Introduction

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters in Christ! I’m excited to be with you today as we dive into God's Word and explore the depth of His love for His Church. We are going to take a journey through Revelation 1-3, where we will see how Jesus cares for His Church, how we as the Church should not drift, and how much the Church matters to Jesus.

As we begin, I want to share a powerful quote from the late Christian author and preacher A.W. Tozer that sets the tone for our discussion today: "We are saved to worship God. All that Christ has done in the past and all that He is doing now leads to this one end." The Church is not just a building or a gathering of people, but it is the living body of Christ, made up of each one of us. The Church exists to worship God. We are here today to honor and worship our Creator together.

With that in mind, let's turn our attention to the Scripture passage for today, which is Revelation 1-3. As we explore through these chapters, let's remember that Jesus Himself is speaking through the Apostle John to the seven churches in Asia, showing His love and concern for His Church, and offering both encouragement and correction for them to continue on the right path.

Before we dive into the Word, let's begin with an opening prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this opportunity to come together as Your Church and to learn from Your Word. We ask that You open our hearts and minds today, Lord, that we may fully comprehend the message You have for us in these passages. Help us to understand Your love for Your Church and to remember that as Your people, we should not drift from Your truth. May our time together today draw us closer to You, and may Your Holy Spirit guide us in all that we do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Jesus Cares for His Church

As we begin, I want you all to know this truth: Jesus Cares for His Church. His love is an active, intimate, and deeply involved love. Throughout the pages of the New Testament, we see Jesus' love for His Church displayed in various ways, and this love is deeply emphasized in the opening chapters of Revelation.

One of the most striking aspects of Jesus' love for His Church is His intimate knowledge of each congregation's strengths and weaknesses. In Revelation 2-3, Jesus addresses seven different churches, and with each one, He demonstrates a deep understanding of their unique situations. He knows their works, their struggles, and their victories. This demonstrates that Jesus is not a distant, uninvolved deity, but rather a loving, caring Savior who is intimately involved in the lives of His people.

Furthermore, Jesus' love for His Church is also evident in His desire for their spiritual growth and maturity. In His messages to the seven churches, Jesus does not shy away from addressing their shortcomings and areas of needed improvement. He calls out their sins, their compromises, and their lukewarmness, urging them to repent and return to their first love. This shows that Jesus is not content with a stagnant, complacent Church. Instead, He desires a Church that is constantly growing, maturing, and becoming more like Him.

In addition to His intimate knowledge and desire for growth, Jesus also demonstrates His love for His Church by providing encouragement and hope. In His messages to the churches, Jesus acknowledges their faithfulness, their perseverance, and their love for one another. He encourages them to hold fast to their faith, promising them eternal rewards and blessings if they remain faithful to Him. This shows that Jesus not only sees the struggles and weaknesses of His Church but also recognizes and celebrates their victories and faithfulness.

Moreover, Jesus' love for His Church is displayed in His role as our High Priest and Advocate. In Revelation 1:12-13, John sees Jesus standing among the seven golden lampstands, which represent the seven churches. This imagery is reminiscent of the Old Testament high priest who would stand before the menorah in the temple, ensuring that the lamps were continually filled with oil and burning brightly. In the same way, Jesus stands among His Church, ensuring that we are continually filled with His Spirit and shining His light in the world.

As our High Priest, Jesus also intercedes for us before the Father. Hebrews 4:14-16 tells us that Jesus, our great High Priest, has passed through the heavens and is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Because of this, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we will receive mercy and grace in our time of need. This is a powerful reminder of Jesus' love for His Church – He not only knows our struggles and weaknesses but actively intercedes on our behalf, providing us with the grace and strength we need to overcome.

Another aspect of Jesus' love for His Church is His commitment to protecting and preserving His people. In Revelation 3:10, Jesus promises the church in Philadelphia that He will keep them from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world. This promise echoes Jesus' words in John 17:15, where He prays to the Father, asking Him to protect His followers from the evil one. Jesus' love for His Church is not only demonstrated in His intimate knowledge and involvement in our lives but also in His commitment to protecting and preserving us in the midst of trials and tribulations.

Finally, Jesus' love for His Church is displayed in His promise to return and gather His people to Himself. In Revelation 22:20, Jesus declares, "Surely I am coming soon." This promise of His return is the ultimate expression of His love for His Church. Jesus is not content to leave us in a fallen, broken world, but rather, He will return to gather us to Himself, to wipe away every tear, and to usher us into a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. This is the glorious hope that we, as the Church, cling to – the hope of Jesus' return and the consummation of His love for His people.

The Church Should Not Drift

But, one of the things we see in the letters to the churches is that some of these congregations are beginning to drift ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO