To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.        That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor.12:7-10)

For those who believe that God sometimes visits sickness on an individual to purify or strengthen him or her through suffering, this passage from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is often pointed to as proof for that position. After all, we have all known individuals who suffered through injuries, illnesses or disabilities who grew closer to God and who gave great testimonies of how God had strengthened them in their suffering so that they might endure their trial of sickness and give glory to God. Paul, then, is seen as one of those individuals who struggled with some kind of physical or mental condition but found God unwilling to take it from him so that he might develop absolute dependence on the Lord. That theology  promotes the view that God is not nearly as interested in our physical well-being as in our spiritual condition. Because of that, he visits sickness on some or chooses not to heal others for their spiritual benefit. And for those who hold that view, Paul is their poster child.

Let’s examine what Paul said and this particular theological view one more time. First of all we need to be aware of biblical or cultural idioms or figurative expressions. Many of us have used the expression “a thorn in my flesh” ourselves. But think of how we commonly use it. We tend to speak of irritating people who seem to always pick at us or who try to undermine us as “thorns in our flesh.” We might say, “Man, this guy at work is a thorn in my flesh. I just wish he would get transferred to another department or quit all together!” We use that expression because the thorn, the irritant, or the aggravation is external to us just as a thorn is external. Every spring when I am pruning rose bushes I always get pricked or a scraped by thorns. They are not within my flesh but external to it. They don;t “take me out”, they simply aggravate me with a bit of pain and a few drops of blood.

Secondly, the expression is used in a couple of other places in the Bible. These would be expressions very familiar to Paul, the Torah (Old Testament) scholar. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. (Num. 33:55). Then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you. (Josh. 23:13)  These, as well as Paul’s expression are equivalent. They both speak of people who constantly harass and trouble them like thorns that tear at your flesh  as you walk through a field.

Paul had such a group that followed him constantly from place to place. As soon as he would preach the gospel of grace, these Jews would come right behind him preaching that salvation came through not only Jesus but the keeping of the Law of Moses. The first chapter of Galatians reveals the level of frustration and anger that Paul felt towards these men. They were constantly his thorn in the flesh – not some besetting illness that God had given him. Notice how he finishes the paragraph thanking God for weaknesses, insults, persecutions, etc. All these fit the use of the idiom culturally and biblically. He does not list diseases as something for which he gives thanks.

Jesus himself often warned us of persecutions to come but not disease. When it came to persecution he called us to endure. When it came to sickness he healed it, gave gifts to the church for healing others, and instructed believers to call the elders of the church for healing as soon as they got sick. We have zero examples of Jesus counseling people to desire sickness so that they could grow spiritually or in order to bring glory to God. We have zero examples of Jesus laying hands on someone to make them sick so that they might prosper spiritually. If that were the case, he would have given gets of illness tho the church rather than gifts of healing. God can work in the midst of a catastrophe or a plague or a debilitating disease to bring good out of it – even spiritual growth, but that is a very different thing from causing the illness. God is “the God who heals.”  To give sickness is contrary to his nature.  Even in an evil world, any father who intentionally administered some horrible virus or disease to a son or daughter to “make them better children” would new locked up, yet we often cause God of doing they same.

There is much more we could say about Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” but perhaps this gives you some initial help if your faith for healing has been troubled by that section of scripture and the way in which some have understood it. Be blessed today!

The names of God as they are revealed in scripture are always incredibly significant and find expression under both covenants. He is not “the God who provides” under one covenant and then “the God who no longer provides” under another. The reason is that these names reveal not just what God does but more importantly who he is. They simply reveal what he consistently does as an expression of his divine nature.

In his book, Christ the Healer, F.F. Bosworth makes a great point regarding healing and the name of God. He first lists the names and then makes a point about healing under the new covenant. I will try to summarize what he said.

