The Message to the Churches (1 of 3)
Chapter two and three of Revelations addresses letters to the seven churches in Asia. Many volumes of books have been written about the meanings behind these letters and what these historic churches symbolize. I believe these churches serve a three-fold purpose. 1. These seven churches are literal, historical churches; 2. These churches represent specific periods of church history; 3. These churches represent spiritual conditions that can be found within the Church of Jesus Christ during any point in history. For example, if the church as a whole today is the Laodicean church (the lukewarm church), there will always be certain churches that are faithful and on fire even if the overall condition of the church is weak. At any point in time you can see faithful and unfaithful churches. However, at different times in history, the overall view of the church is at various states of spiritual focus. In this study, we will be looking at the meaning of the letters rather than the meaning of the churches.
These letters serve as examples to be praised, failures to avoid, instructions for the believer and consequences for neglecting God’s purpose. When instructing the churches, Jesus praised the churches for what was in order, He pointed out their areas of disobedience, He instructed with promises of their eternal reward and then warned of the consequences of neglect. It is neglect for the things of God that leads to failure within the church. God has never allowed us to choose the middle of the road. There are only two ways: obedience that leads to righteousness or sin leading to death (Romans 6:16). There is no such thing as partial obedience. Either we trust God and submit or we don’t believe God and live in disobedience.
When we obey, we do so out of faith and a love for God, not obligation. True obedience is always out of faith. I obey because I believe His promises and know that His plan for my life is perfect. Obedience reveals that I believe His word completely – both the promises and the judgment. Disobedience is the opposite. I willfully choose a sinful lifestyle because I don’t believe God will keep His promises to satisfy and fulfill my life and I don’t believe He will really judge my actions. From the beginning, God has always given the same instruction – choose the blessing or the curse. In God’s presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). Or we can choose the curse. Psalm 112 warns that the wicked shall be grieved, he shall gnash his teeth and melt away and he will see his desires perish. Deuteronomy lays the groundwork of God’s principle of choice. Deuteronomy 11:
26 " Behold, I set before you today a blessing
and a curse:
27 "the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you today;
28 "and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but
turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which
you have not known.
Instead of breaking down this study to examine each church, we will examine these four areas of instruction Jesus addressed to the churches – Praise, Failure, Instruction, and Rewards or Consequences.
Can a person or a church be blessed if they are outside of God’s will?
Can we be blessed if we compromise the word of God?
According to the Bible, are God’s people exempt from accountability?
Praise
Jesus praises the churches that are striving to fulfill His commands. If you
take the time to read Revelation chapter 2 and 3 you will notice that not all of
the churches receive praise for their efforts. Jesus straightway warns the
churches that are living in total neglect of their purpose. The churches and
people that are trying to live the Christian life are praised and then
instructed. The instruction is necessary because it is far too easy to lose
sight of the reason we have our faith and lose sight of the purpose of God’s
call. Jesus always begins with praise for those living for Him in order to
encourage, then He moves to instruction. ‘Here is what you are doing right but
to fulfill the call these forgotten areas need new focus’. We can’t see God’s
plan. We can only see our narrow point of view. The word of God was written to
be our guide so we are directed to God’s purpose. I can’t see how trials, events
and benefits fit together for His purpose until after the fact. For this reason,
I have to trust God if I am to stay the course. God honors our efforts to please
Him and directs us to His purpose. God knows that we are finite and
shortsighted. Because of our human limitations, we can only see the command but
often can’t see the reason behind it. It is vital that we are teachable so that
when we are instructed we don’t resist God’s correction. Once we resist, we are
completely out of His will by our disobedience.
To encourage the church to continue the race, Jesus begins with praise for what is being done. The church is praised for its works, labor, patience, intolerance of those who are evil, testing those who claim to be God’s messengers and apostles, perseverance, and especially for enduring persecution and not denying His faith (vs. 2:2-3, 13, 19, and 3:10). Every deed, sacrifice, suffering and act that is done in faith and love for Christ will be rewarded and will not go unnoticed. Jesus said that what God sees in secret, will be rewarded openly (Matthew 6:4). God measures success differently that the world. It is easy to think that good works have to be seen, but God says that when we receive praise for our works, we have our reward already. God rewards labor that is done out of love and not for fanfare.
