network211's Podcast

From Death to Eternal Life

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 23:40:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. INTRODUCTION
Today, I will talk with you about making the journey from death to eternal life. We will begin with the thought that death takes many forms. We can talk about the death of a dream, the death of hope, the death of relationships, the death of a marriage, and ultimately physical death. All of these forms of death can be very painful.

Another form of death is spiritual death. A fact that we must face is that, without Christ, we are spiritually dead while we are physically alive. Millions of people live in spiritual darkness. Unless they are delivered out of this darkness, they will live eternally in spiritual death. They will be eternally separated from God.

Fear of Physical Death
Several times, I have heard Larry King on CNN say that the thing he fears most is death. Obviously, he is referring to physical death. Larry King is a professed agnostic. He does not believe in Christ as the Son of God. Because of this, he fears death. Untold numbers of people are just like him. The death-bed comments of many people testify to the fear they experience as they die.

Bertrand Russell said: "There is darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendor, no vastness anywhere; only triviality for a moment, and then nothing." To those without hope in Christ, physical death leads to darkness and nothing.

Contrast this view with the Christian view of death. Someone said that "Christians die well!" There is a reason for this. The apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 that we do not grieve as those "who have no hope." Our hope is in Christ through whom we have life eternal. Given our hope, we can face death with peace in our hearts. We can place our lives in God's hands without fear.

The Struggle Against Death
We experience a life-long struggle against death in all of its forms. We plan our way and build our strategies for life. Things may go well for a season, then the seemingly inevitable happens. Things turn bad for us. Our highest hopes and dreams seem to go down the drain of life and leave us stunned. Our brightest hopes turn into forlorn hopes and eventually into feelings of utter defeat.

We struggle against the seeming inevitability of death. We know that we will die physically, but we want to prolong life as long as possible. We strive mightily to overcome other forms of death. We read self-help books by the dozen and try to think positively at every turn. But even our positive thinking seems to hit the wall without success. Death in some form becomes a reality.

Contrast this battle with the approach of those who commit themselves to God and to Christ. In Proverbs 16:9 we read, "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." When the Lord directs our steps, we live in victory. The victory may not be in the exact form we expected, but it will be in the form that God desires.

The Gift of Eternal Life
Fortunately, we can become recipients of the gift of eternal life. God gave His Son to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life. In John 6:47 Jesus says, "He who believes has eternal life." He means that He who believes in Jesus has eternal life. This eternal life is a quality of life that endures forever. We experience it now and will have it in fullness when we are in the presence of Christ forever and ever.

No wonder Christians die well. When Dietrich Bonhoeffer was facing death, he said, "This is the end, for me the beginning of life." Although he faced physical death, he was looking forward to beginning his life in the presence of Christ. It was for him a beginning. Actually, eternal life begins in this life, but in the sense of being in the presence of Christ, it begins with death.

Death Has Lost Its Sting

Those who believe in Christ have the hope of eternal life. Because they have this hope, they do not fear death as those who have no hope. They look forward to putting on an imperishable body and living eternally. The apostle Paul declares (1 Corinthians 15:53-55):

53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"

Conclusion

Ultimately, every person will die physically. Meanwhile, we experience death in many forms. The solution lies in our faith in Christ. When we believe in Christ, we begin our journey from death to eternal life. The journey begins with faith, but it never ends. We can look forward to eternal life in the presence of our Lord. It will be abundant life in its highest form! Believe in Him today!

From Conditional Love to Unconditional Love

Mon, 2 Apr 2007 14:20:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
One of the common drives that we have is that we want people to accept us and love us as we are. We want people to love us no matter what we say or do. On the other hand, one of the most difficult tasks we face is to love people who disrespect us or treat us badly. In other words it is difficult to give the same unconditional love that we desire.

We must make the journey from conditional love to unconditional love. As we grow in the image of Christ, we can make this important journey. We can learn to both receive and give unconditional love. We cannot do this journey alone, but we can with Christ!

God Loves Us Unconditionally
Fortunately for us, there is one who loves us unconditionally. This is why God sent His son to die for us. Without regard to our sins, Christ died for each one of us. According to Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." With regard to atonement for sins, God's love is unconditional.

The love of God for all mankind is amazing! When we think of all the wickedness in the world, all of the evil that is daily paraded before us, and all of the despair caused by evil people, we wonder how God could love all people. But we know that He does! The Word of God is very clear on this point. Because of His Son, God makes His offer to all men to be saved.

We Must Receive God's Love
Through Christ, we can make the journey from being conditionally loved to being unconditionally loved. Our desire to be unconditionally loved can be fulfilled in Christ. David Lim says, "When we are restored to relationship as God's children, we are: "fully known, fully accepted, fully loved, fully valued, and fully celebrated."

It would not be fair to say, however, that we can experience the results of atonement without any conditions. The conditions are that we must repent of our sins and believe in Christ. Through repentance and faith, we receive God's love. The apostle Paul clearly explained to the Ephesians (2:13-18) that we have peace with God through Christ. We have access to God through Christ and the Spirit. We must repent of our sins and believe in Christ before the results of atonement apply to our lives.

Unconditional Love and Accountability
It is important that we journey from conditional love to unconditional love in what we offer to others. But before we can do this, we need to understand the nature of unconditional love.

We often extol unconditional love in human affairs, especially in marriage. The idea is that we will love others without placing conditions on that love. According to some, unconditional love has no conditions whatsoever. Unconditional love is a free gift that does not call people to account.

Others, however, find that unconditional love is not to be separated from accountability. Indeed, in their view holding people to account is an expression of love. James Dobson writes p. 89:

I certainly believe in the validity of unconditional love, and, in fact, the mutual accountability I have recommended is an expression of that love! . . . I'm trying to say that unconditional love is not synonymous with permissiveness, passivity, and weakness. Sometimes in require toughness and discipline and accountability.

Giving Unconditional Love
Once we properly understand unconditional love, we must step forward quickly to embrace it. We must journey from conditional love to unconditional love. When we do, we will discover that I Corinthians 13:4-8 provides an excellent framework to guide us in our decisions.

4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. NAU

Conclusion
The yearning of our hearts to be loved unconditionally can be fulfilled through Christ. We must repent of our sins, believe in Christ, and allow the Spirit to open up our access to God. If we do, we will experience unconditional love.

Then, we must make the journey from giving only conditional love to giving unconditional love. Although not every situation demands this, we must be able when it is appropriate to make the journey. Unconditional love is in harmony with accountability. Accountability is a way to express that love. Let us love unconditionally!

From Hopelessness to Hope

Fri, 23 Mar 2007 04:07:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
For many people life is hard, circumstances are daunting, and the prospects of improvement are bleak. Given the hopelessness of their situation, they live with despair. When despair deepens, millions of people wonder if there is a way out of their darkness. These people, including teenagers, sometimes consider suicide.

Today, I want to talk with you about making the journey from hopelessness to hope. You do not need to live without hope. You do not need to be dominated by despair. There is a way out, a way forward, a way upward, and a way that is ultimately victorious. With joy I will tell you about it now.

Living with Hope
The best way to live is to live with hope. When we have hope, we expect good things to happen. We believe that we will have a good job, will be well physically, will marry and have well-behaved children, will travel and see the world, and the list goes on. Just the anticipation of these things brings joy and happiness to us.

Theologian Emil Brunner observed, "What oxygen is to the lungs, hope is to the spirit. The quality of our hope determines the quality of our lives." Thus, hope is an essential ingredient to life. Hope is the anticipation of positive outcomes. We expect good things to happen. With hope we can overcome the problems of life.

Lost Hope
It is probably safe to say that every person in the world has had hope for something that never was achieved or obtained. Sometimes we may have false hope. Maybe there was not much chance at the start that we would get what we wanted. Alister McGrath. "To have no hope in life is a terrible thing, to build that life on a false hope is still worse." At other times, we learn over time that our hope will not be realized, so our hope becomes forlorn. In any case our hope is lost.

Dr. Steve Lim writes, "Without hope, the human spirit shrivels. When cynicism, defeat, and despair stain our lives, they hardly seem worth living." We all have watched as individuals who normally are positive shrivel in spirit when they lose hope. The darkness of the day shuts out the light and imprisons the soul in hopelessness.

Jimmy Long. "Most xers have given up on growth and prosperity, and societal progress has hit a brick wall." As Robert Jensen exclaimed, "When hope in progress has been discredited, modernity has no resource either for renewing it or acquiring any sort of hope . . . Hopelessness is the very definition of Postmodernism."

Our Hope is In Christ
Today, I want to offer you hope that will never be false or forlorn. Jesus Christ died and rose again to give you new life. When you believe in Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will have that hope that abides and never fails. It is the hope of life eternal through Christ.

You can make the journey from hopelessness to hope by believing in Christ! Speaking of the hope that we have in Christ, Lloyd Ogilvie says,

Hope enables a vital quality of life; it sets us free to dare, gives us confidence for daily frustrations, and the courage to live adventuresomely. The gift of hope for the future is the key entrusted to us which opens the floodgates of the LordÃ??s power and unlocks the flow of His amazing, unlimited possibilities.

The Ultimate Victory
To be sure, even with our hope in Christ, we have our disappointments. We know that some people suffer greatly in this life. However, our hope in Christ is well-founded. In Romans 5:5 Paul says, "hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Also, in II Corinthians 1:10 Paul writes: "On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us."

As believers in Christ, all of our losses and suffering are short-term. We may experience despair for a season, but in the long run, we are victorious. In His time and in His way God brings the victory. The full extent of that victory will not be realized until we meet Jesus face-to-face. When we meet Him, we will see that all along our hope was sure.

Conclusion
Yes, believers in Christ do suffer in this life, but Paul says (Romans 8:18) "Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." When we have hope in Christ, our hope abides. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul says, "But now faith, hope, love, abide these three." With our abiding hope, we can make the journey from hopelessness to hope with confidence, joy, and assurance of ultimate victory.

From Brokenness to Wholeness

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
Today, I want to talk with you about taking the journey from brokenness to wholeness. Millions of people are broken by circumstances, poor relationships with others, sinfulness, and physical testing. Throughout His ministry on earth, Jesus met people in desperate need of help. Perhaps you are broken in spirit. Instead of being broken, you want to be made whole.

Brokenness Hurts!
Brokenness hurts! Nothing hurts more than a broken heart. Suddenly you feel alone and isolated. You search for answers, but it seems there are none. Even when a possible answer can be found, it seems that it never heals a broken heart. The pain that some people endure is indescribable.

Brokenness can take many forms. It may include low self-esteem, excessive anxiety, bitterness, depression, addictions, persistent shame, obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and even perfectionism. People who suffer from perfectionism simply cannot live up to their own expectations.

Many people are enduring broken relationships. Dr. Richard Swenson in his book entitled "A Minute of Margin" states: "Broken relationships are a razor across the artery of the spirit. Stemming the hemorrhage and binding the wound should be done as quickly as possible. Yet all too often it takes months or years. And sometimes the bleeding never stops."

Many Try Substitutes
All over the world people attempt to overcome pain by filling their lives with substitutes. These substitutes include alcohol, drugs, sex, material things, and even work. The main idea is to numb the pain with something else. Usually people hope to avoid pain with these substitutes. However, most of these substitutes only increase feelings of brokenness, hopelessness, and lead to lower self-esteem.

If we attempt to lift ourselves out of brokenness and become whole without turning to God, we will fail. We may, to be sure, be able to improve our lot in life, but complete wholeness is not possible. We must turn to our creator for help. He alone has the complete answer for us. Given this, let us begin our search for God. Indeed, because of His love, He is searching for us! He wants us to respond to Him.

Wholeness Through Christ
Wholeness is what we want. We want to be whole in body, soul, and spirit, but we cannot be whole on our own. In order to be whole, we have to be reconciled to God through Christ. Christ died for our sins upon the cross. As we believe in Him and follow His teachings, He can help us deal with our brokenness.

According to John 10:10, Jesus said: "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." Here, Jesus states His goal. He wants us to have abundant life. This abundant life does not always shield us from brokenness, but it will help us through the dark seasons and give us victory. The Psalmist (147:3) says, "He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds." Jesus is always present to treat our wounds and heal our suffering hearts. He will give us abundant life!

So to overcome our brokenness we must realize that we have to be healed by a power greater than ourselves. If we look only to ourselves, we will be not be able to make the journey from brokenness to wholeness. Jesus will not impose His healing upon us. We must make the decision to turn to Him for healing.

God With Us
Even in times of great testing, God is with us. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit." This assertion gives us great hope. Even the darkest hours can be moments of peak fellowship with the eternal God. Our Lord will heal our crushed hearts.

Swenson writes about the healing of broken relationships. He states: "Although there is no formula, there are principles. It helps to bring God closeÃÂÃÂÂÃÂÂthrough our brokenness. And it helps to accept GodÃÂÃÂÂÃÂÂs graceÃÂÃÂÂÃÂÂthrough our humility." Through brokenness and humility, with God near, our broken relationships can be healed. As Swenson says, "Warring individuals who have done battle for years can erase all antagonism in a matter of minutes."

Moreover, when people have experienced brokenness, they often minister more effectively. People who have been healed from brokenness can identify with those who are broken. We do not seek to be broken, but when we are, God can use it for His glory.

Even when Jesus was dying on the cross, Jesus lived life to the full. People who encountered Jesus at the cross were changed. Even while physically broken, He was a whole man in spirit. Through His human brokenness, God revealed His power. Jesus on the cross was whole!

Conclusion
Are you broken in spirit today? Do you live with a broken heart? If so, I urge you to come to Jesus. Believe in Him as your Savior. He is the healer. He is the one who will bind up your broken heart and give you abundant life. Reach out for that abundant life today. It is within your grasp as you commit your life to Jesus Christ. Let this be the beginning of your journey from brokenness to wholeness. Jesus will be with you the rest of the journey!

From Anxiety to Peace

Fri, 2 Feb 2007 20:42:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
Are you worried today about your job, health, financial security, relationships with others or anything else? All of us from time-to-time worry about something! But many people are so torn up by worry that it extends over into anxiety. For some people anxiety becomes an anxiety disorder that severely limits them from living in a normal way.

All of us in life's journey sometimes need help. Today, I want to help you make the journey from anxiety to peace. The peace that I am talking about is the peace that Christ gives. Jesus declared in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." The peace of the world is easily shattered and broken, but with Christ's peace we can overcome anxiety.

You Are Not Alone!
Millions of people suffer from anxiety, so you are not alone! A Gallup poll reveals that 61% of Americans feel somewhat or very concerned that their jobs, or that of a friend might be shipped overseas. Others experience anxieties that go far beyond being somewhat or very concerned. These people suffer from some type of anxiety disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health:

"Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year,1causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 months and can get worse if they are not treated."

