In Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, God’s people are commanded to have no other God than The Lord. It is part of The Ten Commandments.

In the New Testament, Jesus describes the kind of worshipers God is looking to follow Him: “Yet a time is coming and now has come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Because God is spirit, He is seeking worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and truth. It is therefore important to develop great sensitivity to the Holy Spirit (See earlier blog series) and to Jesus who is The Truth.

Scriptures:

 Exodus 20:3 (NLT)
“You must not have any other god but me.”

John 4:23-24 (NIV)
²³  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
²⁴  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.

John 14:6 (NIV)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, You are seeking worshipers who will worship You in spirit and in truth. Teach me clearly just exactly what You mean by worshiping You “in spirit and in truth” and empower me by Your Holy Spirit to worship You in such a way always.

Jesus, You are “the way and the truth and the life” and no one can come to the Father except through You. Draw me closer and closer to You Jesus because You and the Father are one (John 17:22) and I desire to be one with You and the Father.

Also strengthen me to offer my body as a living sacrifice to You and let it be holy and pleasing to You, Heavenly Father – it will be my spiritual act of worship to You in spirit and in truth to Your glory and honor and praise and delight in Jesus’ Almighty Name. Amen

God has plans for all people, Christians included. It is called knowing and doing God’s will. His will is comprised of two parts: (1) God’s General (or Universal) Will which is the same for all believers, and (2) God’s Specific Plan for each individual follower of Jesus Christ. The latte plan is unique to each person and may be different from person to person depending on God’s individual purpose and plan for one’s life and ministry.

Being a Revelation Overcomer means to understand what God’s General and Individual Plans for one’s life and ministry are and actually doing them according to the Word of God and the instructions of the Holy Spirit.

Scriptures:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)
… so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Job 8:7 (NIV)
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.

Jeremiah 1:12 (NIV)
The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, teach me Your General and Individual will for my life and ministry. Show me how to live my life according to Your plans and purposes. Forgive me for the times I have missed, overlooked or ignored Your will for my life or ministry. Have mercy on me for Jesus’ sake and give me a new start by Your grace.

Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to know and do your will at all times and in all places. Anoint me by Your Spirit to be a Revelation Overcomer and fulfill all of Your redemptive plans and purposes to Your glory and honor and praise and delight in Jesus’ Almighty and Everlasting Name. Amen

Never Deny the Name of Jesus

Continuing from RO Focus 5 on the Revelation Overcomer church of Philadelphia, they were true to the Word of God and they never denied the Name of Jesus.

It must have been a significant challenge for the Philadelphia church to fight those who attacked them from the synagogue of Satan. Undoubtedly, these folks were trying to force the Revelation Overcomers in Philadelphia to deny the Name of Jesus. But the believers in that church repeatedly refused to cave in to Satan’s lies and deceptive misrepresentations.

They stood firm on the Word of God and they never denied the Name of Jesus. Their faith was strong, true and unwavering!

 Scriptures:

Revelation 3:8 (NIV)
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Revelation 2:13 (NIV)
I know where you live–where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city–where Satan lives (The church in Pergamum, but also true for the Christian church in Philadelphia)

Revelation 3:11 (NIV)
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, thank You that you have set before me an open door which no one can close! Help me to recognize that door and strengthen me to walk though it in accordance with Your will and in Your time. I desire to be a Revelation Overcomer so strengthen me, Holy Spirit, to always keep the Word of God and never deny the Name of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, You will soon be returning to bring Your bride back to the Wedding Feast with no end. May I be ready and may my family and my congregation, indeed, the entire body of Christ worldwide be ready for Your soon return having fulfilled all of Your redemptive plans and purposes to Your glory and honor and praise and delight in Jesus’ Everlasting Name. Amen

True to the Word of God

In reading Revelation 1-3 concerning the seven churches and their spiritual conditions, it seems only one church has it “all-together.” That is the church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13). It is described as having “little strength.” This is not a spiritual weakness, but rather an indication it was a small Christian church with few members. Why does the church in Philadelphia walk in victory as a true Revelation Overcomer even though they were located in the community with the synagogue of Satan? In addition to the attributes and characteristics discussed above in the previous Revelation Overcomer segments, they also practice two most important Christian life-styles: They were true to the Word of God and they never denied the name of Jesus. The first practice is the prayer topic of this life-style practice.

The Word of God is the basic foundation for all Truth in Jesus Christ Who is our Savior and Lord. It is an anchor which keeps us from drifting from the God’s Eternal Truth. Remember Jesus is “The Way, the Truth and Life and no one comes to the Father except through Jesus, His Son.” All other foundations are quicksand compared to the Bible. It is the foundation for all life and ministry in the kingdom of God. No wonder the church in Philadelphia were always true to the Word of God!

