Tag: seven stars

6.e. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Revelation 3:1  “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Sardis was rebuked with “you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” We see a similar warning as Isaiah 29:13-14; And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”   Sardis Christians were called dead.  It is like they were being told you have a very nice and beautiful casket but what is inside is nothing but dead bones of what used to be alive. They were physically alive and spiritually dead.  Paul said this to the Christians in Corinth “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready”   The problem was for these Christians in Sardis and Corinth and, as well, each of us today, they died spiritually inside and were not even aware or conscience of the fact they were dying.  How does a person get to this state in their lives?  They stop living to humbly serve, honor, glorify, follow, need, trust, rely on, and obey God.  The word of God has become void in their lives. They have shut their ears to hear the Holy Spirit speak truth into their lives.  We do well to examine ourselves and hear these words of Jesus Christ.  The activity and ability to hear and act on the Holy Spirit leading dies when neglect and complacency of God’s Word are present in our lives.  This very well may be the final warning for some.  Take heed and repent.  Turn back to Christ and walk worthy of Him.

6.a.

Revelation 2:1  “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. “‘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. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 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. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 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.’

We can all learn from the letters to the seven churches listed in Revelation.  These letters were written to both those present at the time of receiving the letter and to all in the future.  The expectation and application are just as pertinent for their culture as ours, for believing churches then as now, for believers then as now.

The lesson in the letter to Ephesus teaches that truth and love must go hand-in-hand. A church that upholds doctrinal purity at the expense of showing love is just as flawed as a church that upholds congregational harmony at the expense of truthful teachings. Instead, Jesus reveals that a church fashioned in His image must teach God’s Truth in love. (Christianity.com)

Given the high degree of assimilation of North American Christians to our culture’s values—more time spent on entertainment than on witness, more money spent on our comfort than on human need—the prognosis for the society as a whole is not good.

When pagans charged that Rome fell because of its conversion to Christianity, Augustine responded that it fell rather because its sins were piled as high as heaven and because the commitment of most of its Christian population remained too shallow to restrain God’s wrath. Naturally, we recognize that not all suffering reflects judgment; but some do, especially on the societal level. Is Western Christianity genuinely different enough from our cultures to delay God’s judgment on our societies?  (Zondervan Academic)

6. Write therefore the things that you have seen

Revelation 1:19  Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John is told to write about what he has seen, those that are and those that are to take place.  To see something our eyes have to be open and be willing to see what is there and not just what we want to see.  How many times in scripture do we read about people and nations who were blinded from seeing the truth because their hearts and minds were on things apart from God?  They were unable to see the wonders of God.  They were unable to see His awesome power through creation.  In Romans it says “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” They were unable to see His grace, mercy, and love through scripture. It is as though they chose to let the light of this world expose things of this world and overshadow the Light of Jesus Christ.  In their heart, they say; “I know what I just saw but I don’t believe it”

What do you see as you go about your day?  Do you see things of God, God’s power, God’s control, God’s revealing, God’s blessings, God’s directing, God’s discipline, God’s wonders, God’s creation, God’s grace, mercy, and love, God’s answer to prayer, and the work of the Holy Spirit?  Let the light of Jesus Christ fill your vision with awe, wonder, and praise.  It is when our heart, mind, and soul are intentionally committed to living in the light of Jesus Christ that our eyes will be opened and then like the hymn says; “morning by morning new mercies I see”  We can not expect to see the light of Jesus Christ while we choose to walk in darkness that is caused by neglect and complacency to God’s Word.  Choosing to walk in the light will expose new understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  It will light your path and give you direction for every moment of every day.  It will give you the courage to face whatever you are facing that day.  It will give you a refuge from the fiery darts from Satan.  It will give you hope in the midst of trials and trouble.  It will give you strength when you are weak.  It will be a place of refuge.  It will confirm the awesomeness of Jesus Christ.  It is when we choose and commit to walking in the light of God’s word that we will reflect the light of Jesus Christ for others to see.  It is then we will be able to see things as they are and things that are to take place.