You May Need Help
You are not alone, but sometimes you cannot overcome anxiety by yourself. One Seminary professor, Dr. Steve Lim, says: "No matter how much we do to ensure positive outcomes, life brims with causes for worry. Anxiety arises whenever we fear possible loss or harm to our person, family, relationships, or possessions. If we depend on our own resources, we can't avoid worry, for no matter how much we have, we never know if it's enough."

Sometimes, when you have a severe case of anxiety, it may be necessary to obtain professional help. Many people are helped by Christian counselors, psychologists, and clinics. You can go without reservation to obtain help from dedicated Christian professionals.

You Can Overcome Anxiety
Anxiety is real, but it can be overcome. It is not true that you are forever locked into anxiety and just have to live with it. It is not true that people with anxiety are just lazy or weak. It is true that many people have overcome anxiety and have learned to live without fear and defeat. It is true that you can get control of your anxious feelings and begin to live without worry!

Timothy Sanford suggests a way to overcome anxiety. He points out that anxiety is characterized by what if thinking. What if I disappoint someone? What if my spouse leaves me? What if my boss lets me go? He encourages you to trade what if thinking with statements that express reality such as: What five colors do I see right now? What five sounds do I hear right now? What do I need to do, or think about, right now?

You Can Have the Peace of God
The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7 about the peace of God. He states:

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

Paul says to us: "Be anxious for nothing." Well, you might say, "But you don't know what is happening to me!" Yes, that may be true, but God does know. And He wants you to have full confidence, faith, and serenity in Him. No matter how difficult our circumstances, we can rely fully on God.

According to Paul, we should make our requests known to God through prayer and supplication. It's more than OK to ask God to help us overcome anxiety; we are exhorted to do so. Let us be specific when we approach God and ask Him to help us put away our anxiety.

Our peace is both objective and subjective. When God gives us peace through Christ, we have peace whether we feel it or not. Objectively God's peace is ours, but God wants us to subjectively feel peace as well. He wants us to experience peace in its fullness. So, His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. When God's peace guards our hearts and minds, we will be anxious for nothing!

Conclusion
Begin to trust in God fully today. Practice having His peace in your heart. You can, with God's help, control your thoughts. And you can keep your thoughts on Him and His goodness. He will be with you always. He will never leave you. And he will provide for every emotional and intellectual need! You can make the journey from anxiety to peace today!

Acts 7:51-53: Do Not Resist the Spirit!

Fri, 8 Dec 2006 17:31:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
The apostles selected Stephen as one of the seven men to oversee the distribution of food in the early church. Soon, the ministry of Stephen went beyond the distribution of food and emerged with great power. God used Stephen in a miraculous way.

Then, men from the Synagogue (or Synagogues) of the Freedmen" resisted the Holy Spirit and arose to oppose him. Stephen was stoned to death, but in Christ he obtained the ultimate victory. The entire seventh chapter of Acts deals with this story, but we will focus especially on verses 51-53. Several points attract our attention.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, Stephen's opponents accused him of blasphemy. Many believers are falsely accused today.

The people were stirred up, and they dragged Stephen before the Council. False witnesses claimed (Acts 6:13-14), "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place [the Temple] and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us." NASU All of these charges were false, but the Council took its stand against Stephen.

Today, thousands of Christians suffer persecution in many lands. They very often are falsely accused of doing things that they did not do. It seems that almost any trumped up charge will suffice to bring the judgment of a court or outraged people against them. Many believers are put to death.

Two, Stephen honored both Moses and Christ. In spite of persecution, we must exalt Christ!

After the charges were made, the high priest asked, "Are these things so?" Stephen does not directly defend himself against the allegations with regard to Moses and the Law. He countered the charges against him by showing how the forefathers of his accusers had repeatedly rejected Moses. They had received the Law but had not kept it. Stephen exalted Moses as the great prophet and leader that he was.

Moreover, Stephen's accusers charged him with speaking against the Temple and saying that Jesus would destroy it. Jesus had faced (Mark 14:58 and John 2:19-22) a similar charge. Stephen did not say, "Jesus will not destroy the Temple." Rather, he made the point (Acts 7:48) that the worship of God was not tied to the Temple.

Whenever we are faced with opposition, we must simply exalt Christ! We have committed ourselves to Him. We live and move and have our being in Him. So whatever the cost, we must lift Him up as the Savior of the world.

Three, Stephen's opponents resisted the Holy Spirit. Many people resist Him today.

After telling the history of how Israel rejected the prophets, Stephen pronounced (Acts 7:51-53) his indictment. Stephen declared that his opponents were stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart, that they resisted the Holy Spirit just like their fathers, and that they were betrayers and murders of Christ, the Righteous One. Their reaction to Stephen's speech was swift and harsh. They drove him out of the city and stoned him.

As the Bible makes clear, the Holy Spirit may be resisted. Isaiah declared (63:10) that the children of Israel "rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit." In Acts 5:3, Peter declared that Satan had filled the heart of Ananias to "lie" to the Holy Spirit. According to Acts 5:9, both Ananias and Sapphira tried to "put the Spirit of the Lord to the test." Stephen's accusers (Acts 6:10) were unable to cope with "the wisdom and Spirit with which he was speaking." Much later, the apostle Paul exhorted us to "not grieve the Holy Spirit of God." And, according to Hebrews 10:29, it is possible to insult the "Spirit of grace." At all cost, we must avoid resisting the Holy Spirit.

Four, Christ received the martyred Stephen. In Christ we are ultimately the victors!

Just before Stephen was dragged out of the city and stoned, He gazed in heaven. He saw Jesus standing (7:55) at the right hand of the Father. We often think of Jesus being seated at the right hand of the Father, but Stephen saw Him standing. Many think that Jesus was standing in order to welcome Stephen home with honor. In spite of being martyred, Stephen was the victor!

We must always keep in mind that whatever difficulties we face in the short run, we in the long run are victors. God is faithful and just. We are in His hands, and His hands are victorious. He will be faithful to reward us fully.

Conclusion
The Holy Spirit is a powerful persuader. He works in our hearts and lives to draw us to Christ. If we refuse his persuasion, we are in serious condition. We will be counted among those who are rebellious and stiff-necked. As long as we resist, we will be lost in our sins. Thus, Stephen's message is an appeal to all of us to respond quickly and favorably to the work of the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit moves within our hearts, we must respond in faith and obedience. God will reward us for our commitment.

Acts 6:1-10: Solving Problems with Spirit and Wisdom

Mon, 6 Nov 2006 19:47:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
There are two interrelated problems presented in Acts 6:1-10. The first problem deals with the discord that arose in the early church with regard to the distribution of food. The second problem has to do with opposition that arose in connection with the ministry of Stephen. My message today deals with how these two problems were solved through the leadership of the Spirit who gives wisdom.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, many issues can cause discontent in the church.

In Acts 6:1 Luke reports that "while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food." The church was growing, but trouble loomed. It is not uncommon for trouble to arise during times of growth! The church in Jerusalem was not exempt.

The church at Jerusalem was made up of Hebrews and Hellenists. The Hebrews were Aramaic-speaking Jews, most of them natives of Palestine. The Hellenists were "Grecian Jews," and they habitually spoke Greek. They were either natives of the lands of the dispersion or had connections with them. Because of the distribution of food, tension existed in the church between the Hebrews and the Hellenists.

Today, as always, problems arise in the church over things that seem to be quite insignificant. They are significant, however, to the people who are troubled by them. Sometimes, as in the early church, people fight over the benevolence provided by the church. Others are in a constant state of discord over the styles of worship. Surely, these quarrels are not pleasing to God.

Two, the church must choose men and women who are full of the Spirit and wisdom to lead.

The apostles moved quickly to solve the problem. They decided to delegate the distribution of food to others! They advised the congregation to select seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to put in charge of this task. The apostles wanted to devote their time to the ministry of the Word and to prayer. All seven have Greek names. This probably indicates that they all belonged to the Hellenistic group.

The selected men were to be "full" of the Spirit and wisdom. Up to this point in Acts the presence of the Spirit has primarily been connected with boldness to speak, power to witness, and prophetic inspiration. In this case there was a need for wisdom in practical administration. So men full of the Spirit and wisdom are to be selected for administrative purposes. The Spirit is the source of the wisdom.

Today, more than ever, we need men and women who are filled with the Spirit and wisdom to lead the church. The church encounters many problems that are perplexing and difficult to handle. With the help of the Spirit, we can solve the problems.

Three, those who minister in grace and power will face opposition.

Now, Luke writes (Acts 6:8), "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people." Through the power of the Spirit he ministered mightily among the people. Most likely his strong ministry began after he was appointed to serve tables. The grace of God was upon Him.

In Acts 6:9 Luke writes: "But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen." Very often, when people minister in the power of the Spirit opposition is stirred up. The gospel is powerful in changing lives, and not everyone wants others to change

Four, the solution is the anointing of the Spirit who gives wisdom.

The members of the synagogue were a powerful group of opponents to Stephen, but Luke says (6:10), "they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking." Stephen spoke with great prophetic wisdom. Jesus had promised that the Spirit would be with His disciples on such occasions. He declared (Luke 12:12), "for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." NASU The ability of Stephen to speak was a fulfillment the promise. The wisdom was from the Spirit of God.

Once again the Spirit of God provides the solution. The Spirit anointed Stephen and spoke through him with great wisdom. His opponents could not cope with the wisdom and Spirit with which he spoke. When the Spirit enables us, no man can defeat us!

Conclusion
When the early church faced problems, the leaders were filled with wisdom and the Spirit. Today, we need that same wisdom that comes from the Spirit. The Spirit of God will guide us in the administration of the church and in answering our opponents. We are highly privileged to have the Holy Spirit guide us in all things. Let us open our hearts to His leadership!

Acts 5:28-32: Obey God Rather Than Men!

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:34:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to empower the disciples to be witnesses. Thus, we are not surprised to learn that they proceeded to witness in great power. However, their witnessing did not go unnoticed or unopposed. It led to great controversy with the religious leaders. The leaders forbid them to speak in the name of Jesus. The disciples had to decide whether to obey God or men.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, the apostles said, "We must obey God rather than men."

During the controversy, the high priest questioned (Acts 5:28) the apostles, saying: "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." Responding to this challenge, Peter and the apostles said (Acts 5:29): "We must obey God rather than men." (NASU)

Jesus had commanded the apostles to be witnesses and poured out the Holy Spirit upon them. The apostles were not challenging the authority of the rulers in a general sense. They were law-abiding citizens. Rather, they faced the question of who had the authority to tell them whether or not to witness. They did not lightly go against the Council or the government, but this was a matter of conflict between the command of God and the orders of men. They had to obey God.

Two, the apostles and the Holy Spirit were witnesses. All followers of Christ are commissioned to be witnesses.

The apostles lifted up Jesus Christ whom God had resurrected. This was the very message they had been ordered not to preach. The apostles pointed out that the Council had put Jesus to death by hanging Him on a cross. It was this same Jesus that God had exalted to His right hand. It was through Jesus that they would have forgiveness.

Peter then said (Acts 5:32), "And we are witnesses of these things." (NASU) The apostles to the very core of their being were witnesses. Not only were the apostles witnesses, but also the Holy Spirit was a witness. The Spirit witnessed through the apostles whom He empowered. The Holy Spirit lifts up and exalts Jesus.

Three, God gave the Holy Spirit to the apostles. He will give the Spirit to us.

Peter declares (Acts 5:32) that the Holy Spirit is the one "whom God has given" to those obeying Him. As elsewhere in the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is regarded as a gift. Why does Peter mention the gift of the Holy Spirit? What meaning would his remark have had for his audience?

To the Hebrew mind the presence of the Spirit was a seal of approval. God authenticated His prophets and His judges when He poured out His Spirit upon them. Peter was saying to the high priest. "See these men who have been teaching in the name of Jesus? Even though you commanded them not to do so, they have the authority of God and His approval. How do I know? God has given the Spirit to them."

Four, those who were "obeying" Christ received the gift of the Spirit.

According to Peter, God has given the Spirit "those who obey him." Here, the obedience has to do with witnessing. The apostles had been commanded to be witnesses, and they were obeying. They were exalting the resurrected Christ!

Because of the participle "obeying," we can that that the Spirit is given before, during, and after our obeying. One, when we are filled with the Spirit we will be empowered to witness. Acts 1:8 makes this abundantly clear. Two, when we are going about the task of world evangelism, we are confronted with situations where we need the Spirit. When we obey God, the Spirit will be given to us to meet the need. Three, the Spirit is given to us while we are obeying.

Conclusion
The main point of Peter's declaration in Acts 5:32 is that the Holy Spirit is the source of the authority and power of the apostles. As believers, they had been obedient to the faith, but the issue here is their ongoing proclamation. Even though ordered by the Council not to witness, the apostles are obeying God by faithfully witnessing. God filled them with the Spirit to authenticate and empower them.

Today, the main point for us is that we must be faithful to witness. Sometimes, we encounter great opposition, but God has commanded us to exalt Christ. We must obey His command! Let us be faithful to God's command.

Acts 5:1-11: Deception in the Early Church

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:30:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
During the early days of the church, the apostles witnessed with great power to the resurrection of Christ. At the same time, the believers were of one heart and mind. They made their property available for usage by all the believers. When special needs arose, they would sell their property and bring the proceeds to the apostles. Funds would be distributed to each, as they had need. However, the problem of deception soon arose. So our topic today is "Deception in the Early Church."

Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, appeared to be members of the "congregation of believers." With the knowledge of his wife, Ananias sold a piece of property, kept back part of the price, and brought a portion of the price to the apostles. Luke does not record what their motive was, but we may surmise that they sought the honor of being donors who had given all. It may be, also, that they thought they needed the money or just did not want to release it. In any case they acted in a deceptive way.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, Ananias and Saphirra tried to deceive the church. Like them, some people today are tempted to deceive.

The people had all things in common, but they were not required to this. It was a voluntary decision. Perhaps peer pressure was building for all people to participate. Everyone was having a part. Ananias and his wife Saphirra wanted to be a part of what was happening, but did not want to pay the price.

Many times we are tempted to appear to be what we are not. We want to measure up to the generosity and practices of the church in public perception. Then, we may do things privately that do not match the perception. As a result we are deceptive and untruthful. This can happen in many areas of our lives.

Two, Ananias lied to God who judged him severely. If we lie to God, He will discipline us according to His love and justice.

Ananias without his wife came to meet with the apostles. Peter's comments let us know that Ananias only pretended to give all the proceeds from the land. With boldness and great certainty, Peter asked (verse 3): "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?" (NASU)

Peter continues his inquiry with these questions (verse 4): "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." (NASU)

According to Peter, Ananias and Sapphira owned the property. They did not have to sell it and give any of the proceeds to the church. Instead of being honest, Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit. Peter declared that the lie was not to men but to God. As Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed His last. He paid for his lie with his life.

