To the Church of the Namby-Pamby
I’ve been somewhat bothered with something lately and can’t seem to get it off of my mind. A feeling that God is pushing us to get things sorted quickly because His return is VERY SOON.
Anyone else felt this? Felt the urgency of the church’s mission? Felt like there’s something that we just have to do and do NOW?
Well, that is what made me think about what we are going to talk about today.
Now I’m going to go ahead and insert my disclaimer right here at the beginning before I even get into any bible verses. I am NOT trying to add to or take away from anything that is written in Holy Scripture. In fact, I am trying to say something today that should make you want to go to the scripture and look at it yourself. To find out what each of us individually need to be doing in these days to be ready for the Lord’s soon return. And in doing so, I am going to propose what I think one of the authors of the bible would have really said if they had the knowledge and understanding of where we are in the world today.
So, as you may have already guessed, we are going to be in the book of Revelation today. The youth are about to dive into the book of Revelation and go through it in depth. And this was asked by them. It wasn’t something that we put out there for them, or something we are force feeding them. They really are interested to learn it. So, we are going to learn it.
That being said, I want to cover the first part of the book together with everyone so that we can set the stage for our ongoing study in the youth group.
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Let’s take just a minute right now to pray. And more specifically to pray that our minds would be opened. Eyes would be opened. Ears be able to hear. And hearts be soft and able to accept what the Lord is telling us in the introduction to His word on the end times.
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At the beginning of the book of Revelation we start off with John welcoming the reader, praising God and glorifying Jesus. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be??? Even in the Lord’s prayer we have this example from Christ Himself. Our Father who art in heaven, HALLOWED BE THY NAME…… There is a whole message right there, but that’s not what we are after today, so let’s move on.
Alright, when we get to chapter 2, we have John writing letters to 7 churches in Asia. They are actually all in the modern day country of Turkey. That right there is enough to hopefully perk up your ears about end times stuff. How can you talk about current news and issues in the middle east without involving Turkey? Do you think this is a coincidence??? There are no coincidences with GOD!!!
These are churches that John is familiar with. He was their founder, so he knows them, and most importantly he knew that they would accept the Revelation of Jesus Christ with open arms knowing that it came from him.
When I was talking to the youth about this part of revelation we took time to ask the question….”Why does John write all of Revelation in these weird descriptions and fantastical visions. Well, first, John writes this while he is a prisoner on the isle of Patmos. Do you think that John would have been able to walk out of a Roman prison with a bunch of writings about how Rome would be destroyed, fire would rain down, and nothing would survive the wrath of God that is coming on the earth? I’m pretty sure that would have landed the Revelation of Jesus Christ in the nearest bonfire and swiftly landed John into another attempt at killing him!
Alright, so we have to read this book with the understanding that the true meaning lies in the layers underneath, and with the discernment of the Holy Spirit (ears to hear and eyes to see), we can understand just how intentional God is with His message of hope offered in this book.
So, we have these letters to seven churches, and today I want to do part history lesson to really understand what these churches represent, and part message. More of a “how we got to where we are” and a “call to action”.
Our core scripture is going to be fairly long and I’m not going to just read it all to you, but the reference is Revelation Chapter 2:1 – 3:22. So, all of chapters 2 and 3 to make it easy. But so many people read over these because they are not the “fantastic” things that we find in the rest of Revelation. But ….. they tell us so much more that what most people understand. So, we are going to spend a few minutes to put this all in perspective.
Let’s first look at all 7 churches then I will get to what I want to talk about today.
Church #1: The church of Ephesus (The Apostolic Church)
- This gives us a glimpse at the first church. That (AD 30-100) timeframe.
- You’ve done well, remained strong, and have good discernment.
- BUT, you’ve left your first love.
- What is the first commandment?
- Love the Lord your God FIRST and ABOVE ALL! You shall have no other gods before ME.
- This is similar to the children of Israel. They knew what to do, and at first, they remain strong, but there comes a time when they start to wander from really being repentant and returning to the God who brought them first out of Egypt and later out of Babylon.
- John calls this church to true repentance and to continue working hard.
- Through this church we can see that works alone are not what brings salvation and right standing with God. But through humility and repentance, in connection with the zeal and hard work for the Kingdom, we will truly understand the awesomeness and might of God’s saving power.
Church #2: The church of Smyrna (Persecuted Church)
- Covers the church timeframe of (AD 100-300)
- They had to endure much persecution, poverty, and tribulation.