The following are the seven redemptive names of God which includes the entire Trinity:

• JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH is translated “The LORD is there,” or present, revealing to us the redemptive privilege of enjoying His presence. He says, “Lo, I am with you always.” That this blessing is provided by the sacrifice of Christ is proven by the fact that we are “brought near by the blood of Christ” and that his actual presence lives in us.
• JEHOVAH-SHALOM is translated “The LORD our Peace” and reveals to us the redemptive privilege of having His peace. Accordingly Jesus says, “My peace I give unto you.” This blessing is in the sacrifice because “the chastisement of our peace was upon him” when He “made peace through the blood of his cross.”
• JEHOVAH-RA-AH is translated “The LORD is my Shepherd.” He became our shepherd by giving “his life for the sheep,” therefore this privilege is a redemptive privilege, purchased by his sacrifice. The Good Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep and we hear his voice.
• JEHOVAH-JIREH means “The LORD will provide” an offering, and Christ was the offering provided for our complete redemption. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
• JEHOVAH-NISSI means “The LORD is our Banner,” or “Victor,” or “Captain.” It was when, by the cross, Christ triumphed over principalities and powers that He provided for us, through his death and resurrection. By his sacrifice, we have become more than conquerors.
• JEHOV AH-TSIDKENU is translated “The LORD our Righteousness.” He becomes our righteousness by bearing our sins on the Cross. Therefore, our redemptive privilege of receiving “the gift of righteousness” is an atonement blessing. Jesus became sin that we might become the righteousness of God.

No one would deny that God has done these things for us under the New Covenant because Jesus paid the price for each of these things and reconciled us to God by his blood. As a Father, he is glad to be these things to us and do these things for us because we are sons and daughters in his house. We would also say that God is always pleased to be our provider, our banner, our shepherd, our peace and so forth and that the only thing that would stand between us and those blessings would be our own sin or unbelief. But what about healing?

JEHOVAH-RAPHA is translated “I am the LORD thy Physician,” or “I am the LORD that healeth thee.” This name is given to reveal to us our redemptive privilege of being healed. This privilege is purchased by Christ’s sacrifice. Bosworth says, “ The redemptive chapter of Isaiah declares, “Surely he hath borne our sicknesses and carried our pains.” … The fact is, that the very first covenant God gave after the passage of the Red Sea, which was so distinctively typical of our redemption, was the covenant of healing. It was at this time that God revealed Himself as our Physician, by the first redemptive and covenant name, Jehovah-Rapha, “I am the LORD that healeth thee.” This is not only a promise, it is “a statute and an ordinance.” And so, corresponding to this ancient ordinance, we have, in the command of James 5:14, a positive ordinance of healing in Christ’s name. This is as sacred and binding on every church today as the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and Christian baptism. Jehovah-Rapha is one of His redemptive names, sealing the covenant of healing.” Christ, could no more abandon his office as Healer and escape his nature as he could escape being our shepherd, our peace, our victory, or our provider.

The point is simply this. Healing is part of every believer’s birthright and should be expected because it is a reflection of the heart of the Father and of Jesus. It has been paid for and when we deny that God heals today as he did in “Bible times,” then we leave on the table much of what Jesus suffered to purchase for us. In that sense, we devalue his sacrifice. Our faith and expectation for healing today honors his sacrifice and his heart. If you are an athlete you want to compete. If you are a teacher you want to teach. If you are a singer you want to sing. If you are a healer you want to heal. Jesus is a healer. Ask and expect because healing belongs to you.

I want to continue to share some thoughts on healing because I believe it is absolutely part of our birthright for those born into the kingdom of God. I believe it is something that Jesus purchased on the cross for every believer. Like many things in the kingdom it is part of our inheritance but it is activated in our lives by faith. As believers it is our birthright to be able to come confidently before the throne of grace in times of need and expect help (See Heb.4:16). In other words, as children of God it is our right to ask the Father for help and expect it. It is our right to pray and expect answers but if we have no faith we either will not pray or if we do pray we will ask with little expectation and receive little. Healing is absolutely ours but it must come by faith and many of us grew up in churches that produced little to no faith for that. Because of that, we need to keep building our faith in God’s desire to heal from the Word rather than from experience or our lack of experience.

Healing comes to us through the cross just as forgiveness comes. The Psalms declared much of the gospel in advance through the inspiration of the Spirit – detailed prophecies regarding the crucifixion flow from the (See Ps. 22), hints of the resurrection (Ps.16:10), and clear declarations of grace based on the sacrifice of Jesus (32:1-2). In addition, David declared, “God forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases (Ps.103:2-3). God only forgives our sins on the basis of the blood of Jesus. This scripture also declares that healing comes to us on the same basis. If the blood of Christ buys us forgiveness then it also buys us healing. If his blood does not buy us all healing from all disease then it does not buy us all forgiveness from all sins.

