As a part of my job, I am learning about GHS symbols. There are symbols or pictograms used to visually help people know the dangers of any given chemical. They are printed in a red square on the side of the container describing the hazards of that chemical and the safest course of action to take with it - if you should wear goggles, gloves, or a respirator. If you should not inhale it, or get it on your skin, or strike a match nearby, and what to do if you get some in your mouth or if it is fatal if swallowed. It gives the poison control or CHEMTREC phone number to call if you need it. The warnings are meant to be read first before you use the chemical and taken VERY SERIOUSLY. The same is true for this book of Revelation.
When I was in youth ministry, you quickly learned that there is a favorite phrase spoken by those in junior high and it is the phrase, SERIOUSLY? No matter what you say, a junior high boy or girl will typically respond with, Seriously? Because they are in the phase of life of discovering what is really real and true.
Jesus takes his churches seriously and his warnings to his churches are very serious.
Not everyone who thinks they are headed toward eternal life is.
Jesus says, only the OVERCOMERS will make it.
How to be A JESUS LOVER OVERCOMER. DO YOU COMPLETELY BELONG TO CHRIST?
ARE YOU HOLDING ANYTHING BACK FROM HIM?
There are TWO kingdoms represented in REV - one represents doing everything without God (Babylon) - ever since the Tower of BABEL which was located where the country later was called Babylon; and the other kingdom represents doing everything for God, by God, with God. That kingdom is called The New Jerusalem.
You and I cannot come to know GOD by Babylonian methods. You have to enter into and live by what John calls “New Jerusalem” methods. The main method is worship.
The end for one of those kingdoms is eternal life lived without a Sun because the Lamb gives the people their light; its people live in a city with complete access to Paradise and the Garden where the Tree of LIFE is located in the very center with a river running out to the world; the end of the other kingdom is eternal death in darkness with the Dragon and beast, and the false prophet who deceived its people.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
But there is hope–and the hope could be YOU - If those following the Lamb will OVERCOME as the Lamb overcame, there will not only be hope for YOU, but for those who see you.
God is calling with a voice so sweet out over the sea of people, for those who are thirsty to come and drink from the living water of the river that has flowed from God’s mountain since the opening days of Genesis. For this to happen, the Church must OVERCOME. Seriously? -YES!
And so JOHN is told to write the words of Jesus given to him through an angel to give to seven churches. SEVEN is one of John’s favorite numbers, as well as three, ten, and 12. Why? The Bible tells him so!
So John is told to write a letter to the angelos of each church. Angelos is a word that can be translated messenger or angel. It has lead some to believe that every church has a guardian angel over it that helps the word of God to be voiced within it. But it really doesn’t make any sense for JOHN to WRITE a letter to an angel. I believe that the messenger of the church is the one who gives the messages to the church, and so today that would be the pastor, the preacher, the priest, the parson, the minister, the prophet, the reverend.
And while the study of the location of each church has value, I will not be spending much time on that angle. Instead, I want to focus on the warnings and on what we need to do as disciples and as a church family here to obey God and have our candlestick of light remain.
HE KNOWS ALL! Symbolically, HOLDING something in your hand and WALKING in the midst means you have a very intimate knowledge of all that is going on. He knows each, what is deeper than a thought? Oh, a motive, He knows from one church to another, from one location to another, from one believer to another, from one thought in your mind right now to the one you will have this afternoon. Jesus knows ALL.
Jesus KNOWS all YOU are doing and YOU are working really hard, YOU are not a lazy church, YOU are getting a lot of stuff DONE because YOU are hard workers AND YOU know how to endure and weather out storms together so YOU can … immediately get back to work.
Jesus also says they are intolerant of evil people. We will get to a few definitions of what EVIL means later, but for this church, it involved EXAMINATION of false claims of seemingly important leaders, who are nothing more than LIARS.
REV 2:3, Jesus also takes notice of how they have suffered and not given up and it was all DONE in Jesus’ name.
But there is a bad thing that can happen to a church that is always busy, always doing stuff, always doing things, always working hard over and over again, year after year, and they are doing doing doing. They aren’t really praying about it anymore. They become a doing church filled with doing people. But God didn’t make us human doings, but human beings.
SO here comes the CORRECTIVE BEHAVIOR, here comes the description of the red boxes on the side of the chemical can! v4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t agape-LOVE me or each other as you did AT FIRST! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the WORKS you did at FIRST.
HERE COMES THE WARNING LABEL: Fatal if swallowed? Flush eyes with water for 15 minutes? Wash hands before eating? Wash clothes before rewearing? Call the poison hotline?
NO - BUT If you don’t REPENT, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among you. You won’t be a light in the community anymore. I am not going to mess with you. I am not going to visit you. Have you ever visited a church where Jesus didn’t even want to attend?
What does the word REPENT mean? TURN AROUND! Do a 180! Leave off going that way, and completely change and go the other. Abandon that way, that wayward path and get back on track!
REWARD FOR returning to your FIRST LOVE = v6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. v7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Listen and understand. Listen and understand. Listen and understand!
To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the Tree of Life in the paradise of God. [the greek word “nike” means conquer, overcome, get the victory over, win!] So let me ask you, do you love God? When was the last time you really told him?
The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks the question, What is the chief end of humanity - it is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
And 1 Cor 10:31 commands us, Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!
I want to know if YOU can say it?
I LOVE GOD! Can you say it?
I KNOW GOD LOVES ME!
NOT just DO IT and say it,
But are you a BEING who knows it and can say it,
I can FEEL His love for me.
The proof of LOVE shows in the sacrifices you make to be with others. Remember: Agape Love is a commitment love. It is NOT about what you DO, but about who you ARE, because who you ARE determines what you DO, not the other way around.
What attacks agape love? Doing THINGS to the point you don’t even remember WHY you are doing them anymore. And you DO instead of BE - Jesus’ conviction fell upon them for their doing things FOR HIM instead being WITH HIM.
The ONLY way to overcome the Babylon LIFE is to stay connected to the ONE who IS life!
MATT 7:21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
Your enemy wants you to leave this life blind to the truth - do you want to step from this life into the next to knock on the door in the afterlife only to hear Jesus say, Be gone. I NEVER KNEW YOU!
You need to be A JESUS-LOVER OVERCOMER!
Are you READY? For Christ to return today? Tonight? Tomorrow? Right now? Have you overcome everything to make you ready? Can you say I LOVE GOD! I LOVE JESUS! I KNOW HE LOVES ME! I FEEL HE LOVES ME! I experience his love all the time!
Jesus says, only the OVERCOMERS will make it.
I want all of us to READY FOR CHRIST’S RETURN - to be A JESUS LOVER OVERCOMER
As your safety coordinator, DO YOU COMPLETELY BELONG TO CHRIST? ARE YOU HOLDING ANYTHING BACK FROM HIM?
LET’S PRAY
