Prostrate in Praise

,

Jesus Unveiled

Prostrate in Praise

(Revelation 4:1-11)

 

INTRODUCTION

“I'll never forget something I saw close to 20 years ago when I walked into the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. Just inside the door, in an alcove, was an arrangement called "The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nation's Millennium General Assembly." There were 180 pieces in the arrangement—from tables to chairs to small decorative items—all pulled together by James Hampton, a quiet, virtually unknown janitor from the D.C. area. Hampton simply wanted to depict God's throne room.

 

This extraordinary collection had been found in his garage after he died in 1964. No one knew he had been working on it for some 20 years. All these pieces were made from cast-off items—old furniture, gold and aluminum foil from store displays, bottles, cigarette boxes, wine bottles, rolls of kitchen foil, used light bulbs, cardboard, insulation board, construction paper, desk blotters, and sheets of transparent plastic—all precariously held together with glue, tape, tacks, and pins.

 

On a bulletin board in the garage he had copied this verse from Proverbs 29:18: ‘Where there is no vision the people perish.’ He believed people needed a vision of God's glory, so he set out, singlehandedly, to give it to them.

 

No one knows much about James Hampton, but we know this: what he imagined as God's throne room has become a national treasure.”

 

Lee Eclov, Vernon Hills, Illinois; sources: various sites about the project, most notably this link http://www.fredweaver.com/throne/thronebody.html

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2010/april/5041210.html].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Weeping worship

        • There are times when I’m praying or worshiping the Lord when my only response is to weep

        • When God’s attributes are particularly evident to me through a scripture I’ve read, spending time in prayer, or when I’m singing worship songs to Him

        • When I’m acutely aware of His grace, mercy, love, compassion, sovereignty, wisdom, power, presence, immutability, glory, majesty, or hand at work in my life, then my only response is to cry tears of joy and gratitude.

    • Worthy of worship

        • Over the years, I’ve fallen into the trap of just worshiping God out of rote

        • There have been times when I’m not attentive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting concerning God’s attributes at work in my life

        • That does not negate the fact that God is worthy of my worship

        • In fact there is nothing God has to do for me in order to be worthy of my worship

        • His glory alone is worthy of my worship

 

  • WE

    • Worthy of worship

        • Have we taken time recently to dwell on God’s glory?

        • Have we taken time to think about the many attributes of God and how He is using them in our lives?

        • Have we taken time to think about His throne room and what it will be like when we stand before Him?

    • God’s throne room

        • We’re going to be swept up this morning, through John’s vision, to the throne room of God

        • We’re going to see how John describes God’s glory

        • We’ll also see the setting of God’s throne room and those who are surrounding Him

 

John wants us to understand from the second part of his vision that . . .

BIG IDEA – God’s glory is worthy of our worship.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 4:1-11)

    • Background

        • We have finished the second section of the book of Revelation, the letters to the seven churches

        • Pastor Marc did an excellent job last week of reviewing those letters and what was being communicated not only to those 1st Century churches, but to us as the modern church

        • As we move into the final section of the book of Revelation we have chapters 4 and 5 which take place in the court of heaven and we see adoration for two parts of the Godhead

          • Chapter 4, as we’ll see today, focuses on the worship of God as Creator

          • Chapter 5 will focus on the worship of the Lamb (Jesus) who alone is worthy to open the scroll

          • These two chapters set the stage for the remainder of the book

        • The vision and revelation from Jesus continues, but the location changes

    • Earth to Heaven (vv. 1-2a)

        • After these things

          • ​​ The original Greek, meta tauta, should be translated as “after these things”

          • The Greek is in the plural, so the NIV rendering of “after this” does not adequately translate the original Greek

          • The original Greek helps us to understand that it is not after one particular event that John’s vision continues, but after a series of events (his initial vision of the resurrected Christ and the revelation to the seven churches)

          • Osborne states, “Μετὰ ταῦτα most likely refers to the whole vision of 1:10-3:22. ​​ John first saw Christ walking among the lampstands, and now he sees the throne room itself.” ​​ [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 223]

          • The first part of the vision is completed and now a transition takes place for the second part

          • As the second part of the vision begins, John looked and saw a door standing open in heaven

        • Door standing open in heaven

          • This is not the first time in Scripture that we see heaven opened – Easley sites several other times [Easley, Homan New Testament Commentary, Revelation, 74]

            • The heavens opened when Jesus was baptized (Matt. 3:16)

            • They were also opened when Stephen was stoned (Acts 7:56)

            • When Peter saw a vision of a sheet filled with “unclean” animals (Acts 10:11)

            • In Revelation, John will see more deeply into heaven when its temple is thrown open (11:19; 15:5)

            • Finally, in Revelation John sees the conquering rider on a white horse sent out from heaven to earth in vengeance (19:11)

          • Ezekiel experienced something similar, In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God (Ezekiel 1:1)

          • It is not by accident that in Revelation 3:20 we see the imagery of a door

            • Here I am! ​​ I stand at the door and knock. ​​ If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

            • If we open the door our hearts to Jesus, then the door of heaven is open to us

          • John did not see the door being opened – it was already standing open when he looked

            • The original Greek uses the perfect passive participle

            • So, this section of Scripture could be translated, “There was a door having been opened.” ​​ [Patterson, The New American Commentary, Revelation, 148]

            • Obviously God and/or Jesus had opened the door to heaven for John to see this incredible throne room scene

          • John sees the door standing open, but that is not all he will see or experience, because he is invited to come up to heaven

        • Voice from heaven

          • He hears the same voice he had heard in Revelation 1:10

          • It had the same qualities this time as it did then

            • It was clear like a trumpet

            • John understood what was being said

          • Jesus was asking John to join Him in heaven

            • Come up here

              • Some scholars see this as evidence that the church will be raptured prior to any of the things that will take place as outlined in chapters 6-22

              • They reference Paul’s word in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. ​​ And so we will be with the Lord forever.

              • The Greek verb “come” is in the 2nd person singular form, so it is only speaking of John being summoned to heaven and not the entire church

              • There is argument that John is the representation of the church, but that reasoning is thin

            • Jesus had some important information to share with John

            • Jesus wanted to show John what must take place after these things

              • We see the emphatic “must” being used here, which indicates that the future is determined [Easley, 74]

              • “In 1:19 Christ commanded John to write ‘what will take place later’; now he will show him those things.” ​​ [Mounce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 118-19]

              • As mentioned earlier, chapters 4-5 are setting the stage for John to see what must take place after these things

              • John will see the glory of God and the worthiness of Jesus and how those surrounding the throne of God worship Them, then he will see what will take place during the end of time

          • Immediately upon hearing the summons from Jesus to come up here, John is transported in the Spirit to heaven

        • In the Spirit

          • The gap between earth and heaven is immediately removed and John is standing either in heaven or at the doorway to heaven

          • John does not mention whether or not he is in his body or out of his body

          • Paul also experienced something similar to this

            • Paul was defending his authority before the Corinthian believers

            • The false apostles were making incredible boasts about what they had suffered and experienced

            • While Paul prefers not to match them, he boasts about his suffering and his experiences with the Lord

            • I must go on boasting. ​​ Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. ​​ I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. ​​ Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know – God knows. ​​ And I know that this man – whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows – was caught up to paradise. ​​ He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).

            • While Paul perhaps saw some of the same things John saw, he was not permitted to share them with the Corinthian believers or any of the other churches where he ministered

            • That is not the case with John – he is commanded to write down what he saw in heaven

        • That is what John attempts to do – he tries to put into human words the glory and majesty of God and explain what he saw surrounding and emanating from His throne

    • The Throne Room – Setting (vv. 2b-8a)

        • God’s glory (vv. 2b-3, 6a)

          • As John enters heaven, he immediately sees a throne with someone sitting on it

            • He doesn’t immediately tell us who is sitting on the throne, but through the hymn of the four living creatures and the 24 elders, we’ll see that it is God

            • “While Ezekiel describes God as having ‘a figure like that of a man’ (1:26), John avoids all anthropomorphic language. ​​ Instead, he uses the brilliant colors of precious jewels to describe him.” ​​ [Osborne, 226]

            • “John is careful not to try to depict the one seated upon the throne of heaven in any sort of human form. ​​ Rather, God is portrayed as the brilliance of light reflected from precious stones.” ​​ [Mounce, 120]

              • Psalm 104:1-2, Praise the Lord, O my soul. ​​ O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. ​​ He wraps himself in light as with a garment;

              • 1 Timothy 6:15b-16a, God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.

            • John is at a loss for words to describe the glory of God

              • He is reminded of two precious jewels

                • Jasper

                  • Most scholars believe that jasper was an opaque stone

                  • It is likened to an opal or diamond

                  • The walls of the New Jerusalem will be made with jasper (Rev. 21:18)

                  • The foundations of the city walls will be made up of twelve precious stones, the first being jasper (Rev. 21:19)

                • Carnelian

                  • The Greek word for this stone is sardius, because it was primarily found around the ancient city of Sardis

                  • It was blood-red in color and very popular in the ancient world

                  • It is the sixth foundation stone mentioned in the description of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:19)

                • There is some discussion about what John’s use of these two jewels represent about God, but those representations about God and His glory are secondary to the actions of those surrounding the throne – we’ll get to that in just a moment

              • There is also a rainbow resembling an emerald that encircled the throne

                • Rainbow

                  • When we think of a rainbow, we think of a half circle going across our sky

                  • This particular rainbow encircled the throne vertically

                  • It was not like a halo that is horizontal

                  • This makes sense when we talk about what was before the throne (something that looked like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal)

                  • The vertical rainbow could be seen through this “sea of glass”

                • Emerald

                  • When I hear the word emerald, I immediately think of a vibrant green stone

                  • That may be what John saw

                  • “The σμαράγδινος (smaragdinos) can be a bright green precious stone or a transparent rock crystal that could serve as a prism and yield a ‘rainbow’ of colors . . . Either way, the imagery is that of the glory surrounding God on his throne.” [Osborne, 227]

            • Ezekiel uses other elements to describe God’s glory

              • Ezekiel uses one precious stone to describe the throne and also the idea of a rainbow

              • His description of the one seated on the throne uses the imagery of glowing metal, fire, and a brilliant light

              • Ezekiel 1:26-28, Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. ​​ I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. ​​ Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. ​​ This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. ​​ When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

            • God’s glory gives light

              • Revelation 21:23, The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

              • Revelation 22:5, There will be no more night. ​​ They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.

          • What looked like a sea of glass (v. 6a)

            • John doesn’t actually see a sea of glass, but rather what looks like a sea of glass

            • This is the only way he knows how to put into to human terms what he is seeing

            • Moses, Aaron, and the spiritual leaders of Israel went up on Mt. Sinai to see God, they describe something under his feet that is similar to what John is trying to describe

            • Exodus 24:9-10, Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. ​​ Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.

            • This expanse before the throne that was a clear as crystal simply adds to the splendor and glory of God as He sits on His throne

          • TRUTH – God’s glory is magnificent and beyond human words.

            • All of the imagery that John uses in describing God’s glory is simply to help us understand that it is awesome and magnificent

            • God’s glory alone should cause us to worship Him

            • God’s glory is worthy of our worship

          • John is riveted by God’s glory, which was the first thing that caught his attention, but then he begins to look around and sees that there are others who are surrounding the throne

        • God’s attendants [outer circle] (v. 4)

          • There were 24 other thrones surrounding God’s throne

          • Seated on those thrones are 24 elders who are dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads

            • There is much debate surrounding who these 24 elders are

            • I’m going to briefly share a few of the ideas that have surfaced, but who they are is less significant than what they do and say (we’ll get to that in the third point this morning)

            • Human or Angelic beings?

              • Human

                • “Those who argue for the elders as human beings state that angels are not called elders, nor do they wear crowns or sit on thrones in the Bible. ​​ Moreover, white clothing in Revelation is always worn by the saints (3:4-5, 18; 6:11; 7:9, 13; 19:14).” ​​ [Osborne, 228]

                • Those who favor the elders as being human instead of angelic differentiate between the two Greek words for crown (stephanos – victor’s crown and diadema – royal crown). ​​ Stephanos is used in this context and could very well be referring to those who have overcome ​​ 

                • Among those who think they are human there is debate about who they represent [Osborne, 228-29]

                  • The 12 patriarchs (OT) and 12 apostles (NT), representing all humanity as God’s people (Read Revelation 21:12-14)

                  • The great saints of the OT seen as preceding the NT saints

                  • A perfect representation of the 24 priestly and Levitical orders God instructed the Israelites to have in OT times (1 Chron. 24:4; 25:9-13)

                  • The church as the true Israel, the heavenly counterpart of all “victors” who remain true to God

                  • A heavenly court sitting on thrones of judgment

              • Angelic

                • “However, many others believe these are angelic figures. ​​ There are no other human beings in chapter 4, and in Isa. 24:23 angels might be called ‘elders’ (it is debated whether they are angels or the elders of Israel). ​​ In Ps. 89:7 God sits in the ‘council of his holy ones’ (=angels). ​​ Moreover, angels are called ‘thrones or powers or rulers or authorities’ in Col. 1:16, and they wear white in Matt. 28:3; John 20:12; Acts 1:10. ​​ The thrones and golden crowns could refer to their royal function under God similar to the way first-century kings were subject to the Roman emperor.” ​​ [Osborne, 229]

                • There is a distinction between elders and saints throughout the remainder of Revelation, which could lead us to understand the elders as being angelic in nature

                • Their white garments could signify purity and holiness in God’s court and the golden crowns could represent their royal status

          • God does not reveal to us whether these elders are human or angelic, because who they are is less significant than what they do and say – we have to focus on that

        • God’s power (v. 5a)

          • In the middle of John describing who is surrounding the throne, he gives us a description of God’s power

          • It is seen through flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder

          • How many of you enjoy thunder storms?

            • I used to sit in the dining room of the parsonage in Shippensburg and watch, with awe and wonder, the amazing light show and chest rattling thunder claps that God produced with a thunder storm

            • We know the power of a thunder storm

              • We see it through a lightning strike that splits trees in two or completely destroys electronics in a house

              • It’s evident through the wind that shreds roof shingles and topples trees

          • The Israelites experienced this first hand when God descended on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:16-20)

          • ATTRIBUTE – God is omnipotent (all-powerful)

          • John then returns to identifying those surrounding the throne of God

        • God’s Holy Spirit (v. 5b)

          • He sees seven lamps that were blazing

          • He identifies the seven lamps as the seven spirits of God, which we discussed earlier in this book (Rev. 1:4) as representing the Holy Spirit in His perfection

          • In the very center, surrounding the throne were four living creatures

        • God’s guardians [inner circle] (vv. 6b-8a)

          • It’s not hard from John’s description to realize that these living creatures are something other than human

            • Our best hope of understanding what these living beings are is by looking at some other descriptions of living beings that other prophets saw in their visions

            • Isaiah 6:2-3, Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: ​​ With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ​​ And they were calling to one another: ​​ “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” ​​ (seraphim)

            • Ezekiel 1:10-11; 10:12, Their faces looked like this: ​​ Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. ​​ Such were their faces. ​​ Their wings were spread out upward; each had two wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and two wings covering its body . . . Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. ​​ (cherubim)

            • John’s description is a combination of these two prophetic passages in the Old Testament

          • Similarities

            • All of the living beings had eyes that covered their entire body

              • “These eyes mean that the creatures see unceasingly and are ever-watchful protectors of the divine throne.” ​​ [Easley, 77]

              • These living beings are aware of and have knowledge about everything that is happening

              • They are vigilant in knowing about and overseeing the affairs of God

              • It is a reminder of God’s omniscience (all-knowing)

            • All of them had six wings

              • While John doesn’t mention anything about these living beings flying, they probably could have or did

              • “The wings may suggest swiftness to carry out the will of God.” ​​ [Mounce, 125]

          • Differences

            • While all of them have six wings and eyes over their entire body, their appearance is different

            • John doesn’t know exactly how to describe them, so he likens them to earthly things they he had seen

            • Remember, they are not a lion, ox, eagle, or man

            • Those are the only things John could compare them to that human beings would be able to identify with

            • There are all kinds of speculation surrounding what these four living beings represent, but it is not for us to try to determine it definitively

          • I like what Patterson says, “If portions of their descriptions seem to defy explanations, their purpose in the throne room vision is clear. ​​ Day and night they never stop saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy / is the Lord God Almighty, / who was, and is, and is to come.’ ​​ The purpose of the cherubim is to praise God continually and, as the Greek text says, ‘without rest.’” ​​ [Patterson, The New American Commentary, Revelation, 156]

        • We could spend countless hours studying and debating who the 24 elders are and what these four living beings represent, but the most important part of chapter 4 centers around what they say and do in the throne room

    • The Throne Room – Worship (vv. 8b-11)

        • Four living creatures (v. 8b-9)

          • These four living beings are the worship leaders of heaven

          • Their worship never stops

            • As we’ve already mentioned earlier, God’s glory will give light in heaven and the New Jerusalem, so there will be no day or night as we understand it here on earth

            • Their worship of God never ceases

            • “That they never rest from worship (Rev. 4:8) suggests both divine empowerment for worship and the worthiness of God (cf. 7:15).” ​​ [Keener, The NIV Life Application Commentary, Revelation, 175]

            • The worship of the four living beings highlight the attributes of God

          • Attributes of God

            • Holy

              • The fact that God is holy means that He is completely pure/perfect

              • Repetition in Scripture is significant and is seen often in repeating something a second time

              • Triple repetition is rare and should not be taken lightly

              • “The four living creatures ceaselessly proclaim the holiness of God: ​​ ‘Holy, holy, holy’ (cf. Isa. 6:3). ​​ In Hebrew, the double repetition of a word adds emphasis, while the rare threefold repetition designates the superlative and calls attention to the infinite holiness of God – the quality of God felt by creatures in his presence as awesomeness or fearfulness (cf. Ps. 111:9: ​​ ‘Holy and awesome is his name’).” ​​ [Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 116-17]

            • All-powerful

              • Second, the living beings use three words to identify the One sitting on the throne

              • Three descriptors [Easley, 78]

                • Lord – the personal name for God used by the Israelites (Yahweh)

                • God – this refers to His deity

                • Almighty – the Greek word literally means “all-power”

              • The living beings are identifying the One sitting on the throne as the all-powerful deity that can be known personally

            • Eternal

              • Finally, they speak of His eternality

              • Who was, and is, and is to come

              • He has always been and will always be

              • We see God’s eternal quality expressed again in vv. 9 and 10 when John writes – who lives for ever and ever

          • The four living beings verbally give three things to the One who sits on the throne

            • Glory – Greek doxa, English word doxology, can also be translated “praise” (sing doxology)

            • Honor – Greek timé, “high respect, value”, literally “honoring God”

            • Thanks – Greek eucharistia, English word Eucharist (Lord’s Supper), “thanksgiving”

            • “Glory and honor are offered to God for who he is: ​​ the ​​ Sovereign of the universe who sits on the throne . . . Thanks is offered to God because of what he has done: ​​ as the one who lives forever and ever, he has given life to his creatures – so that they will praise him.” ​​ [Easley, 78-79]

          • The four living beings lead the worship of God continually, but what do the 24 elders do?

        • The 24 elders (vv. 10-11)

          • Actions

            • We have to go back to the beginning of v. 9 to understand the actions of the 24 elders

            • The key word is “whenever” – every time that the four living beings cry out in worship to God the 24 elders do two things (these are continual actions, never ending)

              • They fall down before the Lord and worship Him

                • This is an act of submission to the authority of God

                • They are willingly subjecting themselves to their sovereign

                • “Falling on one’s face before another (4:10) was the ultimate obeisance, the supreme gesture of honoring the other far above oneself, appropriately applied to worship of God.” ​​ [Keener, 175]

                • PRINCIPLE – The only response of God’s people to His glory is worship.

                  • During the closing song, we’ll have an opportunity to respond to God’s glory

              • They cast their crowns before the throne

                • The 24 elders recognized their authority was a delegated authority – they did not earn it or merit it

                • They were simply returning to the Lord what He had given to them (they were not holding back anything)

                  • “This brings deep conviction and raises a question: ​​ Am I withholding anything from my God, even good things? ​​ Money? ​​ Time? ​​ Mind? ​​ Service? ​​ Heart? ​​ Chuck Swindoll is right: ​​ ‘We miss it when our focus becomes horizontal – riveted on people and things – rather than vertical – centered on God and God alone’ (Insights, 98).” ​​ [Akin, 118]

                  • PRINCIPLE – God’s desire is that His people offer back to Him all that He has given to them.

                  • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Recognize that everything I have and am comes from God, and willingly offer it back to Him as an act of worship.

            • The 24 elders also had words of worship for the Lord

          • Words

            • They recognized that God deserves to receive glory, honor, and power

            • They are praising and honoring Him for his creative energy that is evidenced through the fact that He created all things [Easley, 79]

            • God’s creation was a direct result of His will

 

  • YOU

    •  

 

  • WE

    •  

 

CONCLUSION

“The Westminster Confession says that humankind was created to ‘glorify God and enjoy him forever,’ and worship in our day needs to return to the NT pattern that views it as a daily lifestyle and not just relegated to the church service.” ​​ [Osborne, 243]

 

As we close today, I’m going to ask the ushers to remain in the back to collect the Communication Cards as we leave today, because during the closing song I’m going to ask you to respond as the elders did in worship to our Sovereign Lord. ​​ The Lord is inviting you today to come forward and fall down before Him in worship and to symbolically cast down your crown (everything He has given to you) at His throne in worship.

 

God’s glory is worthy of our worship!

14

 

/by

It’s Not About A Religion

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IT’S NOT ABOUT A RELIGION

Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, give us ears to hear what your Holy Spirit wants us to hear this morning. May your words be heard and hidden in our hearts and may we have the courage to share them with the world that we come in contact with every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Have you ever thought about the word religion or ever have someone ask you if you were religious? I have personally never cared for the word religion when it comes to my faith. It’s always seemed like something was missing. It didn’t truly encompass the entirety of my faith and what I believe. ​​ I have never liked the question because it seems like the person asking the question is giving the person asked an out. Are you religious? Sure, I go to church. I believe in God. I have never stolen anything or murdered anyone. The question are you religious seems to miss the point. It seems to be asked in order to not have to admit who it is we follow as Christians or to hide the fact that we may not be following the Christ we proclaim to be following.

On the website “All About Religion .org” it says that religion is a fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a group of people. Ever since the world began, man has demonstrated a natural inclination towards faith and the worship of anything he considered superior or difficult to understand. Religion consisted of trying to appease and get favors from the Supreme Being they feared. This resulted in performing rituals (some of them barbaric) and keeping traditions or laws to earn goodness and/or everlasting life. 

When we look at what the major world religions believe there are two things that stand out that are very much different than what we as Christians believe. One, of course is that they do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God and two, they believe in a god that is impersonal and unknowable. A god who created the world and everything in it and has left us to our own devices. A god that doesn’t care about us and would never want to know us.

Interestingly enough but maybe not surprising is that Montifiore, the great Jewish scholar, said that the one thing which no Jewish prophet and no Jewish Rabbi ever conceived of is the conception of God actually going out in quest of sinful men, who were not seeking him, but who were turned away from him. They believed that God would be there when man turned to him but never envisioned a God who would pursue them.

We as Christians know that God is a knowable, personal God who wants to have a personal relationship with us and actually pursues us to have it.

Jesus talked about religion in Matthew 23. In Matthew 23 Jesus was addressing the religious leaders in Israel and he had some very serious condemnations to say about them. Jesus said the following things about the Pharisees:

He said, they are teachers of the law so obey them but do not do as they do because they say one thing and do something else, they are hypocrites. He also said, they pile burdens onto the people and do nothing to help them. Everything they do is to show off to others. They put themselves above others instead of serving others. They keep people from going into the kingdom of heaven by teaching false things. They made sure they paid their tithe for all to see but they neglected the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Finally, he said they were like whitewashed tombs. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth. Outside they looked good, but inside they were evil and only pretended to be good.

Sounds like some of the same things that people say about Christians and the church today? They say we are hypocritical, judgmental, condescending, two-faced and the church is all about the money. ​​ 

The authors of unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity … and Why It Matters (Baker) claim that "Christianity has an image problem," ​​ In interviews with hundreds of 16- to 29-year-olds, coauthors Gabe Lyons and Barna Group president David Kinnaman discovered that nearly half of unchurched young Americans hold a bad impression of evangelical believers. They are especially bothered by, among other things, evangelicals' conservative political activism, hypocrisy, anti-homosexuality, and judgmentalism.

