As we live our day to day lives, Christians are called to keep God’s statutes and to live our lives for Christ Jesus. This is difficult with temptation everywhere. Everyday there are people ready to lure Christians into sin. There are seductive people found in all circles of life, ready to lure you into sin. There are people that lure Christians to lie, to steal, to commit adultery. There are new age teachers and meditations to lure you to worship false gods. Sin is found everywhere, and it seems to be socially acceptable to sin.
Christians rationalize that God forgives us of sin and God does, but sin is not automatically forgiven. We must repent to be forgiven and while God does forgive, premeditated sin is not as easily forgiven. For example, if someone wants to go to happy hour after work with his friends, he can rationalize that whatever sin he commits there will be forgiven. They can be, provided he repents; but is his repentance sincere if he repeatedly commits sin and even purposely sins even though he speaks words of repentance?
In our example of someone going to happy hour, this someone is purposely putting themselves in a situation where sin is likely to happen, where everyone there is likely to commit sin, and where they are more likely to sin because the other people there are committing sin. I know there are people that go into bars that never drink alcohol, but when you are surrounded by people drinking alcohol, it is more difficult to resist drinking alcohol. If someone goes to happy hour without their spouse, are they going to be tempted to commit adultery? As they sit in the impure environment, are they going to be tempted to tell unclean jokes or use profane language? Even if they do not tell unclean jokes or use profane language, are they going to be tempted to listen to it?
In my own life, I have found that avoiding sinful situations and sinful environments to be the easiest path. I have found that even though I repented and even though God forgives, people don’t. There are people that want to condemn and purposely look for sin to condemn people. I have heard them speak to spirits, asking what is their sin? In hindsight, I see in my past that situations and environments were purposely created to place me with specific people and intended to cause me to sin. The intent was to make me sin, to make me fall from God’s grace, and while God does forgive, it would have been so much easier if I had never sinned in the first place. Whatever fun I thought I was having at the time, was not worth it and I truly regret every moment.
God does forgive and I have repented and have been told by Christ Jesus that I have been forgiven, but people do not forgive. People prefer to remember the bad things about each of us. In addition to people, the devil accuses us of past sin. It is better to not give the devil any ammunition. Remember those people to love to condemn? I have seen fallen people, who purposely work for the devil, go to bars just for the purpose of finding people to condemn. I have even seen those fallen people take a Christian to a bar, purposely get him drunk, then condemn him and send him to hell. The Christian man did not understand what these people were doing to him and did not understand that these people were not really his friends. His “friends” informed me of what they had done, and I then informed him. He quickly saw that he could not trust them, he declined sleeping over, he became sober, and he prayed and repented. He would have avoided so much by not putting himself in that situation in the first place.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Now let us shift our attention to being rapture ready. As we live our daily lives, we must be vigilant in protecting ourselves from sin. Not only because we want to please Christ Jesus, because we want relationship with Christ Jesus. Sin creates division between us and God. It becomes more difficult to have relationship with Christ Jesus and Lord God when we live in sin. Remember Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden because of sin. The Garden of Eden was a pure place without sin. God does not want to be in the presence of sin. Therefore, when Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Heaven is also without sin. Therefore, no one with sin is ever allowed in. That means everyone must be without sin to enter into heaven, which means everyone there has already repented of sin before their arrival to heaven’s gate.
When Christ Jesus returns for his people, to rapture his people and take them to heaven, we have to be without sin in that moment. The moment of rapture will be sudden and without notice, which means that in order to be rapture ready, we must pray and repent continually. Prayer and repentance helps us and cleanses our heart, which was darkened by sin.
Repeated prayer and repentance cleanse our heart and lightens our spirit. Have you ever seen a spirit? Spirits appear light or dark. Spirits that are light are usually considered good or friendly, while people are more afraid of a dark spirit. The more someone prays and repents, the lighter their spirit will become and the better they will feel. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “ Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” There is true wisdom in this verse and by living your life this way, you will have a closer relationship with Christ Jesus.
