Evaluating the Church Today

Transcript

GRM 985
9/15/2007
Evaluating the Church Today
Revelation 2, 3
Gil Rugh


I want to direct our attention today to the subject of the church. We're not going to return to our study of I Corinthians just yet. As I was gone, I was contemplating some of the matters relating to the church. In fact I was looking at particularly one church, thinking about a message on that for us. And that led me into some reading about the church and some matters I have been evaluating. And I want to just look over the whole subject of the church with you as revealed in Revelation 2-3, so if you'd turn to Revelation 2-3. As you might expect, being a pastor, I get much material on the church. I've been invited to seminars and conferences that will help me be a better pastor and help our church to grow. I read literature that comes out on the church. But I must say I am amazed how little material comes to deal with one of the major sections on the church, that major section being Revelation 2-3.

The book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John around 95 AD. The church was started following the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in the book of Acts. That would have been about 30 AD. I'll just use round figures here. So the church has been in existence for about 65 years. I'll probably talk about the church's existence around 60 years, just to round off. The Apostle Paul's missionary journeys in establishing the churches took place in the late 40s, 50s and into the early 60s. And so the church at Ephesus has been in existence, let's say 40 years. I mention the church at Ephesus because it's the first one mentioned here. So we get an idea at least of the timeline we're talking about where the church was established following the resurrection of Christ about 60+ years. Now as the church has been in existence for these number of years, and these churches came into existence since that, so they're 35-45 years old, a remarkable event occurs. The Apostle John is in exile on the island of Patmos. And the resurrected Christ appears to John, and it is an awesome scene.

Now you'll remember John is known as the beloved disciple, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Of the 12 who ministered with Him on earth, John seems to have had a unique and more close relationship with Christ than any others. He was the one who reclined on Jesus' chest at the Last Supper, you remember. I mention that because it's remarkable to me now 60+ years after His resurrection, Jesus appears to the Apostle John. And yet it's not with some kind of sentimental, emotional kind of reunion here where John says, it's so good to see you again, it's nice to have you here and be able to look on you. And Jesus said, you know John, I just want you to know you've been doing a good job and I appreciate all your efforts............. It's nothing like that. John is here and he hears a voice and he turns around to see who is speaking to him in Revelation 1:12. And he saw seven golden lampstands and then he describes the Son of God, Jesus Christ, resurrected and glorified as He stands there in the middle of these lampstands. And it is an overwhelmingly awesome scene.

Verse 17, it is so overwhelming John says, I fell at His feet like a dead man. I mean it was more than I could take. And you have a reminder here that John had a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and indeed Jesus was his Savior, his Lord. But He is the sovereign of all and John is submissive to Him, in fact balanced to recognize what we call both the emanence and the transcendence of God as He comes and dwells with us and in us, and yet He is apart from us. The picture here prepares the way for what is going to happen in the rest of the book, as you would imagine, and particularly we're concerned about chapters 2-3.

We're told in verse 12 that John saw seven golden lampstands. And some of this we've done in detail, if you want to pursue it it's available on tapes. But the seven golden lampstands represent seven churches that will be named for us in chapters 2-3. They are lampstands because they are to be giving off light in the midst of darkness, revealing God, revealing Christ and making Him known and so on.

The book of Revelation is addressed to these seven churches in Asia, we know as Asia Minor, the region basically encompassed by Turkey, the land of Turkey today. Verse 4 of chapter 1 says, John, to the seven churches who are in Asia. Then down at the end of chapter 1, verse 20 we are told in the last part of the verses that the seven lampstands are the seven churches. So these things are identified for us. These seven churches were basically arranged in an odd oval, irregular and were probably on what was the postal route of the day. So these letters are addressed and then the churches are mentioned and it would be just like the postman in that day delivering the letters. He goes to this church and this city, gives it to this church, and he follows the postal route. Some of you have read ____________ book, The Postman of Patmos, which is an exposition of Revelation 2-3, because the postman delivering these letters. What is of interest to me for us today is here you have the Lord of the church, the church belongs to Him, He is the head of the church, He purchased it with His own blood, the Bible tells us. Now coming 60 years after it has been established, and He is going to evaluate and give His evaluation of the church. There are going to be seven of them, they were seven literal churches in seven literal cities of the time. But these seven have been selected because they will be representative of the church in its manifestation in local churches on the earth.

