Philippians 4:10-23

We’re going to land the plane in time for Christmas with our series on Philippians. 

The Church at Philippi was a young Church just 10 years old like PCC was in 2010 now nearly 14 years ago. Paul wrote his letter from prison in Rome really unsure of whether he will be dead or alive at the end of the day. Paul writes like a soldier to his family. He tells them that God’s plan is being worked out and that they are on the winning side.

Paul wrote not to worry about him because he had everything he needed in prison. All the things he used to have when he was a free man were no longer important, he saw it all as worthless rubbish, he had the only thing in life of true value because he knew Christ. His goals were all spiritual now, material things were no longer possible, neither did they matter. 

He told them he had joy in his sufferings because he identified with Christ. 

What does it mean to identify with Christ? Christmas is a really good time to reflect on that. 

Philippians 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This is the time of the year when we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We should be amazed the very Creator of the Universe chose to come so humbly. We have a tradition at PCC with the retelling of the Christmas story told through children’s eyes, I couldn’t resist to do that now;

Christmas is one time of year when we can remember the wonder and peace like we did when we were kids. We remember how Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, the town of David, where he was born and laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn. We remember how the Angels gloriously appeared in the skies to the Shepherds announcing the Good News and how the Wise Men followed the star to find the great King to bring him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and to worship him, though he was just a baby. It is with a sense of awe and amazement that we remember that the King of Kings didn’t come in great might to overthrow but in great humility to serve and finally to suffer and die on the Cross, not for his sins but for ours. The King of Glory himself paying the price of our sins so that we might have eternal life which we could not otherwise have.

Paul modelled his life on Jesus following in his humble footsteps. Everything he wrote to the Philippians was in reference to Jesus. He took everything Jesus said to heart. He relied only on the Lord and the gifts of others, very little on himself. Every place he went, every decision he made, every hardship he endured was to serve the Lord. He led a life of service to all the Churches and he toiled and suffered so that the Churches would grow. Paul was finally ready to suffer in the same way as Jesus even unto death.

Philippians 4:10-13

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

« I Can Do All Things Through A Verse Out of Context »

This statement by Paul is often used by Christians as some sort of guarantee that we can achieve the miraculous, we can do anything because Christ is in us. For example I can run a marathon because Christ strengthens me.

But this is not the context of what Paul is saying at all . He is modelling his life on Jesus and he has learned how to be content in every situation whether in abundance or lack, he trusts in the Lord, knowing that the Lord will take care of him. Paul is really saying it is the Lord who helps him face any situation in life. 

That is something every Christian can do. Trust in the Lord no matter the circumstance. He will provide all we need. 

Philippians 4:14-16

Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 

Have you ever needed a friend when the chips were down like Paul did ? Nevertheless, other Christians are so important to support a ministry both financially and for the encouragement. Yes, we rely 100% on the Lord but what good does it do if no one else is there to support your work ? What would Family First achieve with zero donations ? There aren’t too many Christians around like John the Baptist who would continue to battle alone in the desert, preaching a hard message of repentance without any real support, living off locusts and wild honey. Paul was very grateful for the sole support of the Philippians church at this time. 

Philippians 4:17-20 

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul was pleased that the Philippians had supported him when other Churches hadn’t but his reasoning for being pleased is so unselfish it is astounding. He has already said he is content in every circumstance whether he had a little or a lot. So actually if no one supported his ministry, the Lord would still provide everything he needed and he would be content. But what Paul is pleased about is that by giving to him, they are storing up riches in Heaven for themselves, what he calls « the fruit that abounds to your account ». Nothing with God is ever wasted. When we give to a ministry or someone in need, our treasure in Heaven grows. This is the only investment we can make with a guaranteed return. Down here, God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory. You can be reassured that you will always have everything you need. You could spend a lot of time worrying about how you will afford to live through the cost of living crisis. God will provide for you. 

Paul emphasises that « my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus ». 

not « my ».

When we were young, there was a popular song we’d sing in Church which was a misquote of this Philippians verse which put the focus on « me » not the other person as Paul did when he wrote to the Philippians.

« Jehovah Jireh, my provider, his grace is sufficient for me, for me, for me », «my God shall supply all my need according to his riches in glory ». 

We are the me generation, who think mostly about ourselves not others.

Paul wasn’t thinking about his need, he was thinking about the need of the Philippians Church.

I do the finances for Family First and I’m always amazed at the generosity of those who give,  some who give very large amounts and others who don’t have much but still give ! The only one who knows is the treasurer and the Lord and that’s the just the way it should be. Because great is their riches in Heaven.

But I want to tell you that the Philippians are in line for more than riches, they are in line for a reward because they were the only ones who went beyond the normal in their devotion and service to Paul. 

Rewards and Riches are different. If you invest in the Kingdom of God, you will get a great return on your investment, that’s what Jesus taught.  

A reward is like a bonus, it is at the Lord’s discretion. It is for something extraordinary that you did.

Philippians 4:21-23

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Sometimes we get discouraged at all the troubles in our country and we even think our government is opposed to us. But this verse reminds us the Lord has his people everywhere, even in Caesar’s household. Yes even serving in the Kremlin, Beijing, Tehran, Pyongyang, Gaza, even in our previous government ! Elijah complained he was the only one. The Lord had to tell him there were 7000 others in Israel. Pray for these unseen ones.

Paul finishes his letter with a blessing that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all. Grace is something from the Lord we can all receive this Christmas. Don’t let another Christmas go by without welcoming him in ! 

Philippians 3:12-21

We continue our series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Paul wrote his from prison in Rome about 10 years after the Church had been established in Philippi, really unsure of whether he will be dead or alive at the end of the day. Paul writes like a soldier to his family. He tells them that God’s plan is being worked out and that they are on the winning side.

As we learned last week from Shane, Paul wrote not to worry about him because he had everything he needed in prison. All the things he used to have when he was a free man were no longer important, he saw it all as worthless rubbish, he had the only thing in life of true value because he knew Christ. His goals were all spiritual now, material things were no longer possible, neither did they matter. 

He told them he had joy in his sufferings because he identified with Christ. The Bible means so much more to you when you can personally relate to the situations that the people in the stories were going through, especially the hardest situations. The Lord is always there when we call to Him in our worst moments.

Psalm 34:18-19

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Whether in prison or dying the Christian can say, my God has delivered me in every trial, he will do so in this one as well!

Paul could say

Psalm 30:11-12

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

There is no need to remain stuck in a moment if we turn to the Lord because he is very near in those times in our life.

Philippians 3:12

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 

Being a Christian is a journey. As in the book Pilgrim’s Progress, we have not arrived yet. We face many difficulties along the way. Sometimes we have to move forward when we don’t understand. We have to trust the Lord that what he says is true. 

Philippians 3:13-14

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

In this context apprehended doesn’t mean to arrest a criminal but rather means to have understood.

There is nothing wrong with us if we have doubts and questions. Paul had questions. It is normal not to understand the things God is doing in a crisis. But we can still believe even if we don’t have the answer.

Some Christians have difficulty forgetting the past. Paul says he didn’t look back, he only looked forward. There was his old life when he persecuted the Church and murdered the saints. But we don’t want to get stuck in something we did or something that may have happened to us either.

The Devil wants to remind you of your past. It is said,

« When the Devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future ».

You are not the same person you once were !