Revelation was written to help us prepare for the end. In Revelation 2:1-5, Christ Jesus gave as a message to the church of Ephesus, saying that he knew that they believed, that they worked hard, that they were loyal, that they avoided sin, but they had left their first love. The church is told they need to remember their first love, repent and return to him. Christ Jesus is telling them that while they did many good works, they had become so involved in maintaining the daily business of the church and had forgotten to have relationship with him. Christ Jesus tells them to repent and return to him. Christ Jesus wants us to be without sin, but also wants us to have relationship with him.
In Revelation 2:8-11, Christ Jesus sent a message to the church of Smyrna saying that he knew of their afflictions and poverty. Christ Jesus also said he knew also of those who claimed to be a Jew who were not, claiming they were a synagogue of satan. Christ Jesus warned that the devil would put some of them in prison to test them. This is a danger for all Christians, but Christ Jesus gave us this one promise, that if they are faithful, they will have true salvation and will not have to suffer the second death, which is hell.
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Sometimes Christians are tortured and killed for their faith in Christ Jesus. Those who die for Christ Jesus are promised they will go to heaven.
Revelation 6:9-11
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of the God, and for the testimony which they held; and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was saith unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
In Revelation 2:12-17, Christ Jesus gives as a message to the church in Pergamum that he knows that they were loyal to him and did not renounce their faith in him even though satan resides in Pergamum. However, Christ Jesus says to them that there are people in their community that still believe in the teachings of Balaam, who taught them to eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. Christ Jesus tells them to repent, or he will come and fight them himself. The interesting point here is that the church is being held responsible for the actions of members of the community. The church is being held accountable for teaching the members of the community that they were committing sin. Also, that Christ Jesus is threatening to fight them himself impresses upon us that Christ Jesus is not going to be a merciful because this has been going on too long and also that the actions of Christ Jesus might affect the community as a whole as an earthquake or other natural disaster and not just target the sinful individuals. This makes the point that while we are each responsible to praying and repenting for ourselves, praying for others to change their beliefs and praying for others to believe in Christ Jesus and even praying and repenting on behalf of others is sometimes an essential part of saving ourselves.
In Revelation 2:18-29, Christ Jesus gives a message to the church in Thyatira that he knows of their love and dedication and how their ministry has grown. However, Christ Jesus is holding them accountable for being tolerate of the woman named Jezebel, who taught people to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Christ Jesus said that each people in their community would be judged for their sin and those that have not accepted the beliefs of Jezebel or known the depths of satan will not be further burdened. However, Jezebel and those that have accepted her beliefs will suffer the tribulation and her children will die. Christ Jesus states that everyone will receive according to their works, which tells us that each person is judged for their actions and will be punished for their sin.
In Revelation 3:1-6, Christ Jesus gives a message to the church in Sardis that Christ Jesus has not found their works perfect before God but see there are a few innocent remaining. The innocence will wear white robes and walk with Christ Jesus, but the others must repent. As you read this in the King James version of the Holy Bible, it talks about appearing as though they are alive, while they are actually dead. The death that is being referred to is sin. While Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden, there was no death. Once Adam and Eve sinned, they were forced to leave the garden of Eden and then were subjected to death as an end. Christ Jesus tells the people of Sardis to repent and says that the people who never sinned will never have their name blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life and they will walk with him in heaven.
In Revelation 3:7-13, Christ Jesus gives a message to the church in Philadelphia that Christ Jesus opens doors that no man can close and closes doors that no man can open. For the people of Philadelphia, Christ Jesus has given them an open door because though they are weak, they have kept his word and never denied him or his name. But he will make those that are of the synagogue of satan, who say they are jews even though they are not and who are liars come and humble themselves at their feet and know that Christ Jesus loved them. Christ Jesus also says that because they kept his command to endure patiently, he will protect them from the hour of temptation that will come to test all the inhabitants of the earth. Christ Jesus tells them to live defensively so no one steals their crown. Christ Jesus tells them that those who overcome will be marked for God.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
When we live defensively, we pray continually, repent daily, live to protect our righteousness, putting on the armour of God, and pleading the blood of Christ Jesus over ourselves and our homes.
