Introduction

Good morning, everyone. Today, we will study Chapter 3 of the Book of Revelation. Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation speak of the victorious church. How do you know it is called the victorious church? Because every time the church is mentioned in Revelation Chapters 2 and 3, it speaks of "the one who overcomes." If the church is not victorious, and some disciples within it want to overcome, it is indeed very difficult, but such a situation does exist.

Revelation Chapter 3 is about building the victorious church, Part 2. Now, it speaks of a total of seven churches. Whether these seven churches are truly seven, or eight, or nine, or ten, is not important. What is important is that seven is a majority, but seven is also a divine integer.

Today, we will talk about the fourth church, which is called the church that has a reputation for being alive, but is actually dead. It is quite difficult for a person to end up in such a church.

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:1-6)

What kind of church is this? Actually, God says: I know your deeds, and none of your deeds are perfect. Actually, none of them are perfect to begin with, so why does God say this to the angel of the church in Sardis? I tell you, this is a church that promotes deeds.

Promoting deeds and being deed-based is a great lie. The so-called faith and deeds going hand in hand is a great lie. Today, I want to tell you that this person promotes deeds, but God does not approve of his deeds. Isn't this troublesome? Is this the gospel? This is not the gospel.

What kind of gospel does Jesus Christ preach? It is a gospel based on faith. Jesus never talked about deeds, never talked about deeds as the foundation. For example, your faith should be like a mustard seed, and your deeds should also be like a mustard seed. There is no such logic, is there? Only your faith should be like a mustard seed.

So how should we say it? You must be alert and strengthen what remains that is about to die, because I see that your deeds are not perfect before my God. In fact, once a person takes the path of being deed-based, I tell you, being based on the law is being deed-based, which is being cursed.

So once we fall into the logic of "Look how well I have done," it's over. You are far from doing well! Do you understand? So preaching life with life and bearing witness with life are all absurd logic.

We have a sister among us who went home and said: Look how good I am since I believed in the Lord! Look how much I have changed since I believed in the Lord! Her parents looked at her and thought: My goodness! You are still a mess, and you think you have improved a lot! Do you understand? This logic doesn't make sense. You are still a mess, and there are so many faults to find in you! Not to mention your parents finding faults, God can find many more faults in you! Do you all understand this logic now? There is something wrong with this logic: Look how much I have improved since I believed in the Lord. Huh? Why do I see that you haven't improved at all?

Later, I taught this sister to go home and say to her parents: Look how bad I am! I am really bad in your eyes. But God still gave me grace. Can you understand this now? Her parents said: Yes, this God is really good. Isn't that the case? That's the case, so never boast about your good deeds, because we never do enough good, we are very bad, very bad, very bad! If you come up and say: Look how bad I am, but I can still receive grace; look how bad I am, but God can still have mercy on me and heal me. I am so bad, but God still gave me a job. Your family will definitely not be able to find fault with this statement, right? Isn't that so?

Has a Reputation for Being Alive, But Is Actually Dead

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:3)

When you believed in the Lord, what deeds did you have? Come on, let's talk about it, brothers and sisters. When you first believed in the Lord, you were terribly bad, your mind was a mess, right? You had no heavenly value system, nothing, just because you were terribly messed up by demons, right? You were terribly messed up, and then you were there: God, have mercy on me!

So what did you use to come before God? You came before God with faith. Our God always has abundant grace and mercy. So what did you use to come before God at that time? Nothing, just believing and receiving. So why did believing in the Lord turn into: Look how good I am!

There was a sister who had cancer, and her pastor came to me: Can you minister to this sister? I was thinking, if I minister, what are you going to do? I said: This sister has cancer, and she has many problems. The pastor said: It's not like that, this sister's life is very good. I said: How is it good? Tell me about it. The pastor said: Every time before the meeting, she would go to the church first to arrange the chairs. Is that good enough? My goodness! You haven't seen her face when she quarrels with her mother, have you?

I tell you, cancer patients cannot have good relationships with their loved ones at home, right? They put on a show at church, otherwise how could they get cancer? I have ministered to so many cancer patients, and they have piles and piles of resentment. I am very emotional, our standards for judging things are really very biased and twisted. If I had ministered to this cancer patient, it would not be difficult to heal her, just to get out of her own logic of thinking she is good. If you think you are good, you will feel that the whole world owes you, right? People like me, I think I am very bad, so I will not feel that the whole world owes me, I will feel that I owe the whole world.