Three, Saphhira collaborated with her husband. We cannot do wrong things even to collaborate with a spouse.

Three hours later, Sapphira came into the meeting without knowing what had happened. Peter questioned her about the price of the land. She said that the money given by Ananias was the full price of the land.

Peter asked, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?" According to Peter, they had agreed "to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test." Then, Peter declares, "Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well." (NASU)

Although the text does not explicitly say that God put Sapphira to death, this is the clear implication. The cause was more than some natural emotion such as fright. Peter's declaration is a prophecy of what was about to happen. Also, we may view it as a pronouncement of judgment upon Sapphira. This judgment was immediately done.

Four, great fear came upon the church. We must respect God as well as love Him.

Today, the popular message is that God loves you. Sometimes it is implied that God will not judge or discipline you. In other words, whatever we do, God will love us. The early church learned that it was a very serious matter to lie to the Holy Spirit.

The judgment of God in the cases of Ananias and Sapphira was very severe. Even if they had lived, they would have been judged. This case should suggest to us that acting with integrity in the sight of God is extremely important. God does not always execute judgment in the same way, but we must know that there are consequences to our actions.

The result was that (Acts 5:11) "great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things." A reverential awe filled the believers. They knew they were serving a holy and mighty God. We must have that same reverence today.

Conclusion

Ananias and Sapphira died at the hand of God. This is a very unusual judgment, but in God's time, it was an important step in the early church. God will judge all of us in His time and in His way. Also, He makes a way for repentance and restoration. This is the far better path for us.

Acts 2:23-31: Speaking the Word with Boldness

Fri, 6 Oct 2006 14:26:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
When Peter and John (Acts 3:1-10) went up to the Temple to pray, they met a lame man at the gate called Beautiful. The man, who was about 40 years old, had been lame from his mother's womb. Peter commanded the lame man to walk in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene. The lame man was healed.

A crowd gathered (Acts 3:11-26), and Peter preached. Many people believed in Christ when they heard his message. Whereupon, Peter and John (Acts 4:5-12) were arrested by the Temple guard and the Sadducees. The next day they the rulers and elders questioned Peter and John. They wanted to know by what power and in what name Peter and John had done this. Peter told them that the man was healed in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene. Moreover, he proclaimed that salvation was through Christ alone.

The elders and rulers (Acts 4:13-22) met privately and decided to warn Peter and John to speak no more in the name of Jesus. When Peter and John were released, they (Acts 4:23) went "to their own companions" (NASU) or "to their own people" (NIV) to report what the chief priest and elders had said. Today, we will consider what this means for us.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, the disciples prayed to God who is all-powerful. We have the same privilege in prayer.

When the people present heard what the rulers and elders said, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord to pray. They began by addressing God as Lord and by acknowledging that it was He who made the heaven, the earth, the sea and all that is in them. The Greek word used by the people for Lord is despota. It can be translated Lord Almighty or Sovereign Lord.

Today, we who believe in Christ, pray to the same Sovereign Lord. The rulers and elders opposed Christ, the Anointed One, but they would be defeated by the Sovereign Lord. The Lord is all-powerful, and all things are under His control and in His hands. When we are confronted with opposition, and events seem to be out of control we must turn to despota, the Sovereign Lord. He will walk with us through our trials.

Two, even the enemies of God were under His control. No matter what the circumstances, we can be sure that God is in charge.

Both the Jews and the Gentiles were implicated in the death of Jesus. Even though they were guilty, what they did was within the plan of God. The prayer of the disciples says that these enemies had gathered (Acts 4:27-28) "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur." (NASU) In this passage free will and predestination are brought together without any attempt to reconcile them. The Jews and Gentiles were guilty, but God achieved His purpose.

Very often we pray for people knowing that God allows them to make their own choices. So we wonder whether or not God is in control. We know that God sets the stage and sends His Spirit to persuade people to do His will. As a result, many people do yield to the will of God. Sometimes they do not. However, we know that, no matter what decision they make, God will weave all things together for good. All those who follow God will be blessed.

Three, the disciples prayed to speak the Word with confidence. We can pray this prayer today.

Now, the disciples make their request. They knew that powerful forces were arrayed against them. They knew, as well, that Peter and John were determined to continue their witness. They prayed for strength to speak the Word of God with confidence. Then, their prayer includes their expression of faith that God would extend His hand to heal and works signs and wonders in the name of "Your holy servant Jesus." While they spoke, God would work His wonders!

When we pray, let us ask God to help us speak the Word of God with boldness. It is the Word that penetrates the hearts of people everywhere. The Word of God is imbued with the Spirit of God. When proclaimed, this Word brings changes in lives and transforms those who hear. We must pray that we deliver the Word in the power of the Spirit.

Four, God filled the disciples with His Spirit. He will fill us with the Spirit to be bold in our witness.

Now, God answers the prayer of the disciples for confidence in speaking the Word. The place where they had gathered was shaken. Another result was that the disciples were filled with the Spirit and "began to speak the word of God with boldness." (NASU) The result was a direct answer to prayer.

When we pray, we can expect God to fill us with the Spirit and to enable us to speak the Word with boldness. Many times when I am waiting to speak, I ask the Lord to empower me to speak with boldness. He is faithful to help. His Spirit will enable our spirit to soar and to inspire all who hear. He stands in the pulpit with us to proclaim the Word of God.

Conclusion
When we pray, we can call upon God who is the Sovereign Lord. Because of this, we can pray in full confidence. Even the enemies of God are under His control. Many times they are persuaded to yield to God, but even when they are not, He is still Sovereign Lord. He will make all things work to benefit His kingdom and His servants. The disciples prayed to speak the word of God in confidence and power. God filled them with the Spirit in answer to their prayer, and they boldly proclaimed His Word.

Acts 4:7-11: The Name of Jesus is Powerful!

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 15:05:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
Sometime after the Day of Pentecost, Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer. There they met a man who had been lame from his mother's womb. The man was there to beg alms, but instead of giving him silver and gold, Peter said (Acts 3:6) to him: "In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!" Peter acted in the name of Jesus.

The name of Jesus represents His authority and power. Immediately the man's feet and ankles received strength. The people were filled with wonder and utter amazement. Soon, a crowd gathered at the portico of Solomon. Seizing the opportunity, Peter preached about the death and resurrection of Christ. This stirred up the rulers and elders.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, when mighty deeds occur, people want to know the source of power.

As Peter and John were speaking, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees arrested them. Because it was evening, they put Peter and John in jail until the next day. On the next day, the rulers and elders and scribes met with the apostles. Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas were among those who were present. The rulers and elders were upset (Acts 4:2) because the apostles were "proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead."

The occasion of the preaching was the healing of the lame man. So, the rulers and elders inquired (Acts 4:7), "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" Mighty deeds nearly always cause people to want to know who or what power performed the miracle. It is no different today. We meet a lot of skeptical people, but the answer is always the same. God, by His power, does mighty deeds.

Two, when Peter answered, he was "filled with the Spirit." Today, we must answer in the power of the Spirit.

Peter was "filled with the Spirit" when he answered the question. We might ask these questions: "When was Peter filled with the Spirit?" "Was Peter filled on the Day of Pentecost and remained full?" Or, "Was Peter, though previously filled, again filled for this purpose?" The predominant view is that Peter, though already filled, was filled again for this special purpose. Certainly, the use of the term filled in the Book of Acts suggests this.

We as persons have a living relationship with the Spirit of God who is a person. A person can have a strong influence in our lives all the time and yet have an especially powerful influence at special times. So it is with the Spirit of God. When special occasions arise, we can expect that the Spirit of God will fill us to meet the challenges before us. Perhaps you face a difficult challenge today. As you rely on God, the Spirit will fill you to meet the need.

Three, Peter acted in the name of Jesus Christ. We must act in His name today.

As I said, the rulers and elders asked, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" Peter answers them with this comment (Acts 4:10): "let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by this name this man stands here before you in good health." NASU Peter's answer put the emphasis on the "name" of Jesus rather than the "power" of Jesus. However, the power of Jesus is represented by His name. Jesus has all authority and power. Thus, the miracle was by the name and power of Christ.

Today, we must preach, teach, and pray in the name of Jesus. God has exalted His Son Jesus. The people crucified Him and put Him to death, but God raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrected Christ is at the right hand of God and has all power. Jesus is the head of the church. We are a part of the church, the body of Christ. So let us act in the name of Jesus.

Four, there is no salvation in any name but Jesus. All roads do not lead to heaven.

Now, Peter makes the point that Jesus, who was the stone they had rejected, had becomes the corner stone. Moreover, it is through Jesus alone that men may have salvation. Peter declares (Acts 4:12), "for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." NASU This is the culminating point made by Peter, the empowered witness!

Our world today is both very secular and very religious. The secular people see no need for salvation, do not believe in heaven, and have little use for religion. However, many religious Peter stress the theme that all roads lead to heaven. In contrast to all of this, Peter declares that there is no salvation in any name but the name of Jesus. He is the only way to heaven.

Conclusion
We serve a Savior who is all-powerful. Ultimate victory is ours! The gates of hell will not prevail against the church (Mt. 16:18). Whether men receive Christ or not, (Phil. 2:10-11) every knee will bow at the name of Jesus and every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord.

The cross will conquer the crescent and the minaret. The Muslims will know that Christ is the Son of God.

The cross will deliver men from the wheel of Samsara with its unending series of rebirths. The Hindus will know that the only new birth that man can experience is to be born from above.

The cross will lift men above and beyond the limits of the microscope. The secularists will know that spiritual life exists and that the material universe is subordinate to Christ honoring spiritual existence and values.

The animists will know that, yes, the world of spirits, including evil spirits, does exist but that the power of the cross is greater than the power of the evil one.

Even materialism will not stop the triumph of the cross. God is in control, whether the mark, and the yen and the pound go up or down! Whether the dollar lives or dies, the cross will conquer.

The cross will triumph over the crystal of the New Age. The New Agers will know that truth lies not in the merger of religions but in the uniqueness of the Son of God. Jesus is both God and Man, and He is the Savior for All Ages, including the New Age.

Acts 2:37-39: What Shall We Do?

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:05:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
After Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, the people asked "What shall we do?" His sermon called for action. In our text, Acts 2:37-39, Peter deals with the concerns of the crowd. Two points seem to be in focus. On the one hand, they want to know what to do to escape guilt for the crucifixion of Jesus. In addition they want to know what to do to experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was promised by Joel. Several points are important to us.

For a full explanation of the text, click here.
One, Peter exhorts the crowd to repent. All of us are called upon to repent of our sins.

Peter had confronted the crowd with the fact that they had crucified Christ. They wanted to know what they should do. Without reluctance, Peter openly tells them the answer. They must repent! This repentance involves a "change of mind" and "remorse" for sins. In addition repentance involves faith. When people repent, they turn to God in faith.

Perhaps you are saying, "I know that a lot of people need to repent, but not me!" Well, I will give you the Bible's answer. Paul says that "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)." Jesus was crucified for the sins of each and every one of us. Therefore, you too should be asking, "What should I do?" The answer is clear, you must repent! You must turn to God in faith!

Two, Peter exhorts the crowd to be baptized. All who believe in Christ should be baptized in water.

Peter instructed the crowd, "and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." We maintain that this means that the people were to be baptized "on the basis of" forgiveness of sins. Baptism is a testimony to what has already occurred through repentance and faith. Through baptism the believer testifies to what God has done.

According to Peter, baptism in water may be a step toward receiving the gift of the Spirit. However, water baptism is not a necessary prerequisite to receiving the Spirit. At the house of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48), the outpouring of the Spirit upon the Gentiles came before they were baptized. Indeed, Peter regarded the outpouring of the Spirit as evidence that they should be baptized.

We must not be careless about water baptism. It is God's will and design that each of us be baptized in water. Peter is quite specific. He says, "Let each of you be baptized." Through baptism, we publicly testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior. The community around us knows that we have put off the old man and put on the new man.

Three, Peter declares that the people will receive the gift of the Spirit. We, too, will receive the gift of the Spirit.

When anyone believes in Christ, that person immediately receives the Holy Spirit. However, believers are eligible still to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as empowerment for witness and service. Throughout the Book of Acts, the term "gift" of the Spirit is used in the sense of empowerment (Acts 5:32; 8:18; 8:20; 10:45; 11:17 and 15:8).

We need not limit what Peter means by "will receive the gift of the Spirit." However, the context on the Day of Pentecost points especially to the gift of the Spirit in the sense of empowerment. Have you received the Pentecostal gift of the Spirit? If not, all you have to do is come in faith. Believe that God desires for you to receive this gift!

Four, Peter declares that the promise is for you! We are eligible to receive God's promise!

The word promise can be used broadly to include all of God's promised blessings, but here promise refers especially to the promised gift of the Spirit. Moreover, Peter refers especially to the gift of the Spirit that empowers us to witness.

The promise is to (Acts 2:39) "as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." All whom God has called are eligible for this gift. Have you received the empowering gift of the Spirit? Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit! The Spirit will empower you to be a witness. He will enable you to proclaim the gospel. As a result of your witness, many will turn their hearts to God.

Conclusion
When Peter preached, the crowd asked, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Today, you may well be asking, "What shall I do?" The answer is clear. We must repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Spirit. This gift has been promised to all who believe. Jesus will pour out the Spirit upon you. This gift will be a major force in your life as you serve the Lord.

Acts 2:32-36: Jesus is Lord and Christ!

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:59:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
Our text, Acts 2:32-36, is a part of the sermon that Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost. Peter says that we are all witnesses. As witnesses, we testify to these facts: (1) that God raised up Jesus, (2) that God exalted Jesus to the right hand of the Father, (3) that Jesus received and poured out the promised Holy Spirit, and (4) that God made Jesus both Lord and Christ. We will deal with each of these points.

For further study of this text, click here.
One, God raised up Jesus. We must tell everyone about the resurrected Christ.

It was God who raised up Jesus. This is the repeated testimony of the Scriptures. The resurrection of Christ was no magician's trick. It was not an accident in the normal course of nature. It was, instead, a definite act of God and a demonstration of His power.

Peter declares that "we are witnesses" to the fact that God raised up Jesus. Our witness is based on this fundamental fact. What God did was absolutely crucial to the gospel. The resurrection is central to all that we believe.

Two, Jesus was exalted. We must exalt Christ in our praises!

Peter begins by speaking of Christ as "having been exalted." The exaltation of Christ took place before the outpouring of the Spirit. The exaltation of Christ includes several aspects. When he was placed upon the cross, He was physically lifted up or exalted. This was a step toward His being exalted with honor. He was further exalted when He ascended to heaven. He was exalted to the right hand of the Father.