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

We can’t walk this road alone though. This has never been truer than now, at this moment in history. So many Christians today have stopped going to Church regularly post COVID. We need our brothers and sisters now more than ever, we need to be in the Church especially in these last days before Christ returns. 

Philippians 3:15-17

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 

Consider the people you are listening to and patterning your life on today. Do our heroes lives look anything like these great saints of old like Paul who suffered great hardship for what they believed and proclaimed. I think even Paul would be shocked to see the celebrity preachers of today and their luxurious lifestyles. Paul was able to tell others to follow his example, can we say the same to people who look to us? 

Philippians 3:18-19

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 

In Jewish thought, the belly is the seat of our emotions. The stomach soon becomes empty. Most of us get hungry within 5-6 hours of a meal. Same with earthly things. They don’t satisfy for long. In economics, they call it the law of diminishing returns.

What really upset Paul was to see people in the Church who weren’t truly saved, who were deceived about their true state. They were just like people of the World, whose god is their belly.

A true Christian is mindful of spiritual things more so than earthly things. Our bank balance, the place where we live, a good job, a nice house, a holiday, these are temporary earthly things that are unimportant compared to our relationship with God. I loved my Uncle but they moved house often. Each house was amazing but it didn’t take long before they moved again. Earthly things don’t satisfy for long. Whereas eternal things, our relationship with God, ours and others salvation, storing up treasures in Heaven, these are things that will last eternally and do satisfy. 

An example of having your god as your belly was Esau who gave up his birthright for a single meal. He wasn’t prepared to delay gratification, he took what he wanted in the moment and didn’t count the cost. He ignored the future for gratification on the present.   

Hebrews 12:14-17

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

This is how the Devil works to corrupt us and make us unholy. He tempts with gratification now. He did it to Eve, he did it to Esau, he tried to do it to Jesus.

But we are to

James 4:7-10

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Note that beating temptation has 2 parts. The first is to submit to God. At all costs, make time for God by reading and writing down what you learn. The second is to resist the Devil. Don’t make it easy for the Devil. Don’t go to the bar ! Take a different route. Tell Facebook you don’t want to see their wicked advertising.

Philippians 3:20-21

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

We don’t belong here, we are living in a foreign land. It’s exciting to think of going home. If you travel overseas to a country with another language, there are a lot of challenges and life becomes much more basic. There is no sweeter feeling than to be back on your own country, able to speak the language, and not feel like a stranger out of place. How do you feel about living here when you think about Heaven? 

Letters Back Home: Philippians 2:12-30

When a soldier goes to war, he really doesn’t know if he’s coming home, and he knows his family and loved ones are going to be worried about him so he writes to tell them he’s doing alright, that he’s not discouraged but hopeful. He tells them he loves them but in the back of his mind is what should he tell them in case he doesn’t make it.

If you remember the map from a few weeks back, you will remember Paul’s missionary journeys to the Gentiles.

⁃ 1st missionary journey is the dark blue line (Acts 13:4-15:35)

⁃ 2nd missionary journey is the red line (Acts 15:36 - 18:22)

We learned it was on his 2nd missionary journey with Silas, Timothy and Luke that the Church in Philippi was established around AD 50.

The Church had the first European convert who was a woman called Lydia and a jailor whose whole household was converted and probably a young fortune teller delivered from an evil spirit.

⁃ 3rd missionary journey is the purple line (Acts 18:23 - 21:17)

⁃ Journey to prison in Rome is the green line (Acts 27 - 28)

Wait a minute ! What happened in between the 3 missionary journeys and prison ? You can read how Paul came to be in prison in Rome from Acts 21:18 - 26:32. 

Immediately following the success of the 3 missions, Paul went against advice of other disciples to visit Jerusalem. Speaking to Paul through the Spirit, these disciples told him not to go to Jerusalem. It was a clear warning.

Paul’s mission was to the Gentiles. Should he have been back in Jerusalem preaching to the Jews? It was on his heart but our heart’s are fallible. You know, sometimes we get ourselves in a lot of trouble by not listening to others and the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit ! Paul said he was ready to die for Christ. When they couldn’t change his mind, they told him « the Lord’s will be done ». In all our decisions may this be true, even if sometimes we’re a bit too headstrong for our own good.

So Paul went to Jerusalem and there he preached a message in the temple about freedom from the law that angered the Jewish leaders and caused a riot which then brought in the Roman commander who arrested Paul and put him in chains. He was sent to Caesarea for trial by Roman Governors Felix then Festus and finally King Agrippa. They all found him not guilty and the story would have finished without further issue if not for one thing. Paul appealed to Caesar ! This is how he ended up on the boat bound for the prison in Rome.

Nevertheless, it was really unjust what happened to Paul. Paul had credentials that were second to none. He was a Pharisee, taught under the renowned teacher Gamaliel. Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin, a zealous persecutor of the Church until his amazing conversion and underpinning all that was that he was a Roman citizen by birth with the full rights that gave him. Paul held all the cards and the commander was terrified to find out he was a Roman citizen after arresting him and preparing to whip him without a conviction from a Roman judge.

This shows how you can have a very good character, the qualifications from the best university, present the Gospel with unchallengeable reason but still the World will hate you and won’t listen because they don’t want to hear the message. They can’t handle the truth !

When King Agrippa heard Paul’s testimony, he realised that Paul was undeserving of judgement. 

Acts 26:30-32

When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains. Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

This moment marked the end of Paul’s freedom and his missionary journeys but it was not the end of the Lord’s work through Paul. Paul would continue to be a missionary to the Gentiles from prison. The Lord’s will continued to be done in Paul’s life despite the circumstances.

Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians from prison in Rome about 10 years after the Church had been established in Philippi, really unsure of whether he will be dead or alive at the end of the day. Paul writes like a soldier to his family. He tells them about the light in the darkness, that God’s plan is being worked out despite appearances ;

Philippians 1:12-14

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

And especially not to feel bad in case things take a turn for the worse;

Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

And he already has assured them that the war that they are in will be won by Christ, that they are on the winning side;

Philippians 2:10-11

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When you’re in the foxhole, suddenly all the things the World loves, seem unimportant. Having a nice house, plenty of money, the music and luxuries we love seem of little value. Other things become important. How is our relationship with our spouse, our family? What about where they are at with the Lord. Are they heading in the right direction. If they are on track, will they stay on track. He wants to see them again, if not here, there !

He worries that the things that he has worked for may be wasted. That they will forget about Christ and fall away. He wants to leave a good legacy.

He writes just like a soldier writing home from the war.

This is the context for the passage we will look at today. 

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 

Paul was the one everyone at Philippi looked to. When the leader has gone, there needs to be more focus individually and unity of purpose as the leader is not there to carry the responsibility anymore or tell what to do. It is a time for growth. How do you do that? By looking to Jesus, working out your own salvation with fear and trembling. This does not mean to live in a perpetual state of anxiety.

The sense in which we are to work out our salvation in fear and trembling is different to being a nervous wreck. First, the Greek verb rendered “work out” means "to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition." Paul explains further in the next chapter of Philippians. He describes himself as “straining” and “pressing on” toward the goal of Christlikeness (Philippians 3:13-14). The “trembling” he experiences is the attitude Christians are to have in pursuing this goal—a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and an awe and respect for His majesty and holiness. "Trembling" can also refer to a shaking due to weakness, but this is a weakness of higher purpose, one which brings us to a state of dependency on God. Obedience and submission to the God we revere and respect is our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2) and brings great joy. Psalm 2:11 sums it up perfectly: “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” We work out our salvation by going to the very source of our salvation—the Word of God—wherein we renew our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2), coming into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe.