Another thing that Carey Nieuwhof says that hurts Christians today in the eyes of the world is that relatively few Christians actively pursue meaningful friendships with people who don’t share their faith. Between churches that offer programs 5 nights a week (leaving little time for Christians to make friends outside the church) and Christians who are afraid of the world, many Christians don’t pursue authentic relationships with non-Christians. Isn’t that a shame. God through Jesus has pursued us while we were yet sinners and even died on a cross for us and I think if we truly evaluated our own lives even this morning and counted how many non-Christian friends we really have and are investing in we might find ourselves lacking in that department. I know I do.

Mahatma Ghandi famously (and sadly) said: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Maybe this was what Jesus was saying in Matthew 23. The Pharisees knew the scriptures, they knew the 10 commandments, they thought they knew what God was like, but Jesus was maybe saying, “I love your God, but I am not so sure about his followers. You Pharisees are so unlike my God, my heavenly Father, who sent me and I think at times he would say the same about us.

I believe Jesus was saying the same things about the seven churches in Revelation. To the church in Ephesus the Risen Christ said, “I know your works, your toil, your steadfast endurance, you have put false apostles to the test, but you have lost your first love. They had worked so hard on orthodoxy, making sure that the beliefs and rituals of being a Christian were followed that they lost love for each other. They used to be a band of brothers in fellowship together, but that orthodoxy had been achieved at the price of fellowship. It was all about a religion for them.

To the Church in Pergamum, the Risen Christ said that there were people within the church who hold to false teachings, teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. These were people within the church who said it was ok to conform to the world’s standards and to compromise with the practices and the morals of the world. When the church does that it is no different than the world. Romans 12: 2 says, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. We as Christ followers are called to be set apart from the world in which we live. The church is to be look different than the world and when it doesn’t it’s no more than a religion.

Thyatira had much the same problem as Pergamum. There was a woman named Jezebel who taught compromise within the church. It may have been that the teaching of Jezebel was that the Christians did not need to be so exclusive in their worship of Jesus Christ. She would argue that there was no harm at all in conforming to the outward rituals and ceremonies of heathen worship. It may even help to convert the heathen to Christianity more easily. A person who walked into this church would be impressed with its abounding energy and generous liberality. It would be crowded, because its people come to it to be entertained instead of instructed, and to be soothed instead of challenged and confronted with the fact of sin and the offer of salvation. This is a picture of a highly successful Christian club rather than a real Christian congregation. More about a religion than about the Risen Christ.

To the church in Sardis, the Risen Christ says “Thou art dead.” This may have been an indication that ritual and ceremony often crowded out the true life underneath. The church at Sardis was untroubled by heresy or outside persecution. It had become a lazy church. It was so ineffective that it had ceased to matter in the life of the community. It had no witness for Christ, it was mere religion.

Which brings us to the final church that John wrote to. The church we are going to talk about this morning is the church of Laodicea. The Risen Christ calls it “lukewarm”. This church was indifferent. It had all kinds of organizations, programs, committees, activities but it had no power, no power of the Holy Spirit. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul tells us, But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. In the Church of Laodicea there was no transformation of souls from darkness to life. They were more interested in social action than Gospel action, more interested in reformation than transformation, more interested in planning than praying. This church had gotten so far away from what the Lord founded it to be that it was nauseating to God and literally made Him sick.

The church of Laodicea had lost their dependence on Christ. It had become self-dependent and self-sufficient to the point that it had no need for the Holy Spirit. It was trying to be the church in its own power.

But this church had also lost its passion for the things of the Lord. They had reached a place where they were going through the motions and were unmoved by the things of the Lord.   And when we try to do church without Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit it is only a religion.

Is this not the condition of the modern church?  People going through the motions with no burning passion for the things of the Lord! 

I think we need to examine ourselves (myself included) and our church. Are we apathetic or indifferent to the things of God?  We may not be exactly dead because we are praying, preaching, singing, etc.  But, are we on fire? Are we excited and passionate about, what we hear, and what we are doing and who we serve?  Do we just come to church, take our seats and fold our arms? Do we ever feel the need to go to the altar to pray?  To testify about what Jesus has done for us?  Do we ever feel the need to do anything but come and go?

This morning through this letter to the Church in Laodicea the Risen Christ wants us to know that it is not about a religion, it’s about a relationship with himself. That is our BIG IDEA this morning. It is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what all those world religions have missed. They feel that God is impersonal, unknowable and would never want a relationship with his creation, but as Christ followers we know better. We know that Jesus pursues us with an everlasting love and wants a personal relationship with every single one of us.

Before we read our scripture this morning, I want to give you some background information on Laodicea. It was founded about 250 BC by Antiochus of Syria and is named after his wife, Laodice. It was only important because of its position. It was a hub out of which all the important roads leading out of it acted like spokes in a wheel. These roads that ran right through Laodicea were important destinations in the known world. Because of that it was one of the greatest commercial and strategic centers of the ancient world.

It set high up on a hill and at one point it was a fortress but it had one fatal flaw. All its water supply had to come by an underground aqueduct from springs no less than 6 miles away. This would be a perilous situation if they were ever besieged. Laodicea was also the last stop on the route that began in Ephesus as you see on the map above.

Laodicea had certain characteristics which have left their mark on the letter written to it. First, it was a great banking and financial center. It was so wealthy and independent that in 61 AD when it was devastated by an earthquake the city refused any help to rebuild from the Roman government. They rebuilt the city entirely from their own resources and in their own efforts. They had gained so much wealth and were so rich they had need of nothing.

It was also a great center of clothing manufacturing. The sheep that grazed around Laodicea was famous for their soft, violet-black, glossy wool. It mass produced cheap outer garments from it.

It was also a great medical center. There was a medical school there that was famous for two things throughout the world, an ointment for ear problems and an ointment for eye problems.

The words of the Risen Christ to the Church at Laodicea arise directly from the prosperity and skill in which they had so much pride and which in the minds of its citizens, and even in its church, eliminated the need for God.

Let’s look at the Risen Christ’s words to this church in Revelation 3:14-22:

The Risen Christ, just as in all the letters before it, identifies himself by using characteristics of himself. You can follow along as I read from Revelation 3. I will start with verse 14. This is what God’s word says: “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 

The Risen Christ identifies himself to the church of Laodicea as the Amen, the faithful and true witness and the ruler of God’s creation. First, the Risen Christ is characterized by his dependability. Identifying himself this way recognizes that Jesus was reliable, true and trustworthy. When Jesus said he was the Amen he was affirming he was the answer to all the promises of God. As the Amen, Jesus was also the faithful and true witness. This description stands in stark contrast to the Laodicean church. Jesus is reliable, they are not. Jesus is faithful, they are not. Jesus was the true witness, but they had no real witness at all.

Second, Jesus said he is the ruler of God’s creation which means Jesus is the originator of God’s creation. In John 1:1-3 it says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

And in Colossians 1:15-18 it says, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Both these scriptures affirm Christ as the chief, the ruler and the originator of both creation and the church. He is Lord over both the material and spiritual realms. He is first in time and position. We can trust what Jesus says and we can trust what Jesus starts.

In verses 15-17, the Risen Christ gives his condemnation of Laodicea which harkens back to the characteristics that Laodicea was so proud of in themselves. Follow along as I read those verses.

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 

The Risen Christ says he knows their works. He knows what they are doing. He knows their spiritual condition. He said they are neither hot, meaning zealous or on fire for him nor are they cold, meaning lifeless. Instead they are lukewarm or indifferent and because of that he will spit them out of his mouth.

We can interpret this statement against the geographical background of Laodicea. In nearby Hierapolis, there bubbled up hot, medicinal waters like a spa. If you have ever been in a steam room or hot tub you know that the hot steam or water can soothe tired achy muscles. Then in nearby Colossae, cold, pure refreshing waters flowed. But if you remember we said earlier that their water supply for Laodicea came from 6 miles away. The water in Laodicea was barely drinkable and volcanic activity in the area left sulphuric deposits in the water, so it was not only unpleasant temperature wise, but it was even horrid smelling and almost toxic. This water had the effect of making the people sick and want to throw up. The water and the people of the church in Laodicea had a kind of nauseating quality that made the Risen Christ want to vomit them out of his mouth.

Jesus wants His church to be a place where people can relax and find healing, like a trip to a hot spring.  He wants His church to be a place where people can be refreshed by His worship and His presence.  

The Risen Christ was condemning their attitude of indifference and neutrality. He was saying with that attitude you are useless to me and even offensive. Indifference is the hardest thing to combat. Have you ever tried to persuade someone about something that they could care less one way or the other about? It’s not easy. If you feel strongly about something, it is possible to persuade someone who feels just as strongly the other way but it can be impossible to persuade someone if they just don’t care at all about what you are talking about.

To many people, Christianity and the Church have ceased to be relevant to them and they have become indifferent to it. Also, Christians have become indifferent and complacent in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in the world. If we as Christians and in the church are indifferent in sharing the gospel how can we expect non-Christians to care about receiving it. To be neutral about our faith is to be an obstacle to Jesus. He works through us to pursue, grow and multiply disciples, to accomplish the Great Commission and that cannot be done if we are indifferent about our faith and what we believe.

The Risen Christ goes on to condemn them because they were saying they are rich, they have become wealthy and in need of nothing. Like their city, the church boasted about who they were and what they had. They claimed to have reached this lofty spiritual status on their own. They had gotten where they were without the assistance of anyone. They needed nothing and no one including the Lord.

The Risen Christ is saying, “Let me set the record straight.” Five marks of their true spiritual status are noted. They are wretched meaning miserable and unfortunate and because of that they are pitiful. They are poor meaning destitute and reduced to begging. There are in extreme poverty, spiritually. This was a slap at a city that bragged of its wealth, commerce and banking industry. And they are blind which of course slapped at their pride on having the cure for eye problems that their medical school had produced for the world.

Lastly, the Risen Christ said they were naked, which ridiculed a city that boasted of it famous glossy black wool. They were clothed with religion not clothed by faith with the garments of Jesus’ righteousness. This imagery and illustration would have hit them right between their eyes and where they lived. The Risen Christ exposed their spiritual destitution, deception and desperate condition. Jesus had judged the Laodiceans. Now they knew who they really are. They can no longer plead ignorance. Action is now called for.

We also need to look at our own lives and make sure we are not wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked spiritually either. We can fall into the same traps today and the Risen Christ is speaking to us this morning and asking us to examine our church and our lives so as to not fall into the same deception the Church at Laodicea did.

In verse 18, we see the counsel of the Risen Christ to the Church of Laodicea. Verse 18 says, 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

There is a sustained irony that confronts the arrogant attitude and smug satisfaction of the Laodicean Christian. The Risen Christ counsels them to make specific purchases from himself in precisely those areas where they are so certain they have no need. Jesus sternly instructs them to buy from HIM gold refined in the fire so that they may be rich. Only from Christ can true and lasting riches be purchased. The currency to buy that which will last is always the same. It is faith, trust, and radical dependence on Christ and Christ alone. The cure for spiritual poverty is first faith for salvation followed by faith for sanctification. We need the spiritual wealth that comes only by constant and abiding faith in Jesus. In John 15:4-5, it says, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. Such wealth, unlike earthly riches, will endure forever. Day by day we need to renew our faith in the Risen Christ for everything we need.

Next the Risen Christ tells the church they need “white clothes so that they will be dressed and their shameful nakedness not be exposed.” White clothes symbolizes the righteousness of the Savior. The Laodicean Christians were walking around spiritually naked, completely unaware of their humiliation and their need for the pure white righteousness of Jesus. ​​ He invites them to adorn themselves in spiritual garments that is available only by calling upon the name of Jesus for salvation.

They are naked and lost in their sins.  If they will come to Him, He will cloth them in robes of righteousness and they will no longer be naked and exposed in the sight of God. Nakedness in the ancient world was a sign of judgement and humiliation. To receive fine clothing was a symbol of honor and acceptance. Before Jesus we are all stripped naked and exposed for who we really are. We dare not stand in the filthy rags of our own righteousness and good deeds. We need Christ’s righteousness.

The Risen Christ tells them to buy ointment or salve to spread on their own eyes so they could see. They were famous for their own eye ointment but ironically the church was blind to its own spiritual condition. Such healing comes from looking to Christ and into his word for instruction and wisdom. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. We need Christ’s remedy that comes from knowing and obeying the Word of God.

We need to honestly evaluate our own spiritual conditions daily and regularly. Spiritual compromise and complacency are “spiritual cataracts” that shut out the light of spiritual sight. We need to ask God to reveal our spiritual blind spots and the areas of sin in our lives that we can no longer see.

In verse 19 we see that all is not lost for this church in Laodicea. This is what God’s word says, 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 

Here we see the encouraging part of Christ’s discipline. He says that he loves the Laodicean Christian even if they have fallen away from him. Their sin does not quench his love for them just as our sin does not quench his love for us. Jesus says he corrects and disciplines those he loves. Discipline that educates and brings about repentance and change is what the Risen Christ offers the church at Laodicea. If they reject his discipline he will spit them out of his mouth but if they accept it he will come in and stay with them. Turning from our sin once is not enough. It must be a daily practice and habit in our lives. A community of daily repenting sinners characterizes healthy churches and healthy Christians.

So, we started off talking about religion. I believe that all the churches including the one at Laodicea were just playing church. They were being religious. They were no better than the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. They were probably hypocritical, judgmental, condescending, two-faced and all about the money. ​​ 

But in verse 20, we see the remedy for religion. God’s word says, ​​ 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

We see that it is all about a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jesus says Listen! Which means to look, to see, take note and to wake up. He says, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Jesus has taken up a position outside the door of the church and will remain there knocking and patiently waiting. If anyone, if just one hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and have dinner with him and he with me. What an amazing promise. Revival starts with one. It can start with me. It can start with you. Here we see the offer of Christ that he will always come in if we invite him.

John here uses the Greek word for dinner or the evening meal. The Greeks had three meals in a day, breakfast which was no more than a piece of dried bread dipped in wine. Lunch, the midday meal which was simply a picnic snack eaten by the side of the road or in the city square. You didn’t go home for it. Then there was dinner, the evening meal. It was the main meal of the day. You would linger at this meal and talk about the day you had after your work was done. This was a time of unhurried, intimate fellowship together. This is what Christ would share with the person who answered his knock. This is what a personal relationship with Jesus Christ would look like. This is what the Risen Christ wanted with the Laodicean Church and what he wants for us here at Idaville and for all of us individually as well. If you open the door, Jesus Christ will come in and linger long with you. He wants a personal, intimate relationship with you.

But there is also a human responsibility. I love this picture. It is probably one of two of my favorite pictures of Christ. You are probably familiar with this picture of Christ standing at the door of your heart knocking and wanting to come in and have a personal relationship with you. But you know what? He will not force himself in, he cannot force himself in. You notice there is no handle on the door outside your heart. Only you can let him in to your heart. Only you can ask Christ into your heart and start that personal relationship with him that he so much wants with you. It is the reason we were created. We were created to be in relationship with him not to just practice a religion or to be religious.

Maybe this morning you are ready to let Jesus into your heart. Romans 3:23 says for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all are in need of a savior because as Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death. Death is a separation from God and is not what we were created for. God’s Words says that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. In Romans 10:9, it says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Maybe that is right where you are at this morning. Maybe you are ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and let him into your heart this morning. If so, on the back of your communication card that second next step is for you.

I hear Jesus knocking on the door to my heart and I want to let him in and be saved.

Maybe you here this morning and have already asked Jesus into your heart but confess that you have just been religious and have been playing church. You are ready this morning to start a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. If so on the back of your communication card that last next step is for you.

I want to stop being religious and stop playing church and start a personal relationship with Jesus.

If you marked either of those next steps, please put your name on the front so Pastor Stuart and I can talk with you. We want to celebrate those decisions with you and help you on the road of discipleship.

Next, in verse 21, we see the promise of the Risen Christ.21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 

The promise of the Risen Christ to the victor is that they will sit with Christ on his victorious throne and rule and reign with Christ in his coming kingdom. In the eastern world the throne was more like a couch than a single chair. Imagine one day we will sit with Christ on his victorious couch and rule the nations with him. Heaven will be like the grandest living room/throne room.

Finally, every letter finishes with the same words. This what verse s 22 says, ​​ 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This phrase individualizes the messages of the letters. It says to whoever hears these words, “This means YOU.” If you have been here at Idaville and have heard Pastor Stuart speak on the previous six churches that means the Risen Christ has been speaking to you. There are now no excuses for us. We know and understand that the Risen Christ is calling us out of a religion, out of being religious and into a personal relationship with himself. I have been moved by these seven letters. Every time I have heard Pastor Stuart preach these letters I have noticed where I have fallen short. If you have heard these sermons and don’t believe that they are for Idaville church in this place and in this time then you don’t have ears to hear. I pray that we all have the ears to hear not only the commendations of the seven churches but also the condemnations to the seven churches. If we at Idaville Church can have ears to hear then this body of believers and our lampstand will never disappear.

 

As Gene and Roxie come to lead us in a final song and the ushers prepare to pick up the communication cards please bow your heads with me.

Dear Heavenly Father, again let us have ears to hear what your Spirit is saying to us. Let us leave this place encouraged by these letters to the seven churches. Help us to share the gospel of Jesus with those we come in contact with and not be ashamed of the gospel as it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Take us from this place in your strength and protection in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

/by

Open Doors

, , ,

Jesus Unveiled

Open Doors

(Revelation 3:7-13)

 

INTRODUCTION

“Even before finishing his degree, and still lacking pastoral experience, Charles Simeon put his name forward for the pastorate of Cambridge's Holy Trinity church. This was unheard of. Amazingly Simeon was given the parish and would labor there the rest of his life.

 

The church was less than pleased to receive this blustering minister who insisted that those who called themselves "Christian" be truly saved by grace and live lives more closely conformed to Christ. They distrusted his ivory-tower background—they were largely artisan's families, or more bluntly, in Simeon's words, "very poor church folks," and they were wary of his fervor.

 

Opponents harassed Simeon by locking the family-owned pews, forcing those who wished to hear the new minister to find standing room as best they could. When Simeon brought in benches, church council members tossed them out into the churchyard, but he was undeterred.

 

Simeon was also determined to provide the Cambridge undergraduates with decent training in theology and pastoral ministry. In 1790 Simeon began holding informal seminars for ministerial students on Sunday evenings. In 1812, he instituted weekly "conversation parties" in his rooms, essentially theological and pastoral Q&A sessions. By 1823, some 40 students were attending. By 1827 the number was closer to 60, straining the room's capacity and keeping two servants busy distributing tea. Along the way, the eager participants acquired the labels "Simeonite" and "Sim," which they wore as badges of honor.

 

Of the undergraduates Simeon trained during his 54 years at Holy Trinity, some 1,100 became effective—and many, distinguished— parish ministers, chaplains, and missionaries.”

 

Chris Armstrong, "Simeon's Brigade," Leadership (Summer 2003)

 

[https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2003/december/14717.html].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Stuart

        • CEF

          • I was aware of the Local Director position for CEF of Hardin and Hancock Counties, because Judy’s parents were part of the local board

          • They considered me for the position partly because of their connection with the local board

          • When I started working as the Local Director, they had to resign from the board

          • The key to obtaining the position was my connection with Judy’s parents

        • EGM

          • I had been laid off from the CEF headquarters and was working for Walmart at the time

          • A dear couple, whom I worked with at CEF contacted me about an open position with Every Generation Ministries

          • They were both serving with EGM at the time

          • They thought that EGM would benefit from my skill set

          • Long story, short, I flew out to California to interview with EGM and was offered the position

          • The key to beginning my service with EGM was my connection with the Cox family

    • Judy

        • Judy and I traveled to Florida right before our college graduation so she could interview for a Kindergarten teaching position at a Christian school

        • She was offered the position, so we returned to college knowing that she had a job prior to graduation

        • The key that unlocked that opportunity for her was a friend from elementary school that she had kept in touch with, who was on staff at the Christian school

 

  • WE

    • Every one of us can probably think of “keys” that have unlocked opportunities for us

    • Keys that have unlocked opportunities

        • Teacher in high school who connected you with a professor at the college or university where you wanted to attend (you were accepted into the college or university)

        • College professor who connected you with a friend of theirs who works in your field of study and you were able to get a job through that contact

        • Perhaps it was a friend who introduced you to the man or woman who became your spouse

        • Maybe it was a colleague you worked with in the past who connected you with a new employer

        • For those of you hunt and fish, there is probably someone who showed you a great spot and you have been successful there ever since

        • Ladies, perhaps a close friend introduced you to a hair stylist, nail salon, or kind of makeup that has made all the difference

 

Jesus wants us to understand from the letter to the church at Philadelphia that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – The key to God’s kingdom is faith in Christ.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 3:7-13)

    • Philadelphia

        • It is located 30 miles east, southeast of Sardis on the small Cogamis River

        • It was called the “gateway to the east” for two reasons

          • It was on the main trade route from Smyrna on the Aegean Sea to the regions of Mysia, Lydia, and Phrygia in the east

          • “It also lay on the major Roman postal road from Troas through Pergamum, Sardis, and then Philadelphia to the east.” ​​ [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 184]

        • It was founded by one of two brothers sometime around 189 B.C.

          • It may have been Eumenes II, king of Pergamum

          • It could also have been his younger brother Attalus II Philadelphus

            • He had this name because of his intense loyalty to his older brother

            • Philadelphus means “lover of his brother”

            • Philadelphia is the “city of brotherly love”

            • Rumors had it that Rome was wanting Attalus to overthrow his older brother, but he refused to do it

        • Fertile soil

          • It’s volcanic soil made it the perfect place to grow grapes

          • The soil allowed Philadelphia to prosper agriculturally, although not all crops grew well there

          • In A.D. 92 Emperor Domitian issued an edict demanding that half the grape vines be cut down and not replanted

            • Some believe that Domitian was trying to protect the vine growers in Italy

            • It was probably also due to the need for grain crops to feed the Roman armies

            • Unfortunately the grain crops were not as productive in the volcanic soil as the grape vines had been

            • This edict caused tension between Rome and Philadelphia

        • Earthquake

          • It was devastated by the same earthquake in A.D. 17 that wreaked havoc on Sardis

          • Because Philadelphia was closer to the epicenter of the earthquake, they continued to experience aftershocks for years afterwards

          • Out of fear, many of the inhabitants of Philadelphia lived outside the city as farmers

          • There was evidence of the aftershocks in the cracks that continued to form on the walls of the buildings

          • Emperor Tiberius helped to rebuild the city and out of gratitude the inhabitants renamed it “Neocaesarea”

          • In the 80’s the city also took on the name “Flavia,” which was the imperial dynasty’s title.

        • The history of this city will play an important part in what Jesus has to say to the church there

    • Characteristic of the Sender (v. 7)

        • Holy and true

          • A literal translation of the Greek would be “The Holy One, the True One

          • The attribute of holiness means that God is completely “pure, undefiled, spotless, without stain or blemish.” ​​ [Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Revelation, 91]

            • The Old Testament gives this title to God

              • Isaiah 40:25, “To whom will you compare me? ​​ Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.

              • Isaiah 43:15, I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.

              • Hosea 11:9, I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. ​​ For I am God, and not man – the Holy One among you. ​​ I will not come in wrath.

            • God came in the flesh and dwelt among us through His Son Jesus

              • His attribute of holiness was evident in Jesus’ life

              • Jesus lived a pure and perfect life on earth, which is why He was able to take out punishment for sin

              • 2 Corinthians 5:21, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

          • The attribute of true or truth means that God never lives and that He is completely trustworthy

            • It can also mean “genuine” or “faithful”

            • We never have to doubt any promises God makes

            • John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. ​​ No one comes to the Father except through me.