Yes, Jesus is at the right hand of the Father. What does this mean for us and for the future? The Scriptures are abundantly clear.

Ã?ÂThis Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father, is (Luke 22:70) "the Son of God." Only He could qualify to sit in the seat of power over the universe.

Ã?ÂThis Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father, is our High Priest. He offered (Heb. 10:12) "one sacrifice for sins for all time." He died for you and for me that we might have eternal life. He will protect His investment of His life in us!

Ã?ÂThis Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father is (Heb. 1:2) the "author and perfecter" of our faith. We owe our salvation to Him. He starts our faith and leads it to perfection.

Ã?ÂThis Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father, "intercedes" (Rom. 8:34) for us. Pause a moment and think about it! The Lord of all the universe prays for us.

Ã?ÂThis Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father, worked with (Mark 16:20) His disciples and confirmed the word with signs following. Today, He is with us as we do His work. He is right beside us as we witness.

Ã?ÂThis Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father, conquered His enemies through His death and resurrection. In a sense the battle already has been fought and won. However, there will be a final victory over the devil and His enemies. The enemies of Christ (Heb. 10:13) will be made a footstool for His feet.

Ã?ÂThis Jesus, who sits at the right hand of the Father, will return (Mt. 26:64). We will see Him "coming on the clouds of heaven."

As witnesses, we exalt Christ by praising Him. Our praises lift up His name and are a powerful witness to all who hear our voices. Let us exalt His name forever. Jesus, the Son of God, was worthy to occupy the seat at the right hand of God. This is why we lift up His name in praise. Our witness is strengthened by the knowledge that Jesus is at God's right hand.

Acts 2:14-21: God Sets the Stage!

Fri, 4 Aug 2006 04:54:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Spirit and spoke in other tongues. The other tongues were languages unknown to them but known to their hearers. The reaction of the crowd was mixed. Some simply wondered, "What does this mean?" Others openly mocked, saying that the disciples were filled with sweet wine, meaning that they were tipsy or drunk.

When Peter arose to speak (Acts 2:14-21), he told how God sets the stage for people to be saved. He explained the meaning of the event that had just taken place. In addition he would refute those who mocked. The result was what is commonly called his first sermon. As his text, he chose a passage from the prophet Joel. I will make several observations from this text.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, God will pour forth of His Spirit on all mankind. All who believe in Christ are eligible to be empowered by the Spirit.

Peter stresses that the outpouring of the Spirit is for everyone. All categories of people will be included. He declares that both "your sons and your daughters" will prophesy. There will be no distinction between male and female. In addition the Spirit will be outpoured on young men and old men. Going further, Peter says there will be no distinction in classes of people. God says that the Spirit will be poured out on "My bondslaves," both male and female. Joel did not include the word "my." The addition of "My" transforms slaves into servants of God.

As we learn from other Scriptures, when people believe in Christ, they receive the Spirit. Here, Peter is referring to especially to the empowering Spirit. All who believe in Christ are eligible to be filled with the Spirit's power to be witnesses. We might call this the "democratization" of God's power. God gives us all the great gift of His power to serve Him and to tell of God's love.

Two, the outpouring of the Spirit had dramatic results. When the Spirit is outpoured today, the results are similar.

The first result of the Spirit's outpouring will be prophetic utterance. Peter said, "your sons and daughters will prophesy." Although Joel does not say so, Peter adds (verse 18) that even God's bondslaves will prophesy. This addition shows the importance of prophecy in Peter's mind. Peter clearly saw speaking in other tongues as a form of prophecy. The disciples spoke in known languages. They "were speaking of the mighty deeds of God."

Another result of the Spirit's outpouring is that "your young men will see visions and your old men will dream "with" dreams. Joel says the young men will dream dreams and the old men will see visions. The Bible often uses these terms interchangeably and there is no real distinction between them. We need not limit the meaning of dreams and visions. Some of our dreams and visions have to do with the progress of the gospel and its blessedness.

Three, God will grant wonders and signs. We can expect God to do wonderful things now and in the future.

According to Peter, God will grant "wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below." The wonders and signs of verses 19-20 point mainly to the future. The Old Testament prophets did not distinguish between the first and second comings of Christ nor see the interval between. These wonders and signs will occur before the great and glorious Day of the Lord.

Although largely fulfilled in the future, but the events of the past and present must not be excluded. For example, the sun darkened (Luke 23:44) when Christ was crucified. The darkening of the sky was an immediate token "of God's salvation to all who invoked his name." In addition (Acts 2:22) Peter refers to the miracles, wonders, and signs that Jesus performed. These are precursors to the cosmic signs that will come.

Four, all who call on Jesus will be saved. All who believe in Christ, both now and in the future, will be saved.

Now, Peter declares, "and it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" NASU Throughout the "last days," people who call upon the name of the Lord will be redeemed. This passage applies to all who hear the gospel now. It will apply in the future as well.

Peter's sermon brought great results. About three thousand people were saved! The truths in his message have been presented to millions of people worldwide. Uncounted numbers of people have come to Christ in faith. This message is still very effective today, and it always will be!

Conclusion
God sets the stage for people to accept Christ. He desires to empower all of His servants to witness worldwide. Because of this, He pours out His Spirit upon us. Moreover, He controls the events of time and the nations of the world. His great works, including wonders and signs, set the stage for people to come to Him. They are a part of God's strategy to bring men to call upon Him. When people call upon Him, they shall be saved.

Acts 2:5-13: Reactions to Inspired Speech

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 21:13:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
The Day of Pentecost had fully come. History was in the making. The disciples had prayed for 10 days preparing their hearts for what God would do. Then, they heard the sound of a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire rested on each of them. The disciples began to speak in tongues. The sound of speaking in tongues attracted a crowd. We can learn much from this historic moment.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, the world gathered in Jerusalem. We must go to the world.

The crowd that gathered included resident Jews with roots in many nations, visitors to Jerusalem, and both Jews and Gentile proselytes or converts. The Jews who had come to reside from other nations no doubt had many relatives and friends in those countries. Those who were visiting would return to their homes. So the news of whatever happened in Jerusalem would rapidly reach the world.

Because the world came to Jerusalem, the gospel would quickly reach many countries. Ever since then, we as believers have been commissioned to take the gospel to the entire world. This is our responsibility. Motivated by the Holy Spirit, we must obey Christ's command.

Two, the disciples spoke in languages they had never learned. The Holy Spirit speaks persuasively through us.

When the disciples were filled with the Spirit, they began speaking in tongues. The disciples had not learned these languages, but the people heard them speak in their languages. Today, millions of people speak in tongues. They speak in languages they did not learn. Most of the time these languages are unknown to anyone present. The tongues, however, are understood by God.

All believers are under orders from Christ to be witnesses. The Holy Spirit will inspire us to lift up Christ and proclaim Him as the Savior of the world. Our speech can be truly prophetic as we tell the story of God's love. Jesus pours out the Spirit upon us to enable us to witness.

Three, the disciples spoke of the mighty deeds of God. As believers, we can praise God and witness through empowered speech.

When the disciples spoke of the mighty deeds of God, were they witnessing to the crowd or praising God? Both views are supported by scholars. Actually, there is very little difference between these two views. Praise is addressed to God, while proclamation is addressed to man. However, praise can serve as proclamation, and proclamation can serve as praise. You cannot praise God for His great deeds without spreading the knowledge of those deeds. In addition any true proclamation of God's great deeds will exalt His name.

As believers, we must always praise God for who He is and for what He does. We can exalt His mighty deeds. And when we exalt Him in the presence of others, we are witnessing. Our praises have an impact all who are around us. Moreover, every time we witness, we should exalt God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Four, the reaction of the crowd was mixed. We, too, will have a mixed reaction to our message, but we must keep on witnessing.

Naturally, the crowd reacted to the miracle they were witnessing. According to Luke (verse 12) "they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?'" The entire crowd was amazed. As we might expect, they wanted to know the meaning of this event. No doubt many were open to what God was doing, but they did not understand it.

Some of the crowd, however, went beyond amazement and curiosity. They were not open to the miracle that was taking place. Luke says, "But others were mocking and saying, "'They are full of sweet wine.'" Obviously, these people thought the disciples were intoxicated with this wine. This element of the crowd dismissed the miracle by saying the disciples were drunk.

Whenever we proclaim Christ, we will meet with mixed reactions. Some will reject what we say; others will be skeptical; but many will accept Christ. The Spirit of God is a powerful persuader, and there will be a harvest.

Conclusion
The outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost had a worldwide impact. The relatives and friends of the foreign-born Jews living in Jerusalem no doubt heard about this great event. The visitors from other lands went home and told the story. The disciples became empowered witnesses. The fulfillment of Acts 1:8 was begun! May it never cease! Let us be filled with the Spirit!

Acts 2:1-4: Filled with the Spirit!

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:45:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples had an unusual experience of being filled with the Spirit. As Pentecostals we believe that this experience is for believers today. So let's read all about it in Acts 2:1-4. We will then consider how this text applies to us.

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. NASU

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, the disciples were together. When we come together, we can accomplish much in the kingdom of God.

After Jesus ascended, the disciples returned from mount Olivet (Acts 1:12-15) to Jerusalem and went to the upper room where some of them were staying. These disciples, along with others, were continually devoting themselves to prayer. They were in an upper room praying with one accord.

In our text, Luke says that the disciples were all "together." In this verse, he does not stress that they were "in one accord" or "with one mind." He simply says that they were in one place, physically together. We can be sure, however, that a sense of unity prevailed among the disciples.

Today, we often use the word "together" in the metaphorical sense of being united in our views. When believers are united in their vision and goals, the kingdom of God is greatly enhanced. There is great power in unity and in commitment to a common purpose. Let us be Ã?ÃÂ??togetherÃ?ÃÂ?? in the kingdom!

Two, the disciples heard a noise like a mighty wind. We, too, can experience the power of the Spirit.

As the disciples were sitting in the house, a noise like a violent rushing wind suddenly filled the whole house. Luke does not say there was a wind, but that there was a noise that sounded like a violent or mighty rushing wind. A violent or mighty wind creates a huge noise.

Luke uses a simile to describe what happened. A "noise like a violent rushing wind" filled the house. The wind, as a figure of speech, can have several meanings. We could say that the wind represents the Spirit Himself. However, we might say also that the wind represents the presence of God. The sound of the wind rushing signaled that God was present. In addition the wind can be a symbol of the Spirit's power. There was a sound of a powerful wind. Putting all this together, the sound of the rushing violent wind reminds us of the Spirit manifesting Himself in power.

The noise was real. It was like a mighty wind. Sometimes God manifests Himself in unusual ways. He makes Himself known to us in unmistakable ways. Very often this will be in a time of worship. We as believers sense the presence of God among us and feel that we are standing on holy ground.

Three, tongues as of fire rested on them. The presence of God will rest on each of us.

Another simile appears in verse 3. Luke writes, "And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them." As in the case of the wind, it was not actual flames of fire that appeared, but rather "tongues as of fire." Apparently, a mass of fire appeared over the group then broke up into single fire-like flames and rested on each of the disciples.

The emblem of fire is rich in meaning. At a minimum the fire represents the presence of God (Exodus 3:2 and 19:18). The presence of God among us has many results. The fire as well as the wind can be an emblem of the Spirit's power. Although some would emphasis the power of the Spirit to transform us inwardly, the major point of the context is that the disciples are empowered to speak prophetically. The disciples will proclaim a Spirit-inspired message.

Four, the disciples were filled with the Spirit. We can be filled with the Spirit.

According to Jesus in Acts 1:5-8, the disciples would be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. Luke writes, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance."

When the Spirit came upon the disciples, they began to speak in tongues. When people speak in tongues, they speak in a language that they have not learned. On the day of Pentecost the disciple spoke in languages known to the hearers but not to the speakers. The disciples spoke as the Spirit was giving them utterance. This was a work of the Spirit of God.

We know from Acts 1:8 that the purpose of this experience was to enable the disciples to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the remotest part of the world. As we see in Acts 2:11 the tongues spoken by the disciples became a powerful witness to the gathered crowd. Today, more than ever, we need the empowerment of the Spirit to witness to people everywhere.

Conclusion
According to Jesus, the experience the disciples had on the Day of Pentecost was the baptism in the Holy Spirit predicted by John the Baptist. We believe that experience is for all believers today. When you believe in Christ, you are eligible to be empowered as witnesses. Jesus will baptize you and the Spirit will equip you to tell of God's great love for the world. Come to Jesus today as a candidate for the empowerment of the Spirit.

Acts 1:15-26: God Gives Us Leaders

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:30:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
Sometimes a leader in a local church will fail. When this happens, a new leader usually is selected. It is not only in our day that this happens. When Jesus was on earth, Judas miserably failed. Judas was one of his trusted disciples, but he betrayed his Lord. As a result, the early church had to elect a leader to take his place.

We read all about it in Acts 1:15-26. Between the ascension of Christ on Mount Olivet and the Day of Pentecost, the apostles and others devoted themselves to prayer. When they returned from the Mount to Jerusalem, they went to their Upper Room headquarters. About 120 persons were present. Several points stand out .

For further explanation of this text, click here.
One, the failure of Judas gave rise to the need for an election. When leaders fail, we must elect new leaders and move ahead.

Peter stood to speak, and he cited (Acts 1:20) David's comments in Psalms 69:25 and 109:8. He finds the fate of Judas foreshadowed in these verses. Because of the treason of Judas, a new person had to be elected to take up the ministry and apostleship abdicated by Judas.

Not all elections in the church result from the failure of men. However, they sometimes do. We must remember that the future of the church is not based upon any of Christ's followers but upon Christ Himself. When men and women fail, others take their places. Jesus will build His church, and the church will live on.

Two, the Word of God is inspired. We must be guided by the Word in all that we do.

Peter started his speech by claiming that the Holy Spirit had inspired King David. Here and in Acts 4:25 Luke records that David spoke by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit spoke using David's mouth. A similar statement is made in Mark 12:36. In II Peter 1:21 Peter expanded his claim of inspiration to other men who were moved by the Holy Spirit. According to him, they spoke from God. The inspired Word predicted the failure of Judas and his terrible end.

Today, when leaders fail, we have the full word of God to guide us in all things. Normally, our situation probably will not be specifically mentioned or prophesied, but the overall guidelines are there. They were spoken by men of God inspired of the Spirit. Thus, when men fail, we rely on the Word of God. The Word of God will continue to guide our lives and our actions in difficult times.

Three, the apostles nominated two men who met definite criteria. We should state the needed qualifications of leaders that we are selecting.

The apostles put forward the names of two men-Joseph Barsabbas (who was also called Justus) and Matthias. These men had to meet certain qualifications or criteria. The nominees had to have been eye-witnesses of Jesus and His ministry from the beginning. This included the baptism that John the Baptist performed.

