God's Favor!

Favor is God’s “I am for you” attitude. It is the amazing, undeserved benefit of being His child, yet many believers never tap into its fullness. Why? One reason is that we simply misunderstand His favor.

Biblically, favor can be defined as “the friendly disposition from which kindly acts proceed to assist, to provide with special advantages, to receive preferential treatment.” That is God’s heart toward us. He wants to bless, help and promote us. He wants to treat us “special.” In Romans 8:32 (TLB), we are asked the hypothetical question, “Since He did not spare even His own Son for us but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also surely give us everything else?” God’s answer is a resounding “Yes!”

Examples of Favor

It has been said that one day of God’s favor is better than a thousand days of labor, and this has been proven throughout the Bible:

Ruth asked for and found FAVOR with Boaz (Ruth 2-4), and became the great grandmother of King David.

David found FAVOR with Saul (1 Samuel 16:22) and with God (Psalm 30:7). Despite his failings, God refers to David as “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22).  

Esther found so much FAVOR (Esther 5:2) that the King offered her up to half his kingdom.

Mary found FAVOR with God (Luke 1:30) and became the mother of Jesus.

Jesus disciples’ had FAVOR with both God and men (Acts 2:47), and the church grew.

God never intended His favor to be found by just a handful of people. Every believer – you and me included - can find His favor and do things that could not be accomplished without it.

Jesus, Our Example

Jesus possessed many traits that should be part of every Christian’s character. From His youth, He was interested in spiritual things (Luke 2:49). He lived unselfishly, and served others (Matthew 20:28). He focused on accomplishing His Father’s will every day of His life (John 6:38). Without a doubt, He left us an example so we could follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21).

When Luke boils down the first thirty years of Jesus’ life, he writes, “Then He [Jesus] went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them [His parents]. But His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:51-52 NIV). The four areas that we are told Jesus grew in – wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with men – are all areas that we also can grow in.

This type of growth is not so different from building our muscles. While each of us already has all the muscles we need – there are over 600 of them in the human body - most of us have not exerted the effort it takes to build them to their potential. As a result, we are not nearly as strong as we could be.

In the same way, God has already provided for all of the favor we will ever need. However, just like Jesus had to grow in favor, so do we. It does not happen automatically any more than our muscles automatically become strong. As we train ourselves in the principles of favor and put them into practice, we can expect to grow in favor with both God and men just as Jesus did.

Raising Your Expectations

Our expectations have a lot to do with what happens to us in life. If we expect the worst that is generally what we will get. There is a scriptural principle that says, “as we think in our hearts, so are we” (from Proverbs 23:7). It follows that the level of favor we experience in life will rise to our level of expectation. There is no way around it; if we are to grow in favor with God and men, we are going to have to raise our expectations and believe that God wants us to be blessed with His favor.

What should we expect this favor to look like? Psalm 103:2-6, 17-18 lists several effects of God’s favor. We should expect (or regard as likely to happen) that God will forgive our sins, heal our diseases, redeem us from destruction, crown us with loving kindness and tender mercies, provide for our health and strength, give us justice when we’re oppressed, and extend His righteousness to our children’s children as we keep covenant with Him. And, that’s just scratching the surface of what God’s children can, and should, expect!

Believe It Is For You

Even those who do not have a problem expecting that God will release His favor on His children, sometimes have a hard time believing that God’s favor is for them personally. They say, “It sounds good, but it doesn’t work that way for me. I believe in God, pray, and go to church, but I still don’t experience God’s favor.” They believe in God’s favor, but they don’t believe for it. They need to know that, not only is it acceptable to expect God’s preferential treatment, but that they should believe God for it.

Believing has two parts. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We need to believe that God exists, and that He will reward us when we seek Him. Each Christian has a need to personally accept God’s promise of favor as being true, genuine, and real – and each has a need to believe for His favor in their life. It is God’s will for you to experience His favor. Every promise He makes is for you, and as Jesus said, “According to your faith will it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV).

Confess Favor

Favor is not found by following a formula, and it is important to remember that we are not changed by what is in our head, but by what is in our heart. In Matthew 12:34, we are reminded that, “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  When we expect and believe for favor, it affects both our heart and our speech.

What we say has the power to unleash God’s favor in our lives. Jesus said, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:22-23). There is no better way to express our faith in God than to say the same thing as His Word says.

These scripture-based confessions on favor are an example of how you can confess God’s favor over your life:

         • God surrounds and protects me with favor like a shield. (Psalm 5:12)

         • The Lord is a sun and shield. He bestows favor and honor, and no good thing
            does He withhold from me. (Psalm 84:11)

         • I actively seek and live by God’s wisdom; therefore, I am highly favored.
            (Proverbs 3:1-4; Proverbs 8:33-35)

         • God’s favor brings promotion and causes me to increase daily. 

            (Esther 2:17; Psalm 75:6-7)

         • My enemies cannot triumph over me because the Lord has favored me. 

            (Psalm 41:11 AMP)

Conclusion

God’s favor can make an extraordinary difference in your life, but it will not happen automatically; it has to be “turned on” in much the same way as you turn on the lights in your house. The power of electricity is always there, but the lights won’t come on until you turn on the switch.  As a believer, you need to release the power of favor that God has already made available. God wants to bless you, personally, with His favor. As you enlarge your mindset to expect and believe for His favor, and as you open your mouth to confess God’s promises, you can find favor with God and man!

The Mind of Christ!

The "mind" of Christ means the "attitude" Christ exhibited. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). After all, outlook determines outcome. If the outlook is selfish, the actions will be devisive and destructive. James says the same thing (James 4:1-10).