- In the name of the church we have insight into what they dealt with. Smyrna…Myrrh? Yes the town was known for its spice, the spice of the dead.
- Jesus says that these words are straight from Him. And He says, I see you and your poverty. I see that you are poor and have very little in the world’s eyes. BUT, consider yourself RICH.
- Be faithful, even unto DEATH, and you will receive the crown of Victory!
- So, what this church needed was encouragement.
- Anyone here ever felt poor, forgotten, beaten down, left behind by the world?
- Anyone had someone talk bad and awful about you even in the church? Does Jesus then call us to retaliation? NO of course not! He encourages us to endure.
- This is always where Jesus steps in. He reminds us that in HIM we are conquerors. In HIM we are victorious. In HIM is everlasting life and glory in the age to come.
- If you have come here today and just need some encouragement, read Revelation 2:8-11 as though it is addressed to you. I know we read other parts of the bible and say, “you can insert your name right here”. Well, this is another one of those spots. When the world has you down, even to the point of death, Jesus is there and HE is encouraging you with the word that you are a victor in the age to come. He has already won the victory for us! We just have to stay the course and keep our eyes on HIM, then our crown of victory will shine for all eternity.
Church #3: The church of Pergamum (Elevated or Raised up Church)
- Church timeframe is (AD 300-600)
- Pergamus actually means marriage.
- This church is holding to some false doctrine. I’m not going to put any particular church organization down, but if you know anything about history, then you know which church entity was in control during “medieval” times. This church “married” itself to politics and power.
- So, God tells them to get back righteous living. Turn away from these practices and don’t let them water down the church. Keep yourselves set apart and holy.
- And here is our first warning: If you don’t repent, I will come fight you with the sword of my mouth. Ouch! Anyone ever been rebuked by the Lord himself? Have you ever heard God telling you that what you were doing is wrong and you better get it right?? This church is our example for that.
- But then He promises to give them some of the manna from heaven. He promises to supply what they need. What they have been cheating on God with, He will now supply and with pure and holy sustenance.
- I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to sit with all the saints in heaven at the marriage supper of the Lamb and feast. I don’t think any of us can even imagine how awesome that feast will be!
Church #4: The church of Thyatira (Church of Continual Sacrifice)
- This church is one of the longest time frames of church history (AD 600-1500). You don’t need to say it out loud, but I hope you know which church grew in power, influence, and riches during this era???
- So, you all are doing great… …..except!
- You tolerate that wicked witch Jezebel!
- This is the first time that God specifically says that He has given the people on whom this Jezebel spirit has control, time to repent. But they still refuse. They are too wrapped up in the false teaching and false word, that they are refusing to see the truth. And they are all mixed in with the church! Does this sound familiar to anyone? You won’t have any problems finding a church nowadays that will preach sweet little words to your itching ears. They will sugar coat the gospel to the point that everyone gets a free ride to heaven no matter what. Heck, have any of you seen the AI preachers out there twisting what the bible says? Or even the “pastors” that are using AI to write their sermons??? It’s sickening. But its only sickening if you already KNOW THE WORD!
- So, back to Thyatira, for those who have not given in to this “seducing spirit”, God says that He will not ask anything further.
- He knows what a heavy burden this particular problem is. And He will “require nothing further” of those who remain faithful.
- He just asks that those who are faithful remain that way and “wait upon the Lord”, then they will rule and reign with Him through eternity.
- Doesn’t this sound like what we hope for even today? But as we know, this is not where the letters to the churches end.
Church #5: The church at Sardis (Remnant Church)
- This timeframe for church history runs us up closer to our current church history by covering (AD 1500-1700).
- I like to call this the “halftime church” or the “seventh inning stretch church”.
- Sardis is called out to WAKE UP!
- You started out strong, but now you are all just lazy and some of you are already asleep. It’s time to get back up. Stretch out those “good news” muscles and get back to work!
- And God even warns them, just like the parable of the thief and the parable of the virgins. What happened when the main people fell asleep? God came like a thief and only those who were awake and ready were worthy to go with Him.
- Anyone here feel sleepy? Don’t answer that!!! But its time to wake up.
- This church had people who were spiritually about to “fall asleep” or spiritually die.
- So, if you know anything about history, this church compares to when Martin Luther nails the 95 theses on the door of the church in Whittenberg, Germany in 1517. This starts the protestant reformation. The people of this time were so spiritually oppressed and worn down by the “CHURCH” that they were pretty much as good as dead.