We're familiar with the church at Ephesus, the first one, because there is a letter written to the church at Ephesus by the Apostle Paul, called the letter to the Ephesians. There is another church in this region, the church at Colossae that Paul wrote a letter to. But it's not included in the seven churches mentioned here. These seven have been selected out in the purpose of Christ because they will be representative of His churches. And there is blessing promised to us as we read and take to heart the message given to the churches.

We want to look at Christ's evaluation of the church. And all that's going on in church today and all the books being written, we want to go to the Lord of the church and find out what He commends in a church, what He rebukes or condemns in a church, what corrections He says must be made, what disciplines and punishment will be meted out for failure to do what He says, and what promises are give to those who are obedient. Very important. We say, how is our church doing, and we read a book and we go to a conference and say, I heard some great ideas for the church. I'm not saying they are all bad, but I'm saying the only opinion that really matters is the one who loved us and gave Himself for us, the one to whom the church belongs. You know I can give my opinion on a lot of things, but nobody really cares because it doesn't matter what I think. And that's the way it is on the church, you ultimately it doesn't matter what I think, it doesn't matter what you think; it doesn't matter what I like and it doesn't matter what you like. There is only one opinion that matters in all of this and that is the Lord of the church, Jesus Christ.

So I want to come here and find out what He says about the church, the churches, local churches which are a manifestation of the church of Jesus Christ on earth. I want you to note something here, He's talking about churches. Not talking about the kingdom. There is material related to a coming kingdom and promises related to it, but we're not in a kingdom. There is a disaster taking place in the evangelical world today and people are confused on the subject of the kingdom and the church. And we're beginning to ignore the church and talk about establishing the kingdom, and we're building the kingdom and we need to bring in the kingdom and we need to build the kingdom. And we're doing all kinds of social programs and political things, and help the poor, and bring in education. Because we're bringing in the kingdom. We're not in the kingdom. And that has led us away from a biblical view of what God is doing in the world today, His work focuses in the church, and the church is not the kingdom. And you'll note when Christ evaluates the church and says what He likes and what He does not like, there will be nothing in here about feeding the poor, there'll be nothing in here about influencing the political system. And on we go. And so we want to be careful that the church is about the business of the Lord of the church. He bought it with His own blood, it's His. It's not mine to do with what I like, it's His and our responsibility is to submit.

So what I'm going to do, and you'll be amazed that I can cover all of this in just 3 hours. I know the last 2 I'll be talking to myself. We're just going to walk through some of the things said here, what He commends in these churches. Want to know what He likes, what He approves, what is pleasing to Him. Then we're going to look at what He condemns, then we're going to look at what He says must be done to make corrections. Then we're going to look at what He warns will happen if they don't make the correction. And then we'll look at the promises He gives. And that should tell us pretty much how He evaluates our church right here, what will be pleasing to Him, what is displeasing if it's not taking place, and so on.

It's all about works. The letter to every church after the introductory material begins like Ephesians in chapter 2 verse 2, I know your deeds. And that's true with every church, He'll say, I know your deeds. The word deeds is just the translation of the word works. I know your works. Now He's not talking about being saved by your works, that will become clear in this as we move through. He's writing to those who are already part of the church, they claim to be believers in Jesus Christ, they claim to have trusted Him as their Savior. And so He's writing to say what He expects of them, what is required of those who belong to Him. They have been saved by grace through faith, now are to do His will.

Okay, let's just walk through different churches here, beginning with the church at Ephesus. And His sovereignty over these churches is brought out in verse 1, the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands. He holds the seven stars which are the seven messengers of the churches, and here the Lord has control over those leading these churches and He's walking among the lampstands. Remember they are pictured in this, if I could just say, like an oval as they would be arranged. But He's walking among the lampstands and He's evaluating each one.

