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Seven Steps to a Dead Church (Part 3)
Posted by
Gordy
,
30 March 2012
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1611 views
Scripture Reading: Revelation 3:7-13
THE LOYAL CHURCH
The loyal church is the second church that has no condemnation. Yet there is an admonition to be faithful. Loyalty is not the same as faithfulness. Faithful churches are not being found in our nation. Faithful churches are those which hold fast to the faith, even when they are being ripped apart. Loyal churches are those which handle persecution to a certain point. Loyal churches wear "REMEMBER" lapel pins. Loyal churches wear "W.W.J.D." bracelets. Loyal churches have "JESUS IS LORD" bumper stickers on their cars. Faithful churches just live that Jesus is Lord. Faithful churches know what Jesus DID do. Faithful churches do not need a reminder to remember, they cry in praise for their persecution and remember what Christ promised them. The loyal needs to be reminded. Read the text:
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that
is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set
before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the
synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will
make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour
of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall
go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, which is new Jeru-
salem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my
new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
We are admonished to hold on to the faith we have and to go and bring others to the Lord. We are admonished to overcome the faithless in the church. We are being called to just be faithful to the death, whether by the sword of persecution or by some other means.
THE LOYAL CHURCH
The loyal church is the second church that has no condemnation. Yet there is an admonition to be faithful. Loyalty is not the same as faithfulness. Faithful churches are not being found in our nation. Faithful churches are those which hold fast to the faith, even when they are being ripped apart. Loyal churches are those which handle persecution to a certain point. Loyal churches wear "REMEMBER" lapel pins. Loyal churches wear "W.W.J.D." bracelets. Loyal churches have "JESUS IS LORD" bumper stickers on their cars. Faithful churches just live that Jesus is Lord. Faithful churches know what Jesus DID do. Faithful churches do not need a reminder to remember, they cry in praise for their persecution and remember what Christ promised them. The loyal needs to be reminded. Read the text:
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that
is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set
before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the
synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will
make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour
of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the
earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall
go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, which is new Jeru-
salem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my
new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
We are admonished to hold on to the faith we have and to go and bring others to the Lord. We are admonished to overcome the faithless in the church. We are being called to just be faithful to the death, whether by the sword of persecution or by some other means.