This truth is demonstrated time and again in the gospels. Jesus preached forgiveness and then healed. That was the proclamation of the kingdom – forgiveness of sin and healing of disease and infirmities. Notice how the two were tied together in the healing of the paralytic in Matthew’s gospel.

“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home” (Mt.9:5-6).

When Jesus forgave the man’s sins initially the Pharisees were indignant that a “man” would dare to forgive sin. But Jesus went on to prove his authority to forgive sin by healing the man. The proof was imbedded in the truth that death and the disease that eventually leads to death entered the world through sin. Those who live a life unforgiven are bound under death and disease. For those who are forgiven and are in Christ, premature death and disease are not inescapable because Jesus has set us free from the curse of the law (See Gal.3:13). The forgiveness of sin opens the door for healing.

Before the New Covenant, the Old Testament sacrifices as well as Passover opened the door to healing. Many sacrifices were offered in the temple that promised healing after blood had been shed. When Israel left Egypt the night after Passover the scriptures say there was not one lame person among them which is highly unlikely for the slave class. Healing had occurred under the blood of a lamb that pointed ahead to the blood of The Lamb. Numerous other examples tie healing to a blessing that comes after sins have been covered by the blood of the Savior. In addition we are simply told that “by his stripes (or wounds) we are healed (Isa. 53:5; 1 Pet.2:24) Isaiah prophesied, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. (Isa.53:4). The word “infirmities” is a Hebrew word that is translated “sickness” or “illness” nearly every other place it is used in the Old Testament and should be translated in that way in Isaiah’s prophecy.

We can say with great assurance that the Bible teaches that the blood of Jesus not only purchased forgiveness for all who receive his as Lord but also healing for all who can receive that by faith. In Monday’s blog, I want to add one more layer to this issue by looking at the names of God and how they point to the cross as well. Again, before we can begin to ask for healing or command healing with faith, we must believe that scripture teaches that healing is for all those who are in Christ and for others God wants to draw to Christ by his grace. In the kingdom, healing should be the rule rather than the exception. Keep reflecting on God’s heart, the cross, and the grace of God who always wants what is best for his children.

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (Psalm 145:8-9)

F.F. Bosworth wrote, “The first statement in our text above is, ‘The LORD is gracious,’ meaning ‘He is disposed to show favors.’ This glorious fact, which shines with such brilliancy throughout the Scriptures, has been so eclipsed by modern theology that we hear everywhere, the Lord is able instead of ‘the LORD is gracious.” Hundreds needing healing have come or written to us saying, concerning their need of deliverance, ‘the Lord is able.’ Their teachings as well as their lack of teaching, have kept them from knowing that the Lord is willing. How much faith does it take to say the Lord is able? The devil knows God is able, and he knows He is willing; but he has kept the people from knowing the latter fact. … Before praying for the healing of people, we have to wait to teach them the Word of God until they can say, “The LORD is gracious,” instead of, ‘The Lord is willing.’ This is exactly what Jesus had to do before healing the leper who said, ‘If thou wilt thou canst.’ He showed His willingness, so that the man could really expect healing…But even when we can advance from saying ‘He is able’ to saying ‘He is willing,’ this is not enough. The word willing is too tame to fully express God’s merciful attitude toward us. ‘He delighteth in mercy’ (Micah 7:18).” ((F.F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer, Revell, 9^th Edition, p.68-69).

Those observations were made years ago but are still quite true today. In your own prayer life you have probably been convinced that God is able to do anything you ask but you are not so convinced that he is willing. Even when we pray for others we may list all of their great qualities and the works they have done for the Lord as we pray for God’s favor for healing or safety or provision in their lives. In one sense, we lift up their resume because we feel we must make a case for them in order to persuade God to meet their need at the moment. We know he is able but we are not sure he is willing.

