Reverend Kenny came back from a meeting exhausted. He had been the director for “Pastors Fellowship” for many years, planning and coordinating spiritual direction for hundreds of members all across the province. Hailed as the “leader of leaders”, yet he often humbled himself and carefully gave all glory to God. Never once did he boast about his own ability as he knew that everything was from God’s grace!
Lately, there were squabbles in the Fellowship in regards to moral issues. Some leaders had argued away some major principles of the Bible and became bitter towards him. They claimed to stand together with him and his biblical principles but acted very differently outside. He stood firm and endured bitter attacks both from within and without.
Famous for his no nonsense preaching, he implored all his members to suffer like Jesus if need be. His church grew in greater numbers as people saw the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in his ministry. Many doors were open for him and his church to influence VIPs in government circle, even foreign ones. Due to envy from leaders of other faiths and also opposition groups, the pressure to bring him and the church down was immense. Many times Kenny wondered how he could survive such an onslaught if it wasn’t for God!
Kenny bowed before God knowing that whatever he did didn’t belong to him in the first place. It was all about his ultimate BOSS, God Himself! As tiredness began to bear a heavy burden upon him, he saw a bright light shining into his room.
A strong voice spoke….
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.*
He felt like his body being ‘electrocuted’ with strength from on high! Crying unashamedly, he sang softly and slowly, “I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.”
*These verses are taken from Revelation 3:7-13.
Next: THE CHURCH AT LAODICEA: THE DECAYING CHURCH
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/08/church-at-laodicea-decaying-church.html
The principle of the path is a simple concept yet so powerful. I believe many readers initially would say, ‘Andy, can you write something new?’ but as they read on, they change to ‘Andy, can I have more?’ Andy Stanley, like any great writer would, presented to us concise unambiguous principle of life. This is a complicated world and people make difficult choices and this book if carefully adhered to would be life and destiny changing! In fact, not only Christians can benefit from this principle but everyone should get a hold on it. This book has disturbed me in a good way as I now have to think through every path I take. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is serious about life and destiny. I give this book a five-star!
I wish to appreciate Thomas Nelson’s publishers for their program Book Sneeze for providing this book free for the purpose of this review.
Reverend Douglas just came back from a retreat with a bunch of leaders in a famous hill resort. His church was growing leaps and bound, many of them were mainly Christians from other denominations. He reckoned that believers were free to change churches as they like to get the most of what they felt was best. Introducing the latest technique in media ministry and state of the art sound system, services were jam packed with people. Douglas and the board had started two services on Sunday and thinking of a third. Turnover of staff was great as pressure to be successful went up several notches. Preaching must centred on prosperity as Douglas believed in financial health to influence people of his generation. That was also the in message of the masses!
As he sat down, after his wife and three children had gone to sleep, Douglas was excited having a sermon propped up on his mind. “More is good as God is more than enough!” screamed his head. Grinning, he felt this title should excite the church even more. Although he had ‘success’ as far as he was concern, there were some people who felt he had gone far off from the original vision of the church. They had forgotten when was the last time he spoke of the danger of sin and the wrath of God. He paid no attention to them as he felt these days were different from years ago. As he shrugged off the thought of those ‘old-fashioned’ ones, a bright light shone on his face. He quickly knelt down and shivered in the presence of God.
A strong voice spoke…
“These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”*
Douglas felt a chill up his spine as those words were spoken. He was stunned. Embarrassed, he lifted up his hands to ask for forgiveness. Deep in his heart, he knew pride and success had gone into his head. God reminded him of the simple vision given to him years ago of doing the Great Commission.
That Sunday, he changed his title of his sermon to, “More or Less, give All Glory to God!”
*The verses above are taken from Revelation 3:1-6
NEXT: THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA: THE PERSERVERING CHURCH
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/08/church-at-philadelphia-persevering.html
Reverend Steve had just finished counselling with a member of his flourishing church. The person’s relationship with his wife had been estranged and on the verge of divorce. His children had begun to deviate from godly living to immorality. Deep down in his heart, Steve knew this would happen eventually as that counselee had been visiting prostitutes and living in sexual immorality. Lately, this man had contacted sexually transmitted disease which doctors said was very serious. All Steve could do was to pray for God’s mercy upon this broken family.
The church that Reverend Steve led was a hive of activities. As far as the community was concerned, the Christians in the church were greatly admired and enamoured for being genuinely caring like Christ did. The people felt safe with the church as the pastor would not even speak on sin at all. Many members felt ultimately people were responsible for their own actions. Everyone was welcomed with open arms. Steve would call members to serve God to the best of their abilities regardless of any background they might come from.
As it was late in the evening, Steve sat down to evaluate his day as he normally would. But his mind couldn’t shake off the meeting just now with that member. He knew that some cell supervisors especially a woman nicknamed, Jezebel, in the church had influenced greatly that broken man and also many others like him. Have I overlooked some sins and wrong teachings? He reasoned within himself. Due to great success in the church, he had concentrated too much on programs that he neglected to address sins and strange doctrines being perpetuated by some cell leaders. Already many sicknesses had been reported and also an increased of divorces and separations.