Remember how you received it in the beginning? Today, every brother and sister comes before God, what do you give Him? You have never given Him anything, just coming before God by faith. Why does believing turn into being deed-based? That is quite hateful, so you must be alert. And then what? Those who are about to die, you just came alive, why are you going to die again? Right? You must always ask yourself, it is all grace.

For example, I see some pastors who get angry after ministering: Look how much I minister, how can you be so ungrateful? Actually, when you minister, you are receiving grace, not giving grace to others. How can we become like this? So the garbage inside us must be removed. I tell you, a person's illness is closely related to the evil deeds on his body and the knots in his mind, not only including you, but also including me.

So we still look to God's grace and mercy. In the beginning, we looked to God's grace and mercy, and we look to God's grace and mercy for a lifetime. Be alert, look, this does not conform to God's heart, right? That does not conform to God's heart, not: Look how well I have done. So there are some in this church, in this kind of church, the entire church conveys this kind of message.

Don't say that, I have really encountered a case. I used to think that maybe all these churches are like this, but what does Revelation say? There are still a few of you who have not soiled your clothes. I tell you, once a person is deed-based, he is soiling his clothes. Why? Because the white clothes we wear are washed clean by the blood of Jesus. What are our clothes? We are clothed in Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is our clothes, but in fact we are still very dirty inside. Do you understand?

Then we rely on faith, confess our sins and repent by faith. Although you are still a sinner, because you believe, the blood of Jesus Christ covers your transgressions. It's not that you have really become better, it's that you are still far from it. Do you understand? Then rely on the Holy Spirit to put to death the evil deeds of your flesh.

Until today, the brothers and sisters in our church must receive a concept, that is, we are not doing well enough, we are bad enough. So once those who have not soiled their clothes are not taking the deed-based path, right? If these people are not alert and do not know that they have gone astray, in fact, people can know where they have gone astray with a little evaluation, right? God did not promise that I would get cancer. If I get cancer, I have made a mistake. This is being alert, right?

Look, I ministered to several cancer patients, and my heart ached, it ached very much. They all felt that they possessed the truth, and they felt that they possessed it to the point that they were the proof of the truth. I said: Brother, cancer is a curse, because we are dirty inside. He felt: You are the one who is cursed! My goodness, I am the one who is cursed, I have been living in a curse, but I look to God's grace and mercy, I know I am never good enough. They feel that they are very good, they feel that they have done great work for God.

There are a few such people in such a church, and then they have not soiled themselves, they put on white clothes, they are clothed in Jesus Christ, they are faith-based, and God will not blot out their names, right? Because they are worthy. What does it mean? They have the faith to look to God, to trust in Jesus Christ, instead of feeling that they possess the truth.

A few days ago, my friend introduced me to a person who was in his seventies. In the small group, my goodness, if your point of view is different from his, he will not let you go, you know? This past Sunday, my friend said: No need to introduce him anymore, he kicked the bucket. Alas, I am still very sad in my heart, I love this brother very much.

I tell everyone, never think that you possess absolute truth. Don't think that you are a chemistry expert just because you have studied chemistry, chemistry has a wide range; don't think that you can do something after you graduate from university with an IT degree, in fact it is far from it. Do you understand? Don't think that you are a great accountant just because you have just passed the CPA exam after graduating from university, that is far, far, far away.

So, today, brothers and sisters, what is overcoming? The one who overcomes will be dressed in white, and I will never blot out their name from the book of life. Do you see that? The one who overcomes is the one who holds fast to Jesus Christ, admits that he is a sinner, and always relies on Jesus Christ, relies on the Holy Spirit, and puts to death the evil deeds of his flesh. The Holy Spirit speaks to the churches, whoever has ears, let them hear. Has a reputation for being alive, but is actually dead.

