Little Strength

This Sunday morning I will be preaching on the 6^th Church mentioned in the beginning of the Book of Revelation. I have titled the message “The Faithful Church. “ The Church at Philadelphia can be considered a faithful church because of their commitment to Christ. Jesus said:

"“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name." (Revelation 3:8, NKJV)

As I considered the implications of “you have a little strength” I thought of George Mueller. If you remember George was a preacher who lived in England in the 19^th century. He is mostly remembered for the many orphanages he founded. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M%C3%BCller

What I mostly remember about GeorgeMueller was the many stories that were told about how he would pray for God to supply his needs and feed the children. For example, it was often reported that they would have no food for dinner, so they would pray and God miraculously provide for their needs. Truly George Mueller, his church, and his ministry was a group of God’s people with little strength. They like the church of Philadelphia depended on God to supply all their needs.

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, NKJV)

It is one thing to say that you depend on God it is quite another to put your belief in practice. I have always been impressed by someone like George Mueller who truly practiced his faith. As I looked further into the life of George Mueller I found out that the basis of his great faith was that it rested on the sovereignty of God.

George Mueller came to England from Germany and began to understand the grace of God. In his own words George remarks,

Before this period I had been much opposed to the doctrines of election, particular redemption, and final persevering grace; so much so that, a few days after my arrival at Teignmouth, I called election a devilish doctrine. . . I knew nothing about the choice of God's people, and did not believe that the child of God, when once made so, was safe for ever. . . . But now I was brought to examine these precious truths by the word of God

In addition he adds,

In the course of time I came to this country, and it pleased God then to show to me the doctrines of grace in a way in which I had not seen them before. At first I hated them, “If this were true I could do nothing at all in the conversion of sinners, as all would depend upon God and the working of His Spirit.” But when it pleased God to reveal these truths to me, and my heart was brought to such a state that I could say, “I am not only content simply to be a hammer, an axe, or a saw, in God's hands; but I shall count it an honor to be taken up and used by Him in any way; and if sinners are converted through my instrumentality, from my inmost soul I will give Him all the glory; the Lord gave me to see fruit; the Lord gave me to see fruit in abundance; sinners were converted by scores; and ever since God has used me in one way or other in His service

George Mueller had little resources and little strength in this world, so he rested in the sovereign power of God. Mueller also encourage others to depend on the faithfulness of the sovereign God of the universe who is always in control.

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:26-34, NKJV)

Click on the link below for further reading on George Mueller

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1531_George_Muellers_Strategy_for_Showing_God/#51ref

Renewing your Spiritual Life

Revelation 3:2-3

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, ...3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent…

On Sunday mornings we have been going through the Book of Revelation verse by verse. In chapter 3 Jesus addresses the church at Sardis. This church can be characterized as the spiritually dead church.

Notice that Jesus provides the anecdote for spiritual death in Verses 2-3.

He gives us 5 actions to renewing your spiritual life:

Watch, Strengthen, Remember, Hold fast, Repent

Be watchful

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Strengthen

2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Remember the Truth

2 Timothy 3:14-17 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Keep or guard

1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—

Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Repent

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Revelation

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John," (Revelation 1:1, NKJV)

This Sunday morning we are beginning a new series on the Book of Revelation. The word “Revelation” is from a Greek word meaning unveiling or uncovering. The essence of Revelation is an unveiling of the glory of Jesus Christ.

Many people have a great desire to know the future. The future of this planet including all its inhabitants has been revealed 2000 years ago. That mystery was disclosed to the last surviving apostle. This mystery was given to him to declare to the churches then and now.

John indicates that those who read, understand, and apply this revelation will be blessed indeed.
"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." (Revelation 1:3, NKJV)

Join us Sunday mornings and receive an extra helping of blessing!