Imprisonment.

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There are seven churches mentioned in the second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation. The message to each of the churches tells us about some obstacle that must be overcome by the saint The rewards offered to the overcomer in each of these seven churches is a step toward the first resurrection from the dead, and also toward placement with Christ on the throne of the universe.

This morning the emphasis was on the church in Smyrna.

(9/16/2007) The message to the angel of the church in Smyrna Christ speaks of the prison which each person appointed to rulership in the Kingdom must endure.

The Lord permits Satan to put us in prison for a limited time. If we are faithful to the point of death, we receive the crown of life. The reward for remaining faithfully in our prison is rulership by the power of an endless life. When we are put in the Lord’s prison we may be forced to continue in an unpleasant situation, or we may be denied the most fervent desire of our heart. This is the way God tests us to see if we are fit for rulership.

To be fit for rulership we must be totally obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ. If during our imprisonment we seek to break out, we must go against God’s laws in order to do so. In this manner we demonstrate that we are not qualified to rule in the Kingdom. We will disobey God if obedience becomes painful.

The Scripture states that Christ learned obedience by the things He suffered. We can talk about obeying God, but the only manner in which we learn obedience is by being willing to obey Christ when doing so may be distressing. Christ is the First and the Last. What He began in us He will conclude successfully, providing we do not bolt The person in the midst of imprisonment must keep this in mind—the suffering leads to unbelievable joy if we faithfully remain in our prison.

One secret of successfully carrying your personal cross is not to dwell on it. Focus on the things you have to be thankful for, not on the area that you don’t enjoy. If you focus on your cross you eventually will reach forth your hand to take that which is not permitted.

I have taught for years that the Charismatic movement is going to be split over the issue of suffering, of patient cross-bearing obedience. The majority of believers will follow those preachers who tell them Christ did it all; He became poor that they might be rich; that they are saved by the gift of grace and all they need do is accept it; that they are going to be removed from trouble by an "any-moment rapture"; that if they have faith they can get everything they want; that they do not need to prepare for the "evil day" because they are not going to experience any evil day.

The fear of God has departed from numerous American churches. Thus the believers are foolish, silly, spiritually immature, easy to deceive. By no means will they be able to stand spiritually and help others during the period of physical-moral horrors that rapidly is approaching the United States of Ameria.

If at the present time you are locked up in the Lord’s prison, hold steady. Keep asking God to deliver you, but don’t deliver yourself. God will let you out of jail in His time, as soon as He is persuaded that if you receive the crown of life you will not disobey Him.

One characteristic of a saint that God enjoys is the saint’s willingness to be content in whatever state he finds himself . Satan’s discontent was the original sin. If you break out of prison you may be captured and locked up for a longer time. Always pray for what you need and desire, but do not make a move ahead of God’s time.

Don’t try to make the present world a paradise. It is the valley of the shadow of death. The real, eternal world is ahead of us. If you seek to evade your necessary suffering you will open yourself to deception. The purpose of the present life is to train and test us. Eternity is a long, long time. If we live so as to please Christ we are going to have countless ages during which we shall enjoy the fruit of our patient obedience.

At night I continued with another promise to the imprisoned saint who remains faithful. It is that he will not be hurt by the second death, the lake that burns with the smell of sulphur. The Lake of Fire has authority over the eight behaviours, listed in Revelation 21:8, even while we are a Christian. God has given us a season to gain victory through Jesus Christ over each of these eight behaviours. If we are victorious we no longer can be harmed by the Lake of Fire. But if we do not gain victory over these behaviours, then the Lake of Fire retains Divinely appointed authority over any of the eight behaviours we continue to practice.

You can hear the morning sermon at morning. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

You can hear the evening sermon at evening. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

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