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I Was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day

1/23/2023

Revelation 1:7-20

     As we shall see in a moment, John states the central thesis of the book in verse seven. The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven as he comes with clouds. At his unveiling, that is, at his revelation, every eye shall see him including those who pierced him.

     Zechariah the prophet speaks of this great day when Israel will “look upon me whom they have pierced.” At his revelation our Lord will deliver Israel from the great time of Jacob’s trouble and in that moment many in Israel will be overcome with personal repentance as they recognize Jesus is the Messiah.

They will mourn for him with a broken heart as they realize the nation mistreated him. They will ask him of the wounds in his hands and Jesus will say to them I received these when I was wounded in the house of my friends.

Israel’s bitterness of soul over how they treated their Messiah will fade into a song of salvation. Zephaniah the prophet says, “Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem . . . The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy . . . at that time I will undo all that afflict thee . . . at that time will I bring you again . . . for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.”

     Then John goes on to say “all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” My friends, the prospect of the Lord’s return, first for his church and later with his church and the hosts of heaven, fills our heart with joyful anticipation and is a wellspring of hope in our spirit.

But not so for a lost world. When Christ returns in great power and glory many through-out the kindreds and nations of the earth shall wail because of him. In fact, they will say to the rocks and mountains, “fall on us and hide us from . . . the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

May I ask you a question: are you among those praying “even so come Lord Jesus;” or are you among those who one day will bewail his coming?

     Please look now at Revelation 1:7=20:

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”

     You will notice in verse 10 the apostle tells us he was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” While John was “in the Spirit,” the Lord told him to write in a book the things which he saw. John proceeded to write about the churches of his day, and then wrote of the things to come after the church age.

     Please take careful note that the content of this book, as with all the books of the Bible, did not first originate in the thinking of the writers. Rather, they wrote the words that were first God’s words. Scripture is literally “God-breathed.” All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16), that is, it originated with God. The Spirit of God then proceeded to carry along the writers as they wrote not “in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches” (1 Cor. 2:13).

     Do you believe our Savior told John to write a book that ended up as John’s best effort to tell us what he saw, or do you believe the Holy Spirit gave John the words to write so that what he saw “in the Spirit” was faithfully communicated in written form to the churches in words “which the Holy Ghost” gave him?

Please understand the book of Revelation, along with the other 65 books of the Bible, came from the Spirit of God. He gave the words to the various writers. This is what we refer to as the verbal inspiration of the Bible.

While the Bible has a human element in as much as God used men to give his word to the world, the words of the Bible did not originate with the human authors. They wrote as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit chose the words and gave those words through the human instruments.

The Bible is not a natural book. It is a supernatural book. John the Revelator wrote what he saw while in the Spirit. The book of Revelation, as is the case with all the books of the Bible, is the Word of the living God!

     Now may I ask you another question: are you willing to listen to the Word of God?

Conclusion

     The glorified Christ whom John encountered in the Spirit told the apostle to write the things he saw in a book and to send that book to the churches. Of course, through the churches the book is given to the whole world.

I am here today to warn you of things to come. The things John saw and wrote in this book are coming upon the world. Will you be ready?

The Lord Jesus says in Luke’s gospel to watch and pray always, “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

The only way to escape the hour of great trial which shall come upon the world to test them that dwell upon the earth is to repent and believe the gospel. Only those who turn to the Lord Jesus Christ will be accounted worthy to escape the coming Day of the Lord as it unfolds upon the world.

These words of Jesus quoted from Luke's gospel must be interpreted in the context of unfolding Bible prophecy. There is an event described in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15 in which Jesus returns for his bride to receive his redeemed to himself (John 14:1-3).

It is this event that will catch away living believers as they are translated that they should not see death. The dead in Christ (those absent from the body, but present with the Lord from the entire church age) will return with Christ and be clothed with their resurrected, glorified bodies. Then living believers at the time of this great event will be changed and caught up (raptured) to meet the Lord in the air.

