Revelation 19:6-10
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Here is a short story that was sent to me. After reading the scripture, read the story, then we will look at the message. There was a woman who was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had a few months to live. As she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. They discussed which songs to be sung, what scriptures to read, her favorite Bible, and outfit to be dressed in. After getting the items in order, and as the pastor was leaving, she remembered something important to her. “There’s one more thing,” she said. “What’s that?” the pastor replied. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand,” she stated. The pastor looked at her with a puzzled expression, not knowing what to say. “That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the woman asked. “I am curious as to why this strange request,” said the pastor. She explained, “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember as the dishes were being cleared away from the main course, someone would lean over and say, keep your fork. When I heard that, I knew that something better was coming…like a deep-dish pie. Something wonderful and had substance! It was my favorite part. So, I want people to see me in the casket with a fork in my hand, and I want them to wonder, what’s with the fork? I want you to tell them, keep your fork…the best is yet to come!” The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the lady good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times that he would see her before her death. But he knew that she had sincere grasp of Heaven. She KNEW something was coming, and it was better. At the funeral, people were walking by the casket and saw her nice outfit, her Bible, and the fork in her hand. Numerous times, the pastor could hear the question, “what’s with the fork.” And over and over he would smile. During his message, the pastor told the congregation of the conversation he had with the woman not long before her passing. He described the symbolism of the fork and what it meant to her. The pastor told the people of how he could not stop thinking about the fork, and that they would probably would not stop thinking about it either. He was correct. So, the next time you reach for your fork, let it remind you that the best IS yet to come. Do we have our forks ready?
God sent the Invitation, Christ prepares the Feast, and the Holy Spirit knocks at the Hearts door. “The Wedding Invitation” by Kyla Rowland. You’re invited to a wedding, that will be held soon. We are the bride; Christ is the groom. With a crown to wear, and a long white robe. We’ll walk down the aisle, made of pure gold. What is your answer, how will you respond? The groom is asking, the bride to come. And the supper will be in heaven, our new home above. Here’s a wedding invitation, He’s sending with love. The judgment of the wicked and the wedding feast of the Lamb and His bride (“wife”), the church, which is made up of all faithful believers throughout all time, come to an end here. We can see the contrast between the extravagant attire of the great whore in Revelation 17:4 and 18:16 with that of the bride. The righteousness of the saints is the bride’s attire. These are the works of Christ to save us, not the religious works of believers (Revelation 7:9). Jesus is the focal point of God’s disclosure and His plan of redemption as reported by the prophets. As we read through the book of Revelation, we ought not get stalled in every one of the subtleties of these marvelous visions. Yet, we are to recollect that the overall topic in each of the visions is the definitive triumph of Jesus Christ over all evil. Where do you stand today? Are you dressed in the righteousness of Christ? And, do you have your fork ready for the great wedding feast in heaven?
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Revelation 3:14-22
Flies don’t land on a hot stove. What does it mean to be a church of casual Christianity? How does a church become casual? Is it speaking of the church building or the church body? Or does it refer to the church members, the individual Christians? Look at the churches depicted in Revelation 2 & 3.
Today we will focus on the last church in Laodicea. Corrupting Malaise - Laodicea was the most affluent of the seven cities, known for its financial industry, production of fleece, and a clinical school that delivers an eye ointment. In any case, the city consistently had a problem with its water supply. At one time an aqueduct was worked to carry water to the city from underground aquifers, some hot springs. Yet, when the water arrived at the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool. It was just tepid. It had become lukewarm. The church congregation had become as dull as the lukewarm water that came into the city. Definition of Lukewarm –
Tepid or lukewarm water makes for a sickening beverage. The congregation in Laodicea had gotten tepid and, in this manner, it had become offensive and repulsive. The believers did not represent anything. Aloofness and indifference had driven them into inactivity. By failing to do anything for Christ, the congregation had become solidified, hardened, and smug, and it was annihilating itself. God does not need nor want us to be cold, yet there is more expectation for a radical to atone than for a weak, in-name-only Christian who is independent and self-sufficient. Try not to fall into following God midway. Allow Christ to start up our faith and get us right into action. Characteristic Marks – Laodicea was known for its extraordinary riches; however, Christ advised the Laodiceans to purchase their gold from him (spiritual treasures). The city was puffed up and proud for its clothing and coloring industries, yet Christ advised them to buy white garments of clothing from him (his righteousness). Laodicea valued its valuable eye treatment that mended many eye issue; however, Christ advised them to get medication from him to recuperate their eyes so they could see the truth (John 9:39). Christ was showing the Laodiceans that genuine worth, true value was not in material belongings but rather in a right connection with God. Their accomplishments and possessions were worthless in comparison with the never-ending future of Christ's Kingdom.