This text in Philippians take us to eternity past. "Form of God" has nothing to do with shape or size. God is Spirit (John 4:24), and as such is not to be thought of in human terms. When the Bible refers to "the eyes of the Lord" or "the hand of the Lord," it is not claiming that God has a human shape. Rather, it is using human terms to describe divine attributes (the characteristics of God) and activities. The word "form" means "the outward expression of the inward nature." This means that in eternity past, Jesus Christ was God. In fact, Paul states that He was "equal with God."(Other verses such as John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15; and Hebrews 1:1-3 also state that Jesus Christ is God)

Certainly as God, Jesus Christ did not need anything! He had all the glory, and praise of heaven. With the Father and the Spirit, He reigned over the universe. But Philippians 2:6 states an amazing fact: He did not consider His equality with God as "something selfishly to be held on to." Jesus did not think of Himself; He thought of others. His outlook (or attitude) was that of unselfish concern for others. This is "the mind of Christ," an attitude that says, "I cannot keep my privileges for myself, I must use them for others; and to do this, I will gladly lay them aside and pay whatever price is necessary."

We expect unsaved people to be selfish and grasping, but we do not expect this of Christians, who have experienced the love of Christ and the fellowship of the Spirit (Philippians 2:1-2). More than twenty times in the New Testament, God instructs us how to live with "one another." We are to prefer one another (Romans 12:10), edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and bear each other's burdens (Galatians 6:2). We should not judge one another (Romans 14:13) but rather admonish one another (Romans 15:14). "Others" is the key word in the vocabulary of the Christian who exercises the submissive mind.

Learn the Word, Hear It, Receive it and Do It!

You cannot separate outward action and inward attitude. Sin always results in unrest (unless the conscience is seared), and purity ought to result in peace. "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and peace" (Isaiah 32:17). "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable" (James 3:17). Right living is a necessary condition for experiencing the peace of God.

Paul balances four activities: "learned and received" and "heard and seen." It is one thing to learn a truth, but quite another to receive it inwardly and make it a part of our inner man (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Facts in the head are not enough; we must also have truths in the heart. In Paul's ministry, he not only taught the Word but also lived it so that his listeners could see the truth in his life. Paul's experience ought to be our experience. We must learn the Word, receive it, hear it, and do it. "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only" (James 1:22).

"The peace of God" is one test of whether or not we are in the will of God. "Let the peace that Christ can give keep on acting as umpire in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15). If we are walking with the Lord, then the peace of God and the God of peace exercise their influence over our hearts. Whenever we disobey, we lose that peace and we know we have done something wrong. God's peace is the "umpire" that calls us "out"!

Right praying, right thinking, and right living: these are the conditions for having the secure mind and victory over worry. As Philippians 4 is the "peace chapter" of the New Testament, James 4 is the "war chapter." It begins with a question: "From whence come wars and fightings among you?" James explains the causes of war: wrong praying ("Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss," James 4:3), wrong thinking ("purify your hearts, ye double-minded," James 4:8), and wrong living ("know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?" James 4:4).

There is no middle ground. Either we yield heart and mind to the Spirit of God and practice right praying, thinking, and living; or we yield to the flesh and find ourselves torn apart by worry.
There is no need to worry! And, worry is a sin! (Matthew 6:24-34?) With the peace of God to guard us and the God of peace to guide us—why worry?

How To Deal With Worry!

The Bible records that God's servants often faced anxiety-producing situations. How did they handle those worries and pull out of those anxieties? How can you use the same strategies to successfully deal with the potential triggers for worry in our lives?

A large part of the problem with worry: it consumes huge amounts of time and energy that are totally unprofitable. We often realize too late that we will never receive tangible benefits in return for effort spent worrying. Anxiety cannot correct a past mistake, prevent a future calamity or supply us with anything that we don't already have.

 What Does the Bible Say About Dealing With Worry?

Life's daily challenges and troubles very commonly lead to feelings of worry. However, the Bible provides very effective tools for avoiding worries as well as responding to these emotions when they occur.

As we explore the Bible, we will find that God wants us to experience the tremendous joys of life as He created it, without the detrimental effects of anxiety. His Word is full of instruction, advice and wisdom on this topic.

What is a primary cause of anxiety?

Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

There is a right and healthy fear of physical and spiritual dangers that keeps us safe. But when our minds focus on improper fear (being fretful or frightened) of physical things rather than proper fear (reverence and awe) of God, worry is the sure result. Likewise, allowing our minds to focus on doubts and uncertainties will fill us with anxious care. As 1 John 4:18 says, "Fear involves torment."

Can our actions or lack of action give us things to worry about as well?

Job 4:8: "Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same."

Proverbs 27:12: A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on and are punished.

One cause of anxiety is foolish, imprudent or evil (sinful) behavior. The Scriptures counsel us to employ foresight to steer clear of such actions; being prepared to do so helps us to avoid worry.

Is anxiety caused only by "wrong" thoughts and actions, or are there other sources?

Proverbs 13:4: The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

Proverbs 23:4: Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!

In addition to learning the difference between right and wrong, the Bible teaches us to have balance in all things. These two verses provide an example. Hard work is an excellent tool for avoiding anxiety, but only in balance—too little of it leads to unmet basic needs such as food and clothing, while too much of it leads to unhealthy stress and neglect of other priorities. Both extremes cause anxiety.

Can worry alter our circumstances or change our lives for the better?

Luke 12:22-31: Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

Jesus' point is clear: Worry accomplishes nothing. It cannot supply the very least of our needs or wants, so we should strive to eliminate it from our thinking. Our energy is much better spent focusing on God's way of life (which has real, tangible benefits) and soon-coming Kingdom (which will ultimately satisfy our most deeply felt needs).

If there is nothing to be gained from anxiety, how does it really affect our lives?

Proverbs 12:25: Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.

Anxious feelings that are not properly dealt with cause us to have the unhappy and disheartened feelings associated with depression. In contrast, focusing on good and positive things makes us glad and cheerful. It is said that anxiety "loses some of its force in the face of a positive, encouraging word."

What should we focus on?

Proverbs 15:13: A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

The Bible uses the term heart to describe the innermost source of all that we think and do. Focusing on positive things leads to a heart filled with optimism and confidence, while focusing on worry only fills the heart with pessimism and uncertainty.

What is the core problem with worry and anxiety?

Jeremiah 17:5-8: Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Worry and anxiety are often the result of our being overly focused on our physical capabilities and limitations—what we or others can do humanly—rather than on the awesome and limitless capabilities of God, and what He can do for us and through us.

What did David do when he faced severe anxieties?

