23aysihc

Are You Standing In Hot Coals?

Lesson Twenty-Three: by turtle

Revelation three that John writes is what we will be looking at today. These three churches are unique,
as were the others. However I want to look at the positive things Christ told John about them.

Revelation 3:1-6 KJV
(1) 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.
(2) Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found
thy works perfect before God.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
(6) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To be dead here is to be non active for Jesus. To lack works. To be people of faith without works is
dangerous. All we need to do is believe to be saved. Believe on God’s only Son, His name we know is
Jesus Christ.

John 3:14-16 KJV
(14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
(16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We are to believe in Jesus to be saved. Jesus is God, He was the very word of God that became flesh.
He is the Son of God. He sits at the right hand of the Father. Nothing changes these Biblical facts.
However our works are a testimony of who we are in Christ. Without works are faith our belief is
dead. We say Christ saves, then why are we not testifying. I do not go 24/7 testifying of my Savior.
Actually I find one way to testify is online. One way I can minister to others is to encourage others. It
called edification in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV
(3) But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV
(12) Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying
of the church.

To edify is not to always patting everyone on the back and say good job will done. Sometimes it is to
say bad, terrible job. It like finding that dirty dish that only got half clean in the sink drainer. It is a job
half done. Most in the church would agree they would rather people only see the good side of them.
No one wants anyone to see that side that is bad. However there is that problem in Sardis of a lack of
works. Taking tuna fish and pickles to someone because you care is works? Taking grocery to a
neighbor is works? I am talking works of faith not works in the since of a paying job or making a trade.
Almost everyone in the world gives to some degree. God’s work is speaking about Him and not
denying who He is, giving and not expecting anything back.

James 2:14-20 KJV
(14) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith
save him?
(15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
(16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye
give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
(17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
(18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works,
and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
(19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
(20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Several things to note here. One faith without works is dead, the devil believes and trembles. The
devil will even testify who Christ is.

Luke 4:34 KJV
(34) Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to
destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

With this said it is not enough to Say Jesus is Lord, but not enough to testify or to do good works by
giving to others without reward. Yet Sardis was a church that lack works and not belief. Most churches
have several or all of these traits to be called a church of believers. However not all groups are
believers and not all groups have works. With this said, one needs to know what your church believes.
A church without documentation of what it believes is a red flag. I am going to restate these earlier
verses in Revelations 3:

(2) Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found
thy works perfect before God.
(3) 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.

Many can discern the time.

Matthew 16:2-5 KJV
(2) He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is
red.
(3) And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites,
ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
(4) A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it,
but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
(5) And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

Last note to remember about this lesson Christ says if we will repent then what. Lets look at the last
verse in Revelations 3 that is apart of our lesson.

(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.