Sunday, March 1, 2015

Christ's Counsel to the Laodiceans (Rev. 3:21-22)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/1/2015 8:46 PM

My Worship Time                                                        Focus:  Christ’s Counsel to the Laodiceans

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Revelation 3:21-22

            Message of the verses:  “21 ’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. 22 ’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’"”

            What a wonderful promise that Christ gives to this church, a church that as far as we can determine has no believers in it.  The promise is to “he who overcomes,” and the word “overcome” has been in each of the letters, speaking of being a true believer in Jesus Christ, so Christ is offering salvation to these unbelievers, something they truly need as do all unsaved people need.  He also offers to them to grant to sit down with Him on His throne, as He “also overcame and sat down with the Father on His throne.”  MacArthur writes “To enjoy fellowship with Christ in the kingdom and throughout eternity is sufficient blessing beyond all comprehension.  But Christ offers more, promising to set believers on the throne He shares with the Father (cf. Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:29-30).  That symbolizes the truth that we will reign with Him (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10; 20:6; cf. 1 Cor. 6:3).”

            The following is a list of the many promises made to those who are called overcomers in the book of Revelation:  1 The privilege of eating from the tree of life (2:7), the crown of life (2:10), protection from the second death (2:11), the hidden manna (2:17), a white stone with a new name written on it (2:17), authority to rule the nations (2:26-27), the morning star (2:28), white garments, symbolizing purity and holiness (3:5), the honor of having Christ confess their names before God the Father and the holy angels in heaven (3:5), to be made a pillar in God’s temple (3:12), and to have written on them the name of God, of the new Jerusalem, and of Christ (3:12).

            In each of the letters we have seen this phrase:  “22 ’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’"”   It is our job as true believers to tell those in the apostate church to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation.

            With this SD we have finished looking at the first three chapters of the book of Revelation and are moving on to the things that shall take place from Rev. 1:19, which gives the outline for this book.  Chapters four and five will get us ready to look at what will happen in chapters 6-19 which will be the end of the tribulation period, and then we will look at the millennial Kingdom where Christ will reign from Jerusalem for those 1000 years and then we will look at the un-creating of planet earth and the New Jerusalem where all those who have overcome will live and serve the Lord for eternity.  I have learned many new things in this study of Revelation 1-3, and pray that the Lord will open my eyes to see new things as we continue to look at the rest of the book.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I wish to be open to share the gospel with those who are in apostate churches, praying that the Lord will bring them onto my path.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I continue to desire to love the Lord with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and also desire to better understand the love that Christ has for me and live in that love.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Adam” (Genesis 3:10).

Today’s Bible question:  “In Revelation what city is said to have fallen?”

Answer in our next SD.

3/1/2015 9:11 PM

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