Those believers alive on the earth and raptured at the return of Christ for his church (his bride) will escape the things Jesus says will come upon those left behind. As we eventually march through the book of Revelation we shall come face to face with the details of what Jesus describes as the Great Tribulation, the most trying time the world will ever see.

Will you escape these things? Are you ready?

The Lord's return is imminent, which means it could happen at any moment. Likewise, death itself ever lurks in the shadows ready in a moment's time to usher us into eternity. Are you ready should the Lord return for his bride today? Are you ready should death compel you to stand before the Son of man today?

Bow your head and call upon the Lord now. Humble your heart and ask him to save you and to forgive you. Accept the death of Christ for your sins and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead. Confess him as your Lord and Savior and you will be saved!

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From Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness

1/15/2023

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Revelation 1:4-6

Look with me at verses four through six as we dig into the second message in our verse-by-verse journey through the book of Revelation.

     As we read these verses, we should take note of John’s salutation to the servants of Jesus Christ. Remember the purpose of this book is to show the servants of Jesus Christ things which must shortly come to pass. Thus, in verse four when John says grace and peace be unto you, he is greeting the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ in the seven churches of Asia but also scattered through-out the world.

     May I ask you a question: are you a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ? This is not a difficult question to answer. Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If someone asked you, “are you a follower of Jesus Christ” how would you answer?

     I cannot answer for you, however, I hope your answer would be the same as mine. If you asked me that question, I would say yes. Yes, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. My heart was conquered by his love many years ago. I bowed my heart and bowed my knee to the Lord Jesus Christ many years ago.

     My faith rests in Jesus Christ. He is both my Creator and my Redeemer. In my heart he has no equal. I cling to his cross as my only hope of heaven. I fully trust him and place my eternal destiny in his hands. Truly he is my Savior whom I trust to keep me and one day to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Praise his name!

     Please look now at Revelation 1:4 where the Scripture says:

     “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

   You will notice that verse four identifies the apostle John as the human instrument used by the Holy Spirit to give us the content of God’s last word to mankind through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, and in fact the content of this book is the last word he speaks to the world by his Son. The apostle John per the instruction of the Lord Jesus wrote these things in a book and sent it to the church.

The Lord chose John for this holy task. You may recall, we are first introduced to the apostle John as he is mending fishing nets with his father Zebedee and his brother James. As they did so that day, Jesus called both John and James to follow him.

They both immediately left to follow Jesus that day, leaving behind their fishing nets and the life so familiar to them. Little did John know that his first steps following the Savior would one day land him on the Isle of Patmos where he would see in the Spirit a panoramic view of end time events culminating in the Revelation of Jesus Christ as he returns in great power and glory to rule and reign on the earth.

     Next, we take note that John is writing to the seven churches which are in Asia. Of course, there were many other churches in the world at that time. However, these seven are representative of the church at large and so the message of the book of Revelation is to the entire church. It is to be read by the entire church who is to keep those things which are written therein. Without doubt, one of the great purposes of this book is to focus the heart and mind of every believer on the certainty of Christ’s return.

     While we may have much to learn as we study the words of the prophecy of this book, there is no way to miss the central theme of the book. Jesus Christ is to be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in fulfillment of his own words as recorded in Matthew chapter 24.

     In that chapter Jesus says, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

     Hear me well today: the book of Revelation is written to the church! It is to have a sanctifying work in the heart of every believer. Authentic believers are not among the crowd who mock and say, “Where is the promise of his coming?” We are not like the evil servant found in the parable recorded in Matthew 24 who mistreats others and eats and drinks with the drunken with no thought of his Lord’s return.

     Jesus says of unbelievers pictured by the evil servant in that parable, “The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

     As true believers we approach this book with reverence and we are ready to hear what the Spirit says to us through the apostle John. Furthermore, we allow the message of his return to purify us. John says elsewhere when he (Jesus) shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

     My friends, as we journey through this book let this powerful word from God draw you into a closer walk with him. Let this word speak. Let it grip your heart. As the apostle Peter put it, seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.

     John is writing to the churches, and we all need to listen!

