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Tag: Christ

Free?

How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

We are slaves to our past. We are slaves to our culture. We are slaves to our traditions.

“I was born (Hispanic, Asian, black, white… whatever excuse.)”

The Pharisees were proud of being born Hebrew; proud of their Jewish past. In fact, they were slaves of their past, culture and traditions. Like many of us, they were slaves of their sin.

They were under the rule and slavery of Rome, who granted Jews (for a time as was politically expedient) a measure of freedom to worship and live as they were accustomed. Like us, they did not realize that they were slaves of God’s providence and timing – God’s circumstances for application and witness of faith through difficulty.

Jews were so proud to have escaped the slavery of Egypt, that they did not recognize the slavery of their own disobedience to ‘elohiym hä·yä hä·yä – Yĕhovah Yĕhovah.

Yet their lives under the slavery of Rome required continual compromise of their freedom. These righteous rulers of the people slipped more and more into sin until they no longer had relationship with Almighty God.

The Temple was no longer a place of truth. The worship of God had become as false as the faith of the Pharisees.

Then God, Who had been silent since the days of the Prophets, returned to the Temple in the Person of Christ Jesus.

John 8:

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

“You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world…”

The Truth Will Set You Free

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[b] to sin.35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus is LORD. But is Jesus lord over YOUR LIFE?

Have you slipped into the sin of your past… just as the Pharisees? Are you bound to the slavery of our sins?

Two Christian sisters have pointed out this week their deep sorrow over the addictions of loved ones to heroin. (It would not have to be heroin, though we realize more the inevitable consequence.) It could be gambling, or beer, booze or wine. It could be cigarettes or over-eating. It could be pornography or partying with the sexual sin of the world.

And worst of all for our witness of Christ (just like the Pharisees), we may at the same time CLAIM to be Christians.

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God.The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

We seek the sin that will satisfy in the shadows of darkness and self-delusion. To continue in sin is to have sin shackle you.

Romans 6

English Standard Version (ESV)

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Why do christians so easily return to our chains of addictions to the sins of our worldly past? — a life of slavery? — before Christ Jesus freed us by His Blood of the Cross?

Galatians 5

English Standard Version (ESV)

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,divisions, 21 envy,[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Is Jesus your Lord?

OR Is your sin your lord?

What is the TRUTH?

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

PRAY for those yet chained to the sins and addictions of their past.

1 Peter 2:16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

October 2, 2013
The Time Is Near For Our Church – Smyrna
The Revelation of Jesus Christ

John to the seven churches

Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.

“Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, … to Smyrna…

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Christ, our risen Lord and Savior holds in His right hand the angels of the churches. Christ, our returning Lord and Savior stands in the presence of His golden churches – the believers to be taken-up along with those who have gone before us.

Yet each letter to the churches is specific to a group of believers: praise for faithfulness and call to continued faith. For not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will be taken-up. Not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will stand as a light of witness as a lampstand on His right. For some will be separated to the King’s left and He will say of those who did not glimmer with the light of Jesus, “I never knew you.”

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. – Matthew 25:46 KJV

Therefore: The warnings for the seven churches are addressed to the saints of every generation until the last.

You with ears to hear, let the scripture of Revelation speak to your eternal soul.

To the Church in Smyrna

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer.

Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

“DO NOT FEAR what you are about to suffer…”

Does the Revelation of Jesus Christ through the Apostle John encourage you?

The encouragement for the Church at Smyrna was for upcoming, soon-to-be fulfilled prophesy in the first century. However if any 21st c. Christian dare believe such persecution of Christians for our faith in Christ Jesus has ceased, think again.

A glance at the map of Turkey above, the headline of Urumiah from the 20th c. and the burning church in Egypt just weeks ago ought to convince Christians that persecution and suffering of Christians in contested areas of the world is actually on the increase.

4 weeks ago – Egypt

The encouragement of Revelation is actually for a FINAL BATTLE between Christ and the enemies of the Cross, led by the Devil, that great deceiver of the world (including the world news that filters to our non-consideration).

Jesus Christ reveals:

You may be tested. You will have tribulation.

Be faithful unto death.

Suppose you are a Christian in Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia or one of many other countries that persecute Christians where old men and young thugs stand boldly against the love and forgiveness of Christ Jesus.

Would you be encouraged?

The Saints of the Church of Smyrna were encouraged not in life; but in death!

The Church is encouraged to withstand every persecution for the Name and Cross of Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus’ promise is for the crown of Life – that is, eternal life.

Our encouragement is that regardless of analysis of the Battle now, the outcome is assured. In the Last Battle, JESUS WINS. (See end of story.)

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The facts of Islam and Jihad go well beyond tolerance. 9/11/2001 was just an opening salvo of just one more battle in a patient war by the enemy Satan.

Our memory of history is both short and tainted.

Discern for yourself some of what you will not hear from the world:

Timeline

Historical facts say that Islam, including Muhammad, launched their own Crusades against Christianity long before the European Crusades.

The word “crusade” (derived from the Latin word for “cross“) in an Islamic context means a holy war or jihad. (Same war; different leader.)
- 630 Two years before Muhammad’s death of a fever, he launches the Tabuk Crusades, in which he led 30,000 jihadists against the Byzantine Christians.
- 635 Muslim Crusaders besiege and conquer of Damascus. (3 years before capturing Jerusalem)
- 673-678 Arabs besiege Constantinople, capital of Byzantine Empire
- 680 Massacre of Hussein (Muhammad’s grandson), his family, and his supporters in Karbala, Iraq.
- 691 Dome of the Rock is completed in Jerusalem, only six decades after Muhammad’s death.
- Much more on link above.
Persecution of the 19th & 20th c. (partial)

Voice of the Martyrs – a current look at Turkey & other “restricted” nations (Click on any country for detail. Here is current detail for Turkey.)