Psalm 34:4-6: I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

Even though David suffered severe anxiety at times, he kept learning and relearning that trusting in God to provide for his needs and deliver him from difficulties would resolve his problems. No matter how big the problem is, God can solve it (Psalm 40:1-2)!

What did Paul rely on to help him through times of distress?

2 Corinthians 1:8-10: For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us...

Paul understood that God is the only true source of help. Paul faced many anxiety-inducing situations in his ministry and travels, but consistently trusted that God would provide deliverance from these situations that were beyond human control.

What did Jesus Christ do when He felt deep anxiety before His greatest trial?

Matthew 26:37-39: And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

When He experienced tremendous anxiety over what He was about to suffer during His trial and crucifixion, Jesus wholly committed Himself to the will of God. He knew that the direction God had set for His life would ultimately produce the best possible outcome. Even if suffering had to be endured for a time, He trusted that it was a necessary but brief step on the path to a permanent, glorious future.

How can we overcome anxious worry?

Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:6-7: Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

The ultimate solution to anxiety is to take the things that cause it—doubts and fears—to God. He is eager to help us deal with these common emotions in the right way so that we can experience true peace in our hearts and minds. He cares for us, and He wants us to cast our cares on Him. Prayer is a key to a stronger relationship with God and to dealing with worry. Pray more, worry less!

Worry: the peace robber!

The Old English root from which we get our word "worry" means "to strangle." If you have ever really worried, you know how it does strangle a person! In fact, worry has definite physical consequences: headaches, neck pains, ulcers, even back pains. Worry affects our thinking, digestion, and even our coordination.

The antidote to worry is the secure mind: "The peace of God . . . will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). When you have the secure mind, the peace of God guards you and the God of peace guides you!

Talking to God about everything that concerns us and Him is the first step toward victory over worry. The result is that the "peace of God" guards the heart and the mind. "The peace of God" stands guard over the two areas that create worry—the heart (wrong feeling) and the mind (wrong thinking).

The prescription for receiving God's peace:

The direction is twofold: don't worry about anything; and pray about everything in a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude. The result will be 'the peace of God.' This is the peace with which God fills the believer as he or she stands firmly in their position in Christ. It is to be distinguished from the peace with God which is the result of justification (Romans 5:1), and the portion of every believer. This deeper peace of walking with God is said to be incomprehensible to the merely natural mind. It surpasses anything the unspiritual mind can grasp; it 'keeps on guarding, protecting the mental, emotional, and spiritual life from enemy intrusion of that which would spoil God's peace.

The prescription for maintaining God's peace:

(1) To guard our mental life (what we allow ourselves to think upon or think about). 

(2) We are to meditate continually on the things that are true, honorable, right, pure, acceptable, and praiseworthy.

(3) To practice the things which we are taught. The result will mean not only possessing the peace of God, but the God of peace Himself.

Seven Reasons Not to Worry (Matthew Chapter 6)

1) The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.

2) Worrying about the future hinders your efforts for today.

3) Worrying is more harmful than helpful.

4) God does not ignore those who depend on Him.

5) Worrying shows a lack of faith in God, and a lack of understanding God.

6) Worrying keeps us from the real challenges God wants us to pursue.

7) Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

The Peace of God

God gives His people perfect peace. But perfect peace is given only to the person whose mind or thoughts are fixed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). The word peace (shalom) means to be in harmony with God, experiencing peace with God and the peace of God. It means to be in such harmony with God that one is assured of having all needs met. Peace gives us the assurance of health, wholeness, the absence of conflict and strife within and without his soul. Peace is the assurance of deliverance through hardship, accident, disease, and calamity. Peace includes blessings such as wholeness, health, quietness of soul, preservation, and completeness. 

The peace given by God is a quiet, restful soul; a sense of purpose, contentment, fulfillment and completion. God’s peace is the assurance of present and future security, deliverance and success. God’s peace delivers us through all the conflicts, strife, divisions, trials, and temptations of this life. 

However, note this important fact: the person who has such peace is the person whose mind or thoughts stay fixed on the Lord. Through all the turmoil of Isaiah’s day, the prophet Isaiah clearly experienced what so many long for: the perfect peace of God—peace of heart and soul.Paul’s appeal to the Philippians (chapter 4:6) is do not be anxious about anything. But this was not a call to a carefree life. To care and be genuinely concerned is one thing. To worry is another. Paul and Timothy cared for the people they ministered to (2 Corinthians 11:28; Philippians 2:20), yet they retained trust in God. Jesus warned against worry which obviously eliminates trust in God (Matthew 6:25-33).

One of the great works of God in behalf of His people is to provide a solid foundation for life. As the Rock of life, the Lord provides stability, security, support, and defense against all the stormy trials and temptations of life. As we walk through life, we decide to build our lives either upon sinking sand or upon the solid rock of the Lord. Listen to what God’s Holy Word says:
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Paul exhorted the Philippians to prayer instead of anxiety. Praying with thanksgiving involves trusting God. Four words are used here to describe a believer’s communion with God. Prayer describes a believer’s approach to God. Petition emphasizes requesting an answer to a specific need. Thanksgiving is an attitude of heart which should always accompany one’s prayers. Requests speak of definite and specific things asked for.

When the exhortations of verses 4-6 are heeded, the peace of God (v. 7) will flood one’s troubled soul. The Lord Jesus Christ is a believer’s peace (Ephesians 2:14), and every child of God has peace with God through justification by faith (Romans 5:1). But the peace of (or from) God relates to the inner tranquility of a believer’s close walk with God.

This peace of God transcends all understanding, that is, it is beyond man’s ability to comprehend. This peace guards the believers. Guard: a military term which means “to protect or garrison by guarding.” Like soldiers assigned to watch over a certain area, God’s peace garrisons the hearts and... minds, that is, the emotions and thoughts, of God’s children.

Paul does not write, "Pray about it!" He is too wise to do that. He uses three different words to describe "right praying": prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. "Right praying" involves all three. The word prayer is the general word for making requests known to the Lord. It carries the idea of adoration, devotion, and worship. Whenever we find ourselves worrying, our first action ought to be to get alone with God and worship Him. Adoration is what is needed. We must see the greatness and majesty of God! We must realize that He is big enough to solve our problems. Too often we rush into His presence and hastily tell Him our needs, when we ought to approach His throne calmly and in deepest reverence. The first step in "right praying" is adoration.

