Tag: Revelation

The Importance of the Church “In Such A Time As This”

Revelation 2:1-7

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:3  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

  1. This was a good church.
  2. They knew the truth and taught it.
  3. They were a faithful church.
  4. BUT – They had left their first love.
  5. Told to repent or God would remove their effectiveness.
  6. Take a closer look:
  • In Ephesians 4-5 Paul sets out to instruct this church to follow fully after the things of Christ.
  • He told them to make wise use of their time. -Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
  • He told them to be spiritually filled – Ephesians 5:17-18 – 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
  • Paul told them to worship Ephesians 5:19-20
Ephesians 5:19-20 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
  • Paul told them the importance of others – Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
  • Paul told them to love family. Ephesians 5:22- 6:4
  • Paul told them to be a faithful employee. Ephesians 6:5-9h       Paul told them to protect against evil

The Church that we should long to be like

Revelation 3:7-13

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I
have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that
fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Two Churches we do not want to be like

Sardis

A. They had life
B. But thy were dying
C. Warned to repent or they would spiritually be of no effect
D. Plenty of activity, but no spiritual effectiveness

Laodicea

A. Luke-warm – compromised with the world for acceptance
B. Wealthy but poor
C. Had no spiritual influence God

THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA

They had a wide-open door –

A. No man could shut the door
B. Hell, itself could not overcome it

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.

They had a little strength – little is much when God is in it

John 15:1-4   I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

II Corinthians 12:9-10   And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

They stayed true to the word of God

They stayed true to Christ – they did not deny Him

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Matthew 10:33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven

They were an example in every way of the truth New Testament church

Revelation 3:11-12

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

A. They would be eternally rewarded
B. God will write His name upon them – His identification mark
C. They will have a special place in God’s new Jerusalem