            • We’ll see that the description of Jesus, as holy and true, is in direct contrast to the description of those in Philadelphia who are persecuting the believers

          • While the first two characteristics are pretty self-evident, the third one is not as obvious at first blush

        • Key of David

          • Jesus is described as the One who holds the key of David

            • This phrase is used metaphorically in this passage

            • We have to understand the historical significance of a king’s steward

              • King Hezekiah had a steward that had been using his position for his own benefit (Isaiah 22:15-16)

              • Isaiah’s oracle states that the Lord is about to remove him from his favored position, because he was a disgrace to his master, Hezekiah (Isaiah 22:17-19)

              • Eliakim has been chosen to replace Shebna as the king’s steward

              • Isaiah 22:20-23, “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. ​​ I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. ​​ He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. ​​ I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ​​ I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father.

              • Eliakim, as the king’s steward, will have authority to determine who will have access to the palace and the king

            • Jesus, as the Messiah, has absolute control over who is granted access to the heavenly kingdom and to God

          • Ultimate authority

            • Jesus’ authority to grant or deny access to God and His kingdom is without question

            • John 10:9, I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. ​​ He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

              • Jesus is speaking about Himself being the Good Shepherd

              • As the Good Shepherd He acts as the gate or door to the pen

              • He is the One who grants or denies access to the sheep

            • 1 Timothy 2:5, For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

          • The key to God’s kingdom is faith in Christ

            • “Only one is the sovereign Lord who holds the key to the entrance into heaven and eternal life. ​​ Only one! ​​ His name is Jesus.” ​​ [Akin, 92]

            • We all enter this world with the same human condition, sin (Rom. 3:23), which separates us from God (Rom. 6:23)

            • Isaiah 59:2, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

            • We all try to deal with our sin and separation from God in various ways (good works, religion, philosophy, morality, etc.)

              • Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

              • We cannot bridge the separation, that our sin created, by ourselves

            • God provided the only way to bridge that separation

              • 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”

              • Romans 5:8, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

              • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

            • We have to repent – change our mind, attitudes, and actions

            • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Believe in Jesus as the key to God’s kingdom and eternal life.

        • Through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection the kingdom of God was opened to anyone who believes in Him, but it is closed to those who refuse to believe

    • Compliment to the Recipients (vv. 8-10)

        • Jesus again expresses that He is all-knowing concerning what the believers in Philadelphia have done

        • Open door

          • Most scholars believe this is a reference to the “door” to the kingdom of God (heaven)

            • Revelation 4:1, After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. ​​ And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

            • It is thought that perhaps the believers in Philadelphia had been excommunicated from the Jewish synagogue when they converted to Christianity – they had been refused access to the synagogue

            • Jesus is reminding them that He has the authority to grant them access into heaven

            • The key to God’s kingdom is faith in Christ and not membership in the Jewish synagogue

          • Evangelistic opportunity

            • Less likely is the belief that the open door is speaking about missionary opportunities that were open to them

            • Philadelphia had been described as a “missionary city” because they were spreading the Hellenistic culture further east

            • “Ramsay explains the expression in terms of Philadelphia’s geographic position at the eastern end of the valley leading up onto the great central plain. ​​ As the ‘keeper of the gateway to the plateau,’ it had been given a unique opportunity to carry the gospel to the cities of Phrygia.” ​​ [Mounce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 100-101]

            • While this belief doesn’t match the context as closely, it is an important principle for us to embrace

            • The kingdom of God is available to anyone who repents and turns to Jesus Christ for eternal life

            • Mike Stachura has said, “The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity.” ​​ [Akin, 93-94]

          • Jesus not only knew about their deeds, but also knew about their faithfulness

        • Small but faithful

          • This church was small in number and influence

          • While some churches who are small and have very little influence in their community may become discouraged, the church in Philadelphia remained faithful to the Gospel and the name of Jesus

          • PRINCIPLE – God is not concerned about the size of His church, but rather the faithfulness of His church.

            • They had remained faithful to the Gospel and the name of Jesus through constant trials and consistent opposition [Akin, 93]

            • I read the article, “The Hottest Thing At Church Today,” this week posted on March 22, 2017 by Tim Challies. ​​ In the article it said that the hottest thing in church today is the preaching, but not just any kind of preaching, rather preaching based on the Bible. ​​ He cautions pastors not to jump on the bandwagon and begin expositional preaching if it is for pragmatic reasons only. ​​ Challies says, “A Christian wants nothing more than God’s Word because there is nothing he needs more than God’s Word. ​​ The Christian may not know it or be able to verbalize it any more than a baby can, but within every true believer will be a deep hunger to be fed by spiritual food – food that is found only in the Word of God. ​​ Those churches that committed to preaching endless series of sermonettes for Christianettes were starving their people. ​​ They were starving sheep in order to entertain goats.”
              [https://faithit.com/hottest-thing-church-today-tim-challies/]

            • I strive to expound God’s Word here at Idaville UB Church, which is why I preach verse-by-verse through books of the Bible

            • I want to make sure that I’m preaching God’s Word so we can keep God’s Word

            • I want us to make sure that we don’t deny the name of Jesus

          • As we’ll see, the Jews were the ones who were opposing them and causing them problems

        • Access denied

          • As mentioned earlier, it is believed that the Jews who had converted to Christianity were being denied access to the synagogue – the door had been shut to them

          • The Jews who remained in the synagogue were convinced they were the true people of God, because of their religious heritage

          • They were claiming to be God’s people and yet they had rejected His Messiah, Jesus Christ

          • They were following Satan’s lead instead of God’s

            • This was not the first city or the first time that the Jews and their synagogue was labeled as belonging to Satan

            • Jesus identified them the same way in the city of Smyrna

            • Revelation 2:9, I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich! ​​ I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

            • They were continuing to live under the old covenant between God and Abraham

            • They were continuing the sacrificial system, even though Jesus’, once-for-all sacrifice, fulfilled that perfectly

            • The Jews continued to spread fear and doubt among the believers, by claiming they were the true people of God

            • Yet, Jesus calls them liars, because they had rejected the Messiah and were following Satan

            • John 8:44, You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. ​​ He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. ​​ When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

          • They were liars

            • So the Jews were simply following their father’s (Satan’s) lead

            • 1 John 1:10, If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

            • 1 John 2:4, The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

            • The Jews had forfeited their position as God’s chosen people to make Him known to the nations

            • That responsibility had now passed to the followers of Jesus Christ, whether they were Jews or Gentiles

            • Romans 2:28-29, A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ​​ No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. ​​ Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.

          • Jesus will make these unbelieving Jews fall down at His feet and the feet of His followers and recognize that God loves the Christians

        • Promise to protect His followers

          • Jesus recognized that the believers in Philadelphia had kept his command to endure patiently

            • They had experienced some difficult ridicule from the Jews and probably from the pagan community as well

            • They understood that God was with them and it was only through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and His power that they were able to endure patiently

            • Since they had faithfully kept Jesus’ command to endure, He was going to keep them during a time of testing

          • Those who live on the earth

            • In the other passages in Revelation where this phrase is used (6:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8, 12, 14; 17:2, 8) it always refers to unbelievers, those who have rejected Christ and are enemies of God and who worship the beast and persecute believers

            • Those are the individuals who are going to be tested during the hour of trial

            • Will Christians be around when the hour of trial takes place?

          • Hour of trial

            • There are three beliefs surrounding this question

              • Pre-tribulationism (Church is raptured before)

              • Mid-tribulationism (Church raptured in the middle)

              • Post-tribulationism (Church raptured after)

            • “The hour of trial is that period of testing and tribulation which precedes the establishment of the eternal kingdom.” ​​ [Mounce, 103]

            • This one verse does not provide enough information for us to definitively claim any of the three positions above

              • We have to look at more of God’s Word to help us answer this question

              • Jesus told His disciples to anticipate trials and tribulations on earth as His followers

                • John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

                • John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. ​​ In this world you will have trouble. ​​ But take heart! ​​ I have overcome the world.”

              • We see God’s protection of His children while in the world and during trials

                • In Jesus’ high-priestly prayer for His disciples, we hear His request of God, ​​ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one (John 17:15).

                • During the fifth trumpet there are locusts that come down on the earth with the stinging ability of a scorpion and they are given specific instructions about whom they are to afflict

                • Revelation 9:3-4, And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. ​​ They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

                • Another great illustration of God’s protective power over His people during the trials and testing of His enemies is the Israelites in Egypt – they were protected from the plagues while the Egyptians suffered under them

                • God has the ability to do that again

                • “Therefore, the point is that the Philadelphia church (identified with all faithful believers here) will be protected from the wrath of God against unbelievers but not from the wrath of Satan, and that this protection is within and not a removal from (as in a pretribulation rapture) that wrath.”[Osborne, 194]

            • PRINCIPLE – God is able to protect His people.

              • While it’s not definitive in Scripture, I believe God will protect His people through the trials and tribulations that will come during the ends times

              • The pre-tribulation belief is really a North American belief system

                • We have not really experienced persecution like churches in other parts of the world

                • And if we were really honest with ourselves, we don’t want to experience persecution, trials, and tribulation

                • So, we favor a pre-tribulation belief system that allows our minds to be at rest

                • Yet, we have to be prepared to experience persecution, trials, and tribulation

                • We see in Revelation (6:9-11; 12:12-13, 17; 13:7; 16:6; 20:4) that Christians will be “the focus of intense persecution (indeed, martyrdom) from the dragon and his followers.” ​​ [Osborne, 194]

                • Are we ready and willing to give everything, including our lives, to patiently endure the wrath of the beast?

                • Are we prepared to experience persecution and hardships?

                • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Examine my heart to see if I’m prepared to remain faithful to Jesus even through the trials and tribulation.

              • A pre-tribulation belief, that God will remove His people from the earth prior to the Great Tribulation, would be a foreign concept to those in the persecuted church around the world – they are already experiencing trials and tribulation and God is sustaining and protecting them through it

        • Although the church in Philadelphia was small, it had remained faithful to Jesus through the trials and persecution of their culture

        • Jesus then gives them the command to hold on to what they have

    • Command to the Recipients (v. 11)

        • Jesus encourages the believers to hold on, because He is coming soon

          • They were to hold on to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they had received from the apostles and teachers

          • They were also to hold on to their citizenship in heaven that was indicated by the open door that cannot be shut, and their future vindication (the Jews bowing down at their feet) and protection by God (during the hour of trial) [Osborne, 195]

          • “One of the greatest Christian leaders of the last century was John R. W. Stott, rector of All Souls Langham Place in London and a peerless preacher, Bible teacher, evangelist, author, global leader and friend to many. I knew him over many decades, but I will never forget my last visit to his bedside three weeks before he died. After an unforgettable hour and more of sharing many memories over many years, I asked him how he would like me to pray for him. Lying weakly on his back and barely able to speak, he answered in a hoarse whisper, ‘Pray that I will be faithful to Jesus until my last breath.’ Would that such a prayer be the passion of our generation too.

            Os Guinness, Impossible People (IVP Books, 2016)

            [https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2016/october/5100316.html].

          • Stott wanted to be known and remembered as a follower of Jesus Christ who was holding on to what he had to the very end

        • The reason they were to hold on was so they wouldn’t lose their crown

          • This is not referring to losing our salvation, but rather losing our rewards

          • We talked about that last week with nominal and incomplete deeds

            • God will test our deeds and see if they will hold up to the fire

            • Wood, hay, and straw will not hold up, but gold, silver, and costly stones will

            • If we build with wood, hay, and straw our rewards will be burned up, but we will still achieve heaven as one escaping through the flames (1 Cor. 3:10-15)

        • Jesus then concludes with His commitment to those who overcome

    • Commitment to all who Overcome (vv. 12-13)

        • PRINCIPLE – God will provide stability and permanence for His people who remain faithful to the end.

          • The image of the pillar is one of stability and permanence

          • This would have provided special encouragement to a church whose city experienced devastating earthquakes that caused the inhabitants to flee their homes and dwell in temporary housing in the fields surrounding the city

          • “Often the only parts of a city left standing after a sever quake were the huge stone temple columns [pillars]” (Revelation, 1983, 61). ​​ [Alan Johnson cited by Akin, 98]

          • Just imagine, then, being a pillar of Christ – it should provide a sense of complete and total security

          • Romans 8:38-39, For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

        • We will be identified as God’s people

          • We will receive the name of God, the name of God’s city (the new Jerusalem), and the new name of Jesus

          • “The names signify who my God is, where my home is and who my Lord is! ​​ I belong to the Father, heaven is my home, and Jesus is my Lord. ​​ I bear the signature of my God!” ​​ [Akin, 98]

        • We will find permanence and stability and be identified as God’s children when we remember and embrace the truth that the key to God’s kingdom is faith in Christ

 

  • YOU

    • Have you put your faith in Christ?

    • Have you determined in your mind that you will faithfully hold on to Christ and His Word even during the trials and tribulation that will surely come from the evil one

 

  • WE

 

CONCLUSION

David Platt expresses well the reward we will experience when we put our faith in Christ as the key to God’s kingdom.

 

“This, we remember, is the great reward of the gospel: ​​ God himself. ​​ When we risk our lives to run after Christ, we discover the safety that is found only in his sovereignty, the security that is found only in his love, and the satisfaction that is found only in his presence. ​​ This is the eternally great reward, and we would be foolish to settle for anything less. ​​ (Newell, Mission Quotes, 241).” ​​ [Akin, 98-99]

13

 

/by

Alive?

, , ,

Jesus Unveiled

Alive?

(Revelation 3:1-6)

 

INTRODUCTION

In the September 20, 2004, issue of MacLean's magazine, Lianne George recounts this tragic story:

 

One November day in 2002, Jim Sulkers, a 53-year-old retired municipal worker from Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada), climbed into bed, pulled the covers up, and died. Nearly two years later, on August 25, 2004, police who had been called by concerned relatives entered Sulkers' apartment and found his body in a mummified state. Everything else in his tidy one-bedroom apartment was intact, although the food in his fridge was spoiled and his wall calendar was two years out of date.

 

Mr. Sulkers' death went undiscovered for several reasons: he was reclusive, estranged from family members, and had a medical condition that prevented his body from decomposing and emitting odors. In addition, automatic banking deposited his disability pension and withdrew utilities and other expenses as they came due.

 

Terence Moran, who along with Neil Postman co-founded the Media Ecology program at New York University, said, "For many practical purposes, this man was virtually alive throughout that time. This man's life was extended for two years by the technology he used. Postman would have said that what you have here is a lack of community."

 

Lianne George, "A High-Tech Ghost Story," MacLean's (9-20-04); submitted by Daren Wride, Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada

 

[http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2004/october/15591.html].

 

The church can look like it’s alive and yet be dead. ​​ Akin says, “It is now a zombie church, a church of the living dead. ​​ There are live bodies walking around with dead souls on the inside.” ​​ [Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Revelation, 80]

 

In Thom Rainer’s book, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, he gives several fatal causes that move a church from being alive to being dead:

  • Treating the past as the hero;

  • Refusing to adapt to the needs of the present community;

  • Moving the focus of the budget inward;

  • Allowing the Great Commission to become the Great Omission;

  • Letting the church become preference-driven out of selfishness and personal agendas;

  • Seeing the tenure of the pastors decreasing;

  • Failing to have regular, corporate prayer;

  • Having no clear purpose or vision; and

  • Obsessing over the facilities.

 

Stevan Manely in his article “When Does My Church Need Revival?” highlights six tell-tale signs of a church standing at death’s door:

  • The church is plagued with disagreements.

  • The preaching is ineffective.

  • Few can remember when a person was last saved.

  • God’s supernatural power is never seen.

  • God is not praised regularly.

  • No one is being called into God’s work. (Herald)

[Akin, 79-80]

 

Have you ever done something without thinking about it?

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Flagger outside of Mt. Holly Springs

        • I was returning from running errands to Carlisle

        • I had passed the road construction crew on my way into Carlisle, with the flaggers and everything

        • The road was down to one lane

        • On my return trip, I saw the signs telling me there was a one lane road ahead with flaggers

        • I was thinking about something else at the time and even though I saw the signs, I didn’t slow down like I should have when approaching the flaggers

        • Fortunately, I was able to stop before I got up to the flaggers

        • One of the flaggers came up to my car and asked me what I was doing and if I had seen the signs

        • I told him I was thinking about something else

        • I was able to drive my car without putting too much effort or thought into it

    • Going to the bathroom in the middle of the night

        • As I’ve gotten older, I can’t make it through the night without getting up once to go to the bathroom

        • When I get up, I don’t put my glasses on – I’m not even sure I open my eyes

        • I have a mental map in my mind and my body knows exactly where to go

        • There have been a few nights when we have returned from a trip and I’ve left something on the floor right in the path of my mental map – that is never fun to stumble over in the middle of the night, especially with your eyes closed

        • I can do all of that without really thinking about it

 

  • WE

    • Driving somewhere without thinking about it (school, college, work, etc.) – may not remember exits, turns, landmarks, etc.

    • Sleep walking

    • Any rote activity we do at work or school

    • Singing hymns or worship songs at church (it can be done without really thinking about the words or without allowing those words to impact our lives)

 

It could be said of the church at Sardis that they were simply going through the motions without even thinking about what they were doing or the meaning behind why they were doing it

 

Jesus wants us to understand from the letter to the believers at Sardis that we need to . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Wake up from our spiritual coma.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 3:1-6)

    • Sardis

        • It was located about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira and about 50 miles east of Ephesus

        • It was on the junction of five main roads, which made it a key location for trade – this is partly where their wealth came from

        • The gold dust found in the springs of Pactolus, which ran through the city, was the other source of their wealth

        • It was the first city to mint gold and silver coins

        • The city was built on the northern spur of Mt. Tmolus

          • It looked down over the fertile Hermus plain

          • The city was almost impenetrable, because three of the four sides had nearly perpendicular rock walls that climbed some 1,500 feet

          • The south side provided the only sane assent to this city

          • It was a natural citadel on the top of this hill

          • While it seemed impenetrable, it was defeated twice

            • Both times the same tactic was used

            • In the first defeat a single soldier scaled one of the rock walls and opened the gates allowing the attacking army to enter

            • In the second defeat, a group of soldiers climbed the rock wall and again opened the gates

        • “In the sixth century B.C. Sardis was one of the most powerful cities of the ancient world. ​​ Yet by the Roman period it had declined to the point that Ramsay could describe it as ‘a relic of the period of barbaric warfare, which lived rather on its ancient prestige than on its suitability to present conditions.’” ​​ [Mounce, New International Commentary on the New Testament, 91]

          • An earthquake in AD 17 virtually destroyed it, but it was rebuilt with help from Emperor Tiberius (AD 14-37)

          • It is interesting that the church in Sardis reflected the city so closely – it was resting on its reputation from the past, but was not suitable for the present conditions

          • There didn’t seem to be any opposition from outside the church and it didn’t appear as though they were dealing with any heresy inside the church, and if they were, they weren’t concerned about it

          • They had embraced the pagan environment around them so completely that they were not seen as a threat by the unbelievers in the city or by Satan

          • The community saw that there was activity going on in the church, which made it look alive, but it was spiritually dead

    • Characteristic of the Sender (v. 1a)

        • Jesus is characterized as holding two things

          • The Greek word for “holds” connotes divine control [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 173]

          • The King James Version translates it as “has” instead of “holds”

            • This is perhaps a better translation, since it would difficult to see Jesus holding the Holy Spirit

            • The term “has” gives the idea of a relational connection

          • Jesus is aware of the condition of the church in Sardis and is using His relational connections to help wake this church up from their spiritual coma

        • Two relational connections

          • Seven spirits of God

            • We first saw this reference to the Holy Spirit in Revelation 1:4

            • We know from other passages of Scripture that there aren’t seven actual spirits

            • It is probably a reference to the sevenfold Holy Spirit

            • The number seven in Scripture is used for completion and/or perfection

            • So, it seems to indicate here the complete work of the Holy Spirit in the community of believers in Sardis

            • The Holy Spirit will be an important component in the revival of this church

          • Seven stars

            • This reference first appeared in Revelation 1:16

            • We learned from Revelation 1:20 that the seven stars represented the angels of the seven churches, which many believe represent seven pastors or leaders within those churches

        • Jesus has the power to use His relational connections with the Holy Spirit and the leader of the church in Sardis to bring it back from the dead

    • Criticism of the Recipients (v. 1b)

        • Reputation

          • Jesus has some difficult words for the church in Sardis

          • He does not have anything to commend them for (the church in Laodicea is the only other church that Jesus does not commend of the seven addressed here in Revelation)

          • “It is a sad thing when the only accomplishment (“deed”) of a church is what it names itself, especially if the reality shows that name to be a lie, as here. ​​ Their past deeds gave them a reputation among other churches for being alive for Christ, but their present deeds show a quite different picture (in accordance with their city’s history) . . . Just outside their city was a famous necropolis, or cemetery, with the graves of long-dead kings. ​​ The assembly at Sardis represented that cemetery more than a living church.” ​​ [Osborne, 174]

        • Reality

          • The reality for Sardis was much different than their reputation

          • Jesus says they are dead

          • There were some believers in Sardis whose reputation and reality matched, but the vast majority had compromised with the pagan culture around them [Mounce, 93]

          • They were “nominal” Christians – they were simply going through the motions without thinking or being intentional about their relationship with Jesus Christ

            • They weren’t reaching out to the lost in their city and sharing the life giving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

            • The fact that they had a reputation of being alive means that they had actively shared the Gospel at some point in the past

          • Chuck Swindoll characterized them as “a morgue with a steeple.” ​​ [Akin, 82]

          • Vance Havner expresses their current condition this way, “She had it all in the show window but nothing in stock.” ​​ [Akin, 82]

        • Since their reality did not match their reputation, Jesus gives the church at Sardis five imperative commands

    • Command to the Recipients (vv. 2-3)

        • As we look at these five imperatives, I want us to think about the story of Snow White

          • We’re going to draw some comparisons from what happened to her and the church at Sardis

          • She was alive, but in a deep sleep and not active

        • Five imperatives

          • Wake up

            • This verb can also be translated “be watchful” or “show yourself to be watchful”

            • Twice the city watchmen were proven not to be watchful (they had perhaps not worried about the three sides that had shear rock walls) and Sardis fell, because of individuals who had climbed the rock wall and opened the gates for the attacking army

              • While this happened long ago, it can very easily happen to us as a church today

              • We can become comfortable with where we are, which can lead to complacency

              • We can feel secure in what we’ve done in the past and not remain alert to changes that need to take place in order to continue to reach our community with the Gospel and to be relevant for the next generation

            • Snow White did not see where her demise was coming from

              • The witch came dressed in a disguise

              • She hid the poison in an apple that looked appealing

              • It was this poison apple that caused Snow White to fall into this deep sleep, like a coma

            • Satan had used the same tactics to defeat the church

              • He probably sent an individual or group that infiltrated the church when they were not being watchful

              • He had this individual or group approach from an angle or direction the church was not expecting

              • They didn’t see it coming and eventually compromised with their culture

              • They went from being spiritually alive to being in a spiritual coma

            • Fortunately, there was still some life in the church, unlike Jim Sulkers in the introduction, and Jesus recognized that they could again be spiritually alive

              • Snow White

                • There was nothing the Seven Dwarfs could do to revive Snow White

                • It was going to require an outside force, true loves kiss, from Prince Charming to break the spell that kept her in this deep sleep

              • The church

                • The only thing that would revive the church at Sardis or any church that is experiencing a spiritual coma is an outside force

                • The Holy Spirit is that outside force that has to take over in the lives of the believers

                • “Church revitalization will always begin in heaven with the glorified Christ who longs to raise to new life a church where ‘rigor mortis [has] set in’ (Swindoll, Insights, 64).” ​​ [Akin, 81]

            • The Holy Spirit through Christ’s power will help any church to strengthen what remains

          • Strengthen what remains

            • The original Greek is helpful here in understanding that what needs to be strengthened in not only the people, but also the spiritual characteristics/issues in the church [Osborne, 174-75]

              • As we’ll see in the next imperative, they had to remember what they received and heard – those were the characteristics they needed to strengthened

              • “The verb itself means to ‘support’ or ‘stand something on its feet’ and has the idea of establishing a thing by making it strong.” ​​ [Osborne, 175]

              • What remained, needed to be built back up

              • “Their faith was not radical; it was almost invisible. ​​ The lost among whom they lived, worked, and played saw nothing different or unique about them. ​​ The culture did not oppose them; it simply ignored them as of not real consequence or significance.” ​​ [Akin, 84]

              • There is a statement that has been circulating recently throughout the church community (I’m going to personalize it for us), “If Idaville UB Church shut its doors tomorrow, would the community even miss us?”