- Now, we have our wakeup call, our 7th inning stretch, our reason to get back to fighting the good fight.
- Here at church #4 is where we start seeing real tight comparisons to the church of today. BUT, that is not always necessarily a good thing.
- Still today, we see people weaponizing the bible to beat people up with it instead of using it to encourage one another to repentance and righteous living in the promise of new life with Jesus.
- I was talking with some people the other day about the weaponization of the bible. Do yall get what I mean when I say that??? How someone can beat you down with verses because they think this one sin is worse than any other. Like how we want to go full rage mode and exact our revenge on murders, rapists, pedophiles, name your group of people. BUT…………. At the end of the day, is any of that any different than my doing something before spending time with God? When I have to slam that filter into place when I want to say a really not nice word. (You do know that you have already sinned by letting the thought of it control you right???) When I want to absolutely just plow some guy off the road because he cut me off in traffic??? That rage we have when we want to just blister someone for what they said behind our back. Heck, when we have been the one saying something behind a back??? Yeah?? But then when we see something we consider “a BIG SIN” and we put our little “holier than thou” robe on so we can feel all SANTIFIED in telling someone else that they are a filthy sinner, so here’s a VERSE ….. OOF!, here’s another VERSE….. OOF!, and another….. and another…… and we weaponize the gospel to beat someone else into submission to our SUPERIOR holiness?????? That people is weaponization of the bible, and there was ever only 1 man who had the right to beat us with the Word…..and that is because HE WAS THE WORD!!!!!
- Do you all realize that the only time that Jesus got MAD/ANGRY/OUTRAGED in the whole of the gospel, was in the courtyard of the temple? And he wasn’t mad at the people who were there to worship God…… HE WAS MAD AT THE CHURCH PEOPLE!!!!! He was mad that they were profiting from selling the gospel! He was mad that they were weaponizing the message of God for their self benefit!!!
- I don’t know really why I felt like that needed to be added right here with this church, but it does! Its part of the wake up call that we all need to get back to the heart of the gospel.
- WE can’t save anyone!!!! But we can LOVE others to the only One that can truly save them. We can be that friend that walks with them to the cross. We are CALLED to LOVE GOD and then LOVE PEOPLE. Nowhere does Jesus tell us to beat people with His message!!!!
- So again, this was the real wake up call church, and I guess that’s why we needed to call that last part out today! But we have to move on now. AMEN??
Church #6: The church at Philadelphia (Brotherly Love)
- The church time from about (AD 1700 – late 1900’s)
- So, if you haven’t recognized any of the other church names, I’m betting that you at least know this one. What is our church at Philadelphia known for???
- That’s right, the church of brotherly love!
- Wait, no…..the bible never says anything about this church being “the church of brotherly love!” …..Now what does the bible say?
- It says nothing about brotherly love. That is what the word Philadelphia actually means "brotherly love" in Greek, originates from the Greek words "philos" (love) and "adelphos" (brother).
- What does Revelation actually say about the CHURCH at Philadelphia?
- Philadelphia is called to endure to the end.
- Any Phillies fans in here? It’s like waiting on them to win the world series huh?? 😊
- Anyways…. Endurance is the key here.
- They are given an open door and protection. They are called to go love the world. Think MISSIONS.
- Those of you who grew up through the mid 1900’s…..what was the prime focus of the church during those years? Missions, outreach, getting that last big push of sending missionaries and groups to the ends of the earth.
- Can you see how all of these churches that John wrote about so long ago are carving out this picture of where the church has come through time???
- Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
- What does this sound like? Anyone thinking rapture of the church?
- Jesus says that He is coming soon and for those that endure, there is a crown and be sure that no one else takes your crown.
- I don’t know about you, but I want the Lord to find me Enduring, and Doing His Work, when He comes for us on that glorious day! But until that day, I will endure. That is our Blessed Hope!
Church #7: The church at Laodicea
- Well, here we are.
- Let’s actually read what John writes about this church.
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
- So, where do we want to start with this one?
- Right off the top, we can tell who He is talking to. Please don’t raise any hands! ?
- If you don’t know, there is some history here that doesn’t usually get shared. Anyone know anything about the town of Laodicea?
