7 Stars 7 Lampstands
Revelation 1:19-20
Purpose: To display Christ as the light of the world.
Aim: I want the listener to look for ways to spread the light of Christ.
INTRODUCTION: Beautiful buildings do not make a church. A tour group was going through Westminster Abbey. [ Pictures of Westminster Abbey] The guide pointed out the priceless art, the matchless architecture, the beautiful furniture and the rich history. One little lady in the group kept trying to say something so finally the guide let her speak and said asked, “Has anybody been saved here lately?” This is a good question for any church. What kind of light to the world is Bethel Chapel Church? The important question is, “What is God doing here?”
REVIEW:
1:1-20 I. John’s Vision of the Past “the things which you have seen”
Vs.1-3 A. The importance of this book “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”
Vs.4-5a B. The character of God “Him who is…was…is to come”
Vs.5b-6 C. The change Jesus makes “released us from our sins”
Vs.7 D. The coming of King Jesus “He is coming with the clouds”
Vs.8 E. The superiority of King Jesus “the Almighty”
Vs.7-8 F. The certainty of the return of King Jesus “it is to be”
Vs.9-12 G. The setting for this book
Vs.12-16H. A glimpse of the exalted Christ“white wool, like snow”
17-18 I. The results of meeting Christ“I fell at His feet”
17c-18 J. How can we worship with confidence?“I am the first and the last”
LESSON:
➽Vs.19-20 K. The importance of the local church
➽Vs.19 1. Christ reveals Himself to the church “write”
The vision of a glorious Christ wasn’t just given to John. John is commanded to share it with the whole church.
Jesus told John to write this book and send it to seven churches, not to a government, not to the head of a denomination, not to a general—he wrote it to local Christian churches. Christ gave to the local church a vision of Himself in His glory (Ch.1); warnings to stay true to Him (Ch.2-3); and a description of God’s judgment on the world (Ch.4-22).
The same Jesus who spoke the worlds into existence has spoken to us. Hebrews 1:1-2 1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (NAU)
➽Vs.20 2. What is the purpose of the church? “lampstands”
a. The church exists to display Christ’s unity to the world “seven"
➽Why is the local church important?
One of the clearest statements about the purpose for groups of local believers is given to us by Paul in, 1 Timothy 3:15 . . . the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. (NAU)
➽1. The Church is a Dwelling place for God “the household of God”
In the OT God’ presence actually dwelt in the Temple (earlier it was the Tabernacle). His glory came down and filled the Holy of Holies. When the church was born in Acts 2 individual flames of fire rested above the heads of each believer. This symbolized that the presence of God was now in each Christian instead of in the Temple.
It is not correct to say, “I go to church”. Actually believers are the church. Church is not a building, but a church is a group of Christians who are organized by the rules in the New Testament.
For example, Paul addressed the following comments to the whole church, not to individuals, because the word YOU is plural. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. (NAU) 2 Corinthians 6:16 . . . For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (NAU)
Paul also taught us this truth in, Ephesians 2:19-22 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (NAU)
➽2. The church displays the living God “the church of the living God”
The pagan temples of Paul’s day were headed by gods who were dead. Only the Christian church has a living head.
God the Father founded the church. Ephesians 1:4-5 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world… In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (NAU)
Jesus paid to forgive the church. Ephesians 5:25 . . . as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; (NAU) Christ has been made the head of the church. Ephesians 5:23. . . as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. (NAU)
The Holy Spirit started the church in Acts 2:1-4 and He is the One who brings people into the church. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (NAU)
➽3. The church supports the truth “the pillar...of the truth”
If the church is the pillar of the truth, then the truth cannot stand without the church. Local organized groups of believers are what God has chosen to teach and spread His truth. There are no rules in the Bible for how to run Para-church organizations.
Truth comes through the church. Ephesians 4:11-13 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;[the BODY OF CHRIST and CHURCH are the same thing] 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (NAU)
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers… (NAU) God revealed His truth through the apostles and today we have that truth given to us as the NT and then it is taught in the church by God appointed teachers.