     Next, note that John’s greeting is from the Father which is, which was, and which is to come; and from the Holy Spirit who is depicted as the seven Spirits which are before the throne. This language speaks of the sevenfold character of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of the Lord; he is the Spirit of wisdom; he is the Spirit of understanding; he is the Spirit of counsel; he is the Spirit of might; he is the spirit of knowledge; and he is the Spirit of the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).

     And finally, his greeting is from Jesus Christ. Look now at verse five as I conclude this message calling attention to seven things John says about our Lord.

First, he says Jesus is the faithful witness. During his teaching and preaching ministry Jesus bore testimony to the truth. Jesus said, “whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” We can fully trust the teaching of Jesus because he is the faithful witness!

     John goes on to say, Jesus is the first begotten of the dead. Indeed, Jesus Christ has conquered death. Christ is the first fruits, but his victory over death has secured our resurrection at his coming.

     John proceeds to say Jesus is the prince of the kings of the earth. He was born King of Israel, but he is King of Kings. He is the prince of the kings of the earth.

     Now John breaks out into praise because Jesus loved us and gave himself for us at the cross, and because he has washed us from our sins in his own blood, and he has made us kings and priests unto God his Father. For all these blessings John says “to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

We should put our own "amen" right here. Our Lord is worthy of all glory and power and dominion and thus we praise him with the whole heart! Amen.

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The Revelation of Jesus Christ

1/10/2023

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Verse by Verse Series Through the book of Revelation - Sermon One

Revelation 1:1-3

With this message we begin a journey through the final book of the Bible. The book is known as the revelation of Jesus Christ because it culminates with the visible, physical return of the Lord Jesus in great power and glory. Furthermore, it documents the consummation of all things as our great Creator restores the creation by establishing a new heaven and a new earth that will abide forever.

     As we shall see, the book begins with John’s encounter with the risen, glorified Christ. John proceeds to record seven important messages to seven literal churches functioning in the apostle’s day. These messages speak generationally to the body of Christ and remain immensely relevant for us containing important insights as to how we should conduct ourselves while awaiting the return of the Bridegroom for his bride.

     Chapters four through nineteen give the details of those things which must shortly come to pass. Our journey through this amazing book will bring us face to face with the details of Daniel’s famous 70th week of Bible prophecy. Fasten your seat belts! We will soon prophetically travel through the coming period of world history Jesus declares to be the most earth shaking of any other period of world history, including the global flood of Noah’s day.

     Although this book clearly speaks of God’s coming judgment on a rebellious world, it concludes with the return of Christ to rule during a millennium of true global peace and prosperity. As well, as we shall see, God gives John a glimpse of the great white throne judgment that occurs as the Lord prepares a new heaven and a new earth in which he will personally tabernacle with all his redeemed in the ages to come.

     Clearly the return of Jesus Christ is the only hope for this fallen world. Left to himself man would sink into such debauchery the race would soon destroy itself. However, even as today’s rebellious globalists plot and plan to reshape the world in their blind efforts to supposedly save mankind and planet earth, the Lord watches from his throne.

     As they imagine a vain, foolish thing setting themselves against the Lord and his Christ, the anointed one, the Lord who sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision, that is, he shall scoff at them as he speaks to them in his great displeasure.

     My friends, no one needs to fear supposed climate change or even the threat of nuclear war. Read and study this book and you will understand the need to fear the sovereign Lord who will soon bring the earth into such judgment she will stagger as a drunken man. Think about that.

     Please look with me at Revelation chapter one, verses one through three:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

     The first thing we should notice from verse one is the fact God gave this revelation to his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God gave it to his Son before it was given to John. Remember, Jesus is God’s last word to mankind and the message from God through his only begotten Son, reaches a final climax in this book.

     Please note again the word revelation. This book gets its name from this word which translates from the Greek word apokalupsis. This word literally means unveiling. It speaks of unveiling something previously concealed. This same Greek word is used in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 which says, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” then the Lord will recompense tribulation to those who trouble the saints.

