Revelation 3
Church in Sardisverses 1-6
And to the angel of the church in Sardis
write
These things says HE that has the seven Spirits of God
and the seven stars
I know your works – that you have a name that you live – and are dead
BE watchful – and strengthen the things which remain
that are ready to die – FOR I have not found your works
perfect before God
REMEMBER therefore how you have received – heard – hold fast – repent
If therefore you shall not watch – I will come on you as a thief
and you shalt not know what hour I will come upon you
You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments
and they shall walk with ME in white – for they are worthy
He that overcomes – the same shall be clothed in white raiment
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life
but I will confess his name before MY Father
and before HIS angels
He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches
Church in Philadelphiaverses 7-13
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia
write
These things says HE that is holy – HE that is true
HE that has the key of David – HE that opens
and no man shuts – and shuts – and no man opens
I know your works – BEHOLD – I have set before you an open door
and no man can shut it – FOR you have a little strength
and have kept MY word – and have not denied MY name
BEHOLD – I will make them of the synagogue of Satan
which say they are Jews – and are not – but do lie
BEHOLD – I will make them to come and worship before you feet
to know that I have loved you
BECAUSE you have kept the word of MY patience
I also will keep you from the hour of temptation
which shall come upon all the world
to try them that dwell on the earth
BEHOLD – I come quickly – HOLD that FAST which you have
that no man take your crown
Him that overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of MY God
and he shall go no more out
And I will write on him the name of MY God
and the name of the city of MY God
which is the NEW Jerusalem
which comes down out of
the heaven from MY God
and I will write on him MY NEW name
He that has an ear
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches
Church in Laodiceaverses 14-22
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans
write
These things says the Amen – the faithful and true witness
the beginning of the creation of God
I know your works – that you are neither cold nor hot
I would yhou were cold or hot
SO then because you are lukewarm – and neither cold nor hot
I will spew you out of MY mouth
BECAUSE you says
I am rich – and increased with goods – and have need of nothing
and know not that you art wretched – miserable – poor
blind – naked
I counsel you to buy of ME gold tried in the fire – that you may be rich
and white raiment – that you may be clothed
and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear
and anoint your eyes with eye salve – that you may see
AS many as I love – I rebuke – I chasten
be zealous therefore and REPENT
BEHOLD – I stand at the door – and knock
IF any man hear MY voice – and open the door
I will come in to him – and will sup with him
and he with ME
To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with ME in MY throne
even as I also overcame
and am set down with MY Father in HIS throne
He that has an ear – let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before MY Father, and before HIS angels. (1843 “confess” [exomologeo] means agree, consent, admit, acknowledge, speak out, Confiteor, acknowledge openly and joyfully, to promise, engage, or promise)
DEVOTION: There are promises made to the different churches by Jesus Christ. HE wants them to all be overcomes. HE wants them to have a victorious life here on this earth. HE provides strength to those who are faithful to HIM. HE promises blessings to those who serve HIM in the local church with their spiritual gift. HE promises blessings to those who meditate on HIS Word, the Bible.
Here we find a promise to those who are faithful that HE will not blot out their name from the book of life. The book of life is talked about both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is a book that will be opened on judgment day. It is emphasized that at the Great White Throne judgment when all those who have not repented and asked Jesus to come into their life will see that their names are not written in this book.
If our names are in the book of life Christ will confess our names to the Father and to HIS angels. HE will be proud of all those who have turned to HIM in faith. HE will present them to HIS Father.
You name will only be in the book of life if you are committed to Jesus Christ with all your heart, soul and body. You will be clothed in white raiment.
Today could be the day that you will meet Jesus Christ. It is the prayer of all those involved in Small Church Ministry that you are a believer in Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: Is your name written in the book of life?. If you are not a believer you need to ask HIM to come to your heart and forgive your sins. Then follow HIM for the rest of your life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 I know your works, behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept MY word, and have not denied MY name. (1411 “strength” [dunamis] means power, possession of controlling influence, often understood as manifesting influence over reality in a supernatural manner, ability, miraculous power, ability, or being able)
DEVOTION: Sometimes we think that God doesn’t care about what is happening in our local church. That thought comes from the enemy. HE cares about every Biblical church in our world. HE is watching each church for the direction it is headed in and knows what changes have to be made if it is heading in the wrong direction.
This church is the only church that Jesus doesn’t have any criticism. HE only has compliments. HE has opened a door in front of this church. HE knows the church only has a little strength whether that is in numbers or faith we don’t know for sure.
However, they are a church that has never denied HIS Word. They have remained faithful to the preaching of the Word of God and have been teaching all those around them about HIM.
They are seeing souls saved. They are seeing the excitement that is supposed to be a part of a good church. They want to see their community reached with the Gospel. It is not only their community but all those who are from around the world who will listen to their message.
Those who are false teachers know that their church is preaching and teaching the truth of the Word of God. They know that the LORD loves their church. They are going to receive a crown from the LORD for their faithfulness.
This is a missionary minded church. They are reaching their community for the LORD. They are reaching out to the world with the Gospel message. The LORD has given them an open door that no man can shut.
They are using this open door to faithfully reach their world for the LORD. Is HE giving your church an open door to reach your world with the message of salvation?
We need to realize that if we don’t go through the open door it might shut.
CHALLENGE: Go through the open door the LORD allows in your life and in the life of the church you serve.
: 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. (5513 “lukewarm” [chliaros] means tepid, between hot and cold, or to become warm)
DEVOTION: Christ is talking to a church that is so distasteful that HE wants to spit them out of HIS mouth. They are causing HIM to want to vomit. HE has a desire for all those who are HIS followers to be “hot” in their service to HIM. If they are cold HE will correct them.
Today we have many believers who sit in a pew from Sunday to Sunday who don’t read their Bibles between Sundays. They are not given to prayer except maybe when they have company which is rare to pray for their meal. Witnessing is not on their list. Yet they claim to be “good” Christians.
The church will NEVER influence society with these types of Christians. God wants us to be excited about our LORD. HE wants us to be active in our local church and community giving a witness to the greatness of our God.
Unless many churches start getting active for the LORD in their community their candlestick will be removed. We have a large church in the Buffalo area that is up for sale now because of the members not getting along with one another. They was so much infighting that they had to close their doors.
We have another church in our small community is up for sale that is in an area with many people around but the witness of the church was not there to influence them for Christ.
It is time to wake up to the fact that the world around us is anti- God. They don’t think it is important to have God in their life. They are looking for answers in all the wrong places.
We have the answers to all their questions in Jesus Christ. HE will give them the peace that passes all understanding once they make a commitment to HIM. We are to manifest this peace in our life on a daily basis.
CHALLENGE: As you look at your life what to you see in relationship to your temperature. Are you lukewarm or hot or cold? Pray for wisdom from the LORD in this area today!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (3811 “chasten” [paideuo] means 1 to train children. 1a to be instructed or taught or learn. 1b to cause one to learn. 2 to chastise. 2a to chastise or castigate with words, to correct. 2a1 of those who are molding the character of others by reproof and admonition. 2b of God. 2b1 to chasten by the affliction of evils and calamities. 2c to chastise with blows, to scourge. 2c1 of a father punishing his son. 2c2 of a judge ordering one to be scourged. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Isn’t it amazing that we never have to teach our children to disobey us? It comes naturally. From the earliest years, we see in children what is true of ourselves—a willful desire to do our own thing and not to be submissive. We all have to learn that there are consequences to disobedience, and that these are given so that we can learn the safe boundaries in which we can live life. So our discipline of our children should be loving and guiding them to maturity.
It is the same way with God and His children. He has a plan that He is seeking to accomplish in our lives. Sometimes, like Jonah, we run the opposite direction from what God has told us to do. When we do this, God lovingly disciplines us. The sources of discipline can be many—an employer, a friend, or even the government. God even uses other things to teach us His will such as our health or our possessions.
The key feature of God’s discipline of us is for us to be able to share His holiness (Hebrews 12:10-11). That is why discipline is not fun when we have to receive it, but we can be sure that God is working something far greater in our lives. We will be thanking and praising Him for all eternity for the fact that He showed us His love as a Heavenly Father by disciplining us when we needed it.
CHALLENGE: God’s purpose for discipline is to get our attention. What area of your life is God trying to get your attention about today? (MW)
: 21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (3528 “overcomes” [nikao] means conquer, prevail, get the victors, win the verdict or to subdue)
DEVOTION: Christ is sharing with these seven churches their good points and bad points. The bad points are sins that need to be corrected or HE will come and take their light from them.
The last church, Laodicea, was lukewarm in its relationship with the LORD. They thought they were good. They thought they were rich in material goods. They thought they were warm or on fire for the LORD. They thought they were in need of nothing.
However, the LORD saw things different. HE saw that they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and without clothes. What was HE talking about? HE was looking at them spiritually and not physically. HE is more concerned with internals, rather than, externals.
God wants HIS servants to be the ones who are left standing after a battle. We are always in a battle with our enemy, the devil and his fallen angels. We are to be the ones who face stormy circumstances with a peace that passes all understanding. We are to remain faithful when our world is in confusion. We need to remember to get the victory each day.
HE will give us strength for the daily battle. HE faced the same battle and was one who had the victory. Once HE had the victory, HE sat down at the right hand of God to make intercession for each of us who are believers.
Remember that the rewards come after we are with HIM in heaven. There are blessings that come our way but we should always remember that, whether we are in bad times or good, we will be rewarded at the Bema seat of Christ. This is called the judgment seat of Christ.
Keep looking up. Victory is promised and is ours in Christ. Praise HIS name!!!
CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to continually grow in the LORD both in good times and in bad. We need to be ready to reign with HIM.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Book of lifeverse 5
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Worshipverse 9
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Writeverses 1, 7
Wordverse 8
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1, 2, 12, 14
Fatherverses 5, 21
Temple of my Godverse 12
Name of my Godverse 12
Name of the city of my Godverse 12
Creation of Godverse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Has seven Spirits of God and seven starsverse 1
Knows works of churchverses 1, 8
Come as a thiefverse 3
Book of lifeverse 5
Confess name of believers to Father verse 5
Holyverse 7
Trueverse 7
Key of Davidverse 7
Opens and shuts doorsverse 7
Loved church at Philadelphiaverse 9
Patienceverse 10
Jesus comes quicklyverse 11
Amenverse 14
Faithful and true witnessverse 14
Beginning of creationverse 14
As many as HE loves
He rebukes and chastensverse 19
Christ will sup with believersverse 20
Sit on throneverse 21
Christ has overcomeverse 21
Sits down with Father in HIS throneverse 21
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spiritverses 1, 6, 13, 22
Seven Spirits of Godverse 1
Spirit talking to the churchesverse 6
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angelverses 1, 5, 7, 14
Christ confesses names of believers toverse 5
Satanverse 9
Synagogue of Satanverse 9>
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Worldverse 10
Earthverse 10
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Dead worksverse 1
Works not perfectverse 2
Not watchingverse 3
Thiefverse 3
Defile garmentsverse 4
Denied Christ’s nameverse 8
Synagogue of Satanverse 9
Lieverse 9
Lukewarmverse 16
Wretchedverse 17
Miserableverse 17
Poorverse 17
Blind verse 17
Nakedverses 17, 18
Shameverse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Worksverses 1, 8
Watchfulverse 2
Strengthenedverses 2, 8
Receivedverse 3
Heardverse 3
Hold fastverse 3
Repentverses 3, 19
Walk with Christ in whiteverse 4
Worthyverse 4
Overcomeverses 5, 12, 21
Confess our nameverse 5
Hearverses 6, 13, 20, 22