Faith is simply believing that God will do what he has said he will do based on his character rather than on our character or our performance. The fact that God is “The God who heals you” and delights in showing favor (mercy) to those he loves is the foundation of our faith for healing. God does not have to be persuaded to heal. He does so because he delights to do so. There are conditions, of course, for receiving healing. For those who should have faith, some faith is required. For those who have known the grace of God, grace must be extended to others through forgiveness. For those who have been given the standing of righteousness in Christ, there must be a heart that desires to be righteous and that is given to repentance because of that. Faith tells us that the compassionate heart of Jesus still desires to heal now just as it did when he was on the earth. He will work with us to make sure that hindrances to our healing are removed if our hearts are turned toward him and if we have some faith for healing because we know his character. For those who do not know Christ at all, healing may be given simply out of his kindness because the kindness of God calls men to repentance.

Before praying for healing, reflect on the goodness of God and his delight in showing favor. Remind yourself that he is anxious to heal unless roadblocks exist in the spiritual realm and that he will show us what those things are so that he can do the very thing he desires to do. He is certainly able, but more than that he is willing. Even more than being willing, he delights in answering our prayers. If we can ever get that single truth into our hearts, we will certainly see God heal. Ask the Spirit to give you a deep revelation of that truth and keep asking until you have no doubt.

“In Proverbs 4:20-22 we have the most comprehensive instructions as to how to receive healing:

Attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

The Word of God cannot be health to either soul or body before it is heard, received, and attended to. Notice here that the Words of God are life only to those that “find” them. If you want to receive life and healing from God, take time to find the words of Scripture that promise these results.”(F.F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer, Revell, 9^th Edition, p.19).

In this quote from Bosworth’s classic book, Christ the Healer, a primary principle for finding faith for any promise is laid out. It begins with our commitment to the truth of God’s word. Do I believe that the Bible is inspired and that the word and promises of God are true? Most Christians would say they believe but my experience tells me that most of us believe it in principle not in practice. Most of us either believe that the Word is true for others but usually not for ourselves or we believe the word is true except in cases where the straight-forward promises of God are affected by extenuating circumstances – and they are nearly always affected by extenuating circumstances.

We assume that to be the case because we pray and don’t immediately see the results we anticipated and so we calculate that some unknown quirk in heaven kept God from answering our prayer. We assume that for reasons far beyond our understanding it was not God’s will to answer our prayer for healing or a myriad of other things we prayed for even though we have a clear promise in scripture that what we prayed for is something God always wants to do. So we begin to tack on a disclaimer to each prayer which is usually something like, “If it be your will.”That disclaimer immediately reveals that we doubt God’s will for the thing we have been praying about. In the context of healing, that phrase reveals our doubts about God’s real commitment to heal those who ask.

Until we are convinced that it is always God’s heart to heal – especially those who are God’s covenant children through Christ – then we will always pray with a kind of fleshly hope that has little expectation attached (I know this from personal experience). So then, if we want to grow in the gift of healing, we need to spend quality time in the Word looking at the scriptures that demonstrate and declare God’s willingness to heal. We need to live with those scripture until we are convinced that the Word of God clearly declares that truth. In truth, I am as lazy as the next guy so what I really want is for some amazing healer to lay hands on me, impart the gift and the faith, and leave nothing more for me than to head to the nearest rehab clinic and get everyone healed and released in a few hours.

But … would I value the gift, know the Word, and would I have struggled through my questions to find solid rock on which to stand when the winds of doubt begin to blow later?   I find myself wanting God to heal through me to create my faith rather than my faith prompting heaven to heal. I think God is willing to do both but I need to pay the price of prayer, study, and argument to establish the truth in my heart that God is always willing and able to heal because his Word says so. Any prayer standing on less than that assurance is going to tend toward double-mindedness and James tells us that a double-minded person who prays will receive little of what he or she prays for.

To say that God always desires to heal is not the same as saying that healing will always occur. Our free will and fallen nature get in the way of many things that God desires on the earth including healing. But we must start with the conviction that God is willing or we can’t ask in faith. Then if healing doesn’t occur we can begin to look for roadblocks to that healing and by the revelation and wisdom of the Spirit can begin to remove those blocks so that God’s will can be done and his will is healing. So if you are uncertain as to the heart of God in the matter of healing find his promises in the Bible, fix your eyes on those promises, meditate on them, and listen to people who have faith regarding healing not to those who doubt. That is a practical beginning for experiencing life and health in this world and the world to come.

I want to spend the next few blogs focusing on the biblical promises for healing. One of the great writers and preachers on the subject was F.F. Bosworth who wrote about and ministered healing in the early 20^th Century. I will be quoting him and then reflecting on some of his thoughts over the next week or so.