- It was a major trade hub of the time. In fact, the town had been completely destroyed by a volcanic eruption about 30 years before John wrote Revelation. Ya, Destroyed!! And the people refused any outside help and they rebuilt the town back “BIGGER” and “BETTER” than before. (Where have we heard that one??)
- But they were like the stubborn child. Any of you parents out there have the “stubborn child”? The “Do it myself!” kid that won’t let anyone help them, even if they are in the dumpster that is on fire, rolling down a hill, and headed into the ravine!? Ya, I’m pretty sure we all know that person. And that is what the city of Laodicea was like. Can you imagine a whole town full of those people? Producing a generation of “entitled” kids with no work ethic, they are comfortable at home so they don’t leave??? ,………………… Sounds a lot like today, doesn’t it?
- Not only were they stubborn, but their center of trade had made them extremely wealthy ……. and they were a MAJOR center of medicine at the time.
- So, lets knock out a couple more of the issues that God has with Laodicea.
- He says, they are lukewarm. Well we all think and have heard pastors through the ages talk about Hot and Cold and the lukewarm just “riding the fence”……..Well, I would like to propose that it is not exactly what this is really about with Laodicea.
- For years I had a problem with that part of verse 15 & 16.
- 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
- God would rather me be COLD???? What? That doesn’t make any sense at all. But it does when you know more about the geography of the area and what the people of the time would have known.
- NOW, I don’t actually think it’s about “riding the fence” or being wishy washy or trying to play both sides. See, Laodicea was actually a city right between and Hot Springs (Hierapolis) and Cold spring water (Colossae). They had no natural water supply of their own, so they pumped in water from these 2 areas.
- We talked about this with the youth a couple of weeks ago and if you have been in Sunday school with us, you will know that I stopped Randy from over sharing one of the things we had talked about. Well this is that thing.
- But think about it really…… God would rather me be COLD or HOT.
- See…..COLD water has its use…it is refreshing! It helps us preserve things. What did we just ask the last church to do??? ENDURE…..yes COLD water helps us endure longer. So, this isn’t so much about “cold people” or sinners being cold or any of that…..It’s about are you spiritually “useful” for the purpose of the gospel??? WOW! When I first got all these pieces put together it really answered one of the big questions I had for God. He doesn’t want me to be cold like a sinner or back slider into whatever depths I have put myself in. ……….. He wants me to be USEFUL for HIS PURPOSE!!!!
- Then you can add in the HOT part, and yes that can mean both “On fire for God” or just the fact that the Hot water in that area around Laodicea was from the hot springs. It brought HEALING and also REFRESHING to those who visited them.
- Anyone ever been to a hot spring and got in the water??? I have and it is just amazing at how refreshing it is.
- So now you can begin to see the reason Jesus tells John to use this visual picture!!
- The people of Laodicea were LAZY!!! They lived where the Hot water cools down to lukewarm instead of being useful while it was hot, and the Cold water warmed up to lukewarm instead of being able to drink it while it was cold. They were in this middle place that was just there…… LAZY, and taking that further we can add verse 17. Because of that laziness “I am am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
- God says they are wretched, miserable, poor, and WHAT? Blind and Naked.
- Laodicea was also a medical hub, and due to its location and trade was able to acquire and prepare a medicated eye salve that was a miraculous healing preparation of the day. And by being in that central trade route, they had some of the finest clothes and “modern fashion” of the time. And all of this had made Laodicea sooo rich that……. It needed nothing. It wanted nothing. And eventually God tells us that it will be worth NOTHING.
- So now we have a little more perspective on Laodicea and why God is so disgusted with them. They are lazy, they are entitled, they have no need of anything, no ambition, no drive. They are perfectly happy to stay just as they are, where they are, and just exist.
- What does “CHURCH” look like in America today? Its lazy and comfortable within its walls. It is perfectly happy with the people who are already in it, that look like them, sound like them, smell like them, act like them. Back to the “Country Club Church” with our committee on committees and bible grenades that we lob at people from time to time when it’s convenient for us. To make us feel better about ourselves. “Well, I sure told that guy today, he’s gonna think about that while his rear end is roasting in the fiery flames and I’m up on my cloud. Lord bless their hearts. Whew, I’m sure glad I’m not like that guy!!! (Where have we heard that one before??????)
- Anyways, I’ll cover more of that in a bit, but what does God say about this lukewarmness??