Turkey has experienced an ongoing political struggle between secular proponents, urban moderates and rural Islamist forces vying for government control. The country has been officially secular since 1924, but 97 percent of the population is Muslim. Questions about the role of religion in society dominate public discourse. The current president is a proponent of political Islam, and there are few signs that Turkey will soon embrace true religious freedom.

Category: Hostile Nation
Religion: Muslim 96.6%, Christian 0.2%
Ideology: Islam
Head of State: President Abdullah Gul

Despite government claims and a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, Christians do not enjoy freedom of religion in many areas. Politicians, police, Islamic secularists and the growing Islamist movement are hostile to Christianity, and foreign missionaries are seen as a threat. Local officials often refuse to issue licenses to new churches. Turkish culture has a deep prejudice against Christians, and many adhere to the maxim that to be Turkish is to be Muslim. Conversion is not technically illegal, but converts have been charged with “insulting Turkishness.” Recently, persecution has increased. Christians frequently experience discrimination, slander, personal attacks and attacks against churches. VOM supports the growing persecuted church and Christian radio programming.

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God will judge. Christ IS victorious.

Christians throughout the world must remain awake on the wall.

What begins with subtlety is masked as tolerance and covered with ignorance.

The result is false security, false government, false faith, and fallen nations.

We are fallen sinners redeemed in the Blood of Christ Jesus, Who was and IS, and will return in victory.

While we remain on watch, let us pray for these many persecuted Christians throughout the world.

11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

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NEXT: Pergamum
October 2, 2013
The Time Is Near For Our Church – Ephesus
The Revelation of Jesus Christ

John to the seven churches

Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.

“Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus…

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Christ, our risen Lord and Savior holds in His right hand the angels of the churches. Christ, our returning Lord and Savior stands in the presence of His golden churches – the believers to be taken-up along with those who have gone before us.

Yet each letter to the churches is specific to a group of believers: praise for faithfulness and call to continued faith. For not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will be taken-up. Not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will stand as a light of witness as a lampstand on His right. For some will be separated to the King’s left and He will say of those who did not glimmer with the light of Jesus, “I never knew you.”

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. – Matthew 25:46 KJV

Therefore: The warnings for the seven churches are addressed to the saints of every generation until the last.

You with ears to hear, let the scripture of Revelation speak to your eternal soul.

EPHESUS

Maps change. Borders change. Buildings rise and fall. Nations rise and fall. Ephesus, like any other place on the map of this temporal world has changed over the years. Do not make the mistake of thinking of these letters to seven churches as being to “places.” These are letters which address some specific issues of faith encountered by the people of the churches.

What does not change is people. We are sinners: no matter where we live; no matter when we live… or die: we are sinners.

Into any part of this world, whether you call it Turkey (21st c.), Greece (BC), or Asia, as written in the Book of Revelation: enter Jesus Christ and every decaying building and dying man has new meaning.

The population of Ephesus at the time of John was about 200,000 people. Over the centuries control of this area of Asia moved between east and west: Rome and Persia (among others).

We know that wars and time will cause Nations and buildings to stand no more. We know that we live in a flesh even more temporary than these. Yet the message of the Gospel from the first century until the 21st and to the Last Day endures.

The people of Ephesus and the people of Pen Argyl (where I live) are essentially the same: we are sinners with the certain hope of resurrection in Christ Jesus. Yet the warnings for Pennsylvanians or Ephesians, for Romans or Americans, for men and women of any city, in any state, in any country and in any time until now is: follow Jesus Christ as your Lord. He IS and will return.

Into our individual cultures and local towns we must BE the CHURCH. We must BE HIS SAINTS, or have our lampstand removed.

We have nowhere to stand without Jesus.

Each Christian in every Church must shine a light for Christ Jesus.

Our choice is Eternal Life and Light OR Death, Darkness and the punishment we deserve for our many sins.

Revelation 2:

To the Church in Ephesus

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

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This is all High Praise from our Lord. Take note. These are good things for our church to continue. These are good things for us to continue.
- Patient endurance.
- Do not put up with those who are evil (and we know many who are evil).
Here’s one a 21st c. seeker-friendly church might miss:
- “… tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
When was the last time you, a fellow saint of your church, or even a church leader challenged ANY to find them to be FALSE christians?

I’m not talking about those seeking to repent, change, and grow in Christ Jesus. Our Lord challenges the church to identify the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29

Some of us in what WE, ourselves listen to, read or watch as ‘christian teaching’ need discernment to recognize wolves in the shepherd’s clothing of the pulpit.

IF you see no cross of sacrifice; IF Jesus is going to do something for you, IF ‘god’ wants you to have it NOW, beware.

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4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

Some of you have been born again in the Holy Spirit. Do you remember when you were first on fire for the Lord?

Acts 4: 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Our Lord exhorts the church to continue in our boldness for returning to the love we had for for Jesus and for His Gospel at first.

If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

UNLESS YOU REPENT!

Heaven OR Hell? That’s really the consequence of repentance or disobedience, isn’t it?

Why would Jesus keep a lampstand for our diminishing flicker after our wick has burnt dry?

Our Lord closes His specific cautions to the church at Ephesus with an encouragement, as so often the Letters of the Apostles encourasge us.

6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Again, recall that the warnings were to a specific church with specific challenges, just like your church or my church. The works of the Nicolaitans are unknown with certainty (perhaps warning enough for false teaching).

7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Hear the cautions for our Church. NEXT: Smyrna
October 1, 2013