Whatever position we are considering, we should set down the criteria for that task. The qualifications should be listed. For example, the apostle Paul sets down criteria for overseers and deacons in the church in I Timothy 3:1-13. They must, for examples, be above reproach and be able to teach. Unless you met these qualifications, you would not be considered for a leadership role.

Four, the disciples prayed and cast lots. When we elect leaders, we should pray and vote.

The apostles prayed and cast lots. They prayed that God would show them which one of the two nominees He had chosen. Even though the apostles had selected the nominees, they were confident that they would end up with God's choice. The implicit premise is that they were led of the Spirit in selecting the nominees.

Then, the apostles used a procedure that would be unusual to us. They cast lots. We do not know exactly how they did this. However, one method that was sometimes used was to write names on rocks and put the rocks in a vessel. The vessel was then shaken until one fell out. This seems like a very human process, but we read in Proverbs 16:33: Ã??the lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord.Ã?? We can be sure that God guided the process.

Today, we do not cast lots, but we do cast our votes. We pray collectively and individually that the Lord will guide the process and that His desired leader will be chosen. This does not mean that everyone should vote for the same person. The diversity of opinion expressed in votes can be, in itself, an expression of the will of God. Through our elections, we harmonize with the will of God in selecting leaders.

Conclusion
Most of the elections in the church take place without someone having failed. However, as in the case of Judas, sometimes we must replace someone who has stumbled and fallen. If your church faces a situation like this, just be filled with peace and confidence in God. He will guide in all things. God will give us the leaders we need to move on and see the victory of the kingdom of God.

Acts 1:6-8: So, You Want Power!

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 04:11:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Importance
We hear a lot about power in our world. People in many walks of life want it. The trappings of power often include wealth, fame, and control over others. Men and women are building empires or kingdoms that they control and manipulate. So, perhaps you want power!

Well, as followers of Christ, we can have power, but it is power of a different kind. Jesus had taught the disciples about the kingdom of God. Throughout His (Luke 4:43) ministry, the kingdom of God had been a major focus. During the 40 days between resurrection and ascension, this (Acts 1:3) was his topic. Also, Jesus taught them (Luke 24:49) that they would be empowered members of GodÃ??s own kingdom. The Spirit of God would clothe the disciples with power from on high. We read more about this in Acts 1:6-8.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, the kingdom of God at this time is spiritual, not political. Let us focus on the spiritual aspects of the kingdom.

The disciples were Jews. They knew that the Jews were God's chosen people. Their hope and expectation had been that the Messiah would establish a political theocracy on the earth. Moreover, the disciples fully expected (Luke 22:24-30) to be an important part of His government.

Jesus taught that the kingdom of God was both present (Luke 17:20-21) and future. The kingdom of God in this present age is spiritual. Apparently, the disciples did not understand that the spiritual kingdom would expand and grow without the political theocracy being established.

Today, our focus should be on the spiritual kingdom of God. When the lives of men and women are changed, and they follow Christ fully, this will have a great impact on society. All aspects of life will be positively affected.

Two, the disciples should focus on witness. As disciples today, this should be our priority as well.

The disciples asked, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" Jesus answered, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority." This answer does not deny that the restoration of Israel might still come. To the contrary it lends some support to the idea that it will.

However, the immediate program of Jesus was for the gospel to spread to the entire world through the church. The church is the manifestation of the kingdom of God on earth today. It includes both Jews and Gentiles. It would take some time before the disciples would realize how extensively the Gentiles would be included. At this point the disciples clearly are to be concerned with witnessing rather than the restoration of the kingdom to Israel.

Three, the Holy Spirit would empower the disciples. This promise is for us as well.

Jesus declared, "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you." Some scholars argue that the baptism in the Spirit connects believers with Christ and that power is only a corollary of that experience. However, Jesus does not connect the baptism in the Spirit with conversion. He is concerned about the disciples being enabled to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Thus, power in this passage is not just the corollary of a conversion experience. Rather, it is central to the task of witnessing. We dare not attempt the task without the power of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit and power are not synonymous terms. The Holy Spirit is a divine Person who has power. Power is one of His attributes. He does many things for us, through us, and in us. In this text the point that Jesus emphasizes is power. The disciples will receive power to be witnesses.

As followers of Christ we should be concerned about power. But the power that concerns us should be the power to be witnesses. We are daily confronted with a hostile world. We must rely on the Holy Spirit who is a powerful persuader. He alone can draw men and women to Christ.

Four, the disciples will be witnesses. We, too, are witnesses.

Jesus declared that the disciples will be witnesses "in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." NASU Obviously, Luke is setting up the outline of the entire Book of Acts. As we follow the story, the gospel spreads from Jerusalem, to the revival in Samaria, and then to the entire world through the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul.

Through the disciples, the gospel will be made known to the world. The power they receive will enable them to speak the gospel boldly and with powerful results. They would work many miraculous things in His name. With the power of the Spirit the disciples would fulfill their prophetic task.

Conclusion
The element of power is vital to life. People everywhere are concerned about it. Many people want power for powerÃ??s sake rather then power to serve others. This approach leads to corruption and disaster.

As followers of Christ, our desire is to build up the kingdom of Christ. Christ has promised to empower us with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses. As we witness, we can have a positive and life transforming influence in the world. The kingdom of God, with all its spiritual benefits, is established in the lives of millions of people on earth.

Acts 1:4-5: Jesus Will Baptize You in the Holy Spirit

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 18:02:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
Jesus died, was buried, and was raised to life. Then, over a period of forty days, He appeared among His disciples and talked with them concerning the kingdom of God. One of the features of the kingdom of God is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Jesus speaks about this in Acts 1:4-5.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, Jesus gathered the disciples together before giving them orders. As believers in Christ, we often get together to advance the kingdom of God.

As Acts 1:4 says, Jesus "gathered the disciples together." The Greek verb can mean simply that Jesus simply assembled the disciples. However, it also can suggest that they were gathered in order to eat together. This is why the NIV translates this clause as "while he was eating with them." Of course, if the disciples were eating together, they had to be assembled.

There is great strength in the assembled church. Jesus declared (Matthew 18:20), "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." NAU When we get together in Christ's name, He can work wonderfully through us. We can receive orders, pray and work together, set common goals, worship Christ in unison. The results are strong, and the kingdom of God grows.

In Hebrews 10:25, the writer exhorts us not to forsake "our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." We must encourage one another in gathering for worship, praise, instruction, and work.

Two, Jesus told the disciples to wait for what the Father had promised. Sometimes, we also must wait.

The disciples were to wait for "what the Father had promised." The Greek text says, "promise of the Father." In Luke 24:49, the phrase is "promise of my Father." The word promise can be used broadly of all the promises of God, but the clear reference here is to the Holy Spirit. The Father had promised the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them. Jesus makes reference to the Father's promise now.

Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit would come upon the disciples, but He asked them to wait in Jerusalem for the appropriate time. Because of this, some people think that they must wait or "tarry" until they are filled with the Spirit. The reason for the waiting was not to establish a formula but simply because it was not yet God's time for the outpouring of the Spirit.

Nevertheless, there are times when we must wait. We ask God for many things. We ask for financial assistance, for healing, for revival, for church growth, for the development of our characterÃ??and it seems the answer does not immediately come. We experience what one writer calls "the discipline of delay." We have to accept God's timing for His actions. He alone knows when, where, and why He will act. Through it all, we develop patience.

Three, the disciples had heard of this promise from Jesus. We have this promise in the Word of God.

Jesus commanded the disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised. Jesus had taught many things concerning the Holy Spirit. All of these teachings are, in a sense, a part of the promise of the Father. All of the teachings of the Word of God about the Holy Spirit are for us. We can have a rich and rewarding relationship with the Holy Spirit.

However, it seems to me that Jesus especially was emphasizing Luke 24:49 which says: "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." NAU The fulfillment of this would come on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit would come upon the disciples with a special purpose.

Four, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 1:5 Jesus highlights the point about the promise of the Father that He wants to make. He recalls the words of John the Baptist at the time of His baptism. John (Luke 3:16) said, "I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." NASU

Jesus will baptize the disciples in the Holy Spirit. The church is divided over the meaning of the term "baptism in the Spirit." For many, this term represents a conversion experience. In contrast to them, we believe that the experience on the Day of Pentecost was an empowerment moment. Jesus empowered the disciples to be witnesses.

Today, all who believe in Christ are eligible for this empowerment experience. Indeed, this is an experience that God greatly desires for us to have. We must come to God in faith that He will bestow His Spirit upon us. This is what will make us effective witnesses for Christ.

Conclusion
As Jesus met with His disciples, the subject that was on His mind was the kingdom of God. Through His disciples the kingdom would be built. Jesus would baptize them in the Spirit to enable them to do this work. Thus, the baptism in the Spirit is a crucial experience in the building of the kingdom of God. Let us open our hearts today to receive the great blessing of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:1-3: Many Convincing Proofs

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 16:23:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
After Jesus was baptized in water, the Spirit of God descended upon Him in the form of a dove. Soon, Jesus began to minister in Galilee in the power of the Spirit. He preached the kingdom of God. He healed the sick and cast out devils. He forgave sins. At the end of His earthly ministry, He became the redemptive sacrifice for our sins. He suffered greatly. He died, was buried, and then rose again.

Luke tells us that he wrote his gospel to tell us "about all that Jesus began to do and teach." After Christ's resurrection, He appeared to the disciples on several occasions and continued His teaching. All of this provided "many convincing proofs" that Jesus was alive! Now, in the Book of Acts, Luke will tell us about all that the disciples did to continue the ministry of Christ. Several points stand out in Acts 1:1-3, which says:

1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.
3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. NASU

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, Jesus gave orders to the apostles. Today, we must still follow His orders.

In Acts 1:2 Luke writes, "after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen." It appears that Jesus had recently given these orders. Surely, the orders given by Christ include Luke 24:45-49. The disciples of Jesus are witnesses. They will preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. Moreover, they were commanded to stay in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on High. The Holy Spirit would enable them to witness powerfully throughout the world. Thus, the ministry of Christ continues by the power of the Spirit working through the church. Although the orders were given to the apostles, they apply to us today. We, too, are witnesses. We, too, are commissioned to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. We, too, are empowered by the Spirit for this task.

One of the means that we employ to obey His orders is the Internet. Through the Internet we communicate with anyone, anywhere, who has access. And the number of people who have access is rapidly expanding. So the population of Internet users is multiplying worldwide. People everywhere in the world, for example, can hear this message via podcast. Pray with us that many will find help through this message.

Two, Jesus gave the orders by the power of the Spirit. We obey His orders in the power of the Spirit.

Because of His humanity, Jesus gave His orders by the Holy Spirit. During His entire earthly ministry, Jesus was empowered by the Spirit. Obviously, He was divine as well as human. However, He chose to minister in the power of the Spirit. There was perfect harmony between Jesus and the Spirit. When Jesus was present the Spirit was present; when the Spirit was present, Jesus was present.

When we obey Christ's orders through the power of the Spirit, we are having a part in bringing into earth the presence of the Kingdom of God. The full presence of the Kingdom is still future, but the Spirit of God provides the bridge between the present and the future. Through the Spirit, the power of the Kingdom breaks in upon us now.

Three, Jesus appeared to the disciples alive after His resurrection. Today, we accept His "many convincing proofs" and believe in Him as Savior.

Jesus presented the resurrection as an event attested by many convincing proofs. He appeared to the disciples many times. With their own eyes, they saw that He had risen from the dead and was alive. On the evening of resurrection day, He showed them his hands and his feet. He even ate a piece of fish in their presence.

The resurrection is the heart of the gospel. Wherever we go, we preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Those who want to deny the truth of the gospel begin by denying Christ's resurrection. Opponents of the gospel want a dead ChristÃ?ÃÂ??one who was buried and remained in the soil of Jerusalem. But He arose from the grave and lives today!

Today, we see the results of the resurrection in the lives of millions of people. They are changed and transformed by the gospel. The power of the living Christ helps them overcome huge personal problems and live happy and exalted lives. They have eternal life!

Four, Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God. As we follow Christ, we must preach the Kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God refers to His rule and reign. There is a close connection between the Kingdom of God and the church. The church is the manifestation of the Kingdom of God in the world today. We see the Kingdom of God in the church. The Book of Acts, of course, tells the story of the growth and expansion of the church. It grew in the power of the Spirit and the Word.

We are Kingdom people! As members of the church, the body of Christ, we are a part of the Kingdom of God. The message that we live, teach, and preach is all about the Kingdom. We can have full confidence that God is ruling even now in the earth. And in the future, His will shall be consummated and His reign fully established.

Conclusion
Many people become confused because there are so many religions. And there are so many people who claim to have the truth. Because of this, some people deny that there is any objective truth. The only truth for them is what they personally believe in.

As believers in Christ, we take an opposite approach. We believe in objective truth based on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. He is alive and He continues to demonstrate in our lives the total objectivity of His truth. Jesus said, I am the way, truth, and the life. Through faith in Him, we have eternal life.

Special Message - Walking on Water

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:51:00 GMT

Are you facing problems today? Hear Dr. Mark Flattery's message from Melbourne, Australia entitled "Walking on Water." This inspirational message will build your faith and help you keep going in difficult circumstances. Dr. Flattery is the Assemblies of God World Missions Area Director for Pacific Oceania.

Revelation 22:6-17: The Spirit and the Bride Say, "Come."

Fri, 2 Jun 2006 15:21:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
The closing chapter of Revelation describes the New Jerusalem. John tells us who will be included and who will be excluded from the city. In Revelation 22:6-17 a strong invitation is given to all men everywhere to believe in Christ. We, as believers, are to participate in issuing that invitation around the world. Several points about this passage stand out.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, Christ is coming quickly with His reward. We must be prepared.

In verse 12 Christ proclaims that He is returning quickly and will reward every man according to what he has done. Christ follows this proclamation with the declaration (verse 13) that He is the Alpha and the Omega. In other words He is the divine Son of God.

Christ will bring His reward with Him. Both the believers and the unbelievers will be judged according to their works. The reward will be spiritual blessedness for the righteous but judgment for those who are evil. John is not teaching a doctrine of salvation by works. The only way to be saved is through faith in Christ. However, even though they are saved through faith, the believers will be rewarded according to their works.

We must be prepared for Christ's coming. We must strengthen our faith, be fully committed to Him, and obey His commands. Because we are in Him, we will be saved, but we will be rewarded according to our works. Our faithfulness will not go unrewarded.

Two, the righteous will enter the gates of the city. We become righteous through faith in Christ!

A blessing is pronounced upon those who "wash" their robes. The saints are not those who have achieved a human righteousness of good works, but those who wash their robes. The martyred but redeemed church is described in Revelation 7:14 as those who "have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The blood of the Lamb cleanses them from all sin.

