matter of Jesus being the One when it comes to bringing salvation to a sinner. Let’s use the throne room scene as a template for a circumstance that happens on earth each and every day.

For consider a sinner who learns they are destined for an eternity of torment, suffering, and damnation in the dark recesses of Hell. Fearful for what their future holds, they try to find someone on earth who could possibly alter their outcome and deliver them from the misery and agony to come. They break down weeping when they learn that there is no one who can come to their aid and give them what they need.

In the midst of their anguish and sorrow, bowed low to the ground and doubled over in emotional pain, they feel the hand of someone on their back. The person says to them:

“Don’t cry. There is a way to be saved. Just believe in Jesus, the Savior of the world. He is the only One who can help you escape the penalty of Hell and lead you into Heaven.

Imagine the joy and relief that person would feel, a joy and relief that surely was like what John felt after receiving the news from the elder.

Friends, Jesus Christ is the only One who can do all things, both now and for all eternity.

He is the only One through which anyone can be saved.

He is the only One who can bring someone to God the Father.

He was the only One able to open the scroll of God and its seven seals, advancing the plan of salvation forward to its eternal conclusion.

And He, Jesus, is the only One who will one day come and judge all creation.

Today and every day, let us rejoice and be glad for Jesus, God’s indescribable gift to all mankind (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

HEAVEN'S WORSHIP PROCLAMATIONS

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night, they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”

Revelation 4:7-11

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In the first six verses of Revelation, chapter 4, we found John summoned by Jesus to an open door to Heaven where he witnessed unbelievable beauty and majesty, a beauty and majesty that he did best to put into words. The imagery was incredible as we read a description of God on His throne, a throne that emitted lightning and thunder while being encircled by an emerald rainbow. There were also twenty-four other thrones, each occupied by gold crowned elders in white clothing, and seven lamps sitting on a sea of glass and blazing in front of God, representing His seven spirits.

The scene is simply magnificent beyond anything we can comprehend and as we see in the remainder of this chapter’s verses, Heaven was more than just a place of incomprehensible glory. It was a place of intense, reverent worship.

Look again at our passage for today:

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night, they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:7-11

As these verses open, we find that God and the twenty-four elders weren’t alone in the throne room of Heaven. For we read where there were four living creatures, actual angelic entities with distinct characteristics.

Of what purpose did these four creatures serve?

Well, as we can see, they were in full on worship mode, giving glory, honor, and thanks to God, the eternal Creator of all things.

Note here that this worship wasn’t just on some prescribed day and time like we treat worship here on earth in present times. It wasn’t that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders only entered into bringing admiration and homage to God on Sunday from eleven to twelve. No, the scriptures tell us that the four creatures “never stopped” proclaiming this, doing so “day and night”:

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

And every time the four creatures did this, praising God and His everlasting holiness, the twenty-four elders would lay down their golden crowns, falling down before their Lord while declaring:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”

Brothers and sisters, this is a snapshot of what every Christian can expect one day, leaving this world and all its issues behind to move into the presence of our God forever and participate in Heaven’s worship proclamation perpetually, day and night giving praise to our Maker and Master, without ceasing.

I don’t know about you but I can’t wait. Indeed, through our belief in Christ Jesus, the best is yet to come and the future best will never end. Join me in giving thanks for this blessed assurance, this day and every day forward.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

A GLIMPSE INTO HEAVEN

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in Heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in Heaven with someone sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

Revelation 4:1-6

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Imagine that you were John for a moment.

Not only did he get to write one of the four Gospels, detailing the life, death, and resurrection of God’s one and only Son Jesus, the Savior of the world, but then he was chosen by Jesus to write down everything he would see and/or be told, an effort that would become what we know as the Book of Revelation, the final book in our Holy Bible.

What an incredible, blessed opportunity, privilege, and responsibility that Jesus entrusted to him!

Today, we begin our study of Revelation, chapter 4 and find things moving on from the seven letters Jesus dictated to John which would be sent to targeted churches in the Roman province of Asia. As the chapter opens, we find John sharing an amazing vision, one that gives a glimpse into the very kingdom of Heaven. Look again at his words here:

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in Heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in Heaven with someone sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Vv.1-6

Here, we find John seeing an open door in Heaven before being summoned to go to it and see what was within. The “voice” that John hears “speaking to” him “like a trumpet” was none other than the same voice that addressed him in chapter one, a voice he identified as the very voice of Jesus.

