#5 in a series on THE 7 CHURCHES
Revelation 3:1-6Revelation 3:1-6
English: World English Bible - WEB
3 ¹ “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ² Wake up, and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. ³ Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. ⁴ Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. ⁶ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

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I have attended a minimum of 8000 Church Services in my lifetime. I have visited most every denomination you can name and observed every imaginable form of worship. I’ve been in the most lavish cathedrals & the simplest facilities.

In too many of the Churches, Jesus Christ would echo his own words in the 1st verse, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” They had the appearance of being alive, all the actions to go with it, they may even have appeared to be excited, yet they were dead.

To these Churches Jesus says, “Wake Up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die”… There was still a flicker of their faith to be noticed. The gospel testimony in the town was about to die. It’s possible to have Christians in a community but no testimony. What’s needed is revival.

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#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!

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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.

A. The City (7)

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.

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#2 in a series on THE 7 CHURCHES
Gerry Peters
Revelation 2:8-11Revelation 2:8-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
8 “To the angel of the assembly in Smyrna write: “The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life says these things: ⁹ “I know your works, oppression, and your poverty , and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death.

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Here’s a reality: The 20th century North American Church is experiencing great freedom to function as they please without persecution. At the same time, we are living the consequences of this freedom.

This freedom has led many Christians to take their faith for granted; satisfied to live the casual Christian life.  Many Christians today wallow about in the complacency of their relationship with Christ, seemingly caring less if anyone around them comes to Christ.  Hobbies, non-essentials and self-interest take priority over Christ.  Rather than soldiers for Christ, Christians are little more than living, spiritual corpses. If anybody finds out you’re a Christian, it is more by accident than by design.

I know, that’s pretty tough talk. It was intentional.

Back to the reality: If we were to face a fraction of the persecution that the Smyrna Church faced, many of us would quickly deny the faith.  It’s time the Christian community declares war on their sin.  It’s time they stand up and declare themselves Christian, and do whatever is needed to show it clearly to their community. If we are to build a clear testimony in our community it will come because of hearts set afire for Christ.  Then, and only then will we see the blessing of God.

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