Messages to the church 3

Background

1st three chapters of Revelation have 7 messages to 7 churches

Each Sunday, we are examining a different message. Each message is to the pastor and people of the church, and we are using the Word like a mirror to examine ourselves as a church, and our individual roles in the church

Reminder that these messages come directly from Jesus (words in red)

not the sweet baby Jesus

not the healing the sick Jesus

not the suffering Jesus

but the Jesus in all his glory, authority, and power

golden sash, flames of fire, skin glowing, voice of many waters, face like the sun, sword coming out of his mouth, and he held seven stars in his hand, and walked among seven lampstands

a Jesus to take very seriously

First a review of Message 1, sent to the church at Ephesus

The Churches at Ephesus

good = good deeds, worked hard, persevered, guarded the truth, hated immorality, and idolatry

bad = left their first love, some good work they stopped doing (deeds)

for us = showing the love and power of God (first love), stay on top of that

praying earnestly for God’s leading in how to minister that love

show the power, by sharing more testimonies

The Church at Smyrna

Don’t fear, even though you have to go through sometimes

Pergamum

Revelation 2:13 NASB95

13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

standing strong though surrounded by eveil

Revelation 2:14–16 NASB95

14 ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

holding false teaching

Thyatira

the good

Revelation 2:19 NASB95

19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.

good deeds, passionate, growing in deeds

the bad

Revelation 2:20 NASB95

20 ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Sardis

the bad

Revelation 3:1–3 NASB95

1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.

look live, but dad

living on yesterday

the good

Revelation 3:4 NASB95

4 ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

Philadelphia

the good

Revelation 3:8 NASB95

8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

you have been obedient

instructions

Revelation 3:9–12 NASB95

9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 10 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and 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 My new name.

Laodicea

the bad

Revelation 3:15–17 NASB95

15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,

rich and not committed

instructions

Revelation 3:17–21 NASB95

17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.