These things saith HE that holdeth the seven stars in HIS right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:8-11
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;
These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 2:12-17
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write;
These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Revelation 2:18-29
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write;
These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts:
and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3:1-6
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;
These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;
I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.
If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3:7-13
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3:14-22
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;
These things saith the Amen,
the faithful
and true witness,
the beginning of the creation of God;
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Here is a promise associated with doing the instruction given in the book of Revelation:
Revelation 1 ... 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein:for the time is at hand.
We not only read the Book of Revelation ... we must also do those instructions given in the Book of Revelation.
Jesus gave instruction to the churches cited in Revelation 2 & 3 ...
Rev. 2 ... 1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil:and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Can you remember how you felt when you were first born again ... how much you longed to hear things of God and things about God ... This is like that first, new love.
But along the way, the love in some weakens. The cares of this world, the lust of other things, the deceitfulness of riches surface to weaken the initial love. And sometimes the disillusionment of people in church groups causes that love to weaken. They leave us, they do things contrary to doctrine, we begin to think, "Who can we trust?", and we hold back that initial love, not wanting to be hurt again by deceitful people in church groups. We become damaged along the way. Jesus said: 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mt. 24
We must return to our first love ... loving God, loving Jesus, loving the Holy Spirit and having a good heart toward the faithful in Christ.
We can pray for God to restore us. We can repent from our determination not to trust anyone in churches again. We can recall that first love we had toward God and the church, remembering from whence God pulled us from that horrible pit of the world where we once live.
We can renew our minds, determined to read scripture and go forward and delight again in things of God.
How can we not delight when we read of Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, of Gideon, of Elijah and Elisha, of Peter and Paul ...
Determine to read scripture often, several times a day. You will find you enjoy those scriptures and want more scripture. You will begin to feel that new love again toward God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and toward the people of God.
You will be restored.
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Revelation 2 ... 8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days:be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
We do suffer greatly through people who say they are Christian but do not like us who are Christian because they differ with our doctrine. Yet we are one body, one faith, one baptism ... there is one Lord, yet we are often divided from those who say they are Christian. And very often they are our blood relatives from which we are divided.
But there are many who blaspheme the real doctrines of Christ. And they attack us.
This hurts a lot.
But Jesus says for us to Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:
Peter explained ... I Peter 4 ... 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
We must continually commit the keeping of our soul to God as they fight against us and accuse us. In each attack we must turn to God for HIS help. He will help us. Instead of fretting and puffing up against them, we need to turn to God and fall down before God, pouring out our heart to God. That will work in a proper way.
Jesus said ... Lk. 6 ... 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy:for, behold, your reward is great in heaven:for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets...
... 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
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Revelation 2 ... 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Balaam wanted glory and honor from man. Balaam wanted reward from man. Balaam lusted after things and wanted God to approve him in his lust even when God told him to do something else.
Numbers 22
In the end, Balaam was slain by the children of God.
We are warned multiple times in scripture not to go in the way of Balaam.
The doctrine of Balaam was pursuit of honor, personal glory, and riches on this present earth even to casting aside the word of God.
Some people reject the instruction of various scriptures, saying things like, "I know God wants me to be happy." These persons end up violating scripture such as:
I Cor. 7 ... 10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband:and let not the husband put away his wife.
I Cor. 7 ... 39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
Jesus said the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Mt. 5:32 ... 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery:and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
- The husband who divorces a faithful wife will be the cause of her adultery if she remarries.
- The faithful wife who is divorced commits adultery if she remarries.
- The man who marries the woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Most church groups today have eliminated these teaching and have set up another doctrine which approves remarriage after divorce.
To sit in such a church group and go against scripture puts you in the path of the judgement given by Jesus in Revelation 2:12-16.
And Jesus speaks of fornication in Revelation 2:12-16 ... There is no place in the NT that approves fornication for any reason.
Fornication is even a sin unlike all other sins, says Paul.
I Cor. 6 ... 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price:therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Many preachers take John 8 and preach that Jesus forgave the woman taken in adultery but they fail to preach the following words Jesus spoke to this woman taken in adultery:
Jesus said: "Go, and sin no more ..." Jn. 8
The great problem is so often churches want many people to attend their church group so they fail to preach scriptures that would offend people, such as preaching the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. To preach this would cause many in their congregation to leave and find another church group that approves them in their remarriage after divorce.
I once attended a secular luncheon at a museum group. Seated next to me was a man wearing the largest cross around his neck that I have ever seen. This man identified himself as retired pastor at Indiana Baptist Church. He said they had such enormous growth that they couldn't keep up with having enough seating for all the people who attended. He said they kept adding seats but still didn't have enough.
I replied, "If you would teach that Jesus said the man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery, about 1/2 of the congregation would get up and leave and you wouldn't have a problem with seating."
This former pastor was shocked speechless.