              • We have to ask ourselves that question, and if the answer is no, then we need to make some changes

              • For the church in Sardis, the answer would probably be, No!

              • They had to strengthen themselves and the spiritual characteristics in their church, because even what remained was about to die

              • The sad part about many churches today is that they don’t recognize they’re dead, so they don’t strengthen what remains and the community doesn’t even realize when the doors shut for good

              • We see the reason why they needed to strengthen what remains

            • Their deeds were not complete

              • PRINCINPLE – God is displeased when His church is filled with nominal, incomplete, and imperfect deeds.

              • God looked down from heaven at what they were doing and found their deeds lacking

              • Their deeds were nominal, incomplete, and imperfect

              • An interesting fact about Sardis was that the temple to Artemis remained unfinished and incomplete (perhaps Jesus was comparing the deeds of the church to this incomplete temple)

              • I’m reminded of Paul’s words to the Corinthian believers in his first letter to them

              • 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. ​​ But each one should be careful how he builds. ​​ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ​​ If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. ​​ It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. ​​ If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ​​ If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

              • If the church in Sardis was even building, they were using wood, hay, and straw

            • Application

              • Is God looking down from heaven and saying that our deeds are not complete in His eyes?

              • What materials are we using to build the kingdom of God with here in the greater Idaville area?

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Ask the Lord to help me work for Him in such a way that my deeds will be complete in His eyes.

                • Perhaps your service in the church is simply nominal at this point – you feel obligated to serve instead of serving with joy and expectation at what God will do

                • Maybe you’ve stopped serving in the church all together and you realize you need to begin serving again

                • We always have to remember whom we are serving (Jesus), because it’s easy to focus in the wrong place or direction

            • Part of strengthening what remains has to do with remembering what they had received and heard

          • Remember

            • The verb “remember” is in the present imperative form, which means an ongoing action

              • They were to continue recall and put in to practice the truths of the Gospel they had received and heard

              • They had to remember what it was like when they first received Jesus Christ as their Savior – there was joy, enthusiasm, excitement, a burning desire to share with others the transformation that had taken place

            • Received

              • They had received the good news of the Gospel from the apostles

              • They were to continue to remember the truths of the Gospel they had received

            • Heard

              • This represents the teaching of the church they had received after the apostles were gone

              • It was the continual process of passing on the truths of the Gospel

            • Strengthening what remains wasn’t just about remembering, but also obeying

          • Obey

            • It has also been translated as “keeping”

            • It is again in the present imperative, which represents a continual action

            • Since they had forgotten the truths of the Gospel, they obviously weren’t obeying them in their own lives or sharing them with others

            • After they continue to remember and continue to obey, then they have to repent

            • PRINCIPLE – God’s desire for His church is that they remember and obey His Word.

            • Repentance will be a natural outflow of remembering and obeying God’s Word

          • Repent

            • This again is changing our minds, attitudes, and actions

            • We can no longer rest on our past victories of sharing the Gospel

            • We have to wake up from our spiritual comas and begin to do the things we once did to reach the greater Idaville area with the Gospel

        • Warning of judgement

          • Jesus warns them that if they don’t wake up from their spiritual coma, He will come to them when they aren’t expecting it and judge them

          • Most of the time a visit from Jesus would be a welcomed event, but not so with this visit

          • It is not referring to His second coming, but rather a visit, from Him, prior to His second coming

          • The concept of Jesus coming like a thief in the night is found throughout Scripture

            • Matthew writes about it in Matthew 24:42-44

            • Paul references it in his letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4)

            • Peter also writes about in his epistle (2 Peter 3:10)

            • The difference between these references and the one found here to the church in Sardis is that all of the other references are to Jesus’ second coming

          • Not knowing the time

            • This is an important concept

            • In Matthew 24:42-44 it mentions that if the owner of the house knew when the thief was coming, he would have been ready for him and not allowed him to steal from him

            • Judy was substitute teaching this past Monday and had an individual come in to observe one child, but they didn’t tell this child or the other children what was happening

              • They wanted to be able to see how this child acted, reacted, and interacted with the other children

              • If they had told the children what was happening, they would probably act differently

            • When we know the big boss is coming we prepare and we act differently than when they aren’t there

              • Some people like second and third shift better, because most of the management is gone for the day and they are able to work without being interrupted

              • I remember working for Chick-fil-A in Birmingham, AL when S. Truett Cathy stopped by our store

                • He had been in Birmingham for a wedding and was wearing a tuxedo with the fancy handkerchief (I though he dressed this way all the time)

                • One of our Managers was sitting in the office in the back with his legs on the desk, counting money

                • He spilled the one register till on the floor and jumped in to action, giving all of the employees jobs to accomplish

                • S. Truett Cathy showed up unannounced so he could see the actual workings of the unit there at Century Plaza

        • After Jesus finishes His commands and warning for the church is Sardis, He shares some promises and commitments for them

    • Commitment to all who Overcome (vv. 4-6)

        • Worthy

          • There were a few people in Sardis who had not been walking around like spiritual zombies

          • They were probably doing what Jesus complimented the believers in Thyatira for doing (loving others through their service and expressing their faith in Jesus through perseverance)

          • Soiled clothes

            • To have soiled garments meant they were unwashed

            • Spiritually it meant they were defiled

            • “In temples of Asia and elsewhere, worshipers dared not approach deities with soiled clothes; the normal apparel for approaching the gods in temples was white or linen.” ​​ [Keener, The NIV Application Commentary, Revelation, 144]

            • The believers in Sardis had contaminated themselves by not setting themselves apart from the pagan culture

            • Jesus shared the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14 to explain what the kingdom of heaven is like

              • When it was time for the wedding guests to come, they all refused, so he invited those from the street corners to fill the wedding hall

              • Matthew 22:11, “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.

              • The guest who was not wearing the appropriate clothes was thrown outside, into the darkness

            • The few who had not soiled their clothes were going to be able to walk with Jesus while dressed in white (the proper clothing for the wedding feast of the Lamb)

              • They are worthy because they have remained pure

              • Their works and/or deeds were complete in the eyes of God

              • “In Revelation 7 the great multitude wearing white robes (vv. 9-10) is led by the Lamb to springs of living water (v. 17), and in chapter 14 the 144,000 ‘follow the Lamb wherever he goes’ (v. 4) . . . it would appear that walking ‘in white’ is a way of describing those who are justified.” ​​ [Mounce, 95]

          • Those who are worthy and those who overcome are both going to be able to participate in the wedding feast of the Lamb, because they have the proper clothing

        • Overcomers

          • Dressed in white

            • They have remained pure during external pressures from their society and internal pressures from false teachers

            • These individuals will participate in the victorious procession during the eschaton, when Jesus returns

          • Never have name blotted out

            • The second promise is that their names will never be blotted out of the book of life

              • The idea of having their name removed from a register would have been easily understood by the church in Sardis

              • Sardis had been the capital of the Persian and Seleucid empires for many years and therefore would have housed the records of those who were citizens

              • Jewish and Hellenistic cultures both had the practice of removing names, which meant that an individual could no longer participate in the commonwealth or community [Osborne, 180]

              • “When Greeks were convicted of a serious crime, their names were removed from the civic register.” ​​ [Osborne, 180]

              • In our country the right to vote is suspended for those who have been convicted of a felony

                • Maine and Vermont are the only two states that allow individuals to vote who are incarcerated for a felony

                • Every state is different when it comes to those who have been released from prison

                • Some states do not restore voting rights until after the individual has completed their probation or parole

                • In Pennsylvania voting rights are restored automatically upon release from prison [https://www.nonprofitvote.org/voting-in-your-state/special-circumstances/voting-as-an-ex-offender/]

            • This is in no way talking about an individual losing their salvation

            • There are many ways of saying the same thing – eternal security, assurance of salvation, etc.

            • “It would appear that God’s ‘Book of Life’ contains the names of all the living, the wicked as well as the righteous (Ps. 69:28) . . . as unbelievers die, their names are removed from the book; thus, at the final judgment, the book contains only the names of believers (Rev. 20:12-15). ​​ It then becomes ‘the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 21:27), because only those saved by the Lord Jesus Christ have their names in it. ​​ All the others have been blotted out, something God would never do for any true child of God (see Ex. 32:32; Rom. 9:3). ​​ It is the book of life, and lost sinners are dead (Eph. 2:1).” ​​ [Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, Volume 2, 577-78]

            • Those who have remained watchful and have not fallen into a spiritual coma will experience eternal life

          • Jesus will acknowledge them before God and His angels

        • We are to pay attention to what the Spirit says to us as the church

 

  • YOU

    • Jesus wants more than the status quo from us

        • Perhaps you’re in a spiritual coma today – it’s time to wake up!

        • Maybe you need to strengthen what remains, but is about to die

        • It could be that you need to remember your conversion experience and the truths you’ve been taught from God’s Word

        • For some of you, it may be that you remember the truths of God’s Word, but you aren’t being obedient to them

        • Finally, you may need to repent of your lethargy

    • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Be honest with myself about where I am spiritually and make the necessary changes to wake up from my spiritual coma.

 

  • WE

    • As a church we have to do the same thing. ​​ We have to be honest about where we are spiritually and make the necessary changes so that we are not alive in name only

 

CONCLUSION

“When Mickey Cohen, a famous Los Angeles gangster of the late 1940s, made a public profession of faith in Christ, his new Christian friends were elated. ​​ But as time passed, they began to wonder why he did not leave his gangster lifestyle. ​​ When they confronted him concerning this question, however, he protested, ‘You never told me I had to give up my career. ​​ You never told me that I had to give up my friends. ​​ There are Christian movie stars, Christian athletes, Christian businessmen. ​​ So what’s the matter with being a Christian gangster? ​​ If I have to give up all that – if that’s Christianity – count me out.’ ​​ Cohen gradually drifted away from Christian circles and ultimately died lonely and forgotten. ​​ As Chuck Colson notes:

Cohen was echoing the millions of professing Christians who, though unwilling to admit it, through their very lives pose the same question. ​​ Not about being Christian gangsters, but about being Christianized versions of whatever they already are – and are determined to remain.”

 

[Keener, The NIV Application Commentary, Revelation, 147-48]

14

 

/by

Hold On To Faith

,

Jesus Unveiled

Hold On To Faith

(Revelation 2:18-29)

 

INTRODUCTION

Several years ago a quaint little eatery was purchased by a couple. ​​ It was a favorite place for individuals to frequent on the weekends while enjoying time at the lake.

 

There was one change that this couple made that created quite a stir in the community. ​​ They were no longer going to be open on Sunday. ​​ This was the personal conviction of the couple as followers of Jesus Christ. ​​ Those who frequented this place on the weekends were struggling to understand why they would close on one of the days when most people came to eat there. ​​ There was talk about how this eatery probably wouldn’t survive, because of being closed on Sundays.

 

As they began to serve individuals six days a week during the summer months, it became clear that this little eatery was not failing, but rather thriving! ​​ They were doing some great business and serving their customers well. ​​ Closing on Sunday wasn’t hurting them after all. ​​ They are successful, because they are faithful.

 

This quaint little eatery is our very own Twirly Top. ​​ We are proud of their faithfulness to the Lord and that they did not give in to the economic pressures of our society. ​​ God has blessed them and they have been generous within this community.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Faithfulness in work

        • I have worked independently for most of my career (3 years out of college I began working for Child Evangelism Fellowship as local director)

        • Working independently requires me to be faithful in my work, otherwise nothing would get done

    • Faithfulness in marriage

        • In the 26, almost 27 years of marriage, I have been faithful to Judy and she has been faithful to me

        • We were faithful to remaining sexually pure until we were married

        • Remaining faithful to each other has protected us from any unwanted sexual diseases

 

  • WE

    • Faithful at school

    • Faithful at work

    • Faithful in relationships (physically and spiritually)

 

Jesus wants us to understand from the letter to the believers at Thyatira that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Spiritual faithfulness protects us from the disease of compromise.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 2:18-29)

    • Thyatira

        • This little known city “was founded by Seleucus I as a military outpost to guard one the approaches to his empire.” ​​ [Mounce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 84]

        • While it was a military outpost, it did not have any features that would allow it be defended very well (it was on a wide open plain)

        • It was well known for its trade guilds

          • “Ramsay notes that inscriptions, although not especially numerous, mention ‘woolworkers, linen-workers, makers of outer garments, dyers, leather-workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave-dealers and bronze-smiths.’” ​​ [Mounce, 84-85]

          • The most well-known resident of Thyatira would be Lydia whom Paul introduces us to in Acts 16:14

            • Paul and Silas are in Philippi

            • There was no synagogue there, so they went outside the city gates to the river’s edge to see if there was a place of prayer there

            • They found several women there and began to talk with them

            • Acts 16:14, One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. ​​ The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

          • Each trade guild had their own patron god or goddess

            • There were feasts and festivals to those particular gods and goddesses

            • As a member of the trade guild, you were required to attend and participate in the activities associated with the feasts and festivals

            • Not participating in the feasts and festivals or not joining a trade guild were frowned on

            • “Those who participated in this aspect of public economic life would risk a substantial measure of their livelihood by refusing to join trade guilds.” ​​ [Keener, The NIV Application Commentary, Revelation, 133]

          • As we’ll see this was going to be an issue for a follower of Jesus Christ

        • It is amazing how Jesus’ message fits each city so well

        • The characteristics shared for each city has incredible significance

    • Characteristic of the Sender (v. 18)

        • Words of the Son of God

          • This is the only place in the book of Revelation where Jesus is called the Son of God

          • The significance of this has to do with the deities that were worshiped in Thyatira

            • Apollo was one of the main patron deities that was worshiped in Thyatira

            • Apollo was the son of Zeus

            • There was a very tight connection between the worship of Apollo and Emperor worship

            • Both were considered to be saviors in Asia Minor

          • Using the title, Son of God, put in contrast the fact that Apollo was not the true Son of God, but Jesus Christ is!

          • The two characteristics shared, simply amplify the fact that Jesus is the true Son of God

        • Eyes like blazing fire

          • As we saw in Revelation 1:14, Jesus’ eyes being like blazing fire represented the fact that He is all-knowing (omniscient)

          • He is able to see everything that is happening in the churches in Asia Minor, especially the seductive arguments of a self-proclaimed prophetess in Thyatira

          • Jesus is able to “see all actions, thoughts, and emotions.” ​​ [Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 69]

          • His knowledge is all-encompassing

          • Jesus is not only all-knowing, but He is all-powerful

        • Feet like burnished bronze

          • The burnished bronze feet are representative of strength, stability, and splendor

          • Jesus’ attribute here is His omnipotence

          • This attribute of Jesus is also found in Revelation 1:15

          • The believers in Thyatira would have connected with the concept of burnished bronze, because one of the trades they were known for was bronze-smith

            • They had developed a technique of mixing zinc with copper, which created a purer and stronger alloy

            • This purer and stronger alloy was perfect for coinage and instruments of war

          • Jesus is then identified as having feet of burnished bronze, which meant He was strong and stable and could handle any situation that would come His way as the leader of the church in Thyatira

          • Their burnished bronze instruments were nothing compared to Jesus’ purity and strength

        • This all-knowing and all-powerful Jesus had some good things to say about the believers in Thyatira

    • Compliment to the Recipients (v. 19)

        • Jesus tells them that He knows their deeds, which He then expresses in two aspects

        • Motives

          • The two motives behind the deeds were love and faith

          • Love

            • The Greek word is agape

            • They had a genuine love for Christ and for others

            • This was the opposite of what was taking place in Ephesus

              • There, they were more concerned about orthodoxy (sound doctrine), but were practicing it without love

              • They had lost their first love

              • But, they were testing those who were claiming to be apostles (teachers)

            • As we’ll see some of the believers in Thyatira were loving others, but were not testing one individual who was a self-proclaimed prophetess

          • Faith

            • They had a genuine faith in God that motivated them

            • They understood that faith was not just an internal decision, but that it needed to be put into action

            • James expounds on how faith and actions work together

            • Read James 2:14-26

            • The believers in Thyatira understood that one of the motives for service and perseverance is faith

          • They were motivated to do good deeds because of their love for Christ and their faith in God

        • Results

          • The result of being motivated by love and faith was that they served others and persevered under pressure

          • Service

            • We get our English word “deacon” from the Greek word for service

            • “A person with a servant’s heart is one who, with long-suffering and steadfastness, will give himself deliberately, voluntarily, sacrificially, and joyfully to others in order that he may help meet their needs. ​​ He will walk away from his own concerns and private interests and give himself – his time, his wisdom, his knowledge, his talents, and his gifts – in order to help others.” ​​ [Akin, 70]

          • Perseverance

            • As they held onto their faith in Jesus Christ, they would be able to persevere under the pressures they would face from the trade guilds

            • They probably had been members of these guilds for many years

            • They were also going to be able to endure the pressures to compromise that were being taught by a false prophetess (Jezebel)

          • “Love for others had produced service; faith in Christ had assured perseverance in their commitment to him.” ​​ [Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary, Revelation, 40]

        • Growth in Christian maturity

          • As they grew in their faith with Jesus Christ, they also grew in their love for Him and for others

          • Their service to others and perseverance in trials also grew

          • They had not become stagnant in their love, faith, service, or perseverance

          • In fact it continued to grow, which is unusual for churches that have been established for a long time

            • The natural tendency for long established churches is to focus inwardly on their own needs and desires instead of focusing outwardly

            • We cannot rest on the love, faith, service, and perseverance that we once did

            • We must continue to grow in our love, faith, service, and perseverance

            • PRINCIPLE: ​​ God is pleased when His people continue to grow in their love and faithfulness.

              • Are we growing in our love for Jesus and others, which is evident through our service to those in need?

              • Are we growing in our faithfulness to God, which is manifested in our perseverance against societal pressures to compromise?

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Ask the Lord to help me grow in my love for Him and others and in my faithfulness to Him.

        • While the believers at Thyatira were growing in their love and faithfulness, Jesus had one major concern for them

    • Criticism of the Recipients (vv. 20-22a)

        • Tolerance of a false prophetess

          • “The exalted Christ uses a stronger verb here than with Pergamum. ​​ There the church ‘had’ false teachers among them; here they ‘tolerate’ the leader ‘Jezebel.’” ​​ [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 155]

          • The name Jezebel was descriptive of this woman and not her actual name

            • Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab

            • We find her story in 1 Kings 16:31-21:25 and 2 Kings 9

            • Her marriage to King Ahab was political in nature

            • She lead Israel away from God into the worship of the Canaanite deity, Baal

            • The consequences of her actions resulted in a violent death

          • The modern “Jezebel” was doing the same thing with the believers in Thyatira – leading them away from God into spiritual adultery with the pagan world

            • God had not called her to be His prophetess, but rather she was saying that she spoke for God

            • God has throughout history used women to be His prophetesses, but this woman was not one of them

          • Her teachings

            • We see here that through her teachings she was misleading God’s servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols

            • The believers in Thyatira were between a rock and a hard place

            • In order to avoid social isolation and economic hardship, they had to participate in the various meals that were dedicated to the pagan deity of the guild with which they were members

            • These feasts and festivals from time-to-time included sexual immorality

            • This “Jezebel” was teaching the believers that it was fine to compartmentalize their sacred and secular worlds [Akin, 73]

            • For her, following Jesus Christ didn’t mean making sacrifices that would hurt their livelihood – it wasn’t a complete turning away from sin to following Jesus Christ

            • It was a syncretism of the sacred and the secular – you can have both and still call yourself a Christian

            • However, that’s not what scripture teaches or what God calls us to

            • PRINCIPLE: ​​ God will not tolerate compromise in His people

              • God calls us to purity and holiness, both sexually and spiritually

                • God makes it clear that the sexual union between a man and a woman is to only be enjoyed within the institution of marriage, which he created and formed

                • This sexual union is good within those parameters and when it is practiced the way God designed it, there is no fear of contracting any kind of sexually transmitted disease

                • The same is true of our spiritual walk – when we practice Christianity in the way God designed it, we don’t have to fear the disease of compromise

                  • We also don’t have to worry about the diseases of gossip, anger, bitterness, fear, faithlessness, false testimonies, disunity, discord, lying, cheating, and the list goes on

                  • When we practice the Biblical model of Christianity those diseases will not plague us, because we will handle each of those situations correctly

              • He calls us to follow Him and not the world

              • 1 John 2:15-17, Do not love the world or anything in the world. ​​ If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ​​ For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. ​​ The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

              • God understands that spiritual faithfulness protects us from the disease of compromise

              • “When the church looks like the world, you have a sick church. ​​ When the church acts like the world, you have an impotent church. ​​ When the church plays with the world, you have an unfaithful church. ​​ [Akin, 73]

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Confess to God that I have not been spiritually faithful to Him and am struggling with the disease of compromise.

          • There are consequences to spiritual compromise and a refusal to repent of it

        • Jesus punishment for her

          • Jesus had given this woman ample time to repent, but she was unwilling

          • He cast her on a bed of suffering

            • She was leading God’s people into spiritual sickness

            • Jesus’ punishment for her was to allow her to experience suffering through sickness

            • We see in the story of Job that his friends wanted him to repent of his sins, because they believed his illness and the misfortunate that had befallen him was a result of his sin

            • Paul explains to the Corinthian believers why some of them were and sick and some had died

            • 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ​​ A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ​​ For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. ​​ That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

            • It was not uncommon for sickness and even death to be part of God’s punishment for people who were misleading His people or not being obedient to His commands

        • Jesus is not pleased that the believers in Thyatira have tolerated a woman who has been teaching them that compromise is fine when it comes to trade guild activities

        • He has a couple of commands for those in Thyatira

    • Command to the Recipients (vv. 22b-25)

        • Those who are tolerant of compromise

          • Most scholars see a distinction between the individuals who were tolerating compromise

            • Those who were committing adultery with her

              • They were going to hear what she had to say, but were not completely convinced of her teachings

              • They perhaps thought that her words seemed logical and had some merit to them

              • They understood how difficult it was to make a living in Thyatira without being a member of a trade guild or abstaining from participation in the sexual immorality and eating of food sacrificed to idols

              • While they were being drawn in to her way of thinking, they were not full members yet – they still had doubts

              • Intense suffering

                • God was going to use intense suffering to draw them back to Himself

                • The purpose of the intense suffering was not to alienate them from Him, but to bring about repentance and restoration

                • Proverbs 3:11-12, My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

                • Read Hebrews 12:4-11

              • These individuals still have an opportunity to repent – to turn away from the disease of compromise

            • Those who are her children

              • These individuals have become full members of her teaching

              • They have embraced her ideas about sexual immorality and idolatry being fine if it’s practiced within the confines of the trade guild and if it allows them to remain successful in their livelihood

              • They are unwilling to repent of the disease of compromise and are about to be struck dead by Jesus Christ

            • Jesus knows the hearts and minds of those who are flirting with compromise and those who have embraced it completely

          • Eyes like blazing fire

            • We see the importance of Jesus being characterized as one with eyes like blazing fire

              • He is all-knowing and is aware of the hearts and minds of those in Thyatira who have compromised or are thinking about compromising their spiritual faithfulness

              • He knows if they have committed spiritual adultery and have added to the Gospel of Jesus Christ the teachings of “Jezebel”

              • His judgment on the believers in Thyatira is to be a warning to all the churches of His ability to see things clearly and to judge rightly

              • 1 Timothy 5:20, Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

            • Since He knows their hearts and minds, He will repay each person according to their deeds

              • We see that Jeremiah and Paul agree with Jesus about being repaid according to our deeds

              • Jeremiah 17:10, I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.