     May I say, this world is not getting away with the miss treatment of the saints. It only looks that way for now. However, at the revelation of Jesus Christ he is coming to set things right. My advice to you is to get right with God by turning from sin and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming. He is to be unveiled as the clouds roll back and the world sees the sign of the Son of man coming in great power and glory. It is time to get right before he comes!!

     Next, take careful note of the purpose of this book. God gave the revelation to Jesus Christ “to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.” So, since the purpose is to make known things which must come to pass, we must conclude that we can understand the message in this book. Unfortunately, many people find this book hard to understand. Actually, it only becomes complicated when one is unwilling to take the text literally. As a number of Bible teachers point out, the best interpretation is no interpretation at all. Let it mean what it says and allow the symbolism to simply expound upon what is clearly being said.

     Again, this book is written to the servants of the Lord Jesus to show them things that are coming and in so doing bring both comfort and hope as we travel through a troubled world.

     Next, note that Jesus sent the content of this book to John by his messenger. We do not know who this messenger is, however, at the end of the book this messenger says to John, “These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”

Conclusion

     May we conclude this message with a reading of verses two and three. The Lord sent this message to John:

“Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

In these words the Lord pronounces a blessing on those who read and hear this prophecy and keep those things written therein. We keep the things written therein by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord! The message of Christ's coming should bring us to our knees in humble faith and repentance.

     Now hear this and I am done. I believe as the Scripture says, “the time is at hand.” I do not know if we will see the end of 2023. Our world is racing toward the return of Christ as the players in the final saga of world history take their place on the world stage. Jesus is coming. We must warn as many as we can to get ready. I hope you will be ready when he comes.

If you have never confessed the Lord Jesus as your Savior it is time for that decision. Give him your heart today.

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Overcoming the Spirit of the World

6/26/2022

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I am sure you are troubled by the condition of our nation. Our moral free-fall continues with political corruption, media dishonesty, and lawlessness rampant across the country.

Furthermore, the relentless advance of Marxist secularism threatens to push the country even deeper into ungodliness and chaos. We ought to be concerned, but more importantly we need to come to grips with the expectation of our Lord as we live in this hour.

The Lord Jesus expects his church to be overcomers. As you know, the church is comprised of a people called out of the world. Spiritually speaking believers are not of the world. Thus, while the world embraces a growing defiance of God, we cannot go with them. It is in this sense we must overcome the world. Said another way, we must not bow down to the pressure of the world and abandon faithfulness to Christ and his word.

Of course, current cultural challenges to the will of God are nothing new. Each past generation of believers faced their own temptations to accommodate the world. However, this is our hour, and we must not succumb to the current challenges no matter how intense the conflict appears to us. Rather, we must maintain obedience and loyalty to Christ.

Let me hasten to make another important point. As we stand for Christ it does not necessarily follow that a Christian consensus will govern society. Whether we are in the majority or not, and whether we have influence in government or not, we must overcome the spirit of the world which invites us to compromise the gospel and to capitulate to moral confusion.

Our victory is not necessarily obtaining the upper hand in government, or society at large. In fact, the victory our Savior speaks of in today’s text does not look like victory at all in the natural. The world seems to prevail, but alas at the end of the day our Lord has a people who are faithful to him even unto death itself!

I pray the Lord will open our eyes to this high calling in Christ Jesus. We are called to reject the spirit of the world and remain faithful to Christ regardless of the cost.

Consider the following ways in which we overcome the spirit of the world.

First, we confess Christ without compromise. We reject the idolatry of our time that seeks to make our Lord just another insignificant choice on an ever growing a la carte of generic spirituality.

Next, while the world mocks the teaching of Holy Scripture, we reject the invitation to join them. We will continue to honor the authority of Holy Scripture despite the compromisers and blasphemers who rail against the holy word of God.

Next, we will continue to lift the holy standards of morality that glorify God and lead us into a life of greater prosperity and peace. Furthermore, we will continue to teach our children the faith once for all delivered to the saints despite the world’s resistance and despite a growing intolerance for the freedom to do so.