The second is supplication, an earnest sharing of our needs and problems. There is no place for halfhearted, insincere prayer! While we know we are not heard for our "much speaking" (Matthew 6:7-8), still we realize that our Father wants us to be earnest in our asking (Matthew  7:1-11). This is the way Jesus prayed in the Garden (Hebrews 5:7), and while His closest disciples were sleeping, Jesus was sweating great drops of blood! Supplication is not a matter of carnal energy but of spiritual intensity (Romans 15:30; Colossians 4:12).

After adoration and supplication comes appreciation, giving thanks to God (see Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:15-17). Certainly the Father enjoys hearing His children say, "Thank You!" When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one of the ten returned to give thanks (Luke 17:11-19), and we wonder if the percentage is any higher today. We are eager to ask but slow to appreciate.

You will note that "right praying" is not something every Christian can do immediately, because "right praying" depends on the right kind of mind. This is why Paul's formula for peace is found at the end of Philippians and not at the beginning. If we have the single mind of Philippians 1 then we can give adoration. (How can a double-minded person ever praise God?) If we have the submissive mind of Philippians 2, we can come with supplication. (Would a person with a proud mind ask God for something?) If we have the spiritual mind of Philippians 3 we can show our appreciation. (A worldly minded person would not know that God had given him anything to appreciate!) In other words, we must practice Philippians 1, 2, and 3 if we are going to experience the secure mind of Philippians 4.

Paul counsels us to take "everything to God in prayer." "Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything!" is his admonition. We are prone to pray about the "big things" in life and forget to pray about the so-called "little things"—until they grow and become big things! Talking to God about everything that concerns us and Him is the first step toward victory over worry.

The result is that the "peace of God" guards the heart and the mind. You will remember that Paul was chained to a Roman soldier, guarded day and night. In like manner, "the peace of God" stands guard over the two areas that create worry—the heart (wrong feeling) and the mind (wrong thinking). When we give our hearts to Christ in salvation, we experience "peace with God" (Romans 5:1); but the "peace of God" takes us a step farther into His blessings. This does not mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it does mean a quiet confidence within, regardless of circumstances, people, or things.

Daniel gives us a wonderful illustration of peace through prayer. When the king announced that none of his subjects was to pray to anyone except the king, Daniel went to his room, opened his windows, and prayed as before (Daniel 6:1-10). Note how Daniel prayed. He "prayed, and gave thanks before his God" (Daniel 6:10) and he made supplication (Daniel 6:11). Prayer—supplication—thanksgiving! And the result was perfect peace in the midst of difficulty! Daniel was able to spend the night with the lions in perfect peace, while the king in his palace could not sleep (Daniel 6:18). The first condition for the secure mind and victory over worry is right praying.

"A Gracious Invitation" {Hebrews 10:19-25}

"Let us draw near.... Let us hold fast... Let us consider one another." This threefold invitation hinges on our boldness to enter into the holiest. And this boldness ("freedom of speech") rests on the finished work of the Saviour. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest could not enter the holy of holies unless he had the blood of the sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7). But our entrance into God's presence is not because of an animal's blood, but because of Christ's shed blood.

This open way into God's presence is "new" (recent, fresh) and not a part of the Old Covenant that "waxeth [grows] old [and] is ready to vanish away" (Hebrews 8:13). It is "living" because Christ "ever liveth to make intercession" for us (Hebrews 7:25). Christ is the new and living way! We come to God through Him, our High Priest over the house of God (the church, see Hebrews 3:6). When His flesh was torn on the cross, and His life sacrificed, God tore the veil in the temple. This symbolized the new and living way now opened for all who believe.

On the basis of these assurances—that we have boldness to enter because we have a living High Priest—we have an "open invitation" to enter the presence of God. The Old Covenant high priest visited the holy of holies once a year, but we are invited to dwell in the presence of God every moment of each day. What a tremendous privilege! Consider what is involved in this threefold invitation.

“Let us draw near” (v. 22):
Of course, we must prepare ourselves spiritually to fellowship with God. The Old Testament priest had to go through various washings and the applying of blood on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Also, during the regular daily ministry, the priests had to wash at the laver before they entered the holy place (Exodus 30:18-21). The New Testament Christian must come to God with a pure heart and a clean conscience. Fellowship with God demands purity (1 John 1:5-2:2).

“Let us holdfast” (v. 23):
The readers of this epistle were being tempted to forsake their confession of Jesus Christ by going back to the Old Covenant worship. The writer did not exhort them to hold on to their salvation, because their security was in Christ and not in themselves (Hebrews 7:25). Rather, he invited them to hold fast "the profession [confession] of... hope." 

In this study of Hebrews there is an emphasis on the glorious hope of the believer. God is "bringing many sons unto glory" (Hebrews 2:10). Believers are "partakers of the heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1) and therefore can rejoice in hope (Hebrews 3:6). Hope is one of the main themes of Hebrews 6 (vv. 11-12, 18-20). We are looking for Christ to return (Hebrews 9:28) and we are seeking that city that is yet to come (Hebrews 13:14). When a believer has their hope fixed on Christ, and relies on the faithfulness of God, then they will not waver. Instead of looking back (as the Jews so often did), we should look ahead to the coming of the Lord.

“Let us consider one another” (vv. 24-25):
Fellowship with God must never become selfish. We must also fellowship with other Christians in the local assembly. Apparently, some of the wavering believers had been absenting themselves from the church fellowship. It is interesting to note that the emphasis here is not on what a believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he or she can contribute to the assembly. Faithfulness in church attendance encourages others and provokes them to love and good works. One of the strong motives for faithfulness is the soon coming of Jesus Christ. In fact, the only other place the word translated "assembling" (Hebrews 10:25) is used in the New Testament is in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, where it's translated "gathering" and deals with the coming of Christ.

The three great Christian virtues are evidenced here: faith (Hebrews 10:22), hope (Hebrews 10:23), and love (Hebrews 10:24). They are the fruit of our fellowship with God in His heavenly sanctuary.

