Paul an Example 1 Thessalonians 2 Devotion

 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2

 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. ² But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. ³ For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸ So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹ For you know how, like a father with his children, ¹² we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 2 copied from Bible Gateway.

As I was reading through this chapter several things stood out to me that every Christian should take note of.  

The Bible says that God has given us a ministry of reconciling the world to Christ.  1Corinthians 5:11-21 (18-21)

Paul is an example to us of how a Christian should conduct him or her self.  We are an example of Jesus to the world, so we should be acting like Him.  We need to lay aside fightings, and quarrelings.  People don't always agree and we need to get used to that.  Our job as Christians––Christ Followers–––is to 1) live in peace with all people as much as possible Romans 12:18, and 2) "Holding forth the Word of Life..." to those who have not heard about Jesus, or don't understand about being Born Again.  We need to encourage and up-lift others.

Let's look at Paul in 1 Thessalonians Chapter2.  We will just look at selective verses:

Verse 2)  He said:  ....we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict...."

He was BOLD and did not quit when hard times or conflict came along.  There are angry people in the world and unfortunately amongst Christians as well.  But we need to be bold in what the Lord has told us to do and say.

Verse 4)  ...So we speak not to please man, but to please God, Who tests our hearts."

Paul only sought to please the Lord in his actions and speech.  He wasn't trying to impress any one:  not his friends, not the rich, no one but God was he wanting to please and bring glory to.

The word "tests" in this verse means to:  "approve, examine, and interpret".  God examines and interprets our motives.  He knows if we are wanting to please Him or impress someone else.

Verse 6-8)   He did not make demands on the people for money or support.  He said he could have but he didn't.  He was gentle "like a nursing mother taking care of her children".  He was ready to share the gospel and his very soul with them because the people had become very dear to him.

It is important to see people the way God sees them.  He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, and Jesus was willing to come and to pay that incredible price for all our sin.  God does not want anyone lost to the devil.  He goes to great lengths to rescue people out of the hand of the enemy.  And we must be apart of that rescue.

Verse 10)  Paul was holy, righteous, and blameless.

We MUST NOT give in to worldly pleasures that are not really, truly pleasures, but will cost us dearly.  Just because other people may not know what you are doing, saying in private, or thinking doesn't mean God, Himself doesn't know.  You need to know that He DOES know all those things.  He knows us more than we know ourselves.  We need to repent where we need to and live wholly for the Lord.  It DOES matter, because people will see through all the facade.  They don't need fake.  They have had enough fake.  They need the Truth and the Word of God is Truth.  We need to present the Truth to them by living it, thinking it and speaking it.

Verse 11) Paul acted like a father to the people he was ministering to.  He said he "exhorted each of you, and encouraged you, and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, Who calls you unto His own kingdom and glory."

Always exhort, encourage and call people to walk with the Lord.  Nothing else matters.

I want to encourage all of you to be as Paul.  Walk worthy of the vocation God has called you to.  Repent where you need to and go and share the gospel.  People need yours and my help.  Jesus is coming soon.  Be working for Him!

Revelation: Seven Spirits of God

Seven Spirits of God:  Isaiah 11:2  “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;”

  The Spirit of the Lord:  First off a church or a person needs to do is to repent and turn to the Lord.  Seek His will for congregation or self and serve Him.

  Spirit of Wisdom:  According to Proverbs 8 Wisdom is easy to get.  She says she lifts her voice wherever people are and calls to them to listen to Her.  Reading through this chapter we find there is no reason for a person to lack Wisdom.  Wisdom by definition is skillful, it is prudence:  knowing right from wrong and staying away from the wrong and doing what is right.

  Spirit of Understanding:  This is comprehension, discerning.  Job 28:28  “And unto man he said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”  A lack of this kind of understand was morally culpable (that is guilty, criminal, deserving of censure or moral blame) and resulted in sin and even more drove away God’s compassion for person who did not have it.  A lack of this wisdom is why people do and justify the wrong they want to live in.

Spirit of Counsel:    Advice, purpose, plan.  God has advice--His Word for us; He made us with and has a purpose and a plan in mind for us.  We need to seek His Word and Him in prayer.