And then God can use us to do his will which brings us and him great satisfaction.

Philippians 2:14-15

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 

It is so easy to complain as we encounter our daily troubles. But Paul wasn’t moping at the injustice of his suffering. Quite the opposite in fact. If we can remember that trials build character, if we can remember that Jesus went as far as to die on the Cross in great humility, then we also can endure them.

Recognise that all of our difficulties are for good and have a purpose, they build our character and make us stand out from the crowd as a light in this world. This is a very hard thing to say to someone who has suffered the worst of things. In fact when someone has suffered that badly, it is an opportunity for those around them to stand out as lights in their darkness. 

Nobody wants to suffer, what can we do to endure it? The next verse answers it.

Philippians 2:16

holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 

The Word of God is gold. In it we can find our shelter from the storm, counsel in the most vexing circumstances, hope for the future, encouragement and strength for today.

And as we do what it says, we find a way though every trial. Paul’s great concern was that he had not laboured in vain. That after he was gone, the Church would fall apart. He wanted to install in them the need to hold on to the Word of Life. That is referring to Christ himself. It is the Word of God of course, but don’t forget Jesus is the Word. Holding on to the Word of Life means holding on to Jesus, in fellowship with him, abiding in Him and His Word.

Philippians 2:17-18

Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. 

So Paul explains his own personal suffering in prison is not something that is bringing him down but is actually causing him to rejoice. Isn’t that amazing? You would naturally think that he would be down, frustrated that he can’t continue his mission that God had called him to. But he sees it differently. He sees it as a sacrifice that is helping to build them up. His absence will make them grow stronger. He sees it is an opportunity for them to grow in faith. He realises that they are better off him not being there.

Philippians 2:19 - 24

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. 

This is where the soldier’s letter is a little heartbreaking because we know he’s not going to make it. We can read how much Paul cares for them and he’s praying for the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to help them. This might mean he’s lost contact with Timothy or that Timothy is about to be released from prison. In any case he can only trust in the Lord for the future as it is very uncertain which way it will go and probably it’s not looking good. There are times in our life where everything is out of our control and we can only pray and trust in the Lord. We don’t know which way it will go but we need to trust him that whatever happens, he’s got us. Timothy is one of the 4 missionaries alongside Paul, Silas and Luke who helped establish the Philippians church 10 years earlier. Timothy comes with a commendation from Paul with proven character and a heart for the Philippians church.

Philippians 2:25 - 30

Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 

Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

Paul also tells them that he has already sent Epaphroditus with a commendation as a fellow soldier who has persevered through illness. We don’t know much about Epaphroditus but probably he was Paul’s assistant doing all the background tasks like a PA would. 

We know that this is the moment where the baton gets passed from Paul to Epaphroditus, not even a big name and not in 100% good health but he took up the challenge not knowing if Timothy or even Paul would be able to join him. Thank God for all people who step up to a challenge, who put aside their own personal struggles to do the will of God. We know these type of people, they’re not the ones you hear talking up front but they quietly get on with the Lord’s work and over a much longer time produce much fruit. It is a good saying, « it is not our ability but our availability that the Lord wants ». 

There will be a lot of people like that who get a great reward in Heaven. The ones who  looked after the kids church or who served in other positions in the background that others didn’t recognise actually kept the Church running. Thank God for Epaphroditus !

So to these unlikely ones who God asks to take on a big challenge that is out of your comfort zone, remember with the calling comes the equipping. It is your time, the baton is passed.

Philippians - Introduction

As preparation for our study of Philippians, we are going to read some background on the City and on the Church to get a good understanding of the importance of the Church at Philippi because it wasn’t just any old church. Amazingly, so many important details are recorded in Acts and occurred on Paul’s 2nd missionary journey around AD 50, less that 20 years after Jesus’s resurrection. Paul traveled to Philippi accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and Luke. We have to remember that there was no church there before these 4 missionaries arrived.

You remember in our last series that we covered the 7 churches in Asia which is modern day Turkey. 

Now if we zoom out we can see on the map I’ve given you Paul’s travels as a missionary and get some understanding of the region and the location of the other cities mentioned in the New Testament. It is very impressive how the Church expanded so rapidly from Jerusalem in those early years after the resurrection.

Today we are going to follow the red arrow of Paul’s 2nd missionary journey from Jerusalem, so firstly find Jerusalem on the map. Now follow the red arrow North. You can see some important cities on the journey, firstly Damascus, then Antioch and then Tarsus In Cilicia which is where Paul was born. Tarsus is pretty much directly North of Jerusalem. From there he went about 100km West to Derbe in the region of Galatia heading directly towards Asia which is where the 7 churches are but not at this point in history I would think. This is where we pick the story up in;

Acts 16

Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed,

Timothy is an important character in the New Testament with 2 letters to him from Paul.  Timothy was a gifted Pastor, including later at Ephesus. We know from 2 Timothy 1:5 that Timothy’s grandmother was Lois and his mother was Eunice.

but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 

It is interesting why Paul circumcised Timothy. Apart from the fact that Paul did it (he had been a Pharisee and knew the procedure) and not Luke the doctor who was travelling with them, the main question is why did he not overlook the fact that Timothy wasn’t circumcised since remember he had rebuked Peter for going along with men who taught it was necessary for Gentiles to be circumcised to be put right with God. It does appear he did it simply to quiet the Jews who were living in that region, so a strategic decision. But that was the very thing he had criticised Peter for ! I do know that sometimes in life, God prompts us to do something that is beyond our conviction but note that it didn’t contradict God’s law. It was still lawful to circumcise Timothy but from a salvation point of view, unnecessary.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. 

We know from the preceding chapter the decrees because they were in the letter from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem Paul was carrying on his mission journey.

Acts 15:23-29

They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

Luke recorded that the decree strengthened the Church. That is why we teach doctrine at PCC. Doctrine is important to strengthen a Church. No doubt they also taught the early creed found in.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

And we also know from the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 that Jesus had instructed the disciples to teach his commandments such as to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, to love your neighbour  as yourself and to love one another.

So the Gospel they preached was very good news indeed. All that was needed was faith in Christ, his death on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins, his resurrection and a few simple laws to remember, nothing like the detail in the law of Moses.

Now look back at your map at Galatia, to Lystra just west of Derbe where Timothy was found and follow the follow the red arrow West again as we continue to read from Acts 16

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 

Remember in our last series we learned that Satan’s throne was at Pergamos in Asia and you can see on the map that Mysia is very close to Pergamos (Pergamum on the map), so that was extremely hostile territory but of course they would not have known that then. How much do we need to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit says to us. Who knows what danger we will face if we don’t obey that quiet voice !

So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 

Look West again to see Macedonia from Troas.

Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. 

I get the feeling the Good Shepherd is looking for one lost sheep.