John uses a present tense, which indicates continuous and ongoing action. The believers keep on washing their robes. We continue daily in exercising our faith. Our eyes are always on Jesus. And because we wash our robes, we have the right to the "tree of life." To all we say, become righteous through faith in Christ. He is the doorway to salvation.

Three, unbelievers will remain outside the city. Because they do not believe in Christ, they are lost.

Unbelievers do not live according to God's commands. They will remain outside the city-the New Jerusalem. Taken literally, we might picture them as living just ourside the gates. But, in reality, they will have their destiny in the lake of fire (21:8). They will suffer eternal punishment and will be separated forever from the blessings of God.

John names some of the people who will remain outside. He says (verse 15) "Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying." Such people do not have a right to the tree of life, nor do they enter the New Jerusalem.

Probably there is no more difficult message for the mind of modern man to accept. Even those who do not believe in life after death, and those who do not believe in heaven and hell, often strongly oppose the idea of eternal punishment. For them there are no dividing lines between the destinies of men.

Four, the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let us participate in inviting the world to come to Jesus!

In verse 16, John speaks about a grand invitation to come to Christ. He says, "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.'" The "bride" is the church, which is made up of the redeemed of all ages. Then he says, "And let the one who hears say, 'Come.'" The one who hears is a part of the church. Those who have responded to the gospel say "Come." This is God's ongoing and ever present invitation. It is issued to every person, everywhere.

The invitation is addressed to those who are thirsty and those who would take of the water of life without cost. One more time the gospel appeal goes out to all who will listen. The Lord is seeking out those who thirst for the truth and who will drink of the water of life. When we proclaim the Word, we must do so with the conviction that we will find the thirsty souls, that they will respond, and that the spiritually parched lips of those who hear will be watered.

Conclusion
The opening paragraph of the epilogue to Revelation is an invitation to the world to come to Christ. John presents the entire story of the future with this emphasis in mind. He is an evangelist and spares no effort to draw men to Christ, the Savior of the world. Ever and always, the invitation is simply "Come." We must not complicate it. The one who is thirsty just needs to come to Jesus and partake freely of the water of life. This is the incredible gospel that we preach.

Revelation 21:9-11: We Will See God

Fri, 26 May 2006 19:22:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
INTRODUCTION
Most of us have a natural interest in the future. We are intrigued by what will happen, when it will happen, and with what consequences. In the Book of Revelation, John deals with these crucial matters. This is why it always will be interesting to us.

In our text the unfolding story of the future is nearing its consummation. An angel invites John to come and to see the bride, the wife of the Lamb. Then, the angel carries John away "in the Spirit" to a great and high mountain where he saw his vision of the holy city, Jerusalem. The entire vision is encompassed in 21:1-22:5, but we will deal especially with 21:9-11. Several observations capture our attention.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, we as believers are the bride of Christ. We should rejoice over this relationship.

Throughout the New Testament, the body of Christ is called His bride. Now, an angel tells John that he will show him the bride. The heart of John must have leaped for joy. Undoubtedly, John had long understood the marriage relationship of believers with Christ. He had walked with Christ, heard His teaching, believed in Him, and faced all the difficulties of the time. At this moment, he was about to see the bride!

We, too, can rejoice that we are the bride of Christ. Because we are the bride, we have all the benefits that this relationship provides. To begin with we have eternal life. That life is fully and completely blessed by our Lord. We who are in Christ have forgiveness of sins, joy in living, and a future of ruling with Christ over the universe.

Two, John was carried away in the Spirit to see the New Jerusalem. We, too, can have unusual experiences in the Spirit.

Whether or not the body of John was transported into heaven or just his spirit is sometimes discussed. The text does not answer the question. Because of this, we cannot know the answer with certainty. We do know that at least in a spiritual sense, he was carried away to a great and high mountain. There, he sees the New Jerusalem.

As many scholars have noted, the language in Revelation is similar to Ezekiels experience in Ezekiel 8:3 and 11:23. He was lifted up by the Spirit to see Jerusalem in all its idolatry and corruption. This was a different Jerusalem than the one John sees, but the experience of being taken up by the Spirit is similar.

As believers, we are eligible for wonderful experiences in the Spirit such as this. Just what those experiences might be is entirely up to our Lord and the Spirit. However, we must be ready to be used of God in any way He sees fit. How, when, and in what way He uses us is up to Him.

Three, the New Jerusalem represents the church. In other words, the city stands for all of us who believe.

The angel promises to show John the bride of Christ. Then, he shows John a city rather than a person. The angel treats the city as a person. So the city is personified by the angel. The New Jerusalem is a literal city, but it represents the church. The church, or the bride of Christ, includes all the redeemed of all the ages. Both Old Testament and New Testament saints will all be there for all eternity.

The New Jerusalem will be a glorious city. According to one writer, "John sees it having the brilliant 'glory of God, a radiance like a scintillating gem. Its light could only be compared to the most precious stone John knew. He calls it (as the people of that day did) 'a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Today we would identify it as a giant blue-white diamond, a most beautiful gem."

Both the city and the church are glorious. All of the believers who make up the bride of Christ can rejoice in the beauty of the bride. In Gods eyes, we are the beautiful bride of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Many people despise the church today, but in eternity, the full beauty of the bride will be on display.

Four, we will see God in the New Jerusalem. Even now, with spiritual eyes, we can see Him.

In the New Jerusalem we shall see God! The throne of God and the Lamb is in the New Jerusalem. According to Revelation 22:3-4, the bond-servants of God will "see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads." This passage may refer to God the Father, to God the Son, or to both. The Father and the Son are together on the Throne. In any case, we shall see God!

Even now, we can have a strong relationship with God. With the eyes of our spirit, we can see God. We can know Him who has revealed Himself to us. Our spirits soar with the sense of His presence. That presence is with us all the time. Not only shall we see Him, but we shall be like Him (I John 3:2). It will be a glorious day!

Conclusion
Johns description of the New Jerusalem in 21:1-22:5 is amazing! The Spirit carried John up to a high mountain to see the New Jerusalem which represents the bride of Christ. The beauty of the city stands out for all to see.

My message today is that (1) we are a part of the bride of Christ, (2) we can have great experiences in the Spirit, (3) the New Jerusalem represents the church, and (4) as believers we will see God. Our glorious future should guide us now in every step of our journey through life.

Revelation 19:10: The Spirit of Prophecy

Fri, 19 May 2006 14:04:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
In Revelation 19:5 the apostle John tells us that he heard a voice from the throne of God speaking to him. Apparently, it was the same speaker that John heard in verses 9 and 10. Being from the throne of God, the speaker spoke true words of God. With full authority this speaker says, "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." This morning, we will discuss the meaning of this fascinating statement.

For a full explanation of this passage, click here.
One, Jesus proclaimed an authoritative testimony. We must believe!

The voice in John's vision speaks about "the testimony of Jesus."This phrase can refer to the testimony given by Jesus or to the testimony of believers about Him. In my view John refers here to the testimony about Jesus proclaimed by the believers. However, grammatically, either meaning is possible. And, we can learn from both meanings.

Let's begin with the view that "the testimony of Jesus"refers to the testimony given by Him. Jesus preached (Luke 4:43) the kingdom of God. During His ministry on earth, He dealt with many aspects of this subject. He spoke of both redemption and of judgment. Those who believed in Jesus would be redeemed. In contrast, those who did not believe would face the harsh judgment of spiritual death. In addition to what He said, the entire life, death, and resurrection of Jesus proclaimed the truth of God.

The message of Christ has had an unmatched influence in the world. All men and women, everywhere, must face the claims of the Son of God. Each of us has a choice to make. We can either accept or reject the message of God's Son. When we acceptÃÂ??when we believeÃÂ??then we have eternal life. We will enjoy the benefits of the kingdom of God now and in the future.

Two, believers in Christ are witnesses about Him. We must proclaim the truth to people everywhere.

As I have said, the phrase "testimony of Jesus"can also mean the testimony of believers about Jesus. In Revelation 20:4, John writes about those who faced death because of "the testimony of Jesus."This almost certainly refers to the testimony the saints gave about Jesus.

John says, "And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years."

Every believer in Christ is a witness. Our words and our lives tell the story of the Christ who came to save us. We give evidence to the transforming work of the Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life. Sometimes, the witness of believers precipitates their suffering. Many people, today, face persecution and death because of "the testimony of Jesus."However, we must keep proclaiming the truth and pray for those who suffer.

Three, the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to proclaim the truth. We must recognize the authority of His proclamation.

The voice told John that the testimony of Jesus "is the spirit of prophecy."The main function of the Spirit is to bear witness to Jesus. The Spirit does this by empowering others to speak. The Spirit empowered Jesus to testify, and He empowers all who believe in Christ.

When He began His ministry on earth, according to Luke 4:14, "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit."The Spirit of God was upon Him throughout His ministry. Through the power of the Spirit, He preached the Kingdom of God, performed His mighty works, and completed His redemptive work. As Jesus proclaimed the truth of God, the Spirit of prophecy was upon Him.

Because Jesus was empowered by the Spirit, His words were full of authority. In fact He said in John 6:63, "'the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.'"His words are infused with the Spirit, and they bring life. Jesus went on to lament the fact that some did not believe Him. I urge you, in contrast to them, to believe and receive life eternal.

Four, the Holy Spirit empowers us to testify about Jesus. We must be filled with the Spirit.

Before Jesus ascended, He said (Acts 1:8) to the disciples, "'but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.'"

When we witness, we must speak in the power of the Spirit. We must believe that the Spirit of prophecy will come upon us to testify about Jesus! So, let us all be candidates to be used of the Spirit of God. Christ will pour out the Holy Spirit upon us to make us effective in our witness.

Conclusion
Today, we have many means to deliver the Spirit-empowered message of the Gospel. One of those means is the Internet. We are seeking to touch the lives of 10,000,000 people by the Internet. To help us reach this goal, we have formed Team Ten Million. If you would like to be a member of this team, just apply by email. Write to us at frontdesk@network211.com. We will respond right away.

Revelation 17:1-3: Avoiding God's Wrath

Fri, 12 May 2006 19:11:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
The 17th and 18th chapters of Revelation deal with the destruction of Babylon in both its ecclesiastical and political forms. Chapter 17 deals with the religious side of Babylon, and chapter 18 concerns Babylon as a political entity. Many commentators deal with whether Babylon is Rome, ancient Babylon rebuilt, or a name that represents an evil world system in the end time. Without settling that issue, we can learn much from this passage.

For a full explanation of this text, click here.
One, we learn that God's wrath is both real and certain. Only through Christ can we be saved!

John tells us about seven angels who pour out the bowls of God's wrath. Now, one of these angels speaks to John. The angel declares that he will show John "the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters."

Many think that the "great harlot" is the religious aspect of Babylon. This religious aspect includes all false religions, false cults, and apostate churches. During the Tribulation, such false religion is expressed in the worship of the Antichrist. The "great harlot" sits upon many waters. According to verse 15, the many waters represent the peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues of the world. This shows how powerful Babylon will become in controlling the world.

God's judgment of Babylon and all others who deny Christ and oppose Him is certain. Many people go about their lives ignoring God and His commands. Some are more overtly sinful than others, but all who deny Christ will be lost. They will suffer the judgment of God on their lives. It is only through Christ that we can be saved.

Two, the kings of the earth become drunk with the wine of the harlot's immorality. Let us pray for our national leaders.

Although the kings of the earth are many and are powerful, they succumb to the wiles of the "great harlot." They cannot resist the temptation to blaspheme God and unite with the religious influence of Babylon. They bow before the power of the Antichrist. One can almost hear them say that they think they are acting in their "national interest." Instead, they are selling their nations out to evil power and certain judgment.

We must pray for our national leaders. We live today in a secular age. The pressure for national leaders is unrelenting to lessen the influence of God and His Word in their nations. In the name of tolerance and fairness, the nations become unfair to all who believe in Christ. Unless the nations turn to God, they will be judged. We must keep praying that people will turn to God.

Three, John was carried away in the Spirit. Sometimes the Spirit works in unusual ways!

When John saw a vision of a woman sitting on a beast, he was carried away in the Spirit. What he saw while he was "in the Spirit" had the authority of God stamped on it. He would convey his message with full confidence that God had spoken. John passed on this authoritative word to us through his wrtten report.

John was carried away in the Spirit. This could mean that John was carried away in his own spirit, but it can also mean that he was carried away in the Spirit of God. Another possibility is that he was carried away in his spirit which was under the influence of God's Spirit. In my view the key point is that John was under the influence and control of the Spirit.

John's experience with the Spirit went beyond the normal daily Spirit-influenced life. However, it serves as an example of what God can do when He chooses. We must keep our lives open to the unusual as well as the usual. Let us live our lives in such a way that the Spirit can move upon us and within us in special ways!

Four, compromise with the world leads to destruction and judgment.

John sees a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast. As we have indicated above, the woman may represent the religious aspect of Babylon. Many regard the beast as the Antichrist. Others put the emphasis on the empire ruled by the Antichrist. Still others say that the beast represents both an individual and the empire he rules.

The woman is carried away by the beast. This means that she compromises with political power and seeks the favor of the godless world. Thus, the religious system of the times will be blasphemous, corrupt, and aligned with the forces of evil. Such compromise always results in spiritual disaster and divine punishment. We must avoid compromise with the world at all costs. Our faith in Christ must remain pure and strong.

Conclusion
Our text which forecasts what will happen in the Tribulation has a strong message for us today. The world, with all its vain philosophies, is calling for us today. The forces of evil want us to compromise and to give up our faith in Christ. However, we know that the Spirit will sustain us in our determination to remain true to Christ. Eternal victory will be ours!

Revelation 14:1-13: The Final Proclamation

Fri, 5 May 2006 14:49:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
Today, I will introduce you to Revelation 14:1-13. I say "introduce" because the 14th chapter of Revelation is filled with fascinating information about the end-times. Our text begins with a vision of the victorious Christ and ends with the eternal blessedness of the believers who align with Him. In between the final gospel call goes forth, and the city of Babylon falls, and evil people are judged. I will summarize the story in this message.

One, the vision of the victorious Lamb gives us great comfort!

In 14:1-5 John sees a vision of the victorious Lamb of God on Mount Zion. Mount Zion at Jerusalem will be the capital of Christ's millennial kingdom. Given the testing of the times, this is a wonderfully comforting passage. We can rejoice in the fact that we serve the conquering King as well as the suffering Servant. Christ died for our salvation. He was raised in glory. And He will return to reign over the universe. Moreover, we will reign with Him!

Two, an angel gives the final call to turn to God. Let everyone turn to Him now!

