I have Secondary Progressive MS and have lived with the disease for twenty seven years. I have been under the care of a physician and neurologist for the past thirteen years. To this day, the only treatment that I have received is medication to relieve pain. Every two weeks, $300 is spent at the Pharmacist. I take high levels of…
#6 in a series on the 7 Churches of Revelation
Gerry Peters
Revelation 3:7-13Revelation 3:7-13
English: World English Bible - WEB
7 “To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write:
“He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
8 “I know your works , that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn’t deny my name.
9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
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If you’ve watched the news this past week (November 28, 1993r 28, 1993
English: World English Bible - WEB
Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja!
WP-Bible plugin), you’ll have been shocked by the details of the Balcher murder in Britain. Two 10 year old boys brutally murdered a 2 year old. What I almost find most horrific is that 38 individuals have come forward that were eye witnesses of this horrific murder. In every case, they saw the struggle pursuing by the Balcher boy trying to get away. In every case, they chose to do nothing. Awful.
The Philadelphia Church cannot be charged with the same complacency. They saw a world without Christ. They saw friends and acquaintances destined to an eternity without Christ. They were small in number, little in strength, but rather than shrug it off, they persisted in doing what they could do. This is the Church Jesus loved. I challenge you to examine it closely with me.
The City was named Philadelphia by King Attalus II of Pergamum. He named it as a tribute to his brother whom he loved. As you may know the meaning of Philadelphia is “Brotherly Love”. At the time of this writing, the city and hence this Church was virtually new.
1 Peter 4:7-111 Peter 4:7-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
7 But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
8 And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Be hospitable one to another without grumbling.
10 According as each has received a gift, be ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the grace of God in its various forms.
11 If any man speaks, let it be as it were oracles of God. If any man serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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As I was going through College, got a job as a Limousine driver. We were new to the province but and I did not think about this factor being a problem. On my first day, I dropped off a client and was headed back to the office. The dispatcher called and asked where I was and when I’d be back. 10 minutes. I continued to drive, 10 minutes later, nothing looked remotely familiar yet. "When will you be in?" Any minute. Another 10 minutes and I noticed a sign, "Welcome to New Hamburg". Pulled over, got out a map and tried to discover where New Hamburg was. I was going in the exact opposite direction I was supposed to be going.
Recently rented a car that had a GPS system, Global Positioning System.
We need something like that in our life. That’s 1 Peter 4:71 Peter 4:7
English: World English Bible - WEB
7 But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
WP-Bible plugin. "The end of all things is near."
That could mean, "Christ’s coming is near." That word, "end" can also mean, "goal" as in 1 Peter 1:91 Peter 1:9
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
WP-Bible plugin "for you are receiving the goal of your faith." What you’ve set out to accomplish is in sight, now pay attention.
In any case, this phrase is intended to get your attention. Serious days ahead.
This is the message to the Church. The charge to the Church. The Call of the Church has not so much to "doing" as it has to do with "being".
(7) "Therefore be"
Be what? 2 things
1. Clear-minded.
Get rid of the excess. The clutter, that which hinders. There’s something vitally important coming up, and so get rid of everything that so easily entangles us.
2. Self-controlled.
Calm & collected in our spirit. Not controlled by schedules / rules / agendas / tradition. Why?
#1 "so that you can pray" (7)
So that we will be free to pray. It is a calm and collected spirit that is conducive to the act of praying. That type of spirit results in praying. Put our Day-timer aside, worries & fears. In light of the serious nature of the days ahead, prayer is paramount.
I’ll never forget the day that the Gulf War broke out. I was at Lafontaine Terrace. Hearts were heavy. Power of Prayer was amazing. If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be?
#2 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sin." (8)
We are to stretch this love far. When it’s there, we begin to overlook / forgive some of the less attractive qualities. Like in a healthy family.
How would you describe love within a family? warm, tender, concern, loyal, support, care, nurture, refuge.
Romans 12:10Romans 12:10
English: World English Bible - WEB
10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;
WP-Bible plugin "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love" We may know that, in greek, "philadelphia" means brotherly love. "Philostorgos" (sotrgos = family unit / philos = love. Thus "family unit love")
When we love each other in this way, you become forgiving and caring. When there is sin, it’s acted upon in a loving, proper way. This can be Ladner’s most attractive quality.
The end is near: Therefore: pray & love.
#3 Care. "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" (9)
Does it seem strange to you that in the midst of a crisis, serious days, Peter says, "I want you to have a cup of coffee with someone?"
Wait a minute! Are there not more important things to do? Why take time to care…
In today’s generation, we are being bombarded by messages of hopelessness.
If in these days, we cannot find encouragement from the Church, where then? In these days, many in the world are looking for a haven. It’s here with you.
Jesus Christ is coming again! Therefore,
1. Pray. We will move forward on our knees
2. Love. Stretch it. Love unlikely, like family
3. Care. Love the strangers…with grace.
Now’s when Peter addresses the fourth ingredient that needs to be part of the Church’s life, especially in light of the fact that Jesus is coming soon; especially in light of the act that the days in which we live in are numbered.
#4 Serve.
(10) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (11) If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides.
We must be a serving people.
Who? Every Christian must. Unite with others, allow themselves to be equipped to serve. We serve in the area that God has gifted you. I already know that God never holds back any congregation in the giftedness area. Every gift needed to do the work he wants done in Ladner is already here. Our work must be done n the context of prayer, unity.
The end of all things is near. Therefore:
What is the result?
God is glorified! Praise is brought to God. (11b) "so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen"
That, by the way is your calling. Bring praise and glory to God. When we are doing it the way God wants it done, we become attractive to the community, effective and we become very fulfilled in our personal lives.
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