Surely There Is An End!/Revelation, The Book of Life

Hebrews 12:2; Deuteronomy 8:16, 11:12; 1 Samuel 3:12; Proverbs 23:18; Revelation 3:5, 3:4, 20:12, 20:15; Luke 10:20; Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28; Revelation 22:19; Genesis 5:1; Matthew 1:1

We are walking in today:  Surely There Is An End!/Revelation, The Book of Life

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  End is defined as a point that marks the extend of something, the point where something ceases to exist.  We are at the end of 2011, think about it, Jesus endured the cross.  We endured somethings in 2011, but continue to look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher!  Tell every storm in your life, it is finished, it is over!  Tell 2011 it is finished, the end!  Deuteronomy 8:16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.  Deuteronomy 11:12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.  Tell yourself the end!  2011 The End!  1 Samuel 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.  Proverbs 23:18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.  (NIV) There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.  (ASV) For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off.  (AMP) For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.  To every challenge, there is surely an end, if you will not give up your expectation shall not be cut off.  There is always a blessing in every season, if you can picture it, you can capture it!  Surely there is an end.  Your expectations shall not be cut off.  He will do it, He will deliver on all of His promises.  Hold on to your faith and hope.  God is more than able.  Surely there is an end.  Though weeping may endure for the night, joy comes in the morning.  God is sealing 2011 with us walking through the book of Revelation.  The Author and Finisher of our faith is who we are following after.  There is an end!  Time to shout the victory!  All of those late nights, pacing the floor--it is all over now!  We come to set the atmosphere as we prepare ourselves to enter in to this study of the book of Revelation.  Only God can end and begin a thing at the same time!  Prepare our hearts, Lord to hear Your word.  Surely there is an end!  Now, are you ready for the word of God?

Here is the final submission for the year 2011.  God blessed you mightily in the spirit this year with so many spiritual gifts, growth, patience, perseverance, and increased faith with knowledge, wisdom, counsel, righteousness, fear of the Lord and the best of these riches more of the Spirit of the Lord. Our spirit man has dominion in our destiny, therefore we do not receive anything in the natural until we first gain it in the spirit.  The richness we have been blessed with in our spirits this year, can now manifest itself in the natural.  Join us as we walk into our New Year’s revelation and abundant blessing in the natural in 2012.

Keep the faith, reap your reward, receive your garment and remain in the Book of Life.

From our study of Sardis yesterday we recognize the faithful remnant and Jesus encouraging them to hold fast, to fight the good fight of faith, to keep the faith and finish the course. 
Jesus will reward us.

Revelation 3:5 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.

A promise of a reward.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments: Jesus identifies the overcomers with those few names who have not defiled their garments (Revelation 3:4). These overcomers will wear white garments, received from Jesus.
The difference between the dead majority with imperfect works (but had a good reputation) and the few names who were pleasing to God was purity, and the closeness with Jesus that is always related to purity. The deadness and spiritual facade of most the Christians in Sardis was related to their impure lives, their embrace of the impurity and sin of the world around them. It’s hard to say if the deadness came before the impurity or the impurity came before the deadness, but they are surely related.
Jesus explained the absolute necessity of this being clothed by God with His garments of purity and righteousness in His parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:11-14). Real righteousness is receiving God’s covering instead of trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve tried to cover their own sin (Genesis 3:21) but God provided them with a covering that came from sacrifice (Genesis 3:7).
And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: By this, the overcomers are assured of their heavenly citizenship. In the ancient world, death or a criminal conviction could blot out the name of the citizen from the city’s book of the living, which was the city register.
“In ancient times cities kept a register of their citizens; and when a man died, his name was removed from the register. The risen Christ is saying that, if we wish to remain on the roll of the citizens of God, we must keep our faith flamingly alive.” (Barclay)
Blot out his name from the Book of Life: Does this mean that someone can lose their salvation? That someone is saved one day - their name is in the Book of Life - and another day, they have fallen away and their name has been blotted out from the Book of Life? We need to first see the context here in Revelation 3:5. The focus is assurance, so we should not think that names are being constantly erased and then re-written. The focus here is on assurance, not the idea that Jesus sits in heaven with a busy eraser. At the same time, we should carefully consider what the Word has to say about the Book of Life.
There is a Book of Life, and it will be opened and referenced on the Day of Judgment. This means that the Book of Life is real, and will be read.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. (Revelation 20:12)

There is a Book of Life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. This means that the Book of Life is important.

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

There is a Book of Life, and knowing our names are written there should bring us great joy.

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20).

There is a Book of Life, and there are five different references to people being blotted out of the Book of Life. This means that the idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously. Perhaps it is only a symbol, and that person’s name was never there to begin with. Even if that is the case, the Lord still wants us to take it seriously, because there are some who by every human appearance are saved, yet will not be in heaven.

Moses said to the Lord: Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. (Exodus 32:32)

And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” (Exodus 32:33)

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28)

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)

And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:19)

A good example of how we should take this warning seriously is the life of a man named Charles Templeton. A generation ago he was deeply involved in the foundations of Youth for Christ and impacted the nation for Jesus. He was considered a dynamic and powerful  minister, and many would go anywhere to hear him. Many people received Jesus at his meetings. But recently he wrote a book in which he totally denounces his belief in Jesus Christ, denounces even his belief even in God, and says he is an atheist.
Charles Templeton totally denounces his early confessions of faith and through his book he wants to “rescue” the people he once brought to Jesus. Obviously, this man - in his present, apostate state - is not going to heaven. You can debate all day long if he was never saved or if he lost his salvation. But at the end of the day, there are two conclusions. First, at one time, by all human appearance he was saved. Second, he didn’t take the warnings of the Bible to keep walking, to keep trusting, to keep persevering in the faith seriously enough. (Barclay)
In the genealogies of the Bible there are two books mentioned.

The book of the generation of Adam (Genesis 5:1)
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1)

Being born of Adam doesn’t guarantee that our name is written in the Book of Life. But being born again - born of Jesus Christ - gives us that assurance
But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels: This is an amazing promise. It simply makes sense that we should be willing to confess the name of Jesus. But it is amazing that He would not be ashamed to confess us!
It is important for us to accept Jesus. But it is far more important to know if Jesus accepts us.
A general exhortation to all who will hear.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Let him hear: We must all hear what the Holy Spirit says to the church at Sardis. It is easy to drift in sleepy apathy towards spiritual death, especially when you have a good reputation (people recognize that you are mature in Christ), and when you place a high value on stability. But there is always hope for the dead church, because Jesus is an expert at raising the dead.
What the Spirit says to the churches: Sardis teaches us that we must beware of our success. The city was wealthy and knew easy living, but it made them soft and spoiled. Sardis also teaches us that we be watchful at our strongest points. Sardis thought it was unconquerable, and so it was conquered. Where we say “I would never do that” is the exact place we must guard against.

The British Field Marshal Montgomery used to say, “One man can lose me a battle.” One corrupt or disobedient Christian can lose a battle for an entire church. First, they can lose a battle simply through their own point of failure. Second, they can lose a battle because they lead others into their same sin. Finally, they can lose a battle because they foster a spirit of accommodation to sin in the other members of the church. One man can lose a battle!
So hear what the Spirit is saying to us today fight, fight, fight--all I have promised is yours and surely there is an end.   The end resides in me my very name says so, I am the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End, so surely there is an end.   Go into this New Year 2012 with the power of the Spirit of the Lord, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, counsel, righteousness,  and the fear of the Lord and fight.  Yes you are more than a conqueror because you are an OVERCOMER!   You are Loved, Blessed and Anointed now all you need to do is FIGHT to WALK in it.   God Bless you, your servant Christene Duncan.

