"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S PROMISE TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME"
Taken from today's reading in "The One Year Bible”.
Revelation 2:25 “But hold fast what you have till I come.”
Revelation 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—“
Revelation 2:27 “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;”
Revelation 2:28 “and I will give him the morning star.”
Revelation 2:29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
1. Jesus calls His people to hold fast, or tightly, to what we have.
Revelation 2:25 “But hold fast what you have till I come.”
These words were spoken to the believers in the church of Thyatira.
This was a church that was being attacked with sexual immorality.
And not much was being done to stand against this sin.
Jesus warned them of the consequences of allowing this teaching to continue.
But, He also exhorted, or instructed, the faithful who were not interested in this sin, to stand fast.
He says to hold fast, or to hold tightly to what they had.
We also are to simply hold fast to the Word of God until Jesus comes.
This is how we stand against satan’s attacks.
Stick with the Word of God with all you have.
2. Jesus make a promise to him who overcomes, or are victorious.
Revelation 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—“
Revelation 2:27 “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;”
A promise is made by Jesus to those who overcome, or are victorious.
For the person who keeps His works until the end the future is very very bright.
The over comers will rule with Christ during His 1000 year reign on the earth.
Jesus is going to rule the entire earth with a rod of iron.
He will not allow evil to do it's thing while He reigns.
3. An additional promise to God's people who overcome.
Revelation 2:28 “and I will give him the morning star.”
Revelation 2:29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Here the Lord is promising to give us the morning star.
What is the morning star?
I'm not quite sure.
But, Jesus is using an earthly analogy that we can understand.
The morning star is the first start to appear each morning after the dark night.
We are living in a dark night in this world.
It's a world where light is not evident but darkness is ruling.
That is all going to change.
And Jesus is going to give His over comers this Morning Star.
Also, Jesus exhorts those who have an ear to use it by hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches.
That applies to us today.
The Holy Spirit is speaking through God's Word to those who are part of the body of Christ.
Not everyone really chooses to listen.
That's why Jesus gives this exhortation.
Imagine, God asking you to listen to Him.
How kind of Him.
Some Questions:
1. Do you ever think about the 1000 year reign of Christ on the earth?
2. Do you know the Bible is very clear about the fact that this is going to happen?
3. Do you know that God wants you to overcome and rule with Him at that time?
4. Do you know that you can overcome if you simply do what Jesus said to do?
5. What He said to do was to "hold fast”, that is to the truth of Jesus in the Word of God.
A Prayer:
Father, thank You for the wonderful hope we have in Jesus Christ. It's a living hope we have right now, and into eternity.
Can you imagine if you will what it will be like to rule and reign with Jesus during His kingdom on the earth for 1000 years? Lord, it's such a wonderful future that You have in store for us. And thank You that You have promised to make us overcomes through our simple faith in Jesus Christ. He is the great overcomer who makes us overcome as we trust in Him. In His name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