Tear Down the Strongholds!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (KJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

A stronghold is a negative, destructive pattern of thinking that Satan has built in our minds, either through repetition or traumatic experiences or other circumstances. As the old adage says, when you sow a thought, you reap an act; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

Once the stronghold is built, it gives the enemy a place from which to launch further attacks against your mind and a fortification from which to repel your attempts to dislodge him. If you're getting the idea that we aren't going to get very far in the battle for our minds until we deal with satanic strongholds, you're right on target. One reason strongholds are so powerful is that they are so entrenched. These are patterns of thinking, not just fleeting thoughts.

Let me give you some examples. For a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the satanic stronghold is not the physical addiction or the act of using the substance. Those are just the products of the stronghold. The stronghold itself is having a wrong mind-set toward drugs or alcohol. Satan is able to build a stronghold when he convinces a person that their situation is hopeless, that he or she is a drug addict or an alcoholic by nature and will never be anything else. Once a person starts believing that, it's pretty much all over, because we will always act in accord with who we believe we are.

Hopelessness is a key element of a stronghold. As long as you believe there is hope for you to overcome a wrong way of thinking, you'll keep fighting. But once you believe the battle is hopeless, you'll want to surrender. Satan wants to force his thinking upon us until we actually come to believe that his lies are true. You can tell when people are being ruled by a satanic stronghold. They say things like, "I can't help myself," "It's not my fault," "I was born this way," or "I'm just a victim." When we view something as unchangeable that God says is changeable, the enemy has built a stronghold in our minds.

It doesn't have to be anything as dramatic as drug addiction or alcoholism. Many of us have strongholds of anger or jealousy or lust. "I know I get mad and blow my stack, but that's just the way I am." "I can't help lusting. After all, God gave me these sexual desires." People who have satanic strongholds come to believe the way they are is the only way they can be. That's why they have such a sense of hopelessness, and that's why they are in bondage.

When we allow strongholds to be built in our minds, guess who's manning the walls and the guard towers? The enemy himself. A stronghold gives him a strong base of operation from which to launch continued attacks against us. Strongholds are a major issue in the battle for our minds. Strongholds not only take over individuals, they can take over families and churches. .

Satan gets the material to build his strongholds by the wrong thoughts he plants and cultivates in our minds. The enemy's strategy is suggested in the first half of 2 Corinthians 10:5: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God." You can see the conflict here as Satan raises up his lies in the face of what God says about us and what we know to be true from His Word. What is the "lofty thing" Satan raises up against the knowledge of God? The term means a "partition," or a wall. A partition is designed to keep two entities divided and separated.

Satan begins creating a stronghold by erecting a partition in your mind. He wants to keep out the knowledge of God or to keep it so compartmentalized that the Word never reaches to every corner of your life and runs the show. Satan is deathly afraid of the truth. He knows that once the knowledge of your new identity in Christ becomes the defining principle of your life, he's finished. You see, the only power Satan has over us is his lies. He can't force us to do or to believe anything. He works by deception, using smoke and mirrors.

Satan doesn't even have to get us to deny the truth. He knows most Christians are not going to come out and say the Bible is not God's Word and Jesus is not God's Son. All Satan has to do is distract us from the truth so that it never gets down deep inside us.

The Bible has a word "double-minded" (James 1:8). If the enemy can divide your mind by putting up a partition, he has the first wall of his stronghold in place. The process isn't hard to understand. When a Christian starts saying of a harmful practice, "One time won't hurt me," or "I can handle this," the devil has a piece of ground in the mind on which he can erect a partition. From there it can deteriorate to this: "I'm hooked on this stuff. I'm an addict, and I always will be. There's no hope for me. I might as well give up trying to change."

It doesn't take long for Satan to mess with our minds. How quickly can Satan start dividing our thinking? In Peter's case, it only took a few minutes. Jesus was with His disciples one day when He asked, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13). They gave various answers, then Jesus asked the key question: "But who do you say that I am?" (v. 15). Peter spoke up. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (v. 16). Jesus affirmed Peter and told him that he had received that truth as a direct revelation from God the Father. But then Jesus told the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and be crucified, and an alarm went off in Peter's mind. This didn't make sense to him, so he pulled Jesus aside and rebuked Him. "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You" (v. 22). 

Being the Son of God and being crucified didn't compute to Peter. He began thinking that Jesus was obviously mistaken. Besides, if Jesus got into trouble with the authorities in Jerusalem, His disciples would be in trouble too. So Peter tried to talk Jesus out of going to the cross—and in that instant, Peter bought into Satan's thinking. That's why Jesus stunned Peter back to reality. "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's" (v. 23).

Jesus hit the issue on the head. Peter was setting his mind on the flesh (remember Romans 8:6), and he was on very dangerous ground. Satan had partitioned Peter's mind so completely that he was thinking in two totally opposite directions at the same time. It doesn't take long for Satan to mess with our minds. Satan wants to block the flow of truth by dividing our minds so he can get us to believe his lies and allow him to build his strongholds.

What needs to be done with Satan's strongholds? You can't go around them, and you can't ignore them, because the Enemy will use them to launch more attacks and build more strongholds. The only solution is to tear those lofty strongholds down by "taking every thought captive to the obedience to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Why must we take every thought captive to Christ? Because not every thought that comes into our minds is of God. Strongholds in the mind are built out of the Enemy's thoughts. We are either thinking with the mind of Christ or with a mind set on the world, the flesh, and the devil. There is no such thing as neutral thoughts. That's why Eastern meditation and thought processes are so dangerous. They teach you to empty your mind and open it up to new ways of thinking. But that is giving the devil a foothold to bring in his thoughts.

We have to capture our thoughts, because if we don't recognize and capture the enemy's thoughts, he will gain an advantage. When a thought that's against the knowledge of God comes into your mind, you have two choices. You can capture and destroy it because you know it's not yours, or you can adopt it and act on it until you believe it's really your idea after all.

