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启示录［第三章］
Book of Revelation 3

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启示录［第三章］|Book of Revelation 3

【这是我吗？】

主讲: 陈惠菁传道

15/09/2022

引言：小狗过河

主对当年7间教会所说的话，也是对着今天末后教会所作的提醒。但是如果我们像小狗一样的，不知道水中的倒影是自己，没有让神的话语和圣灵的水流不断光照自己的生命，那我们就会像小狗失去肉骨头那样的，失去主本来预备给我们的祝福。

一、名存实亡的撒狄教会（v1-6）

撒狄城非常繁华、富有，甚至环绕山脚的河流都能掏出金来。撒狄是建造在火山隆起的大片岩石上，只有一条路通往山下，另一边是陡峭的断崖，所以是一处攻不破的堡垒。但这座城在主前549和218年，两次让敌军用同样的方式被攻下。

“这是我吗？我是不是常常重犯同样的错误？没有从错误中吸取教训，以至一直在旷野绕？”

主在对七教会说话之前，总是针对各教会的不同光景，先启示祂自己是怎样一位主。主说祂是有神的七灵的主。这也是撒狄教会所缺乏的。虽然教会在外表上，按人所看的好像很荣耀、每场聚会坐满人、奉献数额很多。但主却说：“按名你是活的，其实是死的。”，教会在灵性上就像是一块坟地，名存实亡的奄奄一息。因为圣灵的作为不再当中，在事工上也没有让圣灵来带领。

1.主的劝勉：回想、悔改、儆醒（v3-6）

不管是教会或是信徒，主要我们对过去、现在、未来做的3件事。常回想过去，纪念神的带领、数算神恩，为现在的不足、软弱悔改，并儆醒于神对将来要做的事给予的启示。

2.主的奖赏：穿白衣得留名（v4-6）

从教会的历史中，不管教会的实际状况有多糟糕，当中都一定会有一小群忠心，未曾污秽自己衣服的人。这些人在行为上活出神的公义和圣洁，因此主说他们是配的穿上白衣，与祂同行。他们的名也必不从生命册上涂抹。

二、蒙主赞赏的非拉铁非教会（v7-13）

非拉铁非教会是七间教会中唯一两间被主称赞和肯定的教会之一。他们略有一点力量都遵守主的道，在患难逼迫中也没有弃绝主的名。不管教会大小，人数多寡，只要我们忠心地按着自己的力量尽心持守真道，哪怕能为神成就的很渺小，神都悦纳。

1.主的劝勉：继续保灵（v11）

在v11主说祂快要来了，并提醒这挑不出毛病的非拉铁非教会，要持守所有的到底，免得主所赐给他的冠冕被人夺去。但是，很可惜的，如今这教会已经不复存在，作为我们的提醒。

2.主的奖赏（v8-13）

A）地上的奖赏（v8b-10）

圣洁、真实，拿着大卫的钥匙的主，要为他们敞开一扇无人能关的祝福大门。连撒旦一会的人或假使徒也要向他们下拜。

非拉铁非也是个时常发生地震的地方。但是神在这里应许在地震时，神要使他们免去灾害得平安。此外v10，在普天下人受试炼的时候，学者认为指的是在，普世大灾难时期，他们将预先被提至空中，不受地上灾难所害。

B）永恒的奖赏（v12-13）

主也应允赐给得胜的在永恒里，成为神殿中的柱子。就是将来从天而降的新耶路撒冷里，作神真理的见证人。并且在柱子上永远写上神的名、圣城的名，并主基督的新名。这代表永远与神和基督同在，在永恒国度里有身份、有地位的极大荣耀。

三、不冷不热的老底嘉教会（V14-22）

在老底嘉有希拉波利斯热泉和歌罗西冷泉。热泉有医治功效，冷泉可以清凉解渴。但凉下来的温泉，矿物质太多，令人作呕。老底嘉教会到了启示录的时代，已经堕落到成为一个养尊处优、富裕社会中典型的教会。在地上虽富足，但在主眼里却是那困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的。

