Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:1-6 is about the church in Sardis.
There are three groups in the church in Sardis we can find in Revelation 3:1-4 as follows.
These groups are the same as the ones of Jesus’ followers [Matthew 8:18-27] as follows.
Ad.1 The group of the scribe that is the same as the group that is named alive, but they are dead.
Matthew 8:18-20
8:18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
8:19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
8:20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
The scribe wanted to follow Jesus wherever He went. It means actively doing the service and ministry, so one seems alive, but actually dies. Why? It happens because the service and ministry do not put Jesus as the Head nor prioritize the true teaching Word, but other things or physical ones. It means the body without the head and it dies. Consequently, one is ruled over by the two other heads, namely foxes and birds.
The foxes refer to the evil spirits and desires, namely the love of money.
1 Timothy 6:10
6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The facts found in it are as follows.
The bird refers to the unclean spirit and desires that aim at the sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage or sexuality sin with all its kinds, sexual deviation, and wrong marriage.
Revelation 18:2
18:2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!
Jeremiah 51:37
51:37 Babylon shall become a heap, A dwelling place for jackals, An astonishment and a hissing, Without an inhabitant.
Being ruled by foxes and birds, one is used in the building of the body of Babylon or the bride of Satan that will be destroyed.
Therefore, we must prioritize the true teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword in our service and ministry to God.
Hebrews 4:12-13
4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Being sanctified from the evil desires or foxes and unclean ones or birds, Jesus becomes the Head in our life. There is no place for foxes and birds to dwell in us.
Mark 7:21-23
7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries(1), fornications(2), murders(3),
7:22 thefts(4), covetousness(5), wickedness(6), deceit(7), lewdness(8), an evil eye(9), blasphemy(10), pride(11), foolishness(12).
7:23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
If our heart is sanctified from the twelve evil and unclean desires, it will be filled with the twelve loaves that are set in two rows, six in a row. They refer to the sixty six books in the Bible, namely the true teaching Word.
Ephesians 4:11-12
4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
If our life is holy, we will be equipped with the ministry and gifts of Holy Spirit that we are used in the ministry for building the perfect body of Christ.
2 Timothy 1:6
1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
The warning for us who have already ministered to God is we must be faithful and fervent in spirit doing the ministry in the gifts of Holy Spirit until the end, namely we die or Jesus comes a second time.
Hebrews 1:7
1:7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."
The holy, faithful, and fervent minister of God is the same as the flame of fire.
Revelation 1:14
1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
The eyes of the Lord are like the flame of fire. Thus, the holy, faithful, and fervent minister of God is the same as the apple of God’s eye or placing Jesus as the Head.
Ad.2. The group of the disciple that buried the dead person = the group that is ready to die.
Matthew 8:21-22
8:21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
8:22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
The disciple refers to one who has received the true teachings, but does not obey, even rejects it.
Burying the dead means as follows.
Ad.3. The group of twelve disciples who were with Jesus in a boat is the same as the group that is worthy to walk with Jesus in white.
Matthew 8:23-26
8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
8:24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
8:25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!"
8:26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Crossing means entering the revival of the building of Christ’s body. It begins from marriage, shepherding, inter-shepherding fellowship, up to the perfect body of Christ.
It also means crossing the sea of the world to go to the desired haven, namely New Jerusalem.
We need to sacrifice in order to be able to cross, except the true teaching Word must not be sacrificed.
Crossing, there will be challenge, namely the tempest and waves. Physically they refer to the temptations in all aspects of life, economy, and health, as well as impossible problems, and so on. Spiritually, they refer to the sins up to the peak, false teaching, gossip, and so on.
They are blown by Satan with the power of death to drown us so that we cannot reach the desired haven. Be alert because they may come suddenly and no one can predict the time of their coming nor overcome them.
The solution from God is that Jesus must sleep or die on the cross.
Hebrews 2:14-18
2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
2:15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
2:16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Jesus must die on the cross to be the High Priest sitting at the right hand of Father God to defeat the death and make the tempest and waves calm. He also stretches out the merciful hands to be able to help us in time of need.
Mark 4:39
4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
As for us, being asleep means that we must be silent and quiet.
Being silent means correcting ourselves by the work of the Word. If there is sin, we confess it to God and others. We do not repeat the sin after being forgiven. We repent. We do not need to plead for ourselves when we find no sin.
Being quiet means that we are shepherded well and correctly in the shepherding pen. We persevere in doing the three main services to God and obey Him. It also means that we can control ourselves by the sharpness of the sword of God’s Word. We do not hope in others, but God. We only believe in Him, so we can pray.
1 Peter 4:7
4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
Being silent and quiet is the same as lifting up the hands to God. As a result, He stretches out the merciful hands to make the tempest and waves calm. All things are calm and peaceful.
