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What is Success?

This is a foundational question that can make a big difference in how you live your life, evaluate your life, and in how you feel about your life. What is success? Is it more money, lots of laughter, great relationships, an upward career path, accomplishing a list, or becoming a better person? These would be the answers that you would expect in the Christian or secular world, but God has something to say about the matter. READ ON - THIS COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

In Joshua chapter 1, Moses has died and God is now using Joshua to lead the Hebrews into the Promised Land. God is talking to Joshua and in verse 7 He tells him, "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go." In other words, be obedient. That's Christian success. It isn't following a formula, or paying more penance, or being better. For a Christian:
 

                          obedience = success

Usually, I tend to look to the results of my labors to determine my success. For example, if I witness to someone, and he accepts Jesus as His Savior, then I am successful. In 1 Corinthians 3:7, we find these words: "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." God says that if we are obedient to plant and water, the results are up to Him. In other words, if I know that I am to witness to a person out of obedience to God's word or His direct impression upon my spirit and I do so to the best of my ability, whether or not he accepts Jesus as his Savior, I am a success! Has God called me to teach? Then I am to teach. If only two small boys show up, I still teach as if I am teaching to a thousand. If I am to serve, then I serve as unto the Lord Jesus, Himself. If He asks me to administer grace then grace it is. The results do not clarify my success. My obedience does.

The next verses in 1 Corinthians 3 talk about the work that will be burned up and the work that will pass through the fire. It would stand to reason that the work that burns up is the work that we determine to do in and of our own strength. It is done not out of obedience, but rather out of selfish ambition or trying to gain our own salvation. The work that will pass through the fire is work done out of obedience. God calls; we answer and obey.

Pretend, for example's sake, that you wake up one morning and you decide to fry an egg. We tend to think that if we fry an egg and the yolk is whole, then we have succeeded. If we fry the egg and the yolk breaks, we have failed. (I tend to fail at this task regularly!) But if we look at obedience as our measure of success and God asks us to fry an egg and we choose to fry an egg out of obedience, we are successful whether the yolk breaks or not!

So whether you are trying to succeed as a parent, a worker, a spouse, a homeschooling mom, or a friend, if you are doing this task with all your heart because you feel that God has called you to it, then you are a success! If your spouse walks out, your child goes into rebellion, you lose your job, etc... you are not a failure. Others have free will. You are not responsible for their choices - only your own.

This perspective can bring such freedom. Walk in obedience and know success in your Father's eyes

God

Out of Revelation and now finishing up Deuteronomy.  It is an amazing book.  I just don’t see how anyone can read the Old Testament and think that God is this angry, vindictive, judgmental God.  Rather, I see a God of patience, compassion, love, and grace.  Anyway, Moses wrote and taught a song to the people of Israel right before he died and they were entering into the land.  It is found in Deut. 32.  It is wonderful!

“For I proclaim the name of the Lord;

Ascribe greatness to our God!
The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteousness and  upright is He.

Is not He your Father who has bought you?

He has made you and established you.

He found him in a desert land,

And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.

Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,

That hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them,
He carried them on His pinions.
The Lord alone guided him…
He made him ride on the high places of the earth…

See now that I, I am He,

And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.

Rejoice oh nations, with His people;

For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will render vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.”
Deuteronomy 32:3,4,6,10,11, 39,43

As a Christian you have been grafted into the spiritual nation of Israel. (Romans 11:17-24)  The God of the Old Testament is also your God.  Learn Him, know Him, accept Him, love Him. He will protect you under His wings; He will guide you; He will carry you above life’s circumstances; He will avenge you and He has and will atone for your sins.  God is our Rock – our stability, our assurance, our protection, and our hope.  He is righteous and just and faithful and upright.  He can be trusted and counted on.  He loves His children with a perfect Father’s love – giving and loving, disciplining and correcting, guiding and rewarding. 

 

Do you see Jesus in this passage?  (He bought you; He will atone for you).  God knew even then that He would send Jesus for our Salvation.  He knew that man can not get to God on his own.  God had to come down to breach the gap.  And I am so glad that he did!

What a mighty God we serve!