Truth is proclaimed by the church. In Acts 13:1-3 it was the church at Antioch that officially sent Paul and Barnabas out as missionaries. Titus was . . . appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work. . . (2 Corinthians 8:19NAU)
The church is also the place where Christians gathered to learn God’s truth. Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (NAU)
Ephesians 3:8,10 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. (NAU)
Truth is preserved through the organization of the church. The NT gives instructions on how to baptize in the church, take communion in the church, give money in the church, structure leadership in the church, preach in the church, define men’s and women’s roles in the church and how to solve conflicts in the church.
Hebrews 10:24-25 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (NAU)
Truth is kept pure by the church. False teachers are to be identified and rejected. 2 John 9-11 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, [probably refers to a gathering of the church since the early churches met in homes] and do not give him a greeting; [i.e. don’t even speak favorably of them in public] 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. (NAU)
The church is supposed to decide disputes between believers. 1 Corinthians 6:1-5 1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, (NAU)
It is the church that encourages believers to remain pure. Matthew 18:17-18 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. (NAU)
➽4. The church protects the truth “support of the truth”
The word SUPPORT means the “foundation or mainstay”. So, as shocking as it sounds, the truth is not only held up by the church, the church is the very foundation of the truth. If the church were destroyed, God’s truth on earth would cease. Thankfully, Christ promised us that this would never happen. Matthew 16:18 . . . upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (NAU)
Ephesians 2:19-20 19 So then you are . . . of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, (NAU)
➽b. The church exists to shine Christ’s light on the world “golden lampstands”
Jesus brought the light of God’s truth to the world. John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (NAU) John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (NAU)
Since Jesus is no longer physically on earth, He left His body (the church) to take up the responsibility of displaying the truth to the world. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (NAU) Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; (NAU)
Acts 13:47 “For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’ ” (NAU)
Ephesians 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (NAU)
Philippians 2:15 … prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, (NAU)
Why do so many avoid Bible teaching churches? Many people avoid good churches for the same reason that many people avoided Christ’s teaching when He was on earth. John 3:19-21 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (NAU) Remember, the church is now the “light of the world.”
➽Vs.20 3. What are the responsibilities of the pastors?
ANGEL A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a “messenger,” and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14; 1 Sam. 11:3; Lk. 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa. 42:19; Hag. 1:13), of priests (Mal. 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev. 1:20). [Easton. (.). Eastons (electronic ed.)]
I think that ANGEL here refers to the pastors that represent the seven churches. The word ANGEL is sometimes used for humans like John the Baptist. Malachi 3:1 1 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me… (NAU) The letter to each church in the next two chapters is addressed to the ANGEL or messenger of that church.
➽a. God’s pastors shed Christ’s light to the church “stars”
I think that this is implied by picturing pastors as stars. Jesus is the greater light just like there is only one sun that shines on us, but when the sun is gone there are many lesser lights that shine in the darkness.
Pastors are commanded to, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 NAU)
2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (NAU)
➽b. God’s pastors submit to Christ’s authority “in my right hand”
Pastors are not “rock” stars or “Hollywood” stars, they are Christ’s stars. This is one of the more flattering pictures of a pastor in the Bible. Pastors are called SHEPHERDS which was one of the most despised professions in Bible days. Paul likened pastors to an ox in I Timothy 5:18.
Because pastors are in Christ’s hand, they are accountable to Him. Paul understood that Jesus was his boss. 1 Timothy 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, (NAU)
1 Peter 5:1-4 1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, …, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (NAU)
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. … (NAU)
It is a fearful thing for a shepherd to abuse the sheep. Jeremiah 23:1-2 1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord. (NAU)
Acts 23:1-5 1 Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” 2 The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” 4 But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ” (NAU)
Being in God’s hand also provides protection. God protects His servants. Psalm 37:23-24 23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand. (NAU)
Psalm 18:35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. (NAU)
CONCLUSION: ➽Christianity has a way of beginning in a catacomb with nothing but a message and ending up in a cathedral with nothing but money.[Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (120). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.]
Let’s work together and pray together that Bethel will never lose sight of its responsibility to clearly and consistently proclaim the glory of Christ to a dying world.