BEFORE PEOPLE CAN HAVEa steadfast faith for the healing of their body, they must be rid of all uncertainty concerning God’s will in the matter. Appropriating faith cannot go beyond one’s knowledge of the revealed will of God. Before attempting to exercise faith for healing, one needs to know what the Scriptures plainly teach, that it is just as much God’s will to heal the body as it is to heal the soul … It is only by knowing that God promises what you are seeking that all uncertainty can be removed and a steadfast faith is made possible. His promises are each a revelation of what God is eager to do for us. Until we know what God’s will is, there is nothing on which to base our faith. It is important that the mind of those seeking healing be “renewed” so as to be brought into harmony with the mind of God. (F.F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer, Revell, 9^th Edition, p.15).

Times haven’t changed. Even in the Christian community a majority of believers still doubt God’s willingness to heal them. Many “hope” for healing but find it difficult to “believe” for healing. Others believe that their sickness or condition has been given to them by God to strengthen their spirit or to somehow purify them through their suffering. Another group might say that God is interested in our souls but not our bodies so healing is not a priority in the mind of God. This group might say that perfect health is reserved for heaven so it is not dispensed on earth. Many of us have been taught those views in one form or another for years so it is difficult to have sufficient faith for healing. Faith is not the only factor for healing but it is the first factor either for the one praying or for the one receiving.

According to the Apostle Paul, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Bosworth is absolutely right in pointing us to the word of God rather than to the word of men for our assurance that God is willing to heal us. If God only desires to heal occasionally (or not at all), how can we have faith when we ask for any healing? If we believed that having believed and repented, God still only saved occasionally based on some unknown criteria for us, how could we have any security in our salvation? When it comes to our salvation we believe it is always God’s will to save so as soon as anyone meets the minimum requirements of imperfect faith in Jesus, a decision to live for Christ (with little understanding of what that means), and the “sinners prayer” we have no doubt that God has forgiven that person and added their name to the roles of heaven.

We need to have that same assurance regarding healing. We get that first by seeing what the Word of God says about healing and about God’s heart for healing. A good place to start is to simply consider one of the names of God found in the Bible – Jehovah Rapha (Ex.15:26) which means “the God who heals.” When a name for God shows up in scripture it does not just reveal what God does but rather who he is. It reveals his heart and his nature. If God is “the healer” then it is always his nature to heal his people. God is not double-minded like men and he does not contradict his nature. We believe that God is love so he is always motivated by love. We believe that God is good so he always acts in good ways. God is also the God who heals so we can be assured that it is his nature and his desire to heal his children. No one believes that there was disease or deformity in the Garden and no one believes there will be disease or deformity in heaven. Why? Because it is not God’s will for his people to be sick or to have any kind of infirmities. Sin introduced death and disease (which may lead to death) into the world, not our Father. God does not desire sin nor it’s effects on his people, so Jesus came to deal with sin. He also came to deal with sickness and demonstrated that time after time while he walked on the earth.

There is more to be said abut healing and why healing does not always occur, but the place to begin is to simply accept by faith that it is the nature of God to love, to do good, and to heal and that he is always true to his nature. That, I think, is a good beginning point for a discussion about healing. Be blessed and well today!

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also 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.’ ”

This is the final promise that followed the final rebuke that Jesus spoke to the churches of Asia. It was directed at the “lukewarm” church of Laodicea. Laodicea apparently had wealth, influence, and potential that had been sacrificed on the altar of compromise. Because this church had been given much, much was expected. The most serious issue was that the believers in that city had finally shut Jesus out of their hearts. When we begin a life of compromise, the Spirit of Christ will release conviction in our hearts. At that point, there are only two options. We can respond to the prodding of the Spirit with repentance or we can push back against the Spirit until we begin to quench his fire and silence his voice. If we persist in our resistance, we will eventually push Jesus out of our hearts.

The good news is that he will not stomp out and slam the door never to return again. He will, in fact, continue to knock on the door of our hearts – at least for a season. The writer of Hebrews warns us that there may come a time when we will have hardened our own hearts to the point that we no longer have any sensibility to the Spirit and, therefore, can no longer repent (See Heb. 6:4-6). It is not that God will refuse to accept our repentance, but rather we will have gone past the point of caring and returning. Jesus will honor our choices and at some point stop knocking.