Notice how dynamically they followed the leading of the Holy Spirit, twice being forbidden to go in one direction and another time prompted by a vision to head in another direction. Someone doing the Lord’s work needs to be flexible. It’s no good sticking to our own thoughts and plans. We have to always listen out for the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 16:9

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

So this is how they arrived at Philippi. The city of Philippi was located in ancient Greece on the eastern border of the Roman province of Macedonia, about 15km inland from the coast, directly northwest of its nearest port city, Neapolis. A strategic area in ancient times, Philippi sat on a fertile plain through which passed the Via Egnatia (Egnatian Way), a trade highway that linked the Aegean and Adriatic Seas. Many travelers passed through Philippi on their way to Rome.

Originally founded by immigrants from Thrace, the city of Philippi was famous for its abundant gold mines and plenteous springs of water. From these springs, the town received its name Crenides, meaning “fountains” or “springs.” Later, around 359 BC, the city was renamed Philippi after Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. Under Alexander, the city rose to become the capital of the Greek Empire. By New Testament times, the city had come under Roman rule with a diverse population of native Thracians, Greeks, and Romans. A famous school of medicine existed in Philippi, where the gospel writer Luke may have studied.

Extensive archaeological and historical research has been done at Philippi, uncovering ruins that include the forum, agora, streets, gymnasium, baths, library, and acropolis. Also, the site contains what may be a 400 BC temple of Apollo and Artemis, along with numerous inscriptions and coins. 

Back to Acts 16;

And we were staying in that city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. 

Remember Thyatira was one of the 7 churches in Asia that Jesus later wrote a letter to so it would be a good bet that Lydia was connected to the Church that was established at Thyatira.

The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us. 

Normally Paul would go to the synagogue in a city to preach to the Jews living there. But there was no synagogue because Philippi was totally pagan. So they went to the river as was the Jewish custom when there was no synagogue to go to. And Lydia was the first convert in Europe and the church at Philippi would be the first Christian church in Europe. The initial converts of the church at Philippi were all Gentiles, and the congregation developed into a predominately Gentile fellowship. So as you can see, as after the resurrection, it was the women who were the first to believe. Women played an essential role in the leadership and life of the church at Philippi. 

Lydia’s conversion was the first of three significant events associated with the beginning of the church in Philippi. 

The second was the exorcism of demons from a slave girl, which resulted in Paul and Silas being thrown into prison (Acts 16:16–24).

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. 

You might think it was a good thing that a respected fortune teller was announcing that Paul and his Mission Team had been sent by God. But it was like noise pollution, making it difficult to hear Paul’s message and focussing attention back to the fortune teller. In fact it was a demonic manifestation.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 

Anytime the business world gets disrupted and there’s a lot of money to be lost, there’s bound to be a reaction. But when it’s an overreaction like this, it could be demonic. We have seen this kind of manifestation when Roe v Wade was overturned and when Christians were appointed to the Supreme Court. That’s when you find out who’s really in charge of this World.

But the Lord brought something good out of a bad situation. 

The third important event that immediately followed was the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16:25–40).

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptised. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, “Let those men go.” So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.” And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city. So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

So there we have the founding members of the Church. Lydia the businesswoman and her household, almost certainly the fortune telling slave girl and a few amazed onlookers, and the jailer and his household. See how quickly the Lord can grow a Church! And see that the Lord will use the least expected people. From the time it was established, the church at Philippi was healthy, strong, and generous, becoming a model church that only experienced minor problems of disunity (Philippians 4:2–7). After the apostolic age, the early church father Ignatius traveled through Philippi, and Polycarp wrote a famous letter to the church there.

May God do such a work at PCC.

Conclusion to the 7 Letters

Today we want to summarise and conclude our journey through the 7 churches in Revelation.

As you will recall, the message was given to John while imprisoned on the island of Patmos and the order of the letters follows a clear travel route, one that Jesus told us he had walked to see the situation at each Church.

It’s always great to go to the letterbox and to receive a letter or a postcard out of the blue from someone you know written in their handwriting. It’s much more personal, much better than an email. Most of the letters we get these days are bills or junk mail.

After my Nanny died at the age of 98, my brother wrote to the Queen saying that Nanny had been really looking forward to getting a letter from her when she turned 100. Well wouldn’t you know it, the Queen wrote back from Balmoral Castle during the 2012 Summer Holidays. 

So Nanny got her letter, she would have loved that !

In the Bible, we’re always reading someone else’s letters aren’t we but imagine the excitement for a Church to receive a personal letter from Jesus, the King of Kings ! David Pawson who’s teaching we are using for this series, noted that the 7 letters have 7 distinct parts;

1. Address

2. Attribute

3. Approval

4. Accusation

5. Advice

6. Appeal

7. Assurance

On the handout, you will see the 7 letters divided up into 7 parts. You can see 2 areas in red, 2 areas in green which we’ll cover shortly.

Address

The address is given to the Angel of the Church who has to take the message. Every Church has an Angel, so we have one for PCC. We have surely noticed protection through the years. But the message is not directed at the Angel because the Angel is not responsible for any action of the Church. The Angel’s job is only to take the message. It’s a case of “Don’t shoot the messenger”. One thing to notice is that Jesus calls all of them churches except “the Church of the Laodiceans”. As we learned last week, the Laodicean church was a man-centred church - not of Jesus, he was on the outside knocking to get in.

Attribute

The overall tone of each letter is formal. In French you would use “tu” in the singular and if the person is a friend, a colleague or family. You use “vous” in the plural but you also use it in the singular as a formal mark of respect to someone you don’t know or has authority over you. These 7 letter don’t use a familiar hello, hi, hey there ! as you might expect from your friend Jesus but in fact more in keeping with his authority as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. The modern Church has drifted away to a very friendly Jesus portrayed on “The Chosen” and not recognising properly his authority over the Church and over our lives as individual Christians. Each title Jesus mentions establishes his authority. 

To Thyatira Jesus tells them he is the Son of God

Revelation 2:18

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

The words Jesus used here also show that he is the Son of Man as mentioned by Daniel chapter 10:4-6

Some of the attributes of his authority are quite striking. Jesus says to Pergamos 

Revelation 2:12

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

That sends a message that Jesus is ready to strike and some people would feel threatened (those doing wrong) and others comforted that the strong arm of the law has arrived (those doing right).

To the persecuted Church of Smyrna, Jesus gives the encouragement, 

Revelation 2:8

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

To those being martyred he tells them that there is life beyond death because he has come back to life.

I won’t go through each one now but when you remember what Jesus wrote in the letters, remember he is the Great King with all authority in Heaven and on Earth and when he speaks we need to pay attention to what he says and sometimes what he doesn’t say and not treat him like a friend who can be ignored when it’s inconvenient.

Approval

Most of the letters start with the things that the Church is doing well. When you write a letter, it is good practice to recognise the good things that people are doing. These things Jesus writes are heartfelt, they are not patronising. When he says to Ephesus;

Revelation 2:2-3

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

This is heartfelt. Jesus really appreciates the service we do for him. He’s not just buttering them up before he beats them up. 

Jesus loves the Church and he loves us as individuals. Remember what he said to Laodicea;

Revelation 3:19

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

But what is striking is that Jesus has nothing to approve Sardis and Laodicea of, these are the spaces highlighted in red on the handout. The silence was deafening. When someone starts off a letter in this way, brace yourself, you know it’s not going to go well.