So it's first to the church at Ephesus. And what does He commend in this church? We're not going to look at the whole letter, we want to look at what He commends and says, this is pleasing to Me. You are doing well. Verse 2, I know your deeds, your toil, perseverance, you can't endure evil men, you test those who claim to be apostles, you find them to be false. These are commendations—your toil, the word that means hard, wearisome work. I know the exhaustive work you do for Me. And right away we're reminded, the work of the church is not easy work. Some people think this is where I come to relax, get away from the toil of my daily life. Well this is a different kind of work, this is spiritual work, but this is what we do. We oughtn't to be surprised the work of the Lord is hard, wearisome labor. And that's what He commends here. I know your toil, how hard you work, how exhaustive your labors are. Your perseverance, keep this in mind. Perseverance is going to reappear a number of times. It's very pleasing to Christ that people persevere, they endure, they stay with it. Compound word, it means to live under something, to live under pressure, to keep at it. You keep going under the pressure, under the difficulty. I know your perseverance. It's a good thing for a church to be noted for its perseverance. You can't endure evil men. You know in our day we think unity is the #1 thing, and we're more concerned about unity. I can't tell you the number of pages I've read in recent writings, they're trying to tell us that unity is most important, we have to stop this doctrinal divisiveness. But you understand what the Lord of the church says, I'm very, very pleased you can't endure evil men. There are some who claim to come and represent me as apostles, but you've revealed them to be false, pseudo, not genuine. I'm pleased with that. Down in verse 3, you have perseverance. He repeats that. You have endured for my name's sake, you've not grown weary. Not grown weary. This is a church that has some great qualities. I mean, they haven't given up. Furthermore, down in verse 6, you have this also, you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Another group trying to infiltrate the church with false doctrine and corrupt practices.

Come to the church at Pergamum down in verse 13. He commends them, you hold fast My name. Verse 13, I know where you dwell, where satan's throne is, and you hold fast My name. You dwell in a difficult situation, you dwell where satan's influence is great and you hold fast My name. That's a costly thing, please Him. You did not deny My faith in verse 13. Isn't it tragic that the church will so easily let go of the truths of scripture and the doctrines of scripture, when it pleases the Lord of the church that we hold fast His name and not deny His faith.
Thyatira, down in verse 19, I know your deeds, your love and faith and service and perseverance. And your deeds of late are greater than at first. Remember that. When we're back to Ephesus under their condemnation we'll find out they need to do the first deeds. Thyatira has grown, they are more zealous and more about the work of the Lord than they were in the early days. Usually we wind down. The church at Thyatira wound up, and were doing more deeds than they had originally done.

Sardis, down in verse 4 of chapter 3. You have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, marred their garments. That will be representative here as you see in the last part, contrasted with those who have white garments. Those who have soiled their garments in Sardis have revealed their true character, they do not belong to the Lord. The church at Sardis has a significant element in it, they are not truly born again. And their garments are soiled, they don't belong to the Lord, they won't be receiving the white garments of righteousness that will belong to all those who belong to Him. We'll see that in a moment.

The church at Philadelphia, they are commended. I know your deeds, and what have they done? Now this is not a strong church, this is not a powerful church, this is not a church with great influence that everybody looked to and said, I'd like to go and learn how they do it. Because they are a church that has a little power, we are told. His evaluation is not based on the kinds of things that we evaluate a church on, often. Here is a church with a little power, but He says, you have kept my word, you've not denied My name. Verse 10, because you have kept the word of my perseverance, this is commendable. You have been faithful, you have stayed with it, you've endured, and you've kept My word.

