Category Archives: Tom and Lalla Goka

The Seven Churches Rev 2&3 Part 1

 

 

Revelation 2 (NKJV)
The Loveless Church
1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand,
who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience,
and that you cannot bear those who are evil.
And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not,
and have found them liars;
3 and you have persevered and have patience,
and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.
4 Nevertheless I have this against you,
that you have left your first love.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen;
repent and do the first works,
or else I will come to you quickly
and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

The Persecuted Church
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich);
and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not,
but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.
Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,
and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.

11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

The Compromising Church
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.
And you hold fast to My name, and
did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr,
who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there
those who hold the doctrine of Balaam,
who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel,
to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “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 to eat.
And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written
which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

The Corrupt Church
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire,
and His feet like fine brass:
19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience;
and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
]20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you,
because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,
to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality
and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23 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.
25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
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;
28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

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Revelation 3 (NJKV)
The Dead Church
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:
“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,
for I have not found your works perfect before God.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Faithful Church
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who
opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;
for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not,
but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet,
and to know that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere,
I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,
and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God
and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven
from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,
the Beginning of the creation of God:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—
and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich;
and white garments, that you may be clothed,
that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed;
and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Revelation 1
4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me.
And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man,
clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

16 He had in His right hand seven stars,
out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword,
and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

A Friend for Intercession Ministry

A Friend for Intercession Ministry

I. Luke 11: 5-13 A story about us who have a ministry and a FRIEND to turn to
A. We have a FRIEND that we could go to at midnight and seek a need (vs 5)
1. John 15: 14-15 – Jesus is this FRIEND
2. James 2: 23 – Abraham believed and was called a friend of God
3. Exodus 33: 11 – Moses & God, face to face, as friend
4. 1 John 3: 13-18 – laid down His life for us
B. Then there is the friend that comes to us unexpectedly (vs 6)
1. Arrival of this friend is Not expected or would have had bread to feed
2. This friend is on a journey; thus we are neither the origin nor destination of this journey
3. We are not on this friend’s journey
4. Our paths cross for an interval of time, a divine appointment if you like.
5. This friend did not ask for bread; we ascertained we need to provide bread which we do NOT have
C. So, not being able to provide (vs 6), we must know we can go to FRIEND, even at midnight (vs 5)
1. We ask for 3 loaves (vs 5)
2. Response is not what we expected, or even desired (vs 6)
3. Our persistence causes FRIEND to respond (vs 8)
4. FRIEND rises and gives as much as need (more than 3 loaves asked) (vs 8)
II. Verse 9-10 Ask-Seek-Knock = ASK
A. Often thought of as 3 examples of the point (and this is not wrong), this is actually sequential steps for intercession for a friend before our FRIEND
B. When done in the right order, we have the word ASK…our of order we get sak or ska or kas or ksa…which is meaningless. This illustrates the importance of the order of the sequence
C. We Ask – and then must receive
D. What we receive we use to Seek – and we find
E. Use what we find to Knock – and things open to us
F. This gives us the persistence to have our FRIEND rise and open the door and provide

III. We earthly, self-serving, distracted, controlling fathers give correspondingly to requests of our children
A. We don’t respond with useless (stone) or dangerous (serpent/scorpion) gifts to requested needs that our children ask for
B. Our heavenly Father, to whom we can get to through Jesus, responds to our requests with the Holy Spirit

IV. As revealed in Luke 11: 1, this is all part of Jesus’ response to the disciples’ request to be taught how to pray.

V. Do we understand that we have a FRIEND that we can go before unexpectedly to seek on behalf of a traveling friend and that we can Ask and Seek and Knock until we have our FRIEND respond to minister to a friend.
If we don’t understand this, we need to Ask, Seek, Knock for more of the Holy Spirit.

VI. These journeying friends that come across our lives for a season, we seek our FRIEND on their behalf. These friends are not here to add to our list, our congregation, our following, our roadies or groupies. They need intercession ministry.

VII. We worship with shouts of Joy! Not unlike the Hebrews when trumpets sounded for Jubilee; or when walls of Jericho were to come down; or when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem; or when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding the temple in days of Ezra.
A. Ruah (#7321) Hebrew to vocally and physically make war cry of confidence, shouts of joy, triumphant or religious impulse. Noun form for these shouts is Teruah.
B. Instructed in Psalms to shout with joy or to have shouts of joy
1. Psalm 81: 1 shout joyfully to the God of Jacob
2. Psalm 95: 1-2 sing for Joy and shout Joyfully to Lord God
3. Psalm 98: 4, 6 Shout Joyfully to God, to our King with trumpets
4. Psalm 100: 1 shout joyfully
C. When we recall what God has done and meant to us, should we not shout joyfully, be overcome by shouts of joy…for we have a FRIEND closer than a brother, a FRIEND that will answer our cries.

Being Thankful in 2020

Being Thankful When Times are Difficult, Desperate, Dire, Disappointing

i.e. Being Thankful in 2020

I. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 directs us to give thanks in everything, as this is the will of God for us

A. Focus on the 1st 4 words

1. The preposition ‘IN’ makes it clear that it means location or place

2. The noun ‘EVERYTHING’ means all, as all situations, environments, conditions

3. The verb ‘GIVE’ is to freely transfer from self to another; implicating a release

and causing another to take control and possession

4. The noun ‘THANKS’ is an expression of gratitude which is often, but not

restricted to words; actions and posture and emotions are such expressions

B. So what this command is telling us is to express gratitude in all situations, environments, or conditions that we find ourselves in

C. What it is NOT telling us is to give thanks for the situation, environment or condition that we find ourselves in

II. What about giving thanks when there is a year like 2020 with pandemic, politics, social unrest, economic woes, civil distress?

