DATE : 22:08:007

AUTHOR: HORACE OWITI

TITLE : MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH
REF. NO : INSP/HO/08/007

KEY VERSE: REVELATION 3:20

“Behold I stand at the door and knock;
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door;
I will come in and dine with him, and he with me:”

THEME SONG: THE COMING KING IS AT THE DOOR:

The coming King is at the door, who once the cross for sinners bore;
But now the righteous ones alone, He comes to gather home:

At the door, at the door: At the door, yes, even at the door;
He is coming, He is coming, He is even at the door.

The signs that show His coming near, are fast fulfilling year by year;
And soon we’ll hail the glorious dawn; of heaven’s et-er-nal morn.

Look not on earth for strife to cease; look not below for joy and peace;
Until the savior comes again; to banish death and sin.

Then in the glorious earth made new; We’ll dwell the countless ages through;
This mortal shall immortal be; And time, eternity.
OPENING PRAYER:
Before Thee we come, Holy Father:
Make me;
An instrument of Thy peace;
A giver of Thy word;
And a vessel of Thy hope;
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

INTRODUCTION
If
“All the waters of the sea were ink”
And
“All the trees of the forest were pens with which to write the words of my
LORD.”
“The sea
Would surely be drained before His words are finished
And the forest
Depleted before His words are written,
Even if
We were to add to it sea upon sea
Or
Forest upon forest.” Thus says the “HOLY QUARAN”.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I have a reason to be happy in this occasion
And Jesus is the reason of my joy.
“Who is the reason for your happiness?”
SONG:
I am happy today; so happy;
In Jesus’ name; I am happy----because;
He has taken away; My sins----away;
I am happy; So happy today;

And the time to be happy is now;

And the place to be happy is here;
And the way to be happy is to make someone happy;
And to have a little heaven down here;

“Would you turn to your neighbor and tell him or her;

“You are in the right place!”

“Would you turn to your neighbor and tell him or her;

“You are in the right time!”

“Would you turn to your neighbor and tell him or her;

“You are in the right way!”

“Would you turn to your neighbor and tell him or her;

“You are with the right person--- Christ Jesus!”

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Are you really prepared?”

Angelo Roncalli—an early Christian faithful—memorized a quantrain that

became a motto for the rest of his life.
It was entitled;
FOUR FUTURE THINGS
Death, than which nothing is more certain;
Judgment, than which nothing is more strict;
Hell, than which nothing is more terrible;
Paradise, than which nothing is more delightful;

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Are you really prepared?”
There are seven things the LORD hates and cannot tolerate:
PROVERBS 6:16-19 records them:
1. A proud look
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that kill innocent people
4. A mind that thinks up wicked plans
5. Feet that hurry off to do evil
6. A witness who tells one lie after another
7. Someone who stirs up trouble among friends

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“How many times out of seven should the Lord hate and not
tolerate you?”

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Are you really prepared?”

Friends;
Honesty impels me to inform you that;

“No foot of any servant of the Living God shall slip away, until he/she shall
have answered concerning four things.

“Would you turn to your neighbor and tell him or her;

“Four Future Questions”
1. Your Body; and how you used it;
2. Your Life; and how you spent it;
3. Your Wealth; and how you earned it;
4. Your Knowledge; and what you did with it.

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Which is the easiest of the four questions?”

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Are you really prepared?”
Mrs. Ellen G. White—a notable authority in Christian ministry
Cherished most a song by Elizabeth Mills and rated it a favorite.
It was not until I dug into the implications of the song, that I discovered
Mrs. White’s attraction:

The song was, and still is entitled;

“We Speak of the Realms” {NO. 434 SDA HYMNAL}
We speak of the realms of the blest,
That country so bright and so fair;
And oft are its glories confessed;
But what must it be to be there!
We speak of its pathway of Gold;
Its walls decked with jewels so rare;
Its wonders and pleasures untold
But what must it be to be there!

We speak of its freedom from sin;

From sorrow, temptation and care;
From trials without and within;
But what must it be to be there!
We speak of its service of love;
Of the robes which the glorified wear;
Of the church of the First-born above;
But what must it be to be there!