Amen.  Hallelujah!  Surely there is an end.  You wanna have your name written in the book of life.  Not having a spirit of trying to take down a church.  Thank You Lord for taking us out with a study of the book of Revelation, putting a seal on 2011.  Everything is being revealed.  Surely our expectation shall not be cut off!  For every test, trial and tribulation that we had in 2011, our expectation shall not be cut off.  All that we have gone through has made us better, wiser and stronger.  We saw Your word from Genesis to Revelation in this year!  We could not thank You enough, for keeping us in this year!  When everything appeared to be falling apart.  Surely there is an end!  Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! It is over now!!  Surely there is an end!  For every tear shed, the struggle in the press--you didn't give up.  God is bringing you out.  He is willing and able!  Thank You Lord!  Surely our expectation shall not be cut off.  We can do all things through Christ Jesus!  His strength is made perfect in weakness.  He is our Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Emmanuel, who has promised to never leave nor forsake us!  We must have a new mind set for this new year!  God is doing a new thing!  It is over now!  The old things have expired, stop walking in that mess that you should not even be in!  There are some things that can not follow you into the new year!  We must let go of the past to walk in to the present.  We are gonna need faith to walk in 2012, in our thoughts, words and steps--all new.  Surely there is an end, our expectation shall not be cut off.  Some things have expired!  It is over.  Surely there is an end!  God can't bless you when your are looking at the past.  Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith!  We are not talking like we used to--God is doing a new thing, 2011 is over and our expectation will not be cut off.  We have been expecting some things from God, for Him to show up and pouring down an abundance of rain on us.  Hold on to your faith!  We know that without faith, it is impossible to please God.  We walk by faith and not by sight.  If we had mustard seed faith, we can move mountains!  Our expectation shall not be cut off!  Where is your faith?!  God said it and we should stand in expectancy of His promises and word being manifested in our lives!  Don't let the enemy have an ear to drop doubt, fear or questions into your spirit!  Hold to God's word, it is eternal and will not come back void.  No one else can make and back up that claim!!  Surely there is an end!  God will deliver on all of His promises, but are you in position to receive?  Are you still stuck in the past not looking to the present and eventually the future?!  God is bringing us out, don't turn back to look at that thing, like Lot's wife  (Genesis 19:19, 26).   Why regard that think anymore, it is over!  Why consider it or pay any attention to it?  Behold our God is doing a new thing and also bringing us out of what we were in.  We are drawing closer to Him as He draws us by His love!  We serve a God who is doing a new thing and here you are stuck in the past!?  Let it go, it is holding you back from the new thing that God is doing!!  Move out all of that junk and go to the next level with God, trusting, believing and having unshakable faith in Him!  Shout, glory!  Thank You God, the victory is mine!  Surely there is an end!!  My soul sits back in wonder, how I got over.  We know that God is a keeper and healer, that His grace is sufficient.  Surely there is an end.  Thank You for being living water, from Genesis to Revelation  Thank you for 2011, somebody did not make it.  We are still trusting and believing in Your word, as we cross over in to the new, new.  Only God can end and begin at the same time!!!  We have got to be in position for the blessing--for what God has for us.  Let go of that dead thing that you have been dragging all through 2011, it is over now.  Surely there is an end!  Thank You Lord!  All of those thoughts of doubt,failure, worry and anxiety, let it go and trust in He who holds the world in His hands!  We lift up fiveamprayer, it is over, let it go.  Surely there is an end, our expectation shall not be cut off.  We lift up prayer requests those known and unknown, surely there is an end.  Let go and let God.  Where God is taking you, all of that can not follow.  Surely there is an end!  Forgive us for not letting go and staying in that mess longer than was necessary.  All the while that you have been waiting on God, He has been waiting on you.  Let it go and give it over to Him.  He works alone and you trying to help, caused the delay.  He has been waiting for you to change position so that He can bless you.  Reposition your praise, faith without works is dead--surely there is an end.  All that you have been through in 2011, surely there is an end.  It is time out for playing church, this all boils down to relationship with the Father.  Hallelujah!  Glory to His name!

We seal this prayer in His precious blood: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Welcome to the overflow...

 Surely there is an end.  Enlarge our coast, Lord.  We want more of You and less of us.  In this new year, God is gonna do a new thing!!  He wants His people to do new things too.  Thank You for 2011, Lord You have been better to us, than we have been to ourselves!!  He still favors us!  His grace is sufficient!  There is no weapon formed against us that shall prosper!  He has been there through the storm, pain and rain.  Surely there is an end.  We just gotta hold on to His word.  There is an end.  There is favor over your life.  His grace is sufficient.  Shout glory to His name!  Surely there is an end!  God is gonna open up a window and pour out blessings that there will not be enough room to receive them!!  Hallelujah!  Glory!  Don't keep waking up thinking that everything will be the same.  The devil is a liar, your expectation shall not be cut off!  What ever you are expecting in your marriage, job, finances, family, health--hold on the the promises.  We must speak life, not death in all situations.  He creates the fruit of our lips.  Some of what we are experiencing is from what we have spoken.  Let that old way expire in 2011, speak life and His word in 2012!  We have to open our mouths, not just think God's word, speak it!!!  God created the world by His speaking, He has given us the same power!  What ever comes up put God's word on it.  As you look back over 2011 and the things that you were in, God kept you--surely there is an end!  Hallelujah!  His grace is sufficient.  Hold on and watch what God does in the new year!  There are storm clouds gathering in the spiritual realm, blessings are about to break forth!  Surely there is an end.  Hallelujah God!  Thank You Jesus!  Make a new years revelation, and walk in it.  Look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Surely there is an end, and our expectation shall not be cut off.  God has already made a way and is doing somethings for you.  2011 there is an end!!  Walk in this word all weekend long.  He is the Great I AM that I AM.  Happy New Year!  Surely there is an end!  Thank You God!  He has been so good!  Taste and see that the Lord is good!  He is about to get gooder and gooder!  He is doing a new thing!  Have a supernatural weekend!  We have a new mind for the new year.  We have been renewed by the word of God.  Take some time to read the scriptures for yourself and visit us on facebook.  Have a blessed day!

Your Subscription Is About To Expire!/Revelation, Sardis--Dead Silence.

Lamentations 5:21; Psalm 51:10; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 4:16-17; Genesis 5:24; Matthew 5:8; 2 Timothy 3:5; Proverbs 10:22; Revelation 2:29; Proverbs 18:20-21; Exodus 32:26; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Deuteronomy 28:2; James 1:6-8; Jeremiah 14:22; John 1:3; Hebrews 11:6

We are walking in today:  Your Subscription Is About To Expire!/Revelation, Sardis--Dead Silence.