Open doorverse 8
Keep God’s wordverse 8
Worshipverse 9
Lovedverse 9, 19
Patienceverse 10
Hold fastverse 11
Crownverse 11
Rebukeverse 19
Chastenverse 19
Zealousverse 19
Hear Christ’s voiceverse 20
Open doorverse 20
Sup with Christverse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Key of Davidverse 7
Jewsverse 9
Church (New Testament people of God)>
Church in Sardisverses 1-4
Has name that it lives but is dead
Be watchful
Strengthen things that remain
Not found works perfect before God
Has a few name that have not defiled
Walk with Christ in white
Worthy
Overcomes will be clothed in white raiment
Name in book of life
Confess his name before Father and before HIS angels
Churchesverses 6, 13, 22
Church in Philadelphiaverses 7-13
Open door
Little strength
Kept Christ’s word
Not denied Christ’s name
Loved by Christ
Kept word of Christ’s patience
Kept from hour of temptation
Hold fast what you have
Overcome = make pillar in temple of God
Write upon him name of God
New name
Church of the Laodiceansverses 14-22
Neither cold or hot
Spue out of HIS mouth
Says “I am rich”
Counsel to buy gold of Christ
White raiment
Anoints eyes with eyesalve
Christ stands at door and knocks
Last Things (Future Events)
Clothed in white raimentverses 4, 5
Blot out name in book of lifeverse 5
Hour of temptationverse 10
Coming of the LORDverse 11
Crowns givenverse 11
Pillar in the temple of God verse 12
New Jerusalem coming from heavenverse 12
New nameverse 12
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QUOTES regarding passage
3:1a. The important commercial city of Sardis was located about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira, on an important trade route that ran east and west through the kingdom of Lydia. Important industries included jewelry, dye, and textiles, which had made the city wealthy. From a religious standpoint it was a center of pagan worship and site of a temple of Artemis, which ruins still remain (cf. comments on 2:1 regarding another temple of Artemis). Only a small village called Sart remains on the site of this once-important city. Archeologists have located the ruins of a Christian church building next to the temple. In addressing the message to the church Christ described Himself as the One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, similar to the description in 1:4. Here Christ said He holds them, speaking of the Holy Spirit in relation to Himself (Isa. 11:2–5; cf. Rev. 5:6). As in 1:20 the seven stars, representing the pastors of the churches, were also in His hands (cf. 2:1).
2. commendation (3:1b)
3:1b. The only word of approval is in actuality a word of rebuke as Christ declared that they had a reputation for being alive and apparently were regarded by their contemporaries as an effective church.
3. rebuke (3:1c, 2b)
3:1c, 2b. Christ quickly stripped away their reputation of being alive by declaring, you are dead. Like the Pharisees, their outer appearance was a facade hiding their lack of life (cf. Matt. 23:27–28). Christ added, I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God. They were falling far short of fulfilling their obligations as believers. (Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 938). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ancient Sardis, the capital of Lydia, was a most important city. It lay about fifty miles east of Ephesus at the junction of five main roads; so it was a center for trade. It was also a military center, for it was located on an almost inaccessible plateau. The acropolis of Sardis was about 1,500 feet above the main roads, and it formed an impregnable fortress. The main religion in the city was the worship of Artemis, one of the “nature cults” that built on the idea of death and rebirth.
Sardis was also known for its manufacture of woolen garments, a fact that has bearing on Christ’s message to the church. Sad to say, the city at that time was but a shadow of its former splendor; and the church, unfortunately, had become like the city—it was alive in name only.
The message to Sardis is a warning to all “great churches” that are living on past glory. Dr. Vance Havner has frequently reminded us that spiritual ministries often go through four stages: a man, a movement, a machine, and then a monument. Sardis was at the “monument” stage, but there was still hope!
There was hope because Christ was the Head of the church and He was able to bring new life. He described Himself as the one possessing the seven Spirits and the seven stars. There is only one Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:4), but the number seven demonstrates fullness and completeness. The Holy Spirit gives life to the church, and life is exactly what the people at Sardis needed. The sevenfold Spirit of God is pictured as seven burning lamps (Rev. 4:5) and as seven all-seeing eyes (Rev. 5:6).
All of the church’s man-made programs can never bring life, any more than a circus can resurrect a corpse. The church was born when the Spirit of God descended on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and its life comes from the Spirit. When the Spirit is grieved, the church begins to lose life and power. When sin is confessed and church members get right with God and with each other, then the Spirit infuses new life—revival!
Christ also controls the seven stars, the messengers of the churches (Rev. 1:20), referring most likely to the pastors. Sometimes it is a pastor’s fault that a church is dying, and the Lord of the church must remove the star and put another in his place.
There are no words of commendation to the believers at Sardis. Nor did the Lord point out any doctrinal problems that required correction. Neither is there any mention of opposition or persecution. The church would have been better off had there been some suffering, for it had grown comfortable and content and was living on its past reputation. There was reputation without reality, form without force. Like the city itself, the church at Sardis gloried in past splendor, but ignored present decay.
In fact, even what they did have was about to die! Why? Because the believers had gone to sleep. Twice in its long history, the citadel at Sardis had been captured, each time because sentries had failed to do their jobs faithfully. It is when the church’s leaders and members get accustomed to their blessings and complacent about their ministry that the enemy finds his way in.
The impression is that the assembly in Sardis was not aggressive in its witness to the city. There was no persecution because there was no invasion of the enemy’s territory. No friction usually means no motion! The unsaved in Sardis saw the church as a respectable group of people who were neither dangerous nor desirable. They were decent people with a dying witness and a decaying ministry.
Our Lord’s counsel to the church began with, “Be watchful! Wake up!” (see Rom. 13:11ff) The “sentries” were asleep! The first step toward renewal in a dying church is honest awareness that something is wrong. When an organism is alive, there is growth, repair, reproduction, and power; if these elements are lacking in a church, then that church is either dying or already dead.