In a word, we will not succumb to the spirit of the world. Rather, we will overcome the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. We will overcome with faithful obedience to Christ. And we will do so regardless of how the world treats us. This is what it means to be an overcomer!

As we read the various verses below my intent is to show that Christ clearly indicates we are in a conflict with a world system that opposes Christianity. Consequently, the Lord Jesus identifies true believers as those who overcome and refuse to deny his name.

I think true believers across our land need this message today. We are not to be discouraged by the current spiritual condition of our nation. Alarmed, yes. Discouraged, no! If our mission is to “save America,” then we would be very discouraged. However, if our priority is to be an overcomer and remain faithful to Christ, then let us take heart and live out a truly spirit-filled life that overcomes the spirit of this world.

In so doing, perhaps it will please the Lord to preserve our nation in freedom. However, like the three Hebrew children of old, whether our culture repents and turns from its sin and idolatry we need to serve notice on this world that we will not bow to their false gods, nor will we ever deny the exclusive salvation found only in the name of Jesus.

Text: Revelation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:24-28; 3:4-5; 3:9-12; 3:20-21.

We come first to Revelation 2:7 which says,

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

Do you realize a decision to follow Christ means one must overcome the love of the world in his own heart? This is very real at the point of decision. This battle manifests especially in adults who did not yield to Christ in their early years. I assure you of this: you either have a growing love for Christ, or you have a growing love of this world. Those who do not receive Christ in their youth naturally develop a deep love of this world.

In fact, this is the stronghold that keeps many from a personal relationship with the Lord. Those in this spiritual condition must overcome the power the world holds on their heart. With that said, remember no lost man saves himself. Rather, the goodness of God through the power of the gospel leads us to salvation.

Yet, at the point of decision a break with the world occurs. The heart of a repentant man turns to Christ. Christ becomes his treasure, not the world! The surrendered heart of one who trusts Christ overcomes the wicked one (1 John 2:13). Indeed, Satan offers the world with its temporal pleasures and power, but whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).

Look again at the promise of Jesus to the overcomer who breaks with the world:
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life.” This is another promise of eternal life. The destiny of those who break with the world and choose Christ is heaven where the tree of life is in eternal bloom. Amen!

Now we come to Revelation 2:11 in which Jesus says:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

Do you understand the meaning of the second death? As you may recall, the second death speaks of eternal separation from the Father in a place of eternal retribution for sin. Those who overcome shall not be touched by the second death.

As you engage these words, please keep the usage of the word overcome in its proper context. Our Lord is speaking. He, of course, is the Savior and he knows his work on the cross is the only means of salvation. It is our faith in Christ that saves us, but in these seven instances in which Jesus speaks of overcoming, the practical reality of a break with the world is in view.

Remember this: it is Jesus OR the world; it is NOT both. In one sense, the call to salvation is a call to get up and leave your Egypt and choose Christ over the world. The example of Moses in Hebrews chapter eleven illustrates this vital point:

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Heb. 11:24-26).

Indeed, he that overcomes the spirit of the world chooses Christ. Such are born of God, their faith in Christ thus overcoming the world’s invitation to travel the broad road that leads to destruction. Thank God, he that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death!

Now we come to our Lord’s next statement in Revelation 2:17 which says:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

Our Lord’s words in this verse speak about the personal relationship believers possess with Christ. Remember this: Christianity is a personal relationship to Christ. Christianity is NOT a system of works by which we attempt to please God and gain acceptance with him. Rather, in Christ God provided for our salvation. Thus, one must trust in Christ alone for acceptance in the sight of God.

Trusting in Christ is polar opposite of a world lying in spiritual darkness. Receiving the Spirit of Christ immediately puts one at odds with the spirit of the world. This reality plays out in the experience of a believer in more than one way. However, Jesus promises to give “of the hidden manna” to those who overcome.

In the gospel of John our Lord makes a statement that sheds light on the meaning of hidden manna. Jesus says, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode (home) with him.”

The close, personal fellowship with the Father as we feed upon Christ is hidden
manna to a world which knows nothing of our intimacy with the Lord. Those who confess Christ have overcome the world and are feasting on manna from above!

