SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 3
TO THE CHURCH IN SARDIS (vs. 1-6)
“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. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will be like them dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
TO THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA (vs. 7-13)
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David,. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 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. 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. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him 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 him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
TO THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA (vs. 14-22)
“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. 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 warm 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. 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 him, and he with me.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
THOUGHTS:
THE CHURCH IN SARDIS: The city has two locations – mountain and valley.
Strength: They have deeds with a reputation of being alive.
Weakness: They are actually dead.
Counsel: Wake up! Strengthen what remains. Remember what they have received and heard, obey it.
Punishment: God will come like a thief without knowing what time he will come.
Rewards for overcomers: They will be worthy to walk with God dressed in white and their names will be written in the Book of Life.
To be “clothed in white” means to be pure and set apart for God. Names that are written in the Book of
Life guarantees that they belong to God and will be with Him in heaven.
THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA: This city was founded by the citizens of Pergamum. It was built in frontier areas as a gateway to the central plateau of Asia Minor. They brought in Greek culture and language.
Strength: They have little strength, yet they have kept God’s word and have not denied His name.
Counsel: Hold on to what they have.
Rewards for Overcomers:
- God will make those who claim to be Jews but are from Satan come and fall down at their feet and acknowledge that God loved them.
- God will keep them from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world.
- God will make a pillar in His temple and write their name on it. God will also write His new name on them.
THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA: This city is the wealthiest of the seven cities with banking industry, manufacture of wool and a medical school that produced eye ointment. But the city had problems with its water supply.
Strength: They have deeds.
Weakness: They are lukewarm – neither cold nor hot. They are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. They are indifferent, idle, half-hearted and self-sufficient.
Counsel: Repent! Buy from God gold refined in the fire. Wear white clothes to cover their shameful nakedness and salve to put on their eyes to see. Gold from God is the real spiritual treasure. White clothes represent God’s righteousness. Putting salves on their eyes signifies healing their eyes so that they can see the truth.
Punishment: God will rebuke and discipline them. His purpose is to bring people back to him.
Rewards for overcomers: God will come in and eat with them. They will be given the right to sit with God on His throne.
REFLECTIONS:
- Are you spiritually alive?
- Are you growing in the knowledge of the Lord and studying His Word?
- Do you hold on to your faith and obey God completely?
- Are you serving God wholeheartedly?
- Do you have a close relationship with Christ?
- Do you value wealth, material possessions and prestige more important compared to the everlasting future of Christ’s kingdom?
- Are you prepared anytime for Christ’s second coming?
- Do you leave the door of your heart constantly open to God?
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