This is also true for wealth. In Revelation 2:9, Jesus said, "I know…your poverty, but you are rich". Then in 3:17 Jesus condemns the Laodicean church by saying, "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". The Smyrna church was suffering from tribulation and poverty, but God praised them and called them rich in spite of the poverty. The Laodicean church was comfortable, wealthy and at ease and God called them wretched, poor, miserable, blind, and naked. Laodicea was living for the ‘here and now’ but Smyrna was living for the hope of heaven and the eternal rewards of God. Those with an eternal perspective are always praiseworthy and those who love the world are always under condemnation (1 John 2:15).
Read Revelation 2:8-9 and 3:14-18.
Why is the Smyrna church rich and the Laodicean church poor? Is money the focus?
Now read Acts 4:10-12 and Revelation 2:13. Do the churches who believe they are enlightened by proclaiming other religions are different ways to the same God fit into the faithful church or the Laodicean church?
What does it take to be faithful?
As mentioned earlier, it is essential to point out the failure so that correction can be made. Failure due to neglect and disregard for God’s word are condemned. We live in a culture that is offendiphobic – the fear of offending anyone (with the exception of God). Even in the church, this fear is so pervasive that we would rather let someone die and go to hell than to risk sharing the hope of salvation and being called intolerant or offensive. Once the church decides to abandon evangelism, the next step is to deny the reality of hell so that we are justified in our disobedience. Only those believers and churches willing to take a stand and be beacons of light will make an impact on this culture. The so-called tolerant churches are having little impact and often a negative impact on our culture. To tell someone that sin is ok is worse than saying nothing at all.
Those who obey the command to share the truth while also obeying the command to ‘pursue peace with all men’, will see God open doors and work through their ministries. To be effective we always must align ourselves and our churches with what God is blessing. If a church departs from God’s will, the door will be closed. If a church seeks God first and then seeks to fulfill His will, the door will be opened. Look at Revelation 2:7-8:
7 " 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":
8 "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.
Those who "have kept His word and not denied His name" will have the open door. These are the people and churches that will make an impact. They may not be liked, but God will open the door and bless their efforts. Even persecution and war against the church cannot shut the door that God opens. Those who don’t stand on His word and deny His name through their actions and disbelief will not see God’s hand working. Church growth is not an accurate measure of God’s blessing. Both small and large churches can be obedient. Both small and large churches can be in disobedience.
Read Revelation 2:1-6. Why does God correct us?
Read Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:7-8. Does the Bible tell us that the world will be offended by Christ?
Who is offended, those at war with God or those obedient to God?
What door does God open to those who are obedient?
Can we share the gospel of salvation without risking offending someone?
The failures of these churches were – and still are – they Left their first love; allowed the gospel to be polluted by False doctrines; and Lukewarm Christianity.
You have left your first love.
Look at Revelation 2:
4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place -- unless you repent.
Love comes from the word agape. Agape is unconditional, self-giving, sacrificial love. Agape is always a reference to God’s love. Whenever we see the English word ‘love’ given as a command in scripture, it is always agape. There are other words that we translate into love. These are Philia, which means warm affection or friendship and Eros, which means passion. Eros is never translated as love in the scriptures, but in the English language we call Eros love. God’s love is a command because we must submit to God and allow Him to love through us. We are not capable of agape love outside of God’s will. We are to become conduits of God’s love and this love becomes a willful choice. We love God because we choose to submit to His love.
The word ‘first’ in this passage means ‘first in rank’. This church was praised because they were doing the work God called them to do and their actions showed that they were careful to do all they had been commanded. They were patient; they labored; they did not tolerate evil; and they tested those who presented doctrine. However, they failed to put God first. The works became more important than their relationship with Jesus Christ. God did not have first place in their hearts. They forgot the greatest commandment God has given. In Matthew 22 we are told:
37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 "This is the first and great commandment."
The only works that honor God is what is done out of self-giving love for God. Self-serving works mean little. Good works in ministry mean little when they become our purpose above loving God. When God shows us that we have drifted from that agape love for Him, we are commanded to remember from where we have fallen and repent. To repent means to turn from the direction we are going and back toward the direction God is going. We put God in His rightful place – first in our life.
Why does the Bible command us to love with ‘agape’ but not with ‘philia’?
Why is the greatest commandment to love God with all our being?
Why is it so important for the church to turn back to its first love?
If we are doing ministry without loving God first, what will happen to the focus of our ministry?
Exchanged Life Outreach
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