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Are you really prepared to be there?”

STARTING PRAYER:

Father, Lord and Holy Spirit:

We bow before Thee at This Juncture:
Asking that we may receive;
Seeking that we may find;
Knocking that it may be opened unto us;
And Praying that we may be answered;
Feed us now with your food from above. Amen.

SERMON:

From experience and long-tested principles, it is understood that:

You cannot fight an enemy you do not know;
Neither
Can you win a battle you are not prepared nor equipped for!
Satan, The great adversary, needs only three things for him to bring you
and me under his will;
1. Love for money
2. Love for power
3. The pleasures of the flesh.

Today and now,

I will take you through the second and third chapters of
the book of Revelation; where Christ Himself speaks to the Seven
Churches.

We will see Christ exposing:

Seven qualities of a false Christian;
And Christ promising:
Seven rewards to a true Christians.

REVELATION 2: 1-2
“To the angel of the Church in Ephesus write;
„This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars
in His right hand, and who walks among the seven gold lamp
stands”
In the prophetic language:
Stars symbolize the messengers of God
Whereas Golden lamp-stands symbolize the Churches of Christ.
Here we realize that Christ is holding all the messengers of God in His
right hand:

SONG: KWELI TUMEONA!

Kweli tumeona, mkono wa Bwana; Kweli tumeona, ushindi wake;
Shida zivumapo, Yeye ni msaada; Mkono wa Bwana yashinda yote x2

Mabondeni, milimani; Nimeuona mkono wake;

Amegusa moyo wangu; Sioni aya maishani x2
VERSE 2
“2I know what you have done; I know how hard you have worked and how
patient you have been.
I know that you cannot tolerate evil people and that you have tested those
who say they are apostles but are not;
And have found out that they are liars.”
 STORY:
Friends,
Like any good story the best place to start is the beginning :
“Once upon a time, a very proud donkey desired much to be a zebra; not because of a
zebra‟s duty but because of its beauty.

He went to the cunning hare who helped him out; hare painted Mr. Donkey in black and
white stripes to look like a zebra.

Mr. Donkey then joined the company of zebras; where he was answered even before
he called, welcomed even before he arrived, and the door was opened unto him even
before he knocked.

However, as days matured into months and months into years,

The King of all zebras received several complaints, that one of them had the habit of
kicking others; even when it was a time for saying “Thank You”.

That was a grievous offence and so the King summoned the entire zebra fraternity to
attend a meeting convened at the opposite side of the river.
Therein, he would deliver his judgment.

On the D-day, our branded zebra set off with the others to the other side of the
river. But as surely as night follows day, water currents slowly but surely washed off
the paintings of Mr. Donkey‟s stripes.

On the venue, all the true zebras gazed in amazement as

Mr. Donkey realized that his secret had been unearthed;
He sped off at a terrific speed.The King dissolved the meeting by saying;
“Now we know where the kicks came from!”
Satan has laid his plans to war more effectively against the government of
God, by planting his banner in the Christian Church.

He uses painted donkeys, who have no sense of duty to God but only beauty
to fellow men.

These painted donkeys want to lower the standards of true zebras, so

that a union can be formed between light and darkness.

It has come to pass that;

All false zebras only think of beauty when they come to Church and
how to kick true zebras.
Nevertheless today;
All false zebras must realize that; the church stands for duty and
not beauty.

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Are you a beautiful donkey or a dutiful zebra?”

HUMAN EXPERIENCES:

Satan has insinuated himself into the Christian Church to corrupt the faith
and turn the minds of the faithful from the word of truth.

But true to form, there can be no union between the Prince of Light and
the Prince of Darkness; neither can there be a union between their
followers:

Friends, all you have to do is to test them:

This is why I was impressed by one eminent Pope in history:

A rumor circulated that a nun in a convent was performing almost unbelievable
miracles. The Pope sent St. Philip of Neri to investigate.
After a long journey, he finally reached the remote convent and asked to see
the nun.
As she entered the room, he pulled off his muddy boots and asked her to clean
them.
Haughtily the nun drew up her shoulders and scornfully turned away,
St. Philip put on his boots and returned to the Pope.
He said “Your Holiness must give no credence to the rumors.
Where there is no humility, there can be no miracles!”