Romans 16:20
16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
The Lord gives us victory over Satan, the source of problems. God is able to solve all problems.
The Lord gives us victory over Satan who is the source of failures. All things are restored and made successful.
All things are easy and light and we are used by God.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Jesus the High Priest is able to preserve our life miraculously in the midst of impossibilities. He is able to sanctify our body, soul, and spirit until they are perfect and flawless when He comes a second time.
God blesses you.
Revelation 3:1-6 is about the church in Sardis.
There are three groups in the church in Sardis we can find in Revelation 3:1-4 as follows.
- The group that is named alive, but they are dead.
Revelation 3:1
3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. - The group that is ready to die.
Revelation 3:2
3:2 "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. - The group that is worthy to walk with Jesus in white.
Revelation 3:4
3:4 "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
These groups are the same as the ones of Jesus’ followers [Matthew 8:18-27] as follows.
- The group of the scribe [Matthew 8:18-20] that is the same as the group that is named alive, but they are dead.
Matthew 8:18-19
8:18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
8:19 Then a certain scribecame and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." - The group of the disciple that buried the dead person [Matthew 8:21-22] that is the same as the group that is ready to die.
Matthew 8:21
8:21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and burymy father." - The group of twelve disciples who were with Jesus in a boat [Matthew 8:23-27] is the same as the group that is worthy to walk with Jesus in white.
Matthew 8:23
8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
Ad.1 The group of the scribe that is the same as the group that is named alive, but they are dead.
Matthew 8:18-20
8:18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
8:19 Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."
8:20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
The scribe wanted to follow Jesus wherever He went. It means actively doing the service and ministry, so one seems alive, but actually dies. Why? It happens because the service and ministry do not put Jesus as the Head nor prioritize the true teaching Word, but other things or physical ones. It means the body without the head and it dies. Consequently, one is ruled over by the two other heads, namely foxes and birds.
The foxes refer to the evil spirits and desires, namely the love of money.
1 Timothy 6:10
6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The facts found in it are as follows.
- Looking for money in illegal ways, serving and ministering to God only to look for physical things, and leaving the service and ministry only to look for money.
- Stinginess and greediness.
Stinginess means that one cannot give for the work of God and other people who need. Greediness means robbing the possessions of others through making corruption, not paying the debts, and so on, as well as the ones of God such as the tithes and offerings. Judas formerly stole the money of God and perished. The trust of God to a pastor to receive the tithes and offerings that will be stolen now. If a pastor is not trusted in receiving the tithes and offerings, there will be no spiritual food for the congregation and they will be hungry and dry spiritually.
The bird refers to the unclean spirit and desires that aim at the sins concerning eating-drinking and marrying-being given in marriage or sexuality sin with all its kinds, sexual deviation, and wrong marriage.
Revelation 18:2
18:2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!
Jeremiah 51:37
51:37 Babylon shall become a heap, A dwelling place for jackals, An astonishment and a hissing, Without an inhabitant.
Being ruled by foxes and birds, one is used in the building of the body of Babylon or the bride of Satan that will be destroyed.
Therefore, we must prioritize the true teaching Word sharper than any two-edged sword in our service and ministry to God.
Hebrews 4:12-13
4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Being sanctified from the evil desires or foxes and unclean ones or birds, Jesus becomes the Head in our life. There is no place for foxes and birds to dwell in us.
Mark 7:21-23
7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries(1), fornications(2), murders(3),
7:22 thefts(4), covetousness(5), wickedness(6), deceit(7), lewdness(8), an evil eye(9), blasphemy(10), pride(11), foolishness(12).
7:23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
If our heart is sanctified from the twelve evil and unclean desires, it will be filled with the twelve loaves that are set in two rows, six in a row. They refer to the sixty six books in the Bible, namely the true teaching Word.
Ephesians 4:11-12
4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
If our life is holy, we will be equipped with the ministry and gifts of Holy Spirit that we are used in the ministry for building the perfect body of Christ.
2 Timothy 1:6
1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
The warning for us who have already ministered to God is we must be faithful and fervent in spirit doing the ministry in the gifts of Holy Spirit until the end, namely we die or Jesus comes a second time.
Hebrews 1:7
1:7 And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire."
The holy, faithful, and fervent minister of God is the same as the flame of fire.
Revelation 1:14
1:14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
The eyes of the Lord are like the flame of fire. Thus, the holy, faithful, and fervent minister of God is the same as the apple of God’s eye or placing Jesus as the Head.
Ad.2. The group of the disciple that buried the dead person = the group that is ready to die.
Matthew 8:21-22
8:21 Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
8:22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
The disciple refers to one who has received the true teachings, but does not obey, even rejects it.
Burying the dead means as follows.
- Being busy with the dead body.