              • Matthew 16:27, For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

              • Romans 2:6, God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”

            • Jesus still has eyes like blazing fire

              • He knows our hearts and minds

              • He knows if we are flirting with the disease of compromise or if we have given ourselves completely over to it

              • He knows if we are trying to syncretize the Gospel with society

              • He knows if we are claiming to be His followers, but continue to participate in sexual immorality and idolatry

              • He knows if we’re trying to justify our sin instead of repenting of it (gossip, bitterness, anger, lying, cheating, faithlessness, fear, false testimonies, disunity, and discord)

          • While these two groups were struggling with the disease of compromise there were others who had remained spiritually faithful

        • Those who are not tolerant of compromise

          • The rest of the believers in Thyatira had not given in the disease of compromise

          • They had not learned the so-called deep secrets of Satan

            • There was a belief system that to really understand and fully embrace the grace of God that an individual must first delve into the depths of evil [Mounce, 89]

            • We certainly know of individuals who have experienced the depths of evil, although they wouldn’t have seen it that way at the time

            • God’s grace was sufficient for them when they were ready to repent of their sins and turn to Him

            • But, we don’t have to experience the depths of Satan’s secrets in order to understand and embrace God’s grace

            • There are individuals who accepted God’s grace at an early age and have continued to mature in their faith over the years

          • Jesus tells them that He will not place any other burden on them

          • His last command to them is to hold on to what they have until He comes

            • They are to “maintain a firm grip on the truths of the faith against the false teachings of Jezebel and the other Nicolaitans.” ​​ [Osborne, 164]

            • They have been loving, faithful servants who have persevered and continued to grow under intense peer pressure

            • Jesus is encouraging them to continue that pattern

            • Spiritual faithfulness protects us from the disease of compromise.

        • Jesus promises two things to the believers who overcome the disease of compromise and remain spiritually faithful to Him

    • Commitment to all who Overcome (vv. 26-29)

        • We will rule the nations with Jesus

          • The verb “rule” means “to shepherd”

          • The iron scepter may be referring to a wooden club capped with iron that a shepherd used to ward off wild beasts

          • The dashing of the nations to pieces like pottery expresses the strength of Christ in overcoming the rebellious nations

          • It is perhaps a reference back to Him having feet like burnished bronze (strength and power)

        • We will have eternal life

          • If we overcome, we will spend eternity with Jesus Christ and experience the “abiding, close, imminent, and eternal fellowship with the Lord himself.” ​​ [Patterson, New American Commentary, Revelation, 118]

 

  • YOU

    • Two thoughts

        • “How far should I accept and adopt contemporary standards and practices?” ​​ [Keener, 137]

        • “Jesus’ approval on the Day of Judgment has to matter more to us than wealth or status in this life.” ​​ [Keener, 139]

    • Where are you at?

        • Are you remaining spiritually faithful to the Lord through the pressures to compromise?

        • Which matters more to you, Jesus’ approval or wealth and status in this life?

 

  • WE

    • As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to protect fellow believers from false teaching about syncretism

    • We have to be vigilant in exposing and rejecting anything that takes our focus off of Jesus Christ and His Gospel alone

    • We cannot tolerate spiritual adultery which will lead to the disease of compromise

 

CONCLUSION

“Seventy-two percent of Americans in the 18-25 age bracket believe there is no such thing as absolute truth; this view appears to be shared by over half of those who claim to be born-again Christians. ​​ Much of our society has absolutized relativism (how is that for oxymoronic thinking?) as the only nonnegotiable truth, in essence arguing that everyone is right unless one claims to be. ​​ One commentator cautions, ‘For some people today tolerance is the only real virtue and intolerance the only vice’; another that ‘while the message to Ephesus warns the church about the dangers of loveless orthodoxy, the message to Thyatira warns against the dangers of a ‘soft’ love that tolerates all things and judges none’. . . because relativism has become increasingly popular in our culture, the absolute necessity of faith in Christ for salvation has become a more uncomfortable position for many to hold. ​​ ‘Over nineteen centuries of Christian missionary activity hinged on this belief alone, but studies reveal that this remains ‘the single most socially offensive aspect of Christian theology,’ and that this has been the most prominent impact of theological liberalism.” ​​ [Keener, 139-140]

12

 

/by

Selfless Sacrifice

, ,

EASTER SUNDAY 2018

Selfless Sacrifice

(Philippians 2:5-11)

 

INTRODUCTION

“Millionaires are booming in the U.S.

 

Since 2008, the country has added 1.1 million millionaires to its roster – a growth rate of 28.6 percent.

 

What do they know that the 99% don’t?

 

There’s one key investing concept millionaires have mastered, according to Brent Fykes, a senior investment partner at GenSpring:

 

They know when to stop being greedy.

 

‘[Most average investors] tend to want to dabble in the stock market and buy the latest hot stock like Facebook or Apple,’ he told Bankrate.com.

 

On the other hand, wealthy investors ‘by nature are less risky because they’ve created a nest egg and don’t need it to grow at incredible rates . . . They just want to stay rich. ​​ On the whole, the 99 percent is in the get rich mode.’

 

This passage from Investopedia drives the point home:

Perhaps the No. 1 killer of investment return is your emotions. ​​ The axiom that fear and greed rule the market is true. ​​ Do not let fear or greed overtake you. ​​ Focus on the bigger picture. ​​ Stock market returns may deviate wildly over a shorter time frame, but over the long term, historical returns for large cap stocks can average 10 to 11%. ​​ Realize that, over a long time horizon, your portfolio’s returns should not deviate much from those averages. ​​ In fact, you may benefit from the irrational decisions of other investors.”

 

Mandi Woodruff, “Consider Greed The First Deadly Sin Of Investing,” http://www.businessinsider.com/greed-is-the-deadly-sin-of-investing-2013-3

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Envy

        • Envy is easy to fall into, especially in this age of technology

        • It’s not hard to do in the pastorate, because I see what other churches are doing and wish that we were able to do those same things here

        • If I allowed envy to have full reign in my life, it wouldn’t be long and I would become discontent here and begin looking for another church where I could serve

        • Envy can drive us to do things we wouldn’t normally do

          • Judy and I were on vacation one year and because of that we let our guard down

          • The sales representative played on our desire to have a nice place to stay when we went on vacation – something better than a hotel or motel room – something with multiple bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, and living room

          • We were cautious, but still invested in something that we probably shouldn’t have

          • These deals are not easy to get out of – they’ve designed it that way on purpose

          • We were really envying how other people take vacations instead of being content with what we normally do

        • Those desires of envy boil down to the fact that I want to feed my own pride

    • Pride

        • Envy and pride go hand-in-hand

        • I want people to look up to me and consider me to be a success and a great leader

        • It’s the desire to be known that feeds pride in me

        • It’s a reflection of the sin of selfishness in my own life

        • This sin of selfishness can take many forms – envy/pride, greed, ambition/peer pressure

 

  • WE

    • Envy

        • Perhaps you struggle with envy in the position that you hold at work

          • It doesn’t make any sense how or why that other person got the promotion when you should have gotten it

          • You’re better at what you do than anyone else

          • When you allow envy to control you, you struggle with contentment at work

          • It affects your relationships with others

          • You can become paranoid of why people are doing and saying certain things

          • You can incorrectly read something into a statement or action that is said or done

        • As a young person your envy is primarily directed toward those at school

          • You wish your hair, eyes, body, teeth, etc. were like someone else’s

          • You wish that learning came as easy to you as it does to that really smart guy or girl in your class who always gets an “A” on the tests and throws off the grading curve

          • If you’re on a sports team, perhaps you envy the person who seems to be able to excel at the sport without trying very hard

    • Greed

        • Greed is defined as, “Excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions.” ​​ [dictionary.com]

        • Maybe this form of selfishness is the one you’re struggling with

        • Everything you do is centered around making money so you can purchase things

        • The show Clean House highlighted those who had an excessive desire for possessions

          • The show helped families get their house in order

          • It also helped the family overcome some emotional issues that had led to the “mayhem and foolishness” as the host of the show always says

        • Envy can lead to greed

          • Perhaps you’ve done some things that you would not normally do in order to achieve greater wealth

          • You work out a business deal that will make you a bigger profit, but jeopardize the safety of your product – you just hope that most of them will be fine

          • Many times you will compromise your value system in order to achieve greater wealth or possessions

          • Maybe you work out a deal with your friends at school to help you fund a project or event that will benefit you the most – you use your influence and persuasive abilities to convince them that it will benefit them more than it actually will

          • You know that trading a certain toy with another boy or girl at school is not an equal trade, but will benefit you more than them, because you’ll receive the more valuable toy

        • This is a reflection of the sin of selfishness in your life

    • Ambition/Peer Pressure

        • Perhaps the driving force in your life is status or prestige

        • Greed many times accompanies ambition or prestige

        • Your desire to maintain the status you have may drive you to not do what’s right

        • You may begin to listen to the voices of those around you who’ve made you what you are today instead of listening to the truth of God’s Word or being confident in what you know is right

        • Your beliefs become skewed and tainted by what others think

        • You are no longer your own

    • Biblical examples

        • There were two individuals and one group who struggled with these sins of selfishness as it pertained to the life of Jesus and the final days before His death, burial, and resurrection

 

  • GOD

    • Selfishness

        • Judas Iscariot – Greed (John 12:4-6; Matthew 26:14-16)

          • Judas struggled with the sin of greed

            • John 12:4-6, But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? ​​ It was worth a year’s wages.” ​​ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

            • When Mary anointed Jesus feet with perfume (pure nard), we see in John 12:4-6 that he was indignant and scolded Mary for being wasteful

            • He tried to sound spiritual by saying that the perfume could be sold and the proceeds used to help the poor

            • He knew the value of the perfume and how much money could be added to the disciples coffer

            • He was the one who took care of the money bag for the disciples and routinely helped himself to what was in there

            • His intentions were not pure, but rather greedy

          • Jesus scolds Judas for bothering Mary

            • No one really enjoys being corrected, but this is what happened to Judas in public

            • We then see in Matthew 26:14-16 that Judas meets with the chief priests and asks them what they are willing to give him in exchange for handing over Jesus

            • The chief priests count out 30 silver coins and gave them to him

            • From that point on he watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over

          • It was selfishness expressed through greed and perhaps pride that caused Judas to reject Jesus and follow Satan

        • Chief Priests – Envy/Pride (Matthew 26:59-68; 27:18)

          • Imagine being a chief priest in the Jewish tradition during this time

            • You were highly respected and rarely questioned if at all

            • Achieving this level of prestige was something that perhaps many Jewish priests aspired to

            • Everyone looked up to you and would listen to every word you had to say

            • You would teach, and people would take it as law

            • You had the power to influence people in any direction you desired

          • Jesus arrives on the scene

            • He begins to draw large crowds and people begin to follow Him and listen to every word He says

            • They are no longer listening to you

            • In fact, Jesus scolds you on multiple occasions in public, making you look foolish instead of intelligent

            • Even when you finally are able to arrest Jesus because of a traitor in his inner circle of 12, you can’t make any of the false accusations stick

            • You finally have to claim blasphemy as your reason for condemning Him to death, but your Jewish law doesn’t allow you to put anyone to death

            • You take Jesus before the Roman governor because the Roman law allows for death

            • The Roman governor tries to protect Jesus because he knows why the chief priests have handed Him over

            • Matthew 27:18, For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

            • The chief priests were jealous and envious of the power that Jesus exhibited not only in His teaching, but in His ability to heal people

            • They were envious of the fact that Jesus was doing things on the Sabbath that they, had been falsely taught for years, was wrong

          • It was selfish envy that caused the chief priests to reject Jesus as the Messiah and turn Him over to Pontius Pilate to be crucified

        • Pontius Pilate – Ambition/Peer Pressure (Matthew 27:15-26)

          • Questioning of Jesus

            • After talking with Jesus, Pilate knew that the trumped up charges of causing riots, claiming to be a king, and encouraging people not to pay taxes, were false

            • He wasn’t dull and was able to see through the smoke screen to the real reason the Jews brought Jewish to him – it was envy

            • That’s why Pilate stated multiple times that he found no basis to charge Jesus with any crime

          • Pilate’s wife

            • Pilate’s wife had a dream about Jesus that caused her great suffering

            • She encouraged Pilate not to have anything to do with an innocent man

          • Other avenues

            • Pilate tried desperately not to be a part of salvation history

            • He sent Jesus to Herod, so he wouldn’t have to make a decision

            • He tried offering to release Jesus or a real criminal and the Jews chose the real criminal, Barabbas, over Jesus

            • He tried washing his hands of the situation, so he would not be held accountable

          • The decision

            • Pilate’s final decision was made because of his selfish desire to remain as the governor instead of doing what he knew was right

            • Matthew 27:24-26, When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ​​ “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. ​​ “It is your responsibility!” ​​ All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” ​​ Then he released Barabbas to them. ​​ But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

            • John 19:12, From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. ​​ Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

            • Pilate had already been in trouble with Tiberius Caesar on at least two other occasions and he could not afford to be in trouble with him again

            • Caesar only allowed men to remain in positions of power who were able to maintain control of the people

            • So Pilate gave in to the will of the people

          • It was Pilate’s selfish desire to preserve himself and his status that caused him to reject Jesus and hand Him over to be crucified

    • Selflessness (Philippians 2:5-11)

        • Greed (2:5-6)

          • Philippians 2:5-6, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, . . .

          • Jesus is the Son of God

          • He was there when the world was created

          • He knows about the riches of Heaven

          • He owns everything

          • He has unlimited power

          • Jesus sacrificed all of that for you

            • He set aside the right to his glory and power

            • Even as He suffered a horrible beating at the hands of Roman soldiers, He did not use His power to avoid it

            • As He suffered the brutal death of crucifixion on a cross, He could have called down angels from heaven to minister to Him but He chose not to

            • He showed no signs of an excessive desire for wealth or possessions

          • He was selfless

        • Ambition/Status (2:7)

          • Philippians 2:7, . . . but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

          • Jesus made Himself nothing

          • He took on the very nature of a servant

          • Jesus was selfless when it came to ambition or status

          • He did not allow what others thought about Him to affect what He came to do

            • Mark 8:31-33, He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ​​ He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ​​ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ​​ “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. ​​ “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

            • John 11:7-8, Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” ​​ “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”

          • He knew what was right and He followed through with it even though the Roman soldiers mocked Him and beat Him

        • Envy/Pride (2:8)

          • Philippians 2:8, And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!

          • Jesus showed humility as He went to the cross

          • He didn’t let His deity stop Him from accomplishing His mission and goal

          • He wasn’t prideful about His position as the Son of God, but was willing to take on the essence of man in order to save you and me

          • Perhaps the chief priests wouldn’t have envied Jesus if they had understood who He was and why He had come to earth

          • Jesus selflessly became obedient to death on the cross

        • Jesus’ Exaltation (2:9-11)

          • Jesus death brought you victory, because His death destroyed the devil who holds the power of death (Heb. 2:14) ​​ [Stott, The Cross of Christ, 233]

          • Jesus’ resurrection vindicated Him and declared with power that He is the Son of God and that His death was effective for the forgiveness of sins [Stott, The Cross of Christ, 233]

          • Philippians 2:9-11, Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

  • YOU

    • Jesus died for your sin

        • If you’re struggling with the selfish sin of envy/pride, Jesus died to take your punishment

        • If you’re struggling with the selfish sin of greed, this excessive desire for wealth or possessions, Jesus paid your fine

        • If you’re struggling with the selfish sin of ambition/compromise, Jesus shed His blood so you could be set free

        • My greatest desire for you is that you’ll recognize all that God has done for you through His Son Jesus Christ

          • Romans 3:10-12, As it is written: ​​ “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. ​​ All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

          • Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

          • Romans 5:8, But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: ​​ While were still sinners, Christ died for us.

          • Romans 10:8-10, 13, But what does it say? ​​ “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: ​​ That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ​​ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved . . . for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

          • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Call on the name of the Lord and be saved.

        • You may be here today and can say that you know about God and you know what Jesus Christ did for you when He died on the cross, but there is something that is holding you back from giving your life completely to Him as your Savior

    • Rejecting Jesus

        • Judas, the Chief Priests, and Pontius Pilate all knew about God and saw Jesus face-to-face and yet they rejected Him

        • Perhaps it makes perfect sense to you why Judas Iscariot rejected Jesus

          • Maybe you are seeking true happiness by accumulating wealth or possessions

          • You may have the misconception that if you dedicate your life to Jesus Christ, that He will require you to sell all of your possessions or empty your bank accounts and give to the poor

          • You’re concerned that you’ll have to live like a pauper and never be happy

          • When Jesus comes into your life, He will change your desires to coincide with God’s purposes

          • The Holy Spirit will teach you how to deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23-24)

        • Maybe you continue to reject Jesus because of pride

          • You want to be in charge of your life

          • You don’t want anyone telling you what you can and cannot do

          • You view the Bible as God’s rule book and rules are meant to be broken

          • You don’t want to admit that you could use someone else’s help with the situation(s) you are currently going through

          • Perhaps you’ve seen answered prayer in someone else’s life, but you’re too prideful to experience it for yourself

        • You may be dealing with peer pressure, which has caused you to reject Jesus

          • You know what’s right to do, but you’re afraid of what your friends might think if you turn your life over to Jesus Christ

          • You’ve allowed them to influence how you think and act, but you’ve felt the leading of God’s Spirit in your life

          • He’s calling out to you to follow Him

        • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to read the Gospel of John in the Bible for the next month and ask God to reveal Himself to me.

 

  • WE

    • We have a responsibility as Christ followers to share this transformational Gospel with those in our sphere of influence

    • After Jesus’ resurrection, he stayed on the earth for 40 days, teaching His disciples

        • They were the ones who were going to carry the Gospel to the known world

        • Matthew 28:18-20, Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ​​ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. ​​ And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

        • These are our marching orders – Jesus is alive! ​​ The world needs to know

 

CONCLUSION

“In his best-selling book, The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey contrasts the humility that characterized Jesus’ royal visit to planet earth with the prestigious image associated with world rulers today:

 

In London, looking toward the auditorium’s royal box where the queen and her family sat, I caught glimpses of the…way rulers stride through the world: with bodyguards, and a trumpet fanfare and a flourish of bright clothes and flashing jewelry.

 

Queen Elizabeth II had recently visited the United States, and reporters delighted in spelling out the logistics involved: her four thousand pounds of luggage included two outfits for every occasion, a mourning outfit in case someone died, forty pints of plasma, and white kid-leather toilet seat covers. She brought along her own hairdresser, two valets, and a host of other attendants. A brief visit of royalty to a foreign country can easily cost twenty million dollars.

 

In meek contrast, God’s visit to earth took place in an animal shelter with no attendants present and nowhere to lay the newborn king but a feed trough. Indeed, the event that divided history, and even our calendars, into two parts may have had more animal than human witnesses. A mule could have stepped on him.”

 

Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew (Zondervan, 1995)

 

[http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1999/november/12115.html].

11

 

/by

Pure Faith

, ,

Jesus Unveiled

Pure Faith

(Revelation 2:12-17)

 

INTRODUCTION

“I grew up in a China that had been ravaged by two centuries of European and American adventuring, and then by World War II and a brutal civil war. We lived in Nanjing, which was then the nation's capital, but there were few good schools to go to, so at the age of five I found myself setting off by plane to a boarding school in Shanghai.

 

Obviously, the conditions behind the decision to send me out at that age were extreme, and I was not the only one launched on that path so young. But it was the first time in my life that I had been away from my parents and on my own. So, to give me a constant reminder of the North Star of the faith at the center of our family life, my father had searched for two small, smooth, flat stones and painted on them his life motto and that of my mother. For many years those two little stones were tangible memos in the pockets of my gray flannel shorts that were the uniform of most English schoolboys in those days. In my right-hand pocket was my father's motto, ‘Found Faithful,’ and in my left-hand pocket was my mother's, ‘Please Him.’

 

Many years have passed since then, and both of those little painted stones were lost in the chaos of escaping from China when Mao Zedong and the People's Army eventually overran Nanjing, returned the capital to Beijing and began their iron and bloody rule of the entire country. But I have never forgotten the lesson of the little stones. Followers of Jesus are called to be "found faithful" and to "please him," always, everywhere and in spite of everyone and everything.”

 

Os Guinness, Impossible People (InterVarsity Press, 2016)

 

http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2016/september/5092616.html.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Compromising my speed

        • When we were living in Ohio and I was the local director of CEF, I would travel to various churches and worship with them as a way to develop relationships

        • One day, we were traveling to a church and I was following another vehicle

        • I wasn’t paying attention to the speedometer until a state trooper passed us going the other direction

        • It was then that I looked down at my speedometer and realized that I was going over the speed limit

        • I looked in my rearview mirror to see the state trooper turning around and turning on her lights

        • I immediately pulled over and waited for her (Yes, I got a ticket)

        • I was not consciously speeding, but I had compromised my speed by simply following the person in front of me

        • I suffered the consequences of compromising, by having to pay a speeding ticket

    • Least favorite saying

        • “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” ​​ (Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper)

        • While that saying may work in some situations, I feel like our culture has misused it in order to do whatever they want

        • The idea is that, “if I get caught doing something wrong, I will ask for forgiveness, but if I don’t get caught than it was alright for me to do.”

        • This is another way our culture compromises some moral and ethical principles

  • WE

    • Compromise can be good

        • I want us to think for a moment about a time when you compromised for a good reason

        • Perhaps it was so our children could enjoy their favorite food

        • Maybe it was so our spouses could watch their favorite kind of movie or TV show

        • We may compromise doing something for ourselves in order to help a classmate with homework

        • There are all kinds of ways that we compromise that are good

    • Compromise can be bad

        • When we compromise our covenant with our spouse in order to participate in an emotional or physical affair

        • As an addict (drugs, alcohol, food, sex, pornography, etc.), we may compromise just once, which leads to more than just once, and we’re addicted once again

        • We may even compromise the truths of God’s Word and justify it by saying, “Well, everyone else is doing it, even my Christian friends.” ​​ (living together before marriage, premarital sex, pornography, gossip, lying, cheating, hatred in our hearts, etc.)

 

Jesus wants us to understand from the letter to the believers at Pergamum that we need to remain . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Faithful among the faithless.

 

They were complimented for doing that in one scenario, but criticized for not doing it in another.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 2:12-17)

    • Pergamum

        • Pergamum was the capital city of the Roman province of Asia Minor

        • It was north of Smyrna and east of the Aegean Sea

        • It was built on cone-shaped hill a thousand feet high

        • Its name in Greek (Pergamon) means “citadel”

          • There was a citadel that sat on top of the hill and housed both royal and sacred buildings

          • The most breathtaking part of the citadel was the altar to Zeus that basically sprung from the top of the mountain

        • Pergamum had a library that included 200,000 volumes, which was second only to Alexandria, Egypt

        • Religion flourished in Pergamum

          • They were the center of worship for the four main pagan cults of the day (Zeus, Athene, Dionysos, and Asklepios)

          • Asklepios was the god of healing and this shrine attracted great attention from all over the world – people came there for medical treatment

          • The symbols used for Asklepios were a serpent and a staff (show picture of the Rod of Asklepios)

          • Most of us are familiar with the Staff of Hermes (show picture of the Staff of Hermes) as it pertains to medicine

          • I’m reminded of Moses and the bronze snake in Numbers 21:4-9 (the Israelites who were bitten by the poisonous snakes would survive is they looked at the bronze snake on a pole – this was God’s plan to save them)

        • We see that Christianity had many competitors in Pergamum and that had created some problems for them

    • Characteristic of the Sender (v. 12)

        • This letter is again written to the angel of the church

        • The characteristic of Jesus that is highlighted here is also found in Rev. 1:16b

        • The sharp double-edged sword

          • In the Roman empire, the type of sword being referred to would have been the Thracian broadsword (show picture of a Thracian broadsword)

          • This sword represented Roman justice and became a symbol of their might

          • They would use it to bring about justice within the empire

        • ATTRIBUTES – Jesus is sovereign and just

          • The fact that Jesus is characterized as having this sharp double-edged sword coming out of his mouth is important

          • “The sword is the Word of God. ​​ Because it is God’s Word, it is true and trustworthy, inerrant and infallible. ​​ And here it is coming from the mouth of Christ! ​​ His Word is authoritative and sure.” ​​ [Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Revelation, 57]

          • We see this in Isaiah’s prophecy . . . but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. ​​ He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. ​​ (Isaiah 11:4)

          • The writer of Hebrews also mentions the authoritative power of God’s Word

          • Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and active. ​​ Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

          • As we’ll see in verse 16, if the believers in Pergamum do not repent, Jesus will bring justice through the Word of God – He will speak truth

            • Jesus has the right to rule and rules rightly (sovereign)

            • He is also just, which means that He judges fairly, He always makes the right decision

        • Jesus has some good things to say about the church in Pergamum – they have remained faithful among the faithless

    • Compliment to the Recipients (v. 13)

        • Faithless

          • The Greek word for “live” suggests a permanent residence and not something temporary (these believers were committed to living in Pergamum regardless of the danger or the cost to them personally)

          • Jesus knew that the believers in Pergamum lived in a culture that was controlled by Satan

          • He recognized that Satan had his throne there

            • Satan was alive and well in Pergamum and he was using multiple avenues to control the people there

            • The four main pagan cults were represented there

            • But most scholars agree that the throne of Satan is represented by the fact that Pergamum was the official cult center of emperor worship in Asia

            • They had built a temple to Augustus in 29 B.C. and a second temple was built during the time of Trajan

            • They were fiercely loyal to Rome and to the worship of the Emperor

            • As the capital city of Rome in Asia Minor, Satan had established his presence there through the governing authorities

            • ‘The imperial cult [is] the major problem behind Revelation as a whole . . .” [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 141]

          • Satan not only had his throne there, but also lived there

          • Under this incredible pressure from outside the church, the believers remained faithful

        • Faithful

          • The believers in Pergamum remained true to Jesus’ name

            • Multiple versions of the Bible translate “remained true” as “hold fast” (KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, RSV)

            • “The verb means to ‘grasp forcibly’ or, in this figurative use, to ‘remain firm.’” ​​ [Osborne, 141]

            • The believers were not about to let go of their faith in Jesus

          • They did not renounce their faith in Jesus

            • There was pressure from their neighbors, I’m sure, to show their loyalty to the Roman state

            • They were probably being pressured to burn incense to the emperor and declare that “Caesar is Lord,” or that Caesar was Savior

            • I’m sure they felt even more pressure when Antipas was martyred

              • This is the only place in the New Testament where Antipas is mentioned, so we don’t know much about him

              • What we do know is from Jesus and His description of him – he was a faithful witness

              • He had remained true to the Gospel even to the point of death

              • What Jesus was encouraging the believers in Smyrna to endure, Antipas had already endured – death

            • Perhaps Christians in other parts of the Roman world had folded under that kind of pressure, but Jesus commends the believers in Pergamum for remaining strong through it all

        • PRINCIPLE – God gives His people the power to remain faithful in a faithless society.

