THE SEVEN CHURCHES.
The letters to the seven churches are addressed to each one, but the message is to the Whole Church. It is worth noting that—except for Smyrna and Philadelphia—the danger from within each Church was more destructive than the danger from without. Jesus knew each church’s strengths and weaknesses. The Holy Spirit needed to work differently on each one, so He does with each of us.
We must take our eyes off the faults and failures of other Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, and and be open to the Holy Spirit to change us into His likeness and image.
Chapter 2: 1-7
EPHESUS.
This Church at EPHESUS was firmly established and possessed spiritual discernment. Sound doctrine was taught, but there was an absence of love. Love for Christ and one another was not as it used to be.
“You have lost your ‘first’ love.” This first love was commended by the Lord through the apostle Paul. Ephesians 1 15,16.
The first believers faced many trials in building the church, and their love for it kept them loyal and living for others who gave their all to establish it. Now, the next generation was too comfortable in their house without many challenges. They became used to the easier environment.
Jesus warns them of a severe penalty if they do not repent and change their behaviour.
A good, functional church is healthy, but there is a danger that over-involvement can sometimes keep people from spending time with Christ. I’ve seen marriages crumble and neglected children go astray due to over-church commitment.
In the average church 10 percent of people do 90 percent of the Work!
In large Churches, you can miss a service and not be noticed. You can also attend social activities instead of prayer meetings, discipleship courses, or Bible studies.
It wasn’t so much that the Ephesians had become slack in their church but they had lost their … FIRST LOVE FOR CHRIST!
The members of this Church had made a brave stand despite external pressure, but some people had become addicted to false teaching, which allowed pagan practices to creep in. This city was large, with many temples, a university, and a 200,000-book Library. Its most crucial export was parchment. It is the city from which animal-skin-based writing derived its name.
Your love for Christ must motivate everything you do in your church. When you love Him as He deserves, you will quickly learn to love others and serve Him in your Church.
SMYRNA.
Smyrna was a large city in Asia Minor. It had a fine harbour and was the political centre of this region.
I pray we will examine our lives through God’s grace and knowledge. Because our Lord Jesus’s return is soon, we need to be diligent to be ready when He comes.
The Nicolations were causing Christians to wander from sound doctrine and excuse their fleshly Desires to sin. Flesh wasn’t real, so whatever you do with your body is not counted as sin. They had gone back to the sinful old ways they practised before they were converted.
One of the city’s Chief exports was Myrrh, a fragrance that the wise men gave to Jesus at his birth.
Amen.
Smyrna was a little church, poverty-stricken but rich in all that mattered. Jesus’s word to them was all encouragement. He was encouraging them that there was a limit to their suffering because He holds out to them the gift that goes beyond the grave.
God calls us to guard our hearts and diligently live righteous lives according to His Word. We must do this every day. We need to constantly fight the World, the Flesh and the Devil, praying always with all prayers and supplications. Don’t embrace watered-down, compromised doctrine.
The persecution that they were under was great.
Read Revelation chapter 2: 9-11.
Jesus understood what was happening and told them to focus on what was waiting for them up ahead. He speaks the same words to you today in the midst of trials of poverty and persecution.
“BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE YOU A CROWN OF LIFE.”
True suffering is not being inconvenienced or restricted by governments or higher authorities, it is far more than that.
I’m countries such as South Sudan or Northern Nigeria or Iran or North Korea or China who are suffering for the cause of Christ is real persecution.
They suffer pain and loss, they understand about being … FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH. They hold to the promise… “I WILL GIVE YOU A CROWN OF LIFE.”
If you are under constant persecution from an ungodly husband or a member of your family because you are a Christian. Hold fast to the Word of God. This promise is also for you! There is a “Crown of Life ” that awaits you.
PERGAMUM.
Jesus was very much aware that Satan’s throne was there ( Worship of the Emperor ) and the influence of evil idolatry had permeated the Church. ( A massive idol of Zeus dominated the town.)
Many people were flocking to the Temples of Asclepius for healing.
Theology was disturbing as they followed the teachings of Balaam and began to live like unbelievers, eating food offered to idols and participating in sexual immorality.
The minority remained faithful and keǰpt their eyes upon Jesus’ Read, Revelation,
chapter 2: 14-15.
THYATIRA will be the Church we will see next week.
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Light in the Darkness! 