1.主的劝勉：买火炼的金子、白衣、眼药（v18-19）

火炼的金子 = 神的话语。白衣 = 神的公义、圣洁。眼药 = 圣灵的恩膏和启示，以及属天的盼望

新加坡和当年老底嘉蛮像的。宗教自由，富足没有缺乏。安舒、没逼迫的日子，容易使教会和弟兄姐妹落入不冷不热的状态。今天，如果我们的属灵情况也与老底嘉一样的不冷不热，赶快向主买火炼的金子、白衣、眼药。

2.主的奖赏：与主一同作王（v20-22）

当人自以为富足，一样都不缺的时候，会因为安舒、方便就把主关在门外。世界的吵杂声、懒惰沉睡、别有所爱、都会使我们听不见主的叩门声。但是恒久忍耐、爱我们至深的主，却谦卑在外面不住地叩门，只要听见他声音就开门的，主说， 祂要进来与我们一同坐席。并且那些除去不冷不热心态的得胜者，主要赐我们与祂和父神同坐宝座的应许，也就是与主一同作王。这是极大、极高、极宝贵的应许。

总结：

写给教会的7封信，是荣耀的主，奉自己的名亲自对教会说话。为的是要预备教会为将来的审判做好准备。今天教会所作的，是金银宝石、还是草木禾秸，都要在审判台前交账。

让我们透过神对启示录7间教会的提醒，常常问自己“这是我吗？”求圣灵不断的光照我们，在这神的拯救2022 禁食祷告中，除去撒狄教会的名存实亡、避免老底嘉的不冷不热，在真理中站稳立场，弃绝魔鬼的作为，持守起初的爱心，依靠圣灵持续保灵，效法主对非拉铁非、示每拿的赞赏，忠心持守到底，直到见主面。

Revelation 3: Is this me?
GK611 Morning Devotion
15/09/2022
Speaker: Ps Deborah Tan

Introduction: Puppy Crossing the River

What the Lord said to the seven churches in those years is also a reminder to the churches of the last days today. But if we are like puppies who do not know that the reflection in the water is ourselves, and do not let the word of God and the flow of the Holy Spirit continue to enlighten our lives, then we will be like puppies that lose their flesh and bones, losing what the Lord intended to give us, our blessing.

I. The Church of Sardis, exist in name only (v1-6)

The city of Sardis was very prosperous and rich, and even the rivers surrounding the foot of the mountain were able to dig out gold. Sardis was built on a large volcanic uplift, with only one road leading to the bottom of the mountain, and a steep cliff on the other side, so it was an unbreakable fortress. But the city was taken by the enemy in the same way twice, in 549 and 218 BC.

"Is it me? Do I keep making the same mistakes over and over again? Not learning from my mistakes and going around in the wilderness?"

Before the Lord speaks to the seven churches, He always reveals what kind of Lord He Himself is in response to the different situations of each church. The Lord said that He is the Lord of the seven spirits of God. This is also what the Sardis church lacked. Although the church looks glorious from the outside, every meeting is filled with people and the amount of offerings is huge. But the Lord said, "You are alive by name, but in fact you are dead." The church is like a cemetery spiritually, dying but exist in name only. Because the action of the Holy Spirit is no longer in the midst, and the ministry has not been led by the Holy Spirit.

1. The Lord's exhortation: recall, repent, be alert (v3-6)

Whether it's a church or a believer, God wants us to do three things to the past, the present, and the future. Always look back on the past, remember God’s guidance, count God’s grace, repent for your current shortcomings and weaknesses, and be alert to God’s revelation of what to do in the future.

2. The Lord's Reward: Wearing White Clothes to Keep Your Name (v4-6)

From the history of the church, no matter how bad the actual state of the church is, there always be a small group of faithful people who have never defiled their clothes. These people lived out God's righteousness and holiness in their actions, so the Lord said they were worthy to put on white and walk with Him. Nor will their names be removed from the book of life.

