Sermon Tone Analysis

Last week we spoke about Johns vision of Jesus.

The entire chapter lays the foundation for the rest of the book.

You have to get an understanding of the Nature, Character and plan of Jesus.

He is who He says he is, He will do what he will do and He has the power and the authority to do it.

No Greek God and No form of government is going to have any impact on the final result of God’s plan.

This gives us complete Confidence and Hope

Now we move onto the message that Jesus gives to the seven churches.

Why just these seven when we know of at least 11 Troas-Miletus-Colosse - Hierapolas?

Because these seven represent what is going on in the churches as a whole.

W can identify with these seven churches.

Some believe these messages represent specific church ages - these would be called dispensations.

The problem is no where in scripture does it say that - They could be or they might not be, all these ideas are assumed.

Remember,

Ok so we can establish that even though this is sent to the church’s the letter has a direct impact on us as a church and us as an individual.

Why - Because the church is people.

No buildings will be resurrected, no denominations will have a place in heaven.

There wont be sections in heaven for the Baptists or the Methodists or the Assemblies of God

The churches are called lampstands - Why - the represent the presence of God in the neighborhood.

They bring light into the darkness.

OK lets move on

The seven stars - represent the seven angels of the churches which represents - which represents the spirit empowerd church as a whole - the Bishop or overseer of the chruch.

The main point here is this

Jesus says he holds the star in His right hand.

He is what holds the church together.

He is what protects it and has His hand upon it .

Not only does He hold it but He walks among it.

This also can be seen in creation - In genesis Chapter 3 - God walked in the Garden.

His presence was known to Adam and Eve.

In other words He is here and where his spirit is He is.

This is very important especially as we look at vs 5 of Chapter 2.

The Church in Ephesus

This is a familiar church to us because Paul wrote a letter to Ephesus called the letter of Ephesians.

It is a political and cultural center - I

It has a large harbor - considered the most important Greek City - 2nd only to Rome in commerce

Very Busy City

It hosted games similar to the Olympics

It had a a huge temple to Artemis ( Diana) the goddess of fertility.

The temple and all the trappings of it was an economic boost for the city.

It was four times larger than the Parthenon

I didn’t know this until recently but it was a sanctuary city.

If you were a criminal you could run there and be safe.

Something like San Francisco.

Emperor Theodosius erased all traces of Artemis during his reign.

The Temple of Artemis was destroyed, its ruins used to build Christian churches.

Priscilla and Aquila planted the church there - Apollos and Paul developed it.

Now lets get to the Good the bad and the Solution

The Good

Hard working church

Progressive, energetic and patient church

They could smell a false teacher a mile away

They knew the word

They hated the deeds of the Nicolatians- (The word Nicolaitan means “to conquer the people.”

Some Bible students believe this was a sect who “lorded it over” the church and robbed the people of their liberty in Christ) others say they were like Balaam who wanted the church to compromise itself or a sect of people who were immoral gnostics.

It can be seen as living on both sides of the fence.

- Bonhoeffer calls it cheap grace.

The Bad

They lost there first love

That can be defined as they abandoned or some say forgot there love for Jesus and replaced it for something else

There love grew old and stagnant.

If you lose your love you lose your light .

You will have little impact and be unnoticed and your beacon of truth goes out.

It is a lighthouse with the light off

The Solution

Remember - Jesus saved you, not religion - He is your first love - You don’t cast him aside for something else the moment you feel you got enough out of Him.

Repent - turn back around - let go of what you are be pulled to and go back

Rework - get back to the basics of your faith.

Relationship not works.

In other words it is works stemming out of relationship not works for works sake

Receive - direction from the Holy Spirit.

If not I will Remove - the lampstand - The Spirit - As Jesus has already done in many of our mainline churches where rampant sin is allowed and encouraged all the way up the leadership ladder.

It might look like a church might operate like a church, might have an order of service like a church but it is completely void of the Holy Spirit.

There is another Spirit present and it is not the Holy Spirit.

If you do this - I will grant eternal life in paradise in other words Heaven with God

Interesting point it says in the passage to hear what the spirit says to the churches (plural) because every church has something that represents a challenge to our faith.

Now lets look at the second of the seven churches

The Church in Smyrna

Another Roman city

It was said to be very glorious and beautiful- beautiful buildings .

It also had a beautiful breeze that would flow into it.

Some say it was cool even during the summer.

To me I could picture a pretty side of San Diego.

The Smyrnans loved there city and they were loyal to it and to Rome.

Probably founded by Paul on his third missionary journey.

It had a person of great spiritual stature that was probably a student of Paul and that was Polycarp.

He was burned at the stake in AD 155.

He was asked to give worship to Ceasar by saying Ceasar is Lord.

Poly carp said “ eighty and six years I have served Him and He never did me any injury, how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior.

Let me paraphrase his last words.

Just in case you didn’t hear me the first time, I am a Christian.

They pressed him further and he said , you threaten me with fire which will only burn for an hour, you are ignorant of the fire , coming judgement and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly.

Then he says what are you waiting for?

Christ is the conqueror of death - the ever living one .

He holds the keys , though you die physically you will live.

The Good

The are a tough bunch, they were a people of faith.

Jesus understands the constant barrage of hate upon them, how they are ripped of in every way.

They were unemployed the minute they were saved and gave honor to Jesus rather than Ceasar.

They became the rejected class.

We are getting a very slight picture of what is to come today.

“If you are not vaccinated or in other words bow down to the state we will see to it that your job is terminated.”