You know, let me just review this if I can, in overlapping categories. I broke these commendations down into three areas, although they are not distinct as you'll see. Perseverance, toil, not growing weary. These expressions would go under this. I know your toil, I know your perseverance, you've not grown weary. These kinds of expressions denote that whole area of perseverance, keeping at it, not giving up, not quitting, not growing weary in the things of the Lord. Doctrinal purity. You can't endure evil men. Chapter 2 verse 2, you test false apostles, you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Jesus Christ expects a doctrinally pure church, this is His word. It's not mine to say, we're not going to make an issue of that. He made an issue of it when He gave it to us. I better hate what He hates and love what He loves. I have to hold fast to Him. So faithfulness becomes a key here, and you can see this overlaps. The perseverance, doctrinal purity, faithfulness go together. You hold fast My name in chapter 2 verse 13. You did not deny My faith. Chapter 3 verse 8, you kept My word, you did not deny My name. Your deeds of late are greater than at first. You have a few people who have not soiled their garments, they have been faithful. Chapter 2 verse 19 He talked about love, faith, service. What the Lord commends in the church is persevering, faithfulness, doctrinal and moral purity. These things are commendable. We can never give up in the work He has entrusted to us. Doesn't mean we don't get tired, but I don't grow weary of it so I quit. Doesn't mean you won't be exhausted, but you didn't quit, you kept going, you kept up. That's what perseverance is, it's keeping going even while you are under that pressure. You don't grow weary. The truth of God's Word is precious, I don't tolerate false teachers. They may claim to be an apostle, makes no difference. I measure everything being taught by the Word of God, I reject those who teach contrary to the Word, I'm not open to hear everything from everybody. I hate the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, it's related to the doctrine of the Balaamites, as we'll see in a moment. I want to be faithful to Him. This is what He commends. You'll note, here we've looked at the commendations to these churches, and if you read now chapters 2-3, the full letters of the churches, I think you'll find we've covered the commendations. He said nothing about you've grown large, you have more people, you are a very influential church. None of the things that we might measure it by human standards.

I read stuff and they say, the church has failed, it's not accomplishing .......... Who said it has failed? Multitudes of churches, some very small, faithfully doing the things that are commended by Jesus Christ. They may be like the church at Philadelphia, they don't have much power, but they are a commendable, successful church in the eyes of the Lord of the church. The measuring standard of the world is different. We ought to be careful. Are we doing what the Lord commends? Is that what pleases Him? These are the things that He delights to see in the church.

But there are things that are not acceptable, and now He turns to give the things that He wants to rebuke. And I have to say I'm impressed, impressed with how severe He is. I am reminded, He is my Lord and Savior, I love Him, He's promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I am His child, but you understand, He is the Lord. Again, the church has been through trials and difficulties, some of these churches, one or two especially look like they may not be able to continue. And for some like the church at Smyrna, things are going to get worse. You'd think He would come and say, I know it's not easy, it's not an easy life serving Me, I know you get tired, I know you've experienced persecution, but I just want to tell you how much I appreciate what you're doing. That's just not the way He approaches us. This is the church I died for. Now here is what pleases me, and I want to complement you and encourage you. But now let me tell you there are some things I am unhappy with. So He's going to tell them what He's unhappy with. We'll look at that and then we'll look at what He says will happen if they don't make the correction.

We get the idea of God and of Jesus Christ just as some kind of soft, easy understanding, just pleased at whatever we do. I mean, He's just so grateful that we'll even show up here on Sunday morning. I mean, shouldn't God be so happy. Look, I got out of bed early enough this morning to get to church, I could have slept in. I'm sure if He's _________ He'd say, I really appreciate your making that effort. Well don't be so sure. I'm glad you're here, He says you should be here, that you are not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is. But let's look at His condemnations of the church. Interestingly, there are fewer condemnations than there were commendations. But He elaborates more extensively on the things He doesn't like, than He did on the things He liked. So He gave more words of commendation, but said less about the commendations. He gives fewer rebukes, but He elaborates more on the rebukes.

The church at Ephesus has been commended for several things. But then look at verse 4, I have this against you. You've left your first love. He didn't just say, you've done a lot of good things but there's an area maybe that is not quite what it ought to be. So if you get time, I'd like you to work on that. But overall it's good. No, He says, I have this against you. You've left your first love. We'll say more about that and what's involved in that when we come back around in a moment.

The church at Pergamum, down in verse 14. I have a few things against you. You have some who hold the teaching of Balaam. We won't go into that, but they are false teachers. Some in the church are being tolerated teaching heresy. And verse 15, you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Now we saw a commendation of a church that hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, just like Christ hates it. Now you have a church of His that tolerates what Christ hates. You know, that's not acceptable. You tolerate, you have some among you who are teaching false doctrine. We think, let's not divide over doctrine, unity by .......... You know, we want the church to be unified, we want to emphasize our unity, and now we have unity among all brands of Protestants and Catholics. Some want to push it over to the Mormons and the Muslims. And I'm not just talking about people out there, I'm talking about people who claim to be within the evangelical world. We want to approve the things Christ approves, and we want to hate the things that Christ hates. And so He rebukes the church at Pergamum for having false teachers there, those who hold the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrines of the Nicolaitans.