At the moment John was told to come, we read where he was “at once in the Spirit” which brought him before a “throne in Heaven” with “someone sitting on it in splendor and majesty, giving “the appearance of jasper and ruby”. John also saw “a rainbow that shone like an emerald” but not that it wasn’t arching as one would expect but rather encircling the throne. There were also “seven lamps” which were “blazing”, representative of the ‘seven spirits of God”. This was actually representative of the singular Holy Spirit but highlights the seven ways the Holy Spirit would aid the Messiah as found in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, verse 2. There, we find the prophet saying this:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and He will delight in the fear of the Lord.

Here, we learn the seven things the Holy Spirit would bring to Jesus:

1. The Spirit of the Lord.

2. The Spirit of wisdom.

3. The Spirit of understanding.

4. The Spirit of counsel.

5. The Spirit of might.

6. The Spirit of knowledge.

7. The fear of the Lord which Jesus would delight in.

The number seven symbolizes perfection and completeness in the Bible and here we are reminded that Jesus had everything He needed in the Holy Spirit, just as we do as His followers.

And as if this wasn’t amazing enough, we read where there was what appeared to be a “sea of glass” that was as “clear as crystal” in front of God’s throne, a throne which emitted “flashes of lightning” and ‘pearls of thunder”.

How would we describe seeing God sitting on his throne?

We would do the best we can to put something so incredible into words and this is exactly what we find John trying to do as he shares this vision.

Before we finish this unbelievable glimpse into Heaven, it’s important to note that the throne of God wasn’t the only throne present for John shares that there were “twenty-four” others that surrounded God’s with a gold crowned elder in white clothes sitting on each.  

While some have believed these 24 elders were angels, the Greek word used here is only used in the Bible to refer to men and so these elders were men who were elevated to the highest level of rule and reign in Heaven, a place equivalent to Jesus Himself. There is some thought then that these 24 elders actually represent the church itself and there’s some credence to that for sure for at the end of the letter to the church in Laodicia, you’ll remember Jesus saying this:

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21

Without John recording his vision in the Book of Revelation, in full obedience to Jesus’ command, we wouldn’t have this blessed glimpse behind the door of Heaven, a place where God resides and reigns, a place of beauty, splendor, and majesty beyond what any of us could describe. Thank goodness, John did his best to do so.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

ENTHRONED

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:21-22

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Over the past few messages, we have been looking at the last of seven letters that Jesus wrote to specific churches located in the first century Roman province of Asia. Each of these letters were specific to the congregation of each church based on what Jesus had seen them either do or not do in His name for He made sure they knew that He was well aware of their deeds.

This final church Jesus addressed, the one in Laodicea, received a very firm rebuke from the Savior because their Gospel work was neither hot, driven by the leading of the Holy Spirit, or cold, static and non-participatory in the Great Commission. With their actions in the middle, Jesus condemns the believers as being “lukewarm” and He makes sure the church knew how much He despised this kind of behavior, threatening to “spit” the Laodician Christians “out of” His “mouth”. He further exposes their sinful attachment to the riches attained through the world, letting them know that this had led them to spiritual bankruptcy and the false assurance that they were doing well when in reality they were “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”.

The call was for the church to repent and return to the righteous and holy life found in Christ and Him alone. Jesus made sure the believers knew that He was knocking at the door of their hearts, hoping to be welcomed in so He could once again share fellowship with them. He longed to bring them the true riches found in a refined faith and a justification that would replace their filthy sinful dress with “white clothes” that would “cover” their “shameful nakedness”.

If the Laodician disciples were willing to do this, to answer Jesus’ call to turn from their wickedness to a renewed life of purity in Him and a recommitment to His will and way, then He would give them a reward far beyond anything the world could ever offer. Let’s look at what He promised in the last two verses of this letter and Revelation, chapter 3:

“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Vv. 21-22

Here, the victorious are those who are truly in Christ Jesus, the ones whose names He will write in His Lamb’s Book of Life, guaranteeing salvation and the gift of eternal life after death in this worldly existence. What an awesome assurance a Christian has in knowing that no matter what life brings they are absolutely and utterly victorious in Him.

Now, that would be enough in its own right but we see where Jesus had one other very special privilege in store for the victorious soul. For He shares that they will be given “the right to sit with” Him on His “throne” just as God the Father had permitted Him to do.

What an awesome, amazing future that’s in store for any person who places their belief in Jesus and commits themselves to live as He desires. For no matter what status we hold in this world, we will all be enthroned and sitting in majesty and authority with our risen Savior after this life is through.