Scriptures:

Jeremiah 1:12 (NIV)
The LORD said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

Matthew 24:35 (NIV)
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Revelation 3:8 (NIV)
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

John 17:17 (NLT)
Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

Psalm 107:20 (NLT)
He sent out his word and healed them…

Prayer:

Father God, sanctify me in Your Truth, Your Word is Truth! Thank You that You are watching over Your Word to make sure it is fulfilled as You have planned and purposed. Heaven and earth will pass away, but Your Word will never pass away! It will always stand firm and unwavering now and through eternity no matter what human beings say about Your Word! Lord, I pray You will anoint and empower me to always keep Your Word without compromise and “political correctness,” as you have purposed from eternity to eternity. Let it be a lamp to my feet and a light for my path that I will always know and do Your will and be in Your time to Your glory, honor, praise and delight in Jesus’ Name Amen

To Be Faithful

God is faithful to all of His creation. He is faithful to all of His promises. He has never gone back on any promise He has made and He never will!
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be faithful to the Lord and His call upon our lives.
Faithfulness is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Scriptures:

Galatians 5:22 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…

Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Revelation 2:10 (NIV)
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Prayer:

Faithful Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to us from the very beginning right up to today. And You will never fail in Your faithfulness to us! Empower us, as Your followers, to be faithful to You in all life, work and ministry. Forgive us for missing Your plan and grant us grace to start over again. May we grow deeper and stronger in our faithfulness to You and may it bring You glory and honor and praise in Jesus’ Almighty Name. Amen

To Be Repentant and Humble

Five of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 were asked by the angels of God to repent of their wayward ways. Living in repentance opens the door to being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s communications, encouragements and admonitions.
God responds in a most special and powerful way to humility. Humility is a major virtue in Christianity. It is an attitude of mind that realizes that one is without any reason for distinction in God’s sight.

Scriptures:

1 Peter 5:5-6 (NIV)
“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

James 4:6-7 (NIV)
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”Submit yourselves, then, to God.

Revelation 2:5 (NIV)
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Revelation 2:16 (NIV)
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:22 (NIV)
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.

Revelation 3:3 (NIV)
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Revelation 3:19 (NIV)
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, I ask for Your Holy Spirit to teach me to live a lifestyle of repentance and humility. Even, Jesus, as You came to serve, not being served, empower me to live a life of service to You and others. Where I have missed Your call and instructions, help me to repent and start over again. You are truly a God of new beginnings! May You grant me to have a humble servant’s heart for You, Your people and the kingdom of God today and every day in Jesus’ Almighty Name. Amen

For the next several post in our Living and Walking in Spiritual Maturity Series we are going to be focusing  on “Becoming and Staying a Revelation Overcomer until Jesus Returns.”

Introduction: In Revelation 2 and 3, the prophetic word to the seven churches in Asia Minor is recorded. It describes the spiritual conditions of the seven churches. Five of the churches are admonished for having strayed from their call as Christian churches and “the angel of the churches” describes what they are doing well and where they have departed from the call of God. Five of the seven churches are clearly in danger of going astray from God’s plan for their missions and ministries (Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea). They are called to REPENT, or face dire consequences. Smyrna is the persecuted church. It is called to be tested. And God’s call upon the Smyrna church is to “be faithful” no matter what! Philadelphia is church number seven. It has no apparent problems. It is doing what God has called it to do. They are to continue to endure patiently being true to the Word of God and never deny the Name of Jesus.

All of the churches are called to be OVERCOMERS; we call them REVELATION OVERCOMERS. Living and walking in Biblical and Spiritual Maturity means, in part, to be a Revelation Overcomer. In a careful examination of Scriptures, Revelation 2 and 3 identify six individual characteristics of being a Revelation Overcomer (RO). Each of the characteristics will be a prayer topic for the Christian church of today and this Prayer Blog.

Revelation Overcomer Focus 1:  To Have Ears to Hear What the Holy Spirit is Speaking to the Church

This part of the Christian church life is of paramount importance. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher of God’s Truth and a clear Reminder of what Jesus said and taught. It is so important this message was repeated to all the Revelation Churches (See the Scripture texts below). And if observed, it is followed by a powerful promise!

Scriptures:

Revelation 2:7 (NIV) – Ephesus
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:11 (NIV) – Smyrna
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Revelation 2:17 (NIV) – Pergamum
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

Revelation 2:26-29 (NIV) – Thyatira
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations–  ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’– just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:5-6 (NIV) – Sardis
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:12-13 (NIV) – Philadelphia
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
¹³  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:21-22 (NIV) – Laodicea
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, teach me to always listen to You and what You speak to me, my family and the Christian church. If I have become “hard of hearing,” conduct spiritual surgery on my spiritual ears so I can always hear You speaking and hear clearly what you are speaking so I may know Your communications. Then, Holy Spirit, empower me to be obedient to Your messages and joyfully walk in agreement with Your instructions.

Forgive me for the times I didn’t listen to you, or disobeyed You, or ignored you and anoint me never to do that again.

It is my desire to always be a Revelation Overcomer in the call to life in Christ, in all mission and ministry to God’s glory and honor and praise and delight and to the encouragement and blessing of the body of Christ in Jesus’ Name. Amen