Accusation

Sometimes the shortest statement can make us feel the worst. To Ephesus Jesus says;

Revelation 2:4

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

What can be worse for Jesus than a Church just going through the motions with no love, no enthusiasm. Everything’s an effort, nothing is done with any joy! You go to a restaurant and you can often tell the new couples from the old couples. Ephesus is doing all the right things but it’s not winning anyone to Christ because it doesn’t have love.

Love for the Lord and for one another should be the hallmark of every Church but it’s not always the case particularly true in the West. It’s because we have too much. The people in the islands and in Africa have very little but they are happy. 

Not long ago, PCC sent underwear to an African village with Sarah Durham. They wrote back to thank the Church this week. Can you see the big smiles on their faces?  Try to remember that at Christmas, don’t put the unwanted gifts on TradeMe, at least give them to someone who’d appreciate them ! 

Well it’s not all bad in each of the 7 letters. Notice the green areas on your paper. Jesus had nothing bad to say about Smyrna and Philadelphia. 

Advice

To Smyrna and Philadelphia who are going well and to those at Thyatira who haven’t been corrupted, they are encouraged to keep going. But to all the others there is a message to repent. It wasn’t an instruction to do more good works, create better programmes, lift their performance or just try harder. They are instructed to remember what they once did when they were first Christians and do that. So it is not something that is hard to do because we used to do it with ease when we were young Christians and had simple faith in the Lord. Just go back to what you did before !

Appeal

Jesus often used the words “let him who has ears to hear, let him hear”

He wasn’t speaking about our actual ears but the ears of our heart. You know, what you are listening to in your head when someone is speaking to you. It’s a modern phenomenon that people at work have headphones in their ears,  listening to music. When you go to speak to them, they look at you blankly. Some are just waiting for you to finish so they can go back to listening to their music ! They haven’t heard a word you said.

This is exactly what Jesus is talking about. What are we listening to in our heads?

Jesus explained this in the parable of the sower where the seed was sown;

1. The first person was immediately distracted by the devil. They started thinking about the football match, or some other person or place they loved. where they wanted to be right then. They didn’t hear a word that was said. They listened to the voice of pleasure.

2. The second person, heard and made a start but soon gave up when things got hard. They listened to another voice, the voice of discouragement. 

3. The third person heard but as time went by they forgot because of the distractions in their life. They listened to another voice, the voice of comfort.

4. The fourth person heard and did. They didn’t give up but persevered and bore fruit. They listened to the voice of Jesus and put their trust in him that what he says is true.

Whose voice are we listening to? Why is it so hard for us to read the Bible for more than 5 minutes before we get distracted by our phones. Even the National Party wants to ban them on schools, imagine what Jesus thinks!

Assurance 

Jesus makes wonderful promises to those who follow his advice and are overcomers. These promises are I’m sure, related to what is being overcome.

For example to Ephesus which has lost it’s first love, he says;

Revelation 2:7

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

The thought of eating from the Tree of Life is a comparison to going back to the beginning, to innocence and wonder of first love.

For Laodicea, which wants to fit in with the World and gain significance from it, the counsel was to switch from investing in the world, to investing in treasure in heaven and to open the door and let Jesus into the Church. If they will do that, then Jesus promises them to sit on Jesus throne next to him. The promise is speaking of that kind a relationship with the King of Kings, like a son to his father, sitting his throne and ruling with him and ultimately having wealth and influence which is far greater.

That made me think of that famous picture of John F Kennedy Jr. sitting under his father’s desk in the Oval Office.

The promises Jesus makes to the overcomer turn out to be  the very things we have been searching in the wrong places for that in fact can only be found in Jesus.

I have found this series on the letters very helpful, I hope you have to. If you are interested, I will add the links to the David Pawson series to the sermon notes so you can go through in your own time. What others think of PCC doesn’t matter and what we think doesn’t matter either, only what Jesus thinks. Very often in the 7 letters, what Jesus thought was the complete opposite of what you would have thought. The large successful church of Sardis thought it was alive but it was dead. The small faithful Church of Philadelphia who kept the Lord’s word was commended. In the Prince of Egypt there is a song to look at your life through Heaven’s Eyes, Lord give us the grace to see things the way they really are. Amen.

David Pawson Series

1. Introduction

2. Ephesus

3. Smyrna

4. Pergamos

5. Thyatira

6. Sardis

        7.     Philadelphia

8. Laodicea

9. Conclusion

Laodicea

Today we reach the final church on our journey through the 7 churches in Revelation.

As you will recall, the message was given to John while imprisoned on the island of Patmos and the order of the letters follows a clear travel route, one that Jesus told us he had walked to see the situation at each Church. Let’s begin with a video introduction to the Church at the final Church on the journey at Laodicea.

There are several contrasts mentioned in the video;

1. Hot v cold 

Hot water came from the hot spring at Hierapolis about 10km away and fresh cold water from the foot of the mountain at Colosse about 13km away.

2. Black v White

The valuable black wool from sheep in the valley was used to make expensive garments that had brought riches to the city.

3. Clothed v Naked

The Laodiceans in their expensive black coats thought they looked good but spiritually they were naked, they had no garments, nothing of true godliness in their character. People can see through fake Christianity. It’s a lot like the Emperors New Clothes. 

4. Rich v Poor

The people of Laodicea were very rich so much so that when an earthquake had destroyed the city in AD 60, the city told the Roman Emperor “No thanks” to financial relief - they could rebuild it themselves.

5. Sight v Blind

The city manufactured a special eye medicine or salve that was good for cleaning the eyes of infection.

6. Roman Soldier v Jesus knocking

It is also worth knowing that there was a Roman law that a Roman soldier could knock on a door of a house for a meal and the owners of the house were compelled to let them in and give them a meal.

With these things in mind, let’s read Jesus letter to the Church at Laodicea.

Revelation 3:14-22

“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 could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 

I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

To Sardis, Jesus has said they were dead but to Laodicea that they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. They were delusional, their mental health was at risk. Alive but not all they thought they were cracked up to be.

Jesus used contrasts to show them their true condition was not good. As people we become deluded when we depart from Bible truth and drop our guard. As we have heard with Sardis, we need to be watchful. Our garments (our character) soon deteriorate as our actions follow our beliefs.

There are several commentators who believe that the letters to the churches follow the passage of time and that Laodicea is the last Church age before the return of Jesus, the one that we are in. 

For example, last weeks Church Philadelphia which Jesus had only good things to say about, is said to relate to the 18th and 19th centuries when the Church was sending missionaries all over the world. To this Church,  Jesus promised they would escape the tribulation.

(1) EPHESUS              =     33 ad, Loveless


(2) SMYRNA              =    73 ad, Persecuted


(3) PERGAMOS         =     325 ad, Compromising


(4) THYATIRA           =    1157 ad, Corrupt


(5) SARDIS                 =    1517 ad, Dead    


(6) PHILADELPHIA  =     1667 ad, Faithful


(7) LAODICEA           =    1874 ad, Lukewarm

In this teaching, the Laodicean Church is the final Church age before Christ comes. Certainly, characteristics of the Laodicean Church are prominent in New Zealand and in many Western Churches today.

There has to be some caution with this teaching though. For example, we cannot say that the Church in China is Laodicean, it is persecuted and it’s standing firm and growing so it is like the suffering church of Smyrna, one of 2 churches Jesus had nothing bad to say about. In every age it is better to understand that the 7 types of churches can exist and even as individuals, we may take both warning and encouragement.