My hope today is that you are in that place right now, saved and devoted to Jesus as I am, and confident that the future He has promised will be the best life ever, one we will get to enjoy forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

OPEN THE DOOR

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.”

Revelation 3:20

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

If a person is an unbeliever or a believer who has allowed themselves to be led astray from the Lord and His Word, ignoring the lead of the Holy Spirit, we find Jesus offering assurance that He has not given up on them either coming to Him or returning into the faith. Look at these words from the twentieth verse of Revelation, chapter 3:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.”

Within these 32 words, we find Jesus proclaiming the following truths:

1. Jesus never leaves us, we leave Him.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door...”

Notice here that Jesus says that He is ever standing at the door of a person’s heart, knocking and calling out with the hope that they will open it and welcome Him in. Unfortunately, unbelievers and those who have strayed in their walk with the Lord too often tune out the knocking of Christ and keep their door closed, often with a “Do Not Disturb” sign on it. So at the very time someone needs Jesus in their lives, they choose to shut Him out and that’s a recipe for disaster.

The scriptures are clear that minus Jesus, no one can make it in this worldly life or get to the one to come. He is the Way and the Truth and the Life, and the only One who can bring us to God the Father. He said it Himself (John 14:6) and so we had better answer the door when He knocks and let Him into our lives.

2. When a person lets Jesus in, He will make Himself at home and share His fellowship with them.

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me.

Here we find Jesus making a promise and we know that He never goes back on what He says He will do.

What’s the promise?

He guarantees that if anyone who has closed the door of their heart to Him would hear his voice and then let Him in, then He will in turn “come in and share a meal with that person, enjoying fellowship and providing spiritual nourishment. When we eat food, it brings strength to our physical bodies so we can endure through life. Jesus brings us the spiritual sustenance that feeds our inner souls, bringing spiritual vigor and vitality as well as a renewed zest for life and living.

He also brings us His friendship, something He promises in the Gospel of John:

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do what I command.” 15:13-14

A beloved hymn sung in many churches for sometime simply declared this:

“What A Friend We Have In Jesus”

And indeed, there is no better companion we could have in life, one who will never leave or abandon us, one who is always there to provide perfect wisdom and guidance, one who is ever ready to bring encouragement, joy, and comfort to us whenever we need it. Jesus brings constant fellowship to anyone who opens the door of their heart to Him and commits themselves to be obedient to all He has commanded. He desires more than anything to share life with someone He counts as a friend now and forever more.

If you are in a relationship with Jesus, then you will raise up a solid “Amen” to everything you’re reading here today because , like me, you’re experiencing this right now.

If you have never had a relationship with the One who is the Savior of the world or if you have allowed yourself to turn from Jesus in your life, then today is the day to set things right and you can do that by turning your ear to Him calling out for you while knocking on the door of your heart and then opening that door so He can enter in to share His love and fellowship. Trust me when I say that if you do, you’ll never regret it, not in this life or the everlasting one yet to come.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

LOOK IN THE SPIRITUAL MIRROR

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”

Revelation 3:17-19

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever met anyone who did nothing but boast about their successes and gains in life?

Maybe you have done it yourself for when we do well for ourselves, it’s so easy to fall into the temptation of self absorption, self promotion and self worship. After all, we work hard in life to do well financially and have the things we desire but unchecked, this life approach can lead us to a point where we might relax and enjoy the fruits of our labors. Whether we reach that point early in life or get to where we can retire, something deep inside seems to call us to get to where we can say from a worldly perspective:

"I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!"

As Christians, Jesus calls us to exercise caution when it comes to this matter of focusing on the world’s treasures in the pursuit of wealth and possessions. Here’s what we find in his first extended teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 7:19-21

Here, we find Jesus sending a warning that there is danger in placing excessive attention on what we attain in the world, emphasizing our material gain at the expense of looking at our character and the kind of person we are in Him. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also", and so the operative questions all Christian believers need to ask is, “What is my treasure?” and “What have I attached my heart to the most, the world and its offerings or the guaranteed gift of salvation and life eternal with my Savior, the treasures of Heaven?”

Unfortunately, there were many believers in the church of Philadelphia, as there have been through the ages to present times, who have made their money and assets acquired through that money as their treasure. They see their personal value on what they have and their status in the world at the expense of realizing they are really spiritually bankrupt.

