Where Are You in Your Faith Journey?
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
In the second and third chapters of Revelation, John describes each of the seven churches mentioned in this book of the Bible. The members of each church were in very different places in their faith. It is important that we see where these people were and learn from their mistakes.
The Ephesus Christians were once on fire for Christ, but they have lost their first love. They are not where they used to be. Even though they are not talking about it, they know it on the inside.
The Smyrna Christians are faithful in the midst of persecution, whether it is financial, with their jobs or with their family. In spite of the persecution, they are still remaining true.
The Pergamum Christians are compromising their values for the sake of acceptance by others. They literally don't have a true opinion. They are just like the old song from the seventies – “If you're not with the one you love, love the one you're with.” This is exactly a description of the Pergamum Christian. They just blend in.
The Thyatira Christians are choosing to embrace false teaching, staying in churches because of comfort and stability. Even though the church doctrines are non-biblical, they don't care. They are more committed to the denomination or to the local church than standing on the Word of God.
The Sardis Christians are living on the fumes of yesterday's spiritual experiences. There is no fire in their bones, but no one knows it, except them. Their spiritual reputation from the past hides the present truth of what is happening right now inside them.
The Philadelphia Christians are absolutely on fire for Jesus, wanting people to be saved. They are always looking for opportunities to share their faith and win people to Jesus. This is their one heart.
The Laodicea Christians are apostate. They are more in love with the world than they are with Jesus.
The big question is, “Where are you?” Which church would you be a part of based on your faith walk?
In the second and third chapters of Revelation, John describes each of the seven churches mentioned in this book of the Bible. The members of each church were in very different places in their faith. It is important that we see where these people were and learn from their mistakes.
The Ephesus Christians were once on fire for Christ, but they have lost their first love. They are not where they used to be. Even though they are not talking about it, they know it on the inside.
The Smyrna Christians are faithful in the midst of persecution, whether it is financial, with their jobs or with their family. In spite of the persecution, they are still remaining true.
The Pergamum Christians are compromising their values for the sake of acceptance by others. They literally don't have a true opinion. They are just like the old song from the seventies – “If you're not with the one you love, love the one you're with.” This is exactly a description of the Pergamum Christian. They just blend in.
The Thyatira Christians are choosing to embrace false teaching, staying in churches because of comfort and stability. Even though the church doctrines are non-biblical, they don't care. They are more committed to the denomination or to the local church than standing on the Word of God.
The Sardis Christians are living on the fumes of yesterday's spiritual experiences. There is no fire in their bones, but no one knows it, except them. Their spiritual reputation from the past hides the present truth of what is happening right now inside them.
The Philadelphia Christians are absolutely on fire for Jesus, wanting people to be saved. They are always looking for opportunities to share their faith and win people to Jesus. This is their one heart.
The Laodicea Christians are apostate. They are more in love with the world than they are with Jesus.
The big question is, “Where are you?” Which church would you be a part of based on your faith walk?
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5 Comments
I am most like the Philadelphia Christians. I am not very effective as an evangelizer but want family and friends to Celebrate Jesus love here and now so that we can spend Eternity together
I am more like the Philadelphia Church. They have a heart for the unsaved. We keep reaching out to the community and the unsaved
I am from the Church of Christ Jesus. Unto him I am. On any given day I am all seven churches but one, or maybe two. As I struggle and abide in Jesus in my prayer and obedience to Him, I learn each day to become more like Him and less like me. This is the only way I know how to glorify God.
My spiritual journey began in 1977 with the Jesus movement of the 70's; But anyone whose faith walk began during that ten-year cycle can identify with me. You could walk away (which many new Christians did) but Gospel tracts were never meant to replace faith. During that tumultuous time of turbulence in American society, preaching took to the streets condemning anyone and everyone of Blasphemy when many of them had no idea what they were doing or saying. Then came the Era of WWJD or What Would Jesus Do which came and went without much fervor and of no great loss to the faith community, but I was a young Messianic Jew with a gift discernment and Second Sight, and this left me alone much of the time because people tend to dislike prophets who warn them to leave the old life and embrace the true faith given them by Jesus himself. Today's faithful are striving somewhere between Philadelphia,Smyrna, and Laodicia. This is sad and this is sad when Jesus needs us to stand against Satan, who is using all the tools of his trade. Satan goes forth to and from in the earth seeking whom he may devour and sadly if we, as Believers, are
nNot on on guard wearing the full Armour of God, we will fall into one of Satan's well-laid snares.
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I am with the Philadelphia because this sounds like what I am look for in my life