          • “In The Global War on Christians, respected author and journalist John Allen notes that ‘80% of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today are directed against Christians’ (Allen Global War, 33). ​​ When it comes to deaths, ‘90% of all people killed on the basis of religious beliefs in the world today are Christians.’” ​​ [Akin, 59]

          • While we certainly haven’t dealt with martyrdom in our community, there are other ways in which we are persecuted and have to remain faithful

            • Societal, Institutional, Employment, and Legal discrimination

              • God’s Not Dead movies highlight institutional discrimination

              • Children and teens being told they cannot pray for their meal at school or read their Bible during study hall

            • Violence against individual Christians

            • Suppression of Christian missions, conversion to Christianity, and corporate worship (pastors in Houston, TX being subpoenaed to turn over their sermons to the mayor)

            • Forced conversion from Christianity

            • Community oppression

          • More of this is on the way for Christians in the United States

          • The great thing is that God gives us His power to hold fast to His name and to not renounce our faith even when persecution comes

          • We can remain faithful among the faithless.

        • While the believers in Pergamum remained faithful during external attacks, some of them did not remain faithful during internal attacks

        • Satan was unable to defeat the believers with a frontal attack, so he used a more devious tactic and that was what Jesus had against them

    • Criticism of the Recipients (vv. 14-15)

        • The believers in Pergamum did the opposite of the believers in Ephesus – they accepted these false teachers instead of testing them and rejecting them [Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary, Revelation, 38]

        • Those in the church, who held to the teachings of the Nicolaitans, were doing the same thing that Balaam did with Balak and the Moabites and Midianites

          • Most scholars believe that the teachings of the Nicolaitans were the same as that of Balaam from the Old Testament – idolatry and sexual immorality

          • The story of Balaam and Balak is found in Numbers 22-24

          • Balak, king of Moab, sent for Balaam, a Gentile prophet

          • After consulting with the Lord, Balaam refused to go with them

          • Balak sends for Balaam a second time and God tells him he can go, but he can only do and say what God tells him

          • Balak asks Balaam three times to curse the Israelites, but Balaam is unable to do that because the Israelites are blessed by God

          • Satan’s frontal attack through Balak did not work, so he used more deceptive ways to bring down the Israelites

          • Numbers 25:1-3, While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. ​​ The people ate and bowed down before these gods. ​​ So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. ​​ And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

          • So what was Balaam’s part in teaching the Moabites and Midianites?

            • We see in Numbers 31 the Lord’s vengeance on the Midianites

            • It’s here that we find out Balaam’s part in tempting the Israelites to compromise

            • Numbers 31:15-16, “Have you allowed all the women to live?” ​​ he asked them. ​​ “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the Lord in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people.”

            • So, Balaam told the Midianites how to entice the Israelites to sin against the Lord and bring about God’s punishment on them

        • There were believers in the church at Pergamum who were holding to the teachings of the Nicolaitans

          • They were misleading the church into thinking that worshiping the emperor, participating in guild banquets, and practicing sexual immorality were alright

          • It was a subtle distortion, that the violation of conscience was fine [Easley, 39]

          • What identified this subtle distortion was compromise and accommodation

            • This was a difficult city to live in and remain spiritually pure

              • They were constantly being bombarded with festivals and feasts to the various gods

              • There was a three-day festival in the spring to Dionysus [Osborne, 144]

              • There was a procession to Dionysia in March [Osborne, 144]

              • The month of May brought the feast to Aphrodite (the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation), which included, as you can imagine, sexual immorality [Osborne, 144]

            • “On the theological level, compromise with the imperial cult to save one’s life and compromise with the pagan activities of trade guilds to save one’s livelihood are all of one piece (cr. 13:17); they represent accommodation to the world at the expense of one’s total devotion to God’s standards.” ​​ [Keener, The NIV Application Commentary, Revelation, 125]

            • What was happening is that the believers in Pergamum were trying to serve God, but they allowed, what the culture said was alright, to determine how they lived their lives

            • They were neglecting the truth of God’s Word as presented by the Apostle Paul, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ​​ Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. ​​ (Romans 12:2)

            • They had also forgotten the warning from James, You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? ​​ Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ​​ (James 4:4)

            • What the believers in Pergamum were struggling with was spiritual adultery

              • They wanted to be in a relationship with Jesus Christ, but they also wanted to enjoy the benefits of the imperial cult and the trade guilds

              • They were struggling with syncretism – trying to merge differing religious beliefs into one (perhaps taking the best of every religion and adding it to their belief system)

              • Theirs was not a pure faith

        • Application

          • We struggle with the same desires as the believers in Pergamum

          • Some of us may bend to the wishes of the federal, state, and local governments in order to avoid persecution

          • Others of us may compromise God’s standards in order to satisfy our own desires and to be accepted by those in our family, school, work, or neighborhood

            • We justify living together before marriage, because it will help us out financially

            • We give in to the temptation to have sex before marriage, because all of our friends are doing it and we are going to get married anyhow, so what will it hurt

            • Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 5-7 that for Christians, sexual relationships are only to be enjoyed within the bonds of marriage

            • We justify looking at pornography, because of a false belief that it isn’t hurting anyone, yet Jesus sets the standard higher for adultery when He says, But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ​​ (Matt. 5:28)

            • Jesus also raise the bar when it comes to murder, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ​​ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. (Matt. 5:21-22a)

          • We may even compromise our standards in order to save our job or livelihood

            • Tax season is in full swing and we may sometimes do certain things in order to avoid paying taxes

            • Jesus told the Pharisees to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s (Mark 12:17)

          • Our culture wants us to believe that certain lifestyles are acceptable and natural or that human life begins at birth instead of conception

          • In the past there was the belief that certain skin colors were somehow inferior to others

          • The gossip trail can be long, because we enjoy juicy details and have our own opinions that we have to share

          • Our culture, without God, will always try to push the envelope of what is acceptable

          • “Compromise is one of Satan’s favorite and most effective weapons. ​​ This is so for at least four reasons:” ​​ [Akin, 61]

            • It never occurs quickly, so you hardly notice the change

            • It always lowers the original standards you once held important

            • It is seldom offensive because it is perceived as loving

            • It eventually leads you to accept what you once rejected and even thought repulsive. ​​ It has been well said that what one generation tolerates, the next generation will accept; what that generation accepts, the next generation will celebrate.

        • Jesus commands the believers in Pergamum to push back against the culture – to remain faithful among the faithless

    • Command to the Recipients (v. 16)

        • Repent

          • To repent means to “change” our previous ways, both spiritually and ethically – it is a 180 degree turn from our sin to following Jesus Christ and God’s standards

          • How about you?

            • Perhaps you’ve compromised in some way with the culture of our day

            • You’ve allowed the beliefs of our culture to change your thinking and lifestyle to something that’s less than God’s standard

            • It’s not too late to repent

            • 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

            • As a follower of Jesus Christ this promise is for you

            • He will give you the power to be faithful among the faithless

            • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Claim God’s promise that He will forgive me when I repent and confess my sins to Him.

              • Once you have done that, I encourage you to return to God’s standard as outlined in His Word

              • Find someone that can hold you accountable to your commitment

          • As the body of Christ

            • Jesus was not only asking individuals in the church to repent, He was asking the entire church to repent

            • They had to change their minds about allowing the teaching of the Nicolaitans to continue within the church

            • They had not done what the church in Ephesus had done

            • The believers in Ephesus hated the teachings of the Nicolaitans and didn’t allow it to spread within the church

            • Corporate repentance is important as well

            • God promise to forgive is available for the body of Christ also

            • 2 Chronicles 7:14, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

          • We have a free will and can decide whether or not to heed God’s warning

          • Jesus understood that about the church in Pergamum, but He also explained the consequences of refusing to repent

        • Refusal to repent

          • The believers repentance meant they needed to deal with the heretical teachers and their followers

            • It wasn’t just saying they were sorry that they allowed this false teaching to infiltrate the church, but it was taking action to eliminate from the body

            • “The church cannot tolerate evil in any form. ​​ To the boastful Corinthians, proudly tolerating a man guilty of incest, Paul wrote, ‘Your boasting is not good. ​​ Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? ​​ Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened’ (1 Cor. 5:6-7). ​​ Sinning believers should be made to feel miserable in the fellowship and worship of the church by being confronted powerfully with the Word of God. ​​ Neither is the goal of the church to provide an environment where unbelievers feel comfortable; it is to be a place where they can hear the truth and be convicted of their sins so as to be saved (Rom. 10:13-17). ​​ Gently (cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-26), lovingly, graciously, yet firmly, unbelievers need to be confronted with the reality of their sin and God’s gracious provision through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. ​​ Error will never be suppressed by compromising with it. ​​ Today’s nonconfrontive church is largely repeating the error of the Pergamum church on a grand scale, and faces the judgment of the Lord of the church. ​​ (Revelation 1-11, 90) ​​ [John MacArthur cited by Akin, 62-63]

            • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Gently, lovingly, graciously, and firmly confront those in the church who are sinning, whether they are believers or unbelievers.

          • Jesus would come to the church and fight against those who were holding to the teachings of the Nicolaitans

            • Jesus switches from the second-person pronoun, “to you,” to the third-person pronoun, “to them”

            • What this communicates is that Jesus will be coming to the whole church – “to you” ​​ [Osborne, 146]

            • It also communicates that His wrath will be especially directed to the heretical teachers and their followers – “to them” ​​ [Osborne, 146]

          • He would come with the sword of His mouth

            • He would come to judge

            • He would use the truths of God’s Word to accomplish that judgment

        • Jesus realized that some within the church would heed His command to repent, so He explains His commitment to those who overcome/conquer

    • Commitment to all who Overcome (v. 17)

        • Jesus promises two things to those who conquer the desire to compromise – to those who remain faithful among the faithless

        • Both of these symbols represent eternal life – one is Jewish in nature (hidden manna), the other is Gentile (white stone)

        • Two items

          • Hidden manna

            • God sustained the Israelites in the desert with manna from heaven

            • He will sustain His faithful followers through suffering when they refuse to compromise

          • White stone with a new name written on it

            • A white stone was used in the ancient pagan world as an entrance token to public assemblies and festivals

            • This would have spoken volumes to anyone living in Pergamum, because of the numerous pagan feasts and festivals

            • The white stone that Jesus is giving to those who overcome would have been symbolic of the messianic banquet celebration that is still to come in the eschaton (Rev. 19:9)

  • YOU

    • We have to repent of our sins, both individually and corporately

  • WE

    • We have to lovingly and graciously confront those who are sinning within the church and leading others to do the same

12

 

/by

The Victor’s Crown

, , ,

Jesus Unveiled

The Victor’s Crown

(Revelation 2:8-11)

 

INTRODUCTION

“If you become an evangelical Christian in Laos, the communist neighbor of Vietnam and Cambodia, you likely will be "asked" to sign a fill-in-the-blank form. And it's not a membership card at your neighborhood church.

 

The form reads, in part

 

I, (name), who live in (location), believe in a foreign religion, which the imperialists have used for their own benefit to divide the united front and to build power for themselves against the local authorities. Now I and my family clearly see the intentions of the enemy and regret the deeds which we have committed. We have clearly seen the goodness of the Party and the Government. Therefore, I and my family voluntarily and unequivocally resign from believing in this foreign religion.

 

If you sign, you promise not to participate in this "foreign religion"—Christianity in every reported case—under punishment of law. If you don't sign, you can expect humiliation, harassment, and persecution, including probable imprisonment and torture.

 

The document's widespread use by Laotian officials has been authenticated by the World Evangelical Fellowship's Religious Liberty Commission and other sources. Hundreds of rural Christians reportedly have been forced to sign the form in public, then compelled to participate in animistic sacrifices.”

 

Baptist Press (10-9-00 article); submitted by Ken Taylor, New Orleans, Louisiana

 

[http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2001/february/12881.html].

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Poor or Rich

        • Judy and I are frugal and we watch our spending pretty carefully

        • We are great window shoppers – we can look at stuff without feeling like we have to buy it

        • Our boys have said over the years that we are poor

          • The reason they feel that way is because of how we communicated our desire to be frugal

          • We would tell them that we didn’t have the money to buy a particular item or do a particular activity

          • It wasn’t that we didn’t have the money, but that we were choosing not to spend it on those things

          • Wade was reading a book several years ago about budgeting and finances and the author said that many times, as parents, we tell our children we don’t have the money, but the reality is we don’t want to spend our money that way

          • The author recommended that instead of saying, “we don’t have the money,” that we should explain to our children that we don’t want to spend our money that way

          • This would have a alleviated the misconception that our boys had, that we were poor

          • We let our boys know, now, ​​ that we have the money, but are choosing not to spend it that way

        • Statistically, compared to the rest of the world, we are rich

        • There are times when we have struggled financially

    • Financial struggles

        • After moving back to Ohio from Florida, there was a period of time when I did not have a job

          • We had been putting Judy’s salary away into savings and living off my income while she was expecting Wade

          • So, we had a nice savings account that we would be able to use while she stayed at home with Wade and I worked

          • The only problem was I didn’t find a job right away and we had to live off of our savings for several months

          • It didn’t take long for our savings to diminish

          • We weren’t worried, because we knew that God had put the desire in our hearts to save her salary and live off mine

          • He knew what the future held and was preparing us for that

        • Medical bills

          • We ended last year and started this year with some medical visits to the ER and the cardiologist that were unexpected

          • It doesn’t take long to accumulate some significant medical bills

          • We realize that none of this came as a surprise to God and we are trusting Him to provide

        • We may look at these financial struggles as suffering

          • But, we certainly have not suffered like believers in Laos or like the church in Smyrna

          • They were suffering much greater things

          • It’s sometimes difficult for us to relate to the suffering that believers experience in other parts of the world where Christianity is not accepted

 

  • WE

    • Not really suffering

        • We may get picked on at school, if we even dare to let anyone know that we are a Christian, but we certainly aren’t in danger of being kicked out of school or losing our life (some students have given their lives instead of denying Jesus Christ)

        • We may get ridiculed at work, but in most cases we don’t lose our job or fear for our lives

        • We may be ostracized in our community because of our faith in Jesus, but we certainly aren’t kicked out of our houses or concerned that someone will kill us

    • More suffering is coming

        • We are being told today that our Judeo-Christian beliefs are wrong

          • The media and others are saying that our beliefs are dangerous

          • They are telling the culture that we are evil

          • This is all a part of Isaiah’s prophecy

          • Isaiah 5:20, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

        • There is a verbal war that is raging in our culture where Christians are being called bigots, intolerant, and homophobes

          • Christians are labeled as antichoice, antidiversity, antigay, anti-inclusion, and anti-intolerance

          • From these labels we can expect economic boycotts, governmental restrictions, and social ostracism [Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 48]

          • We don’t have to look very far to see these kinds of things already happening (Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of since-closed Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Portland, Oregon – $135,000 fine for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding)

        • While we currently don’t fear for our lives, that day will probably come sooner than later and when that happens, we can find hope and comfort from Jesus’ words to the church in Smyrna

 

In the letter to Smyrna, Jesus wants us to understand that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – Because He has overcome, we can overcome.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 2:8-11)

    • Smyrna

        • Of the seven cities mentioned in Revelation, only Smyrna still exists today as the modern city of Izmir, Turkey

        • Smyrna’s geography

          • It was 35 miles north of Ephesus

          • It was on the eastern shore of the Aegean Sea and had a harbor that supported its import-export industry

          • Mt. Pagus rose 500 feet above the harbor and looked down over it

            • There was a famous thoroughfare that encircled Mt. Pagus that was called the “Street of Gold”

            • Mt. Pagus had two temples at either end of the roadway, the local temple to Cybele, known as Sipylene Mother (a patron divinity), and a temple to Zeus

        • It was the first city in the ancient world to build a temple to the goddess Roma (195 B.C.)

        • Smyrna was known for its loyalty to Rome and because of that loyalty, it beat out ten other Asian cities to be the first to build a temple to the emperor Tiberius

        • Because of the strong connection to Rome and the large Jewish population that was hostile towards Christians, it was very difficult to live in Smyrna and claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ

        • With this background knowledge we find Jesus’ words to the church in Smyrna very practical

    • Characteristic of the Sender (v. 8)

        • Last week we talked about the structure of each of the letters (this letter and the letter to the church in Philadelphia do not have a word of criticism or correction

        • Again, the letter is written to the angel of the church in Smyrna

        • The characteristics of Jesus that are shared from Revelation 1:8-18 are particularly applicable for what the church in Smyrna is facing

          • First and Last

            • This characteristic comes from Revelation 1:17

            • As was discussed there, this title relates to Jesus’ attributes of being sovereign and eternal

            • He has power over time – he was there at Creation and He will be there at the end of time

            • He is aware of the circumstances of His people

            • He knows what you are currently going through – it does not come as a surprise to Him

          • Died and came to life again

            • This characteristic is also found in Revelation 1:18

            • This expresses Jesus’ power over sin and death

            • He took all of our sin on Himself when He died on the cross

            • Jesus experienced everything the believers in Smyrna were going to experience – slander, persecution, rejection, imprisonment, and death

            • He didn’t stay dead, He overcame! ​​ He came to life again, through the power of God

            • Because He overcame, we can overcome! ​​ 

        • Jesus wanted the believers in Smyrna to know that He had experienced the same things they were experiencing – He knew

    • Compliment to the Recipients (vv. 9)

        • We see again that Jesus is omniscient (all-knowing)

        • Jesus knows:

          • Their afflictions

            • It wasn’t just some basic affliction that would be easily overcome – it was intense and extensive

            • It can be translated tribulations

            • This was the basic term and the next two things, that Jesus says He knows about, explain the depth of the afflictions

          • Their poverty

            • Poverty was part of the persecution the church was experiencing

            • It was extensive, to the point of not even having the basics of life

            • Their poverty resulted from losing their jobs and then not being able to get new ones in a hostile pagan culture

            • The antagonism from the Jews and the Gentiles was intense and included damage to and/or theft of their property

            • Most Christians in the 1st Century were already part of the poorer classes of society

            • They couldn’t catch a break in the culture of Smyrna – it was a difficult life

            • It didn’t stop with intense poverty, but they were also being slandered

          • The slander of the Jews

            • The Jews were granted a status with the Roman Empire that enabled them to practice Judaism without being persecuted or experiencing social ostracism by the culture

            • They were an accepted religion and were not required to participate in emperor worship

            • Christianity grew out of the Jewish faith, but as they continued to grow the Jews were not interested in having them under their privileged status

              • It’s interesting that the Jews wanted to make this hard distinction

              • Jesus was Jewish

              • At least eleven of the twelve apostles were Jewish

            • While we don’t know exactly what was being said about Christians in Smyrna, we do have an idea of some of the things that were said about Christians in the 1st and 2nd Century [Patterson, The New American Commentary, Revelation, 96-97]

              • They were charged with cannibalism since they talked about “eating the body” and “drinking the blood” of Christ

              • They were accused of being sexually immoral because they had “love feasts”

              • They were labeled as atheists, because they didn’t accept the Greek gods

              • They were accused of being arsonists or incendiaries because of the continual references to the fire of the Spirit and the fires of divine judgment

              • Their unwillingness to participate in emperor worship caused them to be identified as disloyal to Rome

              • Their intense loyalty to one another and to Jesus would often get them disowned by their Jewish families – so they were “home wreckers”

            • The Jews weren’t free from the criticism of Jesus

              • While they were saying all kinds of false things about the Christians, Jesus says they are not really Jews

              • Paul explains what Jesus is saying here

                • Romans 2:28-29, A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ​​ No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. ​​ Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.

                • Paul explains further that Gentile believers have been grafted in where the Israelites have been removed

                • Romans 11:17-21, If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. ​​ If you do, consider this: ​​ You do not support the root, but the root supports you. ​​ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ​​ Granted. ​​ But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. ​​ Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. ​​ For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

                • The Israelites were God’s chosen people, but when Jesus came He opened the door for all people to be His chosen people, to be part of His family, through faith in Jesus Christ

                • John 1:12, Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

              • The Jews in Smyrna were persecuting the Christians, because they were being led by Satan

                • Read John 8:31-47

                • This can happen even within the church – fellow Christians can be led astray and begin teaching false doctrine

                • Acts 20:29-30, I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. ​​ Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

          • Jesus is commending them for enduring under some extreme conditions in Smyrna (afflictions, poverty, and slander), but He commends them also for their rich spiritual life

        • They are rich!

          • While they may be materially poor, they are rich spiritually

          • James 2:5, Listen, my dear brothers: ​​ Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

          • We have seen it time and time again in the lives of believers around the world

            • Whenever they have been stripped of everything, they lean on Jesus – their faith is deep and enduring

            • “Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, once referenced what he called the "counter-intuitive phenomena of Jewish history"—a phenomena that applies to Christians as well. ​​ "When it was hard to be a Jew," Sacks wrote, "people stayed Jewish. When it was easy to be a Jew, people stopped being Jewish. Globally, this is the major Jewish problem of our time."

              Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Future Tense: Jews, Judaism, and Israel in the Twenty-first Century (Schocken Books, 2009), page 51
              [http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2016/september/6092616.html]

            • This is true of Christianity too, those who are not experiencing persecution, affliction, poverty, and slander can very easily stop being Christians, but when persecution, affliction, poverty, and slander are present, Christians remain strong

            • Perhaps our prayer today should be that God would allow us to experience persecution, affliction, poverty, and slander, so we will turn to Him and rely on Him completely – our Christian walk may be too easy

        • Jesus does not have any criticism for the church at Smyrna, but His command is very serious

    • Command to the Recipients (v. 10)

        • Don’t be afraid

          • The Greek here has the meaning of “stop being afraid”

          • It is also emphatic here, which would mean “don’t be afraid of anyone” ​​ [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 132]

          • The Psalmist encourages us with these words, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ​​ Therefore we will not fear . . . (Psalm 46:1-2a)

          • Jesus give us this command, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. ​​ Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ​​ (Matthew 10:28)

          • Paul reminds Timothy that everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12)

        • Suffering is imminent

          • Jesus was warning the believers in Smyrna that suffering was coming

          • Some of them would be imprisoned for a period of time

            • We see in this passage that ten days is given as a period of time that they would be in prison

            • Some scholars see the time period as symbolic of a limited period of time [Mounce & Easley]

            • Most scholars agree that in the 1st Century, long term imprisonment was not a valid punishment

            • “The State would not burden itself with custody of criminals, except as a preliminary stage to their trial, or in the interval between trial and execution. ​​ Fine, exile, and death constituted the usual range of penalties; and in many cases, where a crime would in modern times be punished by imprisonment, it was visited with death in Roman law.” ​​ [Ramsey cited by Patterson, 98]

            • The result of being imprisoned was most likely going to be death

          • It was a test of their faith

            • The devil wanted to see how resilient these Christians were

            • Could he persuade them to apostatize – to curse Jesus, to denounce their faith

          • They would be able to overcome, because Jesus had overcome

          • Jesus encourages His followers to remain faithful even to the point of death, because they will be rewarded with something far greater than their physical life

        • Faithfulness is rewarded

          • PRINCIPLE – God promises to reward His people who are faithful even unto death.