After seeing the vision of the victorious Lamb, John is brought back to the preaching of the gospel on earth. An angel will fly in midheaven proclaiming the gospel to every tribe, tongue, nation, and people. Even during the Tribulation, God will be seeking out those who will respond to His call. Through this global proclamation, the world appears to receive its final call to repent and e saved. There is no record of any additional proclamation.

Other than speaking about the angel flying, John does not say how the angel makes the proclamation. Could it be that the angel will use radio, television, or the Internet to deliver the message? Perhaps he will use all of these methods and more. We do not know, but we do know that the message will be delivered. As for right now, let us all turn to God. No one should wait for the Tribulation to repent and turn to God. The hour of opportunity is right now! Now is the hour of salvation.

Three, Bablylon will be judged! We can rejoice in the defeat of all evil.

Now, the second angel appears and announces the fall of Babylon the Great. Very likely, this second angel was flying in mid-heaven like the first angel. This city is described as a great whore.

Christ will judge Babylon and conquer all evil. The destruction of Babylon makes room for the rule and reign of Christ during the 1000 years of the Millennium. He will reign throughout eternity as well! Let us rejoice! Let us live with confidence!

Four, an angel preaches judgment. We must believe in Christ and avoid judgment.

The third angel pronounces judgment upon those who worship the beast. These comments are directed both to those who have not ever repented and to apostate Christians who have turned away from God. All of us must heed the angel's pronouncement. We serve God because we love Him, but we also avoid eternal death and damnation.

Five, the Spirit proclaims the blessedness of the saints! Along with all other saints, we will be blessed!

Three angels have spoken. This time, the Holy Spirit speaks about the suffering saints. John writes: "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them." The saints who die in the Lord will rest from their labors. They will be rewarded for their great deeds. Some will face martyrdom; others will need to go into hiding; many will suffer. But God will reward all who do not worship the beast.

Conclusion Our text is a riveting portrayal of the victory of Christ, the final global call to salvation, the defeat of Babylon, the judgment of those who worship the beast, and the blessedness of all who remain faithful to Christ. Today, as we serve Christ, we can rejoice that all things are in His hands, that victory is on the way, and that even now we enjoy a great measure of that victory.

Revelation 11:1-14: Victorious Witnesses

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:07:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
Today, I will be speaking from Revelation 11:1-14. My message is entitled "Victorious Witnesses." As believers in Christ, we are witnesses! We can rejoice that the Holy Spirit will empower us and that we will be victorious.

Our text is fascinating! In John's vision someone tells him to measure the temple of God in Jerusalem, except for the outer court which will be trampled by the Gentiles for forty-two months. God sends two witnesses to Jerusalem to testify against the nations, but the "beast" kills them and all the people rejoice. After three and a half days, they are revived and caught up to heaven. Then a great earthquake destroys a tenth of the city and seven thousand people are killed, but the rest give glory to God.

When the one who spoke tells John to measure the temple, this indicates that God will preserve the temple. Scholars debate whether the temple represents the historic temple, a new temple that will be built, the church, or the Jewish people. We will not join that discussion here, but we will draw practical lessons from this passage.

One, God always has His Spirit-empowered witnesses. We can be His witnesses!

In John's vision, two witnesses enter the scene. God always has His witnesses. He will have witnesses even during the Great Tribulation of the end times. The witnesses in this text minister for forty-two months, which probably means during the last half of the seven years of Tribulation.

The speaker calls the witnesses two "olive trees" and two "lampstands." These two metaphors signify that the witnesses derived their authority and power from the Holy Spirit. This is always true. Without the Spirit we cannot be effective witnesses. With the Spirit we can overcome all obstacles and present Christ in a very persuasive way. The Spirit is a powerful persuader!

Two, God will protect us until our ministry is finished! Let us be confident in His protection.

When the ministry of the two prophets is finished, they are faced with death. Until the ministry of the prophets is finished, not one can touch them. When their task is accomplished, they are subject to the wrath of the beast who comes up out of the abyss to make war with them and kill them. God permits their enemies to overcome them.

Sometimes we hear of the death of stalwart saints. There are occasions when people die while in the middle of their ministry for Christ. We wonder why this happens. In God's time, and in His plan, some seemingly disastrous events take place. But God is not surprised, nor defeated. We can be confident that God's providence will be totally in harmony with His divine will. All is foreseen in His plan. He is in control.

Three, it is God who gives life. Let us rejoice!

The celebration of the unbelieving masses ends soon. After three and a half days, God brings the two witnesses back to life. The two witnesses stand on their feet, demonstrating that they were alive. This causes great fear to come upon the people.

During the three and a half days, their bodies decay. Animals and people may even disfigure them. But the Spirit of Life from God enters the bodies of the two witnesses, and they stand up. The word translated "spirit" and "breath" are the same in both Greek and Hebrew, thus the "Spirit of life" is parallel to the "breath of life" that God breathed on the first man He created (Genesis 2:7). Here, the witnesses are infused with both physical and spiritual life.

As we follow the Lord, the Spirit of God dwells within us. He gives us spiritual life. We live by the Spirit, and we walk in the Spirit. We can rejoice because of the life that the Spirit gives. We need not live in a state of spiritual numbness or death. The spirit quickens and gives life!

Four, God gives the ultimate victory! The two witnesses triumph!

The two witnesses heard a loud voice calling them up into heaven. A great earthquake occurred, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people died. The rest of the people "were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." In other words they gave praise to God.

The people recognized that the power of God is greater that the power of the beast. It may be that some of the people turned to God in genuine repentance. However, we know that the world did not repent for in the plagues that follow they later blaspheme God.

All believers have been commissioned to take this Gospel to the ends of the earth. We are God's witnesses. The Holy Spirit comes upon us to empower us in our witnesses. Because of this, we can be confident that God will bring us through to victory. Whether we live or die, the church lives on and the message continues to have its powerful impact.

Conclusion
Now, here is a summary of my message as it applies to us: (1) God will empower us to be His witnesses; (2) God will protect us until our ministry is finished; (3) God gives us life; and (4) God gives the ultimate victory. All of this should inspire us to be faithful witnesses. We must present ourselves to Christ who will pour out the Holy Spirit upon us. As empowered witnesses, we can change the world!

Revelation 5:1-14: The Lamb is Worthy!

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 14:21:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
The apostle John had a vision in Revelation 5:1-14 (see NIV) about a book or scroll with seven seals. The book was being held in the right hand of God who sat upon the throne in heaven. The book has unparalleled significance. It contains a full account of what God will do concerning the destiny of the world. Today, we will discuss several points about this vision.

One, salvation can only come through one who is worthy to save us! Let us turn to the One who is worthy!

The stage is set in Revelation 5:1-4. John saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, âWho is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?â The search began, but no one was found in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or even look inside it. Then John says, âI wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.â

The angelâs question is crucial. âWho is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?â The clear implication is that salvation can only come through one who is worthy. Because all have sinned (Romans 3:23), no man is worthy. We can only be saved through one who has not sinned and who is worthy of all praise.

Many pretending prophets profess to proclaim a way of salvation. But, without Christ, they have nothing to offer. Their way of salvation is dependent on leaders who are not âworthy.â They, themselves are sinners and are lost without God. We must turn to the One who is worthy!

Two, the suffering Lamb is worthy to conquer! Let us accept the sacrifice of the Lamb for us!

According to Revelation 5:5, Christ is âthe Lion of the tribe of Judahâ and âthe Root of David.â This Lion has overcome so as to open the book and the seven seals. We have here a picture of the Christ who conquers. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. As the triumphant Christ, He will rule the world!

However, the life of Christ is paradoxical. John also sees Christ as âthe Lamb standing as if slain.â The slain lamb signifies the Christ who suffered and gave His life for all. He died for us and atoned for our sins. He paid the price for us! He did this as a prior step in the process of bringing salvation to all of us. Because He died and rose again, He will rule over all.

The course of action for us is clear. Let us accept the sacrifice of Christ for us. We can freely accept His great work of salvation for us. Our salvation Him was costly for Him, but for us it is free. We must come humbly, with open hearts, and wilth gratitude for all Christ has done for us.

Three, the Spirit is on a mission for Christ! Let us be empowered with the Spirit!

John sees the Lamb as if slain. This Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes. In Johnâs vision the seven eyes are âthe seven Spirits of God,â sent out into all the earth. The seven eyes of the Lamb are the seven Spirits of God. Christ and the Spirit are one and yet are different. The seven Spirits of God represent the Holy Spirit who is on a mission for Christ.

The Spirit of God guides, gives wisdom, knows all things, and fulfills the mission of Christ. He is the Great Helper (Paraclete) who continues the work of Christ in the world. We do not work alone to build the Kingdom of God; rather, we are the hands and feet of the Triune God Himself. With His power the Kingdom will be built.

The lesson for us is clear. We as believers are united with Christ. His cause is our cause. We have been commissioned to take the gospel to the whole world, but we do not go in our own strength. We go in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.

Four, all who were present worshipped Christ. We must worship Him too!

In Johnâs vision the four living creatures, the twenty-four elders, and all the angels worshipped Christ. Various groups sang praises to the Lamb for all that He has done. The twenty-four elders sang this song:

"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth." NIV

The Lamb is exalted. He has purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. Heaven will be populated with redeemed people from all the earth. The mission of Christ will be accomplished. Today, let us worship Christ! And let us be a part of the redeemed forces of the earth who proclaim His name! We will be victorious!

Conclusion
We will conclude today with verses 13-14 of Revelation 5. Here we read:

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"
14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. NIV

Revelation 4:5: The Holy Spirit in Ministry

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 12:00:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction

In Revelation 4:5 John is describing his vision of the throne of God in heaven. Out of the throne come flashes of lightening and sounds and peals of thunder. John saw seven lamps of fire burning before the throne. These seven lamps represent the seven spirits of God.

The phrase "seven Spirits of God" occurs four times in the Book of Revelation: 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, and 5:6. Scholars put forward several views concerning the meaning of this title. Each of these views has something worthwhile to say. Today, we will draw from these views to present the Holy Spirit in Ministry.

One, let us stand in awe at the display of God's power!

Our text describes an awesome display of sight and sound! The lightening and thunder proceed from the throne of God. God shows His power in various places and with different purposes. Here, many writers are reminded of how God manifested Himself at Sinai in thunder and lightening (Exodus 19:16 and 20:18) at the time of the giving of the Law. Thunder and lightening symbolize the divine power and glory.

Whatever the Spirit does, let us be in awe. In both the Old Testament and New Testament the Spirit is connected with whatever God is doing. Many times an incredible display of His power is involved. The only thing for us to do is to exalt God's incredible power. His manifested power calls for the deepest respect on our part. Along with being in awe, we can actively praise God for all that He is and does.

Two, the Holy Spirit empowers for mission!

John sees seven lamps of fire, which he says are the "seven Spirits of God." Elsewhere (see Revelation 1:4 and 3:1), I have presented several views about the seven Spirits. Along with others, my position is that this expression refers to the Holy Spirit. Some authors go further and emphasize various aspects of the presence and work of the Spirit.

According to Lenski, the seven Spirits of God represent the Holy Spirit in His divine mission. We are not surprised by this. The Holy Spirit, in the Scriptures, if often connected with mission. It is He who empowers all believers to accomplish the Great Commission, which is the mission of Christ. The "seven Spirits of God" empower many aspects of the mission.

Those who believe in Christ are mission oriented! As believers, we know that our destiny is to work with Christ to establish His Kingdom in the hearts of men. When Christ returns, the Kingdom will be established on earth as well. The mission is clear; our obedience ought to be full and complete.

Three, the Holy Spirit's ministry and presence is full!

Another view is presented by Ladd who thinks the seven Spirits of God represent the fullness of the Spirit. He writes: "We have already met the symbolism of seven to denote the fullness of God's Spirit (1:4). Here, the Holy Spirit is mentioned probably not so much with reference to his regenerative and sanctifying work as to his work in the creation and preservation of the natural world (Gen. 1:2; 2:7; Ps. 104:29f.)."

Horton says that this phrase is "probably a reference to the sevenfold Spirit on the Messiah prophesied in Isaiah 11:2 as well as to the sevenfold lamp in Zechariah 4:2, 6, 10." In Isaiah 11:2 we read:

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord."

As believers, we have the privilege of being "filled" with the Spirit. The Spirit will manifest Himself in all aspects of His ministry. He will touch all aspects of our lives and will work fully through us.

Four, the Holy Spirit ministers to each of us individually.

Another author by the name of Swete gives a different explanation. He holds that the spirits are seven because the churches are seven. He knows that the Spirit is One but the spirits are seven in the sense that the Spirit is in relationship with each of the seven churches. He says that the Spirit manifests Himself to the churches according to the needs of each.

As far as we are concerned, this suggests that the Spirit relates to each of us individually as well as to all of us corporately. The Spirit knows our need and deals with us according to our need. The Spirit knows your name, your heart, your spiritual needs, and all the rest of your needs. He works divinely in our lives for the benefit of us and the world.

Conclusion
John saw an awesome sight in his vision of the throne in heaven. There were flashes of lightening and sounds and peals of thunder. And he saw seven lamps of fire burnng before the throne. These lamps represented the seven spirits of God.

All agree that the Spirit of God is One, but He is represented here by the term "seven Spirits of God." Scholars have different views about the meaning of this term, but we can learn from each view. We have learned that this term can represent the Spirit in His manifold mission. Also, it can represent the fullness of the Spirit. Finally, we see in this term the fact that the Spirit relates to us individually as well as collectively. No wonder that we stand in awe when we are in the presence of God. Exalt Him today!

Revelation 4:1-4: Living in the Spirit

Thu, 6 Apr 2006 12:00:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M.
Introduction
In Revelation 4:1-4 a transition in the Book occurs. Jesus had given John the messages to the seven churches. Now, a voice invites John to "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." John sees a new scene that involves the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and the twenty-four elders. He is "in the Spirit" when he receives this vision. With this in mind, let's talk about life in the Spirit.

One, all believers should live in the Spirit.

Our text does not say anything about one's normal life in the Spirit. However, John in his writings does. As his gospel points out, the Spirit is a powerful persuader who lifts up Christ and draws men to Him. As believers, we are born of the Spirit. The Spirit guides us, leads us into all truth, teaches us, and comforts us. He is ever present and does not leave us.

Believers have the great privilege of living in the Spiritâall the time! The apostle Paul said (Galatians 5:22-23), "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." When we rely on the Spirit fully, these characteristics begin to dominate our lives.

Two, we are eligible for special experiences in the Spirit.

As believers, we also are good candidates for special experiences in the Spirit. Going beyond our normal life in the Spirit, there are special moments when the Spirit may powerfully manifest His presence in our lives. We can rejoice over those times when the Spirit manifests Himself in special ways.

