_He that overcometh … shall be clothed in white raiment._
THE BATTLE, THE VICTORY, AND THE REWARD
I. A conflict engaged in. The Christian has the peace of God, and is
at peace with God; but just because he is so, he is at war with
everything that wars with God.
1. The first of the Christian’s enem... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear what the Spirit saith._
THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCHES
I. Every Church of Christ has an organic life of its own. This is not
only distinct from the life of any other church, but even distinct
from the life of its members. It is perhaps one of the most noticeable
of the faults of modern Christia... [ Continue Reading ]
_Philadelphia._
PHILADELPHIA--THE PATIENT CHURCH
Philadelphia furnishes us with the exemplar of the patient church; the
exercise and training of patience is its peculiar call, and the
perfection of patience is its reward. This message is one of high
commendation and encouragement; although in its o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I come quickly._
THE COMING OF CHRIST
It is not improbable that this bishop was no other than the Demetrius
who is mentioned in St. John’s third Epistle as having a “good
report of all men and of the truth itself,” and if this is the case
we have before us a holy man who, probably, was not... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God._
THE PHILADELPHIAN CONQUEROR
I. The conqueror is to be a temple-pillar. Not an outside, but an
inside pillar. The interior colonnades or double rows of tall pillars
in some churches and temples are splendid beyond description. They... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Laodiceans._
LAODICEA--THE SELF-COMPLACENT CHURCH
Laodicea is the type of a self-complacent Church. Underneath the
condemnation of luke-warmness there is a yet more heart-searching
lesson. Lukewarmness itself is the sure result of self-complacency; it
is absolutely impossible for self-complace... [ Continue Reading ]
_Knowest not that thou art wretched._
A GREAT MISTAKE, AND THE WAY TO RECTIFY IT
These Laodicean people were unhappily in such a state that you could
not get at them. They were not so poor that they knew they were poor,
and therefore when the poverty-stricken were addressed, they said,
“These thin... [ Continue Reading ]
_As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten._
DIVINE CHASTISEMENT
I. In reference to the sinner, what is the object of Divine
chastisement? The merciful design is the conviction and conversion of
the sinner, his restoration to the image of God. And what are the
means employed by the Holy Spirit for t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I stand at the door and knock._
THE GUEST OF THE HEART
I. The stranger-guest wanting to come in. “Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock.”
1. When a stranger comes to your door, it matters a good deal to your
feeling as a host whether he be a mean man or a great one. An
inhospitable act... [ Continue Reading ]
_To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me._
THE CHRISTIAN RAISED TO THE THRONE OF CHRIST
I. “To him that overcometh”; this supposes a conflict.
1. You must contend against yourself. The main battle is fought on the
field of your own heart. Your closest foes are the affections which
stru... [ Continue Reading ]