In Revelation 3:14-18, Christ Jesus sends a message to the church of Laodicea saying he knows their deeds and is judging them for being neither hot nor cold, but for being lukewarm Christ Jesus is about to spit them out. Christ Jesus wants people to be zealous for him, which is only possible if they have relationship with him. Christ Jesus is warning this church that just going through the motions is not getting them into heaven.
Christ Jesus states that because he loves us, he reprimands us so that we can change. The messages to the churches are important and are messages to us all. Christ Jesus knows who they are and what they have done. Christ Jesus even knows what they have done well, but because sin cannot enter into heaven Christ Jesus is warning us that we need to make changes in our lives and repent so we can enter into heaven.
Christ Jesus wanted the letters to be delivered to the churches because the churches were supposed to shepherd the people from the community. Churches are supposed to lead the people from the community to know Christ Jesus. Churches are supposed provide the people of the community with the exposure to the goodness of God. Planting the seed.
The letters to the churches are speaking to all of us. From the letters to the churches, we know that even though they were believers in Christ Jesus, they still needed to pray and repent. He told the churches he knows their deeds and all they have suffered. Five of the seven churches were told to repent. The church of Ephesus was told to repent for not maintaining relationship with him. The church of Laodicea was told to repent for being lukewarm and not being zealous for God. The church of Sardis was told to wake up, that they have received instruction and should obey and repent. If we are not zealous for Christ Jesus, we risk being rejected by him. We need to pray continually and repent daily. The church of Sardis was told to wake up, that they have received instruction and should obey and repent. We need to keep God’s word by living according to the instruction of God’s word written in the Holy Bible.
Two of the seven churches were not told to repent. Both of these churches existed in towns where people claimed to be jews, who were not jews. Christ Jesus described those non-jewish people as synagogues of satan. The church of Smyrna had suffered afflictions and poverty. The church in Philadelphia patiently endured suffering and has not denied his name; for them he will give them an open door that no one can close, and they will not have to suffer the tribulation that the rest of the world will have to suffer, to test them.
Two of the seven churches were told to repent because they had people there who ate food that had been sacrificed to false gods and practiced sexual immorality. Some of the people at the church of Pergamum were following the teachings of Balaam and some of the people at the church of Thyatira were following the teachings of Jezebel. The church of Thyatira was accused of being tolerant of Jezebel. Christ Jesus warned that he would judge them and repay each one for his deeds. Christ Jesus said that he stands at the door and knocks. If anyone hears his voice and opens the door, Christ Jesus will come in and eat with him, and he with Christ Jesus.
The letters to the churches also tell us of the rewards for those who overcome. Those who overcome will have the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. Those who overcome will be dressed in white and walk with him. Those who are faithful even unto death will receive the crown of life and never have their name blotted out of the book of life. Those who overcome will be a pillar in the temple and will be sealed for God. Those who overcome will receive hidden manna and a white stone with a new name. Those who overcome be given the right to sit with Christ Jesus on his throne and will be given authority over nations.
All of our actions count. Even our inactions count. Pray and repent daily. Live according to the instruction of the Holy Bible. Be zealous for God. Have relationship for God. Never deny Christ Jesus or he will deny you. Stand for Christ Jesus even in the face of persecution, even unto death. Remember that while God does forgive, life is so much easier if you just never commit the sin in the first place.
In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray to Christ Jesus and Lord God Yahweh requesting that you hear my prayer. We repent of our sin and ask you to forgive us of our sin. We ask Christ Jesus to be our Lord and Savior again. Christ Jesus, please tell us if there is anything that we need to repent of specifically. Please know that we love you and desire relationship with you. Give us discernment to know your voice. Lead us even in our daily decisions. Help us to have Christ-minded friends that do not lead us astray. Help us to have Christ-centered relationships, where we can pray together and make decisions together, focused on maintaining our relationship with Christ Jesus. Protect us from temptation and help us to avoid sinful situations. Help us to love others as you have loved us. In Christ Jesus name, I pray this request. Amen.
