Sermon 1 - To the seven churches
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Introduction
Introduction
What if I ask you what makes a church dead. What would answer be?
What makes a church dead?
A church without ministry
A church without love
A church without holiness
A church without truth
Web site
If your church is dying, the passion of key leaders is waning
Innovation is rare
Management is beginning to replace leadership
Your church has become fixated on being…your church
You criticize younger, upstart leaders
Maintenance is beginning to trump mission
Your relationship with God has gone flat
Another Website
No Mission
No Evangelism
No Biblical Preaching
No Growth - within the Body
No Giving
Another Website
A church that begins to speak angry words
A church that begins to draw ugly lines
A church the begins to ignore good-works
What makes a church on fire?
Fast and pray
Uncomfortable in the world
Will care for souls
Accomplishes Great things for God
Contend for all the blessings of God
Honestly, I am not interested in any of these lists - I am interested in what Jesus says. He is the one that counts.
In Revelations ch. 2-3 - Jesus has 7 messages for 7 churches. Each message follows a similar pattern:
The title for Jesus
Jesus commendation to the church
Jesus complaint to the church
Jesus Counsel.
Before, we can get there, the first vision that John has links to the letters Jesus had for each churches
Revelation 1:12-16, 20
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
These 6 verses lay the groundwork for chapters 2-3
Mission of the church
Mission of the church
The purpose of the church - Ephesians 3:21
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
The mission of the church is to evangelize - Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
There is a stunning description of this vision:
Jesus countenance is as the sun shines in his strength- Revelation 1:16
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
The candlesticks are needed when it is dark.
The seven golden candlesticks are 7 different churches that Jesus wrote to.
1 John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Consider the mission
2 Corinthians 4:2-6
But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:13-15
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Where does the mission start?
The candle is at its brightest the closer you get to the candle.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hindrances in fulfilling the mission
Obstruction reduces the lights reach and effectiveness
Matthew 5:15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Not pursuing the lost
Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Luke 19:10
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The record in the book of Acts is the church pursuing the Lost.
Ministers of the church
Ministers of the church
the seven stars are the seven messengers of the church
Even though the word is translates as angels - the meaning of the word is messengers. Although most times the word is translated as angels, it does not exclusively mean angels.
Matthew 11:10 - Speaking of John the Baptist
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Luke 7:24 - Speaking of John The Baptist Disciples
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Luke 9:52 - On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus sent disciples into a Samaritan Village
And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
James 2:25 - The 2 Jewish Spies
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
The context points to Jesus writing to specific people who oversee the church.
The reason I think they are pastors:
Nowhere angels are involved in the leadership of the church
Angels do not sin; therefore, have no need of repentance
Jesus is sending a heavenly message to heavenly beings through John, an earthly agent, so that it may reach earthly churches through angelic representatives.
Whether the seven messengers are the pastors of these churches or as G. Campbell Morgan believes - those involved in ministry within the church.
The seven starts are in the right hand of Jesus.
Ephesians 1:19-23
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
The head of the church is Jesus, and the authority of the church belongs to Jesus. Yet, we have His authority to fulfill the Great Commission - Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
To capture the Great Commission, we really need to view this in terms of Acts 2
Description of Jesus
Description of Jesus
Jesus is in the midst of His churches
This fulfills a promise made by Jesus.
Head and hair white as wool
truthfulness
glory
Eyes were as a flame of fire
Penetrates the very depths of his church
Piercing clarity
Infinite and infallible knowledge
Matthew 10:26
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Feet like unto fine brass, burned in a furnace
Ancient times the throne was elevated to a place where those being judged would be under the king’s feet. The feet spoke of his authority
His feet being red-hot suggests He is walking through the midst of His churches with chastisement.
Hebrews 12:5-10
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Voice like the sound of many waters
Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Hebrews 1:1-2
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Out of His mouth came a sharp two edge sword
Usually to protect against external threats
However, here it speaks of judgement primarily from inside the church.
His face like the sun shining in His strength
The impact this had on John, the Apostle