The Lord warned the Ephesian saints that He would come and remove their lampstand if they did not repent (Rev. 2:5). He warned the church at Pergamos that He would come and make war with the sword of the Spirit (Rev. 2:16). If the believers at Sardis did not follow His orders, He would come as a thief, when they least expected Him; and this would mean judgment.
However, a remnant of dedicated people often exists in even a dying church. The Christians at Sardis had life, even though it was feeble. They were working, even though their works were not all that they could have been. The Lord admonished them to strengthen what remained and not to give up because the church was weak. Where there is life, there is hope! (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 576–577). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
the seven Spirits. There are two possible meanings: 1) a reference to Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the 7-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit (Is 11:2); or 2) more likely, it is a reference to the lampstand with 7 lamps (a menorah) in Zechariah—also a description of the Holy Spirit (see notes on 4:5; 5:6; Zec 4:1–10). In either case, 7 is the number of completeness, so John is identifying the fullness of the Holy Spirit. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Re 1:4). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 1. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write, &c.] Of the city of Sardis see the note on ch. 1:11. when, and by whom this church was founded, and who was the present angel or pastor of it, is not now to be certainly known; however, here was a church in the second century, of which Melito was then pastor; and he is thought by some to be the angel here intended; this man wrote upon the book of the Revelation, and an apology for the Christians, sent to the Emperor Antoninus Verus, in whose time he lived; and in the third century a church remained in this place; and also in the fourth, as appears from the council of Nice, which makes mention of it; and likewise in the fifth, as is evident from the acts of the synod at Chalcedon, in which age it was the metropolitan church of the Lydians; and in the sixth century there was a bishop of this church in the fifth synod at Constantinople; and in the seventh century, Marinus bishop of Sardis assisted at the sixth synod in the same place; and in the eighth century, Euthymius bishop of it was present in the Nicene synod; and even in the ninth century mention is made of an archbishop of Sardis; but now there are but very few Christians to be found here, and who have not a place to worship in, nor any to minister to theme. This church represents the state of the church from the time of the Reformation by Luther and others, until a more glorious state of the church appears, or until the spiritual reign of Christ in the Philadelphian period; under the Sardian church-state we now are: that this church is an emblem of the reformed churches from Popery, is evident not only from its following the Thyatirian state, which expresses the darkness of Popery, and the depths of Satan in it; but from its being clear of Balaam, and those that held his doctrine; and from the Nicolaitans and their tenets, and from Jezabel, and those that committed adultery with her; things which the two former churches are charged with; but from these the present church reformed. This city of Sardis was once a very flourishing and opulent city; it was the metropolis of Lydia, and the royal seat of the rich King Crœsus, though now a very poor and mean village; and may denote the magnificence and splendour of this church-state, at least in name and figure, it has appeared in, in the world; though now in a very low and mean condition, and may be worse before the spiritual reign of Christ begins in the next period: there may be some allusion in the name of this church to the precious stone sarda, which, Pliny says, was found about Sardis, and had its name from hence; the same with the Sardian stone in Rev. 4:2 and 21:20. This stone, naturalists say, drives away fear, gives boldness, cheerfulness, and sharpness of wit, and frees from witchcrafts and sorceries; which may be expressive of the boldness and courage of the first reformers; of the cheerfulness, joy, and pleasure, which appeared in their countenances, and which they spread in others by preaching the doctrines of the Gospel; and of those excellent gifts and talents both of nature, learning, and grace, by which they were fitted for their service; and of their being a means of delivering men from the witchcrafts of Jezabel, and the sorceries of the whore of Rome: and perhaps some allusion may be in this name, as is thought by Cocceius, to the Hebrew word שדיד, sarid, which signifies a remnant, since in this church-state there was a remnant according to the election of grace, a few names, whose garments were undefiled; or to the word שרד, sered, which signifies a carpenter’s rule or line; since the first reformers were endeavouring to bring every doctrine and practice to the rule and line of God’s word: these things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God; the fulness and perfection of the gifts and graces of the spirit of God, as in ch. 1:4 which Christ, as Mediator, has without measure, and are at his dispose, and which he, having received for men, gives unto them; and at the time of the Reformation bestowed them on many eminent servants of his in a very plenteous manner; for which reason he assumes this character in writing to this church: and the seven stars; the ministers of the Gospel; see the notes on ch. 1:16. and 2:1. these were filled by Christ at this time with evangelical light and knowledge; and were sent, and held forth by him as lights in the world; and were instruments in his hand for great good; and were wonderfully held, kept, and preserved by him, notwithstanding the greatness of their work, their weakness in themselves, and the power, rage, and fury of the antichristian party; Luther is a remarkable instance of this: Christ’s making use of the same title here as in the epistle to the church at Ephesus, which represents the apostolic church, may shew that this church-state bore some degree of likeness to that, and that it was a sort of renewing of it: I know thy works; good works chiefly; the nature and imperfection of them; and also bad works: that thou hast a name that thou livest; the reformed churches have had a name for spiritual living, by faith on Christ’s righteousness only for justification, that article being the great article of the Reformation: there was in them an appearance of liveliness, by their zeal for Gospel doctrine and worship, and a form of living according to godliness; they were esteemed, were celebrated, and famous for these things, especially for living by faith on Christ’s righteousness: and art dead; or but art dead; for, the most part, or greater part of the members of these churches, are dead in trespasses and sins; and as for the rest, they are very dead and lifeless in their frames, in the exercise of grace, and in the discharge of duties; and under great spiritual declensions and decays, just as it were ready to die; and but few really alive in a spiritual sense, and especially lively, or in the lively exercise of grace, and fervent discharge of duty; yea, dead as to those things in which they had a name to live: and this seems to be our case now, who, it is to be hoped, are at, or towards the close of this period. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 706–707). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
Revelation 3: 7
Third, the placing of “the key of the house of David,” that is, administrative responsibility for the kingdom of Judah, “on his [Eliakim’s] shoulder,” the allusion to him as a “father” to those in “Jerusalem and the house of Judah,” and the reference to his “becoming a throne of glory” would all have facilitated such a prophetic understanding of Isa. 22:22, since this language is so strikingly parallel to the prophecy in Isa. 9:6–7 of the future Israelite ruler (“… the government will be on his shoulders … and his name will be called … eternal father,” who sits “on the throne of David”). (Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 284). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.)