I would not attend a church group like the above. If you stay in such a church group, you place yourself in danger of the judgment of Revelation 2. To know better and stay in a church group where adultery is approved in various ways, or where other scripture is violated, is a very serious matter.
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Revelation 2 ... 18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts:and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers:even as I received of my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
To allow a "minister" to preach false doctrine is a sin. To sit where a minister preaches doctrine which you know to be wrong puts you in judgment.
I have often gone to ministers who have preached something that is not in the Bible and have spoken with them about that which they have said. They admitted to me what they said it not in the Bible but they never repented, not once did I ever see them repent. Usually they would try to find a way to accuse me. Of course, I never returned to that church group.
I am amazed at how people sit in a congregation, smiling as the preacher speaks, and allowing him to speak as he wills with things not in Bible. I have seen this multiple times as I have hunted a church group that I could attend.
One Wednesday night, I visited a small non-denominational church group. (I was looking for a church I could attend regularly.) There were about 200 in the congregation that night. Pastor was preaching from John 8. He said, "And when the woman taken in adultery was brought before Jesus, the woman was naked from the waist up." I was very shocked. I knew this was not in the passage of scripture but I quickly grabbed my Bible and read John 8.
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned:but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee:go, and sin no more.
I was amazed that I did not see any of the people in the church group reach for a Bible to read John 8. Everyone just kept smiling as they sat there as dead people in the church group.
Several years ago, God gave me a terrifying dream as follows.
God revealed to me the meaning of this dream. It was a dream about the churches where false doctrines are preached and where things are added to the word of God. This is like having poison gas come from your own speakers. If you sit there, the gas coming from the speaker will kill you. The speaker is supposed to warn us in the church so we would not go in the way of sin. But these evil ministers speak words which act as poison, like a gas, which ends up killing the congregation.
Concerning the pastor who said the woman Jesus spoke to in John 8 was naked from waist up, I called this pastor the next day. I asked him about this. He said, "Where do you go to church?" trying to find a way to accuse me. He never repented. I didn't return to that group although I was looking, at the time, for a group to attend.
I went from group to group and at each group the pastor spoke things not in the Bible and I never saw any person in the congregation reach for Bible to read that scripture. The people just sat there as dead people, smiling at pastor. In each case, I spoke to pastor. I never saw any repentance though some did admit what they said was not in Bible. One pastor said he couldn't remember where it was in Bible. I told him it was really important to me to know where it was in Bible and I asked him if he could find what he taught in Bible and have his secretary call me and tell me where it is. With that, pastor became very angry and said, "Well ... all right ... it's not in the Bible ... Where do you go to church?" I never returned to that church group.
I never found a church group I could attend where false doctrine wasn't being taught and I never saw any person in congregation reach for a Bible to read the doctrine pastor was teaching.
Acts 17 ... 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed;
These Bereans checked to see if that which Paul preached was true.
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Revelation 3 ... 1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die:for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white:for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
In church groups, men set up various "good" works for people to do. Often these even look Biblical, like visiting the sick ... The problem with "good works" is unless God puts it in your heart to do the work, it may end up not being a good work though it looks good to other people.
Jesus said ... Mt. 7 ... 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
They came doing works of God but God didn't send them to do those works. Therefore Jesus called them workers of iniquity, though they had cast out devils in HIS name and have done many wonderful works. The problem was God didn't send them to do these works. We see this frequently in church groups.
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Revelation 3 ... 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
These people were lukewarm toward things of God ... People who gorge themselves with natural food are often sluggish.
With the Word of God, to stay alive, you must apply that word to your life in a proper manner, doing the word of God. Otherwise you become dead and even deceive yourself into thinking you are godly.
James 1 ... 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Also you have to believe and act by faith in God.
Heb. 3 ... 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Heb. 4 ... 1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into HIS rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from HIS.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
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There was one church in the examples in Revelation where they were doing the right thing in the sight of God.
Revelation 3 ... 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works:behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly:hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The one instruction to this church was to hold fast that which they had that no man take their crown.
We do have to contend for the faith. People say things which would draw us away from the instruction God has given us unless we turn to God and keep his instruction before us day and night until the temptation is past. And also that we pray that we would be able to endure and pray for wisdom in the midst of the time of temptation, taking that way of escape when it is shown us by the Holy Spirit.
It is important for each of us to continue in that which God has told us and to do it to the end.
When we are discouraged in that which God has told us to do, we can turn to God in the midst of the discouragement and ask HIM for help. He will help us. We must not allow ourselves to wallow about in the discouragement as some do. For to do that would cause you to cast aside what you are supposed to do. Therefore we ask God for wisdom in the temptation. And God will give us HIS wisdom that we may hold fast to what HE says and continue.
There are many discouragements along the way and we have to work to overcome each discouragement. We do this through prayer in the discouragement and by making ourselves focus on scripture day and night, refusing to give up, being sustained during the problem by scripture through faith in the Word of God which is God.
It is a labor to enter into HIS rest.
I Cor. 15 ... 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.