Down in verse 20, to the church at Thyatira, I have this against you, you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads my bondservants astray. You don't tolerate people, even if they claim to be apostles, they claim to be prophetesses, they claim to be teachers of the Word. If what they teach is contrary to what the Word of God says, then you must deal with them. They cannot be tolerated. Anyone is welcome to come to this church, we're glad to have unbelievers come and sit and hear the Word of God. You understand, we are not open to have doctrines contrary to the Word taught here, promoted here. That must be dealt with. Why? Everything has to be your way? No, nothing has to be my way; everything has to be His way. So He says, these things if they are not dealt with, He rebukes them for it. He says, I have this against you. Serious matter.

Sardis, tragic church. Verse 1, I know your deeds. You have a name that you were alive. You are dead. Isn't it amazing? Here is a church that people looked at and said, there is a good church. And the Lord of the church says they are spiritually dead. I know you have a name, you are alive. It doesn't impress Me at all. You are dead. Verse 2, I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of God, the last part of that verse. They've stopped short, they haven't really entered into a relationship with the living Christ. All words, yes. Reputation, yeah. Reality, no. Not everybody in the church at Sardis is spiritually dead, but His characterization of that church is you're dead, in spite of your reputation. Good reminder. It's not a reputation that carries weight before the Lord of the church. He examines the heart, He knows us as we are.

Laodicea, here is a church that is in tragic state. It is the most successful church, humanly speaking. Here is the church that would be putting on the conferences; here is the church that everyone would look at and say, they have it all. And Christ doesn't have one good thing to say to them. And He says in verse 15, I know your deeds, you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. Because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. I can't stomach you, I can't stomach you. That lukewarmness, we think that's ideal. Well at least they are not cold. Well you get too hot, you'll be fanatical. We don't want people to think we're fundamental fanatics out here. So, just some kind of lukewarm. We don't deny anything, but we're not dying for anything, either. Christ says, I can't stand it. I'll spit you out of my mouth; literally, I'll vomit you out of my mouth. You make me sick. And they don't even understand their condition. They think they're doing great, they think they're rich and wealthy, don't have ___________. We're a church that, we've ........... And you know what He says? Verse 17, you don't know you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked. Is there anything more tragic? Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, we did many might works in your name, and we did all this Lord. And He'll say, depart from Me, cursed ones. I never knew you. The church at Laodicea thinks they're doing great, and if there's any church in these seven churches, any church in Asia, that's us. And He says, I can't stomach you. You don't know how wretched you are, you have no spiritual life, you are spiritually blind.

The condemnations of these churches that we have noted come into three areas. Again, they're not always distinct. For emphasis in chapter 2 verse 4, you left your first love. We'll say more about that in a moment. False doctrine, those churches that hold the doctrine of Balaam or the teaching of the Nicolaitans, or they tolerate a Jezebel in their midst. False doctrine. Understand, this is important to the Lord. He commends them for being faithful to His truth, He rebukes them for tolerating. We think, isn't tolerance good? No, not when it's allowed in the church. You say, I'm tolerant. People can have a different view; people can preach and teach what they want, they just can't do it here. He doesn't say go on a witch hunt and find Nicolaitans wherever you find them, he says deal with them in the church. He doesn't say what bothers Him is the doctrine and lifestyle of unbelieving people, He never deals with that. His concern is with the church. When you confuse the kingdom and the church, pretty soon you're trying to bring in the kingdom and that is to influence nations and the world. God is dealing with the church today and through the church today.