What the world needs is not more Christianity, but more Christians who
practice Christianity.

There are some Christians who can‟t be called pilgrims because they never
make any progress.
We are more comfortable with Christ in print than in practice.

J. MAURUS depicted the case in a very captivating manner:

A story is told of a father and a mother who were greatly worried about what
career their young son would choose!
 A friend told them to place on the dinning table: A 200 Shilling note, a Bible, a
toy gun and a pint of liquor.
Then they were to hide behind the curtains and observe their sons actions when
he came in.
If he took the Sh 200 he would grow up to be either a banker or a thief.
If he chose the Bible, a preacher; If he chose the toy gun a soldier and If he chose
the liquor, a drunkard.

The son came in and put the Sh 200 in his pocket, placed the toy gun in his opposite
pocket, held the Bible under one arm and the liquor under the other and walked out of
the room.

The husband was at a loss on the outcome; but the wife far much deductive yelled!
“Thank God, Great goodness!” said the wife, “This child will be a very great
politician!”

Fellow Christians, be wise; Satan is corrupting the Church through three

avenues:
Linking the worship of Yahweh to temporal politics;
Employing deceptive miracle worship;
And Using entertainment for beauty and not duty to God!

The Spirit of God says in VERSE SEVEN:

“If you have ears, then listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches!
To those who win the victory, I will give the right to eat the fruit of life that
grows in the garden of God.
SONG: SHALL WE GATHER:
Shall we gather at the river; Where bright angel feet have trod;
With its crystal tide forever; Flowing by the throne of God:

Yes, we’ll gather at the river; The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river; That flows by the throne of God.
This is the FIRST PROMISE.

The Second message: VERSES EIGHT AND NINE [8 & 9]:

“8To the angel of the Church in Smyrna write:
This is the message from the one who is the first and the last;
Who died and lived again.

“9I know your troubles, I know that you are poor-but really you are
rich. I know the evil things said against you by those who claim to be
Jews but are not; they are a group that belongs to Satan.”
A story is narrated of a goatherd and some wild goats:
“A goatherd living in a farm was once driving his animals from their pasture at sunset.
He found that; some wild goats had mingled with his own goats and so he shut them up
with his own goats together for the night.

In the night it snowed very hard, so that he could not he could not take the herd from
the fold to their usual feeding place.

He gave his goats just enough food to keep them alive, but fed the strangers
handsomely in the hope of enticing them to stay with his flock.

When the thaw set in, he led them all out to feed, and the wild-goats scampered away
as fast as possible to the mountains.

The goatherd accused them of being very ungrateful by leaving him when during the
blizzard he had taken more care of them than he had of his own goats.

Thereupon, one wild goat turned about and called back;

„That is the very reason why we are leaving you; as you treated us much better
than the goats you have had for so long, it is clear to us that if others came after us,
you would prefer them to ourselves.”

Brothers and sisters;

There is a large crop of Church leaders and Church members,
Who give a false impression to visitors that they love;
Yet,
They cannot inculcate the same goodness in their own flock.

These false goatherds only think of the qualities they display in front of
visitors!

But a time has come, and the time is now when all false goatherds must
realize that;
“We can attract by the qualities we display, but we can only
retain by the qualities we posses.”

This is why we lose many Christian insiders to the world!

Church leaders and Church members have become like the Pharisees:
“They refuse to enter the Kingdom themselves and those who are
entering in they hinder!”
Believe you me;
 “The blood of the souls you have hindered by your actions will be
required at your hand by God, because you are sabotaging and
blaspheming His Holy-Spirit”.

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Are you a false Goatherd or a true Shepherd?”

“Would you turn to your neighbor and ask him or her;

“Are you really prepared to be there?”

The Holy-Spirit says in VERSE 11

“If you have ears, then listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches!
Those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death.”

SONG: THERE‟S LIFE IN A LOOK:

There’s life in a look at the sacred cross; Jesus has said look unto me;
Earth with its riches is only dross; Bright treasures beyond in the cross I see.