A. We are not likely thankful for these events

B. We are, however, need to give thanks

1. To whom?

2. For what?

III. To give thanks when the situation is dire

A. It helps to know to whom we are giving thanks

1. Psalms136: 1-3

2. God who is good

3. Lord of lords

4. God of gods

5. God whose mercy towards us endures forever

B. For what are we thankful?

1. His mercy endures forever

2. For all that HE has done

3. For all that He is doing

4. For all that He is going to do

C. How do we give thanks? With words, songs, actions, posture and without an agenda or expectation or strngs attached…see giving definition above.

IV. How do we give thanks when we can’t

A. It is a choice – choose to, despite circumstances; that is a sacrifice…therefore a sacrifice of thanksgiving

B. Colossians 3: 15-17

1. Let (allow, chose to surrender to) the Peace of God rule in our hearts

2. be thankful for this

3. Let (allow, choose to surrender to) the Word of Chris richly dwelling in us

4. Singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord

5. Whatever we do in word or in deed, let it be done in the name

(under the authority of , being a representative of, being responsible to, responding to) Christ

6. Giving thanks to God through Lord Jesus

V. Habakkuk 3: 17-18

A. Know that Habakkuk is looking at a nation oppressed by unrighteous evil leadership

1. he complains to God about the bad guys prospering

2. God tells him that they will not go unpunished

3. Habakkuk sees that things will get worse for the people as God addresses the wickedness through captivity to Babylon

B. Yet, Habakkuk lets the people know that though things get worse with loss of harvest and shortage of food and loss of income:

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

1. Hebrew word for rejoice is alaz (Strong’s Hebrew #5937) exuberant joy

jumping for joy, exulting triumphantly

2. Hebrew word for joy is giyl (Strong’s Hebrew #1523) to spin in overflowing

emotion expressing depth and strength of joy

C. Habakkuk has chosen to give, expressing, showing thanks to the God of his salvation in spite of the forecast of hardships and disruption of life. He will do this with physical action.

D. Perhaps when we don’t feel like giving thanks in a situation, we should get physical!

VI. I will remember it is God that I am giving thanks, regardless of my situation or the circumstance. Let the Peace of God rule in my heart; Let the Word of Christ richly dwell in me. I choose to give Him thanks with my word, my deed…with my song and with my body leaping for joy because HE is the GOD of my Salvation. Amen

The Threat against the Simplicity of Christ

 

From Tom

The Threat against the Simplicity of Christ

2 Corinthians 11: 2-4
I. Paul writes of his concern that, though betrothed to Christ, we might be deceived in
our minds through the craftiness of the serpent. Not unlike Eve, when serpent got into her
mind.

II. Genesis 3
A. serpent is more cunning (verse 1) and engages Eve in conversation [not unlike
the scoundrel who would try to woo a woman with an engagement ring on her
finger]
B. in the conversation redefines God’s word to cause Eve to look at the tree of
knowledge of good and evil from the serpent’s perspective (verses 2-5)
C. (verse 6) Eve sees the tree can satisfy flesh (good for food); her eyes sees the
tree as attractive and alluring (lusts for it); she sees that the tree is desirable to her
ego for it would satisfy her desire to be like a god.

III. 1 John 2: 15-16
A. Danger of loving the world and things in the world=lose the love of the Father
(verse 15)
B. Love of world and of things in the world have 3 components: lust of the flesh;
lust of the eyes; and pride of life.
C. Those three components are exactly what Eve was deceived into.
D. Jesus was tempted by satan using these three components: lust of the flesh (turn
stone to bread to satisfy the hunger of 40 days fast); the lust of the eyes (satan showed &
offered Jesus kingdoms of the world); pride of life (satan challenged Jesus to show
himself as God by throwing himself of pinnacle).

IV. 2 Corinthians 11: 3-4
A. serpent seeks to engage us in conversation to get into our minds (verse 3) and he
is cunning about doing this. When he does, he shifts us to desiring or seeking more
than Jesus
B. (verse 4) shows how we might be snared by engaging conversations and thoughs
about a different Jesus (many religions believe in Jesus but a different Jesus that will
do things for us different from the word); about a different spirit (even if element of
truth is involved, if delivered in the spirit of envy, lust, anger, etc..it is with a different
spirit); about a different gospel (entitlements and obligations embraced that are not
in the Word but are religious)
C. Paul worries we may put up with these false perspectives that would appeal to
our lust of the flesh; our lust of eyes; our pride of life…and forget to whom we are
betrothed.
D. serpent wants to cast doubts on our relationship with God such that we become
open to false doctrine, teachings, prophecies, signs, and wonders.
V. Abide in Jesus – John 15 – is our response

A. Abide (stay, dwell, remain, rest) in Jesus; in His Word; in His love; in His Joy
where we remember and keep our focus on Him, to whom we are betrothed. Holy
Spirit is given to us as the promise and seal (like an engagement ring) on us for
Christ’s return for us.
B. Spurgeon is credited with a response of simplicity to a question near the end of his
ministry whether his theology has changed over the years. He said that his theology
had become simpler throught the years, having been reduced to “Jesus loves me
(Spurgeon) enough to die on my behalf.” We don’t want to drift from this simplicity
C. We should be aware of the serpent’s tactics and strive to abide in Jesus rather than
love or seek things of world.
D. Don’t fall into conversation with one that wants you to desire Jesus plus
something else; Don’t add to your theology; Don’t add or take away from the
Scriptures