The first step to “overcoming” then, is to keep our hearts wide open to Jesus and his influence. Even if we have pushed him out for a season, the moment we respond to the knock, Jesus will re-establish fellowship with us. His Spirit will spring into action again and our passion for the King and his kingdom will be reignited. It is amazing how willing the Lord is to forgive immediately and to restore our relationship with him. “The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion” (Num.14:18). That truth is demonstrated in the parable of the prodigal son, in David’s restoration after his sin with Bathsheba, in Christ’s response to the denial of Peter and dozens of other places throughout scripture. We can expect the same.

Living a life that overcomes the enemy often requires faith to believe that God will gladly take us back when we have stumbled or drifted away for a season. The enemy would convince us that only anger and rebuke await us at the Father’s house but that is far from the truth. For those who wander and return and for those who never leave, for those who open their hearts to Jesus and stay in fellowship with his Spirit, the promise is simply that we will sit down with Jesus on his throne. “Sitting with Jesus,” promises rest, authority, and intimacy with the King. I am constantly amazed at how Jesus longs to be close to us, to share his glory, and even his authority with those who love him. Ultimately, the promise of enduring faith is Jesus himself. There is no greater prize, no greater treasure than to simply know him and to sit at his side.

In the meantime, we can remember that Jesus longs to share himself and his throne with us even now. An open heaven exists for those who believe. Fellowship with Jesus through his Spirit is offered now. Power, authority, and glory are ours now if we know who we already are in the Kingdom of Heaven. We are already seated in heavenly places, already citizens of heaven, already sons and daughters of the King. Eventually there will be an even greater experience of those truths but they are not just ours after the funeral or after the second coming – these treasures are ours now. The Book of Revelation was written to encourage the church in times of hardship and persecution.   The promises are for us as well. I’m pretty sure I don’t fully understand everything in this letter to the churches of Asia but I understand enough to know that we are on the winning team, that Jesus has already won the victory and that we are to walk in that victory by faith rather than sight. I know that great promises have been made so that we might not only finish the race but also run the race run like champions – and then glory. Do not give up, do not step off the track, do not compromise, and do not push Jesus out. Whatever it takes, the promises for now and for later make any hardship and any cost in this world worth it. Be blessed.

To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

… I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Rev. 3:7, 11-13)

This letter offers more promises to the faithful who hold on to their faith until the end. One of the constant messages of the book of Revelation is that in order to experience eternal life and to receive your reward you must finish the race. No medals are given to those who step off the track and never cross the finish line. No victor’s crowns are given to the runner who begins the marathon as a whim and then soon tires of the race and goes on to other pursuits. No crowns are given to those who stop as soon as it gets hard – when the hill is steep, the sun is hot, or when wind is against you. You must finish even if you crawl across the finish line.

Endurance is not a trait of modern life for most of us. As soon as the job gets hard we quit. As soon as a marriage enters a difficult season we divorce. As soon as our faith really begins to cost us something we may lay it aside. But the kingdom of God calls us to endure and when we do the King is pleased and in his pleasure he give’s great reward.

Philadelphia was a church that had little strength but had held onto the truths of the faith even as they had experienced the bite of persecution. In the midst of their trials Jesus called to them like a coach from the sideline, “Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown” (Rev.3:11). Then he promises them strength, glory and a permanent place in the kingdom of heaven if they would just hold on until he came. For those in Philadelphia and for all those who hold fast until the end, Jesus promises to make us “pillars in the temple of God.”

Pillars are the strength and glory of a temple. They create space, hold up the roof, and supports glorious art and architecture that can be seen for miles. They let in light and the cooling breeze and are often are seen as works of art in themselves. In the Temple of Solomon, pillars were huge, ornate, and costly. Some were so impressive that they were given names. They were permanent and glorious.

Jesus promises that those who finish the race will be given a permanent place in the temple of God. They will be known for their own strength and glory. They will also clearly belong to God and the city of God, as the names of both will be written on those who endure. In the ancient world, certain cities and kings were so great that the citizens of those cities held special honor wherever they went. They shared in the glory of the king and in the greatness of the city. As citizens of the Heavenly Jerusalem where the Great King rules, we also walk in that glory and power now. How much more will that be true when we are in the physical presence of the King?

