November 12, 2012
SNAIL MAIL LETTER: FROM JESUS, TO YOU. [WOULD THIS MAKE YOU EXCITED OR NERVOUS?]
Revelation 2
John Elmore
Central Truth
Live for an audience of One, because that's the unseen Reality.
Key Verse | Revelation 2:29
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:29)
Revelation 2
To the Church in Ephesus
1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
To the Church in Smyrna
8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander 1 2:9 Greek blasphemy of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
To the Church in Pergamum
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith 2 2:13 Or your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
To the Church in Thyatira
18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule 3 2:27 Greek shepherd them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Dive Deeper | Revelation 2
Uncomfortable bio, huh?
It was even more uncomfortable to write it and click "submit." I tried to write it honestly as if Jesus' knowledge of my thoughts and actions was on display for all the world to see in the [brackets].
Revelation 2 contains letters that put four churches' hearts and actions on display for everyone of every age to read about. After evaluating each, Jesus gives commendations, exhortations, and rebukes, saying each time, "He who has an ear, let him hear . . . ." We should listen, too.
He says, "I KNOW" five times in Revelation 2. He sees them and knows EVERYTHING about them. Do you really live as if Jesus sees everything you do and knows everything you think? I forget this daily.
What if you got home from work today, checked your mailbox, and there was a real letter from Jesus? What would it say -- both the well-done's and the rebukes? Would you have ears to hear? Would you repent?
I think about what my letter might say, and it startles me. Who is my first love today? Where am I tolerating ungodliness? Where am I valuing comfort over godliness, or passivity over truth? I don't take my faith and devotion to Christ seriously enough. I lull myself into thinking I'm operating for an audience of peers who don't see or know everything. They can see only the outside, and I can keep that tidy enough.
But that's living a lie. We have an audience of One -- Jesus. We are to live for Him, period.
Got time for another point?
Smyrna gets the shortest letter . . . and receives not a single rebuke. Yet, Smyrna's letter is focused on suffering, tribulation, poverty, slander, pending imprisonment, and death. Is there a correlation between their suffering and lack of rebukes? Could God use suffering to purge sin and create more wholehearted devotion to the Lord? Read 1 Peter 4:1-2 and decide for yourself.
Remember: An audience of One -- this is the unseen Reality.
Listen. Repent. Conquer.
You who have an ear, may you hear what the Spirit says to you.
Discussion Questions
1. How would Jesus rebuke you?
2. What would it look like for you to repent?
3. To whom will you confess this today and invite to hold you accountable for your repentance? Read Proverbs 28:13.
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
November 12-16 (Revelation 2-6)
Parents: Go to the following link (http://wmcc.jointhejourney.com/page_/3913). Click on the link titled "The Role of the Church" and then print the chart that pops up. Read over it and make sure that you have a good grasp on it. Then create a blank chart to read through Revelation 2-3 with your kids and fill in the chart together. It might be fun to read the passages addressed to the different churches from two versions of the Bible to see the differences.
While you are reading, talk about the different ways the churches were affirmed and how those traits might look in our lives today. Then, talk about what they were not doing well and how those things might be seen in our lives today. In the end, talk about what the charges were to the churches and how we at Watermark are doing in living out the exhortation to follow God wholeheartedly. What could we be doing better?
Take time to pray for the leaders at Watermark, including your small group leaders. Pray, too, for the Church around the world to be strong in following Jesus and for our government to be men and women who fear the Lord.