An organization has a man as the chairman. If the boards refuse the true teaching Word and there is no sanctification, they will be the rebellious men like the antichrist who wants to be praised and worshiped, even use all ways including the illegal ways in order to get the power.
On the contrary, we are ministering the organism or the body of Christ if we live in holiness.
Ephesians 4:2
4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
We must minister to God in lowliness of heart, gentleness, and longsuffering.
The lowliness of heart means the ability to confess the sin honestly to God and others. We do not repeat the sin after being forgiven.
The gentleness means the ability to forgive the sins of others and forget them.
The longsuffering means the willingness of heart to suffer for helping others.
Being busy to arrange the organization, household, and shepherding with the holiness, lowliness of heart, and longsuffering, all things we do will aim at the organism or the building of the perfect body of Christ. - The dead body is the same as the one that is ruled over by the death.
It means the human in blood and flesh that does not experience the life renewal nor inherit the kingdom of God, but goes toward perdition.
2 Timothy 3: 1-5
3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves(1), lovers of money(2), boasters(3), proud(4), blasphemers(5), disobedient to parents(6), unthankful(7), unholy(8),
3:3 unloving(9), unforgiving(10), slanderers(11), without self–control(12), brutal(13), despisers of good(14),
3:4 traitors(15), headstrong(16), haughty(17), lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God(18),
3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
The dead body refers to the servants of God who have served and ministered to Him, but reject the power, namely the true teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ. They have the form of godliness, but pursue the fleshly prosperity and entertainment. Consequently, there is no life renewal. They keep the fleshly man with the eighteen flesh characteristics and get the stamp 666 of the antichrist. They appear as the beast.
Luke 13:10-11
13:10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
13:11 And behold, there was a womanwho had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent overand could in no way raise herself up.
Their condition is the same as the woman who was bent over for eighteen years in the synagogue. She could in no way raise herself up. It means not glorifying God, but making Him grieved. Finally they will be destroyed together with the antichrist.
Ephesians 4:21-25
4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
4:23 and be renewedin the spirit of your mind,
4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
On the contrary, ones who receive the true teaching Word and willingly get the sanctification and life renewal will glorify God. The life renewal begins from not lying. Such people are the same as the boards that stand upright upon the silver sockets, namely the true teaching Word and the sacrifice of Christ.
Isaiah 49:3-4
49:3 "And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.’
49:4 Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.’"
As a result, there is a guarantee from Jesus as the Head that our work and reward are in the hands of God from now on until we get the beautiful future life and eternal one.
Ad.3. The group of twelve disciples who were with Jesus in a boat is the same as the group that is worthy to walk with Jesus in white.
Matthew 8:23-26
8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
8:24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
8:25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!"
8:26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Crossing means entering the revival of the building of Christ’s body. It begins from marriage, shepherding, inter-shepherding fellowship, up to the perfect body of Christ.
It also means crossing the sea of the world to go to the desired haven, namely New Jerusalem.
We need to sacrifice in order to be able to cross, except the true teaching Word must not be sacrificed.
Crossing, there will be challenge, namely the tempest and waves. Physically they refer to the temptations in all aspects of life, economy, and health, as well as impossible problems, and so on. Spiritually, they refer to the sins up to the peak, false teaching, gossip, and so on.
They are blown by Satan with the power of death to drown us so that we cannot reach the desired haven. Be alert because they may come suddenly and no one can predict the time of their coming nor overcome them.
The solution from God is that Jesus must sleep or die on the cross.
Hebrews 2:14-18
2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
2:15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
2:16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Jesus must die on the cross to be the High Priest sitting at the right hand of Father God to defeat the death and make the tempest and waves calm. He also stretches out the merciful hands to be able to help us in time of need.
Mark 4:39
4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
As for us, being asleep means that we must be silent and quiet.
Being silent means correcting ourselves by the work of the Word. If there is sin, we confess it to God and others. We do not repeat the sin after being forgiven. We repent. We do not need to plead for ourselves when we find no sin.
Being quiet means that we are shepherded well and correctly in the shepherding pen. We persevere in doing the three main services to God and obey Him. It also means that we can control ourselves by the sharpness of the sword of God’s Word. We do not hope in others, but God. We only believe in Him, so we can pray.
1 Peter 4:7
4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
Being silent and quiet is the same as lifting up the hands to God. As a result, He stretches out the merciful hands to make the tempest and waves calm. All things are calm and peaceful.
Romans 16:20
16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
The Lord gives us victory over Satan, the source of problems. God is able to solve all problems.
The Lord gives us victory over Satan who is the source of failures. All things are restored and made successful.
All things are easy and light and we are used by God.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Jesus the High Priest is able to preserve our life miraculously in the midst of impossibilities. He is able to sanctify our body, soul, and spirit until they are perfect and flawless when He comes a second time.
God blesses you.