In a look there’s life to thee; In a look at Calvary;

Blessed thought, salvation free; By a look at Calvary
This is the SECOND PROMISE.

Third message:

“12To the angel of the Church in Pergumum write:

„This is the message from the one who has the sharp two-edged sword….”

“14But there are a few things I have against you; There are some among you
who follow the teaching of Balaam who taught Balak how to lead the Children
of Israel into sin, by persuading them to eat food that has been offered to
idols and to practice sexual immorality.”

A story is told of a taxi-driver and a priest:

“The taxi-driver jumped a red traffic light and smashed into the opposite car.
He dashed over to the other vehicle only to discover that the driver was a priest.

„I am really sorry father!‟ he said taking a bottle of whisky from his pockets.

„Drink some of this whisky for your nerves!‟ he told greatly shocked priest.

The grateful priest gulped some down and then started shouting,
„What do you think you were doing, I am lucky to be alive!‟
„Father, I am sorry, you will feel a lot better after you have drunk some more of
this.‟

The priest had a couple more swallows and then asked, „Why don‟t you have a drink
yourself also?‟

The taxi driver replied, „I don‟t think I will, thanks father, I will just sit here and
wait for the police to come.‟

The great adversary has now endeavored to gain by artifice what he failed
to secure by force.

There are many Balaams in the Church who still mislead faithful Balaks to
sin, by persuading them into the pleasures of this world.

They look harmless and faithful in their coats and dresses while on the
inside they are slowly but surely sneaking evil into the Church.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
Truth compels me to say that, per se:
Alcohol belongs to very wise people who have a great appetite for
foolishness:
“If you wish to get to foolishness, alcohol is the quickest route I
have ever known.”

When you drink alcohol you become similar to an alcohol bottle: Completely
empty from the neck upwards!

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Sin has been disguised in a garb of sanctity:
Sin has been sugarcoated to taste sweet to unsuspecting Balaks.

Children are told its name is no longer sin but bad manners.

When adults commit evil, they are quick to say:

‘No, don’t call it wickedness, it is just my weakness.
*&*When adults lie, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it a lie; I just gave the wrong information.
When adults are corrupt, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it corruption; it is just an economic crime.
*When adults implicated in questionable dealings, they are quick to say:
 ‘No, don’t call it implication; it is just a character assassination.
When adults are caught in pornography, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it pornography; it is just that I was admiring God‟s
beauty in its original form.
When adults are caught stealing, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it theft; it is just that I took without permission.’
When adults are caught in abortion, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it abortion; it is just a terminated pregnancy.
*When adults deceive openly, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it deceit; it is just that I was economical with truth.
When adults wrangle openly, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it wrangles; it is just that I am exercising my
democratic rights as enshrined in the Kenyan constitution.
*When an adult is short in stature, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it shortness; it is just that I am vertically challenged.
*When an adult is a homosexual, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it homosexuality; it is just that I have broken away
from homophobia.‟
*When an adult is fornicating, they are quick to say:
‘No, don’t call it fornication; it is just that we made love‟
When an adult dies, they are quick to say:

When an adult dies, they are quick to say:

‘No, don’t call it death; it is just that he/she has been promoted to
glory.
They say:
We loved you but God loved you more; in our hearts you live; in God‟s
hands you rest.

Fellow believers, let me warn anyone here that death is not glory to which
we are promoted!
Neither; ‘Do we die because God loves us more.‟

The Bible says implicitly and explicitly in JOHN 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that
whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

But having said that;

 The shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35 records that: ‘Jesus
wept‟ when Lazarus died.

Moreover, Mark 12:27 reads:

“27He is not a God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are
therefore mistaken.”
Eventually, David sums it up in Psalms 116:15 when he says:
“15How painful it is for the Lord, when one of His people dies.”

The spirit says in VERSE 17:

“17If you have ears, then listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches!
Those who win the victory, I will give some hidden manna.
I will also give each of them a white stone on which is written anew name that
no one knows except the one who receives it.”

