Not everyone who says

 Not everyone who says

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4

The apostle Peter warned,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.

We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves.    We must also remember that there will be minor differences between true Christians. It’s the major differences we should worry about.

The basic beliefs of true Christians are found in the Apostles Creed. While not written by one of the apostles states what are if you will not negotiable parts of our beliefs as Christians. It reads,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

Please think about it.

A Christian call to live a Godly life

 A Christian call to live a Godly life.

The apostle Paul writes,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud,

 but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone”. 

                                                       Romans 12:9-18

Words for Christians to live by.

So if you claim to be a Christian do you live by them. Is your love for all people sincere or dose it come with conditions? Do you cling to what is good? Are you willing to associate all People?

Take a few minutes to look at Romans 12: 9-18 and ask yourself are you doing what the Scriptures are commanding you do?

Please think about it.

Christians are aliens in this world

  Christians are Aliens in this world

The Apostle Peter writes,

“Dear friends,

I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12. 

We as believers in Christ must remember that we are simple visitors, landed immigrants in this world. While here we need to follow the laws of the country in which we live. 

Only if the laws of the land prohibit our worshipping God do we have the right to go against the law of the land.

Peter makes it clear we are to abstain from sinful desires and live good lives among those around us.

For a moment take a look at your life are you doing what Peter is telling you to do here?

Please think about it.  

Christians and Peace

  Christians and Peace

In the book of Romans we read,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." 

                                                                                                            Romans 12:18.

Are you doing your best to live at peace with those around you? 

Are you doing your best to love those around you, family friend or foe?

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

Are you doing this?

We will never win a person for Christ if we don’t show them love.

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. said,

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Martin Luther King, Jr.

So I ask you again are you loving those around you?

Please think about it.

About life

 About Life

The apostle John speaking of Jesus said,                                                                    

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God—  

children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, 

but born of God." 

                            John 1:12,13 

The poet wrote,                                                      

Where are the people?

Where?

Are they but shadows in the mall?

Are they?

Are they shadows in time?

Shadows wandering looking for the latest trinkets, bobbles and beads?

What is life?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether? 

Are people wisps of smoke?

What of man's or woman's!

 accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time destined to end?

Is it?

Is life a finite opera?

An opera played out on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam?

Are we as Shakespeare said simply actors?

Does life end?

No!

No!

Life is real!

Played out before God.

In a world suspended between Heaven and Hell

We,

 While mere mortals here.

Are really eternal beings.

Waiting to stand before God.

Are you ready to stand before God?

Are you?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

Individuals lives in deeds,

What will your deeds say about you?

What will "they" say about you when you pass on?

What will God say?

The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14

Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe stands condemned already

 because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 

                                                                                           John 3:16-18.

Please think about it.

If you are

  If you are

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

My parents who grew up in the Church of England and Roman Catholic churches respectively taught me long before I became a Christian what I consider the prime Christian principle. Summed up by Jesus when he said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

In the year 2026 Matthew 7:12 could be put this way,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

Are telling the world,

I love you and God loves you

You are telling the world

God loves you and I love you

Unconditionally.

Please think about it.

Your choice to believe or not to believe

  Your choice to believe or not to believe

The Psalmist writes,

“Where can I go from your Spirit? 

Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

 if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 even there your hand will guide me, 

your right hand will hold me fast.” 

                                                    Psalm 139:7-10

We serve an almighty, omnipresent God. No matter where we go we cannot hide from Him. If we truly trust Him he is there for us.

The psalmist reminds us,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4.

God is not as some think an old man with a big stick ready to bash us when we do wrong. Quite the contrary. The apostle John writes,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

It is God’s will that we all get to heaven, but in creating us he did not create robots. He created mankind with a free will to choose what we believe and what we do not believe. Thus we have the right not to believe in Him.

Thus the question becomes, do you believe in God.

Please think about it. 

Are you willing to repent?

 Are you willing to repent?

In Johns gospel we read,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

Here John clearly states that Jesus whom he refers to as “the word” is God incarnate. John and the other apostles truly believed that Jesus was God in the flesh sent down to show mankind the way to heaven.

The apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost said,

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:36-39.

The question I pose to you today is do you believe this?

If so are you willing to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ?

Please think about it.

Persecuted for the right reason

  Persecuted for the right reason

In the book of Acts we see the apostle Paul after being brought before King Agrippa in chains telling him how he was faithful to the vision he received on the road to Damascus when he became a believer in Christ Jesus. The book of Acts records.

"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.  

That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.  

But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—  that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." 

At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." 

"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable.  

The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.  

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 

Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." Acts 26:19-29.

The apostle Paul here was being persecuted for his beliefs. He was being persecuted for saying, 

“...I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” Acts 26:20b.

If we are truly believers in Christ Jesus and are being persecuted this is what we should be being persecuted for. For calling those around us to “repent and turn to God”. For presenting the gospel of Christ Jesus.

Sadly many times here in North America with all our freedoms those who claim to be Christians say they are being persecuted for their faith when they are not. 

Many Christians here use their freedom of speech to condemn, judge and even attack, those they disagree with. Then when they receive criticism they call it persecution.

Many Christians particularly in the United States mix their politics with their faith and try to restrict the rights or take away rights of those they disagree with.

If we are truly servants of God then we will willingly sit down with those we disagree with, and in a loving way listen to them. While at the same time in a loving and respectful manner present the gospel of Christ Jesus.

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. wrote,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

The whole gospel message is that of Love the love of God not just for mankind as a whole, but for each individual. So, if we are to be persecuted for what we believe and what we are preaching let it be because we are preaching the Love of God.

Please think about it.

 

Because He loved us

  Because He loved us

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."1John 4:10.

Christianity is different from other faiths. We as Christians believe God reached down to us in love. The apostle John stating,

"We love because he first loved us."1John 4:19.

C. S. Lewis noted,

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."  C.S. Lewis.

I firmly believe we cannot reach high enough to reach God. I also believe we cannot be good enough to get into heaven. That’s why Christ came into this world.

In the book of Romans we read,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

Have you experienced the love of God in your life?

Please think about it.  

Standing with Jesus

 Standing with Jesus

In the book of James we read,

“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”  James 4:4

Jesus said,

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24.

If we are going to follow Christ we must follow him wholeheartedly. We cannot blend the ways of the world with our faith. We must be willing to as Jesus said,

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Mark 8:34.

The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him(Jesus), we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13.

So where do you stand with Jesus?

Please think about it. 

In the name of Christ

  In the name of Christ

Jesus said,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

A bright light shines on Christians. So much so we cannot do things lightly. Our faith must be sincere backed by our actions. 

In the book of James we read,

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."  James 2:17,18.

Christians are called to put “legs on” our prayers. We need to pray then get up and do what God has commanded us to do. Jesus in sending out the twelve apostles in the gospel of Matthew states,

“As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.'  

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:6-8.

Tony Campolo states,

"These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change." Tony Campolo.

Just what are you doing for Christ and are you doing it in the name of Christ?

Please think about it.

What is unseen is eternal

 What is unseen is eternal

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  

This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1,2.

We are called to believe by faith God exists.

The writer of Hebrews stating,

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."Hebrews 11:6.

The faith we are called to have is not blind faith. In the book of Psalms we read,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1.

Even science is proving God exists. Scientist say we live in the perfect place in the universe that allows for life as we know it exists.

  Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr Arno Penzias

Even Stephen Hawing arguably one of the greatest minds of the last century and as far as I know an atheist said,

“It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to create beings like us,”

Werner Heisenberg states, 

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,

but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you” Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize in physics

So do you have faith there is a God?

Please think about it.

All the laws hang on these two

 All the laws hang on these two

In Matthews gospel we read, the Pharisees saying to Jesus,

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.

Do you love? Do you love the way Christians are called to love? 

In 1Corinthians we read,

"Love is patient, love is kind.

 It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects,

always trusts, 

always hopes, 

always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: 

faith, hope and love.

 But the greatest of these is love."  

                                  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

So after reading 1 Corinthians 13 would you say this is the way you love?

Please think about it.

Of deeds and faith

 Of deeds and faith

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  

If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” James 2:14-20.

As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we are called to help those in need. I like what the Talmud a Jewish book states,

"Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

We need to do our best to help those in need. Be it giving to a reputable charity or even giving a handful of change to someone begging on the street.