Some who have just believed in the Lord enter this church, and at first they still experience God's grace, but later they don't. Do you know why? These people are very bad, they invented a honeymoon period theory. Have you all heard of the honeymoon period? Hey, when I first believed in the Lord, God was very good to me, but after a while it was not good, right? I find it very ridiculous, what is called a honeymoon period? What's wrong? Slowly there is no honeymoon, right? Ridiculous, very ridiculous. It's not that God doesn't listen to our prayers, it's that we have gone astray, but they don't know, they think it's just like this, the honeymoon period is over, right? This is a joke.

Holding the Key of David, the Victorious Church

"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”: “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. 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. 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. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 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.” He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:7-13)

Several key points are mentioned here: Holiness. What does holiness mean? Holy, true, holding the key of David, opening and no one can shut, shutting and no one can open. The image of this God manifested in different churches is different. If you are in a very decadent, unconquerable church, the God they receive is completely different from the victorious church's understanding of God.

When we communicate with people, we find a very important concept: our Jesus and the Jesus they believe in seem to be different, not quite the same Jesus.

For example, we believe that Jesus will heal me, but they do not believe that Jesus will heal them. Isn't this strange? But the God we believe in, this victorious church, you will find that this God is holy. Why? Because we strive to be holy, don't we? What about truth? Because we pursue truth. So you will slowly feel that this God is very holy. Then, comparing the image of God, we are very unworthy, aren't we? Truth? We are all liars. We lie when we are afraid, and we lie carelessly, not intentionally. Do you understand? People are like this, so we are still far from the image of God, aren't we?

Holy, true, holding the key of David, why do you see God holding the key of David? Because we desperately need the keys to the kingdom of heaven, don't we? So the God we obtain is such a God. So different people receive different Gods, which is a very magical thing. A victorious church will hold the keys to hell and death, and a victorious church will put to death the deeds of the body through the Holy Spirit.

If we say, "Oh, I am already very holy," then it's bad. You are not measuring yourself against God's standards. You say, "I am already very powerful." But you do not have the keys of God, the keys to the kingdom of heaven. What is this key of David? It is the descendant of David, Jesus Christ, holding the keys to hell and death, which is called the key of David. Then you have conquered death, and Satan and his gang will come and worship before you. Do you understand?

This passage also says: "I know your works." Remember, I am not saying that works are not important, but that works are not the root; faith is the root. People think that works are the root, but they are not. Works are not the root; faith is the root. This faith will definitely bring the works that you should have. Do you understand? So if we do not believe in our hearts, how can we have strength? If we do not believe in our hearts, how can we have works of faith? Isn't that right? So, "I know your works, you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name." This is the key!

Well, I hope that our brothers and sisters will begin to know today, how to be victorious? You hold the keys to the kingdom of heaven, you have this magic weapon in your hand, how can you not deal with Satan? Isn't that right? Even if it is Satan, it doesn't matter. What happens? Holding the keys to hell and death. After holding these keys to the kingdom of heaven, what will you declare? You will experience a very magical thing, what will you experience? It is: "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" There are none of these, because we have a magic weapon in our hands. After we have a magic weapon in our hands, we begin to be victorious through God.

Remember, never think that you are entering the Promised Land to fight; it is God who is fighting before you. Never think that you are good enough, so you are victorious. It is that our God is good enough, so we draw on God's victory. In fact, Jesus Christ has already overcome Satan, hasn't He? Then we hold the keys to hell and death, what should we do? We should imitate Jesus Christ. How Jesus did it, we will do it. How Jesus walked, we will walk. The best apostle who imitated Jesus later was the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul was a person who established a victorious church.

"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." (Revelation 3:9)

Do you understand? God will make them come and worship before your feet. My God, what grace. In the past period of time, I caught a key point. What is this key point? It is that the gospel preached by Jesus Christ is a powerful gospel. So the words we speak and the doctrines we preach are not based on wise and persuasive words, but on the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. How is it demonstrated? It is not that you arrange chairs in the church and you think that is the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. Isn't that nonsense? Where is the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit? It lies in casting out demons.

So every time we cast out demons, we see that the name of Jesus is really too great, every time we cast out demons. Every time we cast out demons, we persevere with faith and patience. Later, we invented a sentence: "Be more persistent than the devil by one minute." Everyone thinks this is good, doesn't it? I persevere, I know that my God will surely make me victorious, and God will surely drag them to worship before us.