Lamentations 5:21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.  Wake up, fiveamprayer realize and recognize that your subscription is about to expire.  Do something about it!  What do we do about it?  Jesus is crystal clear--renew your subscription!  Renew the subscription to life, subscription to salvation, Jesus did not use the word subscription, He is referring to renewal by way of repenting.  Renew your subscription to the gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ!  Renewing your subscriptions is a matter of repentance, of digging out the root of the problem, not just pulling the top of the weed.  By not taking out the root, the weed will come back.  Really dig down deep to get all of that root, let no traces remain!  Repentance means to dig out the root in it's entirety.  Repentance means to turn around.  Repentance means to make clean, a clean break and change of direction.  Repentance means to turn your life from hell and turn it toward heaven and God.  Repentance is where we are in the book of Revelation.  Renew your mind--come in to the new year with renewed joy, peace, wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  When a magazine subscription is about expire, they send renewal notice after renewal notice.  Then they will send a final letter asking after the same, letting you know that this is the last opportunity to renew for a substantial savings.  If that does not produce a response, they will call for you to renew your subscription.  They are persistent, so is Jesus!  Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  2011 is about to expire and it has been hard.  We need to renew our spirit as we go into 2012.  They that wait upon the Lord, shall have renewed strength.  Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.  Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.  Fiveamprayer, your subscription is about to expire--renew it now!  In the name of Jesus!  I don't know about you, but I am not trying to carry over what was in 2011 into 2012.  I don't want what is about to expire in my life to come against me in the new year.  You have got to know right now, you need a renewal of joy, spirit, to walk in the way that God would have you to walk.  Your subscription is about to expire!  You might want to renew it, in the word of God--coming in the book of Revelation.  God is giving us a new fight.  Showing us how to hold on like never before!  How to look at 2012 and say it is already looking better.  How to look at 2012, saying if God has brought us through 2011, He will do the same in 2012!  Keep telling yourself, no matter how it looks, I am gonna hold on to what God's word has said!  We have got to renew our minds daily.  Everyday planting seeds of God's word in our minds, that those seeds would take root and bear much fruit.  We have to renew our joy every day--tell yourself that the joy of the Lord is my strength!  We must wash our minds with His word, that we can be cleaned.  Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.  We are to keep seeking Him in His word, so that the seeds that have already been planted can be watered.  We must confess His word over our lives, despite how we feel. Gotta renew our spirits to line up with the word of God.  So when the enemy comes in like a flood that God will raise up a standard against him.  We have got to renew our talk and walk every day.  We contain the power of life and death in our words.  Somebody needs to renew their subscription today, it is about to expire.  You can't come into the new year with the same mindset!!  Ask for a new years revelation not resolution!!  As we prepare our hearts to go into the book of Revelation.  We prepare our hearts to see as God would have us to see.  We prepare our hearts to know that God is doing a new thing and it is starting with me!  We have gotta pull off the old man and walk in the new.  All because who our Father is!  We thank You in advance, right now for the mighty move of God.  Thank You for what You are doing right now through Rev. Duncan.  We thank You, for a renewed spirit and renewed mind.  Have your way, Holy Spirit in the mighty name of Jesus!  Glory to His name!  Now, are you ready for the word of God?!

The book of Revelation: The Church of Sardis another name for “Dead Silence”.

But you are dead.  This is the ought Jesus stated against the church of Silence.  Dead: Despite their reputation of life, Jesus saw them for what they really were. But you are dead shows that a good reputation is no guarantee of true spiritual character. Despite their good appearance, Jesus saw them for what they really were.  Sardis was dead, and when a church or a Christian is dead they present no inherit threat to Satan. “The church of Sardis was at peace - but it was the peace of the dead.” (Barclay)  A dead church or Christian posses no struggle, no fight, no persecution, the church of Sardis was obviously not losing the battle.   A dead body has lost the battle, and the fight seems over. Therefore we will not find Jesus encouraging Sardis to stand strong against persecution or false doctrine because, as previously stated there is no reason for Satan to even come their way to attack with any of the normal devices we expect.
Jesus has a correction for Sardis.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Be watchful: This first instruction from Jesus tells them they need to examine and protect, strengthening what they have. The things which remain tell us that though the spiritual condition of the church of Sardis was bad, it wasn’t hopeless. Spiritually, there were things which remain that could be strengthened. Jesus had not given up on them, and it was late (that are ready to die) - but not too late. 
In its history, the city of Sardis was easily conquered twice before. It wasn’t that the attacking armies overwhelmed Sardis, but because overconfidence made them stop being watchful. The spiritual state of the church in Sardis was a reflection of the city’s historical character
Jesus addresses the necessary correction in their work performed in the church.  I have not found your works perfect before God: Meaning their works, though they had many, haven’t measured up to God’s standard. The presence of works isn’t enough, because God requires a particular intent and purpose in all of our works. They should be done with a heart and in a manner that show them to be perfect before God.
A commentary from Clarke on I have not found your works perfect, states “They performed duties of all kinds, but not duty completely. They were constantly beginning, but never brought anything to a proper end.”  Again Jesus encourages another church to hold on!
Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent: The key to holding on is to remember how one first received and heard the word of God.  If they hold fast to those things, and repent by turning and restoring the gospel and apostolic doctrine to authority over their lives.    The significance here is turning and restoring the gospel, the word of God and ones faith to the proper spiritual authority.  It would benefit everyone to recognize through this continued encouragement “to hold fast” offered by Jesus to the churches, is a distinction that we place others in the position of authority when we falter or backslide in our faith.   When we become distracted or attracted to other things of this world we are too placing that thing, person or idea in the position of spiritual authority in our hearts.

Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 the kind of reception of the word they needed to remember: For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

Sardis:  Overconfidence is not always good.  Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief: Jesus warns them of the great danger in failing to watch. If they ignore His command to be watchful, then Jesus will come upon them as a thief, at a time completely unexpected by them.
  I will come upon you: How will Jesus come upon them? He could come upon them in the sense bringing immediate judgment. Or, He could come upon them in these sense of His coming for the church at the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Used in either sense, it shows that His coming will to them be sudden and unannounced, so they need to be watchful. Winston Churchill said to Britain in the early days of World War II: “I must drop one word of caution, for next to cowardice and treachery, overconfidence leading to neglect and slothfulness, is the worst of wartime crimes.” (cited in Bunch)
Sardis:  There still remained a “Few Good Men”  You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments: Even among the dead Christians in Sardis, there is a faithful remnant. But there were only a few names. In Pergamos (Revelation 2:14) and in Thyatira (Revelation 2:20) there were a few bad among the good. But in Sardis there are a few good among the bad.  Even in Sardis: Even shows that in some ways it was remarkable that there were a few names still faithful to the Lord. It may have been remarkable because of city’s notoriously immoral reputation. Even in a city that wicked, some among the Christians had not defiled themselves by joining in sin. 
Who have not defiled their garments: Why does Jesus refer to defiled garments? In the heathen worship of the day, the pagan gods could not be approached with dirty clothes. The analogy can work for the worship of Jesus, because He gives His pure ones white garments.  “As sin is expressed under the notion of nakedness, so holiness is expressed under the notion of a garment.”
Sardis:  Walk in white triumphantly 
And they shall walk with Me in white: Jesus also promises that these pure ones will walk with Me. This picture of close fellowship and friendship is seen in Enoch, who walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Genesis 5:24).  Of course, the garments Jesus gives are always white. Sardis was a church that was dead because of sinful compromise. They needed to receive and walk in the pure, white garment that Jesus gives. White was also the color of triumph to the Romans, so the white garments speaks of the believer’s ultimate triumph in Jesus.
Sardis: Walk with Jesus.  “Walk with Me” is the greatest reward Jesus can give His followers. The Christians in Sardis who forsake the sinful compromise of their city will be rewarded with a closer, more intimate walk with Jesus. This reward is ultimately a better motivator than the fear of punishment or ruin from our sin.  The pure can have greater intimacy with God not because they have earned it, but because they are simply more interested in the things of God. God promises to reward that interest: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)  Do not walk this way as written in 2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.  “But what shall be done with such persons as live in the church, but are not of it having a name to live, but are dead? What shall be done with mere professors who are not possessors? What shall become of those who are only outwardly religious but inwardly are in the gall of bitterness? We answer, as good Calvin did once: ‘They shall walk in black, for they are unworthy.’ They shall walk in black - the blackness of God’s destruction. They shall walk in black - the blackness of hopeless despair. They shall walk in black - the blackness of incomparable anguish. They shall walk in black - the blackness of damnation. They shall walk in black forever, because they were found unworthy.” (Spurgeon).  We shall end here, until tomorrow.  God bless.

