Throughout the episode, we navigate the powerful symbol of white garments spoken of in Revelation. Representing purity and overcoming the stain of sin through the blood of Christ, these garments are a promise of hope for those who remain faithful. David thoughtfully illuminates the significance of the Book of Life, ensuring believers understand its ultimate importance in their eternal journey. We are challenged to reflect on our own lives, encouraging us to repent, embrace faith, and ensure our names are securely written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Wilbur Chapman, one of America’s greatest preachers of years ago, started out in the ministry as Mr. Boring of all boars. And a group of elderly ladies were so frustrated, they liked the man. He’s just a nice man, but he couldn’t preach. They couldn’t teach. He’s putting everybody to sleep. So they decided to go down the basement of this church while he preached and pray for him. And the story is history. If you’ve never read it, it’s a great story. But in a matter of a few months, Wilbur Chapman became one of America’s greatest preachers. God began to extend his influence all over the world. And God began to use him in a way nobody could even believe. And even the people in the church became stunned and surprised at what they were hearing because a few ladies were praying.
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Thank you.
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This is Hope for Today with Bible teacher David Hawking. And what you’re about to hear is serious. Serious, but there’s also a note of hope. It’s a wake-up call from the Son of God Himself. We’re back in Revelation chapter 3, and in this passage, Jesus isn’t speaking to pagans or politicians. He’s speaking to His church, to people who look spiritually alive on the outside, but but they’re dying on the inside. The warning is clear, the language sharp, and the time to respond right now. Open your Bible to verses one through six of Revelation chapter three. As David continues this urgent message called spiritual apathy. Before we get started, I want to tell you about Meditations in the Psalms. Meditations in the Psalms is a powerful online devotional by David Hawking, and each entry takes you deep into God’s Word with rich insight from a passage in the book of Psalms. If you’re looking to refuel your faith and strengthen your walk with God and to get a great start for each day, this is a great place to start. You can find Meditations in the Psalms right now on the homepage, and of course, it’s free at davidhawking.org. And now here’s David.
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Spiritual apathy. Verse 1, chapter 3. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names, even in Sardis, that have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches, not just the one church, but to all churches.” We talked about the concern of Jesus Christ for his church in verse 1 and the challenge he gave to the church in verse 2 and 3. Let’s come to the comfort of Jesus to the faithful in verse 4. Aren’t you glad there’s a positive note? However, don’t get real excited about it. It’s not much. I mean, it is in one sense, but there’s something in here that will bother you. Verse 4. Thou hast a few names. Wow. Wow. Something starts here that’s going to become full-blown in the church of Laodicea. In the church of Laodicea, the last one, things are so bad, Christ is on the outside. And there he says, you’re lukewarm and I want to spit you out of my mouth. But you can see the deterioration. Here in Sardis, he says, well, the truth is, there’s just a few names left. His message is really coming to just a few. Their reputation, oh, it’s great. But they’re dead in a doornail. And there are some things left that are ready to die. There’s just a few people there to whom he’s saying, look, it’s not lost. It’s not hopeless. God saves by few, not by many. Reminds me of the prayer meeting in colonial days that happened in a haystack. and broke out into a great revival as four young students decided to get together and pray that God would move in a mighty way. Let’s take a look at these few people. What’s the encouragement here? What’s the comfort that Christ gives to the faithful few? He says you have a few names, even in Sardis. I mean, that’s like a miracle, but they’re there. And they have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. You say, I thought the Lord alone was worthy. That’s true. We need to understand what this means. There are three things here. One is certainly their purity. They have not defiled their garments. It is not simply talking about immorality. It is talking about their relationship with God. The garments are representing the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and they’ve not defiled them by turning to the world and away from Christ. Evidently, many had defiled Here were a few faithful people who were standing true to the Lord. His promise, they shall walk with me in white. Look at chapter 4, verse 4. Up in heaven, it says there are 4 and 20 thrones. Revelation 4, 4. And on the thrones I saw 4 and 20 elders sitting, clothed in what? White. White raiment. Interesting. Look at chapter 6, verse 11. Talking about martyrs who have lost their lives for their faith in Christ. And it says in verse 11 of chapter 6, And white robes were given unto every one of them. Look at chapter 7, verse 9. looking at the great multitude of Gentiles who will be saved in the tribulation and be killed for their faith. It says in verse 9, After this I beheld in law a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with what? White robes and palms in their hands. Look at verse 14. