Seven Churches: Thyatira

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14 KJV

Who wants to be peculiar? Yes, there are those really show off type of people that want to constantly attract attention to themselves, but most of them do grow up. We don’t, for the most part, like to stand out. Yet that is what Jesus has called us to do. We should stand out clearly in a world that mocks holiness. We should stand out clearly in a world that puts self service above serving others. We bear the name of Christ and He stood out. You couldn’t miss Him and the world should not be able to misidentify us.

If Pergamos practiced immorality a little, Thyatira did it in spades. They had a woman preacher who said it was OK, so they lived without restraint. But the Name of Jesus was on them. They bore his brand. They bore it into the mud and muck of sin, not to pull others out but to revel therein. He told that church that He would “kill her children with death”. That means that there were many in that church who used His name that would not be living with Him for eternity. They made a mockery of Christ with false faith and their judgment was sure. Also it did not bode well for their children. How many of us want our children to perish forever. Perhaps what they see in us may make them think that Christ is of no account. Then what?

Dear Father, Let me be always mindful that I bear the Name of Christ and pass the honor of that Name to my own family. Amen. 

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/

Seven Churches: Pergamos

“Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 NKJV

I hear this from many people today, “Jesus only cares that I believe in Him. He doesn’t care if I am living with my girlfriend. Solomon had many wives and God didn’t care. These rules of old fashioned morality are not for our enlightened generation.” I actually hear that from people in the ministry. If that nonsense makes you fighting mad, you are in the good company of Jesus.

Pergamos was another church which had sound doctrine. They held fast to the Name of Jesus and performed works of love to their community. What they also did, however, was abandon moral purity. Jesus was not pleased. Indeed, Jesus said that if they didn’t repent He would fight against them. That is fighting mad if there ever was. The response I have too often received to my book, Deceived: The Visible Church and the Homosexual Agenda, has been very much as if I were speaking in Pergamos. The church needs the book as certainly as they did in that ancient city. Yes, they rebelled against Christ and He shut them down.

Dear Father, Help us to be aware that You are a holy God and look for holiness in Your people. Amen. 

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/

Seven Churches: Smyrna

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 KJV

Wouldn’t it be nice to be part of a church where God had nothing bad to say about it? Sadly there are now almost more ex-pastors in this country than active ones. It has become the average for a pastor to stay in the ministry for only five years. That isn’t just at one church but in the ministry period. The Church at Ephesus was wanting before God and was closed. The Church at Smyrna had a better recommendation from Christ.

The church was poor. We look today to have fine buildings at great expense. Many even preach the false doctrine of the prosperity gospel. The church was weak. We seem to think that the church should be the powerhouse in modern politics. The church was sorely abused by the world. We think we should be respected and set above others. But this poor, weak and abused church got an A+ rating from Christ. He had nothing to say against it. Interesting. What He did say to them was simply, “Keep the faith. I have not forgotten you.”

Dear Father, Thank You for the example of the Church at Smyrna. Amen. 

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/

Seven Churches: Ephesus

“He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” John 2:10 NKJV

Have you ever felt abandoned? It can be very scary. Spouses get abandoned; children get abandoned; animals get abandoned; ideals get abandoned. Something or someone always gets hurt in abandonment. The church at Ephesus experienced this sorrow in a twofold way. Others got hurt and then the Church got hurt.

The Ephesians had a very strong position on sound doctrine. Good for them. It is too often abandoned these days. But they became so obsessed with sound doctrine that they nitpicked on every minor area (Romans 14:1-10) and abandoned the doctrine of love. Jesus had told His disciples that the world would know they were Christians by their love. The church in Ephesus became so centered on total conformity in all doctrine that they left their love for others in the church that didn’t totally conform. Those people were hurt by the rejection. But Christ warned the church not to do that and that if they did He would close them down. We know from history that He did just that. Then they were hurt and the entire city lost one of the greatest of all the early churches. Let us love one another and also encourage one another in sound doctrine. We need both.

Dear Father, Thank You for giving us truth and thank You for giving us love. Help us to be faithful to both. Amen. 

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/

Examine Yourselves

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 NKJV

Our next group of seven things comes from the Book of Revelation. God gives a special promise to those who read this book (Rev. 1:3), but many people become so obsessed with certain particulars that they lose sight of the beautiful truths found in the book. The book is prophetic, but we will not be looking at prophesy. Our look will be at the seven churches found in chapters two and three and how they speak to our church today. We live today, not in the future but in the present. Therefore the Scriptures must speak to us about the present.

In II Corinthians 13 Paul admonishes the people in that church to examine themselves to see if they are really Christians.  In Revelation two and three Jesus challenges the people of five of the seven churches to consider their own walk with Christ and whether it is Christ-like. That is a call for all of us to answer, how and I doing in my walk with Christ today? If I can sort out all the particulars of Revelation’s prophecies, but can’t live like Christ today, what good is it? I trust these seven devotions on the seven churches will be an encouragement to us all toward a more Christ-like walk.

Dear Father, Help me be concerned today about how I live for Christ. Amen. 

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/

Armor of God: The “Air Power” of Prayer

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.” Eph 6:18-19 NKJV 

What if we could go over the head of our enemy and hit him in his rear guard? What if we could rain down power from above to help defeat our determined foe? The Bible doesn’t say this is a “what if”, but it is an absolute certainty. Prayer brings power to bear that strengthens our position and weakens our opponent. Paul specifically mentions two kinds of prayer in concluding the armor of God. Neither of them is gimme, gimme, gimme.

Paul admonishes us to pray for our fellow believers who are facing the attacks of Satan. Those who are sick, hurting, troubled, sorrowful, unemployed or any other crisis need in their life. We are to pray for them. God will pour out His power and strengthen them through our prayers. He can weaken the assaults of Satan as well. The other prayer that Paul told us to use was for those who are at the battle front invading enemy territory to take captivity captive. There are many people who are daily trying to rescue the perishing and they need our prayers to give them success in their warfare. God gave us “Air Power” against our foe. We should be using it in defense of our fellow soldiers and in offense against the enemy who would hold captive lost souls.

Dear Father, Thank You for giving us the powerful weapon of prayer. Help us to be diligent in using it for Your glory. Amen. 

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/

Armor of God: Sword of the Spirit

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve’.’” Matt 4:10 NKJV

We have played defense long enough. Satan has attacked the truth of God’s word. He has attacked the Righteousness of Christ. He has attacked our feet with the troubles of life. He has stepped up his attack with fiery darts of trials. He has tried to undermine our certainty of our salvation in Jesus Christ. He has attacked and attacked and attacked. God has given us the armor to fend off each and every one of them. He has also given us armor to fight back.

When Satan tempted Jesus, our Savior replied three times, “It is written”. There is a reason that Paul said to “study to show ourselves approved” and that the word of God would make every man fit for good works. The word of God is critical to our Christian life and victory in it. Our assault weapon against Satan is God’s word. Instead of constantly getting beaten on by him, why not send him packing with the promises of God. David said that God’s word was more important than daily food. He said blessed is the man whose meditation is in the word day and night. He said those things by the direct inspiration of God. When Satan attacks we must use all our defensive weapons but not hesitate to pull out the sword of the spirit, the word of God, and have at him with a little offense of our own.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your true and powerful word. Help me to love it and know it better every day. Amen. 

You can contact me and find inspiring Christian books at my website: www.davidccraig.net

You may also find some of my selected daily devotions at http://blog.febc.org/