Conclusion:
The fourth Church Jesus addresses is the church of Thyatira and He starts by acknowledging they have grown from where they started, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” But then comes the reprimand, “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” It sounds to me like He is not happy with them, to say the least… So now comes a further warning, Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.” So to those of you that are somehow righteous you better stick with the program until I come get you. Jesus then tells of the reward for doing as He commands, “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’ – just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Hear it? Listen to the Holy Spirit? Do not follow false teachers.
Church number five is the church at Sardis and He gets right to the point, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” And His complaint comes clearly, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.” The warning is given, “But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” And lastly the hope is there for those that remain steadfast in the Lord, “Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Listen to the Holy Spirit! Are you pretending to be alive but you are really dead inside?
The church at Philadelphia is the sixth church He addresses and as it is written He is happy with this church. Jesus addresses them lovingly, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” He spends no time leveling any complaints to the congregants of the church at Philadelphia. He does warn them to hold tight though, “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” And provides further hope for them, “The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.” Continue to listen to the Holy Spirit!
The last church of the seven is the church of Laodicea where He indicates that we need to be full in and not sitting on the fence. He says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! can see.” Then he levels the complaint with them, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 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. 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. And if that doesn’t get your attention what will? Here comes the warning, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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.” Oh yes, If anyone knocks they can come in. He is that close. Just reach out and be saved! The hope he gives last as he says, “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. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.” Notice it again, “Whoever has ears, let them hear the Spirit!” Don’t be luke-warm, be sure you are all-in!
Wow! After reviewing those seven churches, take a deep look at your church and then our church and tell me how you think you stack up. Be honest. God knows it all anyway. Have you forsaken the love you had at first? Have you fallen? Has the sanctuary become a synagogue of Satan? Have you become idol worshipers? Have you been led into sexual immorality? Do you claim you are alive when in actuality you are dead? Are you neither cold nor hot but lukewarm? Have you watered down the scriptures and become false teachers? Have you become overprotective and are you feeding the fish and maintaining the aquarium instead of fishing for men?
Remember the consequences as you go forward. Humble yourselves before God and men. Do not remain comfortable. Take a risk. Trust God and go! Time is at hand and life is but a vapor. God will judge each of His people according to the calling placed on them. Walk worthy of the vocation. (Eph. 4:1)
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”. (Luke 9:23)
Take up your cross. Let’s be Christians first and Americans second. Have you done enough? How will you be evaluated? Let’s not as “The Church” be a bunch of losers.
God bless you,
“The Tubthumper”