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. He said to me, These are they who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Now we know what the white robe represents. It represents a person who’s been washed and cleansed in the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter 19… When Christ comes again in power and great glory, there’s a description of the married supper of the Lamb. And it says that the wife has made herself ready, verse 8 of chapter 19, to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of saints. Look, friend, I don’t know where you stand in the relationship to your faith in Christ, but what Christianity is all about is believing in Jesus, not in yourself. It’s believing in what he did. And when he died on the cross, it was his own blood that paid for our sin. And it’s his death. that takes away our sin. We don’t take away our own sin. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. John the Baptist said in John 1.29, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. You need Jesus. He can take all your sin away. He died on the cross for your sins. There’s anything you can do about that. You either believe it or you don’t. You either receive it or you don’t. It’s so important to understand that. Notice their practice back in Revelation. Chapter 3, verse 4. Their practice. It says they are worthy. Purity, his promise, and their practice. You say, why do you say practice here, Dave, when it says they’re worthy? Is that talking about self-esteem and, oh, I’m worthy to be saved? There’s a few here who are really worthy? No. This word means having the weight of something, having the balance of something. For instance, in Ephesians 4.1, it says we are to walk worthy of the calling which we’ve received of the Lord. It means to be in balance. What it’s talking about is the ancient bartering system where there’s a scale and you have some weights on one side and you have the product on the other. And when they balance, you make the deal. Is your life in balance? They are worthy is not our sense of worthiness in English. What it is talking about is the balance of God’s own judgment has been satisfied because they’ve been washed in the blood of the Lamb. They have their white garments. Then they are, we would say, acceptable to God. We are acceptable to God. We have access to God. We will be in heaven one day, not because we have done something to make us, quote, worthy, but we are acceptable because of the blood of Jesus Christ that cleansed us from all sin. Amen, Christians? Hope you know that. Look at verse 5. The fourth and final thing we bring to your attention are the consequences for the overcomer in verse 5. And in this passage is one of those controversial verses about the book of life. But I think the consequences fall into three categories. One is purity. Verse 5. He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in what? White raiment. We’re right back to that theme again. Washed in the blood of the Lamb. The white raiment representing righteousness and, listen to this, no more sin. Amen? When we get to heaven, there will be no more sin. Ever. Now, I don’t know if this has really hit you or not. Do you realize that nobody will be mad at you? Nobody will cheat you anymore. Nobody will lie to you anymore. In heaven, we are clothed in white raiment. The whiteness is the absolute direct antithesis to sin. Sin is removed forever. No more sorrow, no more death, no more crying. It’s all gone. Hey, is this going to be a good place? will be clothed in white raiment. Praise the Lord. Purity. But number two, consequence for the overcomer, there’s security. And boy, is this a consequence. You’d think that what he said was making people insecure, the way they read it. But let’s look at it again. And I will not blot his name out of the book of life. What about this book of life? Well, first of all, according to the Bible, it’s a book that uniquely belongs to the Lamb of God and is related to his death. Interesting that it’s called Book of Life. Turn to Revelation 13, verse 8. Don’t take my words for it. Just look at your Bible. According to the Bible, it’s a book that uniquely belongs to the Lamb of God and is related to his death. It’s called the Lamb’s Book of Life. In Revelation 13, 8, it says, “…all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him.” This is the Antichrist, the beast. whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. So it’s not only a book that belongs to the Lamb of God, it’s uniquely related to his death. Look at chapter 21, verse 27. Speaking about the new city, the heavenly Jerusalem, it says, There shall in no way enter into it anything that defileth, neither he that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. The book belongs to him. It’s the Lamb’s book. And it’s the book of the Lamb that was slain. Now, the second thing I draw your attention, just stay right here for a moment, Revelation 21, 27. The second thing I’d point out to you is that your name, according to the Bible, must be written in the book in order for you to enter the heavenly city. Would all of us agree to that? That’s what it says, verse 27. There shall in no way enter into it, the heavenly city, anything that defileth, neither he that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. So according to the Bible, your name must be written in this book in order for you to enter the heavenly city. Now the third thing I draw to your attention is that if your name is not found written in this book, When God comes to judge, you are cast into the lake of fire. Must be pretty serious to have your name down in this book. Look at Revelation 20, verse 15. I’m not making this up. You just look at it with me carefully. It’s the only way to study the Bible on a matter like this. Just look at it real carefully and watch it. Verse 15. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. hell. Turn back to Revelation 17. The fourth thing I draw to your attention is that those who dwell on the earth during the tribulation who worship the Antichrist, according to the Bible, do not have their names written in this book, nor have their names been there since the foundation of the world. It’s very interesting. I’m not making this up. You read it for yourself. Revelation 17, verse 8. The beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the beast that was and is not and yet is. So what I have seen in this passage wonderful book called Revelation, is that those who are not believers in the tribulation not only do not have their names written in the book, but they have never been in there since the foundation of the world. Now, if they’ve never been in there, then he couldn’t erase them out of there. So what’s the issue here? The issue is whether or not your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. That’s the issue. Turn to Luke chapter 10. Verse 17, Luke 10, 17. And the 70, they were sent out by Christ. The 70 returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils, the demons are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. He’s a conquered enemy. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing shall by any means hurt you. You can see them punching each other saying, amen, praise God, I knew it. Let’s go get them. But you got to wait for the punchline in verse 20. Notwithstanding, in this, rejoice not. Boy, we even make television programs about it. We parade this in front of people. We get all excited about it. The demons are cast out. Hey, the Lord has promised that power. Don’t misunderstand. But Jesus said, don’t get excited about that. Why would you be excited about that? Well, people are delivered from demons. Well, if they don’t come to the Lord, seven more worse than that will come back into them. You better be careful what you’re talking about. He said, in this rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. I’ll tell you something to be excited about, that your name is written in heaven in the Lamb’s book of life. All other issues fade into insignificance. There’s one issue, where are you going to spend eternity that’s worth everything? Purity, security, and one last word, loyalty. The Lord said, I’ll confess his name before my father and before his angels. You confess me before men, Matthew 10, 32 and 33, I’ll confess you before my fathers in heaven. If you’re loyal to him, he’ll be loyal to you. You don’t have to worry about it. You confess that Jesus is your Lord, your name is written in heaven. He said, I’ll not blot your name out of the book. you’re going to be with me forever. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth, Jesus is Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. I say hallelujah. Talk about rejoicing. We can all go home really happy if your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Lord, we thank you for your word and for the encouragement of it Sometimes it is a struggle. We think of those dear Christians in Sardis. There was just a few people there that were trying to be faithful. And how you just came and such love and tenderness told them that they would walk with you in white and you would confess their name and they would never be blotted out of the book. And what encouragement to these faithful few in Sardis, to these who are overcomers. And Father, we think of how easy it is for us to be spiritually complacent and apathetic and indifferent. We need to repent and get right with the Lord. But our hearts are also concerned about those who have never had their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. God, we know that hell is real. You spoke about it a lot. And we don’t want anybody to go there. And I pray for those in our midst that are not sure of their own relationship with God through Jesus Christ, that, Lord, tonight might be the night they cry out to God and say, Lord, save me. Cleanse me from my sin. We thank you, Lord, for your wonderful salvation. And it’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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Have you put your trust in the only one who can save you from sin, death, and hell? He’s the one, not a church, not an organization, not a bunch of works that you might do to please God. No, it’s the work of God that we believe on His Son. He has paid for our sin with His own precious blood. That’s what the crucifixion was all about. and the grave couldn’t hold him, the third day he rose again. He’s alive. He ascended into heaven, and he’s coming back for those who have put their trust in him. Why not open your heart to him right now? Just say, Lord, I confess my sin to you, and I believe that our Lord Yeshua, Jesus, he died for my sin and paid for it completely. and He will forgive me if I open my heart to Him. So I do that right now. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. God bless you.
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First, though, here’s David’s son, Matt, and together we’re going to tell you about a powerful Bible study tool that may just change your look at the subject of morality.