  Spirit of Might:  This is force of valor, victory, mastery.  It means to be a powerful warrior and champion.  He has made us all this and strong in Him.  We are victorious in Christ:  1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Spirit of Knowledge:  This is cunning, learning, insight.  40 out of the 91 times used in Proverbs it is associated with wisdom.  Proverbs 24:3-5 “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established.  And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength.”  God holds unbelievers and Israelites responsible to know Him.
  Fear of the Lord:  moral reverence.  
This fear acknowledges God’s good intentions:  Exodus 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, 'Fear not:  for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.'  
It will motivate and delight even the Messiah: Isaiah 11:2-3 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.'  
It is produced by God’s Word: Psalms 119:38 Stablish thy Word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.   Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of the Lord.  
It makes a person receptive to Wisdom and Knowledge:  Proverbs 1:7; 9:10.  
The Fear of the Lord may be lost by despair of one’s own situation (Job 6:14) or by envy of sinner’s (Proverbs 23:17).  
This fear restrains people from sin, it gives confidence, and helps rulers and causes judges to act justly and it results in good sleep.

Revelation: Kings and Priests

 Kings and Priest
contrast the world view with God's view

Kings:  Authority

1 Samuel 8:11-. Israel kept begging God for a king.  They wanted to be like other nations.  Here is what He said and what they got:

––he will reign over you
––take your sons for himself
    –for his chariots
    –as horsemen
    –run before chariots
    –captains over 1000s and 50s
    –ear to the ground (to hear for enemies horses), and to watch for coming enemies
    –to reap the king's harvest
    –to make instruments of war
    –to make instruments of the king's chariots
––take your daughters
    –to be confectionaries
    –cooks
    –bakers
––take your fields
––take your vineyards
––take your oliveyards
––he will take the best and give them to his servants
––he will take 1/10 of your seed, and of your vineyards and give them to his officers and to his servants.
––he will take your menservants and your maidservants and your goodliest young men
––He will take you donkeys and put them to his work.
––He will take 1/10 of your sheep
––and you shall be his servants

V18  And you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you have  chosen; and the Lord shall not hear you.  Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel and said, "No we will have a king over us."
God's kings

Genesis  1:26-27 And God said,"Let Us make man in Our Image. after Our Likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."  So God created man in His Image, in the Image of God created He him; male and female, created He them.

Psalm 8:4-8   What is man, that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?  For you have made him a little lower than the angels and have crowned him with glory and honor.  You made him to have dominion over the work of Your Hands, You have put all things under his feet:   all sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field; the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths of the sea.

Matthew 28:18-20  Jesus won back the power Adam gave to satan,
            Jesus gave it to us

Mark 16: 15-18 & 20
Luke 9:1-5  Jesus gave disciples authority

1 Corinthians 15:27 He has  put all thing under His feet. (We are His body, so it is under us.)

Hebrews 2:6-9  But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that You are mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visited him?  You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of thy hands:  You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.



God's Priests:   Ministers

Isaiah 61. This is about Jesus, but Christians are His body in the earth

preach good tiding unto the meek
bind up the broken hearted
proclaim liberty to the captives
opening prisons to them that are bound
proclaim the accepted year of the Lord.
day of vengeance of our God
to comfort all that mourn

Praying
1 Timothy 2:1-3. Therefore I [exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,  for kings and all who are in [authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.   For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

James 5:16. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,                          Job 42:10  And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Revelation: Summary of Letters to the Churches

 Revelation:  Summary of Letters to the Churches

Church at Ephesus:

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  “He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks."  
The seven stars and the seven golden candlesticks represent Light.  
The seven stars is the pastor of this church; the seven golden candlesticks is the church of Ephesus and also Christians today spreading his Light into the dark places.

Problem:  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  

Solution:  Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen, and repent, and do the first works,

Warning:  or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  

Reward:  “To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

 
Church at Smyrna:

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  “the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive”

Problem:  None!  This is one of only two churches that Jesus did not find any fault with.

Warning:  "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:  behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days..."

Reward:   "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. "

Church at Pergamos:  

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;"

Problem:  "But I have a few things against you, because thou have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of  Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."

Solution:  "Repent

Warning:  or else I will come unto you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

Reward:  "He that hath and ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, to him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it."

Church at Thyatira:

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  "These things saith the  Son of  God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass;"

Problem:  "I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest (allows) that woman jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

Warning:  "I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

Solution:  "But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come."

Reward:  "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers:  even as I received of my Father.  And I will give him the morning star."

Church at Sardis:

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  "These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars"

Problem:  "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."  "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die:  for I have not found thy works perfect before God."

Solution:  "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent."

Warning:  "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."

Commending:  "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white:  for they are worthy."

Reward:  "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels."

Church of Philadelphia

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  "These things saith He that is holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"

Note about the door that He opens and no man shuts and shuts and no man opens:  Once the door is opened, and it now is, anyone can receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  But once that door is shut, judgment is sure.

Problem:  None.    "I know thy works:  behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."

