How is your faith in Christ? ALIVE, DEAD or LUKEWARM?
In revelations 3 we see the churches of Sardis, Philadelphia
and Laodecia having different spiritual conditions of faith in Jesus. To
what condition is your faith today in this present time in your relationship
with the Lord your God?
We are all in our personal journey and walk with Christ
as we wait for His return while in this world. But personally, will we be able
to finish the journey victoriously, faithfully and enduring or there are
already signs of lukewarmness and being dead in our faith. Are we on a path
of gradually becoming unbelievers? Isn’t God’s promises of eternal life only
for believers? If so, are we still true believers or slowly leading ourselves
astray in disbelief because or by our own doing.
Church in Sardis:
1 “To the angel of the church in
Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven
spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you
have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake
up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your
deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember,
therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But
if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at
what time I will come to you.
-Revelations 3:1-3
(Believers seemingly alive but actually dead)
-
Having faith but without action: James
2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not
accompanied by action, is dead.
-
Still unrepentant regarding sin: 1 John 3:9 No one born of God
makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he
cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
-
Heart not in Christ: Hebrews 3:12 Take
care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart,
leading you to fall away from the living God.
Even if outwardly by reputation it seems for others you are alive
in Christ but if inwardly not true then it is actually dead or a diminishing
relationship with Christ which is about to die. God says WAKE UP! STRENGTHEN
WHAT REMAINS AND IS ABOUT TO DIE.
Church in Philadelphia
8 I know your
deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can
shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and
have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of
the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but
are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge
that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my
command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of
trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the
inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold
on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. -Revelations 3:8-11
(Believers faith
is alive and enduring)
-
Having faithfulness to Jesus- they kept His
word and have not denied His name therefore given evangelistic opportunity
of having open doors
-
With reliance on God- has obeyed God even
having little strength
-
Endured patiently for Christ- continued
in Christ even in struggles and persecutions
Believers who stays in Jesus’ word and His name becomes
alive and empowered through Jesus as their source of strength and victory, not
of own self reliance but dependability in Christ. God says to them “HOLD ON
TO WHAT YOU HAVE, SO THAT NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR CROWN”…thus keeping their
faith flamingly alive until that day of promise in Christ.
Church in Laodicea
16 So, because
you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 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.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke
and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 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. 21 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. -Revelations 3:16-17, 19-21
(Believers are
being lukewarm)
-
In compromise- deceptive playing of the
middle, trying to please both the world and Jesus, not serving God
wholeheartedly
…coming to the Lord with cold hearts, not meaning
what they say, expresses their thoughts but not truly their desire, kneeling
but not actually praying with sincerely
…professing about knowing God,
heaven, hell and eternal realities but no transformation in their life as
outward result of their faith
-
Lacked sense of spiritual poverty- not in
need of God for they have worldly pleasures and have richness in the world
(wealth, material things, worldly authority/power) but are actually
spiritually poor
God says to lukewarm
Christians “17 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. 19 Those whom
I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and
repent. 20 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.” …there’s
still a chance for revival, accept Jesus’ rebuke and discipline and let Him
enter in.
“These are the words of him who holds the seven
spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds” …nothing is hidden in God’s eyes even our
deeds. He knows everything including how we can be restored if ever we are in
the wrong path. Let’s hear and obey. “22 Whoever has ears,
let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
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PASTORA LODY – JCRC CAMBODIA
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