We read in John 1:10 that John was in the Spirit. There, we concluded that John meant "in the Holy Spirit." Nevertheless, John's human spirit no doubt was strongly influenced by the Holy Spirit. Thus, both John's spirit and the Holy Spirit were involved.

Once again, here in Revelation 1:2, John was "in the Spirit." In my view the phrase "in the Spirit," like the phrase "filled with the Spirit," can be used of repeated experiences. Indeed, the two phrases are nearly synonymous. Although Peter was filled with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), he also was described in Acts 4:8 as "filled with the Holy Spirit." As believers, we are eligible for repeated and powerful experiences in the Spirit.

Three, God manifests Himself in powerful ways.

While John was "in the Spirit" God manifested Himself to John in a powerful way. The first thing that John sees (verse 2-3) is the throne of God and One sitting on the throne. God often manifested himself in fire in the Old Testament, but this is more glorious than anything ever seen before. With regard to verse 3, Horton (pp. 74-75) makes these comments:

He [John] is aware of God's presence, but the glory is too great for him to describe as having a shape or form. All he can do is speak of a diamond brilliance, a fiery orange-red presence. The "jasper" is said in Revelation 21:11 to be crystal clear, not like the opaque jasper of today; it was more likely the diamond. The "sardine stone" (or sard, sardius, or carnelian) was a beautiful red precious stone, or gem, symbolizing redemption.

The Holy Spirit is not limited in the way that He manifests HImself. Sometimes He manfests Himself in unusual ways in our worship services. As He distributes His gifts among the saints, we witness the result in our congregational life. Moments that might otherwise be routine become high points of spiritual experience. Then, sometimes in our private devotions, the Spirit speaks powerfully to our hearts. As believers, we are blessed by His manfest presence.

Four, we must exalt God and worship Him.

When John was "in the Spirit," he witnessed the twenty-four elders worshipping God. When we are "in the Sprit" we have an excellent opportunity to follow their example. Jesus said that we must worship "in Sprit and truth." They fall down and worship God and cast their crowns before the throne. They adore the Creator.

What does it mean to worship "in spirit and truth?" When we worship "in Spirit," the Spirit empowers our spirits to fully exalt God. The entire act of worship is fully influenced by the Spirit. When we worship in truth, our worship is based on the Word of God. Moreover, our worship exalts Christ who is truth. And we worship if full and complete loyalty to Him who is our Savior. Our relationship with Christ is strengthened by the worship.

Conclusion
The church throughout all the ages can be grateful that John was "in the Spirit" when he received his visions. The visions were from God and are authoritative. This was a special experience in the life of a person who without doubt was constantly living in the Spirit.

Is it possible for us, today, to be "in the Spirit?" Can we enjoy experiences beyond the normal life in the Spirit? Yes, we can! The Holy Spirit, in total harmony with His purpose, does dramatically influence our lives. Let us not try to limit His activity but rather remain open to His constant guidance and powerful presence.

Revelation 3:14-22: Avoid Being Spiritually Lukewarm!

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 13:00:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
Today, I am going to focus on the sixth letter of John to the churches in Asia. It is found in Revelation 3:7-13. As we read this passage, five questions about world missions arise. The answers that Christ gave to these questions applied to the church at Philadelphia and apply to us with equal force today. The title of my message is "A Door No Man Can Shut!" I am writing especially to all of you who proclaim the gospel throughout the world.

Question 1: What message must we preach?

In verse 7 we read: "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 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:"

John is writing about Christ. Jesus Christ holds the key of David. The key of David is a metaphor (Isaiah 22:22) that indicates Christ's great power. It is solely through Christ that we can gain entry into the kingdom. Jesus declared (John 10:9), "'I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.'" Moreover, He said, (John 14:6), "'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.'" We must preach that Jesus is the unique Son of God and Savior of the world.

The message that Christ is the only way of salvation has never been popular with the world. It is even less popular today. Jesus is the only way because He is the only one who could atone for sin. Jesus, the Son of God, died in our place. Let us believe on Him and put our trust in Him. And, as servants of the Lord, let us proclaim this message with full confidence and faith.

Question 2: What door of ministry has Christ opened for me?

In verse 8 Christ says, "'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."

We have learned already that Christ controls the entry into the Kingdom of God. In verse 8 Jesus was speaking about an open door of ministry. It is Christ who opens the doors of ministry for us. Not only does Christ open the doors, but He also supplies every need. Even though the saints at Philadelphia had but few resources, or little power, they would be able to pursue their mission. We, too, with our few resources will be able to minister. Our open door is a door that no man can shut.

Question 3: Will there be a harvest?

Verse 9 says "'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-- I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you."

The Christians in Philadelphia were opposed by unbelieving Jews who slandered them. Because of the condition of their hearts, they were not true Jews. Jesus will make them come and bow down at the feet of the Christians. This may be in unbelieving submission, but it is more likely that many will come to know Christ. They will know that Christ loves the church. The harvest is a part of the reward!

We know there will be adversaries, but we know also that there will be a harvest. Through Isaiah (55:11): "So shall My word be which goes forth form My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." We can minister in confidence, knowing that there will be a harvest!

Question 4: Will Christ keep us from and through the tests?

Verse 10 declares: "'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."

In this passage, Jesus refers to a future hour of testing. When He says He will keep us "from" the hour of testing, does He mean He will keep us through the testing or deliver us out of it? Some believe that Jesus will keep the church through the coming tribulation. We who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture favor the view that He will take us out of the tribulation.

Nevertheless, we do know that Christ will keep us through many trials and tests. We know that Christ keeps us always in our walk with the Lord. Sometimes the saints of God have gone through great trials and have been delivered. Others have given their lives for Christ, but even in death, they are ushered victoriously into the presence of almighty God. Are you suffering today because of your ministry? God will be with you through the trial!

Question 5: What will be our reward?

Our ministry will not go unrewarded. God is fully aware of all that we have done for Him and His kingdom. According to verses 11-12:

11 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 '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.

Jesus talks about those who overcome. No doubt He is referring to overcoming all personal temptations and test. However, we can say, also, that He refers to being victorious in their mission, ministry, and witness. They have "open door which no one can shut."

Jesus is coming, and no one can take the crown of the saints. They must hold fast to what they have. The crown was the wreath awarded to the winner of an athletic content (I Corinthians 9:25; II Timothy 4:8). For ministers of the gospel, the harvest is a part of the reward.

Moreover, the saints will be identified with God. When we overcome, Christ will write three names on us: (1) God's name, (2) the name of the New Jerusalem, and (3) Christ's new name. When Christ returns He will have a name which only He knows (Revelation 19:12). And we will bear that name.

Conclusion

Yes, we must know and be committed to our message; we must know what door of ministry Christ has opened for us; we must believe there will be a harvest; we must have confidence that Christ will keep us through every test; and we must know that Christ will reward us abundantly for our faithfulness.

Today, I call upon you to renew your commitment to your calling. Let the Spirit fire you with new zeal. I am asking you to follow the command of Jesus who said: (verse 13): "'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'" NAU What is the Spirit saying to you today? Listen and respond.

Revelation 3:7-13: A Door No Man Can Shut!

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:56:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
Today, I am going to focus on the sixth letter of John to the churches in Asia. It is found in Revelation 3:7-13. As we read this passage, five questions about world missions arise. The answers that Christ gave to these questions applied to the church at Philadelphia and apply to us with equal force today. The title of my message is “A Door No Man Can Shut!” I am writing especially to all of you who proclaim the gospel throughout the world.

Question 1: What message must we preach?

In verse 7 we read: "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 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:”

John is writing about Christ. Jesus Christ holds the key of David. The key of David is a metaphor (Isaiah 22:22) that indicates Christ’s great power. It is solely through Christ that we can gain entry into the kingdom. Jesus declared (John 10:9), “’I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.’” Moreover, He said, (John 14:6), “’I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’” We must preach that Jesus is the unique Son of God and Savior of the world.

The message that Christ is the only way of salvation has never been popular with the world. It is even less popular today. Jesus is the only way because He is the only one who could atone for sin. Jesus, the Son of God, died in our place. Let us believe on Him and put our trust in Him. And, as servants of the Lord, let us proclaim this message with full confidence and faith.

Question 2: What door of ministry has Christ opened for me?

In verse 8 Christ says, ”'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.”

We have learned already that Christ controls the entry into the Kingdom of God. In verse 8 Jesus was speaking about an open door of ministry. It is Christ who opens the doors of ministry for us. Not only does Christ open the doors, but He also supplies every need. Even though the saints at Philadelphia had but few resources, or little power, they would be able to pursue their mission. We, too, with our few resources will be able to minister. Our open door is a door that no man can shut.

Question 3: Will there be a harvest?

Verse 9 says “'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie-- I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.”

The Christians in Philadelphia were opposed by unbelieving Jews who slandered them. Because of the condition of their hearts, they were not true Jews. Jesus will make them come and bow down at the feet of the Christians. This may be in unbelieving submission, but it is more likely that many will come to know Christ. They will know that Christ loves the church. The harvest is a part of the reward!

We know there will be adversaries, but we know also that there will be a harvest. Through Isaiah (55:11): “So shall My word be which goes forth form My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” We can minister in confidence, knowing that there will be a harvest!

Question 4: Will Christ keep us from and through the tests?

Verse 10 declares: “'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.”

In this passage, Jesus refers to a future hour of testing. When He says He will keep us “from” the hour of testing, does He mean He will keep us through the testing or deliver us out of it? Some believe that Jesus will keep the church through the coming tribulation. We who believe in the pre-tribulation rapture favor the view that He will take us out of the tribulation.

Nevertheless, we do know that Christ will keep us through many trials and tests. We know that Christ keeps us always in our walk with the Lord. Sometimes the saints of God have gone through great trials and have been delivered. Others have given their lives for Christ, but even in death, they are ushered victoriously into the presence of almighty God. Are you suffering today because of your ministry? God will be with you through the trial!

Question 5: What will be our reward?

Our ministry will not go unrewarded. God is fully aware of all that we have done for Him and His kingdom. According to verses 11-12:

11 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 '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.

Jesus talks about those who overcome. No doubt He is referring to overcoming all personal temptations and test. However, we can say, also, that He refers to being victorious in their mission, ministry, and witness. They have “open door which no one can shut.”

Jesus is coming, and no one can take the crown of the saints. They must hold fast to what they have. The crown was the wreath awarded to the winner of an athletic content (I Corinthians 9:25; II Timothy 4:8). For ministers of the gospel, the harvest is a part of the reward.

Moreover, the saints will be identified with God. When we overcome, Christ will write three names on us: (1) God’s name, (2) the name of the New Jerusalem, and (3) Christ’s new name. When Christ returns He will have a name which only He knows (Revelation 19:12). And we will bear that name.

Conclusion
Yes, we must know and be committed to our message; we must know what door of ministry Christ has opened for us; we must believe there will be a harvest; we must have confidence that Christ will keep us through every test; and we must know that Christ will reward us abundantly for our faithfulness.

Today, I call upon you to renew your commitment to your calling. Let the Spirit fire you with new zeal. I am asking you to follow the command of Jesus who said: (verse 13): “'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'” NAU What is the Spirit saying to you today? Listen and respond.

(03/19/2006)

Revelation 3:1-6: Strengthen Your Spiritual Experience!

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:59:00 GMT

By Flattery, George M. Introduction
Sometimes churches appear to be very much alive, but in reality they are spiritually dead. This was the case in the church at Sardis, which was located about fifty miles east of Ephesus. Now, over 20 centuries later, the problem still exists. It’s amazing how relevant the letters of John to the churches are today. Our text reveals how Christ dealt with the problem.

One, we may have a false reputation of spiritual vitality.

With regard to the church at Sardis, Jesus does not mention any heresy or outside opposition. The church was very active and appeared to be spiritually strong. However, Jesus saw beneath the exterior and pronounced them spiritually dead. There were a few who had not compromised, but Jesus has no commendation for the church as a whole.

Sometimes, spiritual death can creep up almost unnoticed in a church. The attendance may be strong, the activities may be many, and the people seem to be alive. With all of this going on, spiritual pride can enter in. Prayer life may be slipping away. Many may be compromising with the world and assimilating the world’s values without even knowing it.

Keep in mind that a church can be very spiritually alive along with its activities and outstanding attendance. The issue is not what is going on externally, but rather what the heart conditions are. We must be centered on Christ and focused on His mission. Otherwise, we can have a false reputation.

Two, we must strengthen what remains.

Jesus had just pronounced the church at Sardis dead. Then, paradoxically, He tells them to wake up and strengthen what remains. Although they were in such bad condition that they could be called dead, some spiritual vitality remained. The vitality was slipping away and was about to die, but it was not too late to be restored. Because of their condition many of their deeds were incomplete.

Every church must be on guard. It is important to take a spiritual inventory and be open and honest about its spiritual condition. The Bible is the plumb line. All things must be measured by the Word. Otherwise, our spiritual eyes may be blinded to the real need.

Millions of Christians spend a lot of time with popular TV shows and listen to the views of the popular culture of our day. It is important to engage the world and the culture and to confront it with truth. But in the process, we must not absorb the philosophies that dilute our spiritual experience. Instead, we must constantly seek to strengthen our spiritual condition

Three, we must remember what we have received and repent.

Jesus does not leave the church without an opportunity to correct their condition. The solution to their spiritual death is to remember what they had received and to repent. Jesus commands the people to repent. Unless they repent, judgment will come unannounced like a thief. The judgment will be unexpected and sudden. When judgment comes, it will be too late for them. Now is both the hour of repentance and the hour of salvation.

All of us have much to remember. We can look back on what we have been taught and on our experience in Christ. We can remember all that He has done for us. We can remember how effective the Word has been in shaping our lives. We can remember the great teachers we have had.

And we can repent. We can change our course in life. We can prune the views and practices that sap our spiritual strength. We can restore our prayer life and our reading of the Word. Then, we will experience once again true spiritual life.

Four, when we retain our loyalty to Christ, we will be rewarded.

There were some in the church who had not soiled their garments. They had retained their loyalty to Christ. They did not adapt themselves to the luxury and pleasures of their pagan environment. They had not become secularized by the philosophies of the day.

To those who overcome, Christ makes a threefold promise; (1) they will walk with Him in white, (2) they will not be blotted out of the Book of Life, and (3) Christ will confess their names before the Father and the angels. What marvelous rewards await the faithful believers.

Conclusion
As we study this letter, let us think about our church. Do we have a reputation for spiritual strength? Can we detect any signs of spiritual vitality ebbing away? Are we measuring up to the Word? Are we being led of the Spirit in all things? Have we individually or collectively assimilated the thinking of the world? If we should discover the seeds of death in our behavior, let us repent and commit ourselves anew to Christ! He will reward us eternally!

(03/12/2006)