SONG: ON JORDAN‟S STORMY BANKS:

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand; And cast a wishful eye;
To Canaan’s fair and happy land; Where my possessions lie.

We will rest in the fair and happy land;

Just across on the evergreen shore;
Sing the song of Moses and the Lamb by and by;
And dwell with Jesus ever more.

O’er all those wide extended plains; Shines one eternal day;
There, Christ, the sun, forever reigns; And scatters night away.
This is the THIRD PROMISE.

Fourth message: VERSE 18:

18
“To the angel of the Church in Thyatira write:
„This is the message from the Son Of God whose eyes blaze like fire, whose
feet shine like polished brass……

20
But this is what I have against you; you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who
calls herself a messenger of God.
By her teaching, she misleads my servants into practicing sexual immorality and
eating food that has been offered to idols……

23
And so I will throw her onto a bed where she and those who committed
adultery with her will suffer terribly.
I will do this now unless they repent of the wicked things they did with her.
A story is told of a youthful Christian who was traveling:
“He once pulled into a hotel at around midnight and asked the clerk for a single
room.
He had a three hundred shilling note, that is, if there exists such a denomination
between his pocket and abject poverty.

As the clerk filled out the paperwork, the gentleman looks around and sees a gorgeous
blonde sitting in the lobby:
After a minute he comes back, with the girl on his arm and tells the clerk:
„Fancy meeting my wife here!‟ he says, „Guess what, I‟ll need a double room for
the night!‟

The following morning the gentleman comes to settle his bill and finds the amount to be
over 5000 shillings and not 250 shillings.

„What‟s the meaning of this?‟ he yells at the clerk, „I‟ve been here for just a night!‟
„Yes,‟ says the clerk, „But that wife of yours has been here for more than three
weeks!‟

Friends, the greatest secret of lying is to lie in secret and the Church has
got such liars.

In this Church there are those who have come to buy and those who are willing to
sell pleasure for just one day!

Sadly this flock of simple-minded people:

Only think; „a person‟s greatest asset lies between their legs and not between
their ears.‟

History beckons me to recount an incident that occurred to a gentleman at

Muhoroni.

“A Christian friend of mine had a friend who was a Maasai working within Muhoroni.
This Maasai had one grave disorder that was drunkenness.

By nature to anyone who has not seen an indigenous Maasai, they are a culturally rich
people.
But more distinct is their mark of an elongated loophole at the rear of their ears, I
don‟t know what for!

This particular Maasai possessed all those qualities vis-à-vis others.

Yet as luck knows no one, this gentleman once managed to get a huge lumpsum from an
employer.
Needless to say he went drinking himself lame, but this time he decided have an
accompaniment of a beautiful lady.

The duo booked a room- I won‟t say what for: It goes without saying!-.
However, due to the quantity and the quality of the drink he had taken he almost
immediately slumbered- he chewed a complete power outage.

The lady however, was much alert.

For first she knew it was such a rare opportunity to come across a typical Maasai with
such qualities as her client.
So she conjectured that either the Maasai was a strange one or that he had some
strange money to spent. The latter guess overruled the former and she embarked on a
calculated search for the fortune.

And since such Maasai‟s are better at hiding in the bush than hiding money she soon
came across the whole amount, it was much I tell you, 980 000 shillings.

She took only 500 shillings tip-toed to the local trading centre and bought a giant
padlock as one used in prison doors, then sneaked back.

The cunning lady knew they had slept on a bed with a wire mesh supporting the
mattress.
She procedurally turned the slumberer, while categorically removing the mattress
underneath.
The gentleman was now dead asleep on a wire mesh without clothes on.
The lady then took the padlock passed it through the loophole in Maasai‟s ear and the
wire-mesh the proceeded to lock it.

She then left the room with her key, the money and full contention that nobody would
be following her soon.

Friends, the following morning the Maasai woke up to a rude shock. He had been
chained like a goat to a wire mesh by the ear and he was even naked.

After a long wailing people came to his aid, the sight was horrific, those who were
brave enough brought an arc saw and spent hours cutting the giant padlock to free the
Maasai‟s ear. Don‟t ask me whether he went drinking again because I don‟t know.