The key of David. See on ch. 1:18, and compare Isa. 22:22. David is the type of Christ, the supreme ruler of the kingdom of heaven. See Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:23; 37:24. The house of David is the typical designation of the kingdom of Jesus Christ (Ps. 122:5). The holding of the keys, the symbols of power, thus belongs to Christ as Lord of the kingdom and Church of God. See on Matt. 16:19: He admits and excludes at His pleasure. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 464). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons)
In Philadelphia (ἐν Φιλαδελφιᾳ [en Philadelphiāi]). Some twenty-eight miles south-east of Sardis, in Lydia, subject to earthquakes, rebuilt by Tiberius after the great earthquake of a.d. 17, for a time called in coins Neo-Caesarea, in wine-growing district with Bacchus (Dionysos) as the chief deity, on fine Roman roads and of commercial importance, though not a large city, called by Ramsay (op. cit., p. 392) “the Missionary City” to promote the spread of the Graeco-Roman civilization and then of Christianity, later offering stubborn resistance to the Turks (1379–90 a.d.) and now called Ala-Sheher (reddish city, Charles, from the red hills behind it). The chief opposition to the faithful little church is from the Jews (cf. Rom. 9–11). There are some 1,000 Christians there today. The holy, he that is true (ὁ ἁγιος, ὁ ἀληθινος [ho hagios, ho alēthinos]). Separate articles (four in all) for each item in this description. “The holy, the genuine.” Asyndeton in the Greek. Latin Vulgate, Sanctus et Verus. ὁ ἁγιος [Ho hagios] is ascribed to God in 4:8; 6:10 (both ἁγιος [hagios] and ἀληθινος [alēthinos] as here), but to Christ in Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; John 6:69; Acts 4:27, 30; 1 John 2:20, a recognized title of the Messiah as the consecrated one set apart. Swete notes that ἀληθινος [alēthinos] is verus as distinguished from verax (ἀληθης [alēthēs]). So it is applied to God in 6:10 and to Christ in 3:14; 19:11 as in John 1:9; 6:32; 15:1. He that hath the key of David (ὁ ἐχων την κλειν Δαυειδ [ho echōn tēn klein Daueid]). This epithet comes from Is. 22:22, where Eliakim as the chief steward of the royal household holds the keys of power. Christ as the Messiah (Rev. 5:5; 22:16) has exclusive power in heaven, on earth, and in Hades (Matt. 16:19; 28:18; Rom. 14:9; Phil. 2:9f.; Rev. 1:18). Christ has power to admit and exclude of his own will (Matt. 25:10f.; Eph. 1:22; Rev. 3:21; 19:11–16; 20:4; 22:16). And none shall shut (και οὐδεις κλεισει [kai oudeis kleisei]). Charles calls the structure Hebrew (future active indicative of κλειω [kleiō]), and not Greek because it does not correspond to the present articular participle just before ὁ ἀνοιγων [ho anoigōn] (the one opening), but it occurs often in this book as in the very next clause, “and none openeth” (και οὐδεις ἀνοιγει [kai oudeis anoigei]) over against κλειων [kleiōn] (present active participle, opening) though here some MSS. read κλειει [kleiei] (present active indicative, open). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 3:7). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
7. The church is greeted by one who is holy and true (epithets applied to God in 6:10). Holy denotes connection with deity (cf. Isa. 40:25; Hab. 3:3). It is used widely throughout the New Testament. True (alēthinos) is not often applied to people, either in the New Testament or elsewhere. It indicates that Christ is completely reliable.
This is the thought also in the rest of the verse. Christ has the key of David (cf. Isa. 22:22). What he opens, no-one can shut; and what he shuts, no-one can open (cf. Job 12:14). This is the very opposite of caprice. He acts firmly and none can interfere. He does what he wills. Our writer does not tell us what it is that he shuts and opens. Some connect it with the Jews, who, they think, had excluded the Christians from their synagogues. But when Christ opens, the Jews cannot reverse it. More probably it is admission to the city of David, the heavenly Jerusalem, that is in mind, and this Christ alone gives or withholds. (Morris, L. (1987). Revelation: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, pp. 80–81). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
The reference to the “key of David” alludes to Isaiah 22:20ff. and the incident of transferring the post of secretary of state in Judah from the unfaithful Shebna to the faithful Eliakim. The “key” signifies the power of the keys that were normally held by the king himself, unless delegated to another. The use of the name “David” points to Christ as the Messiah, who alone determines who will participate in his kingdom and who will be turned away: “He opens, no one can shut; … he shuts, no one can open.” This may allude to the false claims of certain Jews at Philadelphia who argued that they, not the heretical Nazarenes, would inherit the kingdom of David (v. 9) and thus excluded the followers of Jesus. But the true Messiah, Jesus, will exclude them! (Johnson, A. F. (1981). Revelation. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 452). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
The next in order is the letter to the church in Philadelphia, which means “brotherly love.”
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.… Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”
This, I believe, brings us to what we may call the revival period. Following the Reformation there came a time when a cold, lifeless formalism seemed to settle down over all Protestant Christendom—an era in which men were content simply to confess a creed, and as we have already mentioned, were supposed to be united to the church by baptism. But in the 18th and 19th centuries there came over all those lands where the Reformation had gone a great wave of blessing. God began to work afresh in mighty power. There were marvelous awakenings all over northern Europe and the British Isles. A half century later the same mighty power began to manifest itself in America. Spirit-filled servants of Christ went through these various countries like firebrands of the Lord, calling on sinners to repent, and saints to awaken to their privileges. A little later, in the early part of the last century, God, in a very special way, began to arouse many of His people to a deeper sense of the value of His Word, and its all-sufficiency for the guidance of His people in this scene. This led to the recognition of the fact that Christ Himself is the gathering centre for His people; and for His name’s sake thousands left all human systems, and began to meet in simplicity, seeking to be guided alone by the Word of God.