          • Jesus promises to give them the crown of life

          • There are two Greek words for crown

            • Diadēma which is the royal crown (it represented authority and honor)

            • Stephanos is the victor’s crown or wreath that was placed around the head of the athlete who won the games or the general who was victorious in battle (it was a wreath made out of olive, laurel, pine, or celery)

            • Stephanos is used here

          • Jesus promises his faithful followers the crown of life (eternal life)

            • Eternal life is the kind of life we need here on earth to obey God and it’s the kind of life we need to spend eternity with God

            • John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

            • God showed His great love for us that while we were still sinners, He sent Jesus to die for us (Romans 5:8)

            • We’re all born as sinners (Romans 3:23)

            • Out of God’s great love for us, He sent Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice to take away the sin of the world (2 Cor. 5:21)

            • All we have to do is repent of our sins, recognize God’s love for us, and believe in Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for us

            • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Repent of my sins, accept God’s love for me, believe in Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, and receive God’s eternal life.

        • When we make that decision, then Jesus makes a commitment to us

    • Commitment to all who Overcome (v. 11)

        • Jesus is speaking to all the churches again – the other six churches in Asia Minor and all churches today

        • Jesus promises that to those who faithfully conqueror the afflictions, poverty, slander, imprisonment, and death that is coming, will not be hurt by the second death

        • “The Lord who ‘died and came to life again’ is powerful enough to keep his faithful people safe even if they pass through the gates of martyrdom.” ​​ [Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary, Revelation, 37]

        • The first death is the separation of the soul from the body, while the second death is the separation of the soul from God [Patterson, 99]

        • Revelation helps us understand the meaning of second death

          • Revelation 20:14, Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. ​​ The lake of fire is the second death.

          • Revelation 21:8, But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice the magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. ​​ This is the second death.

 

  • YOU

    • Your suffering

        • Whether you’re being picked on at school, ridiculed at work, or ostracized in your community, you can be encouraged by knowing that because Jesus overcame, you can overcome

        • Your Judeo-Christian beliefs may come under attack in the near future

          • What will your response be?

          • It should be the same as the believers in Smyrna – you don’t have to be afraid

          • You can be faithful through the testing (afflictions, poverty, and slander)?

          • You can remain faithful even to the point of death?

          • My prayer is that you will, through the power of Jesus Christ

          • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Trust God to remain faithful to Him even through afflictions, poverty, slander, imprisonment, and death.

    • Are you spiritually rich?

        • Perhaps the lack of persecution, afflictions, poverty, and slander have made it easy for you to claim to be a Christian, but not really to live it out

        • Does the fruit of your life show a deep commitment to Jesus Christ or the culture of our day?

        • What priorities dominate your life?

        • Do you need to ask the Lord to bring persecution, afflictions, poverty, and slander into your life in order to motivate you to follow Him more closely?

        • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Evaluate my life and make any necessary changes to my priorities in order to follow Jesus more deeply.

 

  • WE

    • As a church we have to be ready to face the onslaught of criticism, afflictions, and slander that will surely come our way as we continue to hold to the truths of the Bible

    • We will experience persecution, potentially imprisonment, and perhaps death

    • The believers in Smyrna experienced that with one of their own not long after John sent the letter to them

 

CONCLUSION

“Approximately 60 years after John wrote these words to the church at Smyrna, there would indeed be a man ‘who would not be afraid of what you are about to suffer’ and who was ‘faithful until death.’”

 

We learn of his final hours and words from the book Early Church Fathers.

 

“Polycarp, when he first heard of it, was not perturbed, but desired to remain in the city. ​​ But the majority induced him to withdraw, so he retired to a farm not far from the city and there stayed with a few friends, doing nothing else night and day but pray for all men and for the churches throughout the world, as was his constant habit . . . Forthwith those searching for him arrived. ​​ And when they did not find him, they seized two young slaves, one of whom confessed under torture. ​​ For it was really impossible to conceal him, since the very ones who betrayed him were of his own household . . . Late in the evening they came up with him and found him in bed in the upper room of a small cottage. ​​ Even so he could have escaped to another farm, but he did not wish to do so, saying, ‘God’s will be done.’ Thus, when he heard of their arrival, he went downstairs and talked with them, while those who looked on marveled at his age and constancy, and at how there should be such zeal over the arrest of so old a man. ​​ Straightway he ordered food and drink, as much as they wished, to be set before them at that hour, and he asked them to give him an hour so that he might pray undisturbed. ​​ And when they consented, he stood and prayed – being filled with the grace of God that for two hours he could not hold his peace, to the amazement of those who heard. ​​ And many repented that they had come to get such a devout old man.

When at last he had finished his prayer, in which he remembered all who had met with him at any time, both small and great, both those with and those without renown, and the whole [universal] church throughout the world, the hour of departure having come, they mounted him on an ass and brought him into the city . . . There the chief of the police, Herod, and his father, Nicetas, met him and transferred him to their carriage, and tried to persuade him, as they sat beside him, saying, ‘What harm is there to say ‘Lord Caesar,’ and to offer incense and all that sort of thing, and to save yourself?’

At first he did not answer them. ​​ But when they persisted, he said, ‘I am not going to do what you advise me.’

Then when they failed to persuade him, they uttered dire threats and made him get out with such speed that in dismounting from the carriage he bruised his shin. ​​ But without turning around, as though nothing had happened, he proceeded swiftly, and was led into the arena, there being such a tumult in the arena that no one could be heard . . . and when finally he was brought up, there was a great tumult on hearing that Polycarp had been arrested. ​​ Therefore, when he was brought before him, the proconsul asked him if he were Polycarp. ​​ And when he confessed that he was, he tried to persuade him to deny [the faith], saying, ‘Have respect to your age’ – and other things that customarily follow this, such as, ‘Swear by the fortune of Caesar; change your mind’; . . . the proconsul was insistent and said: ​​ ‘Take the oath, and I shall release you. ​​ Curse Christ.’

Polycarp said: ​​ ‘Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. ​​ How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?’ . . . The proconsul said: ​​ ‘I have wild beasts. ​​ I shall throw you to them, if you do not change your mind.’

But he said: ​​ ‘Call them. ​​ For repentance from the better to the worse is not permitted us; but it is noble to change from what is evil to what is righteous.’

And again [he said] to him, ‘I shall have you consumed with fire, if you despise the wild beasts, unless you change your mind.’

But Polycarp said: ​​ ‘The fire you threaten burns but an hour and is quenched after a little; for you do not know the fire of the coming judgment and everlasting punishment that is laid up for the ungodly. ​​ But why do you delay? ​​ Come, do what you will.’

And when he had said these things and many more besides he was inspired with courage and joy, and his face was full of grace, so that not only did it not fall with dismay at the things said to him, but on the contrary, the proconsul was astonished, and sent his own herald into the midst of the arena to proclaim three times: ​​ ‘Polycarp has confessed himself to be a Christian.’

When this was said by the herald, the entire crowd of Gentiles and Jews who lived in Smyrna shouted with uncontrollable anger and a great cry: ​​ ‘This one is the teacher of Asia, the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, who teaches many not to sacrifice nor to worship.’

Such things they shouted and asked the official Philip that he let loose the lion on Polycarp. ​​ But he said it was not possible for him to do so, since he had brought the wild-beast sports to a close. ​​ Then they decided to shout with one accord that he burn Polycarp alive . . . Then these things happened with such dispatch, quicker than can be told – the crowds in so great a hurry to gather wood and kindling from the workshops and the baths, the Jews being especially zealous, as usual, to assist with this . . . Straightway then, they set about him the material prepared for the pyre. ​​ And when they were about to nail him also, he said: ​​ ‘Leave me as I am. ​​ For he who grants me to endure the fire will enable me also to remain on the pyre unmoved, without the security you desire from the nail.’

So they did not nail him, but tied him. ​​ And with his hands put behind him and tied, like a noble ram out of a great flock ready for sacrifice, a burnt offering ready and acceptable to God, he looked up to heaven and said:

‘Lord God Almighty, Father of thy beloved and blessed Servant Jesus Christ, through whom we have received full knowledge of thee, ‘the God of angels and powers and all creation’ and of the whole race of the righteous who live in thy presence: ​​ I bless thee, because thou hast deemed me worthy of this day and hour, to take my part in the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, for ‘resurrection to eternal life’ of soul and body in the immortality of the Holy Spirit; among whom may I be received in thy presence this day as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, just as thou has prepared and revealed beforehand and fulfilled, thou that art the true God without any falsehood. ​​ For this and for everything I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee, through the eternal and heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ, thy beloved Servant, through whom be glory to thee with him and Holy Spirit both now and unto the ages to come. ​​ Amen.’

And when he had concluded the Amen and finished his prayer, the men attending to the fire lighted it . . .

But the jealous and malicious evil one . . . pled with the magistrate not to give up his body, ‘else,’ said he, ‘they will abandon the Crucified and begin worshiping this one.’ ​​ This was done at the instigation and insistence of the Jews, who also watched when we were going to take him from the fire, being ignorant that we can never forsake Christ, who suffered for the salvation of the whole world of those who are saved, the faultless for the sinners, nor can we ever worship any other. ​​ For we worship this One as Son of God, but we love the martyrs as disciples and imitators of the Lord, deservedly so, because of their unsurpassable devotion to their own King and Teacher. ​​ May it be also our lot to be their companions and fellow disciples! ​​ (“Martyrdom of Polycarp,” Early Church Fathers, 150-55) ​​ [Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 50-53]

12

 

/by

Keeping Our Lampstand

,

Jesus Unveiled

Keeping Our Lampstand

(Revelation 2:1-7)

 

INTRODUCTION

“Among young adults in the U.S., sociologists are seeing a major shift taking place away from Christianity. Recent studies have brought the trend to light. Among the findings released in 2009 from the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), one stood out. The percentage of Americans claiming "no religion" almost doubled in about two decades, climbing from 8.1 percent in 1990 to 15 percent in 2008. The trend wasn't confined to one region. Those marking "no religion," called the "Nones," made up the only group to have grown in every state, from the secular Northeast to the conservative Bible Belt. The Nones were most numerous among the young: a whopping 22 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds claimed no religion, up from 11 percent in 1990. The study also found that 73 percent of Nones came from religious homes; 66 percent were described by the study as "de-converts."

 

Other survey results have been grimmer. At the May 2009 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, top political scientists Robert Putnam and David Campbell presented research from their book American Grace, released last month. They reported that "young Americans are dropping out of religion at an alarming rate of five to six times the historic rate (30 to 40 percent have no religion today, versus 5 to 10 percent a generation ago)."

 

[Drew Dyck, "The Leavers,"Christianity Today (November, 2010), p. 40; excerpted from Generation Ex-Christian (Moody, 2010); http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2010/november/1111510.html].

 

What we see with this report is that for some young people, they have forsaken their first love. ​​ They are “de-converts.” ​​ They are abandoning what they grew up learning and understanding. ​​ There are probably multiple reasons why that is happening and perhaps it is based on what was happening in the Ephesian church during John’s time. ​​ In our attempt to preserve the truth (orthodoxy) we have lost the importance of love (orthopraxy), which results in a false religion [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 117] that drives the younger generation away.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Love for Christ

        • Judy and I have always prioritized church attendance, since we have lived away from family for so many years

        • Even while in college, we made it a priority to get involved in a church

        • It has always been more than just attending church, but also volunteering (youth, stewardship committee, board of administration, Sunday school teacher, small group facilitators, etc.)

        • I know for me personally, there have been times when I have served with the wrong motives – it was more out of duty than out of love

    • Truth without love

        • When we were searching for a church home in California, we tried several churches before finding Calvary Chapel of Temecula Valley

        • We attended one church for several months and had started to get more involved there

          • One Sunday we were surprised by what was said in Sunday school by one of the assistant pastors and then the same idea was shared during the sermon by the senior pastor

          • The basic concept was that their denomination and beliefs were right

          • They were bashing every other denomination

          • In their pursuit of truth and being right, they had lost their love for other believers

          • We decided that day that we could no longer continue to attend that church

 

  • WE

    • Doing something without love

        • Perhaps we can all think of a time when someone did something without love

        • Maybe it was at a previous church

        • It could be within our family – this one happens frequently, because we are most comfortable around our family

        • Friends at school can do or say things without love

        • Coworkers or supervisors, when they are being pressured from management, can react without love

    • Hurt prevails

        • When things are said and done without love, we are often hurt by those words or actions

        • In some cases those relationships do not withstand the hurt and they die

 

We’ll see in the letter to the Ephesian church that Jesus tells them and us that . . .

BIG IDEA – Truth without love is death.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 2:1-7)

    • Easley provides a beautiful outline for this letter to the Ephesian church [Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary, Revelation, 33-34]. ​​ I’ll be using his outline headings as the main points this morning

    • Characteristic of the Sender (v. 1)

        • We first see that the letter is written to the angel of the church in Ephesus

          • Whether it is an actual angel, the pastor/leader of the church in Ephesus, or the spirit of the church as a whole is debated and defended by Biblical scholars

          • As mentioned in the last weeks message, what is most important is that Jesus holds/possesses and protects that individual or entity – they are in His control and under His authority

        • This aspect of the letter, characteristic of the sender, will be found in each of the seven letters and will refer back to one of the characteristics/attributes of Jesus Christ found in Revelation 1:5-18

          • Jesus refers to Himself in this letter as the One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands

          • Holds the seven stars in his right hand

            • This characteristic refers back to 1:16, In his right hand he held seven stars

            • The only difference from 1:16 and 2:1 is that the verb is now a present active participle, which means that Jesus is continually holding on to the “angels”

            • The angels of the seven churches are continually in His control

            • This would have brought comfort to those churches who were experiencing persecution

            • This should also bring us comfort, knowing that Jesus is continually in control of what happens within our church

          • Walks among the seven golden lampstands

            • This characteristics refers back to 1:12-13, And I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” . . .

            • The only difference here is that in the vision in 1:12-13, Jesus was among the golden lampstands

            • Now He is walking among the seven golden lampstands (the seven churches)

            • This verb is again in the present active participle form, which tells us that Jesus was continually walking among those churches

            • Jesus is continually aware of everything that is happening in His churches

            • ATTRIBUTE – Jesus is omnipresent

              • This should be an encouragement to us as followers of Jesus Christ and as a body of believers here at Idaville Church

              • Jesus is aware of everything that is happening in our church, because He is walking among us through the Holy Spirit

        • Jesus is not only omnipresent, but He is also omniscient (all-knowing)

        • This is how Jesus begins the section where He compliments the Ephesian church

    • Compliment to the Recipients (vv. 2-3, 6)

        • Twice in verse 2 Jesus says, I know

          • ATTRIBUTE – Jesus is omniscient (all-knowing)

          • This compliments His attribute of being omnipresent

          • Since He is walking among the churches, He knows everything that is going on

          • For us, Jesus knows the vision God has given us

          • He also knows the attitudes of everyone’s heart as it pertains to that vision

          • Nothing is hidden from Him

          • Since He knows everything about us, He knows how to guide us

        • We see the things that Jesus knows about the church at Ephesus

          • Deeds

            • This is a general description of what the Ephesian believers were doing, with the next two nouns providing further information about those deeds

            • Here we see it referring to the entire spiritual walk of the believers in Ephesus

          • Hard work

            • This is the active side of the spiritual lifestyle the Ephesians had

            • Mounce says that they toiled to the point of exhaustion [Mounce, New International Commentary on the New Testament, 68]

            • The same term, “toiled” or “hard work,” was used by Paul in describing what he did to support himself

              • 1 Thessalonians 2:9, Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

              • 2 Thessalonians 3:8, On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

            • While hard work was the active side of their spiritual lifestyle, there was also a passive side

          • Perseverance

            • That’s what we see with the term “perseverance”

            • Mounce continues by saying that the Ephesians were very patient with those in their city who were hostile and against their goals and efforts [Mounce, 68]

            • Hostility from those in Ephesus was not something new, Paul dealt with it when he was there

              • There were unbelieving Jews who opposed him (Acts 19:8-9)

              • The artisans who produced the shrines of Artemis were led by Demetrius to begin rioting as a result of Paul’s preaching (Acts 19:23-41)

            • We see in verse 3 that they persevered and endures hardships for the name of Jesus

              • “The Ephesian Christians faced special challenges. ​​ Because they refused to bow the knee to the goddess Diana or the images of the emperor, they found themselves maligned, slandered, boycotted, and abused. ​​ Not unlike Jewish merchants in Berlin in the 1930’s Christians in Ephesus would have been the objects of physical violence, social ostracism, and economic repression. ​​ Yet they endured. ​​ They bore up under the load. ​​ Clearly, Ephesus had been taught well by its predecessors, Paul, Timothy, and John. (Insights, 38).” ​​ [Swindoll cited by Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, 34]

              • They did this without growing weary

              • “Actor Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in the movie The Passion of the Christ, suffered during filming. He was struck by lightning more than once. Carrying the cross through the streets of Jerusalem, he fell, separating a shoulder. The harsh Italian weather, grueling days on the set, and hours in the makeup chair every day, contributed to his battles with pneumonia, and hypothermia. During the brutal whipping scene, the actors playing Roman guards accidentally missed the board protecting his back—twice—causing severe pain and wounds.

                During the filming of the crucifixion, Caviezel hung on a cross, buffeted by stiff winds. The cross swayed as much as three feet in either direction, aggravating his shoulder injury. That was when Caviezel wondered if he had made a mistake.

                ‘For the first time, I started questioning whether I had done the right thing. More important, I wondered whether it would be possible to finish the film.

                I actually had the thought that this cross is killing me…. It wasn't funny at the time. I was in pain and I was freezing. Then something happened. It's hard to explain, except to say it might be what an athlete goes through when he seems to be thoroughly beaten and defeated, and then he finds the strength within him to overcome and win.’”

                [                Barry Koltnow, "'Christ' Tested Caviezel's Resolve," The Cincinnati Enquirer (2-25-04, F 7); submitted by Matt Neace, Silver Grove, Kentucky; http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2004/march/14888.html]

            • The Ephesian believers, during the writing of Revelation, were still having to persevere through the hostilities of their culture

            • We may be seeing the beginnings of that kind of hostilities that the Ephesians faced, but my guess is that we really haven’t had to endure many hardships for the name of Jesus

          • Cannot tolerate wicked men

            • Jesus knew that the Christians in Ephesus were committed to correct teaching and doctrine – their orthodoxy was solid

            • Part of the hard work that the Ephesian Christians were doing, had to do with testing those who were claiming to be apostles

              • We see two active responses

              • They could not tolerate wicked men

                • It was something that bothered them as they were pursuing a pure doctrine

                • The Ephesians continued the practice of pursuing pure doctrine years after Revelation was written

                • “Ignatius, leader of the church in Antioch, wrote them, ‘You all live according to truth, and no heresy has a home among you; indeed, you do not so much as listen to anyone if they speak of anything except concerning Jesus Christ in truth.’ (Letter to the Ephesians, 6).” ​​ [Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary, 34-35]

                • These believers were using Scripture to guide their moral behavior instead of the culture and those claiming to be apostles [Akin, 33]

                • It appears as though the Ephesian believers took to heart Paul’s parting words to them

                • Acts 20:29, I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

                • We see that Paul’s prophecy had come true

                • The Ephesian believers seemed to be ready for these “savage wolves” and took the time to test them

              • They tested everyone who made a claim to be an apostle

                • It is highly likely that John had instructed the Ephesian believers in how to determine the legitimacy of someone claiming to be an apostle

                • He had written his first Epistle sometime between AD 85 and 90 from Ephesus, and it is in this Epistle that we find these instructions:

                • 1 John 4:1-3, Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ​​ This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: ​​ Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. ​​ This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

                • Akin gives some examples of what the “theological test” may have encompassed [Akin, 34]

                  • What do you believe about Jesus – His person and work?

                  • What is the gospel, and how are people born again?

                  • Do you believe a holy life should complement our confession of Christ?

                  • Do you teach anything contrary to or in addition to the Word of God and the witness of the 12 apostles?

                • These questions are applicable for us in the modern era – we can and should be asking these same questions of those who are claiming some special position within God’s kingdom

        • PRINCIPLE – God is pleased when His people work hard, persevere and endure hardships, and strive for doctrinal purity.

          • My prayer is that Jesus would say the same things about Idaville Church

          • Application

            • We have to ask ourselves if we are toiling hard to the point of exhaustion so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is spread throughout our community

              • The old adage applies to us – 20% of the people do 80% of the work

              • We need 100% of the people doing 100% of the work

              • There are volunteer opportunities available

              • There are individuals who need to hear the saving and transforming message of the Gospel

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to work hard at Idaville Church so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can be shared with those in our community.

            • We have to determine if we are persevering and enduring hardships for the name of Jesus Christ

              • As we continue to follow God’s Word, we will experience persecution and hardships

              • We may lose people when they begin attending other churches

              • There will be people who criticize various aspects of the worship service, children’s ministry, youth ministry, other ministries in the church, and the vision

              • If we are focusing on Jesus Christ in those areas, we will be able to persevere and endure

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Persevere and endure any persecution or hardships through the power of Jesus Christ.

            • We have to make sure that we are testing those who desire to teach, preach, and serve in leadership, to make sure they have pure doctrinal beliefs that match God’s Word

              • Every one of us should be diligent in this area

              • It is our responsibility to guard and protect God’s flock

        • Practices of the Nicolaitans

          • In verse 6 we see one additional thing that Jesus compliments the Ephesian Christians about

          • They hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which Jesus also hates

            • Important note – Jesus and the Ephesians do not hate the Nicolaitans, but rather their practices

            • This is important for us to understand

              • We should never hate an individual or a group of people

              • We can and should hate the practices of individuals or groups

            • We don’t really know who the Nicolaitans were – they appear again in the letter to Pergamum (Revelation 2:15)

            • What were the practices of the Nicolaitans?

              • The best evidence we have for what their practices were is found in Revelation 2:14, which says that individuals in the church at Pergamum were practicing idolatry (eating food sacrificed to idols) and immorality (sexual in nature)

              • We see these same practices in the church of Thyatira (Rev. 2:20-21)

        • The Ephesian believers were doing some really good things in their city, but Jesus had one thing against them and we see that in verse 4

    • Criticism against the Recipients (v. 4)

        • They had forsaken their first love

        • There is debate concerning what their first love was

          • Some believe it was their love for Christ

          • Others see it as love for fellow believers

          • But, Jesus doesn’t separate love for God and love for others

          • Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ​​ This is the first and greatest commandment. ​​ And the second is like it: ​​ ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ​​ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

        • The Ephesians’ push for doctrinal purity had taken priority

          • The reason behind why they did what they did was no longer based on their love for Christ – it had become a duty, a chore, a task to maintain right teaching

          • “I once heard a preacher refer to people whose theology was ‘clear as ice and just as cold.’” ​​ [Easley, 35]

          • “A cooling of personal love for God inevitably results in the loss of harmonious relationships within the body of believers.” ​​ [Mounce, 70]

          • In the process of maintaining right teaching they had sacrificed love for each other

          • Perhaps they were suspicious of one another – “Is Stuart one of those savage wolves that Paul warned us about?”

          • “There were in danger of a legalism that in time would be their death. ​​ They were still doing all the right things, but sometime in the past they had forsaken the right motivation. ​​ They didn’t have a head problem but a heart problem. ​​ Obedience out of duty had replaced obedience out of love for Christ. ​​ The difference between the two is massive. ​​ It is the difference between ‘I obey and Jesus accepts me’ and ‘Jesus accepts me and I gladly obey.’” ​​ [Akin, 36-37]

        • Truth without love is death.