He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him.  He said if you seek, you shall find, ask and the door shall be opened.  I don't know about you but I am asking for a renewed mind, joy, peace, walk and talk.  We must renew our subscription in His word.  We can't stop now, we are going into 2012.  He is more than able and is worthy of all of the praise!!  This is about the renewal of your mind.  Casting down every imagination that would attempt to exalt itself against the knowledge of the Most High God!  Those thoughts that come up saying, "that is is not gonna get better."  Our response is, "the devil is a liar!  My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory!  The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want!  He came to give us life more abundantly.  There is no lack in Him!!  The earth is the Lord's and the fullness there of.  We are blessed going in and coming out!"  We are to cross over Jordan, into our promised land and new territory.  Continue to pray the prayer of Jabez that He would enlarge our coast, that His hand would be with us, to keep us from evil, that God would grant us that which we request.  Renew your mind, fiveamprayer!  The devil comes to speak doubt and fear, but we know that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love, power and sound mind.  Stop taking everything that is offered to you!!  With all that God has to give us, why would we consider accepting anything else, we know it would be inferior, and less than what God has already prepared for us!  Thank You Lord for--Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.   Fiveamprayer, God has gone before us making the crooked places straight.  It is the Lord that orders our steps in His word.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  As it is written in Revelation 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  The devil is just waiting around to bring in fear and doubt, so that you will help in his work--speaking against what God has already said.  That is why we can not just speak what ever comes to mind.  We must be constant in prayer and watching, that goes for what we speak as well.  Proverbs 18:20-21 (AMP) 20) A man's [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].  21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].  So we must combat in our minds those things that are not in line with God's word.  We must declare like Moses in, Exodus 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.  Draw on the word that is already in you.  Since you are to renew your mind daily with His word, the word should be increasing in your mind daily.  Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.   2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.  Fiveamprayer, it is time to renew your subscription, from Genesis to Revelation!!  We have to know that our God is more than able, even without a job, we know that He is Jehovah Jireh!  If there is issues in your marriage, our God is more than able, He said, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder!  In our finances, He is more than able, His word tells us, when we are givers that He shall supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory!  In our minds, we can have a renewal and be transformed by His word daily!  Hallelujah God!  The joy of the Lord is our strength!  His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  Hold on to every promise, He shall deliver on them all!  Praise His name!  He has been so good to us in 2011--we are still holding on.  We may bend but we won't break, when our back is against the wall, God is the wall.  Keep on pressing and pushing, fiveamprayer!  Give God all of the glory!  He has been so good to us!  With God for us who can stand against us?!  Get up and continue to fight the good fight of faith.  The enemy is roaming the earth, seeking whom he may devour.  Change your mindset, speak His promises--He is doing a new thing!  We are blessed and highly favored!  Hold on to His word--many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them our of them all!  We made it through 2011, there are others that didn't.  Thank You Lord, for bringing us our in our right minds!  Only You can keep us, restore us and renew us!  Praise His name!  Hallelujah!  Fiveamprayer, we have so much to be thankful for!  Thank You Lord for giving us the spirit of power, love and sound mind.  Thank You Lord for keeping us in perfect peace with our minds stayed on You.  Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to redeem us back to You.  Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.  Cover us in the blood, Lord.  Wash us and renew us, Father.  We want to renew our subscription in Your word, that we transformed by the renewal of our minds.  We lift up prayer requests, those known and unknown, have them to seek You, Lord to renew their minds.  Have them to get into Your word, where there is life and answers to every question.  Comfort, joy peace--all that they would need, You have already provided.  We come to ask for forgiveness for having a twisted mindset, renew us Lord to walk as You direct!  We want to hold on to Your word as we cross over in to the new year with a revelation, not a resolution!

We seal this prayer in His precious blood: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Welcome to the overflow... 
Do you think that Jabez gave up or turned around?  His request was for God to bless him indeed and God granted him that which he requested.  Sounds like Jabez was focused, not divided--James 1:6-8  6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.  8) A double minded man is unstable in all his way.  Call on God to renew you, to change your mindset.  Sometimes what we see can discourage us, Lord.  Strengthen us in Your word that we are able to stand.  Increase our joy and peace, renew us Father.  We are looking for a revelation not a resolution.  Hold on fiveamprayer, we are crossing over into 2012.  God is doing a new thing, new mercies every day.  Renew your mind today!  Hallelujah!  The devil is a liar, he is trying to take you out.  He knows that a breakthrougth is on the way.  Trying to get you to doubt God.  Hold on to His unchanging hand and word.  He is not a man that He would lie, nor the Son of Man that He should repent.  Thank You Lord for coming to reveal somethings to us!  No more resolutions!  Those things that are said at the very beginning of the year and forgotten before the month is out.  We can not trust in our strength, that is why we must seek after and obtain the revelation of God's word.  Jeremiah 14:22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.  We must pull from a higher source, a heavenly source, the Source of all things.  John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  Fiveamprayer, ask for revelation in your marriages, in your finances, in every issue that you are facing.  There is nothing too big for God, nor too small.  Asking means that you believe that He exists and that you trust in Him to deliver you--that is why asking anyone or anything else is the ultimate insult!  Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Why go around asking the wrong person for answers?  All under the watchful eye of He who knows all?!  It is the Lord that has provided for us all throughout 2011, making a way for us, picking us up and ordering our steps in His word.  So many of us have been pressed, but keeping pushing on.  He gave us the peace that surpasses all understanding, while others were in a panic, we are in the word!  Being renewed and comforted.  Feeling out of control, fiveamprayer?!  That is the correct feeling, the Lord God is in control, trust in Him and follow His word, it is a lamp unto your feet!  Thank You Lord for revealing more of Your plan to us!  Giving us a new vision for a new beginning.  Thank You Father!  Renew your minds, fiveamprayer!  Walk in this word, like never before.  Renew your mind before you cross over into 2012.  His thoughts are not like our thoughts, they are higher, set down your ways and take up His!  Visit us on facebook and have a blessed day!