God would chastise and discipline this tepid lukewarm church unless if they abandoned their lack of interest toward him. His motivation in discipline is not for punishment, however, but to cause individuals to come back to him. Is it true that we are tepid in our dedication to God? God might discipline us to help get out of our uncompassionate demeanor, however he utilizes just loving discipline. We can keep away from God's discipline by gravitating toward to him again through repentance, worship, service, and examining his Word. Similarly, as the spark of affection can be revived in a marriage, so the Holy Spirit can reignite our zest for God when we permit him to work in our hearts and souls. The Laodicean church was smug and rich. They felt satisfied yet they did not have Christ among them. He knocked at their heart's door, yet they were too caught up with appreciating common delights that they did not see that he was attempting to enter. The delights of this world - wealth, security and material belongings can be perilous on the grounds that their temporary fulfillment makes us apathetic regarding God's proposal of everlasting fulfillment. If we wind up feeling not interested in church, to God, or to the Bible, we have started to close God out of our lives. We should leave the entryway of our heart continually open to God then we will not have to stress over missing him knocking. Letting Christ in is the only hope for eternal peace. Challenging Message – Jesus is knocking on the entryway of our heart’s door each time we sense that we should go to him. He wants to have us fellowship with him. He wants us to freely open ourselves to him. He is patient and tireless in attempting to commune with us, not breaking and entering, however, but by knocking. He permits us to choose whether or not to open our lives to him. Do we purposefully keep his power and presence on the opposite side of the door?
A cold church is a dead church, but a hot church is alive. A Church of Casual Christianity –
Jude 1:12
Jude wrote this letter to warn believers of false teachers (Colossians 2:4) that were teaching the Christians that they could do what they wanted without fear of reprisal from God. Many believers in todays churches may still act in this manner. We need to heed the warning of these false teachers and of living a false life. Jude 1:1-16 discusses the danger of false teachers. Jude 1:17-25 discusses the duty to fight for God’s truth. This letter was to encourage believers to action. The Christians needed to recognize and defend themselves against the teachings from these false teachers. How true it is today that believers still need to watch out for false teachings? I want us to focus today on verse twelve of the book of Jude. “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear.” Before believers celebrated the Lord's Supper in the early church, they ate a regular meal prior to communion. This meal was designed to be a sacred fellowship time as the believers prepared their hearts when they partook of the communion. That is why it was called the “feasts of charity” or love feasts. It reminds me of a fellowship dinner on a Sunday afternoon after morning service. Unfortunately, many false teachers joined in these feasts causing the feasts to turn into gluttonous and drunken parties. Many ate most of the food while others went hungry (1 Corinthians 11:20-22). These people claimed to be Christians but did not live the life of a believer (Philippians 3:19). They were only concerned with their personal desires and not the needs of others. It was as if these false shepherds were more into feeding themselves in lieu of ensuring the flock was fed (2 Peter 2:13). While at these feasts, which were for promoting love and unity among the believers, the false teachers gossiped and slandered any who opposed them. These people were guilty leading others away from God (1 Corinthians 11:27). These spots can be translated as hidden rocks. And hidden rocks cause many a shipwreck of the faith (1 Timothy 1:19-20). They did not treasure the faith, nor did they did not keep their conscience clear. This led to hardening of their hearts. “Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds.” False teachers might look like they are filled with God’s Word, but they are only dry and empty (Proverbs 25:14). They may be dressed in fine clothes, appearing to be pious and they may be eloquent of speech. But they are only pretty and drifting clouds going across the sky (2 Peter 2:17). They appeared to be filled with water but never gave any. Do not get caught up in the ‘wind’ of the false teachers, where we can get carried about in false doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). How many are like Jeremiah, sunk in the mire of a dungeon, where there is no water? (Jeremiah 38:6) A well without water is a dry well. If there is no water, then there is no life. A dry well is a danger to others. We should always look to Christ, the Living Water (John 4:14). “Trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” Christ gave a warning about false teachers (Matthew 7:20). Every plant that is not planted by God will be rooted up (Matthew 15:13). If the plant is not fruitful, it will be cursed (Mark 11:12-20). These men were spiritually dead, having returned to their transgressions after knowing of the truth (Luke 9:62). The apostates are dead in sin, and whose bodies will also die. To put it another way, when a person is born once (naturally), that person will die twice (naturally and spiritually). But when a person is born twice (naturally and spiritually), that person will only die once (naturally).