II. The Church of Philadelphia, praised by the Lord (v7-13)

Philadelphia Church is one of the only two churches out of the seven to be praised and affirmed by the Lord. They obeyed the Lord's word even with a little strength, and they did not abandon the Lord's name in the midst of tribulation and persecution. Regardless of the size of the church or the number of people, as long as we faithfully adhere to the true way according to our own strength, even if we can accomplish a small thing for God, God will accept it.

1. The Lord's exhortation: continue to protect the soul (v11)

In v11, the Lord said that He was coming soon, and reminded the Philadelphia church, who could not be faulted, to hold on to everything to the end, lest the crown given to him by the Lord would be taken away by others. But unfortunately, this church no longer exists today, which serves as a reminder to us.

2. The Lord's Reward (v8-13)

A) Rewards on Earth (v8b-10)

Holy, true, Lord who holds the keys of David, will open for them a door of blessing that no one can close. Even Satanists or false apostles will bow down to them.

Philadelphia is also a place with frequent earthquakes. But God here promises that in the event of an earthquake, God will save them from the disaster and have peace. In addition, v10, when people in the world are being tested, scholars believe that it refers to the time of the great tribulation, when they will be lifted into the air earlier and will not be harmed by the calamity on earth.

B) Eternal Reward (v12-13)

The Lord also promises to give those who overcome to become pillars in the temple of God in eternity. In the New Jerusalem, which will come down from heaven in the future, he will be a witness to the truth of God. And the name of God, the name of the holy city, and the new name of Christ the Lord will be written on the pillar forever. This represents the great glory of being forever with God and Christ, and of having an identity and position in the eternal kingdom.

III. The Laodicean Church, neither cold nor hot (Revelation 3:14-22)

In Laodicea, there are the hot springs of Hierapolis and the cold springs of Colossae. Hot springs have healing properties, and cold springs can cool down and quench thirst. But the hot springs that cool down have too many minerals and are disgusting. By the time of Revelation, the Laodicean church had degenerated to become the typical church of a pampered, wealthy society. Although it is rich on earth, it is wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked in the sight of the Lord.

1. The Lord's exhortation: buy gold refined by fire, white robes, and eyedrops (v18-19)

Gold refined by fire = Word of God. White robes = God's righteousness, holiness. Eyedrops = Holy Spirit's anointing and revelation, and heavenly hope

Singapore is quite similar to Laodicea back then. Religious freedom, abundance with no lacking. The days of comfort and no persecution can easily make the church and brothers and sisters fall into a state of lukewarmness. Today, if our spiritual situation is as lukewarm as Laodicea, hurry up and buy fire-refined gold, white clothes, and eyedrops from the Lord.

2. The Lord's Reward: Reigning with the Lord (v20-22)

When people think they are rich and lack nothing, they will shut the Lord out because of comfort and convenience. The noise of the world, laziness and slumber, and love for something else, will keep us from hearing the knock on the door of the Lord. But the Lord, who is patient and loves us the most, keeps knocking on the outside in humility, and when we open the door as soon as we hear His voice. The Lord said, He will come in and dine with us. And those overcomers who cut off the lukewarm attitude, the Lord gives us the promise of sitting on the throne with Him and the Father, that is, reigning with the Lord. This is the greatest, highest, and most precious promise.

Conclusion：

The 7 letters to the church were from the Lord of glory who speaks to the church personally in his own name. The purpose is to prepare the church for the coming judgment. What the church does today, whether it is gold, silver, precious stones, or grass, wood, and stubble, must be accounted for at the judgment stand.

Let us, through God's reminder to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation, often ask ourselves, "Is this me?" Ask the Holy Spirit to keep enlightening us. In this fast and prayer of God's salvation 2022, we will remove the Church in Sardis which exists in name only, avoid being Laodicea's lukewarmness, standing firm in the truth, rejecting the deeds of the devil, holding on to the love at the beginning, relying on the Holy Spirit to keep the spirit alive, imitating the Lord's praise for Philadelphia and Smyrna, and sticking to it faithfully till the end, until you meet the Lord.