- Just like lukewarm water just exists. Imagine you get an Ice cold coke/mtn dew/tea pick your poison. Its sooo good on those first few sips. And you coffee/tea drinkers, when that fresh coffee comes out or fresh tea? Those first few sips are just awesome. But life gets in the way and we go off doing whatever and when we get back to it………that cold drink is what??? ….LUKEWARM…..yuck! That hot coffee/tea is now “cold”…..LUKEWARM. What do you wanna do with it? Spit it out? I sure have thought about that on a hot day when my ice cold coke gets not so ice cold anymore.
- That’s what God is saying here!! He is going to spit this church out of His mouth.
- Does this start to make more sense to anyone? Do you see how God would rather us be Hot or Cold, which are both useful in their own way, but the LUKEWARM isn’t good for anything. It is just sitting around!!!
Ok, now that the introduction is over, lets get to the message. 😊
Kidding/Not Kidding!
What I really wanted to set up here is how we can see the development of the “church” through the ages just by reading John’s intro to Revelation. We can see how the first church starts off strong! Then we start to let little things creep in and distract us from our first love. We start letting idols get in the way. We lose focus on GOD and the divine mandate that he gave us when Jesus departed. Matthew 28:19-20 says (19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”)
Do you see how the churches slowly work their way down to where they are just lazy and sitting around content to live with their idol of MONEY? Those of you who have been around me for very long know that I affectionately call this the Country Club Church.
But really it is soooo much worse than that. I don’t think John really saw just how far the church would fall. How far it would go into that lukewarmness. How much of an idol that money and power would be.
So, at the beginning I said that I would not be adding to or taking away from the word. And I want you to hear me and just understand that I am trying to make a point with this, not to manipulate the word. But I believe that an even weaker church actually exists today.
I call it the Church of the Namby Pamby.
And for those who aren’t old enough to know that particular colloquialism….. Namby Pamby is defined as such from the Miriam Webster dictionary: 1. lacking in character or substance : insipid 2. weak, indecisive, sentimental and lacking in firmness.
I think if John could have truly seen the extent of the world that we live in today, that he would have written one more letter. (Yes, 7 was the right number for the bible. What does our 7 mean youth??) Or if we just found a new scroll buried in the sands of Israel that addressed another church, it would have been written something like this…….
To the Church of the Namby Pamby,
Grace be unto you from our most holy Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is the perfection of all that is called good and holy in this world.
You have done well in keeping your doors open and have not given in to the idol of greed in what your land and building are worth to Walmart or another Bank. But your favor ends there as I have many things against you.
First is this issue of something you have termed “Denominations”. The church that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ began and instructed us to continue building did not and was not ever intended to have divisions. This is proven when He said to the Pharisees, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”
But here you are oh church of the Namby Pamby. YOU have divided my house. You have built divisions in the house of God such that simple matters cannot be settled by mere discussion and understanding by the Spirit of God which dwells in your hearts. These divisions have been justified by giving them a new “religious” title of being another DENOMINATION.
You have become so rigid in your self-righteousness that you refuse to see your own wrong. By doing this you have resurrected the sin of the Pharisees, and refuse to comprehend that someone else might have the correct understanding and discernment of the meaning that was intended by our maker, the One True Word Jesus Christ. In this you have grieved not only each other, but the Holy Spirit!
You have become OFFENDED and have lost the effectiveness of your witness by proving that there is no power in YOUR words. You are now effectively hiding your light so that even at its brightest, it will only just escape the walls of your “Church Buildings”. How are you to reach even your local town with such a dim light? And how are you to reach the nations if you can’t even breach the doors where you have locked yourselves in? WAKE up oh church! Remove the blinders from your eyes and remove the shade from your lamp. Return your light to the lampstand that stands at the entrance of the Holy Place of God. Let your light shine before all men so that they may see your deeds and hear your good words and then glorify the Father in Heaven from whom all blessings flow.
And yet I still have further grievances against you. Not only have you hidden your light, but you have dampened the voice of the Holy Spirit and by doing so have come near to that most grievous of all sins which is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. You want to believe that the power that the Holy Spirit commands was only for those who were named in the scriptures. Do you not know that our God is the same both yesterday and today and also in the world eternally to come? Your blindness has not only hidden the plain truth of the Word to you, but you have become so timid that you fear to speak that which the Holy Spirit Himself has spoken to you. Do you not know that your words have power? Do you not remember that God the Father himself breathed into you the breath of life from His very being? How can you then deny the power of the breath that comes forth from your own mouth? You say that you must be calm and not “offend” anyone, that you must remain meek and not stand lest someone call you out as one of those “Christians”. Heaven forbid that you be counted as one who is seen as being “a little Christ”!, One who in the normal actions of their day is in fact ABNORMAL to the world. So much so that unbelievers see a difference in your life versus the way of the world. Say it is not so!