Jesus' promise:  "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.   Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

Reassurance:  "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I will come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

Reward:  "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:  and I will write upon him the  name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:  and I will write upon him my new name."


And to every church and to all of us the Lord says:  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

These letters act as a mirror for us to look into today.  To see where we need to repent, where we need to make changes, to receive encouragement, to hear and pay attention to warnings of up coming things, warning of what will happen if we don't repent.  These are to be taken to heart.

Revelation: Church of Laodicea

 Revelation:  Church of Laodicea

To the church of Laodicea 14-22
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodicians write;  These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God;  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:  I would thou were cold or hot.  So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind, and naked.  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I  stand at the door, and knock:  if any any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and Am set down with My Father in His throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  

Attribute:  The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God.  

This church is in serious trouble.  They are rich and increasing in material wealth.  Laodicea is known for their wealth and known as a banking center.  They had a famous medical school.  So they are very comfortable, self-confident, self-satisfied and complacent.  They think they are alright with the Lord.  What they are doing is playing both sides.  But they don’t know how very destitute they really are.

V 15    The Lord says I would rather you be one or the other.  

Hot means to be fervent-fervent for the Lord.  
Cold is not walking with the Lord but is able to be persuaded when confronted with the truth.  

V 16    But lukewarm is a very danger position.    They are contented.  They think they have no need.  They are ok financially, socially, they are just contented.
The Lord say He will spue or vomit them out of His mouth.  He will fling them away by force.

V17    In the case with Laodicea they are so wealthy they have no need of any material things and full of pride of what they do have.

Mark 10:17-27 story of the rich man.
V27 Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
    * this is not impossible, just hard
    * eye of the needle is a small gate in Jerusalem
    * the camel has to be unloaded, brought to it's knees and shimmied     
        through the gate.

 Like a young woman that I once knew:  She is from a well-to-do family, self-sufficient;  she told me, "I don't need Him."

It isn't just rich people that are contented either.  It is hard to get people in this position to see the truth.  

Jesus said they don't even know they are wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Wretched––According to Webster's dictionary:  a pitiable person, a poor little person; a banished person, an exile; driven out.

V18    
Buy of Me gold tried in fire, that you may be rich (truly rich)

Gold represents true riches and high quality tried in fire so it is pure.
*Proverbs 23:23-24 Buy the truth

Proverbs 4:1-7 Wisdom is the principal thing = meaning beginning, the first, the chief, the best, the firstfruits.  Used 51 times "it holds the honor of being the first word written in the entire Bible! (Genesis 1:1––In the beginning)

The Word of God is true, fine Gold which brings us salvation, righteousness, brings us into right standing with God, cleans us up and makes us whole.
Isaiah 55:1-2 Buy without money
Reminder:  Proverbs 23:23––Buy the truth and sell it not...

White raiment:
Isaiah 61:10 robe in righteousness
    Matthew 22:12 man came without wedding garment; called friend
    2 Corinthians 5:21 ...we made the righteousness of God in Him
    1 Peter 5:5 clothed in humility
    Ephesians 4:22-24 you do!

Nakedness = being worldly, a person caring more about life here on earth than the Word of God in their life and living it.  It not having the righteousness of God in our lives.

Eye salve = poultice to put on eyes for healing
––the world will put a lot of trash out there in pictures an in writing and the demons will make sure we see them.
Remedy:  Psalm 17: 15 ...behold Your face in righteousness...
           Hebrews 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus...        read in Holman
That is a lot to think about!!––to keep our eyes on.

V19    Job 5:17 Happy is the man whom God corrects:  therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty.

V20    Jesus is calling to them.  Picture of Jesus standing at the door.










V 14   This is where this attribute fits:  

Amen 281 means firm, trustworthy; surely.
Faithful 4103 trustworthy, trustful, faithful, sure, true.  Worthy of belief, trust, or confidence, faithful, worthy of credit.  Faithful in duty to oneself and to others of true fidelity––(Webster's––faithfulness, adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty or discharge of obligations.  Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty)
True 228 alethinos true, real, genuine.  Conformed to the truth.  Real, unfeigned, not fictitious.  i.e. loving truth, veracious (observant of the truth; habitually speaking the truth; truthful.)
Witness 3144 one who testifies or can testify to the truth of what he has seen, heard, knows.  Especially of those who witnessed the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, who bear witness to the truth as it is in Jesus, and testifies to the world what God reveals through Him (A Martyr, One who by His death bears witness to the truth.)
the Beginning of the creations of God.   The Originator and cause of creation


God wants the Laodiceans and us to be trustworthy and faithful to Him.  To be true, genuine, conformed to the Truth and unfeigned––not fictitious and to be a good, true witness of these things, and to Him before others to the point of dying for the Truth if need be.

