RevealFellowship

The church at Sardis looked alive -- but they were dead. But there was a remnant in Sardis. That remnant was born of barreness, cried out to God, worshiped and ministered to the Lord, grew in grace, heard the voice of God, and spoke his word boldly. Are you a part of the remnant of God?

Jesus writes to the church at Smyrna, which was going through great pressure and tribulation. The name Smyrna means myrrh, which is associated with suffering, healing, and its powerful and sweet smell. Myrrh is activated when it is crushed or burned. It is through pressure that God draws us to himself and makes us shine. And he tells us, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

"You have left your first love." In the letter to the church at Ephesus, Jesus was not as concerned with their actions as with their heart before him. The Christians in Ephesus had lost their first love with Jesus. Their answer is our answer. Remember. Repent. Return. Return to him and to that first love. Have you left your first love?

The Apostle John knew Jesus better after the persecution and pain he experienced on the island of Patmos. Similarly, your experience of the kingdom of God is preceded by your Patmos. Tribulation is needed to make you shine. Where is your kingdom? What is your dedication to that kingdom?

The book of Revelation does not exist just to inform us. The book of Revelation was written to reveal Jesus Christ to the church and to the world. The apostle John knew and loved Jesus before this book was written. But on the isle of Patmos, he saw Jesus in an entirely new way. If you will see the book of Revelation through the Spirit, you will see Jesus in an entirely new way. And your heart will be changed.

It seems as if our world is changing. So what will happen next? The book of Revelation tells us of wars, famine, hyper-inflation, and disease. Are we seeing the beginning of these prophecies? We need to understand that God gives us prophecy, not to scare us, but to prepare us. So are you preparing?

God calls us to remember where we have been, and consider where we are going. Just like Israel, we need to remember that God has done a great work of mercy and deliverance in our past. And where are you going? What is your purpose? What gifts has God given you? And what has God called you to do and to be? So where have you come from? And where are you going?

What is your first priority? What does your heart live for? Many things can occupy your attention – but what is the most important? Where is prayer on your list? How important is your communication with God? Prayer engages God and results in his will being done in your life and on the earth. The quality of your life depends on your living communication with Jesus. So what is your first priority?

We battle spiritual forces that are trying to destroy us. So how can we win that war? Your dedication is the first step in finding and living your victory in God. Are you living for yourself? Or are you living to please your Lord? Then you must partner with others to renew your mind to God's Word and his ways. If you do this, you will rumble!

Real people have found articles in their attic that were worth millions of dollars. They owned that treasure for years, but they did not know it's worth. God has given us treasures -- endless blessings inherited by God's children in in Christ. They are eternal and incomparable. They include resurrection power, new life, God's favor, God's love and presence, wisdom and knowledge, everything you need, and much more. Do you know the riches that God has given you? You can find them in his Word.

How long until it is over? In Daniel 12, God showed Daniel the events of the end of time. There will be a great tribulation period when Satan will try to destroy Israel and the Church, but at the end the power of the Antichrist will be destroyed. Then Jesus will return and set up his millennial kingdom. That time is coming! Are you ready?