This sounds very encouraging, doesn't it? This says: "I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you." I said: "God, I absolutely want this promise." In fact, whether we enter the Promised Land or not, we all rely on God to be victorious. Never think that you rely on your own strength, just give up.

Some people say: "Look at this Pastor Liu, how arrogant he is." What am I arrogant about? It is that you see how much he likes to pursue miracles. It is not pursuing miracles, it is the key of David, it is Jesus holding the keys of death and hell. So I am not pursuing miracles, I am pursuing to keep and follow the way of God, I am pursuing to imitate Jesus Christ, I am pursuing to imitate the Apostle Paul.

What happens? As a result, after casting out demons, I am very happy. My God, it's so good. After casting out demons, I thought it was Satan, but later I found out it was Satan's minion; I cast out a bigger demon, I thought this was Satan, but later I found out it was a bigger minion; I cast out a demon again, and every time I felt very excited, wow, I hit Satan's throne. In fact, it seems that there is still some distance. But thank God, even if we have not hit Satan's throne today, one day we will, and Satan will also worship before us and be trampled under our feet.

How did this come about? I tell you, the faith of patience. This chapter says: "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." My God, the way of patience. In fact, later I found out that we are more persistent than the devil by one minute, which is this way of patience. No matter what the situation, I endure.

Recently, I have been ministering to a patient with diabetes. I prayed with him, and I believed that the demon of diabetes would be cast out by me. In fact, the condition of this kind of thing is getting worse. But in my hands, it is developing in a good direction. It is developing in a good direction, how good is that? I have already seen that trend, I have already seen that trend.

This diabetes is the worm of hell, then we hold the keys of death and hell, what am I afraid of? Isn't that right? Yes, one day we will leave our bodies and return to the Lord. But even in the flesh, we must trample on the devil and the enemy. So come to worship, this is called the way of patience. The way of God is the way of patience, do you understand this time?

If you hold fast to your faith, especially in the matter of healing the sick and casting out demons, you will see how powerful, how glorious, and how honorable the name of Jesus Christ is. Hold on to this, lest someone take our crown. Hold on to what we have, what is this possession? It is the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

The day before yesterday, I met a pastor, and he said something to me that sounded a little evil. He said: "Pastor Liu, I haven't cast out demons for a long time." I said: "Then what did you do? What do you do if you don't cast out demons?" He said: "How can there be so many demons?" Brothers and sisters, do not think that I am promoting understanding, it is not casting out demons. If you can overcome the devil Satan, you must have the word of God in your heart. Without the word of God, it is difficult for you to overcome the devil's lies.

So hold on, lest someone take your crown, and the one who overcomes will be a pillar in the temple of God. The key point is coming, it is to be a pillar in the temple of God. If you want to build a house, the most important thing is the foundation and the pillars. The foundation is Jesus Christ, what are the pillars? The pillars are the key, the most critical structure. If you destroy the load-bearing pillars during the renovation, that thing will collapse.

So our church must learn to be a church of Philadelphia. First of all, we must have the word of God, and we must also have the faith of patience. Do you understand? Patience and carefulness, and then hold the key of David in your hand. What we pursue is truth, that is, to come to God very truthfully, and to judge ourselves very objectively, not that kind of twisted judgment. We must often reflect, why? We often feel that we are good, but when we really look at ourselves in the truth of God, we see that our true selves are still far from it.

So the name of God must be written on him, and the new heaven and new earth, the new Jerusalem, must also have our names written on them. The name of God must be written on us, isn't it? The words that the Holy Spirit speaks, all the churches must hear. When you hear it, if you are a preacher, what does it mean when you hear the words that the Holy Spirit speaks to the churches? It means that I hope you are the church of Philadelphia. It is not that you have a name that is Philadelphia, but that you really have the substance of Philadelphia.

You know, some people cast out demons, and as they cast out demons, they no longer have the word of God. Although the name of Jesus Christ still manifests His omnipotence, because he believes, but if the doctrine in his heart is not very right, he will soon be finished. These are the examples they cited, saying that the charismatic church is basically stuck at such a low level.