Besides the promise of hidden manna now, the Lord promises to give his redeemed a new name. This new name unique to each of his people is a prize that promises to be a special joy in eternity to come. This new name will communicate something personal to his redeemed. Without doubt, this name will rejoice the heart of believers as it reveals our Lord’s personal love for each of us. In heaven we will not be a number in a crowd. The Lord will know his sheep by name, a new name that helps fit us for eternal glory with Christ.

Now look at Revelation 2:25-29 which says:

“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”

The message to the church at Thyatira of which these verses are a part, bring to light another very real issue for the overcoming church. We must overcome an apostate church which is very much a part of this world. The apostate church embraces unbelief, thus committing spiritual fornication with the world.

The pressure on the authentic church to give up the truth of God’s word is unrelenting today. Much of that pressure comes from apostates within the visible church. However, Jesus says to “hold fast till I come.” In other words, Jesus is saying, “Do not succumb to the spirit of the world, rather maintain your stand for the truth of my word.” Such loyalty and obedience to Christ overcomes the spirit of error, or the spirit of antichrist, and remains faithful to the cause of Christ.

This word from our Lord goes beyond the point of initial conversion in which the new believer makes a break with the world. Rather it speaks to persevering and thus continually overcoming the spirit of the world in the spiritual battle for truth.

Note the promise of Jesus that believers who overcome the invitation of the spirit of the world to compromise the truth will exercise delegated authority over the nations. We will reign alongside Christ to put down all rule and authority.

You should resolve now to overcome any drift into the world. Believers are not called to get along with a lost world by accommodating unbelief, be it in the world or in the apostate church. Rather we are empowered by the Spirit of Christ living within us to stand against the darkness by proclaiming the truth.

Now look with me at chapter three, verses 4 and 5 which say:

“Thou hast 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 overcometh, 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.”

Here we see the very clear connection between overcoming and a genuine salvation experience. Again, I must emphasize that our Lord has not changed the plan of salvation as he speaks to the visible church in Revelation chapters two and three. Far from it. Our Lord is the Savior and all who trust him for salvation possess eternal life just as he promised (Cf. John 3:16-18; 5:24; 10:27-28).

However, everything that flies under the banner of Christianity is not authentic. The tares have been sown amongst the wheat. Unregenerate practitioners of nominal Christianity abound. Furthermore, rank unbelief (apostasy) has proliferated through-out much of the visible church.

While the situation may look quite bleak, like Sardis of old there remains a few who have not defiled their garments. This language speaks of faithfulness to Christ. Such faithful believers demonstrate the work of the Spirit in their hearts. Authentic believers are born of the Spirit and subsequently follow the Holy Spirit into a life of practical righteousness (Romans 6:13).

Empowered by new life in Christ, those born of the Spirit overcome the spirit of the world. They refuse to travel the broad road that leads to destruction. The break with the spirit of the world manifests in faithfulness to Christ. In this context such believers are worthy to walk with the Lord Jesus dressed in white! Indeed, those who overcome (that is, they live out the reality of genuine faith in Christ) shall be clothed in white raiment and their names shall never be blotted out of the book of life!

Now look with me at chapter three verses eleven and twelve:

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”

It seems to me our Lord is emphatically driving home the whole point of his messages to the churches in this statement to the church at Philadelphia. Again, he says to “hold fast.” Stand your ground. Do not lose the reward I am planning for your faithfulness. Overcome!!

My friends, we must not disappoint our Lord. His expectation is that we overcome the invitation of this world to compromise the truth. While authentic believers certainly do overcome the spirit of the world, there is nonetheless the possibility of losing one’s crown for disappointing compromise.

I could site a number of specific examples in which otherwise faithful believers succumb to compromise in order to avoid conflict with the world. Be careful my friend. You must one day stand before your Lord. Shall you be ashamed at his coming? Shall you suffer loss of reward when you stand before your Savior? Shall you experience his displeasure over your compromise with the spirit of the world?

