To the Church in Philadelphia ( A Weak but Obedient Church. Encourages Christians who seem to be weak and poweless to realize that their true strength is in Christ. There are no words of disapproval. The Kingdom of God only depends on God's power and authority.)
7 “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. (Isa 22:22 Jesus the Messiah is successor to David's royal line. As gatekeeper of Heaven, Jesus has authority to open and close the way to heaven.) What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 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. (they did not deny him under pressure) 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. (The Christians in Philadelphia has suffered maltreatment ny anti-Christian Jews.) 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. (Jesus will protect Christians who perservere through trials ISA 43:2-4, John 10:27-28, Heb 6:18-19. The Great time of testing refers to End Times)
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. (We must hold on and overcome difficulty so as to not lose our crown - the expected reward) 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar (us) 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 (sign of God's blessing on us). 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Church in Sardis ("A Dead Church")
Today we look at the fifth church, Revelation 3:1-6, The Church at Sardis. My notes are below in blue.
To the Church in Sardis ("A Dead Church" ;this letter is to warn Christians who are reputed to be spiritually alive (When actually dead) that without genuine transformation they face God's judgement)
1 “To the angel[c] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[d] (literally 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. (The church of Sardis needed to wake up or it would suddenly fall. The city of Sardis had fallen when the forces of Cyrus and of Antiochus make unexpected attacks through a secret tunnel and caught the watchmen off guard. The same would be true of the Christians there if they did not meet the requirements of God. REV 20:12, EPH 2:10)
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. (Soiled clothes represent an impure life ZEC 3:4) They will walk (how they live their life Gen 17:1, PS 81:13, 82:5, ROM 8:4, GAL 5:16) with me, dressed in white (Purity REV 6:11. 7:13-14, 22:14), for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. (Having your name in the Book of Life symbolizes assurance of God's acceptance and eternal life REV 17:8, 20:12, Phil 4:3, Luke 10:20 For God to erase a name implies condemnation and eternal death EXO 32:32-33, Ps 69:28) 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Hope this is helping understand John's message from JEsus to US! Information has been adapted from NLT 2nd Edition Study Bible and M.Henry Commentary.
To the Church in Sardis ("A Dead Church" ;this letter is to warn Christians who are reputed to be spiritually alive (When actually dead) that without genuine transformation they face God's judgement)
1 “To the angel[c] of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[d] (literally 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. (The church of Sardis needed to wake up or it would suddenly fall. The city of Sardis had fallen when the forces of Cyrus and of Antiochus make unexpected attacks through a secret tunnel and caught the watchmen off guard. The same would be true of the Christians there if they did not meet the requirements of God. REV 20:12, EPH 2:10)
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. (Soiled clothes represent an impure life ZEC 3:4) They will walk (how they live their life Gen 17:1, PS 81:13, 82:5, ROM 8:4, GAL 5:16) with me, dressed in white (Purity REV 6:11. 7:13-14, 22:14), for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. (Having your name in the Book of Life symbolizes assurance of God's acceptance and eternal life REV 17:8, 20:12, Phil 4:3, Luke 10:20 For God to erase a name implies condemnation and eternal death EXO 32:32-33, Ps 69:28) 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Hope this is helping understand John's message from JEsus to US! Information has been adapted from NLT 2nd Edition Study Bible and M.Henry Commentary.
Church in Thyatira (An overly tolerant Church)
As part of our homework this week we are looking at the seven churches John wrote to in Revelation 2-3. Today we are on the fourth, Church in Thyatira. Please read and study the scripture below. My comments and notes are in Blue. They have been adapted from my Study Bible (NLT, 2nd Edition) and Commentary (Matthew Henry).
Revelation 2:18-29
To the Church in Thyatira (An overly tolerant Church, confronts Christians who mix Christianity with pagan practices and a worldly lifestyle)
18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira (an outpost cirt known for trade guilds Acts 16:4) write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire (indicate penetrating perception) and whose feet are like burnished bronze (indicating Christ's stability). 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. (Christ emphasizing knowing and seeing ALL things as he praises this church)
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel (who led Isreal into pagan idolaty and immorality 1Kings 16:31-33, 21:5-26), who calls herself a prophet. (This is a problem Christ has with this church) By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (His judgement comes in three stages 1- Jezebal on bed of suffering 2- her followers will greatly suffer 3-her children will die. This judgement echoes the plagues on Egypt that ended with deaths of Egypt's firstborn sons EXO 12:29-30. This should remind us that GOD sees thoughts and intentions and in responses gives whatever punishment/sentence people deserve. JER 17:10, Acts 1:24, Heb 4:12-13, Mat 16:27)
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. (Christ promises that those who are obedient will share authority with him (WOW), as symbolized by the iron scepter that will dash the opposition like clay pots. PS 2:8-9. The morning start signifies the coming of a new day and refers to the promise of resurrection at Christ's return (REV 22:16, 2Pet 1:19)29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Question to ponder -
Are you convicted by the thought of an "Overly Tolerant Church"?