How much do we value the Word of God, church fellowship, and obeying Christ? Numerous false teachers are out there waiting to break down the credibility of the Word of God, the unification of the church body, and our own life which is centered in Christ. We must not allow church functions to be an event to where selfishness, disorder, gluttony, or any sins, to come in and dismantle our church unity or to interfere with the purpose of any church assembly. The church needs to be reminded of the need for continued vigilance, to remain strong in the faith and to defend itself against heresy. 3 John 1:1-14
Where is our hospitality? Are we a Diotrephes or a Demetrius? In verses 1-8:
In verses 9-10:
In verses 11-14:
2 John 1:1-13
Do not just read but obey. To walk in truth, one knows how to act, what to do, is willing to learn, and is determined to do so. In verses 1-3:
In verses 4-6:
In verses 7-9:
In verses 10-13:
1 John 5:16-21
All believers have sinned, but we have an advocate with the Father to ask for forgiveness. And, we are not to put anything between us and God. In verses 16-17:
In verses 18-19:
In verses 20-21:
1 John 5:1-15
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we become a child of God and have eternal life. In verses 1-5:
In verses 6-10:
In verses 11-15:
1 John 4:7-21
Agape - unconditional love (Godly) Storge - family love Philia - beneficial love (brotherly) Eros - romantic love If we center ourselves on God, abiding in His giving Love, there could be no avenue for the works of the flesh to enter our lives. In verses 7-10:
In verses 11-13:
In verses 14-16:
In verses 17-21:
1 John 3:15-24
The life of grace is the start and first standard in the heart of a Believer. Those who have disdain in their hearts for their brother must be deprived of love. Jesus taught that hate is the same as murder. The life of Jesus, eternal life, cannot abide in us if we hate others. Do we detest any of our fellow Christians, or for that matter, anyone? In verses 15-16:
In verses 17-18:
In verses 19-20:
In verses 21-22:
In verses 23-24:
1 John 3:8-9
What is victory and what does it mean?
Have you ever felt victory over something? Defeat? Ever had hills to climb, rivers to cross, valleys to go through? Maybe something in your life was a struggle. You fought for a while. Maybe you gave up because you lost hope. Or maybe, you said to yourself, whatever happens, oh well. In this passage, John writes, the person that dwells in Christ, proceeds not in the act of transgression. Denying sin is the incredible evidence of the spiritual association with continuation in, and the saving grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He that doeth righteously is upright, and being a follower of Christ, shows his faith in his obedience and sufferings. Be that as it may, a man cannot act like the devil, and simultaneously be a disciple of Christ Jesus. A regenerated person should not sin as he did before being born again. Why? Because Christ's light that is in his heart shows the evil malignancy of sin, whereby he should oppose and hate sin. Let us not serve or enjoy what the Son of God came to destroy. We all have areas where temptations and old habits are hard to conquer. This is where Satan can attack us, so we must be vigilant and be prepared. John is referring to people who continue to sin and try to find ways to justify their behavior. “Doth not commit and cannot sin” means that the child of God does not deliberately try to sin. All believers sin, but we should be continually striving to overcome sin. “His seed remaineth in him” refers to the children of God abiding in God. A new life was born in us so we should not make a practice of sin. Being Born of God, is when a person has accepted Christ as their Savior. Being born again is a rebirth into a new family because we have accepted Christ's death as the propitiation for our sins. God the Father then forgives us and accepts un into this new family. Then, the Holy Spirit moves into our hearts and minds and begins to change us to be more like Christ. So, what are these three steps to finding victory over sin? First, we should continually read the Word of God and seek the power of the Holy Spirit. Second, we should run away from lecherous impulses (lustful desires). And third, we should look for assistance from other believers. We can accomplish this by renewing our minds daily.
Victory brings happiness, joy, and contentment. Defeat brings heaviness, sorrow, and pain.
Church Hymnal, page 120, Victory in Jesus I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory, How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me; I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood's atoning, Then I repented of my sins and won the victory O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood; He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him, He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood. |
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