God wants you to become Philadelphia, He wants you to become a pillar of the church, to become a pillar of the temple of God. This is the victorious church, the key of David is the key. You slowly ponder, if a person is willing to offer himself, right? Offer yourself. To be a living sacrifice, that is holy and acceptable to God.

The Lukewarm and Wealthy Church

"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: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 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—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. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 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. 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’" (Revelation 3:14-22)

This church, they are quite vocal with their "Amens," very enthusiastic, one might say. They strike a business deal, make a handsome profit, and naturally, they tithe. The more they give, the more they earn, and God is pleased. But here's the rub: their hearts are neither hot nor cold towards God. I've observed this pattern in many cases I've ministered to – the pursuit of wealth can be quite corrupting.

I once ministered to a woman drowning in debt, contemplating ending her life. She stumbled upon our church's website, listened to the sermons, and reached out. Through ministry, she emerged from that desperate situation. Several of her stalled projects miraculously untangled themselves, without any lobbying or favors. And these were projects of considerable scale.

Frankly, I confess, while ministering to her, I wasn't entirely devoid of ulterior motives. After hearing her story, I suggested, "Sister, after experiencing such a profound miracle, you should consider tithing." She replied that she tithed at her local church. I was taken aback. I ministered to you, you experienced God's grace, and you tithe elsewhere? It felt like getting dental work at one hospital and paying the bill at another. What kind of thinking is that? In reality, she wasn't tithing anywhere; she was merely giving me the runaround.

I couldn't bring myself to say, "You must tithe here." I couldn't utter those words, and frankly, I don't particularly need their money. But here's the thing: she was a Christian who had reached rock bottom. Why? Because she was lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, like tepid water. Her eyes were fixed on money, not on Jesus Christ. When she made money, it was "Amen!"; when she lost money, it was "Men-ah?" So, being lukewarm, she was spat out of His mouth.

Such individuals often believe that financial success equates to spiritual well-being. They might say, "Pastor Liu, haven't you said that financial and physical health indicate spiritual health?" But that's not the point. I meant that if you are spiritually healthy, if you love God deeply, then you will likely experience financial and physical well-being.

Many people are financially and physically healthy; they are a dime a dozen. It has nothing to do with being spiritual. The most glaring issue in the church and in the history of Israel is that when people become wealthy, they fail to serve the Lord their God with joy and gladness. Consequently, God allows them to serve the enemies He sends to attack them. God gave her another chance, but she squandered it. When she contacted me again, I declined to minister to her. I wouldn't serve; she could seek help elsewhere. She relapsed into her previous dire straits.

Do not delude yourselves into thinking that because you are rich, have prospered, and lack nothing, you are therefore spiritual. That is utter nonsense. It is because you are spiritual that you may prosper, but wealth alone proves nothing. God says, "But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." They are spiritually naked, constantly exposed in the spiritual realm.

God advises, "I counsel you to buy gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich." A truly spiritual person is rarely impoverished. Consider Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah – were they poor? No, they were not.

God desires them to acquire gold refined in the fire, true treasure. Instead, they cling to worthless paper, mistaking it for precious jewels. Do you understand? Our God is not a poor God; He is a God of abundance. Those who trust in Him lack no good thing. And if you lack no good thing, will you lack money? No, you will not.

"Buy white garments to wear." This is quite ironic, isn't it? Can you buy it? Buying white garments means paying a price, doesn't it? So that you can cover your shameful nakedness. What are white garments? Clothed with Jesus Christ. What does this mean? It means you must pay the price in these matters. The Bible uses the word "buy" to shame such churches. You cannot literally buy it; you must pay the price. But they are unwilling or unable to pay the price.

Today, I tell you, it is difficult for the wealthy to be truly free. They have vast estates and businesses to manage, requiring immense effort. If they don't manage them, they risk losing everything. But if they do manage them, they have no time for God. And if they have no time for God, they risk being spat out by Him. Being spat out is like being expectorated – disgusting. It falls to the ground, rolls in the dirt, a small gray ball of phlegm, repulsive.

"Buy salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." People's perspectives are skewed, distorted. They mistake excrement for delicacies. If you see a dung beetle, what are you? You need to buy salve, for one's value system is difficult to change. Money blinds people. So, pay the price to acquire eyes from God, so that we may see clearly.