Revelation 2:18-29
To the Church in Thyatira (An overly tolerant Church, confronts Christians who mix Christianity with pagan practices and a worldly lifestyle)
18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira (an outpost cirt known for trade guilds Acts 16:4) write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire (indicate penetrating perception) and whose feet are like burnished bronze (indicating Christ's stability). 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. (Christ emphasizing knowing and seeing ALL things as he praises this church)
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel (who led Isreal into pagan idolaty and immorality 1Kings 16:31-33, 21:5-26), who calls herself a prophet. (This is a problem Christ has with this church) By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (His judgement comes in three stages 1- Jezebal on bed of suffering 2- her followers will greatly suffer 3-her children will die. This judgement echoes the plagues on Egypt that ended with deaths of Egypt's firstborn sons EXO 12:29-30. This should remind us that GOD sees thoughts and intentions and in responses gives whatever punishment/sentence people deserve. JER 17:10, Acts 1:24, Heb 4:12-13, Mat 16:27)
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[b]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. (Christ promises that those who are obedient will share authority with him (WOW), as symbolized by the iron scepter that will dash the opposition like clay pots. PS 2:8-9. The morning start signifies the coming of a new day and refers to the promise of resurrection at Christ's return (REV 22:16, 2Pet 1:19)29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Question to ponder -
Are you convicted by the thought of an "Overly Tolerant Church"?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
What an opposite day from yesterday - COLD, NO SUN, and MISTY. Quite different from yesterday where I ran in tank and actually got a sunburn. Is it sad that I was a little happu about that - I am feeling really Vitamin D denied these days. I am super happy to report that we are all waking up from our post-church NAP! Yippee!
Heavenly Father - WE LOVE YOU! This morning at church I was reminded of the Woman at Well (JOHN 4) and how she SHOWED UP, LOOKED UP and SPOKE UP. Although she was a woman of sin YOU SAUGHT HER OUT and she SHOWED UP at the well. Then she LOOKED UP in FAITH once you revealed yourself. Then she SPOKE UP to the villagers and townspeople. We want to do that. WE want to SHOW UP for YOUR fresh REVELATION, WE want to LOOK UP to YOU and your GLORY and then we want to have the courage to SPEAK UP and share your amazingness! WE love you LORD and I pray for these women! AMEN
In Sunday School we talked about the importance of COMMUNITY and the Christian Walk. I was immediately reminded of you and your importance in my life. Thank you for choosing this BIBLE STUDY and thank you for all you do in HIS NAME. We read out of GENESIS 1&2 how GOD created MAN and then didn't want him to be alone. There is a void that only the LORD GOD can fulfill but there is also a HUMAN VOID that once human relationships can fill. Just know that no matter what your are going through - you are not alone.
Update on The Simple Wife (Joanne) - This gives me chill bumps!
twitter.com/tobenheim
thesimplewife.typepad.com/
Love to all!
Michelle
Heavenly Father - WE LOVE YOU! This morning at church I was reminded of the Woman at Well (JOHN 4) and how she SHOWED UP, LOOKED UP and SPOKE UP. Although she was a woman of sin YOU SAUGHT HER OUT and she SHOWED UP at the well. Then she LOOKED UP in FAITH once you revealed yourself. Then she SPOKE UP to the villagers and townspeople. We want to do that. WE want to SHOW UP for YOUR fresh REVELATION, WE want to LOOK UP to YOU and your GLORY and then we want to have the courage to SPEAK UP and share your amazingness! WE love you LORD and I pray for these women! AMEN
In Sunday School we talked about the importance of COMMUNITY and the Christian Walk. I was immediately reminded of you and your importance in my life. Thank you for choosing this BIBLE STUDY and thank you for all you do in HIS NAME. We read out of GENESIS 1&2 how GOD created MAN and then didn't want him to be alone. There is a void that only the LORD GOD can fulfill but there is also a HUMAN VOID that once human relationships can fill. Just know that no matter what your are going through - you are not alone.