          • We can easily fall into the same pattern as the church in Ephesus

          • The motivation behind pursuing right doctrine can be void of love

          • In our attempt to maintain a pure doctrine, we can treat others in a way that is not loving – simply focusing on truth without love

        • The Ephesians had a problem, but Jesus didn’t just criticize them and leave it at that, He offered them a three-fold solution to the problem

    • Command to the Recipients (v. 5)

        • Remember

          • The Greek word is in the present tense, which means that the Ephesians needed to “keep on remembering” – it wasn’t a once and done kind of thing, but a continual action

          • They needed to remember what they did when they were first saved

            • Do you remember what it was like when you first became a Christian?

            • There was a fervency there – a desire to learn more about God and Jesus Christ (going to church, Bible study, praying, and reading God’s Word brought you great joy – it wasn’t a task or burden)

            • You were uninhibited and excited – you couldn’t wait to share your transformation experience with others

            • Your faith was openly displayed – you didn’t care what other people thought

            • Are you still that way today?

            • If not, you need to “take an inventory and evaluate where you are now compared to where you were then. ​​ Go back to the time when your love for Jesus was a burning passion and all that mattered. ​​ What was it like? ​​ What is missing now?” ​​ [Akin, 38]

          • They needed to remember what it looked like when the church in Ephesus was first formed

            • There was a oneness because of a common experience, salvation through faith in Jesus Christ

            • Idaville Church was founded over 120 years ago

              • None of us were here to experience the joy, excitement, and oneness that the original members felt as they started meeting for the first time

              • We can get a sense of what it was like when the very first Christian church was formed

              • Read Acts 2:42-47

              • There was joy, excitement, love, and oneness

              • The exciting part of that passage for me is that when the church was functioning properly, the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved

              • That is love for God and love for others in action

          • Remembering is important, but we can’t stop there

        • Repent

          • When we recognize where we have fallen from, we have to repent

            • The Ephesian believers had to repent of their loveless attitudes toward God and others

            • Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of our attitudes and actions

            • It is a 180 degree turn from what we have been doing to what we should be doing

            • 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

          • Once we remember, and repent, then we have to return to the things we did at first

        • Return

          • As a church we have to do ministry and corporate life together with the correct motivation – love

          • We have to serve others out of love instead of duty

          • We have to worship God out of love and not obligation

        • Application

          • Perhaps you need to take an inventory and evaluate where you are now compared to where you were when you were first saved

            • Are there attitudes and actions that you need to repent of?

            • Are you worshiping God out of love for Him or obligation?

            • Are you serving others and the church out of love or duty?

          • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Remember where I have fallen from, repent of any wrong attitudes, and return to my first love.

        • Consequences of not repenting

          • The Ephesian believers had a choice, they could repent or not

          • Not repenting meant that Jesus would come and remove their lampstand

            • This means that they would no longer provide spiritual light in the dark and evil world in their city and surrounding villages

            • If they ignored the warning and command from Jesus to be motivated by love in their worship and service, then the church there would die

            • Truth without love is death.

            • We run the same risk as the Ephesian church, if we reject Jesus’ command for us to be motivated to worship Him and serve others out of love, then Idaville Church will die

        • The final thing that Jesus communicates to the believers in Ephesus is a commitment to those who remain faithful

    • Commitment to all who Overcome (v. 7)

        • Here is the first time we read the words, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

          • This phrase is repeated at the end of all seven letters

          • The fact that the plural form of church is used means that all seven letters were intended for the seven churches

          • It is also indicative of the fact that these letters are applicable for us today as a body of believers

          • “All who read this letter are to ask whether their church fits this situation and whether they too should ‘listen’ and ‘repent.’” ​​ [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Revelation, 122]

        • To him who overcomes

          • All seven letters have a commitment to those who overcome

          • Sometimes it comes before the phrase about listening to what the Spirit says and other times it comes after

          • The Greek word for “overcome” also means “conqueror”

            • It is historically an athletic and military metaphor, which represents both superiority and victory over a defeated enemy [Osborne, 122]

            • It comes from the Greek nikaō, which is where we get our English word “Nike”

            • So, Nike’s tag line, “Just Do It” is really meaning to conquer whatever you are doing in their shoes (basketball, running, tennis, hiking, etc.)

          • PRINCIPLE – God rewards His people who are faithful to Him.

            • We see that the reward for any church, in the 1st Century or today, that conquers the drift away from their first love, is the right to eat from the tree of life

              • The tree of life was originally part of the Garden of Eden

              • It was there with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

              • When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were removed from the Garden of Eden, and cherubim and a flaming sword were put in place to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24)

              • The tree of life is found again in Revelation 22:1-2, Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. ​​ On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. ​​ And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

            • This metaphor is talking about receiving eternal life

            • That is the reward for those who overcome

 

  • YOU

    • Is God pleased with your deeds?

        • Are you working hard for him?

        • Are you persevering and enduring hardships without growing weary?

        • Are you testing those who are preaching, teaching, and leading, against God’s Word?

    • Have you forsaken your first love?

        • Do you need to remember where you’ve fallen from?

        • Do you need to repent of any wrong attitudes?

        • Do you need to return to your first love?

  • WE

    • We have to ask the same questions as the body of believers at Idaville Church

    • We have to determine if we are pursuing truth without love

 

CONCLUSION

“Tell me what you think about, and I will tell you what you love. ​​ Tell me what you talk about, and I will tell you what you love. ​​ Tell me what excites you, and I will tell you what you love. ​​ My prayer for you, as well as for myself, is that the answer will be the same for all these. ​​ May the answer always be Jesus.” ​​ [Akin, 40]

13

 

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God’s Plan From Beginning to End

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Jesus Unveiled

God’s Plan From Beginning to End

(Revelation 1:1-8)

 

INTRODUCTION

How many of you are familiar with J. R. R. Tolkien’s series of books, Lord of the Rings? ​​ Perhaps you’re more familiar with the three movies that were produced. ​​ The premise behind the books and the movies is that there is a battle between good and evil.

 

At the end of the third book we read these words, “When Aragorn arose all that beheld him gazed in silence, for is seemed to them that he was revealed to them now for the first time. ​​ Tall as the sea-kings of old, he stood above all that were near; ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him. ​​ And then Faramir cried: ​​ ‘Behold the King!’”

 

Kendell H. Easley in his commentary says, “This excerpt suggests that Tolkien knew the true King of kings. ​​ He knew that human history is all about a real battle between good and evil. ​​ He knew that the true King has not yet been revealed in his splendor, but will one day.” [Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary, 11]

 

Aragorn was with the Hobbits and the other characters as they fought their way to the mountain where the one ring would be destroyed. ​​ He was known to them as Strider, but He was with them nonetheless.

 

Jesus was physically with humanity for a period of time. ​​ He is with us now through the Holy Spirit that lives within every believer. ​​ We see through all of Scripture that God’s sovereign plan continues to unfold throughout history. ​​ It is His redemptive plan that was set into motion when Adam and Eve sinned. ​​ It continues today and will one day be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns.

 

BODY

  • ME

    • Past

        • I’ve seen God’s redemptive plan at work in my life in the past

        • I was four years old when I believed in Jesus Christ for salvation

        • I didn’t understand all that a relationship with Jesus meant at that age, but God continued to work in my life as I learned more and more about His Son

        • As a teenager, I felt the call to missionary work, but didn’t know when or where

        • It wasn’t until three years after graduating college that I began to serve with Child Evangelism Fellowship

        • God’s sovereign plan for my life continued to unfold as I was obedient to His call into pastoral ministry

    • Present

        • I’ve seen God working in my life even now

        • As a family we’ve been reading through the Bible and praying for the nations this year

        • It has been an incredible time of bonding as a family and it’s brought up good conversations and some laughter

        • God has also been working in my life through several books I’ve read recently

          • Not A Fan and Radical have challenged me to deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Jesus Christ

          • I’m still working through what that looks like for me

    • Future

        • I recently started reading Visioneering by Andy Stanley and that has been challenging me to think about the future and the vision God has given me in several areas: ​​ career, finances, spouse, children, ministry, etc.

        • I’m looking forward to developing and praying about those visions

        • I don’t know when some of them will come to fruition, but I know that God’s sovereign plan will be revealed and accomplished in His time

​​ 

  • WE

    • How have you seen God’s sovereign plan at work in your past? ​​ (spouse, job, career, salvation, etc.)

    • How do you see God’s sovereign plan working in your life right now?

    • Do you believe that God’s sovereign plan will be accomplished in your life in the future?

 

As John begins his letter to the seven churches in the province of Asia, he wants us to understand that . . .

 

BIG IDEA – God’s sovereign plan is seen in the past, present, and future.

 

Let’s pray

 

  • GOD (Revelation 1:1-8)

    • Theme

        • The theme for the entire book of Revelation is “Jesus Unveiled”

          • The very first word in the original Greek text is ʹΑποκάλυψις and it means “the act of uncovering, unveiling, revealing, revelation.” ​​ [Rogers & Rogers, The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament, 610]

          • The book of Revelation is the unveiling of the culmination of God’s plan to redeem humanity

          • That plan includes Jesus Christ at every step

          • We’ll see Jesus unveiled in multiple ways throughout this book

          • If you remember, I told you that I would give you the greatest teaching of Revelation that isn’t found in most commentaries – “right before the final judgment, God is still wooing the people of this world. ​​ His judgments are designed to call everyone to repentance. ​​ God may do His greatest act of evangelism at the very end. ​​ This may be why believers are still here.” ​​ [Dr. Douglas Buckwalter, lecture at Evangelical Seminary]

        • Apocalypse

          • Most movies today that portrait the apocalypse make it look scary and something that should be feared

          • Yet, that is not how we should look at the Apocalypse

          • This is God’s fulfillment of His sovereign redemption plan

            • We saw His sovereign redemption plan in the past

              • He promised Adam and Eve that He would send a Savior

              • He made a covenant with Abraham

              • He promised David that someone from His line would always sit on the throne – it is Jesus!

              • He sent Jesus over two thousand years ago to be the perfect Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world

            • We see His sovereign redemption plan in the present

              • The presentation we showed during halftime at the “Super Game” Night from Sports Spectrum and Football Sunday highlighted interviews from NFL players talking about what Seeking, Surrendering, and Serving looks like for them

              • This past year, the Philadelphia Eagles team saw several players give their lives to Jesus Christ and be baptized

              • It’s not just through NFL players that we see God’s sovereign redemption plan at work in the present, but also through every individual who surrenders their life to Jesus Christ

            • Through Revelation we have a glimpse into His sovereign redemption plan for the future

    • Introduction (vv. 1-3)

        • Transmission of the revelation (vv. 1-2)

          • John gives us a little introductory explanation about how the revelation of Jesus was transmitted to him

            • The revelation that John receives is not his own revelation, but rather Jesus’ revelation

            • There is great discussion about whether the revelation is about Jesus or from Jesus

            • Most scholars believe the original Greek within context favors the subjective genitive meaning – from Jesus – instead of the objective genitive – about Jesus

            • But the meaning of the Greek can be both of/about and from

            • It is definitely from Jesus, but I believe we’ll see that this revelation is an unveiling of Jesus as God’s fulfillment of His sovereign plan

          • There was a chain of communication that took place

            • The revelation was transmitted from God to Jesus

            • Jesus then shared it with an angel who in turn shared it with His servant John

            • In writing this book of the Bible, John then shares it with Jesus’ servants, the congregations of the seven churches in the province of Asia and of course with all believers down through history (that includes us)

          • What must soon take place

            • This phrase has caused some confusion and controversy over the years

            • How can this revelation be something that is soon to take place, if it has been two thousand years since John wrote these words?

            • How is John defining “soon”?

            • The Greek word means “speed, swiftness,” but with the preposition can mean “quickly, suddenly, soon.” ​​ Walvoord explains that the word indicates rapidity of execution [Rogers & Rogers, 610]

            • “It’s the same Greek word from which we get the word ‘tachometer’ – the instrument used to determine the speed of an engine. ​​ Thus, the Lord is telling us in this verse that when end-time events begin to happen, they’ll increase their rpms and happen with greater rapidity.” ​​ [Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament, 1663-1664]

            • We also have to remember that God works outside of our time/space continuum

              • Jesus’ return is always imminent in prophecy

              • Chronological sequence is always a secondary concern when speaking about prophecy [Mounce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, 41]

              • We should have a sense of expectation and responsibility when we read that the end will soon take place [Osborne, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, 55]

              • Live each day as if Christ is returning today

          • Testifying to everything he saw

            • John is letting us know that what he wrote down is everything he saw when he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day (Rev. 1:10)

            • He also clarifies that what he saw was the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ

            • Those two statements are one in the same

        • Beatitude (v. 3)

          • This is the first of seven beatitudes that we will find in Revelation (14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14)

          • The same Greek word is used here as in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1-12 and Luke 6:17-26

          • It can be defined as “happy”

          • Two groups can count themselves blessed/happy

            • Those who read it

              • There weren’t many in the 1st Century church who were able to read

              • So, it’s not hard to understand why those who could read and did read Holy Scripture were blessed or happy

              • They were sharing the very words of God to those who couldn’t read

              • This is how the Gospel was spread throughout the Roman world

            • Those who hear it and take it to heart

              • To take it to heart meant to “keep” or “observe”

              • Both the reader and hearer were to obey what was read

              • Jesus expresses in Luke 11:28 almost the exact same words as here, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

              • The theme of listening continues throughout Revelation, especially when addressing the seven churches

              • In each letter we hear these words, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)

              • Even though each church is addressed individually, all of the churches are to listen and obey what is being said to the other churches

          • PRINCIPLE – God will bless His people who read His word and those who hear it and obey it.

            • We have the opportunity to experience God’s blessing in ​​ our lives – to be happy

            • There are individuals in our culture who cannot read (children, the elderly, the illiterate)

              • What greater privilege than to read God’s Word to them, so they can hear and obey His Word

              • Through reading Scripture to others, we allow them to experience God’s blessing – to be happy

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Commit to reading God’s Word to someone who is unable to read it.

            • We also have the opportunity to be blessed by God when we hear and obey His Word

              • James 1:22-25, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. ​​ Do what it says. ​​ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ​​ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.

              • Is there some way God has been challenging you to obey Him through the reading or hearing of His Word?

              • Have you been obedient?

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Experience God’s blessing and be happy by being obedient to His Word.

          • The reason why they are to listen and obey is because the time is near

        • After explaining how he received the revelation of Jesus, John shares the traditional greeting of the 1st Century

    • Greeting (vv. 4-5a)

        • He identifies himself as the sender – John (the beloved disciple of Jesus)

        • The recipients are the seven churches in the province of Asia

          • This region would have been western Asia Minor

          • Today it is western Turkey

          • “Furthermore, the seven cities were located ‘on the great circular road that bound together the most populous, wealthy, and influential part of the Province.’” ​​ [Mounce, 45]

          • The letter would start at Ephesus, which was closest to the island of Patmos, and would end at Laodicea after completing the circular route

          • Each church probably hand-copied their own, so they could read it again and again

          • The other cities and villages within Asia Minor would learn of this great revelation from those seven churches

        • The greeting

          • Grace and peace

            • This was the standard Christian greeting in the 1st Century

            • We see Paul using this greeting in his letters to the various churches

            • Grace is God’s unmerited favor (unconditional and undeserved kindness)

              • This would have been the traditional Hellenistic greeting

              • The Greek word is chairein

            • Peace refers to wholeness and well-being

              • This would have been the common Hebrew greeting

              • The Hebrew word is shalom

            • It is through Christ that Christians can experience true grace and peace in their lives

          • The source of grace and peace – threefold

            • God

              • John doesn’t say God directly, but we understand that’s who it is from his description – from him who is, and who was, and who is to come

              • This is the first of two times that John uses this description of God – the other is in Rev. 1:8

              • A similar form is also used in Rev. 4:8; 11:17; and 16:5

              • “This paraphrase of the divine name (YHWH) stems from Exod 3:14-15 and calls attention to the fact that all time is embraced within God’s eternal presence.” ​​ [Mounce, 45-46]

              • Exodus 3:14-15, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. ​​ This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ​​ ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” ​​ God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you.’ ​​ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

              • PRINCIPLES – God is eternal and sovereign

                • Eternal – God has no beginning or ending. ​​ He is not affected by time. ​​ He has already lived your tomorrows (Because He is eternal we see His sovereign plan in the present, the past, and the future)

                • Sovereign – God has the right to plan my life. ​​ He has the right to rule and make any decision He wants to. ​​ He has the right the change things. ​​ “He has the right to rule and He rules rightly.”

              • Grace and peace don’t just come from God, but also the Holy Spirit

            • The Holy Spirit

              • The description John gives of the Holy Spirit here seems confusing

              • The seven spirits before the throne

              • Most translations have the seven spirits, but some put in a footnote, the sevenfold Spirit

              • Some scholars think it refers to seven angels, but that doesn’t seem to hold true within the context and how the seven spirits is used elsewhere in Revelation

              • Using Zechariah 4:2-6, some scholars believe that the seven spirits are talking about the Holy Spirit, since the angel explains to Zechariah that the seven lamps on the lampstand represent the work of the Holy Spirit and not might or power

                • “While there is but one Holy Spirit, he does not invest himself incrementally in the churches but is always available simultaneously, in his fullness, to all seven congregations.” ​​ [Patterson, New American Commentary, 59]

                • We see this spelled out in the individual addresses to each church to hear what the Spirit says to the churches

              • There is one final source of this grace and peace and it comes from Jesus

            • Jesus

              • John describes Jesus in three ways: ​​ the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth

              • Faithful witness

                • Jesus faithfully passed on to the angel the revelation from God

                • His life on earth was a witness to the truth from God

                • John 3:11, I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

                • We see Jesus saying it again in John 3:32-33

                • Jesus was the model for the Asian churches who were about to go through a time of persecution

                • 1 Timothy 6:13, In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession . . .

                • He wasn’t just a faithful witness, but was also the firstborn from the dead

              • Firstborn from the dead

                • This simply expresses that Jesus was the first One to rise from the dead

                • This is significant for followers of Jesus Christ, because His resurrection guarantees that we will also be raised from the dead

                • 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ​​ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ​​ For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ​​ But each in his own turn: ​​ Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

                • John describes then the future of Christ

              • Ruler of the kings of the earth

                • This is a reference to His sovereign role as King

                • This expression looks forward ​​ to Rev. 19:16

              • “There is a sense in which Jesus may be observed in his three ministries as prophet (faithful witness), priest (conquering for man the wage of sin exacted against man through his victory over death), and king (ruling all other kings).” ​​ [Patterson, 60-61]

        • John moves from the greeting to a doxology

    • Doxology (v. 5b-6)

        • John listed three titles for Jesus in the ending of his greeting and now he lists three works of Jesus

          • He loves us

            • Jesus’ love for us was manifested in His death, burial, and resurrection

            • John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life

            • Read Romans 5:5-8 [Bible marker #2]

            • Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. ​​ The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

            • It was through His perfect sacrifice that we are freed from our sins

          • He freed us from our sins

            • Sin

              • Anything we think, say, or do that displeases God

              • Our sin creates a separation between us and God (Rom. 6:23)

              • This separation comes as a result of our own choices

              • We try to bridge the gap that our separation has created with good works, religion, philosophy, morality, and many other things

              • There is only one thing that can bridge the gap of separation – it’s the blood of Jesus Christ

            • Blood

              • Hebrews 9:22, In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

              • 1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

            • Become God’s child

              • John 1:12, Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

              • My Next Step Today Is To: ​​ Become a child of God by believing in Jesus name and receiving Him into my life.

            • “John reminds his audience that salvation is not just what God saves us from (our sins, 1:5), but what he saves us for – for a destiny as his agents and worshipers (1:6).” ​​ [Keener, The NIV Application Commentary, 71]

          • Made us to be a kingdom and priests

            • Exodus 19:5-6, Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. ​​ Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

            • 1 Peter 2:9, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

            • These words for Israel in the OT and for us in the NT are to encourage us to remember that we are God’s special people – The Israelites and the Christians in Asia Minor were experiencing persecution and these words would have brought them comfort

            • We are to continue what God initially charged the Israelites to do – to show those around us what a relationship with Jesus Christ looks like

        • Praise for Jesus

          • John concludes this doxology with glory and power to Jesus

          • Amen means “so let it be”

        • Before John begins to share the vision he had, he reminds the churches about Christ’s promised return

    • Promise of Christ’s Return (vv. 7-8)

        • This promise comes from two Old Testament passages

          • Daniel 7:13, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.”

          • Zechariah 12:10, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. ​​ They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

        • Jesus return will not be missed

          • It will be seen by everyone

          • Every eye will see Him

          • Everyone will recognize who Jesus is

            • This is obviously a reference to those who crucified Jesus – they will realize that they pierced the Messiah

            • But it is much broader than just the Jews who crucified Him

            • It also encompasses all fallen humanity – there are individuals from every generation that have rejected Jesus, marginalized Him, and have not believed that He is the Son of God or the only way to the Father

            • They will mourn when He returns, because it will be clear to them who Jesus is

          • It’s imperative that we recognize who Jesus is now and not when He returns

            • It will be too late when He returns – we will be one of those who mourns because we will understand who Jesus is and recognize that we have rejected Him

            • 2 Corinthians 6:2, For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” ​​ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

          • John affirms this message from the prophets of old – so shall it be! ​​ Amen.

        • There are three principles that God highlights about Himself in v. 8

          • PRINCIPLE – God is omniscient [all-knowing]

            • Alpha and Omega were the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet

            • Alpha and Omega also represent all of the letters in between

            • God was there at the beginning (creation) and He will be there at the end

            • God is also right here with us now

          • PRINCIPLE – God is immutable [unchanging]

            • He is continuing to fulfill His sovereign plan through the past, present, and future

            • God doesn’t change – He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

            • God’s sovereign plan is seen in the past, present, and future.

          • PRINCIPLE – God is omnipotent [all-powerful]

            • Almighty simply means that God is all-powerful (omnipotent)

            • There is nothing He cannot do

 ​​​​ 

  • YOU

    • Jesus’ return is imminent – it will happen!

    • Are you reading, hearing, and obeying God’s Word until Jesus returns?

    • Have you prepared for Jesus return?

  • WE

    • We have a responsibility as followers of Jesus Christ to share the good news of Jesus Christ

    • We will be blessed when we read God’s Words to those who can’t read

    • Those who hear and obey God’s Word will also be blessed

 

CONCLUSION

There are many ways that people are preparing for the Apocalypse. ​​ Here is one example.

 

“Are you ready for the end of the world? If not, a company named Vivos can help you and your loved ones get prepared. The Vivos website says, ‘Whether we want to believe it or not … we are on the cusp of an increase in number and magnitude of events that may, in the twinkling of an eye, change the world, as we know it.’ They list a range of possible cataclysmic disasters, including Armageddon, plagues, a solar kill shot, a super volcanic eruption, major earth changes, killer asteroids and comets, mega tsunami's, an economic meltdown—not to mention manmade threats, including nuclear explosions, a reactor meltdown, biological or chemical disasters, terrorism, and widespread anarchy.

 

But for a mere $35,000 per person, you can co-own an underground Vivos shelter in one of their airtight, fully self-contained, impervious complexes designed to survive any catastrophe. Their website advertises:

Our [complexes] comfortably accommodate community groups from 50 to 1,000 people, in spacious living quarters, outfitted and stocked for a minimum of 1 year of autonomous survival to ride out the potential events. Every detail has been considered and planned for. Members need to only arrive before their facility is locked down and secured from the chaos above.

 

Their website warns that ‘millions will perish or worse yet, struggle to survive.’ But they also boldly promise, ‘Vivos is your solution to ride out these catastrophes, so you may survive to be a part of the next Genesis!’ They also offer this reminder: ‘It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.’”

 

Matt Woodley, managing editor, PreachingToday.com; source: Douglas Rushkoff, Present Shock (Penguin Group, 2013), p. 245; Vivos website (accessed on April 10, 2013).

 

There is only one way to be prepared for the Apocalypse and John is unveiling that truth in the book of Revelation. ​​ He is unveiling Jesus as God’s sovereign plan that we see in the past, present, and future.

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