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BACKGROUND
As This teaching is extracted from the book 'Eagles Fly High!' it does not have a background component to its specific presentation.
You may read the complete book, downloadable at
http://www.wwj.org.nz/eaglepts.php
to fully grasp the context within which it was written.
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| 5. The Church in Sardis: |
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 "He who overcomes will like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my ‘’Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:5)
A 3 part promise.
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| a. Dressed in White: |
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 Confirming that the overcomers will take their place alongside the martyrs, the "them" being referred to here.
Revelation 6:11
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 This firstly acknowledges the special place of the martyrs in God’s order. It is not saying however that all overcomers have to literally be martyred, for which I am very grateful! But it is saying that all overcomers have to do the spiritual equivalent of being martyred, that is, we have to die to self. Can’t win them all! For my experience is that there is no easy ride in God, for those who want the best He has to offer.
Salvation is free, but obedience costs everything. But as we see here, the rewards far outweigh the cost, for those who are sold out to God.
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| b. Book of Life: |
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 A controversial statement to Calvinists, who believe that once you are saved, you cannot fall out of God’s grace. A reassuring one though to the overcomer, that God is on your side and looking after you.
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| c. Before My Father: |
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 This is the most exciting promise to date! Yes, the overcomer, by virtue(!) (get the pun!) of their white robe, will be pure enough to enter the very presence of God and His angels! Don’t believe me (I trust you will check me out anyway), but do believe God! Your white robe is your admission ticket into the throne room of God and His angels. Let’s look at some highlights from Revelation 7:9-15.
Revelation 7:9-15
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 So, let’s look at what these verses reveal about the overcomers.
1. Who? Yes, many people (for overcomers are not to be an exclusive few) from all over the world, and yes, from all churches too! That will upset some who "know" they are the only ones with the truth! Know the sort? Not you or me – of course?
2. Where are they? In the presence of God and his angels, as in the promise.
3. Where do they come from? Out of the great tribulation promised for end times.
4. Sinless? The overcomer is sinless because of the full cleansing of the blood of Jesus in their life. Impossible? Now, yes. But we are to prepare for the day when the impossible will become reality!
See how it all fits together. I didn’t realise it until now either! The Holy Spirit pressed down the computer keys through my fingers! I must have had a little to do with it though, as I have had to correct my typing errors! I have got so excited about all this that I have temporarily swapped my snails pace touch typing, for my, still the faster, "look at the keys" method! My touch-typing will improve one day, just as I trust my spiritual walk will too! But back to the point. Do you want to participate?
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| 6.The Church in Philadelphia: |
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 "Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name." (Revelation 3:12)
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 There is a human saying "that ‘Joe Bloggs’ is a pillar of society." For a pillar is a sign of strength, isn’t it? The same Greek word for pillars, "stylos", that was used here, was also used by Paul to describe "Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars……" of the church, in Galatians 2:9
Galatians 2:9
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 But in God’s scheme of things, a pillar has even more significance. For pillars of cloud by day and fire by night led and guided the people of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the desert. The Holy Spirit was their guide.
In Moses Tabernacle there were 5 pillars, or posts, (hence our saying, from pillar to post), at the entrance to each section – the Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. In Solomon’s Temple there were 2 pillars at the entrance to the temple itself, to the Holy Place.
One was called Boaz (symbolic of Jesus, as we will see later – please believe me for now!), the other Jakin, meaning ‘he will establish in resurrection life.’ A prediction of what Jesus would do many centuries later. Pillars therefore, represented not only support and stability, but also guidance, example and entry. For pillars showed people the entranceway to the dwelling place of God in both Moses Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple. The pillars of fire and cloud led the Jews towards their inheritance in God, towards the Promised Land of Israel.
Moses Tabernacle was of course temporary, being taken from place to place, designed to last only until the temple was built. This represents then, the life of Christ in our mortal human bodies (my body felt very temporary this morning, but has improved during the day!).
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 Solomon’s Temple (God’s really!) was truly magnificent, and was a symbol of the fullness of moving into the eternal realm, where the life of Christ will live in our eternal bodies. Won’t that be wonderful!
Are you starting to see a pattern in this? I am as I write! It is scary, typing away not knowing what is going to come out next! The slowness of the typing does give me more time to think though! Every cloud has a silver lining! (Bad pun – think about it!) For the overcomers are to be examples whose lives will attract others, showing people the way to salvation and fulfillment in the Lord. To be living examples of Jesus.
My Auntie Ina was like that in many ways. Maybe someone you know too?
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 But even more exciting is that the overcomer will herald, will be a living "movie trailer" for the biggest, most spectacular blockbuster of all time, (no special effects needed!), the New Jerusalem that will accompany Jesus upon His return. A hard film to preview!
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 How do you get that glory across before it happens? But the promise is that the overcomers will be able to do it! For they will be living temples of the light of the glory of God. Since the death of Jesus, God’s earthly presence is not confined to a building but lives in, and should, and will in the case of the overcomers, shine out, of each one of us.
Revelation 21:22-23 tells us about it.
Revelation 21:22-23
Starting to see a pattern in this? I am as I write too! It is amazing!
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 The overcomers are not the full glory, but a tempting morsel to titillate the palate for the feast to come.
Now I do appreciate that some of this may be difficult to grasp initially. But please stick with it. As we proceed, the jigsaw pieces will start to fall into place. For that is the way I find things in God. Not all is revealed at once, but only as I have the ability to comprehend.
Takes a long time sometimes. For I can assure you – we are both learning together! I trust though, that you still want to participate.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i> |
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 We come to the 7th and final church, that of Laodicea, which is regarded by many as a picture of today's 'lukewarm' church.
However, the greatest promise of all was also given to this church. And it is available to us today too!
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 By now you will be seeing more clearly how the promises of the rewards for overcomers get progressively greater, the more we commit our lives to Jesus.
For me, the motivation is not the rewards, but the commitment of obedience which I (generally) adhere to. But it is certainly nice to know that there are rewards for obedience also.
ROMAN MILESTONE
This inscribed Roman milestone standing almost 10 feet tall was used to count the miles along all major roads. A network of 50,000 miles of highways linked Rome's 43 provinces. Many roads are still being used today.
Source: http://www.bible-history.com
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
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www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
1273. The foolish give seeking earthly return, the wise, to build up treasures in heaven, while the godly give their all out of love for God, with no need of reward.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
God Facts (A mine of information): http://www.wwj.org.nz/gfacts.php
Facts for Fun: http://www.wwj.org.nz/facts.php
Marriage and Family Facts: http://www.wwj.org.nz/maffacts.php
Just jokes: http://www.wwj.org.nz/jokes.php
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