SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR
4-29-12 New Liberty Christian Church, Veedersburg, IN with Rich McQuinn, Minister
TEXT: REVELATION 1:17-20
INTRODUCTION; Down deep inside you, is a yearning to go to Heaven when this life finally ends or Jesus comes and brings us home to His place. It is a deep sensation that has been with you every since you were created. Life begins at conception! You are one of Gods glorious creations. You are made in His image. Who IS YOUR DADDY?
With this yearning is the feeling that you want to stay close to the one who made you. You know you are on the right path when you follow in HIS steps.
So safely, I ask you this morning what in the world are you doing here? Did you come as they did in Jesus day to watch a little magic show, or because the crowds were going and you thought you would just follow? Are you here because someone took the time to invite you to this fellowship? Have you had a bad week and you need a weekly dose of Heavens medicine? Are you sick and need to be healed? Did you come to pray, seek your Fathers Will for your life. Or like so many are you here and do not know why, you just know you need some answers to some of your questions. You need forgiveness of your sins!
This is the second in a series of sermons on the book of Revelation. Last week we tore apart chapter one and especially Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near!
John was worshipping the Lord on Sunday Morning. He receives this vision of Revelation. He was told to write this message to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. Each church was to receive a special message of their own. It was a personal message from Jesus to them. At the same time the letter contained a broader message of warnings.
So here we are today in worship service and we are here to listen to the message God has in store for every one of us.
Exactly what is the Church? We are all confused by so many versions. Who is right? What is right? Who do we follow? What if we are wrong, or following the wrong sect or guru or denomination? How do I know what is the right church for me and my family.
I. THE CHURCH WAS BUILT BY CHRIST
Matthew 16:16 I believe that you are the Christ the Son of the Living God. Blessed are you Peter, upon your faith, I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Jesus knew all along when He left Heaven what His true purpose was. That was to be born of a virgin, set a sinless example for the world to follow, shed His pure blood to cover the sins of the world, and offer a way of salvation to any and all who would accept it. He would begin building His church based on the confession of Peter’s belief—that being that Jesus IS THE CHRIST!
So many books throughout the New Testament show us what must take place to be a part of Christ’s church.
Can you become a Christian and not be a member of a local church? Of course.
Once you come to your decision time of accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, He becomes the King of Kings for your life, your personal Saviour. You are not then a member of any earthly church.
Accepting Christ and Church membership in reality are two separate acts not to be confused with the other. You accept Christ first, and then you accept a church to be an active member of. That is where the search begins. Which church is faithful? Who is praying, witnessing, promoting, and serving the needs of the community? Then you seek membership in a local church.
II. THE CHURCH WAS BORN ON PENTECOST
You know this very well. The city is Jerusalem. Christ has been crucified, buried and resurrected. He has several eye witnesses to prove it. Peter and the disciples were preaching about repentance. His sermon convinced the crowd of their wrong doings. They asked the question what must we do---to get rid of our sins?
Acts 2 gives us the answer. He simply tells them to turn away from their wicked ways, repent, wash away your sins though your obedience of baptism. There were added that day about 3000 plus souls. The church of Jesus Christ was born that day.
III. THE CHURCH IS BLUE PRINTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The New Testament is filled with how to set up properly The CHURCH of CHRIST. Paul in his writings leads the way, in describing who should be a member, how one becomes a member, how many Elders are there to be in the local church, the functions of the Elders and the Deacons. Who handles the money and for what purpose is it spent. Who cares for the community? Who takes care of the widows? How to evangelize.
We are called to a local church. We do not sit at home and place our membership to a California church because we watch them on TV. We are to be active in our local churches.
One of satans tricks is to get us to a place where we are a member of a church because our name is written in the membership book, BUT we have never been there for 5 years of so, we have never invested a dime, we have never offered any help. It just makes us feel good if our membership is on the roles.
At the same time people have moved to a different location and keep our membership in a church fellowship that we are not active with nor tend to ever become.
When we belong to the body of Christ we do everything that is humanity possible to see that this Bride of Christ is well taken care of. We make sure that the bills are paid, that it is cleaned, that the maintenance is always actively fixed, that members go out of their way to invite neighbors and friends and then to take care of them.
IV. THE CHURCH WAS BOUGHT BY HIS BLOOD
He showed us the way. He was crucified for our sins and shed His blood so that the Church would always be the avenue for sinners to come to Christ and be active.
He promised that the church would always be here until the end of time.
When we study these 7 churches of Asia Minor we know that this vision was about two thousand years ago, BUT the message that was written to each of them is just important to us as it was to them.
Each message is not only for a special named church, but for the period of history that they were referring to. When we get to next week’s sermon from chapter 4 and 5 of Revelation, the church is not ever mentioned again. Christ has come as He promised to gather His faithful believers and is taking them HOME.
To the church of Ephesus, Revelation 2:1-7 They were hard working members who suffered for Christ, BUT they had forgotten their first love. The purpose of the church is winning the lost. They were told to repent and get back to their rightful place. If they do they will be able to eat of the tree of life. Ephesus was on fire for awhile. Where is your first love?
The church of Smyrna was in a wealthy city that had little time and regards to Christians. It was a much-persecuted church body. This is for that time period of 100-312 A.D. the Persecuted Church history timing. There wasn’t a single thing that Christ condemned them for. He simply told them to keep on being faithful. This was the time when many of the Apostles lost their lives. From Nero to Diocletian these Roman rulers fought against the Bible, the church and the Christians.
The indulged church ages 312-606 Pergamum. Revelation 2:12-17 It means marriage or elevation. During this time the church married Roman practices.
Prayers for the Dead, Making the sign of the Cross, Worship of saints and angels, Mass was first instituted, Worship of Mary began, Priest dressed differently than their members, Doctrine of purgatory was introduced, Worship services began to be in Latin and the beginning of prayers to Mary. The church gave way to letting anything happen under the pretense that it was truly Gods church.
The Pagan church, the Dark Ages beginning with 606. The church of Thyatira, Revelation 2:18-29 Saint Boniface III was made the first Pope, beginning of worshipping idols, prayer beads; Rome infiltrated the church with its customs. A watered down religion. Give us all church leaders who will preach the true Gospel with out ever backing down and never compromising on convictions.
The Church of Sardis, Revelaton 3:1-6 The dead church era 1520 A.D. Big churches are dead at times. May have television programs, great choirs, paid staff, but there is no juice in the communion cups---meaning they are dead and they do not know it. What am I talking about you say. If the Gospel is not being taught and honored then the church has already died. Wake up! Before it is too late.
The Church of Philadelphia, Revelation 3:7-13 The Reformation age. This church is characterized by a spirit of revival that promotes evangelism and a missionary minded church. There are three essentials for building a spiritual church, evangelism, missions and Bible teachings.
The Church of Laodicea, Revelation 3:14-22 is the most disappointing. It makes the Lord nauseating. They have become fixed on them selves. They are a rich church with rich members and they do not need any god. They can do most things on their own. This is very dangerous and another satan trick. To be self sufficient.
Where do you fit in? Revelation 3:20 Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he will eat with me.
So I end with the same question. Why are you here today? What do you get from being here and what do you take with you when you leave. I hope you realize that we believe that the Bible is the inspirited Word of God. We accept all of it as the Truth.
We know that there isn’t any way to the Father but by Jesus and His Church.
What kind of church member are you? Only you can decide that. Be faithful, keep your convictions, do not compromise, and win the lost!
AMEN AND AMEN.