Brothers and sisters,

“When you buy trouble, you get it ten-fold”
No matter, even the wise say, “When it rains it pours.”

The Spirit says in VERSES 26 & 29:

“26To those who win the victory, who continue to the end to do what I want, I
will give the same authority I received from my Father….

29
If you have ears then listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.”

SONG: THERE‟S A LAND THAT IS FAIRER:{ SDA-428}

There’s a land that is fairer than day; And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way; To prepare us a dwelling place there:

In the sweet by and by; We shall meet on that beautiful shore;

In the sweet by and by; We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

This is the FOURTH PROMISE.

Fifth message: CHAPTER THREE:

“To the angel of the Church in Sardis write;
„This is the message from the one who has the Seven Spirits of God and the
Seven Stars.”

As I had afore-stated, the seven stars are the seven angels of the seven
Churches;
Whereas the seven Spirits of God are:
Power: Strength: Wisdom: Honor: Glory: Wealth: and Praise as
recorded in REVELATION 5:12.

VERSE THREE {3}:

“3Remember then what you were taught, and what you heard; obey it and turn
from your sins;
If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief; and you will not know
the time when I will come.”

A story is told of Mr. Monkey:

“Mr. Monkey had a very fatal accident as he was trying to pluck a ripe fruit. Ostrich
who was sympathetic enough rushed him to the hospital in an ambulance.

Dr. Tortoise examined Monkey‟s injuries; Mr. Monkey was unconscious, his hand was
broken and he had a bad cut on his head.

Dr. Tortoise washed Monkey‟s wounds, stitched his cuts, put a plaster- cast on his
hand and eventually sent Monkey to the ward.

Mr. Monkey regained consciousness two weeks later; he was lying on a comfortable and
warm bed.
„This is a very nice place; I would like to live here all my life.‟ He said to himself.
Monkey had a plan, he pretended he was still unconscious and asleep, but every
suppertime he waited until everyone was asleep when he sneaked into the kitchen and
ate all the fruit.
This happened continuously and continually.

Nurse Crocodile and Dr. Tortoise were worried about the loss of food in the hospital;
In effect, they put Leopard to guard the hospital gate.
Leopard did not catch anyone but fruit was still missing.

One day Nurse Crocodile told Dr. Tortoise during the rounds:
“I wonder why Monkey cannot wake up, his injuries are completely healed.”

Dr. Tortoise examined Monkey then said: “I can‟t tell what is happening either! He
looks very healthy, he is even growing fat!”

Dr. Tortoise was quiet for sometime then he told Nurse Crocodile “If Monkey won‟t
wake up, this afternoon we will cut his head open and check what is wrong!”

When Monkey heard that, he quickly jumped up and ran out through the window.

“Now we know who the thief was!” Said Dr. Tortoise.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am already asking God why some people are sleeping!

They don’t seem ill; their injuries have been completely healed by God;
I can‟t tell what is happening! They look very healthy some are even fat,
but they still sleep in Church a place of seriousness.

Jesus has already told me to tell you to wake up, and if you don’t;
“he will come upon you like thief, cut open that head of yours, and
check what is wrong inside, that must just make you sleep in Church!”

The Spirit says in VERSES 5 & 6:

“5Those who win the victory will be clothed in white and I will not remove their
names from the Book of the Living.
In the presence of My Father and His angels, I will declare openly that they
belong to me.

“6If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.”

SONG: WE‟VE NO ABIDING CITY HERE:

We’ve no abiding City here; Sad truth, were this to be our home;
But let this thought, our spirits cheer;
We seek a city yet to come; We seek a city yet to come.

We’ve no abiding City here; We seek a city out of sight;

Zion its name, the Lord is there;
It shines with everlasting light; It shines with everlasting light.

O sweet abode of Peace and love; Where pilgrims freed from toil are blest;
Had I the pinions of a dove;
I’d fly to Thee and be at rest; I’d fly to Thee and be at rest.
This is the FIFTH PROMISE.