The Laodicean Church is a lukewarm, self-sufficient Church, where Jesus isn’t even in the Church, he is outside knocking asking to come in. The Laodicean Church is man-centred Church rather than a Christ-centred Church. Jesus is not the Head. The man-centred Church asks the members what they would like to see in a Church and it delivers that. It does not consult Christ for what he wants at all. It’s not that the programs and fantastic visual presentations are necessarily wrong. It’s just that the Laodicean Church isn’t looking to Christ for what he wants and in fact Jesus is not even in the Church.

It mixes 2 things and it ends up being lukewarm, no good for anything. A lot of modern Christian music would be an example. It is neither holy nor profane, it’s a bit of both and the implication is that the 2 together make Jesus sick. It’s not acceptable as worship and it doesn’t help save anybody. Because of the money involved in making a movie, the temptation is always to entertain to increase ticket sales. Christian movies can’t be too holy or people won’t come and watch them, and they can’t be too profane otherwise the Christians would get offended. By mixing entertainment and outreach, very few hit the mark of challenging the culture with the Gospel, most are a bit second rate, a bit lukewarm.

We must be careful not to become like the World in trying to reach the World. We are to be  in the World but not of the World. If they can’t see a clear difference, they will stay right where they are.

Even though the Laodicean Church is delusional about it’s true condition, notice the encouragement that Jesus gives;

Revelation 3:19

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

Discipline from Jesus hurts but it is proof that he loves us. If like me, as we read these letters to the Churches, God is chastening you, that’s a good thing ! 

The solution is to be zealous (hot) and repent.

To this Church Jesus says

Revelation 3:14

“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:

Jesus tells the Laodicean Church who he is. The One True God. Jesus is Almighty God. This is a Church that hasn’t grasped what it means that Jesus is Lord. It is mixing and allowing all kinds of other gods in the Church. In reality,  there are no other gods. Demons like us to think there are other gods but there are not. They have no power over you unless you submit to them. False gods like those of Hinduism and Islam have power over us only when we bow to them. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life.

This is why we don’t do yoga health classes or learn about enneagrams at PCC as some Churches are doing, or say Muslim prayers at PCC like NZ did after the Mosque shooting. 

It is why we teach Genesis 1 and 2 as actual history and reject Evolution as explaining life and the universe. It’s why we teach all parts of the Apostles Creed as the truth.

We shouldn’t mix hot and cold. The lukewarm water of Laodicea  will make you vomit. It can only be drunk piping hot or icy cold but never lukewarm.

We tend to think hot means on fire for Jesus and that cold means someone who is a non-believer but Jesus is indicating that both hot and cold water are useful so this may well not be what he meant. The hot mineral spas at Rotorua are known to be good for your health, as are the beautiful deep fresh water springs that come up from the ground. We are fortunate in New Zealand to have both in one city ! 

Hot water takes energy to heat. Unless you live in Alaska or somewhere like it, cold water from the fridge also takes energy. Without the energy, hot water turns to room temperature as does icy cold water. Without the presence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, the same will happen to a Church. Because Jesus is Lord. Jesus is Almighty God.

So what is the doctors prescription for the condition of the Laodicean Church ?

1. Buy gold refined in the fire

2. Buy white garments

3. Buy eye salve to anoint the eyes

4. Be zealous and repent

5. Open the door !

The first 3 things are financial advice.

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It used to be said that you could tell where someone’s  treasure was by their chequebook. They also say that time is money. So where are we spending our time and money? 

1. What is gold refined by fire? The apostle Peter described faith, approved by the test of fire, as much more valuable than gold (1 Peter 1:7). The Laodiceans boasted about their wealth, but they needed genuine faith that was far more valuable than material wealth. So part of the remedy was to be tested by fire! If Laodicea really is the last Church age, then it will not be surprising that it will go through trials and tribulations so that it will be refined like pure gold.

2. We discussed the meaning of white garments 2 weeks ago. The Laodiceans needed to take an honest look at their character which had become darkened by the world. They looked cool but they weren’t pure. They needed to separate themselves from the World and be pure. They needed to redirect their time and money away from entertainment like the amphitheatres, the pubs and the nightclubs towards the things of eternal value such as time spent in Church and in the Bible. 

3. What did Jesus mean by eye salve? Symbolically speaking, if the Laodiceans applied the eye salve Jesus offered, they would be able to see their lukewarm condition and subsequently repent. But without taking the eye medicine, they would remain blind.

4. Jesus told the Laodiceans to be zealous and repent. They were indifferent to the things of God, more interested in worldly luxuries. That zeal for God is  what’s needed in this country. We are New Zealand but we are missing the zeal for God in our land. We need to repent and become New Zeal Land again ! It is very difficult to go against the tide alone but it is much easier when we row together as we can in the Church. If we are all zealous at PCC we can be very fruitful for God. It was so encouraging at Ela’s funeral to see so many of us enthusiastically supporting Ela’s family on that day, what a great day it was.

5. But most important of all, we have to open the door and welcome Jesus into the Church and into our lives. Behold I stand at the door and knock has echoes of Matthew 25 about it. How does Jesus come to us. Disguised as a beggar, a homeless one on the streets, looking for food. The Rich man ended up on Hell because he ignored Lazarus laid at his gates. How we respond to poverty as a Church is an indicator of where our heart is at. In the famous painting of Jesus knocking at the door, the handle is on the inside. Jesus doesn’t demand to enter like a Roman soldier would have done. But what a tragedy to turn away the King, and to miss out only opportunity for salvation !

John 15:5

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

They say an old dog can’t learn new tricks. But a new dog can ! May the Lord give us all Grace to repent and live fervently for Him. Amen.

Sardis

Today we continue on our journey through the 7 churches in Revelation.

As you will recall, the message was given to John while imprisoned on the island of Patmos and the order of the letters follows a clear travel route, one that Jesus told us he had walked to see the situation at each Church. Let’s begin with a video introduction to the Church at number 5 on the journey, Sardis.

The main things to note from this video is that Sardis was a very wealthy city, a financial centre but the people were complacent about their security and this was the same in the Church. So understanding that important detail, let’s read what Jesus had to say to the Church.

Revelation 3:1-6

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you 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 and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

As you will have noticed, each letter is addressed to the angels of the churches. This does not mean the letter is directed at the angel because they are the one in trouble. I’m sure you may have heard the phrase « don’t shoot the messenger ». Each church has a guardian angel, and these angels were responsible for delivering the letters to their Church. Remember, John was imprisoned on Patmos, he couldn’t do it, so it was these angels that ensured the letters were delivered, a miracle in itself and a witness of the reality of angels who help us. 

Hebrews 13:2

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

To their shock, the Christians at Sardis who think their Church is doing well with attendance up, are told by Jesus that they are dead. Whatever life there is, is dying like a plant with dead branches and just a few green leaves. This Church needs a severe pruning and a weeding of the soil or it will die. The message from Jesus was just like going to the doctor’s and discovering you’re really sick when you’re feeling fine. 

The prescription Jesus gives for recovery is fourfold found in verses 2 and 3;

1. Be watchful, 

2. Strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 

3. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; 

4. Hold fast and repent. 

Be watchful

The first thing Jesus warns the Christians at Sardis is to be watchful. They have become too comfortable, too lazy and were just like the city of Sardis that had been invaded twice before because complacency. They were not on guard.