Now I do not mean to imply that we are to understand any special movement or association of believers to be in itself Philadelphia, but, just as Sardis sets forth State churches of the Reformation, so I believe Philadelphia sets forth those in Protestantism who emphasize the authority of the Word of God, and the preciousness of the name of Christ. For any particular company to claim to be Philadelphia is but detestable ecclesiastical pretension, and God has very evidently blown upon all such conceit.
Notice what, in a special way, would mark those who seek to walk as Philadelphians. In the first place there is the very name of this church—“brotherly love.” This implies that those contemplated here, love as brethren. They are born of God, and His love is shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit given unto them, and they are characterized by love to all who are Christ’s. Alas, how little is this characteristic seen among many who make very loud pretension to being the testimony of the Lord at the present time. There may be much high truth, and a great pretension to divine ground and maintaining of scriptural principles, but if this first mark of brotherly love be missing, depend upon it you have not yet found Philadelphia.
In the second place, observe the character in which the Lord presents Himself to this church. “These things saith He that is holy, He that is true.” This is, in itself, a challenge to separation from evil in life, and error in doctrine. If we would walk in fellowship with the Holy One, we must remember the word, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” And if we would enjoy communion with Him who is true, we must refuse Satan’s lies, and love and live the truth ourselves. Hence it follows, as it has been put by others, that “separation from evil is God’s principle of unity.” Not, indeed, separation in a cold, pharisaic sense, but separation to Christ from that which is evil.
In the next place the Lord speaks of Himself as “He that hath the key of David, He that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth.” In Isaiah 22:22, he who had the key of David was the treasurer of David’s house. And the words used here are clearly a reference to that passage. There it is said of Eliakim, “The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open and none shall shut; and he shall shut and none shall open.” The remainder of the passage shows that Eliakim was but a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one upon whom should be hung all the glory of His Father’s house. He, by His Spirit, opens the great treasure-house of divine truth, and none can shut it. On the other hand where there is perversity of spirit, and an unwillingness to walk in the truth, He shuts and none can open. So He has said elsewhere, “If the light that is in thee become darkness, how great is that darkness.”
And it is blessed to realize that, while Christ is said to have the key of David, there is another sense in which we see that Himself is the key, for it is by the presentation of Himself to the souls of His people that He opens up the treasures of His Word. Thus Christ is the key to the Holy Scriptures, and no other is needed. To understand the Bible you need only to know Christ.
Perhaps there is another sense in which we might apply the words in regard to opening and shutting; that is, they may have an application to service. The Lord Himself opens the doors for those whom He sends forth, and He it is who closes them when He so wills. And this is one thing that Philadelphian believers, generally, have found. Acting on the truth that Christ is Son over His own house, and that He has commanded His servants to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, thousands have gone forth, in dependence on Him alone, not only in the home-land, but to lands beyond the seas, even among heathen people, without any organization or Board behind them and have found the Lord Himself all-sufficient to meet every need, and to open and close just as He will. “Faith can firmly trust Him, come what may.” I think the 8th verse emphasizes this second application, for there He says, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it, for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”
Observe these important characteristics of Philadelphia. His Word is kept, His Name confessed. The keeping of His Word involves a great deal more than just believing the Bible, or reading and studying it. It implies obedience to the revealed will of the Lord. It is a blessed thing to realize that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” What immense scope is there here for faith to act upon! This blessed book of God marks out all my path, and, so long as I seek to walk in obedience, I will never be found in circumstances where this Book cannot guide me. And this, I believe, is what is involved in keeping His Word.
The denial of His Name is the increasing apostasy around us on every hand. Those who have not denied His Name refuse all fellowship with this God-dishonoring condition of things. Christ is to them more precious than all else; even for the sake of service, they refuse to link themselves with that which dishonors or blasphemes that worthy name whereby they are called. (Ironside, H. A. (1920). Lectures on the Book of Revelation (pp. 66–71). Neptune, N. J.: Loizeaux Brothers.)