Jesus sums this up in these words:

“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Revelation 3:17

The acquisition of the world’s riches are counter to what Jesus to offers anyone who places their belief in Him. He reminds the Philadelphian believers and us of this as He continues in this passage:

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

The riches that Jesus is talking about is the purity, holiness, and righteousness that only comes when someone fully centers their life’s attention and heart’s devotion on Him, submitting themselves to His refining work. Like a metallurgist who heats gold into a molten state so to skim off all the impurities that rise to the top, so too does our Lord seek to remove the impurities of our faith, dressing us with “white clothes to wear” as we walk alongside Him every day His desire is for us to be rich in Him so we can “cover” our “shameful nakedness” and receive the kind of spiritual vision that sees Jesus and the everlasting life we have in Him as the only affluency that truly matters.

Jesus strongly rebukes the Christians in Laodicia and perhaps that rebuke is speaking to you as well today. And it wasn’t that He was condemning out of malice or ill intent. Rather, He lets the church (and us) know that what He did in discipline and counsel was “out of love”. He wanted to get the attention of His disciples so they would earnestly look in the spiritual mirror of their lives and repent, turning away from the treasure of the world and toward the real value in life found in Him.

When it comes right down to it, it will never be your well paying job or the accumulated wealth you have gained that matters most. It won’t be the size of your home, the expensive car you drive, or the luxurious trips you take all around this earth. All that matters is whether or not you are rich in Jesus and He wants you to experience the bounties of treasures found in Him.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

GET HOT!

Can I pray for you in any way?

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:”

“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth.”

Revelation 3:14-16

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Out of the seven churches addressed by Jesus through letters in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, the church of Laodicia is last. And as we’re going to see, He saved the worst for last.

Let’s look at His opening statement here:

“These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth.” 3:14-16

Just within these first three verses, we see Jesus speaking what could be considered His harshest comments yet about any of the churches, comments that contained an obvious disdain for the way the Laodician church was operating.

First, let’s look at the choice of words Jesus uses to describe the church, words that all related to temperature which would be easily understood and relatable to the Laodician believers.

Jesus starts by saying the Laodician church was not hot and He wasn’t speaking about how well the church may have been air conditions. Rather, Jesus is talking about the spiritual temperature of His disciples in Laodicia. For the church had lost its fervor for serving Him and carrying out their Gospel responsibilities.

You see, churches are most effective when they are on fire for the Lord, motivated and ambitious to do whatever is necessary to follow God’s will and carry out His plans to advance His kingdom on earth. Churches such of these would be considered “hot” by the Lord because they are made up of believers who are on fire for Him. They are Holy Spirit hot and this reminds me of the words of John the Baptist as he proclaimed Jesus’ arrival on the ministry scene. John said:

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11

The moment someone believes in Jesus, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and the fire that comes with it but believers can go astray and that fire can run cool, not hot.

Jesus was looking for His churches to be hot, red hot for Him. Laodicia was not but as we see in our scripture passage today, they weren’t cold either. A cold church is one that has no life. There is no forward motivation for the cause of Christ, no desire to reach out beyond the church walls to fulfill the Great Commission, evangelizing and making “disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). They have no fire for the Lord because they choose to ignore the Spirit placed within them and so these churches become more like social gathering places than Gospel-spreading entities.

Now, this might make someone think to themselves, “Well, the church in Laodicia wasn’t all bad then, right? I mean, at least the church isn’t dead.”

Jesus speaks into this and makes sure all Christians know that any church who chooses to steer the middle between hot and cold, serving the Lord in lukewarm fashion, is actually the worst. In fact, He makes an amazing statement when He says He would prefer they were even cold rather than lukewarm.

"I wish you were either one or the other."

It’s obvious from Jesus’ words that a spiritual lukewarm attitude within a church sickens Him. In fact, He says He would "spit" the Laodician church out of His mouth and so His message is loud and clear to the Christians addressed in this letter and to us today.

Jesus cannot stomach a lukewarm approach to Christian faith and service.

Before I close this message, there’s one other point I think bears discussion.

For the spiritual reputation and status before the Lord will indicate the spiritual health of the congregation. Just as a spiritually hot church is that way because its members are on fire for the Lord and are willing to do whatever He calls them to do, the Laodician church and other churches like it were lukewarm because its members were lukewarm, spiritually neutral and neither hot nor cold. This conveys the following truth:

A church and what is able to accomplish is directly proportional to its congregants and their dedication and devotion to Jesus, the head of the church. Their association with Him, or the lack thereof, will be shown by the Gospel work they accomplish together.

Some questions for reflection:

1. How would you rate your church in terms of this message and the words of Jesus? Is it on fire for Him, sedentary and unmotivated, or lukewarm in terms of their service?

