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Sardis: The Church That Was In Decay

07 28 Revelation 3.1-6 Sardis was a decaying city with a church that was decaying as well.  Oh, the church appeared to be vibrant and community minded.  It was a THE church to attend.  Yet, Jesus, the all-seeing judge looked on their heart and saw only a facade, a beautiful shell that was really dead on the inside.  It gave all the appearance of a church that was alive, but it was just going through the motions.  Are we truly alive or do we just give the impression of being alive?  Discover in this passage what it takes to become an overcomer and the blessings received from Jesus Himself.

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Thyatira: The Church That Went Astray

07 21 Revelation 2.18-29 The smallest city receives the longest letter from Christ.  What He has to same to them should at the same time encourage us and challenge.  It should encourage us to practice the godly qualities they were noted for and to consider whether our efforts are greater now than when we first entered this spiritual journey.  Christ’s words should also encourage us to hold fast to our faith and doctrine.  It should challenge us to ensure that we do not allow the spirit of Jezebel to come in and deceive us by accepting doctrine contrary to God’s Word just to fit in to culture.

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Pergamum: The Church That Would Not Obey

07 14 Revelation 2.12-17 Pergamum is the church that compromised.  It had stood tall during persecution, even when one of their own had been martyred, yet they tolerated sin within the assembly.  They allowed worldliness and idolatrous practices to enter and continue without dealing with it.  Jesus had a word of condemnation, yet He also offered forgiveness through repentance.  It’s all too prevelant in the American church.  Have we allowed idolatry and immorality to slip in either in the church or in our individual lives?  Jesus calls us to repent.

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Smyrna – The Church Told not to Dismay

07 07 Revelation 2.8-11 – Smyrna, a wealthy city, yet the Christians there were poor.  They were poor from persecution, yet Christ says they were rich.  They may not have had the material pleasures of earth, but they would receive the eternal pleasures of heaven.  They were experiencing persecution for their faith and Christ encourages them not to be afraid, but to be faithful.  They are comforting words to us for when we may encounter persecution for our faith that in the end we will not experience the second death, but instead be given the crown of eternal life.  The city that produced the fragrant spice myrrh, was also producing a the gragrant aroma of godly Christians who were being pressed by persecution, that aroma was pleasing to the Lord.

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