What does God say to the Churches? Part 1

Over the next seven days I’m going to post what God says to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. It’s important to know what God’s word says to us. We should not be comfortable just because we’re sitting in a church. Church attendance, church membership, and a prayer should not make us comfortable or at ease. May our hearts reflect king David when he said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23.

Today we will look at some New Testament texts that will be helpful in the next seven days as we read and contemplate what God says to the seven churches.

Why am I writing this? Well, the Holy Spirit has been burdening my heart and prompting me to speak to his children. He compels me and therefore I must obey.

Look around, dear friend. The church has become dirty and defiled. We have allowed some of the world to come in and change us instead of us changing the world. Darkness has seeped in and our light has grown dim.

Part of the problem is our misunderstanding of Grace. There’s this easy believe-ism that doesn’t call us unto repentance. Somehow we have allowed false teachings into the church that teach us a “prayer of salvation” but not repentance unto a life of transformation.

One of the reason this happens is because the Bible isn’t being read. There is a lot of Bible illiteracy in the church. The Bible is a road map to give us direction for our maturing process. It’s a treasure that will enrich our life. It is food for our soul that feeds and nourishes us. It’s time to pick up our Bibles and study the word of God.

Take a moment and read these scriptures and meditate on them for a moment before going on.

1 Peter 1:15 “But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct: for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially based on each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your temporary residence. For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.”

James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (Action)

John 14:21&23 “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”- Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (obedience)

Matthew 3:8 “Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance” (fruit)

2 Cor. 6:14-18 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you.’ And, ‘I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’” (separation)

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”(transformed)

These are all New Testament scriptures. So is the message to the seven churches in Revelation. Why do I point that out? Because many Christians don’t understand their responsibility as Christians and the commands of Jesus. These verses weren’t written to the world and the lost but to those who claim to be disciples. Are you a disciple my friend?

Let me note, none of this has anything to do with the saving work of Jesus Christ. We are saved by his grace through faith! Hallelujah. Jesus came, died, and rose from the grave so that we might be saved and raised from the dead to new life in Christ.

These next few studies are about the life we live after we become born again believers. It’s about sanctification and becoming image bearers of Christ! It’s about being the light as he is in the light. Let’s build some spiritual muscles and do the hard work even if it doesn’t feel good. Don’t neglect your vegetables and skip to the dessert. Too much sugar causes diabetes.