. 7 The risen Lord is holy and true, like the Father (6:10), and so may be trusted to keep his word. He holds the key of David. In 1:18, as the resurrected one, Jesus has ‘the keys of death and Hades’, and so can unlock the gates of death and lead into eternal life; here the phrase recalls Is. 22:22, where it signifies authority over David’s house and means the Messiah’s undisputed authority over entrance into, or exclusion from, the kingdom of God. (Beasley-Murray, G. R. (1994). Revelation. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1431). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
3:7 angel. See note on 1:20. Philadelphia. Located on a hillside about 30 mi. SE of Sardis, the city (modern Alashehir) was founded around 190 b.c. by Attalus II, king of Pergamum. His unusual devotion to his brother earned the city its name, “brotherly love.” The city was an important commercial stop on a major trade route called the Imperial Post Road, a first century mail route. Although Scripture does not mention this church elsewhere, it was probably the fruit of Paul’s extended ministry in Ephesus (cf. Ac 19:10). holy … true. A common description in this book (4:8; 6:10; 15:3; 16:7; 19:2, 11). Christ shares the holy, sinless, pure nature of His Father (Ps 16:10; Is 6:3; 40:25; 43:15; Hab 3:3; Mk 1:11, 24; Jn 6:69; Ac 3:14); that is, He is absolutely pure and separate from sin. “True” can refer both to one who speaks truth, and who is genuine or authentic as opposed to fake. the key of David. Christ has the sovereign authority to control entrance into the kingdom (Is 22:22; cf. Mt 16:19; Jn 14:6). In 1:18 He is pictured holding the keys to death and hell—here, the keys to salvation and blessing. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Re 3:7). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Whereas the keys in 1:18b are called the “keys of death and of Hades,” in 3:7b a quotation from Isa. 22:22 is substituted for “of death and of Hades”: “the one having the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and who shuts and no one opens.” The substitution is meant to amplify the idea of the original phrase in 1:18b by underscoring the sovereignty that Christ holds over the sphere “of death and Hades.” Isaiah 22 describes Eliakim’s absolute control over the kingdom of Israel, though eventually he is deposed from his office. The reference to Eliakim as “my servant” in Isa. 22:20 would have been easily associated with Isaiah’s servant prophecies of chaps. 40–53, since the phrase occurs there thirteen times (the same phrase occurs only twice elsewhere in Isaiah, in reference to the prophet himself [20:3] and to David [37:35]). The description of placing “the key of the house of David [= administrative responsibility for the kingdom of Judah] on his [Eliakim’s] shoulder,” the allusion to him as a “father” to those in “Jerusalem and to the house of Judah,” and the reference to him as “becoming a throne of glory” would have facilitated such a typologically prophetic understanding of Isa. 22:22, since this language is so strikingly parallel to that of the prophecy of the future Israelite ruler of Isa. 9:6–7 (“the government will be on his shoulders … and his name will be called … Eternal Father,” who sits “on the throne of David”). Thus, Eliakim’s temporary control of the kingdom as “prime minister” to the king of Israel was a prophetic historical pattern pointing forward to Jesus Christ’s greater and eternal sovereignty over a greater kingdom.
In view of the heavy influence of Isa. 40–60 in 3:7–9, allusion to Isa. 45:1 can also be recognized in 3:8: compare “I shall open to him doors and cities shall not be closed” (Isa. 45:1) with “I have given before you an opened door, which no one is able to shut” (Rev. 3:8). Just as Israel was weak in comparison to its opponents but would be made strong by God’s restoring work through Cyrus (cf. Isa. 45:2–7), so also would God make the witness of the small church in Philadelphia effective among its opponents (so Lövestam 1965). (Beale, G. K., & McDonough, S. M. (2007). Revelation. In Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament (pp. 1096–1097). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos.)
Ver. 7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, &c.] Of the city of Philadelphia, see the note on ch. 1. II. According to the Apostolical Constitutions, one Demetrius was ordained bishop of this church by the Apostle John; but this is not to be depended on; nor is it known who this angel was: however, certain it is there was a church in this place in the second century, in the times of Ignatius, who wrote an epistle to it, and which then had a bishop or pastor over it, whom he mentions, though not his name. And in the same century twelve Philadelphians suffered martyrdom at the same time Polycarp dido; and in the third century a church remained in this place; and also in the fourth, since a bishop of this church was in the council at Nice; and in the fifth century, a presbyter of Philadelphia was in the synod at Ephesus under Celestine; and in the sixth century, a bishop of this place assisted at the fifth synod at Constantinople; and in the eighth century, Stephen, bishop of the church here, was in the Nicene synod; and there are now a pretty many that bear the name of Christians of the Greek church in this placeq. This church is an emblem of, and represents the church in that period of time, in which will be the spiritual reign of Christ. Its name signifies brotherly love, which in this interval will be very remarkable; saints shall not envy, vex, and distress one another any more; they shall be one in the hand of the Lord, and among themselves. Love, which is now so cold, and so much wanting in our present Sardian church-state, will be exceeding warm and fervent, and in its highest pitch in the Philadelphian state. The characters Christ here assumes point at the holiness of life, truth of doctrine, and purity of discipline, for which this church-state will be distinguished: in this period of time an open door for the Gospel will be set; it will be preached in its power and purity, and will be greatly succeeded; the fulness of the Gentiles will be brought in, and the Jews will be converted; hypocrites and formal professors will be discerned and detected; great honour and respect will be shewn the church by all men; and this state will be an emblem and pledge of the new Jerusalem state, of which mention is made in this epistle, or the thousand-years’ personal reign of Christ with all his saints: these things saith he that is holy; which character not only agrees with Christ, as God, who is the holy One of Israel, and equally glorious in holiness as his father, but as man; his nature was free from original sin; his life from any actual transgression; his doctrines were pure and holy, and so were all his works, and all his administrations in each of his offices: and, as Mediator, he is the cause and author of holiness to his people; they are sanctified in him, and have their sanctification from him, and are sanctified by him: this character he chooses now to take, because he was sending an epistle to such as were lovers of holiness, and famous for it, both internal and external; so that while he describes himself, he points at persons, the members of churches in this interval: he that is true: truly God, and truly man: true and faithful in the discharge of his several offices, and in the trust reposed in him, both of the grace and persons of the saints, and in what he undertook to do for them: he is truth itself, the truth of types, promises, and prophecies; and the sum and substance of all the truths of the Gospel; and is therefore to be depended on in every prediction and promise; and this title of Christ may have some view to the truth of doctrine which shall, in this period, prevail, and to the faithfulness and integrity of his people to his cause and interest: he that hath the key of David; mention is made of David, because he was a type of Christ; and because from him Christ came according to the flesh, and whose throne he was to sit upon, in a spiritual sense; and because, in this period of time, the Jews are to be converted, who will seek the Lord their God, and David their king: and by the key of David is meant the key of the house of David; that is, the church of Christ, of which David’s house and family