 In verse 20, He wants to have true fellowship with these people and with us.  He wants us to see how rewarding that fellowship is.  To him that repents and overcomes:

Reward:  “I will make to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

Revelation: Church of Philadelphia

 Revelation:  Church of Philadelphia

To the church  of Philadelphia 7-13
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;  These things saith He that is holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;  I know thy works:  behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.   Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I will come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:  and I will write upon him the  name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:  and I will write upon him my new name.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
 
Attribute:  “He that is holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts and no man opens.”

Jesus said I know:  
 your works
 you have little strength
 you have kept My Word
 You have not denied My Name


V7      "He that"
He that is Holy, and He that is True, He that has the key of David, He that opens and no man shuts; and shuts and no man opens.

These things says He that is Holy, He that is True:
Holy 40 sacred, pure, moral blameless, consecrated
True 228 truthful, real, genuine, conformed to the truth, opposed to that which is false or pretend.

He that has the key of David,  
Key–2807 Kleis, a key as shutting a lock  
*Isaiah 22:21-25.  22

V8    I have set before you and open door..

Door 2374 door, portal or entrance (the opening or closure)

 1Corinthians 16:8-9 Paul said, "But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.  For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."  (Opportunities as well as enemies were waiting.)
Effectual1756 energes––active, operative, powerful

  2 Corinthians 2:12 "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,"

 Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

 Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:  That I may make it manifest, as I speak.

  John 10:9 I Am the Door:  by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

**Matthew 25: 1-13:  The parable of the 10 virgins.
...Key of David once the door is open–salvation is assured.  Anyone can come and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.  But once the door is shut–judgement is certain.  

*We have a door set before us.  A door of opportunity.  A GREAT opportunity!  
John 4:35   Jesus says:  "Say not ye, ' There are yet four months, and comes harvest?'  behold; I say unto. you, 'Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.' ß
We need to take that opportunity and use it fully!  People are waiting for us to tell them about Jesus.
    
 
Strength 1411 dunamis power, miraculous power.  Ability, abundance.  Spoken of intrinsic (internal) power.
Little 3398 mikros small in size, quantity, number or figurative dignity.  least, less, little small.
BUT they have kept God's Word and have not denied Jesus' Name.

V9   Jesus said, "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you."

These people which worship satan are  wearing out the Christians of Philadelphia, that is why they have 'little strength'.  They have not nor will they let go of God's Word.  Jesus is going to step in and they will know they can not mess with God's people.

"I will MAKE them come to worship at your feet...."

Every individual is responsible for doing certain things.  Such as:  each person is to judge themselves, come to the Lord, answer the call He has put on their life,

V10   Condition...Because you have kept the Word of My Patience, I also will keep you...

V11   hold that fast to that which you have, that no one takes your crown.

The word for Churches today is to hold on to God's Word––The Truth no matter how weary we get, hold on and don't let go.  Keep working for the Lord doing what He tells us to do.  He will step in and will deal with the enemy of God's Word and our faith.  We have assurance of salvation and the comfort of belonging to Him and a community of people of like precious faith.


Reward:  He that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God and he shall go no more out (assurance of salvation): and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem (belonging), which cometh down out of heaven from My God:  and I will write upon him My new name.

Revelation: Church at Sardis

Revelation:  Church at Sardis

The church in Sardis Revelation 3:1-6
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;  These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die:  for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.  If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white:  for they are worthy.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.  He that hath and ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Attribute:  He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.

This church is hanging on by a thread.  There is just a few things that remain that is worth anything and they are told by the Lord to strengthen those things for they are ready to die.  Their works before God has NOT been perfect and they need to:

 Remember how they have received and heard the Word of God.  They are to go back to their first love.  When a person first receives Jesus they want to learn all they can about Him and walk close to Him.  They have let other things between them and the Lord and the Lord wants them back.
 Hold fast to it.  The Lord is telling them to hold fast to His Word and to act on it.  Not let it go.
 and Repent back to the things of the Lord.

In verse 2 He tells them:
 to be watchful 1127 Greek gregoreuo keep awake, be vigilant, to arise, arouse.  When we pray for people who are lost, or people who knew the Lord and have walked away like this church has we pray for an awakening for them.  To wake up! and be alert to their situation and the deceits of the enemy.  WAKE UP!   BE SOBER and BE VIGILANT because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.  1 Peter 5:8
 and strengthen the things which remain.  Strengthen is from 4741 sterizo which means to be steadfast;  to turn resolutely––to be decided, to be fixed, inflexible, constant and unshaken, to confirm, set, stablish

There are only a few people who are worthy to walk with the Lord in white.

