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Introduction to the Seven Churches and the Call of Ephesus 0:09 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Alright. The sun is, not up yet. It's pretty early this morning. Alright. To today, 2 very remarkable chapters, each layered,0:21 I think, with truth for each generation, Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Verse 22 of chapter 3, he who has ears, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Now in these churches, we0:33 find the messages to the 7 churches in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. Now the portion of rev this portion of Revelation is both historical and deeply instructive. Right? There there were these0:45 were real congregations receiving real messages from Christ that addressed their specific circumstances. Yet the 7 churches also provide a portrait, I0:57 believe, of the church across history as well as a description of the spiritual condition of Christ's people both globally and locally even at this moment in time. And you'll1:09 see that as we look at these 7 churches. Now I'll tell you upfront, gonna go a little long today because I wanna get through I wanna be able to cover this thoroughly because this really kinda sets a foundation. Now,1:20 for example, when we look at the church worldwide today, we can see how the characteristics of these 7 churches are reflected in different regions. What I find particularly instructive is that each congregation,1:33 though part of 1 universal body of Christ, face different circumstances. They they each had different circumstances. Some were strong and faithful. Some were materially poor, while others were rich. Some endured1:44 persecution, while others did not. But all were accountable to Jesus Christ. He was watching, but he said, I know your works. Alright. As we go1:56 into this weekend, I wanna encourage you to read and meditate on, on these 2 chapters before we move into the remaining portion of Revelation that is focused primarily on prophecy.2:08 This morning, we're gonna take, try to take a quick look at the 7 churches and their defining characteristics. So Ephesus is first on the list. Verse 1, chapter 2. To the angel of the church at Ephesus write, these2:19 things says, he who holds the 7 stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands. Now the mystery of the or meaning of the 7 stars and2:31 lampstands is actually told to us in the previous chapter in Revelation 1 20. The mystery of the 7 stars, which you saw in my right hand and the 7 golden lampstands. The 7 stars are the angels of the2:43 7 churches, and the 7 lampstands, which you saw are the 7 churches. Now the angels, it means messenger. This could be an angel for those churches, kind of a guardian angel, if you2:55 will, or more likely, the the interpretation is it it's the pastor. It's the it's the head, the leader of those churches. I know your works, your labor, your3:06 patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil, and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars. And you have persevered3:19 and have patience and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where3:31 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. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of3:42 the nickel the it's not Nickelodeons. It is the Nicolatians, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him3:54 who overcomes, I will eat. I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Now with each of these churches, we read how they were4:06 commended before their, a call was given to correct them. And this, by the way, is actually a good model to follow when we're correcting children, employees, or others that we're leading. First, commend4:17 them before we correct the, bad behavior. Now for each church, it is stated, I know your works. Nothing is beyond the all seeing eye of the Lord. And he who has an ear, let him hear what4:29 the spirit says to the churches. Also, a warning and a promise is given to each 1 of these churches. Now Ephesus was was the key location for the church that was spreading to Asia4:41 Minor. Paul was there building the church for about 3 years. Timothy came after him and was pastor. John also served as pastor of Ephesus, so it was an important location for4:53 the early church. They were commended for their hard work, perseverance in the faith, rejection of false prophets, their intolerance of evil. However, something was missing. They had abandoned their first5:05 love. Their love and passion for the lord and his work had been replaced by lifeless orthodoxy, just going through the motions. Wow. Let that sink in. Look at the5:17 warning in the instruction in verse 5. Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly to remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. So here5:27 here here are 3 things. Remember, they had forgotten what it was like to walk with a vibrant life giving relationship with the lord. So the call was to repent, turn, and do what was right. And, of course,5:40 repentance is followed by action, true repentance. And then third, here's the warning that if you don't repent, we're gonna remove. I will remove your lampstand. He would take the church away from Ephesus and move5:52 it elsewhere, and so that has happened. In fact, that what what what was once the epicenter of the Christian church, Asia Minor, where magnificent6:04 church buildings were built in the first few centuries, mosque now filled the the skyline. There is a warning here to the west that has become home to the church.6:16 It can and will be moved elsewhere if we don't remember and repent. In fact, it may be in transition now. The African continent is witnessing a purified6:28 and a powerful church. Now there's tremendous persecution in many parts of that continent, but this may be why the battle that is raging in the spiritual6:40 realm because of a shift. Alright. Next is, Smyrna, which is, the only 1 of the 7 church locations that I've been to. It's modern day Izmir, Turkey.Faithful Witness and Lukewarm Compromise: Smyrna to Laodicea 6:52 This is 1 of the churches on the list of 7 with no criticism. Only 2 of the 7 are in good standing. Verse 8, and to the angel of the church of Smyrna write, these things says the first7:04 and the last who was dead and came to life. I know your works, tribulation and poverty, but you are rich. And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are of a synagogue7:16 of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you have and you will have tribulation7:28 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Now in scripture to stop here for a moment. In scripture, 10 days has a couple of meanings. 1, it's it's this meaning is shortness and7:40 duration. The second is 10 is the number of world powers hostile to the church often associated with government. Verse 11. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the7:52 churches, who he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. Now Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, consecrated as bishop by John, was martyred, and it's believed that8:03 this foretold of that martyrdom. Now my visit to Samaria to Smyrna, rather, was actually to get an American pastor who pastored a church there in Izmir8:15 for about 2 decades out of prison, doctor Andrew Brunson. And there's a whole story about that. This happened back, during the first Trump administration. Next on the8:27 list is, Pergamos in, verse 12. And to the angel of the church of Pergamos write, these things says he who has the sharp 2 edged sword. I know your works and where you8:39 dwell, where Satan's throne is, and you hold fast to my name. It did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr who was killed among you8:51 where Satan dwells. Now Pergamos it was the seat of the Greek god, Asclepius, and the the this was the Greek god9:02 of, of healing and medicine. Okay? Pergamos had a major healing temple there that people traveled for physical, psychological,9:14 and spiritual treatments. Now the emblem the emblem or the symbol of Asclepius is a single serpent entwined on a staff. Where do we9:26 find that symbol today? We find it in medical logos, the World Health Organization, and even the US Army Medical Corps insignia. Some think that that is, the9:38 Moses and the serpent lifted up in the, wilderness, but history shows that it comes from this Greek god. Verse 14, but I have a few things against you9:50 because you have there you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual10:02 immorality. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitians, which I hate. Now they held fast to the name of Jesus, but they compromised10:13 with idolatry and sexual immorality, which was a byproduct of the teaching of the Nicolaitians who taught that there was a separation between the body and the spirit. You could do whatever you want with10:25 the body. God is only concerned with your spirit. That was basically what they were teaching. Verse 16, repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my10:37 mouth, the word of God. 17, he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches, to him who overcomes. I will give some of the hidden manna to eat, and I will10:49 give him a white stone, and on the stone, a new name written, which no 1 knows except him who receives it. Next, Thyatira, verse 19, I know your works, love, service, faith, and11:01 your patience. And as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. He commends them, but then he says, I got a few things11:13 against you because you allow that woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.11:25 They tolerated a Jezebel. Remember from the Old Testament, Jezebel, she destroyed, Ahab, her weak husband who was king of Israel.11:37 She led that entire nation into idolatry and, all types of wickedness. So they tolerated this Jezebel either11:49 history is not completely clear here whether this was, there was a possibly a woman named Jezebel or it was in the spirit of Jezebel, a false prophetess who led believers12:01 into immorality and idolatry. Sardis, verse 1 of chapter 3, and to the angel of the church of Sardis, write these things, says he, who has the 7 spirits of God and the 712:12 stars. Now the 7 spirits, a couple of interpretations here. 7 spirits, angels around the throne of God, or 7 meaning the number of completion being12:24 a reference to the Holy Spirit. I know your works that you have a name, that you are alive, but you are dead. Alright? Be watchful and12:36 strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before god. Not a good report. Only a few faithful. The others, spiritually12:48 dead. Not good. The other faithful church in the list, remember there were 2. Here it is. I love this 1. Philadelphia, verse 7. And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write, these things says he who is13:00 holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no 1 shuts, and shuts and no 1 opens. Talking about the lord Jesus. I know your13:11 works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no 1 can shut it. You have little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name. I love this verse. This is 1 the lord13:23 kinda gave me this year. It's been kind of a theme verse. He says, I know your works. Alright? And I've as a result, I've set an open door before you. Nobody can shut it. I realize you13:35 have little strength. You and so they didn't have the strength to open the door themselves. They didn't have the the clout, the the political connection, the funds, or whatever it may have been, but they had kept his13:47 word and not denied his name. So it it's a church that no criticism. They're commended. This you have little strength is not a criticism. It's just an acknowledgment that they depended13:58 upon God, not their own strength. The last church, Laodicea, verse 7. And to the angel of the church, actually, I'm sorry. Let me14:10 verse 15. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor14:22 hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are14:34 wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. You know, I I got a cup of coffee here that's kinda gotten cold. It's actually worse than lukewarm, but I don't like to drink it.14:45 And he said, you know, either be hot or cold. Be hot or cold. And this is, unfortunately, a a a picture, I think, of the church where we've become self reliant. They14:57 were wealthy. Juxtaposed this to the churches that were impoverished but rich in the things of God. Here is a church that was rich in the material but impoverished in15:09 the spiritual, saying I have need of nothing. But in fact, they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. And the message to all these churches that were astray15:21 apart from the picture and the the the the the call of God was to repent and return. Father, we thank you for your word. And and, lord, this15:33 description of these 7 churches, lord, we know that we're real churches, but, lord, we know it's also kind of a picture of the church over time and even a snapshot of churches today.15:45 Lord, may we be like the church at Philadelphia. Lord, may we look to you reliant upon you. May we not deny your name nor forsake your word. And, Lord,15:57 may you open those doors of opportunity for us to take forth the gospel to advance the kingdom, the kingdom of the lord Jesus Christ. For it's in his name we pray. Amen.16:09 Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning as we, continue the journey through the book of Revelation, our final book. And then, lord willing, next month, we will start another16:21 journey through the word of God beginning in the book of Genesis. And I I, again, wanna encourage you to join us on that journey. Text the word bible to 6 7 716:32 4 2. And, also, I'm gonna ask you to do this for me. Consider inviting someone else to join you on that journey. We want as many people as possible joining us on this16:44 journey and experiencing the transformative power of the word of God in our lives each and every day. It helps us understand what's happening around us, puts it in context, it encourages16:56 us, it strengthens us. If you've been on this journey, and you've not been blessed, I'll give you your money back. Alright? Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until17:08 next time, keep standing on the word.17:12 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at frc dot org slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you17:24 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Introduction to the Seven Churches and the Call of Ephesus6:45 Faithful Witness and Lukewarm Compromise: Smyrna to Laodicea
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