Keys of Truth: Book of Revelation (Chapter 10)

Chapter summary:
Again John looks away from what is happening on earth. He sees a "mighty angel" approaching from heaven. The angel stands, straddling earth and sea and holds a "little scroll" (10:1-2). The announcement made at his appearance is sealed—kept secret (vv. 3-4). Yet it is no secret that "there will be no more delay": the day of judgment foretold by the Old Testament prophets has come (vv. 5-7). John is then told to take the scroll the angel holds and "eat" it. As a result of being prepared by appropriating God's Word, John is told to speak out again, describing events that will affect "many peoples, nations, languages, and kings" (vv. 8-11).


The believer’s personal application: Take advantage of every opportunity given to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

                                                          TEXTUAL INSIGHT

Some see this as an interlude, intended to prepare John for the final, bitter revelations to come. Others agree this is an interlude, but take it as a promise that God will not abandon His own as they await the judgment that will come at time's end.

“The angel” (10:1):
The angel is not named, but his portrayal suggests he is very significant. Some have identified him with Christ, but in Revelation, Christ and angels are always distinct and carefully identified.

"Seal up" (10:3-4):
The phrase means to keep secret. Some have speculated that the words of the thunders concerned additional judgments. However, this is pure speculation and remains a mystery. God does not reveal everything He intends to do, even in symbolic or concealed terms.

“Raising the right hand” (10:6):
When the Jewish people swore an oath they typically raised their right hand (Deuteronomy 32:40; Daniel 12:7). The angel conveys God's promise that there will be no more waiting: the "mystery of God" will be accomplished.

"The mystery of God" (10:7):
Here "mystery" does not indicate a revelation of something that has been hidden, but the fulfillment of prophetic visions that have been delayed. Again John specifically links the revelations in this book with the visions of the future reported by Old Testament prophets. It is difficult to see how Revelation could be interpreted accurately except within the framework of Old Testament prophecy concerning history's end.

Keys of Truth: Book of Revelation (Chapters 8 & 9)

Chapter summary:
When the seventh seal on the scroll introduced in chapter 5 is opened, a new series of "trumpet" judgments is begun (8:1-6). The trumpet judgments devastate a third of earth's vegetation (v. 7), seas (vv. 8-9), and fresh water (vv. 10-11), as well as a third of the heavenly bodies (vv. 12-13). Yet these judgments that shake the foundations of the material universe seem insignificant compared to what is to follow. Now the boundary between the supernatural and natural universe is breached; locust-like, demonic beings are unleashed to torture humankind (9:1-12). The sixth trumpet unleashes four angels with unspeakably evil powers, and a army of 200 million demons, that kill a third of humankind (vv. 13-19). However, despite these terrors, the rest of humanity does not repent, but rededicates themselves to idolatry and immorality (vv. 20-21).

The believer’s personal application: Even the horrors of the end times won’t bring repentance. No horror story ever written will compare to the horrors of the last days.

                                                            TEXTUAL INSIGHT

Some people take the terrible scenes drawn in these chapters as descriptions of the initial judgments of the Great Tribulation period. The demonic enemies of chapter 9 introduce a supernatural yet literal aspect to these judgments. Humanity's refusal to repent, even though what is happening is clearly supernatural in character, is a further indication of how distorted the sinful human nature really is. Our God as Judge uses natural disasters to foreshadow final judgment.

“The prayers of all the saints” (8:4):
The incense represents the prayers of the believers of all time for vindication, to be won when God judges the inhabitants of the earth and avenges the blood of the saints (6:10). The scattering of hot coals and fire from the altar of incense represents God's answer: the time of judgment is now.

"Trumpets" (8:6):
The ram's horn trumpets were used in Old Testament times to alert the population to imminent danger and to invasion.

Three series of judgments:
These series feature seven seals (chapter 6), seven trumpets (chapters 8-9), and seven bowls (chapters 15-16). While there are similarities between these judgments, each sequence increases in intensity, and the bowl judgments are called the "last plagues" that complete God's expression of wrath. How literally are images in these chapters to be understood? This question is raised by John's description of "hail and fire mixed with blood" and of "something like a huge mountain, all ablaze" falling into the sea.

Part of the difficulty in interpreting any prophecy rests on the normal limitations of terms and images available to the writer. For instance, how would a 1st-century person ever be able to describe the crowded expressways, the busy airports, the TV, and space shuttles of the 20th century?
The very fact that he or she would have to use the terms, and concepts of his or her century would mean, that even though describing something quite literal, their explanation simply could not convey a clear image of what they saw to their contemporaries.
Even if we assume that John is describing actual events that he witnessed, the language limitations alone would make it difficult for us to develop a clear, accurate impression of what he saw.

"The Abyss" (9:1):
Is a term used for the underworld; the place of the dead. The New Testament pictures the Abyss as a prison, smoldering with subterranean fires, where demons are held captive (Luke 8:31; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). John witnesses the opening of the Abyss and the release of a multitude of demons to torment the lost. Those whom God has sealed, however, are safe from them (7:3).

Keys of Truth: Book of Revelation (Chapter 7)

Chapter summary:
There is now a pause in the blows that have been striking the earth. The judgments are held back while 144,000 Jewish converts, 12,000 from each of 12 tribes, are sealed and commissioned as servants of God (7:1-8). When John looks back toward heaven, he sees a vast multitude standing before the throne and the Lamb—the source of all salvation (vv. 9-10). The angels, elders, and four living creatures join the multitude in praising God (vv. 11-12), and one of the elders explains the multitude to John. They are those who have believed during the Great Tribulation. Freed from all suffering, they serve God in His temple (vv. 13-17).

The believer’s personal application: This writing of John can be understood; all of it glorifies God!
.

                                                          TEXTUAL INSIGHT

Some take the Jewish identity of the 144,000 literally, and understand them to be Jewish converts who serve as missionaries during the Tribulation period (Daniel 12:3). The multitude are understood as the Revelation text states, as those saved through faith in Christ during the Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. There are others that see the number as symbolic, a "perfect" number; representing the church throughout all history.

"Four corners of the earth" (7:1):
This phrase was used in the ancient Near East to mean "the whole world." It does not imply a belief that the earth is flat.

“Eye of the hurricane” (7:2):
The great silence that falls on earth indicates a pause in the divine judgments, but their suspension is only temporary.