Update on The Simple Wife (Joanne) - This gives me chill bumps!
twitter.com/tobenheim
thesimplewife.typepad.com/
Love to all!
Michelle
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Blessed -
Good Afternoon Girls!
Well I hope you are having a nice Sunday afternoon. Each day I look for encouragement and fresh revelations of the LORD in my life. I am blessed today because they were everywhere!
This morning I had one at church where we were reminded/learned that it is up to us to make the BIBLE our own. Although we can go to one another, our pastor, our mentors, etc for direction - it is ultimately OUR DECISION to study the WORD and our DECISION to make HIS WORD our OWN WORD.
This morning at Sunday School I was reminded that the LORD is never surprised my actions - instead each decision in my life was placed there by GOD'S WILL and there isn't a whole lot I can do to STRAY - other than to make a bad choice and intently go against what I feel I should I do and then REPENT - did I mention our pastor also talked about TEMPTATION?
Afterwards I was reminded HOW BLESSED MY FAMILY IS when we enjoyed lunch with our best friends - its amazing to me to see how GOD inter-weaves all of our lives! We are so blessed to be able to spend a day with those we love - all the way from church - to sunday school - to lunch!
Right now as I listen to my three kids play and laugh I am reminded that my life is a GIFT and I AM SO BLESSED to have four people that I get the opportunity to share every minute with! I am blessed that all three napped and my husband and I were able to sit and talk and enjoy one another. I am blessed that when they woke up my four year old asked to watch BUZBY (Max Lucado's Videos) not Toy Story. I am blessed that my two year old says "Thank you" after I change her #2 diaper. I am blessed that my one year old wants to KISS his mommy! Let's just say I AM BLESSED!
As I read my daily devotion I am reminded - "For the wage of sin is death, but the GIFT of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD." Rom 6:23 So if think today was an amazing day WOW - WHAT IS TO COME!
LORD - I pray that you make today a visable blessing for these amazing women. I pray that they know you seek them out, how much you love them, and how amazing your GIFT is in their lives. LORD please reveal yourself to each one of us and remind us of your WILL for our lives! AMEN
Love to all!
Michelle
Well I hope you are having a nice Sunday afternoon. Each day I look for encouragement and fresh revelations of the LORD in my life. I am blessed today because they were everywhere!
This morning I had one at church where we were reminded/learned that it is up to us to make the BIBLE our own. Although we can go to one another, our pastor, our mentors, etc for direction - it is ultimately OUR DECISION to study the WORD and our DECISION to make HIS WORD our OWN WORD.
This morning at Sunday School I was reminded that the LORD is never surprised my actions - instead each decision in my life was placed there by GOD'S WILL and there isn't a whole lot I can do to STRAY - other than to make a bad choice and intently go against what I feel I should I do and then REPENT - did I mention our pastor also talked about TEMPTATION?
Afterwards I was reminded HOW BLESSED MY FAMILY IS when we enjoyed lunch with our best friends - its amazing to me to see how GOD inter-weaves all of our lives! We are so blessed to be able to spend a day with those we love - all the way from church - to sunday school - to lunch!
Right now as I listen to my three kids play and laugh I am reminded that my life is a GIFT and I AM SO BLESSED to have four people that I get the opportunity to share every minute with! I am blessed that all three napped and my husband and I were able to sit and talk and enjoy one another. I am blessed that when they woke up my four year old asked to watch BUZBY (Max Lucado's Videos) not Toy Story. I am blessed that my two year old says "Thank you" after I change her #2 diaper. I am blessed that my one year old wants to KISS his mommy! Let's just say I AM BLESSED!
As I read my daily devotion I am reminded - "For the wage of sin is death, but the GIFT of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD." Rom 6:23 So if think today was an amazing day WOW - WHAT IS TO COME!
LORD - I pray that you make today a visable blessing for these amazing women. I pray that they know you seek them out, how much you love them, and how amazing your GIFT is in their lives. LORD please reveal yourself to each one of us and remind us of your WILL for our lives! AMEN
Love to all!
Michelle
Saturday, January 15, 2011
MEMORY VERSE
Please work on memorizing the following verse - we will go over this translation on Wednesday.
"Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.” REVELATION 17:14 NLT
There is power in scripture especially and specifically when praying. I encourage you to write this down and put somewhere so you are constantly reminded of the LORD and his will for your life!
Love to all!
Michelle
"Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.” REVELATION 17:14 NLT
There is power in scripture especially and specifically when praying. I encourage you to write this down and put somewhere so you are constantly reminded of the LORD and his will for your life!
Love to all!
Michelle
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Winter Session One - Revelation
I cannot begin to put into words my excitement about this study! As always I am in awe of Beth Moore's enthusiasm and pure knowledge of the Bible and our wonderful Counselor. Its truely amazing to me how much John tells us in eight verses - last night we studied in depth Revelation 1:1-8. Here is a quick snapshot of what we learned:
(1) It is not REVELATIONS it is one REVELATION. Singular not plural.
(2) The Book of REVELATION was most likely penned in the late first century. It was written by John and it was almost instantly considered SCRIPTURE. This was rare.
(3) The BIBLE is written in/as narrative art. We learned there is power in words and we are encouraged to read aloud. GOD gave JESUS CHRIST the message - Jesus Christ gave an ANGEL the message - the ANGEL gave JOHN the message - JOHN gave the 7 Churches the message. It is written in a way that we can understand - through signs and figurative language. REV 1:1-2 NKJV
(4) Seven (7) is the number of perfection and completion in the BIBLE. This is very important and we will see references several times.
(5) We learned GOD the person is sitting on the throne, JESUS CHRIST is sitting to the right, and the HOLY SPIRIT dwells among us here on earth and within. EXO 3:14, ISA 11:2, REV 5:6, ZEC 3:9, 4:10
(6) There are three titles given for Christ - (1) The Faithful Witness - He testified for GOD, the first MARTYR (2) The Firstborn from the Dead - His Ressurection (3) Ruler of the Kings on Earth - Ascending to rule with GOD
EXO 19:6, 1 PET 2:9, REV 1:6
(7) REV 1:3 Promises a BLESSING to those who read and study REVELATION
This is going to be a great ten weeks. Unlike her other studies this particular one is not homework heavy. Instead she is asking that for 10 weeks we hang up our "ball" or that one thing that we obsess over. Can you do it? She is also asking that we JOURNAL! This is awesome - my plan is to carry a notebook in my bag to record my GOD MOMENTS! She wants us to pray and ask the LORD to give all of us a FRESH REVELATION - each and every day.
I am so excited you are doing this study! Please let me know if you need anything. You are here by GOD's design and I pray for you daily!
Much Love -
Michelle
(1) It is not REVELATIONS it is one REVELATION. Singular not plural.
(2) The Book of REVELATION was most likely penned in the late first century. It was written by John and it was almost instantly considered SCRIPTURE. This was rare.
(3) The BIBLE is written in/as narrative art. We learned there is power in words and we are encouraged to read aloud. GOD gave JESUS CHRIST the message - Jesus Christ gave an ANGEL the message - the ANGEL gave JOHN the message - JOHN gave the 7 Churches the message. It is written in a way that we can understand - through signs and figurative language. REV 1:1-2 NKJV
(4) Seven (7) is the number of perfection and completion in the BIBLE. This is very important and we will see references several times.
(5) We learned GOD the person is sitting on the throne, JESUS CHRIST is sitting to the right, and the HOLY SPIRIT dwells among us here on earth and within. EXO 3:14, ISA 11:2, REV 5:6, ZEC 3:9, 4:10
(6) There are three titles given for Christ - (1) The Faithful Witness - He testified for GOD, the first MARTYR (2) The Firstborn from the Dead - His Ressurection (3) Ruler of the Kings on Earth - Ascending to rule with GOD
EXO 19:6, 1 PET 2:9, REV 1:6
(7) REV 1:3 Promises a BLESSING to those who read and study REVELATION
This is going to be a great ten weeks. Unlike her other studies this particular one is not homework heavy. Instead she is asking that for 10 weeks we hang up our "ball" or that one thing that we obsess over. Can you do it? She is also asking that we JOURNAL! This is awesome - my plan is to carry a notebook in my bag to record my GOD MOMENTS! She wants us to pray and ask the LORD to give all of us a FRESH REVELATION - each and every day.
I am so excited you are doing this study! Please let me know if you need anything. You are here by GOD's design and I pray for you daily!
Much Love -
Michelle
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