What does He say has to be done? He not only gives the rebukes, He says what the corrections must be. So chapter 2 verse 5, and we have to go briefly over these, not in any depth. The church at Ephesus had left their first love. You know what He says to do? Remember, repent and do the deeds you did at first. Now when it says they left their first love, we sometimes get a sentimental idea and say, we ought to concentrate more on Jesus. I'm just going to stop and think how wonderful He is, and I think Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's something about that name. Yes there is. Well I'm not saying there is anything wrong with thinking about Jesus and the wonder of who He is and what He has done. But you'll note what He says the correction is. Remember from where you have fallen, repent, recognize that what you have done is wrong. Now note here, do the deeds, the works you did at first. What has happened is they are not doing what they did at first. It has nothing to do with feelings and sentiment of the heart. You know what? The church at Ephesus is wound down, and it's not that they're doing overtly wrong things, they've just cooled off. And you can justify it. We've been doing this a long time. I mean, we've been in existence as long roughly as the church at Ephesus. Easy to say we may not be as enthusiastic about it, maybe not doing everything we did, but that's all right. We get that way with retirement, don't we? I was listening to one of the messages preached while I was gone and the speaker was speaking to that. I think I'm older now, I've been doing this a long time, I don't have to do it as much as I did. I don't have to be as zealous. Now maybe my body breaks down and I can't do as much, but we just think we don't have to because we've crossed a certain line, we've gotten to a certain point. So it's all right now to not do as much. That's what happened to the church at Ephesus, they thought it was all right now not to do as much. Not that they're doing immoral things, not that they're tolerating false doctrine. It's just we've eased off. He says, do again the first works. He doesn't say restore your heart, He doesn't say something sentimental and emotional. He says do again the first works, do what you were doing at the beginning. You don't quit what you're doing now, but you need to get back on. Remember the church that was commended because you are doing more works now than you did at the beginning? The church at Ephesus has the opposite problem, they've wound down. There is never a reason for the church to wind down. ___________________if there's never an excuse for us as God's people to wind down. Who says that my life now is my own, I can do with it as I please? Who says that now because the world quits I can quit? Remember, repent and do again the first deeds. That's the exhortation, that's the correction there.

In Smyrna, beginning with verse 8 of chapter 2, here is a church that doesn't have much going for it. Verse 9, I know your tribulation, your poverty, but you are rich. But you look at this church and think, not much going for it. I hope they'll make it, but I don't know that they'll be here in six months. They just don't have anything, they are a weak church. Christ says, you are strong, you are rich. And you know what? He doesn't say, but that's all right, it's going to get better for you. Do you know what He says? It's going to get worse. So He says, do not fear what you are about to suffer. Some of you are going to prison, some of you are going to be tested, some of you are going to die. How do I know that? He says, be faithful unto death. That's His exhortation here. Again note, we never mire down into the soup of sentimentality. Here is a church that is struggling and it's going to get worse. And His exhortation is don't fear what is coming, don't fear what you're going to suffer. You'll be tested, you have tribulation, be faithful unto death. That's my responsibility. Oh, what's going on, what's tomorrow hold? What do you care? What is your responsibility? Don't be afraid, be faithful unto death. That pretty well covers it, right? I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, I don't know the way things are going .............. Well, don't fear. Be faithful unto death. That's all I have to do. That's His exhortation to them.

Pergamum, verse 16, simple. Repent, repent.

Thyatira, repent, verse 22. And hold fast, verse 25. Hold fast until I come what you have.

Sardis, chapter 3 verse 2, wake up. Strengthen the things that remain. Verse 3, remember, keep, repent. In other words, church, take note, follow through with the truth that you have. People need to get saved. Repent.

Philadelphia, hold fast what you have.

Laodicea, buy from Me gold, garments, eye salve. Be zealous, repent. I mean, realize your destitute spiritual condition. Turn to Me to get what you need spiritually. Repent and be zealous.

Several things characterize these exhortations, if I can lump them into categories. Repentance. All five churches that receive condemnation, remember two do not—Smyrna and Philadelphia, the two weak and struggling churches. All five that receive condemnation are exhorted to repent. The first thing you have to do is recognize and acknowledge in light of the Word of God, I've done wrong and I need to change my ways. Faithfulness. Along with repentance, be faithful. Do not fear, be faithful to death, hold fast, hold fast, and then come to Him for salvation. Wake up, strengthen the things that remain, buy from Me gold, garments, eye salve.

Word of warning, what if you don't do what He says? Well chapter 2. And this builds, they understand. We tend to think that the Lord is just happy that we do anything for Him. He's not happy unless we do everything that He has said in our service for Him. It's never good enough just to say, well we're not doing anything wrong, we may not be doing everything we could, but we're not doing anything wrong. We may have slacked off, we may be semi-retired church, but we're ................... That's not good enough. Chapter 2 verse 5, you are to remember, repent and do the deeds you did at first or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place. Very simple. I don't want you as a church if you don't change. I'll just remove your lampstand. The lampstand, remember, represents the church. You'll cease to be.