The End Is A New Beginning/Revelation, Thyatira, Hold Fast--Sardis, The Dead Church

1 Corinthians 15:19; Daniel 4:17; John 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 1:1

We are walking in today:  The End Is A New Beginning/Revelation, Thyatira, Hold Fast--Sardis, The Dead Church

1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  If there is no future, as Paul writes, then it would be foolish to have faith in Christ.  Prophecy is an essential and very encouraging part of the Christian faith.  Bible prophecy announces tremendously good news for us.  We will find it most encouraging if we focus on the core message--not debatable details.  As we walk through the book of Revelation the purpose of prophecy is not an end in itself, it declares a more important truth.  God is reconciling humanity to Himself.  Forgiving our sins and restoring us to friendship with Him.  Prophecy proclaims this reality.  Prophecy exists not just to predict events but to point us toward God.  It tell us who God is, what He is like, what He is doing and what He wants us to do.  Prophecy urges people to receive reconciliation to God, through faith in Jesus Christ.  This makes me so excited about the book of Revelation.  The end is a new beginning!  Many specific prophecies were fulfilled in the old testament times, and we still wait for the fulfillment of others.  But the sharp focus on all prophecy is redemption.  The forgiveness of sins and eternal life that comes through Jesus Christ.  Prophecy assures us that God is in control of history.  Which you can read in Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.  We must seek to strengthen our faith in Christ, by reading the word.  John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.  This word of God that we have been given, gives us hope for the future--1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  So as we walk through the book of Revelation, we want a new mindset as far as prophecy is concerned.  Because that is our reconciliation back to God, through Jesus Christ.  That is the reason why Revelation is the book of Jesus Christ--Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.  This is all about God's plan to reconcile us back to Him.  God is still giving us a chance to repent and to turn from our ways and acknowledge who He is--that Christ is coming back for His church and we need to get it together.  We should be standing and speaking the word of God!  Knowing what the word says, knowing how to walk it out.  So this morning we get up right now to set the atmosphere.  We are excited about the prophecy in the book of Revelation.  We come standing right now, looking for a word from You, that we can hold on to.  The present, past and future--because You are the God of today, yesterday and forever more!  We give You thanks, that the end is a new beginning.  We are about to cross over into a new year, 2012.  We continue to hold on to the promises.  God, we come to thank You, like never before!!  We come to ask You, to let the enemy know that no weapon that is formed against us shall prosper!  We are asking for a mighty move of God this morning!  It is already done, already finished!  Hallelujah!  Glory to His name!  Now, are you ready for the word of God?!

Hold Fast, Thyatira and Sardis, The Dead Church

Revelation 2:25 Hold fast what you have till I come: There were many faithful, uncompromising Christians in Thyatira. To them, Jesus simply says hold fast! They must not stop doing what is good. They must not become distracted or discouraged from what Jesus wants them to be and to do.

Jesus also tells them how long to hold fast: till I come. We are to “hang in there” and stand strong for Jesus until He comes. It’s only then that the battle will be over.
Revelation 2: 26-28 The promise of a reward.  And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations; “He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels”; as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.
He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end: Even when there is the immoral and idolatrous influence of a Jezebel, Christians can overcome and keep Jesus’ works until the end. We must not become overly discouraged at immorality and idolatry around us, even among Christians. God’s work will still go on through His over comers.
To him I will give power over the nations: Jesus promised that His people would reign with Him. Here, there is a special promise to those who overcome the threat of immorality and idolatry. To them, Jesus offers a share in His own kingdom.
He shall rule them with a rod of iron: This quotation from Psalm 2 speaks of the authority of the Messiah when He rules over the earth. In that day, righteousness will be enforced, and those who rebel against Jesus will be dashed to pieces like a clay pot hit with an iron bar. Jesus includes this here to give hope to the faithful Christians of Thyatira, who felt overwhelmed by the immorality and idolatry all around them. Jesus reminds them “You’re on My winning team.”
“The word for ‘rule’ (Gr. poimanei) means literally ‘to shepherd.’ Their rule will not be simply that of executing judgment, but also that of administering mercy and direction.” (Walvoord)
I will give him the morning star: Jesus offers them a reward greater than the kingdom. He offers them the reward of Himself, because He is the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).
Revelation 2:29 A general exhortation to all whom will hear. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who has an ear: This is a letter that applies to all: those who are like Jezebel, who lead others into sin.
those who follow the teaching of a Jezebel, and follow others into sin, those who permit a Jezebel to work her wickedness, and it applies to the faithful who must hold fast.

     The Message to the Church of Sardis--A Dead Church
Revelation 3
1And 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.
These things say He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: Jesus describes Himself, by using terms that emphasize His character as the Master of every spiritual power and authority. The repetition of the number seven indicates this, because seven is the number of completeness in the Bible. Therefore, Jesus holds the fullness of the Spirit of God, and the fullness of the church.
     The character of the city of Sardis.
And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,  At the time Jesus spoke these words to John, the ancient city of Sardis had seen its best days and had started to decline. Yet it was a wealthy city, being situated at the junction of several important roads and trade routes. The connection between Sardis and money--easy money--was well known in the ancient world. I found it interesting to note that the first coinage ever to be minted in Asia Minor was minted in Sardis. These coins were the beginning of money in the modern sense of the term, so it can be said that Sardis was the place where modern money was born.
Sardis great city of defense. This softness, and lack of discipline and dedication, was the doom of Sardis on a few different occasions. The Greek historian tells the story of the fall of Sardis in days of Cyrus. King Cyrus had come to Sardis, and found the position of the city ideally suited for defense. There seemed to be no way to scale the steep cliff walls that surrounded the city. He offered a rich reward to any soldier in his army who could figure out a way to get up to the city. One solider studied the problem carefully, and as he looked he saw a soldier defending Sardis drop his helmet down the cliff walls. He watched as the soldier climbed down a hidden trail to recover his helmet. He marked the location of the trail and led a detachment of troops up it that night. When they easily scaled the cliffs, and came to the actual city walls, they found them unguarded. The soldiers of Sardis were so confident in the natural defenses of their city they felt no need to keep a diligent watch. So the city was easily conquered. Curiously, the same thing happened almost 200 years later when Antiochus attacked and conquered the overconfident city that didn’t set a watch.
I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive.
I know your works: As Jesus says to each church, He also says to Sardis. What a church is and what a church does is never hidden from Jesus.  That you have a name that you are alive: Jesus knew the church at Sardis had a name - that is, a reputation - of life and vitality. If you looked at the church of Sardis, you would see signs of life and vitality. In the church of Sardis, like the city of Sardis, everything seemed alive and good.  “We are not to get the impression that Sardis was a defunct affair with the building a wreck, the members scattered, the pastor ready to resign. It was a busy church with meetings every night, committees galore, wheels within wheels, promotion and publicity, something going on all the time. It had a reputation of being a live, wide-awake, going concern.” (Havner)
What Jesus has against the church? But you are dead. Dead: Despite their reputation of life, Jesus saw them for what they really were. But you are dead shows that a good reputation is no guarantee of true spiritual character. Despite their good appearance, Jesus saw them for what they really were. Dead indicates no struggle, no fight, no persecution. It wasn’t that the church at Sardis was losing the battle. A dead body has lost the battle, and the fight seems over. In this letter, Jesus doesn’t encourage the Christians in Sardis to stand strong against persecution or false doctrine, probably because there simply wasn’t a significant danger of these things in Sardis. Being dead, the church in Sardis presented no significant threat to Satan’s domain, so it wasn’t worth attacking. The church in Sardis was “A perfect model of inoffensive Christianity” (Caird). Another commentator says, “It was not scandalous wickedness, but decent death; the form retained, the heart gone.” “The church of Sardis was at peace - but it was the peace of the dead."