were a type: and this key is either the key of knowledge, or it is expressive of power and authority. Christ has the key of knowledge, he knows all the persons of his people, all their affairs, and what they do in his house, and how they behave there: he has the key of knowledge in the Scriptures, and gives it to his ministers. And it may also design his authority in his house and church, in fixing the ordinances of it, in bestowing gifts on men, and in dispensing the blessings of grace and goodness; this may have some regard to the pure discipline of this church, as well as to its light and knowledge in the doctrines of the Gospel. The Targum on Isa. 22:22. interprets the key of the house of David, of שולטן, the dominion or government of the house of David. He that openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth; he opens the Scriptures, which are shut to a natural man, as he did in his own personal ministry, when here on earth, and now by his spirit; and none can shut them, either men or devils, or hinder the spread of light and knowledge by them: he opens the door of the Gospel, and gives an opportunity to preach it, and liberty of mind and expression to his ministers, and a door of utterance to them, and of entrance for it into the hearts of men, which none can shut, or hinder: he opens the door of the church, which is himself, and lets in his sheep into the sheep-fold, into a Gospel church-state, and the ordinances of it; and he opens the door of heaven by his blood and righteousness, and gives his people liberty and boldness to enter into the holiest of all, and brings many sons to glory in spite of all the opposition of men and devils: on the other hand, when he pleases, he shuts up the Scriptures, and the eyes of men from seeing what is in them; he shuts up the door of the Gospel, and forbids the preaching of it in this and that place; and the door of heaven will be shut by him at the last day, when all called to the marriage of the Lamb are entered, and there will be no opening. This shews the sovereignty, power, and authority of Christ, and which he will exercise in this church-state; see Job 12:14. A like phrase is in the Talmud, שוב אינו פותח כיון שטונר, when he shuts again, there is none that opens. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 709–710). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
JUST DO SOMETHING by Kevin DeYoung (Moody Press)
But if you remember that God promised we would be pilgrims and this world may feel more like a desert or even a prison, you might find your life surprisingly happy. (p. 29)
The more my grandpa and I talked, the more I realized the will of God beyond trying to obey His moral will was an unfamiliar concept to him. (p. 31)
It used to be that young people felt more of a sense of duty to family, citizenship, and church. But now few of us can imagine voluntarily limiting our independence and curtailing our options for something as antiquated as duty. (p. 33)
My fear is that of all the choices people face today, the one they rarely consider is, “How can I serve most effectively and fruitfully in the local church?” (p.36)
The final reason we want to know the will of God is because we are cowardly. (p. 38)
So we can stop pleading with God to show us the future, and start living and obeying like we are confident that He holds the future. (p.42)
GOD’S JUDGMENT
…should not perish… John 3:16
Jesus taught about God the Father by showing God’s wrath against sin. “But what about John 3:16?” asks someone.
Listen to John 3:16, my friend. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish,” but apart from Him they would have perished; that is the only way to avoid perishing. Indeed, we also find in John 3 a statement that if a man does not believe, “the wrath of God abideth on him” (verse 36).
Part of our Lord’s teaching about the Father is that the Father is absolutely holy, that He hates sin and had pledged to destroy it and punish it with everlasting destruction. “Blessed,” He said, “are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). No one else can see God because only the pure in heart could stand the sight of Him. To look at God is hell to a man unless he has been made pure in heart—“…holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). So He revealed the character of the Father as a holy Father.
But Christ also told us about the Father’s love and compassion. That is why, He tells us, He came into the world—it was because of the love of God. He shows us this same love and compassion in His life. That is why He worked His miracles, not simply to heal the people, but to reveal, to manifest, His glory and the love and compassion of God. He said in effect, “If you do not believe My words, then as I do these things, see the Father in Me.” For this holy God is a God of love and compassion. As our Lord went about healing the sick and doing good, He told us that God is like that.
A Thought to Ponder
The Lord Jesus Christ revealed the character of the Father as a holy Father
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 128-129, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).
Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem in hopes of fostering a livelihood.
INSIGHT
When Boaz, a noble and godly man, hears of Ruth’s noble and godly actions, he is moved with appreciation for the kind of person she is.
When he finds her gleaning in his fields, he bestows kindnesses on her. Ruth asks why he should take notice of her since she is a foreigner. Boaz replies that it is because of all that she has done for Naomi. The way we live our everyday lives communicates a “life message” to others. When we live for the Lord, that message is a beacon of light to others.
PRAYER
· Praise the Lord for His sovereignty and for the fact that He works His will regardless of the failures of His children:
Praise the Lord! (Quiet Walk)
Ascending Vapors
“He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” (Psalm 135:7)
This striking verse is practically identical with Jeremiah 10:13 and 51:16, suggesting the possibility that the prophet Jeremiah may have written the otherwise anonymous Psalm 135. The two Jeremiah passages do preface this statement with the note that there is “a multitude of waters in the heavens” in connection with the processes described in the verse.
In any case, this thrice-mentioned mechanism beautifully summarized what we now call the hydrologic cycle, and it did so over 2,000 years before the cycle began to be understood by modern scientists. In order to provide rain to water the earth, there must be vapors ascending all over the earth (that is, evaporation from the world’s great oceans), winds then blowing from God’s unseen treasury (actually the global atmospheric circulation), and, finally, lightnings for (or “with”) the rain (electrical discharges associated with the condensation and coalescence of the particles of water vapor in the atmosphere). All of this repeatedly transports purified waters from the ocean back over the lands to fall as rain and snow, there finally to run off back to the oceans after performing their life-sustaining ministries on the lands. “Unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again” (Ecclesiastes 1:7).
Not only does this hydrologic cycle sustain physical life on Earth, but it also is a type of the spreading of God’s Word, giving spiritual life. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth,…So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
In this boo the author suggested five questions we need to ask n order to make spiritual decisions.” Dave wrote the five questions on the napkin:
1. Have we prayed about it?
2. What does Scripture teach us about the issue?
3. How does this relate to the character of God?
4. What counsel can others give?
5. How will this affect our mission of transforming people? (p. 120)
When we are faced with difficult decisions, we need to spend time in prayer. When the congregation is struggling over issues, we need to call the church to prayer, for it is through prayer that we discover the will of God. (p. 121)
The most critical element in scriptural discernment is the presence and work of the Holy Spirit, who guides us into truth (John 14:26; 16:13) and in understanding God’s will and purpose. (p.122)
(Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
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