 

The Church of Laodicea is Trusting in It's Own Works

The Churches of Revelation:
#7 The Church of Laodicea:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God says this:

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot;
I wish that you were cold or hot. 
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,
I will spit you out of My mouth.

Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,”

And you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,

I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich,

and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed;
and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;

therefore be zealous and repent…

He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne,

as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 3:14-21

The church of Laodicea is believed by most scholars to be one of the modern day churches.  This is not the true church of born again believers, but rather the institution of the church that depends upon its traditions, rituals, riches, and influence.  God recognizes the deeds of this church declaring them neither hot nor cold.  In other words, deeds are being done, but from the wrong motives.  These deeds are done for self-promotion and deceit.  God clearly says that He will spit this church out of His mouth.  The false church of our time will not find themselves in heaven, but rather at the door saying, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:22-23)  Jesus will not cast them out because their deeds were not adequate, but rather because He never knew them.  Their deeds were done in their flesh and for themselves, not for the love of their Savior and Lord.

This church is also a wealthy church in monetary riches, and influence, and power.  But they are poor in the things of the spirit: a relationship with Jesus, truth, love, joy, etc…

But Jesus is not turning them away yet!  He strongly recommends that they buy gold refined with fire (salvation through Jesus), white garments (purity and righteousness through the blood of Jesus), and eye salve (truth).  He reproving them because of His great love for them.

And for those who repent, God promises that they will sit with Jesus on His throne in heaven!

God is a forgiving, compassionate God.  He calls all to repent.  The >>> in the above verses is a verse that you all are familiar with: “ Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”  Jesus is putting forth an invitation, but He can’t save those who don’t open the door ad let Him come in.  when they do, He will stay and dine with them of eternal things.

Keep seeking the things above… (Col. 3:1)

Chruch of Philadelphia Rejoices at His Coming!

Churches of Revelation
#6 The church of Philadelphia:

“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…

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.
Revelation 3:7-13

This is the modern day true church – those who trust in the blood of Jesus for their salvation and have died to self that they might live for Jesus.  There is another modern day church – the church of Laodicea.  We will discuss this church tomorrow.

I love the names that Jesus chose for Himself here.  He is holy and true. Nothing will change His character for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He has the key of David that will unlock for all true believers the promises of an eternal Jerusalem.

Jesus begins with the statement that He knows the deeds of the saints and that because of these deeds of the heart, Jesus has placed before the saints a door to heaven that no one can shut.  He is faithful and true.  His promises are everlasting!  Here upon this earth, the true church has a little power – the power to tell others and to invite them to Jesus, to use the word for the healing of the brokenhearted.  They have that power because they keep the word of God and do not deny Jesus.

This true church has persevered despite Satan’s attacks and the false church’s accusations.  They have pushed ever forward with the goal of heaven set out before them.  Because of that perseverance, Jesus is promising that the true church will not go through the tribulation.  But that rather, God will pull them out.  But He also warns them that He is coming quickly and that the true church must hold fast to the truth so that their crown will not be taken from them.  We are to persevere and seek only the goal of obedience and heaven.  We must know the truth that we may hold onto the truth.  We must hold fast that confession.

To these overcomers, God is promising them a position of permanency and responsibility in heaven or perhaps in the millennial kingdom.  It will be a position of belonging such that the true believer will never have leave the temple.  He will be a priest before God for eternity.  The promise of God to claim the saints as His heir will be fulfilled as He writes His name upon them – claiming them as His eternal bride.  All that is His will be theirs.

Oh what a glorious day!  I choose to hold fast to the truth, to know the truth, to seek out the truth, and to persevere.  I pray that this is your goal as well as we continue to live out this life here on earth until the day of Christ’s return.  And never doubt, He Is Coming!!!

 

 

Church of Sardis Needed to Stand Firm

Churches of Revelation:
#5 Church of Sardis:

“I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 

Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die;
 for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 

So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent.

Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments;

and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments;

and I will not erase his name from the book of life,
and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 3:1-6

Many believe that was the church of the protestant reformation until the 1800's..  Jesus says that He knows the deeds of this church and this is not a word of commendation, but rather condemnation.  The deeds of this church are evil or fleshly.  Deeds that speak of greatness for men – bigger churches, more buildings, more campuses, and deeper coffers.  They have the name of Christian church, protestant, but they are not alive, but dead because they are not promoting the truth and authority of God’s word.  Many protestant denominations of our time hold to traditions but have left the essential truths and application of true believers.   Jesus is calling the church to “Wake up!”  The church in Sardis was situated on a mountain.  It was impregnable on three sides.  This left them to guard just the south entrance.  Twice in their history, however, they were overtaken by the enemy because that south guard was asleep.  We are to be sober, stand guard, and protect the Biblical truths that Protestantism was founded upon, for we do not know when the church will be raptured and Jesus will come again.

 That which the church received and heard was the saving power of the blood of Jesus through repentance and rebirth.  But many churches of our day are preaching good works and baby baptism rather than the blood of our Lord and Savior. 

 Jesus does say, however, that there are those who have “not soiled their garments.”  In other words those who are walking in purity through the saving blood of Jesus.  They are claiming His power and His life and walking therein to the obedience of Christ.  These are the true believers – the true church that Jesus will rapture and give white garments to that they may walk with Jesus through all of eternity.

This next statement is confusing, but J Vernon McGee, a writer of Christian commentaries and the Bible teacher of “Walk Through the Bible”, says that in this book is written every name of every person ever born.  When they die and have not received Christ, then their name is erased from this book.  Only the names of the true believers will remain and these Jesus will present before God and the angels as His brethren.

Each of you have made that critical decision to become a Christian.  You were each born again and are in the book of life.  But now what?  Will you walk as in garments of white through confession and repentance and righteousness?  Will you choose to be the voice of grace to others?  Will you grow and learn the truths of God’s word and be a witness to God’s great love and mercy?  Will you raise your children to love the Lord Jesus and to be born again?

Money, education, prestige, happiness in your circumstances, are all good if used for the kingdom of God.  God is preparing you for arenas of influence that astound and amaze me.  Be faithful with the teachings that have been yours since birth.  Be faithful to the calling of God on your life.  And seek Jesus in all things – hard and joyful.  May you grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus our Lord.

 

Church of Thyatira Stayed True

Churches of Revelation
#4 Church of Thyatira:

“I know your deeds,

 and your love and faith and service and perseverance,
and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 

But I have this against you,

that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,
and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols… 
Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation,
unless they repent of her deeds... 

But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them –

I place no other burden on you. 
Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.

He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end,

 to him I will give authority over the nations;
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces,
 as I also have received authority from My Father;
and I will give him the morning star.”
Revelation 2:19-28

 There seems to be two separate groups here in Thyatira – the true Christians and those who are posing as Christians but teaching a strange doctrine.  The true Christians were those who lived spotless lives and by their good deeds showed their true hearts.  They were a church of love and faith resulting in service and perseverance.  Lastly, their works were increasing rather than diminishing. 

 The false church was condemned.   Jezebel was the evil wife of Ahab of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  She brought in the prophets of Baal and led many astray.  Here, the church is following after the pagan practices and idolatry that is mingled in with Christian works and worship.  The introduction of rituals and church doctrine supplanted personal faith in Jesus Christ.  These people were about being religious, but not about knowing Jesus or being born again or sanctified through his blood.  Often the churches of Revelation are held up as different times in church history.  This church corresponds to the dark ages when the Catholic church introduced heretical teachings and rituals such as the worship of Mary and Mass being said for the dead.  But we can fall into this sin today when church rituals and doctrine become more important to our salvation than Jesus. 

Jesus then commends the true believers to hold fast to what they have.  We know the truth.  It will be challenged and we will be persecuted for it.  But we need to determine to hang on until the end.  The rewards are great!

To the overcomers is promised authority over nations.  We will not be playing a harp and sitting on clouds in heaven.  God says that we will have responsibilities and jobs such as ruling the nations.  Will you be ready?  Will you have matured and persevered and grown as a Christian so that Jesus can put you in charge?  Have you learned responsibility here on earth that Jesus will be able to trust you with great responsibility in heaven?  Are you persevering through the trials and tribulations here that you will be able to rule and reign in heaven?

We are also promised the morning star.  Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16).  We will get Jesus as our husband, our Lord, our Friend, our King – face to face.  What joy that will be! 

Stay strong and hang on!