Letters to the Church: Revelations 3:1-6

The Church at Sardis


This congregation was at the point of dying out. The Holy Spirit had not
forsaken this congregation. He wanted the saints that even through
their struggles, He was still with them. Jesus wanted to give these saints
the courage to continue to press on in faith and not to grow weary. The
Holy Spirit would continue to uphold this congregation and to breath in
it new life. Through His Holy Spirit, Jesus would revive it's dry bones.
(Ezek. 37:14)

Jesus stills speaks and encourages His Church even today. In this post-
Christian age, there are many struggling Churches that are hurting and
need encouragement from the Lord. In many cases, memberships have fallen,
and finances are not always available to meet the challenges of ministry.
Many Churches have become "dry bones" and need revival. Because of the
struggles, some people have grown discouraged and burned out. Some Churches
struggle on, trying to maintain ministry as best as they can. Others just
give up, and just close their doors. It is difficult for the Church to
minister in a world that is either hostile to, or indifferent to the message
of the Gospel. Nevertheless, the Church has the Lord's Great Commission, and
must be faithful to it. The Lord has always promised that He will forever
abide with His Church.

The Church in this world has never been promised a life of ease. It will
know times of hardship and struggle. But the Church has the Holy Spirit, and
the Lord Jesus, who has promised never to forsake His Church. In the eyes of
the world, the Church might seem weak and upon the brink of death, it is not.
The Church that remains faithful to Christ, has life in abundance. If a
congregation is struggling and seems to be dying, it does not mean that
Jesus has forsaken His own. The Lord tells His people to stand strong,
and to press on in faith and hope.

Jesus knew about the nature of this congregation. Outwardly, this seemed to
be a strong thriving congregation. Jesus was not impressed, nor pleased
with this congregation. He saw the true nature of this congregation, and
He saw it wanting and in need of change. This congregation seemed like they
were really alive, but in truth, they were dead. They might have been doing
good works in the community, and the pastor was well known, but they were
still dead. It is good that a congregation is active in good works, but the
real condition of a congregation is demonstrated by what is preached and
taught. If a congregation is not faithful to the Word, if the pastor is
preaching on everything but the pure Word, that congregation is dead.
A dying church is not a Church that neglects the pure word. A dying
church is a Church that neglects the pure Word.

The Church should speak out on social issues when needed. It should be
affairs of the community when possible. These things should never come
before proclaiming the Word. All that the Church does, flows from the
Gospel. If the Church allows itself to be just concerned with social
action, then it becomes nothing more than a social service agency.
When the preaching of the Word and the administration of the
Sacraments are neglected, then the Church is wanting in the Lord's
eyes. What is a dead Church? Is it a place where are few members?
A dead Church is a Church where there no pure preaching of the Word.
If a Church is more concerned about being "politically correct" then
being "biblically correct," then that is a dead Church.

Jesus urged this congregation to wake up. He urged them to remember what
they had recieved and heard. They had lost their focus and they needed
to strengthen what had been given to them. They needed to have a change
of attitude and to remember that they were called to preach the Gospel.
Jesus wanted them to repent, and focus their efforts upon preaching the
Gospel. This congregation needed stern words from the Lord. They had
been more concerned about social ministry rather than Gospel ministry.

If this congregation refused to repent, there would be dire consequences.
They would have to face the judgement of Jesus. He warned them that He
would come like a "thief in the night." Since we do not know when Jesus
will come again, we cannot ignore His warnings and call to repentance.
Jesus does keep a close eye on His Church. He governs His Church, and
He corrects the Church when it drifts into error.

Jesus said that there were some in the congregation who had remained faithful.
Those who had remained faithful had not defiled themselves with unbelief and
false doctrine. They had remained true to their Lord, and to their confession.
The Lord expects the same of the Church today. The Church should remain
faithful to the Lord and true to it's confession. It should in no way defile
itself with false teachings, but always remain to Him, who has the book of life.

Letters to the Church: Rev. 2:18-29

The Church at Thyatira

Jesus is described as the one whose eyes are like fiery flames, and His feet
like Lebanese brass. The fiery eyes would describe His omniscience. The
Lord sees and knows all things, and He knows all that occurs in His
creation. His feet symbolize His power to enforce His will, and His power
to overcome and crush His enemies.

Jesus had brief words of commendation for this congregation. He praised them
for their hard work, faith, and service. This indeed, was a hard working
congregation. They had quite a reputation for being active in works of
service. There was no doubt that they were well known for all that they
had accomplished. Even though they were active and busy, Jesus had some
words of correction for them.

Jesus was not at all pleased that this congregation had tolerated a false
teacher in it's midst. There was a woman in the congregation that the Lord
referred to as "Jezebel." This may not have been her real name. In the
Old Testament,(See 1&2 Kings) Jezebel was the evil wife of King Ahab.
She had introduced the worship of the god baal to the people of Israel.
Through her influence, the people turned away from the worship of God.
When a woman is called a "Jezebel", it means that she is a shameless
impudent scheming woman.

This congregation had such a woman. This woman was actively promoting
false teachings within the congregation, and nothing had been done
to stop her. This was a concern for Jesus. He had stern words of warning
for her, and had given her time to repent. Since she had refused to repent,
the Lord threatened to inflict her with great suffering. This woman had
great influence within the congregation, but she had used it to gain power
and followers within the congregation. She wanted to be apart of the
congregation, but she did not want to turn away from false teachings.
There some within the Church today who have the same attitude. They
want to be apart of the Church, but still cling to false teachings that
come from the world. Jesus makes it clear to His people that they cannot
have divided loyalties. Jesus said; "No man can serve two masters; for
either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold
to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
(Matt. 6:24) Jesus made it clear that it is either Him, or the world.
His Word is truth, and His Church should speak His Word in truth, and not
tolerate those who stand in it's presence and teach falsehood.

Jesus warned those who tolerate false teachings are putting themselves at
risk. The risk is that false teaching spreads, and corrupts the Gospel
message and harms the faith of believers. Such teachings can and do
ruin the health of a church. The Lord expects the Church to keep it's
doctrines pure and to teach according to His commands.

In these times, people are no longer content with sound doctrines, but are
turning to fables and to teachers who will appeal to their egos. This is
the devil's attempt to lead people astray, and the flesh's desire to rebel
against God. The Church must through all of this, remain faithful, and not
depart from the truth. The Lord expects and demands that His Church remain
faithful.

Jesus has words of encouragement for those who remain faithful. He
encourages the faithful to hold on to Him. He shall give to His
faithful the strength to endure, and not be overcome. The ones who
hold on and remain faithful, are those ones who overcome. In this
journey, believers will not be free of the struggles with sin, but
in Christ, there is both strength and victory. In Christ, believers
triumph. Jesus comforts His people and encourages them in the journey.
He gives of Himself, so that believers will have the strength to press
on in the journey, and look with faith, to the life to come.