Sixth message: VERSE SEVEN

“7To the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write:
„This is the message from the one who is Holy and true, He has the key that
belonged to David, and when He opens a door no one can close it….‟

“9Listen! As for that group that belongs to Satan, those liars who claim they
are Jews but are not;
I will make them come and bow at your feet.”

A story is told of a crow and a fox:

A hard working crow had managed to snatch a piece of roast meat from the
butcher‟s.
Up she flew with it into the branches of a tall tree, intending to enjoy her reward.

The fox had been watching all these with a watering mouth, for he really wanted the
juicy piece for himself.
He therefore planned his approach very carefully:
“Oh Crow,” he said, “Your eyes shine brighter than the stars,
And your neck is so beautifully long!
You wings! My friend couldn‟t be more graceful!”

The Fox continued.” But alas! How unfortunate that you were born dumb. I‟m sure
yours would be a melodious song!”

The Crow was pleased with the flattery, but she was annoyed that the fox thought
she could not sing.

She therefore wanted to surprise the Fox.

She opened her mouth to sing and the meat she was holding dropped right into the
waiting mouth of the Fox.

This Church contains many Foxes and many Crows.

Many have come fishing from this Church.

They shower the unsuspecting fishes with a lot of praises; they praise them
to the skies, and the fishes feel flattered.

In the climax, they challenge the fishes;

“Fungua roho yako, ongea!”

In their delight, the fishes forget that such a fisherman may have bad
intentions for them.
To eat honey and dump the honey-comb.
“When they ongea tu hivi; wataona cha mtema kuni!”

Friends I am tempted to tell my sisters that at times they perplex me a lot:

Some and many seem to be bought by mere words;
Others mere promises;
Others mere money called “Ayie” in my local language, transliterated
as simply “I agree!”
Others mere cows!
But God says in Psalms 49:7-8, that:
“…the payment for a human life is too great; and what you could pay
would never be enough!”

Yet I thank God; for Christ bought us at the price of His blood!

SONG: I HEAR THE SAVIOR SAY: {SDA---184}

I hear the Savior say; “Thy strength indeed is small ;
Child of weakness, watch and pray;
Find in Me thine all in all;

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow.

The Spirit says in VERSE 12:

“12I will make those who are victorious pillars in the Temple of My God, and
they will never leave it.
I will write on them the name of My God and the name of the City of My God,
the New Jerusalem, which will come down out of Heaven from my God.
I will also write on them My new name.
“13If you have ears, then listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.”

SONG: WE SPEAK OF THE REALMS {STANZA 3} {SDA---434}

Our mourning is all at an end;
When, raised by the life-giving word;
We see the new city descend;
Adorned as a bride for her Lord;
The city so Holy and clean;
No sorrow can breathe in the air;
No gloom of affliction or sin;
No shadow of evil is there.

This is the SIXTH PROMISE.

The seventh message in VERSE 14:

“14To the angel in Laodecia write:
„This is the message from the „Amen‟; The Faithful and True Witness who is
the origin of all that God Has created.

“15I know what you have done; I know that you are neither hot nor cold.
How I wish that you were either one or the other.

“16But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you
out of my mouth.”
Friends, Laodecia couldn’t be more relevant in history than now!
God is simply telling you and me that;
“He would rather have us as His true enemies than false friends.”

VERSE SEVENTEEN:
“17You say, “I am rich and well off; I have all I need.
But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are!
You are poor, naked and blind.”

A story is told of a Raja of Savatthi who gave seven blind men an elephant
to view.
To one man he gave the head of the elephant, to the other the ear, to another the
tusk, to another the body, to another the foot and to another the tail, saying to each
“Touch, this is an elephant.”

Afterwards he assembled them and asked them what an elephant looked like;
Thereupon the one who was given the:
Head --- an elephant is like pot;
Ear --- an elephant is like a fan;
 Tusk --- an elephant is like a spear;
Body --- an elephant is like a granary;
Foot --- an elephant is like a pillar;
And Tail --- an elephant is like a snake;

They began quarrelling by shouting, “Yes it is!” “No, it isn‟t.”

This is the actual picture of Laodecia; no matter how accurate their

description of this elephant is, it is seldom right.