We should never judge the poor because we don’t know how or why they are poor. We should never judge a homeless person on the street saying to ourselves that the money we give him or her will be spent on drugs or alcohol. That’s not our place. We should give without judgment.

Tony Campolo wrote,

"These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change." Tony Campolo.

So my question to you dear reader is, do you help the poor?

Please think about it.

What do they see in you?

 What do they see in you?

The apostle Paul wrote,

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.  2 Corinthians 5:18-20.

Paul writing to the Romans wrote,

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.

Teresa of Ávila states: 

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which to look at Christ's compassion to the world, yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now." Mother Teresa of Avila.

As believers in Christ Jesus we are ambassadors for Christ. We represent Christ in this world. It is through our words and deeds that the world sees Christ.

Question: When someone sees your life and lifestyle what does it tell them about Christ Jesus?

Please think about it. 

To us who are being saved

 To us who are being saved

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 

                                                                        1 Corinthians 1:18.

If you think about it Christianity if not true is perhaps the worst lie in human history. We just have to look at the apostles creed, which while not written by an apostle of Christ says what Christians believe. It states,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God's on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting

These are incredible claims. Which if not true would destroy Christianity. Yet close to thee billion people in the world today believe it.

I leave the choice to believe it or not up to you the reader.

Please think about it.

Fix your eyes on the unseen

  Fix your eyes on the Unseen

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Jesus said,

“God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24.

We cannot see God. We worship him in faith. And in the book of Hebrews we read,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and 

certain of what we do not see. 

                                               Hebrews 11:1. 

The faith we follow is not blind faith. Scripture tells us,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                       Psalm 19:1.

More and more science is showing that the earth had a creator.

Dr. Arno Penzias said,

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics 

William Philips wrote,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it" William Philips Nobel prize winning Physicist.

God asks us to believe in Him by faith because I believe a person of true faith is someone who will go to their grave for what they believe.

Do you have such faith?

Please think about it.

The Philadelphia church

 The Philadelphia Church

In the book of Revelations we see Jesus speaking to the church in Philadelphia saying.

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelations 3:7-13

Here we have what scholars call the faithful church. Jesus says to this church,

“I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Revelations 3:8

The message of Jesus here to faithful believers is,

1. That those who oppose them will one day fall at the feet of the faithful believer and acknowledge that Christ has loved them.

2. That the true believer will be kept from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the world.

3. That the true believer will become a pillar in the temple of God. The strongest part of the temple. 

4. That they will never leave it.

5. That Jesus will write on the faithful believer, the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; He will also write on him my new name.

The question is are you such a believer?

Many in the Christian world would like to think that they are like the church at Philadelphia but in reality are not.

The key however here is to know that we can be like the church of Philadelphia. In order to do so we must put Christ first in everything we do. 

Jesus acknowledged that the Philadelphia church had little strength yet they remained faithful. Thus if they can do it. We can also.

Please think about it.

Immorality in the church

 Immorality in the Church

Here in the book of Revelations we read a letter to the church at Thyatira 

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.  

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.  

I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.  

So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.  

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.  

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. 

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’— 

just as I have received authority from my Father.  

I will also give him the morning star.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelations 2:18-29

The church at Thyatira is commended for their love, faith, service and perseverance in the faith. That they were even doing more than when they first believed in Christ.

That being said, Jesus states,

“...I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality...” 

This church is tolerating a woman named Jezebel. Some say that may be a real name or a nickname equating her to Jezebel in first and second Kings in the Old Testament. Either way it doesn’t matter if it was her name or a nickname. What this person is doing is teaching falsely and leading people into sexual immorality. 

As believers in Christ Jesus we cannot tolerate sexual morality in any form.

Sadly for many years churches and denominations have covered up sexual immorality in their ranks. This should not be so. 

Our church congregations, denominations, our pastors, evangelist and teachers should as far as is humanly possible be examples of good moral behavior.

The apostle Paul tells us,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.

The apostle Paul also makes it clear,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. 

  Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

James the half brother of Jesus wrote,

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21.

The reward for following the moral path and keeping our faith strongly rooted in Christ Jesus is that we will rule with him. Jesus saying the Church at Thyatira 

 “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations” Revelations 2:26.

Thus I would ask this question. 

Do you or your church tolerate immorality in any form?

Please think about it.