Persevering or Falling Away?

Persevering, or Falling Away?

Scripture:
Revelation 3:7-13 (NASB)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Devotional:

Even though it can be hard we must keep our faith.  Even though those around us don’t we must persevere and stay strong in our faith.   We can be like the church in Philadelphia or we can be like the unfaithful so called Jews.  

What does your faith look like?  Have you stood in front of the mirror and examined yourself lately?  What is it that you see when you look at your inner self?  There are times when I think I got it right.  My faith seems strong and unwavering.  I feel that I am on top of the world.  Then there are times when I feel unconnected with God.  Times that God feels far away.  The truth is that God hasn’t moved.  He is still right there.  We are the ones who have drifted.  Maybe we have unconfessed sin in our lives.  It could be that we become complacent and self-secure in ourselves.  There are many reasons we might feel disconnected from God.  Regardless of the reason God is there waiting for us to turn around.  He never leaves or fails us.  We can persevere and rekindle our faith.  

Don’t live a life of lies.  Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you are good enough, or that because of how you live your life you will be saved.  The scriptures are clear there is only one way to eternal life in Heaven. It is through Jesus, Romans 3:23-24 (NASB), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…”  John 14:6 (NASB), “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  It is clear Jesus is the only way to heaven.  Any other way is just deception.  You can be life the so called Jews who are living a lie.  The other option is to persevere and live your life in Christ.  The truth shall set you free.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  Only through Him can we be made righteous and through Him no one can overcome us.  Is your name in the book of life?

Persevering or Falling Away?

Scripture:
Revelation 3:7-13 (NASB)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Devotional:

Even though it can be hard we must keep our faith.  Even though those around us don’t we must persevere and stay strong in our faith.   We can be like the church in Philadelphia or we can be like the unfaithful so called Jews.  

What does your faith look like?  Have you stood in front of the mirror and examined yourself lately?  What is it that you see when you look at your inner self?  There are times when I think I got it right.  My faith seems strong and unwavering.  I feel that I am on top of the world.  Then there are times when I feel unconnected with God.  Times that God feels far away.  The truth is that God hasn’t moved.  He is still right there.  We are the ones who have drifted.  Maybe we have unconfessed sin in our lives.  It could be that we become complacent and self-secure in ourselves.  There are many reasons we might feel disconnected from God.  Regardless of the reason God is there waiting for us to turn around.  He never leaves or fails us.  We can persevere and rekindle our faith.  

Don’t live a life of lies.  Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you are good enough, or that because of how you live your life you will be saved.  The scriptures are clear there is only one way to eternal life in Heaven. It is through Jesus, Romans 3:23-24 (NASB), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…”  John 14:6 (NASB), “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  It is clear Jesus is the only way to heaven.  Any other way is just deception.  You can be life the so called Jews who are living a lie.  The other option is to persevere and live your life in Christ.  The truth shall set you free.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  Only through Him can we be made righteous and through Him no one can overcome us.  Is your name in the book of life?

Spiritual Life, Spiritual Death

Revelation 3:1-6 (NIV)

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Devotional:

There are those who claim to be a Christian.  They look good on the outside.  They appear to act proper and do all the right things.  However, inside they really do not believe.  They just go through the motions.  They go to church because it is what is expected.  There are some people who believe.  At one time they really did hold close to Christ and the teachings of the Bible.  For some reason they have fallen away.  Maybe they couldn’t get past something someone did, or what a church did.  Their thoughts, like so many others, see the sin and wrong doings but not Grace and Mercy.  

True there are people who claim to be Christian but do not live it.  Some people do really bad things all in the name of Christ.  Some people cannot see beyond that and think if this is what it means to be a believer who needs it.  They are no better than anyone else.  News flash for everyone.  Christians are no better than anyone else.  We are all sinners.  We all make mistakes.  BUT that doesn’t mean that we do not strive to be as Christ-like as possible.  Another thought, churches are filled with the same people who genuinely follow Christ.  Because each one of us are fallen sinners churches are not going to be perfect either. 

Like so many so called Christians that have spiritually died inside churches are dying out as well.  Too many churches today are spiritually dying or dead.  The problem is that they do not even know it.  What is needed?  How can a few people make a difference?  A simple answer is multiplying.  As my pastor puts it.  Adding just will not be enough.  We have to multiply.  We have to make and build disciples so that they can go and make disciples.  Isn’t that what Jesus told us to do?  Matthew 28:19 (NASB) “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,”  

Food for thought…  How can you make a disciple if inside you are spiritually dead or dying?  Wake up before it is too late.  Don’t let your church be like the church in Sardis.  Finish the good race and fight the fight till the end.  Other people’s lives depend upon it.  Your eternal life depends upon your spiritual life.  Don’t let your relationship with Christ fade away and die.  Renew your spirit with Him before it is too late.