 

One of the movies I remember from my youth was “Thief in the Night”. It told the story of a young woman who awakens from sleep to discover that the rapture has occurred and she has been left behind. Jesus will come as a thief in the night to those who are not watching and are not ready. But to those of us who keep watch, we will not be caught off guard. When you see the state of the world today and compare it to what the Bible says about the end times, I hope you have noticed how closely it matches and have realised that Jesus is coming very soon. Jesus told us to watch and pray, those are the 2 ways we can be on guard. 

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his disciples to watch and pray because something terrible was about to happen but they weren’t ready and were fast asleep ! We need to be on guard and we need to be praying because we are in a spiritual battle as dangerous for us as Gethsemane was for Jesus. If we do not prepare this way, we are too weak to succeed against the devil. We will fall to temptation.

Revelation 16:15

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”

Jesus speaks of keeping our garments, by this he indicates to keep them clean and to look after them. I have a pair of timberland boots and I sometimes use them for golf. This week I was out playing and they got muddy. Now if I didn’t clean and polish them afterwards, it wouldn’t be too long before they start to deteriorate. Regular clean and polish is required in this World, it’s a dirty place. The Holy Spirit is going to tell us when we’re going off track and we have to be careful that our garments, our character, is kept clean. Facebook and YouTube are a trouble for me because it is very easy to start going through the shorts and watching them which can offend the Holy Spirit. So I need to be on guard and keep a watch on myself that I don’t go down that track and to pray about it if it’s a problem for me because it will effect my garments, my character. This is what Jesus means by watch and pray. 

Strengthen 

The second thing was to strengthen the things that remain. The great danger for the Christians in Sardis was they were mixing with the World and all its wealth and they didn’t realise how dirty they had become in God’s sight and how weak they’d become spiritually. Their boots were about to fall apart !

Jesus spoke of the deceitfulness of riches making us unfruitful in the parable of the sower;

Mark 4:18-19

Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Riches tend to make us feel secure but actually they are a weak defence from harm. The money we pay for insurance is a false security. Just ask the people who have lost their homes to flooding in Esk Valley or the fires in Europe or the people who paid big money to go on the Titan.

Sardis was famous for being the first city to mint coins and it was a city of wealth and luxury. The Christians there had been caught up in it, they were like the seeds sown amongst thorns. The Church appeared to be thriving but Jesus said it was dead. A church can spend a lot of money on programmes, on equipment and resources and look impressive but if we rely on these things, we won’t have success. The World may be impressed by our entertainment but it won’t be saved. We have to look to the Holy Spirit instead and preach the Gospel in its fullness. That is the difficult narrow way and it meets with hostility from the World. The World is hostile to the true Jesus.

John 15:18-19

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

So a Church needs to have a close look at what it is doing and ask honestly, is there a spiritual harvest?  The truth may be, that there is not despite the great events and programmes.

This year at PCC we have had to take a close look at what we’re doing after Bob and Tina left. We have stabilised the situation but we need to strengthen as well. We identified that we are a family church so we’re doing simple things to strengthen that. But there is more work to do in reaching unchurched families and in the areas of youth and children’s ministry. Here we have to strengthen.

Remember 

We are commanded many times to remember in the Bible, one count I saw was 352. 

Deuteronomy 32:7

“Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you:

Ask an old person if they remember the good old days and they’ll tell you. Remember what it was like when you were first a Christian or when you first came to PCC? What did we do then and are we doing it now? When a Church has a bad diagnosis from Jesus, it doesn’t need to do new things, the prescription is to go back to what it did at first. 

If you are older like me, I’m sure you will remember that life was a lot less complicated when you were young and I bet it was when you first became a Christian too. What did you do back then? Maybe you started going to a home group, or read your Bible and took notes or went to Church twice on a Sunday. Maybe you were involved in a youth group mission or witnessing.

My Dad recalled to me this week of when our family first started going to Papatoetoe Baptist in 1974 and a new minister came in 1975, Gerard Marks and his wife Heather from Balclutha. Papatoetoe Baptist was a church of 500 back then, so the previous minister Foster Sherburd had done an excellent job but it was a big job for Gerard and there was no one else. By the way, Foster Sherburd had introduced the idea of all age Sunday Schools throughout New Zealand which was for adults and kids outside of the regular Church service. It was kind of back to basics but it bore fruit which was evidenced at Papatoetoe. When Gerard came in, he slowly built a team of pastors and the Church was strengthened and we can see that strength continue to our day with Manukau City Baptist. I’m not saying PCC should do that but we should always remember what we did at the beginning of PCC because I remember walking into our Church and thinking it was breath of fresh air.

Hold Fast and Repent

Hold fast means to hold tightly and firmly. It means to stay strong, do what is right, see it through, no surrender, stay true, continue to believe, this too shall pass, grit it out. 

When you’ve ended up in hospital because you’re sick, the road to recovery can be long. Maybe you can only eat a little at first, maybe you can only walk to the letterbox without getting puffed out. But holding fast means persevering as you turn things around. It will be small steps at first, it will take time but you have to keep doing the right things to get well again.

Same with repentance. It’s a decision to walk the opposite way to the direction you were going. It doesn’t mean you are perfect from day one. It doesn’t mean you won’t stumble but it does mean you’re going away from the old ways towards Jesus. He is the Way the Truth and the Life and he is worth the struggle.

And Jesus does promise the power to overcome. The message of the early church was to repent and be baptised for your sins.

I know that some of you want to get baptised and we are having a baptismal service the last week in August on the 27th.

Romans 6:1-4

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Jesus makes a promise to the overcomers. 

Revelation 3:5

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

There is the promise for the overcomer that their name will remain in the book of life and not be erased. This warning of having your name blotted out appears in Exodus, in Deuteronomy, in Psalms and in Revelation so it is to be taken seriously. The overcomer will wear white garments that symbolise their pure character because their sins have been washed away. 

Yes, after the pruning in winter and the repentance from sin, we see a newness of life, we see new green shoots coming through in Spring.

Doctors orders. Let’s pray.

Pergamos

Today we continue on our journey back in time with Jesus around the 7 churches of Revelation. 

Sean has already taken us through the letters to the 1st two churches on the journey which were Ephesus and Smyrna. Today we look at number 3, Pergamos, the most northern of all the cities. As you will recall, the message was given to John while imprisoned on the island of Patmos. Let’s begin with a video introduction to Pergamos.

Let’s read from  Revelation 2:12-17 what Jesus wrote to the Christians at Pergamos but remember the letter is also for us.

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. ” ’

I’ve underlined 4 things in the letter which we’ll look further at today;

1. Where Satan dwells

2. The doctrine of Balaam

3. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans

4. The two-edged sword

 

1. Where Satan Dwells

One of the interesting things we learn from Revelation is that Pergamos was the place where Satan dwelt, where his throne was. Satan is limited, he is not omnipresent like God. We know from Job 1:7 that Satan travels about the Earth;

And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

But even though Satan travels to and fro across the Earth, he has a residence. Satan offered Jesus all the Kingdoms of the World from a high place, it does not specify where but perhaps it was where the very throne of Satan was;

Matthew 4:8-9

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Jesus would not bow down and worship Satan. This is the temptation that the Christians were facing in Pergamos and they were holding fast against it and suffering persecution because of it.

