Lost Love Series

Anytime you see the word "star" it is representative of the angel of the church. The seven candlesticks are the seven churches. So, when you see a candlestick in this study, you will know that this is the church. Here is what I like, the candlestick is representative of the church because Christ said to the church "you are the light of the world." When he gave the commission to the church to go forth to proclaim the gospel of truth to the world the church became the light of the world. As an individual, you are to be the light of the world. What does a light do? It dispels the darkness. It tells the truth in an evil society. When Christ came into this world, He told the truth to a world that rejected the truth. When the church was born into this world it was born with the message of truth that is rejected by an evil society. Nevertheless, we are to be the light of the world.

In verse one, Christ is pictured as holding the seven stars (messengers of the church) in His right hand. Be reminded that whatever happens in the church, Christ sees it all and knows it all. That should be words of warning to us today. There is nothing that happens in His church that goes unnoticed. Therefore, we should be careful of what we do and how we live. We can hide it from individuals and groups of people. We cannot hide it from Christ.

Please notice that Christ is holding the messengers of the church in His right hand. This speaks of power. It speaks of control. It speaks of kingship and lordship. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

In verse one, Christ is also pictured as walking in the midst of the seven churches. May I remind you that in Bible believing churches today Christ is there. Christ walks among the churches because it is His own church that He established on Mount Calvary with His own blood. He arose again the third day to give us life so that He could dwell with by His Holy Spirit. He walks among His church today. Christ is in this place today! We must not forget that. Many times we come to church and forget that Christ is here. We would be much more reverent. We would have a much better attitude ready to worship if we understood that Christ is here. Do you realize that when we gather together corporately to worship, we are on Holy Ground. Where Christ is there is Holy Ground. In His presence there is the reminder, "I am the Savior. I am Christ. I am the Lord."

The Commendation To The Church

In verse two, Jesus commends them for their works, labor and patience. He commends them for trying the false prophets and finding them to be false so that they would not be allowed in the church. In First John chapter four, verse one John said, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Satan, who can transform himself to look as a messenger of light, has false prophets who are invading the church for the purpose of destroying the church. As a church, we must be very careful to try these spirits. If their spirit does not strive with ours, they cannot be of God. Churches today have been split and lead astray because they were not patient enough to try the spirits.