Peace and grace in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3:1-6 is about the church in Sardis.
Revelation 3:2-3
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.
3:3 "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
The last sanctification for the church in Sardis happens so that they or all of us can have the spiritual revival or always watch. We must watch especially about these two things.
ad. 2. Watching about Jesus’ second coming.
Acts 1:10-11
1:10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
1:11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manneras you saw Him go into heaven."
Let the Ascension reminds us that Jesus will come a second time on the glorious clouds.
We must watch. It is related to the time of Jesus’ second coming that like a thief.
There are two kinds of possibilities as follows.
How can we watch in the relationship with the second coming of Jesus that is like a thief?
Mark 13:33-35
13:33 "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
13:34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
13:35 "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming––in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning––
God blesses you.
Revelation 3:1-6 is about the church in Sardis.
Revelation 3:2-3
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.
3:3 "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
The last sanctification for the church in Sardis happens so that they or all of us can have the spiritual revival or always watch. We must watch especially about these two things.
- Consecration or the service and ministry to God.
- Jesus’ second coming.
ad. 2. Watching about Jesus’ second coming.
Acts 1:10-11
1:10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
1:11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manneras you saw Him go into heaven."
Let the Ascension reminds us that Jesus will come a second time on the glorious clouds.
We must watch. It is related to the time of Jesus’ second coming that like a thief.
There are two kinds of possibilities as follows.
- Nor watching, Jesus’ second coming will be like a thief. It means one is left behind and perishes.
- Watching, one keeps on being in the spiritual revival. He will see the second coming of Jesus on the glorious clouds and be lifted up with Him forever.
How can we watch in the relationship with the second coming of Jesus that is like a thief?
Mark 13:33-35
13:33 "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
13:34 "It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
13:35 "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming––in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning––
- In pthe evening (6 p.m. – 9 p.m.).
Luke 24:29-32
24:29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.
24:30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
24:32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
We must watch in the FAITH. We must be fervent in spirit in the true teaching Word and Holy Communion through the perseverance in doing Bible Study Service with Holy Communion (Table of Showbread) so that the true teaching Word can be ingrained in our life to become the life experience and practice.
Luke 24:31
24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
The results are as follows.- Our eyes are opened to know Jesus more clearly.
We can understand, believe, and obey the revelation of the true teaching Word more.
There is the solution or opened way of all things, even the opened way of heaven, where there is the revelation of God’s Word or the true teaching Word.
The Word we hold, understand, believe, and obey will be the guarantee of our life assurance from God. - Our faith is more approved, even perfect like pure gold.
It means that we are not moved, disappointed, or hopeless in facing the temptation. We can keep on believing and hoping in God. We are not moved by the false teachings, but keep on holding fast the true teaching Word.
Luke 18:8
18:8 "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"
- Our eyes are opened to know Jesus more clearly.
- At midnight (9 p.m. – 12 midnight).
It refers to the darkest time. We must be watchful in the HOPEor the light so that our lamp keeps on burning.
Matthew 25:1-7
25:1 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
25:2 "Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
25:3 "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
25:4 "but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
25:5 "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
25:6 "And at midnighta cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
25:7 "Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
We must have the oil for supply or the abundant Holy Spirit so that our lamp keeps on burning. We can get it through the perseverance in doing General Service or the Golden Candlestick where we can have the fellowship with Holy Spirit God and the gifts.
The proofs of having the burning lamp are as follows.- Radiating the light, namely good and right deeds that become blessings for others.
Matthew 5:15-16,14
5:15 "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
It begins from the marriage and household. The husband must love the wife as his own body and does not do bitterly toward her. The wife must be submissive to the husband in all things. The children must be obedient to the parents.
Afterwards, we must radiate the light before all people. We must do right and good deeds.
The burning lamp cannot be covered by the bed and basket. It means that we cannot fall in the sin up to the peak. We cannot be hindered by the darkness in economy.
Until someday we become the light of the world or the perfect life, namely the bride of God with the light of the sun, moon, and stars. - Serving and ministering to God faithfully, fervently in spirit, and well.
Matthew 25:21
25:21 "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Being faithful over a few things is the maximum level of the light.
As a result, we can be trusted in the big things, namely the ministry for building the perfect body of Christ. - Living in holiness just as Jesus is holy until someday we are as perfect as He is.
1 John 3:2-3
3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
- Radiating the light, namely good and right deeds that become blessings for others.
- At the crowing of the rooster(12 midnight – 3 a.m.).
This is the coldest time. We must be watchful in the LOVEof God. We must always feel the warmth of God’s love through the perseverance in doing Prayer Service or the Golden Altar of Incense.
Matthew 24:12
24:12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
The love grows cold and the lawlessness abounds in the last days, especially to the servants of God.
Luke 22:54-60
22:54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.
22:55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.
22:56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him."
22:57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."
22:58 And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"
22:59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."
22:60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
The facts found in the spiritual cold are as follows.- Following Jesus at a distance. It means not being fervent in spirit anymore in doing the service and ministry to God.
- Not being satisfied, but murmuring, so one looks for the satisfaction in the fire of the world and sin. Being near the fire of the world and sin means being near the fire of hell.
- Being rebellious and denying God. The rebellion begins from the marriage, namely quarrel and violence in the household.
Luke 22:61-62
22:61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
22:62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
The proof of receiving the merciful sight of the Lord is like Peter who wept bitterly. It means that we can know ourselves with our weakness and sin, regret, and confess to God and others honestly. We do not repeat the sin after being forgiven. The love covers the multitude of sin.
Thus, watching in the relationship with the second coming of Jesus means we watch in the faith, hope, and love. The faith is represented by James. The hope is represented by Peter, and the love by John.
Watching in the faith, hope, and love happens in the Holy Place or perseverance in doing the three main services to God. We must be shepherded well and correctly to welcome Jesus’ second coming.
The results are as follows.- We experience the spiritual miracle, namely the life renewal from carnal men to spiritual ones like Jesus is.
Matthew 17:1-2
17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and Johnhis brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
17:2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
It begins from the ears hearing and obeying the true teaching Word.
Mark 7:37
7:37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
The mouth is changed so that it can speak right and good words. As a result, God makes all things good. - All problems are solved by God.
Mark 5:35,37,41-43
5:35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"
5:37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and Johnthe brother of James.
5:41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."
5:42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.
5:43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat. - Being used as the pillars in the ministry for building the perfect body of Christ.
Galatians 2:9
2:9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
This is the steps of miracle. All things become successful and beautiful in His time. The last miracle happens when Jesus comes a second time that we are changed to be as perfect and glorious as Jesus is. We can see Him face to face forever.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
God blesses you.