The apostle Paul makes a statement that sheds light on this potential problem in the lives of genuine believers. He says in the book of Galatians:

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”

How often are we tempted to go along with the spirit of the world lest we suffer persecution? We certainly need to rebuke any attempt on the part of the spirit of this world to dilute the gospel of Christ or to dilute the authority of God’s word regardless of persecution. As well, we must not avoid conversations about right and wrong just to escape persecution (Cf. Matthew 5:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:12).

Now notice how our Lord exalts the overcomer. He promises to make him a pillar in the temple of my God, to write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, and to write upon him a new name given by Jesus himself. Wow!

Do you get the point that our Lord values the overcomer? Determine now to stand for Christ and to live out the will of God before a watching world. Those who do so not only belong to the Lord but will be honored by him on that great day when we all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

Finally, we come to our Lord’s word to the church of Laodicea. Let’s look at verses 20-21:

“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 overcometh 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.”

Please note the words, “Even as I also overcame.” May I ask you a few questions: When Jesus was here, did he lead a political campaign and get his candidate elected? No. So, I guess he failed. Did Jesus lead a public campaign to push back the hideous practices of the Roman government of his day? No. So, I guess he failed. After three years of public ministry had Jesus pushed back all the immorality and false spirituality of his day with great revival flooding the nation of Israel? No. So, I guess he failed. I trust you see the point.

So, just how did he overcome? My friends, he overcame the spirit of this world by doing his Father’s will. In fact, he had to rebuke his own disciples who thought the cross was a picture of defeat. When Peter rebuked the Lord saying it was not appropriate for him to even think about dying, Jesus immediately said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan: thou art an offense unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

My friends, like our Savior we must overcome the spirit of a world that has no interest in doing the will of God. And when we focus on personal obedience and loyalty to the Lord, we are victorious even if we are persecuted unto death.

The Laodicean church rebuked by Jesus in Revelation 3:14-22 very much savored the things that be of men, and not the things that be of God. They sank down into a non-confrontational attitude toward the world. The deceitfulness of riches choked them, and they became unfruitful. Beware of riches! Once a church or individual tastes a greater measure of prosperity it is very easy to adopt the spirit of the world.

For one thing, standing for Christ becomes more difficult for fear of losing those riches. Furthermore, a greater measure of prosperity tends to foster the pursuit of acceptance with the world. We desire the world acknowledge our place alongside them. Instead of the natural confrontation with the world that occurs as we remain faithful to the gospel of Christ and the will of God, the church begins to settle down into complacency and compromise.

Once infected with the spirit of the world a church or individual can no longer see things clearly. They think of themselves as being rich and in need of nothing, but alas as Jesus says they are wretched, miserable, blind, naked, and poor!

Unfortunately, this describes much of the visible church in America today. We think we are doing well even though we have lost the fire of obedience to Christ. Too many simply do not want to be out of step with the world. Living for Christ in the view of these modern day Laodiceans simply costs too much.

Perhaps those overtaken by the spirit of the world can yet escape the snare of the enemy and repent. Perhaps some of these professed believers are authentic and can experience a new day of obedience as they come out of the world and shake off conformity to the world. Certainly, the Lord Jesus is calling his own to be overcomers.

However, many who think of themselves as Christians lack the new birth and need to be awakened to their true condition before the Lord. Except they overcome the spirit of the world they are destined to die in their miserable, wretched, blind, poor, and naked state.

Seven times in Revelation chapters two and three the Lord Jesus speaks of overcoming the spirit of the world. This is his resounding message to the churches. Within the visible church there resides a people who are overcomers. They love the Lord Jesus and refuse to deny his name. They refuse conformity to the world and are not afraid to suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness. They possess an undivided loyalty to the Lord Jesus and reject the spirit of the world that lures them into unfaithfulness to Christ.

In conclusion hear our Lord again: TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH! TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH! HEAR THE WORDS OF THE SON OF GOD AND MARCH ON! BE AN OVERCOMER!!

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I Was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day

From Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Overcoming the Spirit of the World

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