2. How about you as a Christian believer and your personal service to the Lord? Are you hot, cold, or in the middle?

This opening of Jesus’ letter to the church in Laodicea was meant to get the church’s attention and ours. Essentially, our Savior is calling the church and its believers to get hot if it isn’t already there. It’s a call for the church to reevaluate its priorities and work, fixing anything that isn’t completely Christ-focused. The way there might mean a return to spiritual basics such as committed, daily prayer, a rededication to read and carry out the Word of God, and a renewed connection with the fires found in the blessed Holy Spirit. When a church and its members revisit these spiritual disciplines, they can’t help but become energized and red hot, returning to the place Jesus desires, a place where He can use them for great and amazing purposes, all to His honor and glory.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

DIVINE PILLARS

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God; and I will also write on them My new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:11-13

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

I read a quote from the incredible Gospel evangelist, Charles Spurgeon today and it went like this:

“The joys of Heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth.”

I don’t know about you but I really needed to hear that today, to be reminded that no matter how complicated and difficult and hard life might get at times, the best is still ahead for all those who have placed their belief in Jesus as Savior.

To add onto the encouragement we find through Spurgeon’s words, we find Jesus Himself reminding the Christians of the first century church of Philadelphia (and to us as well today) of the blessings in store after a dedicated, faithful, obedient life of following His will and way. Look again at His words here:

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God; and I will also write on them My new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:11-13

What are the blessed promises contained within these three verses?

They include the following:

1. Jesus is coming back and soon.

Now, the word “soon” here can’t be looked at in the context of time as we know it. If that was true, then someone might say very cynically, “Well, He wasn’t really telling the truth because it’s been more than 2,000 years and He hasn’t returned yet.”

Jesus here is speaking within the time framework of eternity and so what might seem long to us in human terms of time is but a brief moment to Him. To add some reinforcement to this disparity in time measurement, look at these words from Peter found in the third chapter of his second letter:

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Vv.8-9

Jesus promised the Philadelphian Christians that He was coming back soon and as we saw in yesterday’s message, His promise to “keep” them “from the hour of trial” that would “come on the whole world to test” its “inhabitants” would happen whether they were dead or alive. The Word of God from 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, speaks to the truth Jesus speaks in this letter, affirming that there will be a great Rapture where He will come back and take away all Christian believers before putting all left behind to trial. It’s a blessed assurance we all get to embrace and trust in today.

2. All Christian believers wear the crown of victory through Him.

If you believe in Jesus as you read this, you have already gained victory over death and the grave, and no one can take that victory away from you. What an amazing truth we can cling to, no matter what life brings our way.

In support of this, I have always loved this passage from God’s Word found in the fifteenth chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. There, we read this:

...in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Vv.52-57

Brothers and sisters, let’s all live every day with the joy that comes with knowing our victory is already won through Jesus’ redeeming, saving work on Calvary’s cross.

3. All Christian believers will one day be divine pillars.

Any structure is built upon a foundation and in using this as a spiritual illustration, Jesus is the foundation and cornerstone that His church is built upon. The scriptures attest to this truth.

Let’s go back to 1st Corinthians and the third chapter where we read this:

...no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. v.11

With this in mind, Jesus talks about how He will use the Christian believers of Philadelphia in relation to Himself, the foundation. He states that:

The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God; and I will also write on them My new name.

Once Jesus returns to judge the world, condemning Satan and all unbelievers to Hell before destroying Heaven and earth as we know it and spawning a new Heaven and earth with New Jerusalem as the dwelling place (Revelation 20:7-15, 21:1-5), note that God’s temple will not be a physical structure but a holy, spiritual one comprised of the Lord God Almighty and Jesus, the Lamb (Revelation 21:22). Within this temple of God, Jesus’ disciples will dwell forever. They will become pillars of the eternal temple, supporting and integral members of it who will be inscribed with the name of God and the name of His city, the new Jerusalem. And as if that wasn’t enough, note Jesus will also write His name upon them.

No matter how weak we may feel as Christians while trying to bear the weight of this worldly existence, we know we will one day be pillars, powerful and strong because we bear the name of the Father and the Son.

My prayer today and every day is that we will embrace these promises and allow them to dispel any discouragement or despair. For friends, we all hold a guaranteed victory and a promised eternity where all the afflictions of this world will be no more.

Indeed, as Spurgeon so wonderfully proclaims:

“The joys of Heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth.”

Let this be our testimony as well.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.