Thank You God for this revelation, for letting us know who You are--the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  We are gonna continue to make new years revelations, not resolutions.  As we walked in this morning, the end is our new beginning.  Get excited about what God is about to do in 2012.  Get excited about what God is already showing us before it comes to pass.  Before we even cross over into the new year, He is reveling more about His promises. Thank You Lord!  Because God is the same, yesterday, today and forever more!  God is still showing us who He is.  He is still showing us His glory and faith.  The end is our new beginning!!!  Get ready to start all over again.  Get ready to see the new thing.  Get ready to be stronger, better and wiser.  Get ready to walk into a new year, that God has never left nor forsaken you.  You know that God said He is doing a new thing and shall we not know it?  It is springing forth all around us!!  Thank You God.  Fiveamprayer we have to see what God is doing.  He is telling us before it happens.  Get excited about the victory that we are gonna win!  The battle has always been God's not ours!  If God be for us, who or what can stand against us!?  Get ready, the fight is not over!  We can't be dead in our spirit.  We have to get up, letting the enemy know that we are still here, still standing on His word.  Still speaking His word.  Still trusting in His word!  Pick up your sword and start swinging, because you have a revelation of who your Father is!  Praise His name!  He holds all grace in His hand.  We have got a revelation, it is His favor that is over our lives.  He just continues to bless and keep us day after day.  He said we are blessed and highly favored.  Blessed in the city and in the field, blessed coming in and going out.  I don't know about you, but I am excited about 2012.  We walked in the year of abundance in 2011 and in 2012 we are walking in the overflow!  Get ready to see the new thing!  The God that we serve is more than able and He is also willing to give freely unto His children!  Thank You Abba!  Having done all that we can, we continued  to stand on His word.  Knowing that He makes a way out of no way.  He has already created a way of escape for us!!  We can walk into 2012 knowing that He already has gone before us--making the crooked places straight.  Fiveamprayer, continue to hold on to the word that God has give you!  Get ready for overflow blessing as we walk into our new territories.  As we begin to suit up for battle for 2012,  praying without ceasing--knowing we can find You, Lord on our knees in prayer.  You have instructed us to always pray and not faint.  Fiveamprayer, you are at the end which is the new beginning.  We come to lift up fiveamprayer, have them to know that the end is the beginning.  As the prepare to enter into the new year.  We lift up prayer requests, those known and unknown--cover them with  Your grace and mercy, like never before.  If they need healing, let them know that by Your stripes they were healed.  If they need peace that You have a peace that surpasses all understanding.  That they can be kept in perfect peace with their minds stayed on You.  We come to repent and ask for forgiveness, knowing that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.  Thank You Lord for casting our sins away, as far as the east is from the west.  God is letting us know that there is still time to repent and be reconciled unto the Father.

We seal this prayer in His precious blood: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Welcome to the overflow... 

Because our end is a new beginning, make ready for the overflow.  God is gonna open up a window of heaven and pour out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it!  Get ready 2012 because 2011 is coming to an end.  Get ready to walk into that new thing!  A new you in the new year, full of revelations from His word!  We bless Your name Lord.  Thank You for having us walk through this book of Revelation, letting us know what the prophecy is all about--being reconciled to God.  You are still forgiving, merciful, all knowing, full of favor and grace, the same in every age--eternal, without end.  We know that You are still in control and still on the throne.  No matter how it appears to the natural eye, You have this all under Your control.  All that we went through in 2011 will soon be over.  Done, finished, no more.  God is doing a new thing.  He is giving us a 1000 fold return, we will get double for our trouble.  Now is not the time to give up!!  You have gotta keep holding on!  He has spoken it and His word does not return void.  Make a new years revelation not resolution.  We can count it all joy.  The joy of the Lord is our strength.  The end is our new beginning!  Hallelujah!  Praise His name!!

Do Not Remember The Former Things/ Revelation, King and Priestly Character opposes the Jezebel spirit.

Isaiah 43:18-21; Philippians 4:8; Revelation 1:6; James 2:18-20; Matthew 24:11; Mark 9:42; Revelation 2:22-25; 1 Corinthians 11:30

We are walking in today:  Do Not Remember The Former Things/ Revelation, King and Priestly Character opposes the Jezebel spirit.

Fiveamprayer, we are to walk into this new year with the knowledge that God is doing a new thing.  We give our praises to the Lord, everybody did not get up this morning.  You should be shouting hallelujah!  Thank You God!!  Set your mind and hearts to hear from God.  As God tells us in Revelation 2, "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."   Isaiah 43:18-21 18) Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19) Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 20) The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 21) This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.  So that they might declare His praise.  We are to declare His praise!!  Come on fiveamprayer, He has been so good to us!!  We must not allow ourselves to dwell in the past or on the former things.    This happens often in our relationships.  Going over it again and again--in our minds, families and churches.  Isaiah offers us comfort and that we must prepare, in this scripture.  Newness is a part of God's character.  The preparation is for us to no longer remember the former things, the things of old.  We don't see the new, looking at the old.  We can miss the goodness of God, being stuck in the past.  We have instruction on how to refocus our minds and what we should be meditating on--Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  We have been given a revelation so that we are not stuck in the past.  God is putting a seal on this year of 2011 with the the book of Revelation.  The unseen being made seen!!  Fiveamprayer, forget the former thing, it is done, finished, over.  Don't remember it any longer.  We come to lift You up, Lord.  To continue to walk in the book of Revelation.  Thank You God for not giving us a spirit of fear!  Give Him honor, glory and praise!  He is worthy and we exalt Him because we have forgotten the former things, looking to the new thing that God is doing!  Holy Spirit have your way this morning!  We need a mighty move of God!  Are you ready for the word of God?!

A Brief Recap: Characteristics of Jezebel spirit.  The Spirit of Jezebel is basically a controlling spirit working through the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  It has, in general, two aims:  To gain identity, glory, recognition, power, and satisfy the need for the "praises of men".  This is a consequence of the desire for love and self-worth focused on self.  There are two main types of the Jezebel spirit:  The high-profile type is generally gregarious, fond of company of others and sociable. Outspoken and highly visible.  The low-profile type is soft-spoken, giving the illusion of being solicitous, a hovering attentiveness motherly, protective, even appearing very submissive. The low-profile type may be the most dangerous, as she is the most difficult to discern. She relies heavily on manipulation for her power, in extremely subtle performances.  For some, suggesting that believers adopt a kingship mentality ignites negative concepts of unwarranted superiority, abuse of authority, unearned respect, and even an uppity attitude.  All of the signs we recognize as those in the characteristics of the Jezebel Spirit.  None of these images, convey the biblical concept of kingship that we are training for to rule in God’s kingdom.