As Steve bowed his head to pray, he felt a warm sensation. He opened his eyes and a light shone on him. He knelt down and attuned his ears to hear.
A strong voice spoke….
"These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' -- just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.*
Reverend Steve cried in hearing those words. Jesus did not forget all the works the church had put in to serve Him although as a pastor, he had tolerated some people’s sins. He vowed to make it right. From then on, Steve addressed sin in its rightful place as he kept on serving God with love and perseverance!
*The above verses are taken from Revelation 2:18-29.
Next: THE CHURCH AT SARDIS: THE DYING CHURCH
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/07/church-at-sardis-dying-church.html
As a Pentecostal, I have learned spontaneity in all my praying life. This book has opened a new dimension to my praying world in the ‘daily office’ prayer. After finishing the book, I must confess that I know little of praying the ancient prayer and the power contains therein. Therefore, it has been a difficult read but nonetheless, enriching. I admire Robert Benson in writing this book that he never did criticise any other forms of prayer but only to present his best know how of prayer to the world. He was transparent throughout his book and with this; he has already won and warmed my heart. This book is for everyone who has lost the burden of daily prayer life and desires to come back to a fixed time of communion with God. I give this book a three-star.
I want to thank Thomas Nelson publishers for giving me this free book for the purpose of this review. I really appreciate it.
Reverend Eddy was disturbed after receiving a call from a frustrated member of his church. She complained that the spirit of wickedness had wormed its way into the church. A prayer group she set up had begun to intercede for God’s intervention. Eddy was exceedingly grateful to them for being faithful members. Even though much persecution had come upon them, they boldly soldiered on for God! He remembered how Antipas, a previous great leader of the church was martyred for Christ, they stood alongside him and were willing to die even for their faith.
As Eddy pondered over what had been said through the conversation on the mobile, he was unsure how to deal with few leaders of the church who had different viewpoint regarding certain theology. He felt so helpless. They were quite convincing with their words as most of them were highly educated in many areas. Teaching the members that only their spirits were saved and in Christ, the body was therefore immaterial. Many church goers who went along with their doctrine had committed adultery and some even went to prostitutes. They just ate anything that was placed before them; even foods they knew were offered to idols. Arguments between members had caused dissension and disunity, bringing shame to the name of Jesus.
He knelt down and prayed, asking God to give him the right theology and the boldness to do the right thing. Deep down he knew that God was displeased at how he handled His church. And even before he finished praying, a bright light shone in front of him. He prostrated in deep reverence to God, waiting for the instructions from Him.
A strong voice spoke…
"These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live--where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”*
Eddy got up and lifted up his hands in surrendering to God. Tears of repentance flowed freely. He vowed not to be cowed with the crowd who was against the teachings of God. No ungodly doctrines would be able to stand with the raised S(Word) of God, he reasoned! He asked God to give him wisdom and strength to make things right! No matter what!
*The above verses are taken from Revelation 2:12-17
Next: THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA: THE COMPROMISING CHURCH II
http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/07/church-at-thyatira-compromising-church.html
Reverend Albert went to the little man-made basement to have his usual study of the Bible. This was kind of a hideout in his friend’s single story house, far away from town. His underground house churches, which were growing like tentacles all over the province, had authorities wanting his head. It was not that bad that he lost his house confiscated by the government but the grief was about his two boys languishing in jail for preaching Christ. He hoped God would see all these and respond appropriately. He always knew his turn will come. It was not a matter of if but when.
What saddened him a lot these days was the members of his house churches, who had lived not only in abject poverty but also in danger everyday from being captured. If imprisoned, they would most probably be tortured for their faith. Some were reportedly executed without proper trial. He prayed everyday for them as he preached and taught in secret meetings all over the place. To evade detection, Albert would shift from house to house to stay. Once, he was almost captured by the secret police when a family from the neighbourhood betrayed him. They purportedly wanted to hear the gospel but reported him to the authorities instead. God planned the escape when Albert’s friend came back in the nick of time and swiftly ferried him elsewhere. The friend lost his property as he couldn’t go home either.
In the stillness of that humid basement, he knelt down and cried. He told God to help him not to entertain the temptation to give up. He needed divine strength. Then he saw a bright light shone towards his face. Although he shielded himself with his hands, he could see it was an angel.
A strong voice spoke…
“These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty--yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”*
Albert’s fear turned to faith in God. He cried with tears of joy, not because God took away the problems of persecution but that he was in the centre of His will. That day, he rejoiced that God saw the works all His suffering children did. Deeply encouraged, he told God that he was ready for anything. Then he heard a commotion outside the house followed by loud knocks on the door. Reverend Albert got up and said, “Lord, I am ready, even unto death!”
*The above verses are taken from Revelation 2:8-11
Next: The CHURCH AT PERGAMUM: THE COMPROMISING CHURCH http://psbible.blogspot.com/2011/07/church-at-pergamum-compromising-church.html