You know interesting, the early church fathers write about this warning to the church at Ephesus and we can read their writings. You know what they said? The church at Ephesus took this to heart, made the changes required, and continued for many years to have an ongoing testimony and witness for Jesus Christ. You'll note the severity of it. All the good things He says, and He doesn't say they're doing anything overtly wrong, they're just not doing all that they did at first. And that's enough to bring the warning, for that I would remove your lampstand, make the correection.

Look at Pergamum in verse 16 of chapter 2. Repent or else I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. Sometimes the warnings are directed to the church as the church, like Ephesus; sometimes they are directed toward that group in the church that is not being what it ought to be, not doing what it ought to do. Here the teaching, the false teachers, Christ Himself will intervene to deal with these teachers if necessary. He rebukes the church for tolerating them, but He will ultimately bring judgment on these false teachers. When He says I am coming to you quickly, that's sort of like when you tell your kids, I'm going to be up there pretty quick if something doesn't change. They don't say, oh good, Dad's coming up. No, coming up quickly doesn't mean that; it means I'm coming to mete out some punishment to those who need it. So that's what He says, I'll make war against them with the sword of my mouth. That won't be good for them, it won't be good for the church, because the indication is that the church failed to do what it needed to do. Ultimately Christ will bring the judgment.

Thyatira, verse 22, I will throw the prophetess Jezebel on a bed of sickness, those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation. Verse 23, I'll kill her children with pestilence. He rebukes the church for not dealing with this false teacher, but He'll also come and bring the judgment that will be devastating to the people involved.

To Sardis He warns them He'll come like a thief in verse 3.

Laodicea, we saw. He said I will vomit you out of my mouth in verse 16.

Two emphases in these warnings—Christ is coming, He will judge those who have not changed. Now you'll note here again, what was commended what was condemned, the exhortations given and the warnings given, He hasn't said anything about you ought to be larger, you ought to have more people, you ought to have influenced your city, you ought to have............. All the things that we've come to look at in a church and say this is what we have to be working out. In fact He even hasn't rebuked them for not having enough unity, He's rebuked them for having too much unity and tolerating those who taught false doctrine. Somehow, has the church lost its way? Here is what the Lord of the church says about the churches. And we just set it aside and write our books on what we think the church ought to be, and then we set up our standard of what will mark out a church as being successful and we think now wonderful, we meet our standards. Won't God be pleased. When the head of the church has done the evaluating, He's given what He is pleased with, what He is displeased with, what changes must be made, and what will happen if they don't make the changes.

And then He closes, and there is great promise here, and these letters to the churches end this way. A promise to the overcomers. These letters end, to him who overcomes, I will do this. And there are spiritual blessings given, promises given to those who overcome. Back up to I John, the Apostle John who was the one who pens the book of Revelation as it is given to him, also wrote I John as the Spirit of God directed him. And in I John 5:3, verse 2, we know we love the children of God when we love God and observe His commandments. This is the love of God that we keep His commandments. Remember the letter to the Ephesians, you've left your first love. He's not talking about some kind of feeling or sentiment. True love is expressed in obedience. This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. A person who professes to love God but doesn't keep His word is a liar. Whoever is born of God overcomes the world. There is our word we want to note, overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. Not our works, our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. It is faith in Christ, the Person and work of Christ, His finished work on the cross as the Son of God that gives us the victory, that enables us to overcome satan, sin and the world.

So when you come over to Revelation 2:7, and He says, to him who overcomes, who is He talking about? Talking about the one who believes in Jesus Christ, has placed their faith in Him and Him alone as their Savior. Not their church, not their good works, in Christ. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God. He promises them life.

To Smyrna, verse 10 of chapter 2, be faithful to death, I will give you the crown of life. He who overcomes, the end of verse 11, will not be hurt by the second death. The second death when you get to Revelation 20 is being cast into hell for eternity, final separation from God in the suffering of hell forever. The lake of fire is the second death, Revelation 20 tells us. The promise is those who believe in Christ won't experience the second death, they will receive the crown of life.