“Sealed” (7:3):
Many theologians argue over the identity of this group that is "sealed" by God. But the seal itself surely represents both God's ownership (14:1) and His protection from demonic forces (9:4), although not apparently from human opponents (13:7; 20:4).

“The 144,000” (7:4-8):
The specific identification of this number as Israelites, and their makeup from 12 specific tribes, makes it difficult to believe these are "the new Israel" composed of the "completed church composed of Jew and Gentile." Such an symbolic interpretation is made even more unlikely by reference in 7:14 to "the Great Tribulation," which is so significant in Old Testament prophecy and predicted by Jesus in Matthew 24.

"Every nation, tribe, people, and language" (7:9):
Every person alive will hear the Gospel at some point. The text is clear; some people will be saved during the Great Tribulation. The text identifies this "great multitude" as those who "have come out of the great tribulation" (v. 14).

"Wearing white robes" (7:9):
In the Book of Revelation white robes typically represent the saved, clothed in righteousness by Christ.

“The Great Tribulation” (7:16):
The theme of a period of intense, worldwide suffering from war and "natural disasters," is deeply rooted in the Old Testament prophet's vision of history's end. Christ speaks of the Antichrist’s appearance just before His return, and said "then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again" (Matthew 24:21). In view of the extensive testimony to such a period in both Testaments, it seems unwise to understand the elder's explanation to John here in a symbolic way.

"God will wipe away every tear" (7:17):
Life in every age involves suffering and pain. Yet our destiny is to be guided by the Lamb (Jesus Christ), and filled with joy.

Keys of Truth: Book of Revelation (Chapter 6)

Chapter summary:
This chapter begins the action of judgment upon the earth for its wickedness. The previous two chapters were introductory, setting the stage, showing “Who was, Who is, and Who will be” in control; preparing the reader for the coming judgments. The judgments can be divided into three main series of sevens—seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials. The trumpets and vials are part of the seventh seal so all the judgments actually come from the seals. The seventh seal, seventh trumpet and seventh vial are all extended in their report compared to the previous six judgments

Jesus, the Lamb, now begins to open the seals on the scroll. As the first four seals are opened: terrible horsemen representing conquest (6:1-2), devastating warfare (vv. 3-4), famine (vv. 5-6), and plague (vv. 7-8) are released. These bear a striking resemblance to signs spoken of by Christ in Matthew 24:1-35, Mark 13:1-37, and Luke 21:5-33. The fifth seal reveals martyrs, crying out for God to judge and avenge them (6:9-11). When the sixth seal is opened earth and even the heavens are shaken, as if by a great earthquake (vv. 12-14). Humanity then realizes that this is divine judgment. Rather than repent, everyone will seek to hide from God's wrath (vv. 15-17).

The believer’s personal application: Those who reject grace now will not repent when judgment comes.

                                                TEXTUAL INSIGHT

As we come to chapter 6, the scene shifts to the earth, and the question naturally is: What happens on the earth when the church leaves? The Great Tribulation takes place, and that is the subject of chapters 6 thru 18. The seven seals open up the Great Tribulation period. The Lord Jesus breaks the seals, and the four horses come forth. We will see the martyred dead during that period, and the coming of the day of wrath. In a very orderly way, the seventh seal introduces the blowing of seven trumpets (Revelation 8:2 – Revelation 11:19). The blowing of the seventh trumpet introduces seven startling persons (Revelation 12 – Revelation 13). The beast out of the sea introduces the seven bowls of wrath (Revelation 15 – Revelation 16). The last bowl of wrath brings to us the judgment of Babylon, and that brings to an end the Great Tribulation period (Revelation 17 -- 18), and then Christ comes to the earth.

The important thing for us to keep before us is the One who is worthy to open this book. He is directing everything now. As we were told at the beginning, this is the Revelation, the unveiling, of Jesus Christ. He is no longer walking among the lampstands, for they have all been removed from this earth. He is no longer the High Priest, standing as intercessor, but He is now the executor of God's will upon the earth as He opens the seals of the book. All the judgments of the Great Tribulation are released as the seals are opened.

The Great Tribulation is initiated from heaven. Jesus Christ directs the entire operation. The Church will be delivered from this period of judgment. Why? Because, we have been saved by the grace of God. Only those who reject the grace of God go into the Great Tribulation period. Every person on earth will hear the gospel, and when they make their decision, that will decide whether or not they are going into the Great Tribulation.

There are certain factors that are brought into focus which increase the intensity and the violence of the Great Tribulation:

1) The Holy Spirit will restrain evil no longer. Will the Holy Spirit leave the world? No, He won't leave. He was in the world before the Day of Pentecost, however, on the Day of Pentecost He assumed a new ministry of baptizing believers into the body of Christ, a ministry of indwelling them, of filling them, and of leading and guiding them in this world. He will take the Church out of this world, but that does not mean that He is going to leave. He will still be here, but He will not restrain evil any longer. In other words, man is going to have his little day during that period, and so is Satan.

2) The true Church, as light and salt, will be gone from the earth.

3) The Devil knows that he has but a short time. He is going to take advantage of it during this period, and God is going to give him free rein.

4) Evil men will be free to carry out their wicked plans. The Antichrist will be allowed to control things on earth for a brief period of time.

5) There will be direct judgment from God. We see that here in verse 17, which says, "For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" 

Keys of Truth: Book of Revelation (Chapters 4-5)

Chapter summary:

John is taken up to heaven to be given a vision of "what must take place after this" (4:1). He sees God upon His throne, worshiped by 24 persons identified only as "elders" (vv. 2-6a). The "living creatures" seen around the throne are also mentioned in the visions of Isaiah (6:2) and Ezekiel (1:5-25; 10:1-22), continuously praising God as Creator and affirming His holiness (4:6b-11).

Then John sees an angel, holding a scroll representing judgment, sealed with seven seals, calling for someone worthy to break the seals and open the book (5:1-2). When no one is found, one of the elders consoles John: the Lion of the tribe of Judah will open the seals—and when John looks, he sees a bloody Lamb (vv. 3-7). When Christ as the Lamb takes the scroll, the inhabitants of heaven fall down in worship, affirming His worthiness "because... with your blood you purchased men for God" (vv. 8-10).

