Where do you stand pt. 3/4

Warriors, today as you go out from the safety of your homes into the fray, hold fast to the Lord and the power of His might. Inspect yourselves, know where you stand. Set yourself amongst the victorious. For this life is passing all too quickly, and with it the opportunities to free the captive are fewer and fewer. Know where you Stand.

Revelation 2:12-17

¹² And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

¹³ I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

¹⁴ But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

¹⁵ So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

¹⁶ Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

¹⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

  

What is the sharp two edged sword? We know it is the very word of God from Hebrews 4:12. First, Christ commends them for not denying the faith, for keeping His name, but then follows what they are guilty of. The rank represented here is the church and it's marriage to the world. Do you find yourself here? I know I have stood amongst this rank. We have the Lord and have received His awesome salvation, and the Spirit has come to dwell within us. But, we hold on to our dead flesh, wanting to taste of both His life and the pleasures this world has to offer. We cannot avoid being burned if we play with fire. The pursuits of flesh leave us hollow, out of communication, and confused as to what our true purpose is. It leaves us distracted on the battlefield, and when you are distracted people die. For years I struggled with my calling and where my place was in this war, because I held onto my dead flesh, rather than pursuing the life of the Spirit that was within me. I plead with you now relinquish your hold, that you may stand tall in battle, and claim victory this day through the power of our King.

Revelation 2:18-29

¹⁸ And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

¹⁹ I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

²⁰ Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

²¹ And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

²² Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

²³ And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

²⁴ But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

²⁵ But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

²⁶ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

²⁷ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

²⁸ And I will give him the morning star.

²⁹ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The basic message in this letter from our King is this, that this church simply did not speak out against Jezebel. We don't know if this was in reference to a real person, or the Jezebel from the old testament to represent her deceit and wickedness. This is where we have to hold not only ourselves, but each other accountable. In war we are all responsible for the lives of our brothers and sisters. This is a war, make no mistake about it, and we are responsible for one another. It is not out of a sense of one being better than another, but out of love. The rank is only as strong as it's weakest. 

I call to you now Ecclesia, stand and shed this life from your bones! Envelope yourselves in the protection and life of our King! Let this not be a day of compromise and defeat. Hold each other up, chastening, training, and keeping each other accountable for our role on the battlefield. Face this skirmish head on and fly full force into the fray. The captive cannot be freed, if we allow ourselves to be held in bondage.