Pergamos was a place of wealth and luxury with strong influence over Asia Minor. There were 2 parts of the city. The lower part where most of the people lived and the upper part where the temple was and this is where it is thought Satan’s throne was. Pergamos wasn’t the capital of Asia Minor (that was Ephesus) but there was evil power in control. Satan does not need to be in a capital city to have control over the World. Where is Satan dwelling today? Like a coward, he remains in hiding but the time is coming when he will emerge in plain sight on the world stage in the person of the Antichrist. One day he will be caught by someone stronger and thrown in the Lake of Fire. Hollywood would be a suspect, I’m sure there are other places you could think of with the characteristics of Pergamos.

Idolatry and sexual immorality were rampant in Pergamos. In fact it was legal and normal in Greek society for men to have wives, mistresses and prostitutes. True Christianity preaches marriage between one man and one woman. The atmosphere in Pergamos was therefore intolerant and threatening to Christians. Antipas had been murdered, the Church was being persecuted for standing up to the truth of the Gospel and not bowing to Caesar as Lord.

Even though Jesus commended the Pergamos Church for standing up to Satan and not denying Him, Jesus told the Church that he had a couple of things against them because they had some members who followed bad doctrine - the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and these doctrines Jesus hates. If it’s one thing Jesus hates, it’s false doctrine. How can the one who is the Truth bear lies from the very mouth of Satan himself? The fact is that doctrine effects behaviour. That is why we will hold fast to the Creeds and historic teachings of the Church at PCC.

2. The doctrine of Balaam

We need to understand what Jesus meant when he said that some of the Christians in Pergamos were following the doctrine of Balaam.

Balaam was a prophet from Pethor which is thought to be quite a way North of Israel in Syria about as far as Auckland is from Wellington.

Balaam lived at the time of Moses when Israel was on the threshold of the Promised Land camped on the plains of Moab on the east side of the Jordan river just across from Jericho of which everyone knows the famous story of the Walls that came Tumbling Down.

Being afraid of the Israelites who had wiped out the Ammonites, the Moabite King Balak sent his messengers to ask Balaam to come down and curse Israel for a fee. Balaam initially refused but God knew his heart. Eventually Balaam set out on that famous talking donkey to go and curse Israel. 

But each time Balaam prepared the ritual sacrifice and went to curse Israel, a blessing came out his mouth.

Proverbs 26:2

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.

We don’t need to be afraid if our enemies curse us. The Gates of Hell cannot prevail against the Church. The Church grows stronger when it is attacked from the outside. There are many examples of this even in modern times. The Church had massive growth in China when it was persecuted by the Communist government.

Moses wrote in Numbers 31 that Balaam came up with a different plan for cursing Israel. He told King Balak to tempt Israel with prostitutes and idolatry. And Israel fell for it ! The Israelite men ended up with Midianite women, worshipping Baal which included sex as part of the worship. In doing so, they brought a curse on themselves. The way a Church can be destroyed is by weakening it from within through divisions and sin.

Very similar to the doctrine of Balaam, the doctrine of the Nicolaitans was a problem for the Pergamos Church. 

3. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans

Who were the Nicolaitans? In this version of the Bible, the thing Jesus hated about them was their “doctrine.” The word comes from the Greek word erga, which means works or “deeds” which is the word found in other versions of the Bible. However, the meaning is so all-encompassing that it pictures all the deeds and behavior of the Nicolaitans — including their actions, beliefs, conduct, and everything else connected to them. The name “Nicolaitans” is derived from the Greek word nikolaos, a compound of the words nikos and laos. The word nikos is the Greek word that means to conquer or to subdue. The word laos is the Greek word for the people. It is also where we get the word laity. When these two words are compounded into one, they form the name Nicolas, which literally means one who conquers and subdues the people. It seems to suggest that the Nicolaitans were somehow conquering and subduing the people.

Gnostics teach that the physical world is not important, it’s only the spiritual that matters and that we all carry the divine spark, we are all in fact little gods. So what you do with the body doesn’t matter. It is important that we don’t excuse sin through preaching only Grace.

This is what some of the Christians at Pergamos were doing by going up to the temple where Satan’s throne was, eating meat offered to idols and going with temple prostitutes believing that because of God’s grace they were covered. They were no different to the pagans in their behaviour except they went to Church on Sundays to worship the Lord. These few in the Church are who Jesus was pinpointing but the rebuke was to the whole Church for tolerating it. 

Notice how Idolatry and sexual immorality go together. They are very serious sins, they bind us to the World and they are not covered if there is no repentance. 

All idolatry of self has at its core the three lusts found in 1 John 2:16: 

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 

If we are to escape modern idolatry, we have to admit that it is rampant and reject it in all its forms. It is not of God, but of Satan, and in it we will never find fulfillment. This is the great lie and the same one Satan has been telling since he first lied to Adam and Eve. Sadly, we are still falling for it. Even more sadly, many churches are propagating it in the preaching of the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel built on the idol of self-esteem. But we will never find happiness focusing on ourselves. Our hearts and minds must be centered on God and on others. 

The progressive modern church is friends with the world, is accepting of abortion (child sacrifice) and sexual immorality. Unrepentant sinners are being welcomed into the Church and Jesus hates these practices.

It ought to greatly disturb us when we see that the Church today is also embracing idolatry (prosperity doctrine) and sexual immorality (adultery and divorce, Christians living together, the pornography stats, gay priests etc etc). This is bringing about Balaam’s curse. 

4. The two-edged sword

Just as with Pergamos, Jesus threatens to make war against those Christian’s involved in such sins with the sword of his mouth, what He calls the two-edged sword if those involved do not repent. Apparently the Romans had 2 types of sword, an ordinary singular sword and a heavy two-edged sword. The two-edged sword was very sharp and shaped a little like a spade. It was held in two hands and swung around in a circle and able to kill an entire band of soldiers at the same time. Jesus warned the Church to put it right before he would come to deal with such sinners in the Church in a similar very heavy way. This is what every Church at the time was afraid of as they had all heard the story of Ananias and Sapphira.

Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

When we love the Lord and others with everything that is in us, there will be no room in our hearts for idolatry or sexual immorality. This is why when asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” 

Matthew 22:37

Conclusion

The letter to Pergamos is a message to a compromising Church but as usual, Jesus provides the way out and a promise;

 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. ” ’

Revelation 2:17

If the sinners in the Church Pergamos repented and stood against these practices, Jesus promised them they would receive the hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it that Jesus promised to the overcomers. There is a lot of speculation as to what the hidden manna and white stone are. David Pawson who we are learning from in this series said that what was in keeping with the message to Pergamos would be;

1. The hidden manna is a promise from Jesus that he will provide for us in the desert, when the World persecutes us and takes away our jobs. We do not have to go along with the culture to survive as Jesus will provide just as he did for Israel when he gave them manna every day in the desert.

2. In Paris there used to be a bridge that lovers put a lock on that eventually got so heavy that the locks had to be removed. The white stone with a name on it was something a man would give the love of his life that would be just between the two that would act as a reminder of their love. To those who remain faithful to Jesus and keep themselves pure from the World, he also wants to give something unique like a white stone with a new name on it to show that person they are very precious to him.

As always, Jesus concludes by saying that anyone who can hear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches, not just Pergamos, but especially compromising Churches everywhere.

Amen.