The King and Priestly Character opposes the spirit of Jezebel

When we walk as Kings/Queens we are careful to align ourselves precisely with the Word of God in all our mannerisms.  So what are the benefits of aligning ourselves to the inheritance we gain through Jesus Christ and how do we do it?  To align oneself means to come alongside of or to work together with.  Why is this significant to discerning the Jezebel spirit?  Alignment is a regular maintenance feature.  (For example the wheel alignment and tire balancing on your car is necessary to assure the car gets the best mileage).  In Revelation 1:6 “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  We are not talking about a blind submission to some controlling individual that printed “ Pastor, Prophetess, and /or Apostle So and So" on a business card.  It should be clear by now that the proof of any of the 5 fold ministry operations are found in function and not in title.  We are talking about working together with the grace of the Holy Spirit through the function of one or more of the five-fold ministry gifts that Jesus set to build His heritage in the Church.  Faith without works is dead, James 2:18-20
Who calls herself a prophetess: This “Jezebel” at the church of Thyatira wasn’t really a prophetess, she only claimed to be one.  Yet, it seems that the Christians there received her as a prophetess, and that’s why Jesus gives them this warning.  Jesus said this would happen in Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Those words were first spoken with a view to the end times, but there have always been those who call themselves prophets in the church, but are not.  To teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols:  Here, Jesus describes the specific sin of this woman “Jezebel.” Mainly, she was an immoral and ungodly influence on others, and led others into sin.  Jezebel led others into immorality and idolatry.  Because of the strong trade guilds in Thyatira, the sexual immorality and the eating of things sacrificed to idols was likely connected with the mandatory social occasions of the guilds.  A Christian invited to the monthly meeting of the goldsmith’s guild, and the meeting was held at the temple of Apollo.  “Jezebel” would allow or encourage the Christian man to go--perhaps even using a “prophetic” word--and when the man went, he would fall into immorality and idolatry.  Which could be similar to our modern day “conferences, business trips or tied to fraternities/sororities”.  The draw to the guilds and their meetings was powerful.  “No merchant or trader could hope to prosper or make money unless he was a member of his trade guild.” (Barclay) Nonetheless, Christians were expected to stand in the face of this kind of pressure.  And we are to do the same today.  One ancient Christian named Tertullian wrote about Christians who made their living in trades connected to pagan idolatry.  A painter might find work in pagan temples or a sculptor might be hired to make a statue of a pagan god. They would justify this by saying, “This is my living, and I must live.”  Tertullian replied, Vivere ergo habes?  “Must you live?”
My servants: This shows how terrible Jezebel’s sin was.  She corrupted the servants of Jesus, and they belong to Him.  Jesus said, But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. (Mark 9:42)
Because you allow: This shows the sin of the church of Thyatira.  On the outside, they were a model church, showing works, love, service, faith, and patience.  Yet there was significant corruption inside the church.  The sin of the church was that they allowed this corruption.  It is not necessarily a large group following Jezebel.  It only takes a little leaven to affect the lump, and a few in immorality and idolatry will corrupt the whole church--especially if they influence others the way this Jezebel did. 
Revelation 2:22-25 What Jesus wants the church at Thyatira to do. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.  And I will give to each one of you according to your works.  Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.  But hold fast what you have till I come.
I will cast her into a sickbed: Before Jesus tells the Christians in Thyatira what they must do, He first tells them what He will do.  Jesus will chastise this Jezebel, and cast her into a sickbed, along with those who commit adultery with her.  The reference to adultery is important.  It speaks of both literal, sexual adultery and spiritual adultery.  When these Christians honored other gods, they were unfaithful to the Lord who saved them.  For this reason, the figure of a sickbed is fitting.  They were guilty of adultery, both sexual and spiritual.  It is as if Jesus says, “You love an unclean bed.  Here, I will give you one, and cast you into a sickbed.”  What was the sickbed?  It could simply be an image of affliction.  Or, it could be literal sickness that Jesus would allow in the lives of Jezebel and her followers as chastisement.  We know from passages such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 that God can use sickness as a way to chastise us when we are in sin.  The ancient Greek word used here for bed “is also the word for a banqueting couch; and if that meaning is taken, the meaning is: ‘I will strike her down as she sits at her forbidden feasts.’” 
Unless they repent of their deeds: Jesus reveals the purpose for this chastening.  First, it is to draw them to repent of their deeds. They wouldn’t listen to Jesus before, so He has to speak “louder” through a sickbed.  Second, it is to give an example of holiness to other churches:  and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.  Minds and hearts is literally “hearts and kidneys.”  In the mind of the ancient Jews, the heart was the place of intellect, and the kidneys were the place of emotion.  Jesus says, “I know your every thought and your every feeling.” 
I will kill her children with death: “All men die, but all are not killed with death . . . Oh, it is a woeful thing to be killed with death.”

Thank You God for this new years revelation.  Get ready to no longer remember the former things.  Thank You for Your grace and mercy.  We don't have a Jezebel spirit.  Thank You Lord for using Rev. Duncan to walking us through the book of Revelation.  Thank You God for giving us this revelation as we enter into a new year.  If You don't do another thing for us, You have done so much all ready!  Praise His name!  Truly, truly!  He is worthy of all the praise!  Thank You God for covering us in 2011.  We are going into a new year with new revelations!  We are no longer stuck in the past!  Thank You God, You have taught us so much!  It is all because of You, heavenly Father!  Come up out of this past year, look to God for the new thing!  Make the choice to walk in forgiveness, because of who your Father is.  We lift up prayer requests, those known and unknown.  Have them to no longer remember the former things.  We lift up Priscilla for healing, we are looking to He who is willing and able to heal us!  Thank You God for delivering on Your promise that by Your stripes she was healed.  We come to ask You for forgiveness for the wrongs we have committed.  Thank You God for forgiving us with no condemnation.  We know that when You forgive You cast our sins into the sea where they are remembered no more.  Help us Lord to forgive--truly forgive like You where it is remembered no more.  We must forgive to be forgiven and that our prayers are not hindered.

We seal this prayer in His precious blood: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Welcome to the overflow...

Keep walking in this word, getting a revelation for your life and the times that you are living in, fiveamprayer!  Keep seeking after God and His word.  Behold, He is doing a new thing!  Take time out to read the scriptures for yourself.  We lift up Rev. Duncan in prayer, as we walk through the book of Revelation.  Visit us on facebook and have a blessed day! 

Seek Revelation, Not A Resolution/Revelation, the Jezebel Spirit.

Proverbs 4:7, Ephesians 1:17-19; 1 Kings 16-21; 2 Kings 9:30-37; 1 Samuel 15:23; Ephesians 6:12;

We are walking in today:  Seek Revelation, Not A Resolution/Revelation, the Jezebel Spirit.

So many times at this time of the year we begin to make resolutions, but it is time for a new years revelation, not resolution!!   Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  This verse speaks to us because we are walking in the book of Revelation, by God's direction.  It speaks to what needs to be first--wisdom is the principle thing.  The word principle translated is:  first, beginning, best or choice part.  As we start 2012, we must be seeking after, wisdom first!!  Starting from the beginning, seeking wisdom.  Fiveamprayer, wisdom is the best thing--the principle thing!  Wisdom is what we choose first and foremost!  With all of our getting we must have understanding!!  It requires understanding to apply wisdom.  What good is all the wisdom in the world, without understanding of how to use and apply it?!  That would be useless!  The word wisdom also means discernment, we need to understand what God is trying to teach us at any given time.  Understand about His word and what His word says about us.  Many of us don't do so well with new years resolutions, but this year will be a new years revelation.  More time in His word and at His side.  I do pray for the spirit of wisdom and the eyes of my understanding to be enlightened, so that I can know what God has for us and just how powerful God is.   Ephesians 1:17-19 17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.  So this morning, think about it--as you were thinking about making a new years resolution, you might want to make a new years revelation!  To see more and more of God and less and less of you, in your life!  So get ready as you prepare your heart to walk in to the new year and into the book of Revelation.  Tell yourself this morning, I think I will make a new years revelation!  So that I can see clearly to know more of what God has planned for me--to walk as He would have me to walk.  We prepare the atmosphere, God, we set it up right now--have Your way Holy Spirit!!   As You use Rev. Duncan to bring a word of revelation--continue to revel some things to us as we continue walking in Your word, into the new year.    Thank You God for what You have already done!  Thank You for sending Your Holy Ghost presence!  Are you ready for the word of God?!