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Matt? Proverbs 1434, righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. 1 Timothy 1.8 adds, but we know that the law is good if a man use it lawfully. We need a moral and spiritual revival in the U.S., Canada, and more today, Jim.
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Well, this month we’re featuring your dad’s book, Whatever Happened to Morality? The Future Survival of America. Whatever Happened to Morality? What does David, what does your dad tackle inside this book?
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Well, we start with the right to life. Okay. You know, how did our respect for life erode and what does God’s word say on the topic? Wow. The sanctity of marriage. Does scripture require that marriage is only between a man and woman? No. The value of children. How have modern societies sought to abandon but also corrupt kids? And restrict the role of parents. Right. And a big one, pornography. The rapid proliferation of this scourge and its devastation. Homosexuality. Is it a genetic result? Sexual disease and human survival. The death penalty. It’s all these. Is this biblical? No. Alcohol and drug abuse.
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And God’s word has warnings and wisdom for us. And then the last topic there. Religion and politics. Right.
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Do they mix? Should they be kept apart? Is it too late for America? Yeah. And how do we stay focused and hopeful?
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Well, this month we have your dad’s book, Whatever Happened to Morality? It’s our way to say thanks for your most generous donation of $20 or more. With your contribution, you become a part of hope for today’s ministry. Yes, pray first and give as God moves your heart. You can get these resources by calling us at 875-BIBLE in the U.S. In Canada, call 888-75-BIBLE. Bible by the numbers 24253. Or go to DavidHawking.org. And just before David returns… Do you need prayer today? Prayer for any reason? Listen, our team would count it a privilege to pray with you and for you, whatever you’re walking through right now. And while you’re praying, would you also lift up this ministry to the Lord? Ask Him to keep us faithful, to expand the reach of His Word through these daily broadcasts, and to use every single message to build up the body of Christ and call the lost to salvation. We cherish those prayers. And you can reach us at 875-BIBLE to share your prayer need that’s in the U.S. or 888-75-BIBLE in Canada. And you can share a message or prayer request on our contact form at davidhawking.org. And remember, if you miss any part of today’s program, you can listen again at davidhawking.org. When you get to the website, click on the radio tab and you can stream the most recent broadcast. And to correspond by mail to send a donation or maybe share a prayer request, you can write us at Hope for Today, Box 3927. Tustin, California, 92781. In Canada, write to Hope for Today, Box 15011, RPO, Seven Oaks, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 8P1. Your gifts help us stay on the air and help us to reach more people with the truth of God’s Word and keep every resource we offer affordable or free. And thank you for standing with us. Here’s David.
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We’ve been studying for the last couple of days on the church at Sardis, a church that was spiritually dead. And God said, you better hold fast what remains and is ready to die. He said, you have a name that you live, but you’re spiritually dead. So he tells them they better get right with the Lord, hold fast and repent and watch and be ready. A few names in Sardis, a few people, have not defiled their garments, and they will walk, he says, with me in white, for they are worthy. And he who overcomes will be clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I’ll confess it before my Father and before his angels. Wow, you talk about a blessing if you get right with the Lord. If your church is not spiritually alive, it’s time. Well, let’s get on our knees and pray, and let’s make sure our worship is truly honoring our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel, and His Father in Heaven. This is only six verses, but my, what a blessing they are, and what a challenge they are. to get right with the Lord and recognize that we’re accountable to Him. God bless you all.
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Next time on Hope for Today, we move into one of the most encouraging passages in the letters to the churches, Revelation 3, verses 7-13. Now here, Jesus speaks to a small, faithful group of believers and offers a promise that no one can take away, an open door that no man can shut. It’s a message about endurance, faithfulness, and the power of God to keep His Word. Don’t miss Open Doors. And be sure to invite someone to listen along with you right here on Hope for Today.
Throughout the episode, we navigate the powerful symbol of white garments spoken of in Revelation. Representing purity and overcoming the stain of sin through the blood of Christ, these garments are a promise of hope for those who remain faithful. David thoughtfully illuminates the significance of the Book of Life, ensuring believers understand its ultimate importance in their eternal journey. We are challenged to reflect on our own lives, encouraging us to repent, embrace faith, and ensure our names are securely written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