Whether it is red Renminbi or green US dollars, in God's eyes, it is merely waste paper. They are spiritually wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. God disciplines those He loves. So, be earnest and repent. Wealth often breeds a sense of unwarranted pride. You can tell whether someone is wealthy or not by the way they walk down the street. It's quite sad.

Money can blind, make one lukewarm towards God, and lead one to believe they are rich and lack nothing, when in reality, they lack everything. What to do? If God disciplines you, He will remove these things. If He doesn't, then you are destined to rush headlong towards destruction.

People are like this. It's unjustifiable. When people are diagnosed with cancer, they let go of everything. Those things they once zealously pursued, when they have only a month to live, they can let go of everything, no longer needing to compete. Why not let go earlier, be zealous for God earlier, instead of waiting until you reach the end of your rope?

God stands at the door of your heart and knocks. When God rebukes and disciplines you, removing those things you are proud of, it is a great blessing. Look at our fellow workers, Brother So-and-so, Sister So-and-so – God has shown them grace. They have begun to pay the price for eye salve, changing their perspective. They have begun to put on white garments, truly clothed with Jesus Christ. They have begun to see through many things, and they have begun to buy gold refined in the fire, becoming truly rich.

To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with me on my throne. Remember, if one can overcome the allure of wealth, this world has nothing in you. If you overcome wealth, truly possess these things, change your perspective, are clothed with Jesus Christ, and possess gold refined in the fire – what is gold refined in the fire? It is the salvation that Jesus Christ has accomplished for us.

What is the result? Thanks be to God! They have overcome. They were once lukewarm, but now they are fervent. They have overcome. They once saw money as treasure, but now they see everything as rubbish. Having once possessed these things, they now truly possess Jesus Christ and reign with Him on His throne. This is victory. You might say, "This church is not victorious, but the individuals within it are." Victory is a personal, individual triumph. Even within our church, you must strive to be a victor.

Summary of the Overcoming Church

Jesus Christ reveals the revelation of the overcoming church to us, laying out the pitfalls that churches often encounter, one by one. The Ephesian church that has forsaken its first love – you must not abandon your initial love, but this love must not be a carnal love, but the love revealed by God.

Some churches, as they progress, constantly label this as heresy and that as heresy, ultimately losing all love. They view everyone with suspicion, which is problematic. Then, the Smyrna church that experiences tribulation after believing in the Lord – I tell you, the treasures forged in the tribulation of the Smyrna church are all precious. God requires little of them, only to be faithful to the point of death. Why be faithful to the point of death? Because our God is the first and the last.

Then, He reveals the Pergamos church that is adulterous and loves money. Within the Pergamos church, there are also a few who overcome, but there are also those like Balaam, who promote idolatry and lead people into sexual immorality, near Satan's throne. Then, He speaks of the Thyatira church, controlled by Jezebel. These four are significant pitfalls.

You might ask, "How many such churches have you seen?" I have seen all seven types of churches. I will elaborate on them gradually. Sometimes when I speak, people advise me, "Teacher, don't be so blunt; change your approach." It's okay; I will change my approach. Today, I speak of the Sardis church, which has a reputation of being alive but is dead, the Philadelphia church that holds the key of David and overcomes, and the Laodicea church that is lukewarm and wealthy – all pitfalls of the church.

If you are a preacher, and you are establishing a church today, study this passage carefully. Does this passage emphasize tithing? No. Does it emphasize numbers? No. Why do many people emphasize numbers today? Emphasizing numbers is not the way to do it. A large number of people has nothing to do with overcoming.

So, when we established our church, I became more cautious. I don't pursue numbers. I strive to build the church into a holy, unified, glorious, and victorious army, which requires selecting people carefully. Some say, "You must have compassion and seek the salvation of all." I do hope for the salvation of all, but salvation should not mean bringing garbage into the body of Jesus Christ. Bringing garbage into the body of Jesus Christ does not save them; it corrupts you. The entire church is corrupted. Is that salvation? No, it is not.

So, our church does not pursue numbers. I don't pursue becoming big and strong. I don't care about numbers, and I don't care about tithing. I care about overcoming. That is why our brothers and sisters can receive the word of the overcoming church in an overcoming church.

May God bless you all!