The Book of Revelation: The Characteristics of the Spirit of Jezebel-In the Church of Thyatira

Because you allow that woman Jezebel: The center of the corruption at the church at Thyatira is a woman Jesus calls Jezebel. We will recognize the name as a “title” that clearly represents a self-styled (intermingled) prophetess within the church, after the pattern of Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9:30-37). The name Jezebel had a powerful association as it still holds. If we called someone a “Judas” or a “Hitler” it would mean something strong. Likewise It’s also a strong thing to call this woman Jezebel. “She was one of the most evil characters of the Old Testament, who attempted to combine the worship of Israel with the worship of the idol Baal . . . Jezebel herself had a most unenviable record of evil.” In essence no one seeking to serve and worship God in Spirit and in truth would ever desire to be associated with the spirit of Jezebel in anyway. In the last chapters of 1 Kings we read of the encounters between Elijah, the Prophet of God, and Queen Jezebel, wife of King Ahab. Ahab had married the Sidonian princess and priestess, Jezebel who brought the worship of Baal Malquat, the fertility deity of the Sidonians, to her new homeland. A group of several hundred “prophets of Baal” accompanied her. The wickedness and evil associated with the worship of this powerful demonic deity soon swept the land. Under the influence of Jezebel, “Ahab … did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel , to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.” (1 Kings 16:33 NIV) As always God preserved a remnant who refused to follow the ways of wickedness and idolatry. Elijah, the Prophet of Fire, was sent by God to call the nation to repentance and back to worship of the true and living God; Yahweh, the God of Israel. The stage was set for a series of dramatic battles between Elijah, servant of God and Jezebel, servant of Satan. Ultimately, the battle was for the hearts and minds of the people of Israel. Various skirmishes were played out at such places as Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16 -40), where Elijah dramatically demonstrated the power of God by calling fire from heaven. But always the motivating principle was God’s passionate love for His people and His desire for them to live in righteousness and enjoy the benefits of His favor.

Destruction: The operation of the Jezebel spirit is incredibly destructive. It is destructive in the life of the agent. It is destructive in the lives of those who come under their deception. People once characterized by godliness begin to behave in ways that are totally out of character. Foul language, anger, rage, bitterness, ungodly actions and more are the impact of this deception in the lives of others. The once supportive elders and co-leaders of the ministry begin to turn on those with whom they have formerly prayed and journeyed. The key here is the spiritual habits begin to be effected, where the there once was a sense of spiritual necessity becomes, unnecessary. This is a red flag!! The once trusted relationships are shattered by this spiritual attack and often never restored. People turn on those who have been their spiritual mentors and pastors to the extent that they become cold and uncommunicative. Vicious, slanderous attacks on pastors and elders are quite common. Whole church families can change from a happy, united fellowship to a divided entity in a matter of weeks. All of this has tragic consequences for everyone caught up in the cycle.

Dealing with the Attack of Jezebel.   It must be acknowledged from the outset that this demonic attack is incredibly difficult to deal with because of the manner in which it undermines leadership and builds networks of personally supportive relationships. For congregationally governed churches, it is almost impossible to confront this form of attack without substantial division or even a church ‘split’. In apostolically or eldership governed churches, the task is a little easier because the leadership have authority to confront and, if necessary expel, without reference to the body at large. However a degree of loss is highly probable because of the personal loyalties developed by the Jezebelic agent. With all of this in mind, what can leaders do to both guard against such attack and to deal with it should it become necessary? Knowing more about the spirit of Jezebel, is basically a controlling spirit working through the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. It has, in general, two aims:

    - To gain identity, glory, recognition, power, and satisfy the need for the "praises of men". This is a consequence of the desire for love and self-worth focused on self.

     - Secondly the Jezebel spirit is a men hater and seeks to emasculate all men, and divest them of their authority and power over others. It fosters a distrust and hatred of men in general. The "Jezebel spirit" is in a constant agitation, terribly aggressive, very determined, callous, controlling, selfish, power-hungry, manipulative, unrepentant, deceitful spirit, an overwhelmingly evil spirit, and those are mostly only it's good points! Indeed this spirit can be definitely named "Satan's #1".

What kind of spirit is Jezebel? The Jezebel spirit is born of witchcraft and rebellion. Do not be thrown by the term witchcraft here, remember how the scripture addresses this in 1 Samuel 15:23 “For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king. This demon is one of the most common spirits in operation today, both in the church and in the world, and it is a powerful enemy of the body of Christ. It operates freely on sincere believers whose hearts are for God individually, and has also attained positions of power, as powers and principalities within the Church. The wisdom of God states in Ephesians 6:12 “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” This spirit establishes its stronghold primarily in women; however, many men have been victimized by it as well, where it functions as a "controlling" spirit. There are two main types of the Jezebel spirit:

      - The high-profile type is generally gregarious, outspoken and highly visible. She is often seen as the "woman who wears the pants in the family".

      - The low-profile type is soft-spoken, giving the illusion of being solicitous, motherly, protective, even appearing very submissive. The low-profile type may be the most dangerous, as she is the most difficult to discern. She relies heavily on manipulation for her power, in extremely subtle performances. Please be sure to read 1 Kings ch. 16-21 and 2 Kings 9:30-37

Amen!  You know that is gonna take some wisdom.  Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  God is teaching us from the book of Revelation.  As we prepare ourselves for the next year, 2012, you should be telling God that you want more of Him and less of you!  God give us more of Your word, reveal Your word to us!  God we want more of the anointing to fall on us!  We are to walk by faith and not by sight!!  Not a resolution but a revelation!!  God is doing a new thing!  Hold on to His promises, they have not changed nor will they be forgotten by Him.  You should be excited about what God is doing in our lives!  As we close out this year, knowing that it is better and God gets gooder and gooder.  He is about to show His grace.  This year of 2011, is our year of abundance--is not over yet!  Hallelujah, there is still time!  We lift up prayer requests, those known and unknown--have then to know that You are able and we are to ask You, for forgiveness.  Sometimes we don't recognize the Jezebel spirit.  Thank You Lord for casting our sins into the sea that they be remembered no more.  Teach us how to forgive others, so that we are forgiven and our prayers are not hindered.  We are still closing out our prayer, with the prayer of Jabez, there is a revelation in this prayer, for us!! 

We seal this prayer in His precious blood: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Welcome to the overflow...
Make a new years revelation and see that God will grant what you have requested!  More wisdom, knowledge and understanding of who He is.  In all your getting, get a understanding!  More wisdom--it is the first principle.  As we walk through the book of Revelation--hallelujah and glory to His name!  Fiveamprayer, you ought to be excited right now!!!   He is doing a new thing!  He is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.  That is enough to shout, "glory to His name!"  That is the kind of God that we serve.  Hallelujah God!  Take some time to read it for yourself.  Visit us on facebook.  As we continue to walk in the book of Revelation, pray for Rev. Duncan, as she is teaching us.  We come to stand on His word knowing that no weapon that is formed against us shall prosper!  Walk in the word of God today, hold of it like never before!!  Have a blessed day.