Unnumbered thousands of angels take up the chorus, praising the Lord as "the universe joins in ascribing praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever" (vv. 11-14).

TEXTUAL INSIGHT

“Two interpretations”:

Some see the call to "come up" as the rapture and all that happens after as located in the Great Tribulation. The scroll is related to Daniel 7:13-14 and is seen as the title deed to the kingdom Christ will win through judgment. There are others that see the vision as a call to worship, with the elders representing Old Testament and New Testament saints. The scroll is a symbol of redemption, and so, the vision may be of what takes place in heaven just after the resurrected Christ returned to heaven.

“Praise” (4:8 - 5:14):

 Whatever the interpretation, it's clear that the focus of these two chapters is the five hymns of praise they contain. In chapter 4, God is praised as Holy and as Creator. In chapter 5, Christ is praised as Saviour, the Lamb who was slain, and as a result earned the right to open the sealed scroll.

“The 24 elders” (4:4, 10):

The elders mentioned here reappear again and again in John's vision. But who are they? Over a dozen suggestions have been made. Some suggest that they are representatives of redeemed humanity, 12 representing Old Testament saints and 12 New Testament saints. Others consider them supernatural beings, like the four "living creatures."

“A seven-sealed scroll” (5:1):

A scroll that was sealed could only be read when all the seals were opened. Only when judgment has been fully executed will the ultimate intent of God be revealed.

“Lion and Lamb” (5:5-6):

The surprise implied in looking for a Lion and seeing a bloody Lamb is intended. Both "Lion of Judah" and "Root of David" are titles of the conquering Messiah. The vision reminds us that Jesus conquered by giving His life for us. The bloodstained Lamb, still bearing the visible marks of His execution, is about to be revealed as the executor of God's final judgment!

"A new song" (5:9):

The song is "new" in that it has never been heard before. At last, the full meaning of the redemptive death of Christ is about to be displayed—both in salvation and in judgment. Soon all will be forced to acknowledge that Jesus, who died a criminal's death, is worthy to rule this universe and the next.

Keys of Truth: Book of Revelation (Chapter 3)

Chapter summary:

This chapter continues the messages the glorified Christ sends via John to contemporary Churches. The letters in this chapter are addressed to believers in Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Like the letters in chapter 2, these messages have a distinct pattern.

Each letter is addressed to the "angel" or "messenger" of the church. Again each message has a fourfold focus: identifying Jesus in a special way, revealing an intimate knowledge of the Church addressed, pinpointing the Church's major flaw, conveying a command intended to correct the Church. The letter closes with an eschatological promise of reward to the obedient victor with each promise alluding to some element in Revelation 21-22.

The believer’s personal application: We can apply the exhortation given to each of these churches to our lives—and win the reward they are promised.

TEXTUAL INSIGHT

“Sardis: the counterfeit” (3:1-6):

Sardis lay in an important river valley and was both a trade and military center. Although its greatest significance lay in the past, and in a sense the city was dying, it remained prosperous for some two centuries into the Christian era.

“Holding the sevenfold Spirit” (3:1):

The Spirit of God is the key to vitality in the believer’s life. Remain faithful to Jesus, and He will bring us to vital life. If we desert Him our lives will be as dead as those who lay in the vast cemetery, marked by hundreds of burial mounds, that existed seven miles from Sardis, but visible from that city.

"Wake up!" (3:2):

The call is for constant alertness, just the opposite of the spiritual laziness which sapped the vitality of the church at Sardis. The situation is so serious that the first order of business is to "strengthen what remains" rather than recapture an earlier commitment. Even their past deeds are "not complete," meaning they fall short of the standards of love, faithfulness, perseverance, and commitment required to Christ.

"They are worthy" (3:4):

Even in an apostate Church or age, God reserves some who are faithful to Him. Having soiled clothing in the 1st century kept a person from ceremonies honoring pagan deities. There is likely a touch of irony here. The pagans worried about externals. What Christ cares about is whether a person "walks with" (stays in fellowship with) Him.

“Philadelphia: obedient to God” (3:7-13):

This was an important fortress city on a major highway and an imperial post road. Although devastated in A.D. 17 by an earthquake, the city was quickly rebuilt. Eusebius reports that the Church was led in the first half of the 2nd century by a gifted prophetess named Ammia and prospered under her leadership.

“Faithful with little” (3:8):

No matter how weak we are, Christ keeps the door open for us. We can remain faithful, not because we are great, but because He will not let our enemies prevail.

"Endure patiently" (3:10):

It's much easier to be enthusiastic when we're winning great victories. However, faith often calls for us to be still, and obedience means simply to keep "My command to endure patiently" (2 Thessalonians 3:5; Hebrews 12:3).

"The hour of trial" (3:10):

Many believe that this is a time of worldwide divine judgment. For some this is evidence that the rapture of Church will take place before the tribulation.

“Laodicea: lukewarm” (3:14-21):

This city was famous for wealth and medicines, particularly an eye ointment. The Christians of this city took pride in their material well-being, without seeing their spiritual poverty. Jesus warns these believers to spend their funds on the true riches Christ provides. Jesus is eager to enter and fill their lives and ours. He knocks at the door of our hearts. It's up to us to open up our lives and let Him in, not only to save, but to fill and control.

                                      

The characteristics of and admonitions to the Churches

“Sardis, the Counterfeit” (3:1-6):

The Church: reputed to be alive but spiritually dead; deeds are incomplete.

Jesus’ description: holds the Spirit, angels, in His hand.

Jesus’ admonition to the Church: wake up; obey what they have already heard.

“Philadelphia, the Obedient” (3:7-13):

The Church: has little strength yet has kept the Word, patiently endures.

Jesus’ description: holds the key of David (messianic authority).

Jesus’ admonition: hold tight to what they have.

“Laodicea, the Materialistic” (3:14-22):

The Church: neither cold nor hot; wealthy, but poor spiritually.

Jesus’ description: Ruler of Creation

Jesus’ admonition: be earnest, repent under discipline.