You murmur about all of the injustice and sin in the world, but never speak even the simple truth that leads to everlasting life out of your own mouth. How long oh church will you remain quiet? How long will you wait to cry out to heaven and give voice to your prayers? How long will you deny the power and authority that was left to you by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when he returned to his rightful place on the right hand of the Father’s throne and yet did not leave us alone, but sent to us the Holy Spirit who empowered us just as He said we would be. Why do you whisper your prayers or cover them in silence? Proclaim your needs before the God who is able and willing to supply all of your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. How can you keep such power contained? Have you not read that if you do not speak out that even the rocks and trees will cry out? Speak your words out loud! Give utterance to the power that is within you from the breath of God which is the Holy Spirit!
Ohh church of the Namby Pamby……… you have heaped upon yourself all the grievances of the previous churches. But you were not content with their shortcomings, so you have added to them your own. Ohh church of the Namby Pamby, when will you wake up??? Just as 5 of the 10 virgins were caught sleeping, you have not taken the warnings of your hour to heart. You are lazy and filled with PRIDE. WAKE UP, lest the Lord find you sleeping upon His Very Soon Return! WAKE UP AND BE HUMBLED!
But, do not be timid. You have mistaken timidity for humility. Does the lighthouse shine from the light of a mere matchstick? Of course not! As the lighthouse boldly shines its light from the shore to give direction to those floating on the open sea, SO SHINE YOUR LIGHT before men so that you may allow the Holy Spirit to guide them on the open sea that is life. And in doing so, they will be guided by the voice that is just and true and leads to life everlasting in the arms of our Savior. You must proclaim the everlasting Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with BOLDNESS.
Let me end this letter with a word of encouragement for you so that you may speak and talk with the boldness that comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords whom you serve! Speak knowing that your words have power! Do not let this be in arrogance, but built on the rock that is Christ Jesus. What man can hear the utterance of the mouse and understand his intent, but when the roar of a Lion is heard is there any man or creature that does not tremble at his mighty voice? Learn a thing from the Lion……..and ROAR! Roar the Good News of the Gospel! You have been given authority over principalities and powers of evil in heavenly places, to trample serpents underfoot, to bind and loose those things which are on the earth and in heaven. You were instructed to not rejoice in this power you have been given, but you have gone too far and are now just denying that power exists. ROAR. Be Bold and ROAR with the authority given to you by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! ROAR oh children of the one true church of God, ……. ROAR!!!!!!!!!!
So, now I have shared what I think would be the letter to the church today. And I hope that you see just how close we are to the end of “church time” here on earth. If you haven’t read ahead in Revelation, then I’ll give you a little bit of insight here. The church is not mentioned after chapter 3 wraps up. Chapter 4 begins with (Revelation 4:1) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
In closing I want to ask that you remain strong and endure to the end. The end of the church age and this time of exceeding grace is near, and you must be and remain rooted in the tree of Life that is Christ Jesus. Jesus himself tells us in John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
If you are here today and you are not rooted in the vine of Christ, then please don’t leave this place until you are grafted in. Jesus calls us to His FREE gift of salvation. You don’t have to earn it, you don’t have to clean up for it, you don’t have to ask someone else to help you, ….. all you have to do is realize and admit that you cannot do this on your own. Sin has separated you from the vine that is Jesus Christ. But when we admit that, and believe that he made the ultimate sacrifice on that cross so that we could be grafted back into the vine. He was dead and buried, but rose on the 3rd day and now and forever more He stands at the right hand of God the Father. He is alive! The vine is alive! Confess today of your need for Him and turn from the sin that so easily trips us up and holds us back. Let go of that burden today and let yourself be grafted back into the true vine. Jesus is waiting with open arms, and one day very soon He is going to look down to us just like He did to John and say…… “Come up here…” Ohh what a glorious day!!! I can’t wait! But that is because I know that I have been grafted back in to that living vine, Christ Jesus. Come today and be ready when He calls us to mount up on wings as eagles and join Him in the sky. That is our blessed hope, and the reason for our hope of a magnificent end to this church age.