Jesus makes one other great promise as well. He promises to write his new name on each of us if we hold on to our faith to the end. He will make us his possession in the New Jerusalem and we will reflect his honor and glory as well. When scripture speaks of “a new name,” it usually implies a new found relationship with the Father or a new order of things in the same way that Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Peter were given new names. When the heavenly Jerusalem is finally established on the earth, a new order of things on the earth and in heaven will be established. Jesus will garner even more glory and more titles beyond King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The faithful will share in that glory and will wear the name of their King and his glorious titles throughout eternity. They will have a permanent place in the presence of the Father (in his temple) and although they were scorned on earth, they will be honored in the courts of heaven.

The time is coming and is already here when being a Christian will not be a title of honor and acceptance in this world. There is a real war on Christianity in this nation and across the world. Believers who hold to the truth of God are being painted as intolerant, hatemongers, bigots, and the like. Governments are competing with God to dictate truth, determine morality, define marriage, and decide who lives and dies. Those who love God will be despised by those who despise him. But Jesus says, “Hold on, I am coming soon. And those who do not deny my name will be honored and rewarded in ways they cannot possible imagine. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take your crown!”

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 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. (Rev.3:4-6)

In some ways, Sardis came off as the least pleasing church in the list of churches in Asia. Jesus charged them with living on a reputation that pertained only to the past. He pronounced them spiritually dead and charged them with not completing the work he had given them. He called them to repentance and obedience and warned them that if they did not “wake up” he would come when they least expected it to discipline them.

And yet, he was very aware of the few in their midst who had been faithful and had continued to serve while the rest had abandoned their calling. He described them as those who had not “soiled” their clothes. The Greek word translated as soiled means “to defile by sexual immorality and/or involvement in pagan idolatry.” Those who had coasted to a halt in their passion for Jesus and their service to God had drifted back into a mixture of Christianity and pagan immorality. They kept an appearance of faithfulness and maintained ties with the church but partied with the pagans on weekends.

God knows our hearts, our lives, our works, our secrets, and our sins. We cannot hide our unfaithfulness from him in the midst of the congregation on Sunday nor will our faithfulness go unnoticed even in the midst of the unfaithful. The writer of Hebrews told the faithful Jews, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Notice that God notices.

As difficult as it is to stay on track with the Father in the face of persecution, it is often more difficult to stay on track in a fellowship of lukewarm and dispassionate believers. In that environment, over time it is easy to begin to believe that “lukewarmness” is the standard and is somehow acceptable to the Lord. In his letter to Sardis, Jesus is clear that a casual attitude toward the cross and a double-minded man who tries to dance with the Lord on Sundays while dancing with the world the rest of the week is unacceptable. It’s like a man who sleeps with prostitutes six days and week but comes home declaring faithfulness to his wife on Sundays.

But Jesus declares that the faithful walk with him and they dress in white – the color of righteousness and priesthood. He promises all of us that when we live a life of overcoming the enemy and faithfully remain in the ranks of heaven, we also will be dressed in white. Not only that but those who continue in faithfulness will have their names eternally written in the book of life. Jesus declares that he will personally acknowledge the names of those who do not compromise, who do not become casual or careless, and who do not lose their passion for the kingdom before the Father and his angels.

Too many believers had a heavenly fire in their hearts for a season and served God with energy and passion for a time. But after a few years the kingdom of heaven lost its fascination for them. The riches and pleasures of the world began to glow brighter than the treasures of heaven. Little by little they began to mix the “not so bad” things of the world with the good things of heaven and eventually they simply slipped back in the world while maintaining their “membership” at the local church. Many believers know that their faith is not what is used to be but are banking on God remembering what they used to do when they stand before him. This letter indicates that these “believers” are in a very dangerous place.

We can easily look down on those who have slipped away but we can all be tempted to do the same thing when, after years of going to church, our faith can seem ordinary, humdrum, less rewarding than what the world is offering, and has even become unpopular and criticized in the culture. We must all guard against this “natural erosion” of faith and passion. How can we guard our hearts and keep the fire alive? Be sure you stay around people who still have a fire in their bones for the kingdom. The heat from their fires will keep your embers burning. If your group of believers has settled down and made peace with the world, find a new group. Intentionally risk. Develop a habit of doing “crazy things” for Jesus. Go on mission trips to 3^rd world countries. Pray for the sick at the local HEB. Share your faith with a stranger. Pursue the gift of tongues or prophecy. Consistently do things that are a “little scary.”

