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Devotionals

The Church in Philadelphia (Part 4)

We left Pretoria this morning at 6.10am, filled up with petrol and headed out for the N1 to link up with the N3 towards Manaba Beach on the Kwaulu-Natal South Coast for a week. Beloved friends gave their time-share to us. I have not driven to KZN for many years and due to thick traffic […]

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Devotionals

The Church in Philadelphia (Part 3)

Some might think pastors like myself are cruel, critical and lacking in compassion when it comes to condemning certain movements that portray themselves as Christian, yet in fact, as you analyze their statement of faith, their doctrine and their view of Scripture, the incarnation, the substitutional death and resurrection of Jesus, their understanding of the […]

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Devotionals

The Church in Philadelphia (Part 2)

The message to the Church at Philadelphia must have been a huge encouragement to the pastor and the congregation of God in that city. The Lord Jesus declares Himself the gatekeeper. We are very familiar with gates (or doors). Every house has gates and doors. The main reason for these are to keep us safe. […]

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Devotionals

The Church in Philadelphia (Part 1)

We now come to the letter dictated by Jesus to John for the pastor and congregation at Philadelphia. This city was smaller and newer than the other six cities in Revelation 2-3. She was situated in a valley on an important road about 45 kilometers from Sardis. She was founded in the 2nd Century BC […]

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Devotionals

The Church in Sardis (Part 4)

Just because a person is in a spiritually dead Church does not necessary mean they are spiritually dead. This might surprise you because those who have spiritual life seek the Living Word. They need life and light. However true this might be, some seem to exist in the mud and mire of deadness. It might […]

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Devotionals

The Church in Sardis (Part 3)

Are you able to receive counsel from someone going through personal relational issues? Today I counselled a man who said another person had counselled him regarding personal issues he was having, yet this counselor himself is struggling with immense relational problems. How can this be? How can the one in darkness help another in darkness? […]

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Devotionals

The Church in Sardis (Part 2)

For the past few weeks I have been getting the gardener who worked for me on Saturdays for more than 20 years to help me do the gardens and lawns. I trained him, I know him and I trust him. I don’t need to look over his shoulder. I don’t need to check the work […]

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Devotionals

The Church in Sardis (Part 1)

Many years ago I read a story where a pastor placed a coffin in the front of his church near the pulpit. He was a new kid on the block and could not get through to his people. They came to church because they always did, as did their parents. So, with the coffin in […]

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Devotionals

The Church in Thyatira (Part 5)

Are you able to receive counsel from someone going through personal relational issues? Today I counselled a man who said another person had counselled him regarding personal issues he was having, yet this counselor himself is struggling with immense relational problems. How can this be? How can the one in darkness help another in darkness? […]

Categories
Devotionals

The Church in Thyatira (Part 4)

In one of his books about the family and parenting, Dr. James Dobson tells a story to impress upon parents how children train them as parents. The example he uses is mommy calling Johnny for supper. He is in his bedroom playing and she is in the kitchen setting the table for supper. She calls […]