Verse 17, to Pergamum, to him who overcomes I will give him some of the hidden manna. I will give him a white stone, a new name written on it which no one knows ........... He'll receive all the blessings from Christ.

Thyatira, verse 26, to him who overcomes and he keeps my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations. He's going to rule and reign with Christ in His kingdom when He comes. We're not in the kingdom. Go out and try to take authority over the nations—you can't even get into the White House, you can't even get into the places of authority and power. You say I'm here to take over, Christ said I'm going to rule the nations. Some day you will, but not now. But you will be in the kingdom that He will establish if you have become an overcomer by believing in Him. Those are the promises given. I will give him the morning star, verse 28.

Chapter 3 verse 4, I have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments. They will walk with me in white, they are worthy. We're talking about salvation, because the white garments are the righteousnesses of the saints, as a result of the righteousness of Christ. He promises in verse 5, he who overcomes with us will be clothed in white garments. I will not erase his name from the Book of Life, I will confess his name before My Father, before His angels. I will acknowledge you as belonging to Me. Your name will remain eternally written in the Book of Life. That's eternity in the glory of His presence.

Philadelphia, verse 8, struggling church, little power. He promises them an open door. So you'll note, just because you don't have much power doesn't mean there is not much opportunity. Here is a church with little power, __________________ open door. Verse 9, I'll make them bow at our feet, their opponents. I'll make them to know that I have loved you. What a statement. The unbelievers who have hated us and rejected us, they'll ultimately know that Jesus Christ loves us. Verse 10, I will keep you from the hour of testing, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God, I will write upon them the name of my God. We belong to Him.

Laodicea, if you'll open the door to Christ, He'll come in and dine with you, grant you to sit on His throne when he rules and reigns.

Great promises, salvation promises. Now we're dealing with the church, because already before the last of the apostles has passed off the scene, in the church there are troubles, in the church there are unbelievers as well as believers. And the church has drifted often from its faithfulness. Two dominant emphases in the promises, and we're done—eternal life and participation in the kingdom. He promises eternal life to those who overcome, who believe in Him. And He promises that they will participate with Him in His kingdom when he establishes it on earth. So you see the time of the church precedes the time of the kingdom. What great promises.

Now we want to know, what should the church be. What does Christ expect of the church, require of the church. What does He condemn if it is going on in the church or what is not taking place in the church. What does He warn about must happen and the consequences of not being biblical. What does He say we must do to make the corrections. What promises does He give us as we faithfully serve Him. I mean, what more do we need to know how to function. It is a tragedy, immeasurable tragedy that the church has lost its way today. We have people wandering around, this is what my church is like, this is what the church ought to be like, this is what I'm looking for in a church. It has nothing, nothing, nothing to do with what Jesus Christ died to make the church, to bring it into existence, to be the entity that will represent Him in the world today, to be the center of His truth, to be a place of purity—moral purity and doctrinal purity, purity of devotion to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. We ought to have no illusions. Sitting in this church are people like were in the church of Sardis, Laodicea. There are people who are not believers. They may have a name that they have life, but they are dead. Being in a church, being part of a fellowship of believers doesn't mean you're saved. The only ones who are overcomers are those who have bowed before the living Christ and placed their faith in Him as the one who died for them. That brings life. Now as those who are cleansed by His power and made new, we are to live for Him. And the church is to be a fellowship of those who are committed to Jesus Christ, who belong to Him, been purchased by His blood and are now committed to faithfully, diligently serving Him in good times, in hard times. And the Word of God is our passion because it is the message from our Savior.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your truth. Thank you for the clear unfolding of the evaluation that Jesus Christ, the Lord of the church, has given. And Lord we would evaluate ourselves and our church and take to heart these messages, to look and see if we are pleasing to Him, if there are things here that are not according to what He would have. If there are changes that need to be made, Lord, give us a ready heart. May we take the warnings seriously. And Lord, we praise you for the promises. If any may be here, Father, who do not know Jesus Christ, Lord, may this be a day when they wake up, when they repent and place their faith in Christ, that they might become an overcomer. We pray in Christ's name, amen.