The attributes given to this church is what is need to revive them and to bring them back to life in Jesus.

Seven is the number of perfection.  We are told to be perfect:  Matthew 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Seven stars: again this means light; shedding light to see and to know what is the truth.  Even in darkness God is shedding His light for people to repent and to turn to Him.  He wants everyone to come to know Him because He loves each and every one of us!

Seven Spirits of God:  Isaiah 11:2  “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;”

  The Spirit of the Lord:  First off a church or a person needs to do is to repent and turn to the Lord.  Seek His will for congregation or self and serve Him.
  Spirit of Wisdom:  According to Proverbs 8 Wisdom is easy to get.  She says she lifts her voice wherever people are and calls to them to listen to Her.  Reading through this chapter we find there is no reason for a person to lack Wisdom.  Wisdom by definition is skillful, it is prudence:  knowing right from wrong and staying away from the wrong and doing what is right.
  Spirit of Understanding:  This is comprehension, discerning.  Job 28:28  “And unto man he said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”  A lack of this kind of understand was morally culpable (that is guilty, criminal, deserving of censure or moral blame) and resulted in sin and even more drove away God’s compassion for person who did not have it.  A lack of this wisdom is why people do and justify the wrong they want to live in.
Spirit of Counsel:    Advice, purpose, plan.  God has advice--His Word for us; He made us with and has a purpose and a plan in mind for us.  We need to seek His Word and Him in prayer.
  Spirit of Might:  This is force of valor, victory, mastery.  It means to be a powerful warrior and champion.  He has made us all this and strong in Him.  We are victorious in Christ:  1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  
  Spirit of Knowledge:  This is cunning, learning, insight.  40 out of the 91 times used in Proverbs it is associated with wisdom.  Proverbs 24:3-5 “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established.  And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength.”  God holds unbelievers and Israelites responsible to know Him.
  Fear of the Lord:  moral reverence.  
This fear acknowledges God’s good intentions:  Exodus 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, 'Fear not:  for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.'  
It will motivate and delight even the Messiah: Isaiah 11:2-3 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.'  
It is produced by God’s Word: Psalms 119:38 Stablish thy Word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.   Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of the Lord.  
It makes a person receptive to Wisdom and Knowledge:  Proverbs 1:7; 9:10.  
The Fear of the Lord may be lost by despair of one’s own situation (Job 6:14) or by envy of sinner’s (Proverbs 23:17).  
This fear restrains people from sin, it gives confidence, and helps rulers and causes judges to act justly and it results in good sleep.
I suggest reading through Proverbs chapter 8.

Sardis and anyone today that is lacking; needs to repent and seek the Seven Spirits of God.  And he that overcomes
Reward:  “The same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.”
Addendum:  Proverbs Chapter 8 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

V1 Doesn't Wisdom call out?  Doesn't Understand make her voice heard?
V2 At the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads, she takes her stand.  
V3 Beside the gates at the entry to the city, at the main entrance, she cries out:
V4 "People, I call out to you; my cry is to mankind.
V5 Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish.
V6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right.
V7 For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
V8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse.
V9 All of them are clear to the perceptive and right to those who discover knowledge.
V10 Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
V11 For wisdom is better than precious stones, and nothing desirable can compare with it.
V12 I, Wisdom share a home with Shrewdness and have Knowledge and Discretion.
V13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.  I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
V14 I possess good advice and competence; I have understanding and strength.
V15 It is by me that kings reign and rulers enact just law;
V16 by me, princes lead, as do nobles [and] all righteous judges.
V17 I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.
V18 With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
V19 My fruit is better than solid gold and my harvest than pure silver.
V20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
V21 giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

V22 The Lord made me at the beginning of His creations, before His works of long ago.
V23 I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.
V24 I was brought forth when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water.
V25 I was brought forth before the mountains and hills were established,
V26 before He made the land, the fields, or the first soil on the earth.
V27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
V28 when He placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed forth,
V29 when He set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate His command, when He laid out the foundations of the earth.
V30 I was a skilled craftsman beside Him.  I was His delight every day, always rejoicing before Him.
V31 I was rejoicing in His inhabited world, delighting in the human race.

V32 And now, [my] sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy.
V33 Listen to instructions and be wise; don't ignore it.
V34 Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors everyday, waiting by the posts of my doorway.
V35 For the one who finds me finds lift and obtains favor from the Lord,
V36 but the one who sins against me harms himself; all who hate em love death.