Risking things for the kingdom and being around others who risk makes your life in Christ an adventure. It does not get boring or irrelevant. It keeps stoking the fires and the excitement of seeing God do miracles through you makes the promises of the world seem lackluster. I believe that Jesus will not only acknowledge your name before the Father and his angels on the Day of Judgment, but even now as we passionately serve him. Those who serve faithfully now are already known in heaven and your name is already spoken there. Remember when God asked Satan if he had considered Job? Remember the angel who told Daniel that he was already highly esteemed in heaven. If you are living four Jesus, your name is already spoken in the courts of the King. Live in a way to insure that your name never fades in the halls of heaven but is mentioned there often until you arrive in person.  Be blessed.

Only hold on to what you have until I come. 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. (Rev. 2:26-29)

Here is the promise to the faithful at Thyatira. They had already displayed endurance and good works. Jesus praised them for their love and faith but again a warning came because of their tolerance for someone in the church who was misleading the faithful. Jesus called the woman Jezebel which suggests that she was a ruthless manipulator of people who led believers into idolatry and immorality. She apparently taught these things under the guise of a deeper spirituality that she undoubtedly attributed to deep revelations from the Spirit but Jesus declared that her teachings were from Satan.

Sometimes the Achilles heal of faithful churches is that they tolerate people in their midst who create division, dissension, and lead others into sins that are framed as “freedom in Christ.” The church’s first call is to love others and to refrain from a self-righteous judgmentalism. Because of that it is often hard for church leaders to confront sin because they feel as if they are “judging.” As soon as the church begins to challenge a “member” about questionable actions, teachings, or life style the person who has been challenged often begins to quote verses about love, acceptance and judge not lest ye be judged. Too often church leaders back off as soon as those cards are played.

To be sure, the church needs to instruct those who are immature, encourage the discouraged, and have patience with the weak. But a time comes when repentance must be demanded. When the actions of the person are consistently hurtful to the church or to individual members of the church and the offender is clearly not acting out of ignorance but willfully, then church discipline is called for.

God is gracious towards sins of ignorance and even weakness but not toward willful and rebellious sin. Jesus calls on the church at Thyatira to continue to persevere and to do good works but to also step up and deal with the woman Jezebel who is leading others into sin and knows it. To be fully aligned with the Father means that we deal first with any unholiness in our own lives but that we also confront sin in others when it is willful and destructive. Jesus was quite gentle and understanding with the woman caught in adultery and the Samaritan woman at the well even though their lives were full of sin. Their sin came out of weakness and brokenness not arrogance and rebellion. However, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were another matter. Jesus responded to their arrogance and rebellion with confrontation and warnings. To be like Jesus, there will be times when we must do the same thing.

For those at Thyatira who responded to the command of Jesus and who remained faithful to the end, he promised great authority and rule over the nations. The same promise comes to us. We can understand the promise in two ways. Of course, we can look to the millennium and see that those who are faithful now will be given places of authority and rulership over nations during Christ’s thousand-year reign. But since we are already seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (See Eph.2:6) we can understand is promise in an additional way.

We are already ruling with Jesus and affecting nations and people through the authority we already carry and express in prayers, declarations, righteous works, justice and evangelism. Remember David’s prophetic words, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession” (Ps 2:8). As we align ourselves with the Father now by continuing to do good, love others, live by faith and confront evil we assure ourselves a place of honor and authority in the millennium but also increase our authority even now as we rule with Christ in the present. Jesus promises authority – not just a little but enough to dash rebellious nations to pieces as with an iron scepter.

Not only that, but Jesus said he will give us the Morning Star. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus identifies himself as the Morning Star. As always, Jesus promises to give us more of himself, more of his presence, and more of his Spirit as we align ourselves with his will – not just now but eternally. When we sync our hearts with the heart of Jesus, we grow closer to Him. As he shines like the Morning Star we too will shine like stars in the heavens in the same way that the face of Moses carried the glory of God when he came off the mountain. Jesus will give us himself but also will impart glory to those who love him so that they too can impart his glory to others.   Nothing the world can offer can compare to being in his presence.