This is why Christ promised His followers the power of the Holy-Spirit.

Brothers and sisters;

You need the power of the Holy-Spirit to give you eyes that can see
the elephant as a whole!
Then and only then, can you effectively describe it.

VERSE EIGHTEEN:
“18I advise you then, to buy of me gold-tested with fire, in order to be rich.
Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful
nakedness.
Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see.

Significantly;
“Gold tested with fire” is a strengthened faith;
“White clothing” is righteousness;
And “Eye salve” is the Heavenly wisdom that can enable us to discern
the times and the ages.

VERSE 20:
“20Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens
the door; I will come in and dine with him and he with me.”

Friends before I call it a day;

Let me offer my last story, you may forget me, but never forget this
story.
Remember it and you will be wise; execute its teaching and you will
win.
“After the resurrection of Christ, Satan summoned an urgent meeting to revisit the
impact of the resurrection of Christ and what they could do.

“One of the Demons said,

“Tell mankind it is a fraud that Jesus rose.”
“No, it won‟t work, about 600 people have seen Him alive including His
disciples.” Satan replied.

The second Demon said;

“Let us attack the word of God, burn it not to reach the people.”

“In that way we won‟t stop the work of God, His Spirit will still be there.”
Satan said.

“I have an answer Lucifer,” said the third Demon.

“Yes, go ahead,” said Satan.
“Tell man it is all true, Jesus rose and He is alive, but there is still time to get
saved.”
“Yes,” said Satan, “That is it.”
Yes, that is the greatest deception Satan is using right now.”

One thing I am certain of is that:

Everyone within the four corners of this Church wants to go to
Heaven, but many people here are hoping they will live long enough to see
easing of entrance requirements. They want God to save them together
with their sins.

Most of them will miss both the pleasures of this world and the treasures
of the Kingdom of Heaven, and that is what I call double jeopardy, Christ
calls them foolish virgins.

But I thank God; who has taken the whole of this session telling you the
secrets of the Devil so that:
If you decide to get lost henceforth, it will be a matter of your
personal decision.

Friends:
Now I can see Christ putting aside His priestly attire and
garbing Himself in the most kingly attire;

Now I can see the last plagues falling on these proud sinners
of today;
 The bonds that tied them to this world were stronger than
their attraction Heavenward.

Right and wrong had been placed before them; many desired
right but made no worthwhile effort to follow it.

Now heavens are saying “It is finished!”

The last tear for the sinner has been shed;
The last agonizing prayer for the sinner offered;
The last burden for the sinner borne.

However, right now if you will: God can change you:

He changed Abram to Abraham;
He changed Saul to Paul;
He changed a stick into a snake and a snake into a stick;
He changed the red sea into a high-way;
He changed prostitute Rahab into a missionary;
He changed water to wine at Cana of Galilee;
He changed two fishes and five loaves of bread into a feast;
He changed fishermen into fishers of men;
He can exchange your cross for a crown today;

Come to Jesus today, He will change you; come and I will pray with you as
we sing this song:
SONG: SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER: {SDA---478}
Sweet hour of prayer; sweet hour of prayer;
That calls me from a world of care;
And bids me at my Father’s Throne;
Make all my wants and wishes known!
In seasons of distress and grief;
My soul has often found relief;
And oft escaped the tempters snare;
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer; sweet hour of prayer;

Thy wings shall my petition bear;
To Him whose truth and faithfulness;
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face;
Believe His word, and trust His grace;
I’ll cast on Him my every care;
And wait for thee, Sweet hour of prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer; sweet hour of prayer;

May I thy consolation share;
Till from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height;
I view my home and take my flight;
In my immortal flesh I’ll rise;
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout while passing through the air;
“Farewell, farewell, Sweet hour of prayer!

The Spirit says in VERSES 21 & 22;

“21To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne,
just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on His throne.

“22If you have ears then listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches!”

CLOSING PRAYER:
I have talked and they have heard;
I have also knocked and they have opened;
I have called and they have come to you;
Make them victorious to receive your promises of hope in the New Heaven
and the New earth. Amen.